10 THz Ultrafast Function Generator - generation of rectangular and triangular pulse trains-

We report the synthesis of arbitrary optical waveforms by manipulating the spectral phases of Raman sidebands with a wide frequency spacing line-by-line. Trains of rectangular and triangular pulses are stably produced at an ultrahigh repetition rate of 10.6229 THz, reminiscent of an ultrafast function generator.Comment: 7 Pages, 5 Figure

Greek Validation of Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents

Aim: In this study, we focused on the Greek validation of the Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents (EES-C). Methods: Our sample consisted of 150 students in primary and secondary school settings from two different areas of Greece. Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and State and Trait Anxiety in Children (STAIC) were also used for validation purposes. Results: The principal component factor analysis for construct validity generated three subscales: eating in response to anger/anxiety, feeling unsettled and depression. The EES-C tool was found with high internal reliability (Cronbach's Alpha 0.917). Conclusions: EES-C is a valid and reliable instrument to detect the emotional eating in children and adolescents in Greece

The hierarchy problem, radion mass, localization of gravity and 4D effective Newtonian potential in string theory on S1/Z2S^{1}/Z_{2}

We present a systematical study of brane worlds in string theory on $S^{1}/Z_{2}$. Starting with the toroidal compactification of the NS/NS sector in (D+d) dimensions, we first obtain an effective $D$-dimensional action, and then compactify one of the $(D-1)$ spatial dimensions by introducing two orbifold branes as its boundaries. By combining the Gauss-Codacci and Lanczos equations, we write down explicitly the general gravitational field equations on each of the two branes, while using distribution theory we express the matter field equations on the branes in terms of the discontinuities of the first derivatives of the matter fields. Afterwards, we address three important issues: (i) the hierarchy problem; (ii) the radion mass; and (iii) the localization of gravity, the 4-dimensional Newtonian effective potential and the Yukawa corrections due to the gravitational high-order Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes. With a very conservative estimation, we find that the radion mass is of the order of $10^{-2} GeV$. The gravity is localized on the visible brane, and the spectrum of the gravitational KK modes is discrete and can be of the order of TeV. The corrections to the 4-dimensional Newtonian potential from the higher order of gravitational KK modes are exponentially suppressed and can be safely neglected in current experiments. In an appendix, we also present a systematical and pedagogical study of the Gauss-Codacci equations and Israel's junction conditions across a (D-1)-dimensional hypersurface, which can be either spacelike or timelike.Comment: Considerably extended, Revtex4, 19 pages, 5 figures, published in IJMPA, 25, 1661-1698 (2010

Bacillus cereus nositelj plazmida pXO1 s genom pag uzrokuje u goveda s oslabljenim imunosnim sustavom smrtonosnu septikemiju sličnu bedrenici - kratko priopćenje.

Bacillus cereus is ubiquitous in nature and while most isolates appear to be harmless, some are associated with food-borne illnesses, wound infections, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, endophthalmitis and urinary tract infections in humans. Recently, a few isolates have been identified as the causative agents of anthrax-like severe pneumonia in humans, and these isolates were found to harbor most of the B. anthracis virulence plasmid pXO1. Here we report the characterization of three clinical B. cereus isolates recovered from heart blood and spleen samples of cattle which had died with ‘anthrax like’ symptoms. Apart from the cultural characterizations, primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene of B. cereus were designed and used on these isolates. The isolates were found to harbor the pXO1 plasmid and lacked pXO2 plasmid. Further characterization of the pXO1 plasmid revealed that the isolates contained pag, lef and cya genes, which code for protective antigen, lethal factor and edema factor toxins responsible for eliciting an ‘anthrax like disease’ in cattle. The sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of partial pag gene sequences of B. cereus isolates were identical to pag gene sequences on the pXO1 of B. anthracis. In a pathogenicity test on mice, B. cereus isolates, when inoculated by the intra peritoneal route, caused mortality of the mice within 6 hours post inoculation.Bacillus cereus je posvudašnja bakterija. Većina izolata te bakterije je neškodljiva, a neki mogu uzrokovati bolesti koje se prenose hranom, infekcije rana, endokarditis, osteomijelitis, endoftalmitis i infekcije mokraćnog sustava u ljudi. Nedavno je identificirano nekoliko izolata koji uzrokuju tešku upalu pluća u čovjeka sličnu onoj kod bedrenice. Ti izolati većinom nose virulentni plazmid pXO1 vrste B. anthracis. U ovom radu određena su obilježja triju kliničkih izolata vrste B. cereus izdvojenih iz krvi sadržane u srcu i uzoraka slezene goveda uginulih pod znakovima sličnima bedrenici. Osim određivanja kulturalnih obilježja, pripremljene su i početnice za gen 16S rRNA vrste B. cereus koje su bile rabljene za identifikaciju izolata. Ustanovljeno je da izolati nose plazmid pXO1, a nedostaje im plazmid pXO2. Daljnja karakterizacija plazmida pXO1 pokazala je da izolati sadrže gene pag, lef i cya koji kodiraju za zaštitni antigen, letalni čimbenik i edemski čimbenik, toksine koji su odgovorni za pojavu bolesti u goveda slične bedrenici. Određivanje slijeda i filogenetska analiza dijela sekvencija gena pag izolata B. cereus pokazala je da su oni istovjetni sekvencijama gena pag na pXO1 bakterije B. anthracis. U testu patogenosti na miševima, izolati B. cereus prouzročili su njihovo uginuće šest sati nakon intraperitonejske inokulacije

Genetic analysis of resistance to late leaf spot in interspecific groundnuts

Late leaf spot (LLS), caused by Phaeoisariopsis personata, is an important foliar fungal disease of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), which causes significant economic losses globally to the crop. Inheritance of resistance to LLS disease was studied in three crosses and their reciprocals involving two resistant interspecific derivatives and a susceptible cultivar to refine strategy for LLS resistance breeding. The traits associated with LLS resistance, measured both in the field and under controlled conditions were studied following generation mean analysis. Results suggested that resistance to LLS is controlled by a combination of both, nuclear and maternal gene effects. Among nuclear gene effects, additive effect controlled majority of the variation. In JL 24 × ICG 11337 cross and its reciprocal only additive effects were important, while in JL 24 × ICG 13919 cross and its reciprocal, both additive and dominance effects contributed to the variation. Among digenic epistatic effects, additive × dominance interactions were significant. Additive–maternal effects were significant in both the crosses, while dominance–maternal effects also contributed to the variation in the crosses between the parents, JL 24 and ICG 13919. Due to significant contribution of additive effects of both nuclear and maternal inheritance to resistance to LLS, the parent, ICG 11337 would be a good donor in breeding programs. It would be worthwhile to use the resistance donor as female parent to tap maternal effects of resistance to LLS. Disease score is the best selection criterion in the field for use in breeding programs because of its high heritability and ease in measurement

Long-term morphological and power spectral studies of VHF amplitude scintillations recorded over Waltair (17.7°N, 83.3°E), India

This research reports on recently recorded 250 MHz amplitude scintillations at Waltair (17.7°N, 83.3°E), a low-latitude station in India, using the signals radiated from a geostationary satellite (FLEETSAT, 73°E) during a six-year period (2008 - 2013), which covers extremely low and higher solar activity years (2008 and 2013). The morphological features in terms of local time, month, and season during different geophysical conditions are presented. The scintillation patches (segregated based on their occurrence durations) have shown an increasing trend with the increasing sunspot activity. The scintillation patches with 30-min duration show increasing trends with increasing sunspot activity, and their occurrence frequencies also show increasing trends with increasing sunspot activity. The scintillation activity during disturbed epochs (Kp index lies between 3+ and 9) is found to be less compared to its quiet day counterparts. The plausible mechanisms for these observational results are discussed. In addition, power spectral characteristics, including Fresnel frequency, upper role of frequency and spectral slope of scintillations are calculated and the salient results are presented

International Consensus Guideline on Small for Gestational Age (SGA): Etiology and Management from Infancy to Early Adulthood

: This International Consensus Guideline was developed by experts in the field of SGA of 10 pediatric endocrine societies worldwide. A consensus meeting was held and 1300 articles formed the basis for discussions. All experts voted about the strengths of the recommendations. The guideline gives new and clinically relevant insights into the etiology of short stature after SGA birth, including novel knowledge about (epi)genetic causes. Besides, it presents long-term consequences of SGA birth and new treatment options, including treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in addition to growth hormone (GH) treatment, and the metabolic and cardiovascular health of young adults born SGA after cessation of childhood-GH-treatment in comparison with appropriate control groups. To diagnose SGA, accurate anthropometry and use of national growth charts are recommended. Follow-up in early life is warranted and neurodevelopment evaluation in those at risk. Excessive postnatal weight gain should be avoided, as this is associated with an unfavorable cardio-metabolic health profile in adulthood. Children born SGA with persistent short stature < -2.5 SDS at age 2 years or < -2 SDS at age of 3-4 years, should be referred for diagnostic work-up. In case of dysmorphic features, major malformations, microcephaly, developmental delay, intellectual disability and/or signs of skeletal dysplasia, genetic testing should be considered. Treatment with 0.033-0.067 mg GH/kg/day is recommended in case of persistent short stature at age of 3-4 years. Adding GnRHa treatment could be considered when short adult height is expected at pubertal onset. All young adults born SGA require counseling to adopt a healthy lifestyle

Postnatal Pancreatic Islet β Cell Function and Insulin Sensitivity at Different Stages of Lifetime in Rats Born with Intrauterine Growth Retardation

Epidemiological studies have linked intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) to the metabolic diseases, consisting of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity and coronary artery disease, during adult life. To determine the internal relationship between IUGR and islet β cell function and insulin sensitivity, we established the IUGR model by maternal nutrition restriction during mid- to late-gestation. Glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test(ITT) in vivo and glucose stimulated insulin secretion(GSIS) test in vitro were performed at different stages in IUGR and normal groups. Body weight, pancreas weight and pancreas/body weight of IUGR rats were much lower than those in normal group before 3 weeks of age. While the growth of IUGR rats accelerated after 3 weeks, pancreas weight and pancreas/body weight remained lower till 15 weeks of age. In the newborns, the fasting glucose and insulin levels of IUGR rats were both lower than those of controls, whereas glucose levels at 120 and 180 min after glucose load were significantly higher in IUGR group. Between 3 and 15 weeks of age, both the fasting glucose and insulin levels were elevated and the glucose tolerance was impaired with time in IUGR rats. At age 15 weeks, the area under curve of insulin(AUCi) after glucose load in IUGR rats elevated markedly. Meanwhile, the stimulating index of islets in IUGR group during GSIS test at age 15 weeks was significantly lower than that of controls. ITT showed no significant difference in two groups before 7 weeks of age. However, in 15-week-old IUGR rats, there was a markedly blunted glycemic response to insulin load compared with normal group. These findings demonstrate that IUGR rats had both impaired pancreatic development and deteriorated glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, which would be the internal causes why they were prone to develop type 2 diabetes

IGF2 stimulates fetal growth in a sex- and organ-dependent manner

BackgroundInsulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is a key determinant of fetal growth, and the altered expression of IGF2 is implicated in fetal growth disorders and maternal metabolic derangements including gestational diabetes. Here we studied how increased levels of IGF2 in late pregnancy affect fetal growth.MethodsWe employed a rat model of repeated intrafetal IGF2 administration in late pregnancy, i.e., during GD19-GD21, and measured the consequences on fetal organ weight and expression of insulin/IGF-axis components.ResultsIGF2 treatment tended to increase fetal weight, but only weight increase of the fetal stomach reached significance (+33±9%; P<0.01). Sex-dependent data analysis revealed a sexual dimorphism of IGF2 action. In male fetuses, IGF2 administration significantly increased fetal weight (+13±3%; P<0.05) and weight of fetal stomach (+42±10%; P<0.01), intestine (+26±5%; P<0.05), liver (+13±4%; P<0.05), and pancreas (+25±8%; P<0.05). Weights of heart, lungs, and kidneys were unchanged. In female fetuses, IGF2 increased only stomach weight (+26±9%; P<0.05). Furthermore, gene expression of insulin/IGF axis in the heart, lungs, liver, and stomach was more sensitive toward IGF2 treatment in male than in female fetuses.ConclusionData suggest that elevated circulating IGF2 in late pregnancy predominantly stimulates organ growth of the digestive system, and male fetuses are more susceptible toward the IGF2 effects than female fetuses.Fil: White, Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Jawerbaum, Alicia Sandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Mazzucco, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; ArgentinaFil: Gauster, Martin. Medizinische Universität Graz; AustriaFil: Desoye, Gernot. Medizinische Universität Graz; AustriaFil: Hiden, Ursula. Medizinische Universität Graz; Austri