Ergodic sampling of the topological charge using the density of states

In lattice calculations, the approach to the continuum limit is hindered by the severe freezing of the topological charge, which prevents ergodic sampling in configuration space. In order to significantly reduce the autocorrelation time of the topological charge, we develop a density of states approach with a smooth constraint and use it to study SU(3) pure Yang Mills gauge theory near the continuum limit. Our algorithm relies on simulated tempering across a range of couplings, which guarantees the decorrelation of the topological charge and ergodic sampling of topological sectors. Particular emphasis is placed on testing the accuracy, efficiency and scaling properties of the method. In their most conservative interpretation, our results provide firm evidence of a sizeable reduction of the exponent z related to the growth of the autocorrelation time as a function of the inverse lattice spacing.

ROLE OF SUGARS IN SURFACE MICROBE-HOST INTERACTIONS IN GROUP B STREPTOCOCCUS INVASION

Objective: Metabolic sources for food play a very important role in developing a niche for a microbe to invade and cause infection in the host. The influence of various sugars on invasion of Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B streptococcus (GBS) into HeLa and A549 cells in vitro were evaluated. Methods: The cell lines and the bacteria were pretreated separately with different sugars before invasion. These observations were also corroborated with light microscopy. Results: Our results showed that the maximum GBS invasion observed at 2h, decreased significantly (p<0.05) when the cells were pretreated with N-acetyl galactosamine (GlcNAc), D-xylose, sucrose, lactose, D-mannose, and D-glucose. In contrast, mannitol was seen to support the invasion of GBS. In addition, when a combined effect of GlcNAc and xylose was studied, 87.5%–91% inhibition to GBS invasion was observed in HeLa and A549 cell lines, respectively. A sizeable reduction in invasion was observed when the bacteria were pretreated with 10 mM of D-Glucose (79.32%), GlcNAc (69.66%), and mannose (48.28%). In conclusion, GlcNAc, D-xylose, and D-glucose proved to be excellent inhibitors to GBS invasion. Furthermore, bacterial pretreatment results might indicate that these sugar specific receptors might be present on the epithelial cells which possibly gets blocked and thus inhibits the entry of GBS. Conclusion: These findings are the first to suggest the role of these sugars as a way to alternative therapies to GBS infection by altering the host-pathogen environment during invasion.

Preventing the Negative Effects of the Covid-19 Epidemic in International Freight Transport

Measures taken to handle the COVID-19 epidemic in the spring of 2020 have had a significant impact on European supply chains. In terms of freight transport, this has led to a decline and congestion in truck traffic due to different restrictions on the internal borders of the EU. As similar situations cannot be avoided in the future, it is worthy to form supply chains that are less affected by different epidemics. Similarly to the physical internet hubs, distribution hubs can be forward-looking, but only if it helps development of rail-road intermodal freight transport. The article describes the possibility of a rail-road freight transport system that allows the application of radically new solutions through a new container handling technology that can be used in the rail-road relationship. The extension of the idea at the EU level could result in a significant increase in the share of rail freight and a sizeable reduction of the negative impact of epidemics on the supply chains. Among other effects, the solution can have a significant impact on the IT development of rail freight transport. The solution can also have effect to the development of the network of rail-road intermodal trans-shipment points, their automation and ultimately the completion of Logistics 4.0.

World of earthworms with pesticides and insecticides

Earthworms are important organisms in soil communities and are known for sustaining the life of the soil. They are used as a model organism in environmental risk assessment of chemicals and soil toxicology. Soil provides physical and nutritive support to agriculture system by regulating biogeochemical cycles, nutrient cycle, waste degradation, organic matter degradation etc. The biggest threat to soil health are pesticides and synthetic chemicals including fertilizers. Earthworms are most severely hit by these xenobiotic compounds leading to a sizeable reduction of their population and adversely affecting soil fertility. Earthworms are incredible soil organisms playing a crucial role in maintaining soil health. Pesticides used in crop management are known to be most over-purchased and irrationally used soil toxicants, simultaneously, used insecticides contribute to a quantum of damage to earthworms and other non-target organisms. LC50 and LD50 studies revealed that earthworms are highly susceptible to insecticides causing immobility, rigidity and also show a significant effect on biomass reduction, growth and reproduction by disrupting various physiological activities leading to loss of earthworm population and soil biodiversity.

Pullout performance of steel bars partially bonded in concrete with epoxy resin

The installation of new reinforcing bars onto an existing structure is a common practice in civil construction both for old and new structures. The use of anchors has been extensively studied and normalized. The placement of steel reinforcement bars in holes filled with epoxy resin, despite their wide use, still lacks a satisfactory methodology for the design of such systems. In this context, the aim of this paper is to present the results of an experimental programme for confined pullout tests, comparing the performance of cast steel reinforcement bars to that of bars bonded to concrete with epoxy resin. The investigated test parameters included the bar diameter, the embedment length and the resin thickness. Tests results showed a significant efficiency of epoxy resin as structural bonding agent and allowed the verification of sizeable reduction in the anchorage lengths for bonded bars.

Kazakh central bank cuts lending rate as sector mends

Subject Kazakhstan's banking sector. Significance The National Bank of Kazakhstan (NBK) lowered its policy rate to 9.25% on April 16, the third cut since the start of 2018. The bank approved the cut despite a fall in the Russian ruble's value, which pushed Kazakhstan's tenge down to a three-month low in a chain reaction. The central bank had earlier predicted that improved macroeconomic conditions would open the way to an expansion in lending by commercial banks. Impacts Further banking sector consolidation is likely, bringing the number of banks from 32 to below 30. Despite a sizeable reduction in non-performing loans, banks face high risks from low-quality loans not classified as such. The transfer of problem loans to special-purpose vehicles is masking banks' structural fragility. The depressed purchasing power of households will keep private borrowing in check.

A Practical Illustration of Methods to Deal with Potential Outliers: A Multiverse Outlier Analysis of Study 3 from Brummelman, Thomaes, Orobio de Castro, Overbeek, and Bushman (2014)

Recently, Brummelman, Thomaes, Orobio de Castro, Overbeek, and Bushman (2014: Study 3) demonstrated that inflated praise benefits challenge seeking of children with high self-esteem, but harms challenge seeking of children with low self-esteem. In the present paper, we examined the original data set on model-fit and prediction outliers according to various reasonable criteria and norms. Subsequently, we carried out a multiverse outlier re-analysis on the data of Brummelman and colleagues’ Study 3, employing the same analytical approach as the original authors did but excluding outliers. Out of the twelve re-analyses in the multiverse, six demonstrated that removing only a small number of outliers rendered the originally reported crucial interaction effect between self-esteem and type of praise non-significant and produced a sizeable reduction of the effect size. The present paper illustrates the use of reporting outlier analyses, which lies in allowing a critical evaluation of the empirical evidence and offering a more complete picture that enhances future studies in the field.

Impact de la sélection sur la variabilité génétique de l'épinette blanche au Québec

The genetic structure and variability of two natural white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss.) populations from southern Quebec were compared by isoenzymatic analysis with those observed from three superior provenances of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence regions. Twenty 15- to 20-year-old trees, selected within the provenances and integrated into a diallel cross plan, were also studied. The analysis of seven enzymatic systems demonstrates, in an overall fashion, the consistency of variability within provenances when these are compared with natural populations. It indicates that the selection of a restricted number of individuals in these populations does not cause a significant loss of variability. The level of heterozygosity for the selected individuals integrated into the diallel cross plan appears very high and no loss of alleles is recorded when compared with the original provenances, despite the sizeable reduction in numbers. This result suggests that the second selection, in favour of individuals demonstrating a strengthened vigour, favored the most polymorph genotypes.