Search for solar neutrons using NM-64 equipment

Two years (1980 to 1982) neutron monitor data from the Chacaltaya (geographic coordinates: N16.32 deg W68. 15 deg; cutoff rigidity: 13.1 GV; altitude: 5,300 m a.s.l.) station has been scanned; the sampling time of the 12NM-64 neutron monitor is 5 min. The nucleonic component increases have been correlated with 66 hard X-, gamma rays satellite data from solar origin, as reported by several groups. Typical neutron monitor time profiles of the events are presented. Chree-analysis was performed discriminating the events according to its solar coordinates. Ground data from solar limb locii are more enhanced at the time of the onset than other geometrically visible flares. Chree histograms of neutron monitor output profiles are also presented from geometrically invisible events from the Chacaltaya station

A Novel Technique for the In Vivo Imaging of Autoimmune Diabetes Development in the Pancreas by Two-Photon Microscopy

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by the immune-mediated destruction of beta cells in the pancreas. Little is known about the in vivo dynamic interactions between T cells and beta cells or the kinetic behavior of other immune cell subsets in the pancreatic islets. Utilizing multiphoton microscopy we have designed a technique that allows for the real-time visualization of diabetogenic T cells and dendritic cells in pancreatic islets in a live animal, including their interplay with beta cells and the vasculature. Using a custom designed stage, the pancreas was surgically exposed under live conditions so that imaging of islets under intact blood pressure and oxygen supply became possible. We demonstrate here that this approach allows for the tracking of diabetogenic leukocytes as well as vascularization phenotype of islets and accumulation of dendritic cells in islets during diabetes pathogenesis. This technique should be useful in mapping crucial kinetic events in T1D pathogenesis and in testing the impact of immune based interventions on T cell migration, extravasation and islet destruction

Attitudes of editors of core clinical journals about whether systematic reviews are original research: a mixed-methods study.

In 2009, not all journal editors considered systematic reviews (SRs) to be original research studies, and not all PubMed Core Clinical Journals published SRs. The aim of this study was to conduct a new analysis about editors' opinion regarding SRs as original research. We conducted a survey and qualitative interview study of journal editors. All editors listed as editor-in chief of 118 PubMed Core Clinical Journals. We contacted editors via email and asked them whether they considered SRs original research, whether they published SRs in the journal and, if yes, in which section. We searched PubMed for any SRs (or meta-analyses) published in the included journals in 2017; if we did not find any, we hand-searched these journals. Editors were invited to participate in a follow-up qualitative interview study. We received responses from 73 editors representing 72 (62%) journals. Fifty-two (80%) editors considered SRs original research, either for any type of SR (65%) or only for SRs with a meta-analysis (15%) and almost all (91%) of editors published SRs. Compared with the results of the 2009 study of Core Clinical Journals, a similar proportion of editors considered SRs to be original studies (71%), accepted SRs as original on certain condition such as presence of meta-analysis (14%) or published SRs (94%). Interviews with editors showed that they used various criteria to decide whether a SR is original research, including methodology, reproducibility, originality of idea and level of novelty. The majority of editors of core clinical journals consider that SRs are original research. Among editors, there was no uniform approach to defining what makes a SR, or any study, original. This indicates that the concepts of originality of SRs and research are evolving and that this would be a relevant topic for further discussion

Resolution of a chronic viral infection after interleukin-10 receptor blockade

A defining characteristic of persistent viral infections is the loss and functional inactivation of antiviral effector T cells, which prevents viral clearance. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) suppresses cellular immune responses by modulating the function of T cells and antigen-presenting cells. In this paper, we report that IL-10 production is drastically increased in mice persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. In vivo blockade of the IL-10 receptor (IL-10R) with a neutralizing antibody resulted in rapid resolution of the persistent infection. IL-10 secretion was diminished and interferon γ production by antiviral CD8+ T cells was enhanced. In persistently infected mice, CD8α+ dendritic cell (DC) numbers declined early after infection, whereas CD8α− DC numbers were not affected. CD8α− DCs supported IL-10 production and subsequent dampening of antiviral T cell responses. Therapeutic IL-10R blockade broke the cycle of IL-10–mediated immune suppression, preventing IL-10 priming by CD8α− DCs and enhancing antiviral responses and thereby resolving infection without causing immunopathology

A systematic study of the hybrid experiment at Mt.Chacaltaya

In the hybrid experiment on Mt.Chacaltaya, we can observe three different components of airshowers, that is, air-shower size, burst-density and high energy families (a bundle of high energy particles). Burst-density in each block of hadron calorimeters are newly recalculated in simulations in oder to compare directly to the experimental data. Energy deposits in the scintillators of the hadron calorimeters are calculated using GEANT4 for every particle, incident upon the hadron calorimeter, in the air-showers simulated using CORSIKA, and are converted into burst-density, taking into consideration the exact structure of experimental hadron calorimeter. We study correlations among three observable components in the air-showers. Correlations between air-shower size and burst-density and those between air-shower size and accompanied family energy can be explained by model calculations by adjusting primary particle composition, the former correlation is in favor of proton-primaries but the latter iron-primaries. No model can describe well observed correlations between burst-density and family energy. That is, the observed family energy accompanied by the air-showers with larger burst-density is systematically smaller than that expected in the simulated events. Effects of a fluctuation in the cross-section of hadronic interactions are studied to settle the disagreement between experimental data and simulations

Size distributions of air showers accompanied with high energy gamma ray bundles observed at Mt. Chacaltaya

Size distributions of air showers accompanied with bundle of high energy gamma rays and/or large size bursts under emulsion chambers, to study the composition of primary cosmic rays and also characteristics of high energy nuclear interaction. Air showers initiated by particles with a large cross section of interaction may develop from narrow region of the atmosphere near the top. Starting levels of air showers by particles with smaller cross section fluctuate in wider region of the atmosphere. Air showers of extremely small size accompanied with bundle of gamma rays may be ones initiated by protons at lower level after penetrating deep atmosphere without interaction. It is determined that the relative size distribution according to the total energy of bundle of gamma rays and the total burst size observed under 15 cm lead absorber