Weakly-induced strong CP-violation

Weak interaction contributions to the strong theta parameter are revisited in the frame of a large-Nc Chiral Perturbation Theory. Focusing on the hadronic (eta,etaprime) \to pi pi amplitudes, we express these second-order corrections in terms of the CP-violating parameter in K \to pi pi decays to obtain Delta_w(theta) approx 10^{-17} at O(GF^2 epsilonprime).Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure. One reference and comments on electroweak corrections added. Version published in Physics Letters

Phylogenetic and coalescent analysis of three loci suggest that the Water Rail is divisible into two species, Rallus aquaticus and R. indicus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Water Rails (<it>Rallus aquaticus</it>) inhabit fragmented freshwater wetlands across their Palearctic distribution. Disjunct populations are now thought to be morphologically similar over their vast geographic range, though four subspecies had been recognized previously. The fossil record suggests that Water Rails (<it>R. aquaticus</it>) were already spread across the Palearctic by the Pleistocene ~2 million years ago, and the oldest fossil remains thought to be closely related to the common ancestor of water rails date from the Pliocene.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To investigate population structure in Water Rails at the genetic level we sequenced three independent loci: 686 base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial DNA <it>COI </it>barcode; 618 bp of the intron <it>ADH5</it>; and 746 bp of the exon <it>PTPN12</it>. Phylogeographic analysis revealed that Water Rails breeding in eastern Asia (<it>R. a. indicus</it>, also known as the Brown-cheeked Rail) are strongly differentiated from the Water Rails in Western and Middle Asia and Europe (<it>R. a. aquaticus </it>and <it>R. a. korejewi</it>). The Kimura 3-parameter plus Gamma <it>COI </it>genetic distance between these two geographic groups was > 3%, and they differed by 18 diagnostic substitutions commensurate with differences between recently diverged sister species of birds. In spite of the low number of variable sites, the two nuclear loci supported this split. We estimated the split of the Brown-cheeked Rail and the Water Rail to have occurred ~534,000 years ago (95% CI 275,000-990,000 years ago). Fragmentation of the widespread ancestral population and eventual speciation of water rails is likely attributable to vicariance by a barrier formed by glacial cycles, continuous uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and increased sedimentation in deserts in southern Asia that originated in the Miocene.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Water Rails from East Asia were genetically differentiated from the ones breeding in Europe and Western to Middle Asia. Most of the genetic signal was from mitochondrial <it>COI</it>, and was corroborated by polymorphic sites in the two nuclear loci we employed. The split between these two lineages was estimated to occur in the Middle Pleistocene, when populations were isolated in disjunct wetlands with little or no gene flow. Independent evidence from differences in morphology and vocalizations in concert with genetic differentiation and a long history of isolation support recognition of the Brown-cheeked Rail breeding in East Asia as a separate species, <it>R. indicus</it>. The use of several independent loci is invaluable in inferring species trees from gene trees and in recognizing species limits.</p

Gardner's syndrome in a 40-year-old woman: successful treatment of locally aggressive desmoid tumors with cytotoxic chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Desmoid tumors that present as a part of Gardener's syndrome can present very difficult management problems. CASE PRESETATION: We report a case of intra-abdominal desmoid tumor causing distal small bowel obstruction that complicated the management of a more proximal enterocutaneous fistula from the jejunum. After failure of more conventional management options including imatinib, the patient's disease responded to doxorubicin and ifosfamide. The response resolved the bowel obstruction and allowed small intestinal resection to resolve the enterocutaneous fistula. CONCLUSION: Systemic cytotoxic therapy with doxorubicin and ifosfamide can be useful for patients with complications from intra-abdominal desmoid tumor

Public views on principles for health care priority setting: findings of a European cross-country study using Q methodology

International audienc

A to Z

This book was completed for Jan Baker\u27s artists\u27 book class.https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/specialcollections_bookmark_letters/1009/thumbnail.jp

A Hierarchical Cascade of Second Messengers Regulates Pseudomonas aeruginosa Surface Behaviors

Biofilms are surface-attached multicellular communities. Using single-cell tracking microscopy, we showed that apilY1 mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is defective in early biofilm formation. We leveraged the observation that PilY1 pro- tein levels increase on a surface to perform a genetic screen to identify mutants altered in surface-grown expression of this pro- tein. Based on our genetic studies, we found that soon after initiating surface growth, cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels increase, depen- dent on PilJ, a chemoreceptor-like protein of the Pil-Chp complex, and the type IV pilus (TFP). cAMP and its receptor protein Vfr, together with the FimS-AlgR two-component system (TCS), upregulate the expression of PilY1 upon surface growth. FimS and PilJ interact, suggesting a mechanism by which Pil-Chp can regulate FimS function. The subsequent secretion of PilY1 is dependent on the TFP assembly system; thus, PilY1 is not deployed until the pilus is assembled, allowing an ordered signaling cascade. Cell surface-associated PilY1 in turn signals through the TFP alignment complex PilMNOP and the diguanylate cyclase SadC to activate downstream cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) production, thereby repressing swarming motility. Overall, our data support a model whereby P. aeruginosa senses the surface through the Pil-Chp chemotaxis-like complex, TFP, and PilY1 to reg- ulate cAMP and c-di-GMP production, thereby employing a hierarchical regulatory cascade of second messengers to coordinate its program of surface behaviors

A cluster randomized controlled cross-over bed net acceptability and preference trial in Solomon Islands: community participation in shaping policy for malaria elimination

Background: A key component of the malaria elimination strategy in Solomon Islands (SI) is widespread coverage of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). The success of this strategy is dependent on LLIN acceptability and compliance. There has been unresolved debate among policy makers and donors as to which type of LLIN would be most appropriate for large-scale distribution in SI, and anecdotal reports of a lack of acceptability of certain brands of LLINs. A cluster randomized controlled crossover bed net acceptability and preference trial was therefore carried out from July to September, 2008 to inform policy and to facilitate community engagement and participation in the selection of the most appropriate LLIN for use in SI