Modal dependent type theory and dependent right adjoints

In recent years we have seen several new models of dependent type theory extended with some form of modal necessity operator, including nominal type theory, guarded and clocked type theory, and spatial and cohesive type theory. In this paper we study modal dependent type theory: dependent type theory with an operator satisfying (a dependent version of) the K-axiom of modal logic. We investigate both semantics and syntax. For the semantics, we introduce categories with families with a dependent right adjoint (CwDRA) and show that the examples above can be presented as such. Indeed, we show that any finite limit category with an adjunction of endofunctors gives rise to a CwDRA via the local universe construction. For the syntax, we introduce a dependently typed extension of Fitch-style modal lambda-calculus, show that it can be interpreted in any CwDRA, and build a term model. We extend the syntax and semantics with universes

Linear programs and convex hulls over fields of puiseux fractions

We describe the implementation of a subfield of the field of formal Puiseux series in polymake. This is employed for solving linear programs and computing convex hulls depending on a real parameter. Moreover, this approach is also useful for computations in tropical geometry

Diabetische Nephropathie: Neues zur Pathogenese [Diabetic nephropathy: update on pathogenesis]

Diabetes mellitus is the most common cause of renal failure in industrialized countries. It is largely unknown why only 20 -40% of patients with diabetes develop diabetic nephropathy. Experimental animal models with histological features of human diabetic nephropathy could help to elucidate new genetic and pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetic nephropathy. The benefit of intensive blood glucose control has been well documented for renal endpoints in Type 1 diabetes (DCCT EDIC). In contrast, major clinical diabetes intervention studies (ACCORD, ADVANCE, VA DIABETES) were not able to demonstrate convincing benefits of tight blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, these studies revealed novel outcome-derived hypotheses. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been completed to identify genetic loci on chromosomes for a genetic predisposition of diabetic nephropathy in humans. This review reports on recent results on the establishment of suitable mouse models that mimic human diabetic nephropathy, aspects of renal endpoints in the therapeutic objectives of diabetics, and new insights into the genetic predisposition (susceptibility) of diabetic nephropathy in humans

Improving sensitivity of XANES structural fit to the bridged metal–metal coordination

Hard X-ray absorption spectroscopy is a valuable in situ probe for non-destructive diagnostics of metal sites. The low-energy interval of a spectrum (XANES) contains information about the metal oxidation state, ligand type, symmetry and distances in the first coordination shell but shows almost no dependency on the bridged metal–metal bond length. The higher-energy interval (EXAFS), on the contrary, is more sensitive to the coordination numbers and can decouple the contribution from distances in different coordination shells. Supervised machine-learning methods can combine information from different intervals of a spectrum; however, computational approaches for the near-edge region of the spectrum and higher energies are different. This work aims to keep all benefits of XANES and extend its sensitivity towards the interatomic distances in the first and second coordination shells. Using a binuclear bridged copper complex as a case study and cross-validation analysis as a quantitative tool it is shown that the first 170 eV above the edge are already sufficient to balance the contributions of Cu–O/N scattering and Cu–Cu scattering. As a more general outcome this work highlights the trivial but often overlooked importance of using `longer' energy intervals of XANES for structural refinement and machine-learning predictions. The first 200 eV above the absorption edge still do not require parametrization of Debye–Waller damping and can be calculated within full multiple scattering or finite difference approximations with only moderately increased computational costs

Glutathione S-Transferase P1 (GSTP1) gene polymorphism increases age-related susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent malignant neoplasms in the world. Genetic polymorphism has been reported to be a factor increasing the risk of HCC. Phase II enzymes such as glutathione s-transferases (GSTP1, GSTA1) play important roles in protecting cells against damage induced by carcinogens. The aim of this study was to estimate the relationship of the GSTP1 and GSTA1 gene polymorphisms to HCC risk and clinico-pathological status.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to measure GSTP1 (A→G) and GSTA1 (C→T) gene polymorphisms in 386 healthy controls and 177 patients with HCC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Neither gene polymorphism was associated with the clinico-pathological status of HCC and serum expression of liver-related clinico-pathological markers. No association between the GSTA1 gene polymorphism and HCC susceptibility was found. However, in the younger group, aged ≤ 57 years, individuals with AG or GG alleles of GSTP1 had a 2.18-fold (95%CI = 1.09-4.36; p = 0.02) and 5.64-fold (95%CI = 1.02-31.18; p = 0.04) risk, respectively, of developing HCC compared to individuals with AA alleles, after adjusting for other confounders.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>AG and GG alleles of GSTP1 gene polymorphisms may be considered as factors increasing the susceptibility to and risk of HCC in Taiwanese aged ≤ 57 years.</p