Specificity and sensitivity evaluation of novel and existing Bacteroidales and Bifidobacteria-specific PCR assays on feces and sewage samples and their application for microbial source tracking in Ireland

Three novel ruminant-specific PCR assays, an existing ruminant-specific PCR assay and five existing human-specific PCR assays, which target 16S rDNA from Bacteroidales or Bifidobacteria, were evaluated. The assays were tested on DNA extracted from ruminant (n = 74), human (n = 59) and non-ruminant animal (n = 44) sewage/fecal samples collected in Ireland. The three novel PCR assays compared favourably to the existing ruminant-specific assay, exhibiting sensitivities of 91 - 100% and specificities of 95 - 100% as compared to a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 94%, for the existing ruminant-specific assay. Of the five human-specific PCR assays, the assay targeting the Bifidobacterium catenulatum group was the most promising, exhibiting a sensitivity of 100% (with human sewage samples) and a specificity of 87%. When tested on rural water samples that were naturally contaminated by ruminant feces, the three novel PCR assays tested positive with a much greater percentage (52 - 87%) of samples than the existing ruminant-specific assay (17%). These novel ruminant-specific assays show promise for microbial source tracking and merit further field testing and specificity evaluation.ERTD

External cost as an indicator for sustainable electricity generation system

This research applies the Impact Pathway Approach [1] for identifying the external cost for the fossil-fuel electricity production in Ukraine. Using the SimPact Computer Code and Willingness to Pay survey, it calculates the external costs of the morbidity and mortality of population due to the air pollutants emitted from an electricity generation plant using as an example Triypilska Electric Power Generation Plant in Ukrainka town. Based on the research results there were made recommendations to include the external costs into the price of electricity in Ukraine generated from the fossil fuel combustion.Застосовано підхід шляху впливу (Impact Pathway Approach) для визначення зовнішніх витрат виробництва електроенергії з викопних джерел в Україні. За допомогою комп’ютерної програми SimPact та методики опитування щодо бажання платити обраховано вартість зовнішніх витрат від впливу викидів теплоелектростанції на захворюваність та смертність населення на прикладі Трипільської ТЕС у м. Українка. На основі отриманих результатів було зроблено рекомендації щодо включення вартості зовнішніх ефектів до ціни електроенергії в Україні, отриманої за допомогою спалювання викопних енергоносіїв.Использован подход пути влияния (Impact Pathway Approach) для определения внешних издержек производства электроэнергии из ископаемых энергоресурсов в Украине. При помощи компьютерной модели SimPact и методики опроса желания платить были исчислены внешние издержки от влияния выбросов теплоэлектростанции на заболеваемость и смертность населения на примере Трипильской ТЭС в г. Украинка. На основе полученных результатов были сделаны рекомендации о внесении стоимости внешних издержек в цену электроэнергии в Украине, полученную в результате сжигания ископаемых энергоносителей

Внешние издержки от загрязнения при производстве электроэнергии как индикатор устойчивых электрогенерирующих систем

Застосовано підхід шляху впливу (Impact Pathway Approach) для визначення зовнішніх витрат виробництва електроенергії з викопних джерел в Україні. За допомогою комп’ютерної програми SimPact та методики опитування щодо бажання платити обраховано вартість зовнішніх витрат від впливу викидів теплоелектростанції на захворюваність та смертність населення на прикладі Трипільської ТЕС у м. Українка. На основі отриманих результатів було зроблено рекомендації щодо включення вартості зовнішніх ефектів до ціни електроенергії в Україні, отриманої за допомогою спалювання викопних енергоносіїв.This research applies the Impact Pathway Approach [1] for identifying the external cost for the fossil-fuel electricity production in Ukraine. Using the SimPact Computer Code and Willingness to Pay survey, it calculates the external costs of the morbidity and mortality of population due to the air pollutants emitted from an electricity generation plant using as an example Triypilska Electric Power Generation Plant in Ukrainka town. Based on the research results there were made recommendations to include the external costs into the price of electricity in Ukraine generated from the fossil fuel combustion.Использован подход пути влияния (Impact Pathway Approach) для определения внешних издержек производства электроэнергии из ископаемых энергоресурсов в Украине. При помощи компьютерной модели SimPact и методики опроса желания платить были исчислены внешние издержки от влияния выбросов теплоэлектростанции на заболеваемость и смертность населения на примере Трипильской ТЭС в г. Украинка. На основе полученных результатов были сделаны рекомендации о внесении стоимости внешних издержек в цену электроэнергии в Украине, полученную в результате сжигания ископаемых энергоносителей

Singularities in positive characteristic, stratification and simplification of the singular locus

We introduce an upper semi-continuous function that stratifies the highest multiplicity locus of a hypersurface in arbitrary characteristic (over a perfect field). The blow-up along the maximum stratum defined by this function leads to a form of simplification of the singularities, also known as a reduction to the monomial case.Comment: Several typos corrected. Minor improvements on the presentation of the published pape

Two charged strangeonium-like structures observable in the Y(2175)→ϕ(1020)π+π−Y(2175) \to \phi(1020)\pi^{+} \pi^{-} process

Via the Initial Single Pion Emission (ISPE) mechanism, we study the $\phi(1020)\pi^{+}$ invariant mass spectrum distribution of $Y(2175) \to \phi(1020)\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$. Our calculation indicates there exist a sharp peak structure ($Z_{s1}^+$) close to the $K\bar{K}^\ast$ threshold and a broad structure ($Z_{s2}^+$) near the $K^\ast\bar{K}^\ast$ threshold. In addition, we also investigate the $\phi(1680) \to \phi(1020)\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ process due to the ISPE mechanism, where a sharp peak around the $K\bar{K}^\ast$ threshold appears in the $\phi(1020)\pi^{+}$ invariant mass spectrum distribution. We suggest to carry out the search for these charged strangeonium-like structures in future experiment, especially Belle II, Super-B and BESIII.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures. Accepted by Eur. Phys. J.

One-Loop Divergences in Simple Supergravity: Boundary Effects

This paper studies the semiclassical approximation of simple supergravity in Riemannian four-manifolds with boundary, within the framework of $\zeta$-function regularization. The massless nature of gravitinos, jointly with the presence of a boundary and a local description in terms of potentials for spin ${3\over 2}$, force the background to be totally flat. First, nonlocal boundary conditions of the spectral type are imposed on spin-${3\over 2}$ potentials, jointly with boundary conditions on metric perturbations which are completely invariant under infinitesimal diffeomorphisms. The axial gauge-averaging functional is used, which is then sufficient to ensure self-adjointness. One thus finds that the contributions of ghost and gauge modes vanish separately. Hence the contributions to the one-loop wave function of the universe reduce to those $\zeta(0)$ values resulting from physical modes only. Another set of mixed boundary conditions, motivated instead by local supersymmetry and first proposed by Luckock, Moss and Poletti, is also analyzed. In this case the contributions of gauge and ghost modes do not cancel each other. Both sets of boundary conditions lead to a nonvanishing $\zeta(0)$ value, and spectral boundary conditions are also studied when two concentric three-sphere boundaries occur. These results seem to point out that simple supergravity is not even one-loop finite in the presence of boundaries.Comment: 37 pages, Revtex. Equations (5.2), (5.3), (5.5), (5.7), (5.8) and (5.13) have been amended, jointly with a few misprint

The newly observed open-charm states in quark model

Comparing the measured properties of the newly observed open-charm states D(2550), D(2600), D(2750), D(2760), D_{s1}(2710), D_{sJ}(2860), and D_{sJ}(3040) with our predicted spectroscopy and strong decays in a constituent quark model, we find that: (1) the D(2\,^1S_0) assignment to D(2550) remains open for its too broad width determined by experiment; (2) the D(2600) and $D_{s1}(2710)$ can be identified as the 2\,^3S_1-1\,^3D_1 mixtures; (3) if the D(2760) and D(2750) are indeed the same resonance, they would be the D(1\,^3D_3); otherwise, they could be assigned as the D(1\,^3D_3) and $D^\prime_2(1D)$, respectively; (4) the $D_{sJ}(2860)$ could be either the $D_{s1}(2710)$'s partner or the D_s(1\,^3D_3); and (5) both the $D_{s1}(2P)$ and $D^\prime_{s1}(2P)$ interpretations for the $D_{sJ}(3040)$ seem likely. The $E1$ and $M1$ radiative decays of these sates are also studied. Further experimental efforts are needed to test the present quarkonium assignments for these new open-charm states.Comment: 26 pages,7 figures, journal versio

Primary aldosteronism and impaired natriuresis in mice underexpressing TGF 1

To uncover the potential cardiovascular effects of human polymorphisms influencing transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) expression, we generated mice with Tgfb1 mRNA expression graded in five steps from 10% to 300% normal. Adrenal expression of the genes for mineralocorticoid-producing enzymes ranged from 50% normal in the hypermorphs at age 12 wk to 400% normal in the hypomorphs accompanied with proportionate changes in plasma aldosterone levels, whereas plasma volumes ranged from 50% to 150% normal accompanied by marked compensatory changes in plasma angiotensin II and renin levels. The aldosterone/renin ratio ranged from 0.3 times normal in the 300% hypermorphs to six times in the 10% hypomorphs, which have elevated blood pressure. Urinary output of water and electrolytes are markedly decreased in the 10% hypomorphs without significant change in the glomerular filtration rate. Renal activities for the Na+, K+-ATPase, and epithelial sodium channel are markedly increased in the 10% hypomorphs. The hypertension in the 10% hypomorphs is corrected by spironolactone or amiloride at doses that do not change blood pressure in wild-type mice. Thus, changes in Tgfb1 expression cause marked progressive changes in multiple systems that regulate blood pressure and fluid homeostasis, with the major effects being mediated by changes in adrenocortical function

Ross operation in children and young adults: the Alder Hey case series

BACKGROUND: The ideal prosthesis for aortic valve replacement in children and young adults has not been found yet. In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the replacement of aortic valve with the pulmonary autograft owing to its advantages of lack of anticoagulation, potential for growth and excellent haemodynamic performance. The purpose of this study was to review our institutional experience at Alder Hey hospital with the Ross procedure in children and young adults. METHODS: From November 1996 to September 2003, 38 patients (mean age, 13.1 ± 5.7 years) underwent the Ross procedure for various aortic valve diseases using the root replacement technique. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up was performed early (within 30 days), 3 to 6 months, and yearly after surgery. Medical records of all patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: There was 1 perioperative death. The patients were followed-up for a median interval of 36 months and up to 7 years. One patient died 3 years after surgery secondary to ventricular arrhythmia with overall mortality of 5.3%. Actuarial survival at 7 years was 94 ± 2.5% and there was 100% freedom from reoperation for autograft valve dysfunction or any other cause. Balloon dilatation was required in 2 patients for pulmonary homograft stenosis. The haemodynamics at the latest follow-up were also similar to those at the time of discharge after surgery. There was no progression in the degree of aortic regurgitation for 11 patients with trivial and 3 with mild regurgitation. CONCLUSION: Our experience demonstrates that Ross operation is an attractive option for aortic valve replacement in children and young adults. Not only can the operation be accomplished with a low operative risk but the valve function stays normal over a long period of time with minimal alteration in lifestyle and no need for repeated operations to replace the valve as a result of somatic growth of the children

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization NMR Spectroscopy Allows High-Throughput Characterization of Microporous Organic Polymers

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) solid-state NMR was used to obtain natural abundance 13C and 15N CP MAS NMR spectra of microporous organic polymers with excellent signal-to-noise ratio, allowing for unprecedented details in the molecular structure to be determined for these complex polymer networks. Sensitivity enhancements larger than 10 were obtained with bis-nitroxide radical at 14.1 T and low temperature (∼105 K). This DNP MAS NMR approach allows efficient, high-throughput characterization of libraries of porous polymers prepared by combinatorial chemistry methods