The First Year IceCube-DeepCore Results

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory includes a tightly spaced inner array in the deepest ice, called DeepCore, which gives access to low-energy neutrinos with a sizable surrounding cosmic ray muon veto. Designed to be sensitive to neutrinos at energies as low as 10 GeV, DeepCore will be used to study diverse physics topics with neutrino signatures, such as dark matter annihilations and atmospheric neutrino oscillations. The first year of DeepCore physics data-taking has been completed, and the first observation of atmospheric neutrino-induced cascades with IceCube and DeepCore are presented.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, TAUP 2011 (Journal of Physics: Conference Series (JCPS)

Detection of polymorphism of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene in Mazandaran native chicken using PCR-RFLP method

Molecular genetic selection on individual genes is a promising method to genetically improve economically important traits in chickens. The insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene may play important roles in growth of multiple tissues, including muscle cells, cartilage and bone. In the present study, polymorphism of the promoter and 5' untranslated region of IGF-I gene of Mazandaran native fowls was investigated. In order to evaluate the IGF-I gene polymorphism, we used the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Blood samples were collected from randomly chosen 100 Mazandaran native fowls. Genomic DNA was extracted using modified salting-out method and amplified polymerase chain reaction technique. The promoter and 5' untranslated region of the fowl IGF-I gene was amplified to produce a 621 bp fragment. The PCR products were electrophoresed on 2.5% agarose gel and stained by ethidium bromide. Then they were digested of amplicons with PstI, which revealed two alleles A and B. Data were analyzed using Pop Gene 32 software package. In this population, AA, AB, BB genotypes were identified with 25.88, 50.23 and 23.89% frequencies, respectively. Allele frequencies (A and B) were 0.51 and 0.49, respectively. The Chi-square (χ2) test didnot show deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.05).Key words: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene, polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), polymorphism, native chicken

Our experience of COVID-19 at a large District General Hospital in the North West of England

Objective: To determine the mortality rate, discharge rate, current admissions, and comorbid conditions in our patients along with a view to further investigate high mortality rates observed at our hospital. Methodology: This retrospective epidemiological study aims to review patients presenting with COVID-19 at a District General Hospital in the north west of England. A total of 514 patients were admitted with a positive COVID-19 swab from March 17, 2020 to midnight May 20, 2020 have been included in this study. All patients admitted with COVID-19 positive swabs were included in the study. Patients discharged from the Emergency Department were excluded. The data was assessed daily by the Clinical Audit and Effectiveness Team and cross referenced across multiple sources to ensure accuracy.  Results: From March 17, 2020 to May 20, 2020 a total of 514 patients were admitted with a positive COVID-19 swab. Out of the 514 patients, 284 (55%) were male while 230 (45%) were female (Figure 1). Among the 514 patients admitted, 236 (45.9%) died, 263 (51.2%) were discharged, 1 (0.2%) was discharged and then readmitted, 1 (0.2%) was transferred while 13 (2.5%) are still admitted at the hospital. Out of the 236 patients who died, 144 (61%) were male and 92 (39%) were female. 130 (49%) of the 263 patients discharged were male and 133 (51%) were female. One female patient was discharged but then readmitted and one male patient was transferred. Out of the 13 patients still admitted at the hospital, 9 (69%) are male and 4 (31%) are female (Fig 2). Upon review of the pre-existing comorbid conditions of the patients, it was noted that 101 (20%) patients had no comorbid conditions, 59 (11%) had one comorbid condition, 93 (18%) had two comorbid conditions, 106 (21%) had three and 155 (30%) had four or more comorbid conditions. Conclusion: Patients with comorbid conditions are more prone to COVID-19 in terms of severity. Due to high mortality rates observed in our study, we propose further research to review the high susceptibility to severe COVID-19 infection in the population of North West, England

Genetic polymorphism of exon 9-11 of the leptin gene receptor in breeder hens of Mazandaran native fowls

Leptin is a 16 kDa protein synthesized by white adipose tissue and involved in regulation of feed intake, energy balance, fertility and immune function. In order to evaluate the leptin gene receptor polymorphism, we used a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Blood samples were collected from 100 randomly chosen Mazandaran native fowls. Genomic DNA was extracted using modified salting-out method and amplified polymerase chain reaction technique. Exon and intron 9-11 of the fowl leptin gene receptor was amplified to produce a 382 bp fragment. The PCR products were electrophoresed on 1% agarose gel and stained by etidium bromide. Then, amplicons with Tsp509I were digested and revealed two alleles, A and B. Data were analysed using PopGene 32 package. In this population, AA, AB, BB genotype have been identified with the 69.14, 30.16 and 0.7% frequencies. A and B alleles frequencies were 0.84 and 0.16, respectively. χ2 test did not show Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in this population (p<0.05). Further association analysis is required to clarify the effects of these marker genotypes on production traits in this breeder flock.Key words: Leptin gene receptor, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP),polymorphism, breeder hen

Mass hierarchy, 2-3 mixing and CP-phase with Huge Atmospheric Neutrino Detectors

We explore the physics potential of multi-megaton scale ice or water Cherenkov detectors with low ($\sim 1$ GeV) threshold. Using some proposed characteristics of the PINGU detector setup we compute the distributions of events versus neutrino energy $E_\nu$ and zenith angle $\theta_z$, and study their dependence on yet unknown neutrino parameters. The $(E_\nu - \theta_z)$ regions are identified where the distributions have the highest sensitivity to the neutrino mass hierarchy, to the deviation of the 2-3 mixing from the maximal one and to the CP-phase. We evaluate significance of the measurements of the neutrino parameters and explore dependence of this significance on the accuracy of reconstruction of the neutrino energy and direction. The effect of degeneracy of the parameters on the sensitivities is also discussed. We estimate the characteristics of future detectors (energy and angle resolution, volume, etc.) required for establishing the neutrino mass hierarchy with high confidence level. We find that the hierarchy can be identified at $3\sigma$ -- $10\sigma$ level (depending on the reconstruction accuracies) after 5 years of PINGU operation.Comment: 39 pages, 21 figures. Description of Fig.3 correcte

Search for a diffuse flux of astrophysical muon neutrinos with the IceCube 59-string configuration

A search for high-energy neutrinos was performed using data collected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory from May 2009 to May 2010, when the array was running in its 59-string configuration. The data sample was optimized to contain muon neutrino induced events with a background contamination of atmospheric muons of less than 1%. These data, which are dominated by atmospheric neutrinos, are analyzed with a global likelihood fit to search for possible contributions of prompt atmospheric and astrophysical neutrinos, neither of which have yet been identified. Such signals are expected to follow a harder energy spectrum than conventional atmospheric neutrinos. In addition, the zenith angle distribution differs for astrophysical and atmospheric signals. A global fit of the reconstructed energies and directions of observed events is performed, including possible neutrino flux contributions for an astrophysical signal and atmospheric backgrounds as well as systematic uncertainties of the experiment and theoretical predictions. The best fit yields an astrophysical signal flux for nu(mu) + (nu) over bar (mu) of E-2. Phi(E) = 0.25 x 10(-8) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1), and a zero prompt component. Although the sensitivity of this analysis for astrophysical neutrinos surpasses the Waxman and Bahcall upper bound, the experimental limit at 90% confidence level is a factor of 1.5 above at a flux of E-2 . Phi(E) = 1.44 x 10(-8) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1)

Theoretical Determination of the pK a Values of Betalamic Acid Related to the Free Radical Scavenger Capacity: Comparison Between Empirical and Quantum Chemical Methods

Health benefits of dietary phytochemicals have been suggested in recent years. Among 1000s of different compounds, Betalains, which occur in vegetables of the Cariophyllalae order (cactus pear fruits and red beet), have been considered because of reducing power and potential to affect redox-modulated cellular processes. The antioxidant power of Betalains is strictly due to the dissociation rate of the acid moieties present in all the molecules of this family of phytochemicals. Experimentally, only the pK a values of betanin were determined. Recently, it was evidenced it was evidenced as the acid dissociation, at different environmental pHs, affects on its electron-donating capacity, and further on its free radical scavenging power. The identical correlation was studied on another Betalains family compound, Betalamic Acid. Experimental evidences showed that the free radical scavenging capacity of this compound drastically decreases at pH > 5, but pK a values were experimentally not measured. With the aim to justify the Betalamic Acid behavior as free radical scavenger, in this paper we tried to predict in silico the pK a values by means different approaches. Starting from the known experimental pK as of acid compounds, both phytochemicals and small organic, two empirical approaches and quantum-mechanical calculation were compared to give reliable prediction of the pK as of Betalamic Acid. Results by means these computational approaches are consistent with the experimental evidences. As shown herein, in silico, the totally dissociated species, at the experimental pH > 5 in solution, is predominant, exploiting the higher electron-donating capability (HOMO energy). Therefore, the computational estimated pK a values of Betalamic Acid resulted very reliable

Detecting a stochastic gravitational wave background with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

The random superposition of many weak sources will produce a stochastic background of gravitational waves that may dominate the response of the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) gravitational wave observatory. Unless something can be done to distinguish between a stochastic background and detector noise, the two will combine to form an effective noise floor for the detector. Two methods have been proposed to solve this problem. The first is to cross-correlate the output of two independent interferometers. The second is an ingenious scheme for monitoring the instrument noise by operating LISA as a Sagnac interferometer. Here we derive the optimal orbital alignment for cross-correlating a pair of LISA detectors, and provide the first analytic derivation of the Sagnac sensitivity curve.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures. Significant changes to the noise estimate

Constraining work fluctuations of non-Hermitian dynamics across the exceptional point of a superconducting qubit

Thermodynamics constrains changes to the energy of a system, both deliberate and random, via its first and second laws. When the system is not in equilibrium, fluctuation theorems such as the Jarzynski equality further restrict the distributions of deliberate work done. Such fluctuation theorems have been experimentally verified in small, non-equilibrium quantum systems undergoing unitary or decohering dynamics. Yet, their validity in systems governed by a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian has long been contentious, due to the false premise of the Hamiltonian's dual and equivalent roles in dynamics and energetics. Here we show that work fluctuations in a non-Hermitian qubit obey the Jarzynski equality even if its Hamiltonian has complex or purely imaginary eigenvalues. With post-selection on a dissipative superconducting circuit undergoing a cyclic parameter sweep, we experimentally quantify the work distribution using projective energy measurements and show that the fate of the Jarzynski equality is determined by the parity-time symmetry of, and the energetics that result from, the corresponding non-Hermitian, Floquet Hamiltonian. By distinguishing the energetics from non-Hermitian dynamics, our results provide the recipe for investigating the non-equilibrium quantum thermodynamics of such open systems.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure