bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age-associated Decline in Phosphorylated Connexin 43 Protein Expression in the Left Ventricular Tissue of Wister Rats
Authors: Onwuli Donatus Onukwufor , Jones Sandra A.
Published: February 2019

Cardiac arrhythmia affects ~ 6% in those over 65 years of age (old), but with 0.2% occurrence in those of 45 years and below (young). Arrhythmia can result from dysregulation of the cardiac impulse generation and its conduction. Connexin proteins are responsible for cardiac impulse conduction, and phosphorylation of connexin 43 determines its functional ability. In this study, Phosphorylated connexin 43, density and expression were assessed in ventricular tissues from young (6 months old) and old (24 months old) Wister rats, using the techniques of western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results show that phosphorylated Cx43 in the left ventricle of 24 months old rats significantly declined (P=0.04 & 0.01) by method of western blot and immunohistochemistry respectively, but did not differ in the right ventricle. The left ventricle is known to be responsible for cardiac output. This data suggest an age-associated decline in the expression of phosphorylated connexin 43 in the left ventricle, which may play a significant role in the development of cardiac arrhythmia in the elderly.
Facies Analysis and Depositoinal Environment of D-3 Reservoir Sands Vin Field, Eastern Niger Delta
Authors: Vin Onyewuchi, Chinedu , Odigi Minapuye, I.
Published: February 2019

Facies analysis and depositional environment identification of the Vin field was evaluated through the integration and comparison of results from wireline logs, core analysis, seismic data, ditch cutting samples and petrophysical parameters. Well log suites from 22 wells comprising gamma ray, resistivity, neutron, density, seismic data, and ditch cutting samples were obtained and analyzed. Prediction of depositional environment was made through the usage of wireline log shapes of facies combined with result from cores and ditch cuttings sample description. The aims of this study were to identify the facies and depositional environments of the D-3 reservoir sand in the Vin field. Two sets of correlations were made on the E-W trend to validate the reservoir top and base while the isopach map was used to establish the reservoir continuity. Facies analysis was carried out to identify the various depositional environments. The result showed that the reservoir is an elongate , four way dip closed roll over anticline associated with an E-W trending growth fault and contains two structural high separated by a saddle. The offshore bar unit is an elongate sand body with length: width ratio of >3:1 and is aligned parallel to the coast-line. Analysis of the gamma ray logs indicated that four log facies were recognized in all the wells used for the study. These include: Funnel-shaped (coarsening upward sequences), bell-shaped or fining upward sequences, the bow shape and irregular shape. Based on these categories of facies, the depositional environments were interpreted as deltaic distributaries, regressive barrier bars, reworked offshore bars and shallow marine. Analysis of the wireline logs and their core/ditch cuttings description has led to the conclusion that the reservoir sandstones of the Agbada Formation in the Vin field of the eastern Niger Delta is predominantly marine deltaic sequence, strongly influenced by clastic output from the Niger Delta. Deposition occurred in a variety of littoral and neritic environment ranging from barrier sand complex to fully marine outer shelf mudstones.
Analysis of Direct, Diffuse and Global Solar Radiations over Varanasi at Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), India
Authors: Yadava Pramod Kumar , Srivastava Manoj K. , Gupta Priyanshu , Singh Rajeev K. , Yadav Divya Prakash , Verma Sunita
Published: February 2019

The paper presents the seasonal solar radiations over Varanasi (25°20' N, 83° 00' E 81.1m altitude) in Eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP) in India. An investigation on solar radiation over Varanasi station, India is carried out by using the five years (2010-2014) recorded direct, diffuse, and global radiations data obtained from the radiation unit installed by India Meteorological Department (IMD) at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus. Analyses of winter (December, January, and February), summer (March, April, and May), monsoon season (June, July, August, September), and post monsoon (October, November) period shows that diffuse solar radiation is maximum (~1.42 MJ/m2) during monsoon season in 2012 at 12:00 IST and global solar radiation is maximum (~2.9 MJ/m2) during summer season in 2012 at 13:00 IST. The results of solar radiation are further analyzed with the aerosols optical depth over Varanasi. The increase in diffuse radiation are found to be well correlated (R= 0.67) with higher values of aerosols optical depth during summer over Varanasi.
Interaction of Cyclosporine A with Pomegranate Juice and Its Potential Nephroprotective Effect in Rats
Authors: Ali Ahmed S. , Sattar Mai A. Abdul , Makki Hala M. , Ali Soad S. , Ghoneim Ragia H.
Published: February 2019

Objectives: To study the effect of concomitant administering of pomegranate juice orally (PJ) on bioavailability of cyclosporine A (CsA) and independently its potential nephroprotective effect against CsA induced nephrotoxicity.

Methods: A- Pharmacokinetic study (PK), Wister rats were divided into groups (each 6 rats) I-: CsA PO + Vehicle; II- CsA IP + Vehicle, III- CsA PO + PJ, IV- CsA IP + PJ. CsA dose was 20 mg/kg for 5 days the vehicle or PJ (2 ml) was given 1 h before drug administration. Blood samples were taken at the 1st and 5th day at specified times and CsA level was determined by immune assays. Relative bioavailability of CsA was determined.

B- Nephroprotection study (separate study to administer bioequivalent CsA PO doses, in view of PK study), I- ( CsA 13 mg PO + 2 ml PJ .II- CsA 20 mg P0 + 2 ml vehicle (for 28 day). The design also includes two control groups (vehicle alone or PJ alone). Blood samples for drug analysis, biochemical investigations and kidney samples for histopathology were taken at the 28th day.

Results: PJ juice enhanced the bioavailability of oral CsA by about 50% (P > 0.05). But CsA (IP) was not affected after repeated administration for 5 days. Independently, the marked kidney damage induced by CsA was reversed by concomitant administration of PJ as well as it attenuated the increase in serum creatinine.

Conclusions: Repeated administration of pomegranate juice enhance CsA oral bioavailability which likely due to inhibition of intestinal enzymes and transport pump. Independently it caused significant attenuation of CsA induced renal toxicity.
Assessment of Bacterial Profile of Ocular Infections among Subjects Undergoing Ivermectin Therapy in Onchocerciasis Endemic Area in Nigeria
Authors: Chinweoke Okeke-Nwolisa, Benedictta , Bessie Enweani, Ifeoma , Onyema Oshim, Ifeanyi , Ukamaka Urama, Evelyn , Nkechi Olise, Augustina , Oluwayemisi Odeyemi, , Charles Uzozie, Chukwudi
Published: February 2019

Bacteria are the major contributor of ocular infections worldwide. This can damage the structures of the eye with possible blindness and visual impairments, if left untreated. This study was undertaken   to determine bacterial agents of conjunctivitis among individuals from onchocerciasis endemic area in Anambra State, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study involving ninety-two (92) randomly recruited  test  subjects  undergoing ivermectin therapy aged between 11-80 years with signs and symptoms of  onchocerciasis infection and bacterial conjunctivitis at Isu-Anaocha community in  Anambra state between October and November, 2016. Ninety-two (92) apparently healthy subjects without signs and symptoms of onchocerciasis and bacterial conjunctivitis with normal vision, within the age of 11-80 years from the same community were used as control subjects, making a total of 184 participants. Visual acuity test was conducted on the participants using Snellen’s alphabet chart and illiterate E   chart.  Phenotypic   and antibiotic susceptibility tests of these isolates were   carried out according to  Kirby - Bauer disc diffusion method guidelines. In the test group, 22 out of 92 conjunctival samples yielded bacterial growth, giving percentage prevalence of 23.9%, with age group 41-50 years having the highest frequency 7(31.8%) among individuals co-infected with onchocerciasis infection whereas 72 out of 92 conjunctival samples in the control group yielded bacterial growth giving percentage prevalence of 78.3%, with age group 41-50 years having the highest frequency 35(37.2%) among individuals that had  no signs and symptoms of onchocerciasis infection. The predominant bacteria isolated was Staphylococcus   aureus 8(36%) in the test group and 20 (28%) in the control group, giving a total of 28 (30%). Other bacterial isolates were Streptococcus pneumoniae 17 (18%), Staph. epidermidis 15 (16%), Escherichia coli 13(14%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 12(13%) and Salmonella spp. 9(9%). Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that Gentamicin and fluoroquinolones are most active against Gram positive bacteria in conjunctivitis while Augmentin was found to be the most active against Gram negative organisms, therefore, recommended as first line drug. Visual acuity (VA) test done on the test group showed that 52 (57%) persons had   normal vision, 20 (22%) had mild visual impairment, 15 (16%) had moderate visual impairment, 5(5%) had severe visual impairment but none was blind. All forms of visual impairment are not wholly attributable to bacterial conjunctivitis as some could be due to ageing and uncorrected refractive errors.
Nilpotent orbit Coulomb branches of types AD
Authors: Hanany Amihay , Miketa Dominik
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We develop a new method for constructing 3d

$$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$

N
=
4

Coulomb branch chiral rings in terms of gauge-invariant generators and relations while making the global symmetry manifest. Our examples generalise to all balanced quivers of type A and D whose Coulomb branches are closures of nilpotent orbits. This new approach is a synthesis of operator counting using Hilbert series and explicit algebraic construction introduced by Bullimore, Dimofte and Gaiotto with significant potential for further generalisation to other quivers, including non-simply laced. The method also identifies complex mass deformations of many Coulomb branches, providing an explicit construction for complex deformations of nilpotent orbits.
Properties of discrete black hole hair
Authors: Garcia Garcia Isabel
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We revisit the physical effects of discrete ℤ
p
gauge charge on black hole thermodynamics, building on the seminal work of Coleman, Preskill, and Wilczek. Realising the discrete theory from the spontaneous breaking of an Abelian gauge theory, we consider the two limiting cases of interest, depending on whether the Compton wavelength of the massive vector is much smaller or much larger than the size of the black hole — the so-called thin- and thick-string limits respectively. We find that the qualitative effect of discrete hair on the mass-temperature relationship is the same in both regimes, and similar to that of unbroken U(1) charge: namely, a black hole carrying discrete gauge charge is always colder than its uncharged counterpart. In the thick-string limit, our conclusions bring into question some of the results of Coleman et al., as we discuss. Further, by considering the system to be enclosed within a finite cavity, we argue how the unbroken limit may be smoothly defined, and the unscreened electric field of the standard Reissner-Nordström solution recovered.
Pole N-flation
Authors: Dias Mafalda , Frazer Jonathan , Retolaza Ander , Scalisi Marco , Westphal Alexander
Published: February 2019

Abstract

A second order pole in the scalar kinetic term can lead to a class of inflation models with universal predictions referred to as pole inflation or α-attractors. While this kinetic structure is ubiquitous in supergravity effective field theories, realising a consistent UV complete model in e.g. string theory is a non-trivial task. For one, one expects quantum corrections arising in the vicinity of the pole which may spoil the typical attractor dynamics. As a conservative estimate of the range of validity of supergravity models of pole inflation we employ the weak gravity conjecture (WGC). We find that this constrains the accessible part of the inflationary plateau by limiting the decay constant of the axion partner. For the original single complex field models, the WGC does not even allow the inflaton to reach the inflationary plateau region. We analyze if evoking the assistance of N scalar fields from the open string moduli helps addressing these problems. Pole N-flation could improve radiative control by reducing the required range of each individual field. However, the WGC bound prohibiting pole inflation for a single such field persists even for a collective motion of N such scalars if we impose the sublattice WGC. Finally, we outline steps towards an embedding of pole N-flation in type IIB string theory on fibred Calabi-Yau manifolds.
Pole mass determination in presence of heavy particles
Authors: Bahl Henning
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We investigate the determination of the Higgs-boson propagator poles in the MSSM. Based upon earlier works, we point out that in case of a large hierarchy between the electroweak scale and one or more SUSY masses a numerical determination with DR Higgs field renormalization induces higher order terms which would cancel in a more complete calculation. The origin of these terms is the momentum dependence of contributions involving at least one of the heavy particles. We present two different methods to avoid their appearance. In the first approach, the poles are determined by expanding around the one-loop solutions. In the second approach, a “heavy-OS” Higgs field renormalization is employed in order to absorb the momentum dependence of heavy contributions. We will find that the first approach leads to an unwanted behavior of the Higgs boson mass predictions close to crossing points where two Higgs bosons that mix with each other are almost mass degenerate. These problems are avoided in the second approach, which became the default approach used in the public code FeynHiggs. Despite the discussion being very specific to the MSSM, the argumentation and the methods presented in this work are straightforwardly applicable to the determination of propagator poles in other models involving a large mass hierarchy.
Attractive interaction between vortex and anti-vortex in holographic superfluid
Authors: Lan Shan-Quan , Li Gu-Qiang , Mo Jie-Xiong , Xu Xiao-Bao
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Annihilation of vortex and anti-vortex in two dimensional turbulent superfluid are important phenomena which reduce the topological defects. In this paper, we report new findings on the annihilation process of a pair of vortices in holographic superfluid. The process is found to consist of two stages which are amazingly separated by vortex size 2r. The separation distance δ(t) between vortex and anti-vortex as a function of time is well fitted by α(t
0 − t)
n
, where the scaling exponent n = 1/2 for δ(t) > 2r, and n = 2/5 for δ(t) < 2r. Thus the attractive force between vortex and anti-vortex is derived as f(δ) ∝ 1/δ
3 for the first stage, and f(δ) ∝ 1/δ
4 for the second stage. Successfully, we present physical interpretation for the theorem that the annihilation rate of vortices in turbulent superfluid obeys the two-body decay law when the vortex density is low.
Phenomenology of two texture zero neutrino mass in left-right symmetric model with Z8 × Z2
Authors: Borgohain Happy , Das Mrinal Kumar
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We have done a phenomenological study on the neutrino mass matrix M

ν
favoring two zero texture in the framework of left-right symmetric model (LRSM) where type I and type II seesaw naturally occurs. The type I SS mass term is considered to be following a trimaximal mixing (TM) pattern. The symmetry realizations of these texture zero structures has been realized using the discrete cyclic abelian Z8 × Z2 group in LRSM. We have studied six of the popular texture zero classes named as A1, A2, B1, B2, B3 and B4 favoured by neutrino oscillation data in our analysis. We basically focused on the implications of these texture zero mass matrices in low energy phenomenon like neutrinoless double beta decay (NDBD) and lepton flavour violation (LFV) in LRSM scenario. For NDBD, we have considered only the dominant new physics contribution coming from the diagrams containing purely RH current and another from the charged Higgs scalar while ignoring the contributions coming from the left-right gauge boson mixing and heavy light neutrino mixing. The mass of the extra gauge bosons and scalars has been considered to be of the order of TeV scale which is accessible at the colliders.
Double copy structure of CFT correlators
Authors: Farrow Joseph A. , Lipstein Arthur E. , McFadden Paul
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We consider the momentum-space 3-point correlators of currents, stress tensors and marginal scalar operators in general odd-dimensional conformal field theories. We show that the flat space limit of these correlators is spanned by gauge and gravitational scattering amplitudes in one higher dimension which are related by a double copy. Moreover, we recast three-dimensional CFT correlators in terms of tree-level Feynman diagrams without energy conservation, suggesting double copy structure beyond the flat space limit.
Effective field theory of time-translational symmetry breaking in nonequilibrium open system
Authors: Hongo Masaru , Kim Suro , Noumi Toshifumi , Ota Atsuhisa
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We develop the effective field theoretical (EFT) approach to time-translational symmetry breaking of nonequilibrium open systems based on the Schwinger-Keldysh formalism. In the Schwinger-Keldysh formalism, all the symmetries of the microscopic Lagrangian are doubled essentially because the dynamical fields are doubled to describe the time-evolution along the closed-time-path. The effective Lagrangian for open systems are then obtained by coarse-graining the microscopic Schwinger-Keldysh Lagrangian. As a consequence of coarse-graining procedure, there appear the noise and dissipation effects, which explicitly break the doubled time-translational symmetries into a diagonal one. We therefore need to incorporate this symmetry structure to construct the EFT for Nambu-Goldstone bosons in symmetry broken phases of open systems. Based on this observation together with the consistency of the Schwinger-Keldysh action, we construct and study the general EFT for time-translational symmetry breaking in particular, having in mind applications to synchronization, time crystal, and cosmic inflation.
U(1) flavour symmetries as Peccei-Quinn symmetries
Authors: Björkeroth Fredrik , Di Luzio Luca , Mescia Federico , Nardi Enrico
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We investigate to what extent a generic, generation-dependent U(1) symmetry acting on the quark Yukawa operators can reduce the number of free parameters by forcing some entries in the Yukawa matrices to vanish. The maximal reduction compatible with CP violation yields nine real parameters and one phase, which matches the number of physical observables, implying that such models have no free parameters. We derive a set of results: (i) the only possible structures have the form M
4 ⊕ M
5, where the subscripts indicate the number of real parameters in the Yukawa matrices, (ii) there are only two inequivalent Yukawa structures, each one giving rise to six different models depending on quark flavour assignments, (iii) the U(1) symmetries that generate these textures all have a QCD anomaly, and hence are Peccei-Quinn symmetries, reinforcing the idea of a possible connection between the quark flavour puzzle and the axion solution to the strong CP problem, (iv) in some cases the contributions to the QCD anomaly of two generations cancels out, and this opens the possibility that the axion coupling to nucleons could be strongly suppressed. Flavour-violating axion couplings to quarks are completely fixed, up to the axion decay constant, providing a non-trivial complementarity between low-energy flavour-violating processes and standard axion searches.
Amplitudes, observables, and classical scattering
Authors: Kosower David A. , Maybee Ben , O’Connell Donal
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We present a formalism for computing classically measurable quantities directly from on-shell quantum scattering amplitudes. We discuss the ingredients needed for obtaining the classical result, and show how to set up the calculation to derive the result efficiently. We do this without specializing to a specific theory. We study in detail two examples in electrodynamics: the momentum transfer in spinless scattering to next-to-leading order, and the momentum radiated to leading order.
Long live the Higgs portal!
Authors: Filimonova Anastasiia , Westhoff Susanne
Published: February 2019

Abstract

In Higgs portal models of fermion dark matter, scalar couplings are unavoidably suppressed by strong bounds from direct detection experiments. As a consequence, thermal dark matter relics must coexist with mediators in a compressed spectrum of dark particles. Small couplings and small mass splittings lead to slow mediator decays, leaving signatures with displaced vertices or disappearing tracks at colliders. We perform a comprehensive analysis of long-lived mediators at the LHC in the context of a minimal dark matter model with a naturally small Higgs portal, also known as the wino-bino scenario in supersymmetry. Existing searches for disappearing charged tracks and displaced hard leptons already exclude tiny portal couplings that cannot be probed by current direct and indirect detection experiments. For larger portal couplings, we predict new signatures with displaced soft leptons, which are accessible with run-II data. Searches for displaced particles are sensitive to weakly coupling mediators with masses up to the TeV scale, well beyond the reach of prompt signals.
Multipoint conformal blocks in the comb channel
Authors: Rosenhaus Vladimir
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Conformal blocks are the building blocks for correlation functions in conformal field theories. The four-point function is the most well-studied case. We consider conformal blocks for n-point correlation functions. For conformal field theories in dimensions d = 1 and d = 2, we use the shadow formalism to compute n-point conformal blocks, for arbitrary n, in a particular channel which we refer to as the comb channel. The result is expressed in terms of a multivariable hypergeometric function, for which we give series, differential, and integral representations. In general dimension d we derive the 5-point conformal block, for external and exchanged scalar operators.
Thermodynamics of charged accelerating AdS black holes and holographic heat engines
Authors: Zhang Jialin , Li Yanjun , Yu Hongwei
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Using a reasonable choice in normalizing the timelike Killing vector, we investigate the thermodynamic properties of charged accelerating Anti-de Sitter (AdS) black holes. We find that the expression of the thermodynamic mass in the first law of thermodynamics displays an inextricably intertwining behavior with the charge due to the unusual asymptotic structure of the accelerating black holes. Meanwhile, the thermodynamic length as a potential conjugate to the varying cosmic string tension is introduced and analyzed in detail, and the possible phase behavior of the charged accelerating black holes is also discussed in a standard thermodynamic analysis. Furthermore, we also investigate the properties of holographic heat engines with charged accelerating AdS black holes as the working substance in a benchmarking scheme. We find that the efficiencies of the black hole heat engines can be influenced by both the size of the benchmark circular cycle and the cosmic string tension. More interestingly, the existence of charge may significantly increase the efficiencies of the black hole heat engines and make them be more sensitive to a varying cosmic string tension. A cross-comparison of the efficiencies of different black hole heat engines suggests that the acceleration also increases the efficiency and renders it more sensitive as the charge varies.
Effects of rotation and acceleration in the axial current: density operator vs Wigner function
Authors: Prokhorov George Y. , Teryaev Oleg V. , Zakharov Valentin I.
Published: February 2019

Abstract

The hydrodynamic coefficients in the axial current are calculated on the basis of the equilibrium quantum statistical density operator in the third order of perturbation theory in thermal vorticity tensor both for the case of massive and massless fermions. The coefficients obtained describe third-order corrections to the Chiral Vortical Effect and include the contribution from local acceleration. We show that the methods of the Wigner function and the statistical density operator lead to the same result for an axial current in describing effects associated only with vorticity when the local acceleration is zero, but differ in describing mixed effects for which both acceleration and vorticity are significant simultaneously.
Emergent dark gravity from (non)holographic screens
Authors: Peach Alexander
Published: February 2019

Abstract

In this work, a clear connection is made between E. Verlinde’s recent theory of emergent gravity in de Sitter space [1], and the earlier work describing emergent gravity using holographic screens [2]. A modified (non)holographic screen scenario is presented, wherein the screen fails to encode an emergent mass in the bulk “unemerged” part of space for sufficiently large length-scales, where the volume-law of the non-holographic bulk degrees of freedom overtakes the area-law scaling of the entropy of the screen. Within this framework, we can describe both an emergent dark gravitational force, which scales like

$$ \frac{1}{r} $$

1
r

, and also a version of the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation. We therefore recast these results within an emergent gravity framework in which there is an explicit violation of holography for sufficiently large length-scales.
ℤ2 breaking effects in 2-loop RG evolution of 2HDM
Authors: Oredsson Joel , Rathsman Johan
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We investigate the effects of a ℤ2 symmetry in the

$$ \mathcal{C}\mathcal{P} $$

C
P

-conserving Two-Higgs-Doublet-Model (2HDM); which is often imposed to prevent Flavor-Changing-Neutral-Currents (FCNCs) at tree-level. Specifically, we analyze how a breaking of the ℤ2 symmetry spreads during renormalization group evolution; employing general 2-loop renormalization group equations that we have derived. Evolving the model from the electroweak to the Planck scale, we find that while the case of an exact ℤ2 symmetric 2HDM is very constrained, a soft breaking of the ℤ2 symmetry extends the valid parameter space regions. The effects of a hard ℤ2 breaking in the scalar sector as well as the stability of the flavor alignment ansatz are also investigated. We find that while a hard breaking of the ℤ2 symmetry in the potential is problematic, since it speeds up the growth of quartic couplings, the generated FCNCs are heavily suppressed. Conversely, we also find that hard ℤ2 breaking in the Yukawa sector at most gives moderate ℤ2 breaking in the potential; whereas the FCNCs can become quite sizable far away from the ℤ2 symmetric regions.
The gravitational dynamics of kinematic space
Authors: Callebaut Nele
Published: February 2019

Abstract

We show that the dynamics of the kinematic space of a 2-dimensional CFT is gravitational and described by Jackiw-Teitelboim theory. We discuss the first law of this 2-dimensional dilaton gravity theory to support the relation between modular Hamiltonian and dilaton that underlies the kinematic space construction. It is further argued that Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity can be derived from a 2-dimensional version of Jacobson’s maximal vacuum entanglement hypothesis. Applied to the kinematic space context, this leads us to the statement that the kinematic space of a 2-dimensional boundary CFT can be obtained from coupling the boundary CFT to JT gravity through a maximal vacuum entanglement principle.
Vacuum structure of the left-right symmetric model
Authors: Dev P. S. Bhupal , Mohapatra Rabindra N. , Rodejohann Werner , Xu Xun-Jie
Published: February 2019

Abstract

The left-right symmetric model (LRSM), originally proposed to explain parity violation in low energy processes, has since emerged as an attractive framework for light neutrino masses via the seesaw mechanism. The scalar sector of the minimal LRSM consists of an SU(2) bi-doublet, as well as left- and right-handed weak isospin triplets, thus making the corresponding vacuum structure much more complicated than that of the Standard Model. In particular, the desired ground state of the Higgs potential should be a charge conserving, and preferably global, minimum with parity violation at low scales. We show that this is not a generic feature of the LRSM potential and happens only for a small fraction of the parameter space of the potential. We also analytically study the potential for some simplified cases and obtain sufficient conditions (though not necessary) to achieve successful symmetry breaking. We then carry out a detailed statistical analysis of the minima of the Higgs potential using numerical minimization and find that for a large fraction of the parameter space, the potential does not have a good vacuum. Imposing the analytically obtained conditions, we can readily find the small part of the parameter space with good vacua. Consequences for some scalar masses are also discussed.
The Use of Prophylactic Somatostatin Therapy Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Meta‐analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials
Authors: Adiamah A. , Arif Z. , Berti F. , Singh S. , Laskar N. , Gomez D.
Published: February 2019

Background

Prophylactic administration of somatostatin analogues (SA) to reduce the incidence of post‐operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains contentious. This meta‐analysis evaluated its impact on outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods

The EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating prophylactic SA following PD. Comparative effects were summarised as odds ratio and weighted mean difference based on an intention to treat. Quantitative pooling of the effect sizes was derived using the random‐effects model.

Main results

Twelve RCTs were included involving 1615 patients [SA‐treated group (n = 820) and control group (n = 795)]. The SA used included somatostatin‐14, pasireotide, vapreotide and octreotide. Pooling of the data showed no significant benefit of its use for the primary outcome measure of all grades of POPF, odds ratio (OR) 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.51–1.05, p = 0.09] and clinically relevant POPF, OR 0.48 [95% CI, 0.22–1.06, p = 0.07]. There were no benefits in the secondary outcome measures of delayed gastric emptying, OR 0.98 [95% CI, 0.57–1.69, p = 0.94]; infected abdominal collections, OR 0.80 [95% CI, 0.44–1.43, p = 0.80]; reoperation rates, OR 1.24 [95% CI, 0.73–2.13, p = 0.42]; duration of hospital stay, − 0.23 [95% CI − .59 to 1.13, p = 0.74]; and mortality, 1.78 [95% CI, 0.94–3.39, p = 0.08].

Conclusion

SA did not improve the post‐operative outcomes following PD, including reducing the incidence of POPF. The routine administration of SA cannot be recommended following PD.
Atopic dermatitis and autoimmunity: the occurrence of autoantibodies and their association with disease severity
Authors: Holmes James , Fairclough Lucy C. , Todd Ian
Published: February 2019

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widespread condition that appears to be increasing in prevalence and severity worldwide, yet the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Recent research has identified various similarities between AD and autoimmune conditions, as well as indicating that there may be an association between AD and autoimmunity. This systematic review evaluates the association between AD and autoimmunity, as well as between severity of disease in AD and autoimmunity, with an emphasis on the associations with autoantibodies. MEDLINE (1946 to December 2017) and Embase (1974 to December 2017) databases were searched. Further relevant articles were retrieved from reference lists. Only studies measuring direct indicators of autoimmunity, in humans, were included. Qualitative analysis was carried out for all studies. In addition, quantitative analysis was used to evaluate prevalence of IgE autoantibodies and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) in AD patients and control subjects. The Mantel–Haenszel method was used with a random-effects model. 28 studies assessed the occurrence of autoantibodies in AD patients and 16 studies were used to evaluate association between disease severity and autoantibodies. Pooled analysis from 14 studies, involving 986 AD patients and 441 control subjects, showed that IgE autoantibodies were significantly more prevalent in patients with AD (P < 0.00001) than control subjects. Similar analysis was carried out for ANAs, with eight studies that involved 1045 AD patients and 1273 control subjects. ANAs were significantly more prevalent in patients with AD (P = 0.003). This quantitative analysis supported an association between AD and IgE autoantibodies, as well as between AD and ANAs. There was insufficient data to make similar conclusions for other indicators of autoimmunity. The weight of evidence also suggests an association between IgE autoantibodies and disease severity. There was insufficient evidence to make this link for other indicators of autoimmunity.
Genetic diversity and matrilineal genetic origin of fat-rumped sheep in Ethiopia
Authors: Nigussie Helen , Mwacharo Joram M. , Osama Sarah , Agaba Morris , Mekasha Yoseph , Kebede Kefelegn , Abegaz Solomon , Pal Sanjoy Kumar
Published: February 2019

Ethiopia is home to a diverse gene pool of indigenous sheep populations. Therefore, a better understanding of genetic variation holds the key to future utilization through conservation. Three of these breeds, Afar, Blackhead Somali, and Hararghe Highland, are found in eastern Ethiopia where they contribute significantly to the livelihood of most pastoralist, agro-pastoralist, and smallholder farmers. These indigenous sheep are recognized on the basis of morphotype and their genetic distinction remains unknown. Here, to assess genetic variation, and matrilineal genetic origin and relationship of fat-rumed sheep found in eastern Ethiopia, 300 individuals from the three breeds were genotyped for 22 microsatellite markers and sequenced for the mitochondrial DNA displacement loop (mtDNA d-loop) region. The overall HO and HE were 0.57 and 0.75, respectively. Differentiation statistics revealed that a high proportion (97%) of the total genetic variation was explained by differences between individuals within populations. Genotype assignment independent of the population of origin showed K = 2 to be the optimum number of genetic backgrounds present in the dataset. This result was further confirmed by mtDNA D-loop sequences comparison in which the matrilineal genetic origin of eastern Ethiopia sheep is from two haplotype groups (types A and B) among the five haplotypes globally observed. Taken together, our findings suggest that the sheep populations from three breeds originated from two ancestral genetic backgrounds that may have diverged prior to their introduction to Ethiopia. However, to obtain a complete picture of the evolutionary dynamics of Ethiopian indigenous sheep, more samples and populations from within and outside of the country will need to be analyzed.
Breadth and depth of working memory and executive function compromises in mild cognitive impairment and their relationships to frontal lobe morphometry and functional competence
Authors: Garcia‐Alvarez Leticia , Gomar Jesus J. , Sousa Amber , Garcia‐Portilla Maria P. , Goldberg Terry E.
Published: February 2019

Introduction

The extent of working memory (WM) and executive function (EF) impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not well‐characterized.

Methods

We compared 48 patients with MCI, 124 noncognitively impaired elderly healthy controls, and 57 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) on multiple WM/EF measures, frontal lobe integrity indexes, and functioning.

Results

Patients with MCI demonstrated worse performance on nearly all WM/EF tests. This profile of impairment was refined in a factor analysis that identified three primary WM/EF constructs: WM storage; speed and controlled visual search; and manipulation of information and problem solving. EF impairments were associated with reductions in prefrontal cortical thickness. WM/EF accounted for over 50% of the variance in functional competence.

Discussion

In MCI, WM/EF impairments are far from rare, based on specific compromises to frontal cortex circuitry, and are associated with loss of everyday functioning. WM/EF impairments, even at this potentially prodromal stage of AD, have clinically deleterious consequences.
Phenotypic characterization of malignant progenitor cells in patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis
Authors: Bao Yonghua , Hu Wenyang , Guo Yongchen , Yang Wancai
Published: February 2019

Objective/Background:

Idiopathic myelofibrosis (IM) is a clonal hematological malignancy originating from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). HSC are very rare potent cells that reside in the bone marrow (BM) and at a lower level in peripheral blood (PB). Previous studies showed that IM PB CD34+ cells contain not only BM repopulating cells belonging to the malignant clone but also residual normal HSC.

Methods:

In the current study, we separated the subpopulations of IM PB CD34+ cells using IL-3Rα/CD123 labeling and further characterized them by genetic and functional analyses.

Results:

We differentiated IM PB CD34+ cells into three subpopulations (IL-3Rαhigh, IL-3Rαlow, and IL-3Rαnegative). IL-3Rαhigh CD34+ cell subgroup represents a small population in IM PB CD34+ cells which was not seen in normal G-CSF mobilized CD34+ cells. IM IL-3Rαhigh CD34+ cells contained significant higher percentage of cells bearing marker chromosome detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. In the absence of growth factors, IM IL-3Rαhigh CD34+ cells exhibited abnormal colony forming ability and carried greater percentage of JAK2V617F mutant allele compared with IL-3Rαlow and IL-3Rαnegative CD34+ cells.

Conclusion:

These data indicate that IL-3Rαhigh CD34+ cells from IM enriched for the malignant progenitor cells and IL-3Rα/CD123 may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for IM. Our findings will be further validated in future studies with a larger sample size and serial transplant in murine models.
The prevalence and prognostic significance of autoimmune cytopenias in a cohort of Egyptian patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Atef Basma , Azmy Emad , Aladle Doaa , Mabed Mohamed
Published: February 2019

Objective/Background:

The impact of autoimmune cytopenias (AICs) on the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) clinical course and its prognostic significance remain a matter of controversial debate. This could be due to exclusion of patients with cytopenia from most clinical trials for this particular complication and the lack of standard diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches. We herein evaluate the prevalence and the prognostic significance of AICs among patients with CLL.

Methods:

This is an observational retrospective study. Data on 101 patients with CLL were derived from the Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Egypt, database, which contains information on demographic and clinical characteristics at diagnosis and follow-up records.

Results:

The prevalence of immune cytopenias was 11.9% among patients studied. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia was the most common autoimmune form in patients with cytopenia due to pure immune etiology (C immune group) with a prevalence of 6.9%. Patients with AICs and those in the C immune subgroup presented with more unfavorable parameters. Besides, patients with AICs showed lesser response to treatment and on restaging after initial treatment, significantly more patients without AICs moved to a more favorable stage. However, no parallel significant difference in the overall survival was found between patients without AICs and those with AICs or with immune and combined or infiltrative cytopenia.

Conclusion:

We have shown a prevalence of 11.8% for AIC among our CLL patients. AIC was associated with unsatisfactory normalization of the hematological parameters even with therapy and lower number of patients with CLL downstaging in comparison with patients without AIC. These results suggest that AIC is a fingerprint of a biologically more aggressive disease even if no significant impact on overall survival was found.
Factors associated with outpatient follow-up after a pediatric inpatient stay at a community hospital
Authors: Jani Shuchi , Fogel Joshua , Kelly Clare
Published: February 2019

Background and objectives

Pediatric settings often use a patient-centered medical home model in caring for patients in the outpatient setting and for attempting to connect inpatient care with outpatient follow-up. This medical home model has proven to be beneficial in many aspects of patient care, but there needs to be a good transition between inpatient and outpatient services. Our goal in this study is to determine the association of particular variables with adherence to outpatient follow-up after a general inpatient stay, in the pediatric population.

Methods

In a retrospective sample of 221 patients, we study the association of variables such as demographics, medical history, hospital discharge and appointments, and caregiver information, with patient adherence to outpatient appointments after discharge from pediatric inpatient treatment.

Results

We found that increased length of hospital stay and a non English-speaking caregiver were each associated with increased odds for adherence. Discharge diagnosis of respiratory illness and that of neurology/psychiatry/toxicology were associated with decreased odds for adherence. None of the demographic and medical history variables were associated with adherence.

Conclusions

Our findings offer guidance to clinicians for the types of patients who may need closer follow-up and interventions set in place to remind these patients of the importance of attending an outpatient appointment.
Dietary inulin alleviates diverse stages of type 2 diabetes mellitusviaanti-inflammation and modulating gut microbiota in db/db mice
Authors: Li Ke , Zhang Li , Xue Jing , Yang Xiaoli , Dong Xiaoying , Sha Liping , Lei Hong , Zhang Xiaoxia , Zhu Lili , Wang Zhen , Li Xiaorong , Wang Hao , Liu Ping , Dong Youping , He Lanjie
Published: February 2019

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is closely correlated with chronic low-grade inflammation and gut dysbiosis.
Catalytic selective hydrogenation and rearrangement of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 3-hydroxymethyl-cyclopentone over a bimetallic nickel–copper catalyst in water
Authors: Zhang Shujing , Ma Hong , Sun Yuxia , Luo Yang , Liu Xin , Zhang Meiyun , Gao Jin , Xu Jie
Published: February 2019

The selective hydrogenation and rearrangement of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) to 3-hydroxymethyl-cyclopentone (HCPN) were studied over a MOF-derived bimetallic nickel–copper catalyst in water.
Microwave-assisted Diels–Alder polycondensation of proton conducting poly(phenylene)s
Authors: Adamski Michael , Skalski Thomas J. G. , Xu Shaoyi , Killer Miho , Schibli Eric M. , Frisken Barbara J. , Holdcroft Steven
Published: February 2019

A 24-fold reduction in reaction time is achieved in the preparation of sulfonated poly(polyphenylene)s using microwave synthesis.
Microflow-based dynamic combinatorial chemistry: a microscale synthesis and screening platform for the rapid and accurate identification of bioactive molecules
Authors: Qiu Chuanhong , Fang Zheng , Zhao Lihuan , He Wei , Yang Zhao , Liu Chengkou , Guo Kai
Published: February 2019

The first flow-based synthesis and screening platform that integrates both microflow chemistry and protein-directed dynamic combinatorial chemistry into a single modular unit was disclosed and validated by a case study.
Thorium- and uranium-azide reductions: a transient dithorium-nitride versus isolable diuranium-nitrides
Authors: Du Jingzhen , King David M. , Chatelain Lucile , Lu Erli , Tuna Floriana , McInnes Eric J. L. , Wooles Ashley J. , Maron Laurent , Liddle Stephen T.
Published: February 2019

Evidence for a transient, highly reactive ThNTh nitride is presented, in contrast to uranium analogues that are stable and isolable. Surprisingly, computational studies reveal a σ > π energy ordering for all these bridging nitride bonds, a phenomenon for actinides only observed before in terminal uranium nitrides and uranyl.
Programmed electrochemical exfoliation of graphite to high quality graphene
Authors: Chen Duhong , Wang Fei , Li Yijuan , Wang Wei-Wei , Huang Teng-Xiang , Li Jian-Feng , Novoselov Kostya S. , Tian Zhong-Qun , Zhan Dongping
Published: February 2019

We propose programed potential modulation strategies to balance the ion intercalation/deintercalation, surface tailoring and bubbling dispersion processes in the electrochemical exfoliation of graphite, resulting in high-quality graphene with high crystallinity, low oxidation degree, uniform size distribution and few layers.
Flexible free-standing polyaniline/graphene/carbon nanotube plastic films with enhanced electrochemical activity for an all-solid-state flexible supercapacitor device
Authors: Faraji Masoud , Mohammadzadeh Aydisheh Hossein
Published: February 2019

A flexible-ultralight PAN/graphene/MWCNTs/PPS plastic film for an all-solid-state supercapacitor.
Two-dimensional ferromagnetism and driven ferroelectricity in van der Waals CuCrP2S6
Authors: Lai Youfang , Song Zhigang , Wan Yi , Xue Mingzhu , Wang Changsheng , Ye Yu , Dai Lun , Zhang Zhidong , Yang Wenyun , Du Honglin , Yang Jinbo
Published: February 2019

Calculation and experimental observation of two-dimensional multiferroic CuCrP2S6.
Performance analysis and optimisation of wireless powered decode‐and‐forward considering circuit power consumption
Authors: Hu Yifan , Cao Ning , Chen Yunfei , Mao Minghe , Li Rui
Published: February 2019

Idle nodes are used in cooperative communications to achieve diversity gain or coverage extension. Energy harvesting (EH) allows cooperative communications to be less dependent on batteries. In this study, the performance of EH decode‐and‐forward relaying is analysed in terms of achievable rate for non‐ideal relaying nodes whose circuit power cannot be neglected. Two time switching protocols, continuous time switching and discrete time switching, are studied. The analytical expressions for the achievable rate are derived and optimised. Numerical results show the validity of the analytical expressions and determine the influence of the circuit power consumption.
Novel RFID method for faster convergence of tag estimation on dynamic frame size ALOHA algorithms
Authors: Ferreira Hillner P.A. , Assis Francisco M. , Serres Alexandre R.
Published: February 2019

This paper introduces a novel RFID method for accelerating the tag estimation performance in dynamic framed slotted ALOHA (DFSA) algorithms. Assuming a critical scenario where the number of tags in the interrogation zone is much greater than the initial frame size, the proposed Double‐Approximation (DA) method uses, besides the backlog estimation to adjust the size of first frames, a second approximation that successively reduces the tags available to transmit until achieving a faster convergence to the first frame sizes. Once the convergence threshold is achieved, a more accurate tag estimation can be calculated and all temporarily disabled tags become able to transmit again. Simulation results show that all DFSA algorithms implemented with the DA method outperforms the traditional DFSA in terms of throughput and reduction of simultaneous tag signals.