Sigma-terms and axial charges for hyperons and charmed baryons

We present results for the $\sigma$-terms and axial charges for various hyperons and charmed baryons using $N_f=2+1+1$ twisted mass fermions. For the computation of the three-point function we use the fixed current method. For one of the $N_f=2+1+1$ ensembles with pion mass of 373 MeV we compare the results of the fixed current method with those obtained with a stochastic method for computing the all-to-all propagator involved in the evaluation of the three point functions.Comment: Talk presented at 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory LATTICE 2013, July 29 - August 3, 2013, Mainz, Germany, PoS(LATTICE 2013)279. 7 pages and6 figure

Gekeimte Samen als Futtermittel - Analytik

Bis August 2005 dürfen im ökologischen Landbau, wenn eine ausschließliche Versorgung mit ökologischen Futtermitteln nicht möglich ist, im begrenzten Umfang konventionelle zugesetzt werden. Für den Zeitraum danach ist zu klären, ob eine ausreichende Nährstoff- und Eiweißversorgung über den Einsatz von Getreidekeimlingen gewährleistet werden kann. Die während des Keimprozesses bei Getreide auftretenden Veränderungen der für die Fütterung relevanten Inhaltsstoffe wurden untersucht. Die Keimung erfolgte sowohl unter optimierten Bedingungen in Feuchtekammern als auch unter praxisrelevanten Bedingungen in Schalen und im Keimautomat. Dabei zeigte sich, dass mit beginnender Keimung sprunghafte Veränderungen im Enzymstatus nachweisbar sind, während stoffliche Veränderungen später einsetzen und langsamer verlaufen. Das stärkeabbauende Enzym a-Amylase konnte als sensibler Indikator für den Keimungsfortschritt verwendet werden. Während der Keimung stiegen die Aktivitäten der stärkeabbauenden Enzyme und der Stärkegehalt wurde reduziert. Erwartungsgemäß stiegen die Zuckergehalte. Bei unverändertem Rohstickstoffgehalt kam es zu einer Abnahme des Proteinstickstoffgehaltes zu Gunsten der freien Aminosäuren. Der Rohfettgehalt stieg und es erhöhte sich der Gehalt an mehrfach ungesättigten Fettsäuren. Von den Aminosäuren erhöhte sich während der Keimung besonders der Gehalt von Lysin. Die deutlichsten Veränderungen durch die Keimung wurden bei den Vitaminen beobachtet. Von den 8 untersuchten Vitaminen A, B1, B2, B6, C, D3, E und K1 stiegen 6 deutlich an. Bemerkenswert war die Verringerung der Viskosität in Roggenkeimlingen, wodurch der Einsatz dieser Getreideart in der Fütterung interessant wird. Erwähnenswert ist, dass die Phytinsäure, die die Verdaulichkeit des Futters beeinträchtigt, während der Keimung stark abnimmt. Aus ernährungsphysiologischer Sicht treten vorteilhafte Veränderungen während der Keimung auf, die zu einer Verbesserung des Futterwertes beitragen

Triton calculations with π\pi and ρ\rho exchange three-nucleon forces

The Faddeev equations are solved in momentum space for the trinucleon bound state with the new Tucson-Melbourne $\pi$ and $\rho$ exchange three-nucleon potentials. The three-nucleon potentials are combined with a variety of realistic two-nucleon potentials. The dependence of the triton binding energy on the $\pi NN$ cut-off parameter in the three-nucleon potentials is studied and found to be reduced compared to the case with pure $\pi$ exchange. The $\rho$ exchange parts of the three-nucleon potential yield an overall repulsive effect. When the recommended parameters are employed, the calculated triton binding energy turns out to be very close to its experimental value. Expectation values of various components of the three-nucleon potential are given to illustrate their significance for binding.Comment: 17 pages Revtex 3.0, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Del Pezzo surfaces of degree 1 and jacobians

We construct absolutely simple jacobians of non-hyperelliptic genus 4 curves, using Del Pezzo surfaces of degree 1. This paper is a natural continuation of author's paper math.AG/0405156.Comment: 24 page

Cardiosphere-derived cells suppress allogeneic lymphocytes by production of PGE2 acting via the EP4 receptor

derived cells (CDCs) are a cardiac progenitor cell population, which have been shown to possess cardiac regenerative properties and can improve heart function in a variety of cardiac diseases. Studies in large animal models have predominantly focussed on using autologous cells for safety, however allogeneic cell banks would allow for a practical, cost-effective and efficient use in a clinical setting. The aim of this work was to determine the immunomodulatory status of these cells using CDCs and lymphocytes from 5 dogs. CDCs expressed MHC I but not MHC II molecules and in mixed lymphocyte reactions demonstrated a lack of lymphocyte proliferation in response to MHC-mismatched CDCs. Furthermore, MHC-mismatched CDCs suppressed lymphocyte proliferation and activation in response to Concanavalin A. Transwell experiments demonstrated that this was predominantly due to direct cell-cell contact in addition to soluble mediators whereby CDCs produced high levels of PGE2 under inflammatory conditions. This led to down-regulation of CD25 expression on lymphocytes via the EP4 receptor. Blocking prostaglandin synthesis restored both, proliferation and activation (measured via CD25 expression) of stimulated lymphocytes. We demonstrated for the first time in a large animal model that CDCs inhibit proliferation in allo-reactive lymphocytes and have potent immunosuppressive activity mediated via PGE2

Maternal feeding practices and fussy eating in toddlerhood: A discordant twin analysis

Background: Parental feeding practices are thought to play a causal role in shaping a child's fussiness; however, a child-responsive model suggests that feeding practices may develop in response to a child's emerging appetitive characteristics. We used a novel twin study design to test the hypothesis that mothers vary their feeding practices for twin children who differ in their 'food fussiness', in support of a child-responsive model. Methods: Participants were mothers and their 16 month old twin children (n=2026) from Gemini, a British twin birth cohort of children born in 2007. Standardized psychometric measures of maternal 'pressure to eat', 'restriction' and 'instrumental feeding', as well as child 'food fussiness', were completed by mothers. Within-family analyses examined if twin-pair differences in 'food fussiness' were associated with differences in feeding practices using linear regression models. In a subset of twins (n=247 pairs) who were the most discordant (highest quartile) on 'food fussiness' (difference score≥.50), Paired Samples T-test were used to explore the magnitude of differences in feeding practices between twins. Between-family analyses used Complex Samples General Linear Models to examine associations between feeding practices and 'food fussiness'. Results: Within-pair differences in 'food fussiness' were associated with differential 'pressure to eat' and 'instrumental feeding' (ps<.001), but not with 'restriction'. In the subset of twins most discordant on 'food fussiness', mothers used more pressure (p<.001) and food rewards (p<.05) with the fussier twin. Between-family analyses indicated that 'pressure to eat' and 'instrumental feeding' were positively associated with 'food fussiness', while 'restriction' was negatively associated with 'food fussiness' (ps<.001). Conclusions: Mothers appear to subtly adjust their feeding practices according to their perceptions of their toddler's emerging fussy eating behavior. Specifically, the fussier toddler is pressured more than their less fussy co-twin, and is more likely to be offered food rewards. Guiding parents on how to respond to fussy eating may be an important aspect of promoting feeding practices that encourage food acceptance

Well being of obstetric patients on minimal blood transfusions (WOMB trial)

Background: Primary postpartum haemorrhage is an obstetrical emergency often causing acute anaemia that may require immediate red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. This anaemia results in symptoms such as fatigue, whic

Occupational exposure to gases/fumes and mineral dust affect DNA methylation levels of genes regulating expression

Many workers are daily exposed to occupational agents like gases/fumes, mineral dust or biological dust, which could induce adverse health effects. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, have been suggested to play a role. We therefore aimed to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) upon occupational exposures in never-smokers and investigated if these DMRs associated with gene expression levels. To determine the effects of occupational exposures independent of smoking, 903 never-smokers of the LifeLines cohort study were included. We performed three genome-wide methylation analyses (Illumina 450 K), one per occupational exposure being gases/fumes, mineral dust and biological dust, using robust linear regression adjusted for appropriate confounders. DMRs were identified using comb-p in Python. Results were validated in the Rotterdam Study (233 never-smokers) and methylation-expression associations were assessed using Biobank-based Integrative Omics Study data (n = 2802). Of the total 21 significant DMRs, 14 DMRs were associated with gases/fumes and 7 with mineral dust. Three of these DMRs were associated with both exposures (RPLP1 and LINC02169 (2x)) and 11 DMRs were located within transcript start sites of gene expression regulating genes. We replicated two DMRs with gases/fumes (VTRNA2-1 and GNAS) and one with mineral dust (CCDC144NL). In addition, nine gases/fumes DMRs and six mineral dust DMRs significantly associated with gene expression levels. Our data suggest that occupational exposures may induce differential methylation of gene expression regulating genes and thereby may induce adverse health effects. Given the millions of workers that are exposed daily to occupational exposures, further studies on this epigenetic mechanism and health outcomes are warranted

Spin Caloritronics

This is a brief overview of the state of the art of spin caloritronics, the science and technology of controlling heat currents by the electron spin degree of freedom (and vice versa).Comment: To be published in "Spin Current", edited by S. Maekawa, E. Saitoh, S. Valenzuela and Y. Kimura, Oxford University Pres

Energy Flow in the Hadronic Final State of Diffractive and Non-Diffractive Deep-Inelastic Scattering at HERA

An investigation of the hadronic final state in diffractive and non--diffractive deep--inelastic electron--proton scattering at HERA is presented, where diffractive data are selected experimentally by demanding a large gap in pseudo --rapidity around the proton remnant direction. The transverse energy flow in the hadronic final state is evaluated using a set of estimators which quantify topological properties. Using available Monte Carlo QCD calculations, it is demonstrated that the final state in diffractive DIS exhibits the features expected if the interaction is interpreted as the scattering of an electron off a current quark with associated effects of perturbative QCD. A model in which deep--inelastic diffraction is taken to be the exchange of a pomeron with partonic structure is found to reproduce the measurements well. Models for deep--inelastic $ep$ scattering, in which a sizeable diffractive contribution is present because of non--perturbative effects in the production of the hadronic final state, reproduce the general tendencies of the data but in all give a worse description.Comment: 22 pages, latex, 6 Figures appended as uuencoded fil