168 research outputs found
Chemotaxis of Escherichia coli to Norepinephrine (NE) Requires Conversion of NE to 3,4-Dihydroxymandelic Acid
Norepinephrine (NE), the primary neurotransmitter of the sympathetic nervous system, has been reported to be a chemoattractant for enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Here we show that nonpathogenic E. coli K-12 grown in the presence of 2 ÎŒM NE is also attracted to NE. Growth with NE induces transcription of genes encoding the tyramine oxidase, TynA, and the aromatic aldehyde dehydrogenase, FeaB, whose respective activities can, in principle, convert NE to 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid (DHMA). Our results indicate that the apparent attractant response to NE is in fact chemotaxis to DHMA, which was found to be a strong attractant for E. coli. Only strains of E. coli K-12 that produce TynA and FeaB exhibited an attractant response to NE. We demonstrate that DHMA is sensed by the serine chemoreceptor Tsr and that the chemotaxis response requires an intact serine-binding site. The threshold concentration for detection is â€5 nM DHMA, and the response is inhibited at DHMA concentrations above 50 ÎŒM. Cells producing a heterodimeric Tsr receptor containing only one functional serine-binding site still respond like the wild type to low concentrations of DHMA, but their response persists at higher concentrations. We propose that chemotaxis to DHMA generated from NE by bacteria that have already colonized the intestinal epithelium may recruit E. coli and other enteric bacteria that possess a Tsr-like receptor to preferred sites of infection
The Semileptonic Decays and from Lattice QCD
We present a lattice QCD calculation of the form factors and differential
decay rates for semileptonic decays of the heavy-light mesons and to
the final state . The results are obtained with three methodological
improvements over previous lattice calculations: a matching procedure that
reduces heavy-quark lattice artifacts, the first study of lattice-spacing
dependence, and the introduction of kinematic cuts to reduce model dependence.
We show that the main systematics are controllable (within the quenched
approximation) and outline how the calculations could be improved to aid
current experiments in the determination of~ and~.Comment: 35 pp, 12 fig
A multi-model study of the hemispheric transport and deposition of oxidised nitrogen.
Fifteen chemistry-transport models are used to quantify, for the first time, the export of oxidised nitrogen (NOy) to and from four regions (Europe, North America, South Asia, and East Asia), and to estimate the uncertainty in the results. Between 12 and 24% of the NOx emitted is exported from each region annually. The strongest impact of each source region on a foreign region is: Europe on East Asia, North America on Europe, South Asia on East Asia, and East Asia on North America. Europe exports the most NOy, and East Asia the least. East Asia receives the most NOy from the other regions. Between 8 and 15% of NOx emitted in each region is transported over distances larger than 1000 km, with 3â10% ultimately deposited over the foreign regions
Pressure versus concentration tuning of the superconductivity in Ba(Fe(1-x)Cox)2As2
In the iron arsenide compound BaFe2As2, superconductivity can be induced
either by a variation of its chemical composition, e.g., by replacing Fe with
Co, or by a reduction of the unit-cell volume through the application of
hydrostatic pressure p. In contrast to chemical substitutions, pressure is
expected to introduce no additional disorder into the lattice. We compare the
two routes to superconductivity by measuring the p dependence of the
superconducting transition temperature Tc of Ba(Fe(1-x)Cox)2As2 single crystals
with different Co content x. We find that Tc(p) of underdoped and overdoped
samples increases and decreases, respectively, tracking quantitatively the
Tc(x) dependence. To clarify to which extent the superconductivity relies on
distinct structural features we analyze the crystal structure as a function of
x and compare the results with that of BaFe2As2 under pressure.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, to be published in JPSJ Vol. 79 No. 12. The
copyright is held by The Physical Society of Japa
Heavy-light Mesons and Baryons with b quarks
We present lattice results for the spectrum of mesons containing one heavy
quark and of baryons containing one or two heavy quarks. The calculation is
done in the quenched approximation using the NRQCD formalism for the heavy
quark. We analyze the dependence of the mass splittings on both the heavy and
the light quark masses. Meson P-state fine structure and baryon hyperfine
splittings are resolved for the first time. We fix the b quark mass using both
M_B and M_{\Lambda_b}, and our best estimate is m_b^\MSbar(m_b^\MSbar) =
4.35(10)({}^{-3}_{+2})(10) GeV. The spectrum, obtained by interpolation to m_b,
is compared with the experimental data.Comment: 34 pages, LaTeX, 13 postscript figures, version as publish in Phys.
Rev.
Impact of changes at the Candida albicans cell surface upon immunogenicity and colonisation in the gastrointestinal tract
Acknowledgements This work was supported by a programme grant from the UK Medical Research Council (MR/M026663/1; MR/M026663/2) and by the Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology (MR/N006364/1; MR/N006364/2). NARG acknowledges Wellcome support for a Senior Investigator (101873/Z/13/Z), Collaborative (200208/A/15/Z; 215599/Z/19/Z) and Strategic Awards (097377/Z11/Z). LR, SHD and AWW received core funding support from the Scottish Governmentâs Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) division. MGN was supported by an ERC Advanced Grant (833247) and a Spinoza Grant of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Heavy Quark Spectroscopy and Matrix Elements: A Lattice Study using the Static Approximation
We present results of a lattice analysis of the parameter, , the
decay constant , and several mass splittings using the static
approximation. Results were obtained for 60 quenched gauge configurations
computed at on a lattice size of . Light quark
propagators were calculated using the -improved Sheikholeslami-Wohlert
action. We find \Bbstat(m_b) = 0.69\er{3}{4} {\rm(stat)}\er{2}{1}
{\rm(syst)}, corresponding to \Bbstat = 1.02\er{5}{6}\er{3}{2}, and \fbstat
= 266\err{18}{20}\err{28}{27} \mev, f_{B_s}^2 B_{B_s}/f_B^2 B_B =
1.34\er{9}{8}\er{5}{3}, where a variational fitting technique was used to
extract \fbstat. For the mass splittings we obtain M_{B_s}-M_{B_d} =
87\err{15}{12}\err{6}{12} \mev, M_{\Lambda_b}-M_{B_d} =
420\errr{100}{90}\err{30}{30} \mev and M_{B^*}^2-M_B^2 =
0.281\err{15}{16}\err{40}{37} \gev^2. We compare different smearing techniques
intended to improve the signal/noise ratio. From a detailed assessment of
systematic effects we conclude that the main systematic uncertainties are
associated with the renormalisation constants relating a lattice matrix element
to its continuum counterpart. The dependence of our findings on lattice
artefacts is to be investigated in the future.Comment: 40 pages, uuencoded compressed tar file, containing one LaTeX file
and 14 postscript files (to be included with epsf). Minor change in the value
of the B parameter. Contains corrected value for the B*-B mass splitting.
Version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Pairing Symmetry Competition in Organic Superconductors
A review is given on theoretical studies concerning the pairing symmetry in
organic superconductors. In particular, we focus on (TMTSF)X and
-(BEDT-TTF)X, in which the pairing symmetry has been extensively
studied both experimentally and theoretically. Possibilities of various pairing
symmetry candidates and their possible microscopic origin are discussed. Also
some tests for determining the actual pairing symmtery are surveyed.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., special
issue on "Organic Conductors
Getting our ducks in a row:The need for data utility comparisons of healthcare systems data for clinical trials
BACKGROUND: Better use of healthcare systems data, collected as part of interactions between patients and the healthcare system, could transform planning and conduct of randomised controlled trials. Multiple challenges to widespread use include whether healthcare systems data captures sufficiently well the data traditionally captured on case report forms. "Data Utility Comparison Studies" (DUCkS) assess the utility of healthcare systems data for RCTs by comparison to data collected by the trial. Despite their importance, there are few published UK examples of DUCkS.METHODS-AND-RESULTS: Building from ongoing and selected recent examples of UK-led DUCkS in the literature, we set out experience-based considerations for the conduct of future DUCkS. Developed through informal iterative discussions in many forums, considerations are offered for planning, protocol development, data, analysis and reporting, with comparisons at "patient-level" or "trial-level", depending on the item of interest and trial status.DISCUSSION: DUCkS could be a valuable tool in assessing where healthcare systems data can be used for trials and in which trial teams can play a leading role. There is a pressing need for trials to be more efficient in their delivery and research waste must be reduced. Trials have been making inconsistent use of healthcare systems data, not least because of an absence of evidence of utility. DUCkS can also help to identify challenges in using healthcare systems data, such as linkage (access and timing) and data quality. We encourage trial teams to incorporate and report DUCkS in trials and funders and data providers to support them.</p
Getting our ducks in a row:The need for data utility comparisons of healthcare systems data for clinical trials
BACKGROUND: Better use of healthcare systems data, collected as part of interactions between patients and the healthcare system, could transform planning and conduct of randomised controlled trials. Multiple challenges to widespread use include whether healthcare systems data captures sufficiently well the data traditionally captured on case report forms. "Data Utility Comparison Studies" (DUCkS) assess the utility of healthcare systems data for RCTs by comparison to data collected by the trial. Despite their importance, there are few published UK examples of DUCkS.METHODS-AND-RESULTS: Building from ongoing and selected recent examples of UK-led DUCkS in the literature, we set out experience-based considerations for the conduct of future DUCkS. Developed through informal iterative discussions in many forums, considerations are offered for planning, protocol development, data, analysis and reporting, with comparisons at "patient-level" or "trial-level", depending on the item of interest and trial status.DISCUSSION: DUCkS could be a valuable tool in assessing where healthcare systems data can be used for trials and in which trial teams can play a leading role. There is a pressing need for trials to be more efficient in their delivery and research waste must be reduced. Trials have been making inconsistent use of healthcare systems data, not least because of an absence of evidence of utility. DUCkS can also help to identify challenges in using healthcare systems data, such as linkage (access and timing) and data quality. We encourage trial teams to incorporate and report DUCkS in trials and funders and data providers to support them.</p
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