Erratum: Next-to-Leading-Order QCD Corrections to Higgs Boson Plus Jet Production with Full Top-Quark Mass Dependence [Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 162001 (2018)].

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.162001.

Nutrient recycling from the effluent of a decentralized anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating fresh domestic wastewater by cultivation of the microalgae Acutodesmus obliquus.

This study investigates the feasibility of microalgae cultivation with the effluent (permeate) of a decentralized anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) treating high strength domestic wastewater. Two experiments, consisting of three and two successive batch experiments with incubation times varying between 5 and 9 days, were conducted. Nutrient removal and growth of the microalgae species Acutodesmus obliquus were studied for the following culture media: (A) permeate, (B) permeate enriched with iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sulfur (S) and the chelating agent EDTA, (C) commercial fertilizer as control culture. Initial nutrient concentrations in the culture media ranged from 9.3 to 16.6 mg·L-1 total phosphorus (TP) and from 85.1 to 126.2 mg·L-1 total nitrogen (TN). TP reached an average removal of 97%, 98% and 99% in (A), (B) and (C) respectively. An average TN removal of 94% and 96% was achieved in (B) and (C). Starting from the third batch of the first experiment and the second batch of the second experiment, the culture with permeate (A) showed a decrease in TN removal. Further batch experiments showed the need to add iron to ensure an optimal TN removal from the permeate.

Next-to-Leading-Order QCD Corrections to Higgs Boson Plus Jet Production with Full Top-Quark Mass Dependence.

We present the next-to-leading-order QCD corrections to the production of a Higgs boson in association with one jet at the LHC including the full top-quark mass dependence. The mass of the bottom quark is neglected. The two-loop integrals appearing in the virtual contribution are calculated numerically using the method of sector decomposition. We study the Higgs boson transverse momentum distribution, focusing on the high p_{t,H} region, where the top-quark loop is resolved. We find that the next-to-leading-order QCD corrections are large but that the ratio of the next-to-leading-order to leading-order result is similar to that obtained by computing in the limit of large top-quark mass.

Erratum: Higgs Boson Pair Production in Gluon Fusion at Next-to-Leading Order with Full Top-Quark Mass Dependence [Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 012001 (2016)].

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.012001.

Higgs Boson Pair Production in Gluon Fusion at Next-to-Leading Order with Full Top-Quark Mass Dependence.

We present the calculation of the cross section and invariant mass distribution for Higgs boson pair production in gluon fusion at next-to-leading order (NLO) in QCD. Top-quark masses are fully taken into account throughout the calculation. The virtual two-loop amplitude has been generated using an extension of the program GoSam supplemented with an interface to Reduze for the integral reduction. The occurring integrals have been calculated numerically using the program SecDec. Our results, including the full top-quark mass dependence for the first time, allow us to assess the validity of various approximations proposed in the literature, which we also recalculate. We find substantial deviations between the NLO result and the different approximations, which emphasizes the importance of including the full top-quark mass dependence at NLO.

Impact of antipsoriatic therapy on endothelial function.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial function (EF) impairment is one of the first events in the process of atherosclerosis, which is known to be associated with psoriasis. Nevertheless, the effect of antipsoriatic treatments, some of them with atherogenic risks, on cardiovascular morbidity and EF is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of short-term antipsoriatic treatments on EF values as a potential marker of their effect on cardiovascular morbidity. METHODS: EF was evaluated in 26 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis by measuring microvascular blood flow, expressed as the reactive hyperaemia index (RHI), before and after phototherapy (8 weeks) or systemic antipsoriatic treatment (12 weeks). RESULTS: Antipsoriatic intervention was effective (46% achieving ≥ 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index), while the average RHI did not improve during the study (1·73 ± 0·48. vs. 1·66 ± 0·35, average difference -0·12 ± 0·43, not significant). Patients with baseline preserved EF exhibited a decline in RHI (difference -0·2 ± 0·4, P = 0·053), while patients with abnormal baseline RHI presented nonsignificant RHI improvement (RHI difference 0·1 ± 0·2). CONCLUSIONS: There was no positive effect on EF of short-term antipsoriatic treatment. It is possible that a longer period of treatment and EF evaluation would uncover a positive endothelial effect, especially in patients with baseline abnormal EF.

Ionic liquid based lithium battery electrolytes: fundamental benefits of utilising both TFSI and FSI anions?

Several IL based electrolytes with an imidazolium cation (EMI) have been investigated trying to elucidate a possible beneficial effect of mixing FSI and TFSI anions in terms of physico-chemical properties and especially Li(+) solvation. All electrolytes were evaluated in terms of phase transitions, densities and viscosities, thermal stabilities, ionic conductivities and local structure, i.e. charge carriers. The electrolytes with up to 20% of Li-salts showed to be promising for high temperature lithium ion battery application (ca. 100 °C) and a synergetic effect of having mixed anions is discernible with the LiTFSI0.2EMIFSI0.8 electrolyte giving the best overall performance. The determination of the charge carriers revealed the SN to be ca. 2 for all analysed electrolytes, and proved the analysis of the mixed anion electrolytes to be challenging and inherently leads to an ambiguous picture of the Li(+) solvation.

Low and Normal IGF-1 Levels in Patients with Chronic Medical Disorders (CMD) is Independent of Anterior Pituitary Hormone Deficiencies: Implications for Treating IGF-1 Abnormal Deficiencies with CMD.

Over time, based on evidence-based medicine, a number of hormonal test levels including IGF-1 had been raised or lowered to meet new criteria standards. In particular, IGF-1 plasma levels have been shown in several studies to be an independent diagnostic tool in Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD). Many endocrinology studies link low IGF-1 plasma levels with low levels of other anterior pituitary hormones (i.e., LH, FSH, and TSH). Low IGF-1 is considered by most to be between 84-100 µ/l and numerous studies recommend that raising IGF-1 to high normal range reverses Chronic Medical Diseases (CMD), improves bone mineral density (BMD), and fibromyalgia. Moreover, some studies suggest that low levels of IGF-1 by itself independent of anterior pituitary deficiencies is sufficient to determine AGHD in humans. In order to determine the relationship of low IGF-1 with that of LH, FSH, and TSH levels in subjects with CMD, we evaluated these levels (± SD) in 944 patients. Patients with IGF-1 below 84 µ/l, 100 µ/l, and 150 µ/l were accessed. 9.22% had less than 84 µ/l (SD ± 12.52); 19.9% had less than 100 µ/l (SD ± 9.54); and 51.6 had less than 150 µ/l (SD ± 26.0). Specifically, the percentages found for low LH, FSH, and TSH were only 4.2%, 4.8%, and 6.5%. We conclude that IGF-1 deficiencies occur independent of comorbid deficiencies of LH, FSH, and TSH. Finally, we propose that based on the present investigation, IGF-1 low levels between the range of 84-100 µ/l may be too low to be considered as an independent diagnostic marker to treat AGHD with CMD.

Dual function of protein confinement in chaperonin-assisted protein folding.

The GroEL/GroES chaperonin system mediates the folding of a range of newly synthesized polypeptides in the bacterial cytosol. Using a rapid biotin-streptavidin-based inhibition of chaperonin function, we show that the cage formed by GroEL and its cofactor GroES can have a dual role in promoting folding. First, enclosure of nonnative protein in the GroEL:GroES complex is essential for folding to proceed unimpaired by aggregation. Second, folding inside the cage can be significantly faster than folding in free solution, independently of ATP-driven cycles of GroES binding and release. This suggests that confinement of unfolded protein in the narrow hydrophilic space of the chaperonin cage smoothes the energy landscape for the folding of some proteins, increasing the flux of folding intermediates toward the native state.

The theory of planned behavior as related to intention to exercise and exercise behavior.

In a previously reported study we sought to assess the usefulness of the theory of planned behavior in explaining the exercise behavior of 73 adults enrolled in an exercise program over a 5-mo. period. The correlation between scores on Intention to Exercise and Exercise Behavior was moderate and inverse, conflicting with a primary tenet of the Theory of Planned Behavior. In this analysis of the data we sought to explain that finding by partitioning participants into groups based on a median split of their scores on Intention to Exercise and Exercise Behavior. Using the four Intention by Behavior groups as independent variables and scale scores as dependent variables, post hoc tests for Fitness Attitude showed significant differences only when High Intention conflicted with Low Intention, irrespective of Exercise Behavior. Perceived Behavioral Control showed opposite tendencies, i.e., differences were significant when High Behavior conflicted with Low Behavior, irrespective of Intention to Exercise. We conclude that Perceived Behavioral Control defines one's ultimate Exercise Behavior over a 5-mo. period while scores on Fitness Attitude define Intentions to Exercise.

Interplay in lipoplexes between type of pDNA promoter and lipid composition determines transfection efficiency of human growth hormone in NIH3T3 cells in culture.

This study was aimed to investigate if and to what extent there is an interplay between lipoplex physicochemical properties and plasmid promoter type affecting transfection efficiency in vitro. To reduce the number of variables only one cell type (NIH3T3 cells), one gene (human growth hormone), one cationic lipid (DOTAP) in a plasmid >85% in supercoiled form, and the same medium conditions were used. The variables of the physicochemical properties included presence and type of helper lipid (DOPE, DOPC, or cholesterol, all in 1:1 mole ratio with DOTAP), size and lamellarity of the liposomes used for lipoplex preparation (large unilamellar vesicles, LUV, versus multilamellar vesicles, MLV), and DNA(-)/cationic lipid(+) charge ratio, all containing the same human growth hormone but differing in their promoter enhancer region. Two of the promoters were of viral origin: (a) SV40 promoter (simian virus early promoter) and (b) CMV promoter (cytomegalovirus early promoter); two were of mammalian cell origin: (c) PABP promoter (human poly(A)-binding protein promoter) and (d) S16 promoter (mouse ribosomal protein (rp) S16 promoter). Transfection studies showed that, irrespective of promoter type, large (> or =500 nm) MLV were superior to approximately 100 nm LUV; the extent of superiority was dependent on liposome lipid composition (larger for 100% DOTAP and DOTAP/DOPE than for DOTAP/DOPC and DOTAP/cholesterol). The optimal DNA(-)/DOTAP(+) charge ratio for all types of lipoplexes used was 0.2 or 0.5 (namely, when the lipoplexes were positively charged). Scoring the six best lipoplex formulations (out of 128 studied) revealed the following order: pCMV (DOTAP/DOPE) >> pSV (DOTAP/DOPE)=pCMV(DOTAP/cholesterol)=pS16 (100% DOTAP)=pS16 DOTAP/DOPE >> pCMV (DOTAP/DOPC). The lack of trivial consistency in the transfection efficiency score, the pattern of transfection efficiency, and statistical analysis of the data suggest that there is cross-talk between promoter type and lipoplex lipid composition, which may be related to the way the promoter is associated with the lipids.

Scale construction for measuring attitude, beliefs, perception of control, and intention to exercise.

BACKGROUND: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework, the Fitness Attitude, Expectations of Others, Perceived Behavioral Control, and Intention to Exercise Scales were developed. Professionals in exercise physiology generated items for the instruments. Experts in clinical psychology and exercise physiology established content validity. METHODS: Each of the scale items is phrased in a rating scale format. Both unipolar and bipolar scales were developed with seven response choices offered. Following the pilot testing and subsequent revisions, 19 items were retained in the Fitness Attitude Scale, seven items were retained in the Expectations of Others Scale, three items were retained in the Perceived Behavioral Control Scale, and 11 items were retained in the Intention to Exercise Scale. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients for the total instruments were significantly positive for stability and internal consistency, ranging from a = 0.75 to a = 0.87. Exercise specialists may wish to implement the use of these scales in their practices to develop intervention techniques for the promotion of positive fitness attitudes, good perception of control over the ability to exercise, and good intentions to exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The positive results in this study s sample suggest that these scales are ready for application in the field, but they should be pilot-tested with each group to check reliability with the particular population.

Nitrate Regeneration Coupled to Degradation of Different Size Fractions of DON by the Picoplankton in the Elbe Estuary.

Bacterial conversion of high (HMW > 3,000 Da) and low (LMW < 3,000 Da) molecular weight DON (dissolved organic nitrogen) was studied along the freshwater section of the Elbe estuary during the summer of 1997. Indigenous populations of picoplankton were incubated in a flow-through chamber that allowed a constant exchange of sterile, filtered Elbe water as the culture medium for the microorganisms, which remained within the chamber. Nitrogen conversion was followed by changes in the concentrations of total and low molecular weight DON and dissolved inorganic nitrogen compounds, the uptake of O2, and bacterial growth. Along the Elbe estuary, total DON concentrations varied between 0.69 and 1.1 mg N L-1, of which between 64 and 79% was LMW-DON. Ammonium was a minor nutrient present in the Elbe at concentrations below 0.26 mg N L-1. During incubation in the laboratory between 27 and 64% of the LMW-DON was consumed at rates ranging from 24 to 51 µg N L-1 h-1. HMW-DON was used only when the degradable LMW-DON pool became exhausted and accounted for between 60 and 100% of the HMW-DON. This produced an increase in the DON consumption rate between 43 and 79 µg N L-1 h-1. Nitrification rates were independent of the external ammonium concentration until it decreased to below 1 µg N-NH4 L-1. Most of the N in the nitrification process originated as NH4 regenerated from DON. Between 75 and 100% of the LMW-DON and ammonium consumed was rapidly converted to nitrate. This amount decreased to between 65 and 85% when HMW-DON was consumed in addition to the LMW-DON. DON and ammonium consumption supported nitrification rates up to 71 µg N L-1 h-1. The amount of DOC (dissolved organic carbon) degraded was not equivalent to the C:N ratio of the total dissolved organic matter. Calculations based on oxygen consumption for respiration and ammonium regeneration revealed that the substrates used during the incubations contained C:N at ratios of about 3:1. These results suggest that the nitrogen-rich compounds had been removed from the dissolved organic matter and subsequently consumed by bacteria, while the carbon skeleton remained mostly unaffected by the degradation processes.

[Myocardial perfusion at rest and during stress. MR signal characteristics of persistent and reversible myocardial ischemia]. / Myokardperfusion in Ruhe und unter Belastung. MR-Signalcharakteristika persistierender und reversibler Myokardischämien.

AIM: Performance of combined rest/stress MR perfusion studies and the analysis of qualitative signal intensity parameters in comparison with 99mTc-SestaMIBI SPECT in patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Sixteen patients with CAD underwent MR myocardial perfusion assessment at rest and after dipyridamole-induced hyperemia. Qualitative parameters (SI increase, SI upslope) of the SI time-curves were evaluated and characteristics of normal, reversible and persistent hypoperfused myocardium as assessed by 99mTc-SestaMIBI SPECT were compared. RESULTS: Compared with the rest values, normal myocardium showed a significant increase of the SI upslope during hyperemia (P < 0.001), whereas persistent (P = 0.07) and reversible (P = 0.15) hypo-perfusions showed only minor changes. SI increase over baseline also showed a significant increase only in normal myocardium (P < 0.001). At rest, reversible ischemic areas showed no significant differences from normal myocardium, whereas during hyperemia SI increase was significantly lower (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative SI parameters of a combined rest/stress MR myocardial perfusion study allow to differentiate normal from reversibly or persistently hypoperfused myocardium.

Striatal dopamine transporter binding assessed by [I-123]IPT and single photon emission computed tomography in patients with early Parkinson's disease: implications for a preclinical diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Specific binding to dopamine transporters may serve as a tool to detect early loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in patients with Parkinson's disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine striatal dopamine transporter binding using the cocaine analogue [I-123]N-(3-iodopropen-2-yl)-2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-chl orophenyl) tropane ([I-123]IPT) and single photon emission computed tomography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 9 control subjects (mean age, 58 years; range, 41-69 years) and 28 patients with early Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr stages I [n = 14] and II [n = 14] [symptom duration, <5 years]; mean age, 55.5 years; range, 36-71 years). Single photon emission computed tomography was performed 90 minutes after injection of 120 to 150 MBq of radioactive [I-123]IPT. RESULTS: Specific striatal [I-123] IPT binding (mean +/- SD) was significantly reduced in patients with early Parkinson's disease (ipsilateral striatum: 4.09+/-0.97; range, 2.46-6.40; contralateral striatum: 3.32+/-0.76; range, 1.80-5.13) compared with controls (left striatum: 7.28+/-0.94; range, 5.78-8.81; right striatum: 7.41+/-1.28; range, 5.58-9.44). IPT binding ratios (mean +/- SD) were significantly lower in patients with Hoehn and Yahr stage II (ipsilateral striatum: 3.47+/-0.75; contralateral striatum: 2.96+/-0.73) compared with those with Hoehn and Yahr stage I (ipsilateral striatum: 4.72+/-0.75; contralateral striatum: 3.69+/-0.61) (P<.001). The ipsilateral striatum of patients with Hoehn and Yahr stage I showed a significant mean+/-SD reduction of IPT binding (ipsilateral striatum: 4.72+/-0.75) compared with either right or left striatum of controls (P<.001). Only in 1 patient was IPT binding to the ipsilateral striatum (ratio, 6.40) higher than the lowest value observed in the striatum of a control subject (ratio, 5.58). CONCLUSIONS: Use of [I-123] IPT and single photon emission computed tomography demonstrates a reduction of dopamine transporter binding in patients with early Parkinson's disease. Significantly reduced IPT binding already observed in the ipsilateral striatum of patients with Hoehn and Yahr stage I demonstrates the potential of this method to detect preclinical disease.

Anterior discectomy and fusion for the management of neck pain.

STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected prospectively on 38 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for neck pain with no symptoms or signs of radiculopathy or myelopathy. OBJECTIVES: To determine the changes in pain and function after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for nonradicular neck pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There is considerable controversy regarding the role of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for neck pain in the absence of radiculopathy or myelopathy. Although no studies have addressed this specific and common problem, it is known that anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for radiculopathy or myelopathy may also provide relief of neck pain for many patients. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for neck pain were evaluated. Before and after surgery, the authors measured pain with a numerical rating scale, function with the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, and final patient satisfaction. Final evaluation was done by a disinterested third party. RESULTS: All 38 patients were available for follow-up study. Mean age was 42.4 years, and mean duration of follow-up study was 53 months. All patients had painful disc(s) proven by discography. No patients had nerve root compression. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion was performed at one level in 21 patients, two levels in 16 patients, and three levels in one patient. The mean score on the numerical rating scale for neck pain before surgery was 8.3 (range, 3-10) versus 4.1 (range, 0-10) after surgery. This difference is significant (P < 0.001). The mean score on the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire was 57.5 (range, 0-89) before surgery versus 38.9 (range, 0-80) after surgery. This difference is significant (P < 0.001). There were 30 (79%) patients who were satisfied with their outcome, and 8 (21%) who were not satisfied. There was no statistical difference in change of pain or function between patients with worker's compensation and those with other insurance or between men and women. Twenty patients were not working because of neck pain before surgery, and 15 were not working at the time of follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: A significant decrease in pain, a significant increase in function, and a high degree of patient satisfaction were found with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for neck pain. Improvements were not affected by worker's compensation status or gender.

Tonsillar carcinoma: analysis of treatment results.

OBJECTIVE: Early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil is amenable to treatment by either surgery or radiation therapy as a single modality, with comparable rates of local control. Unfortunately, manifestation of the disease at an early stage is infrequent, and surgery or radiation alone is less successful in controlling advanced disease. This study was conducted to elucidate the optimal treatment plan for advanced stages of tonsillar carcinoma and to identify significant risk factors for development of recurrence or failure of local control. METHOD: We reviewed the UCLA experience with treatment of all stages of tonsillar carcinoma between 1970 and 1990. RESULTS: Actuarial local control rates were 70% for T1, 72% for T2, 50% for T3, and 0% for T4 at 5-year follow-up. Local control and overall survival rates were compared according to the type of treatment rendered for each stage. CONCLUSIONS: From our analysis we conclude that aggressive combination therapy with surgery and radiation yields significantly higher local control rates for stages 3 and 4 tonsillar carcinomas. The advantages and disadvantages of preoperative versus postoperative radiation therapy are discussed.

Molecular temporal bone pathology: III. Genotyping of the deltaF508 deletion in the DNA of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Genomic DNA from a single celloidin-embedded archival temporal bone section was used to identify a specific genetic mutation. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify and detect the deltaF508 deletion, a common molecular genetic defect in cystic fibrosis. This mutation, present in more than 70% of white patients and carriers with cystic fibrosis, results in the deletion of codon 508, which specifies the amino acid phenylalanine of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. When this technique was applied to archival specimens from four patients with cystic fibrosis, all expressed the carrier state of this defective gene. These data demonstrate the feasibility of identifying genetic mutations in archival temporal bone specimens.

Molecular temporal bone pathology: IV. Analysis of DNA template length using mitochondrial PCR primers.

The focus of this study was to identify, via molecular biology techniques, the length of the DNA templates present in individual archival celloidin-embedded human temporal bone sections. Earlier studies have suggested that the maximum template length present in these tissues is on the order of 471 base pair (bp). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 92 bp, 121 bp, 471 bp, and 609 bp regions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), extracted from single archival celloidin-embedded human temporal bone sections, was used to assess the length of the template DNA extracted. These data are crucial to determine the limits of applying PCR technology to amplify specific genomic DNA targets located within the human inner ear. The results described should be of value to those investigators extracting DNA from archival individual human temporal bone sections for polymerase chain reaction assays of specific genetic alterations or infectious agents associated with temporal bone pathologies.

Palatal mucoperiosteal free graft: another reconstruction option for oral defects.

Traditional methods of repair for medium-size (3-5 cm) oral defects include allowing granulation, primary closure, skin grafts, and buccal mucosal grafts. Each of these methods has several disadvantages, and all tend to result in significant scar contracture and often lack sufficient bulk. In 10 patients, the defect left by resection of cancer lesions was reconstructed with a free palatal mucoperiosteal graft. In all patients, the grafts survived with little contracture, allowing for adequate tongue mobility. Because of the thickness of the palatal mucoperiosteum, local depressions typically associated with floor of the mouth defects could be avoided. The palatal donor site was left to granulate and recovered in 2-3 weeks with little residual deformity. In 4 patients a through-and-through resection of a floor of the mouth cancer was performed in continuity with a neck dissection. A palatal mucoperiosteal free graft was utilized exclusively in the reconstruction, without the development of salivary fistula.