46 research outputs found
Investigating uptake of N2O in agricultural soils using a high-precision dynamic chamber method
Uptake (or negative flux) of nitrous oxide (N2O)in agricultural soils is a controversial issue which has proved
difficult to investigate in the past due to constraints such
as instrumental precision and methodological uncertainties.
Using a recently developed high-precision quantum cascade
laser gas analyser combined with a closed dynamic chamber,
a well-defined detection limit of 4 ÎŒg N2O-N m could
be achieved for individual soil flux measurements. 1220 mea-
surements of N2O flux were made from a variety of UK
soils using this method, of which 115 indicated uptake by the soil (i.e. a negative flux in the micrometeorological sign convention). Only four of these apparently negative fluxes were greater than the detection limit of the method, which suggests that the vast majority of reported negative fluxes from such measurements are actually due to instrument noise. As such, we suggest that the bulk of negative N2O fluxes reported for agricultural fields are most likely due to limits in detection of a particular flux measurement methodology and not a result of microbiological activity consuming atmospheric N2O
Antiâatherosclerotic effect of the angiotensin 1â7 mimetic AVE0991 is mediated by inhibition of perivascular and plaque inflammation in early atherosclerosis
Background and Purpose:
Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis. A protective role of angiotensin-(1-7) in vascular pathologies opened a possibility for therapeutic use of small molecule non-peptide Ang-(1-7) mimetics, such as AVE0991. The mechanisms of these vaso-protective effects of a Mas receptor agonist, AVE0991, remain unclear.
Experimental approach:
We investigated the effects of AVE0991 on the spontaneous atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice, in the context of vascular inflammation and plaque stability.
Key Results:
AVE0991 has significant anti-atherosclerotic properties in ApoE-/- mice and increases plaque stability, by reducing plaque macrophage content, without effects on collagen. Using descending aorta of chow fed ApoE-/- mice, before significant atherosclerotic plaque develops, we gained insight to early events in atherosclerosis. Interestingly, perivascular adipose tissue (pVAT) and adventitial infiltration with macrophages and T cells precedes atherosclerotic plaque or the impairment of endothelium-dependent NO bioavailability as a measure of endothelial function. AVE0991 inhibited perivascular inflammation, through the reduction of chemokine expression in pVAT, as well as through direct actions on monocytes/macrophages inhibiting their activation, characterized by IL-1ÎČ, TNF-α, MCP-1 and CXCL10 and differentiation to M1 phenotype. Pre-treatment with AVE0991 inhibited migration of THP-1 monocytes towards supernatants of activated adipocytes (SW872). Mas receptors were expressed in pVAT and in THP-1 cells in vitro and anti-inflammatory effects of AVE0991 were partially Mas dependent.
Conclusions & implications:
Selective Mas receptor agonist AVE0991 possesses anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory properties, affecting monocyte/macrophage differentiation and recruitment to perivascular space at early stages of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice
Dynamical supersymmetry breaking and unification of couplings
We consider the possibility of unification of the Supersymmetric Standard
Model gauge groups with those of the dynamical supersymmetry breaking (DSB)
sector in theories with gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking. We find
constraints on the DSB gauge group beta function that come from unification of
the gauge coupling constants of the two sectors. These constraints are
satisfied by a fairly wide class of models. We discuss possible unification
scenarios in the context of a simple model.Comment: 7 pages, LaTeX; grant numbers correcte
Lepton polarization correlations in
In this work we will study the polarizations of both leptons () in the
decay channel . In the case of the dileptonic inclusive
decay , where apart from the polarization asymmetries
of single lepton , one can also observe the polarization asymmetries of
both leptons simultaneously. If this sort of measurement is possible then we
can have, apart from decay rate, FB asymmetry and the six single lepton
polarization asymmetries (three each for and ), nine more
double polarization asymmetries. This will give us a very useful tool in more
strict testing of SM and the physics beyond. We discuss the double polarization
asymmetries of leptons in the decay mode within
the SM and the Minimal Supersymmetric extensions of it.Comment: 21 pages, 21 figures; version to match paper to appear in PR
Nitrogen - grasping the challenge. A manifesto for science-in-action through the International Nitrogen Management System. Summary report
Report published by Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, UK on behalf of the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS). Freely available to download from the Official link
Study of the lineshape of the chi(c1) (3872) state
A study of the lineshape of the chi(c1) (3872) state is made using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1) collected in pp collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV with the LHCb detector. Candidate chi(c1)(3872) and psi(2S) mesons from b-hadron decays are selected in the J/psi pi(+)pi(-) decay mode. Describing the lineshape with a Breit-Wigner function, the mass splitting between the chi(c1 )(3872) and psi(2S) states, Delta m, and the width of the chi(c1 )(3872) state, Gamma(Bw), are determined to be (Delta m=185.598 +/- 0.067 +/- 0.068 Mev,)(Gamma BW=1.39 +/- 0.24 +/- 0.10 Mev,) where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. Using a Flatte-inspired model, the mode and full width at half maximum of the lineshape are determined to be (mode=3871.69+0.00+0.05 MeV.)(FWHM=0.22-0.04+0.13+0.07+0.11-0.06-0.13 MeV, ) An investigation of the analytic structure of the Flatte amplitude reveals a pole structure, which is compatible with a quasibound D-0(D) over bar*(0) state but a quasivirtual state is still allowed at the level of 2 standard deviations
Measurement of the CKM angle in and decays with
A measurement of -violating observables is performed using the decays
and , where the meson is
reconstructed in one of the self-conjugate three-body final states and (commonly denoted ). The decays are analysed in bins of the -decay phase space, leading
to a measurement that is independent of the modelling of the -decay
amplitude. The observables are interpreted in terms of the CKM angle .
Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of
collected in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass
energies of , , and with the LHCb experiment,
is measured to be . The hadronic
parameters , , , and ,
which are the ratios and strong-phase differences of the suppressed and
favoured decays, are also reported