2,965 research outputs found
Bino Dark Matter and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis in the Constrained E6SSM with Massless Inert Singlinos
We discuss a new variant of the E6 inspired supersymmetric standard model
(E6SSM) in which the two inert singlinos are exactly massless and the dark
matter candidate has a dominant bino component. A successful relic density is
achieved via a novel mechanism in which the bino scatters inelastically into
heavier inert Higgsinos during the time of thermal freeze-out. The two massless
inert singlinos contribute to the effective number of neutrino species at the
time of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, where the precise contribution depends on the
mass of the Z' which keeps them in equilibrium. For example for mZ' > 1300 GeV
we find Neff \approx 3.2, where the smallness of the additional contribution is
due to entropy dilution. We study a few benchmark points in the constrained
E6SSM with massless inert singlinos to illustrate this new scenario.Comment: 24 pages, revised for publication in JHE
A universal protocol to generate consensus level genome sequences for foot-and-mouth disease virus and other positive-sense polyadenylated RNA viruses using the Illumina MiSeq
BACKGROUND: Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is revolutionizing molecular epidemiology by providing new
approaches to undertake whole genome sequencing (WGS) in diagnostic settings for a variety of human and
veterinary pathogens. Previous sequencing protocols have been subject to biases such as those encountered
during PCR amplification and cell culture, or are restricted by the need for large quantities of starting material. We
describe here a simple and robust methodology for the generation of whole genome sequences on the Illumina
MiSeq. This protocol is specific for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) or other polyadenylated RNA viruses and
circumvents both the use of PCR and the requirement for large amounts of initial template.
RESULTS: The protocol was successfully validated using five FMDV positive clinical samples from the 2001 epidemic
in the United Kingdom, as well as a panel of representative viruses from all seven serotypes. In addition, this
protocol was successfully used to recover 94% of an FMDV genome that had previously been identified as cell
culture negative. Genome sequences from three other non-FMDV polyadenylated RNA viruses (EMCV, ERAV, VESV)
were also obtained with minor protocol amendments. We calculated that a minimum coverage depth of 22 reads
was required to produce an accurate consensus sequence for FMDV O. This was achieved in 5 FMDV/O/UKG isolates
and the type O FMDV from the serotype panel with the exception of the 5′ genomic termini and area immediately
flanking the poly(C) region.
CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a universal WGS method for FMDV and other polyadenylated RNA viruses.
This method works successfully from a limited quantity of starting material and eliminates the requirement for
genome-specific PCR amplification. This protocol has the potential to generate consensus-level sequences within a
routine high-throughput diagnostic environment
The role of rewilding in mitigating hydrological extremes: State of the evidence
Landscape rewilding has the potential to help mitigate hydrological extremes by allowing natural processes to function. Our systematic review assessed the evidence base for rewilding-driven mitigation of high and low flows. The review uncovers a lack of research directly addressing rewilding, but highlights research in analogue contexts which can, with caution, indicate the nature of change. There is a lack of before-after studies that enable deeper examination of temporal trajectories and legacy effects, and a lack of research on the scrub and shrubland habitats common in rewilding projects. Over twice as much evidence is available for high flows compared to low flows, and fewer than one third of studies address high and low flows simultaneously, limiting our understanding of co-benefits and contrasting effects. Flow magnitude variables are better represented within the literature than flow timing variables, and there is greater emphasis on modeling for high flows, and on direct measurement for low flows. Most high flow studies report a mitigating effect, but with variability in the magnitude of effect, and some exceptions. The nature of change for low flows is more complex and suggests a higher potential for increased low flow risks associated with certain trajectories but is based on a very narrow evidence base. We recommend that future research aims to: capture effects on both high and low flow extremes for a given type of change; analyze both magnitude and timing characteristics of flow extremes; and examine temporal trajectories (before and after data) ideally using a full before-after-control-impact design. This article is categorized under: Human Water > Value of Water Science of Water > Hydrological Processes Science of Water > Water Extremes Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness
Ultraviolet Completion of Flavour Models
Effective Flavour Models do not address questions related to the nature of
the fundamental renormalisable theory at high energies. We study the
ultraviolet completion of Flavour Models, which in general has the advantage of
improving the predictivity of the effective models. In order to illustrate the
important features we provide minimal completions for two known A4 models. We
discuss the phenomenological implications of the explicit completions, such as
lepton flavour violating contributions that arise through the exchange of
messenger fields.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure
Effect of ageing and hypertension on the expression and activity of PEPT2 in normal and hypertrophic hearts
Some dipeptides have been implicated in myocardial protection, but little is known about their membrane transporter PEPT2. The aim of this study was to determine whether the expression and activity of the cardiac-type PEPT2 cotransporter could be affected by ageing and/or hypertension. Sarcolemmal vesicles (SV) were isolated from the hearts of all rat groups using a standard procedure to investigate the transport activity and protein abundance by fluorescence spectroscopy and Western blot, respectively. SLC15A2 "PEPT2" gene expression was relatively quantified by RT-qPCR. In the Wistar rat groups, the protein and gene expression of PEPT2 were upregulated with ageing. These changes were accompanied by corresponding increases in the competitive inhibition and the transport rate (Vmax) of β-Ala-Lys (AMCA) into SV isolated from middle-aged hearts. Although, the transport rate of β-Ala-Lys (AMCA) into SV isolated from old hearts was significantly the lowest compared to middle-aged and young adult hearts, the inhibition percentage of β-Ala-Lys (AMCA) transport by Gly-Gln was the highest. In the WKY and SHR rat groups, Y-SHR hypertrophied hearts showed an increase in PEPT2 gene expression accompanied by a significant decrease in protein expression and activity. With advanced age, however, M-SHR hypertrophied hearts revealed significantly lower gene expression, but higher protein expression and activity than Y-SHR hearts. These findings suggest that increased expression of PEPT2 cotransporter in all types of middle-aged hearts could be exploited to facilitate di-and tripeptide transport by PEPT2 in these hearts, which subsequently could result in improved myocardial protection in these populations
Investigation of Non-Stable Processes in Close Binary Ry Scuti
We present results of reanalysis of old electrophotometric data of early type
close binary system RY Scuti obtained at the Abastumani Astrophysical
Observatory, Georgia, during 1972-1990 years and at the Maidanak Observatory,
Uzbekistan, during 1979-1991 years. It is revealed non-stable processes in RY
Sct from period to period, from month to month and from year to year. This
variation consists from the hundredths up to the tenths of a magnitude.
Furthermore, periodical changes in the system's light are displayed near the
first maximum on timescales of a few years. That is of great interest with
regard to some similar variations seen in luminous blue variable (LBV) stars.
This also could be closely related to the question of why RY Sct ejected its
nebula.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, 2 table
How Exposures to Biologics Influence the Induction and Incidence of Asthma
A number of environmental factors can affect the development and severity of allergy and asthma; however, it can be argued that the most significant inhaled agents that modulate the development of these conditions are biologics. Sensitization to environmental allergens is an important risk factor for the development of asthma. Innate immune responses are often mediated by receptors on mononuclear cells whose primary ligands arise from microorganisms. Many pathogens, especially viruses, target epithelial cells and affect the host immune response to those pathogens. The acquired immune response to an allergen is influenced by the nature of the innate immune system. Products of innate immune responses to microbes promote T(H)1-acquired responses. In the absence of T(H)1 responses, T(H)2 responses can dominate. Central to T(H)1/T(H)2 balance is the composition of contaminants that derive from microbes. In this review we examine the biology of the response to allergens, viruses, and bacterial products in the context of the development of allergy and asthma
You turn me cold: evidence for temperature contagion
Introduction
During social interactions, our own physiological responses influence those of others. Synchronization of physiological (and behavioural) responses can facilitate emotional understanding and group coherence through inter-subjectivity. Here we investigate if observing cues indicating a change in another's body temperature results in a corresponding temperature change in the observer.
Methods
Thirty-six healthy participants (age; 22.9±3.1 yrs) each observed, then rated, eight purpose-made videos (3 min duration) that depicted actors with either their right or left hand in visibly warm (warm videos) or cold water (cold videos). Four control videos with the actors' hand in front of the water were also shown. Temperature of participant observers' right and left hands was concurrently measured using a thermistor within a Wheatstone bridge with a theoretical temperature sensitivity of <0.0001°C. Temperature data were analysed in a repeated measures ANOVA (temperature × actor's hand × observer's hand).
Results
Participants rated the videos showing hands immersed in cold water as being significantly cooler than hands immersed in warm water, F(1,34) = 256.67, p0.1). There was however no evidence of left-right mirroring of these temperature effects p>0.1). Sensitivity to temperature contagion was also predicted by inter-individual differences in self-report empathy.
Conclusions
We illustrate physiological contagion of temperature in healthy individuals, suggesting that empathetic understanding for primary low-level physiological challenges (as well as more complex emotions) are grounded in somatic simulation
No association between islet cell antibodies and coxsackie B, mumps, rubella and cytomegalovirus antibodies in non-diabetic individuals aged 7–19 years
Viral antibodies were tested in a cohort of 44 isletcell antibody-positive individuals age 7–19 years, and 44 of their islet cell antibody-negative age and sex-matched classmates selected from a population study of 4208 pupils who had been screened for islet cell antibodies. Anti-coxsackie B1-5 IgM responses were detected in 14 of 44 (32%) of the islet cell antibody-positive subjects and in 7 of 44 (16%) control subjects. This difference did not reach the level of statistical significance. None of the islet cell antibody-positive subjects had specific IgM antibodies to mumps, rubella, or cytomegalovirus. There was also no increase in the prevalence or the mean titres of anti-mumps-IgG or IgA and anti-cytomegalovirus-IgG in islet cell antibody-positive subjects compared to control subjects. These results do not suggest any association between islet cell antibodies, and possibly insulitis, with recent mumps, rubella or cytomegalo virus infection. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between islet cell antibodies and coxsackie B virus infections
Decaying Dark Matter in the Supersymmetric Standard Model with Freeze-in and Seesaw mechanims
Inspired by the decaying dark matter (DM) which can explain cosmic ray
anomalies naturally, we consider the supersymmetric Standard Model with three
right-handed neutrinos (RHNs) and R-parity, and introduce a TeV-scale DM sector
with two fields \phi_{1,2} and a discrete symmetry. The DM sector only
interacts with the RHNs via a very heavy field exchange and then we can explain
the cosmic ray anomalies. With the second right-handed neutrino N_2 dominant
seesaw mechanism at the low scale around 10^4 GeV, we show that \phi_{1,2} can
obtain the vacuum expectation values around the TeV scale, and then the
lightest state from \phi_{1,2} is the decay DM with lifetime around \sim
10^{26}s. In particular, the DM very long lifetime is related to the tiny
neutrino masses, and the dominant DM decay channels to \mu and \tau are related
to the approximate \mu-\tau symmetry. Furthermore, the correct DM relic density
can be obtained via the freeze-in mechanism, the small-scale problem for power
spectrum can be solved due to the decays of the R-parity odd meta-stable states
in the DM sector, and the baryon asymmetry can be generated via the soft
leptogensis.Comment: 24 pages,3 figure
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