Quantification of gliadin levels to the picogram level by flow cytometry

Celiac disease is a widely prevalent enteropathy caused by intolerance to gliadin, one of the gluten proteins. We developed two methods for the analysis of gliadin levels. Both methods use flow cytometry and rat antibodies against a 16-residue peptide of gliadin. The peptide is common to the alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and omega-gliadins

Conformal Anomalies and the Gravitational Effective Action: The TJJTJJ Correlator for a Dirac Fermion

We compute in linearized gravity all the contributions to the gravitational effective action due to a virtual Dirac fermion, related to the conformal anomaly. This requires, in perturbation theory, the identification of the gauge-gauge-graviton vertex off mass shell, involving the correlator of the energy-momentum tensor and two vector currents ($TJJ$), which is responsible for the generation of the gauge contributions to the conformal anomaly in gravity. We also present the anomalous effective action in the inverse mass of the fermion as in the Euler-Heisenberg case.Comment: 47 pages, 1 figure. Revised final version, contains 1 additional section. Accepted for pubblication on Phys. Rev.

Searching for a continuum 4D field theory arising from a 5D non-abelian gauge theory

The anisotropic 5D SU(2) Yang-Mills model has been widely investigated on the lattice during the last decade. In the case where all dimensions are large in size, it was previously claimed that there is a new phase in the phase diagram, called the Layer phase. In this phase, the gauge fields would be localized on 4D layers. Previous works claim that the phase transition to the Layer phase is of second order, which would allow a continuum limit to be taken. We present the extension of the previous work to large lattices, for which we found a first order phase transition. This leaves the scenario that this 5D theory can be dimensionally reduced to a continuum 4D field theory, doubtful.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures - talk presented at the 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory - Lattice 2013, Mainz, German

Novel sulfur and selenium containing bis-α-amino acids from 4-hydroxyproline

The synthesis of new substituted prolines carrying at C-4 a second α-amino acid residue is reported. The amino acid, l-cysteine or l-selenocysteine, is linked to the proline ring through the sulfur or the selenium atom, respectively. The products were prepared with different stereochemistry at C-4, in few and clean high-yielding steps, with suitable protections for solid phase applications. The introduction of both sulfur and selenium atoms at C-4 of the proline ring seems to enhance significantly the cis geometry at the prolyl amide bond

Drinking wine at home: Hedonic analysis of sicilian wines using quantile regression

Abstract: In recent decades, the Sicilian wine industry has experienced a booming expansion because of the growing preferences of Italian consumers for Sicilian wines, especially in extra-regional markets. These consumers have been paying closer attention to Sicilian premium wines. For this reason, the objective of this study is to inform professional investors and wine managers about the consumer preferences with respect to the most important segment categories of domestically consumed Sicilian wines. Using the quantile regression technique, we analyzed the role of wine attributes and prices as an information tool in order to value for each wine segment the implicit price of the attributes affecting wine consumers\u2019 choices. The results indicate that Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Geographical Indication (PGI) certification is the main determinant in the wine price mechanisms and certified wines achieve premium prices that are progressively higher as the price level of the wine increases. Furthermore the effect of the brand on price formation seems to have a significant impact for low-end wines, whereas it has no specific impact on the price mechanism for high-end wines. Keywords: Consumer Scan Dataset, Geographic Origin, Hedonic Price, Robust Regression, Wine Consumptio

Paper Session III-B - The Columbus Attached Laboratory

As an integral part of the manned core of the Space Station Freedom, the European Columbus Attached Laboratory is one of the three Laboratory Modules to provide an environment and facility for laboratory work, mcluding operational support to the crew. Following the Preparatory Phase and major interfaces agreement reached between NASA and the International Partners, the Columbus Attached Laboratory has reached a level of definition which will allow proceeding with the full development phase. This paper describes the main architectural and technical features of the current Columbus Attached Laboratory, as they have been derived from external and internal system requirements, in order to achieve overall performance capability and compatibility with the Space Station Freedom. Relevant aspects and design solutions are presented in the field of required resources, Payload and Crew accommodation. The interoperability domain which regulates Columbus Attached Laboratory on-orbit life in its integrated role within the Space Station Freedom is also addressed in some of its main features. Concluding remarks cover the major steps of the design, development and qualification plan