Examination of Methylation Sites for Forensic Age Determination from Semen

Methylation Sensitive High-Resolution Melt (MS-HRM) is based on quantitating the melt curve from an experimental sample against a standard of known methylation levels. Whereas most applications of age prediction using methylation markers are based upon pyrosequencing or SNaPshot technologies, these analysis methods are both cost and instrumentation prohibitive. This study sought to use to the varied methylation status of the ELOVL2 and FHL2 alleles, both having known correlation with age (Hamano et. al.), in a labor and time efficient manner to develop an age prediction model. A non-linear regression and standard curve was compiled from the methylation status in a sample (n=7) of extracted semen samples and compared to chronological age. The methylation status of ELVOL2 and FHL2 from each sample was obtained, with the conclusion that no correlation in methylation percentage and biological age existed for this sample of individuals aged 20-33. The principal objective of this study, to expand the application of MS-HRM age prediction from blood to other body fluids, will need further testing using larger sample sizes and broader age ranges prior to application in forensic casework.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1281/thumbnail.jp

More on heavy tetraquarks in lattice QCD at almost physical pion mass

We report on our progress in studying exotic, heavy tetraquark states, $qq\prime \bar Q\bar Q\prime$. Using publicly available dynamical $n_f =2+1$ Wilson-Clover gauge configurations, generated by the PACS-CS collaboration, with pion masses $\simeq$164, 299 and 415 MeV, we extend our previous analysis to heavy quark components containing heavier than physical bottom quarks $\bar Q\bar Q\prime=\bar b\prime\bar b\prime$ or $\bar Q\bar Q\prime=\bar b\bar b\prime$, charm and bottom quarks $\bar c\bar b$ and also only charm quarks $\bar c\bar c$. Throughout we employ NRQCD and relativistic heavy quarks for the heavier than bottom, bottom and charm quarks. Using our previously established diquark-antidiquark and meson-meson operator basis we comment in particular on the dependence of the binding energy on the mass of the heavy quark component $\bar Q\bar Q$, with heavy quarks ranging from $m_Q=0.85\ldots 6.3\cdot m_b$. In the heavy flavor non-degenerate case, $\bar Q\bar Q\prime$, and especially for the tetraquark channel $ud\bar c\bar b$, we extend our work to utilize a $3\times 3$ GEVP to study the ground and threshold states thereby enabling a clear identification of possible binding. Finally, we present initial work on the $\bar Q\bar Q\prime=\bar c\bar c$ system where a much larger operator basis is available in comparison to flavor combinations with NRQCD quarks.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, proceedings contribution to "Lattice 2017. 35th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory", 18th-24th June 2017, Granada, Spai

Evidence for charm-bottom tetraquarks and the mass dependence of heavy-light tetraquark states from lattice QCD

We continue our study of heavy-light four-quark states and find evidence from lattice QCD for the existence of a strong-interaction-stable $I(J^P)=0(1^+)$ $ud\bar{c}\bar{b}$ tetraquark with mass in the range of 15 to 61 MeV below $\bar{D}B^*$ threshold. Since this range includes the electromagnetic $\bar{D}B\gamma$ decay threshold, current uncertainties do not allow us to determine whether such a state would decay electromagnetically, or only weakly. We also perform a study at fixed pion mass, with NRQCD for the heavy quarks, simulating $qq^\prime \bar{b}^\prime \bar{b}$ and $q q^\prime \bar{b}^\prime\bar{b}^\prime$ tetraquarks with $q,\, q^\prime =ud$ or $\ell s$ and variable, unphysical $m_{b^\prime}$ in order to investigate the heavy mass-dependence of such tetraquark states. We find that the dependence of the binding energy follows a phenomenologically-expected form and that, though NRQCD breaks down before $m_{b^\prime}=m_c$ is reached, the results at higher $m_{b^\prime}$ clearly identify the $ud\bar{b}^\prime \bar{b}$ channel as the most likely to support a strong-interaction-stable tetraquark state at $m_{b^\prime}=m_c$. This observation serves to motivate the direct $ud\bar{c}\bar{b}$ simulation. Throughout we use dynamical $n_f=2+1$ ensembles with pion masses $m_\pi=$415, 299, and 164 MeV reaching down almost to the physical point, a relativistic heavy quark prescription for the charm quark, and NRQCD for the bottom quark(s).Comment: 24 pages, 4 figure

Dark Matter from Strong Dynamics: The Minimal Theory of Dark Baryons

As a simple model for dark matter, we propose a QCD-like theory based on $\rm{SU}(2)$ gauge theory with one flavor of dark quark. The model is confining at low energy and we use lattice simulations to investigate the properties of the lowest-lying hadrons. Compared to QCD, the theory has several peculiar differences: there are no Goldstone bosons or chiral symmetry restoration when the dark quark becomes massless; the usual global baryon number symmetry is enlarged to $\rm{SU}(2)_B$, resembling isospin; and baryons and mesons are unified together in $\rm{SU}(2)_B$ iso-multiplets. We argue that the lightest baryon, a vector boson, is a stable dark matter candidate and is a composite realization of the hidden vector dark matter scenario. The model naturally includes a lighter state, the analog of the $\eta^\prime$ in QCD, for dark matter to annihilate into to set the relic density via thermal freeze-out. Dark matter baryons may also be asymmetric, strongly self-interacting, or have their relic density set via $3 \to 2$ cannibalizing transitions. We discuss some experimental implications of coupling dark baryons to the Higgs portal.Comment: 26 pages, 16 figure

PRICE ASYMMETRY IN THE UNITED STATES FRESH TOMATO MARKET

This paper analyzes pricing relationships between the producer, wholesale and retail levels of the U.S. fresh tomato industry. The results indicate that price transmission is unidirectional from producer to retail. There was no asymmetric response for the producer-retail price relationship. Asymmetric price response was exhibited between wholesalers and both producers and retailers. Retail prices respond more to rising wholesale prices than to falling prices. Wholesales prices, however, respond more to declining producer price than to rising producer price.Demand and Price Analysis,

A CGE Analysis of the Harbinson Proposal: Outcomes for the EU25

In this study, we employ the Harbinson proposal and July Framework to compare a ‘likely’ Doha scenario with an ‘inclusive’ baseline. The key aim is to assess the impacts across EU member states. More specifically, we (i) employ the latest version 6 of the GTAP database, (ii) explicitly model CAP mechanisms (e.g., quotas, decoupled payments, set-aside, CAP budget etc.) to more accurately assess the asymmetric trade led welfare effects on selected EU member states, and (iii) introduce binding overhangs into domestic support, export subsidies and more importantly market access commitments. Whilst the EU regions benefit from the multilateral reform proposals, the gains are weakened considerably by the tariff binding overhangs, where the EU25 only gain ten per cent of their potential trade led welfare gain from the proposals. On this basis, a more positive stance must be applied if the Doha Reforms are to yield a meaningful outcome for all.Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Tales of Two Referendums: Comparing Debate Quality between the UK and New Zealand Voting System Referendums of 2011

Two voting system referendums in the same year in two countries with institutional and cultural similarities provide an excellent opportunity for comparison, particularly given the significant differences in how those referendums were regulated and conducted. In New Zealand, a well-funded and balanced official information campaign led the debate; in Britain, the debate was dominated by campaign organisations. Based on content analysis of newspaper coverage of the campaigns, this paper explores how regulatory differences between these two cases shaped the quality of debate as reflected in media discourse. It finds that they made a difference, suggesting that positive interventions to promote better debate can work. It also concludes, however, that contextual factors are crucial too: interventions that work in one context will not necessarily work in another