Multilepton signatures for leptoquarks

The production of third generation leptoquarks can give rise to multilepton events accompanied by jets and missing ET. In this work we study the signals of these leptoquarks at the CERN Large Hadron Collider and compare them with the ones expected in supersymmetric models. ©1998 The American Physical Society.

Perturbations to Saturn's F-ring strands at their closest approach to Prometheus

The strange morphology of the F ring of Saturn is thought to be caused by the perturbing effects of two close satellites, Prometheus and Pandora. The F ring and the satellites also experience periodic close encounters as a result of differential precession arising from Saturn's oblateness. Using the orbits of the F-ring strands derived by Murray et al. (1997, Icarus 129, 304-316) the behaviour of the ring particles at their closest approach to Prometheus is analysed using numerical simulations. The results show that a gap and a wave are formed in the ring at each encounter with the satellite. However, the gap is expected to have a short lifetime due to keplerian shear. © 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Strong selection against hybrids at a hybrid zone in the Ensatina ring species complex and its evolutionary implications

The analysis of interactions between lineages at varying levels of genetic divergence can provide insights into the process of speciation through the accumulation of incompatible mutations. Ring species, and especially the Ensatina eschscholtzii system exemplify this approach. The plethodontid salamanders E. eschscholtzii xanthoptica and E. eschscholtzii platensis hybridize in the central Sierran foothills of California. We compared the genetic structure across two transects (southern and northern Calaveras Co.), one of which was resampled over 20 years, and examined diagnostic molecular markers (eight allozyme loci and mitochondrial DNA) and a diagnostic quantitative trait (color pattern). Key results across all studies were: (1) cline centers for all markers were coincident and the zones were narrow, with width estimates of 730 m to 2000 m; (2) cline centers at the northern Calaveras transect were coincident between 1981 and 2001, demonstrating repeatability over five generations; (3) there were very few if any putative F1s, but a relatively high number of backcrossed individuals in the central portion of transects: and (4) we found substantial linkage disequilibrium in all three studies and strong heterozygote deficit both in northern Calaveras, in 2001, and southern Calaveras. Both linkage disequilibrium and heterozygote deficit showed maximum values near the center of the zones. Using estimates of cline width and dispersal, we infer strong selection against hybrids. This is sufficient to promote accumulation of differences at loci that are neutral or under divergent selection, but would still allow for introgression of adaptive alleles. The evidence for strong but incomplete isolation across this centrally located contact is consistent with theory suggesting a gradual increase in postzygotic incompatibility between allopatric populations subject to divergent selection and reinforces the value of Ensatina as a system for the study of divergence and speciation at multiple stages. © 2005 The Society for the Study of Evolution. All rights reserved.

Hematological and serum chemistry values for the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus): Variation with sex and age

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The effect of age on hematological and serum biochemical values on juvenile ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Serum biochemical parameters in the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) on breeding season

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Clinical and immunological parameters of Newcastle disease vaccination in juvenile ring - necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of experimental vaccination against newcastle disease and the blood proteinogram in ring - necked pheasants(Phasianus colchicus) during breeding season

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Determination of ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) serum protein concentrations by refractometry and the biuret method

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of hand-held refractometer in determining serum protein concentrations in ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) as compared with the standard biuret method. The results indicated that serum protein values may be accurately determined in ring-necked pheasants with a hand-held refractometer. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008.

Serum protein profiles of juvenile ring-necked pheasants vaccinated or not against newcastle disease

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Subluxation of the crystalline lens: A no-ring approach

Purpose: To report the surgical technique and outcomes of a no-ring approach to posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children and young adults with subluxation of the crystalline lens. Methods: A three-piece 5.5-mm hydrophobic acrylic IOL was implanted in which the optic and one haptic were inside the capsular bag and the other haptic was in the ciliary sulcus. The implantations were done in 13 eyes of 10 patients with lens subluxation. One haptic was fixated in the ciliary sulcus by passing it through an operculum-shaped opening in the capsular bag edge, made between 2 and 3 clock hours, clockwise from the middle point of the subluxated area. Results: The mean age of the 10 patients was 12.61 ± 8.04 years and the mean follow-up was 21.38 ± 11.29 months. The mean preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.15 ± 0.58 and 0.37 ± 0.17 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, respectively, in 11 measured eyes. The postoperative BCVA was 20/40 or better in 4 eyes (36.36%), between 20/40 and 20/60 in 6 eyes (54.54%), and between 20/80 and 20/100 in 1 eye (9.09%). The BCVA improved in all eyes. Postoperative IOL decentration between 1.0 and 1.5 mm occurred in 3 of 13 eyes (23.08%). Conclusion: The results indicate that the no-ring technique allows centration of an IOL implanted into a subluxated capsular bag without using capsule tension rings. © SLACK Incorporated.

Comparison of different methods of measuring albumin concentration in ring-necked pheasants

The purpose of this study was to compare albumin concentrations in ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) using two different dye-binding methods: the bromocresol green (BCG) and bromocresol purple (BCP). High positive correlation was observed for albumin in BCG and BCP methods. Compared to BCP, the BCG-binding method yielded significantly higher (p < 0. 0001) albumin values for adult female ring-necked pheasants. © 2012 Springer-Verlag London Limited.

Nucleation of superconductivity in a thin disk with a ring-like defect

We report on the influence of a circular defect on the vortex configuration in a mesoscopic superconducting sample. Effects associated with the pinning force of the circular defect on the configuration and on the vortex entry fields are studied for a very thin disk. We calculate the magnetization loop, vorticity, free energy and superconducting electrons for the disk in presence of an external magnetic field applied perpendicular to the disk plane. The magnetization curves are hysteretic, with paramagnetic response in part of the downward branch, also, in this part we found a vortex-anti-vortex state. © 2013 World Scientific Publishing Company.

Genomic Signatures Predict Poor Outcome in Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcomas and Leiomyosarcomas

Undifferentiated high-grade pleomorphic sarcomas (UPSs) display aggressive clinical behavior and frequently develop local recurrence and distant metastasis. Because these sarcomas often share similar morphological patterns with other tumors, particularly leiomyosarcomas (LMSs), classification by exclusion is frequently used. In this study, array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) was used to analyze 20 UPS and 17 LMS samples from untreated patients. The LMS samples presented a lower frequency of genomic alterations compared with the UPS samples. The most frequently altered UPS regions involved gains at 20q13.33 and 7q22.1 and losses at 3p26.3. Gains at 8q24.3 and 19q13.12 and losses at 9p21.3 were frequently detected in the LMS samples. Of these regions, gains at 1q21.3, 11q12.2-q12.3, 16p11.2, and 19q13.12 were significantly associated with reduced overall survival times in LMS patients. A multivariate analysis revealed that gains at 1q21.3 were an independent prognostic marker of shorter survival times in LMS patients (HR = 13.76; P = 0.019). Although the copy number profiles of the UPS and LMS samples could not be distinguished using unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis, one of the three clusters presented cases associated with poor prognostic outcome (P = 0.022). A relative copy number analysis for the ARNT, SLC27A3, and PBXIP1 genes was performed using quantitative real-time PCR in 11 LMS and 16 UPS samples. Gains at 1q21-q22 were observed in both tumor types, particularly in the UPS samples. These findings provide strong evidence for the existence of a genomic signature to predict poor outcome in a subset of UPS and LMS patients. © 2013 Silveira et al.

Cohomology ring of the brst operator associated to the sum of two pure spinors

In the study of the Type II superstring, it is useful to consider the BRST complex associated to the sum of two pure spinors. The cohomology of this complex is an infinite-dimensional vector space. It is also a finite-dimensional algebra over the algebra of functions of a single pure spinor. In this paper we study the multiplicative structure. © 2013 World Scientific Publishing Company.