Supermassive Black Hole Binaries: The Search Continues

Gravitationally bound supermassive black hole binaries (SBHBs) are thought to be a natural product of galactic mergers and growth of the large scale structure in the universe. They however remain observationally elusive, thus raising a question about characteristic observational signatures associated with these systems. In this conference proceeding I discuss current theoretical understanding and latest advances and prospects in observational searches for SBHBs.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of 2014 Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, ed. C.Sopuerta (Berlin: Springer-Verlag

Measurements of differential production cross sections for a Z boson in association with jets in pp collisions at root s=8 TeV

Peer reviewe

Charged-particle nuclear modification factors in PbPb and pPb collisions at √=sNN=5.02 TeV

The spectra of charged particles produced within the pseudorapidity window |η| < 1 at √ sNN = 5.02 TeV are measured using 404 µb −1 of PbPb and 27.4 pb−1 of pp data collected by the CMS detector at the LHC in 2015. The spectra are presented over the transverse momentum ranges spanning 0.5 < pT < 400 GeV in pp and 0.7 < pT < 400 GeV in PbPb collisions. The corresponding nuclear modification factor, RAA, is measured in bins of collision centrality. The RAA in the 5% most central collisions shows a maximal suppression by a factor of 7–8 in the pT region of 6–9 GeV. This dip is followed by an increase, which continues up to the highest pT measured, and approaches unity in the vicinity of pT = 200 GeV. The RAA is compared to theoretical predictions and earlier experimental results at lower collision energies. The newly measured pp spectrum is combined with the pPb spectrum previously published by the CMS collaboration to construct the pPb nuclear modification factor, RpA, up to 120 GeV. For pT > 20 GeV, RpA exhibits weak momentum dependence and shows a moderate enhancement above unity

A review on experimental sinusitis models in rabbits

Experimental animal models are instrumental to study the pathogenesis of diseases and to examine the results of treatment. The great size and ease of accessibility have made rabbit sinuses popular in the investigation of experimental sinusitis. Microbiologic, histopathologic, and radiologic aspects of this model have been well-described and the effects of medical and surgical treatments on sinusitis have been examined. Ongoing research may provide further data to find more simple and non-invasive methods to induce sinusitis in rabbits that may more closely simulate sinusitis pathogenesis in humans. This article reviews the most recent data on technical, surgical, microbiologic, histopathologic, and radiologic aspects, and complications of sinusitis models in rabbits

Does rigid bronchoscopy induce bacterial translocation? An experimental study in rats

Background: Although some reports suggest that bronchoscopy induces bacterial translocation (BT), the mechanisms of BT remain unclear. Objective: We aimed to assess whether bronchoscopy or hypoxemia during bronchoscopy is responsible for BT. Methods: We evaluated 24 rats divided into three subgroups: the control group (group 1, n = 8); the rigid bronchoscopy group (group 2, n = 8), and the group receiving bronchoscopy + mechanical ventilation (group 3, n = 8). Oxygen saturation (SaO2) was measured during the bronchoscopic procedure. Blood and tissue cultures from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), liver, spleen and cecal contents were obtained 24 h following bronchoscopy. Results: In group 2, SaO2 was significantly lower than in groups 1 and 3 (p &lt; 0.01). In group 2, BT significantly increased (6/8, 75%; p &lt; 0.01 vs. group 1, and p &lt; 0.05 vs. group 3). The main site of translocation was MLNs (6/8, 75%) in group 2, while BT was detected in only 1 rat in group 3 (1/8, 12.5%). Conclusion: Hypoxemia during rigid bronchoscopy resulted in intestinal mucosal damage in a rat model. Hypoxemia may have been the trigger for BT from the intestine following bronchoscopy. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

The prevalence of snoring in adult population

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of habitual snoring in adult population and the relationship between habitual snoring and accompanying factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, epidemiological study was conducted to evaluate snoring and accompanying factors. Data of 1245 persons (629 females, 616 males; mean age 45.0+/-12.2) were evaluated. A questionnaire was administered to draw information on their sociodemographic data, the incidence of snoring, the presence of witnessed apnea during sleep, the severity of snoring and its changes depending on the body position, their willingness to receive treatment for snoring, the presence of alcohol or cigarette consumption, and hypertension and coronary disease. Height and weight measurements were performed to calculate body mass index. The results were evaluated using the chi-square test and a multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of habitual snoring was 8.9% in females and 29.5% in males. Multivariate analyses showed that male sex, age over 40 years, obesity, smoking, and the use of alcohol were significant risk factors for habitual snoring. Hypertension and coronary heart disease were statistically more common in individuals with habitual snoring. The severity of snoring was high enough in 2.1% of females and in 9.4% of males to force their roommates to leave the room, making 1.1% of females and 3.4% of males to show willingness to receive medical attention. CONCLUSION: Habitual snoring is a frequent complaint in our country. Inquiry into the presence of habitual snoring is necessary in adults and patients should be subjected to a detailed examination for respiratory disorders during sleep

Are tonsils a reservoir for Helicobacter pylori infection in children?

Objective: Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) has been associated with the development of gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. Although H. pylori infects up to more than half of the world's population, to date the precise modes of transmission has not been fully understood yet. Therefore a study was planned to investigate whether the tonsils and the adenoid tissue were the reservoir or the gate for the entrance of H. pylori. Methods: The adenotonsillectomy specimens obtained from 50 children, between two and 10 years of age were examined for H. Pylori colonization by the CLO-test method. Before tonsillectomy, anti-H. pylori IgG antibody titers were detected by commercial enzyme immunoassay method in venous blood and H. pylori antigen enzyme immunoassay for detection of H. pylori in stool was used to define current infection status. Results: The stool antigen was positive in 25 (50%) of 50 children. Serum IgG antibody was positive in 28 (56%) patients and both tests were positive in 21 (42%) patients. H. pylori positivity was not detected in any one of the adenotonsillectomy specimens with the CLO-test method. Conclusion: In this study although H. pylori was detected in stools of children, it was not detected in adenotonsillectomy specimens with CLO-test method. The results may indicate that H. pylori does not colonize in either adenoid or tonsils and that these tissues do not constitute a reservoir for H. pylori infection. © 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Migraine Patients with or without Vertigo: Comparison of Clinical and Electronystagmographic Findings

Objective: To find the differences between patients with migraine with and without vertigo. Study Deslgn: A prospective study. Setting: Ambulatory dizziness centre of a tertiary referral hospital. Methods: Eighty-four patients with migraine (31 with headache, 53 with headache and vertigo) according to the diagnostic criteria of migraine published by the International Headache Society in 1988 were included in the study. Patient history, vestibular tests, electronystagmography (ENG), and imaging studies were performed for differential diagnosis. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical findings and ENG parameters. Results: Fifty-three of 84 patients (63%) had episodic vertigo attacks. Vertigo was independent from headache in 24 patients (45%). Vertigo symptoms always appeared later in the history of migraine headache. Headache started at age 27 ± 8.3 years and vertigo symptoms began 7.7 ± 8. 7 years later. The beginning age of the migraine and female-to-male ratio were significantly greater in the vertigo group. Fifty-eight of the 84 patients had ENG testing. Fifty-eight percent of the patients with migraine and 55% of the patients with migraine + vertigo had abnormal ENG findings. None of the tests except the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre had a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The presence of the same ENG abnormalities in patients with pure headache shows that the vestibular pathways are also affected in these patients, even when there are no vestibular symptoms