Primordial Nucleosynthesis for the New Cosmology: Determining Uncertainties and Examining Concordance

Big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) have a long history together in the standard cosmology. The general concordance between the predicted and observed light element abundances provides a direct probe of the universal baryon density. Recent CMB anisotropy measurements, particularly the observations performed by the WMAP satellite, examine this concordance by independently measuring the cosmic baryon density. Key to this test of concordance is a quantitative understanding of the uncertainties in the BBN light element abundance predictions. These uncertainties are dominated by systematic errors in nuclear cross sections. We critically analyze the cross section data, producing representations that describe this data and its uncertainties, taking into account the correlations among data, and explicitly treating the systematic errors between data sets. Using these updated nuclear inputs, we compute the new BBN abundance predictions, and quantitatively examine their concordance with observations. Depending on what deuterium observations are adopted, one gets the following constraints on the baryon density: OmegaBh^2=0.0229\pm0.0013 or OmegaBh^2 = 0.0216^{+0.0020}_{-0.0021} at 68% confidence, fixing N_{\nu,eff}=3.0. Concerns over systematics in helium and lithium observations limit the confidence constraints based on this data provide. With new nuclear cross section data, light element abundance observations and the ever increasing resolution of the CMB anisotropy, tighter constraints can be placed on nuclear and particle astrophysics. ABRIDGEDComment: 54 pages, 20 figures, 5 tables v2: reflects PRD version minor changes to text and reference

Xrs2/NBS1 promote end-bridging activity of the MRE11-RAD50 complex

DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) can be detrimental to the cell and need to be efficiently repaired. A first step in DSB repair is to bring the free ends in close proximity to enable ligation by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), while the more precise, but less available, repair by homologous recombination (HR) requires close proximity of a sister chromatid. The human MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex, Mre11-Rad50-Xrs2 (MRX) in yeast, is involved in both repair pathways. Here we use nanofluidic channels to study, on the single DNA molecule level, how MRN, MRX and their constituents interact with long DNA and promote DNA bridging. Nanofluidics is a suitable method to study reactions on DNA ends since no anchoring of the DNA end(s) is required. We demonstrate that NBS1 and Xrs2 play important, but differing, roles in the DNA tethering by MRN and MRX. NBS1 promotes DNA bridging by MRN consistent with tethering of a repair template. MRX shows a “synapsis-like” DNA end-bridging, stimulated by the Xrs2 subunit. Our results highlight the different ways MRN and MRX bridge DNA, and the results are in agreement with their key roles in HR and NHEJ, respectively, and contribute to the understanding of the roles of NBS1 and Xrs2 in DSB repair.ISSN:0006-291XISSN:1090-210

Observability and Controllability of Wireless Software Components

Abstract. Software components embedded in wireless devices are subject to behavior which cannot be fully and realistically predicted. This calls for a runtime management infrastructure that is able to observe and control the components’ states and to make their behaviors explicit, tangible and understandable, in any case and at any time. In this paper, we propose a framework for remotely administrating the functional behavior of software components deployed on wireless nodes. This framework is based on components which are locally managed by internal managers on the wireless side. The controllable nature of components relies on executable UML models that persist at runtime. On the administration side, models are replicated and synchronized with the models that constitute the inner workings of the wireless components.

The morphology of silver nanoparticles prepared by enzyme-induced reduction

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by an enzyme-induced growth process on solid substrates. In order to customize the enzymatically grown nanoparticles (EGNP) for analytical applications in biomolecular research, a detailed study was carried out concerning the time evolution of the formation of the silver nanoparticles, their morphology, and their chemical composition. Therefore, silvernanoparticle films of different densities were investigated by using scanning as well as transmission electron microscopy to examine their structure. Cross sections of silver nanoparticles, prepared for analysis by transmission electron microscopy were additionally studied by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in order to probe their chemical composition. The surface coverage of substrates with silver nanoparticles and the maximum particle height were determined by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. Variations in the silver-nanoparticle films depending on the conditions during synthesis were observed. After an initial growth state the silver nanoparticles exhibit the so-called desert-rose or nanoflower-like structure. This complex nanoparticle structure is in clear contrast to the auto-catalytically grown spherical particles, which maintain their overall geometrical appearance while increasing their diameter. It is shown, that the desert-rose-like silver nanoparticles consist of single-crystalline plates of pure silver. The surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) activity of the EGNP structures is promising due to the exceptionally rough surface structure of the silver nanoparticles. SERS measurements of the vitamin riboflavin incubated on the silver nanoparticles are shown as an exemplary application for quantitative analysis

HSD17B4 overexpression, an independent biomarker of poor patient outcome in prostate cancer.

Steroid hormones and their metabolising enzymes have been studied extensively for their potential role in prostate cancer, with more recent interest in the androgen/estrogen inactivating enzyme 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 4 (HSD17B4). Gene expression profiling showed HSD17B4 to be significantly overexpressed in prostate cancer compared to matched-benign epithelium. We therefore hypothesized that altered HSD17B4 expression may contribute to prostate cancer progression via altered hormone balance. In this study, HSD17B4 mRNA and protein expression were assessed by in situ hybridisation (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively, in tissue arrays of prostate tissue from 172 patients treated by radical prostatectomy. Overexpression of HSD17B4 mRNA and protein was associated with prostate cancer (P < 0.0001) and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, adjusted for known prognostic indicators, demonstrated HSD17B4 mRNA and high protein expression were significant independent predictors of poor patient outcome as measured by time until PSA relapse (mRNA: hazards ratio [HR] = 1.90,95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-3.12; P < 0.0001; and protein: HR = 2.09,95% Cl = 1.31-3.33: P = 0.0026). Here we provide strong evidence that both mRNA and protein overexpression of HSD17B4 is not only associated with the presence of prostate cancer, but is also a significant independent predictor of poor patient outcome

Microsatellites Dataset

Microsatellite Data set for 23 primer

Do contaminants compromise the use of recycled nutrients in organic agriculture? A review and synthesis of current knowledge on contaminant concentrations, fate in the environment and risk assessment

Use of nutrients recycled from societal waste streams in agriculture is part of the circular economy, and in line with organic farming principles. Nevertheless, diverse contaminants in waste streams create doubts among organic farmers about potential risks for soil health. Here, we gather the current knowledge on contaminant levels in waste streams and recycled nutrient sources, and discuss associated risks. For potentially toxic elements (PTEs), the input of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) from mineral feed supplements remains of concern, while concentrations of PTEs in many waste streams have decreased substantially in Europe. The same applies to organic contaminants, although new chemical groups such as flame retardants are of emerging concern and globally contamination levels differ strongly. Compared to inorganic fertilizers, application of organic fertilizers derived from human or animal feces is associated with an increased risk for environmental dissemination of antibiotic resistance. The risk depends on the quality of the organic fertilizers, which varies between geographical regions, but farmland application of sewage sludge appears to be a safe practice as shown by some studies (e.g. from Sweden). Microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils show a wide spread and our understanding of its toxicity is limited, hampering a sound risk assessment. Methods for assessing public health risks for organic contaminants must include emerging contaminants and potential interactions of multiple compounds. Evidence from long-term field experiments suggests that soils may be more resilient and capable to degrade or stabilize pollutants than often assumed. In view of the need to source nutrients for expanding areas under organic farming, we discuss inputs originating from conventional farms vs. non-agricultural (i.e. societal) inputs. Closing nutrient cycles between agriculture and society is feasible in many cases, without being compromised by contaminants, and should be enhanced, aided by improved source control, waste treatment and sound risk assessments

Global convergence of Oja's PCA learning algorithm with a non-zero-approaching adaptive learning rate

10.1016/j.tcs.2006.07.012Theoretical Computer Science3673286-307TCSC