Next Generation Sequencing Assay for Detection of Circulating HPV DNA (cHPV-DNA) in Patients Undergoing Radical (Chemo)Radiotherapy in Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ASCC).

Background: Following chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) for human papilloma virus positive (HPV+) anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC), detection of residual/recurrent disease is challenging. Patients frequently undergo unnecessary repeated biopsies for abnormal MRI/clinical findings. In a pilot study we assessed the role of circulating HPV-DNA in identifying "true" residual disease. Methods: We prospectively collected plasma samples at baseline (n = 21) and 12 weeks post-CRT (n = 17). Circulating HPV-DNA (cHPV DNA) was measured using a novel next generation sequencing (NGS) assay, panHPV-detect, comprising of two primer pools covering distinct regions of eight high-risk HPV genomes (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, and 58) to detect circulating HPV-DNA (cHPV DNA). cHPV-DNA levels post-CRT were correlated to disease response. Results: In pre-CRT samples, panHPV-detect demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity for HPV associated ASCC. PanHPV-detect was able to demonstrate cHPV-DNA in 100% (9/9) patients with T1/T2N0 cancers. cHPV-DNA was detectable 12 weeks post CRT in just 2/17 patients, both of whom relapsed. 1/16 patients who had a clinical complete response (CR) at 3 months post-CRT but relapsed at 9 months and 1/1 patient with a partial response (PR). PanHPV-detect demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity in predicting response to CRT. Conclusion: We demonstrate that panHPV-detect, an NSG assay is a highly sensitive and specific test for the identification of cHPV-DNA in plasma at diagnosis. cHPV-DNA post-treatment may predict clinical response to CRT

Unquenching the scalar glueball

Computations in the quenched approximation on the lattice predict the lightest glueball to be a scalar in the 1.5-1.8 GeV region. Here we calculate the dynamical effect the coupling to two pseudoscalars has on the mass, width and decay pattern of such a scalar glueball. These hadronic interactions allow mixing with the $q \overline q$ scalar nonet, which is largely fixed by the well-established K_0^*(1430). This non-perturbative mixing means that, if the pure gluestate has a width to two pseudoscalar channels of ~100 MeV as predicted on the lattice, the resulting hadron has a width to these channels of only ~30 MeV with a large eta-eta component. Experimental results need to be reanalyzed in the light of these predictions to decide if either the f_0(1500) or an f_0(1710) coincides with this dressed glueball.Comment: 12 pages, LaTex, 3 Postscript figure

An Experimental Investigation on Treatment of Tannery Effluent Using Azadirachta Indica

A preliminary investigation was carried out for the feasibile use of Azadirachta indica leafs powder as a natural coagulant to the treatment of tannery effluent. In this paper, Azadirachta indica leafs powder of 1, 2, 3 and 4mg/L dosages were used. Floc formation in coagulation process had been studied in the laboratory scale to determine the optimum dosage of natural coagulant. The above dosages were used in pre-treated tannery effluent with coagulants were considered to evaluate the percentage removal efficiency on the major pollutants of concern in in tannery effluent such as turbidity, TSS, TDS, COD and BOD. From the observed results, dosage of 3 mg/L gives better removal efficiencies with respect to turbidity, TSS, TDS, COD and BOD and appears to be suitable for tannery effluent treatment, when compared with other dosages

Estimating sigma-meson couplings from D \to 3\pi decays

Using recent experimental evidence from E791 on the sigma meson in D \to 3\pi decays, we study the relevant couplings in D \to \sigma \pi and \sigma \to \pi\ pi within the accepted theoretical framework for non leptonic D decays. We also review the linear sigma model, finding that it gives a description which is consistent with the experimental data.Comment: 6 pages, no figures. Final version accepted for publication as a Brief Report in Physical Review

Detecting Gluino-Containing Hadrons

When SUSY breaking produces only dimension-2 operators, gluino and photino masses are of order 1 GeV or less. The gluon-gluino bound state has mass 1.3-2.2 GeV and lifetime > 10^{-5} - 10^{-10} s. This range of mass and lifetime is largely unconstrained because missing energy and beam dump techniques are ineffective. With only small modifications, upcoming K^0 decay experiments can study most of the interesting range. The lightest gluino-containing baryon (uds-gluino) is long-lived or stable; experiments to find it and the uud-gluino are also discussed.Comment: 13 pp, 1 figure (uuencoded). Descendant of hep-ph/9504295, hep-ph/9508291, and hep-ph/9508292, focused on experimental search techniques. To be published in Phys Rev Let

Impacto de Guadua paraguayana sobre remanescente de Floresta Ombrófila Mista Aluvial: uma abordagem biogeoquímica.

Guadua paraguayana Döll, um bambu nativo da porção meridional da América do Sul particularmente agressivo, está invadindo áreas de preservação permanente no segundo planalto paranaense, com supressão da vegetação instalada e modificações nos padrões de sucessão local. Após estabelecer sua autoecologia, para melhor avaliar seu impacto sobre um dos últimos remanescentes da Floresta Ombrófila Mista Aluvial (FOMA), principalmente na ciclagem de nutrientes e no fluxo de carbono orgânico para o ambiente, estudou-se a composição química da espécie, a produção e decomposição de serapilheira e a distribuição das raízes. A área em estudo (25º 13?20,8? S e 50º04?26,8? W, Ponta Grossa/PR) é uma planície de inundação degradada às margens do rio Tibagi. Os valores anuais de produção de serapilheira de G. paraguayana foram estimados em 7.500 kg/ha, com meia vida superior a 260 dias para os limbos e 360 dias para as bainhas foliares. No período analisado, as folhas retornaram ao ambiente 164,27 kg/ha de macronutrientes. Com base na concentração de carbono da folha, o fluxo de carbono orgânico da vegetação para o solo foi estimado em 2.800 kg/ha/ano. Em comparação com os valores de FOMA melhor preservada, a presença dominante desse bambu reduz a quantidade de nutrientes e de carbono devolvidos ao meio

Experiences in the development of magnesium cell technology at Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi

Research activities on the preparation of magnesium metal by molten salt electrolytic process were initiated in CECRI as early as in 1958. CECRI started its experiments on a bench scale level and further developed into pilot plant scale and finally to the scale of semicommercial unit. Various types of electrolytic cells were developed at CECRI which include externally heated cells with different design modifications, modular cells, bipolar/multipolar cells and new modified monopolar ceUs. The primary aim of each development was aimed at high current efficiencies energy efficiencies and space time yields. Various types of raw materials like magnesite, sea bitterns, and byproduct MgCl2 from ZrrTi plants etc. were utilised during the investigations. These studies were carried out with financial grants from Govt. of Tamil Nadu, CSIR, DRDO and Nuclear Fuel Complex. The paper illustrates the design and operational features of different electrolytic cells with consequent gradual decrease in specific energy consumption for magnesium production and increased space time yields with improvement in cell design and operational parameters

New Constraints on Dispersive Form Factor Parameterizations from the Timelike Region

We generalize a recent model-independent form factor parameterization derived from rigorous dispersion relations to include constraints from data in the timelike region. These constraints dictate the convergence properties of the parameterization and appear as sum rules on the parameters. We further develop a new parameterization that takes into account finiteness and asymptotic conditions on the form factor, and use it to fit to the elastic \pi electromagnetic form factor. We find that the existing world sample of timelike data gives only loose bounds on the form factor in the spacelike region, but explain how the acquisition of additional timelike data or fits to other form factors are expected to give much better results. The same parameterization is seen to fit spacelike data extremely well.Comment: 24 pages, latex (revtex), 3 eps figure