Numerically Computing QCD Laplace Sum-Rules Using pySecDec

pySecDec is a program that numerically calculates dimensionally regularized integrals. We use pySecDec to compute QCD Laplace sum-rules for pseudoscalar (i.e., $J^{PC}=0^{-+}$) charmonium hybrids, and compare the results to sum-rules computed using analytic results for dimensionally regularized integrals. We find that the errors due to the use of numerical integration methods is negligible compared to the uncertainties in the sum-rules stemming from the uncertainties in the parameters of QCD, e.g., the coupling constant, quark masses, and condensate values. Also, we demonstrate that numerical integration methods can be used to calculate finite-energy and Gaussian sum-rules in addition to Laplace sum-rules.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Pemanfaatan Fitoplankton Sebagai Bioindikator Berbagai Jenis Polutan Di Perairan Intertidal Kota Kupang

Penelitian ini dilaksanakan selama tiga bulan terhitung dari bulan Desember 2014 sampai Februari 2015 dengan tujuanmengetahui perbedaan jenis polutan yang dominan antar lokasi di Teluk Kupang, mengetahui korelasi antara kandungan Nutrien (NO3), PO4, minyak dan POM serta mutu kualitas air lainnya dengan kelimpahan, keanekaragaman, kemerataan jenis dan dominansi fitoplankton, mengetahui perbedaan kelimpahan, keanekaragaman, kemerataan jenis dan dominansi fitoplankton berdasarkan jenis polutan.Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan bahwa jenis fitoplankton yang ditemukan di Teluk Kupang (Tenau, Kampung Solor, Oeba dan Lasiana)terdiri dari 32 jenis, tergolong ke dalam kelas Diatom 27 genus dan Kelas Dinoflagellta 5 genus.Spesies yang paling banyak ditemui selama penelitian adalah dari genus Pelagothrix, spesies ini termasuk dalam Kelas Diatom.Nilai kelimpahan fitoplankton tertinggi di Oeba, dan terendah di Tenau, nilai keanekaragaman fitoplankton tertinggi terdapat di Tenau dan terendah terdapat di Oeba, nilai kemerataan jenis fitoplankton tertinggi di Tenau dan yang terendah di Oeba, sedangkan nilai dominansi fitoplankton tertinggi di Oeba dan terendah di Tenau.Hasil Analisis Sidik Ragam menunjukan bahwa ada perbedaan jenis polutan yang dominan antar lokasi di Teluk Kupang dan ada perbedaan kelimpahan, keanekaragaman, kemerataan jenis dan dominansi berdasarkan jenis polutan dan Hasil Analisis Person menunjukan bahwa ada hubungan yang kuat antara kandungan Nutrien (NO3), PO4, minyak dan POM serta mutu kualitas air lainnya dengan kelimpahan, keanekaragaman, kemerataan jenis dan dominansi fitoplankton di setiap lokasi penelitian. Berdasarkan konsentrasi nitrat, fosfat, minyak dan POM memperlihatkan bahwa perairan Intertidal sekitar Teluk Kupang termasuk kategori tercemar berat

Impact of ivermectin administered for scabies treatment on the prevalence of head lice in Atoifi, Solomon Islands.

Scabies and head lice are ubiquitous ectoparasitic infestations that are common across the Pacific Islands. Ivermectin is an effective treatment for both conditions, although the doses used vary. At a community level, mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin is an effective strategy to decrease prevalence of scabies. To what extent MDA with ivermectin will also reduce prevalence of head lice is unknown. Head lice prevalence was assessed before and after MDA with oral ivermectin (at a dose of 200 micrograms per kilogram of body weight) administered on day 1 and day 8. The primary outcome was the change in prevalence of head louse infestation at two weeks compared to baseline. Longer term efficacy was assessed three months after MDA. 118 participants were enrolled. Baseline prevalence of active head louse infestation was 25.4% (95% CI 18.4-34.0). At three-month follow-up, prevalence was 7.5% (95% CI 2.7-12.3), a relative reduction of 70.6% (95% CI 72.7%-91.4%, p <0.001). Head louse infestation was associated with younger age (age ≤10 years: prevalence 46.7%; adjusted odds ratio compared to adults of 7.2, 95%CI 2.0-25.9) and with having at least one other member of the household with active head louse infestation (adjusted odds ratio 4.3, 95%CI 1.7-11.1). Head louse infestation is common in the Solomon Islands. This proof of principle study shows that oral ivermectin at a dose of 200 micrograms per kilogram can reduce the burden of active head louse infestation, offering an additional collateral benefit of MDA with ivermectin for scabies control. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03236168

High Latitude Dynamics of Atmosphere-Ice-Ocean Interactions

Dynamics of atmosphere–ice–ocean interactions in the high latitudes. What: Scientists from 13 countries involved with modeling and observing the coupled high-latitude weather and climate system discussed our current understanding and challenges in polar prediction, extreme events, and coupled processes on scales ranging from cloud and turbulent processes, from micrometers and a few hundred meters to processes on synoptic-scale weather phenomena and pan-Arctic energy budgets of hundreds to thousands of kilometers. Workshop participants also evaluated research needs to improve numerical models with usages spanning from uncoupled to fully coupled models used for weather and climate prediction (http://highlatdynamics.b.uib.no/). When: 23–27 March 2015. Where: Rosendal, Norwa

Induction of microRNAs, mir-155, mir-222, mir-424 and mir-503, promotes monocytic differentiation through combinatorial regulation

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) involves a block in terminal differentiation of the myeloid lineage and uncontrolled proliferation of a progenitor state. Using phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), it is possible to overcome this block in THP-1 cells (an M5-AML containing the MLL-MLLT3 fusion), resulting in differentiation to an adherent monocytic phenotype. As part of FANTOM4, we used microarrays to identify 23 microRNAs that are regulated by PMA. We identify four PMA-induced micro- RNAs (mir-155, mir-222, mir-424 and mir-503) that when overexpressed cause cell-cycle arrest and partial differentiation and when used in combination induce additional changes not seen by any individual microRNA. We further characterize these prodifferentiative microRNAs and show that mir-155 and mir-222 induce G2 arrest and apoptosis, respectively. We find mir-424 and mir-503 are derived from a polycistronic precursor mir-424-503 that is under repression by the MLL-MLLT3 leukemogenic fusion. Both of these microRNAs directly target cell-cycle regulators and induce G1 cell-cycle arrest when overexpressed in THP-1. We also find that the pro-differentiative mir-424 and mir-503 downregulate the anti-differentiative mir-9 by targeting a site in its primary transcript. Our study highlights the combinatorial effects of multiple microRNAs within cellular systems.Comment: 45 pages 5 figure

Assessing the H2_2S-induced resistance increase of a Ni/GDC cermet electrode under OCV and cathodic polarization

It is widely accepted that sulfur-induced resistance increase is mitigated by the anodic current density in the fuel cell mode. On the other hand, the role of cathodic current in the electrolyzer mode is yet only poorly explored. This study therefore aims to identify the role of cathodic current on the poisoning behavior in solid oxide electrolyzers. We have performed an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy-based study on a commercial Ni/GDC electrode in a H$_2$S concentration range from 0.1 ppm to 1 ppm and current densities from 0 Acm−2 up to −1 Acm−2 in steam-electrolysis and up to −0.8 Acm−2 in CO$_2$-electrolysis. Results at OCV show a critical influence of H$_2$ and CO concentration on the poisoning response. Under cathodic polarization, the impact of sulfur on the resistance is lower when load is applied, compared to the OCV case, and this effect is more pronounced during CO$_2$-electrolysis than in H$_2$O-electrolysis. In poisoned H$_2$O-electrolysis, the electrode overpotentials match expectations from the inherent Tafel behavior of the electrode. In contrast, overpotentials during poisoned CO$_2$-electrolysis appear to be lower than one would expect from the inherent Tafel behavior of the electrode, demonstrating a mitigation effect of cathodic current on the H$_2$S poisoning in CO$_2$-electrolysis

MEGAPOLI: concept of multi-scale modelling of megacity impact on air quality and climate

The EU FP7 Project MEGAPOLI: "Megacities: Emissions, urban, regional and Global Atmospheric POLlution and climate effects, and Integrated tools for assessment and mitigation" (http://megapoli.info) brings together leading European research groups, state-of-the-art scientific tools and key players from non-European countries to investigate the interactions among megacities, air quality and climate. MEGAPOLI bridges the spatial and temporal scales that connect local emissions, air quality and weather with global atmospheric chemistry and climate. The suggested concept of multi-scale integrated modelling of megacity impact on air quality and climate and vice versa is discussed in the paper. It requires considering different spatial and temporal dimensions: time scales from seconds and hours (to understand the interaction mechanisms) up to years and decades (to consider the climate effects); spatial resolutions: with model down- and up-scaling from street- to global-scale; and two-way interactions between meteorological and chemical processes

Cytotoxic and apoptotic evaluations of marine bacteria isolated from brine-seawater interface of the Red Sea.

BACKGROUND: High salinity and temperature combined with presence of heavy metals and low oxygen renders deep-sea anoxic brines of the Red Sea as one of the most extreme environments on Earth. The ability to adapt and survive in these extreme environments makes inhabiting bacteria interesting candidates for the search of novel bioactive molecules. METHODS: Total 20 i.e. lipophilic (chloroform) and hydrophilic (70% ethanol) extracts of marine bacteria isolated from brine-seawater interface of the Red Sea were tested for cytotoxic and apoptotic activity against three human cancer cell lines, i.e. HeLa (cervical carcinoma), MCF-7 (Breast Adenocarcinoma) and DU145 (Prostate carcinoma). RESULTS: Among these, twelve extracts were found to be very active after 24 hours of treatment, which were further evaluated for their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects at 48 hr. The extracts from the isolates P1-37B and P3-37A (Halomonas) and P1-17B (Sulfitobacter) have been found to be the most potent against tested cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION: Overall, bacterial isolates from the Red Sea displayed promising results and can be explored further to find novel drug-like molecules. The cell line specific activity of the extracts may be attributed to the presence of different polarity compounds or the cancer type i.e. biological differences in cell lines and different mechanisms of action of programmed cell death prevalent in different cancer cell lines