A study of the influence of the gauge group on the Dyson-Schwinger equations for scalar-Yang-Mills systems

The particular choice of the gauge group for Yang-Mills theory plays an important role when it comes to the influence of matter fields. In particular, both the chosen gauge group and the representation of the matter fields yield structural differences in the quenched case. Especially, the qualitative behavior of the Wilson potential is strongly dependent on this selection. Though the algebraic reasons for this observation is clear, it is far from obvious how this behavior can be described besides using numerical simulations. Herein, it is investigated how the group structure appears in the Dyson-Schwinger equations, which as a hierarchy of equations for the correlation functions have to be satisfied. It is found that there are differences depending on both the gauge group and the representation of the matter fields. This provides insight into possible truncation schemes for practical calculations using these equations.Comment: 47 page

Assessing the phylogeographic history of the montane caddisfly Thremma gallicum using mitochondrial and restriction-site-associated DNA (RAD) mar

Repeated Quaternary glaciations have significantly shaped the present distribution and diversity of several European species in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. To study the phylogeography of freshwater invertebrates, patterns of intraspecific variation have been examined primarily using mitochondrial DNA markers that may yield results unrepresentative of the true species history. Here, population genetic parameters were inferred for a montane aquatic caddisfly, Thremma gallicum, by sequencing a 658-bp fragment of the mitochondrial CO1 gene, and 12,514 nuclear RAD loci. T. gallicum has a highly disjunct distribution in southern and central Europe, with known populations in the Cantabrian Mountains, Pyrenees, Massif Central, and Black Forest. Both datasets represented rangewide sampling of T. gallicum. For the CO1 dataset, this included 352 specimens from 26 populations, and for the RAD dataset, 17 specimens from eight populations. We tested 20 competing phylogeographic scenarios using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) and estimated genetic diversity patterns. Support for phylogeographic scenarios and diversity estimates differed between datasets with the RAD data favouring a southern origin of extant populations and indicating the Cantabrian Mountains and Massif Central populations to represent highly diverse populations as compared with the Pyrenees and Black Forest populations. The CO1 data supported a vicariance scenario (north–south) and yielded inconsistent diversity estimates. Permutation tests suggest that a few hundred polymorphic RAD SNPs are necessary for reliable parameter estimates. Our results highlight the potential of RAD and ABC-based hypothesis testing to complement phylogeographic studies on non-model species

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome, Endothelial Function and Markers of Endothelialization. Changes after CPAP

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study tries to assess the endothelial function in vivo using flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and several biomarkers of endothelium formation/restoration and damage in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) syndrome at baseline and after three months with CPAP therapy. DESIGN: Observational study, before and after CPAP therapy. SETTING AND PATIENTS: We studied 30 patients with apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) >15/h that were compared with themselves after three months of CPAP therapy. FMD was assessed non-invasively in vivo using the Laser-Doppler flowmetry. Circulating cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) and microparticles (MPs) were measured as markers of endothelial damage and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was determined as a marker of endothelial restoration process. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: After three month with CPAP, FMD significantly increased (1072.26 ± 483.21 vs. 1604.38 ± 915.69 PU, p< 0.005) cf-DNA and MPs significantly decreased (187.93 ± 115.81 vs. 121.28 ± 78.98 pg/ml, p<0.01, and 69.60 ± 62.60 vs. 39.82 ± 22.14 U/μL, p<0.05, respectively) and VEGF levels increased (585.02 ± 246.06 vs. 641.11 ± 212.69 pg/ml, p<0.05). These changes were higher in patients with more severe disease. There was a relationship between markers of damage (r = -0.53, p<0.005) but not between markers of damage and restoration, thus suggesting that both types of markers should be measured together. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP therapy improves FMD. This improvement may be related to an increase of endothelial restoration process and a decrease of endothelial damage

Modified screen-printed carbon electrodes application for protein tumor markers determination

Screen-printed carbon electrodes were modified with gold nanoparticles bound with DNA-aptamers by two different methods. Aptamers can selectively bind protein tumor markers from the blood plasma. The electrodes were tested. Signals obtained via squire-wavy voltammetry from modified electrodes covered with blood plasma of the healthy donors and donors with lung cancer can be distinguished

Signatures of trans-Planckian dispersion in inflationary spectra

The primordial spectra are calculated using dispersion relations which deviate from the relativistic one above a certain energy scale Lambda. We determine the properties of the leading modifications with respect to the standard spectra when Lambda is much greater than H, the Hubble scale during inflation. To be generic, we parameterize the lowest order deviation from the relativistic law by alpha, the power of P/Lambda where P is the proper momentum. When working in the asymptotic vacuum, the leading modification scales as (H/Lambda)^alpha for all alpha, except for a discrete set where the power is higher. Moreover, this modification is robust against introducing higher order terms in the dispersion relation. We then algebraically deduce the modifications of scalar and tensor power spectra in slow roll inflation from modifications calculated in de Sitter space. The modifications do not exhibit oscillations unless the dispersion relation induces some non-adiabaticity near a given scale. Finally, we explore the much less studied regime where H and Lambda are comparable. Our results indicate that the project of reconstructing the inflaton potential cannot be pursued without making some hypothesis about the dispersion relation of the fluctuation modes.Comment: Version accepted for publication in PRD. 15 pages, 10 figures. Comment on observational consequences adde

Leukocyte migration in experimental inflammatory bowel disease

Emigration of leukocytes from the circulation into tissue by transendothelial migration, is mediated subsequently by adhesion molecules such as selectins, chemokines and integrins. This multistep paradigm, with multiple molecular choices at each step, provides a diversity in signals. The influx of neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes into inflamed tissue is important in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The importance of each of these groups of adhesion molecules in chronic inflammatory bowel disease, either in human disease or in animal models, will be discussed below. Furthermore, the possibilities of blocking these different steps in the process of leukocyte extravasation in an attempt to prevent further tissue damage, will be taken into account

Experimental modulation of capsule size in Cryptococcus neoformans

Experimental modulation of capsule size is an important technique for the study of the virulence of the encapsulated pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. In this paper, we summarize the techniques available for experimental modulation of capsule size in this yeast and describe improved methods to induce capsule size changes. The response of the yeast to the various stimuli is highly dependent on the cryptococcal strain. A high CO(2) atmosphere and a low iron concentration have been used classically to increase capsule size. Unfortunately, these stimuli are not reliable for inducing capsular enlargement in all strains. Recently we have identified new and simpler conditions for inducing capsule enlargement that consistently elicited this effect. Specifically, we noted that mammalian serum or diluted Sabouraud broth in MOPS buffer pH 7.3 efficiently induced capsule growth. Media that slowed the growth rate of the yeast correlated with an increase in capsule size. Finally, we summarize the most commonly used media that induce capsule growth in C. neoformans

Comments on Yang-Mills thermodynamics, the Hagedorn spectrum and the gluon gas

We discuss the dependence of pure Yang-Mills equation of state on the choice of gauge algebra. In the confined phase, we generalize to an arbitrary simple gauge algebra Meyer's proposal of modelling the Yang-Mills matter by an ideal glueball gas in which the high-lying glueball spectrum is approximated by a Hagedorn spectrum of closed-bosonic-string type. Such a formalism is undefined above the Hagedorn temperature, corresponding to the phase transition toward a deconfined state of matter in which gluons are the relevant degrees of freedom. Under the assumption that the adjoint string tension and the typical energy scale of the running coupling are gauge-algebra independent, we discuss about how the behavior of thermodynamical quantities such as the trace anomaly should depend on the gauge algebra in both the confined and deconfined phase. The obtained results compare favourably with recent and accurate lattice data in the $\mathfrak{su}(3)$ case and support the idea that the more the gauge algebra has generators, the more the phase transition is of first-order type.Comment: Discussion extended in v2 ; to appear in Phys Lett

Programmable Edge-to-Cloud Virtualization for 5G Media Industry: The 5G-MEDIA Approach

To ensure high Quality of Experience (QoE) for end users, many media applications require significant quantities of computing and network resources, making their realization challenging in resource constrained environments. In this paper, we present the approach of the 5G-MEDIA project, providing an integrated programmable service platform for the development, design and operations of media applications in 5G networks, facilitating media service management across the service life cycle. The platform offers tools to service developers for efficient development, testing and continuous correction of services. One step further, it provides a service virtualization platform offering horizontal services, such as a Media Service Catalogue and accounting services, as well as optimization mechanisms to flexibly adapt service operations to dynamic conditions with efficient use of infrastructure resources. The paper outlines three use cases where the platform was tested and validated