Use of SMS texts for facilitating access to online alcohol interventions: a feasibility study

A41 Use of SMS texts for facilitating access to online alcohol interventions: a feasibility study In: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice 2017, 12(Suppl 1): A4

Measurement of the differential cross section for the production of an isolated photon with associated jet in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

The process ppbar -> photon + jet + X is studied using 1.0 fb^-1 of data collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron ppbar collider at a center-of-mass energy sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV. Photons are reconstructed in the central rapidity region |y_gamma|<1.0 with transverse momenta in the range 30<Pt_gamma<400 GeV while jets are reconstructed in either the central |y_jet|15 GeV. The differential cross section d^3sigma/dPt_gamma dy_gamma dy_jet is measured as a function of Pt_gamma in four regions, differing by the relative orientations of the photon and the jet in rapidity. Ratios between the differential cross sections in each region are also presented. Next-to-leading order QCD predictions using different parameterizations of parton distribution functions and theoretical scale choices are compared to the data. The predictions do not simultaneously describe the measured normalization and Pt_gamma dependence of the cross section in any of the four measured regions.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure

Search for jet extinction in the inclusive jet-pT spectrum from proton-proton collisions at s=8 TeV

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published articles title, journal citation, and DOI.The first search at the LHC for the extinction of QCD jet production is presented, using data collected with the CMS detector corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 10.7  fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The extinction model studied in this analysis is motivated by the search for signatures of strong gravity at the TeV scale (terascale gravity) and assumes the existence of string couplings in the strong-coupling limit. In this limit, the string model predicts the suppression of all high-transverse-momentum standard model processes, including jet production, beyond a certain energy scale. To test this prediction, the measured transverse-momentum spectrum is compared to the theoretical prediction of the standard model. No significant deficit of events is found at high transverse momentum. A 95% confidence level lower limit of 3.3 TeV is set on the extinction mass scale

Searches for electroweak neutralino and chargino production in channels with Higgs, Z, and W bosons in pp collisions at 8 TeV

Searches for supersymmetry (SUSY) are presented based on the electroweak pair production of neutralinos and charginos, leading to decay channels with Higgs, Z, and W bosons and undetected lightest SUSY particles (LSPs). The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of about 19.5 fb(-1) of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV collected in 2012 with the CMS detector at the LHC. The main emphasis is neutralino pair production in which each neutralino decays either to a Higgs boson (h) and an LSP or to a Z boson and an LSP, leading to hh, hZ, and ZZ states with missing transverse energy (E-T(miss)). A second aspect is chargino-neutralino pair production, leading to hW states with E-T(miss). The decays of a Higgs boson to a bottom-quark pair, to a photon pair, and to final states with leptons are considered in conjunction with hadronic and leptonic decay modes of the Z and W bosons. No evidence is found for supersymmetric particles, and 95% confidence level upper limits are evaluated for the respective pair production cross sections and for neutralino and chargino mass values

Physiotherapy treatment for stroke patients:A survey of current practice

Current approaches to the treatment of stroke patients by senior physiotherapists in the Trent Region of the UK were surveyed. Familiarity with other approaches, the choice of assessment method, the use of standards and the use of aids and appliances were also recorded. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of the respondents and a vignette presented to gain detailed information. Altogether, 121 senior therapists were identified, of whom 91 (75%) responded. The 'Bobath' approach was the most frequently used approach, being reported by 80% of the respondents. The 'functional approach' and the 'motor learning approach' were favoured by 10 and 4%, respectively. The reason for choosing a particular approach was put down to experience gained through practice, not the use of published research results. As in previous studies in Sweden and Australia, the physiotherapists found it difficult to describe a theoretical basis for their treatment. The regular use of a published standardised assessment was rare. Reticence in the use of standardised published measures and a reluctance to provide a theoretical basis for intervention limit the development of neurological physiotherapy. Comparison of centres using different approaches was not considered possible

Cognitive abilities as predictors of safety to drive in people with multiple sclerosis

Cognitive impairments resulting from multiple sclerosis (MS) may affect driving performance. The purpose was to determine whether cognitive tests predict safety to drive in people with MS. Participants were recruited from people referred to Derby Regional Mobility Centre for assessment of their fitness to drive. They were assessed on tests of cognitive abilities related to driving including: the Stroke Drivers Screening Assessment, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, Stroop, Motor Impersistence and Adult Memory and Information Processing Battery (AMIPB). Participants' safety to drive on the public road was tested by an approved driving instructor blind to the results of the cognitive assessment. There were 34 participants with MS, 17 were men, mean age 46 (SD 10.4) years. Safe and unsafe drivers were compared. Significant differences were found on tests of executive function (Road Sign Recognition, P < 0.01), visual memory (Design Learning Interference, P < 0.05) Information Processing (AMIPB Task A, P < 0.05 and B, P < 0.05), concentration (Dot Cancellation false positive errors, P < 0.01) and visuospatial abilities (AMIPB Figure copy). An equation was generated using discriminant function analysis with an overall predictive accuracy of 88% (Sensitivity for pass 90%, Specificity 90%). Cognitive abilities were predictors of safety to drive in people with MS

Cognitive impairments following a stroke: the strain on caregivers

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the relation between cognitive impairment in stroke patients and strain in their spouses.Setting: Hospital.Methods: Patients were assessed for cognitive impairment on tests of general mental state, language, reasoning, visuospatial ability and visual neglect. Other factors noted were level of consciousness on admission, side of stroke, weakness, functional ability, swallowing and incontinence. Carer strain was assessed 3 and 6 months later on the Caregiver Strain Index.Results: Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated between cognitive measures and strain. The relationship between global cognitive deficit and carer strain was inconsistent. Language deficit was related to strain early after stroke (rs=-0.25, p=0.03) but was not significantly related to strain by 6 months (rs=-0.18, p=0.14). Reasoning, visual neglect and other patient characteristics were not significantly associated with carer strain (rs=-0.15-0.09, p>0.05; U=204-602, p>0.05).Conclusions: Communication difficulties were associated with early carer strain. Long-term strain in spouses of stroke patients is likely to be related to characteristics other than the neuropsychological consequences of stroke

The Rey figure copy as a screening instrument for perceptual defictits after stroke

The aim of the study was to investigate the use of the Rey figure for screening patients for perceptual impairment following stroke. Stroke patients in a trial of a stroke unit were assessed using the Rey figure copy at entry to the study. Those admitted to the stroke unit were also assessed on the Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery (RPAB). In 61 patients assessed consecutively on both tests, using conventional clinical cut-off points the Rey figure copy was impaired in 31 out of 32 patients who were impaired on the RPAB. Fifteen patients who failed the Rey figure did not have perceptual problems on the RPAB, indicating that deficits on the Rey figure are not only due to perceptual problems. A receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to compare different cut-off points. The Rey figure may be used as a brief screening assessment for perceptual deficits following stroke