pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
The in vitro respiratory toxicity of cristobalite-bearing volcanic ash

AbstractAsh from dome-forming volcanoes poses a unique hazard to millions of people worldwide due to an abundance of respirable cristobalite, a crystalline silica polymorph. Crystalline silica is an established respiratory hazard in other mixed dusts, but its toxicity strongly depends on sample provenance. Previous studies suggest that cristobalite-bearing volcanic ash is not as bio-reactive as may be expected for a dust containing crystalline silica. We systematically address the hazard posed by volcanic cristobalite by analysing a range of dome-related ash samples, and interpret the crystalline silica hazard according to the mineralogical nature of volcanic cristobalite. Samples are sourced from five well-characterized dome-forming volcanoes that span a range of magmatic compositions, specifically selecting samples rich in cristobalite (up to 16wt%). Isolated respirable fractions are used to investigate the in vitro response of THP-1 macrophages and A549 type II epithelial cells in cytotoxicity, cellular stress, and pro-inflammatory assays associated with crystalline silica toxicity. Dome-related ash is minimally reactive in vitro for a range of source compositions and cristobalite contents. Cristobalite-based toxicity is not evident in the assays employed, supporting the notion that crystalline silica provenance influences reactivity. Macrophages experienced minimal ash-induced cytotoxicity and intracellular reduction of glutathione; however, production of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 were sample-dependent. Lung epithelial cells experienced moderate apoptosis, sample-dependent reduction of glutathione, and minimal cytokine production. We suggest that protracted interaction between particles and epithelial cells may never arise due to effective clearance by macrophages. However, volcanic ash has the propensity to incite a low, but significant, and sample-dependent response; the effect of this response in vivo is unknown and prolonged exposure may yet pose a hazard
Multiple Dorsoventral Origins of Oligodendrocyte Generation in the Spinal Cord and Hindbrain

AbstractStudies have indicated that oligodendrocytes in the spinal cord originate from a ventral progenitor domain defined by expression of the oligodendrocyte-determining bHLH proteins Olig1 and Olig2. Here, we provide evidence that progenitors in the dorsal spinal cord and hindbrain also produce oligodendrocytes and that the specification of these cells may result from a dorsal evasion of BMP signaling over time. Moreover, we show that the generation of ventral oligodendrocytes in the spinal cord depends on Nkx6.1 and Nkx6.2 function, while these homeodomain proteins in the anterior hindbrain instead suppress oligodendrocyte specification. The opposing roles for Nkx6 proteins in the spinal cord and hindbrain, in turn, appear to reflect that oligodendrocytes are produced by distinct ventral progenitor domains at these axial levels. Based on these findings, we propose that oligodendrocytes derive from several distinct positional origins and that the activation of Olig1/2 at different positions is controlled by distinct genetic programs
Renormalisability of gauge invariant extensions of the squared gauge potential

AbstractWe show that gauge invariant extensions of the local functional O=12∫d4xA2 have long range non-localities which can only be “renormalised” with reference to a specific gauge. Consequently, there is no gauge independent way of claiming the perturbative renormalisability of these extensions. In particular, they are not renormalisable in the modern sense of Weinberg and Gomis. Critically, our study does not support the view that ghost fields play an indispensable role in the extension of a local operator into a non-local one as claimed recently in the literature
Quantitative investigation of calcimimetic R568 on beta cell adhesion and mechanics using AFM single-cell force spectroscopy

AbstractIn this study we use a novel approach to quantitatively investigate mechanical and interfacial properties of clonal β-cells using AFM-Single Cell Force Spectroscopy (SCFS). MIN6 cells were incubated for 48h with 0.5mM Ca2+ ± the calcimimetic R568 (1μM). AFM-SCFS adhesion and indentation experiments were performed by using modified tipless cantilevers. Hertz contact model was applied to analyse force–displacement (F–d) curves for determining elastic or Young’s modulus (E). Our results show CaSR-evoked increases in cell-to-cell adhesion parameters and E modulus of single cells, demonstrating that cytomechanics have profound effects on cell adhesion characterization
Comment on evidence for new interference phenomena in the decay D+→K−π+μ+ν

AbstractThe experimental determination of low energy πK scattering phase shifts would assist in determining scattering lengths as well as low energy constants of chiral perturbation theory for which sum rules have been constructed. The FOCUS Collaboration has presented evidence for interference phenomena from their analysis of Dl4 decays based on decay amplitudes suitable for a cascade decay D→K∗→Kπ. We point out that if the well-known full five body kinematics are taken into account, πK scattering phases may be extracted. We also point out that other distributions considered in the context of Kl4 decays can be applied to charm meson decays to provide constraints on violation of |ΔI|=1/2 rule and T-violation
Heavy-quark spin symmetry partners of the X(3872) revisited

AbstractWe revisit the consequences of the heavy-quark spin symmetry for the possible spin partners of the X(3872). We confirm that, if the X(3872) were a DD¯⁎ molecular state with the quantum numbers JPC=1++, then in the strict heavy-quark limit there should exist three more hadronic molecules degenerate with the X(3872), with the quantum numbers 0++, 1+−, and 2++ in line with previous results reported in the literature. We demonstrate that this result is robust with respect to the inclusion of the one-pion exchange interaction between the D mesons. However, this is true only if all relevant partial waves as well as particle channels which are coupled via the pion-exchange potential are taken into account. Otherwise, the heavy-quark symmetry is destroyed even in the heavy-quark limit. Finally, we solve the coupled-channel problem in the 2++ channel with nonperturbative pions beyond the heavy-quark limit and, contrary to the findings of previous calculations with perturbative pions, find for the spin-2 partner of the X(3872) a significant shift of the mass as well as a width of the order of 50 MeV
On effective Kähler potential in N=2, d=3 SQED

AbstractWe compute the two-loop effective Kähler potential in three-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric electrodynamics with Chern–Simons kinetic term for the gauge superfield. The effective action is constructed on the base of background field method with one parametric family of gauges. In such an approach, the quadratic part of quantum action mixes the gauge and matter quantum superfields yielding the complications in the computations of the loop supergraphs. To avoid this obstacle and preserve dependence on the gauge parameter we make a non-local change of quantum matter superfields after which the propagator is diagonalized, however the new vertices have appeared. We fix the suitable background and develop the efficient procedure of calculating the two-loop supergraphs with the new vertices. We compute the divergent and finite parts of the superfield effective action, find the two-loop effective Kähler potential and show that it does not depend on the gauge parameter
Cystatin C and Cardiovascular Disease A Mendelian Randomization Study

AbstractBackgroundEpidemiological studies show that high circulating cystatin C is associated with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), independent of creatinine-based renal function measurements. It is unclear whether this relationship is causal, arises from residual confounding, and/or is a consequence of reverse causation.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to use Mendelian randomization to investigate whether cystatin C is causally related to CVD in the general population.MethodsWe incorporated participant data from 16 prospective cohorts (n = 76,481) with 37,126 measures of cystatin C and added genetic data from 43 studies (n = 252,216) with 63,292 CVD events. We used the common variant rs911119 in CST3 as an instrumental variable to investigate the causal role of cystatin C in CVD, including coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, and heart failure.ResultsCystatin C concentrations were associated with CVD risk after adjusting for age, sex, and traditional risk factors (relative risk: 1.82 per doubling of cystatin C; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.56 to 2.13; p = 2.12 × 10−14). The minor allele of rs911119 was associated with decreased serum cystatin C (6.13% per allele; 95% CI: 5.75 to 6.50; p = 5.95 × 10−211), explaining 2.8% of the observed variation in cystatin C. Mendelian randomization analysis did not provide evidence for a causal role of cystatin C, with a causal relative risk for CVD of 1.00 per doubling cystatin C (95% CI: 0.82 to 1.22; p = 0.994), which was statistically different from the observational estimate (p = 1.6 × 10−5). A causal effect of cystatin C was not detected for any individual component of CVD.ConclusionsMendelian randomization analyses did not support a causal role of cystatin C in the etiology of CVD. As such, therapeutics targeted at lowering circulating cystatin C are unlikely to be effective in preventing CVD
Semi-classical limit of Schrödinger–Poisson equations in space dimension n⩾3

AbstractWe prove the existence of solutions to the Schrödinger–Poisson system on a time interval independent of the Planck constant, when the doping profile does not necessarily decrease at infinity, in the presence of a subquadratic external potential. The lack of integrability of the doping profile is resolved by working in Zhidkov spaces, in space dimension at least three. We infer that the main quadratic quantities (position density and modified momentum density) converge strongly as the Planck constant goes to zero. When the doping profile is integrable, we prove pointwise convergence
Strong and weak orders in averaging for SPDEs

AbstractWe show an averaging result for a system of stochastic evolution equations of parabolic type with slow and fast time scales. We derive explicit bounds for the approximation error with respect to the small parameter defining the fast time scale. We prove that the slow component of the solution of the system converges towards the solution of the averaged equation with an order of convergence 1/2 in a strong sense–approximation of trajectories–and 1 in a weak sense–approximation of laws. These orders turn out to be the same as for the SDE case
Quantitative μ-calculus and CTL Based on Constraint Semirings

AbstractModel checking and temporal logics are boolean. The answer to the model checking question does a system satisfy a property? is either true or false, and properties expressed in temporal logics are defined over boolean propositions. While this classic approach is enough to specify and verify boolean temporal properties, it does not allow to reason about quantitative aspects of systems. Some quantitative extensions of temporal logics has been already proposed, especially in the context of probabilistic systems. They allow to answer questions like with which probability does a system satisfy a property?We present a generalization of two well-known temporal logics: CTL and the μ-calculus. Both extensions are defined over c-semirings, an algebraic structure that captures many problems and that has been proposed as a general framework for soft constraint satisfaction problems (CSP). Basically, a c-semiring consists of a domain, an additive operation and a multiplicative operation, which satisfy some properties. We present the semantics of the extended logics over transition systems, where a formula is interpreted as a mapping from the set of states to the domain of the c-semiring, and show that the usual connection between CTL and μ-calculus does not hold in general. In addition, we reason about the feasibility of computing the logics and illustrate some applications of our framework, including boolean model checking
Photoproduction of η-mesons off C and Cu nuclei for photon energies below 1.1 GeV

AbstractThe η-meson photoproduction cross sections have been measured on C and Cu targets for the photon energies between 600 and 1100 MeV to investigate the behavior of the S11(1535) resonance in a nucleus. The excitation functions of the cross section as well as the angular and momentum distributions of η-mesons are in quantitative agreement with the Quantum Molecular Dynamics (QMD) model calculations in which the η-meson emission processes other than the S11(1535) resonance are also incorporated. It is shown that the η production in the γN→πηN reaction and the D15(1675) resonance formation in the γn→ηn reaction play an important role for Eγ>900 MeV
Electron microscopic evidence for a mucin-like region in chick muscle α-dystroglycan

Abstractα-Dystroglycan has been isolated from chicken cardiac muscle and its molecular weight was estimated to be ≈135 kDa. The avian protein interacts with murine Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor laminin via interaction with the C-terminal LG4 and LG5 domains (fragment E3) of the laminin α-chain. This laminin binding is calcium-dependent and can be competed by heparin. Electron microscopy investigation on the shape of α-dystroglycan suggests that the core protein consists of two roughly globular domains connected by a segment which most likely corresponds to a mucin-like central region also predicted by sequence analysis on mammalian isoforms. This segment may act as a spacer in the dystrophin-associated glycoproteins complex exposing the N-terminal domain of α-dystroglycan to laminin in the extracellular space
Structures of the Ultra-High-Affinity Protein–Protein Complexes of Pyocins S2 and AP41 and Their Cognate Immunity Proteins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

AbstractHow ultra-high-affinity protein–protein interactions retain high specificity is still poorly understood. The interaction between colicin DNase domains and their inhibitory immunity (Im) proteins is an ultra-high-affinity interaction that is essential for the neutralisation of endogenous DNase catalytic activity and for protection against exogenous DNase bacteriocins. The colicin DNase–Im interaction is a model system for the study of high-affinity protein–protein interactions. However, despite the fact that closely related colicin-like bacteriocins are widely produced by Gram-negative bacteria, this interaction has only been studied using colicins from Escherichia coli. In this work, we present the first crystal structures of two pyocin DNase–Im complexes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pyocin S2 DNase–ImS2 and pyocin AP41 DNase–ImAP41. These structures represent divergent DNase–Im subfamilies and are important in extending our understanding of protein–protein interactions for this important class of high-affinity protein complex. A key finding of this work is that mutations within the immunity protein binding energy hotspot, helix III, are tolerated by complementary substitutions at the DNase–Immunity protein binding interface. Im helix III is strictly conserved in colicins where an Asp forms polar interactions with the DNase backbone. ImAP41 contains an Asp-to-Gly substitution in helix III and our structures show the role of a co-evolved substitution where Pro in DNase loop 4 occupies the volume vacated and removes the unfulfilled hydrogen bond. We observe the co-evolved mutations in other DNase–Immunity pairs that appear to underpin the split of this family into two distinct groups
Limit on Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay of 76Ge by GERDA

AbstractThe Gerda experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy uses germanium detectors made from material with an enriched 76Ge isotope fraction to search for neutrinoless double beta decay of this nucleus. Applying a blind analysis we find no signal after an exposure of 21.6 kg·yr and a background of about 0.01 cts/(keV·kg·yr). A half-life limit of Tov1/2> 2.1 · 1025 yr (90% C.L.) is extracted. The previous claim of a signal for 76Ge is excluded with 99% probability in a model independent way
Programmed cell death in pathogenic fungi

AbstractGreater understanding of programmed cell death (PCD) responses in pathogenic fungi may offer a chance of exploiting the fungal molecular death machinery to control fungal infections. Clearly identifiable differences between the death machineries of pathogens and their hosts, make this a feasible target. Evidence for PCD in a range of pathogenic fungi is discussed alongside an evaluation of the capacity of existing antifungal agents to promote apoptosis and other forms of cell death. Information about death related signalling pathways that have been examined in pathogens as diverse as Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Magnaporthe grisea and Colletotrichum trifolii are discussed
Bacterial genomic G+C composition-eliciting environmental adaptation

AbstractBacterial genomes reflect their adaptation strategies through nucleotide usage trends found in their chromosome composition. Bacteria, unlike eukaryotes contain a wide range of genomic G+C. This wide variability may be viewed as a response to environmental adaptation. Two overarching trends are observed across bacterial genomes, the first, correlates genomic G+C to environmental niches and lifestyle, while the other utilizees intra-genomic G+C incongruence to delineate horizontally transferred material. In this review, we focus on the influence of several properties including biochemical, genetic flows, selection biases, and the biochemical-energetic properties shaping genome composition. Outcomes indicate a trend toward high G+C and larger genomes in free-living organisms, as a result of more complex and varied environments (higher chance for horizontal gene transfer). Conversely, nutrient limiting and nutrient poor environments dictate smaller genomes of low GC in attempts to conserve replication expense. Varied processes including translesion repair mechanisms, phage insertion and cytosine degradation has been shown to introduce higher AT in genomic sequences. We conclude the review with an analysis of current bioinformatics tools seeking to elicit compositional variances and highlight the practical implications when using such techniques
OxyCAP UK: Oxyfuel Combustion - academic Programme for the UK

AbstractThe OxyCAP-UK (Oxyfuel Combustion - Academic Programme for the UK) programme was a £2M collaboration involving researchers from seven UK universities, supported by E.On and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The programme, which ran from November 2009 to July 2014, has successfully completed a broad range of activities related to development of oxyfuel power plants. This paper provides an overview of key findings arising from the programme. It covers development of UK research pilot test facilities for oxyfuel applications; 2-D and 3-D flame imaging systems for monitoring, analysis and diagnostics; fuel characterisation of biomass and coal for oxyfuel combustion applications; ash transformation/deposition in oxyfuel combustion systems; materials and corrosion in oxyfuel combustion systems; and development of advanced simulation based on CFD modelling
Canonical extensions and canonicity via dcpo presentations

AbstractThe canonical extension of a lattice is in an essential way a two-sided completion. Domain theory, in contrast, is primarily concerned with one-sided completeness. In this paper, we show two things. First, we show that the canonical extension of a lattice can be given an asymmetric description in two stages: a free co-directed meet completion, followed by a completion by selected directed joins. Second, we show that the general techniques for directed complete partial order (dcpo) presentations of dcpo algebras used in the second stage of the construction immediately give us the well-known canonicity result for bounded lattices with operators
Coupling between Continuity/Momentum and Energy Equation in 1D Gas Flow

AbstractTransportation of natural gas through high pressure offshore transmission pipelines has been simulated by numeri–cally solving the governing equations for one-dimensional compressible viscous heat conducting ﬂow. For the implicit method the energy equation is solved one time step behind the continuity and momentum equation. Compared to solving all three equations simultaneously, this will decrease the computational time for each time step during the simulation. Under typical operating conditions for export pipelines in the North Sea this does not affect the results in any major way, indicating that the changes in temperature are sufﬁciently slow to allow the energy equation to be solved separately from the continuity and momentum equation
On the relationship between standard intersection cuts, lift-and-project cuts, and generalized intersection cuts

We examine the connections between the classes of cuts in the title. We show that lift-and-project (L&P) cuts from a given disjunction are equivalent to generalized intersection cuts from the family of polyhedra obtained by taking positive combinations of the complements of the inequalities of each term of the disjunction. While L&P cuts from split disjunctions are known to be equivalent to standard intersection cuts (SICs) from the strip obtained by complementing the terms of the split, we show that L&P cuts from more general disjunctions may not be equivalent to any SIC. In particular, we give easily verifiable necessary and sufficient conditions for a L&P cut from a given disjunction D to be equivalent to a SIC from the polyhedral counterpart of D. Irregular L&P cuts, i.e. those that violate these conditions, have interesting properties. For instance, unlike the regular ones, they may cut off part of the corner polyhedron associated with the LP solution from which they are derived. Furthermore, they are not exceptional: their frequency exceeds that of regular cuts. A numerical example illustrates some of the above properties. © 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg and Mathematical Optimization Societ