837 research outputs found
Search for Fourth Generation Quarks at CMS
We summarise the analyses that search for fourth generation quarks at the
Central Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment. Such particles provide a natural
extension to the Standard Model (SM) and are still consistent with precision
electroweak measurements. Our searches are not limited to fourth generation
chiral quarks and are relevant to many Beyond the Standard Model theories. No
excess over the expected SM background is observed in any of these analyses and
limits are set on the masses of the and quarks at 95%
confidence level at 361 GeV/ and 450 GeV/, respectively.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, Proceedings of the DPF-2011 Conference,
Providence, RI, August 8-13, 201
Viscoelastic optical nonlocality of low-loss epsilon-near-zero nanofilms
Optical nonlocalities are elusive and hardly observable in traditional
plasmonic materials like noble and alkali metals. Here we report experimental
observation of viscoelastic nonlocalities in the infrared optical response of
doped cadmium-oxide, epsilon-near-zero nanofilms. The nonlocality is detectable
thanks to the low damping rate of conduction electrons and the virtual absence
of interband transitions at infrared wavelengths. We describe the motion of
conduction electrons using a hydrodynamic model for a viscoelastic fluid, and
find excellent agreement with experimental results. The electrons elasticity
blue-shifts the infrared plasmonic resonance associated with the main
epsilon-near-zero mode, and triggers the onset of higher-order resonances due
to the excitation of electron-pressure modes above the bulk plasma frequency.
We also provide evidence of the existence of nonlocal damping, i.e., viscosity,
in the motion of optically-excited conduction electrons using a combination of
spectroscopic ellipsometry data and predictions based on the viscoelastic
hydrodynamic model.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure
A Fibroid or Cancer? A Rare Case of Mixed Choriocarcinoma and Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumour
Background. Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a rare complication of pregnancy which is characterised by abnormal growth of the trophoblasts at the placental site. It is categorised into benign and malignant forms, which include hydatidiform moles (HMs) and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), respectively. A mixed choriocarcinoma (CC) and epithelioid trophoblastic tumour (ETT) is an extremely rare subgroup of GTN, which is a highly curable but aggressive form of malignancy. Case. We report a case of mixed CC and ETT in a 41-year-old patient who presented with a 2-year history of menorrhagia and fibroid uterus in the absence of previous history of molar pregnancy. She had a 12-year interval between the antecedent pregnancy and presentation. She was treated with intensive regimen of adjuvant chemotherapy, etoposide, methotrexate, and actinomycin-D with etoposide and cisplatin (EMA-EP). She has remained disease free for more than 5 years. Conclusion. This case highlights the importance of considering GTN as one of the differential diagnoses value of β-HCG in patients presented with menorrhagia and growing fibroids
Clashing Tradition of Textile Pattern Design Based on Tartan Proportions
Tartan, the woven checked wool textile considered to be originally from Scotland is common to many cultures and historical periods. The checked feature is due to the assembly of different coloured threads in 90 degree warp and weft directions (known as the ‘sett’). Originally (at least in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries) the colour of the sett was originally associated with different families, clans or geographic regions. Although tartan-type textiles have attained popularity the world over, it is also a predicted fashion wish for the forthcoming Autumn/Winter 2019/20 season (at least as suggested by exhibitors at Première Vision). Forthcoming fashionable designs may include ‘deconstructed tartan’, ‘textured checks’, ‘patched checks’ and ‘geometric printed checks’ etc. This paper aims to explore the proportions between tartan sett, the underlying grid structure and how these grids can be distorted for novel textile pattern design uses. A refreshing insight into textile pattern design methodology is thus provided. Key words: tartan, textile, grids, pattern design
Rhotic contrasts in Arabana
Arabana has a three-way rhotic phoneme contrast: /r/ (alveolar trill) vs /ɾ/ (alveolar tap) vs /ɻ/ (retroflex continuant). The rhotic contrasts are prosodically restricted in Arabana. The triple contrast only appears following the tonic vowel, which is the first vowel. In other onset positions /ɻ/ is contrastive, but there is no /r/ vs /ɾ/ contrast. There is no contrast in coda positions. We undertook the first-ever production study of Arabana rhotics. Recorded audio materials were independently coded in PRAAT by two trained transcribers. We found the following allophony: /r/ [r, ɾ, ɹ]; /ɾ/ [ɾ, ɹ], /ɻ/ [ɻ]. The /r/ vs /ɾ/ contrast is thus negatively determined, /r/ permits [r] realizations, but /ɾ/ does not. The commonest realization of both /r/ and /ɾ/ is [ɹ]. The phoneme in neutralized coda position is /r/. The high degree of overlap in realizations between /r/ and /ɾ/ accords with reported perception difficulties
A genome-wide function of THSC/TREX-2 at active genes prevents transcription–replication collisions
The THSC/TREX-2 complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
mediates the anchoring of transcribed genes
to the nuclear pore, linking transcription elongation
with mRNA export and genome stability, as shown
for specific reporters. However, it is still unknown
whether the function of TREX-2 is global and the reason
for its relevant role in genome integrity. Here, by
studying two TREX-2 representative subunits, Thp1
and Sac3, we show that TREX-2 has a genome-wide
role in gene expression. Both proteins show similar
distributions along the genome, with a gradient disposition
at active genes that increases towards the
3 end. Thp1 and Sac3 have a relevant impact on the
expression of long, G+C-rich and highly transcribed
genes. Interestingly, replication impairment detected
by the genome-wide accumulation of the replicative
Rrm3 helicase is increased preferentially at highly
expressed genes in the thp1Δ and sac3Δ mutants
analyzed. Therefore, our work provides evidence of a
function of TREX-2 at the genome-wide level and suggests
a role for TREX-2 in preventing transcription–
replication conflicts, as a source of genome instability
derived from a defective messenger ribonucleoprotein
particle (mRNP) biogenesis.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
[BFU2010-16372]; Junta de AndalucÃa [CVI4567 and
P12/BIO-1238]; European Union (FEDER); and a JAE
predoctoral training grant from the Spanish Research
Council (CSIC) [to J.M.S-P.]. Funding for open access
charge: Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
[BFU2010-16372].Peer reviewe
Endometriosis research priorities in Australia
In Australia, endometriosis affects one in nine women and those assigned female at birth. Although endometriosis is more common than conditions such as diabetes, research funding for endometriosis research has historically been low in comparison. The National Action Plan for Endometriosis is an Australian Government initiative designed to redress this imbalance, with a focus on research funding. Identification of research priorities, and subsequent funding allocation that is determined by consumer input is vital. An online survey focusing on Australia and New Zealand found that the highest general priorities were the treatment and management of endometriosis and its cause(s)
BRCA1-IRIS Overexpression Promotes Formation of Aggressive Breast Cancers
Introduction: Women with HER2 + or triple negative/basal-like (TN/BL) breast cancers succumb to their cancer rapidly due, in part to acquired Herceptin resistance and lack of TN/BL-targeted therapies. BRCA1-IRIS is a recently discovered, 1399 residue, BRCA1 locus alternative product, which while sharing 1365 residues with the full-length product of this tumor suppressor gene, BRCA1/p220, it has oncoprotein-like properties. Here, we examine whether BRCA1-IRIS is a valuable treatment target for HER2 + and/or TN/BL tumors
MicroShunt versus trabeculectomy for surgical management of glaucoma: a retrospective analysis
This case-control study aims to compare the efficacy, safety, and postoperative burden of MicroShunt versus trabeculectomy. The first consecutive cohort of MicroShunt procedures (n = 101) was matched to recent historical trabeculectomy procedures (n = 101) at two London hospital trusts. Primary endpoints included changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medications. Secondary outcome measures included changes in retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, rates of complications, further theatre interventions, and the number of postoperative visits. From the baseline to Month-18, the median [interquartile range] IOP decreased from 22 [17–29] mmHg (on 4 [3–4] medications) to 15 [10–17] mmHg (on 0 [0–2] medications) and from 20 [16–28] mmHg (on 4 [3–4] medications) to 11 [10–13] mmHg (on 0 [0–0] medications) in the MicroShunt and trabeculectomy groups, respectively. IOP from Month-3 was significantly higher in the MicroShunt group (p = 0.006), with an increased number of medications from Month-12 (p = 0.024). There were greater RNFL thicknesses from Month-6 in the MicroShunt group (p = 0.005). The rates of complications were similar (p = 0.060) but with fewer interventions (p = 0.031) and postoperative visits (p = 0.001) in the MicroShunt group. Therefore, MicroShunt has inferior efficacy to trabeculectomy in lowering IOP and medications but provides a better safety profile and postoperative burden and may delay RNFL loss
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