Statistical hyperbolicity of relatively hyperbolic groups

We prove that a non-elementary relatively hyperbolic group is statistically hyperbolic with respect to every finite generating set. We also establish statistical hyperbolicity for certain direct products of two groups, one of which is relatively hyperbolic.Comment: 12 pages; Several corrections and improvements on the exposition after referee report. Version to appear in Algebraic and Geometric Topolog

Molecular Gas and Star formation in ARP 302

We present the Submillimeter Array observation of the CO J=2-1 transition towards the northern galaxy, ARP 302N, of the early merging system, ARP 302. Our high angular resolution observation reveals the extended spatial distribution of the molecular gas in ARP 302N. We find that the molecular gas has a very asymmetric distribution with two strong concentrations on either side of the center together with a weaker one offset by about 8 kpc to the north. The molecular gas distribution is also found to be consistent with that from the hot dust as traced by the 24 micro continuum emission observed by the Spitzer. The line ratio of CO J=2-1/1-0 is found to vary strongly from about 0.7 near the galaxy center to 0.4 in the outer part of the galaxy. Excitation analysis suggests that the gas density is low, less than 10$^3$ cm$^{-3}$, over the entire galaxy. By fitting the SED of ARP 302N in the far infrared we obtain a dust temperature of $T\rm_d$=26-36 K and a dust mass of M$\rm _{dust}$=2.0--3.6$\times10^8$ M$\rm_\odot$. The spectral index of the radio continuum is around 0.9. The spatial distribution and spectral index of the radio continuum emission suggests that most of the radio continuum emission is synchrotron emission from the star forming regions at the nucleus and ARP302N-cm. The good spatial correspondance between the 3.6 cm radio continuum emission, the Spitzer 8 & 24 $\mu$m data and the high resolution CO J=2-1 observation from the SMA shows that there is the asymmetrical star forming activities in ARP 302N.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, accepted by A

Prevalence and correlates of psychopathic traits in the household population of Great Britain

There are no previous surveys of psychopathy and psychopathic traits in representative general population samples using standardized instruments. This study aimed to measure prevalence and correlates of psychopathic traits, based on a two-phase survey using the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL: SV) in 638 individuals, 16-74 years, in households in England, Wales and Scotland. The weighted prevalence of psychopathy was 0.6% (95% CI: 0.2-1.6) at a cut score of 13, similar to the noncriminal/nonpsychiatric sample described in the manual of the PCL: SV. Psychopathy scores correlated with: younger age, male gender; suicide attempts, violent behaviour, imprisonment and homelessness; drug dependence; histrionic, borderline and adult antisocial personality disorders; panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders. This survey demonstrated that, as measured by the PCL: SV, psychopathy is rare, affecting less than 1% of the household population, although it is prevalent among prisoners, homeless persons, and psychiatric admissions. There is a half-normal distribution of psychopathic traits in the general population, with the majority having no traits, a significant proportion with non-zero values, and a severe subgroup of persons with multiple associated social and behavioral problems. This distribution has implications for research into the etiology of psychopathy and its implications for society

Acrolein is a critical mediator of alcohol-induced liver and intestinal injury in alcoholic liver disease.

Alcohol consumption can cause alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Chronic alcohol consumption causes a pro-oxidant environment in the liver and increases hepatic lipid peroxidation. Acrolein is the most reactive and toxic aldehyde generated through lipid peroxidation. Acrolein forms protein adducts and triggers endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and hepatocyte apoptosis, which are recognized etiologic factors in ALD. Several studies have established the critical role of the gut-liver axis in ALD pathogenesis, wherein alcohol-induced gut barrier dysfunction contributes to liver injury. This study investigates, in vitro and in vivo, the pathogenic role of acrolein as a major mediator of intestinal barrier dysfunction, and hepatic ER stress and injury in ALD. Accumulation of acrolein adducts was seen in response to alcohol consumption in mouse livers and intestines. Intestinal acrolein accumulation correlated with serum lipopolysaccharides (LPS), suggesting that elevated acrolein is associated with gut permeability. Hepatic acrolein buildup correlated with ER stress, steatosis, JNK activation, apoptosis and liver injury. Further, hallmark ER chaperones GRP78 and GRP94 were minimally induced, suggesting that ER-adaptive/protective responses were insufficient; the underlying cause was lack of activation of relevant transcription factors. We used cultured hepatic and intestinal cells to examine the direct in vitro effects of acrolein in comparison to alcohol. The in vivo gut-liver effects of alcohol consumption were mimicked by direct in vitro acrolein exposure in intestinal Caco-2 and hepatic H4IIEC cells. Specifically, acrolein down-regulated tight junction proteins, altered their localization, and disrupted barrier function. Similarly, in vitro acrolein exposure in hepatic cells triggered ER stress and induced apoptosis. Notably, these alcohol-induced effects were attenuated by hydralazine, a known acrolein scavenger

Pathogenic role of acrolein in alcoholic liver disease.

Alcohol is the most socially accepted addictive drug, and it can cause alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. Animal and human studies demonstrate that chronic alcohol consumption causes a pro-oxidant environment in the liver and increases hepatic lipid peroxidation and the accumulation of by-products such as acrolein and 4-hydroxynonenal. Acrolein is the most reactive and toxic aldehyde generated through lipid peroxidation. Also, acrolein is a major component of cigarette smoke, and there is increasing evidence that smoking negatively impacts the incidence, severity, and clinical course of chronic liver disease. Acrolein is known to form protein adducts, and can trigger endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Notably, alcohol-induced perturbations in the ER have emerged as an important etiologic factor in alcoholic liver disease. This study investigated the role of acrolein as a mediator of hepatic ER stress and injury during alcohol consumption. Acrolein accumulation, activation of pro-apoptotic stress kinase JNK ( the mitogen activated protein kinase c-jun N-terminal kinase) , ER stress, and apoptotic cell death was examined in vitro in alcohol-exposed rat hepatic cells (H4IIEC), and in vivo in a mouse model of alcohol consumption. Exposure to alcohol led to substantial accumulation of acrolein adducts both in vitro and in vivo. This was accompanied by phospho-activation of JNK and upregulation of ER stress transcription factors ATF3 and ATF4, and the pro-apoptotic protein, GADD153/CHOP. This study demonstrates that acrolein is likely to be a major culprit in the ER stress and hepatotoxicity associated with alcohol consumption. Also, the data show that acrolein removal protects against alcohol-induced ER stress and injury, suggesting that acrolein scavengers may have therapeutic potential in alleviating the adverse effects of alcohol consumption

A Pen Cartridge Assembly Mechanism

This poster mainly introduces the automatic mechanism to inject ink into one kind of pen cartridges. The author designed an automated process and implied finite element method to analyze this mechanism. The deformation of the mechanism is insignificant compared with assembly error

Strategic highlights of Taiwan's people-centered New Southbound Policy

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/Alan H. Yang and Jeremy Chiang, Executive Director and Managing Editor at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, respectively, explain that "While the "Go South" policies concentrated on economic cooperation and state-owned-enterprise (SOE) investments, the NSP seeks deeper socio-economic connectivity between Taiwan and its neighboring communities.