Electroweak Model Independent Tests for SU(3) Symmetry in Hadronic B Decays

We study effects of new physics beyond the Standard Model on SU(3) symmetry in charmless hadronic two body B decays. It is found that several equalities for some of the decay amplitudes, such as $A(B_d (B_u) \to \pi^+\pi^-,\pi^+ K^- (\pi^- \bar K^0)) =A(B_s \to K^+ \pi^-, K^- K^+ (K^0 \bar K^0))$, $A(B_d \to \pi^+\rho^-, \pi^- \rho^+, K^-\rho^+, \pi^+ K^{*-}) = A(B_s \to K^+ \rho^-, \pi^- K^{*+}, K^- K^{*+}, K^+ K^{*-})$, $A(B_d (B_u) \to \rho^+\rho^-, \rho^+ K^{*-}(\rho^- \bar K^{*0})) =A(B_s \to K^{*+} \rho^-, K^{*-} K^{*+} (K^{*0} \bar K^{*0}))$, predicted by SU(3) symmetry in the SM are not affected by new physics. These relations provide important electroweak model independent tests for SU(3) symmetry in B decays.Comment: 4 pages, revte

BOB-RED queue management for IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensor networks

This study is aimed at exploring why many economists propose a transfer scheme and debt mutualisation for the Eurozone. This would equip the Eurozone with better tools to deal with an economic shock, like the 2010-2012 sovereign debt crisis, thus making it more financially stable. After the theoretical presentation, the study presents a unique institutional design with an EU Treasury that manages debt mutualisation and a transfer scheme as well as other competences that address other present economic challenges. Crucial to the study are the issues of moral hazard and adverse selection that arise when thinking of European economic integration.L’objectiu del treball és explorar la raó per la qual molts economistes proposen un sistema de transferències fiscals i la mutualització del deute a l’Eurozona. Així se la dotaria amb eines més efectives per pal·liar un xoc econòmic, com la crisi del deute sobirà del 2010-2012. A continuació, es presenta un disseny institucional únic d’un Tresor de l’Euro que gestionaria les competències esmentades (i d’altres) per combatre alguns dels reptes econòmics actuals. El risc moral i de selecció adversa, qüestions que sorgeixen en pensar la drecera que ha de prendre la integració econòmica Europea, són cabdals per aquest estudi

Ceacam1 separates graft-versus-host-disease from graft-versus-tumor activity after experimental allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) is a potentially curative therapy for a variety of hematologic diseases, but benefits, including graft-versus-tumor (GVT) activity are limited by graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). Carcinoembryonic antigen related cell adhesion molecule 1 (Ceacam1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein found on epithelium, T cells, and many tumors. It regulates a variety of physiologic and pathological processes such as tumor biology, leukocyte activation, and energy homeostasis. Previous studies suggest that Ceacam1 negatively regulates inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease models. METHODS: We studied Ceacam1 as a regulator of GVHD and GVT after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) in mouse models. In vivo, Ceacam1(-/-) T cells caused increased GVHD mortality and GVHD of the colon, and greater numbers of donor T cells were positive for activation markers (CD25(hi), CD62L(lo)). Additionally, Ceacam1(-/-) CD8 T cells had greater expression of the gut-trafficking integrin α(4)β(7), though both CD4 and CD8 T cells were found increased numbers in the gut post-transplant. Ceacam1(-/-) recipients also experienced increased GVHD mortality and GVHD of the colon, and alloreactive T cells displayed increased activation. Additionally, Ceacam1(-/-) mice had increased mortality and decreased numbers of regenerating small intestinal crypts upon radiation exposure. Conversely, Ceacam1-overexpressing T cells caused attenuated target-organ and systemic GVHD, which correlated with decreased donor T cell numbers in target tissues, and mortality. Finally, graft-versus-tumor survival in a Ceacam1(+) lymphoma model was improved in animals receiving Ceacam1(-/-) vs. control T cells. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that Ceacam1 regulates T cell activation, GVHD target organ damage, and numbers of donor T cells in lymphoid organs and GVHD target tissues. In recipients of allo-BMT, Ceacam1 may also regulate tissue radiosensitivity. Because of its expression on both the donor graft and host tissues, this suggests that targeting Ceacam1 may represent a potent strategy for the regulation of GVHD and GVT after allogeneic transplantation

Risk Factors Associated With Severe Clostridioides difficile Infection in Patients With Cancer

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic use is a risk factor for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Few studies have correlated use of prior antibiotic classes with CDI, microbiome composition, and disease severity in patients with cancer. We hypothesized that previous antibiotic exposure and fecal microbiome composition at time of presentation are risk factors for severe CDI in patients with cancer. METHODS: This non-interventional, prospective, cohort study examined 200 patients with cancer who had their first episode or first recurrence of CDI. C. difficile was identified using nucleic acid amplification testing. Univariate analysis was used to determine significant risk factors for severe CDI. Fecal microbiome composition was determined by sequencing the V3/V4 region of 16 s rDNA encoding gene. Differential abundance analyses were used to single out significant microbial features which differed across severity levels. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, factors associated with severe CDI included the presence of toxin A/B in stools (odds ratio [OR] 2.14 [1.05-4.36] p = 0.04 and prior 90-day metronidazole use (OR 2.66 [1.09-6.50] p = 0.03). Although alpha and beta diversity was similar between disease severity groups and toxin A/B in stools, increased abundance of Bacteroides uniformis, Ruminococcaceae, and Citrobacter koseri were associated with protection from severe CDI (p \u3c 0.05) and depletion of anaerobes was higher in patients with prior metronidazole exposure. CONCLUSION: Use of metronidazole for non-CDI indications within 90 days prior to diagnosis and presence of toxin A/B in stools were associated with severe CDI. Findings provide valuable insights into risk factors for severe CDI in an underserved population with cancer that warrants further exploration

The Microbiome and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Past, Present, and Future

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A peridynamic based machine learning model for one-dimensional and two-dimensional structures

With the rapid growth of available data and computing resources, using data-driven models is a potential approach in many scientific disciplines and engineering. However, for complex physical phenomena that have limited data, the data-driven models are lacking robustness and fail to provide good predictions. Theory-guided data science is the recent technology that can take advantage of both physics-driven and data-driven models. This study presents a novel peridynamics based machine learning model for one and two-dimensional structures. The linear relationships between the displacement of a material point and displacements of its family members and applied forces are obtained for the machine learning model by using linear regression. The numerical procedure for coupling the peridynamic model and the machine learning model is also provided. The numerical procedure for coupling the peridynamic model and the machine learning model is also provided. The accuracy of the coupled model is verified by considering various examples of a one-dimensional bar and two-dimensional plate. To further demonstrate the capabilities of the coupled model, damage prediction for a plate with a pre-existing crack, a two-dimensional representation of a three-point bending test, and a plate subjected to dynamic load are simulated

The immediate effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic on childbirth in Taiwan

BACKGROUND: When an emerging infectious disease like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) strikes suddenly, many wonder the public's overwhelming fears of SARS may deterred patients from seeking routine care from hospitals and/or interrupt patient's continuity of care. In this study, we sought to estimate the influence of pregnant women's fears of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on their choice of provider, mode of childbirth, and length of stay (LOS) for the delivery during and after the SARS epidemic in Taiwan. METHODS: The National Health Insurance data from January 01, 2002 to December 31, 2003 were used. A population-based descriptive analysis was conducted to assess the changes in volume, market share, cesarean rate, and average LOS for each of the 4 provider levels, before, during and after the SARS epidemic. RESULTS: Compared to the pre-SARS period, medical centers and regional hospitals dropped 5.2% and 4.1% in market share for childbirth services during the peak SARS period, while district hospitals and clinics increased 2.1% and 7.1%, respectively. For changes in cesarean rates, only a significantly larger increase was observed in medical centers (2.2%) during the peak SARS period. In terms of LOS, significant reductions in average LOS were observed in all hospital levels except for clinics. Average LOS was shortened by 0.21 days in medical centers (5.6%), 0.21 days in regional hospitals (5.8%), and 0.13 days in district hospitals (3.8%). CONCLUSION: The large amount of patients shifting from the maternity wards of more advanced hospitals to those of less advanced hospitals, coupled with the substantial reduction in their length of maternity stay due to their fears of SARS could also lead to serious concerns for quality of care, especially regarding a patient's accessibility to quality providers and continuity of care

Busulphan-Cyclophosphamide Cause Endothelial Injury, Remodeling of Resistance Arteries and Enhanced Expression of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase

Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a curative treatment for malignant and non malignant diseases. However, transplantation-related complications including cardiovascular disease deteriorate the clinical outcome and quality of life. We have investigated the acute effects of conditioning regimen on the pharmacology, physiology and structure of large elastic arteries and small resistance-sized arteries in a SCT mouse model. Mesenteric resistance arteries and aorta were dissected from Balb/c mice conditioned with busulphan (Bu) and cyclophosphamide (Cy). In vitro isometric force development and pharmacology, in combination with RT-PCR, Western blotting and electron microscopy were used to study vascular properties. Compared with controls, mesenteric resistance arteries from the Bu-Cy group had larger internal circumference, showed enhanced endothelium mediated relaxation and increased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Bu-Cy treated animals had lower mean blood pressure and signs of endothelial injury. Aortas of treated animals had a higher reactivity to noradrenaline. We conclude that short-term consequences of Bu-Cy treatment divergently affect large and small arteries of the cardiovascular system. The increased noradrenaline reactivity of large elastic arteries was not associated with increased blood pressure at rest. Instead, Bu-Cy treatment lowered blood pressure via augmented microvascular endothelial dependent relaxation, increased expression of vascular eNOS and remodeling toward a larger lumen. The changes in the properties of resistance arteries can be associated with direct effects of the compounds on vascular wall or possibly indirectly induced via altered translational activity associated with the reduced hematocrit and shear stress. This study contributes to understanding the mechanisms that underlie the early effects of conditioning regimen on resistance arteries and may help in designing further investigations to understand the late effects on vascular system