ATLAS results on soft diffraction

The measurements of the total inelastic cross section and the differential inelastic cross section as a function of rapidity gap are presented. The data used for these studies were collected in $pp$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2010.Comment: Presented at EDS Blois 2013 (arXiv:1309.5705

Determinants of renal function in preterm newborns

Background: Little is known about potential endogenous biomarkers of renal function other than serum creatinine (sCr). Aims: to evaluate cystatine C (CysC) and beta-trace protein (BTP) levels in preterm newborns and to assess the impact of kidney-detrimental factors on kidney function. Methods: newborns with GA28wks (p=0.016). At T0, sCr was negatively correlated with GA (R= -0.315, p=0.009), whereas CysC and BTP were not influenced by GA. At T36, newborns with GA 28 wks had lower sCr, BTP and higher urea levels (p=0.007, p=0.005 and p=0.029, respectively). At T36 eGFR values calculated by the four formulas using only CysC were not different in newborns with GA 28 and >28wks. eGFR values estimated by other formulas were higher in subjects born at a lower GA. We found a direct correlation between the post-natal score and eGFR estimated according to the sCr-based formulas by Schwartz2009 (R=0.345, p=0.027) and Brion (R=0.312, p=0.044), not persisting after adjustment for urea levels at T36 and GA. No correlations were found between the scores and eGFR according to the other formulas. Conclusions: eGFR formulas using CysC are not influenced by GA. Post-natal score shows a direct correlation with eGFR according to sCr-based formulas, which does not persist after adjustment for GA and urea levels, showing that the underlying confounder may be the nutritional status of preterm newborns, as suggested by the higher urea levels in newborn with GA 28wks at T36

The ZDC Detector in ATLAS

The ATLAS Zero Degree Calorimeter (ZDC) is mainly used for studies in heavy-ions physics. It provides information about the collision impact parameter and it is a trigger in ultra-peripheral collisions. ZDC may also detect neutral particles during pp collisions and it is a tool for diffractive physics. We present some preliminary results on ZDC performance for the detection of photons and π0 obtained using pp collisions data

Supernova neutrino detection in Borexino

In this paper, the performances of Borexino as a Supernova neutrino detector are analyzed and discussed. The expected neutrino signal from a typical Type II Supernova at a distance of 10 kpc is calculated: a burst of around 240 events would appear in Borexino within a time interval of about 10 s. Most of these events would come from the reaction channels ¯νe + p → e+ + n and ν + p → ν + p, while about 30 events would be induced by the interaction of the Supernova neutrino flux on 12C in the liquid scintillator: for most of these reactions, Borexino features unique detection capabilities, thanks to its low-energy sensitivity, ultra-low radioactive background and large homogeneous volume. The possibility to tag and identify the different neutrino detection reactions gives access to key information concerning Supernova physics and non-standard neutrino properties. The detection of neutrinos via elastic scattering off protons in Borexino is discussed here for the first time: this reaction is proven to be a powerful component of the neutrino-induced burst of events. Finally, a viable “Supernova trigger” condition is established, which allows to detect a Supernova explosion up to a distance of 63 kpc

Delayed-release oral suspension of omeprazole for the treatment of erosive esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease in pediatric patients: a review

Omeprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor indicated for gastroesophageal reflux disease and erosive esophagitis treatment in children. The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of delayed-release oral suspension of omeprazole in childhood esophagitis, in terms of symptom relief, reduction in reflux index and/or intragastric acidity, and endoscopic and/or histological healing. We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane and EMBASE (1990 to 2009) and identified 59 potentially relevant articles, but only 12 articles were suitable to be included in our analysis. All the studies evaluated symptom relief and reported a median relief rate of 80.4% (range 35%–100%). Five studies reported a significant reduction of the esophageal reflux index within normal limits (<7%) in all children, and 4 studies a significant reduction of intra-gastric acidity. The endoscopic healing rate, reported by 9 studies, was 84% after 8-week treatment and 95% after 12-week treatment, the latter being significantly higher than the histological healing rate (49%). In conclusion, omeprazole given at a dose ranging from 0.3 to 3.5 mg/kg once daily (median 1 mg/kg once daily) for at least 12 weeks is highly effective in childhood esophagitis

Validation aspects of the health of the nation outcome scales

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of the current study was the psychometric evaluation of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS), an instrument developed to meet the necessity of a clinically acceptable outcome scale for routine use in mental illness services.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study participants included 2,162 outpatients and residential inpatients (rated on the HoNOS on three occasions during the year 2000) with a range of mental illnesses in different diagnostic groups from ten Mental Health Departments, located in the area of Milan (Italy). Principal Component Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Discriminant Analysis and Partial Credit Rasch Model were used to assess two sources of validity: the internal structure and the relationships with other variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results of the 12-item HoNOS demonstrate a significant departure from uni-dimensionality, confirmed by the Rasch analysis (which identified three misfitting items). However, HoNOS scores demonstrate stability and precision of item difficulties over time. Discriminant analysis showed that HoNOS scores have an acceptable level of discriminatory power in predicting the severity of patients' conditions (as represented by setting).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It was concluded that the Italian version of the HoNOS does not measure a single, underlying construct of mental health status. The internal structure validity analysis recommends a note of caution to use a summary index of the HoNOS scores, given the presence of multidimensionality and misfit. Nonetheless, the finding that the instrument is more multidimensional than unidimensional does not preclude the use of the HoNOS as a clinically valid tool for routine outcome assessment. In fact, item scores have demonstrated sufficient reliability (over diagnostic groups and care settings) and high precision in time, indicating that HoNOS items can be utilized as valid measurement instruments in longitudinal analyses.</p

Cardiovascular Risk and Mild Thyroid Hormone Deficiency: Are there some Differences in the Elderly?

Subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT) is a clinical condition defined as serum TSH concentration above the upper limit of the reference range in the face of normal free T4 (FT4) and free T3 (FT3) levels. Subclinical hypothyroidism, the prevalence of which increases with age, especially among women, up to almost 20%, encompasses several pathological entities, mainly represented by chronic autoimmune thyroiditis [1,2]. sHT is often associated to symptoms that resembles those of overt hypothyroidism, although to a lesser extent thus, the expression ‘mild thyroid impairment’ or ‘mild thyroid hormone deficiency’ would be more appropriate for defining such a condition [1]. Nonetheless, the term sHT is recognized worldwide and will be utilized in the present editorial. Since 90s, a relationship between sHT and increased cardio-vascular (CV) risk (both heart failure and coronary heart disease events) has been reported, although some experiences suggest that the risk may depend on the degree of TSH elevation [1,3-5]. Moreover, several reports from elderly population (>65 years old) showed that this relationship seems no longer evident in such individuals especially in the oldest old (>85 years old) [6-9]

Mechanistic Insight into the Catechol Oxidase Activity by a Biomimetic Dinuclear Copper Complex

The biomimetic catalytic oxidation of 3,5-ditert- butylcatechol by the dicopper(II) complex of the ligand a,a¢-bis{bis[1-(1¢-methyl-2¢-benzimidazolyl) methyl]amino}-m-xylene in the presence of dioxygen has been investigated as a function of temperature and pH in a mixed aqueous/organic solvent. The catalytic cycle occurs in two steps, the first step being faster than the second step. In the first step, one molecule of catechol is oxidized by the dicopper(II) complex, and the copper(II) centers are reduced. From the pH dependence, it is deduced that the active species of the process is the monohydroxo form of the dinuclear complex. In the second step, the second molecule of catechol is oxidized by the dicopper(I)-dioxygen complex formed upon oxygenation of the reduced complex. In both cases, catechol oxidation is an inner-sphere electron transfer process involving binding of the catechol to the active species. The binary catechol-dicopper(II) complex formed in the first step could be characterized at very low temperature (90 C), where substrate oxidation is blocked. On the contrary, the ternary complex of dicopper( I)-O2-catechol relevant to the second step does not accumulate in solution and could not be characterized, even at low temperature. The investigation of the biphasic kinetics of the catalytic reaction over a range of temperatures allowed the thermodynamic (DH and DS) and activation parameters (DH „ and DS „ ) connected with the key steps of the catecholase process to be obtained

Towards a Powerful Hardware‐in‐the‐Loop System for Virtual Calibration of an Off‐Road Diesel Engine

A common challenge among internal combustion engine (ICE) manufacturers is shorten-ing the development time while facing requirements and specifications that are becoming more complex and border in scope. Virtual simulation and calibration are effective instruments in the face of these demands. This article presents the development of zero‐dimensional (0D)—real‐time engine and exhaust after‐treatment system (EAS) models and their deployment on a Virtual test bench (VTB). The models are created using a series of measurements acquired in a real test bench, carefully performed in view of ensuring the highest reliability of the models themselves. A zero‐dimensional approach was chosen to guarantee that models could be run in real‐time and interfaced to the real engine Electronic Control Unit (ECU). Being physically based models, they react to changes in the ECU calibration parameters. Once the models are validated, they are then integrated into a Sim-ulink® based architecture with all the Inputs/Outputs connections to the ECU. This Simulink® model is then deployed on a Hardware in the Loop (HiL) machine for ECU testing and calibration. The results for engine and EAS performance and emissions align with both steady‐state and transient measurements. Finally, two different applications of the HiL system are presented to explain the opportunities and advantages of this tool integrated within the standard engine development. Ex-amples cited refer to altitude calibration activities and soot loading investigation on vehicle duty cycles. The cases described in this work are part of the actual development of one of the latest engines developed by Kohler Engines: the KDI 1903 TCR Stage V. The application of this methodology reveals a great potential for engine development and may become an essential tool for calibration engineers