A positive-weight next-to-leading-order Monte Carlo for e⁺e ^- annihilation to hadrons

We apply the positive-weight Monte Carlo method of Nason for simulating QCD processes accurate to Next-To-Leading Order to the case of e+e- annihilation to hadrons. The method entails the generation of the hardest gluon emission first and then subsequently adding a `truncated' shower before the emission. We have interfaced our result to the Herwig++ shower Monte Carlo program and obtained better results than those obtained with Herwig++ at leading order with a matrix element correction

The role of octadecanoids and functional mimics in soybean defense responses

Oxylipins of the jasmonate pathway and synthetic functional analogs have been analyzed for their elicitor like activities in an assay based on the induced accumulation of glyceollins, the phytoalexins of soybean (Glycine max L.), in cell suspension cultures of this plant. Jasmonic acid (JA) and its methyl ester showed weak phytoalexininducing activity when compared to an early jasmonate biosynthetic precursor, 12-oxophytodienoic acid (OPDA), as well as to the bacterial phytotoxin coronatine and certain 6-substituted indanoylLisoleucine methyl esters, which all were highly active. Interestingly, different octadecanoids and indanoyl conjugates induced the accumulation of transcripts of various defenserelated genes to different degrees, indicating distinct induction competencies. Therefore, these signaling compounds and mimics were further analyzed for their effects on signal transduction elements, such as the transient enhancement of the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and MAP kinase activation, which are known to be initiated by a soybean pathogenderived {[}beta]glucan elicitor. In contrast to the {[}beta]glucan elicitor, none of the other compounds tested triggered these early signaling elements. Moreover, endogenous levels of OPDA and JA in soybean cells were shown to be unaffected after treatment with {[}beta]glucans. Thus, OPDA and JA, which are functionally mimicked by coronatine and a variety of 6-substituted derivatives of indanoylLisoleucine methyl ester, represent highly efficient signaling compounds of a lipidbased pathway not deployed in the {[}beta]glucan elicitorinitiated signal transduction

MC@NLO for the hadronic decay of Higgs bosons in associated production with vector bosons

In this article we describe simulations of the hadronic decay of Higgs bosons produced in association with vector bosons at linear and hadronic colliders. We use the Monte Carlo at next-to-leading-order MC@NLO matching prescription with the Herwig++ event generator to predict various spectra of the resulting b anti-b pairs and compare our results with leading order and matrix element correction predictions

Is the calcium transporter a potential candidate for heme transport?

Heme is of significant importance in iron nutrition and in systemic iron metabolism. The crux of the matter is that while much is known about non-heme metabolism, the vectorial import of exogenous porphyrin macromolecules into the enterocyte and possibly into blood circulation is still speculative. The inhibitory effect of calcium on heme iron absorption has been previously reported in the literature. This paper postulates that the gastrointestinal Ca transporter, TRPV6 might be a putative transporter of heme and that it is the mechanism of reduced heme absorption in the presence of Ca. The hypothesis needs to be investigated in vitro and in vivo with targeted TRPV6 deletion models to explore the nature of the competition of heme uptake by Ca. Studies are required to characterise fully this function in the gut and in systemic metabolism. If the hypothesis is proven, modulators of TRPV6 expression could have clinical implications in the management of heme-induced disorders

A Positive-Weight Next-to-Leading-Order Monte Carlo for e+e- Annihilation to Hadrons

We apply the positive-weight Monte Carlo method of Nason for simulating QCD processes accurate to Next-To-Leading Order to the case of e+e- annihilation to hadrons. The method entails the generation of the hardest gluon emission first and then subsequently adding a `truncated' shower before the emission. We have interfaced our result to the Herwig++ shower Monte Carlo program and obtained better results than those obtained with Herwig++ at leading order with a matrix element correction.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, 2 tables Reason for replacement: minor corrections, typos and 1 changed referenc

Relationship Between the Hepatic Iron Concentration and Glycaemic Metabolism, Prediabetes, and Type 2 Diabetes:A Systematic Review

Context: Emerging research has suggested a potential link between high iron levels, indicated by serum ferritin levels, and the development of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). However, the role of hepatic iron concentration (HIC) on T2D development and progression is not well understood. Objectives: This study aims to systematically review the literature on HIC and/or the degree of hepatic iron overload (HIO) in individuals with pre-diabetes and/or diagnosed T2D, and to analyse associations between HIC and markers of glucose metabolism. Data sources: The databases MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Knowledge were searched for studies published in English from 1999 to March 2024. This review followed the Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. Data Extraction: Data were extracted following the established eligibility criteria. Study characteristics and biomarkers related to pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and hepatic iron overload (HIO) were extracted. The risk of bias was analysed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Data was stratified by the exposure and analysed in sub-groups according to the outcome. Data regarding the HIC values in controls, pre-diabetic individuals and T2D subjects and the association estimates between HIC or HIO and markers of glycaemic metabolism, pre-diabetes or T2D were extracted. Data Analysis: A total of 12 studies were identified, and data from 4110 subjects were analysed. HIO was not consistently observed in pre-diabetic/T2D populations; however, elevated HIC was frequently observed in pre-diabetic and T2D subjects, and associated with the disruption of certain glycaemic markers in some cases. Conclusion: The extent of iron overload, as indicated by hepatic iron load, varied among the pre-diabetic and T2D populations studied. Further research is needed to understand the distribution and regulation of iron in T2D pathology.<br/

A Short Review of Iron Metabolism and Pathophysiology of Iron Disorders

Iron is a vital trace element for humans, as it plays a crucial role in oxygen transport, oxidative metabolism, cellular proliferation, and many catalytic reactions. To be beneficial, the amount of iron in the human body needs to be maintained within the ideal range. Iron metabolism is one of the most complex processes involving many organs and tissues, the interaction of which is critical for iron homeostasis. No active mechanism for iron excretion exists. Therefore, the amount of iron absorbed by the intestine is tightly controlled to balance the daily losses. The bone marrow is the prime iron consumer in the body, being the site for erythropoiesis, while the reticuloendothelial system is responsible for iron recycling through erythrocyte phagocytosis. The liver has important synthetic, storing, and regulatory functions in iron homeostasis. Among the numerous proteins involved in iron metabolism, hepcidin is a liver-derived peptide hormone, which is the master regulator of iron metabolism. This hormone acts in many target tissues and regulates systemic iron levels through a negative feedback mechanism. Hepcidin synthesis is controlled by several factors such as iron levels, anaemia, infection, inflammation, and erythropoietic activity. In addition to systemic control, iron balance mechanisms also exist at the cellular level and include the interaction between iron-regulatory proteins and iron-responsive elements. Genetic and acquired diseases of the tissues involved in iron metabolism cause a dysregulation of the iron cycle. Consequently, iron deficiency or excess can result, both of which have detrimental effects on the organism

A Positive-Weight Next-to-Leading-Order Monte Carlo for Heavy Flavour Hadroproduction

We present a next-to-leading order calculation of heavy flavour production in hadronic collisions that can be interfaced to shower Monte Carlo programs. The calculation is performed in the context of the POWHEG method. It is suitable for the computation of charm, bottom and top hadroproduction. In the case of top production, spin correlations in the decay products are taken into account.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures. Few misprints corrected, references updated, final remarks adde

Applying the POWHEG method to top pair production and decays at the ILC.

We study the effects of gluon radiation in top pair production and their decays for e+e− annihilation at the ILC. To achieve this we apply the POWHEG method and interface our results to the Monte Carlo event generator Herwig++. We consider a center-of-mass energy of ps = 500 GeV and compare decay correlations and bottom quark and anti-quark distributions before hadronization