9,696 research outputs found
Gene-knockdown in the honey bee mite Varroa destructor by a non-invasive approach : studies on a glutathione S-transferase
Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Critical Points in the Linear Sigma Model with Quarks
We employ a simple effective model to study the chiral dynamics of two
flavors of quarks at finite temperature and density. In particular, we
determine the phase diagram in the plane of temperature and baryon chemical
potential as a function of the pion mass. An interesting phase structure occurs
which results in zero, one or two critical points depending on the value of the
vacuum pion mass.Comment: 16 pages plus 5 figure
3D Computational Ghost Imaging
Computational ghost imaging retrieves the spatial information of a scene
using a single pixel detector. By projecting a series of known random patterns
and measuring the back reflected intensity for each one, it is possible to
reconstruct a 2D image of the scene. In this work we overcome previous
limitations of computational ghost imaging and capture the 3D spatial form of
an object by using several single pixel detectors in different locations. From
each detector we derive a 2D image of the object that appears to be illuminated
from a different direction, using only a single digital projector as
illumination. Comparing the shading of the images allows the surface gradient
and hence the 3D form of the object to be reconstructed. We compare our result
to that obtained from a stereo- photogrammetric system utilizing multiple high
resolution cameras. Our low cost approach is compatible with consumer
applications and can readily be extended to non-visible wavebands.Comment: 13pages, 4figure
Transcriptome analysis of the synganglion from the honey bee mite, Varroa destructor and RNAi knockdown of neural peptide targets
Acknowledgements This work was funded by BBSRC-LINK grant # BB/J01009X/1 and Vita Europe Ltd. We are grateful to the Scottish Beekeepers Association, especially Mr Phil McAnespie in supporting this work at its inception. We acknowledge partial funding from a Genesis Faraday SPARK Award, part of a Scottish Government SEEKIT project for the early part of this work. We are grateful to Prof David Evans for his advice on Varroa destructor viruses.Peer reviewedPostprin
Results from EDGES High-Band: II. Constraints on Parameters of Early Galaxies
We use the sky-average spectrum measured by EDGES High-Band ( MHz) to
constrain parameters of early galaxies independent of the absorption feature at
~MHz reported by Bowman et al. (2018). These parameters represent
traditional models of cosmic dawn and the epoch of reionization produced with
the 21cmFAST simulation code (Mesinger & Furlanetto 2007, Mesinger et al.
2011). The parameters considered are: (1) the UV ionizing efficiency (),
(2) minimum halo virial temperature hosting efficient star-forming galaxies
(), (3) integrated soft-band X-ray luminosity (), and (4) minimum X-ray energy escaping the first
galaxies (), corresponding to a typical H column
density for attenuation through the interstellar medium. The High-Band spectrum
disfavors high values of and , which correspond
to signals with late absorption troughs and sharp reionization transitions. It
also disfavors intermediate values of , which
produce relatively deep and narrow troughs within the band. Specifically, we
rule out
( C.L.). We then combine the EDGES High-Band data with constraints on the
electron scattering optical depth from Planck and the hydrogen neutral fraction
from high- quasars. This produces a lower degeneracy between and
than that reported in Greig & Mesinger (2017a) using
the Planck and quasar constraints alone. Our main result in this combined
analysis is the estimate ~~ ( C.L.). We leave for future work the evaluation of
~cm models using simultaneously data from EDGES Low- and High-Band.Comment: Accepted in Ap
Quantitative estimates of relationships between geomagnetic activity and equatorial spread-F as determined by TID occurrence levels
Using a world-wide set of stations for 15 years, quantitative estimates of changes to equatorial spread-F (ESF) occurrence rates obtained from ionogram scalings, have been determined for a range of geomagnetic activity (GA) levels, as well as for four different levels of solar activity. Average occurrence rates were used as a reference. The percentage changes vary significantly depending on these subdivisions. For example for very high GA the inverse association is recorded by a change of -33% for R-z greater than or equal to 150, and -10% for R-z < 50. Using data for 9 years for the equatorial station, Huancayo, these measurements of ESF which indicate the presence of TIDs, have also been investigated by somewhat similar analyses. Additional parameters were used which involved the local times of GA, with the ESF being examined separately for occurrence pre-midnight (PM) and after-midnight (AM). Again the negative changes were most pronounced for high GA in R-z-max years (-21%). This result is for PM ESF for GA at a local time of 1700. There were increased ESF levels (+31%) for AM ESF in R-z-min years for high GA around 2300 LT. This additional knowledge of the influence of GA on ESF occurrence involving not only percentage changes, but these values for a range of parameter levels, may be useful if ever short-term forecasts are needed. There is some discussion on comparisons which can be made between ESF results obtained by coherent scatter from incoherent-scatter equipment and those obtained by ionosondes
The association of HLA-DRB genes and the shared epitope with rheumatoid arthritis in Pakistan
The association of particular HLA-DR alleles and the shared epitope with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is now well established. The strength of these links varies between races. Furthermore, the proposition that the presence of the shared epitope is indicative of severe disease has been more difficult to sustain in non-Europeans. This study examines the frequency of HLA-DR and HLA-DRB1 amongst Pakistanis for the first time. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (PCR-SSOP) and primers (PCR-SSP), HLA-DR phenotype and genotype frequencies were ascertained in 86 RA hospital out-patients and 79 healthy controls matched for age, gender and ethnicity. HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR4 frequency was similar in patients and controls. HLA-DR10 occurred in 26 instances (15%) in RA and in eight (5%) controls (Pcorr = 0.048). HLA-DR2 was also increased in patients (P = 0.053) and its major subtype DR15 was significantly increased (Pcorr = 0.03). HLA-DR5 frequency was 5% in patients and 19% in controls (Pcorr = 0.002). The HLA-DR4 alleles possessing the shared epitope were more common in RA (Pcorr = 0.03) and this difference was enhanced by inclusion of other alleles possessing the shared epitope (Pcorr = 0.002). Shared epitope alleles were observed in 43 (50%) patients and 17 (22%) controls (Pcorr = 0.003). The shared epitope did not distinguish patients with more severe disease, as reflected by pain, joint deformities, disability, rheumatoid factor or X-ray damage. The distribution of HLA-DR alleles in Pakistanis with RA supports the shared epitope hypothesis. In common with other non-European racial groups, HLA-DR4 was not associated with RA. Unlike other groups, there was a weak link of RA with HLA-DR2. A protective effect of HLA-DR5 was apparent. In accord with some other studies, the shared epitope in this hospital out-patient population was not a marker for more severe disease
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