QCD Corrections to QED Vacuum Polarization

We compute QCD corrections to QED calculations for vacuum polarization in background magnetic fields. Formally, the diagram for virtual $e\bar{e}$ loops is identical to the one for virtual $q\bar{q}$ loops. However due to confinement, or to the growth of $\alpha_s$ as $p^2$ decreases, a direct calculation of the diagram is not allowed. At large $p^2$ we consider the virtual $q\bar{q}$ diagram, in the intermediate region we discuss the role of the contribution of quark condensates \left and at the low-energy limit we consider the $\pi^0$, as well as charged pion $\pi^+\pi^-$ loops. Although these effects seem to be out of the measurement accuracy of photon-photon laboratory experiments they may be relevant for $\gamma$-ray burst propagation. In particular, for emissions from the center of the galaxy (8.5 kpc), we show that the mixing between the neutral pseudo-scalar pion $\pi_0$ and photons renders a deviation from the power-law spectrum in the $TeV$ range. As for scalar quark condensates \left and virtual $q\bar{q}$ loops are relevant only for very high radiation density $\sim 300 MeV/fm^3$ and very strong magnetic fields of order $\sim 10^{14} T$.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures; Final versio

Rare Variant Analysis of Human and Rodent Obesity Genes in Individuals with Severe Childhood Obesity

Obesity is a genetically heterogeneous disorder. Using targeted and whole-exome sequencing, we studied 32 human and 87 rodent obesity genes in 2,548 severely obese children and 1,117 controls. We identified 52 variants contributing to obesity in 2% of cases including multiple novel variants in GNAS, which were sometimes found with accelerated growth rather than short stature as described previously. Nominally significant associations were found for rare functional variants in BBS1, BBS9, GNAS, MKKS, CLOCK and ANGPTL6. The p.S284X variant in ANGPTL6 drives the association signal (rs201622589, MAF∼0.1%, odds ratio = 10.13, p-value = 0.042) and results in complete loss of secretion in cells. Further analysis including additional case-control studies and population controls (N = 260,642) did not support association of this variant with obesity (odds ratio = 2.34, p-value = 2.59 × 10 -3 ), highlighting the challenges of testing rare variant associations and the need for very large sample sizes. Further validation in cohorts with severe obesity and engineering the variants in model organisms will be needed to explore whether human variants in ANGPTL6 and other genes that lead to obesity when deleted in mice, do contribute to obesity. Such studies may yield druggable targets for weight loss therapies

Antimicrobial activity of leaf extract of <i style="">Basilicum polystachyon </i>(L) Moench

744-748 Phenolic extract of leaves of Basilicum polystachyon (L) Moench was tested for in vitro antimicrobial activity against five bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus leuteus) and three fungi (Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, Helminthosporium oryzae). Efficacy of organic solvents, methanol and ethanol, as agents for extraction was compared with acidic water (2M; HCl). High-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) data showed that acidic extraction (2M; HCl) resulted in higher yield of caffeic acid (0.437 mg g-1) and rosmarinic acid (0.919 mg g-1). Acidic extract showed high activity against Gram (+) ve bacteria, but was less active against Gram (-) ve bacteria. Amongst the tested fungi, maximum activity was exhibited against Aspergillus niger. This is the first report on the phenolic constituents and bioactivity of B. polystachyon. </smarttagtype

Rare Variant Analysis of Human and Rodent Obesity Genes in Individuals with Severe Childhood Obesity

Obesity is a genetically heterogeneous disorder. Using targeted and whole-exome sequencing, we studied 32 human and 87 rodent obesity genes in 2,548 severely obese children and 1,117 controls. We identified 52 variants contributing to obesity in 2% of cases including multiple novel variants in GNAS, which were sometimes found with accelerated growth rather than short stature as describedw previously. Nominally significant associations were found for rare functional variants in BBS1, BBS9, GNAS, MKKS, CLOCK and ANGPTL6. The p.S284X variant in ANGPTL6 drives the association signal (rs201622589, MAF∼0.1%, odds ratio = 10.13, p-value = 0.042) and results in complete loss of secretion in cells. Further analysis including additional case-control studies and population controls (N = 260,642) did not support association of this variant with obesity (odds ratio = 2.34, p-value = 2.59 × 10-3), highlighting the challenges of testing rare variant associations and the need for very large sample sizes. Further validation in cohorts with severe obesity and engineering the variants in model organisms will be needed to explore whether human variants in ANGPTL6 and other genes that lead to obesity when deleted in mice, do contribute to obesity. Such studies may yield druggable targets for weight loss therapies