Development and Preliminary Reliability of a Multitasking Assessment for Executive Functioning After Concussion

OBJECTIVES. Executive functioning deficits may result from concussion. The Charge of Quarters (CQ) Duty Task is a multitask assessment designed to assess executive functioning in servicemembers after concussion. In this article, we discuss the rationale and process used in the development of the CQ Duty Task and present pilot data from the preliminary evaluation of interrater reliability (IRR)

Development of a Measure to Inform Return-to-Duty Decision Making After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), a principal injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, can result in significant morbidity. To make accurate return-to-duty decisions for soldiers with mTBI, military medical personnel require sensitive, objective, and duty-relevant data to characterize subtle cognitive and sensorimotor injury sequelae. A military-civilian research team reviewed existing literature and obtained input from stakeholders, end users, and experts to specify the concept and develop a preliminary assessment protocol to address this need. Results of the literature review suggested the potential utility of a test based on dual-task and multitask assessment methods. Thirty-three individuals representing a variety of military and civilian stakeholders/experts participated in interviews. Interview data suggested that reliability/validity, clinical feasibility, usability across treatment facilities, military face validity, and capacity to challenge mission-critical mTBI vulnerabilities were important to ultimate adoption. The research team developed the Assessment of Military Multitasking Performance, a tool composed of eight dual and multitasking test-tasks. A concept test session with 10 subjects indicated preliminary face validity and informed modifications to scoring and design. Further validation is needed. The Assessment of Military Multitasking Performance may fill a gap identified by stakeholders for complex cognitive/motor testing to assist return-to-duty decisions for service members with mTBI

Functional analysis of the protein phosphatase activity of PTEN

In vitro, the tumour suppressor PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) displays intrinsic phosphatase activity towards both protein and lipid substrates. In vivo, the lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN, through which it dephosphorylates the 3 position in the inositol sugar of phosphatidylinositol derivatives, is important for its tumour suppressor function; however, the significance of its protein phosphatase activity remains unclear. Using two-photon laser-scanning microscopy and biolistic gene delivery of GFP (green fluorescent protein)-tagged constructs into organotypic hippocampal slice cultures, we have developed an assay of PTEN function in living tissue. Using this bioassay, we have demonstrated that overexpression of wild-type PTEN led to a decrease in spine density in neurons. Furthermore, it was the protein phosphatase activity, but not the lipid phosphatase activity, of PTEN that was essential for this effect. The ability of PTEN to decrease neuronal spine density depended upon the phosphorylation status of serine and threonine residues in its C-terminal segment and the integrity of the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif. The present study reveals a new aspect of the function of this important tumour suppressor and suggest that, in addition to dephosphorylating the 3 position in phosphatidylinositol phospholipids, the critical protein substrate of PTEN may be PTEN itself

Measurement of the t t-bar production cross section in the dilepton channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

The t t-bar production cross section (sigma[t t-bar]) is measured in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV in data collected by the CMS experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 inverse femtobarns. The measurement is performed in events with two leptons (electrons or muons) in the final state, at least two jets identified as jets originating from b quarks, and the presence of an imbalance in transverse momentum. The measured value of sigma[t t-bar] for a top-quark mass of 172.5 GeV is 161.9 +/- 2.5 (stat.) +5.1/-5.0 (syst.) +/- 3.6(lumi.) pb, consistent with the prediction of the standard model.Comment: Replaced with published version. Included journal reference and DO

Measurement of the W-boson helicity in top-quark decays from t(t)over-bar production in lepton plus jets events in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

This is the pre-print version of the final published article that can be accessed at the link below.The W-boson helicity fractions in top-quark decays are measured with tt events in the lepton+jets final state, using proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, collected in 2011 with the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb-1. The measured fractions of longitudinal, left-, and right-handed helicity are F0 = 0.682 0.030 (stat.) 0.033 (syst.), FL = 0.310 0.022 (stat.) 0.022 (syst.), and FR = 0.008 0.012 (stat.) 0.014 (syst.), consistent with the standard model predictions. The measured fractions are used to probe the existence of anomalous Wtb couplings. Exclusion limits on the real components of the anomalous couplings gL, gR are also derived

Search for standard model production of four top quarks in the lepton + jets channel in pp collisions at √s = 8 TeV

Open Access, Copyright CERN, for the benefit of the CMS Collaboration. Article funded by SCOAP3.Abstract: A search is presented for standard model (SM) production of four top quarks (Formula presented.) in pp collisions in the lepton + jets channel. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.6 fb−1 recorded at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The expected cross section for SM (Formula presented.) production is (Formula presented.). A combination of kinematic reconstruction and multivariate techniques is used to distinguish between the small signal and large background. The data are consistent with expectations of the SM, and an upper limit of 32 fb is set at a 95% confidence level on the cross section for producing four top quarks in the SM, where a limit of 32 ± 17 fb is expected

Search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a top-quark pair in pp collisions at the LHC

This is the pre-print version of the final published paper that is available from the link below.A search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a top-quark pair is presented using data samples corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb-1 (5.1 fb-1) collected in pp collisions at the center-of-mass energy of 7TeV (8TeV). Events are considered where the top-quark pair decays to either one lepton+jets (tt→lvqq’bb) or dileptons [tt→l(+)vl(-)vbb], l being an electron or a muon. The search is optimized for the decay mode H → bb. The largest background to the ttH signal is top-quark pair production with additional jets. Artificial neural networks are used to discriminate between signal and background events. Combining the results from the 7TeV and 8TeV samples, the observed (expected) limit on the cross section for Higgs boson production in association with top quark pairs for a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV is 5.8 (5.2) times the standard model expectatio

Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a UK university identifies dynamics of transmission

AbstractUnderstanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission in higher education settings is important to limit spread between students, and into at-risk populations. In this study, we sequenced 482 SARS-CoV-2 isolates from the University of Cambridge from 5 October to 6 December 2020. We perform a detailed phylogenetic comparison with 972 isolates from the surrounding community, complemented with epidemiological and contact tracing data, to determine transmission dynamics. We observe limited viral introductions into the university; the majority of student cases were linked to a single genetic cluster, likely following social gatherings at a venue outside the university. We identify considerable onward transmission associated with student accommodation and courses; this was effectively contained using local infection control measures and following a national lockdown. Transmission clusters were largely segregated within the university or the community. Our study highlights key determinants of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and effective interventions in a higher education setting that will inform public health policy during pandemics.</jats:p

Searches for a heavy scalar boson H decaying to a pair of 125 GeV Higgs bosons hh or for a heavy pseudoscalar boson A decaying to Zh, in the final states with h -> tau tau

Peer reviewe

Measurement of the tt‾ t\overline{t} production cross section in the dilepton channel in pp collisions at s \sqrt{s} = 8 TeV

The top-antitop quark (t (t) over bar) production cross section is measured in proton-proton collisions at root s = 8 TeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.3 fb(-1). The measurement is performed by analysing events with a pair of electrons or muons, or one electron and one muon, and at least two jets, one of which is identified as originating from hadronisation of a bottom quark. The measured cross section is 239 +/- 2 (stat.) +/- 11 (syst.) +/- 6 (lum.) pb, for an assumed top-quark mass of 172.5 GeV, in agreement with the prediction of the standard model