We present results for several light hadronic quantities (f sub(pi), f sub(K), B sub(K), m sub(ud), m sub(s), t super(1/2) sub(0), w sub(0)) obtained from simulations of 2+1 flavor domain wall ...lattice QCD with large physical volumes and nearly physical pion masses at two lattice spacings. We perform a short, O(3)%, extrapolation in pion mass to the physical values by combining our new data in a simultaneous chiral/continuum "global fit" with a number of other ensembles with heavier pion masses. We use the physical values of m sub(pi), m sub(K) and m sub(Omega) to determine the two quark masses and the scale-all other quantities are outputs from our simulations. We obtain results with subpercent statistical errors and negligible chiral and finite-volume systematics for these light hadronic quantities, including f sub(pi)=130.2(9)MeV; f sub(K)=155.5(8)MeV; the average up/down quark mass and strange quark mass in the MS scheme at 3 GeV, 2.997(49) and 81.64(1.17) MeV respectively; and the neutral kaon mixing parameter, BK, in the renormalization group invariant scheme, 0.750(15) and the MS scheme at 3 GeV, 0.530(11).
The Investment Framework Enhanced (IFE) proposed in 2013 by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) explored how maximizing existing interventions and adding emerging prevention ...options, including a vaccine, could further reduce new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This article describes additional modeling which looks more closely at the potential health impact and cost-effectiveness of AIDS vaccination in LMICs as part of UNAIDS IFE.
An epidemiological model was used to explore the potential impact of AIDS vaccination in LMICs in combination with other interventions through 2070. Assumptions were based on perspectives from research, vaccination and public health experts, as well as observations from other HIV/AIDS interventions and vaccination programs. Sensitivity analyses varied vaccine efficacy, duration of protection, coverage, and cost.
If UNAIDS IFE goals were fully achieved, new annual HIV infections in LMICs would decline from 2.0 million in 2014 to 550,000 in 2070. A 70% efficacious vaccine introduced in 2027 with three doses, strong uptake and five years of protection would reduce annual new infections by 44% over the first decade, by 65% the first 25 years and by 78% to 122,000 in 2070. Vaccine impact would be much greater if the assumptions in UNAIDS IFE were not fully achieved. An AIDS vaccine would be cost-effective within a wide range of scenarios.
Even a modestly effective vaccine could contribute strongly to a sustainable response to HIV/AIDS and be cost-effective, even with optimistic assumptions about other interventions. Higher efficacy would provide even greater impact and cost-effectiveness, and would support broader access. Vaccine efficacy and cost per regimen are critical in achieving cost-effectiveness, with cost per regimen being particularly critical in low-income countries and at lower efficacy levels.
Highlights ► HIV, the etiologic agent that causes AIDS, is the fourth largest killer in the world today. ► The rate of new HIV infections continues to outpace efforts on HIV prevention and control. ► ...The development of a safe and effective vaccine for prevention and control of AIDS remains a global public health priority.
This study employed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to conduct research on the ultrastructure of watermelon (cultivar: Hazera SW1) mesocarp samples of different maturities. Micrographs from ...immature fruit showed incompletely formed chromoplasts. A combination of distinct pigment-bearing chromoplasts and incompletely formed chromoplasts was observed in mature watermelon micrographs. Electron micrographs showed chromoplasts changing from a less organized globular form in immature to a symmetrical form in mature to an asymmetrical form in overmature watermelons. This study furthers our understanding of watermelon physiology and the effect of maturity on compartmentalization of lycopene.
Here, we have performed fits of the pseudoscalar masses and decay constants, from a variety of the RBC-UKQCD Collaboration’s domain wall fermion ensembles, to SU(2) partially quenched chiral ...perturbation theory at next-to-leading order (NLO) and next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO). We report values for 9 NLO and 8 linearly independent combinations of NNLO partially quenched low-energy constants, which we compare to other lattice and phenomenological determinations. We discuss the size of successive terms in the chiral expansion and use our large set of low-energy constants to make predictions for mass splittings due to QCD isospin-breaking effects and the S-wave ππ scattering lengths. Lastly, we conclude that, for the range of pseudoscalar masses explored in this work, 115 MeV≲mPS≲430 MeV, the NNLO SU(2) expansion is quite robust and can fit lattice data with percent-scale accuracy.
Seventy-two entire male pigs (40.4 ± 1.0 kg) were used to study the effects of increasing crude fibre (CF) level in the diet and maintaining the digestible energy (DE) content of the diet by ...increasing dietary fat inclusion on pig performance and nutrient digestibility in a 3 × 2 factorial experiment. Productive performance and nutrient digestibility were determined in individually fed pigs offered expander-processed pelleted diets ad libitum containing three levels of CF (50, 60 and 70 g kg−1) and two levels of fat supplementation (25 and 50 g kg−1) until slaughter at 100 kg. All diets were expander processed at 105 °C for 5 s at 35 bar pressure having been previously conditioned at 85 °C for 5 s. All diets were formulated to have similar concentrations of digestible energy (13.5 MJ kg−1) and lysine (10 g kg−1) and the fat source was a 60:40 blend of tallow and palm oil. The increase in dietary CF level decreased (P < 0.05) the apparent digestibility of crude protein, organic matter (OM) and energy, while the inclusion of 50 g kg−1 fat decreased (P < 0.01) OM and energy digestibility. The inclusion of 50 g kg−1 fat in the diet increased (P < 0.01) ether extract digestibility at the 50 and 60 g kg−1 CF levels; however, fat inclusion had no effect at the 70 g kg−1 CF level. There was no CF × fat interaction in any growth criteria. The inclusion of 50 g kg−1 fat in the diet significantly reduced (P < 0.05) feed intake (2.28 versus 2.43 kg day−1, SEM 0.039), average daily gain (ADG; 0.877 versus 0.927 kg day−1, SEM 0.017) and DE conversion ratio (36.1 versus 35.0 MJ kg−1, SEM 0.40). The increase in dietary CF level decreased (linear, P < 0.05) feed intake (2.45 versus 2.32 versus 2.29 kg day−1, SEM 0.040), ADG (0.940 versus 0.896 versus 0.872 kg day−1, SEM 0.021) and kill-out proportion (740 versus 741 versus 730 g kg−1, SEM 3.6). In conclusion, increasing both the CF level and supplementary fat inclusion rate had a negative effect on pig growth performance and nutrient digestibility.
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