4,293 research outputs found
Heavy Quark Parameters and Vcb from Spectral Moments in Semileptonic B Decays
We extract the heavy quark masses and non-perturbative parameters from the
Delphi preliminary measurements of the first three moments of the charged
lepton energy and hadronic mass distributions in semileptonic B decays, using a
multi-parameter fit. We adopt two formalisms, one of which does not rely on a
1/mc expansion and makes use of running quark masses. The data are consistent
and the level of accuracy of the experimental inputs largely determines the
present sensitivity. The results allow to improve on the uncertainty in the
extraction of Vcb.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure
Relationship of glycaemic control and hypoglycaemic episodes to 4-year cardiovascular outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes starting insulin
AIMS: To examine the relationships between glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and cardiovascular (CV) events in people beginning insulin in routine clinical practice in Europe, North America and Asia in a non-interventional study, the Cardiovascular Risk Evaluation in people with Type 2 Diabetes on Insulin Therapy (CREDIT) study. METHODS: Data on 2999 people were collected prospectively over 4 years from physician reports. The primary outcome was the composite of stroke or myocardial infarction (MI) or CV-specific death. Events were blindly adjudicated. The relative hazards of CV events were described from Cox proportional hazards models incorporating patient risk factors, with updated average HbA1c as a time-dependent covariate. The relationship of severe and symptomatic hypoglycaemia (collected during the 6 months before yearly ascertainment) with CV and all-cause mortality was examined. RESULTS: A total of 147 primary events were accrued during up to 54 months of follow-up. In all, 60 CV-specific deaths, 44 non-fatal MIs and 57 non-fatal strokes occurred, totalling 161 events. There was a significant positive relationship between updated mean HbA1c and primary outcome: hazard ratio (HR) 1.25 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.40; p < 0.0001]. CV death [HR 1.31 (95% CI 1.10-1.57); p = 0.0027] and stroke [HR 1.36 (95% CI 1.17-1.59); p < 0.0001] were both strongly associated with HbA1c, while MI was not [HR 1.05 (95% CI 0.83-1.32)]. One or more severe hypoglycaemic episodes affected 175 participants, while 1508 participants experienced one or more symptomatic hypoglycaemic events. We found no relationship between severe/symptomatic hypoglycaemic events and CV-specific/all-cause death. CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing poorer glucose control was associated with CV events; hypoglycaemia was not associated with CV-specific/all-cause death
Focusing Strength Measurements of the Main Quadrupoles for the LHC
More than 1100 quadrupole magnets of different types are needed for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) which is in the construction stage at CERN. The most challenging parameter to measure on these quadrupoles is the integrated gradient (Gdl). An absolute accuracy of 0.1% is needed to control the beta beating. In this paper we briefly describe the whole set of equipment used for Gdl measurements: Automated Scanner system, Single Stretched Wire system and Twin Coils system, concentrating mostly on their absolute accuracies. Most of the possible inherent effects that can introduce systematic errors are discussed along with their preventive methods. In the frame of this qualification some of the magnets were tested with two systems. The results of the intersystem cross-calibrations are presented. In addition, the qualification of the measurement system used at the magnet manufacturer's is based on results of more than 40 quadrupole assemblies tested in cold conditions at CERN and in warm conditions at the vendor site
RooHammerModel: interfacing the HAMMER software tool with the HistFactory package
Recent -physics results have sparkled great interest in the search for
beyond-the-Standard-Model (BSM) physics in transitions.
The need to analyse in a consistent manner big datasets for these searches,
using high-statistics Monte-Carlo (MC) samples, led to the development of
HAMMER, a software tool which enables to perform a fast morphing of MC-derived
templates to include BSM effects and/or alternative parameterisations of
long-distance effects, avoiding the need to re-generate simulated samples. This
note describes the development of RooHammerModel, an interface between this
tool and the commonly-used data-fitting framework HistFactory. The code is
written in C++ and admits an alternative usage in standalone RooFit analyses.
In this document, the structure and functionality of the user interface are
explained. Information of a public repository where it can be accessed is
provided, as well as validation and performance studies of the interface. The
methods developed in the construction of RooHammerModel can provide specific
information for alternative future attempts to interface HAMMER with other
data-fitting frameworks
Patient controlled pressure support ventilation
Introduction
Pressure support ventilation is mostly used in weaning from mechanical ventilaton in acute respiratory failure. There are no data regarding the optimal level of assistance for each patient in different clinical conditions. We approach a new method that allows patients to set their own PSV level by a remote control connected to the ventilator.
Materials and methods
In 9 awake intubated patients (age 57 \ub1 17 years, BMI 24 \ub1 3 kg/m2, PaO2/FiO2 283 \ub1 51, Ramsey 1.9 \ub1 0.4) we measured the breathing pattern (VT, RR), the work of breathing (WOB J/min, estimated from a modified Campbell diagram [1]) and the dyspnea sensation using the Borg visual scale [2]. Patients were studied at three fixed levels of PSV (5-15-25 cmH2O). At the end of each step we gave the patient the possibility to change the level of PSV using the remote control. Patients were previously instructed by attendant physician about the use of the remote control.
Results
See Table and Figure. It appears that increasing the pressure support level, the patient work of breathing decreases while the Borg dyspnea scale shows no significant differences.
Figure. The dyspnea sensation when patient is allowed to set the pressure support level.
Conclusions
Patient controlled PSV could be a useful technique in ventilatory management of critically ill awake patients
Do mast cells help to induce angiogenesis in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas?
Morphological and morphometric data showing a higher number of mast cells (MCs) in the stroma of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (B-NHL) than in benign lymphadenopathies are presented in support of the suggestion that angiogenesis during the progression of B-NHL may be partly mediated by angiogenic factors in their secretory granules
Naturally presented HLA class I-restricted epitopes from the neurotrophic factor S100-? are targets of the autoimmune response in type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from the destruction of pancreatic beta-cells by the immune system, and CD8(+) T lymphocytes are critical actors in this autoimmune response. Pancreatic islets are surrounded by a mesh of nervous cells, the peri-insular Schwann cells, which are also targeted by autoreactive T lymphocytes and express specific antigens, such as the neurotrophic factor S100-beta. Previous work has shown increased proliferative responses to whole S100-beta in both human T1D patients and the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model. We describe for the first time naturally processed and presented epitopes (NPPEs) presented by class I human leukocyte antigen-A*02:01 (A2.1) molecules derived from S100-beta. These NPPEs triggered IFN-gamma responses more frequently in both newly diagnosed and long-term T1D patients compared with healthy donors. Furthermore, the same NPPEs are recognized during the autoimmune response leading to diabetes in A2.1-transgenic NOD mice as early as 4 wk of age. Interestingly, when these NPPEs are used to prevent diabetes in this animal model, an acceleration of the disease is observed together with an exacerbation in insulitis and an increase in S100-beta-specific cytotoxicity in vaccinated animals. Whether these can be used in diabetes prevention needs to be carefully evaluated in animal models before use in future clinical assays.-Calvino-Sampedro, C., Gomez-Tourino, I., Cordero, O. J., Reche, P. A., Gomez-Perosanz, M., Sanchez-Trincado, J. L., Rodriguez, M. A., Sueiro, A. M., Vinuela, J. E., Calvino, R. V. Naturally presented HLA class I-restricted epitopes from the neurotrophic factor S100-beta are targets of the autoimmune response in type 1 diabetes
Reduced neurite density in the brain and cervical spinal cord in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis: A NODDI study
Background:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects both brain and spinal cord. However, studies of the neuraxis with advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are rare because of long acquisition times. We investigated neurodegeneration in MS brain and cervical spinal cord using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI).
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Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate possible alterations, and their clinical relevance, in neurite morphology along the brain and cervical spinal cord of relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) patients.
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Methods:
In total, 28 RRMS patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) underwent brain and spinal cord NODDI at 3T. Physical and cognitive disability was assessed. Individual maps of orientation dispersion index (ODI) and neurite density index (NDI) in brain and spinal cord were obtained. We examined differences in NODDI measures between groups and the relationships between NODDI metrics and clinical scores using linear regression models adjusted for age, sex and brain tissue volumes or cord cross-sectional area (CSA).
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Results:
Patients showed lower NDI in the brain normal-appearing white matter (WM) and spinal cord WM than HCs. In patients, a lower NDI in the spinal cord WM was associated with higher disability.
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Conclusion:
Reduced neurite density occurs in the neuraxis but, especially when affecting the spinal cord, it may represent a mechanism of disability in MS
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