Model-independent constraints on new physics in b --> s transitions

We provide a comprehensive model-independent analysis of rare decays involving the b --> s transition to put constraints on dimension-six Delta(F)=1 effective operators. The constraints are derived from all the available up-to-date experimental data from the B-factories, CDF and LHCb. The implications and future prospects for observables in b --> s l+l- and b --> s nu nu transitions in view of improved measurements are also investigated. The present work updates and generalises previous studies providing, at the same time, a useful tool to test the flavour structure of any theory beyond the SM.Comment: 1+39 pages, 12 figures, 3 tables. v2: minor modifications, typos corrected, references added, version to be published in JHE

Exploring New Physics in the C7-C7' plane

The Wilson coefficient C7 governing the radiative electromagnetic decays of B meson has been calculated to a very high accuracy in the Standard Model, but experimental bounds on either the magnitude or the sign of C7 are often model-dependent. In the present paper, we attempt at constraining both the magnitude and sign of C7 using a systematic approach. We consider already measured observables like the branching ratios of B \rightarrow Xs mu+ mu- and B \rightarrow Xs gamma, the isospin and CP asymmetries in B \rightarrow K* gamma, as well as AFB and FL in B \rightarrow K*l+l-. We also discuss the transverse observable AT2 which, once measured, may help to disentangle some of the scenarios considered. We explore the constraints on C7, C9, C10 as well as their chirality-flipped counterparts. Within our framework, we find that we need to extend the constraints up to 1.6 sigma to allow for the "flipped-sign solution" of C7. The SM solution for C7 exhibits a very mild tension if New Physics is allowed in dipole operators only. We provide semi-numerical expressions for all these observables as functions of the relevant Wilson coefficients at the low scale.Comment: 54 pages, 16 figures, 15 tables. Normalization factor introduced for the integrated AFB and FL in Sec.2.5 (Eq.2.35-2.38). Conclusions unchanged. Not updated in JHE

Relevance of biomarkers across different neurodegenerative

Background: The panel of fluid- and imaging-based biomarkers available for neurodegenerative disease research is growing and has the potential to close important gaps in research and the clinic. With this growth and increasing use, appropriate implementation and interpretation are paramount. Various biomarkers feature nuanced differences in strengths, limitations, and biases that must be considered when investigating disease etiology and clinical utility. For example, neuropathological investigations of Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis can fall in disagreement with conclusions reached by biomarker-based investigations. Considering the varied strengths, limitations, and biases of different research methodologies and approaches may help harmonize disciplines within the neurodegenerative disease field. Purpose of review: Along with separate review articles covering fluid and imaging biomarkers in this issue of Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy, we present the result of a discussion from the 2019 Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases course at the University College London. Here, we discuss themes of biomarker use in neurodegenerative disease research, commenting on appropriate use, interpretation, and considerations for implementation across different neurodegenerative diseases. We also draw attention to areas where biomarker use can be combined with other disciplines to understand issues of pathophysiology and etiology underlying dementia. Lastly, we highlight novel modalities that have been proposed in the landscape of neurodegenerative disease research and care

Bayesian Fit of Exclusive b→sℓˉℓb \to s \bar\ell\ell Decays: The Standard Model Operator Basis

We perform a model-independent fit of the short-distance couplings $C_{7,9,10}$ within the Standard Model set of $b\to s\gamma$ and $b\to s\bar\ell\ell$ operators. Our analysis of $B \to K^* \gamma$, $B \to K^{(*)} \bar\ell\ell$ and $B_s \to \bar\mu\mu$ decays is the first to harness the full power of the Bayesian approach: all major sources of theory uncertainty explicitly enter as nuisance parameters. Exploiting the latest measurements, the fit reveals a flipped-sign solution in addition to a Standard-Model-like solution for the couplings $C_i$. Each solution contains about half of the posterior probability, and both have nearly equal goodness of fit. The Standard Model prediction is close to the best-fit point. No New Physics contributions are necessary to describe the current data. Benefitting from the improved posterior knowledge of the nuisance parameters, we predict ranges for currently unmeasured, optimized observables in the angular distributions of $B\to K^*(\to K\pi)\,\bar\ell\ell$.Comment: 42 pages, 8 figures; v2: Using new lattice input for f_Bs, considering Bs-mixing effects in BR[B_s->ll]. Main results and conclusion unchanged, matches journal versio

The role of viral genomics in understanding COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities

We reviewed all genomic epidemiology studies on COVID-19 in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) that had been published to date. We found that staff and residents were usually infected with identical, or near identical, SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Outbreaks usually involved one predominant cluster, and the same lineages persisted in LTCFs despite infection control measures. Outbreaks were most commonly due to single or few introductions followed by a spread rather than a series of seeding events from the community into LTCFs. The sequencing of samples taken consecutively from the same individuals at the same facilities showed the persistence of the same genome sequence, indicating that the sequencing technique was robust over time. When combined with local epidemiology, genomics allowed probable transmission sources to be better characterised. The transmission between LTCFs was detected in multiple studies. The mortality rate among residents was high in all facilities, regardless of the lineage. Bioinformatics methods were inadequate in a third of the studies reviewed, and reproducing the analyses was difficult because sequencing data were not available in many facilities

New Physics in b -> s mu+ mu-: CP-Conserving Observables

We perform a comprehensive study of the impact of new-physics operators with different Lorentz structures on decays involving the b -> s mu+ mu- transition. We examine the effects of new vector-axial vector (VA), scalar-pseudoscalar (SP) and tensor (T) interactions on the differential branching ratios and forward-backward asymmetries (A_{FB}'s) of Bsbar -> mu+ mu-, Bdbar -> Xs mu+ mu-, Bsbar -> mu+ mu- gamma, Bdbar -> Kbar mu+ mu-, and Bdbar -> K* mu+ mu-, taking the new-physics couplings to be real. In Bdbar -> K* mu+ mu-, we further explore the polarization fraction f_L, the angular asymmetry A_T^{(2)}, and the longitudinal-transverse asymmetry A_{LT}. We identify the Lorentz structures that would significantly impact these observables, providing analytical arguments in terms of the contributions from the individual operators and their interference terms. In particular, we show that while the new VA operators can significantly enhance most of the asymmetries beyond the Standard Model predictions, the SP and T operators can do this only for A_{FB} in Bdbar -> Kbar mu+ mu-.Comment: 54 pages, JHEP format, 45 figures (included). 5/6/2013: typos in K* mu mu angular coefficients corrected, typos in Eq. (D.12) corrected, added a missing term in I3LT in Eq. (D.16). Numerical analysis unchange

Rationale and design of the NODE-303 study: evaluating the safety of symptom-prompted, self-administered etripamil for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia episodes in real-world settings.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a common episodic arrhythmia characterized by unpredictable onset and burdensome symptoms including palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, distress, and shortness of breath. Treatment of acute episodes of PSVT in the clinical setting consists of intravenous adenosine, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Etripamil is an intranasally self-administered L-type CCB in development for acute treatment of AV-nodal dependent PSVT in a nonmedical supervised setting. METHODS: This paper summarizes the rationale and study design of NODE-303 that will assess the efficacy and safety of etripamil. In the randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 RAPID trial, etripamil was superior to placebo in the conversion of single PSVT episodes by 30 minutes post initial dose when administered in the nonhealthcare setting; this study required a mandatory and observed test dosing prior to randomization. The primary objective of NODE-303 is to evaluate the safety of symptom-prompted, self-administered etripamil for multiple PSVT episodes in real-world settings, without the need for test dosing prior to first use during PSVT. Secondary endpoints include efficacy and disease burden. Upon perceiving a PSVT episode, the patient applies an electrocardiographic monitor, performs a vagal maneuver, and, if the vagal maneuver is unsuccessful, self-administers etripamil 70 mg, with an optional repeat dose if symptoms do not resolve within 10 minutes after the first dose. A patient may treat up to four PSVT episodes during the study. Adverse events are recorded as treatment-emergent if they occur within 24 hours after the administration of etripamil. RESULTS: Efficacy endpoints include time to conversion to sinus rhythm within 30 and 60 minutes after etripamil administration, and the proportion of patients who convert at 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes. Patient-reported outcomes are captured by the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire, the Short Form Health Survey 36, the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication and a PSVT survey. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these data will support the development of a potentially paradigm-changing long-term management strategy for recurrent PSVT

Predictors of nursing home admission of individuals without a dementia diagnosis before admission - results from the Leipzig Longitudinal Study of the Aged (LEILA 75+)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In previous decades a substantial number of community-based studies mostly including dementia cases examined predictors of nursing home admission (NHA) among elderly people. However, no one study has analysed predictors of NHA for individuals without developing dementia before NHA.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were derived from the Leipzig Longitudinal Study of the Aged, a population-based study of individuals aged 75 years and older. 1,024 dementia-free older adults were interviewed six times on average every 1.4 years. Socio-demographic, clinical, and psychometric variables were obtained. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to determine mean time to NHA. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine predictors of long-term NHA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the overall sample, 7.8 percent of the non-demented elderly (n = 59) were admitted to nursing home (NH) during the study period. The mean time to NHA in the dementia-free sample was 7.6 years. Characteristics associated with a shorter time to NHA were increased age, living alone, functional and cognitive impairment, major depression, stroke, myocardial infarction, a low number of specialist visits and paid home helper use.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Severe physical or psychiatric diseases and living alone have a significant effect on NHA for dementia-free individuals. The findings offer potentialities of secondary prevention to avoid or delay NHA for these elderly individuals. Further investigation of predictors of institutionalization is warranted to advance understanding of the process leading to NHA for this important group.</p

A Semianalytical PDF of Downlink SINR for Femtocell Networks

This paper presents a derivation of the probability density function (PDF) of the signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR) for the downlink of a cell in multicellular networks. The mathematical model considers uncoordinated locations and transmission powers of base stations (BSs) which reflect accurately the deployment of randomly located femtocells in an indoor environment. The derivation is semianalytical, in that the PDF is obtained by analysis and can be easily calculated by employing standard numerical methods. Thus, it obviates the need for time-consuming simulation efforts. The derivation of the PDF takes into account practical propagation models including shadow fading. The effect of background noise is also considered. Numerical experiments are performed assuming various environments and deployment scenarios to examine the performance of femtocell networks. The results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations for verification purposes and show good agreement