Extracting Br(omega->pi^+ pi^-) from the Time-like Pion Form-factor

We extract the G-parity-violating branching ratio Br(omega->pi^+ pi^-) from the effective rho-omega mixing matrix element Pi_{rho omega}(s), determined from e^+e^- -> pi^+ pi^- data. The omega->pi^+ pi^- partial width can be determined either from the time-like pion form factor or through the constraint that the mixed physical propagator D_{rho omega}^{mu nu}(s) possesses no poles. The two procedures are inequivalent in practice, and we show why the first is preferred, to find finally Br(omega->pi^+ pi^-) = 1.9 +/- 0.3%.Comment: 12 pages (published version

Diagonalization of the XXZ Hamiltonian by Vertex Operators

We diagonalize the anti-ferroelectric XXZ-Hamiltonian directly in the thermodynamic limit, where the model becomes invariant under the action of affine U_q( sl(2) ). Our method is based on the representation theory of quantum affine algebras, the related vertex operators and KZ equation, and thereby bypasses the usual process of starting from a finite lattice, taking the thermodynamic limit and filling the Dirac sea. From recent results on the algebraic structure of the corner transfer matrix of the model, we obtain the vacuum vector of the Hamiltonian. The rest of the eigenvectors are obtained by applying the vertex operators, which act as particle creation operators in the space of eigenvectors. We check the agreement of our results with those obtained using the Bethe Ansatz in a number of cases, and with others obtained in the scaling limit --- the $su(2)$-invariant Thirring model.Comment: 65 page

A mitochondrial half-size ABC transporter is involved in cadmium tolerance in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Five cadmium-sensitive insertional mutants, all affected at the CDS1 ('cadmium-sensitive 1') locus, have been previously isolated in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We here describe the cloning of the Cds1 gene (8314 bp with 26 introns) and the corresponding cDNA. The Cds1 gene, strongly induced by cadmium, encodes a putative protein (CrCds1) of 1062 amino acid residues that belongs to the ATM/HMT subfamily of half-size ABC transporters. This subfamily includes both vacuolar HMT-type proteins transporting phytochelatin-cadmium complexes from the cytoplasm to the vacuole and mitochondrial ATM-type proteins involved in the maturation of cytosolic Fe/S proteins. Unlike the Delta sphmt1 cadmium-sensitive mutant of Schizosaccharomyces pombe that lacks a vacuolar HMT-type transporter, the cds1 mutant accumulates a high amount of phytochelatin-cadmium complexes. By epitope tagging, the CrCds1 protein was localized in the mitochondria. Even though mitochondria of cds1 do not accumulate important amounts of 'free' iron, the mutant cells are hypersensitive to high iron concentrations. Our data show for the first time that a mitochondrial ATM-like transporter plays a major role in tolerance to cadmium.Peer reviewe

Advances in ab-initio theory of Multiferroics. Materials and mechanisms: modelling and understanding

Within the broad class of multiferroics (compounds showing a coexistence of magnetism and ferroelectricity), we focus on the subclass of "improper electronic ferroelectrics", i.e. correlated materials where electronic degrees of freedom (such as spin, charge or orbital) drive ferroelectricity. In particular, in spin-induced ferroelectrics, there is not only a {\em coexistence} of the two intriguing magnetic and dipolar orders; rather, there is such an intimate link that one drives the other, suggesting a giant magnetoelectric coupling. Via first-principles approaches based on density functional theory, we review the microscopic mechanisms at the basis of multiferroicity in several compounds, ranging from transition metal oxides to organic multiferroics (MFs) to organic-inorganic hybrids (i.e. metal-organic frameworks, MOFs)Comment: 22 pages, 9 figure

Increasing comparability among coral bleaching experiments

Coral bleaching is the single largest global threat to coral reefs worldwide. Integrating the diverse body of work on coral bleaching is critical to understanding and combating this global problem. Yet investigating the drivers, patterns, and processes of coral bleaching poses a major challenge. A recent review of published experiments revealed a wide range of experimental variables used across studies. Such a wide range of approaches enhances discovery, but without full transparency in the experimental and analytical methods used, can also make comparisons among studies challenging. To increase comparability but not stifle innovation, we propose a common framework for coral bleaching experiments that includes consideration of coral provenance, experimental conditions, and husbandry. For example, reporting the number of genets used, collection site conditions, the experimental temperature offset(s) from the maximum monthly mean (MMM) of the collection site, experimental light conditions, flow, and the feeding regime will greatly facilitate comparability across studies. Similarly, quantifying common response variables of endosymbiont (Symbiodiniaceae) and holobiont phenotypes (i.e., color, chlorophyll, endosymbiont cell density, mortality, and skeletal growth) could further facilitate cross-study comparisons. While no single bleaching experiment can provide the data necessary to determine global coral responses of all corals to current and future ocean warming, linking studies through a common framework as outlined here, would help increase comparability among experiments, facilitate synthetic insights into the causes and underlying mechanisms of coral bleaching, and reveal unique bleaching responses among genets, species, and regions. Such a collaborative framework that fosters transparency in methods used would strengthen comparisons among studies that can help inform coral reef management and facilitate conservation strategies to mitigate coral bleaching worldwide

Trends in the Statistical Assessment of Reliability

Changes in technology have had and will continue to have a strong effect on changes in the area of statistical assessment of reliability data. These changes include higher levels of integration in electronics, improvements in measurement technology and the deployment of sensors and smart chips into more products, dramatically improved computing power and storage technology, and the development of new, powerful statistical methods for graphics, inference, and experimental design and reliability test planning. This paper traces some of the history of the development of statistical methods for reliability assessment and makes some predictions about the future

Genetic loci associated with plasma phospholipid N-3 fatty acids: A Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide association studies from the charge consortium

Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can derive from diet or from α-linolenic acid (ALA) by elongation and desaturation. We investigated the association of common genetic variation with plasma phospholipid levels of the four major n-3 PUFAs by performing genome-wide association studies in five population-based cohorts comprising 8,866 subjects of European ancestry. Minor alleles of SNPs in FADS1 and FADS2 (desaturases) were associated with higher levels of ALA (p = 3×10-64) and lower levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, p = 5×10-58) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, p = 4×10-154). Minor alleles of SNPs in ELOVL2 (elongase) were associated with higher EPA (p = 2×10-12) and DPA (p = 1×10-43) and lower docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, p = 1×10-15). In addition to genes in the n-3 pathway, we identified a novel association of DPA with several SNPs in GCKR (glucokinase regulator, p = 1×10-8). We observed a weaker association between ALA and EPA among carriers of the minor allele of a representative SNP in FADS2 (rs1535), suggesting a lower rate of ALA-to-EPA conversion in these subjects. In samples of African, Chinese, and Hispanic ancestry, associations of n-3 PUFAs were similar with a representative SNP in FADS1 but less consistent with a representative SNP in ELOVL2. Our findings show that common variation in n-3 metabolic pathway genes and in GCKR influences plasma phospholipid levels of n-3 PUFAs in populations of European ancestry and, for FADS1, in other ancestries

Physical activity attenuates the influence of FTO variants on obesity risk: A meta-analysis of 218,166 adults and 19,268 children

Background: The FTO gene harbors the strongest known susceptibility locus for obesity. While many individual studies have suggested that physical activity (PA) may attenuate the effect of FTO on obesity risk, other studies have not been able to confirm this interaction. To confirm or refute unambiguously whether PA attenuates the association of FTO with obesity risk, we meta-analyzed data from 45 studies of adults (n = 218,166) and nine studies of children and adolescents (n = 19,268). Methods and Findings: All studies identified to have data on the FTO rs9939609 variant (or any proxy [r2>0.8]) and PA were invited to participate, regardless of ethnicity or age of the participants. PA was standardized by categorizing it into a dichotomous variable (physically inactive versus active) in each study. Overall, 25% of adults and 13% of children were categorized as inactive. Interaction analyses were performed within each study by including the FTO×PA interaction term in an additive model, adjusting for age and sex. Subsequently, random effects meta-analysis was used to pool the interaction terms. In adults, the minor (A-) allele of rs9939609 increased the odds of obesity by 1.23-fold/allele (95% CI 1.20-1.26), but PA attenuated this effect (pinteraction= 0.001). More specifically, the minor allele of rs9939609 increased the odds of obesity less in the physically active group (odds ratio = 1.22/allele, 95% CI 1.19-1.25) than in the inactive group (odds ratio = 1.30/allele, 95% CI 1.24-1.36). No such interaction was found in children and adolescents. Concl