Sterile neutrino decay and the LSND experiment

We propose a new explanation of the intriguing LSND evidence for electron antineutrino appearance in terms of heavy (mostly sterile) neutrino decay via a coupling with a light scalar and light (mostly active) neutrinos. We perform a fit to the LSND data, as well as all relevant null-result experiments, taking into account the distortion of the spectrum due to decay. By requiring a coupling g ~ 10^{-5}, a heavy neutrino mass m_4 ~ 100 keV and a mixing with muon neutrinos |U_{mu 4}|^2 ~ 10^{-2}, we show that this model explains all existing data evading constraints that disfavor standard (3+1) neutrino models.Comment: 3pp. Talk given at 9th International Conference on Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP 2005), Zaragoza, Spain, 10-14 Sep 200

Economic analysis of royalactin production under uncertainty: Evaluating the effect of parameter optimization.

Royalactin is a protein with several different potential uses in humans. Research, in insects and in mammalian cells, has shown that it can accelerate cell division and prevent apoptosis. The method of action is through the use of the epidermal growth factor receptor, which is present in humans. Potential use in humans could be to lower cholesterolemic levels in blood, and to elicit similar effects to those seen in bees, e.g., increased lifespan. Mass production of Royalactin has not been accomplished, though a recent article presented a Pichia pastoris fermentation and recovery by aqueous two-phase systems at laboratory scale as a possible basis for production. Economic modelling is a useful tool with which compare possible outcomes for the production of such a molecule and in particular, to locate areas where additional research is needed and optimization may be required. This study uses the BioSolve software to perform an economic analysis on the scale-up of the putative process for Royalactin. The key parameters affecting the cost of production were located via a sensitivity analysis and then evaluated by Monte Carlo analysis. Results show that if titer is not optimized the strategy to maintain a low cost of goods is process oriented. After optimization of this parameter the strategy changes to a product-oriented and the target output becomes the critical parameter determining the cost of goods. This study serves to provide a framework for the evaluation of strategies for future production of Royalactin, by analyzing the factors that influence its cost of manufacture. © 2015 The Authors Biotechnology Progress published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2015

Description and molecular phylogeny of a new and one known needle nematode of the genus Paralongidorus (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from grapevine in Portugal

A new and a known longidorid nematode, Paralongidorus lusitanicus n. sp. and Paralongidorus plesioepimikis, are described and illustrated from populations extracted from soil associated with grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) from Escaroupim and Pó (central-Western Portugal), respectively. The new needle nematode P. lusitanicus n. sp. is characterised by a very large body size (8072–12,022 μm), an expanded and rounded lip region, ca 30 μm wide, with a clear constriction followed by a depression posterior to the amphidial aperture, amphidial fovea very large (11.0–19.0 μm), stirrup-shaped, with conspicuous slit-like aperture as shown in scanning electron microscopy studies, a very long and flexible odontostyle (180.0–223.0 μm), guiding ring located at 28.0–41.5 μm from anterior end, vulva anterior to the mid-body (34–41%), a dorsally convex-conoid tail with rounded terminus (29–42 μm long), bearing two or three pairs of caudal pores and males common (ratio 1:1.6 females) with spicules ca 80 μm long. Morphological and morphometric traits for P. plesioepimikis fit well with the original description, and is reported for the first time in Portugal. Integrative diagnosis of both species was completed with molecular data obtained using D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rDNA, ITS1-rDNA and partial 18S–rDNA. The phylogenetic relationships of these species with other Paralongidorus spp. using these three molecular markers indicated that P. lusitanicus n. sp. clustered together with other Paralongidorus spp. forming a sister clade with P. plesioepimikis, both of them sharing a large body, long odontostyle, an anteriorly located vulva and an expanded and rounded lip region with a clear constriction followed by a depression posterior to the amphidial aperture

Zener fractional order determination and biomechanical blood flow characterization

El propósito principal de la presente publicación consiste en la determinación adecuada del orden fraccional en el modelo viscoelástico de Zener y el análisis de las implicaciones que se derivan de la precisión en la obtención del mismo. Esto se realiza empleando el método numérico de Levenberg-Marquardt a partir de valores reportados en la literatura. Los parámetros utilizados son obtenidos para un segmento de arteria empleando un experimento de relajación a los esfuerzos. Una vez determinado el orden fraccional se procede a determinar la solución del modelo empleando la función de dos parámetros de Mittag-Leffler y la operación de convolución, con la finalidad de comparar el comportamiento del modelo de orden fraccional con el de orden entero e identificar sus principales diferencias. Se obtienen además las deformaciones que experimenta la arteria bajo el estímulo de un pulso sanguíneo normal y otros disímiles, simulando el efecto provocado en el flujo sanguíneo por una arritmia y el ocasionado por el proceso de ventilación mecánica. Por último se analiza la respuesta dinámica del material bajo una serie de pulsos, utilizando la operación de convolución y el método numérico de Gauss-Kronrod, identificando la precisión en la reproducción de los mismos en el modelo de orden fraccional comparado con el de orden entero.The main purpose of this publication is the proper determination of the fractional order at the Zener viscoelastic models and the analysis of the implications derived from the accuracy in obtaining this. The procedure is performed using the numerical method of Levenberg-Marquardt from values reported in the literature. The parameters used are obtained from an artery segment using a stress relaxation test. After determining the fractional order is proceeded to find the model solution using, the function of Mittag-Leffler with two parameters and the convolution operation in order to compare the behavior of the fractional model vs the integer order and identify their key differences. The displacements present on the artery are obtained, under the stimulus of a normal blood pulse and two dissimilar, simulating the effect in blood flow caused by an arrhythmia and by mechanical ventilation process. Finally the dynamic response from the pulses is analyzed using the convolution operation and Gauss Kronrod numeric method, where the solutions accuracy obtained by the fractional model is observed, an compared with the integer order model.Peer Reviewe

Disrupted functional brain network organization in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

IntroductionObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subjects show impaired autonomic, affective, executive, sensorimotor, and cognitive functions. Brain injury in OSA subjects appears in multiple sites regulating these functions, but the integrity of functional networks within the regulatory sites remains unclear. Our aim was to examine the functional interactions and the complex network organization of these interactions across the whole brain in OSA, using regional functional connectivity (FC) and brain network topological properties.MethodsWe collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, using a 3.0-Tesla MRI scanner, from 69 newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve, moderate-to-severe OSA (age, 48.3 ± 9.2 years; body mass index, 31 ± 6.2 kg/m(2); apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), 35.6 ± 23.3 events/h) and 82 control subjects (47.6 ± 9.1 years; body mass index, 25.1 ± 3.5 kg/m(2)). Data were analyzed to examine FC in OSA over controls as interregional correlations and brain network topological properties.ResultsObstructive sleep apnea subjects showed significantly altered FC in the cerebellar, frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, limbic, and basal ganglia regions (FDR, P < 0.05). Entire functional brain networks in OSA subjects showed significantly less efficient integration, and their regional topological properties of functional integration and specialization characteristics also showed declined trends in areas showing altered FC, an outcome which would interfere with brain network organization (P < 0.05; 10,000 permutations). Brain sites with abnormal topological properties in OSA showed significant relationships with AHI scores.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the dysfunction extends to resting conditions, and the altered FC and impaired network organization may underlie the impaired responses in autonomic, cognitive, and sensorimotor functions. The outcomes likely result from the prominent structural changes in both axons and nuclear structures, which occur in the condition