Homogenization of degenerate cross-diffusion systems

Two-scale homogenization limits of parabolic cross-diffusion systems in a heterogeneous medium with no-flux boundary conditions are proved. The heterogeneity of the medium is reflected in the diffusion coefficients or by the perforated domain. The diffusion matrix is of degenerate type and may be neither symmetric nor positive semi-definite, but the diffusion system is assumed to satisfy an entropy structure. Uniform estimates are derived from the entropy production inequality. New estimates on the equicontinuity with respect to the time variable ensure the strong convergence of a sequence of solutions to the microscopic problems defined in perforated domains

An Historical Survey of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments and Intertestamental Periods

Since the Holy Spirit is only referred to explicitly three times in the Old Testament, the reader is amazed that such a jump can be made by John, or Christ for that matter, when speaking about the Holy Spirit, without having to explain just whom they mean. The Jews never take issue with the term in the New Testament. Apparently there must have been some doctrine or teaching prevalent in Christ\u27s day, upon which the fuller revelation is based. The problem of this thesis is to try and find a bridge for the gap between the periods. This demands a search of the intertestamental writings, especially the Pseudepigrapha and the Apocrypha for a solution. There may be evidence in these books that during the intertestamental period the doctrine of the Holy Spirit became somewhat solidified, and reached greater depths than appears in the Old Testament. Also, Jesus may have related some of His teachings to this intertestamental viewpoint

The Development of Equipment Specification Form from the PDXI Data Models

The project has culminated in the development of a simplistic working model, based upon the existing data model created by the Process Data Exchange Institute (PDXI). This data model is depicted in Volume 1 of the deliverables for the PDXI Data File Interchange Format Project. The working model, based in part on the Planning Level Model and the Heat Transfer Model [1] of the overall data model, was then used to create an equipment specification form (Fig 1) for a heat exchanger, partially utilizing the standards set forth by the Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association (TEMA)

Displacement convexity for the entropy in semidiscrete nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations

The displacement λ-convexity of a non-standard entropy with respect to a non-local transportation metric in finite state spaces is shown using a gradient flow approach. The constant λ is computed explicitly in terms of a priori estimates of the solution to a finite-difference approximation of a non-linear Fokker–Planck equation. The key idea is to employ a new mean function, which defines the Onsager operator in the gradient flow formulation

A novel excitation method for pyroshock simulation

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Pyroshocks are structural responses to transient excitation caused by the essential use of pyrotechnic devices in aerospace applications. In order to avoid damage in aerospace structures due to pyroshocks, tests are performed on earth prior to launching space modules. In these tests, explosive loads are often replaced by alternative excitation methods such as hammer pendulums or shakers simulating on earth the impact taking place in space. However, there does not yet exist an adequate excitation method satisfying all requirements of a fast, reliable, predictable and repeatable test setup. Whereas hammers are poorely controllable in terms of generating desired shock spectra, shakers show limitations in terms of the bandwidths of up to 10 kHz which are prescribed in the test specifications. The authors present a novel contactless and non-destructive excitation method for pyroshock test devices based on a mechatronic coupling by applying Lorentz forces to the carrying structure. For generating the corresponding magnetic field, the capacitor of a Resistor-Inductor-Capacitor RLC resonator circuit is initially charged and then discharged leading to high currents in the coil which is placed close to the carrying structure. Latter is then inducing a counter current in the aluminum structure which reacts with high multidirectional Lorentz forces. Any adjustments are done by tuning the properties of the circuit such as initial charge, capacitance and inductance. By connecting several different coils, frequency modulation and by splitting the currents more complex signals can be generated matching the natural frequencies of the structure. Almost all disadvantages of common excitation methods are eliminated by the proposed mechanism

The role of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) during ovarian follicular development in sheep

BACKGROUND: Recently, several members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily have been shown to be essential for regulating the growth and differentiation of ovarian follicles and thus fertility. METHODS: Ovaries of neonatal and adult sheep were examined for expression of the TGF-betas 1–3 and their receptors (RI and RII) by in situ hybridization using ovine cDNAs. The effects of TGF-beta 1 and 2 on proliferation and differentiation of ovine granulosa cells in vitro were also studied. RESULTS: The expression patterns of TGF-beta 1 and 2 were similar in that both mRNAs were first observed in thecal cells of type 3 (small pre-antral) follicles. Expression of both mRNAs continued to be observed in the theca of larger follicles and was also present in cells within the stroma and associated with the vascular system of the ovary. There was no evidence for expression in granulosa cells or oocytes. Expression of TGF-beta 3 mRNA was limited to cells associated with the vascular system within the ovary. TGFbetaRI mRNA was observed in oocytes from the type 1 (primordial) to type 5 (antral) stages of follicular growth and granulosa and thecal cells expressed this mRNA at the type 3 (small pre-antral) and subsequent stages of development. The TGFbetaRI signal was also observed in the ovarian stroma and vascular cells. In ovarian follicles, mRNA encoding TGFbetaRII was restricted to thecal cells of type 3 (small pre-antral) and larger follicles. In addition, expression was also observed in some cells of the surface epithelium and in some stromal cells. In granulosa cells cultured for 6 days, both TGF-beta 1 and 2 decreased, in a dose dependent manner, both the amount of DNA and concentration of progesterone. CONCLUSION: In summary, mRNA encoding both TGF-beta 1 and 2 were synthesized by ovarian theca, stroma and cells of the vascular system whereas TGF-beta 3 mRNA was synthesized by vascular cells. Luteinizing granulosa cells also responded to both TGF-beta 1 and beta 2 in vitro. These findings in sheep are consistent with TGF-beta potentially being an important autocrine regulator of thecal cell function and possibly a paracrine regulator of ovarian cell function at various development stages

The histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid alters growth properties of renal cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represent a promising class of antineoplastic agents which affect tumour growth, differentiation and invasion. The effects of the HDAC inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) were tested in vitro and in vivo on pre-clinical renal cell carcinoma (RCC) models. Caki-1, KTC-26 or A498 cells were treated with various concentrations of VPA during in vitro cell proliferation 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays and to evaluate cell cycle manipulation. In vivo tumour growth was conducted in subcutaneous xenograft mouse models. The anti-tumoural potential of VPA combined with low-dosed interferon-α (IFN-α) was also investigated. VPA significantly and dose-dependently up-regulated histones H3 and H4 acetylation and caused growth arrest in RCC cells. VPA altered cell cycle regulating proteins, in particular CDK2, cyclin B, cyclin D3, p21 and Rb. In vivo, VPA significantly inhibited the growth of Caki-1 in subcutaneous xenografts, accompanied by a strong accumulation of p21 and bax in tissue specimens of VPA-treated animals. VPA–IFN-α combination markedly enhanced the effects of VPA monotherapy on RCC proliferation in vitro, but did not further enhance the anti-tumoural potential of VPA in vivo. VPA was found to have profound effects on RCC cell growth, lending support to the initiation of clinical testing of VPA for treating advanced RCC

The ovarian follicle of ruminants: The path from conceptus to adult

This review resulted from an international workshop and presents a consensus view of critical advances over the past decade in our understanding of follicle function in ruminants. The major concepts covered include: (1) the value of major genes; (2) the dynamics of fetal ovarian development and its sensitivity to nutritional and environmental influences; (3) the concept of an ovarian follicle reserve, aligned with the rise of anti-Müllerian hormone as a controller of ovarian processes; (4) renewed recognition of the diverse and important roles of theca cells; (5) the importance of follicular fluid as a microenvironment that determines oocyte quality; (6) the \u27adipokinome\u27 as a key concept linking metabolic inputs with follicle development; and (7) the contribution of follicle development to the success of conception. These concepts are important because, in sheep and cattle, ovulation rate is tightly regulated and, as the primary determinant of litter size, it is a major component of reproductive efficiency and therefore productivity. Nowadays, reproductive efficiency is also a target for improving the \u27methane efficiency\u27 of livestock enterprises, increasing the need to understand the processes of ovarian development and folliculogenesis, while avoiding detrimental trade-offs as greater performance is sought