Double Λ\Lambda and the Λ−Λ\Lambda-\Lambda Interaction

The $\Lambda$-$\Lambda$ effective interaction, in the channel $L=S=0$, in the nuclear medium is fitted to the available binding energies, $B_{\Lambda\Lambda}$, of double $\Lambda$ hypernuclei: $^{6}_{\Lambda\Lambda}$He, $^{10}_{\Lambda\Lambda}$Be and $^{13}_{\Lambda\Lambda}$B. The mesonic decay of these hypernuclei is also investigated. Finally, this effective interaction is used to predict the binding energies and mesonic decays widths of heavier double $\Lambda$ hypernuclei.Comment: 4 pages, (latex file, postscript-file and 3 Postscript-figures included

Global Citizens, Global Futures Project Report, Initial Findings and Reflections

The Global Citizens, Global Futures Project explored current understandings and expectations of global citizenship education of students and staff across Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) (Research Phase) and developed and pilot a university-wide global citizenship initiative for students (Implementation Phase). Using staff and student questionnaires, student focus groups and individual interviews to investigate concepts and practices around the topic of Global Citizenship we found MMU students and staff see the concept in terms of diversity, global issues, values and attitudes, belonging to a ‘global community’ and collective responsibility for participation. Students were more likely to rate Global Citizenship as important for embracing and understanding diversity, whilst staff saw the need for MMU students to develop an outward looking view and benefits for the institution but were more likely to critique the term both in terms of the imposition of a ‘Western’ worldview and possible cultural homogenisation. The research has also highlighted current opportunities for students to develop Global Citizenship and for staff to report on their practice in internationalising or incorporating elements of Global Citizenship in curricula. The implementation strand focussed on the piloting of a student award under the university’s extra-curricular award scheme, and on the development of further staff opportunities to internationalise the curriculum. The student award has seen paid student ‘Global Ambassadors’ building student engagement via a new Global Futures student society seeking to provide platforms for student involvement. The awards ceremony took place as part of the Humanities’ faculty’s Global Citizens event. Staff development as part of the implementation strand has included: Internationalising the Curriculum - a 10 credit unit (PGCAP/MAAP) engaging staff from six faculties; exploration of a potential collaborative enquiry with international staff in the area of cross-cultural pedagogies; the development of a unit specification for a 15-credit Level 5 Global Citizenship unit to be piloted in the Contemporary Arts programme at MMU Cheshire; and a presentation of the project report at institutional level workshops to inform the new MMU International strategy. Staff and students also attended the event Global Citizens event, where the Dean of Manchester cathedral spoke and presented students with their awards. As a result of the research and implementation, perceived gaps in provision were used to construct recommendations for further actio

Where did all the pangolins go? International CITES trade in pangolin species

Available online 24 October 2016The pangolin is greatly sought after for its various body parts, largely driven by demand from China. The mammal has been driven to the edge of extinction in Asia, with two Asian species listed as Critically Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. With declining Asian pangolin populations, a shift in trade from Asian to African pangolin species has been suggested. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Trade Database provides a unique opportunity to investigate global trends in pangolin trade at the species level, across a broad temporal scale (1977–2014). We found that CITES trade in Asian pangolin species decreased through time, whilst trade in African species increased post 2000. The total number of incidents involving Asian species declined since 2000, yet they were still being traded in large volumes (more than 17,500 estimated whole Asian pangolins were traded from 2001 to 2014) despite a zero export quota for all wild sourced Asian species, traded for primarily commercial purposes. In 2014 all eight pangolin species were recorded in the CITES trade for the first time. An increasingly complex international network was identified through time, with the United States of America (US) being the dominant player in the global pangolin trade that was reported to CITES. The US was the most frequent trade country throughout the entire period and was the greatest importer of pangolins, and their products; measured both in volume as well as frequency. We hope that identifying these global trade network characteristics, and pangolin trade dynamics will help to inform pangolin conservation efforts, and guide enforcement and legislative changes in the future.Sarah Heinrich, Talia A. Wittmann, Thomas A.A. Prowse, Joshua V. Ross, Steven Delean, Chris R. Shepherd, Phillip Casse

Exposing the human nude phenotype [4]

Peer reviewedSubmitted Versio

Arctic system on trajectory to new state

The Arctic system is moving toward a new state that falls outside the envelope of glacial-interglacial fluctuations that prevailed during recent Earth history. This future Arctic is likely to have dramatically less permanent ice than exists at present. At the present rate of change, a summer ice-free Arctic Ocean within a century is a real possibility, a state not witnessed for at least a million years. The change appears to be driven largely by feedback-enhanced global climate warming, and there seem to be few, if any processes or feedbacks within the Arctic system that are capable of altering the trajectory toward this “super interglacial” state

Detection of TMPRSS2 : ERG fusion gene in circulating prostate cancer cells

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 license (CC BY-NC SA)Aim: To investigate the existence of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene in circulating tumor cells (CTC) from prostate cancer patients and its potential in monitoring tumor metastasis. Methods: We analyzed the frequency of TMPRSS2: ERG and TMPRSS2:ETV1 transcripts in 27 prostate cancer biopsies from prostatectomies, and TMPRSS2:ERG transcripts in CTC isolated from 15 patients with advanced androgen independent disease using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to analyze the genomic truncation of ERG, which is the result of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion in 10 of the 15 CTC samples. Results: TMPRSS2: ERG transcripts were found in 44% of our samples, but we did not detect expression of TMPRSS2:ETV1. Using FISH analysis we detected chromosomal rearrangements affecting the ERG gene in 6 of 10 CTC samples, including 1 case with associated TMPRSS2:ERG fusion at the primary site. However, TMPRSS2:ERG transcripts were not detected in any of the 15 CTC samples, including the 10 cases analyzed by FISH. Conclusion: Although further study is required to address the association between TMPRSS2:ERG fusion and prostate cancer metastasis, detection of genomic truncation of the ERG gene by FISH analysis could be useful for monitoring the appearance of CTC and the potential for prostate cancer metastasis.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

The Lambda-Lambda Interaction and ^{6}_{Lambda Lambda}He

An OBE potential model for the ^{1}S_0 S = -2 interaction is analyzed with emphasis on the role of coupling between the Lambda Lambda, N Xi, and Sigma Sigma channels. Singlet scalar exchange, an approximation to two-pion exchange, is significant in all channels; surprisingly, the one-pion exchange component is almost negligible. The size of the channel coupling as a function of the overall strength of the OBE model potential is examined. Implications of the analysis for the binding energy of ^{6}_{Lambda Lambda}He are considered; the new experimental datum may suggest a consistency between the extracted Lambda Lambda matrix element and the relation implied by SU(3) among OBE baryon-baryon interactions. \\Comment: 4 pages brief report to Physical Review

HPV infection and immunochemical detection of cell-cycle markers in verrucous carcinoma of the penis

Penile verrucous carcinoma is a rare disease and little is known of its aetiology or pathogenesis. In this study we examined cell-cycle proteins expression and correlation with human papillomavirus infection in a series of 15 pure penile verrucous carcinomas from a single centre. Of 148 penile tumours, 15 (10%) were diagnosed as pure verrucous carcinomas. The expression of the cell-cycle-associated proteins p53, p21, RB, p16INK4A and Ki67 were examined by immunohistochemistry. Human papillomavirus infection was determined by polymerase chain reaction to identify a wide range of virus types. The expression of p16INK4A and Ki67 was significantly lower in verrucous carcinoma than in usual type squamous cell carcinoma, whereas the expression of p53, p21 and RB was not significantly different. p53 showed basal expression in contrast to usual type squamous cell carcinoma. Human papillomavirus infection was present in only 3 out of 13 verrucous carcinomas. Unique low-risk, high-risk and mixed viral infections were observed in each of the three cases. In conclusion, lower levels of p16INK4A and Ki67 expressions differentiate penile verrucous carcinoma from usual type squamous cell carcinoma. The low Ki67 index reflects the slow-growing nature of verrucous tumours. The low level of p16INK4A expression and human papillomavirus detection suggests that penile verrucous carcinoma pathogenesis is unrelated to human papillomavirus infection and the oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes classically altered by virus infection.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio