Quotients, exactness, and nuclearity in the operator system category

We continue our study of tensor products in the operator system category. We define operator system quotients and exactness in this setting and refine the notion of nuclearity by studying operator systems that preserve various pairs of tensor products. One of our main goals is to relate these refinements of nuclearity to the Kirchberg conjecture. In particular, we prove that the Kirchberg conjecture is equivalent to the statement that every operator system that is (min,er)-nuclear is also (el,c)-nuclear. We show that operator system quotients are not always equal to the corresponding operator space quotients and then study exactness of various operator system tensor products for the operator system quotient. We prove that an operator system is exact for the min tensor product if and only if it is (min,el)-nuclear. We give many characterizations of operator systems that are (min,er)-nuclear, (el,c)-nuclear, (min,el)-nuclear and (el,max)-nuclear. These characterizations involve operator system analogues of various properties from the theory of C*-algebras and operator spaces, including the WEP and LLP.

Differences in the Endocannabinoid System of Sperm from Fertile and Infertile Men

Male infertility is a major cause of problems for many couples in conceiving a child. Recently, lifestyle pastimes such as alcohol, tobacco and marijuana have been shown to have further negative effects on male reproduction. The endocannabinoid system (ECS), mainly through the action of anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) at cannabinoid (CB(1), CB(2)) and vanilloid (TRPV1) receptors, plays a crucial role in controlling functionality of sperm, with a clear impact on male reproductive potential. Here, sperm from fertile and infertile men were used to investigate content (through LC-ESI-MS), mRNA (through quantitative RT-PCR), protein (through Western Blotting and ELISA) expression, and functionality (through activity and binding assays) of the main metabolic enzymes of AEA and 2-AG (NAPE-PLD and FAAH, for AEA; DAGL and MAGL for 2-AG), as well as of their binding receptors CB(1), CB(2) and TRPV1. Our findings show a marked reduction of AEA and 2-AG content in infertile seminal plasma, paralleled by increased degradation: biosynthesis ratios of both substances in sperm from infertile versus fertile men. In addition, TRPV1 binding was detected in fertile sperm but was undetectable in infertile sperm, whereas that of CB(1) and CB(2) receptors was not statistically different in the two groups. In conclusion, this study identified unprecedented alterations of the ECS in infertile sperm, that might impact on capacitation and acrosome reaction, and hence fertilization outcomes. These alterations might also point to new biomarkers to determine male reproductive defects, and identify distinct ECS elements as novel targets for therapeutic exploitation of ECS-oriented drugs to treat male fertility problems. 

Novel chiral ionic liquids:physicochemical properties and investigation of the internal rotameric behaviour in the neat system

Optically active S-alkyl-N, N'-bis((S)-1-phenylethyl) thiouronium salts, abbreviated as (S)-[Cnpetu] Y (where Y is an anion; n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 16), have been prepared and studied by a broad spectrum of analyses. This consists of density, viscosity, and conductivity determination, followed by a discussion of relevant correlations. Unusual trends depending on the S-alkyl chain length were documented for (S)-[Cnpetu][ NTf2] series (where [NTf2] = bis{(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl} amide), including the viscosity decreasing with increasing chain length, and the conductivity showing a maximum between the S-butyl and the S-hexyl derivative. In addition, a hindered rotamerism of the thiouronium cation in dmso-d(6) solution was recognised by H-1 and C-13 NMR techniques. Thorough analysis of NMR spectra confirmed that the main contribution comes from rotation about the partial double C-S bond. For the first time, a neat thiouronium ionic liquid system has been subjected to quantitative analysis of hindered rotamerism by dynamic NMR coalescence studies, with estimated activation energy for rotation of 63.9 +/- 0.4 kJ mol(-1). Finally, the application of (S)-[C(n)petu] Y salts as chiral discriminating agents for carboxylates by 1H NMR spectroscopy was further investigated, demonstrating the influence of the S-alkyl chain length on chiral recognition; (S)-[C(2)petu][NTf2] ionic liquid with the mandelate anion gave the best results.

A new sensory organ in "primitive" molluscs (Polyplacophora Lepidopleurida), and its context in the nervous system of chitons

Introduction: Chitons (Polyplacophora) are molluscs considered to have a simple nervous system without cephalisation. The position of the class within Mollusca is the topic of extensive debate and neuroanatomical characters can provide new sources of phylogenetic data as well as insights into the fundamental biology of the organisms. We report a new discrete anterior sensory structure in chitons, occurring throughout Lepidopleurida, the order of living chitons that retains plesiomorphic characteristics.

Results: The novel "Schwabe organ" is clearly visible on living animals as a pair of streaks of brown or purplish pigment on the roof of the pallial cavity, lateral to or partly covered by the mouth lappets. We describe the histology and ultrastructure of the anterior nervous system, including the Schwabe organ, in two lepidopleuran chitons using light and electron microscopy. The oesophageal nerve ring is greatly enlarged and displays ganglionic structure, with the neuropil surrounded by neural somata. The Schwabe organ is innervated by the lateral nerve cord, and dense bundles of nerve fibres running through the Schwabe organ epithelium are frequently surrounded by the pigment granules which characterise the organ. Basal cells projecting to the epithelial surface and cells bearing a large number of ciliary structures may be indicative of sensory function. The Schwabe organ is present in all genera within Lepidopleurida (and absent throughout Chitonida) and represents a novel anatomical synapomorphy of the clade.

Conclusions: The Schwabe organ is a pigmented sensory organ, found on the ventral surface of deep-sea and shallow water chitons; although its anatomy is well understood, its function remains unknown. The anterior commissure of the chiton oesophagial nerve ring can be considered a brain. Our thorough review of the chiton central nervous system, and particularly the sensory organs of the pallial cavity, provides a context to interpret neuroanatomical homology and assess this new sense organ.

Emotional insecurity in the family and community and youth delinquency in Northern Ireland: A person-oriented analysis across five-waves

Background: Over one billion children are exposed worldwide to political violence and armed conflict. Currently, conclusions about bases for adjustment problems are qualified by limited longitudinal research from a process-oriented, social-ecological perspective. In this study, we examined a theoretically-based model for the impact of multiple levels of the social ecology (family, community) on adolescent delinquency. Specifically, this study explored the impact of children’s emotional insecurity about both the family and community on youth delinquency in Northern Ireland. Methods: In the context of a five-wave longitudinal research design, participants included 999 mother-child dyads in Belfast (482 boys, 517 girls), drawn from socially-deprived, ethnically-homogenous areas that had experienced political violence. Youth ranged in age from 10 to 20 and were 12.18 (SD = 1.82) years old on average at Time 1. Findings: The longitudinal analyses were conducted in hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), allowing for the modeling of inter-individual differences in intra-individual change. Intra-individual trajectories of emotional insecurity about the family related to children’s delinquency. Greater insecurity about the community worsened the impact of family conflict on youth’s insecurity about the family, consistent with the notion that youth’s insecurity about the community sensitizes them to exposure to family conflict in the home. Conclusions: The results suggest that ameliorating children’s insecurity about family and community in contexts of political violence is an important goal toward improving adolescents’ well-being, including reduced risk for delinquency.

BMP signalling: agony and antagony in the family

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are secreted extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated proteins that regulate a wide range of developmental processes, including limb and kidney formation. A critical element of BMP regulation is the presence of secreted antagonists that bind and inhibit BMP binding to their cognate Ser/Thr kinase receptors at the plasma membrane. Antagonists such as Noggin, Chordin, Gremlin (Grem1), and twisted gastrulation-1 (Twsg1) have been shown to inhibit BMP action in a range of different cell types and developmental stage-specific contexts. Here we review new developments in the field of BMP and BMP antagonist biology during mammalian development and suggest strategies for targeting these proteins in human disease.

◦‘She said she was in the family way’: Pregnancy and infancy in Modern Ireland'

I wrote the preface to this collection of essays by my former student, Dr Elaine Farrell

A search for star-planet interactions in the υ Andromedae system at X-ray and optical wavelengths

Context. Close-in, giant planets are expected to influence their host stars via tidal or magnetic interaction. But are these effects in X-rays strong enough in suitable targets known so far to be observed with today's instrumentation? Aims: The υ And system, an F8V star with a Hot Jupiter, was observed to undergo cyclic changes in chromospheric activity indicators with its innermost planet's period. We aim to investigate the stellar chromospheric and coronal activity over several months. Methods: We therefore monitored the star in X-rays as well as at optical wavelengths to test coronal and chromospheric activity indicators for planet-induced variability, making use of the Chandra X-ray Observatory as well as the echelle spectrographs FOCES and HRS at Calar Alto (Spain) and the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (Texas, US). Results: The stellar activity level is low, as seen both in X-rays as in Ca ii line fluxes; the chromospheric data show variability with the stellar rotation period. We do not find activity variations in X-rays or in the optical that can be traced back to the planet. Conclusions: Gaining observational evidence of star-planet interactions in X-rays remains challenging.