Measurement of the Positive Muon Lifetime and Determination of the Fermi Constant to Part-per-Million Precision

We report a measurement of the positive muon lifetime to a precision of 1.0 parts per million (ppm); it is the most precise particle lifetime ever measured. The experiment used a time-structured, low-energy muon beam and a segmented plastic scintillator array to record more than 2 x 10^{12} decays. Two different stopping target configurations were employed in independent data-taking periods. The combined results give tau_{mu^+}(MuLan) = 2196980.3(2.2) ps, more than 15 times as precise as any previous experiment. The muon lifetime gives the most precise value for the Fermi constant: G_F(MuLan) = 1.1663788 (7) x 10^-5 GeV^-2 (0.6 ppm). It is also used to extract the mu^-p singlet capture rate, which determines the proton's weak induced pseudoscalar coupling g_P.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Measurements of polarized photo-pion production on longitudinally polarized HD and Implications for Convergence of the GDH Integral

We report new measurements of inclusive pion production from frozen-spin HD for polarized photon beams covering the Delta(1232) resonance. These provide data simultaneously on both H and D with nearly complete angular distributions of the spin-difference cross sections entering the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn (GDH) sum rule. Recent results from Mainz and Bonn exceed the GDH prediction for the proton by 22 microbarns, suggesting as yet unmeasured high-energy components. Our pi0 data reveal a different angular dependence than assumed in Mainz analyses and integrate to a value that is 18 microbarns lower, suggesting a more rapid convergence. Our results for deuterium are somewhat lower than published data, considerably more precise and generally lower than available calculations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Submitted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Heart-type fatty acid binding protein levels in elderly diabetics without known cardiovascular disease

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is reported to be higher in elderly diabetics. Serum heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is a serum marker of myocardial ischemia. We aimed to investigate the association between serum H-FABP level and conventional cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory markers and subclinical atherosclerosis in elderly diabetics without overt CVD. Patients and methods: A total of 50 elderly diabetic patients without overt CVD and 30 age-, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, serum H-FABP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were measured. Logistic regression analyses (adjustments for age, sex, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, BMI, blood pressure, lipid, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, hs-CRP and fibrinogen) were performed to evaluate the association between H-FABP and cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis indices. Results: Serum fibrinogen (421.50±85.52 mg/dL vs 319.17±30.77 mg/dL, p=0.023), CIMT (0.70±0.12 mm vs 0.59±0.06 mm, p<0.001) and hs-CRP (5.72±4.50 mg/dL vs 1.60±0.72 mg/dL, p<0.001) were significantly higher in diabetic patients than controls. The mean serum H-FABP level did not differ between groups (1571.79±604.60 ng/mL vs 1500.25±463.35 ng/mL, p=0.905). H-FABP was positively correlated with fibrinogen (r2=0.473, p<0.001), hs-CRP (r2=0.323, p=0.003) and CIMT (r2=0.467, p<0.001). After full adjustments, the serum H-FABP level was independently associated with an increase in the fibrinogen level (odds ratio [OR] =4.21, 95% confidence level [CI] =1.49-11.90). Conclusion: Serum H-FABP was similar in the elderly diabetic patients without known CVD when compared with the nondiabetic control group. H-FABP does not possess a high diagnostic value as a cardiovascular marker when used alone; however, it may add supplementary information in patients with a high fibrinogen level. © 2017 Beysel et al

VDR gene FokI polymorphism as a poor prognostic factor for papillary thyroid cancer

This is the first study to investigate the effect of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms on the clinicopathologic features of papillary thyroid cancer in Turkey. A total of 165 patients with papillary thyroid cancer and 172 controls were included in this case–control study. VDR gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms FokI (rs2228570), BsmI (rs1544410), ApaI (rs7975232), and TaqI (rs731236) were evaluated using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. VDR gene polymorphisms BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI did not differ between the papillary thyroid cancer group and control group (p > 0.05, each). BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI were not associated with papillary thyroid cancer risk. The VDR gene FokI CT/TT genotype was associated with an increased papillary thyroid cancer risk (CT vs CC: odds ratio = 1.71, 95% confidence interval = 1.15–2.76, p = 0.028; TT vs CC: odds ratio = 2.44, 95% confidence interval = 1.29–4.62, p = 0.005; CT/TT vs CC: odds ratio = 1.88, 95% confidence interval = 1.20–2.96, p = 0.006; CT/CC vs TT: odds ratio = 1.80, 95% confidence interval = 1.05–3.20, p = 0.041). VDR gene polymorphisms were not in linkage disequilibrium. The FokI TT genotype was associated with having T3 and T4, stage III/IV, extra-thyroidal invasion. The FokI CT/TT or TT genotype was associated with developing N1 status, multifocality, tumor size ≥10 mm, and treatment with radioiodine therapy. Persistence/recurrence did not differ between the FokI genotypes. Carriers of the FokI T allele were at an increased risk of more advanced tumor-node-metastasis stage, greater tumor size, multifocality, and extra-thyroidal invasion of papillary thyroid cancer compared with the CC genotype. VDR gene FokI T allele and TT genotype correlated with aggressiveness of papillary thyroid cancer; thus, FokI could be useful as a poor prognostic factor to assess the high risk of papillary thyroid cancer. © The Author(s) 2018

Double-polarization observables in pion-photoproduction from polarized HD at LEGS

This dataset contains experimental data presented in the paper titled 'Generation of continuous wave terahertz frequency radiation from MOCVD grown Fe-doped InGaAs and InGaAsP'. The IV characteristics, THz signal amplitudes, bias and optical power dependence of the different InGaAs and InGaAsP wafers are given

Stereotactic radiosurgery for primary trigeminal neuralgia: state of the evidence and recommendations for future reports

Objective: To identify systematically all the studies reporting outcomes and complications of stereotactic radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia and to evaluate them against predefined quality criteria.Methods: Inclusion criteria for outcome analysis included thorough demographic documentation, defined diagnostic and outcome criteria, a minimum of 30 patients treated with 12 months median/mean follow up, not more than 20% lost to follow up, Kaplan-Meier actuarial analysis, primary trigeminal neuralgia, not more than 10% of patients retreated for failure or early recurrence, and minimum dose of 70 Gy.Results: Of 38 studies identified, four could be used to evaluate rates of pain relief on a yearly basis, and two for actuarial rates of complete pain relief; seven provided data on latencies and 18 were used to evaluate complications. Pain relief typically occurs within three months. Complete relief is initially achieved by three quarters of the patients, but half maintain this outcome at three years. One half or less can permanently stop drug treatments. Sensory disturbance, including anaesthesia dolorosa, is the most frequent complication of stereotactic radiosurgery.Conclusions: Outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery appear in line with other ablative techniques. Results are better when it is used as primary treatment in patients with typical symptoms. Current data are largely observational and the quality is generally poor. This technique should be evaluated in a randomised, controlled trial with universal outcome measures, actuarial methodology, and validated measures of patient satisfaction and quality of life

Detailed report of the MuLan measurement of the positive muon lifetime and determination of the Fermi constant

<p>We present a detailed report of the method, setup, analysis, and results of a precision measurement of the positive muon lifetime. The experiment was conducted at the Paul Scherrer Institute using a time-structured, nearly 100% polarized surface muon beam and a segmented, fast-timing plastic scintillator array. The measurement employed two target arrangements: a magnetized ferromagnetic target with a similar to 4 kG internal magnetic field and a crystal quartz target in a 130 G external magnetic field. Approximately 1.6 X 10(12) positrons were accumulated and together the data yield a muon lifetime of T-mu(MuLan) = 2196980.3(2.2) ps (1.0 ppm), 30 times more precise than previous generations of lifetime experiments. The lifetime measurement yields the most accurate value of the Fermi constant G(F)(MuLan) = 1.1663787(6) X 10(-5) GeV-2 (0.5 ppm). It also enables new precision studies of weak interactions via lifetime measurements of muonic atoms. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.87.052003</p>