Some new conjugate orthogonal Latin squares

AbstractWe present some new conjugate orthogonal Latin squares which are obtained from a direct method of construction of the starter-adder type. Combining these new constructions with earlier results of K. T. Phelps and the first author, it is shown that a (3, 2, 1)- (or (1, 3, 2)-) conjugate orthogonal Latin square of order v exists for all positive integers v ≠ 2, 6. It is also shown that a (3, 2, 1)- (or (1, 3, 2)-) conjugate orthogonal idempotent Latin square of order v exists for all positive integers v ≠ 2, 3, 6 with one possible exception v = 12, and this result can be used to enlarge the spectrum of a certain class of Mendelsohn designs and provide better results for problems on embedding

Existence of r-fold perfect (v,K,1)-Mendelsohn designs with K⊆{4,5,6,7}

AbstractLet v be a positive integer and let K be a set of positive integers. A (v,K,1)-Mendelsohn design, which we denote briefly by (v,K,1)-MD, is a pair (X,B) where X is a v-set (of points) and B is a collection of cyclically ordered subsets of X (called blocks) with sizes in the set K such that every ordered pair of points of X are consecutive in exactly one block of B. If for all t=1,2,…,r, every ordered pair of points of X are t-apart in exactly one block of B, then the (v,K,1)-MD is called an r-fold perfect design and denoted briefly by an r-fold perfect (v,K,1)-MD. If K={k} and r=k−1, then an r-fold perfect (v,{k},1)-MD is essentially the more familiar (v,k,1)-perfect Mendelsohn design, which is briefly denoted by (v,k,1)-PMD. In this paper, we investigate the existence of r-fold perfect (v,K,1)-Mendelsohn designs for a specified set K which is a subset of {4, 5, 6, 7} containing precisely two elements

Morphological and molecular characterisation of a mixed Cryptosporidium muris/Cryptosporidium felis infection in a cat

To date Cryptosporidium muris has been identified by microscopy and genotyping in cats in two studies. We report morphological and genetic evidence of a mixed C. muris and C. felis infection in a cat and provide the first histological, immunohistochemical, in situ hybridisation and genetic confirmation of a C. muris infection in the stomach of a cat. The cat suffered persistent diarrhoea after the initial consultation, which remained unresolved, despite several medical interventions. Further studies are required to determine the range, prevalence and clinical impact of Cryptosporidium species infecting cats

Existence of perfect Mendelsohn designs with k=5 and λ>1

AbstractLet υ, k, and λ be positive integers. A (υ, k, λ)-Mendelsohn design (briefly (υ, k, λ)-MD) is a pair (X, B) where X is a υ-set (of points) and B is a collection of cyclically ordered k-subsets of X (called blocks) such that every ordered pair of points of X are consecutive in exactly λ blocks of B. A set of k distinct elements {a1, a2,…, ak} is said to be cyclically ordered by a1<a2<⋯<ak<a1 and the pair ai, ai+t is said to be t-apart in cyclic k-tuple (a1, a2,…, ak) where i+t is taken modulo k. It for all t=1,2,…, k-1, every ordered pair of points of X is t-apart in exactly λ blocks of B, then the (υ, k, λ)-MD is called a perfect design and is denoted briefly by (υ, k, λ)-PMD. In this paper, we shall be concerned mainly with the case where k=5 and λ>1. It will be shown that the necessary condition for the existence of a (υ, 5, λ)-PMD, namely, λv(υ-1)≡0 (mod 5), is also sufficient for λ>1 with the possible exception of pairs (υ, λ) where λ=5 and υ=18 and 28

Constraining Dark Matter in the MSSM at the LHC

In the event that R-Parity conserving supersymmetry (SUSY) is discovered at the LHC, a key issue which will need to be addressed will be the consistency of that signal with astrophysical and non-accelerator constraints on SUSY Dark Matter. This issue is studied for the SPA benchmark model based on measurements of end-points and thresholds in the invariant mass spectra of various combinations of leptons and jets. These measurements are used to constrain the soft SUSY breaking parameters at the electroweak scale in a general MSSM model. Based on these constraints, we assess the accuracy with which the Dark Matter relic density can be measured.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figure

Mixed Wino Dark Matter: Consequences for Direct, Indirect and Collider Detection

In supersymmetric models with gravity-mediated SUSY breaking and gaugino mass unification, the predicted relic abundance of neutralinos usually exceeds the strict limits imposed by the WMAP collaboration. One way to obtain the correct relic abundance is to abandon gaugino mass universality and allow a mixed wino-bino lightest SUSY particle (LSP). The enhanced annihilation and scattering cross sections of mixed wino dark matter (MWDM) compared to bino dark matter lead to enhanced rates for direct dark matter detection, as well as for indirect detection at neutrino telescopes and for detection of dark matter annihilation products in the galactic halo. For collider experiments, MWDM leads to a reduced but significant mass gap between the lightest neutralinos so that chi_2^0 two-body decay modes are usually closed. This means that dilepton mass edges-- the starting point for cascade decay reconstruction at the CERN LHC-- should be accessible over almost all of parameter space. Measurement of the m_{\tz_2}-m_{\tz_1} mass gap at LHC plus various sparticle masses and cross sections as a function of beam polarization at the International Linear Collider (ILC) would pinpoint MWDM as the dominant component of dark matter in the universe.Comment: 29 pages including 19 eps figure

Exploring the BWCA (Bino-Wino Co-Annihilation) Scenario for Neutralino Dark Matter

In supersymmetric models with non-universal gaugino masses, it is possible to have opposite-sign SU(2) and U(1) gaugino mass terms. In these models, the gaugino eigenstates experience little mixing so that the lightest SUSY particle remains either pure bino or pure wino. The neutralino relic density can only be brought into accord with the WMAP measured value when bino-wino co-annihilation (BWCA) acts to enhance the dark matter annihilation rate. We map out parameter space regions and mass spectra which are characteristic of the BWCA scenario. Direct and indirect dark matter detection rates are shown to be typically very low. At collider experiments, the BWCA scenario is typified by a small mass gap m_{\tilde Z_2}-m_{\tilde Z_1} ~ 20-80 GeV, so that tree level two body decays of \tilde Z_2 are not allowed. However, in this case the second lightest neutralino has an enhanced loop decay branching fraction to photons. While the photonic neutralino decay signature looks difficult to extract at the Fermilab Tevatron, it should lead to distinctive events at the CERN LHC and at a linear e^+e^- collider.Comment: 44 pages, 21 figure

Soldiering On? The Prison‐Military Complex and Ex‐Military Personnel as Prison Officers: Transition, Rehabilitation and Prison Reform

Arguing that criminology has thus far inadequately theorised militarism as it relates to the prison system, this agenda-setting article introduces the ‘prison-military complex’ as a means to initiate examination of militarism in relation to institutions and practices of incarceration. In so doing, it identifies a key knowledge gap vis-à-vis the role of ex-military personnel employed as prison staff; and poses key questions about the ways in which military staff and military methods are being directly targeted as a means to reform a prison service reeling from unprecedented levels of violence, self-harm, riots, and escapes. Encouraging criminologists to think beyond stereotypical ideas about the military, the article revolves around a multiscalar articulation of the prison-military complex, discussed here as it relates to reform of the prison system as a whole; the rehabilitation of offenders; and individuals’ ex-military transitions to civilian life

Physics Opportunities with the 12 GeV Upgrade at Jefferson Lab

This white paper summarizes the scientific opportunities for utilization of the upgraded 12 GeV Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) and associated experimental equipment at Jefferson Lab. It is based on the 52 proposals recommended for approval by the Jefferson Lab Program Advisory Committee.The upgraded facility will enable a new experimental program with substantial discovery potential to address important topics in nuclear, hadronic, and electroweak physics.Comment: 64 page

Advances in Antisense Oligonucleotide Development for Target Identification, Validation, and as Novel Therapeutics

Antisense oligonucleotides (As-ODNs) are single stranded, synthetically prepared strands of deoxynucleotide sequences, usually 18–21 nucleotides in length, complementary to the mRNA sequence of the target gene. As-ODNs are able to selectively bind cognate mRNA sequences by sequence-specific hybridization. This results in cleavage or disablement of the mRNA and, thus, inhibits the expression of the target gene. The specificity of the As approach is based on the probability that, in the human genome, any sequence longer than a minimal number of nucleotides (nt), 13 for RNA and 17 for DNA, normally occurs only once. The potential applications of As-ODNs are numerous because mRNA is ubiquitous and is more accessible to manipulation than DNA. With the publication of the human genome sequence, it has become theoretically possible to inhibit mRNA of almost any gene by As-ODNs, in order to get a better understanding of gene function, investigate its role in disease pathology and to study novel therapeutic targets for the diseases caused by dysregulated gene expression. The conceptual simplicity, the availability of gene sequence information from the human genome, the inexpensive availability of synthetic oligonucleotides and the possibility of rational drug design makes As-ODNs powerful tools for target identification, validation and therapeutic intervention. In this review we discuss the latest developments in antisense oligonucleotide design, delivery, pharmacokinetics and potential side effects, as well as its uses in target identification and validation, and finally focus on the current developments of antisense oligonucleotides in therapeutic intervention in various diseases