Cosmological phase transitions in the Standard Model with hidden scale invariance

The Standard Model of particle physics is minimally extended by a dilaton field. This field expresses the spontaneous breaking of scale invariance of an unspecified ultraviolet complete theory. While being manifestly scale invariant at the classical level, the low energy theory admits quantum scale anomaly responsible for the generation of mass scales. In addition to predicting a very small dilaton mass, this model has important consequences for the cosmology of the early universe. The electroweak phase transition can only be triggered by the QCD chiral phase transition occurring around 132 MeV. Since the QCD transition is expected to be first order in this picture, such a scenario gives rise to the production of stochastic gravitational waves with a peak frequency around ∼ 10−8 Hz

Pro Free Will Priming Enhances "Risk-Taking" Behavior in the Iowa Gambling Task, but not in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task : Two Independent Priming Studies

Studies indicated that people behave less responsibly after exposure to information containing deterministic statements as compared to free will statements or neutral statements. Thus, deterministic primes should lead to enhanced risk-taking behavior. We tested this prediction in two studies with healthy participants. In experiment 1, we tested 144 students (24 men) in the laboratory using the Iowa Gambling Task. In experiment 2, we tested 274 participants (104 men) online using the Balloon Analogue Risk Task. In the Iowa Gambling Task, the free will priming condition resulted in more risky decisions than both the deterministic and neutral priming conditions. We observed no priming effects on risk-taking behavior in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task. To explain these unpredicted findings, we consider the somatic marker hypothesis, a gain frequency approach as well as attention to gains and / or inattention to losses. In addition, we highlight the necessity to consider both pro free will and deterministic priming conditions in future studies. Importantly, our and previous results indicate that the effects of pro free will and deterministic priming do not oppose each other on a frequently assumed continuum

Antioxidant Sensors Based on DNA-Modified Electrodes

TiO2/ITO modified electrodes were developed to quantitatively photooxidize adsorbed ds-DNA and to study the effect of antioxidants as ds-DNA protecting agents. TiO2 films are used for efficient ds-DNA immobilization, for ds- DNA oxidation through photogenerated hydroxyl radicals, and as electrodes for amperometric sensing. The films, prepared by a sol-gel process, are deposited on ITO glass electrodes. Damages occurring after ds-DNA oxidation by ROS are detected by adding MB as an intercalant probe and by monitoring the electrochemical reduction current of the intercalated redox probe. The MB electrochemical signal is found to be sensitive enough to monitor ds-DNA structure changes, and the electrochemical sensor has been applied to the evaluation of the antioxidant properties of glutathione and gallic acid

MeCP2 recognizes cytosine methylated tri-nucleotide and di-nucleotide sequences to tune transcription in the mammalian brain

Mutations in the gene encoding the methyl-CG binding protein MeCP2 cause several neurological disorders including Rett syndrome. The di-nucleotide methyl-CG (mCG) is the classical MeCP2 DNA recognition sequence, but additional methylated sequence targets have been reported. Here we show by in vitro and in vivo analyses that MeCP2 binding to non-CG methylated sites in brain is largely confined to the tri-nucleotide sequence mCAC. MeCP2 binding to chromosomal DNA in mouse brain is proportional to mCAC + mCG density and unexpectedly defines large genomic domains within which transcription is sensitive to MeCP2 occupancy. Our results suggest that MeCP2 integrates patterns of mCAC and mCG in the brain to restrain transcription of genes critical for neuronal function

Caracterización de las explotaciones lecheras de La Pampa

En la cuenca lechera de la provincia de la Pampa, al igual que en el resto de las cuencas argentinas, existe un proceso de concentración de la producción, con reducción en la cantidad de establecimientos y aumento de la producción de leche. El conocimiento de la variabilidad de la estructura productiva como indicador estratégico permitirá implementar acciones de investigación y desarrollo para la permanencia de las explotaciones en el sector lechero. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar la estructura productiva de los establecimientos lecheros de la provincia de La Pampa. Durante el año 2017, se encuestaron 45 explotaciones distribuidos en las tres cuencas, norte, centro y sur de la provincia de La Pampa. En promedio las explotaciones lecheras producen 3.509,82 Lts/día ± 1.040,61 (C.V. 198,89%) en una superficie ganadera de 215,20 ha ± 57,90 (C.V.180,47%) con un total de vacas de 201,78 ± 58,00 (C.V. 192,83%). La mortalidad en la cría fue de 5,42% ± 0,38 (C.V. 47,26) superior al 3% recomendado y la edad al primer parto de 26,6 meses ± 0,35 (C.V. 8,87) levemente superior al intervalo de 24 – 26 meses destacado como óptimo para no acrecentar los costos por tiempo ocioso. La producción de leche hallada concuerda con un sistema de producción pastoril, como el que predomina en La Pampa, con variables factibles de mejorar tales como las halladas en mortandad de la cría y edad al primer part

Amperometric tape ion sensors for cadmium(II) ion analysis

This paper describes a novel tape platform ion sensing methodology specific to the detection of cadmium(II) ions in aqueous solution based on assisted ion transfer reactions across a polarized water | organic gel micro-interface. The tape ion sensors were constructed to incorporate the microwater | polyvinylchloride-2-nitrophenylethyl ether (PVC–NPOE) gel interfaces referred to as ionodes. The sensors have overall thicknesses less than $300\mu m$, allowing their packaging in a disposable tape format. The detection methodology is based on the selective assisted transfer of the cadmium ion in aqueous phase by ETH 1062 present in the PVC–NPOE gel layer and was first investigated using cyclic voltammetry. Quantitative analysis of cadmium(II) ions in aqueous solution using the tape sensors was then conducted under stop-flow conditions. Detection limits as low as 20 ppb (178 nM) for Cd(II) ions in very small volumes as low as a single 20ul droplet without any sample preconcentration was achieved in an analysis time of approximately 20 s, which could be easily employed for the direct measurement of Cd(II) ion levels in various field applications. The tape ion sensor can also be used in a flow-cell geometry to preconcentrate Cd(II) ions from aqueous samples and further improve the detection limit

MeCP2 recognizes cytosine methylated tri-nucleotide and di-nucleotide sequences to tune transcription in the mammalian brain

Mutations in the gene encoding the methyl-CG binding protein MeCP2 cause several neurological disorders including Rett syndrome. The di-nucleotide methyl-CG (mCG) is the classical MeCP2 DNA recognition sequence, but additional methylated sequence targets have been reported. Here we show by in vitro and in vivo analyses that MeCP2 binding to non-CG methylated sites in brain is largely confined to the tri-nucleotide sequence mCAC. MeCP2 binding to chromosomal DNA in mouse brain is proportional to mCAC + mCG density and unexpectedly defines large genomic domains within which transcription is sensitive to MeCP2 occupancy. Our results suggest that MeCP2 integrates patterns of mCAC and mCG in the brain to restrain transcription of genes critical for neuronal function.</p

Mutants in the Mouse NuRD/Mi2 Component P66α Are Embryonic Lethal

The NuRD/Mi2 chromatin complex is involved in histone modifications and contains a large number of subunits, including the p66 protein. There are two mouse and human p66 paralogs, p66alpha and p66beta. The functions of these genes are not clear, in part because there are no mutants available, except in invertebrate model systems.We made loss of function mutants in the mouse p66alpha gene (mp66alpha, official name Gatad2a, MGI:2384585). We found that mp66alpha is essential for development, as mutant embryos die around day 10 of embryogenesis. The gene is not required for normal blastocyst development or for implantation. The phenotype of mutant embryos and the pattern of gene expression in mutants are consistent with a role of mp66alpha in gene silencing.mp66alpha is an essential gene, required for early mouse development. The lethal phenotype supports a role in execution of methylated DNA silencing