Double beta decay to the excited states: experimental review

A brief review on double beta decay to excited states of daughter nuclei is given. The ECEC(ov) transision to the excited states are discussed in association with a possible enhancement of the decay rate by several orders of magnitude.Comment: 5 pages; talk at MEDEX'07 ("Matrix Elements for the Double-beta-decay Experiments"; Prague, June 11-14, 2007

Modeling within-household associations in household panel studies

Household panel data provide valuable information about the extent of similarity in coresidents' attitudes and behaviours. However, existing analysis approaches do not allow for the complex association structures that arise due to changes in household composition over time. We propose a flexible marginal modeling approach where the changing correlation structure between individuals is modeled directly and the parameters estimated using second-order generalized estimating equations (GEE2). A key component of our correlation model specification is the 'superhousehold', a form of social network in which pairs of observations from different individuals are connected (directly or indirectly) by coresidence. These superhouseholds partition observations into clusters with nonstandard and highly variable correlation structures. We thus conduct a simulation study to evaluate the accuracy and stability of GEE2 for these models. Our approach is then applied in an analysis of individuals' attitudes towards gender roles using British Household Panel Survey data. We find strong evidence of between-individual correlation before, during and after coresidence, with large differences among spouses, parent-child, other family, and unrelated pairs. Our results suggest that these dependencies are due to a combination of non-random sorting and causal effects of coresidence

Climate change projections for variables affecting road networks in Europe

Global climate change will affect road networks during this century. The effects will be different in various parts of the world due to differences in local climate change and in the structure and properties of roads. In this paper, climate change projections are presented for climate variables that are most likely to affect the long-term performance of road networks in Europe. We apply four regional climate simulations up to the year 2100 using two plausible future emission scenarios. The results show that the changing climate will require significant adaptation measures in the near future in order to maintain the operability of the European road network

Improved short-range correlations and 0nbb nuclear matrix elements of 76Ge and 82Se

We calculate the nuclear matrix elements of the neutrinoless double beta ($0\nu\beta\beta$) decays of $^{76}$Ge and $^{82}$Se for the light-neutrino exchange mechanism. The nuclear wave functions are obtained by using realistic two-body forces within the proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA). We include the effects that come from the finite size of a nucleon, from the higher-order terms of nucleonic weak currents, and from the nucleon-nucleon short-range correlations. Most importantly, we improve on the presently available calculations by replacing the rudimentary Jastrow short-range correlations by the more advanced unitary correlation operator method (UCOM). The UCOM corrected matrix elements turn out to be notably larger in magnitude than the Jastrow corrected ones. This has drastic consequences for the detectability of $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay in the present and future double beta experiments.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Physical Review C (Rapid Communication) 200

Nuclear matrix elements of neutrinoless double beta decay with improved short-range correlations

Nuclear matrix elements of the neutrinoless double beta decays of 96Zr, 100Mo, 116Cd, 128Te, 130Te and 136Xe are calculated for the light-neutrino exchange mechanism by using the proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation (pnQRPA) with a realistic nucleon-nucleon force. The g_pp parameter of the pnQRPA is fixed by the data on the two-neutrino double beta decays and single beta decays. The finite size of a nucleon, the higher-order terms of nucleonic weak currents, and the nucleon-nucleon short-range correlations (s.r.c) are taken into account. The s.r.c. are computed by the traditional Jastrow method and by the more advanced unitary correlation operator method (UCOM). Comparison of the results obtained by the two methods is carried out. The UCOM computed matrix elements turn out to be considerably larger than the Jastrow computed ones. This result is important for the assessment of the neutrino-mass sensitivity of the present and future double beta experiments.Comment: Two figures, to be published in Physical Review C (2007) as a regular articl

Amlexanox Enhances Premature Termination Codon Read-Through in COL7A1 and Expression of Full Length Type VII Collagen: Potential Therapy for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare monogenic blistering disorder caused by the lack of functional type VII collagen, leading to skin fragility and subsequent trauma-induced separation of the epidermis from the underlying dermis. A total of 46% of patients with RDEB harbor at least one premature termination codon (PTC) mutation in COL7A1, and previous studies have shown that aminoglycosides are able to overcome RDEB PTC mutations by inducing read-through and incorporation of an amino acid at the PTC site. However, aminoglycoside toxicity will likely prevent widespread clinical application. Here the FDA-approved drug amlexanox was tested for its ability to read-through PTC mutations in cells derived from patients with RDEB. Eight of 12 different PTC alleles responded to treatment and produced full length protein, in some cases more than 50% relative to normal controls. Read-through type VII collagen was readily detectable in cell culture media and also localized to the dermal-epidermal junction in organotypic skin culture. Amlexanox increased COL7A1 transcript and the phosphorylation of UPF-1, an RNA helicase associated with nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, suggesting that amlexanox inhibits nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in cells from patients with RDEB that respond to read-through treatment. This preclinical study demonstrates the potential of repurposing amlexanox for the treatment of patients with RDEB harboring PTC mutation in COL7A1

Exposure to animals and the risk of allergic asthma: a population-based cross-sectional study in Finnish and Russian children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is little information on potential differences in animal exposure between Finland and Russia and particularly on the effects of animal exposure on asthma among Russian children. The aim of the study was to compare the pet and farm animal exposures and to assess the relations of pre- and postnatal animal exposures to the occurrence of allergic asthma in Finnish and Russian school children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in neighbour towns on either side of the Finnish-Russian border; Imatra in Finland and Svetogorsk in Russia. The study population consisted of 512 Finnish and 581 Russian school children aged 7–16 years (response rate 79%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) related to each exposure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Current indoor exposure to pets was more frequent among school children in Svetogorsk than in Imatra (67.5% vs. 56.0%, P < 0.001). Finnish children were exposed more frequently to dogs, whereas Russian children to cats during childhood and to farm animals during pregnancy and infancy. The risk of self-reported allergic asthma was inversely related to indoor dog keeping ever in Finland (adjusted OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.13, 0.95), whereas in Russia the risk of allergic asthma was increased in relation to combined indoor cat exposure during infancy and currently (4.56, 1.10, 18.91). The risk of asthma was elevated in relation to contact to farm animals during pregnancy (Finland: 1.95, 0.69, 5.50; Russia: 1.90, 0.70, 5.17) and early life (Finland: 2.05, 0.78, 5.40; Russia: 1.21, 0.39, 3.73).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Exposure to pets and farm animals during childhood differed significantly between Finland and Russia. Our study provides evidence that early-life exposure to cats increases the risk of asthma whereas exposure to dogs is protective. Our findings suggest that intermittent fetal and early-life exposure to farm animals increases the risk of allergic asthma in urban children visiting farms.</p

Subtypes of Adult-Onset Asthma at the Time of Diagnosis: A Latent Class Analysis

Introduction: Only a few previous studies have investigated the subtypes of adult-onset asthma. No previous study has assessed whether these subtypes are different between men and women, or whether these subtypes have different risk factors. Methods: We applied latent class analyses to the Finnish Environment and Asthma Study population, including 520 new cases of adult-onset asthma. We formed subtypes separately between women and men and analyzed the following determinants as potential predictors for these subtypes: age, body mass index, smoking, and parental asthma. Results: Among women, the subtypes identified were: 1. Moderate asthma, 2. Cough-variant asthma, 3. Eosinophilic asthma, 4. Allergic asthma, and 5. Difficult asthma. Among men, the subtypes were: 1. Mild asthma, 2. Moderate asthma, 3. Allergic asthma, and 4. Difficult asthma. Three of the subtypes were similar among women and men: Moderate, Allergic, and Difficult asthma. In addition, women had two distinct subtypes: Cough-variant asthma, and Eosinophilic asthma. These subtypes had different risk factor profiles, e.g., heredity was important for Eosinophilic and Allergic asthma (RR for Both parents having asthma in Eosinophilic 3.55 (1.09 to 11.62)). Furthermore, smoking increased the risk of Moderate asthma among women (RR for former smoking 2.21 (1.19 to 4.11)) and Difficult asthma among men but had little influence on Allergic or Cough-variant asthma. Conclusion: This is an original investigation of the subtypes of adult-onset asthma identified at the time of diagnosis. These subtypes differ between women and men, and these subtypes have different risk factor profiles. These findings have both clinical and public health importance for the etiology, prognosis, and treatment of adult-onset asthma

The effect of sampling height on grass pollen concentrations in different urban environments in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland

Introduction It is important to study potential differences in pollen concentrations between sampling heights because of diverse outdoor and indoor activity of humans (exposure) at different height levels in urban environments. Previous studies have investigated the effect of height on pollen concentrations based on just one or a few sampling points. We studied the effect of sampling height on grass pollen concentrations in several urban environments with different levels of urbanity. Methods This study was conducted in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland, in 2013 during the pollen season of grasses. Pollen grains were monitored in eight different points in the morning and afternoon. Rotorod-type samplers were attached on sampling poles at the heights of 1.5 meters and 4 meters. Results Grass pollen concentrations were on average higher at the height of 1.5 meters (Helsinki mean 5.24 grains / m3; Espoo mean 75.71 grains / m3) compared to the height of 4 meters (Helsinki mean 3.84 grains / m3; Espoo mean 37.42 grains / m3) with a difference of 1.40 grains / m3 (95% CI -0.21 to 3.01) in Helsinki, and 38.29 grains / m3 (7.52 to 69.07) in Espoo, although not always statistically significant. This was detected both in the morning and in the afternoon. However, in the most urban sites the levels were lower at 1.5 meters compared to 4 meters, whereas in the least urban sites the concentrations were higher at 1.5 meters. In linear regression models with interaction terms, the modifying effect of urbanity on concentration-height relation was statistically significant in both cities. The effect of urbanity on pollen concentrations at both heights was stronger in less urban Espoo. Conclusions The present study provides evidence that height affects the abundance and distribution of grass pollen in urban environments, but this effect depends on the level of urbanity.Peer reviewe

Associations of Sleep and Health Functioning with Premature Exit from Work : A Cohort Study with a Methodological Emphasis

Sleep and functioning are associated with a risk of early workforce exit. However, patterns of change in sleep and functioning through time have not been investigated using person-oriented approaches to show what features of sleep and functioning are associated with an early exit. We examined the pattern of interactions between sleep and health functioning characterizing homogenous subgroups of employees and their associations with premature work exit. An additional aim was to provide a tutorial providing detailed description on how to apply these models, compared to traditional variable based risk factors. We analyzed data from 5148 midlife employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland, surveyed over three phases (2000–02, 2007, and 2012). Using repeated measures latent class analyses (RMLCA) we classified people into groups based on their trajectories in sleep and functioning. We identified four longitudinal groups: (1) Stable good sleep and functioning (reference), (2) Persistent sleep problems and good or moderate functioning, (3) Poor functioning with good sleep, and (4) Problematic sleep and health functioning. Compared to group 1, elevated risk was found in all classes with group 4 being the worst. In conclusion, focusing on person-orientated patterns of interactions between sleep and functioning helped produce qualitatively different and quantitatively stronger predictions than using conventional risk factor methodology. Thus, longitudinal person-oriented approaches may be a more powerful method for quantifying the role of sleep and health functioning as risks for premature exit from work