K→πK \to \pi semileptonic form factors with Nf=2+1+1N_f=2+1+1 Twisted Mass fermions

We present a lattice QCD determination of the vector and scalar form factors of the semileptonic $K \to \pi \ell \nu$ decay which are relevant for the extraction of the CKM matrix element $|V_{us}|$ from experimental data. Our results are based on the gauge configurations produced by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with $N_f = 2+1+1$ dynamical fermions, which include in the sea, besides two light mass degenerate quarks, also the strange and the charm quarks. We use data simulated at three different values of the lattice spacing and with pion masses as small as $210$ MeV. Our final result for the vector form factor at zero momentum transfer is $f_+(0) = 0.9709 (46)$, where the uncertainty is both statistical and systematic combined in quadrature. Using the latest experimental value of $f_+(0) |V_{us}|$ from $K_{\ell 3}$ decays, we obtain $|V_{us}| = 0.2230 (11)$, which allows to test the unitarity constraint of the Standard Model below the permille level once the determination of $|V_{ud}|$ from superallowed nuclear $\beta$ decays is adopted. A slight tension with unitarity at the level of $\sim 2$ standard deviations is observed. Moreover we present our results for the semileptonic scalar $f_0(q^2)$ and vector $f_+(q^2)$ form factors in the whole range of values of the squared four-momentum transfer $q^2$ measured in $K_{\ell 3}$ decays, obtaining a very good agreement with the momentum dependence of the experimental data. We provide a set of synthetic data points representing our results for the vector and scalar form factors at the physical point for several selected values of $q^2$.Comment: 37 pages, 5 tables, 9 figures; version to appear in PR

Genetic parameters for milk somatic cell score and relationships with production traits in primiparous dairy sheep

A total of 13,066 first-lactation test-day records of 2,277 Valle del Belice ewes from 17 flocks were used to estimate genetic parameters for somatic cell scores (SCS) and milk production traits, using a repeatability test-day animal model. Heritability estimates were low and ranged from 0.09 to 0.14 for milk, fat, and protein yields, and contents. For SCS, the heritability of 0.14 was relatively high. The repeatabilities were moderate and ranged from 0.29 to 0.47 for milk production traits. The repeatability for SCS was 0.36. Flock-test-day explained a large proportion of the variation for milk production traits, but it did not have a big effect on SCS. The genetic correlations of fat and protein yields with fat and protein percentages were positive and high,indicating a strong association between these traits. The genetic correlations of milk production traits with SCS were positive and ranged from 0.16 to 0.31. The results showed that SCS is a heritable trait in Valle del Belice sheep and that single-trait selection for increased milk production will also increase SCS

A database model for the analysis and assessment of historic timber roof structures

Visual inspection assisted by well-structured forms allows experts to collect homogeneous data in order to report about typical damage/vulnerabilities of structures. This is the basis for deriving vulnerability factors to predict failure mechanisms and identify urgent interventions. A database model with an associated structured form for the assessment of historic timber roof structures has been developed during a two-week Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) in May 2015 at CNR IVALSA Institute in San Michele All’Adige (Italy). The aim is to assist during inspection in recording all the necessary information and later in analysing data from several inspections, allowing to identify typical damage and its causes. The database model, starting from the work of COST Action FP 1101 and further developed and digitalised during the STSM, has been initially populated with data previously collected by the University of Strathclyde through visual assessment of 29 historic timber roofs in Scotland

Protein adsorption onto Fe3O4 nanoparticles with opposite surface charge and its impact on cell uptake

Nanoparticles (NPs) engineered for biomedical applications are meant to be in contact with protein-rich physiological fluids. These proteins are usually adsorbed onto the NP surface, forming a swaddling layer called protein corona that influences cell internalization. We present a study on protein adsorption onto different magnetic NPs (MNPs) when immersed in cell culture medium, and how these changes affect the cellular uptake. Two colloids with magnetite cores of 25 nm, same hydrodynamic size and opposite surface charge were in situ coated with (a) positive polyethyleneimine (PEI-MNPs) and (b) negative poly(acrylic acid) (PAA-MNPs). After few minutes of incubation in cell culture medium the wrapping of the MNPs by protein adsorption resulted in a 5-fold size increase. After 24 h of incubation large MNP-protein aggregates with hydrodynamic sizes 1500 to 3000 nm (PAA-MNPs and PEI-MNPs respectively) were observed. Each cluster contained an estimated number of magnetic cores between 450 and 1000, indicating the formation of large aggregates with a "plum pudding" structure of MNPs embedded into a protein network of negative surface charge irrespective of the MNP_core charge. We demonstrated that PEI-MNPs are incorporated in much larger amounts than the PAA-MNPs units. Quantitative analysis showed that SH-SY5Y cells can incorporate 100 per cent of the added PEI-MNPs up to about 100 pg per cell, whereas for PAA-MNPs the uptake was less than 50 percent. The final cellular distribution showed also notable differences regarding partial attachment to the cell membrane. These results highlight the need to characterize the final properties of MNPs after protein adsorption in biological media, and demonstrate the impact of these properties on the internalization mechanisms in neural cells.Comment: 32 pages, 10 figure

Discovery of a new accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar in the globular cluster NGC 2808

We report on the discovery of coherent pulsations at a period of 2.9 ms from the X-ray transient MAXI J0911-655 in the globular cluster NGC 2808. We observed X-ray pulsations at a frequency of $\sim339.97$ Hz in three different observations of the source performed with XMM-Newton and NuSTAR during the source outburst. This newly discovered accreting millisecond pulsar is part of an ultra-compact binary system characterised by an orbital period of $44.3$ minutes and a projected semi-major axis of $\sim17.6$ lt-ms. Based on the mass function we estimate a minimum companion mass of 0.024 M$_{\odot}$, which assumes a neutron star mass of 1.4 M$_{\odot}$ and a maximum inclination angle of $75^{\circ}$ (derived from the lack of eclipses and dips in the light-curve of the source). We find that the companion star's Roche-Lobe could either be filled by a hot ($5\times 10^{6}$ K) pure helium white dwarf with a 0.028 M$_{\odot}$ mass (implying $i\simeq58^{\circ}$) or an old (>5 Gyr) brown dwarf with metallicity abundances between solar/sub-solar and mass ranging in the interval 0.065$-$0.085 M$_{\odot}$ (16 < $i$ < 21). During the outburst the broad-band energy spectra are well described by a superposition of a weak black-body component (kT$\sim$ 0.5 keV) and a hard cutoff power-law with photon index $\Gamma \sim$ 1.7 and cut-off at a temperature kT$_e\sim$ 130 keV. Up to the latest Swift-XRT observation performed on 2016 July 19 the source has been observed in outburst for almost 150 days, which makes MAXI J0911-655 the second accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar with outburst duration longer than 100 days.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Development of the dog attachment insecurity screening inventory (D-aisi):A pilot study on a sample of female owners

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The Strange Situation Procedure is a laboratory test originally designed to assess the quality of a child’s attachment bond to their mother and is widely used in dogs to assess their attachment bond towards the owner. However, the SSP is time consuming and limits the amount and variety of obtainable data. In order to overcome these limitations, we adapted a three-dimensional parent-report scale, named the Attachment Insecurity Screening Inventory (AISI) 6–12, originally developed to assess 6- to 12-year-old children’s attachment insecurity, to dog–owner dyads, and we assessed scale consistency and validity. A first statistical analysis performed on the responses provided by 524 female owners to the online questionnaire revealed five scale dimensions named “physical contact”, “control”, separation anxiety”, “owner as emotional support”, and “owner as a source of positive emotion”. However, a further forced extraction of three components resulted in subscales that mirrored the ones reported for the original AISI in terms of item composition (i.e., ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized). The three subscales also had satisfactory to good measures of internal reliability. The final scale was named the Dog Attachment Insecurity Screening Inventory (D-AISI). Although promising, it needs to be refined and tested for more validity measures. ABSTRACT: To date, the Strange Situation Procedure is the only tool available to investigate the quality of the dog’s attachment bond towards the owner. This study aimed to adapt a parent-report scale, named the Attachment Insecurity Screening Inventory (AISI) 6–12, originally designed to assess 6- to 12-year-old children’s attachment insecurity, to dog–owner dyads and assess measures of consistency and validity. The online questionnaire was completed by 524 female dog owners. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed five components named, respectively, “physical contact”, “control”, “separation anxiety”, “owner as emotional support”, and “owner as a source of positive emotion”. Because of the three-factor structure of the original AISI, a PCA with a pre-fixed set of three factors was also performed. The resulting subscales mirrored the ones found for the original scale (i.e., ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized), although four items did not fit the model. Internal reliability appeared to be satisfying for the ambivalent and the disorganized subscales, and good for the avoidant subscale. The theoretical background and the results of this study suggest that the three-dimensional model represents a better solution for the interpretation of the Dog Attachment Insecurity Screening Inventory (D-AISI). Although promising, this scale requires refinement and assessment of additional validity measures