The NNLO quark beam function for jet-veto resummation

We consider the quark beam function that describes collinear initial-state radiation that is constrained by a veto on reconstructed jets. As the veto is imposed on the transverse momenta of the jets, the beam function is subject to rapidity divergences, and we use the collinear-anomaly framework to extract the perturbative matching kernels to next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in the strong-coupling expansion. Our calculation is based on a novel framework that automates the computation of beam functions in Mellin space and it provides the ingredients to extend jet-veto resummations for quark-initiated processes to NNLL$'$ accuracy.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, 8 ancillary file

Mapping of lymphatic filariasis in Nepal

BACKGROUND: Human infection with Wuchereria bancrofti causes a disabling parasitic disease known as lymphatic filariasis, which is a major public health and socio-economic problem in many parts of the world. At the onset of the study, little was known of the distribution of filariasis and its current importance as a public health problem in Nepal. METHODS: Epidemiological mapping was undertaken to determine the prevalence of infection by Wuchereria bancrofti in 37 districts of Nepal between July to December 2001. The study population above 15 years of age was selected, and the immunochromatographic test (ICT Filariasis) was used to screen for circulating filarial antigen (CFA). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of lymphatic filariasis from a 4,488-sample population was 13% and 33/37 districts were found to be endemic. On the basis of geographical data, the highest number of cases was found at altitudes between 500–700 m; however, a substantial number of infected individuals were found in the highly populated Kathmandu valley, at altitudes between 900–1,500 metres where transmission appears to take place. Prevalence rates above 20% were found in 11 districts (with the highest rate of 40%), 6–19% were found in 15 districts, and 0.1–5% were in 7 districts. Information on people's knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards filariasis was also collected by means of a structured questionnaire, which is presented and discussed in the study. CONCLUSIONS: This is the most extensive study of lymphatic filariasis undertaken to date in Nepal. The study indicates that the prevalence of infection is far greater that was previously reported and that lymphatic filariasis should be a much higher health priority than currently given

Victims of medical errors and the problems they face:a prospective comparative study among the Dutch population

Background: A large number of studies is devoted to medical errors, but only a few focused on the problems victims of these errors face. Prospective comparative studies on this topic are absent. Aim of the present prospective comparative study is to fill this gap of scientific knowledge that may help to improve the care for victims. Methods: Data were collected in the Longitudinal Internet studies for the Social Sciences (LISS) panel, based on a random sample of the Dutch population. Surveys were conducted in March-April 2018 (T1 response=82.1%) and March-April 2019 (T2response=80.1%,). We assessed medical errors and potentially traumatic or stressful events between T1 and T2, and mental health, work, financial, religious, family, legal/administrative and physical problems at T1 and T2 (Ntotal=4,711). Results: In total, 79 respondents were affected by medical errors between T1 and T2, and 2,828 were not affected by any event. Of the victims, 28% had high PTSD symptom levels at T2. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression entering all problems at T1 and demographics showed that victims compared to controls significantly more often had all assessed problems at T2, except family problems. For instance, victims more often had mental health problems (29.5% versus 9.3%; adj. OR=3.04, p=0.002) and financial problems (30.4% versus 6.6%; adj. OR=4.82, p<0.001) at T2. Conclusions: Victims of medical errors more often face various non-physical problems than others. Care for victims should therefore, besides physical health, also include the assessment and targeting of their problems regarding mental health, work, religion, legal issues, and finance

HIV-1 can escape from RNA interference by evolving an alternative structure in its RNA genome

HIV-1 replication can be efficiently inhibited by intracellular expression of an siRNA targeting the viral RNA. However, HIV-1 escape variants emerged after prolonged culturing. These RNAi-resistant viruses contain nucleotide substitutions or deletions in or near the targeted sequence. We observed an inverse correlation between the level of resistance and the stability of the siRNA/target-RNA duplex. However, two escape variants showed a higher level of resistance than expected based on the duplex stability. We demonstrate that these mutations induce alternative folding of the RNA such that the target sequence is occluded from binding to the siRNA, resulting in reduced RNAi efficiency. HIV-1 can thus escape from RNAi-mediated inhibition not only through nucleotide substitutions or deletions in the siRNA target sequence, but also through mutations that alter the local RNA secondary structure. The results highlight the enormous genetic flexibility of HIV-1 and provide detailed molecular insight into the sequence specificity of RNAi and the impact of target RNA secondary structure

Differences in mental health problems, coping self-efficacy and social support between adults victimised before and adults victimised after the COVID-19 outbreak:Population-based prospective study

Background Victims of violence, accidents and threats are at risk for mental health problems. Lower coping self-efficacy and social support levels increase this risk. Although highly relevant, it is unknown if the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic amplifies these risks. Aims To examine if the prevalence, incidence and/or mean scores for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression symptoms, general mental health problems, coping self-efficacy, lack of emotional support and social acknowledgement are higher among adults victimised in the year after the COVID-19 outbreak compared with adults victimised in a similar period before the outbreak. Also, to compare symptoms, problems and support within non-victims during the same period. Method Data was extracted from four surveys of the VICTIMS study (March 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), based on a random sample of the Dutch population. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and mixed-effects models were used to examine differences between the two victim groups (2019: n = 421, 2021: n = 319) and non-victims (n = 3245). Results Adults victimised after the outbreak more often had PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms, general mental health problems and lower coping self-efficacy than those victimised before. They did not differ in lack of support and acknowledgement. Both victim groups differed from non-victims, where mental health problems and lack of support levels were much lower and almost stable. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the mental health and coping self-efficacy levels of victims, whereas mental health problems among non-victims remained virtually stable. Mental healthcare workers, general practitioners and victim services should take this impact into account