pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility of arterial stiffness and wave reflections in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The contribution of lung hyperinflation and a comparison of techniques

SummarySignificant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality exists in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Arterial stiffness is raised in COPD and may be a mechanistic link. Non-invasive assessment of arterial stiffness has the potential to be a surrogate outcome measure, although no reproducibility data exists in COPD patients.Two studies (23 and 33 COPD patients) were undertaken to 1) assess the Vicorder reproducibility of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and Augmentation index in COPD; 2) compare it to SphygmoCor; and 3) assess the contribution of lung hyperinflation to measurement variability.There were excellent correlations and good agreement between repeat Vicorder measurements for carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (r = 0.96 (p < 0.001); mean difference ±SD = −0.03 ± 0.36 m/s (p = 0.65); co-efficient of reproducibility = 4.02%; limits of agreement = −0.68–0.75 m/s). Augmentation index significantly correlated (r = 0.736 (p < 0.001); mean difference ±SD = 0.72 ± 4.86% (p = 0.48), however limits of agreement were only 10.42–9.02%, with co-efficient of reproducibility of 27.93%. Comparing devices, Vicorder values were lower but there was satisfactory agreement. There were no correlation between lung hyperinflation (as measured by residual volume percent predicted, total lung capacity percent predicted or the ratio of inspiratory capacity to residual volume) and variability of measurements in either study.In COPD, measurement of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity is highly reproducible, not affected by lung hyperinflation and suitable as a surrogate endpoint in research studies. Day-to-day variation in augmentation index highlights the importance of such studies prior to the planning and undertaking of clinical COPD research
Evidence for a mixed mass composition at the ‘ankle’ in the cosmic-ray spectrum

AbstractWe report a first measurement for ultrahigh energy cosmic rays of the correlation between the depth of shower maximum and the signal in the water Cherenkov stations of air-showers registered simultaneously by the fluorescence and the surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory. Such a correlation measurement is a unique feature of a hybrid air-shower observatory with sensitivity to both the electromagnetic and muonic components. It allows an accurate determination of the spread of primary masses in the cosmic-ray flux. Up till now, constraints on the spread of primary masses have been dominated by systematic uncertainties. The present correlation measurement is not affected by systematics in the measurement of the depth of shower maximum or the signal in the water Cherenkov stations. The analysis relies on general characteristics of air showers and is thus robust also with respect to uncertainties in hadronic event generators. The observed correlation in the energy range around the ‘ankle’ at lg⁡(E/eV)=18.5–19.0 differs significantly from expectations for pure primary cosmic-ray compositions. A light composition made up of proton and helium only is equally inconsistent with observations. The data are explained well by a mixed composition including nuclei with mass A>4. Scenarios such as the proton dip model, with almost pure compositions, are thus disfavored as the sole explanation of the ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray flux at Earth
Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Reliable, non-invasive methods for diagnosing and prognosing sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) early after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are needed. We used a quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach to identify candidate biomarkers of SOS by comparing plasma pooled from 20 patients  with and 20 patients without SOS. Of 494 proteins quantified, we selected six proteins [L-Ficolin, vascular-cell-adhesion-molecule-1 (VCAM1), tissue-inhibitor  of metalloproteinase-1, von Willebrand factor, intercellular-adhesion-molecule-1, and CD97] based on a differential heavy/light isotope ratio of at least 2 fold, information from the literature, and immunoassay availability. Next, we evaluated the diagnostic potential of these six proteins and five selected from the literature [suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (ST2), angiopoietin-2 (ANG2), hyaluronic acid (HA), thrombomodulin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1] in samples from 80 patients. The results demonstrate that together ST2, ANG2
Oscillating asymmetric sneutrino dark matter from the maximally U(1)L supersymmetric inverse seesaw

AbstractThe inverse seesaw mechanism provides an attractive approach to generate small neutrino mass, which origins from a tiny U(1)L breaking. In this paper, we work in the supersymmetric version of this mechanism, where the singlet-like sneutrino could be an asymmetric dark matter (ADM) candidate in the maximally U(1)L symmetric limit. However, even a tiny δm, the mass splitting between sneutrino and anti-sneutrino as a result of the tiny U(1)L breaking effect, could lead to fast oscillation between sneutrino and anti-sneutrino and thus spoils the ADM scenario. We study the evolution of this oscillation and find that a weak scale sneutrino, which tolerates a relatively larger δm∼10−5 eV, is strongly favored. We also investigate possible natural ways to realize that small δm in the model
A new flavour imprint of SU(5)-like grand unification and its LHC signatures

AbstractWe point out that the hypothesis of an SU(5)-like supersymmetric Grand Unified Theory (GUT) implies a generic relation within the flavour structure of up-type squarks. Contrary to other well-known SU(5) relations between the down-quark and charged lepton sectors, this relation remains exact in the presence of any corrections and extra operators. Moreover it remains valid to a good precision at the electroweak scale, and opens thus new possibilities for testing SU(5)-like GUTs. We derive the low-energy effective theory of observable light up-type squarks, that also constitutes a useful tool for squark phenomenology. We use this effective theory to determine how to test SU(5) relations at the LHC. Focusing on scenarios with light stops, compatible with Natural SUSY, it appears that simple tests involving ratios of event rates are sufficient to test the hypothesis of an SU(5)-like GUT theory. The techniques of charm-tagging and top-polarimetry are a crucial ingredient of these tests
Dietary Inorganic Nitrate Improves Mitochondrial Efficiency in Humans

SummaryNitrate, an inorganic anion abundant in vegetables, is converted in vivo to bioactive nitrogen oxides including NO. We recently demonstrated that dietary nitrate reduces oxygen cost during physical exercise, but the mechanism remains unknown. In a double-blind crossover trial we studied the effects of a dietary intervention with inorganic nitrate on basal mitochondrial function and whole-body oxygen consumption in healthy volunteers. Skeletal muscle mitochondria harvested after nitrate supplementation displayed an improvement in oxidative phosphorylation efficiency (P/O ratio) and a decrease in state 4 respiration with and without atractyloside and respiration without adenylates. The improved mitochondrial P/O ratio correlated to the reduction in oxygen cost during exercise. Mechanistically, nitrate reduced the expression of ATP/ADP translocase, a protein involved in proton conductance. We conclude that dietary nitrate has profound effects on basal mitochondrial function. These findings may have implications for exercise physiology- and lifestyle-related disorders that involve dysfunctional mitochondria
Tests of a family gauge symmetry model at 103 TeV scale

AbstractBased on a specific model with U(3) family gauge symmetry at 103 TeV scale, we show its experimental signatures to search for. Since the gauge symmetry is introduced with a special purpose, its gauge coupling constant and gauge boson mass spectrum are not free. The current structure in this model leads to family number violations via exchange of extra gauge bosons. We investigate present constraints from flavor changing processes and discuss visible signatures at LHC and lepton colliders
Symmetry energy and neutron star properties in the saturated Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model

AbstractIn this work, we adopt the Nambu–Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model that ensures the nuclear matter saturation properties to study the density dependence of the symmetry energy. With the interactions constrained by the chiral symmetry, the symmetry energy shows novel characters different from those in conventional mean-field models. First, the negative symmetry energy at high densities that is absent in relativistic mean-field (RMF) models can be obtained in the RMF approximation by introducing a chiral isovector–vector interaction, although it would be ruled out by the neutron star (NS) stability. Second, with the inclusion of the isovector–scalar interaction the symmetry energy exhibits a general softening at high densities even for the large slope parameter of the symmetry energy. The NS properties obtained in the present NJL model can be in accord with the observations. The NS maximum mass obtained with various isovector–scalar couplings and momentum cutoffs is well above the 2M⊙, and the NS radius obtained well meets the limits extracted from recent measurements. In particular, the significant reduction of the canonical NS radius occurs with the moderate decrease of the slope of the symmetry energy
The evolutionary limit for models of populations interacting competitively via several resources

AbstractWe consider an integro-differential nonlinear model that describes the evolution of a population structured by a quantitative trait. The interactions between individuals occur by way of competition for resources whose concentrations depend on the current state of the population. Following the formalism of Diekmann et al. (2005) [16], we study a concentration phenomenon arising in the limit of strong selection and small mutations. We prove that the population density converges to a sum of Dirac masses characterized by the solution φ of a Hamilton–Jacobi equation which depends on resource concentrations that we fully characterize in terms of the function φ
Improving risk stratification in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with combined assessment of GRACE and CRUSADE risk scores

SummaryBackgroundRisk assessment is fundamental in the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), enabling estimation of prognosis.AimsTo evaluate whether the combined use of GRACE and CRUSADE risk stratification schemes in patients with myocardial infarction outperforms each of the scores individually in terms of mortality and haemorrhagic risk prediction.MethodsObservational retrospective single-centre cohort study including 566 consecutive patients admitted for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The CRUSADE model increased GRACE discriminatory performance in predicting all-cause mortality, ascertained by Cox regression, demonstrating CRUSADE independent and additive predictive value, which was sustained throughout follow-up. The cohort was divided into four different subgroups: G1 (GRACE<141; CRUSADE<41); G2 (GRACE<141; CRUSADE≥41); G3 (GRACE≥141; CRUSADE<41); G4 (GRACE≥141; CRUSADE≥41).ResultsOutcomes and variables estimating clinical severity, such as admission Killip-Kimbal class and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, deteriorated progressively throughout the subgroups (G1 to G4). Survival analysis differentiated three risk strata (G1, lowest risk; G2 and G3, intermediate risk; G4, highest risk). The GRACE+CRUSADE model revealed higher prognostic performance (area under the curve [AUC] 0.76) than GRACE alone (AUC 0.70) for mortality prediction, further confirmed by the integrated discrimination improvement index. Moreover, GRACE+CRUSADE combined risk assessment seemed to be valuable in delineating bleeding risk in this setting, identifying G4 as a very high-risk subgroup (hazard ratio 3.5; P<0.001).ConclusionsCombined risk stratification with GRACE and CRUSADE scores can improve the individual discriminatory power of GRACE and CRUSADE models in the prediction of all-cause mortality and bleeding. This combined assessment is a practical approach that is potentially advantageous in treatment decision-making
Tuberculosis stigma as a social determinant of health: a systematic mapping review of research in low incidence countries

SummaryTuberculosis (TB)-related stigma is an important social determinant of health. Research generally highlights how stigma can have a considerable impact on individuals and communities, including delays in seeking health care and adherence to treatment. There is scant research into the assessment of TB-related stigma in low incidence countries. This study aimed to systematically map out the research into stigma. A particular emphasis was placed on the methods employed to measure stigma, the conceptual frameworks used to understand stigma, and whether structural factors were theorized. Twenty-two studies were identified; the majority adopted a qualitative approach and aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about TB. Few studies included stigma as a substantive topic. Only one study aimed to reduce stigma. A number of studies suggested that TB control measures and representations of migrants in the media reporting of TB were implicated in the production of stigma. The paucity of conceptual models and theories about how the social and structural determinants intersect with stigma was apparent. Future interventions to reduce stigma, and measurements of effectiveness, would benefit from a stronger theoretical underpinning in relation to TB stigma and the intersection between the social and structural determinants of health
A Data-driven Approach for qu Prediction of Laboratory Soil-cement Mixtures

AbstractIn this paper a new data-driven approach is proposed for uniaxial compressive strength (qu) prediction of laboratory soil-cement mixtures. The proposed model is able to predict qu over time under different conditions, e.g. different cement contents or soil types, and can be applied at the pre-design stage. This means that the model can be applied previously to the preparation of any laboratory formulation. The designer only needs to collect information about the main geotechnical soil properties (grain size, organic matter content, among other) and select the binder composition to prepare the mixture.Based on a sensitivity analysis, the key model variables were identified and its effect quantified. Thus, it was caught by the model the most relevant variables in qu prediction over time and very high prediction capacity with an overall regression coefficient higher than 0.95
Dynamics of the nasal microbiota in infancy: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundUnderstanding the composition and dynamics of the upper respiratory tract microbiota in healthy infants is a prerequisite to investigate the role of the microbiota in patients with respiratory diseases. This is especially true in early life, when the immune system is in development.ObjectiveWe sought to describe the dynamics of the upper respiratory tract microbiota in healthy infants within the first year of life.MethodsAfter exclusion of low-quality samples, microbiota characterization was performed by using 16S rDNA pyrosequencing of 872 nasal swabs collected biweekly from 47 unselected infants.ResultsBacterial density increased and diversity decreased within the first year of life (R2 = 0.95 and 0.73, respectively). A distinct profile for the first 3 months of life was found with increased relative abundances of Staphlyococcaceae and Corynebacteriaceae (exponential decay: R2 = 0.94 and 0.96, respectively). In addition, relative bacterial abundance and composition differed significantly from summer to winter months. The individual composition of the microbiota changed with increasing time intervals between samples and was best modeled by an exponential function (R2 = 0.97). Within-subject dissimilarity in a 2-week time interval was consistently lower than that between subjects, indicating a personalized microbiota.ConclusionThis study reveals age and seasonality as major factors driving the composition of the nasal microbiota within the first year of life. A subject's microbiota is personalized but dynamic throughout the first year. These data are indispensable to interpretation of cross-sectional studies and investigation of the role of the microbiota in both healthy subjects and patients with respiratory diseases. They might also serve as a baseline for future intervention studies
Charge and frequency resolved isochronous mass spectrometry and the mass of 51Co

AbstractRevolution frequency measurements of individual ions in storage rings require sophisticated timing detectors. One of common approaches for such detectors is the detection of secondary electrons released from a thin foil due to penetration of the stored ions. A new method based on the analysis of intensities of secondary electrons was developed which enables determination of the charge of each ion simultaneously with the measurement of its revolution frequency. Although the mass-over-charge ratios of 51Co27+ and 34Ar18+ ions are almost identical, and therefore, the ions cannot be resolved in a storage ring, by applying the new method the mass excess of the short-lived 51Co is determined for the first time to be ME(Co51)=−27342(48) keV. Shell-model calculations in the fp-shell nuclei compared to the new data indicate the need to include isospin-nonconserving forces
A note on the Cardy–Verlinde formula

AbstractWe generalize the results of hep-th/0008140 to the case of the (n+1)-dimensional closed FRW universe satisfying a general equation of state of the form p=wρ. We find that the entropy of the universe can no longer be expressed in a form similar to the Cardy formula, when w≠1/n. As a result, in general the entropy formula does not coincide with the Friedmann equation when the conjectured bound on the Casimir energy is saturated. Furthermore, the conjectured bound on the Casimir energy generally does not lead to the Hubble and the Bekenstein entropy bounds
Entropy and the Canonical Height

AbstractThe height of an algebraic number in the sense of Diophantine geometry is a measure of arithmetic complexity. There is a well-known relationship between the entropy of automorphisms of solenoids and classical heights. We consider an elliptic analogue of this relationship, which involves two novel features. First we consider the introduction of a notion of entropy for sequences of transformations. Second, we consider the recognition of canonical local heights as integrals over the closure of the torsion subgroup of the curve (an elliptic Jensen formula). A sequence of transformations is defined for which there is a canonical arithmetically defined quotient whose entropy is the canonical height and in which the fibre entropy is accounted for by canonical local heights at primes of singular reduction, yielding a dynamical interpretation of singular reduction. This system is related to local systems whose entropy coincides with the canonical local height up to sign. The proofs use transcendence theory, a strong form of Siegel's theorem, and an elliptic analogue of Jensen's formula
Quantum-mechanical stability of fermion–soliton systems

AbstractTopological objects resulting from symmetry breakdown may be either stable or metastable depending on the pattern of symmetry breaking. However, if they acquire zero-energy modes of fermions, and in the process acquire non-integer fermionic charge, the metastable configurations also get stabilized. In the case of Dirac fermions the spectrum of the number operator shifts by 1/2. In the case of Majorana fermions it becomes useful to assign negative values of fermion number to a finite number of states occupying the zero-energy level, constituting a Majorana pond. We determine the parities of these states and prove a superselection rule. Thus decay of objects with half-integer fermion number is not possible in isolation or by scattering with ordinary particles. The result has important bearing on cosmology as well as condensed matter physics
Experimental and numerical analysis of the martensitic transformation in AISI 304 steel sheets subjected to perforation by conical and hemispherical projectiles

AbstractIn this work, an experimental and numerical analysis of the martensitic transformation in AISI 304 steel sheets subjected to perforation by conical and hemispherical projectiles is conducted. Experiments are performed using a pneumatic gas gun for with the impact velocities in the range of 35m/s<V0<200m/s. Two target thicknesses are examined, t1=0.5mm and t2=1.0mm. The experimental setup enabled the determination of the impact velocity, the residual velocity and the failure mode of the steel sheets. The effect of the projectile nose shape on the target’s capacity for energy absorption is evaluated. Moreover, martensite is detected in all the impacted samples, and the role played by the projectile nose shape on the transformation is highlighted. A three-dimensional model is developed in ABAQUS/Explicit to simulate the perforation tests. The material is defined via the constitutive model developed by Zaera et al. (2012) to describe the strain-induced martensitic transformation occurring in metastable austenitic steels at high strain rates. The finite element results are compared with the experimental evidence, and satisfactory matching is observed over the entire range of impact velocities tested and for both projectile configurations and target thicknesses considered. The numerical model succeeds in describing the perforation mechanisms associated with each projectile-target configuration analyzed. The roles played by impact velocity, target thickness and projectile nose shape on the martensitic transformation are properly captured