Aharonov-Bohm effect induced by mutual inductance for an array of mesoscopic rings

The effect of mutual inductance on the persistent currents in N mesoscopic rings placed periodically on a plane is investigated. The persistent currents for the situations with mutual inductance between the nearest-neighbor rings are calculaed in detail. We find that while the self-inductance suppresses the persistent current, the effect of the mutual inductance is to enhance it. For example, for a metal ring (Au or Cu) of length L0=1 μm and cross-section A=0.02×0.02 μm2, the persistent current due to the self-inductance is IL=0.2I0 where I0 is the persistent current without the self-inductance. For a pair of rings, the contribution of the persistent current due to the mutual inductance is about 10%. The results can be understood as entirely due to self-consistency of the equilibrium properties in the nanostructure.published_or_final_versio

Renormalization and resummation in finite temperature field theories

Resummation, ie. reorganization of perturbative series, can result in an inconsistent perturbation theory, unless the counterterms are reorganized in an appropriate way. In this paper two methods are presented for resummation of counterterms: one is a direct method where the necessary counterterms are constructed order by order; the other is a general one, based on renormalization group arguments. We demonstrate at one hand that, in mass independent schemes, mass resummation can be performed by gap equations renormalized prior to the substitution of the resummed mass for its argument. On the other hand it is shown that any (momentum-independent) form of mass and coupling constant resummation is compatible with renormalization, and one can explicitly construct the corresponding counterterms.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, revtex

Influence of ferromagnetic spin waves on persistent currents in one-dimensional mesoscopic rings

The influence of the electron-magnon and the electron-phonon interactions on the persistent current in a one-dimensional mesoscopic ring is studied. We show that, due to the electron-magnon interaction, the amplitude of the persistent current is exponentially reduced compared to the free case. Two features occur in the presence of an electron-phonon interaction. For the normal state of electrons, the persistent current is weakened by the Debye-Waller factor. Considering the so-called Peierls distortions, we show that the effect of the Peierls instability on the amplitude of the persistent current (i.e., the oscillation with respect to the flux) is suppressed significantly and the persistent current will be practically undetectable in the case of a wide-gap Peierls material. © 1996 The American Physical Society.published_or_final_versio

Mecanismo organizacional y económico para la gestión del potencial innovador de las formaciones agroindustriales integradas

La hipótesis de trabajo de la investigación se basa en el supuesto de que la modernización del mecanismo organizativo y económico para la gestión del potencial innovador de una formación agroindustrial integrada permite que el agroecosistema se adapte lo más posible a las condiciones de un entorno de mercado competitivo; modificar tecnologías aplicadas y desarrollar nuevas; Generar potencial innovador, que conduzca a un aumento de la competitividad de las entidades económicas del complejo agroindustrial. Sobre la base de un enfoque sistemático, el documento fundamenta las disposiciones teóricas y un conjunto de recomendaciones para la formación de un mecanismo organizativo y económico para gestionar el potencial innovador de las formaciones agroindustriales integradas, en cuyo desarrollo métodos científicos generales de análisis y Se aplicaron síntesis, así como métodos de abstracción científica, análisis funcional y estructural, método de modelado, teoría y metodología del enfoque de sistemas y otros métodos de conocimiento científico. El trabajo sustenta la necesidad de la formación de mecanismos afinados para maximizar la implementación del potencial innovador de las formaciones agroindustriales integradas, caracterizadas por el predominio del componente científico y tecnológico con la función inherente del autodesarrollo y la capacidad de acelerar la desarrollo del complejo agroindustrial de sistemas económicos de nivel meso. El mecanismo organizativo y económico para gestionar el potencial innovador de lasformaciones agroindustriales integradas, presentado como un sistema de herramientas y procesos de impacto, se puede aplicar en la práctica para obtener resultados innovadores. El uso de las herramientas de gestión propuestas permitirá incidir en procesos innovadores y asegurar la efectividad de las actividades basadas en un efecto sinérgico. La trascendencia científica del estudio radica en el desarrollo de disposiciones teóricas y metodológicas y recomendaciones científicas y prácticas orientadas a formaron mecanismo organizativo y económico para gestionar el potencial innovador de las formaciones agroindustriales integrada

Genome wide mapping reveals PDE4B as an IL-2 induced STAT5 target gene in activated human PBMCs and lymphoid cancer cells

IL-2 is the primary growth factor for promoting survival and proliferation of activated T cells that occurs following engagement of the Janus Kinase (JAK)1-3/and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) 5 signaling pathway. STAT5 has two isoforms: STAT5A and STAT5B ( commonly referred to as STAT5) which, in T cells, play redundant roles transcribing cell cycle and survival genes. As such, inhibition of STAT5 by a variety of mechanisms can rapidly induce apoptosis in certain lymphoid tumor cells, suggesting that it and its target genes represent therapeutic targets to control certain lymphoid diseases. To search for these molecules we aligned IL-2 regulated genes detected by Affymetrix gene expression microarrays with the STAT5 cistrome identified by chip-on-ChIP analysis in an IL-2-dependent human leukemia cell line, Kit225. Select overlapping genes were then validated using qRT(2)PCR medium-throughput arrays in human PHA-activated PBMCs. Of 19 putative genes, one key regulator of T cell receptor signaling, PDE4B, was identified as a novel target, which was readily up-regulated at the protein level (3 h) in IL-2 stimulated, activated human PBMCs. Surprisingly, only purified CD8+ primary T-cells expressed PDE4B, but not CD4+ cells. Moreover, PDE4B was found to be highly expressed in CD4+ lymphoid cancer cells, which suggests that it may represent a physiological role unique to the CD8+ and lymphoid cancer cells and thus might represent a target for pharmaceutical intervention for certain lymphoid diseases

Kinetics of the Reactions of Hydroxyl Radicals with Furan and its Alkylated Derivatives 2-Methyl Furan and 2,5-Dimethyl Furan

Furans are promising second generation biofuels with comparable energy densities to conventional fossil fuels. Combustion of furans is initiated and controlled to a large part by reactions with OH radicals, the kinetics of which are critical to understand the processes occurring under conditions relevant to low-temperature combustion. The reactions of OH radicals with furan (OH + F, R1), 2-methyl furan (OH + 2-MF, R2), and 2,5-dimethyl furan (OH + 2,5-DMF, R3) have been studied in this work over the temperature range 294 to 668 K at pressures between 5 mbar and 10 bar using laser flash photolysis coupled with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy to generate and monitor OH radicals under pseudo-first-order conditions. Measurements at p ≤ 200 mbar were made in N2, using H2O2 or (CH3)3COOH radical precursors, while those at p ≥ 2 bar were made in He, using HNO3 as the radical precursor. The kinetics of the reactions R1-R3 were observed to display a negative dependence on temperature over the range investigated, indicating the dominance of addition reactions under such conditions, with no significant dependence on pressure observed. Master equation calculations are in good agreement with the observed kinetics, and a combined parameterisation of addition channels and abstraction channels for R1-R3 is provided on the basis of this work and previous shock tube measurements at higher temperatures. This work significantly extends the temperature range previously investigated for R1 and represents the first temperature-dependent measurements of R2 and R3 at temperatures relevant for atmospheric chemistry and low-temperature combustion

Genomic Analysis of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery is the standard of care for locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Unfortunately, response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is poor (20-37%), as is the overall survival benefit at five years (9%). The EAC genome is complex and heterogeneous between patients, and it is not yet understood whether specific mutational patterns may result in chemotherapy sensitivity or resistance. To identify associations between genomic events and response to NAC in EAC, a comparative genomic analysis was performed in 65 patients with extensive clinical and pathological annotation using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). We defined response using Mandard Tumor Regression Grade (TRG), with responders classified as TRG1-2 (n = 27) and non-responders classified as TRG4-5 (n =38). We report a higher non-synonymous mutation burden in responders (median 2.08/Mb vs. 1.70/Mb, p = 0.036) and elevated copy number variation in non-responders (282 vs. 136/patient, p < 0.001). We identified copy number variants unique to each group in our cohort, with cell cycle (CDKN2A, CCND1), c-Myc (MYC), RTK/PIK3 (KRAS, EGFR) and gastrointestinal differentiation (GATA6) pathway genes being specifically altered in non-responders. Of note, NAV3 mutations were exclusively present in the non-responder group with a frequency of 22%. Thus, lower mutation burden, higher chromosomal instability and specific copy number alterations are associated with resistance to NAC

Anticancer Gene Transfer for Cancer Gene Therapy

Gene therapy vectors are among the treatments currently used to treat malignant tumors. Gene therapy vectors use a specific therapeutic transgene that causes death in cancer cells. In early attempts at gene therapy, therapeutic transgenes were driven by non-specific vectors which induced toxicity to normal cells in addition to the cancer cells. Recently, novel cancer specific viral vectors have been developed that target cancer cells leaving normal cells unharmed. Here we review such cancer specific gene therapy systems currently used in the treatment of cancer and discuss the major challenges and future directions in this field

Why do women invest in pre-pregnancy health and care? A qualitative investigation with women attending maternity services

Background Despite the importance attributed to good pre-pregnancy care and its potential to improve pregnancy and child health outcomes, relatively little is known about why women invest in pre-pregnancy health and care. We sought to gain insight into why women invested in pre-pregnancy health and care. Methods We carried out 20 qualitative in-depth interviews with pregnant or recently pregnant women who were drawn from a survey of antenatal clinic attendees in London, UK. Interviewees were purposively sampled to include high and low investors in pre-pregnancy health and care, with variation in age, partnership status, ethnicity and pre-existing medical conditions. Data analysis was conducted using the Framework method. Results We identified three groups in relation to pre-pregnancy health and care: 1) The “prepared” group, who had high levels of pregnancy planning and mostly positive attitudes to micronutrient supplementation outside of pregnancy, carried out pre-pregnancy activities such as taking folic acid and making changes to diet and lifestyle. 2) The “poor knowledge” group, who also had high levels of pregnancy planning, did not carry out pre-pregnancy activities and described themselves as having poor knowledge. Elsewhere in their interviews they expressed a strong dislike of micronutrient supplementation. 3) The “absent pre-pregnancy period” group, had the lowest levels of pregnancy planning and also expressed anti-supplement views. Even discussing the pre-pregnancy period with this group was difficult as responses to questions quickly shifted to focus on pregnancy itself. Knowledge of folic acid was poor in all groups. Conclusion Different pre-pregnancy care approaches are likely to be needed for each of the groups. Among the “prepared” group, who were proactive and receptive to health messages, greater availability of information and better response from health professionals could improve the range of pre-pregnancy activities carried out. Among the “poor knowledge” group, better response from health professionals might yield greater uptake of pre-pregnancy information. A different, general health strategy might be more appropriate for the “absent pre-pregnancy period” group. The fact that general attitudes to micronutrient supplementation were closely related to whether or not women invested in pre-pregnancy health and care was an unanticipated finding and warrants further investigation.This report is independent research commissioned and funded by the Department of Health Policy Research Programme Pre-Pregnancy Health and Care in England: Exploring Implementation and Public Health Impact, 006/0068