On the Relationship between the Uniqueness of the Moonshine Module and Monstrous Moonshine

We consider the relationship between the conjectured uniqueness of the Moonshine Module, ${\cal V}^\natural$, and Monstrous Moonshine, the genus zero property of the modular invariance group for each Monster group Thompson series. We first discuss a family of possible $Z_n$ meromorphic orbifold constructions of ${\cal V}^\natural$ based on automorphisms of the Leech lattice compactified bosonic string. We reproduce the Thompson series for all 51 non-Fricke classes of the Monster group $M$ together with a new relationship between the centralisers of these classes and 51 corresponding Conway group centralisers (generalising a well-known relationship for 5 such classes). Assuming that ${\cal V}^\natural$ is unique, we then consider meromorphic orbifoldings of ${\cal V}^\natural$ and show that Monstrous Moonshine holds if and only if the only meromorphic orbifoldings of ${\cal V}^\natural$ give ${\cal V}^\natural$ itself or the Leech theory. This constraint on the meromorphic orbifoldings of ${\cal V}^\natural$ therefore relates Monstrous Moonshine to the uniqueness of ${\cal V}^\natural$ in a new way.Comment: 53 pages, PlainTex, DIAS-STP-93-0

In situ identification of Palaeoarchaean biosignatures using co-located Perseverance rover analyses: perspectives for in situ Mars science and sample return

The NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover is currently exploring Jezero crater, a Noachian locality that once hosted a delta–lake system with high habitability and biosignature preservation potential. Perseverance conducts detailed appraisals of rock targets using a synergistic payload capable of geological characterisation from kilometre to micron scales. The highest-resolution textural and chemical information will be provided by correlated WATSON (imaging), SHERLOC (deep-UV Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy) and PIXL (X-ray lithochemistry) analyses, enabling the distributions of organic and mineral phases within rock targets to be comprehensively established. Herein, we analyse Palaeoarchaean microbial mats from the ~3.42 Ga Buck Reef Chert (Barberton greenstone belt) – considered astrobiological analogues for a putative Martian biosphere – following a WATSON–SHERLOC–PIXL protocol identical to that conducted by Perseverance on Mars during each sampling activities. Correlating deep-UV Raman and fluorescence spectroscopic mapping with X-ray elemental mapping, we show that the Perseverance payload has the capability to detect thermally and texturally mature organic materials of biogenic origin and can highlight organic–mineral interrelationships and elemental co-location at fine spatial scales. We also show that the Perseverance protocol obtains very similar results to high-performance laboratory imaging, Raman spectroscopy and µXRF instruments. This is encouraging for the prospect of detecting micro-scale organic-bearing textural biosignatures on Mars using the correlative micro-analytical approach enabled by WATSON, SHERLOC and PIXL; indeed, laminated, organic-bearing samples such as those studied herein are considered plausible biosignatures for a potential Noachian–Hesperian biosphere and would make compelling targets for sampling during the mission

Fine material in grain

Fine material in grain: an overview / Richard Stroshine -- Factors that affect the costs of fines in the corn export market / Lowell D. Hill, Mack Leath -- Effects of fine material on mold growth in grain / David B. Sauer, Richard A. Meronuck, John Tuite -- Effects of fine material on insect infestation: a review / Paul W. Flinn, William H. McGaughey, Wendell E. Burkholder -- Reducing or controlling damage to grain from handling: a review / Charles R. Martin, George H. Foster -- Evaluating grain for potential production of fine material - breakage susceptibility testing / Steven R. Eckhoff -- Genotypic differences in breakage susceptibility of corn and soybeans -- M. R. Paulsen, L. L. Darrah, R. L. Stroshin

Quantitative Analyses of the Yeast Oxidative Protein Folding Pathway in Vitro and in Vivo

Aims: Efficient oxidative protein folding (OPF) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a key requirement of the eukaryotic secretory pathway. In particular, protein folding linked to the formation of disulfide bonds, an activity dependent on the enzyme protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), is crucial. For the de novo formation of disulphide bonds, reduced PDI must be re-oxidised by an ER-located oxidase (ERO1). Despite some knowledge of this pathway, the kinetic parameters with which these components act and the importance of specific parameters, such as PDI reoxidation by Ero1, for the overall performance of OPF in vivo remain poorly understood. Results: We established an in vitro system using purified yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) PDI (Pdi1p) and ERO1 (Ero1p) to investigate OPF. This necessitated the development of a novel reduction/oxidation processing strategy to generate homogenously oxidised recombinant yeast Ero1p. This new methodology enabled the quantitative assessment of the interaction of Pdi1p and Ero1p in vitro by measuring oxygen consumption and reoxidation of reduced RNAase A. The resulting quantitative data were then used to generate a simple model which can describe the oxidising capacity of Pdi1p and Ero1p in vitro and predict the in vivo effect of modulation of the levels of these proteins. Innovation: We describe a model that can be used to explore the OPF pathway and its control in a quantitative way. Conclusion: Our study provides new insights into how OPF works at a molecular level and provides a platform for the design of more efficient heterologous protein expression systems in yeast

Modelling the strategies for age specific vaccination scheduling during influenza pandemic outbreaks

Finding optimal policies to reduce the morbidity and mortality of the ongoing pandemic is a top public health priority. Using a compartmental model with age structure and vaccination status, we examined the effect of age specific scheduling of vaccination during a pandemic influenza outbreak, when there is a race between the vaccination campaign and the dynamics of the pandemic. Our results agree with some recent studies on that age specificity is paramount to vaccination planning. However, little is known about the effectiveness of such control measures when they are applied during the outbreak. Comparing five possible strategies, we found that age specific scheduling can have a huge impact on the outcome of the epidemic. For the best scheme, the attack rates were up to 10% lower than for other strategies. We demonstrate the importance of early start of the vaccination campaign, since ten days delay may increase the attack rate by up to 6%. Taking into account the delay between developing immunity and vaccination is a key factor in evaluating the impact of vaccination campaigns. We provide a general framework which will be useful for the next pandemic waves as well

Timeliness of contact tracing among flight passengers for influenza A/H1N1 2009

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>During the initial containment phase of influenza A/H1N1 2009, close contacts of cases were traced to provide antiviral prophylaxis within 48 h after exposure and to alert them on signs of disease for early diagnosis and treatment. Passengers seated on the same row, two rows in front or behind a patient infectious for influenza, during a flight of ≥ 4 h were considered close contacts. This study evaluates the timeliness of flight-contact tracing (CT) as performed following national and international CT requests addressed to the Center of Infectious Disease Control (CIb/RIVM), and implemented by the Municipal Health Services of Schiphol Airport.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Elapsed days between date of flight arrival and the date passenger lists became available (contact details identified - CI) was used as proxy for timeliness of CT. In a retrospective study, dates of flight arrival, onset of illness, laboratory diagnosis, CT request and identification of contacts details through passenger lists, following CT requests to the RIVM for flights landed at Schiphol Airport were collected and analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>24 requests for CT were identified. Three of these were declined as over 4 days had elapsed since flight arrival. In 17 out of 21 requests, contact details were obtained within 7 days after arrival (81%). The average delay between arrival and CI was 3,9 days (range 2-7), mainly caused by delay in diagnosis of the index patient after arrival (2,6 days). In four flights (19%), contacts were not identified or only after > 7 days. CI involving Dutch airlines was faster than non-Dutch airlines (<it>P </it>< 0,05). Passenger locator cards did not improve timeliness of CI. In only three flights contact details were identified within 2 days after arrival.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>CT for influenza A/H1N1 2009 among flight passengers was not successful for timely provision of prophylaxis. CT had little additional value for alerting passengers for disease symptoms, as this information already was provided during and after the flight. Public health authorities should take into account patient delays in seeking medical advise and laboratory confirmation in relation to maximum time to provide postexposure prophylaxis when deciding to install contact tracing measures. International standardization of CT guidelines is recommended.</p

Genetic Influences on Incidence and Case-Fatality of Infectious Disease

BACKGROUND: Family, twin and adoption studies suggest that genetic susceptibility contributes to familial aggregation of infectious diseases or to death from infections. We estimated genetic and shared environmental influences separately on the risk of acquiring an infection (incidence) and on dying from it (case fatality). METHODS: Genetic influences were estimated by the association between rates of hospitalization for infections and between case-fatality rates of adoptees and their biological full- and half- siblings. Familial environmental influences were investigated in adoptees and their adoptive siblings. Among 14,425 non-familial adoptions, granted in Denmark during the period 1924-47, we selected 1,603 adoptees, who had been hospitalized for infections and/or died with infection between 1977 and 1993. Their siblings were considered predisposed to infection, and compared with non-predisposed siblings of randomly selected 1,348 adoptees alive in 1993 and not hospitalized for infections in the observation period. The risk ratios presented were based on a Cox regression model. RESULTS: Among 9971 identified siblings, 2829 had been hospitalised for infections. The risk of infectious disease was increased among predisposed compared with non-predisposed in both biological (1.18; 95% confidence limits 1.03-1.36) and adoptive siblings (1.23; 0.98-1.53). The risk of a fatal outcome of the infections was strongly increased (9.36; 2.94-29.8) in biological full siblings, but such associations were not observed for the biological half siblings or for the adoptive siblings. CONCLUSION: Risk of getting infections appears to be weakly influenced by both genetically determined susceptibility to infection and by family environment, whereas there appears to be a strong non-additive genetic influence on risk of fatal outcome

A Mathematical Approach Lights up The Way to End Cholera Transmission

Killed, oral cholera vaccines have proven safe and effective, and several large-scale mass cholera vaccination efforts have demonstrated the feasibility of widespread deployment. This study uses a mathematical model of cholera transmission in Bangladesh to examine the effectiveness of potential vaccination strategies.We developed an age-structured mathematical model of cholera transmission and calibrated it to reproduce the dynamics of cholera in Matlab, Bangladesh. We used the model to predict the effectiveness of different cholera vaccination strategies over a period of 20 years. We explored vaccination programs that targeted one of three increasingly focused age groups (the entire vaccine-eligible population of age one year and older, children of ages 1 to 14 years, or preschoolers of ages 1 to 4 years) and that could occur either as campaigns recurring every five years or as continuous ongoing vaccination efforts. Our modeling results suggest that vaccinating 70% of the population would avert 90% of cholera cases in the first year but that campaign and continuous vaccination strategies differ in effectiveness over 20 years. Maintaining 70% coverage of the population would be sufficient to prevent sustained transmission of endemic cholera in Matlab, while vaccinating periodically every five years is less effective. Selectively vaccinating children 1-14 years old would prevent the most cholera cases per vaccine administered in both campaign and continuous strategies.We conclude that continuous mass vaccination would be more effective against endemic cholera than periodic campaigns. Vaccinating children averts more cases per dose than vaccinating all age groups, although vaccinating only children is unlikely to control endemic cholera in Bangladesh. Careful consideration must be made before generalizing these results to other regions

Genetic Basis of Hidden Phenotypic Variation Revealed by Increased Translational Readthrough in Yeast

Eukaryotic release factors 1 and 3, encoded by SUP45 and SUP35, respectively, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are required for translation termination. Recent studies have shown that, besides these two key factors, several genetic and epigenetic mechanisms modulate the efficiency of translation termination. These mechanisms, through modifying translation termination fidelity, were shown to affect various cellular processes, such as mRNA degradation, and in some cases could confer a beneficial phenotype to the cell. The most studied example of such a mechanism is [PSI+], the prion conformation of Sup35p, which can have pleiotropic effects on growth that vary among different yeast strains. However, genetic loci underlying such readthrough-dependent, background-specific phenotypes have yet to be identified. Here, we used sup35C653R, a partial loss-of-function allele of the SUP35 previously shown to increase readthrough of stop codons and recapitulate some [PSI+]-dependent phenotypes, to study the genetic basis of phenotypes revealed by increased translational readthrough in two divergent yeast strains: BY4724 (a laboratory strain) and RM11_1a (a wine strain). We first identified growth conditions in which increased readthrough of stop codons by sup35C653R resulted in different growth responses between these two strains. We then used a recently developed linkage mapping technique, extreme QTL mapping (X-QTL), to identify readthrough-dependent loci for the observed growth differences. We further showed that variation in SKY1, an SR protein kinase, underlies a readthrough-dependent locus observed for growth on diamide and hydrogen peroxide. We found that the allelic state of SKY1 interacts with readthrough level and the genetic background to determine growth rate in these two conditions