Recognition of Famous Names Predicts Cognitive Decline in Healthy Elders

Objective: The ability to recognize familiar people is impaired in both Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). In addition, both groups often demonstrate a time-limited temporal gradient (TG) in which well known people from decades earlier are better recalled than those learned recently. In this study, we examined the TG in cognitively intact elders for remote famous names (1950–1965) compared to more recent famous names (1995–2005). We hypothesized that the TG pattern on a famous name recognition task (FNRT) would predict future cognitive decline, and also show a significant correlation with hippocampal volume. Method: Seventy-eight healthy elders (ages 65–90) with age-appropriate cognitive functioning at baseline were administered a FNRT. Follow-up testing 18 months later produced two groups: Declining (≥ 1 SD reduction on at least one of three measures) and Stable (\u3c 1 SD). Results: The Declining group (N = 27) recognized fewer recent famous names than the Stable group (N = 51), although recognition for remote names was comparable. Baseline MRI volumes for both the left and right hippocampi were significantly smaller in the Declining group than the Stable group. Smaller baseline hippocampal volume was also significantly correlated with poorer performance for recent, but not remote famous names. Logistic regression analyses indicated that baseline TG performance was a significant predictor of group status (Declining vs. Stable) independent of chronological age and APOE ε4 inheritance. Conclusions: The TG for famous name recognition may serve as an early preclinical cognitive marker of cognitive decline in healthy older individual

Development and Test of a Single-Aperture 11 T Nb3Sn Demonstrator Dipole for LHC Upgrades

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Quench Protection Study of a Single-Aperture 11 T Nb3Sn Demonstrator Dipole for LHC Upgrades

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Field Quality Measurements in a Single-Aperture 11 T Nb3Sn Demonstrator Dipole for LHC Upgrades

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Development of Nb3Sn 11 T single aperture demonstrator dipole for LHC upgrades

The LHC collimation upgrade foresees additional collimators installed in dispersion suppressor regions. To obtain the necessary space for the collimators, a solution based on the substitution of LHC main dipoles for stronger dipoles is being considered. CERN and FNAL have started a joint program to demonstrate the feasibility of Nb{sub 3}Sn technology for this purpose. The goal of the first phase is the design and construction of a 2-m long single-aperture demonstrator magnet with a nominal field of 11 T at 11.85 kA with 20% margin. This paper describes the magnetic and mechanical design of the demonstrator magnet and summarizes its design parameters

Plasma YKL-40 is associated with prognosis in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with radiotherapy

BackgroundYKL-40, also known as chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), is a secreted glycoprotein produced by various cell types including stromal, immune, and cancer cells. It contributes to cancer progression through tumor-promoting inflammation and has been shown to inhibit the cytotoxicity of T and NK lymphocytes. In vivo studies have demonstrated synergistic anti-cancer effects of blocking YKL-40 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Biomarkers for the prediction of the response to ICIs are highly needed. We investigated the association between plasma YKL-40 and clinical benefit and survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) receiving ICIs and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).MethodsBlood samples were collected from 84 patients with mPC who participated in the randomized phase II CheckPAC study, in which patients received nivolumab with or without ipilimumab combined with a single fraction of SBRT. Plasma YKL-40 was measured using a commercial ELISA kit.ResultsElevated baseline plasma YKL-40 was an independent predictor of shorter overall survival (OS) (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.21–3.95). A ≥ 40% decrease in plasma YKL-40 during treatment was associated with longer progression-free survival (p = 0.009) and OS (p = 0.0028). There was no correlation between plasma YKL-40 and the tumor burden marker CA19-9 at baseline or during treatment.ConclusionThis study contributes new knowledge regarding YKL-40 as a predictor of clinical benefit from ICIs and radiotherapy. These exploratory results warrant further investigation of YKL-40 as a biomarker for patients treated with immunotherapies.Clinical trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02866383

Quench Protection Study of a Single-Aperture 11 T Nb3Sn Demonstrator Dipole for LHC Upgrades

The planned upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) collimation system will include installation of additional collimators in the dispersion suppressor areas. The longitudinal space for the collimators could be provided by replacing 15-m-long 8.33 T NbTi LHC main dipoles with shorter 11 T Nb 3Sn dipoles compatible with the LHC lattice and main systems. FNAL and CERN have started a joint program with the goal of building a 5.5-m-long twin-aperture Nb3Sn dipole prototype suitable for installation in the LHC. The first step of this program is the development of a 2-m-long single-aperture demonstrator dipole with a nominal field of 11 T at the LHC nominal current of 11.85 kA. This paper summarizes the results of quench protection studies of 11 T dipoles performed using the single-aperture Nb 3Sn demonstrator

Cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy signal classification with machine learning in project 8

The cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy (CRES) technique pioneered by Project 8measures electromagnetic radiation fromindividual electrons gyrating in a backgroundmagnetic field to construct a highly precise energy spectrumfor beta decay studies and other applications. The detector,magnetic trap geometry and electron dynamics give rise to amultitude of complex electron signal structures which carry information about distinguishing physical traits.Withmachine learningmodels, we develop a scheme based on these traits to analyze and classifyCRES signals. Proper understanding and use of these traits will be instrumental to improve cyclotron frequency reconstruction and boost the potential of Project 8 to achieveworld-leading sensitivity on the tritiumendpointmeasurement in the future