A relational database of post-harvest fish losses

The article describes FISHLOSS, a database of post-harvest fish losses devised by the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), UK. The database contains 450 records of post-harvest fish losses from 150 sources. The majority of the estimates are shelf-life estimates. Designed to be a reference for people studying post-harvest fish losses, it draws attention to areas requiring future research to identify significant losses and the factors which cause them. All researchers and users are encouraged to send NRI their own estimates for inclusion in revised versions of FISHLOSS

Out-of-equilibrium singlet-triplet Kondo effect in a single C_60 quantum dot

We have used an electromigration technique to fabricate a $\rm{C_{{60}}}$ single-molecule transistor (SMT). Besides describing our electromigration procedure, we focus and present an experimental study of a single molecule quantum dot containing an even number of electrons, revealing, for two different samples, a clear out-of-equilibrium Kondo effect. Low temperature magneto-transport studies are provided, which demonstrates a Zeeman splitting of the finite bias anomaly.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Genetic variation at MECOM, TERT, JAK2 and HBS1L-MYB predisposes to myeloproliferative neoplasms

Clonal proliferation in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) is driven by somatic mutations in JAK2, CALR or MPL, but the contribution of inherited factors is poorly characterized. Using a three-stage genome-wide association study of 3,437 MPN cases and 10,083 controls, we identify two SNPs with genome-wide significance in JAK2V617F-negative MPN: rs12339666 (JAK2; meta-analysis P=1.27 × 10−10) and rs2201862 (MECOM; meta-analysis P=1.96 × 10−9). Two additional SNPs, rs2736100 (TERT) and rs9376092 (HBS1L/MYB), achieve genome-wide significance when including JAK2V617F-positive cases. rs9376092 has a stronger effect in JAK2V617F-negative cases with CALR and/or MPL mutations (Breslow–Day P=4.5 × 10−7), whereas in JAK2V617F-positive cases rs9376092 associates with essential thrombocythemia (ET) rather than polycythemia vera (allelic χ2 P=7.3 × 10−7). Reduced MYB expression, previously linked to development of an ET-like disease in model systems, associates with rs9376092 in normal myeloid cells. These findings demonstrate that multiple germline variants predispose to MPN and link constitutional differences in MYB expression to disease phenotype

Superstrings with Intrinsic Torsion

We systematically analyse the necessary and sufficient conditions for the preservation of supersymmetry for bosonic geometries of the form R^{1,9-d} \times M_d, in the common NS-NS sector of type II string theory and also type I/heterotic string theory. The results are phrased in terms of the intrinsic torsion of G-structures and provide a comprehensive classification of static supersymmetric backgrounds in these theories. Generalised calibrations naturally appear since the geometries always admit NS or type I/heterotic fivebranes wrapping calibrated cycles. Some new solutions are presented. In particular we find d=6 examples with a fibred structure which preserve N=1,2,3 supersymmetry in type II and include compact type I/heterotic geometries.Comment: 58 pages, LaTeX; v2: New section on solutions including an example with N=3 supersymmetry and discussion of heterotic compactifications. Details on conventions and references added. v3: added an explicit example of non-integrable product structure in Appendix C; some typos fixe

CUORE: A Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events

CUORE is a proposed tightly packed array of 1000 TeO2 bolometers, each being a cube 5 cm on a side with a mass of 760 g. The array consists of 25 vertical towers, arranged in a square of 5 towers by 5 towers, each containing 10 layers of 4 crystals. The design of the detector is optimized for ultralow-background searches: for neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te (33.8% abundance), cold dark matter, solar axions, and rare nuclear decays. A preliminary experiment involving 20 crystals 3x3x6 cm3 of 340 g has been completed, and a single CUORE tower is being constructed as a smaller scale experiment called CUORICINO. The expected performance and sensitivity, based on Monte Carlo simulations and extrapolations of present results, are reported.Comment: 39 pages, 12 figures, submitted to NI

The reaction of oleic acid monolayers with gas-phase ozone at the air water interface: the effect of sub-phase viscosity, and inert secondary components

Organic films that form on atmospheric particulate matter change the optical and cloud condensation nucleation properties of the particulate matter and consequently have implications for modern climate and climate models. The organic films are subject to attack from gas-phase oxidants present in ambient air. Here we revisit in greater detail the oxidation of a monolayer of oleic acid by gas-phase ozone at the air–water interface as this provides a model system for the oxidation reactions that occur at the air–water interface of aqueous atmospheric aerosol. Experiments were performed on monolayers of oleic acid at the air–liquid interface at atmospherically relevant ozone concentrations to investigate if the viscosity of the sub-phase influences the rate of the reaction and to determine the effect of the presence of a second component within the monolayer, stearic acid, which is generally considered to be non-reactive towards ozone, on the reaction kinetics as determined by neutron reflectometry measurements. Atmospheric aerosol can be extremely viscous. The kinetics of the reaction were found to be independent of the viscosity of the sub-phase below the monolayer over a range of moderate viscosities, Image ID:d0cp03934a-t1.gif, demonstrating no involvement of aqueous sub-phase oxidants in the rate determining step. The kinetics of oxidation of monolayers of pure oleic acid were found to depend on the surface coverage with different behaviour observed above and below a surface coverage of oleic acid of ∼1 × 1018 molecule m−2. Atmospheric aerosol are typically complex mixtures, and the presence of an additional compound in the monolayer that is inert to direct ozone oxidation, stearic acid, did not significantly change the reaction kinetics. It is demonstrated that oleic acid monolayers at the air–water interface do not leave any detectable material at the air–water interface, contradicting the previous work published in this journal which the authors now believe to be erroneous. The combined results presented here indicate that the kinetics, and thus the atmospheric chemical lifetime for unsaturated surface active materials at the air–water interface to loss by reaction with gas-phase ozone, can be considered to be independent of other materials present at either the air–water interface or in the aqueous sub-phase

Dynamic control of a single-server system with abandonments

In this paper, we discuss the dynamic server control in a two-class service system with abandonments. Two models are considered. In the first case, rewards are received upon service completion, and there are no abandonment costs (other than the lost opportunity to gain rewards). In the second, holding costs per customer per unit time are accrued, and each abandonment involves a fixed cost. Both cases are considered under the discounted or average reward/cost criterion. These are extensions of the classic scheduling question (without abandonments) where it is well known that simple priority rules hold. The contributions in this paper are twofold. First, we show that the classic c-μ rule does not hold in general. An added condition on the ordering of the abandonment rates is sufficient to recover the priority rule. Counterexamples show that this condition is not necessary, but when it is violated, significant loss can occur. In the reward case, we show that the decision involves an intuitive tradeoff between getting more rewards and avoiding idling. Secondly, we note that traditional solution techniques are not directly applicable. Since customers may leave in between services, an interchange argument cannot be applied. Since the abandonment rates are unbounded we cannot apply uniformization-and thus cannot use the usual discrete-time Markov decision process techniques. After formulating the problem as a continuous-time Markov decision process (CTMDP), we use sample path arguments in the reward case and a savvy use of truncation in the holding cost case to yield the results. As far as we know, this is the first time that either have been used in conjunction with the CTMDP to show structure in a queueing control problem. The insights made in each model are supported by a detailed numerical study. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Polymorphism In Lep And Lepr May Modify Leptin Levels And Represent Risk Factors For Thyroid Cancer

Purpose. To understand the role of polymorphisms in the LEP (rs7799039 and rs2167270) and LEPR (rs1137101 and rs1137100) genes in DTC susceptibility and their effect on leptin levels. Methods. We studied 153 patients with DTC and 234 controls through TaqMan SNP Genotyping and ELISA, comparing these data to the clinicopathological data of patients with DTC. Results. Patients with AA genotype of rs7799039 had higher levels of serum leptin (9.22 ± 0.98 ng/mL) than those with AG genotype (10.07 ± 0.60 ng/mL; P = 0.005). Individuals with AG genotype of rs2167270 also produced higher serum leptin levels (10.05 ± 0.59 ng/mL) than the subjects with GG genotype (9.52 ± 0.79 ng/mL; P A) polymorphism and disease susceptibility and cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (2011) Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 29 (2), pp. 293-298Jiang, Y., Wilk, J.B., Borecki, I., Common variants in the 5' region of the leptin gene are associated with bodymass index in men fromthe National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study (2004) The American Journal of Human Genetics, 75 (2), pp. 220-230He, J., Xi, B., Ruiter, R., Association of LEP G2548A and LEPR Q223R polymorphisms with cancer susceptibility: Evidence froma meta-analysis (2013) PLoS ONE, 8 (10)Furusawa, T., Naka, I., Yamauchi, T., The Q223R polymorphism in LEPR is associated with obesity in Pacific Islanders (2010) Human Genetics, 127 (3), pp. 287-294Saukko, M., Kesäniemi, Y.A., Ukkola, O., Leptin receptor Lys109Arg and Gln223Arg polymorphisms are associated with early atherosclerosis (2010) Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, 8 (5), pp. 425-430Lucas, A., Granada, M.L., Olaizola, I., Leptin and thyrotropin relationship is modulated by smoking status in euthyroid subjects (2013) Thyroid, 23 (8), pp. 964-970Duntas, L.H., Biondi, B., The interconnections between obesity, thyroid function, and autoimmunity: Themultifold role of leptin (2013) Thyroid, 23 (6), pp. 646-653Marzullo, P., Minocci, A., Tagliaferri, M.A., Investigations of thyroid hormones and antibodies in obesity: Leptin levels are associated with thyroid autoimmunity independent of bioanthropometric, hormonal, and weight-related determinants (2010) Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 95 (8), pp. 3965-3972Guzel, S., Seven, A., Guzel, E.C., Buyuk, B., Celebi, A., Aydemir, B., Visfatin, leptin, and TNF-α: Interrelated adipokines in insulin-resistant clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism (2013) Endocrine Research, 38 (3), pp. 184-194Mammès, O., Betoulle, D., Aubert, R., Herbeth, B., Siest, G., Fumeron, F., Association of the G-2548A polymorphism in the 5' region of the LEP gene with overweight (2000) Annals of Human Genetics, 64 (5), pp. 391-394Portoles, O., Sorli, J.V., Frances, F., Effect of genetic variation in the leptin gene promoter and the leptin receptor gene on obesity risk in a population-based case-control study in Spain (2006) European Journal of Epidemiology, 21 (8), pp. 605-612Liu, C., Liu, L., Polymorphisms in three obesity-related genes (LEP, LEPR, and PON1) and breast cancer risk: A metaanalysis (2011) Tumour Biology, 32 (6), pp. 1233-1240Hoffsted, J., Eriksson, P., Mottagui-Tabar, S., Arner, P., A polymorphism in the leptin promoter region (-2548 G/A) influences gene expression and adipose tissue secretion of leptin (2002) Hormone and Metabolic Research, 34 (7), pp. 355-359Murugesan, D., Arunachalam, T., Ramamurthy, V., Subramanian, S., Association of polymorphisms in leptin receptor gene with obesity and type 2 diabetes in the local population of Coimbatore (2010) Indian Journal of Human Genetics, 16 (2), pp. 72-77Quinton, N.D., Lee, A.J., Ross, R.J.M., Eastell, R., Blakemore, A.I.F., A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the leptin receptor is associated with BMI, fatmass and leptin levels in postmenopausal Caucasian women (2001) Human Genetics, 108 (3), pp. 233-236Mattevi, V.S., Zembrzuski, V.M., Hutz, M.H., Association analysis of genes involved in the leptin-signaling pathway with obesity in Brazil (2002) International Journal of Obesity, 26 (9), pp. 1179-1185Yiannakouris, N., Yannakoulia, M., Melistas, L., Chan, J.L., Klimis-Zacas, D., Mantzoros, C.S., TheQ223Rpolymorphism of the leptin receptor gene is significantly associated with obesity and predicts a small percentage of bodyweight and body composition variability (2001) Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 86 (9), pp. 4434-4439Stefan, N., Vozarova, B., Del Parigi, A., The Gln223Arg polymorphism of the leptin receptor in Pima Indians: Influence on energy expenditure, physical activity and lipid metabolism (2002) International Journal of Obesity, 26 (12), pp. 1629-1632Chiu, K.C., Chu, A., Chuang, L.-M., Saad, M.F., Association of leptin receptor polymorphism with insulin resistance (2004) European Journal of Endocrinology, 150 (5), pp. 725-729Chu, A., Chuang, L.M., Saad, M., Chiu, K., Association of the Q223R polymorphism of the leptin receptor gene with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome (2003) Diabetes, 52, p. A510Pimentel Duarte, S.F., Francischetti, E.A., Genelhu-Abreu, V., P. Q223R leptin receptor polymorphism associated with obesity in Brazilianmultiethnic subjects (2006) The American Journal of Human Biology, 18 (4), pp. 448-453Wauters, M., Mertens, I., Chagnon, M., Polymorphisms in the leptin receptor gene, body composition and fat distribution in overweight and obese women (2001) International Journal of Obesity, 25 (5), pp. 714-720Ogawa, T., Hirose, H., Yamamoto, Y., Relationships between serum soluble leptin receptor level and serum leptin and adiponectin levels, insulin resistance index, lipid profile, and leptin receptor gene polymorphisms in the Japanese population (2004) Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental, 53 (7), pp. 879-885Fairbrother, U.L., Tankó, L.B., Walley, A.J., Christiansen, C., Froguel, P., Blakemore, A.I.F., Leptin receptor genotype at Gln223Arg is associated with body composition, BMD, and vertebral fracture in postmenopausal Danish women (2007) Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 22 (4), pp. 544-550Salopuro, T., Pulkkinen, L., Lindström, J., Genetic variation in leptin receptor gene is associated with type 2 diabetes and body weight: The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (2005) International Journal of Obesity, 29 (10), pp. 1245-1251Wauters, M., Mertens, I., Rankinen, T., Chagnon, M., Bouchardt, C., Van Gaal, L., Leptin receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with insulin in obese women with impaired glucose tolerance (2001) Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 86 (7), pp. 3227-3232Park, K.S., Shin, H.D., Park, B.L., Polymorphisms in the leptin receptor (LEPR)-putative association with obesity and T2DM (2006) Journal of Human Genetics, 51 (2), pp. 85-91Han, C.-Z., Du, L.-L., Jing, J.-X., Associations among lipids, leptin, and leptin receptor geneGin223Arg polymorphisms and breast cancer in China (2008) Biological Trace Element Research, 126 (1-3), pp. 38-48Okobia, M.N., Bunker, C.H., Garte, S.J., Leptin receptor Gln223Arg polymorphism and breast cancer risk in Nigerian women: A case control study (2008) BMC Cancer, 8He, B.-S., Pan, Y.-Q., Zhang, Y., Xu, Y.-Q., Wang, S.-K., Effect of LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphism on breast cancer risk in different ethnic populations: A meta-analysis (2012) Molecular Biology Reports, 39 (3), pp. 3117-3122Lin, D.W., Fitz Gerald, L.M., Fu, R., Genetic variants in the LEPR, CRY1, RNASEL, IL4, and ARVCF genes are prognostic markers of prostate cancer-specific mortality (2011) Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 20 (9), pp. 1928-1936Li, Y.L., Geng, J.L., Wang, Y., The role of leptin receptor gene polymorphisms in determining the susceptibility and prognosis of NSCLC in Chinese patients (2012) Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 138 (2), pp. 311-316Wazir, U., Al Sarakbi, W., Jiang, W.G., Mokbel, K., Evidence of an autocrine role for leptin and leptin receptor in human breast cancer (2012) CancerGenomics and Proteomics, 9 (6), pp. 383-388Li, L., Lee, K.J., Choi, B.C., Baek, K.H., Relationshipbetween leptin receptor and polycystic ovary syndrome (2013) Gene, 527 (1), pp. 71-74Friedlander, Y., Li, G., Fornage, M., Candidate molecular pathway genes related to appetite regulatory neural network, adipocyte homeostasis and obesity: Results from the CARDIA Study (2010) Annals of Human Genetics, 74 (5), pp. 387-39

Performance of prototypes for the ALICE electromagnetic calorimeter

The performance of prototypes for the ALICE electromagnetic sampling calorimeter has been studied in test beam measurements at FNAL and CERN. A $4\times4$ array of final design modules showed an energy resolution of about 11% /$\sqrt{E(\mathrm{GeV})}$ $\oplus$ 1.7 % with a uniformity of the response to electrons of 1% and a good linearity in the energy range from 10 to 100 GeV. The electromagnetic shower position resolution was found to be described by 1.5 mm $\oplus$ 5.3 mm /$\sqrt{E \mathrm{(GeV)}}$. For an electron identification efficiency of 90% a hadron rejection factor of $>600$ was obtained.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

The Intentional Use of Service Recovery Strategies to Influence Consumer Emotion, Cognition and Behaviour

Service recovery strategies have been identified as a critical factor in the success of. service organizations. This study develops a conceptual frame work to investigate how specific service recovery strategies influence the emotional, cognitive and negative behavioural responses of . consumers., as well as how emotion and cognition influence negative behavior. Understanding the impact of specific service recovery strategies will allow service providers' to more deliberately and intentionally engage in strategies that result in positive organizational outcomes. This study was conducted using a 2 x 2 between-subjects quasi-experimental design. The results suggest that service recovery has a significant impact on emotion, cognition and negative behavior. Similarly, satisfaction, negative emotion and positive emotion all influence negative behavior but distributive justice has no effect