N_pN_n dependence of empirical formula for the lowest excitation energy of the 2^+ states in even-even nuclei

We examine the effects of the additional term of the type $\sim e^{- \lambda' N_pN_n}$ on the recently proposed empirical formula for the lowest excitation energy of the $2^+$ states in even-even nuclei. This study is motivated by the fact that this term carries the favorable dependence of the valence nucleon numbers dictated by the $N_pN_n$ scheme. We show explicitly that there is not any improvement in reproducing $E_x(2_1^+)$ by including the extra $N_pN_n$ term. However, our study also reveals that the excitation energies $E_x(2_1^+)$, when calculated by the $N_pN_n$ term alone (with the mass number $A$ dependent term), are quite comparable to those calculated by the original empirical formula.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Towards Automatic Face-to-Face Translation

In light of the recent breakthroughs in automatic machine translation systems, we propose a novel approach that we term as "Face-to-Face Translation". As today's digital communication becomes increasingly visual, we argue that there is a need for systems that can automatically translate a video of a person speaking in language A into a target language B with realistic lip synchronization. In this work, we create an automatic pipeline for this problem and demonstrate its impact on multiple real-world applications. First, we build a working speech-to-speech translation system by bringing together multiple existing modules from speech and language. We then move towards "Face-to-Face Translation" by incorporating a novel visual module, LipGAN for generating realistic talking faces from the translated audio. Quantitative evaluation of LipGAN on the standard LRW test set shows that it significantly outperforms existing approaches across all standard metrics. We also subject our Face-to-Face Translation pipeline, to multiple human evaluations and show that it can significantly improve the overall user experience for consuming and interacting with multimodal content across languages. Code, models and demo video are made publicly available. Demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHG6Oei8jF0 Code and models: https://github.com/Rudrabha/LipGANComment: 9 pages (including references), 5 figures, Published in ACM Multimedia, 201

Allergen Sensitization and Asthma Outcomes among World Trade Center Rescue and Recovery Workers

A large number of World Trade Center (WTC) rescue and recovery workers are affected by asthma. While physical and mental health comorbidities have been associated with poor asthma control in this population, the potential role of allergen sensitization is unknown. This study examined the association of indoor sensitization and exposure as a risk factor for increased asthma morbidity in WTC workers. We used data from a prospective cohort of 331 WTC workers with asthma. Sensitization to indoor allergens was assessed by measurement of antigen-specific serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. We used validated tools to evaluate the exposure to indoor allergens. Asthma morbidity outcomes included level of control (Asthma Control Questionnaire, ACQ), quality of life (Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, AQLQ) and acute resource utilization. The prevalence of sensitization to cat, dog, mouse, dust mite, cockroach, and mold allergens were 33%, 21%, 17%, 40%, 17%, and 17%, respectively. Unadjusted and regression analyses showed no significant relationship between sensitization and increased asthma morbidity (p \u3e 0.05 for all comparisons), except for sensitization to Aspergillus Fumigatus, cat and mouse epithelium, which were associated with decreased morbidity

Therapeutic targets and microenvironment in sequential biopsies of classical Hodgkin lymphoma at diagnosis and relapse

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma is dominated by the non-neoplastic microenvironment, while the neoplastic Hodgkin-Reed-Sternberg cells compose only a minority of cells in the lymphoma tissue. Both the Hodgkin-Reed-Sternberg cells due to their expression of CD30 and PD-L1 and the microenvironment with abundant T cells and expression of PD1 are specifically targeted by new treatment concepts. We aimed to understand the dynamics of therapeutic targets in patients treated with conventional chemotherapy. We analyzed sequential biopsy specimens obtained at diagnosis and at relapse from the same patient for morphology, immunophenotype, and microenvironmental components. The morphological subtype changed between primary and relapse biopsy in 20% of cases. The immunophenotype was stable with respect to CD30, CD3, and LMP1 but variable with respect to CD15 and CD20 expression. Gene expression revealed 8 upregulated and 20 downregulated genes at relapse (p <= 0.05) with a consistent logarithmic fold change direction in at least 75% of all cases. For PD1, we found discrepant results between gene expression analysis (decrease at relapse) and number of PD1-positive cells assessed by immunohistochemistry (unchanged at relapse). PD-L1 in the neoplastic cells appeared unchanged between primary diagnosis and relapse. The expression of the therapeutic targets CD30, PD1, and PD-L1 can reliably be assessed in tumor specimen at first diagnosis and is unchanged under conventional chemotherapy

ASACUSA Status Report

ASACUSA progress during 2009 and plans for 201

Th1 type lymphocyte reactivity to metals in patients with total hip arthroplasty

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>All prostheses with metallic components release metal debris that can potentially activate the immune system. However, implant-related metal hyper-reactivity has not been well characterized. In this study, we hypothesized that adaptive immunity reaction(s), particularly T-helper type 1 (Th1) responses, will be dominant in any metal-reactivity responses of patients with total joint replacements (TJAs). We tested this hypothesis by evaluating lymphocyte reactivity to metal "ions" in subjects with and without total hip replacements, using proliferation assays and cytokine analysis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Lymphocytes from young healthy individuals without an implant or a history of metal allergy (Group 1: n = 8) were used to assess lymphocyte responses to metal challenge agents. In addition, individuals (Group 2: n = 15) with well functioning total hip arthroplasties (average Harris Hip Score = 91, average time in-situ 158 months) were studied. Age matched controls with no implants were also used for comparison (Group 3, n = 8, 4 male, 4 female average age 70, range 49–80). Group 1 subjects' lymphocyte proliferation response to Aluminum⁺³, Cobalt⁺², Chromium⁺³, Copper⁺², Iron⁺³, Molybdenum⁺⁵, Manganeese⁺², Nickel⁺², Vanadium⁺³and Sodium⁺²chloride solutions at a variety of concentrations (0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 10.0 mM) was studied to establish toxicity thresholds. Mononuclear cells from Group 2 and 3 subjects were challenged with 0.1 mM CrCl₃, 0.1 mM NiCl₂, 0.1 mM CoCl₂and approx. 0.001 mM titanium and the reactions measured with proliferation assays and cytokine analysis to determine T-cell subtype prominence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Primary lymphocytes from patients with well functioning total hip replacements demonstrated a higher incidence and greater magnitude of reactivity to chromium than young healthy controls (p < 0.03). Of the 15 metal ion-challenged subjects with well functioning total hip arthroplasties, 7 demonstrated a proliferative response to Chromium, Nickel, Cobalt and/or Titanium (as defined by a statistically significant >2 fold stimulation index response, p < 0.05) and were designated as metal-reactive. Metals such as Cobalt, Copper, Manganese, and Vanadium were toxic at concentrations as low as 0.5 mM while other metals, such as Aluminum, Chromium, Iron, Molybdenum, and Nickel, became toxic at much higher concentrations (>10 mM). The differential secretion of signature T-cell subsets' cytokines (Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes releasing IFN-gamma and IL-4, respectively) between those total hip arthroplasty subjects which demonstrated metal-reactivity and those that did not, indicated a Th1 type (IFN-gamma) pro-inflammatory response.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Elevated proliferation and production of IFN-gamma to metals in hip arthroplasty subjects' lymphocytes indicates that a Th1 (vs. Th2) type response is likely associated with any metal induced reactivity. The involvement of an elevated and specific lymphocyte response suggests an <it>adaptive </it>(macrophage recruiting) immunity response to metallic implant debris rather than an <it>innate </it>(nonspecific) immune response.</p

Core level binding energy shifts and polarization screening: A combined experimental and theoretical study of argon clusters

Photoelectron spectra of the argon 2p core level for free argon clusters of up to 4000 atoms are compared to detailed calculations. The comparison shows that the size‐dependent shifts of the core level binding energy can be explained in a pure polarization‐screening model. Important differences arise between the shifts for the bulk (interior) and the surface atoms. The agreement between experiment and theory allows the extrapolation of the cluster data to the ‘‘infinite’’ solid. In this way we obtain the shifts of the core level binding energy between the free atom, the surface atom and the bulk of argon. The relation between these shifts and those of the first ionization potential is discussed

SPS Dipole Multipactor Test and TEWave Diagnostics

Electron cloud accumulation in particle accelerators can be mitigated by coating the vacuum beam pipe with thin films of low secondary electron yield (SEY) material. The SEY of small coated samples are usually measured in the laboratory. To further test the properties of different coating materials, RF-induced multipacting in a coaxial waveguide configuration can be performed. The technique is applied to two main bending dipoles of the SPS, where the RF power is fed through a tungsten wire stretched along the vacuum chamber (6.4 m). A dipole with a bare stainless steel chamber shows a clear power threshold initiating an abrupt rise in reflected power and pressure. The effect is enhanced at RF frequencies corresponding to electron cyclotron resonances for given magnetic fields. Preliminary results show that the dipole with a carbon coated vacuum chamber does not exhibit any pressure rise or reflected RF power up to the maximum available input power. In the case of a large scale coating production this technique will be a valuable resource for quality control. In parallel, electron cloud measurements via the microwave transmission method have been performed during the annual scrubbing run in the SPS. Clear electron cloud signals have been observed while operating with high intensity beams, confirming that this measurement technique provides a valuable tool for in-situ diagnostic. This paper is divided into two parts, where the first part deals with the multipacting test stand on stand-alone dipoles and the second part deals with the TE wave diagnostics in the CERN SPS