bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent PHENIX results on high-pT light hadron production
Authors: Kotov Dmitry
Published: August 2018

Production of Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP) has been established in central heavy ion collisions (Au+Au, Cu+Cu) at RHIC energies. Observation of strong suppression of hadron yields at high transverse momentum served as one of the most important evidences in favor of production of a new state of matter in such collisions. Recent RHIC run with asymmetric collision system (Cu+Au) provides the means to systematically study suppression pattern of hadrons in different nuclear overlap geometry needed to improve theoretical description of parton energy loss in QGP. Non-zero elliptic flow and a hint of suppression of high pT hadrons suggests that mini-QGP can be formed in collisions of light and heavy nuclei characterized by high charged particle multiplicities. To address the question of collective behavior in small systems RHIC provided series of geometry controlled experiments with highly asymmetric systems (p+Al, p+Au, 3He+Au). The recent results from the PHENIX experiment at RHIC on π0 and η mesons production in asymmetric systems will be presented and discussed.
Ongoing magnetic monopole searches with IceCube
Authors: Lauber Frederik
Published: August 2018

The IceCube collaboration has instrumented a cubic kilometer of ice with 5160 photo-multipliers. While mainly developed to detect Cherenkov light, any visible light can be used to detect particles within the ice. Magnetic monopoles are hypothetical particles predicted by many theories that extend the Standard model of Particle Physics. They are carriers of a single elementary magnetic charge. For this particle, different light production mechanisms dominate from direct Cherenkov light at highly relativistic velocities (> 0:76 c), indirect Cherenkov light at mildly relativistic velocities (> 0:5 c to 0:76 c), luminescence light at low relativistic velocities (≳ 0:1 c to 0:5 c), as well as catalysis of proton decay at non relativistic velocities (≲ 0:1 c). For each of this speed ranges, searches for magnetic monopoles at the IceCube experiment are either in progress or they have already set the worlds best limits on the flux of magnetic monopoles. A summary of these searches will be presented, outlining already existing results as well as methods used by the currently conducted searches.
Search for magnetic monopoles with the MoEDAL forward trapping detector in 13 TeV proton-proton collisions at the LHC
Authors: Lionti Anthony
Published: August 2018

The MoEDAL experiment addresses a decades-old issue, the search for an elementary magnetic monopole, first theorised in 1931 by Dirac to explain electric charge quantisation. Since then it was showed that magnetic monopoles occur naturally in grand unified theories as solutions of classical equations of motion. The dedicated experiment can enjoy a new energy regime opened at the LHC allowing direct probes of magnetic monopoles at the TeV scale for the first time. MoEDAL pioneered a technique in which monopoles would be slowed down in a dedicated aluminium array and the presence of trapped monopoles is probed by analysing the samples with a superconducting magnetometer. The MoEDAL forward trapping detector array deployed in 2015 was analysed and found consistent with zero trapped magnetic charge, allowing to set the first LHC constraints for monopoles carrying twice or thrice the Dirac charge.
CMS detector performance
Authors: López Silvia Goy
Published: August 2018

The performance of the CMS detector in Run 2 of the LHC, and in particular, with early 2017 data is presented. Special attention is given to the performance of the recently upgraded detector components.
Kinetic equations and anisotropic hydrodynamics for quark and gluon fluids
Authors: Maksymiuk Ewa
Published: August 2018

The mixture of quark and gluon fluids is studied in a one-dimensional boostinvariant setup using the set of relativistic kinetic equations treated in the relaxation time approximation. Effects of a finite quark mass, non-zero baryon number density, and quantum statistics are discussed. Comparisons between the exact kinetic-theory results and anisotropic hydrodynamics predictions are performed and a very good agreement between the two are found.
Mass problem in the Standard Model
Authors: Martinez R. , Mantilla S.F.
Published: August 2018

We propose a new SU(3)C ⊗ SU(2)L ⊗ U(1)Y ⊗ U(1)X gauge model which is non universal respect to the three fermion families of the Standard Model. We introduce additional one top-like quark, two bottom-like quarks and three right handed neutrinos in order to have an anomaly free theory. We also consider additional three right handed neutrinos which are singlets respect to the gauge symmetry of the model to implement see saw mechanism and give masses to the light neutrinos according to the neutrino oscillation phenomenology. In the context of this horizontal gauge symmetry we find mass ansatz for leptons and quarks. In particular, from the analysis of solar, atmospheric, reactor and accelerator neutrino oscillation experiments, we get the allow region for the Yukawa couplings for the charge and neutral lepton sectors according with the mass squared differences and mixing angles for the two neutrino hierarchy schemes, normal and inverted.
Sub-leading flow modes in PbPb collisions at √sNN =2.76 TeV from HYDJET++ model
Authors: Milosevic Jovan , Cirkovic Predrag , Devetak Damir , Dordevic Milos , Stojanovic Milan
Published: August 2018

The LHC results on the sub-leading flow modes in PbPb collisions at 2.76 TeV, related to initial-state fluctuations, are analyzed and interpreted within the HYDJET++ model. Using the newly introduced Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method applied to two-particle azimuthal correlations extracted from the model calculations, the leading and the sub-leading flow modes are studied as a function of the transverse momentum (pT ) over a wide centrality range. The leading modes of the elliptic (v(1)2) and triangular (v3(1)3) flow calculated within the HYDJET++ model reproduce rather well the v2{2} and v3{2} coeffcients experimentally measured using the two-particle correlations. Within the pT ≤3 GeV/c range where hydrodynamics dominates, the sub-leading flow effects are greatest at the highest pT of around 3 GeV/c. The sub-leading elliptic flow mode (v2(2)), which corresponds to n=2 harmonic, has a small non-zero value and slowly increases from central to peripheral collisions, while the sub-leading triangular flow mode (v3(2)), which corresponds to n =3 harmonic, is even smaller and does not depend on centrality. For n =2, the relative magnitude of the effect measured with respect to the leading flow mode shows a shallow minimum for semi-central collisions and increases for very central and for peripheral collisions. For n =3 case, there is no centrality dependence. The subleading flow mode results obtained from the HYDJET++ model are in a rather good agreement with the experimental measurements of the CMS Collaboration.
Threshold effects in hadron spectrum: a new spectroscopy?
Authors: Ortega P.G. , Segovia J. , Entem D.R. , Fernández F.
Published: August 2018

The exploration of energies above the open-flavor threshold in the meson spectra has led to the appearance of unexpected states difficult to accommodate in the naive picture of a bound state of a quark and an antiquark. Many of such states are located close to meson-meson thresholds, which suggests that molecular structures may be a relevant component in the total wave function of such resonances. In this work, the state of meson-meson molecules calculations is reviewed, using a nonrelativistic constituent quark model that has been applied to a wide range of hadronic observables, and therefore all model parameters are completely constrained. The model has been able to reproduce, among others, the properties of the X(3872), described as a mixture of cc and DD* states, or the spectrum of the P-wave charm-strange mesons, which are well reproduced only if DK and D*K structures are taken into account. We show that such constituent quark model, which is able to describe the ordinary heavy meson spectra, is also capable of providing a good description of many new states recently
reported.
The MoEDAL Experiment at the LHC - Searching for Physics Beyond the Standard Model
Authors: Pinfold James
Published: August 2018

MoEDAL is a pioneering experiment designed to search for highly ionizing messengers of new physics such as magnetic monopoles or massive (pseudo-)stable charged particles, that are predicted to exist in a plethora of models beyond the Standard Model. It started data taking at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, in 2015. MoEDAL’s ground breaking physics program defines a number of scenarios that yield potentially revolutionary insights into such foundational questions as: are there extra dimensions or new symmetries; what is the mechanism for the generation of mass; does magnetic charge exist; and what is the nature of dark matter. MoEDAL’s purpose is to meet such far-reaching challenges at the frontier of the field. We will present an overview of the MoEDAL detector, including the planned MAPP subdetector, as well as MoEDAL’s physics program. The concluding section highlights our first physics results on Magnetic Monopole production, that are the world’s best for Monopoles with multiple magnetic charge.
Heavy-ion Physics (ATLAS)
Authors: Przybycien Mariusz
Published: August 2018

The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider has undertaken a broad physics program to probe and characterize the hot nuclear matter created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. This talk presents recent results on production of electroweak bosons and quarkonium, charged particles and jets, bulk particle collectivity and electromagnetic processes in ultra-peripheral collisions, from Pb+Pb and p+Pb systems.
Latest results on diffraction at HERA
Authors: Przybycien Mariusz
Published: August 2018

Recent results on diffraction from the H1 and ZEUS experiments at HERA are presented. Measurement of open charm production in diffractive DIS has been performed by the H1 experiment using the event topology, given by ep → eXY, where the system X, containing at least one D*(2010) meson, is separated from a leading low-mass proton dissociative system Y by a large rapidity gap. The photoproduction of isolated photons is measured using diffractive events recorded by the ZEUS experiment. Cross sections are evaluated in the photon transverse-energy and pseudorapidity ranges 5 < EγT < 15 GeV and -0:7 < ηγ < 0:9, inclusively and with a jet with transverse-energy and pseudorapidity in the ranges 4 < EjetT < 35 GeV and -1:5 < ηjet < 1:8. The exclusive deep inelastic electroproduction and photoproduction of Ψ(2S ) and J=Ψ(1S) mesons has been also studied by ZEUS. The cross-section ratio σ(Ψ(2S))=σ(J=Ψ(1S)) has been measured as a function of Q2, W and t. The results are compared to several predictions of QCD-inspired models, providing tests of the models in a region of soft to hard diffraction.
Semileptonic decays and |Vxb| determinations
Authors: Ricciardi Giulia
Published: August 2018

We briefly summarize up-to-date results on the determination of the parameters of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix |Vcb| and |Vub|, which play an important role in the unitarity triangle and in testing the Standard Model, and recent results on semileptonic B meson decays involving a τ lepton.
Superheavy Nuclei to Hypernuclei: A Tribute to Walter Greiner
Authors: Samanta Chhanda
Published: August 2018

In nuclear physics, superheavy and hypernuclei are two of the most important fields of research. The prediction of islands of superheavy elements (Z = 114, N = 184, 196 and Z = 164, N = 318) in late sixties by the Frankfurt school played a key role in extending the periodic table of elements up to atomic number 118. Similarly, the demonstration that nuclear matter can be compressed 510 times of its original volume by nuclear shock waves, produced during heavy ion collision, led to the production of singleand double-lambda hypernuclei, as well as anti-matter nuclei. Recent observation of antihypertriton—comprising an antiproton, an antineutron, and an antilambda hyperon, by the STAR collaboration has now made it possible to envision a 3-dimensional nuclear chart of hypernuclei. My own interest in superheavy and hypernuclei was shaped from my first meeting with Walter Greiner at the International Conference on Atomic and Nuclear clusters held at Santorini, Greece in 1993. I will present a brief summary of these exciting developments, including some of our own work. Professor Greiner’s vision, enthusiasm, and encouragement touched many lives and I was one of those privileged ones.
ATLAS Jet Reconstruction, Calibration, and Tagging of Lorentzboosted Objects
Authors: Schramm Steven
Published: August 2018

Jet reconstruction in the ATLAS detector takes multiple forms, as motivated by the intended usage of the jet. Different jet definitions are used in particular for the study of QCD jets and jets containing the hadronic decay of boosted massive particles. These different types of jets are calibrated through a series of mostly sequential steps, providing excellent uncertainties, including a first in situ calibration of the jet mass scale. Jet tagging is investigated, including both not-top-quark vs gluon discrimination as well as W/Z boson, H → bb, and top-quark identification. This includes a first look at the use of Boosted Decision Trees and Deep Neural Networks built from jet substructure variables, as well as Convolutional Neural Networks built from jet images. In all cases, these advanced techniques are seen to provide gains over the standard approaches, with the magnitude of the gain depending on the use case. Future methods for improving jet tagging are briefly discussed, including jet substructure-oriented particle flow primarily for W/Z tagging and new subjet reconstruction strategies for H → bb tagging.
Measurement of cross sections and couplings of the Higgs boson in fermionic decay modes with the ATLAS detector
Authors: Shi Liaoshan
Published: August 2018

In this report, we present the latest ATLAS results on the measurement of the cross sections and couplings of the Higgs boson in the fermionic decay modes, H → μ+μ-, H → τ+τ- and H → bb. The searches are performed with proton-proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider during Run 1 and the first two years of Run 2 at √s = 7, 8 and 13 TeV.
Excited Charmed Baryons
Authors: Solovieva Elena
Published: August 2018

A present status of experimentally observed states of excited charmed baryons is given. The classification of charmed baryons is presented, a quark model for ground states is briefly described, and the energy levels of excited states are analyzed.
Damping of simple modes of high-energy nuclear excitations: dispersive optical models and their implementations
Authors: Urin M. H.
Published: August 2018

The particle-hole dispersive optical model, proposed recently to describe the main properties of high-energy particle-hole-type excitations in medium-heavy mass spherical nuclei, is briefly presented. Unique features of the model, new developments and some implementations are discussed. In applying to the description of deep-hole states, an unitary version of the single-quasiparticle optical model is also briefly presented.
On perturbations in Horndeski theories
Authors: Volkova Victoria
Published: August 2018

This research has been carried out in collaboration with R. Kolevatov, S. Mironov, V. Rubakov and N. Sukhov. We study the approach suggested by Deffayet et al. for obtaining a derivative part of the quadratic action for scalar perturbations in the cubic Horndeski theory. We analyse the validity of the approach and generalize it for the complete Horndeski theory. We explicitly check that the generalized method gives the correct result.
The STAR detector upgrades and physics in beam energy scan phase II
Authors: Yang Chi
Published: August 2018

The Beam Energy Scan Phase II at RHIC, BES-II, is scheduled from year 2019 to 2020 and will explore the high baryon density region of the QCD phase diagram with high precision. The program will focus on the interesting energy region determined from the results of BES-I. Some of the key measurements anticipated are: the net-protons kurtosis that could search for the critical point, the directed flow that might prove a softening of the EOS, and the chiral symmetry restoration in the dilepton channel. The measurements will be possible with the order of magnitude better statistics provided by the electron cooling upgrade of RHIC and with the detector upgrades planned to extend STAR experimental reach. The upgrades are: the inner TPC sectors (iTPC), the Event Plane Detector (EPD), and the end-cap TOF (eTOF). We present the BES-II program details and the physics opportunities enabled by these upgrades.
Gravity until equipartition of relativistic kinetic energies
Authors: Bulyzhenkov Igor E.
Published: August 2018

Einstein‘s relativistic mechanics can describe the low speed transport of variable internal and translation energies through two independent degrees of freedom while Newton‘s model of cold masses always operates only with one degenerated degree for these kinetic energies. Despite similar mathematics with Newton, Einstein‘s low speed physics for the spatial transport of variable internal heat and kinetic energy of ordered translations differs essentially from the classical physics of constant masses. Gravity of mechanical bodies with internal relativistic heat originates from the universal tendency of kinematic energies to their dynamical equipartition over available degrees of freedom. The free fall deceleration in extreme fields is followed by the accelerated takeoff and by further oscillations around the kinematic energy equilibrium.
The new front end and DAQ of the ICARUS detector
Authors: Farnese Christian
Published: August 2018

ICARUS is the largest imaging LAr TPC ever operated. During its LNGS run on the CNGS neutrino beam, from 2010 to 2013, produced some thousands neutrino events of unprecedented quality. This was possible thanks its mechanical precision and stability, liquid argon purity and electronics front-end and DAQ. Actually ICARUS T600, in view of its operation at FNAL on the SBN neutrino beam, is undergoing a major overhauling that implies cathode mechanics improvement, additional PMTs installation and a new electronics front-end and DAQ. This electronics implements a new architecture, integrated onto the flange proprietary design, and a new front-end that improves S/N and induction signals treatment. This issue will be presented in detail together with data recently recorder at CERN in the FLIC, 50 litres, LAr facility.
Muon reconstruction performance of the ATLAS detector in 2016
Authors: Marchese Luigi
Published: August 2018

Muons are of key importance to study some of the most interesting physics topics at the LHC. We show the status of the performance of the muon reconstruction in the analysis of proton-proton collisions at the LHC, recorded by the ATLAS detector in 2016. Reconstruction efficiency and momentum resolution have been measured using J/Ψ and Z decays for different classes of reconstructed muons.
CMS results on collectivity in PbPb collisions at √sNN = 2.76 and 5.02 TeV
Authors: Milosevic Jovan
Published: August 2018

Nonlinear response coeffcients of higher-order vn anisotropy harmonics for charged particles, as a function of transverse momentum (pT) and collision centrality, are measured in PbPb collisions at √sNN = 2.76 and 5.02 TeV. The nonlinear response coefficients are obtained using vn harmonics measured with respect to their own plane and the mixed harmonics. Using a fine splitting between v2{4} and v2{6} cumulants, the centrality dependence of the elliptic flow skewness is measured at 5.02 TeV PbPb collisions. The CMS also measured the v2 and v3 anisotropy harmonics of charged particles and prompt D0 mesons at |y| ≤ 1 as a function of pT and centrality in PbPb data at √sNN = 5.02 TeV collected with the CMS detector. Prompt D0 mesons, formed from the c quarks produced via initial hard scatterings, are separated up to a high extent from nonprompt D0 mesons emerged from decays of b hadrons. The results indicate that the charm quarks interact strongly with the QGP medium. Comparisons between theoretical models and data provide new constraints on the initial-state conditions and the interaction between charm quarks and the QGP medium.
A-dependence of ΔΔ-bond and charge symmetry energies
Authors: Schmitt Thomas A. , Samanta Chhanda
Published: August 2018

The Δ -bond energies (ΔBΔΔ) of double-Δ hypernuclei provide a measure of the nature of the in-medium strength of the ΔΔ interaction. Likewise, the charge symmetry breaking in mirror nuclei with Δ and ΔΔ is expected to shed light on ΔN and ΔΔN interactions. A generalized mass formula, constructed earlier with broken SU(6) symmetry, is optimized and employed to calculate the separation energies from light to heavy nuclei. The new experimental data on ΔΔ-separation energy of a few double-Δ hypernuclei, and Δ-separation energy of several single-Δ hypernuclei have put more stringent constraint on this mass formula. The ΔBΔΔ values calculated with this optimized formula are in good agreement with the experimental data. This optimized mass formula can be used to predict ΔΔ-bond energy in neutron-rich environment, and to extract Coulomb-corrected symmetry energy from experimental data as well. It suggests existence of bound hypernuclei beyond the normal neutron-drip line.
Comparative analysis of ESD versus EMR in a large European series of non-ampullary superficial duodenal tumors
Authors: Pérez-Cuadrado-Robles Enrique , Quénéhervé Lucille , Margos Walter , Shaza Leila , Ivekovic Hrvoje , Moreels Tom G. , Yeung Ralph , Piessevaux Hubert , Coron Emmanuel , Jouret-Mourin Anne , Deprez Pierre H.
Published: August 2018

Background and study aims The choice of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) in non-ampullary superficial duodenal tumors (NASDTs) is challenging and the benefits of ESD remain unclear. The aim was to comparatively analyze the feasibility, outcomes and safety of these techniques in these lesions.

Patients and methods This is an observational and retrospective study. All consecutive patients presenting with NASDTs who underwent EMR or ESD between 2005 and 2017 were included. The following main outcomes were comparatively evaluated: en-bloc and complete (R0) resection rates, and local recurrence. Secondary outcomes were perforation and delayed bleeding.

Results One hundred sixty-six tumors in 150 patients (age: 66 years, range: 31 – 83, 42.7 % males) were resected by ESD (n = 37) or EMR (n = 129) and included. The median procedure time (81 vs. 50 min, P = 0.007) and tumor size (25 vs. 20 mm, P = 0.01) were higher in the ESD group. The global malignancy rate was 50.3 %. There were no differences in en-bloc resection (29.7 % vs. 44.2 %, P = 0.115), complete resection (19.4 % vs. 35.5 %, P = 0.069), and local recurrence (14.7 % vs. 16.7 %, P = 0.788) rates. Tumor size was associated with recurrence (28 vs. 20 mm, P = 0.008), with a median follow-up of 6.5 months. Focal recurrence (n = 22, 13.3 %) was treated endoscopically in 86.4 %. En-bloc resection in the ESD group was comparable in large ( ≥ 20 mm) and small lesions (27.6 % vs. 37.5 %, P = 0.587), while this outcome decreased significantly in large lesions resected by EMR (17.4 % vs. 75 %, P < 0.001). Nine perforations were confirmed in 6 lesions (16.2 %) resected by ESD and 3 (2.3 %) by EMR (P = 0.001). Endoscopic therapy was successful in all but 1 patient (88.9 %) presenting with a delayed perforation.

Conclusions ESD may be an alternative to EMR and surgery in selected NASDTs, such as large duodenal tumors where EMR achieves low en-bloc resection rates and the local recurrence may be higher. However, this technique may have a higher risk of perforations.
The efficacy of the pocket-creation method for cases with severe fibrosis in colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: Yoshida Naohisa , Naito Yuji , Yasuda Ritsu , Murakami Takaaki , Hirose Ryohei , Ogiso Kiyoshi , Inada Yutaka , Konishi Hideyuki , Rani Rafiz Abdul , Kishimoto Mitsuo , Konishi Eiichi , Nakanishi Masayoshi , Itoh Yoshito
Published: August 2018

Background and study aims Severe fibrosis poses a challenge in colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Recently, the pocket-creation method (PCM) has been developed for overcoming various difficulties of ESD. A specific tapered hood is used for adequate traction in the PCM, and endoscopic operability becomes stable in the pocket. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of the PCM in ESD for cases with severe fibrosis.

Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed 1000 consecutive colorectal ESD cases (April 2006 to January 2017). Since 2016, the PCM was performed in 58 cases. The indications for ESD included (1) tumors ≥ 20 mm in size diagnosed as intramucosal cancer or high-grade dysplasia and part of T1a cancer using magnifying endoscopic examinations and (2) tumors that appeared impossible to resect with endoscopic mucosal resection because of suspected fibrosis. We identified 120 cases with severe fibrosis and compared them to cases without severe fibrosis. Additionally, the 120 severe fibrosis cases were divided into the PCM and non-PCM groups. En bloc resection, procedure time, discontinuation, and complications were analyzed between these 2 groups.

Results Among all 1000 ESDs, severe fibrosis and discontinuation rates were 12.0 % (120 cases) and 1.8 % (18 cases), respectively. Regarding the comparison between cases with severe fibrosis and with no severe fibrosis, there were significant differences about en bloc resection rate (78.3 % vs. 95.7 %, P < 0.001), discontinuance rate (12.5 % vs. 0.3 %, P < 0.001), and perforation rate (8.3 % vs. 2.6 %, P = 0.001). Among the 120 cases with severe fibrosis, 21 and 99 cases were in the PCM and non-PCM groups, respectively. The PCM group had a higher en bloc resection rate (95.2 vs. 74.7, P =  0.03), a shorter mean procedure time (min) (79.6 ± 26.5 vs. 118.8 ± 71.0, P = 0.001), and no cases of discontinuation. An analysis of the interobserver agreement for the diagnosis of severe fibrosis among the 3 endoscopists showed kappa values of > 0.6.

Conclusions In cases with severe fibrosis, the PCM with ESD improved en bloc resection rates and shortened the procedure time compared to the conventional non-PCM method. Additionally, the PCM reduced the discontinuation rate.
Positive Effects of Practical Nutrition Lessons in a Primary School
Setting with a High Proportion of Migrant School Children
Authors: Weber Katharina S. , Eitner Jessica , Dauben Laura , Spörkel Olaf , Strassburger Klaus , Sommer Jörn , Kaiser Barbara , Buyken Anette E. , Kronsbein Peter , Müssig Karsten
Published: August 2018

Background Children with migration background are at increased risk
for overweight, partly due to less favorable dietary habits compared to
their German counterparts. We examined the effects of practical nutrition
lessons among children with a high proportion of migration background in a
primary school setting.

Methods Ten 3rd and 4th grade classes
(n=166 children, 73% with migration background) received the
intervention and nine school classes (n=139 children, 76%
with migration background) served as control. Before, shortly after (only
among the intervention group) and three months after the three-day practical
nutrition lessons, the nutrition-related skills, behavior, attitudes, and
knowledge of the children were assessed using a questionnaire. Changes
between baseline and 1st follow-up among children of the
intervention group were calculated using linear mixed models. Differences
between the two groups for changes between baseline and 2nd
follow-up were tested using linear regression analyses. Models were adjusted
for potential confounders.

Results Shortly after the practical nutrition lessons, the children
of the intervention group had improved their knowledge
(β=1.7; 95% CI: 1.0; 2.4, P<0.001) and
skills (β=1.8; 95% CI: 1.4; 2.2, P<0.001).
These changes were sustainable and larger in the intervention compared to
the control group (knowledge: β=1.6; 95% CI: 0.7;
2.5, P<0.001; skills: β=1.3; 95% CI: 0.7;
1.9, P<0.001). Changes in nutrition-related behavior and attitudes
did not differ between the groups.

Conclusions Providing practical nutrition lessons in a primary school
setting with a high proportion of children with immigrational background
improved the children’s nutrition-related knowledge and skills.
PCA-based GRS analysis enhances the effectiveness for genetic correlation detection
Authors: Zhao Yan , Ning Yujie , Zhang Feng , Ding Miao , Wen Yan , Shi Liang , Wang Kunpeng , Lu Mengnan , Sun Jingyan , Wu Menglu , Cheng Bolun , Ma Mei , Zhang Lu , Cheng Shiqiang , Shen Hui , Tian Qing , Guo Xiong , Deng Hong-Wen
Published: August 2018

Genetic risk score (GRS, also known as polygenic risk score) analysis is an increasingly popular method for exploring genetic architectures and relationships of complex diseases. However, complex diseases are usually measured by multiple correlated phenotypes. Analyzing each disease phenotype individually is likely to reduce statistical power due to multiple testing correction. In order to conquer the disadvantage, we proposed a principal component analysis (PCA)–based GRS analysis approach. Extensive simulation studies were conducted to compare the performance of PCA-based GRS analysis and traditional GRS analysis approach. Simulation results observed significantly improved performance of PCA-based GRS analysis compared to traditional GRS analysis under various scenarios. For the sake of verification, we also applied both PCA-based GRS analysis and traditional GRS analysis to a real Caucasian genome-wide association study (GWAS) data of bone geometry. Real data analysis results further confirmed the improved performance of PCA-based GRS analysis. Given that GWAS have flourished in the past decades, our approach may help researchers to explore the genetic architectures and relationships of complex diseases or traits.
VisioProt-MS: interactive 2D maps from intact protein mass spectrometry
Authors: Locard-Paulet Marie , Parra Julien , Albigot Renaud , Mouton-Barbosa Emmanuelle , Bardi Laurent , Burlet-Schiltz Odile , Marcoux Julien
Published: August 2018

VisioProt-MS is designed to summarize and analyze intact protein and top-down proteomics data. It plots the molecular weights of eluting proteins as a function of their retention time, thereby allowing inspection of runs from liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). It also overlays MS/MS identification results. VisioProt-MS is compatible with outputs from many different top-down dedicated software. To our knowledge, this is the only open source standalone application that allows the dynamic comparison of several MS files, a prerequisite for comparative analysis of different biological conditions. With its dynamic rendering, this user-friendly web application facilitates inspection, comparison and export of publication quality 2 D maps from deconvoluted LC-MS run(s) and top-down proteomics data.

Availability and implementation

The Shiny-based web application VisioProt-MS is suitable for non-R users. It can be found at https://masstools.ipbs.fr/mstools/visioprot-ms/ and the corresponding scripts are downloadable at https://github.com/mlocardpaulet/VisioProt-MS. It is governed by the CeCILL license (http://www.cecill.info).
Heterogeneity of Astrocytic and Neuronal GLT-1 at Cortical Excitatory Synapses, as Revealed by its Colocalization With Na+/K+-ATPase α Isoforms
Authors: Melone Marcello , Ciriachi Chiara , Pietrobon Daniela , Conti Fiorenzo
Published: August 2018

GLT-1, the major glutamate transporter, is expressed at perisynaptic astrocytic processes (PAP) and axon terminals (AxT). GLT-1 is coupled to Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) α1–3 isoforms, whose subcellular distribution and spatial organization in relationship to GLT-1 are largely unknown. Using several microscopy techniques, we showed that at excitatory synapses α1 and α3 are exclusively neuronal (mainly in dendrites and in some AxT), while α2 is predominantly astrocytic. GLT-1 displayed a differential colocalization with α1–3. GLT-1/α2 and GLT-1/α3 colocalization was higher in GLT-1 positive puncta partially (for GLT-1/α2) or almost totally (for GLT-1/α3) overlapping with VGLUT1 positive terminals than in nonoverlapping ones. GLT-1 colocalized with α2 at PAP, and with α1 and α3 at AxT. GLT-1 and α2 gold particles were ∼1.5–2 times closer than GLT-1/α1 and GLT-1/α3 particles. GLT-1/α2 complexes (edge to edge interdistance of gold particles ≤50 nm) concentrated at the perisynaptic region of PAP membranes, whereas neuronal GLT-1/α1 and GLT-1/α3 complexes were fewer and more uniformly distributed in AxT. These data unveil different composition of GLT-1 and α subunits complexes in the glial and neuronal domains of excitatory synapses. The spatial organization of GLT-1/α1–3 complexes suggests that GLT-1/NKA interaction is more efficient in astrocytes than in neurons, further supporting the dominant role of astrocytic GLT-1 in glutamate homeostasis.
Comparison of Chiral Recognition of Binaphthyl Derivatives with l-Undecyl-Leucine Surfactants in the Presence of Arginine and Sodium Counterions
Authors: Ramos Zoe , Rothbauer Gabriel A , Turner Johnathan , Lewis Corbin , Morris Kevin , Billiot Eugene , Billiot Fereshteh , Fang Yayin
Published: August 2018

In this study the chiral selectivity of l-undecyl-leucine (und-leu) for binapthyl derivatives was examined with the use of arginine and sodium counterions at pH’s ranging from 7 to 11. The objective of this project was to investigate whether a cationic amino acid, such as arginine would achieve enhanced chiral selectivity when utilized as the counterion in the place of sodium in micellar electrokinetic chromatography. The data indicate that und-leu has significantly improved chiral selectivity toward 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl hydrogenphosphate (BNP) enantiomers in the presence of arginine counterions in comparison to sodium and that, at least in the case of this study, the enantiomeric form of the arginine did not appear to play a role in the chiral selectivity. The maximum resolution (Rs) achieved for BNP when sodium was used as the counterion was ~0.6. However, when arginine was used as the counterion, the maximum resolution for BNP was ~4.1. This was an increase in resolution of ~ 7-fold. However, no significant difference was observed for the enantiomers of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol. In order to learn more about why this might be the case, NMR studies were conducted to examine what role the counterion might play in enantiomeric recognition.
Large noise in variational regularization
Authors: Burger Martin , Helin Tapio , Kekkonen Hanne
Published: August 2018

In this paper we consider variational regularization methods for inverse problems with large noise that is in general unbounded in the image space of the forward operator. We introduce a Banach space setting that allows to define a reasonable notion of solutions for more general noise in a larger space provided that one has sufficient mapping properties of the forward operators.

A key observation, which guides us through the subsequent analysis, is that such a general noise model can be understood with the same setting as approximate source conditions (while a standard model of bounded noise is related directly to classical source conditions). Based on this insight we obtain a quite general existence result for regularized variational problems and derive error estimates in terms of Bregman distances. The latter is specialized for the particularly important cases of one- and $p$-homogeneous regularization functionals.

As a natural further step we study stochastic noise models and in particular white noise for which we derive error estimates in terms of the expectation of the Bregman distance. The finiteness of certain expectations leads to a novel class of abstract smoothness conditions on the forward operator, which can be easily interpreted in the Hilbert space case. We finally exemplify the approach and in particular the conditions for popular examples of regularization functionals given by squared norm, Besov norm and total variation.
Evaluating the impact of expanding the number of diagnosis codes reported in inpatient discharge databases on the counts and rates of birth defects
Authors: Salemi Jason L , Rutkowski Rachel E , Tanner Jean Paul , Matas Jennifer , Kirby Russell S
Published: August 2018

Objective

Public health surveillance programs worldwide implement a variety of case-finding strategies, and many rely at least in part on International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-based diagnostic codes in administrative and clinical databases. Over time, state- and national-level hospital discharge databases have been expanding the number of reported diagnosis code fields. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of these expansions on frequencies and rates of major birth defects, and the classification of birth defects as isolated vs multiple.

Methods

We used state-level 2006-2013 Florida Birth Defects Registry data and 2009-2012 data from a nationally representative database (Kids’ Inpatient Database). We generated data under different scenarios by varying the number of diagnosis code fields available, and comparing counts and rates of major birth defects generated under each scenario.

Results

The expansion from 10 to 31 diagnosis code fields improved ascertainment by preventing the loss of 1 in every 40 birth defect cases with defect-related diagnoses appearing only in code positions 11 to 31. Although there was variation by birth defect, the largest impact of the expansion tended to occur for less severe birth defects diagnosed in sicker infants. When restricting to fewer codes, not only were fewer cases diagnosed, but more were classified as being isolated due to the inability to capture co-occurring defects.

Conclusion

Our findings encourage additional research for other health outcomes in patients of all ages. Other disease registries rely at least in part on diagnostic codes documented by healthcare providers in their case-finding activities, irrespective of ascertainment protocols, making routine investigation of these databases essential.
Positioning in the Oral Narratives of Displaced Syrian Women
Authors: Shalaby Nadia A
Published: August 2018

This study offers an analysis of six Syrian women’s oral narratives of displacement in the aftermath of the Syrian revolution (2011). Drawing on Davies and Harré’s (1990) Positioning Theory (PT) and its development by Bamberg (1997, 2010), and using conversation analysis as a toolkit, this research is an attempt to reveal the ways in which the Syrian women interviewed for this study position themselves in relation to other individuals in their narratives, their audience and also in relation to the grand narratives of the Syrian conflict. To find out how the women position themselves, I investigated the discourse strategies and performance devices in their narratives. Analysis of the interviews revealed that the positions the women take up in their narratives reflect a change in their self-image, and are often contradictory. Moreover, the women challenged the dominant narratives of the Syrian war and resisted categorization. Furthermore, both the style and the content of much of their talk appeared to be designed to appeal to the audience
Creating Improved Survey Data Products Using Linked Administrative-Survey Data
Authors: Davern Michael E , Meyer Bruce D , Mittag Nikolas K
Published: August 2018

Recent research linking administrative to survey data has laid the groundwork for improvements in survey data products. However, the opportunities have not been fully realized yet. In this article, our main objective is to use administrative-survey linked microdata to demonstrate the potential of data linkage to reduce survey error through model-based blended imputation methods. We use parametric models based on the linked data to create imputed values of Medicaid enrollment and food stamp (SNAP) receipt. This approach to blending data from surveys and administrative data through models is less likely to compromise confidentiality or violate the terms of the data sharing agreements among the agencies than releasing the linked microdata, and we demonstrate that it can yield substantial improvements of estimate accuracy. Using the blended imputation approach reduces root mean squared error (RMSE) of estimates by 81 percent for state-level Medicaid enrollment and by 93 percent for substate area SNAP receipt compared with estimates based on the survey data alone. Given the high level of measurement error associated with these important programs in the United States, data producers should consider blended imputation methods like the ones we describe in this article to create improved estimates for policy research.
Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Durable, Noncompressive Technique Using Teflon Secured With Mini Clip
Authors: Breeze Robert E , Craig Daniel B
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND

In cases of trigeminal neuralgia, the importance of durable separation of involved vessels from the trigeminal nerve as well as avoiding ongoing or recurrent compression by implanted material has been affirmed in recent literature.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate a novel and straightforward technique for trigeminal nerve decompression using a construct of Teflon felt patty (Bard Peripheral Vascular, Tempe, Arizona) secured with an aneurysm mini clip to achieve lasting results with no residual contact between implant or vessels and the nerve.

METHODS

Description of our technique and accompanying surgical video.

RESULTS

As demonstrated in the video, this technique achieves an ideal, durable separation of the trigeminal nerve from the offending vasculature.

CONCLUSION

The authors present a description of a technique for decompression with the goal of leaving no contact between implanted material and the nerve. This is accomplished by securing the Teflon felt (Bard Peripheral Vascular) to the tentorium with an aneurysm clip.
Constraints on accretion disk size in the massive type 1 quasar PG 2308+098 from optical continuum reverberation lags
Authors: Kokubo Mitsuru
Published: August 2018

Two years’ worth of u-, g-, r-, i-, and z-band optical light curves were obtained for the massive type 1 quasar PG 2308+098 at z = 0.433 using the 1.05 m Kiso Schmidt telescope/Kiso Wide Field Camera, and inter-band time lags of the light curves were measured. Wavelength-dependent continuum reverberation lag signals of several tens of days relative to the u-band were detected at g, r, i, and z bands, where the longer wavelength bands showed larger lags. From the wavelength-dependent lags, and assuming the standard disk temperature radial profile $T \propto R_{\rm disk}^{-3/4}$ and an X-ray/far-ultraviolet reprocessing picture, a constraint on the radius of the accretion disk responsible for the rest-frame 2500 Å disk continuum emission was derived as $R_{\rm disk} = 9.46^{+0.29}_{-3.12}\:$light-day. The derived disk size is slightly (1.2–1.8 times) larger than the theoretical disk size of Rdisk = 5.46 light-day predicted from the black hole mass (MBH) and Eddington ratio estimates of PG 2308+098. This result is roughly in accordance with previous studies of lower-mass active galactic nuclei (AGNs), where measured disk sizes have been found to be larger than the standard disk model predictions by a factor of ∼3; however, the disk size discrepancy is more modest in PG 2308+098. By compiling literature values of the disk size constraints from continuum reverberation and gravitational microlensing observations for AGNs/quasars, we show that the MBH dependence of Rdisk is weaker than that expected from the standard disk model. These observations suggest that the standard Shakura–Sunyaev accretion disk theory has limitations in describing AGN/quasar accretion disks.
Childhood exposure to violence is associated with risk for mental disorders and adult’s weight status: a community-based study in Tunisia
Authors: El Mhamdi Sana , Lemieux Andrine , Abroug Hela , Ben Salah Arwa , Bouanene Ines , Ben Salem Kamel , al’Absi Mustafa
Published: August 2018

Background

We sought to investigate the relationship between social violence and adult overweight/obesity and the role of common mental disorders (CMD) in mediating this relationship.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2016 in Tunisia. Participants were selected from randomly selected Primary Health Care Centers. The Arabic version of the Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used.

Results

A total of 2120 participants were included. Women exposed to social ACEs had higher rates of overweight/obesity than men (13.5 versus 9.5%; P = 0.004). For women, statistically significant partial mediation effects of CMD were observed for exposure to community violence (% mediated = 17.7%). For men, partial mediation was found for the exposure to peer violence (% mediated = 12.5%).

Conclusion

Our results provide evidence of the independent increase of overweight/obesity after exposure to social ACEs. Efforts to uncover and address underlying trauma in health care settings may increase the effectiveness of obesity interventions.
The first Portuguese National Health Examination Survey (2015): design, planning and implementation
Authors: Nunes Baltazar , Barreto Marta , Gil Ana P , Kislaya Irina , Namorado Sónia , Antunes Liliana , Gaio Vânia , Santos Ana J , Rodrigues Ana P , Santos Joana , Roquette Rita , Alves-Alves Clara , Castilho Emília , Cordeiro Eugénio , Dinis Ana , Prokopenko Tamara , Silva Ana C , Vargas Patrícia , Lyshol Heidi , Dias Carlos M
Published: August 2018

Background

In Health Examination Surveys interview information is complemented with objective information, providing more accurate indicators than self-reported data. We report the study design, planning and implementation of the first Portuguese Health Examination Survey (INSEF).

Methods

INSEF was a cross-sectional population-based study representative at regional and national level. Individuals aged between 25 and 74 years old, residing in Portugal were selected from the national health users’ registry through multi-stage stratified probabilistic sampling. Sample size was set at 4200 individuals. Data was collected in primary care units and included blood pressure, height, weight, hip and waist measurements, blood collection for lipid profile, HbA1c and blood count and a general health questionnaire. European HES procedures were followed.

Results

A total of 4911 individuals agreed to participate (43.9% participation rate). Participation rate varied by region, sex and age group, being lower in Lisbon and Tagus Valley (32.8%), for men (41.8%) and for those aged 25–34 years old (36%).

Conclusions

INSEF has set up an experienced national and regional structure for HES implementation. Nationally representative quality epidemiological data is now available for public health monitoring, planning and research.