First measurement of the helicity asymmetry E in eta photoproduction on the proton

Results are presented for the first measurement of the double-polarization helicity asymmetry E for the eta photoproduction reaction gamma p - \u3e eta p. Data were obtained using the FROzen Spin Target (FROST) with the CLAS spectrometer in Hall B at Jefferson Lab, covering a range of center-of-mass energy W from threshold to 2.15 GeV and a large range in center-of-mass polar angle. As an initial application of these data, the results have been incorporated into the Julich-Bonn model to examine the case for the existence of a narrow N* resonance between 1.66 and 1.70 GeV. The addition of these data to the world database results in marked changes in the predictions for the Eobservable from that model. Further comparison with several theoretical approaches indicates these data will significantly enhance our understanding of nucleon resonances. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V

Predictive Process Monitoring Methods: Which One Suits Me Best?

Predictive process monitoring has recently gained traction in academia and is maturing also in companies. However, with the growing body of research, it might be daunting for companies to navigate in this domain in order to find, provided certain data, what can be predicted and what methods to use. The main objective of this paper is developing a value-driven framework for classifying existing work on predictive process monitoring. This objective is achieved by systematically identifying, categorizing, and analyzing existing approaches for predictive process monitoring. The review is then used to develop a value-driven framework that can support organizations to navigate in the predictive process monitoring field and help them to find value and exploit the opportunities enabled by these analysis techniques

First Results from The GlueX Experiment

The GlueX experiment at Jefferson Lab ran with its first commissioning beam in late 2014 and the spring of 2015. Data were collected on both plastic and liquid hydrogen targets, and much of the detector has been commissioned. All of the detector systems are now performing at or near design specifications and events are being fully reconstructed, including exclusive production of $\pi^{0}$, $\eta$ and $\omega$ mesons. Linearly-polarized photons were successfully produced through coherent bremsstrahlung and polarization transfer to the $\rho$ has been observed.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, Invited contribution to the Hadron 2015 Conference, Newport News VA, September 201

Мутации изоцитратдегидрогеназ 1 и 2 и ме тилирование гена MGMT в глиомах

Gliomas are the most common brain tumors. It is difficult to detect them at early stages of disease and there is a few available therapies providing significant improvement in survival. Mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 genes (IDH1 and IDH2) play significant role in gliomogenesis, diagnostics and selection of patient therapy. We tested the distribution of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in gliomas of different histological types and grades of malignancy by DNA melting analysis using our protocol with a sensitivity of 5 %. The results of this assay were confirmed by conventional Sanger sequencing. IDH1/2 mutations were detected in 74 % of lower grade gliomas (II and III, World Health Organization) and in 14 % of glioblastomas (IV, World Health Organization). Mutation rate in gliomas with oligodendroglioma component were significantly higher then in other glioma types (р = 0.014). The IDH1 mutations was the most common (79 % of general mutation number). IDH1/2 mutations can induce aberrant gene methylation. Detection of methylation rate of the gene encoding for O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT), predictive biomarker for treatment of gliomas with the alkylating agents, has demonstrated a partial association with IDH1/2 mutations. In 73 % of IDH1/2-mutant tumors MGMT promoter methylation were observed. At the same time IDH1/2 mutations were not revealed in 67 % tumors with MGMT promoter methylation. These results indicate existence of another mechanism of MGMT methylation in gliomas. Our data strong support for necessity of both markers testing when patient therapy is selected.Глиомы – наиболее распространенные опухоли головного мозга, трудно поддающиеся ранней диагностике и лечению. Мутации в генах изоцитратдегидрогеназ 1 и 2 (IDH1 и IDH2) играют существенную роль в глиомогенезе, диагностике и выборе терапии пациентов. Было исследовано распределение мутаций IDH1 / 2 в глиомах различных гистологических типов и степеней злокачественности методом анализа кривых плавления ДНК с зондами TaqMan по разработанному нами протоколу, позволяющему определять мутации с чувствительностью 5 %. Специфичность определения мутаций подтверждена секвенированием по Сэнгеру. В глиомах II и III степеней злокачественности по классификации Всемирной организации здравоохранения частота мутаций IDH1 / 2 составила 74 %, в глиобластомах (IV степень злокачественности) – 14 %. Глиомы, содержащие клетки с олигодендроцитарным типом дифференцировки, достоверно чаще имели мутации IDH1 / 2, чем другие типы глиом (р = 0,014). Преобладающим типом мутаций являются мутации IDH1 (79 % от общего числа мутаций). Одно из последствий мутаций IDH1 / 2 – индукция аберрантного метилирования генов. Анализ метилирования промотора гена О6‑метилгуанин-ДНК-метил-трансферазы (MGMT, O6‑methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase), предсказательного маркера чувствительности глиом к терапии алкилирующими агентами у тех же больных, показал частичную ассоциацию с мутациями IDH1 / 2. В 73 % случаев с мутациями IDH1 / 2 наблюдалось метилирование MGMT. В то же время в 67 % случаев с метилированием MGMT отсутствовали мутации IDH1 / 2, что указывает на существование других механизмов метилирования MGMT в глиомах. Данные свидетельствуют в пользу необходимости одновременного определения 2 биомаркеров при выборе послеоперационной терапии пациентов

Фенотипическая пластичность метастатической меланомы

Introduction. Metastatic melanoma is characterized by clinical and morphological heterogeneity and plasticity. Rare cases of metastatic melanoma are known, that have no visual expression of melanocytic markers. Contradictory histology of such melanomas requires a differential diagnosis from morphologically similar non- melanocytic tumors, sarcoma or lymphoma. objective is to describe the extraordinary cases of metastatic melanomas with low expression of differentiation markers. material and methods. 15 melanoma cases with unusual clinical and morphological characteristics were included in the study. These tumors were examined by pathologist and cytologist, by immunohistochemical and FISH analyses, mutations in BRAF, NRAS and KIT genes were detected by PCR. results. Some primary tumors were amelanotic, therefore, they were difficult for differential tumor diagnosis. Most frequently, primary tumors were located on the back, shin or head. In 4 patients the primary focuses were not detected. Metastatic lesions were as large nodular tumors in soft tissues of the back or lower limb. Most tumors belong to mixed or spindle-cell histological types. Spindle-shaped cells were also revealed by cytological analysis. BRAF gene mutations were identified by genetic analysis in 27 % of tumors, NRAS and KIT gene mutations were not detected. In 4 cases FISH analysis was performed to detect EWSR1 gene rearrangements, but it did not confirm the diagnosis of sarcoma. conclusion. The results indicate the presence of a heterogeneous group of melanoma cases, which have a number of morphological and molecular features that bring them closer to sarcomas.Актуальность. Метастатическая меланома отличается клинико-морфологической гетерогенностью и пластичностью. Встречаются редкие случаи метастатической меланомы, которые практически не экспрессируют меланоцитарных маркеров. Гиcтологически такие меланомы требуют дифференциальной диагностики от морфологически сходных немеланоцитарных опухолей, саркомы или лимфомы. Цель исследования – исследование неординарных случаев метастатической меланомы с низкой экспрессией дифференцировочных маркеров. материал и методы. Описаны 15 случаев меланомы с необычными клинико-морфологическими характеристиками. Опухоли подверглись морфологическому, цитологическому исследованию, иммуногистохимическому и FISH-анализу, были определены мутации в генах BRAF, NRAS и KIT. Результаты. Первичные меланомы часто не содержали пигмента, что затрудняло дифференциальную диагностику опухоли. Опухоли располагались чаще всего на спине, голени или голове, у 4 пациентов первичные очаги не выявлены. Метастатические поражения представляли собой крупные узловые новообразования в мягких тканях в области спины либо нижней конечности. Большинство опухолей относились к смешанному или веретеноклеточному гистологическим типам. Веретенообразные клетки отмечены и при цитологических исследованиях. При генетическом анализе мутации в гене BRAF выявлены в 27 % меланом, мутации в генах NRAS и KIT не обнаружены. В 4 случаях с помощью FISH проведен анализ на наличие реаранжировки гена EWSR1, при этом диагноз саркомы не подтвердился. Полученные результаты указывают на гистологическую и молекулярную неоднородность и фенотипическую пластичность исследованных меланом. Ряд выявленных молекулярно-генетических особенностей сближает эти опухоли с саркомами

Analysis of the spatio-temporal distribution of large earthquakes

The investigation on the spatio-temporal distribution of large earthquakes is still a controversial issue in geophysics and many works in scientific literature have been devoted to this topic. The importance of understanding the statistical distribution of large events is aimed not only to extract information on the physics of the earthquakes occurrence process, but also to make reliable earthquake forecasting. As far as theoretical aspects are concerned, a satisfactory modelling may allow, at least in principle, to test a variety of hypotheses, such as the presence of any regularity in time, and the in uence of di erent tectonic/physical factors that regulate the spatial occurrence of earthquakes. At the same time, a reliable earthquake forecasting has undoubtedly a huge social impact because it may mitigate the seismic risk