A
bstract
In F-theory, if a fiber type of an elliptic fibration involves a condition that requires an exceptional curve to split into two irreducible components, it is called “split” or “non-split” ...type depending on whether it is globally possible or not. In the latter case, the gauge symmetry is reduced to a non-simply-laced Lie algebra due to monodromy. We show that this split/non-split transition is, except for a special class of models, a conifold transition from the resolved to the deformed side, associated with the conifold singularities emerging where the codimension-one singularity is enhanced to
D
2
k
+2
(
k ≥
1) or
E
7
. We also examine how the previous proposal for the origin of non-local matter can be actually implemented in our blow-up analysis.
Summary
Background
Daylight‐mediated photodynamic therapy (DL‐PDT) using methyl‐5‐aminolaevulinate (MAL) is effective for thin, grade I, actinic keratoses (AK). There are no published studies of ...other photosensitizers used in DL‐PDT.
Objectives
To compare the efficacy and adverse effects of 5‐aminolaevulinic acid nanoemulsion (BF‐200 ALA) with MAL in DL‐PDT of grade I–III AKs.
Methods
In 13 patients, 177 AKs were randomized symmetrically for a split‐face prospective observer‐blinded study and received either BF‐200 ALA or MAL DL‐PDT. Grade I AKs were treated once and grade II–III AKs twice with a 0·25‐mm layer of photosensitizer precursors. Pain was assessed during and after the daylight exposure. Efficacy at 3 months was assessed clinically and histologically.
Results
BF‐200 ALA cleared 71/84 (84·5%) and MAL 69/93 (74·2%) of the AKs (P = 0·099), all grades responding equally, but with new AKs appearing during follow‐up (n = 4, BF‐200 ALA; n = 8, MAL). In per patient half‐face analysis BF‐200 ALA showed significantly higher clearance rates for grade I AKs than did MAL (P = 0·027), but for thicker grades, clearance was equal (P = 0·564). BF‐200 ALA and MAL treatments resulted in 61·5% and 38·5% complete histological clearance (P = 0·375), respectively. p53 expression decreased by 54·4% and 33·7%, respectively (P = 0·552). Both treatments were nearly painless with similar adverse reactions and no difference in patient preference.
Conclusions
BF‐200 ALA showed a trend towards improved efficacy results compared with MAL. Thicker lesions in both groups responded when treated repeatedly. Importantly, a thin 0·25‐mm layer of the photosensitizer precursors was sufficient, which may lead to lower expense.
What's already known about this topic?
Daylight‐mediated photodynamic therapy (DL‐PDT) with methylaminolaevulinate (MAL) is effective for thin actinic keratoses (AK).
What does this study add?
5‐Aminolaevulinic acid nanoemulsion (BF‐200 ALA) used as a 0·25‐mm layer is at least as effective and well tolerated as is MAL in DL‐PDT of AKs. Thicker AKs respond when treated repeatedly.
Twenty-four calves were cloned from six somatic cell types of female and male adult, newborn and fetal cows. The clones were derived from female cumulus (n = 3), oviduct (n = 2) and uterine (n = 2) ...cells, female and male skin cells (n = 10), and male ear (n = 5) and liver (n = 2) cells. On the basis of the number of cloned embryos transferred (n = 172) to surrogate cows, the overall rate of success was 14%, but based on the number of surrogate mothers that became pregnant (n = 50), the success rate was 48%. Cell nuclei from uterus, ear and liver cells, which have not been tested previously, developed into newborn calves after nuclear transfer into enucleated oocytes. To date, seven female and six male calves have survived: six of the females were from adult cells (cumulus (n = 3), oviduct (n = 2) and skin (n = 1) cells) and one was from newborn skin cells, whereas the male calves were derived from adult ear cells (n = 3), newborn liver and skin cells (n = 2), and fetal cells (n = 1). Clones derived from adult cells frequently aborted in the later stages of pregnancy and calves developing to term showed a higher number of abnormalities than did those derived from newborn or fetal cells. The telomeric DNA lengths in the ear cells of three male calves cloned from the ear cells of a bull aged 10 years were similar to those of the original bull. However, the telomeric DNA lengths from the white blood cells of the clones, although similar to those in an age-matched control, were shorter than those of the original bull, which indicates that telomeric shortening varies among tissues.
Background
Intra‐articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injection, known as viscosupplementation, is a widely used therapy for pain relief in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Long‐term clinical efficacy of HA has ...been reported in spite of a relatively short residence time. Herein, we evaluated our hypothesis that intra‐articular HA injection could reduce the OA‐associated changes in joint afferents.
Methods
OA was induced by intra‐articular injection of mono‐iodoacetate in rats. Animals in the OA + HA group were given three weekly intra‐articular HA injections. Pain‐related behaviours, including weight‐bearing asymmetry and mechanical hyperalgesia of the paw, knee joint histology and immunohistochemistry of joint afferents identified by retrograde labelling, were compared between groups (naïve, OA and OA + HA).
Results
OA rats showed pain‐related behaviours and up‐regulation of pain‐related neurochemical markers calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA) and acid‐sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) in joint afferents. HA injections reduced not only the severity of OA and pain behaviours but also OA‐associated neurochemical changes in joint afferents. The differences between OA and OA + HA were statistically significant in CGRP (61 ± 10% vs. 51 ± 10%; p = 0.0406) but not significant in TrkA (62 ± 10% vs. 54 ± 9%; p = 0.0878) and ASIC3 (38 ± 9% vs. 32 ± 8%; p = 0.3681).
Conclusion
Intra‐articular HA injections reduced the severity of OA, decreased mechanical hyperalgesia of the paw, but not weight‐bearing asymmetry, and attenuated OA‐associated up‐regulation of CGRP, but not TrkA and ASIC3, in joint afferents. The modulatory effects of HA on joint afferents is one of the underlying mechanisms of the gap between HA residence time and duration of clinical efficacy.
Background
In the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of non‐aggressive basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), 5‐aminolevulinic acid nanoemulsion (BF‐200ALA) has shown non‐inferior efficacy when compared with methyl ...aminolevulinate (MAL), a widely used photosensitizer. Hexyl aminolevulinate (HAL) is an interesting alternative photosensitizer. To our knowledge, this is the first study using HAL‐PDT in the treatment of BCCs.
Objectives
To compare the histological clearance, tolerability (pain and post‐treatment reaction) and cosmetic outcome of MAL, BF‐200 ALA and low‐concentration HAL in the PDT of non‐aggressive BCCs.
Methods
Ninety‐eight histologically verified non‐aggressive BCCs met the inclusion criteria, and 54 patients with 95 lesions completed the study. The lesions were randomized to receive LED‐PDT in two repeated treatments with MAL, BF‐200 ALA or HAL. Efficacy was assessed both clinically and confirmed histologically at three months by blinded observers. Furthermore, cosmetic outcome, pain, post‐treatment reactions fluorescence and photobleaching were evaluated.
Results
According to intention‐to‐treat analyses, the histologically confirmed lesion clearance was 93.8% (95% confidence interval CI = 79.9–98.3) for MAL, 90.9% (95% CI = 76.4–96.9) for BF‐200 ALA and 87.9% (95% CI = 72.7–95.2) for HAL, with no differences between the arms (P = 0.84). There were no differences between the arms as regards pain, post‐treatment reactions or cosmetic outcome.
Conclusions
Photodynamic therapy with low‐concentration HAL and BF‐200 ALA has a similar efficacy, tolerability and cosmetic outcome compared to MAL. HAL is an interesting new option in dermatological PDT, since good efficacy is achieved with a low concentration.
Background
The subchondral bone of the distal femur is a source of pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) or spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. However, nociceptive phenotype of dorsal root ganglia ...(DRG) neurons innervating the subchondral bone in rat knee joints has not been clarified.
Methods
Retrograde labelling was used to identify afferents innervating the subchondral bone of the distal femur and the knee joint in rats. The nociceptive phenotype markers calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA), neurofilament 200 (NF200) and isolectin B4 (IB4), segmental distribution and the soma size of backlabelled DRG neurons were examined. Furthermore, we evaluated the differences in nociceptive phenotype between the subchondral bone and the knee joint afferents.
Results
The majority (60%) of the subchondral bone afferents were localized in L3 DRGs and fewer in L4 and L5, while the knee joint afferents were localized mainly in L3 and L4. The percentage of CGRP immunoreactive (IR), TrkA‐IR, NF200‐IR and IB4‐binding neurons in the subchondral bone afferents were 50%, 65%, 35% and 0%, respectively. The percentage of CGRP‐IR and TrkA‐IR neurons in the subchondral bone afferents was significantly higher than that in the knee joint afferents, respectively (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
The majority of sensory DRG neurons innervating the subchondral bone of the distal femur were CGRP‐IR and TrkA‐IR. It is expected that therapeutic approaches targeting CGRP and TrkA could be effective in attenuating pain from the subchondral bone in knee joints.
Technologies for machining advanced insulating ceramics are demanded in many industrial fields. Recently, several insulating ceramics, such as Si
3N
4, SiC and ZrO
2, have been successfully machined ...by electrical discharge machining (EDM). As unstable discharges occur during the machining of Al
2O
3 ceramics, inferior machining properties have been obtained. The formation mechanism of the electrical conductive layer on the EDMed surface is much different as compared to other ceramics. In addition to this, the electrically conductive layers are not formed sufficiently to adhere to the EDMed workpiece surface and keep a stable and continuous discharge generation on the ceramics. Graphite is widely used as electrode material in EDM. It is expected that carbon from graphite electrode implant and generate a conductive layer. Copper, graphite (Poco EDM-3) and copper-infiltrated-graphite (Poco EDM-C3) electrodes were used to compare the effects of generation of a conductive layer on alumina corresponding to EDM properties. The electrical discharge machining of 95% pure alumina shows that the EDM-C3 performs very well, giving significantly higher material removal rate (MRR) and lower electrode wear ratio than the EDM-3 and copper electrodes. The value of MRR was found to increase by 60% for EDM-3 with positive electrode polarity. As for EDM-C3, MRR was increased by 80% under the same condition. When the results were investigated with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), no element of copper was observed on the conductive layer with both EDM-3 and EDM-C3. However, surface resistivity of a conductive layer created with EDM-C3 is less than with EDM-3. Surface roughness was improved to 25
μm with positive polarity of EDM-C3.
In this paper, we describe the synthesis and characterization of quantum dot (QD) chains. We used small QD-DNA conjugates, i.e., short-ligand-capped QDs conjugated with short (15-mers) ...single-stranded DNA, as the building blocks. The small conjugates were separated based on the valence of the DNA, i.e., the amount of DNA per particle, using agarose gel electrophoresis. The conjugates formed self-assemblies composed of closely spaced (inter-particle spacing of 0.6-2 nm) QDs. We report the results of our investigation of the electrophoresis and hybridization of the conjugation.
Texture engineering using reactive-templated grain growth (RTGG) is reviewed as a key processing technique for lead free piezoelectric ceramics. Bismuth layer structured ferroelectric ABi
4
Ti
4
O
15
...(A=Na
0·5
Bi
0·5
, Ca, Sr) ceramics with a highly preferred {001} orientation were fabricated with enhanced piezoelectric properties using Bi
4
Ti
3
O
12
platelets. Textured simple perovskite type ceramics were also prepared in Bi
0·5
Na
0·5
TiO
3
(BNT), BaTiO
3
and K
0·5
Na
0·5
NbO
3
(KNN) based compositions with Lotgering's factor higher than 0·8. The textured BNT and KNN based ceramics exhibited enhanced electromechanical coupling coefficients and piezoelectric constants when compared with their randomly oriented counterparts. The development of microstructure and texture in the RTGG processed ceramics is dependent on the target system, starting materials and processing parameters, and optimum preparation conditions must be found by analytical investigation.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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