Bootstrapping the aa-anomaly in 4d4d QFTs: Episode II

As recently shown, the a-anomaly of the UV fixed point of 4d quantum field theories, can be constrained by studying scattering amplitudes. The basic idea is to couple the QFT to a dilaton and impose unitarity of the scattering amplitudes of physical particles and probe dilatons. In this work we find new lower bounds on the $a$-anomaly in several gapped QFTs containing different numbers of stable scalar particles.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure

From Exclusion to Inclusion: Integration of Kenya Sign Language During Television Newscasts in Kenya

This study aimed at analyzing media inclusion of the deaf community through Kenya Sign language during television newscasts. In 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which recommended sign language interpreters to be included in all television newscasts and Kenya ratified this convention in 2008.Consequently, sign language in television newscasts was made a requirement for all television stations, something that the media in Kenya has not been able to fully comply with, even after the taking effect of the programming code for Free-to-Air radio and television in July 2016. An evaluative approach was employed to assess the current situation in terms of what measures have been put in place to ensure the deaf are able to effectively follow television newscasts, why some television channels have not been able to incorporate sign language in their newscasts and the challenges that have been experienced by those that have incorporated sign language in their programmes. The population comprised of the media fraternity, specifically Free-to-Air television channels and the consumers of signed programmes that is the deaf from Deaf Aid International. Also, key informants from KNAD, KSLIA, CAK and Deaf Aid International were selected using the snowball and purposive sampling techniques on the basis that they were considered informative. Data collection procedure involved face to face and telephone interview schedules with a sign language interpreter where necessary, Kenya Sign language translated questionnaires and document/article reviews while data analysis was qualitative and more opinion-based than statistical. The study revealed that the incorporation of sign language interpreters in television has not been fully achieved with all the television channels having news bulletins inconsistently having a sign language interpreter inset. Out of the 18 Free-to-Air channels with news broadcasts, only 13 had a sign language interpreter inset on their screens during particular news bulletins. The main reasons as to why the process was slow were determined as financial constraints, lack of qualified interpreters, overpriced interpreter fees and lack of enough time to implement this as the media owners felt they were caught unawares, hence unable to fully provide quality service. The programming code is a good step towards ensuring the deaf have maximum access to information through television just like the hearing population. Keywords: Kenya sign language, deaf, interpreters, newscast

Analysis of protection capabilities against SQL Injection attacks

Publication refers to SQL Injection attacks whose are one of the most dangerous in a cyberspace. Based on a literature studies, classification of the SQL Injection attacks was prepared. The purpose of the work was to analyse of protections effectiveness against SQL Injection attacks. Research method has been based on author application, which was implemented in JSP (JavaServer Pages) technology using MySQL database server

The suppressive role of 4EIP and PUF3 in gene expression during differentiation of Trypanosoma brucei

African trypanosomes are flagellated protozoan parasites that cause sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle. During their life cycle, they change their morphology and metabolism through robust gene regulation processes. Trypanosomes have a unique polycistronic gene arrangement and have to rely almost entirely on post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms, which include mRNA processing, export, stability and translation, in order to regulate gene expression. RNA binding proteins and translation factors are involved. Trypanosomes have six eIF4Es of varying cap-binding affinities and five eIF4Gs, suggesting numerous possibilities for translation regulation. TbEIF4E1 does not interact with any of the eIF4Gs but instead interacts with 4E-interacting protein, 4EIP, which is the first focus of this thesis. Both TbEIF4E1 and Tb4EIP repress a reporter mRNA in a tethering assay, but suppression by TbEIF4E1 requires Tb4EIP. Bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei lacking Tb4EIP have only a mild growth defect. At high parasitemia, bloodstream forms stop dividing, suppress translation and become stumpy forms, which are adapted to differentiate to procyclic forms when taken up by a tsetse fly. Interestingly, lack of Tb4EIP compromises stumpy formation, and the defect can be rescued by a truncated Tb4EIP that is unable to bind TbEIF4E1. Tb4EIP knockout stumpy forms have abnormally high protein synthesis rates indicating that Tb4EIP is required for translation suppression during differentiation to the stumpy form. RNA binding protein PUF3 is among 11 T. brucei pumilio domain containing proteins. Little was known about PUF3 save for its repression of a reporter mRNA and that it co-purifies with poly(A) mRNA. It is therefore the second focus of this thesis. PUF3-depleted monomorphic and pleomorphic bloodstream cells have a marginal growth defect but PUF3 knockout cells strangely lack this defect. Interestingly, when put to differentiate to stumpy and procyclic forms, PUF3-depleted pleomorphic bloodstream cells experience a delayed differentiation manifested by a low expression of the stumpy form marker PAD1 and procyclic surface coat proteins EP/GPEET. Nevertheless these cells eventually differentiated to viable procyclic forms. Surprisingly, pleomorphic bloodstream cells without PUF3 later seemed to adapt and lack this differentiation defect. The defect however persists in monomorphic cells, suggesting an adaptation mechanism in pleomorphic cells that equilibrates the cellular metabolism to life without PUF3. Using TRIBE (Targets of RNA binding proteins Identified by Editing) 295 putative targets of PUF3 were identified in stumpy-like cells. 79 of these targets are enriched in bloodstream forms while only 12 are enriched in procyclic forms, consistent with a role of PUF3 as a repressor during differentiation to procyclic forms. These targets include mRNAs encoding cytoskeleton proteins, protein kinases, RNA binding proteins, leucine rich repeat proteins, expression-site associated genes, chaperones and translation factors. The results here suggest that Tb4EIP and PUF3 fine-tune gene expression in readiness for differentiation

Bootstrapping the aa-anomaly in 4d4d QFTs

We study gapped 4d quantum field theories (QFTs) obtained from a relevant deformation of a UV conformal field theory (CFT). For simplicity, we assume the existence of a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry and a single $\mathbb{Z}_2$-odd stable particle and no $\mathbb{Z}_2$-even particles at low energies. Using unitarity, crossing and the assumption of maximal analyticity we compute numerically a lower bound on the value of the $a$-anomaly of the UV CFT as a function of various non-perturbative parameters describing the two-to-two scattering amplitude of the particle.Comment: 41 pages + appendices, 20 figure

Brownfields redevelopment : voices from the community economic development movement

This was research was undertaken to understand the framing of brownfields redevelopment issues from the point of view of community economic development (CED) practitioners. The research specifically interviewed staff of community development corporations (CDCs), which form part of the larger CED movement. The investigation sought to reveal why CDC staff consider brownfields as being problematic and to what or to whom they attribute the problem (diagnostic framing), the solutions they offer to the problems (prognostic), and the justification they give for calling to action the redevelopment of brownfields (motivational framing). Essentially the research sought to understand the collective action frame that community development corporations (CDCs) do or do not articulate with respect to the redevelopment of brownfields, by analyzing views expressed by various CDC staff that participated in the interviews. Understanding CED practitioners' perceptions is fundamental to the practice of CED and to the process of influencing policies that will support the CED practice. CED is an important link of social and economic development and one of the ways the practices can begin to effect change in society is through making its values explicit. This research contributes towards this goal. The major findings of the research are that CDCs as organizations are motivated to redeveloping brownfields so as to achieve the following goals: affordable housing; neighborhood revitalization; to mitigate against safety, crime and drug issues; and to address health concerns. But there was little consistency in patterns to suggest that CED practitioners were actively engaged in recruiting adherents, constituents, bystander publics, or antagonists to get involved in the redevelopment of brownfields. (Author abstract)Omwenga, M. (2006). Brownfields redevelopment: voices from the community economic development movement. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.eduDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)School of Community Economic Developmen

Positional differences in the wound transcriptome of skin and oral mucosa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>When compared to skin, oral mucosal wounds heal rapidly and with reduced scar formation. Recent studies suggest that intrinsic differences in inflammation, growth factor production, levels of stem cells, and cellular proliferation capacity may underlie the exceptional healing that occurs in oral mucosa. The current study was designed to compare the transcriptomes of oral mucosal and skin wounds in order to identify critical differences in the healing response at these two sites using an unbiased approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using microarray analysis, we explored the differences in gene expression in skin and oral mucosal wound healing in a murine model of paired equivalent sized wounds. Samples were examined from days 0 to 10 and spanned all stages of the wound healing process. Using unwounded matched tissue as a control, filtering identified 1,479 probe sets in skin wounds yet only 502 probe sets in mucosal wounds that were significantly differentially expressed over time. Clusters of genes that showed similar patterns of expression were also identified in each wound type. Analysis of functionally related gene expression demonstrated dramatically different reactions to injury between skin and mucosal wounds. To explore whether site-specific differences might be derived from intrinsic differences in cellular responses at each site, we compared the response of isolated epithelial cells from skin and oral mucosa to a defined in vitro stimulus. When cytokine levels were measured, epithelial cells from skin produced significantly higher amounts of proinflammatory cytokines than cells from oral mucosa.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results provide the first detailed molecular profile of the site-specific differences in the genetic response to injury in mucosa and skin, and suggest the divergent reactions to injury may derive from intrinsic differences in the cellular responses at each site.</p

Factores de riesgo y comportamiento de la retinopatía de la prematuridad

Introduction: retinopathy of prematurity constitutes an important cause of morbidity worldwide, leading to blindness if it is not diagnosed and treated appropriately. Objective: to assess the behavior of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm newborn infants at "Abel Santamaria Cuadrado" University Hospital in Neonatology Service, Pinar del Rio province, from January 2007 to December 2011. Method: an observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study that included 402 patients younger than 35 weeks of pregnancy and/or under 1700 grams, or those over this gestational age and weight, but presenting risks factors to develop the disease. Gestational age, weight at birth, degree of retinopathy and associated risk factors were the variables used. The collection of data were taken from the individual clinical history, and processed by means of Microstad and Epi-info. Results: the frequency of retinopathy was 7.5%, degree I prevailed in zones 1,2 or 3, and was present in 6.7% and 6.8% of the patients who were born with less than 34 weeks and 7.8% with less than 1700 grams; 100% of the cases underwent supplementary oxygenation, 505 presented respiratory distress and 23.3% suffered from sepsis. Conclusions: the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity diminished in Pinar del Rio province, degree I was the most frequent, those who were born with less than 34 weeks and 1700 grams were the most affected, the associated risk factors were: oxygen treatment, respiratory distress and neonatal sepsis.Introducción: la retinopatía de la prematuridad constituye una causa importante de morbilidad a nivel mundial, evolucionando a la ceguera si no se diagnostica y trata adecuadamente. Objetivo: evaluar el comportamiento de la retinopatía de la prematuridad en recién nacidos pretérmino del servicio de Neonatología del Hospital General Docente “Abel Santamaría” de  Pinar del Río,  de  enero de  2007  a diciembre del 2011. Método: se realizó un estudio observacional, transversal y retrospectivo  en 402 pacientes  menores de 35 semanas y/o menores de 1700 gramos, así como aquellos que sobrepasaron esta edad gestacional y peso, pero que  presentaron  factores de riesgo para desarrollar la enfermedad. Se utilizaron como variables la edad gestacional, peso al nacer, grados de retinopatía y factores de riesgo asociados. La recopilación de  datos se obtuvo de la historia clínica individual y se procesaron utilizando el sistema Microstad y Epi-info. Resultados: la frecuencia de retinopatía fue de 7.5%,  el grado I en zona 1,2 ó 3 se presentó en  6.7%, el 6.8% de los pacientes nacieron con menos de 34 semanas, y el 7.8% con  peso menor a 1700 gramos; el 100% de los casos recibió oxígeno suplementario, el 50% presentó distress respiratorio y un 23.3% sepsis. Conclusiones: la incidencia de retinopatía del prematuro en la provincia ha disminuido, el grado I fue el más frecuente, se afectaron más los nacidos con menos de 34 semanas y menos de 1700 gramos, y los factores de riesgo asociados fueron el tratamiento con oxígeno, distress respiratorio y la sepsis neonatal

The effects of expressive writing before or after punch biopsy on wound healing

Objective: Recent studies have shown that written emotional disclosure (expressive writing) performed in the two weeks prior to wounding improves healing of punch biopsy wounds. In many clinical settings, it would be more practical for patients to perform this intervention after wounding. The aim of this study was to investigate whether expressive writing could speed the healing of punch biopsy wounds if writing was performed after wounds were made. Methods: One hundred and twenty-two healthy participants aged between 18 and 55 years were randomly allocated to one of four groups in a 2 (intervention) by 2 (timing) design. Participants performed either expressive writing or neutral writing, either before or after receiving a 4 mm punch biopsy wound. Wounds were photographed on day 10 (primary endpoint) and day 14 after the biopsy to measure epithelisation. Participants also completed questionnaires on stress and affect two weeks prior to the biopsy, on the day of biopsy and two weeks after biopsy. Results: There was a significant difference in healing at day 10 between groups, χ2(3, N = 97) = 8.84, p = 0.032. A significantly greater proportion of participants who performed expressive writing before the biopsy had fully reepithelialised wounds on day 10 compared to participants who performed neutral writing either before or after wounding, with no other significant differences between groups. Amongst people who wrote expressively after wounding, those who finished writing over the first 6 days were significantly more likely to be healed at 14 days than those who finished writing later. There were significant differences in positive and negative affect over the healing period between the pre and post expressive writing groups. Conclusions: Expressive writing can improve healing if it is performed prior to wounding. Performing expressive writing after wounding may be able to improve healing depending on the timing of writing and wound assessment. Expressive writing causes affect to worsen followed by subsequent improvement and it is important to consider this in the timing of intervention delivery. Further research with patient groups is required to determine the clinical relevance of these findings

Factores de riesgo y comportamiento de la retinopatía de la prematuridad

Introduction: retinopathy of prematurity constitutes an important cause of morbidity worldwide, leading to blindness if it is not diagnosed and treated appropriately. Objective: to assess the behavior of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm newborn infants at "Abel Santamaria Cuadrado" University Hospital in Neonatology Service, Pinar del Rio province, from January 2007 to December 2011. Method: an observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study that included 402 patients younger than 35 weeks of pregnancy and/or under 1700 grams, or those over this gestational age and weight, but presenting risks factors to develop the disease. Gestational age, weight at birth, degree of retinopathy and associated risk factors were the variables used. The collection of data were taken from the individual clinical history, and processed by means of Microstad and Epi-info. Results: the frequency of retinopathy was 7.5%, degree I prevailed in zones 1,2 or 3, and was present in 6.7% and 6.8% of the patients who were born with less than 34 weeks and 7.8% with less than 1700 grams; 100% of the cases underwent supplementary oxygenation, 505 presented respiratory distress and 23.3% suffered from sepsis. Conclusions: the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity diminished in Pinar del Rio province, degree I was the most frequent, those who were born with less than 34 weeks and 1700 grams were the most affected, the associated risk factors were: oxygen treatment, respiratory distress and neonatal sepsis.Introducción: la retinopatía de la prematuridad constituye una causa importante de morbilidad a nivel mundial, evolucionando a la ceguera si no se diagnostica y trata adecuadamente. Objetivo: evaluar el comportamiento de la retinopatía de la prematuridad en recién nacidos pretérmino del servicio de Neonatología del Hospital General Docente “Abel Santamaría” de  Pinar del Río,  de  enero de  2007  a diciembre del 2011. Método: se realizó un estudio observacional, transversal y retrospectivo  en 402 pacientes  menores de 35 semanas y/o menores de 1700 gramos, así como aquellos que sobrepasaron esta edad gestacional y peso, pero que  presentaron  factores de riesgo para desarrollar la enfermedad. Se utilizaron como variables la edad gestacional, peso al nacer, grados de retinopatía y factores de riesgo asociados. La recopilación de  datos se obtuvo de la historia clínica individual y se procesaron utilizando el sistema Microstad y Epi-info. Resultados: la frecuencia de retinopatía fue de 7.5%,  el grado I en zona 1,2 ó 3 se presentó en  6.7%, el 6.8% de los pacientes nacieron con menos de 34 semanas, y el 7.8% con  peso menor a 1700 gramos; el 100% de los casos recibió oxígeno suplementario, el 50% presentó distress respiratorio y un 23.3% sepsis. Conclusiones: la incidencia de retinopatía del prematuro en la provincia ha disminuido, el grado I fue el más frecuente, se afectaron más los nacidos con menos de 34 semanas y menos de 1700 gramos, y los factores de riesgo asociados fueron el tratamiento con oxígeno, distress respiratorio y la sepsis neonatal