Shape of the 8B Alpha and Neutrino Spectra

The beta-delayed alpha spectrum from the decay of 8B has been measured with a setup that minimized systematic uncertainties that affected previous measurements. Consequently the deduced neutrino spectrum presents much smaller uncertainties than the previous recommendation. The 8B neutrino spectrum is found to be harder than previously recommended with about (10-20)% more neutrinos at energies between 12-14 MeV. The efficiencies of the 37Cl, 71Ga, 40Ar, and SuperKamiokande detectors are respectively, 3.6%, 1.4%, 5.7% and 1.8% larger than previously thought.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Egypt’s 2011–2012 parliamentary elections: Voting for religious vs. secular democracy?

This study investigates whether individuals’ attitudes towards democracy and secular politics have any influence on voting behavior in Egypt. Based on data from a survey conducted immediately after the Egyptian parliamentary elections in January 2012, this study finds that Egyptians’ attitudes towards democratic governance were quite negative around the parliamentary elections, yet Egyptians still endorsed democracy as the ideal political system for their country. However, empirical findings suggest that support for democracy has a limited impact on electoral results. On the other hand, the main division in Egyptian society around the first free and fair parliamentary elections was the religious-secular cleavage. As people support secular politics more, they become significantly less likely to vote for Islamist parties. These results illustrate that preferences in regard to the type of democracy – either a liberal and secular or a religious democracy – were the main determinant of the historic 2012 elections in Egypt

Schistosomiasis in Africa: Improving strategies for long-term and sustainable morbidity control

Schistosomiasis affects over 200 million people worldwide [1] and accounts for an estimated 1.9 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) annually [2], with 90% of the burden currently concentrated in Africa. The last decade has witnessed an extraordinary surge of advocacy and funding for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including schistosomiasis. Large-scale schistosomiasis control is now implemented in 30 countries in Africa [1], funded primarily through support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DFID), private philanthropic funds from the END Fund and through GiveWell recommendations, and leveraging praziquantel donations from Merck KGaA. However, the number of people still requiring treatment remains daunting [1]. The aim of current public health strategies for schistosomiasis is to decrease morbidity through preventive chemotherapy (PC) (Fig 1) [3]. Periodic large-scale administration of the drug praziquantel focusing on the school-aged population and high-risk adults aims to reduce the prevalence and intensity of infection [4]

Evidence for Neutrino Oscillations from Muon Decay at Rest

A search for nu_bar_mu to nu_bar_e oscillations has been conducted at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility using nu_bar_mu from mu+ decay at rest. The nu_bar_e are detected via the reaction (nu_bar_e,p) -> (e+,n), correlated with the 2.2 MeV gamma from (n,p) -> (d,gamma). The use of tight cuts to identify e+ events with correlated gamma rays yields 22 events with e+ energy between 36 and 60 MeV and only 4.6 (+/- 0.6) background events. The probability that this excess is due entirely to a statistical fluctuation is 4.1E-08. A chi^2 fit to the entire e+ sample results in a total excess of 51.8 (+18.7) (-16.9) (+/- 8.0) events with e+ energy between 20 and 60 MeV. If attributed to nu_bar_mu -> nu_bar_e oscillations, this corresponds to an oscillation probability (averaged over the experimental energy and spatial acceptance) of 0.0031 (+0.0011) (-0.0010) (+/- 0.0005).Comment: 57 pages, 34 figures, revtex, additional information available at http://nu1.lampf.lanl.gov/~lsnd

Progressive realism and the EU’s international actorness: towards a grand strategy?

The EU lacks a coherent strategy to guide its international actions.This is a problem that has been amply discussed in both academic and policy-making circles, but that remains to be fully addressed. The December 2013 European Council recognised the issue, and the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini is in charge of a strategic review that will lead to a global strategy by June 2016. Most arguments in favour of a grand strategy rely on utilitarian arguments that highlight the EU’s potential for a more efficient foreign policy. By linking a progressive realist approach to the importance of an EU grand strategy, this article intends to demonstrate the normative need for such a guiding document. As it will be argued, a grand strategy is a necessary step in the consolidation of the EU as a pluralist postnational polity that has in the fulfilment of its citizens’ interests its raison d’être

Активная герпесвирусная инфекция у детей раннего возраста

Under observation were 122 young children (up to 3 years of age), who were identified markers of active forms of herpes virus infections. Markers were studied by PCR in blood, smear from tonsils, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, urine with determination DNA of HSV 1—2 type, EBV, CMV, HHV-6 type, antigens were determined by indirect immunofluorescence in blood lymphocytes, by ELISA in serum — antibodies of the classes IgM and IgG. Herpesvirus infection occurs at an early age and contributes to the formation of various infectious and somatic pathology. In children from birth to 1 year of life, CMV infection in the form of a mono-infection with symptoms of CNS damage, generalized forms, neutropenia is more common (79% of cases). In children aged 1 to 2 years, in 76% of cases, HHV-6 infection is detected, more often in mixed variants. Patients of this group are observed with a long subfebrile condition, neutropenia, infectious mononucleosis. In the third year of life, there is an increase in infection of children with EBV, with approximately the same frequency of EBV and HHV-6, most often in mixed forms, the clinical manifestations of which is a typical symptom complex of infectious mononucleosis. At this age, the active persistence of herpes viruses contributes to the formation of a group of frequently ill children. Thus, when examining young children with various pathologies, it is necessary to diagnose herpes virus infection using modern methods to detect its active forms for the timely administration of etiotropic therapy.Под наблюдением находилось 122 ребенка раннего возраста (до 3 лет жизни), у которых были выявлены маркеры активных форм герпесвирусных инфекций (ГВИ). Исследовались маркеры методом ПЦР в крови, мазке с миндалин, слюне, ликворе, моче с определением ДНК ВПГ 1—2 типа, ЭБВ, ЦМВ, ВГЧ-6 типа, методом непрямой реакции иммунофлюоресценции (НРИФ) и быстрым культуральным методом (БКМ) определяли антигены указанных герпесвирусов в лимфоцитах крови, методом ИФА в сыворотке крови — антитела классов IgM и IgG. Установлено, что инфицирование герпесвирусами происходит в раннем возрасте и способствует формированию различной инфекционной и соматической патологии. У детей от рождения до 1 года жизни чаще (в 79% случаев) выявляется ЦМВ-инфекция в виде моно-инфекции с симптомами поражения ЦНС, генерализованными формами, нейтропенией. У детей в возрасте от 1 года до 2 лет жизни в 76% случаев выявляется ВГЧ-6-инфекция, чаще в микст вариантах. Больные этой группы наблюдаются с длительным субфебрилитетом, нейтропенией, инфекционным мононуклеозом. На третьем году жизни отмечается рост инфицирования детей ЭБВ, приблизительно с одинаковой частотой ЭБВ и ВГЧ-6, чаще в микст формах, клиническим проявлением которых является типичный симптомокомплекс инфекционного мононуклеоза. В этом возрасте активная персистенция герпесвирусов способствует формированию группы часто болеющих детей. Таким образом, при обследовании детей раннего возраста с различной патологией необходима диагностика герпесвирусной инфекции с применением современных методов выявления ее активных форм для своевременного назначения этиотропной терапии

Training to self-care: fitness tracking, biopedagogy and the healthy consumer

In this article, we provide an account of Fitbit, a wearable sensor device, using two complementary analytical approaches: auto-ethnography and media analysis. Drawing on the concept of biopedagogy, which describes the processes of learning and training bodies how to live, we focus on how users learn to self-care with wearable technologies through a series of micropractices that involve processes of mediation and the sharing of their own data via social networking. Our discussion is oriented towards four areas of analysis: data subjectivity and sociality; making meaning; time and productivity and brand identity. We articulate how these micropractices of knowing one’s body regulate the contemporary ‘fit’ and healthy subject, and mediate expertise about health, behaviour and data subjectivity

ASEAN and the Dynamics of Resistance to Sovereignty Violation:The Case of the Third Indochina War (1978–1991)

This article investigates the history of ASEAN’s relationship to external intervention in regional affairs. It addresses a specific question: What was the basic cause of the success of ASEAN resistance to the Vietnamese challenge to ASEAN’s sovereignty from 1978-1991? ASEAN’s history is understood in terms of a realist theoretical logic, in terms of the relationship between an ASEAN state with the most compelling interests at stake in a given issue, which I call a ‘vanguard state,’ and selected external powers. Using the Third Indochina War (1978–1991) as a case study, this article contends that ASEAN’s ability to resist violations to the sovereignty of Thailand from a Soviet-backed Vietnam is a consequence of high interest convergence between Thailand, and a designated external power, China

Conducting clinical genomics research during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned from the CSER consortium experience

Clinical research studies have navigated many changes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to describe the pandemic′s impact on research operations in the context of a clinical genomics research consortium that aimed to enroll a majority of participants from underrepresented populations. We interviewed (July to November 2020) and surveyed (May to August 2021) representatives of six projects in the Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research (CSER) consortium, which studies the implementation of genome sequencing in the clinical care of patients from populations that are underrepresented in genomics research or are medically underserved. Questions focused on COVID′s impact on participant recruitment, enrollment, and engagement, and the transition to teleresearch. Responses were combined and thematically analyzed. Projects described factors at the project, institutional, and community levels that affected their experiences. Project factors included the project′s progress at the pandemic′s onset, the urgency of in-person clinical care for the disease being studied, and the degree to which teleresearch procedures were already incorporated. Institutional and community factors included institutional guidance for research and clinical care and the burden of COVID on the local community. Overall, being responsive to community experiences and values was essential to how CSER navigated evolving challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic