A new Method for Computing One-Loop Integrals

We present a new program package for calculating one-loop Feynman integrals, based on a new method avoiding Feynman parametrization and the contraction due to Passarino and Veltman. The package is calculating one-, two- and three-point functions both algebraically and numerically to all tensor cases. This program is written as a package for Maple. An additional Mathematica version is planned later.Comment: 12 pages Late

Coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in the hybrid ruthenate-cuprate compound RuSr_2GdCu_2O_8 studied by muon spin rotation (\mu SR) and DC-magnetization

We have investigated the magnetic and the superconducting properties of the hybrid ruthenate-cuprate compound RuSr_{2}GdCu_{2}O_{8} by means of zero-field muon spin rotation- (ZF-$\mu$SR) and DC magnetization measurements. The DC-magnetisation data establish that this material exhibits ferromagnetic order of the Ru-moments ($\mu (Ru) \approx 1 \mu_{B}$) below T_{Curie} = 133 K and becomes superconducting at a much lower temperature T_c = 16 K. The ZF-$\mu$SR experiments indicate that the ferromagnetic phase is homogeneous on a microscopic scale and accounts for most of the sample volume. They also suggest that the magnetic order is not significantly modified at the onset of superconductivity.Comment: improved version submitted to Phys. Rev.

Paracrine delivery of therapeutic biologics for cancer

A fundamental goal of cancer drug delivery is to achieve sufficient levels within the tumour without leading to high systemic concentrations that might cause off-target toxicities. In situ production of protein-based therapeutics by tumour cells provides an attractive alternative to treatment with repeated high bolus injections, as secretion by the tumour itself could provide high local concentrations that act in a paracrine fashion over an extended duration. For this purpose, we have developed a non-oncolytic adenoviral delivery system that allows for targeting of Ad5 to discrete cell types by redirecting viral tropism to cell surface biomarkers through the use of interchangeable adapters. Furthermore, we recently described the engineering of a protein-based ‘shield’ that is coated on the Ad5 capsid, which, together with the retargeting adapters, allows for improved tumour specificity and prevention of viral clearance. To test this delivery strategy in vivo, SCID-beige mice bearing orthotopic BT474 xenografts were treated with three doses of either a cancerspecific, non-replicative Ad5 that encodes a secreted anti-HER2 antibody, trastuzumab, in its genome, or with the protein therapeutic itself (Herceptin®). We have employed state-of-the-art whole tumour clearing and imaging with confocal microscopy at high spatial resolution in 3D to assess biodistribution, and large volumetric imaging has revealed that the secreted therapeutic diffuses significantly throughout the tumour leading to a therapeutic effect and delayed tumour outgrowth. Moreover, the systemic concentration of antibody is significantly reduced with viral delivery, suggesting that paracrine delivery may be a promising strategy for delivery of biologics with narrow therapeutic indices

The predictive value of molecular markers (p53, EGFR, ATM, CHK2) in multimodally treated squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus

Pretherapeutic identification of oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas that will respond to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is an important attempt for improvement of patient's prognosis. In the current study, pretherapeutic biopsies from 94 oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas (cT3, cN0/+, cM0) in patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (RCTx: 45 Gy plus cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) and subsequent oesophagectomy in the setting of a single-centre prospective treatment trial were investigated by means of immunohistochemistry. Expression of proteins involved in DNA repair and/or cell-cycle regulation, that is p53, p53 (phosphorylated at Ser15), EGFR, ATM protein kinase (phosphorylated at Ser1981) and checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) (phosphorylated at Thr68) was correlated with the response to RCTx and with overall survival. Tumours that were positive for CHK2 expression more frequently showed clinically determined regression after RCTx (69.4%) than tumours that were negative for CHK2 expression (32.1%; P=0.0011), whereas other parameters did not correlate with tumour regression. Expression of ATM correlated with expression of CHK2 (P=0.0061) and p53-phospho (P=0.0064). Expression of p53 correlated with expression of p53-phospho (P<0.0001). In contrast to clinical and histopathological response evaluation, none of the molecular parameters under investigation correlated with overall survival. In conclusion, expression analysis of p53, EGFR CHK2 and ATM has no predictive value in multimodally treated oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Electroweak Corrections to the Top Quark Decay

We have calculated the one-loop electroweak corrections to the decay t-> bW+, including the counterterm for the CKM matrix elements V(tb). Previous calculations used an incorrect delta V(tb) that led to a gauge dependent amplitude. However, since the contribution stemming from delta V(tb) is small, those calculations only underestimate the width by roughly one part in 10^5.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

Paracrine delivery of therapeutic biologics for cancer

A fundamental goal of cancer drug delivery is to achieve sufficient levels within the tumour without leading to high systemic concentrations that might cause off-target toxicities. In situ production of protein-based therapeutics by tumour cells provides an attractive alternative to treatment with repeated high bolus injections, as secretion by the tumour itself could provide high local concentrations that act in a paracrine fashion over an extended duration. For this purpose, we have developed a non-oncolytic adenoviral delivery system that allows for targeting of Ad5 to discrete cell types by redirecting viral tropism to cell surface biomarkers through the use of interchangeable adapters. Furthermore, we recently described the engineering of a protein-based ‘shield’ that is coated on the Ad5 capsid, which, together with the retargeting adapters, allows for improved tumour specificity and prevention of viral clearance. To test this delivery strategy in vivo, SCID-beige mice bearing orthotopic BT474 xenografts were treated with three doses of either a cancerspecific, non-replicative Ad5 that encodes a secreted anti-HER2 antibody, trastuzumab, in its genome, or with the protein therapeutic itself (Herceptin®). We have employed state-of-the-art whole tumour clearing and imaging with confocal microscopy at high spatial resolution in 3D to assess biodistribution, and large volumetric imaging has revealed that the secreted therapeutic diffuses significantly throughout the tumour leading to a therapeutic effect and delayed tumour outgrowth. Moreover, the systemic concentration of antibody is significantly reduced with viral delivery, suggesting that paracrine delivery may be a promising strategy for delivery of biologics with narrow therapeutic indices

Informe de SITUACIÓN FITOSANITARIA - Región Centro Norte de Córdoba 11 de febrero de 2016

Las precipitaciones de esta última semana han sido abundantes en la región y los cultivos se encuentran en excelente estado general, al mismo tiempo continúan condiciones climáticas que son conducentes a varios patógenos. Luego de este período de alta humedad, será cuando comenzaremos a ver importantes variaciones en la severidad de las enfermedades, ya que durante días con vientos y más secos, las esporas generadas con esta humedad, se dispersaran y comenzarán a observar cambios notorios en la sintomatología de cada una. Es por esto que se debe estar más atento y seguir de cerca lo que pasa con los lotes, sobre todo pensando en que las condiciones de "año Niño" seguirían hasta el otoño

Informe de SITUACIÓN FITOSANITARIA - Región Centro Norte de Córdoba 21 de diciembre de 2015

Avanza en la región la implantación de los cultivos de soja y de maíz, hasta el momento se ha sembrado aproximadamente el 32 % del área de maíz y el 67% de soja en el centro norte de la provincia(datos extraídos del Panorama Agrícola Semanal de la Bolsa de Cereales - relevamiento al 17/12/2015).Al igual que las últimas campañas, las consultas más frecuentes recibidas hasta el momento se basan en diferenciar síntomas similares a MOR en soja y en determinar que son los "lunares blancos" que se desarrollan en el cultivo de maíz.A esto se le suma una gran cantidad de consultas por síntomas "raros" producidos por diferentes herbicidas que han causado fitotoxicidad. La utilización de ingredientes activos que hasta hace poco no se usaban, así como sus combinaciones, y dosis para el control de malezas tolerantes o resistentes, han generado muchas preguntas por sintomatologías a las cuales deberemos aprender a reconocer para registrar en nuestros lotes.A continuación brindamos información que ayuda a responder estas consultas."Al igual que años anteriores ponemos nuestro esfuerzo en brindarles esta herramienta que son los Informes, esperando que les ayude para estar atentos al monitoreo, al diagnóstico y al manejo de las enfermedades en los momentos oportunos, para así poder acercarse al rendimiento potencial esperado en cada cultivo"