The burden of diabetes mellitus during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries : a systematic review

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Measurement of phi_3 with Dalitz plot analysis of B+ -> D(*)K(*)+ decay

We present a measurement of the unitarity triangle angle phi_3 using a Dalitz plot analysis of the K0_S pi+ pi- decay of the neutral D meson from the B+- -> D(*)K(*)+- process. The method employs the interference between D0 and D0bar to extract the angle phi_3, strong phase Delta and the ratio r of suppressed and allowed amplitudes. We apply this method to a 357 fb-1 data sample collected by the Belle experiment. The analysis uses three modes: B+ -> DK+, B+ -> D*K+ with D* -> Dpi0, and B+ -> DK*+ with K*+ -> K0_S pi+, as well as the corresponding charge-conjugate modes. From a combined maximum likelihood fit to the three modes, we obtain phi_3=53+15-18(stat)+-3(syst)+-9(model) degrees. The corresponding two standard deviation interval is 8<phi_3<111 degrees.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, 7 tables. To be submitted to Phys. Rev.

Network adaptation improves temporal representation of naturalistic stimuli in drosophila eye: II Mechanisms

Retinal networks must adapt constantly to best present the ever changing visual world to the brain. Here we test the hypothesis that adaptation is a result of different mechanisms at several synaptic connections within the network. In a companion paper (Part I), we showed that adaptation in the photoreceptors (R1-R6) and large monopolar cells (LMC) of the Drosophila eye improves sensitivity to under-represented signals in seconds by enhancing both the amplitude and frequency distribution of LMCs' voltage responses to repeated naturalistic contrast series. In this paper, we show that such adaptation needs both the light-mediated conductance and feedback-mediated synaptic conductance. A faulty feedforward pathway in histamine receptor mutant flies speeds up the LMC output, mimicking extreme light adaptation. A faulty feedback pathway from L2 LMCs to photoreceptors slows down the LMC output, mimicking dark adaptation. These results underline the importance of network adaptation for efficient coding, and as a mechanism for selectively regulating the size and speed of signals in neurons. We suggest that concert action of many different mechanisms and neural connections are responsible for adaptation to visual stimuli. Further, our results demonstrate the need for detailed circuit reconstructions like that of the Drosophila lamina, to understand how networks process information

Measurements of CP Violation in B0→D∗−π+B^0 \to D^{*-}\pi^+ and B0→D−π+B^0 \to D^- \pi^+ Decays

We report measurements of time dependent decay rates for $B^0 \to D^{(*)-}\pi^+$ decays and extraction of CP violation parameters that depend on $\phi_3$. Using fully reconstructed $D^{(*)}\pi$ events and partially reconstructed $D^{*}\pi$ events from a data sample that contains 386 million $B\bar{B}$ pairs that was collected near the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance, with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy $e^+ e^-$ collider, we obtain the CP violation parameters $S^+ (D^{(*)}\pi)$ and $S^- (D^{(*)}\pi)$. We obtain $S^+ (D^* \pi) = 0.049 \pm 0.020(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.011(\mathrm{sys})$, $S^- (D^* \pi) = 0.031 \pm 0.019(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.011(\mathrm{sys})$, and $S^+ (D \pi) = 0.031 \pm 0.030(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.012(\mathrm{sys})$, $S^- (D \pi) = 0.068 \pm 0.029(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 0.012(\mathrm{sys})$. These results are an indication of CP violation in $B^0 \to D^{*-}\pi^+$ and $B^0 \to D^- \pi^+$ decays at the $2.5 \sigma$ and $2.2 \sigma$ levels, respectively. If we use the values of $R_{D^{(*)}\pi}$ that are derived using assumptions of factorization and SU(3) symmetry, the branching fraction measurements for the $D_s^{(*)} \pi$ modes, and lattice QCD calculations, we can restrict the allowed region of $|\sin (2\phi_1 + \phi_3)|$ to be above 0.44 and 0.52 at 68% confidence level from the $D^* \pi$ and $D \pi$ modes, respectively.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Physical Review

Measurement of D0 -> pilnu (Klnu) Form Factors and Absolute Branching Fractions

Using a 282 1/fb data sample collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB e+e- collider, we study D0 decays to K-l+nu and pi-l+nu final states. The D0 flavor and momentum are tagged through a full reconstruction of the recoiling charm meson and additional mesons from fragmentation. The reconstruction method provides very good resolution in neutrino momentum and in q^2 = (p_l+p_nu)^2. Normalizing to the total number of D0 tags, we measure the absolute branching fractions to be B(D0 -> Klnu) =(3.45 +- 0.07stat +- 0.20syst)% and B(D0 -> pilnu) = (0.255 +- 0.019stat +- 0.016syst)% and the semi-leptonic form factors (within the modified pole model) f+^K(0) = 0.695 +- 0.007stat +- 0.022syst and f+^pi(0) = 0.624 +- 0.020stat +- 0.030syst.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

A large-scale study of a poultry trading network in Bangladesh: implications for control and surveillance of avian influenza viruses

Since its first report in 2007, avian influenza (AI) has been endemic in Bangladesh. While live poultry marketing is widespread throughout the country and known to influence AI dissemination and persistence, trading patterns have not been described. The aim of this study is to assess poultry trading practices and features of the poultry trading networks which could promote AI spread, and their potential implications for disease control and surveillance. Data on poultry trading practices was collected from 849 poultry traders during a cross-sectional survey in 138 live bird markets (LBMs) across 17 different districts of Bangladesh. The quantity and origins of traded poultry were assessed for each poultry type in surveyed LBMs. The network of contacts between farms and LBMs resulting from commercial movements of live poultry was constructed to assess its connectivity and to identify the key premises influencing it

Measurement of the wrong-sign decays D0 -> K+ pi- pi0 and D0 -> K+ pi- pi+ pi-, and search for CP violation

Using 281 fb^-1 of data from the Belle experiment recorded at or near the Upsilon(4S) resonance, we have measured the rates of the ``wrong-sign'' decays D0 -> K+ pi- pi0 and D0 -> K+ pi- pi+ pi- relative to those of the Cabibbo-favored decays D0 -> K- pi+ pi0 and D0 -> K- pi+ pi+ pi-. These wrong-sign decays proceed via a doubly Cabibbo-suppressed amplitude or via D0-D0bar mixing; the latter has not yet been observed. We obtain R_WS(Kpipi0)=[0.229 +/-0.017(stat.) +0.013-0.009(sys.)]% and R_WS(K3pi)=[0.320 +/-0.019(stat.) +0.018-0.013(sys.)]%. The CP asymmetries are measured to be -0.006 +/- 0.053 and -0.018 +/- 0.044 for the K+ pi- pi0 and K+ pi- pi+ pi- final states, respectively.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, submitted to PRL, Lepton-Photon 2005 Conference in Uppsala, Sweden and HEP2005 Europhysics Conference in Lisboa, Portuga

Development of an occupational advice intervention for patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasty (the OPAL study)

Background: There are an increasing number of patients of working age undergoing hip and knee replacements. Currently there is variation in the advice and support given about sickness absence, recovery to usual activities and return to work after these procedures. Earlier, sustainable, return to work improves the health of patients and benefits their employers and society. An intervention that encourages and supports early recovery to usual activities, including work, has the potential to reduce the health and socioeconomic burden of hip and knee replacements. Methods/design: A two-phase research programme delivered over 27 months will be used to develop and subsequently test the feasibility of an occupational advice intervention to facilitate return to work and usual activities in patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasty. The 2 phases will incorporate a six-stage intervention mapping process: Phase 1: Intervention mapping stages 1–3: 1 Needs assessment (including rapid evidence synthesis, prospective cohort analysis and structured stakeholder interviews) 2 Identification of intended outcomes and performance objectives 3 Selection of theory-based methods and practical strategies Phase 2: Intervention mapping stages 4–6: 4 Development of components and materials for the occupational advice intervention using a modified Delphi process 5 Adoption and implementation of the intervention 6 Evaluation and feasibility testing The study will be undertaken in four National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in the United Kingdom and two Higher Education Institution. Discussion: OPAL (Occupational advice for Patients undergoing Arthroplasty of the Lower limb) aims to develop an occupational advice intervention to support early recovery to usual activities including work, which is tailored to the requirements of patients undergoing hip and knee replacements. The developed intervention will then be assessed with a specific focus on evaluating its feasibility as a potential trial intervention to improve speed of recovery to usual activities including work

Self-organized bistability on globally coupled higher-order networks

Self-organized bistability (SOB) stands as a critical behavior for the systems delicately adjusting themselves to the brink of bistability, characterized by a first-order transition. Its essence lies in the inherent ability of the system to undergo enduring shifts between the coexisting states, achieved through the self-regulation of a controlling parameter. Recently, SOB has been established in a scale-free network as a recurrent transition to a short-living state of global synchronization. Here, we embark on a theoretical exploration that extends the boundaries of the SOB concept on a higher-order network (implicitly embedded microscopically within a simplicial complex) while considering the limitations imposed by coupling constraints. By applying Ott-Antonsen dimensionality reduction in the thermodynamic limit to the higher-order network, we derive SOB requirements under coupling limits that are in good agreement with numerical simulations on systems of finite size. We use continuous synchronization diagrams and statistical data from spontaneous synchronized events to demonstrate the crucial role SOB plays in initiating and terminating temporary synchronized events. We show that under weak coupling consumption, these spontaneous occurrences closely resemble the statistical traits of the epileptic brain functioning.Comment: 11 Pages, 8 Figures, Accepted for publication in Physical Review E (2024