23 research outputs found
Direct Evidence for Octupole Deformation in Ba and the Origin of Large Moment Variations in Reflection-Asymmetric Nuclei
Despite the more than one order of magnitude difference between the measured
dipole moments in Ba and Ba, the strength of the octupole
correlations in Ba are found to be as strong as those in Ba
with a similarly large value of determined as
48() W.u. The new results not only establish unambiguously the
presence of a region of octupole deformation centered on these neutron-rich Ba
isotopes, but also manifest the dependence of the electric dipole moments on
the occupancy of different neutron orbitals in nuclei with enhanced octupole
strength, as revealed by fully microscopic calculations.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
Modernism, class and colonialism in Robert Noonanâs The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
This essay explores Robert Noonanâs 1914 novel, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, as a work of Irish modernist fiction. Reading its fragmented narrative as a reflection of the authorâs subaltern position as an Irish republican and socialist, it interprets Noonanâs work as the product of the anticolonial and class struggles in which he was involved. Its critique of capitalist and imperial hegemony and the assertions that suffering, injustice and violence are normal, natural or inevitable phenomena reflects the authorâs frustration, anger and desperation. In this way the novel counters and decentres the bourgeois-imperial dynamic that was reflected in the textual stability of Victorian realism. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists is an uneasy text that is at once ruptured and uncertain of its own aesthetic status and conveys, through its shifting, episodic plot, the precariousness of a working-class existence permanently poised âon the brink of destitution.â © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Grou
Blood transcriptional biomarkers of acute viral infection for detection of pre-symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nested, case-control diagnostic accuracy study
Background We hypothesised that host-response biomarkers of viral infections might contribute to early identification of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, which is critical to breaking the chains of transmission. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of existing candidate whole-blood transcriptomic signatures for viral infection to predict positivity of nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing.Methods We did a nested case-control diagnostic accuracy study among a prospective cohort of health-care workers (aged â„18 years) at St Bartholomewâs Hospital (London, UK) undergoing weekly blood and nasopharyngeal swab sampling for whole-blood RNA sequencing and SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, when fit to attend work. We identified candidate blood transcriptomic signatures for viral infection through a systematic literature search. We searched MEDLINE for articles published between database inception and Oct 12, 2020, using comprehensive MeSH and keyword terms for âviral infectionâ, âtranscriptomeâ, âbiomarkerâ, and âbloodâ. We reconstructed signature scores in blood RNA sequencing data and evaluated their diagnostic accuracy for contemporaneous SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared with the gold standard of SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, by quantifying the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivities, and specificities at a standardised Z score of at least 2 based on the distribution of signature scores in test-negative controls. We used pairwise DeLong tests compared with the most discriminating signature to identify the subset of best performing biomarkers. We evaluated associations between signature expression, viral load (using PCR cycle thresholds), and symptom status visually and using Spearman rank correlation. The primary outcome was the AUROC for discriminating between samples from participants who tested negative throughout the study (test-negative controls) and samples from participants with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (test-positive participants) during their first week of PCR positivity.Findings We identified 20 candidate blood transcriptomic signatures of viral infection from 18 studies and evaluated their accuracy among 169 blood RNA samples from 96 participants over 24 weeks. Participants were recruited between March 23 and March 31, 2020. 114 samples were from 41 participants with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 55 samples were from 55 test-negative controls. The median age of participants was 36 years (IQR 27â47) and 69 (72%) of 96 were women. Signatures had little overlap of component genes, but were mostly correlated as components of type I interferon responses. A single blood transcript for IFI27 provided the highest accuracy for discriminating between test-negative controls and test-positive individuals at the time of their first positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR result, with AUROC of 0·95 (95% CI 0·91â0·99), sensitivity 0·84 (0·70â0·93), and specificity 0·95 (0·85â0·98) at a predefined threshold (Z score >2). The transcript performed equally well in individuals with and without symptoms. Three other candidate signatures (including two to 48 transcripts) had statistically equivalent discrimination to IFI27 (AUROCs 0·91â0·95).Interpretation Our findings support further urgent evaluation and development of blood IFI27 transcripts as a biomarker for early phase SARS-CoV-2 infection for screening individuals at high risk of infection, such as contacts of index cases, to facilitate early case isolation and early use of antiviral treatments as they emerge
Immune boosting by B.1.1.529 (Omicron) depends on previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure
The Omicron, or Pango lineage B.1.1.529, variant of SARS-CoV-2 carries multiple spike mutations with high transmissibility and partial neutralizing antibody (nAb) escape. Vaccinated individuals show protection from severe disease, often attributed to primed cellular immunity. We investigated T and B cell immunity against B.1.1.529 in triple mRNA vaccinated healthcare workers (HCW) with different SARS-CoV-2 infection histories. B and T cell immunity against previous variants of concern was enhanced in triple vaccinated individuals, but magnitude of T and B cell responses against B.1.1.529 spike protein was reduced. Immune imprinting by infection with the earlier B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant resulted in less durable binding antibody against B.1.1.529. Previously infection-naĂŻve HCW who became infected during the B.1.1.529 wave showed enhanced immunity against earlier variants, but reduced nAb potency and T cell responses against B.1.1.529 itself. Previous Wuhan Hu-1 infection abrogated T cell recognition and any enhanced cross-reactive neutralizing immunity on infection with B.1.1.529
Quantitative, multiplexed, targeted proteomics for ascertaining variant specific SARS-CoV-2 antibody response
Determining the protection an individual has to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VoCs) is crucial for future immune surveillance, vaccine development, and understanding of the changing immune response. We devised an informative assay to current ELISA-based serology using multiplexed, baited, targeted proteomics for direct detection of multiple proteins in the SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibody immunocomplex. Serum from individuals collected after infection or first- and second-dose vaccination demonstrates this approach and shows concordance with existing serology and neutralization. Our assays show altered responses of both immunoglobulins and complement to the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Delta (B.1.617.1) VoCs and a reduced response to Omicron (B1.1.1529). We were able to identify individuals who had prior infection, and observed that C1q is closely associated with IgG1 (r > 0.82) and may better reflect neutralization to VoCs. Analyzing additional immunoproteins beyond immunoglobulin (Ig) G, provides important information about our understanding of the response to infection and vaccination
Swerve South Podcast: An introduction to the Invisible Histories Project
[Professors Amy McDowell of Sociology, Jessica Wilkerson of History and Southern Studies, and host Jaime Harker of English and the Isom Center discuss] queer spaces in the South, how community is created and fostered throughout the region, and the important work that is being done to preserve the oral histories and lived experiences of queer folks living in Mississippi. [Not only is it a] chance to be introduced to the project and fabulous professors and archivists who foster this project, [the interview offers] some perspective on the subversive nature of their work that takes special care to collect and preserve the stories of people who have historically been marginalized, discriminated against, and surveilled by the state. [This is an] empowering episode about taking back the archive and carving out space for queer history in the Bible Belt. [Description modified from Apple Podcasts
Donor cell chimerism evaluation in cerebrospinal fluid by short tandem repeat analysis following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
RNA Interference Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Prevents Melanoma Metastasis by Reducing Tumor Collagenase Activity and Angiogenesis
Canola growth, production and quality are influenced by seed size and seeding rate
Canola (Brassica napus L.) is the most widespread profitable cash crop in Canada. In 2014 and 2015, direct-seeded experiments were conducted in sixteen western Canada environments. âSmallâ canola seed (average 3.32 to 3.44 g 1000-1) was compared to âlargeâ canola seed (average 4.96 to 5.40 g 1000-1) at five seeding rates (50, 75,100, 125 or 150 seeds m-2). Large canola seeds increased crop density and crop biomass but decreased plant mortality, days to start of flowering, days to end of flowering, days to maturity and percent green seed. Seed size did not influence harvested seed weight, seed oil content or seed protein content. Increasing the seeding rate of small seeds improved canola yield, but the same response did not occur for large seeds. Increasing seeding rates also increased crop density, plant mortality, crop biomass and seed oil content but decreased days to start of flowering, days to end of flowering, days to maturity, percent green seed and seed protein content. Seeding rate had no impact on harvested seed weights. Because higher seeding rates often provide some of the same benefits as large seed, canola growers and the seed industry should balance seed size and seeding rate to obtain the best agronomic performance from canola.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author