58 research outputs found
Position resolution and particle identification with the ATLAS EM calorimeter
In the years between 2000 and 2002 several pre-series and series modules of
the ATLAS EM barrel and end-cap calorimeter were exposed to electron, photon
and pion beams. The performance of the calorimeter with respect to its finely
segmented first sampling has been studied. The polar angle resolution has been
found to be in the range 50-60 mrad/sqrt(E (GeV)). The neutral pion rejection
has been measured to be about 3.5 for 90% photon selection efficiency at pT=50
GeV/c. Electron-pion separation studies have indicated that a pion fake rate of
(0.07-0.5)% can be achieved while maintaining 90% electron identification
efficiency for energies up to 40 GeV.Comment: 32 pages, 22 figures, to be published in NIM
Advances in Antisense Oligonucleotide Development for Target Identification, Validation, and as Novel Therapeutics
Antisense oligonucleotides (As-ODNs) are single stranded, synthetically prepared strands of deoxynucleotide sequences, usually 18–21 nucleotides in length, complementary to the mRNA sequence of the target gene. As-ODNs are able to selectively bind cognate mRNA sequences by sequence-specific hybridization. This results in cleavage or disablement of the mRNA and, thus, inhibits the expression of the target gene. The specificity of the As approach is based on the probability that, in the human genome, any sequence longer than a minimal number of nucleotides (nt), 13 for RNA and 17 for DNA, normally occurs only once. The potential applications of As-ODNs are numerous because mRNA is ubiquitous and is more accessible to manipulation than DNA. With the publication of the human genome sequence, it has become theoretically possible to inhibit mRNA of almost any gene by As-ODNs, in order to get a better understanding of gene function, investigate its role in disease pathology and to study novel therapeutic targets for the diseases caused by dysregulated gene expression. The conceptual simplicity, the availability of gene sequence information from the human genome, the inexpensive availability of synthetic oligonucleotides and the possibility of rational drug design makes As-ODNs powerful tools for target identification, validation and therapeutic intervention. In this review we discuss the latest developments in antisense oligonucleotide design, delivery, pharmacokinetics and potential side effects, as well as its uses in target identification and validation, and finally focus on the current developments of antisense oligonucleotides in therapeutic intervention in various diseases
A review of diagnostic and functional imaging in headache
The neuroimaging of
headache patients has revolutionised
our understanding of the pathophysiology
of primary headaches and provided
unique insights into these syndromes.
Modern imaging studies
point, together with the clinical picture,
towards a central triggering
cause. The early functional imaging
work using positron emission
tomography shed light on the genesis
of some syndromes, and has
recently been refined, implying that
the observed activation in migraine
(brainstem) and in several trigeminal-autonomic headaches (hypothalamic
grey) is involved in the pain
process in either a permissive or
triggering manner rather than simply
as a response to first-division nociception
per se. Using the advanced
method of voxel-based morphometry,
it has been suggested that there
is a correlation between the brain
area activated specifically in acute
cluster headache — the posterior
hypothalamic grey matter — and an
increase in grey matter in the same
region. No structural changes have
been found for migraine and medication
overuse headache, whereas
patients with chronic tension-type
headache demonstrated a significant
grey matter decrease in regions
known to be involved in pain processing.
Modern neuroimaging thus
clearly suggests that most primary
headache syndromes are predominantly
driven from the brain, activating
the trigeminovascular reflex and
needing therapeutics that act on both
sides: centrally and peripherally
Protocol for a partially nested randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the scleroderma patient-centered intervention network COVID-19 home-isolation activities together (SPIN-CHAT) program to reduce anxiety among at-risk scleroderma patients
Objective: Contagious disease outbreaks and related restrictions can lead to negative psychological outcomes, particularly in vulnerable populations at risk due to pre-existing medical conditions. No randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have tested interventions to reduce mental health consequences of contagious disease outbreaks. The primary objective of the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network COVID-19 Home-isolation Activities Together (SPIN-CHAT) Trial is to evaluate the effect of a videoconference-based program on symptoms of anxiety. Secondary objectives include evaluating effects on symptoms of depression, stress, loneliness, boredom, physical activity, and social interaction.Methods: The SPIN-CHAT Trial is a pragmatic RCT that will be conducted using the SPIN-COVID-19 Cohort, a sub-cohort of the SPIN Cohort. Eligible participants will be SPIN-COVID-19 Cohort participants without a positive COVID-19 test, with at least mild anxiety (PROMIS Anxiety 4a v1.0 T-score >= 55), not working from home, and not receiving current counselling or psychotherapy. We will randomly assign 162 participants to intervention groups of 7 to 10 participants each or waitlist control. We will use a partially nested RCT design to reflect dependence between individuals in training groups but not in the waitlist control. The SPIN-CHAT Program includes activity engagement, education on strategies to support mental health, and mutual participant support. Intervention participants will receive the 4-week (3 sessions per week) SPIN-CHAT Program via video-conference. The primary outcome is PROMIS Anxiety 4a score immediately post-intervention.Ethics and dissemination: The SPIN-CHAT Trial will test whether a brief videoconference-based intervention will improve mental health outcomes among at-risk individuals during contagious disease outbreak
Turnover élevé et fidélité modérée de la Cigogne blanche Ciconia ciconia à un site européen d'hivernage
International audienceAlthough the number of wintering White storks almost doubled between the winters of 2002/2003 and 2004/2005, only 15% of the birds wintering in 2004/2005 had been recorded in 2002/2003. Assuming a yearly survival of 0.8, only c.60% of the birds surviving from one winter to the next one would have been faithful to the wintering site. Potential causes and consequences pf this high turnover and moderate site fidelity rates are discussed.Bien que le nombre de Cigognes hivernantes a pratiquement doublé entre les hivers 2002/03 et 2004/05, seulement 15% des oiseaux hivernants en 2004/05 étaient déjà présents en 2002/03. En supposant une survie annuelle de l'ordre de 0.8, environ 60% des oiseaux survivant d'une année sur l'autre seraient fidèles au site d'hivernage. Les causes et les conséquences potentielles de ce turnover élevé et de ce niveau modéré de fidélité sont discutés
Wintering of white storks in Mediterranean France
International audienceThe establishment of regular wintering of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in southern France ha been documented by regular census data and individual identification of banded birds. The number of wintering storks rose from eight in 1996-1997 to 172 in 2003-2004. Most records (87%) came from the Montpellier region (43degrees34'N, 3degrees54'E). The birds mainly originated from western Germany. eastern France and western Switzerland and about half were probably immature. Compared to storks observed on autumn and spring migration. first-winter birds were under-represented. We discuss the factors likely to explain the settlement of this new wintering area: its location on the migration route of the increasing northwest European stork population, the presence of a rubbish dump and adverse effects of wintering in Africa
Effect of chemical composition on borosilicate glass behavior under irradiation
Assessing the behavior under irradiation of oxide glasses used for nuclear waste immobilization is essential for qualifying the long-term behavior of the wasteform. This study focuses on a series of borosilicate glasses of increasing chemical complexity. The effects of irradiation in these materials were investigated through multi-energy external irradiation by gold ions to obtain a constant nuclear damage level to a depth of about 2 gm. The macroscopic behavior of the glass was estimated from Vickers hardness measurement. The mechanical properties of all the borosilicate glasses studied were observed to improve, their hardness decreasing with the dose down by 30-35%. This evolution is also associated to an increase of the fracture toughness of the glass under irradiation. Analysis of the structural changes in the sodium borosilicate glass common to all the compositions studied with respect to dose revealed a progressive shift to higher wavenumbers in the vibration Raman band near 495 cm(-1) indicating a drop in the mean Si-O-Si angle. At the same time, modifications in the Q(n) band between 850 and 1200 cm(-1) are observed and characterize increasing depolymerization of the silicate network. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
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