Measurement of the cross-section for b-jets produced in association with a Z boson at root s=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector ATLAS Collaboration

A measurement is presented of the inclusive cross-section for b-jet production in association with a Z boson in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 7 TeV. The analysis uses the data sample collected by the ATLAS experiment in 2010, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 36 pb(-1). The event selection requires a Z boson decaying into high P-T electrons or muons, and at least one b-jet, identified by its displaced vertex, with transverse momentum p(T) > 25 GeV and rapidity vertical bar y vertical bar < 2.1. After subtraction of background processes, the yield is extracted from the vertex mass distribution of the candidate b-jets. The ratio of this cross-section to the inclusive Z cross-section (the average number of b-jets per Z event) is also measured. Both results are found to be in good agreement with perturbative QCD predictions at next-to-leading order

Identification and mRNA Expression of Antioxidant Enzyme Genes in the Mud Crab (Scylla paramamosain) in Response to Acute Ammonia and Nitrite Exposure

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a conserved protein that is involved in protecting organisms against various oxidative stresses. In this study, a thioredoxin reductase gene was cloned from the mud crab Scylla paramamosain (SpTrxR). The full-length cDNA of SpTrxR is comprised of 2724 bp with a 1791 bp open reading frame that encodes a putative protein of 596 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of SpTrxR contains the typical TrxR domain. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the SpTrxR mRNA was distributed abundantly in mud crabs, while strong expression was observed mainly in the gills. The expression of antioxidant enzyme genes (SpTrxR, SpTrx, SpSOD, and SpCAT) was measured using quantitative real-time PCR after acute ammonia and nitrite exposure. The results show that antioxidant enzyme genes (SpTrxR, SpTrx, SpSOD, and SpCAT) were modulated by acute ammonia and nitrite exposure. These results suggest that antioxidant enzyme genes play an important role in protecting organisms against oxidative stres

Identification and mRNA Expression of Heat Shock Proteins in the Mud Crab (Scylla paramamosain) in Response to Acute Nitrite Exposure

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play an important role in protecting organisms against various stressors. Heat shock protein 40 (HSP40) is a class of the heat shock protein family and performs a function as co-chaperone of HSP70. In this study, an HSP40 gene from the mud crab Scylla paramamosain (SpHSP40) was identified and characterized. The full-length cDNA of SpHSP40 was 1904 bp, containing an open reading frame (ORF) of 1191 bp, a 5´UTR of 118 bp, and a 3´UTR of 595 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence of SpHSP40 contained all four classical HSP40 family signatures. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that SpHSP40 transcript was expressed in a wide range of tissues, while strong expression was observed in the hepatopancreas. In order to understand the response of heat shock proteins induced by nitrite exposure, expression levels of HSPs (SpHSP90, SpHSP70, SpHSP60 and SpHSP40) mRNA in the hepatopancreas and gills were investigated. Results show that HSPs (SpHSP90, SpHSP70, SpHSP60 and SpHSP40) were up-regulated displaying a time-dependent pattern in response to nitrite stress. All these results indicate that HSPs play an important role in mediating environmental stress in mud crabs

'No one knows like we do' - the narratives of mental health service users trained as researchers

In 2008, Mind in Bexley received a research development grant from the Big Lottery Fund and a training grant from Bexley Care Trust to empower service users to participate and contribute to a pilot research project. The project aims were to work with, develop, train and support the service users as researchers, in order to record the narratives of service users who have common experiences of mental health distress and treatment. The research development project set up an advisory group, created and developed a partnership with the University of Kent and provided workshops and training sessions to explore some of the principles of research and ethics. In addition, the group under took a preliminary literature review, developed and refined a research questionnaire and piloted interviews with six service users. Many issues were raised and lessons learned during the planning and conduct of the project. This paper discusses the process and reflects on aspects of the project's design and delivery. In addition, this paper highlights some of the difficulties in under taking service user research and suggests recommendations as to how to overcome some of these complex issues

Multiblock copolymers of lactic acid and ethylene glycol containing periodic side-chain carboxyl groups : synthesis, characterization, and nanoparticle preparation

Multiblock copolymers containing periodically spaced side-chain carboxyl groups were obtained by a two-step synthesis involving the preparation of ABA triblock prepolymers of lactic acid (A block) and ethylene glycol (B block) followed by chain extension to (ABA)n multiblock copolymers by reaction with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA). A series of polymer grades were synthesized by varying PEG and PLA chain length. NMR analysis demonstrated the incorporation of PMDA in polymer chain and revealed the possibility of PMDA units to exist in two isomers, cisoid and transoid forms. Chain extension resulted in the incorporation of free carboxylic groups in polymer backbone and in a 6-fold increase of molecular weight. Thermal analysis indicated that the extended polymers are more stable and have a Tg of 30−50 °C higher than their prepolymers. The polymers were found to be fast degrading in water following coupled first-order kinetics. Further, the carboxylated polymers can be processed into nanoparticulates by either nanoprecipitation or emulsion−diffusion methods resulting in 50−200 nm sized particles