Simultaneous measurement of the muon neutrino charged-current cross section on oxygen and carbon without pions in the final state at T2K

This paper reports the first simultaneous measurement of the double differential muon neutrino charged-current cross section on oxygen and carbon without pions in the final state as a function of the outgoing muon kinematics, made at the ND280 off-axis near detector of the T2K experiment. The ratio of the oxygen and carbon cross sections is also provided to help validate various models’ ability to extrapolate between carbon and oxygen nuclear targets, as is required in T2K oscillation analyses. The data are taken using a neutrino beam with an energy spectrum peaked at 0.6 GeV. The extracted measurement is compared with the prediction from different Monte Carlo neutrino-nucleus interaction event generators, showing particular model separation for very forward-going muons. Overall, of the models tested, the result is best described using local Fermi gas descriptions of the nuclear ground state with RPA suppression

Prospectus, February 22, 1978

IS ANNEXATION TO CHAMPAIGN INEVITABLE?; A real stew in Stu-Go; Letters to the editor: Laudations for lifespan workshop, More on saving PLATO; Parkland College News in Brief: Keep out of handicapped parking….Or else!; Black Woman\u27s workshop, Parkland serves unusual course; SSU rep. here Tues., Next CHI program: SIDS, Writers needed to publish, Long lifers 4th annual arts and crafts show; Speech team keeps on talking; Table tennis, anyone?: Parkland\u27s Phan takes second at U of I; Happy Birthington\u27s Washday, everyone!; MTD bus schedule changes affect Parkland commuters; Star-gazers glance back and foretell an icy future; Classifieds; Humane Society has no choice...: Unwanted, unloved...animals die by the thousands; March Madness just around the corner: Area roundballers down to the wire; Men\u27s team tops CIAC: Regular season over: 22-4!; IM basketball titles still up for grabs; Arkansas-Houston game is fooler; Women finish season with loss to Olney at sectional; Bouncing Bob Basketball Bonanzahttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1978/1024/thumbnail.jp

Study protocol for the optimisation, feasibility testing and pilot cluster randomised trial of Positive Choices: a school-based social marketing intervention to promote sexual health, prevent unintended teenage pregnancies and address health inequalities in England.

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (TPS), England's under-18 conception rate has fallen by 55%, but a continued focus on prevention is needed to maintain and accelerate progress. The teenage birth rate remains higher in the UK than comparable Western European countries. Previous trials indicate that school-based social marketing interventions are a promising approach to addressing teenage pregnancy and improving sexual health. Such interventions are yet to be trialled in the UK. This study aims to optimise and establish the feasibility and acceptability of one such intervention: Positive Choices. METHODS: Design: Optimisation, feasibility testing and pilot cluster randomised trial.Interventions: The Positive Choices intervention comprises a student needs survey, a student/staff led School Health Promotion Council (SHPC), a classroom curriculum for year nine students covering social and emotional skills and sex education, student-led social marketing activities, parent information and a review of school sexual health services.Systematic optimisation of Positive Choices will be carried out with the National Children's Bureau Sex Education Forum (NCB SEF), one state secondary school in England and other youth and policy stakeholders.Feasibility testing will involve the same state secondary school and will assess progression criteria to advance to the pilot cluster RCT.Pilot cluster RCT with integral process evaluation will involve six different state secondary schools (four interventions and two controls) and will assess the feasibility and utility of progressing to a full effectiveness trial.The following outcome measures will be trialled as part of the pilot:Self-reported pregnancy and unintended pregnancy (initiation of pregnancy for boys) and sexually transmitted infections,Age of sexual debut, number of sexual partners, use of contraception at first and last sex and non-volitional sexEducational attainmentThe feasibility of linking administrative data on births and termination to self-report survey data to measure our primary outcome (unintended teenage pregnancy) will also be tested. DISCUSSION: This will be the first UK-based pilot trial of a school-wide social marketing intervention to reduce unintended teenage pregnancy and improve sexual health. If this study indicates feasibility and acceptability of the optimised Positive Choices intervention in English secondary schools, plans will be initiated for a phase III trial and economic evaluation of the intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN registry (ISCTN12524938. Registered 03/07/2017)

Prevalence of MRI lesions in men responding to a GP-led invitation for a prostate health check: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE: In men with a raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA), MRI increases the detection of clinically significant cancer and reduces overdiagnosis, with fewer biopsies. MRI as a screening tool has not been assessed independently of PSA in a formal screening study. We report a systematic community-based assessment of the prevalence of prostate MRI lesions in an age-selected population. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Men aged 50–75 were identified from participating general practice (GP) practices and randomly selected for invitation to a screening MRI and PSA. Men with a positive MRI or a raised PSA density (≥0.12 ng/mL2) were recommended for standard National Health Service (NHS) prostate cancer assessment. RESULTS: Eight GP practices sent invitations to 2096 men. 457 men (22%) responded and 303 completed both screening tests. Older white men were most likely to respond to the invitation, with black men having 20% of the acceptance rate of white men. One in six men (48/303 men, 16%) had a positive screening MRI, and an additional 1 in 20 men (16/303, 5%) had a raised PSA density alone. After NHS assessment, 29 men (9.6%) were diagnosed with clinically significant cancer and 3 men (1%) with clinically insignificant cancer. Two in three men with a positive MRI, and more than half of men with clinically significant disease had a PSA <3 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate MRI may have value in screening independently of PSA. These data will allow modelling of the use of MRI as a primary screening tool to inform larger prostate cancer screening studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04063566

The Effect of Bone and Analytical Methods on the Assessment of Bone Mineralization Response to Dietary Phosphorus, Phytase, and Vitamin D in Nursery Pigs

Three hundred-fifty pigs (initially 26.2 ± 1.23 lb) were used to evaluate the effects of bone and analytical methods on the assessment of bone mineralization response to dietary P and vitamin D in nursery pigs. Pens of pigs (5 or 6 pigs/pen) were randomized to 6 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 10 pens per treatment. Treatments were formulated to have varying levels of P, phytase, and vitamin D to provide differences in bone characteristics. After feeding diets for 28 d, eight pigs per treatment were euthanized for bone, blood, and urine analysis. The response to treatment for bone density and ash was dependent upon the bone analyzed (density × bone interaction, P = 0.044; non-defatted bone ash × bone interaction, P = 0.060; defatted bone ash × bone interaction, P = 0.068). Pigs fed 0.19% STTD P had decreased (P \u3c 0.05) bone density and ash (non-defatted and defatted) for all bones compared to 0.44% STTD P, with 0.33% STTD P generally intermediate or similar to 0.44% STTD P. Pigs fed 0.44% STTD P with no vitamin D had greater (P \u3c 0.05) non-defatted fibula ash compared to all treatments other than 0.44% STTD P with added HyD. Pigs fed the three diets with 0.44% STTD P had greater (P \u3c 0.05) defatted 2nd rib ash compared to pigs fed 0.19% STTD P or 0.33% STTD P with no phytase. In summary, bone density and ash responses varied depending on the bone analyzed. Differences in bone density and ash in response to P and vitamin D were most apparent with fibulas and 2nd ribs. The difference between bone ash procedures was more apparent than the differences between treatments. For histopathology, 10th ribs were more sensitive than 2nd ribs or fibulas for detection of lesions

The Effect of Different Bone and Analytical Methods on the Assessment of Bone Mineralization to Dietary Phosphorus, Phytase, and Vitamin D in Finishing Pigs

Eight hundred eighty-two pigs (initially 73.2 ± 0.7 lb) were used to evaluate the effects of different bones and analytical methods on the assessment of bone mineralization response to dietary P and vitamin D in growing-finishing pigs. Pens of pigs (20 pigs per pen) were randomized to 1 of 5 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with 9 pens per treatment. Treatments were formulated to have varying levels of P, phytase, and vitamin D to potentially provide wide differences in bone characteristics. After feeding diets for 112 d, nine pigs per treatment were euthanized for bone, blood, and urine analysis. There were no significant differences for final BW, ADG, ADFI, F/G (P \u3e 0.10), or bone ash (bone ash × bone interaction, P \u3e 0.10) regardless of the ashing method. The response to treatment for bone density and bone mineral content was dependent upon the bone (density interaction, P = 0.053; mineral interaction, P = 0.078). There were no treatment differences for bone density and bone mineral content for metacarpals, fibulas, and 2nd rib (P \u3e 0.05). For 10th rib bone density, pigs fed industry levels of P and vitamin D had increased (P \u3c 0.05) bone density compared to pigs fed NRC levels with phytase, with pigs fed deficient P, NRC levels of P with no phytase, and extra 25(OH)D3 vitamin D (HyD) intermediate. Pigs fed extra vitamin D from HyD had increased (P \u3c 0.05) 10th rib bone mineral content compared to pigs fed deficient P and NRC levels of P with phytase, with pigs fed industry P and vitamin D, and NRC P with monocalcium intermediate. In summary, bone density and bone mineral content responses varied depending on the bone. The difference between bone ash procedures was more apparent than the differences between diets. Differences in bone density and mineral content in response to P and vitamin D were most apparent with the 10th ribs

A school-based social-marketing intervention to promote sexual health in English secondary schools: the Positive Choices pilot cluster RCT

Background The UK still has the highest rate of teenage births in western Europe. Teenagers are also the age group most likely to experience unplanned pregnancy, with around half of conceptions in those aged &lt; 18 years ending in abortion. After controlling for prior disadvantage, teenage parenthood is associated with adverse medical and social outcomes for mothers and children, and increases health inequalities. This study evaluates Positive Choices (a new intervention for secondary schools in England) and study methods to assess the value of a Phase III trial. Objectives To optimise and feasibility-test Positive Choices and then conduct a pilot trial in the south of England assessing whether or not progression to Phase III would be justified in terms of prespecified criteria. Design Intervention optimisation and feasibility testing; pilot randomised controlled trial. Setting The south of England: optimisation and feasibility-testing in one secondary school; pilot cluster trial in six other secondary schools (four intervention, two control) varying by local deprivation and educational attainment. Participants School students in year 8 at baseline, and school staff. Interventions Schools were randomised (1 : 2) to control or intervention. The intervention comprised staff training, needs survey, school health promotion council, year 9 curriculum, student-led social marketing, parent information and review of school/local sexual health services. Main outcome measures The prespecified criteria for progression to Phase III concerned intervention fidelity of delivery and acceptability; successful randomisation and school retention; survey response rates; and feasible linkage to routine administrative data on pregnancies. The primary health outcome of births was assessed using routine data on births and abortions, and various self-reported secondary sexual health outcomes. Data sources The data sources were routine data on births and abortions, baseline and follow-up student surveys, interviews, audio-recordings, observations and logbooks. Results The intervention was optimised and feasible in the first secondary school, meeting the fidelity targets other than those for curriculum delivery and criteria for progress to the pilot trial. In the pilot trial, randomisation and school retention were successful. Student response rates in the intervention group and control group were 868 (89.4%) and 298 (84.2%), respectively, at baseline, and 863 (89.0%) and 296 (82.0%), respectively, at follow-up. The target of achieving ≥ 70% fidelity of implementation of essential elements in three schools was achieved. Coverage of relationships and sex education topics was much higher in intervention schools than in control schools. The intervention was acceptable to 80% of students. Interviews with staff indicated strong acceptability. Data linkage was feasible, but there were no exact matches for births or abortions in our cohort. Measures performed well. Poor test–retest reliability on some sexual behaviour measures reflected that this was a cohort of developing adolescents. Qualitative research confirmed the appropriateness of the intervention and theory of change, but suggested some refinements. Limitations The optimisation school underwent repeated changes in leadership, which undermined its participation. Moderator analyses were not conducted as these would be very underpowered. Conclusion Our findings suggest that this intervention has met prespecified criteria for progression to a Phase III trial. Future work Declining prevalence of teenage pregnancy suggests that the primary outcome in a full trial could be replaced by a more comprehensive measure of sexual health. Any future Phase III trial should have a longer lead-in from randomisation to intervention commencement. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN12524938. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 9, No. 1. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. </jats:sec

Genome-wide meta-analysis of 241,258 adults accounting for smoking behaviour identifies novel loci for obesity traits

Few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) account for environmental exposures, like smoking, potentially impacting the overall trait variance when investigating the genetic contribution to obesity-related traits. Here, we use GWAS data from 51,080 current smokers and 190,178 nonsmokers (87% European descent) to identify loci influencing BMI and central adiposity, measured as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio both adjusted for BMI. We identify 23 novel genetic loci, and 9 loci with convincing evidence of gene-smoking interaction (GxSMK) on obesity-related traits. We show consistent direction of effect for all identified loci and significance for 18 novel and for 5 interaction loci in an independent study sample. These loci highlight novel biological functions, including response to oxidative stress, addictive behaviour, and regulatory functions emphasizing the importance of accounting for environment in genetic analyses. Our results suggest that tobacco smoking may alter the genetic susceptibility to overall adiposity and body fat distribution.Peer reviewe