Chromosomal translocations among the healthy human population: implications in oncogenesis

Chromosomal translocations are characteristic features of many cancers, especially lymphoma and leukemia. However, recent reports suggest that many chromosomal translocations can be found in healthy individuals, although the significance of this observation is still not clear. In this review, we summarize recent studies on chromosomal translocations in healthy individuals carried out in different geographical areas of the world and discuss the relevance of the observation with respect to oncogenesis.

An enthalpy-based model of dendritic growth in a convecting binary alloy melt

Purpose-In the present work, a numerical method, based on the well established enthalpy technique, is developed to simulate the growth of binary alloy equiaxed dendrites in presence of melt convection. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach-The principle of volume-averaging is used to formulate the governing equations (mass, momentum, energy and species conservation) which are solved using a coupled explicit-implicit method. The velocity and pressure fields are obtained using a fully implicit finite volume approach whereas the energy and species conservation equations are solved explicitly to obtain the enthalpy and solute concentration fields. As a model problem, simulation of the growth of a single crystal in a two-dimensional cavity filled with an undercooled melt is performed. Findings-Comparison of the simulation results with available solutions obtained using level set method and the phase field method shows good agreement. The effects of melt flow on dendrite growth rate and solute distribution along the solid-liquid interface are studied. A faster growth rate of the upstream dendrite arm in case of binary alloys is observed, which can be attributed to the enhanced heat transfer due to convection as well as lower solute pile-up at the solid-liquid interface. Subsequently, the influence of thermal and solutal Peclet number and undercooling on the dendrite tip velocity is investigated. Originality/value-As the present enthalpy based microscopic solidification model with melt convection is based on a framework similar to popularly used enthalpy models at the macroscopic scale, it lays the foundation to develop effective multiscale solidification.

A comparative phase 1 clinical trial to identify anti-infective mechanisms of vitamin D in people with HIV infection

Objectives:To determine if there is a biological mechanism that explains the association between HIV disease progression and increased mortality with low circulating vitamin D levels; specifically, to determine if restoring vitamin D levels induced T-cell functional changes important for antiviral immunity.Design:This was a pilot, open-label, three-arm prospective phase 1 study.Methods:We recruited 28 patients with low plasma vitamin D (<50nmol/l 25-hydroxyvitamin D3), comprising 17 HIV+ patients (11 on HAART, six treatment-naive) and 11 healthy controls, who received a single dose of 200000IU oral cholecalciferol. Advanced T-cell flow cytometry methods measured CD4(+) T-cell function associated with viral control in blood samples at baseline and 1-month after vitamin D supplementation.Results:One month of vitamin D supplementation restored plasma levels to sufficiency (>75nmol/l) in 27 of 28 patients, with no safety issues. The most striking change was in HIV+ HAART+ patients, where increased frequencies of antigen-specific T cells expressing macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 - an important anti-HIV blocking chemokine - were observed, with a concomitant increase in plasma MIP-1, both of which correlated significantly with vitamin D levels. In addition, plasma cathelicidin - a vitamin D response gene with broad antimicrobial activity - was enhanced.Conclusion:Vitamin D supplementation modulates disease-relevant T-cell functions in HIV-infected patients, and may represent a useful adjunct to HAART therapy. Copyright (C) 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Saltation in wind blown sand

The Boltzmann equation of the sand particle velocity distribution function in wind-blown sand two-phase flow is established based on the motion equation of single particle in air. And then, the generalized balance law of particle property in single phase granular flow is extended to gas-particle two-phase flow. The velocity distribution function of particle phase is expanded into an infinite series by means of Grad's method and the Gauss distribution is used to replace Maxwell distribution. In the case of truncation at the third-order terms, a closed third-order moment dynamical equation system is constructed. The theory is further simplified according to the measurement results obtained by stroboscopic photography in wind tunnel tests.

Uncooled DBR laser directly modulated at 3.125 Gb/s as athermal transmitter for low-cost WDM systems

An uncooled three-section tunable distributed Bragg reflector laser is demonstrated as an athermal transmitter for low-cost uncooled wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) systems with tight channel spacing. A ±0.02-nm thermal wavelength drift is achieved under continuous-wave operation up to 70 °C. Dynamic sidemode suppression ratio of greater than 35 dB is consistently obtained under 3.125-Gb/s direct modulation over a 20 °C-70 °C temperature range, with wavelength variation of as low as ±0.2 nm. This indicates that more than an order of magnitude reduction in coarse WDM channel spacing is possible using this source. © 2005 IEEE.

Spall damage in aluminum-alloy

A void growth relations for ductile porous materials under intense dynamic general loading condition is presented. The mathematical model includes the influence of inertial effects, material rate sensitivity, as well as the contribution of void surface energy and material work-hardening. Numerical analysis shows that inertia appears to resist the growth of voids. The inertial effects increase quickly with the loading rates. The theoretical analysis suggests that the inertial effects cannot be neglected at high loading rates. Plate-impact tests of aluminum alloy are performed with light gas gun. The processes of dynamic damage in aluminum alloy are successfully simulated with a finite-difference dynamic code in which the theoretical model presented in this paper is incorporated.

Descriptions of two new species of nun birds from Panama

Two new species of Monasa are among the interesting birds collected by E. A. Goldman while working on the Smithsonian Biological Survey of Panama during the winter of 1911. They were collected at the same locality on the base of Cerro Azul, northwest from Chepo, and only a single specimen of each was obtained. No others were seen during the entire season in the Canal Zone and adjacent territory...(Document contains 4 pages)

近壁湍流脉动的概率分布函数

采用大涡模拟方法，模拟槽道湍流，获得了不同雷诺数情形下的槽道流大涡模拟数据库．在此基础上，获得了流向和垂向脉动速度的概率分布函数，并运用假设检验，分析了其与正态分布的定量差别．进一步计算了流向和垂向脉动速度的偏斜度、平坦度，讨论了二者在粘性子层、过渡区和对数律区的变化．同时，讨论了粘性子层、过渡区和对数律区流向和垂向脉动速度概率分布函数的特点及其与湍流猝发的高速流下扫和低速流喷发事件的关系．最后，分析了雷诺数对流向、垂向脉动速度分布的影响。

双材料界面裂纹平面问题的半权函数法

应用半权函数法求解双材料界面裂纹的平面问题.由平衡方程、应力应变关系、界面的连续条件以及裂纹面零应力条件推导出裂尖的位移和应力场,其特征值为lambda及其共轭.设置特征值为lambda的虚拟位移和应力场,即界面裂纹的半权函数.由功的互等定理得到应力强度因子KⅠ和KⅡ以半权函数与绕裂尖围道上参考位移和应力积分关系的表达式.数值算例体现了半权函数法精度可靠、计算简便的特点.

El modelo de sexualidad de la sociedad cristiana medieval: norma y transgresión

[ES]En estas páginas se analiza el modelo de sexualidad conyugal establecido por la Iglesia medieval para poder responder a la pregunta de qué era lícito y qué no en las relaciones sexuales. Así, entre otras cuestiones, se pasa revista a las posturas, a los momentos, las frecuencias, etc. Igualmente se exponen diversas estrategias arbitradas por la sociedad medieval para vivir en pareja y disfrutar del sexo al margen del matrimonio canónico, como la barraganía,el amancebamiento o el estupro.

La articulación textual en los "Progumnásmata" de Nicolao de Mura

[ES]En este trabajo se estudia el uso de los marcadores del discurso y del asíndeton como medios de articulación textual entre los diversos enunciados que constituyen los "Progumnásmata" de Nicolao. Este estudio permite observar si existen diferencias entre las dos partes que componen la edición de Felten y si el uso de partículas de Nicolao es diferente del que hacen los demás autores de "Progumnásmata".

La retórica de la providentia como narración en la obra historiográfica de Antonio de Nebrija

Ejemplar dedicado a: "Les espècies narratives al relat i a l'escena"

Non esse parua sine quibus magna constare non possunt: la pequeña grandeza de la gramática según Antonio de Nebrija (y Erasmo)

[ES] Nuestro ensayo analiza la función y el sentido que adopta el tópico de la "grandeza de lo pequeño" en la obra gramatical de Antonio de Nebrija y un ejemplo en Erasmo.