Towards W b bbar + j at NLO with an automatized approach to one-loop computations

We present results for the O(alpha_s) virtual corrections to q g -> W b bbar q' obtained with a new automatized approach to the evaluation of one-loop amplitudes in terms of Feynman diagrams. Together with the O(alpha_s) corrections to q q' -> W b bbar g, which can be obtained from our results by crossing symmetry, this represents the bulk of the next-to-leading order virtual QCD corrections to W b bbar + j and W b + j hadronic production, calculated in a fixed-flavor scheme with four light flavors. Furthermore, these corrections represent a well defined and independent subset of the 1-loop amplitudes needed for the NNLO calculation of W b bbar. Our approach was tested against several existing results for NLO amplitudes including selected O(alpha_s) one-loop corrections to W + 3 j hadronic production. We discuss the efficiency of our method both with respect to evaluation time and numerical stability.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

XMM-Newton light curves of the low-mass X-ray binary EXO 0748--676: dips, eclipses, and bursts

We present an analysis of XMM-Newton light curves of the dipping, bursting, and eclipsing low-mass X-ray binary EXO 0748-676, focusing on the variability on time scales of seconds to hours. The observed variability can be roughly divided in three types: dips, eclipses and bursts. We find that the appearance of the latter two, depends strongly on the strength of the first. We show that the absorption dips change from spectrally hard to spectrally soft as they become deeper, which supports suggestions that the source is composed of a spectrally hard compact source and a spectrally soft extended source. The fast variability in the soft light curve indicates that the large structures causing the dips are made up of smaller absorption cores. We present the first clear detection with XMM-Newton of eclipses below 2 keV in this source, and show that dipping activity is apparently unrelated to the source luminosity. We also test several proposed models for the spectral evolution during dips and confirm the presence of a scatter/reflection component in the eclipse spectrum.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A, 14 page

A phase I pharmacokinetics trial comparing PF-05280586 (a potential biosimilar) and rituximab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

Aims: Pharmacokinetic (PK) similarity was assessed among PF‐05280586 (a proposed biosimilar) vs. rituximab sourced from the European Union (rituximab‐EU) and the United States (rituximab‐US). Pharmacodynamics (PD), overall safety and immunogenicity were also evaluated. Methods: Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis on a background of methotrexate and inadequate response to one or more tumour necrosis factor antagonist therapies were randomized to intravenous PF‐05280586, rituximab‐EU or rituximab‐US 1000 mg doses on study days 1 and 15. Results: A total of 220 patients were randomized to receive study treatment as assigned. Of these, 198 met per‐protocol population criteria for inclusion in the PK data analysis. PF‐05280586, rituximab‐EU and rituximab‐US exhibited similar PK profiles following administration of assigned study drug on days 1 and 15. The 90% confidence intervals of test‐to‐reference ratios for Cmax, AUCT, AUC0–∞ and AUC2‐week were within the bioequivalence margin of 80.00–125.00% for comparisons of PF‐05280586 with rituximab‐EU, PF‐05280586 with rituximab‐US, and rituximab‐EU with rituximab‐US. All treatments resulted in a rapid and profound reduction in CD19+ B cells and sustained profound B cell suppression up to week 25. The incidence of antidrug antibody (ADA) response (n = 7, 10 and 9 for PF‐05280586, rituximab‐EU and rituximab‐US, respectively), time to ADA emergence and ADA titres were similar across treatments. None of the ADA‐positive samples was positive for neutralizing activity. No clinically meaningful differences in adverse events were identified. Conclusions: The study demonstrated PK similarity among PF‐05280586, rituximab‐EU and rituximab‐US. In addition, all treatments showed comparable CD19+ B cell depletion PD responses, as well as safety and immunogenicity profiles

Kallikrein-related peptidase 5 contributes to H3N2 influenza virus infection in human lungs

Hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus must be activated by proteolysis before the virus can become infectious. Previous studies indicated that HA cleavage is driven by membrane-bound or extracellular serine proteases in the respiratory tract. However, there is still uncertainty as to which proteases are critical for activating HAs of seasonal influenza A viruses (IAVs) in humans. This study focuses on human KLK1 and KLK5, 2 of the 15 serine proteases known as the kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs). We find that their mRNA expression in primary human bronchial cells is stimulated by IAV infection. Both enzymes cleaved recombinant HA from several strains of the H1 and/or H3 virus subtype in vitro, but only KLK5 promoted the infectivity of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) and A/Scotland/20/74 (H3N2) virions in MDCK cells. We assessed the ability of treated viruses to initiate influenza in mice. The nasal instillation of only the KLK5-treated virus resulted in weight loss and lethal outcomes. The secretion of this protease in the human lower respiratory tract is enhanced during influenza. Moreover, we show that pretreatment of airway secretions with a KLK5-selective inhibitor significantly reduced the activation of influenza A/Scotland/20/74 virions, providing further evidence of its importance. Differently, increased KLK1 secretion appeared to be associated with the recruitment of inflammatory cells in human airways regardless of the origin of inflammation. Thus, our findings point to the involvement of KLK5 in the proteolytic activation and spread of seasonal influenza viruses in humans

Stable isotopes of nitrate, sulfate, and carbonate in soils from the Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica: A record of atmospheric deposition and chemical weathering

Soils in ice-free areas in Antarctica are recognized for their high salt concentrations and persistent arid conditions. While previous studies have investigated the distribution of salts and potential sources in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, logistical constraints have limited our investigation and understanding of salt dynamics within the Transantarctic Mountains. We focused on the Shackleton Glacier (85° S, 176° W), a major outlet glacier of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet located in the Central Transantarctic Mountains (CTAM), and collected surface soil samples from 10 ice-free areas. Concentrations of water-soluble nitrate (NO₃⁻) and sulfate (SO₄²⁻) ranged from <0.2 to ∼150 μmol g⁻¹ and <0.02 to ∼450 μmol g⁻¹, respectively. In general, salt concentrations increased with distance inland and with elevation. However, concentrations also increased with distance from current glacial ice position. To understand the source and formation of these salts, we measured the stable isotopes of dissolved water-soluble NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻, and soil carbonate (HCO₃ + CO₃). δ¹⁵N-NO₃ values ranged from −47.8 to 20.4‰ and, while all Δ¹⁷O-NO₃ values are positive, they ranged from 15.7 to 45.9‰. δ³⁴S-SO₄ and δ¹⁸O-SO₄ values ranged from 12.5 and 17.9‰ and −14.5 to −7.1‰, respectively. Total inorganic carbon isotopes in bulk soil samples ranged from 0.2 to 8.5‰ for δ¹³C and −38.8 to −9.6‰ for δ¹⁸O. A simple mixing model indicates that NO3⁻ is primarily derived from the troposphere (0–70%) and stratosphere (30–100%). SO₄²⁻ is primarily derived from secondary atmospheric sulfate (SAS) by the oxidation of reduced sulfur gases and compounds in the atmosphere by H₂O₂, carbonyl sulfide (COS), and ozone. Calcite and perhaps nahcolite (NaHCO₃) are formed through both slow and rapid freezing and/or the evaporation/sublimation of HCO₃ + CO₃-rich fluids. Our results indicate that the origins of salts from ice-free areas within the CTAM represent a complex interplay of atmospheric deposition, chemical weathering, and post-depositional processes related to glacial history and persistent arid conditions. These findings have important implications for the use of these salts in deciphering past climate and atmospheric conditions, biological habitat suitability, glacial history, and can possibly aid in our future collective understanding of salt dynamics on Mars

US Cosmic Visions: New Ideas in Dark Matter 2017: Community Report

This white paper summarizes the workshop "U.S. Cosmic Visions: New Ideas in Dark Matter" held at University of Maryland on March 23-25, 2017.Comment: 102 pages + reference

Contact dermatitis and other skin conditions in instrumental musicians

BACKGROUND: The skin is important in the positioning and playing of a musical instrument. During practicing and performing there is a permanent more or less intense contact between the instrument and the musician's skin. Apart from aggravation of predisposed skin diseases (e.g., atopic eczema or psoriasis) due to music-making, specific dermatologic conditions may develop that are directly caused by playing a musical instrument. METHODS: To perform a systematic review on instrument-related skin diseases in musicians we searched the PubMed database without time limits. Furthermore we studied the online bibliography "Occupational diseases of performing artist. A performing arts medicine bibliography. October, 2003" and checked references of all selected articles for relevant papers. RESULTS: The most prevalent skin disorders of instrumental musicians, in particular string instrumentalists (e.g., violinists, cellists, guitarists), woodwind players (e.g., flautists, clarinetists), and brass instrumentalists (e.g., trumpeters), include a variety of allergic contact sensitizations (e.g., colophony, nickel, and exotic woods) and irritant (physical-chemical noxae) skin conditions whose clinical presentation and localization are usually specific for the instrument used (e.g., "fiddler's neck", "cellist's chest", "guitar nipple", "flautist's chin"). Apart from common callosities and "occupational marks" (e.g., "Garrod's pads") more or less severe skin injuries may occur in musical instrumentalists, in particular acute and chronic wounds including their complications. Skin infections such as herpes labialis seem to be a more common skin problem in woodwind and brass instrumentalists. CONCLUSIONS: Skin conditions may be a significant problem not only in professional instrumentalists, but also in musicians of all ages and ability. Although not life threatening they may lead to impaired performance and occupational hazard. Unfortunately, epidemiological investigations have exclusively been performed on orchestra musicians, though the prevalence of instrument-related skin conditions in other musician groups (e.g., jazz and rock musicians) is also of interest. The practicing clinician should be aware of the special dermatologic problems unique to the musical instrumentalist. Moreover awareness among musicians needs to be raised, as proper technique and conditioning may help to prevent affection of performance and occupational impairment

Effects of Alcohol on the Acquisition and Expression of Fear Potentiated Startle in Mouse Lines Selectively Bred for High and Low Alcohol Preference

Rationale: Anxiety disorders and alcohol-use disorders frequently co-occur in humans perhaps because alcohol relieves anxiety. Studies in humans and rats indicate that alcohol may have greater anxiolytic effects in organisms with increased genetic propensity for high alcohol consumption. Objectives and Methods: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of moderate doses of alcohol (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 g/kg) on the acquisition and expression of anxiety-related behavior using a fear-potentiated startle (FPS) procedure. Experiments were conducted in two replicate pairs of mouse lines selectively bred for high- (HAP1 and HAP2) and low- (LAP1 and LAP2) alcohol preference; these lines have previously shown a genetic correlation between alcohol preference and FPS (HAP\u3eLAP; Barrenha and Chester 2007). In a control experiment, the effect of diazepam (4.0 mg/kg) on the expression of FPS was tested in HAP2 and LAP2 mice. Results: The 1.5 g/kg alcohol dose moderately decreased the expression of FPS in both HAP lines but not LAP lines. Alcohol had no effect on the acquisition of FPS in any line. Diazepam reduced FPS to a similar extent in both HAP2 and LAP2 mice. Conclusions: HAP mice may be more sensitive to the anxiolytic effects of alcohol than LAP mice when alcohol is given prior to the expression of FPS. These data collected in two pairs of HAP/LAP mouse lines suggest that the anxiolytic response to alcohol in HAP mice may be genetically correlated with their propensity toward high alcohol preference and robust FPS

Study of the spin and parity of the Higgs boson in diboson decays with the ATLAS detector

Studies of the spin, parity and tensor couplings of the Higgs boson in the H→ZZ∗→4ℓ, H→WW∗→eνμν and H→γγ decay processes at the LHC are presented. The investigations are based on 25fb−1 of pp collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at √s=7 TeV and √s=8 TeV. The Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson hypothesis, corresponding to the quantum numbers JP=0+, is tested against several alternative spin scenarios, including non-SM spin-0 and spin-2 models with universal and non-universal couplings to fermions and vector bosons. All tested alternative models are excluded in favour of the SM Higgs boson hypothesis at more than 99.9 % confidence level. Using the H → ZZ∗ → 4ℓ and H → WW∗ → eνμν decays, the tensor structure of the interaction between the spin-0 boson and the SM vector bosons is also investigated. The observed distributions of variables sensitive to the non-SM tensor couplings are compatible with the SM predictions and constraints on the non-SM couplings are derived