Comparison of metabolic and functional parameters using cardiac 18F-FDG-PET in early to mid-adulthood male and female mice

BACKGROUND In this descriptive study of male and female mice at different weeks of age, we use serial non-invasive cardiac 18F-FDG-PET scans to follow up on metabolic alterations, heart function parameters, and the ECG of both sexes in early to mid-adulthood. METHODS ECG-gated 18F-FDG-PET scans were performed in mice on 10, 14, and 18~weeks of age, using a dedicated small-animal PET scanner. The percentage of the injected activity per gram (%IA/g) in the heart, left ventricular metabolic volume (LVMV), myocardial viability and left ventricular function parameters: end-diastolic (EDV), end-systolic (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and the ejection fraction (EF%) were estimated. RESULTS Compared to their age-matched female counterpart, male mice showed a constant increase in LVMV and ventricular volume during the follow-up. In contrast, female mice remain stable after ten weeks of age. Furthermore, male mice showed lower heart rates, positive correlation with cardiac %IA/g, and negative correlation with LVMV. CONCLUSION In this study of serial cardiac PET scans, we provide insight for basic murine research models, showing that mice gender and age show distinct cardiac metabolisms. These physiologic alterations need to be considered when planning in vivo injury models to avoid potential pitfalls

Isospin 0 and 2 two-pion scattering at physical pion mass using all-to-all propagators with periodic boundary conditions in lattice QCD

A study of two-pion scattering for the isospin channels, $I=0$ and $I=2$, using lattice QCD is presented. M\"obius domain wall fermions on top of the Iwasaki-DSDR gauge action for gluons with periodic boundary conditions are used for the lattice computations which are carried out on two ensembles of gauge field configurations generated by the RBC and UKQCD collaborations with physical masses, inverse lattice spacings of 1.023 and 1.378 GeV, and spatial extents of $L=4.63$ and 4.58 fm, respectively. The all-to-all propagator method is employed to compute a matrix of correlation functions of two-pion operators. The generalized eigenvalue problem (GEVP) is solved for a matrix of correlation functions to extract phase shifts with multiple states, two pions with a non-zero relative momentum as well as two pions at rest. Our results for phase shifts for both $I=0$ and $I=2$ channels are consistent with and the Roy Equation and chiral perturbation theory, though at this preliminary stage our errors for $I=0$ are large. An important finding of this work is that GEVP is useful to obtain signals and matrix elements from multiple states

Direct CP violation and the ΔI=1/2 rule in K→ππ decay from the standard model

We present a lattice QCD calculation of the ΔI=1/2, K→ππ decay amplitude A0 and ϵ′, the measure of direct CP violation in K→ππ decay, improving our 2015 calculation [1] of these quantities. Both calculations were performed with physical kinematics on a 323×64 lattice with an inverse lattice spacing of a-1=1.3784(68)  GeV. However, the current calculation includes nearly 4 times the statistics and numerous technical improvements allowing us to more reliably isolate the ππ ground state and more accurately relate the lattice operators to those defined in the standard model. We find Re(A0)=2.99(0.32)(0.59)×10-7  GeV and Im(A0)=-6.98(0.62)(1.44)×10-11  GeV, where the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. The former agrees well with the experimental result Re(A0)=3.3201(18)×10-7  GeV. These results for A0 can be combined with our earlier lattice calculation of A2 [2] to obtain Re(ϵ′/ϵ)=21.7(2.6)(6.2)(5.0)×10-4, where the third error represents omitted isospin breaking effects, and Re(A0)/Re(A2)=19.9(2.3)(4.4). The first agrees well with the experimental result of Re(ϵ′/ϵ)=16.6(2.3)×10-4. A comparison of the second with the observed ratio Re(A0)/Re(A2)=22.45(6), demonstrates the standard model origin of this “ΔI=1/2 rule” enhancement.We present a lattice QCD calculation of the $\Delta I=1/2$, $K\to\pi\pi$ decay amplitude $A_0$ and $\varepsilon'$, the measure of direct CP-violation in $K\to\pi\pi$ decay, improving our 2015 calculation of these quantities. Both calculations were performed with physical kinematics on a $32^3\times 64$ lattice with an inverse lattice spacing of $a^{-1}=1.3784(68)$ GeV. However, the current calculation includes nearly four times the statistics and numerous technical improvements allowing us to more reliably isolate the $\pi\pi$ ground-state and more accurately relate the lattice operators to those defined in the Standard Model. We find ${\rm Re}(A_0)=2.99(0.32)(0.59)\times 10^{-7}$ GeV and ${\rm Im}(A_0)=-6.98(0.62)(1.44)\times 10^{-11}$ GeV, where the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. The former agrees well with the experimental result ${\rm Re}(A_0)=3.3201(18)\times 10^{-7}$ GeV. These results for $A_0$ can be combined with our earlier lattice calculation of $A_2$ to obtain ${\rm Re}(\varepsilon'/\varepsilon)=21.7(2.6)(6.2)(5.0) \times 10^{-4}$, where the third error represents omitted isospin breaking effects, and Re$(A_0)$/Re$(A_2) = 19.9(2.3)(4.4)$. The first agrees well with the experimental result of ${\rm Re}(\varepsilon'/\varepsilon)=16.6(2.3)\times 10^{-4}$. A comparison of the second with the observed ratio Re$(A_0)/$Re$(A_2) = 22.45(6)$, demonstrates the Standard Model origin of this "$\Delta I = 1/2$ rule" enhancement

An update of Euclidean windows of the hadronic vacuum polarization

We compute the standard Euclidean window of the hadronic vacuum polarization using multiple independent blinded analyses. We improve the continuum and infinite-volume extrapolations of the dominant quark-connected light-quark isospin-symmetric contribution and address additional sub-leading systematic effects from sea-charm quarks and residual chiral-symmetry breaking from first principles. We find $a_\mu^{\rm W} = 235.56(65)(50) \times 10^{-10}$, which is in $3.8\sigma$ tension with the recently published dispersive result of Colangelo et al., $a_\mu^{\rm W} = 229.4(1.4) \times 10^{-10}$, and in agreement with other recent lattice determinations. We also provide a result for the standard short-distance window. The results reported here are unchanged compared to our presentation at the Edinburgh workshop of the g-2 Theory Initiative in 2022.Comment: 24 pages, 15 figure

Random regression models in the selection of meat‑type quails for egg production

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar modelos de regressão aleatória com diferentes ordens de polinômios de Legendre, quanto ao melhor ajuste para a produção de ovos de codornas de corte. Foram avaliados os grupos genéticos UFV1 e UFV2 de codornas de corte, de origens distintas, do programa de melhoramento genético da Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Determinou-se a produção semanal de ovos de 1.294 matrizes, da 6ª até a 57ª semana de idade, das quais 644 do grupo genético UFV1 e 650 do UFV2. Utilizou-se o modelo animal em regressão aleatória pelo programa Wombat e, para modelar as trajetórias das características com o tempo, aplicaram-se as funções polinomiais de Legendre. Foram feitas comparações pelo critério de informação de Akaike, critério de informação bayesiano de Schwarz, logaritmo da função de verossimilhança e teste da razão de  verossimilhança. O modelo com K = 3, para efeitos fixos, Ka = 4, para efeitos genéticos, e Kc = 4, para efeito de ambiente, propicia melhor ajuste para ambas as linhagens, não provoca grandes alterações nos componentes de variância e fornece melhores estimativas de herdabilidade.The objective of this work was to evaluate random regression models with different orders of Legendre polynomials, as to the best fit for egg production of meat‑type quails. UFV1 and UFV2 genetic groups of meat‑type quails, from different origins, of the genetic breeding program of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil, were evaluated. Egg production was determined weekly for 1,294 quails, from their 6th to their 57th week of age, of which 644 were from the genetic group UFV1, and 650 from UFV2. The animal model was used in random regression by Wombat software, and, for modeling variable trajectories in time, the Legendre’s polynomial functions were applied. Comparisons were made by the Akaike’s information criterion, the Bayesian information criterion of Schwarz, the logarithm of the likelihood function, and the likelihood ratio test. The model with K = 3, for fixed effects, Ka = 4, for genetic effects, and Kc = 4, for the effect of environment provides the best fit, do not causes major changes in the variance components, and provides better estimates of heritability

Foreign Ownership and Market Power in Banking: Evidence from a World Sample

The nexus between ownership and competition in the banking sector is a major concern to policymakers around the world but one that is rarely comprehensively examined. For 131 countries and 13 years we match bank ownership with over 50,000 bank‐year estimates of individual bank market power. We find that ownership does not explain market power at the individual bank level. However, at the country level, foreign bank ownership has a positive and significant impact on market power mainly because foreign banks enter through mergers or acquisitions and not through greenfield investments. The observed increases in market power primarily originate from decreases in the marginal cost

Utilização de dados parciais na seleção de codornas de corte para produção de ovos

The objective of this work was to verify the possibility of using partial data in the selection of meat-type quail for egg production. The genetic groups UFV1 and UFV2 of meat-type quails, which are from different origins were evaluated. Information from 1,632 mothers, of which 816 from UFV1 and 816 from UFV2 genetic group, was used. The genetic parameters were obtained at the partial periods from the 6th to 24th (P24), 32th (P32), 40th (P40) and 48th (P48) weeks, and at the total period of egg production (P52), from the 6th to 52th week. The components of variance and covariance and the genetic parameters were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood, using a univariate animal model. The partial and total production of eggs were estimated by the multivariate animal model through the Wombat application. For UFV1, the heritability values were: 0.09, P24; 0.09, P32; 0.09, P40; 0.08, P48; and 0.07 for P52; and the genetic correlations ranged from 0.79 to 0.99. For UFV2, the heritability values were: 0.09 for P24; 0.09, P32; 0.10, P40; 0.11, P48; and 0.13 for P52; and correlations ranged from 0.70 to 0.99. For UFV1 selection, it is recommended to consider egg production up to 40 weeks, and for UFV2 selection, egg production until the 48th week. The low heritability estimates suggest that management changes should be done in order to control  environmental effects.O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a possibilidade de uso de dados parciais na seleção de codornas de corte para produção de ovos. Foram avaliados os grupos genéticos de codornas de corte UFV1 e UFV2, de origens distintas. Utilizaram-se informações de 1.632 matrizes, das quais 816 provieram do grupo genético UFV1, e 816 do grupo UFV2. Os parâmetros genéticos foram obtidos nos períodos parciais da 6ª semana até a 24ª (P24), a 32ª (P32), a 40ª (P40) e a 48ª (P48) semanas, e no período total de produção de ovos (P52), da 6ª à 52ª semana. Os componentes de variância e covariância e os parâmetros genéticos foram estimados pelo método da máxima verossimilhança restrita, pelo modelo animal unicaracterístico. A produção parcial e a total de ovos foram estimadas pelo modelo animal multicaracterístico, por meio do aplicativo Wombat. Para UFV1, os valores de herdabilidade foram: 0,09, P24; 0,09, P32; 0,09, P40; 0,08, P48; e 0,07 para P52; as correlações genéticas variaram de 0,79 a 0,99. Para UFV2, os valores de herdabilidade foram: 0,09, P24; 0,09, P32; 0,10, P40; 0,11, P48; e 0,13 para P52; as correlações variaram de 0,70 a 0,99. Para a seleção de UFV1, recomenda-se considerar a produção de ovos até a 40ª semana e, para UFV2, até a 48ª semana. As baixas estimativas de herdabilidade indicam que se devem fazer mudanças de manejo para controlar os efeitos de ambiente