The W_L W_L scattering at the LHC: improving the selection criteria

We present a systematic study of the different mechanisms leading to WW pair production at the LHC, both in the same-sign and opposite-sign channels, and we emphasize that the former offers much better potential for investigating non-resonant W_L W_L scattering. We propose a new kinematic variable to isolate the W_L W_L scattering component in same-sign WW production at the LHC. Focusing on purely leptonic W decay channels, we show that it considerably improves the LHC capabilities to shed light on the electroweak symmetry breaking mechanism after collecting 100 fb^{-1} of data at sqrt{s} = 14 TeV. The new variable is less effective in the opposite-sign WW channel due to different background composition.Comment: 25 pages, 32 figure

Voluntary wheel running augments aortic L-arginine transport and endothelial function in rats with chronic kidney disease

Reduced nitric oxide (NO) synthesis contributes to risk for cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Vascular uptake of the NO precursor L-arginine (ARG) is attenuated in rodents with CKD, resulting in reduced substrate availability for NO synthesis and impaired vascular function. We tested the effect of 4 wk of voluntary wheel running (RUN) and/or ARG supplementation on endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) in rats with CKD. Twelve-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 5/6 ablation infarction surgery to induce CKD, or SHAM surgery as a control. Beginning 4 wk following surgery, CKD animals either remained sedentary (SED) or received one of the following interventions: supplemental ARG, RUN, or combined RUN + ARG. Animals were euthanized 8 wk after surgery, and EDR was assessed. EDR was significantly impaired in SED vs. SHAM animals after 8 wk, in response to ACh (10(-9)-10(-5) M) as indicated by a reduced area under the curve (AUC; 44.56 +/- 9.01 vs 100 +/- 4.58, P \u3c 0.05) and reduced maximal response (E-max; 59.9 +/- 9.67 vs. 94.31 +/- 1.27%, P \u3c 0.05). AUC was not improved by ARG treatment but was significantly improved above SED animals in both RUN and RUN + ARG-treated animals. Maximal relaxation was elevated above SED in RUN + ARG animals only. L-[H-3] arginine uptake was impaired in both SED and ARG animals and was improved in RUN and RUN + ARG animals. The results suggest that voluntary wheel running is an effective therapy to improve vascular function in CKD and may be more beneficial when combined with L-arginine

Voluntary Wheel Running Augments Vascular Function in Rats with Chronic Kidney Disease

Please view abstract in the attached PDF file

Diurnal cortisol and obesity in adolescents with and without Down syndrome

BackgroundThe prevalence of obesity in adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) far exceeds that in the general population. Cortisol, an adrenal hormone, can be obesogenic when dysregulated. However, the diurnal patterns of this hormone have not been examined among individuals with DS. Variations in adiposity may also mediate cortisol regulation. This study sought to examine diurnal cortisol patterns in adolescents with DS as well as associations between cortisol function and obesity.MethodA total of 32 adolescents, including 16 with DS and 16 controls with typical development (TD) of similar sex, age and Tanner pubertal stage (P > 0.05), participated in this preliminary study. Participants completed a dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scan to measure body composition and collected saliva samples for cortisol measurements in the morning, afternoon and night. Linear mixed models with random intercepts and repeated measures were used to examine the daily trajectory of log‐transformed cortisol concentrations between adolescents with and without DS. A second model examined the interaction between DS and presence of elevated body fatness.ResultsAdolescents with DS had higher morning cortisol concentrations (intercept = 0.37 μg/dL), but this was not significantly different than in TD (0.35 μg/dL, P = 0.16). Cortisol significantly declined across hours (b = −0.026 μg/dL/h, P  0.05; d = 0.30).ConclusionsThis study is the first to examine diurnal cortisol in DS but is limited in sample size. These preliminary findings suggest that diurnal cortisol patterns are not significantly different between adolescents with DS and TD and that cortisol levels are not associated with adiposity in this population. Despite these non‐significant differences, youth with DS continue to be an ‘at‐risk’ population for paediatric obesity in need of clinical intervention.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151976/1/jir12682_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151976/2/jir12682.pd

MannDB – A microbial database of automated protein sequence analyses and evidence integration for protein characterization

BACKGROUND: MannDB was created to meet a need for rapid, comprehensive automated protein sequence analyses to support selection of proteins suitable as targets for driving the development of reagents for pathogen or protein toxin detection. Because a large number of open-source tools were needed, it was necessary to produce a software system to scale the computations for whole-proteome analysis. Thus, we built a fully automated system for executing software tools and for storage, integration, and display of automated protein sequence analysis and annotation data. DESCRIPTION: MannDB is a relational database that organizes data resulting from fully automated, high-throughput protein-sequence analyses using open-source tools. Types of analyses provided include predictions of cleavage, chemical properties, classification, features, functional assignment, post-translational modifications, motifs, antigenicity, and secondary structure. Proteomes (lists of hypothetical and known proteins) are downloaded and parsed from Genbank and then inserted into MannDB, and annotations from SwissProt are downloaded when identifiers are found in the Genbank entry or when identical sequences are identified. Currently 36 open-source tools are run against MannDB protein sequences either on local systems or by means of batch submission to external servers. In addition, BLAST against protein entries in MvirDB, our database of microbial virulence factors, is performed. A web client browser enables viewing of computational results and downloaded annotations, and a query tool enables structured and free-text search capabilities. When available, links to external databases, including MvirDB, are provided. MannDB contains whole-proteome analyses for at least one representative organism from each category of biological threat organism listed by APHIS, CDC, HHS, NIAID, USDA, USFDA, and WHO. CONCLUSION: MannDB comprises a large number of genomes and comprehensive protein sequence analyses representing organisms listed as high-priority agents on the websites of several governmental organizations concerned with bio-terrorism. MannDB provides the user with a BLAST interface for comparison of native and non-native sequences and a query tool for conveniently selecting proteins of interest. In addition, the user has access to a web-based browser that compiles comprehensive and extensive reports. Access to MannDB is freely available at

Comparison of Performance Test Results to CFD and Structural Models of Non-Contacting Finger Seals

Performance tests of non-contacting finger seal designs were conducted at 300, 700, 922 K (70, 800 and 1200 F) at pressure differentials up to 517 kPa (75 psid) and surface speeds up to 366 m/s (1200 ft/s). Room temperature, static analysis of the seal was performed. A simplified CFD model was developed to examine pressure loads within the seal. Results from the CFD model were used as input to a finite element analysis model of a six-finger segment of the non-contacting finger seal. Examination of predicted deflections of individual components of the seal gives insight into the seal behavior. Wear patterns from testing verify the pattern of radial deflection. The models are used to predict maximum pressure differential capability of the seal and compared to experimental results. The CFD model slightly under-predicts the measured leakage flow factor, but has the same trend as the measured flow factor versus pressure differential

Age- and size-related reference ranges: A case study of spirometry through childhood and adulthood

Age-related reference ranges are useful for assessing growth in children. The LMS method is a popular technique for constructing growth charts that model the age-changing distribution of the measurement in terms of the median, coefficient of variation and skewness. Here the methodology is extended to references that depend on body size as well as age, by exploiting the flexibility of the generalised additive models for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS) technique. GAMLSS offers general linear predictors for each moment parameter and a choice of error distributions, which can handle kurtosis as well as skewness. A key question with such references is the nature of the age-size adjustment, additive or multiplicative, which is explored by comparing the identity link and log link for the median predictor

Lactobacillus casei strain GG in the treatment of infants with acute watery diarrhea: A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial [ISRCTN67363048]

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant therapy to ORT with probiotic bacteria for infants with acute watery diarrhea has been under active investigation. Most studies have been done in the developed world showing benefit only for viral mild gastroenteritis. We evaluated the effect of a milk formula containing one billion (10(9)) cfu/ml of Lactobacillus casei strain GG (LGG) upon duration and severity of diarrhea in infants in an environment with more severe acute diarrhea, where etiologic agents other than rotavirus are involved more frequently, and where mixed infections are more prevalent. METHODS: Male infants aged 3–36 months brought for treatment of acute watery diarrhea of less than 48 hours were eligible. After rehydration was completed with the WHO's oral rehydration solution, patients were randomly assigned to receive a milk formula either containing LGG or not. Stool volume was periodically measured using a devise suited to collect stools separate from urine. Duration of diarrhea was estimated based on stools physical characteristics. RESULTS: Eighty nine patients received the placebo milk formula and ninety received the LGG containing formula. Both groups were comparable in their baseline characteristics. Total stool output was significantly larger (p = 0.047) in the LGG group (247.8 ml/kg) than in the placebo group (195.0 ml/kg). No significant differences were found in duration of diarrhea (58.5 hours with LGG vs. 50.4 hours with placebo), rate of treatment failure (21.1% with LGG vs. 18.0% with placebo), and proportion of patients with unresolved diarrhea after 120 hours (12.2% with LGG vs. 12.5% with placebo). The rate of stools with reducing substances after 24 hours of treatment increased significantly in both groups (from 41.4% to 72.2% with LGG and from 45.9% to 68.0% with placebo). CONCLUSION: This study did not show a positive effect of LGG on the clinical course of acute watery diarrhea. Positive beneficial effects of LGG, as had been reported elsewhere, could have been masked in our study by worsening diarrhea due to transient lactose malabsorption. Further studies with low-lactose or non-lactose conveyors of LGG are desirable