Soil resources and potential for agricultural development in Bahr El Jebel in southern Sudan, Jonglei Canal project area

The author has identified the following significant results. Fourteen LANDSAT scenes were used to produce mosaics of the 167, 474 sq km study area. These were black and white MSS 7 images and false color composite images. Five major soil-landscape units were delineated on the mosaics, and these were subdivided into a total of 40 soil mapping units. Aerial reconnaissance was useful in defining boundaries between mapping units and in estimating the proportion of the various soils which composed each mapping unit. Ground surveying permitted first-hand observation of major soils and sampling for quantitative laboratory analysis. Soil interpretations were made, including properties, potentials, and limitations

Proteomic analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

So far, only the detection of 14-3-3 proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been accepted as diagnostic criterion for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). However, this assay cannot be used for screening because of the high rate of false-positive results, whereas patients with variant CJD are often negative for 14-3-3 proteins. The aim of this study was to compare the spot patterns of CSF by 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) to search for a CJD-specific spot pattern. We analyzed the CSF of 28 patients {[}11 CJD, 9 Alzheimer's disease ( AD), 8 nondemented controls (NDC)] employing 2D-PAGE which was optimized for minimal volumes of CSF (0.1 ml; 7-cm strips). All samples were run at least three times, gels were silver stained and analyzed by an analysis software and manually revised. We could consistently match 268 spots which were then compared between all groups. By the use of 5 spots, we were able to differentiate CJD from AD or NDC with a sensitivity of 100%. CJD could also be distinguished from both groups by using a heuristic clustering algorithm of 2 spots. We conclude that this proteomic approach can differentiate CJD from other diseases and may serve as a model for other neurodegenerative diseases. Copyright (C) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

Value of T2 Mapping MRI for Prostate Cancer Detection and Classification.

Currently, multi-parametric prostate MRI (mpMRI) consists of a qualitative T <sub>2</sub> , diffusion weighted, and dynamic contrast enhanced imaging. Quantification of T <sub>2</sub> imaging might further standardize PCa detection and support artificial intelligence solutions. To evaluate the value of T <sub>2</sub> mapping to detect prostate cancer (PCa) and to differentiate PCa aggressiveness. Retrospective single center cohort study. Forty-four consecutive patients (mean age 67 years; median PSA 7.9 ng/mL) with mpMRI and verified PCa by subsequent targeted plus systematic MR/ultrasound (US)-fusion biopsy from February 2019 to December 2019. Standardized mpMRI at 3 T with an additionally acquired T <sub>2</sub> mapping sequence. Primary endpoint was the analysis of quantitative T <sub>2</sub> values and contrast differences/ratios (CD/CR) between PCa and benign tissue. Secondary objectives were the correlation between T <sub>2</sub> values, ISUP grade, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, and PI-RADS, and the evaluation of thresholds for differentiating PCa and clinically significant PCa (csPCa). Mann-Whitney test, Spearman's rank (r <sub>s</sub> ) correlation, receiver operating curves, Youden's index (J), and AUC were performed. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05. Median quantitative T <sub>2</sub> values were significantly lower for PCa in PZ (85 msec) and PCa in TZ (75 msec) compared to benign PZ (141 msec) or TZ (97 msec) (P < 0.001). CD/CR between PCa and benign PZ (51.2/1.77), respectively TZ (19.8/1.29), differed significantly (P < 0.001). The best T <sub>2</sub> -mapping threshold for PCa/csPCa detection was for TZ 81/86 msec (J = 0.929/1.0), and for PZ 110 msec (J = 0.834/0.905). Quantitative T <sub>2</sub> values of PCa did not correlate significantly with the ISUP grade (r <sub>s</sub> = 0.186; P = 0.226), ADC value (r <sub>s</sub> = 0.138; P = 0.372), or PI-RADS (r <sub>s</sub> = 0.132; P = 0.392). Quantitative T <sub>2</sub> values could differentiate PCa in TZ and PZ and might support standardization of mpMRI of the prostate. Different thresholds seem to apply for PZ and TZ lesions. However, in the present study quantitative T <sub>2</sub> values were not able to indicate PCa aggressiveness. 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2

A Development Environment for Visual Physics Analysis

The Visual Physics Analysis (VISPA) project integrates different aspects of physics analyses into a graphical development environment. It addresses the typical development cycle of (re-)designing, executing and verifying an analysis. The project provides an extendable plug-in mechanism and includes plug-ins for designing the analysis flow, for running the analysis on batch systems, and for browsing the data content. The corresponding plug-ins are based on an object-oriented toolkit for modular data analysis. We introduce the main concepts of the project, describe the technical realization and demonstrate the functionality in example applications

The use of 4D-CTA in the diagnostic work-up of brain arteriovenous malformations

Neuro Imaging Researc

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

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at 95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE

Combined search for the quarks of a sequential fourth generation

Results are presented from a search for a fourth generation of quarks produced singly or in pairs in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2011. A novel strategy has been developed for a combined search for quarks of the up and down type in decay channels with at least one isolated muon or electron. Limits on the mass of the fourth-generation quarks and the relevant Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements are derived in the context of a simple extension of the standard model with a sequential fourth generation of fermions. The existence of mass-degenerate fourth-generation quarks with masses below 685 GeV is excluded at 95% confidence level for minimal off-diagonal mixing between the third- and the fourth-generation quarks. With a mass difference of 25 GeV between the quark masses, the obtained limit on the masses of the fourth-generation quarks shifts by about +/- 20 GeV. These results significantly reduce the allowed parameter space for a fourth generation of fermions.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO