1,597 research outputs found
A Bioinformatics-Assisted Review on Iron Metabolism and Immune System to Identify Potential Biomarkers of Exercise Stress-Induced Immunosuppression
The immune function is closely related to iron (Fe) homeostasis and allostasis. The aim of this bioinformatics-assisted review was twofold; (i) to update the current knowledge of Fe metabolism and its relationship to the immune system, and (ii) to perform a prediction analysis of regulatory network hubs that might serve as potential biomarkers during stress-induced immunosuppression. Several literature and bioinformatics databases/repositories were utilized to review Fe metabolism and complement the molecular description of prioritized proteins. The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) was used to build a protein-protein interactions network for subsequent network topology analysis. Importantly, Fe is a sensitive double-edged sword where two extremes of its nutritional status may have harmful effects on innate and adaptive immunity. We identified clearly connected important hubs that belong to two clusters: (i) presentation of peptide antigens to the immune system with the involvement of redox reactions of Fe, heme, and Fe trafficking/transport; and (ii) ubiquitination, endocytosis, and degradation processes of proteins related to Fe metabolism in immune cells (e.g., macrophages). The identified potential biomarkers were in agreement with the current experimental evidence, are included in several immunological/biomarkers databases, and/or are emerging genetic markers for different stressful conditions. Although further validation is warranted, this hybrid method (human-machine collaboration) to extract meaningful biological applications using available data in literature and bioinformatics tools should be highlighted.The âBioinformatics-assisted Reviewâ is a project developed and supported by the Research Division at the Dynamical Business and Science SocietyâDBSS International SAS. The APC was funded by the Exercise & Sport Nutrition Laboratory (ESNL) at Texas A&M University, the POWER LAB at University of Central Florida and the Sport Genomics Research Group at University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU
Crecimiento de Saccharomyces boulardii con agavinas acetiladas como fuente de carbono
Las agavinas son polĂmeros de fructosa provenientes del agave. Poseen enlaces β (2-1) y β (2-6), caracterĂstica que no permite su hidrolisis por enzimas digestivas y las clasifica como oligosacĂĄridos no digeribles. Estas molĂŠculas han tomado relevancia debido a sus diferentes aplicaciones como encapsulantes de componentes bioactivos para liberarlos en sitios especĂficos y su capacidad prebiĂłtica. Las bacterias del intestino grueso y cepas probiĂłticas como Saccharomyces boulardii pueden fermentar las agavinas, generando cambios positivos en la microbiota. En esta investigaciĂłn se evaluĂł la fermentabilidad de agavinas nativas, comerciales y acetiladas por la levadura probiĂłtica S. boulardii, con el fin de compararlos como fuentes de carbono. Como resultado se obtuvo que el desarrollo celular en el medio con agavinas acetiladas fue mayor (9,0x10âś UFC/mL) respecto a las comerciales (5,7x10âś UFC/mL) y nativas (7,5x10âľ UFC/mL), sin embargo, su crecimiento no fue mayor al medio con glucosa (3,5x10âˇUFC/mL).Agavins are polymers of fructose from agave that have β (2-1) and β (2-6) bonds, a characteristic that makes them resistant to hydrolysis by digestive enzymes and are classified non-digestible oligosaccharides. Currently, agavins have become relevant due to their different applications as an encapsulant of bioactive compounds to release them at specific sites and for their prebiotic characteristics. Bacteria from the large intestine and probiotic strains such as Saccharomyces boulardii can ferment agavins, generating positive changes in the microbiota. In this research, the fermentability of native, commercial and acetylated agavins by the probiotic yeast S. boulardii was evaluated, in order to compare them as carbon sources. As a result, it was obtained that the cell growth in the medium with acetylated agavins was higher (9,0x10âś CFU/mL) compared to commercial ones (5,7x10âś CFU/mL) and native agavins (7,5x10âľ CFU/mL), however, its growth was not greater than the medium with glucosa (3,5x10⡠CFU/mL)
Simulation of the CMS Resistive Plate Chambers
The Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) muon subsystem contributes significantly to
the formation of the trigger decision and reconstruction of the muon trajectory
parameters. Simulation of the RPC response is a crucial part of the entire CMS
Monte Carlo software and directly influences the final physical results. An
algorithm based on the parametrization of RPC efficiency, noise, cluster size
and timing for every strip has been developed. Experimental data obtained from
cosmic and proton-proton collisions at TeV have been used for
determination of the parameters. A dedicated validation procedure has been
developed. A good agreement between the simulated and experimental data has
been achieved.Comment: to be published in JINS
The invisible enemy : Understanding bird-window strikes through citizen science in a focal city
Bird-window collisions have been estimated to be among the most important sources of bird death. Despite increasing knowledge in Latin America, our understanding of this phenomenon is still incipient, with research performed in Mexico limited to a handful of studies. Here, we present the results of a citizen science effort focused on bird-window collisions at seven buildings in the university campus of the National School of Higher Studies (ENES) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, located in the city of Leon (central Mexico). Our main goal was to describe seasonal patterns of bird-window collisions and their relationship with building traits (i.e., building height, window area) through citizen science monitoring strategies. Our results showed that collisions were higher in two of the seven studied buildings, with two bird species recording almost half of the total collisions: Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) and Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea). Seasonally, April was the only month to differ from the rest of the studied months, showing significantly higher rate of bird-window collision. Regarding building traits, only building height was related to the number of recorded bird-window collisions. In sum, our study provides findings from an understudied area, showing the value of citizen science approaches to generate knowledge on a deadly phenomenon. Notably, besides the potential drawbacks and importance of generating this kind of information, our project raised awareness on the topic across the entire campus community, from the students and academics to the administration, highlighting the potential for social impact with these kinds of projects.Peer reviewe
Measurement of the t(t)over-bar production cross section in the dilepton channel in pp collisions at âs=8 TeV
The top-antitop quark (t (t) over bar) production cross section is measured in proton-proton collisions at root s = 8 TeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.3 fb(-1). The measurement is performed by analysing events with a pair of electrons or muons, or one electron and one muon, and at least two jets, one of which is identified as originating from hadronisation of a bottom quark. The measured cross section is 239 +/- 2 (stat.) +/- 11 (syst.) +/- 6 (lum.) pb, for an assumed top-quark mass of 172.5 GeV, in agreement with the prediction of the standard model
Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV
A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay
channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7
TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector,
and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No
significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper
limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the
standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at
95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE
Search for New Physics with Jets and Missing Transverse Momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV
A search for new physics is presented based on an event signature of at least
three jets accompanied by large missing transverse momentum, using a data
sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns
collected in proton--proton collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV with the CMS detector
at the LHC. No excess of events is observed above the expected standard model
backgrounds, which are all estimated from the data. Exclusion limits are
presented for the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard
model. Cross section limits are also presented using simplified models with new
particles decaying to an undetected particle and one or two jets
Search for anomalous t t-bar production in the highly-boosted all-hadronic final state
A search is presented for a massive particle, generically referred to as a
Z', decaying into a t t-bar pair. The search focuses on Z' resonances that are
sufficiently massive to produce highly Lorentz-boosted top quarks, which yield
collimated decay products that are partially or fully merged into single jets.
The analysis uses new methods to analyze jet substructure, providing
suppression of the non-top multijet backgrounds. The analysis is based on a
data sample of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV,
corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns. Upper limits
in the range of 1 pb are set on the product of the production cross section and
branching fraction for a topcolor Z' modeled for several widths, as well as for
a Randall--Sundrum Kaluza--Klein gluon. In addition, the results constrain any
enhancement in t t-bar production beyond expectations of the standard model for
t t-bar invariant masses larger than 1 TeV.Comment: Submitted to the Journal of High Energy Physics; this version
includes a minor typo correction that will be submitted as an erratu
Combined search for the quarks of a sequential fourth generation
Results are presented from a search for a fourth generation of quarks
produced singly or in pairs in a data set corresponding to an integrated
luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in
2011. A novel strategy has been developed for a combined search for quarks of
the up and down type in decay channels with at least one isolated muon or
electron. Limits on the mass of the fourth-generation quarks and the relevant
Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements are derived in the context of a
simple extension of the standard model with a sequential fourth generation of
fermions. The existence of mass-degenerate fourth-generation quarks with masses
below 685 GeV is excluded at 95% confidence level for minimal off-diagonal
mixing between the third- and the fourth-generation quarks. With a mass
difference of 25 GeV between the quark masses, the obtained limit on the masses
of the fourth-generation quarks shifts by about +/- 20 GeV. These results
significantly reduce the allowed parameter space for a fourth generation of
fermions.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO
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