Using the VALGENT-3 framework to assess the clinical and analytical performance of the RIATOL qPCR HPV genotyping assay

Background and objective: The VALGENT framework is developed to assess the clinical performance of HPV tests that offer genotyping capability. Samples from the VALGENT-3 panel are used to identify an optimal viral concentration threshold for the RIATOL qPCR HPV genotyping assay (RIATOL qPCR) to assure non-inferior accuracy to detect high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), compared to Qiagen Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2), a standard comparator test validated for cervical cancer screening. Study design: The VALGENT-3 panel comprised 1300 samples from women participating in the Slovenian cervical cancer screening programme, enriched with 300 samples from women with abnormal cytology. In follow-up, 126 women were diagnosed with CIN2+ (defined as diseased) and 1167 women had two consecutive negative Pap smears (defined as non-diseased). All 1600 samples were analyzed with the RIATOL qPCR. Viral concentration was expressed as viral log10 of the number of copies/ml. A zone of viral concentration cut-offs was defined by relative ROC analysis where the sensitivity and specificity were not inferior to HC2. Results: The RIATOL qPCR had a sensitivity and specificity for CIN2+ of 97.6% (CI: 93.2-99.5%) and 85.1% (CI: 82.9-87.1%), respectively, when the analytical cut off was used. At a cut off of 6.5, RIATOL qPCR had a sensitivity of 96.0% (CI: 91.0-98.7%) and a specificity of 89.5% (87.6-91.2%). At optimized cut off, accuracy of the qPCR was non-inferior to the HC2 with a relative sensitivity of 1.00 [CI: 0.95-1.05 (p= 0.006)] and relative specificity of 1.00 [CI: 0.98-1.01 (p= 0.0069)]. Conclusions: The RIATOL qPCR has a high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of CIN2+. By using a fixed cut-off based on viral concentration, the test is non-inferior to HC2. HPV tests that provide viral concentration measurements or other quantifiable signals allow flexibility to optimize accuracy required for cervical cancer screening

Long range rapidity correlations and jet production in high energy nuclear collisions

The STAR Collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider presents a systematic study of high-transverse-momentum charged-di-hadron correlations at small azimuthal pair separation Δϕ in d+Au and central Au+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV. Significant correlated yield for pairs with large longitudinal separation Δη is observed in central Au+Au collisions, in contrast to d+Au collisions. The associated yield distribution in Δη×Δϕ can be decomposed into a narrow jet-like peak at small angular separation which has a similar shape to that found in d+Au collisions, and a component that is narrow in Δϕ and depends only weakly on Δη, the “ridge.” Using two systematically independent determinations of the background normalization and shape, finite ridge yield is found to persist for trigger pt>6 GeV/c, indicating that it is correlated with jet production. The transverse-momentum spectrum of hadrons comprising the ridge is found to be similar to that of bulk particle production in the measured range (2<pt<4 GeV/c)

Transverse Momentum and Centrality Dependence of High-pT Nonphotonic Electron Suppression in Au+Au Collisions at √sNN=200 GeV.

The STAR collaboration at the BNL Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) reports measurements of the inclusive yield of nonphotonic electrons, which arise dominantly from semileptonic decays of heavy flavor mesons, over a broad range of transverse momenta (1.2<pT<10  GeV/c) in p+p, d+Au, and Au+Au collisions at √sNN=200  GeV. The nonphotonic electron yield exhibits an unexpectedly large suppression in central Au+Au collisions at high pT, suggesting substantial heavy-quark energy loss at RHIC. The centrality and pT dependences of the suppression provide constraints on theoretical models of suppression

Stem cell highways: signalling beats trafficking?

status: publishe

Beam-energy and system-size dependence of dynamical net charge fluctuations

We present measurements of net charge fluctuations in Au+Au collisions at √sNN=19.6, 62.4, 130, and 200 GeV, Cu+Cu collisions at √sNN=62.4 and 200 GeV, and p+p collisions at √s=200 GeV using the dynamical net charge fluctuations measure ν+−,dyn. We observe that the dynamical fluctuations are nonzero at all energies and exhibit a modest dependence on beam energy. A weak system size dependence is also observed. We examine the collision centrality dependence of the net charge fluctuations and find that dynamical net charge fluctuations violate 1/Nch scaling but display approximate 1/Npart scaling. We also study the azimuthal and rapidity dependence of the net charge correlation strength and observe strong dependence on the azimuthal angular range and pseudorapidity widths integrated to measure the correlation

Forward Λ production and nuclear stopping power in d+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV

We report the measurement of Λ and Λ¯ yields and inverse slope parameters in d+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV at forward and backward rapidities (y=±2.75), using data from the STAR forward time projection chambers. The contributions of different processes to baryon transport and particle production are probed exploiting the inherent asymmetry of the d+Au system. Comparisons to model calculations show that baryon transport on the deuteron side is consistent with multiple collisions of the deuteron nucleons with gold participants. On the gold side, HIJING-based models without a hadronic rescattering phase do not describe the measured particle yields, while models that include target remnants or hadronic rescattering do. The multichain model can provide a good description of the net baryon density in d+Au collisions at energies currently available at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, and the derived parameters of the model agree with those from nuclear collisions at lower energies

Effects of exoplanetary gravity on human locomotor ability

At some point in the future, if mankind hopes to settle planets outside the Solar System, it will be crucial to determine the range of planetary conditions under which human beings could survive and function. In this article, we apply physical considerations to future exoplanetary biology to determine the limitations which gravity imposes on several systems governing the human body. Initially, we examine the ultimate limits at which the human skeleton breaks and muscles become unable to lift the body from the ground. We also produce a new model for the energetic expenditure of walking, by modelling the leg as an inverted pendulum. Both approaches conclude that, with rigorous training, humans could perform normal locomotion at gravity no higher than 4 $g_{\textrm{Earth}}$.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, to be published in The Physics Teache

Somatic cell count characteristics in profitable milk production

Međunarodno priznati parametar za ocjenu zdravstvenog stanja vimena krava je broj somatskih stanica u mlijeku. Prema zakonskim propisima usvojenih 1995. godine, u zemljama EU svježe sirovo mlijeko krava ne smije sadržavati više od 400.000 somatskih stanica/ml. Slično Pravilniku koji je važeći u zemljama EU i Ministarstvo poljoprivrede i šumarstva RH 2000. godine usvojilo je “Pravilnik o kakvoći svježeg sirovog mlijeka”, te 2002. godine “Uredbu o ciljnoj cijeni svježeg sirovog mlijeka”. Zbog širokog spektra parametara koji se mjere i kontroliraju prema Pravilniku, svaka pogreška i ne pravovremena reakcija proizvođača ili veterinara u zdravstvenoj zaštiti tijekom laktacijskog ciklusa krave, odrazit će se i na krajnje financijsko poslovanje. Zato je nužno da se proizvođači mlijeka što prije prilagode zahtjevima tržišta, koristeći vlastita i svjetska znanstvena dostignuća u stočarstvu, pri čemu će zdravlje životinje i kvaliteta mlijeka imati važno mjesto.Internationally acknowledged parameter for udder health estimation is the number of somatic cells in milk. In order to the Law regulations from 1995. in the EU countries, the fresh raw cow milk must not contain more than 400.000 somatic cells/ml. Similar to the regulation valid in EU countries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Republic of Croatia in the year 2000. adopted a «Regulation About the Fresh Raw milk Quality» and in 2002. « Regulation About a Price of the Fresh Raw Milk». Due to the wide spectre of measured parameters controlled in accordance to the Regulation, each mistake and no forehanded reaction of the manufacturer or the veterinarianin in the health protection over the lactation period of the cow, will reflect the financial business activities. Therefore, it is necessary that the milk manufacturers adapt as soon as possible to the market demands using own and world scientific accomplishments in cattle-breeding. That way, animal health and the quality of milk will have an important place

Quantification of aluminum-induced changes in wheat root architecture by X-ray microcomputed tomography

Root architectural traits are of fundamental importance for plant performance, especially under unfavorable soil conditions. This study examined the effect of aluminum (Al) toxicity in different growing media (nutrient solutions and soil) on root architecture of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars with different Al tolerances. Seedlings were grown in acidic and limed soil and in two contrasting nutrient solutions. Root systems of soil-grown plants were scanned using x-ray microcomputed tomography (µCT) while that of nutrient solution–grown plants were assesses using WinRhizo, 3 and 5 days after planting (DAP), respectively. Aluminum caused significant reduction of all examined root traits (number of seminal roots, root length, length of the longest seminal root, root surface area, and root volume). Growth in acidic soil caused significant reduction in root length, length of the longest seminal root, and root surface area at 5 DAP. Soil-grown plants produced a larger root system compared to plants grown in nutrient solutions. Aluminum toxicity–induced differences of root traits were also found between different nutrient solutions. Beside the well-known reduction of root length, Al toxicity had a profound effect on other root architectural traits. X-ray µCT has revealed root architectural changes under specific conditions of acidic, Al-toxic soil. Differences obtained in Al-induced effects on root architecture between different nutrient solutions as well as between different growing systems emphasize the need for further study of root architecture, especially under specific conditions of Al toxicity in acidic soils