Twin solutions to singular boundary value problems

In this paper we establish the existence of two nonnegative solutions to singular and singular focal boundary value problems. Our nonlinearity may be singular at , and/or .

     

The spectra of nonnegative integer matrices via formal power series

We characterize the possible nonzero spectra of primitive integer matrices (the integer case of Boyle and Handelman's Spectral Conjecture). Characterizations of nonzero spectra of nonnegative matrices over and follow from this result. For the proof of the main theorem we use polynomial matrices to reduce the problem of realizing a candidate spectrum to factoring the polynomial as a product where the 's are polynomials in satisfying some technical conditions and is a formal power series in . To obtain the factorization, we present a hierarchy of estimates on coefficients of power series of the form to ensure nonpositivity in nonzero degree terms.

     

On type basic hypergeometric orthogonal polynomials

The five parameter family of Koornwinder's multivariable analogues of the Askey-Wilson polynomials is studied with four parameters generically complex. The Koornwinder polynomials form an orthogonal system with respect to an explicit (in general complex) measure. A partly discrete orthogonality measure is obtained by shifting the contour to the torus while picking up residues. A parameter domain is given for which the partly discrete orthogonality measure is positive. The orthogonality relations and norm evaluations for multivariable -Racah polynomials and multivariable big and little -Jacobi polynomials are proved by taking suitable limits in the orthogonality relations for the Koornwinder polynomials. In particular new proofs of several well-known -analogues of the Selberg integral are obtained.

     

Geometric properties of the sections of solutions to the Monge-Ampère equation

In this paper we establish several geometric properties of the cross sections of generalized solutions to the Monge-Ampère equation , when the measure satisfies a doubling property. A main result is a characterization of the doubling measures in terms of a geometric property of the cross sections of . This is used to obtain estimates of the shape and invariance properties of the cross sections that are valid under appropriate normalizations.

     

Extensions of Modules over Hopf Algebras Arising from Lie Algebras of Cartan Type

In this paper we prove that there are no self-extensions of simple modules over restricted Lie algebras of Cartan type. The proof given by Andersen for classical Lie algebras not only uses the representation theory of the Lie algebra, but also representations of the corresponding reductive algebraic group. The proof presented in the paper follows in the same spirit by using the construction of a infinite-dimensional Hopf algebra D(G) u( ) containing u( ) as a normal Hopf subalgebra, and the representation theory of this algebra developed in our previous work. Finite-dimensional hyperalgebra analogs D(G _r ) u( ) have also been constructed, and the results are stated in this setting.     

The Order of Best Approximation in Some Classes of Functions

Starting from the equivalence between the Ditzian–Totik modulus and , where , in this article large classes of functions are introduced for which the modulus can be easily calculated. As a consequence, very good estimates for the bestapproximation are obtained. The attempts to estimate or calculate themodulus can be a very intricateproblem.     

Petrov Types of Slowly Rotating Fluid Balls

Circularly rotating axisymmetric perfect fluid space-times are investigated to second order in the small angular velocity. The conditions of various special Petrov types are solved in a comoving tetrad formalism. A number of theorems are stated on the possible Petrov types of various fluid models. It is shown that Petrov type II solutions must reduce to the de Sitter spacetime in the static limit. Two space-times with a physically satisfactory energy-momentum tensor are investigated in detail. For the rotating incompressible fluid, it is proven that the Petrov type cannot be D. The equation of the rotation function can be solved for the Tolman type IV fluid in terms of quadratures. It is also shown that the rotating version of the Tolman IV space-time cannot be Petrov type D.     

Antigen retrieval on formaldehyde-fixed paraffin sections: its potential drawbacks and optimization for double immunostaining

It is well known that the major artifact induced by formaldehyde fixation is the masking of tissue antigens due to cross-linking of protein amino acid residues. Recently many antigen retrieval techniques have been devised to unmask the hidden antigen epitopes and recover immunoreactivity. In this study, some practical problems of two common unmasking techniques, i.e. heat-induced epitope retrieval and enzyme digestion have been reviewed in immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) on formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. As the heating conditions became more severe, false-positive staining and/or nonspecific background staining occurred. Based on the principle of protein inactivation/denaturation and the possible mechanisms of antigen retrieval, it has been suggested that the antigen retrieval itself can also denature proteins in tissues, just as many other protein inactivation processes. Thus, the total magnitude of protein conformational change caused by the overall unmasking procedure is in practice crucial. To prove this hypothesis and to overcome such undesirable drawbacks after antigen retrieval, a new combination technique of a mild heating condition (microwaved at 80°C for 15–20 min) and pepsin digestion was devised. This technique led to a strong specific immunoreactivity of PCNA, without any undesirable false positive or background staining. The procedure was also adapted for double immunostaining of PCNA together with -actin, bromodeoxyuridine, keratin, type IV collagen and vimentin.     

Evidence of red cell alignment in the magnetic field of an NMR spectrometer based on the diffusion tensor of water

The alignment of human erythrocytes in aqueous suspensions in the magnetic field B(0) (called the z-direction) of an NMR spectrometer was shown by calculating the diffusion tensor for water in the sample. The diffusion was measured using a pulsed-field-gradient spin-echo NMR method. The extent of diffusion anisotropy for water was exemplified by the values of the apparent diffusion coefficients with erythrocytes of normal shape and volume: for a typical experiment the values for the x-, y-, and z-directions were (6.88 +/- 0.17) x 10(-10), (7.07 +/- 0.17) x 10(-10), and (10.20 +/- 0.17) x 10(-10) m(2) s(-1), respectively. Cells in hypo- and hyperosmotic media were also studied and they too showed the anisotropy of the apparent diffusion coefficients but the extents were different. A new method of data analysis was developed using the Standard Add-On Packages in a Mathematica program. The experimental findings support evidence of erythrocyte alignment that was previously obtained with a high-field-gradient q-space method.     

单个心肌细胞内钙波的微观动力学研究

利用基于近场光学原理构建的全内反射荧光显微镜研究了大鼠单个心肌细胞中的钙信号. 利用这种显微镜的快速成像和高信噪比的特点，观察到单个细胞中复杂的二维钙波斑图. 分析了单个钙信号释放事件在钙波形成、运动过程中的作用. 建立在fire-diffuse-fire模型基础上的模拟显示，由基本钙释放事件组成的钙波可以在心肌细胞中稳定存在. 此研究对进一步认识活体可激发系统的微观动力学行为有指导意义. 关键词： 近场光学 全内反射荧光显微镜 心肌细胞 钙波