Sparticle Spectroscopy with Neutralino Dark matter from t-b-tau Quasi-Yukawa Unification

We consider two classes of t-b-tau quasi-Yukawa unification scenarios which can arise from realistic supersymmetric SO(10) and SU(4)_C X SU(2)_L X SU(2)_R models. We show that these scenarios can be successfully implemented in the CMSSM and NUHM1 frameworks, and yields a variety of sparticle spectra with WMAP compatible neutralino dark matter. In NUHM1 we find bino-higgsino dark matter as well as the stau coannihilation and A-funnel solutions. The CMSSM case yields the stau coannihilation and A-funnel solutions. The gluino and squark masses are found to lie in the TeV range.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figures, 2 table

Altered antioxidant and trace-element status in adolescent female gymnasts

Physical activity is associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species and may lead to decreased levels of plasma antioxidants and increased oxidant stress. Some studies have reported that antioxidant supplements can reduce the consequences of oxidative stress during exercise. In this study the authors aimed to assess the chronic effects of exercise on endogenous serum antioxidant enzyme concentrations. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured in adolescent girls who were either competitive gymnasts or sedentary controls. The relationship between age, body-mass index, dietary intake, trace-element status, and serum GPx and SOD was determined. The participants in the study were part of a 3-yr longitudinal investigation of exercise and peak bone-mass development in 38 competitive gymnasts and 40 healthy sedentary adolescent females 8-17 yr of age. Serum GPx and SOD were measured using colorimetric assays, and trace elements were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The mean serum GPx concentrations were significantly higher in the gymnasts than in the sedentary females (157 ± 11.1 vs. 126 ± 8.8 U/ml, p < .05). In contrast, serum SOD concentrations were significantly lower in the gymnasts than in the sedentary group (7.24 ± 2.6 vs. 8.57 ± 2.3 U/ml, p < .05). Serum selenium, zinc, and copper were higher in the physically active group than in the inactive group (0.89 ± 0.03, 10.86 ± 0.39, 14.50 ± 0.50 vs. 0.81 ± 0.03, 10.32 ± 0.28, and 14.38 ± 0.42 µmol/L, respectively), although only serum selenium reached statistical significance (p < .05). The findings show that young female gymnasts have an altered antioxidant enzyme profile compared with their less physically active peer

Flux of Primordial Monopoles

We discuss how in supersymmetric models with D and F-flat directions, a primordial monopole flux of order 10^{-16} - 10^{-18} cm^{-2} sec^{-1} sr^{-1} can coexist with the observed baryon asymmetry. A modified Affleck-Dine scenario yields the desired asymmetry if the monopoles are superheavy (~ 10^{13}-10^{18} GeV). For lighter monopoles with masses ~ 10^{9}-10^{12} GeV, the baryon asymmetry can arise via TeV scale leptogenesis.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, revtex

Significance of Neuropilin-1 (CD 304) Expression in Paediatric B- Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Background: To determine the prognostic significance of NRP-1 (CD304) expression in paediatric B-lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) patients. Methods: In this comparative study newly diagnosed cases (aged 1-15 years) of B-ALL were selected. Age and sex matched, 21 healthy controls were also included in the study to assess the NRP-1 expression on peripheral blood lymphocytes. A minimum 1ml of blood and bone marrow aspirate samples were taken in EDTA vacutainer and immunophenotyping was done on gated blast cells using an extensive panel of antibodies including myeloid markers (CD13, CD33 and cytoplasmic anti-MPO) and lymphoid markers (CD34, CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7, CD4, CD8, HLA DR, CD10, CD19, CD22; cytoplasmic CD3, CD22, CD79a and nuclear anti-TdT). The sample was considered NRP-1 positive if 20% or more of the gated blast cells expressed it . Man-Witney U test and Kruskal Wallis test were used for non-parametric data. The p value &lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 66 B-ALL patients, 53% were males. There were 20 (30%) NRP-1 positive and 46 (70%) NRP-1 negative patients. The prognosis of NRP-1 positive group was poor as compared to NRP-1 negative group with high blast percentage (80%) (p= 0.042), low morphological remission rate (21%) (p=0.004) and low survival rate (29%) (p=0.009). The mean survival days in dead patients was also less (22.75 days). Conclusion: NRP-1 over expression is associated with disease progression and severity in paediatric B-ALL patients

The Impact of Natural Antioxidants on the Regenerative Potential of Vascular Cells

With advances in technology, the impact of natural antioxidants on vascular cell regeneration is attracting enormous attention as many current studies are now exploring the clinical potential of antioxidants in regenerative medicine. Natural antioxidants are an important step for improving future treatment and prevention of various diseases such as cardiovascular, cancer, neurodegenerative, and diabetes. The use of natural antioxidants which have effects on several types of stem cells with the potential to differentiate into functional endothelium and smooth muscle cells (known as vascular progenitors) for vascular regeneration might override pharmaceutical and surgical treatments. The natural antioxidant systems comprise of several components present in fruits, vegetables, legumes, medicinal plants, and other animal-derived products that interact with reactive free radicals such as oxygen and nitrogen species to neutralize their oxidative damaging effects on vascular cells. Neutralization by antioxidants involves the breaking down of the oxidative cascade chain reactions in the cell membranes in order to fine-tune the free radical levels. The effect of natural antioxidants on vascular regeneration includes restoration or establishment of new vascular structures and functions. In this review, we highlight the significant effects of natural antioxidants on modulating vascular cells to regenerate vessels, as well as possible mechanisms of action and the potential therapeutic benefits on health. The role of antioxidants in regenerating vessels may be critical for the future of regenerative medicine in terms of the maintenance of the normal functioning of vessels and the prevention of multiple vascular diseases

TeV Scale Leptogenesis, theta_13 And Doubly Charged Particles At LHC

We explore a realistic supersymmetric SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R \times U(1)_B-L model spontaneously broken at around 10^12 GeV. The presence of D and F-flat directions gives rise to TeV mass doubly charged particles which can be found at the LHC. We implement TeV scale leptogenesis and employing both type I and II seesaw, the three light neutrinos are partially degenerate with masses in the 0.02-0.1 eV range. The effective mass parameter for neutrinoless double beta decay is 0.03-0.05 eV. We also find the interesting relation tan 2 \theta_13 ~ [\Delta m^2_{\odot} / \Delta m^2_{atm}] [sin 2 \theta_12 /tan 2 \theta_23] <~ 0.02.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, revtex4. v2: minor changes, matches published versio

Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and reduces death due to bleeding in patients with trauma. Meta-analyses of small trials show that tranexamic acid might decrease deaths from gastrointestinal bleeding. We aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods: We did an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 164 hospitals in 15 countries. Patients were enrolled if the responsible clinician was uncertain whether to use tranexamic acid, were aged above the minimum age considered an adult in their country (either aged 16 years and older or aged 18 years and older), and had significant (defined as at risk of bleeding to death) upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients were randomly assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients received either a loading dose of 1 g tranexamic acid, which was added to 100 mL infusion bag of 0·9% sodium chloride and infused by slow intravenous injection over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of 3 g tranexamic acid added to 1 L of any isotonic intravenous solution and infused at 125 mg/h for 24 h, or placebo (sodium chloride 0·9%). Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation; analysis excluded patients who received neither dose of the allocated treatment and those for whom outcome data on death were unavailable. This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN11225767, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01658124. Findings: Between July 4, 2013, and June 21, 2019, we randomly allocated 12 009 patients to receive tranexamic acid (5994, 49·9%) or matching placebo (6015, 50·1%), of whom 11 952 (99·5%) received the first dose of the allocated treatment. Death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation occurred in 222 (4%) of 5956 patients in the tranexamic acid group and in 226 (4%) of 5981 patients in the placebo group (risk ratio [RR] 0·99, 95% CI 0·82–1·18). Arterial thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction or stroke) were similar in the tranexamic acid group and placebo group (42 [0·7%] of 5952 vs 46 [0·8%] of 5977; 0·92; 0·60 to 1·39). Venous thromboembolic events (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) were higher in tranexamic acid group than in the placebo group (48 [0·8%] of 5952 vs 26 [0·4%] of 5977; RR 1·85; 95% CI 1·15 to 2·98). Interpretation: We found that tranexamic acid did not reduce death from gastrointestinal bleeding. On the basis of our results, tranexamic acid should not be used for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding outside the context of a randomised trial

Katabolizm zmodyfikowanych lipoprotein o niskiej gęstości w osoczu królika

Badano metabolizm natywnych i metylowanych cząsteczek LDL w osoczu królika. Chemiczna modyfikacja (reduktywna metylacja) reszt lizynowych w apoproteinie pozwala na określenie in vivo przemiany LDL zależnej i niezależnej ód specyficznych receptorów.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 dofinansowane zostało ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Investigation on wall thinning and creep damage in boiler tube due to scale formation

Boiler is a closed vessel in which the water is heated up to convert it from the liquid phase to superheat steam at specified pressure by addition of heat. The tubes are operated continuously at high temperature due to the formation of scale which has lower conductivity than that of steel. The scale can be formed for various reasons of which tube geometries, flue gas and steam temperature are prominent. The remaining wall thickness decreases due to the formation of scale which eventually causes failure of the boiler tubes. In this investigation an iterative technique was used to determine the temperature distribution across the tube with the increase of operating time. The operating time was considered up to 160,000 hours. The remaining life of the steam generator tube was found by finding hoop stress and Larson Miller Parameter from the Larson Miller Parameter curve for SA213-T22 material. The remaining life of the steam generator tube was used to find cumulative creep damage. By utilizing finite element modelling software, ANSYS 9/ ANSYS 11 the temperature distribution across the steam generator tube was evaluated. The temperature distribution along with Larson Miller Parameter predicted the oxide scale thickness. It was also observed that different input parameters have pronounced affect on the formation of oxide scale inside the steam generator tube. By increasing the heat transfer rate across the wall, the oxide scale thickness was increased more rapidly than normal condition. It was also observed that due to formation of scale the thermal conductivity in the boiler tubes was affected and the remaining life of boiler tubes was decreased and accelerated creep damage