1,595 research outputs found

    The Coming Financial Wars

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    Violation of action--reaction and self-forces induced by nonequilibrium fluctuations

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    We show that the extension of Casimir-like forces to fluctuating fluids driven out of equilibrium can exhibit two interrelated phenomena forbidden at equilibrium: self-forces can be induced on single asymmetric objects and the action--reaction principle between two objects can be violated. These effects originate in asymmetric restrictions imposed by the objects' boundaries on the fluid's fluctuations. They are not ruled out by the second law of thermodynamics since the fluid is in a nonequilibrium state. Considering a simple reaction--diffusion model for the fluid, we explicitly calculate the self-force induced on a deformed circle. We also show that the action--reaction principle does not apply for the internal Casimir forces exerting between a circle and a plate. Their sum, instead of vanishing, provides the self-force on the circle-plate assembly.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. V2: New title; Abstract partially rewritten; Largely enhanced introductory and concluding remarks (incl. new Refs.

    Second messenger/signal transduction pathways in major mood disorders: Moving from membrane to mechanism of action, part II: bipolar disorder

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    The etiopathogenesis and treatment of major mood disorders have historically focused on modulation of monoaminergic (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine) and amino acid [γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate] receptors at the plasma membrane. Although the activation and inhibition of these receptors acutely alter local neurotransmitter levels, their neuropsychiatric effects are not immediately observed. This time lag implicates intracellular neuroplasticity as primary in the mechanism of action of antidepressants and mood stabilizers. The modulation of intracellular second messenger/signal transduction cascades affects neurotrophic pathways that are both necessary and sufficient for monoaminergic and amino acid–based treatments. In this review, we will discuss the evidence in support of intracellular mediators in the pathophysiology and treatment of preclinical models of despair and major depressive disorder (MDD). More specifically, we will focus on the following pathways: cAMP/PKA/CREB, neurotrophin-mediated (MAPK and others), p11, Wnt/Fz/Dvl/GSK3β, and NFκB/ΔFosB. We will also discuss recent discoveries with rapidly acting antidepressants, which activate the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and release of inhibition on local translation via elongation factor stimulation. Throughout this discourse, we will highlight potential intracellular targets for therapeutic intervention. Finally, future clinical implications are discussed

    Pr\ue9cis du Plurilinguisme et du pluriculturalisme

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    This handbook is organized around linguistic and cultural plurality. The French concept of \uab plurality \ubb has different political connotations than the Angloamerican term \uab diversity \ubb. While \uab diversity \ubb is the ideal of a neo-liberal democracy, \uab plurality \ubb is the ideal of a republican society committed to the tenets of the French Revolution. Following Bourdieu (1977), it defines language as an \uab instrument of action (or of power) \ubb and aims to reconstruct the complexity of social and linguistic practices that constitute our relationship to the foreign. Plurality here is not defined as the mere coexistence of various languages, but rather as a specific social activity characterized by the circulation of values across borders, the negotiation of identities, and the inversions\u2013indeed, the inventions\u2013of meaning that are often masked by the shared illusion of successful communication. Plurality is approached in this book: - as a complex aggregate, rather than as the simplified object of a communicatively oriented language pedagogy primarily concerned with intelligibility - as a coherent system of relationships whose description cannot be reduced to a series of mechanical operations - as a socio-historical construct, observable from many simultaneous, spatiotemporal points of view, such as that of everyday interactions or that of institutions whose symbolic force cannot be accounted for from one point of view alone

    Unreported resistance in the charge transport limits the photoconversion efficiency of aqueous dye-sensitised solar cells: An electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study

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    In this work, a thorough electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study is performed of both liquid and polymeric aqueous dye-sensitized solar cells (a-DSSCs), which are also compared with conventional organic solvent-based devices. The main purpose is unveiling phenomena limiting the efficiency of water-based photovoltaics. Indeed, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy spectra of a-DSSCs show two peculiar (and unreported) features that are not observed in organic-based DSSCs. The higher frequency one (R45°) is likely associated with a slowdown of the diffusion kinetics of the redox mediator: it is due to the breakdown of the hydrogen-bond network of the aqueous environment, which was also supported by density functional theory calculations. The lower-frequency feature is associated with the additional amount of energy required for the breakdown at the semiconductor/FTO interface of the adducts between protons (coming from the solvent) and electrons localized in the TiO2 surface trap-states. This ‘disruption energy’ results in a resistive element (RIC) that inversely correlates with the device efficiency. Very interestingly, RIC depends on the applied potential and becomes negligible only at much more positive values than VOC. Tailored equivalent circuits implementing simultaneously R45° and RIC are currently under investigation

    Shoulder Surgery for Bone Tumors

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    The proximal humerus is a common location for bone tumors. Those can affect patients of different ages and can be of benign or malignant nature. For bone sarcomas is the 3rd most common location and is a frequent site of spread in non-axial metastatic disease. In pediatric patients is frequent to encounter benign bone tumors in this location but also osteosarcomas and Ewing’s sarcomas. Careful assessment of the patients by a surgeon with the appropriate training is paramount. Shoulder reconstruction for patients with bone tumors encompasses a diverse group of patients, diagnoses and surgical options. While most patients with primary bone tumors may be of a younger age and more involved in sport activities, those with metastatic disease oftentimes are associated with an older age, worse preoperative function and worse prognosis due to the primary disease. The surgeon must weigh in all factors that need to be taken into consideration in the treatment decision-making plan. Currently, with new advances in oncology treatments patients may benefit from longer survivals times than in the past, thus restoring the patient’s function and quality of life is essential

    Chitosan-Gold Nanoparticle Composites for Biomedical Application

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    The aim of this work is to synthesize chitosan-gold nanoparticles films by direct chemical reduction of HAuCl4 in a chitosan solution and to investigate the influence of gold nanoparticles concentration on the structure of films, conductivity and healing effect on mice skin after surgery. Results obtained have shown that new chitosan-gold nanoparticle-collagen bionananocomposites demonstrated better healing effect on the mice skin after surgery than control performed on commercial TheraFormTM material. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/3540
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