PAMELA and FERMI-LAT limits on the neutralino-chargino mass degeneracy

Searches for Dark Matter (DM) particles with indirect detection techniques have reached important milestones with the precise measurements of the anti-proton and gamma-ray spectra, notably by the PAMELA and FERMI-LAT experiments. While the gamma-ray results have been used to test the thermal Dark Matter hypothesis and constrain the Dark Matter annihilation cross section into Standard Model (SM) particles, the anti-proton flux measured by the PAMELA experiment remains relatively unexploited. Here we show that the latter can be used to set a constraint on the neutralino-chargino mass difference. To illustrate our point we use a Supersymmetric model in which the gauginos are light, the sfermions are heavy and the Lightest Supersymmetric Particle (LSP) is the neutralino. In this framework the W^+ W^- production is expected to be significant, thus leading to large anti-proton and gamma-ray fluxes. After determining a generic limit on the Dark Matter pair annihilation cross section into W^+ W^- from the anti-proton data only, we show that one can constrain scenarios in which the neutralino-chargino mass difference is as large as ~ 20 GeV for a mixed neutralino (and intermediate choices of the anti-proton propagation scheme). This result is consistent with the limit obtained by using the FERMI-LAT data. As a result, we can safely rule out the pure wino neutralino hypothesis if it is lighter than 450 GeV and constitutes all the Dark Matter.Comment: 22page

ImageNet Large Scale Visual Recognition Challenge

The ImageNet Large Scale Visual Recognition Challenge is a benchmark in object category classification and detection on hundreds of object categories and millions of images. The challenge has been run annually from 2010 to present, attracting participation from more than fifty institutions. This paper describes the creation of this benchmark dataset and the advances in object recognition that have been possible as a result. We discuss the challenges of collecting large-scale ground truth annotation, highlight key breakthroughs in categorical object recognition, provide a detailed analysis of the current state of the field of large-scale image classification and object detection, and compare the state-of-the-art computer vision accuracy with human accuracy. We conclude with lessons learned in the five years of the challenge, and propose future directions and improvements.Comment: 43 pages, 16 figures. v3 includes additional comparisons with PASCAL VOC (per-category comparisons in Table 3, distribution of localization difficulty in Fig 16), a list of queries used for obtaining object detection images (Appendix C), and some additional reference

Comparison of Motion Correction Methods Incorporating Motion Modelling for PET/CT Using a Single Breath Hold Attenuation Map

Introducing motion models into respiratory motion correction methods can lead to a reduction in blurring and artefacts. However, the pool of research where motion modelling methods are applied to combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography is relatively shallow. Previous work used non-attenuation corrected time-of-flight data to fit motion models, not only to motion correct the volumes themselves, but also to warp a single attenuation map to the positions of the initial gated data. This work seeks to extend previous work to offer a comparison of respiratory motion correction methods, not only with and without motion models, but also to compare pair-wise and group-wise registration techniques, on simulation data, in a low count scenario, where the attenuation map is from a pseudo-breath hold acquisition. To test the methods, 4-Dimensional Extended Cardiac Torso images are constructed, simulated and reconstructed without attenuation correction, then motion corrected using one of pair-wise, pair-wise with motion model, group-wise and group-wise with motion model registration. Next these motion corrected volumes are registered to the breath hold attenuation map. The positron emission tomography data are then reconstructed using deformed attenuation maps and motion corrected. Evaluation compares the results of these methods against non-motion corrected and motion free examples. Results indicate that the incorporation of motion models and group-wise registration, improves contrast and quantification

Variations on Debris Disks II. Icy Planet Formation as a Function of the Bulk Properties and Initial Sizes of Planetesimals

We describe comprehensive calculations of the formation of icy planets and debris disks at 30-150 AU around 1-3 solar mass stars. Disks composed of large, strong planetesimals produce more massive planets than disks composed of small, weak planetesimals. The maximum radius of icy planets ranges from roughly 1500 km to 11,500 km. The formation rate of 1000 km objects - `Plutos' - is a useful proxy for the efficiency of icy planet formation. Plutos form more efficiently in massive disks, in disks with small planetesimals, and in disks with a range of planetesimal sizes. Although Plutos form throughout massive disks, Pluto production is usually concentrated in the inner disk. Despite the large number of Plutos produced in many calculations, icy planet formation is inefficient. At the end of the main sequence lifetime of the central star, Plutos contain less than 10% of the initial mass in solid material. This conclusion is independent of the initial mass in the disk or the properties of planetesimals. Debris disk formation coincides with the formation of planetary systems containing Plutos. As Plutos form, they stir leftover planetesimals to large velocities. A cascade of collisions then grinds the leftovers to dust, forming an observable debris disk. In disks with small (< 1-10 km) planetesimals, collisional cascades produce luminous debris disks with maximum luminosity roughly 0.01 times the stellar luminosity. Disks with larger planetesimals produce much less luminous debris disks. Observations of debris disks around A-type and G-type stars strongly favor models with small planetesimals. In these models, our predictions for the time evolution and detection frequency of debris disks agree with published observations. We suggest several critical observations that can test key features of our calculations.Comment: 61 pages of text, 24 tables, and 34 figures; submitted to ApJS; comments welcome; revised version accepted to ApJS, changed text, modified tables, added references, no major changes to conclusion

Breast cancer instructs dendritic cells to prime interleukin 13–secreting CD4+ T cells that facilitate tumor development

We previously reported (Bell, D., P. Chomarat, D. Broyles, G. Netto, G.M. Harb, S. Lebecque, J. Valladeau, J. Davoust, K.A. Palucka, and J. Banchereau. 1999. J. Exp. Med. 190: 1417–1426) that breast cancer tumors are infiltrated with mature dendritic cells (DCs), which cluster with CD4+ T cells. We now show that CD4+ T cells infiltrating breast cancer tumors secrete type 1 (interferon γ) as well as high levels of type 2 (interleukin [IL] 4 and IL-13) cytokines. Immunofluorescence staining of tissue sections revealed intense IL-13 staining on breast cancer cells. The expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 in breast cancer cells suggests that IL-13 actually delivers signals to cancer cells. To determine the link between breast cancer, DCs, and CD4+ T cells, we implanted human breast cancer cell lines in nonobese diabetic/LtSz-scid/scid β2 microglobulin–deficient mice engrafted with human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells and autologous T cells. There, CD4+ T cells promote early tumor development. This is dependent on DCs and can be partially prevented by administration of IL-13 antagonists. Thus, breast cancer targets DCs to facilitate its development

Genome analysis of the rice coral \u3cem\u3eMontipora capitata\u3c/em\u3e

Corals comprise a biomineralizing cnidarian, dinoflagellate algal symbionts, and associated microbiome of prokaryotes and viruses. Ongoing efforts to conserve coral reefs by identifying the major stress response pathways and thereby laying the foundation to select resistant genotypes rely on a robust genomic foundation. Here we generated and analyzed a high quality long-read based ~886 Mbp nuclear genome assembly and transcriptome data from the dominant rice coral, Montipora capitata from Hawai’i. Our work provides insights into the architecture of coral genomes and shows how they differ in size and gene inventory, putatively due to population size variation. We describe a recent example of foreign gene acquisition via a bacterial gene transfer agent and illustrate the major pathways of stress response that can be used to predict regulatory components of the transcriptional networks in M. capitata. These genomic resources provide insights into the adaptive potential of these sessile, long-lived species in both natural and human influenced environments and facilitate functional and population genomic studies aimed at Hawaiian reef restoration and conservation

Vanadium Complexes Are in vitro Inhibitors of Leishmania Secreted Acid Phosphatases

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoa Leishmania. These organisms secrete acid phosphatases during their growth cycle as an important part of cell targeting to host macrophage cells thus allowing for a successful infection. Secreted acid phosphatases (SAP) are reported to play a significant role in the survival of Leishmania cells, thus evaluation of these enzymes is of interest. The inhibition of SAP can be the focus of a new drug therapy. We tested for SAP activity from Leishmania tarentolae following the addition of a series of vanadium complexes including decavanadate. Cell cultures at different stages in their growth curve were harvested by centrifugation and supernatant was collected. The SAP activity in the supernatant was assayed with the artificial substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP). Incubation with orthovanadate resulted in a decrease in activity of 18% ± 1 relative to the control, in comparison to decavanadate, which resulted in a 35% ± 4 decrease in activity. Other vanadium complexes showed smaller inhibitory effects than orthovanadate. Some vanadium complexes appeared to have an effect on reducing cell clumping when compared to control cells. The SAP was partially isolated through anion exchange chromatography and results indicate that SAP isozyme forms are present in the supernatant from cells. Future work is focused on obtaining recombinant enzyme which can be more completely characterized for inhibition by vanadium complexes

Metabolomic differences between invasive alien plants from native and invaded habitats

Globalization facilitated the spread of invasive alien species (IAS), undermining the stability of the world’s ecosystems. We investigated the metabolomic profiles of three IAS species: Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) Datura stramonium (Solanaceae), and Xanthium strumarium (Asteraceae), comparing metabolites of individual plants in their native habitats (USA), to their invasive counterparts growing in and around Kruger National Park (South Africa, ZA). Metabolomic samples were collected using RApid Metabolome Extraction and Storage (RAMES) technology, which immobilizes phytochemicals on glass fiber disks, reducing compound degradation, allowing long-term, storage and simplifying biochemical analysis. Metabolomic differences were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) of samples eluted from RAMES disks. Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) of metabolomes of individual plants allowed statistical separation of species, native and invasive populations of each species, and some populations on the same continent. Invasive populations of all species were more phytochemically diverse than their native counterparts, and their metabolomic profiles were statistically distinguishable from their native relatives. These data may elucidate the mechanisms of successful invasion and rapid adaptive evolution of IAS. Moreover, RAMES technology combined with PLS-DA statistical analysis may allow taxonomic identification of species and, possibly, populations within each species

Delayed diagnosis of intermittent mesenteroaxial volvulus of the stomach by computed tomography: a case report

10.1186/1752-1947-2-343Journal of Medical Case Reports234