Coleman-Gross height pairings and the pp-adic sigma function

We give a direct proof that the Mazur-Tate and Coleman-Gross heights on elliptic curves coincide. The main ingredient is to extend the Coleman-Gross height to the case of divisors with non-disjoint support and, doing some $p$-adic analysis, show that, in particular, its component above $p$ gives, in the special case of an ordinary elliptic curve, the $p$-adic sigma function. We use this result to give a short proof of a theorem of Kim characterizing integral points on elliptic curves in some cases under weaker assumptions. As a further application, we give new formulas to compute double Coleman integrals from tangential basepoints.Comment: AMS-LaTeX 17 page

Computing local p-adic height pairings on hyperelliptic curves

We describe an algorithm to compute the local component at p of the Coleman-Gross p-adic height pairing on divisors on hyperelliptic curves. As the height pairing is given in terms of a Coleman integral, we also provide new techniques to evaluate Coleman integrals of meromorphic differentials and present our algorithms as implemented in Sage

Hysteresis in the cell response to time-dependent substrate stiffness

Mechanical cues like the rigidity of the substrate are main determinants for the decision making of adherent cells. Here we use a mechano-chemical model to predict the cellular response to varying substrate stiffness. The model equations combine the mechanics of contractile actin filament bundles with a model for the Rho-signaling pathway triggered by forces at cell-matrix contacts. A bifurcation analysis of cellular contractility as a function of substrate stiffness reveals a bistable response, thus defining a lower threshold of stiffness, below which cells are not able to build up contractile forces, and an upper threshold of stiffness, above which cells are always in a strongly contracted state. Using the full dynamical model, we predict that rate-dependent hysteresis will occur in the cellular traction forces when cells are exposed to substrates of time-dependent stiffness.Comment: Revtex, 4 PDF figure

The Herts and Minds study: feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of Mentalizationbased Treatment versus usual care to support the wellbeing of children in foster care

© The Author(s). 2019 Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.Background: There is a lack of well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the efficacy of psychological therapies for children in foster care with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) focuses on supporting the carer-child relationship by promoting reflective capacity. This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of an RCT of MBT, delivered in a family-format, for children who are in foster care in the UK. Method: Herts and Minds was a phase II, blinded feasibility RCT with follow-up of at 12 and 24 weeks post-randomisation. Participants were children (age 5-16) in foster care referred to a targeted mental health service, who had some level of difficulty as identified by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Aims were to assess: the feasibility of recruitment processes and study uptake; capacity to train mental health practitioners to deliver MBT to an acceptable level of treatment integrity; establish acceptability and credibility of MBT as an intervention for children in foster care; establish feasibility and acceptability to participants of conducting an RCT; and estimate the likely treatment efficacy effect size. Participants were randomly allocated to either MBT (n = 15) or Usual Clinical Care (UCC) (n = 21) individually or in sibling groups. A range of qualitative and quantitative data was gathered to assess feasibility. Results: Feasibility was established with regard to: capacity to recruit participants to a study; capacity to train mental health practitioners to deliver MBT to an acceptable level of treatment integrity; acceptability and credibility of MBT; and feasibility and acceptability to participants of conducting an RCT. A number of issues made it difficult to estimate a likely treatment efficacy effect size. Conclusion: With modifications, it is feasible to run an RCT of MBT for children in foster care. Both the therapy and research design were acceptable to participants, but modifications may be needed regarding both the timing of assessments and the identification of appropriate primary outcome measures. Given the lack of evidenced based therapies for this population, such a trial would be a significant contribution to the field. Findings may be useful for other groups planning clinical trials of psychological therapies for children in foster care. Trial registration: ISRCTN 90349442. The trial was retrospectively registered on 6 May 2016.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

The German stem cell network GSCN - a nationwide network with many tasks

The German Stem Cell Network (GSCN) aims at creating synergies between all areas of basic and applied stem cell research and to provide an interface between science, education, politics and society as a whole. The central task of the GSCN is to pool the expertise in stem cell research in Germany and develop synergies between basic research, regenerative medicine and pharmacology. The initiative promotes innovative research activities on a national and international level. In addition, targeted information and events are offered to encourage the public discourse on stem cell research. The objectives of the network are: To maintain an organizational structure for a German network for basic and applied stem cell research; To organize joint annual conferences on stem cell research to be rotated among German cities; To coordinate scientific and strategic working groups; To provide a platform for communication on stem cell research, enabling exchange of important news, discussions and networking between scientists, institutions, policy-makers and the general public (in German and English); To publish documents about basic and applied stem cell research in Germany and help to organize public meetings and outreach programs on these topics