Dipole models and parton saturation in ep scattering

In this contribution we briefly review the current status of the dipole models and parton saturation on the basis of results presented at the HERA-LHC workshops in the years 2006-2008. The problem of foundations of the dipole models is addressed within the QCD formalism. Some limitations of the models and open problems are pointed out. Furthermore, we review and compare the currently used dipole models and summarise the applications to describe various sets of HERA data. Finally we outline some of the theoretical approaches to the problem of multiple scattering and saturation.Comment: 9 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the HERA-LHC Workshop, CERN-DESY, 2006-200

Crambe as a Specialty Crop in North Dakota

Production Economics,

Exclusive diffractive processes at HERA within the dipole picture

We present a simultaneous analysis, within an impact parameter dependent saturated dipole model, of exclusive diffractive vector meson (J/psi, phi and rho) production, deeply virtual Compton scattering and the total gamma* p cross section data measured at HERA. Various cross sections measured as a function of the kinematic variables Q^2, W and t are well described, with little sensitivity to the details of the vector meson wave functions. We determine the properties of the gluon density in the proton in both longitudinal and transverse dimensions, including the impact parameter dependent saturation scale. The overall success of the description indicates universality of the emerging gluon distribution and proton shape.Comment: 48 pages, 28 figures, the final version to appear in Physical Review

Clinicopathological determinants of an elevated systemic inflammatory response following elective potentially curative resection for colorectal cancer

Introduction: The postoperative systemic inflammatory response (SIR) is related to both long- and short-term outcomes following surgery for colorectal cancer. However, it is not clear which clinicopathological factors are associated with the magnitude of the postoperative SIR. The present study was designed to determine the clinicopathological determinants of the postoperative systemic inflammatory response following colorectal cancer resection. Methods: Patients with a histologically proven diagnosis of colorectal cancer who underwent elective, potentially curative resection during a period from 1999 to 2013 were included in the study (n = 752). Clinicopathological data and the postoperative SIR, as evidenced by postoperative Glasgow Prognostic Score (poGPS), were recorded in a prospectively maintained database. Results: The majority of patients were aged 65 years or older, male, were overweight or obese, and had an open resection. After adjustment for year of operation, a high day 3 poGPS was independently associated with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade (hazard ratio [HR] 1.96; confidence interval [CI] 1.25–3.09; p = 0.003), body mass index (BMI) (HR 1.60; CI 1.07–2.38; p = 0.001), mGPS (HR 2.03; CI 1.35–3.03; p = 0.001), and tumour site (HR 2.99; CI 1.56–5.71; p < 0.001). After adjustment for year of operation, a high day 4 poGPS was independently associated with ASA grade (HR 1.65; CI 1.06–2.57; p = 0.028), mGPS (HR 1.81; CI 1.22–2.68; p = 0.003), NLR (HR 0.50; CI 0.26–0.95; p = 0.034), and tumour site (HR 2.90; CI 1.49–5.65; p = 0.002). Conclusions: ASA grade, BMI, mGPS, and tumour site were consistently associated with the magnitude of the postoperative systemic inflammatory response, evidenced by a high poGPS on days 3 and 4, in patients undergoing elective potentially curative resection for colorectal cancer

Parental height in relation to offspring coronary heart disease: examining transgenerational influences on health using the west of Scotland Midspan Family Study

<b>Background </b>Adult height is known to be inversely related to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. We sought to investigate transgenerational influence of parental height on offspring’s CHD risk. <p></p> <b>Methods </b>Parents took part in a cardiorespiratory disease survey in two Scottish towns during the 1970s, in which their physical stature was measured. In 1996, their offspring were invited to participate in a similar survey, which included an electrocardiogram recording and risk factor assessment.<p></p> <b>Results </b>A total of 2306 natural offspring aged 30–59 years from 1456 couples were subsequently flagged for notification of mortality and followed for CHD-related hospitalizations. Taller paternal and/or maternal height was associated with socio-economic advantage, heavier birthweight and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in offspring. Increased height in fathers, but more strongly in mothers (risk ratio for 1 SD change in maternal height = 0.85; 95% confidence interval: 0.76 to 0.95), was associated with a lower risk of offspring CHD, adjusting for age, sex, other parental height and CHD risk factors. <p></p> <b>Conclusion </b>There is evidence of an association between taller parental, particularly maternal, height and lower offspring CHD risk. This may reflect an influence of early maternal growth on the intrauterine environment provided for her offspring

Fine mapping qGL2H, a major locus controlling grain length in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Increasing yield is an important target for barley breeding programs. One approach to increase yield is by enhancing individual grain weights through the regulation of grain size. Fine mapping major grain size-related quantitative trait loci is necessary for future marker-assisted selection strategies, yet studies of this nature are limited in barley. In the present study, we utilised a doubled haploid population derived from two Australian malt barley varieties, Vlamingh and Buloke, coupled with extensive genotypic and phenotypic data from three independent environments. A major grain length locus identified on chromosome 2H designated qGL2H was fine mapped to a 140.9 Kb interval. qGL2H was able to account for 25.4% of the phenotypic variation for grain length and 10.2% for grain yield. Underlying qGL2H were three high-confidence predicted genes. One of these genes encodes a MYB transcription factor and represents a promising candidate for further genetic research

Tunable cavity coupling of the zero phonon line of a nitrogen-vacancy defect in diamond

We demonstrate the tunable enhancement of the zero phonon line of a single nitrogen-vacancy color center in diamond at cryogenic temperature. An open cavity fabricated using focused ion beam milling provides mode volumes as small as 1.24 $\mu$m$^3$. In-situ tuning of the cavity resonance is achieved with piezoelectric actuators. At optimal coupling of the full open cavity the signal from individual zero phonon line transitions is enhanced by about a factor of 10 and the overall emission rate of the NV$^-$ center is increased by 40% compared with that measured from the same center in the absence of cavity field confinement. This result is important for the realization of efficient spin-photon interfaces and scalable quantum computing using optically addressable solid state spin qubits.Comment: 11 pages Main Article + 4 pages Supplementary Info Typos fixed from v

urg1: a uracil-regulatable promoter system for fission yeast with short induction and repression times.

BACKGROUND: The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a popular genetic model organism with powerful experimental tools. The thiamine-regulatable nmt1 promoter and derivatives, which take >15 hours for full induction, are most commonly used for controlled expression of ectopic genes. Given the short cell cycle of fission yeast, however, a promoter system that can be rapidly regulated, similar to the GAL system for budding yeast, would provide a key advantage for many experiments. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We used S. pombe microarrays to identify three neighbouring genes (urg1, urg2, and urg3) whose transcript levels rapidly and strongly increased in response to uracil, a condition which otherwise had little effect on global gene expression. We cloned the promoter of urg1 (uracil-regulatable gene) to create several PCR-based gene targeting modules for replacing native promoters with the urg1 promoter (Purg1) in the normal chromosomal locations of genes of interest. The kanMX6 and natMX6 markers allow selection under urg1 induced and repressed conditions, respectively. Some modules also allow N-terminal tagging of gene products placed under urg1 control. Using pom1 as a proof-of-principle, we observed a maximal increase of Purg1-pom1 transcripts after uracil addition within less than 30 minutes, and a similarly rapid decrease after uracil removal. The induced and repressed transcriptional states remained stable over 24-hour periods. RT-PCR comparisons showed that both induced and repressed Purg1-pom1 transcript levels were lower than corresponding P3nmt1-pom1 levels (wild-type nmt1 promoter) but higher than P81nmt1-pom1 levels (weak nmt1 derivative). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We exploited the urg1 promoter system to rapidly induce pom1 expression at defined cell-cycle stages, showing that ectopic pom1 expression leads to cell branching in G2-phase but much less so in G1-phase. The high temporal resolution provided by the urg1 promoter should facilitate experimental design and improve the genetic toolbox for the fission yeast community