W production at large transverse momentum at the Large Hadron Collider

We study the production of W bosons at large transverse momentum in pp collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We calculate the complete next-to-leading order (NLO) corrections to the differential cross section. We find that the NLO corrections provide a large increase to the cross section but, surprisingly, do not reduce the scale dependence relative to leading order (LO). We also calculate next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) soft-gluon corrections and find that, although they are small, they significantly reduce the scale dependence thus providing a more stable theoretical prediction.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

Quality of Life of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Cancer Specific Treatments

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) remains a considerable challenge to both patient and health care provider as the disease can have profound effect on Quality of life (QOL). Aims and Objectives: To assess the QOL and performance status of HNC patients, to find relation between domains of QOL and to find association between QOL and demographic and disease variables. Settings and Design: The study was conducted at Manipal group of hospitals, Manipal and Mangalore, using descriptive survey design. Material and Methods: The study comprised of 89 samples with all stages of HNC. Patients primarily diagnosed with HNC and undergoing disease specific treatment were included in the study. Tool on demographic, disease variables and quality of life were developed and content validity was established. Reliability of the tool was established. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale was used to assess performance status. Corelational analysis was done to find relation between the domains of QOL. Association was found between the quality of life and demographic and disease variables. Results: Majority (83%) of the participants were males, 39% had cancer arising from oral cavity, and 35% each were in cancer stage III and IV. Quality of life was poor among 30% of the subjects and 65% had KPS scores<80 %. There was moderate positive relation between the domains of QOL and a positive correlation between the QOL and performance status. No statistically significant association was found between QOL and disease and demographic variables. Conclusion: Physical, psychological, social and spiritual domains of QOL and functional status are affected in patients with HNC. The impact on one domain area of well being, significantly affects the other domain of QOL and there is relationship between the performance status and QO

Evaluation and Validity of a Predictive Equation for Measuring Core Temperature during Exercise in Heat Stress

Exercising in the heat is very common yet can pose significant health risks such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke when core temperature exceeds 38°C and 40°C, respectively. However, current methods of core temperature measurement are invasive and impractical. Recent research indicates that core temperature can be predicted with two non-invasive inputs, heart rate (HR) and skin temperature. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of this predictive equation against the direct measurement of core temperature. METHODS: Participants (n = 11) cycled in an environmental chamber (40°C, 40% humidity) at 75% of maximal HR for 45 minutes. Measurements included HR, scapular skin and core temperature, blood pressure, and rating of perceived exertion. Exercise stopped if core temperature exceeded 38.5°C for two consecutive measurements or volitional fatigue. Agreement between predicted and actual core temperature was assessed with Bland–Altman analysis. RESULTS: There was a low correlation (r2 = 0.2) between the direct measure and predicted core temperatures. The Bland–Altman analysis for core minus predicted temperatures showed a bias of 0.14°C and limits of agreement ranging from 0.72°C to −0.45°C. In addition, a large proportion of measurements (40.5%) of the total scores had a difference in temperature greater than ±0.3°C. The predictive equation overpredicted as mean temperature increased from the average core temperature (37°C). CONCLUSION: Based on the narrow temperature range the human body must stay within to prevent heat-related issues, we’ve concluded that the predictive equation lacks sufficient validity and reliability

Nomenclature of grapevine leafroll-associated putative closteroviruses

Comparative immunoenzymatic (ELISA), immunoelectron microscopic (IEM) and immunoblotting tests were carried out with antisera produced in different laboratories and commercial diagnostic kits on closterolike viruses reported in the literature under the name of grapevine corky bark-associated virus (GCBaV) and grapevine leafroll-associated viruses IIa and IIb (GLRaV IIa and GLRaV IIb). The results of these studies have established that GCBaV is the same as GLRaV IIb and that both viruses are apparently identical to an isolate of GLRaV-2 identified in France, whose designation as the authentic GLRaV 2 is proposed. GLRaV IIa is serologically distinct from all known clostero-like viruses of the grapevine and, therefore, the provisional name of grapevine leafroll-associated Virus 6 (GLRaV-6) is suggested for it

Laser and electron deflection from transverse asymmetries in laser-plasma accelerators.

We report on the deflection of laser pulses and accelerated electrons in a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA) by the effects of laser pulse front tilt and transverse density gradients. Asymmetry in the plasma index of refraction leads to laser steering, which can be due to a density gradient or spatiotemporal coupling of the laser pulse. The transverse forces from the skewed plasma wave can also lead to electron deflection relative to the laser. Quantitative models are proposed for both the laser and electron steering, which are confirmed by particle-in-cell simulations. Experiments with the BELLA Petawatt Laser are presented which show controllable 0.1-1 mrad laser and electron beam deflection from laser pulse front tilt. This has potential applications for electron beam pointing control, which is of paramount importance for LPA applications

Perturbative QCD at High Energy Colliders

Selected applications of perturbative Quantumchromodynamics (QCD) to predictions of the Standard Model for processes at high energy colliders are reviewed with emphasis on past successes and future problems. This is a personal retrospective is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the field.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, contribution to the Symposium: 50+ Years of High Energy Physics at UB, University at Buffalo, October 20-21, 2006. Added references in section

One year survival with poorly differentiated metastatic pancreatic carcinoma following chemoembolization with gemcitabine and cisplatin.

While hepatic arterial chemoembolization is efficacious for a number of malignancies, there is scant data regarding treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We report a complete radiographic response at one year from diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic carcinoma. Gemcitabine/cisplatin based chemoembolization may be of potential benefit for patients with liver-dominant metastases from pancreatic carcinoma. Given the typical survival of 6 months or less in this patient group with standard therapies, further research is warranted

Synthesis of biologically active 4-amino-6-arylmethyl-3-mercapto-1, 2, 4-triazin-5(4H)-ones and their Schiff bases

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Plasma Equilibrium inside Various Cross-Section Capillary Discharges

Plasma properties inside a hydrogen-filled capillary discharge waveguide were modeled with dissipative magnetohydrodynamic simulations to enable analysis of capillaries of circular and square cross-sections implying that square capillaries can be used to guide circularly-symmetric laser beams. When the quasistationary stage of the discharge is reached, the plasma and temperature in the vicinity of the capillary axis has almost the same profile for both the circular and square capillaries. The effect of cross-section on the electron beam focusing properties were studied using the simulation-derived magnetic field map. Particle tracking simulations showed only slight effects on the electron beam symmetry in the horizontal and diagonal directions for square capillary.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figure

Transformation of five grape rootstocks with plant virus genes and a virE2 gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Summary: To facilitate the development of transgenic grapevines that are resistant to grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), grapevine leafroll-associated closterovirus (GLRaV-3) and crown gall diseases, we developed a rapid system for regenerating root-stocks: Couderc 3309, Vitis riparia ‘Gloire de Montpellier', Teleki 5C, Millardet et De Grasset 101-14, and 110 Richter via somatic embryogenesis. Embryo culture and grape regeneration were accomplished with four media. Embryogenic calluses from anthers were induced in the initiation medium [MS basic medium containing 20 g sucrose per L, 1.1 mg 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) per L, 0.2 mg N6-benzyladenine (BA) per L, and 0.8% Noble agar). The percentage of anthers that developed into embryogenic calli ranged from 2 to 16.3% depending on the rootstock. Calluses with early globular stage embryos were cocultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58Z707 containing the gene constructs of interest. The genes were sense-oriented translatable and antisense coat protein genes from GFLV and GLRaV-3, a truncated HSP90-related gene of GLRaV-3 (43K), and a virE2 del B gene from A. tumefaciens strain C58. Twenty independent transformation experiments were performed on five rootstocks. After 3-4 mo. under kanamycin selection, secondary embryos were recovered on differentiation medium (1/2 MS salts with 10 g sucrose per L, 4.6 g glycerol per L, and 0.8% Noble agar). Embryos that were transformed were regenerated on a medium containing MS salts with 20 g sucrose per L, 4.6 g glycerol per L, 1 g casein hydrolysate per L, and 0.8% Noble agar. Elongated embryos were then transferred to a rooting medium supplemented with 0.1 mg BA per L, 3 g activated charcoal per L, 1.5% sucrose, and 0.65% Bacto agar. A total of 928 independent putative transgenic plants were propagated in the greenhouse. All plants were tested for neomycin phosphotransferase II expression by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The presence of transgenes was assessed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern analysis. ELISA revealed various levels of expression of GFLV coat protein in transgenic plants of Couderc 3309. The transgenic rootstocks that have been generated are being screened to determine whether transgenes have conferred resistance to the virus and crown gall disease