670-nm light treatment reduces complement propagation following retinal degeneration

AIM: Complement activation is associated with the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We aimed to investigate whether 670-nm light treatment reduces the propagation of complement in a light-induced model of atrophic AMD. METHODS: Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were pretreated with 9 J/cm(2) 670-nm light for 3 minutes daily over 5 days; other animals were sham treated. Animals were exposed to white light (1,000 lux) for 24 h, after which animals were kept in dim light (5 lux) for 7 days. Expression of complement genes was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and immunohistochemistry. Counts were made of C3-expressing monocytes/microglia using in situ hybridization. Photoreceptor death was also assessed using outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness measurements, and oxidative stress using immunohistochemistry for 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). RESULTS: Following light damage, retinas pretreated with 670-nm light had reduced immunoreactivity for the oxidative damage maker 4-HNE in the ONL and outer segments, compared to controls. In conjunction, there was significant reduction in retinal expression of complement genes C1s, C2, C3, C4b, C3aR1, and C5r1 following 670 nm treatment. In situ hybridization, coupled with immunoreactivity for the marker ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1), revealed that C3 is expressed by infiltrating microglia/monocytes in subretinal space following light damage, which were significantly reduced in number after 670 nm treatment. Additionally, immunohistochemistry for C3 revealed a decrease in C3 deposition in the ONL following 670 nm treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that 670-nm light pretreatment reduces lipid peroxidation and complement propagation in the degenerating retina. These findings have relevance to the cellular events of complement activation underling the pathogenesis of AMD, and highlight the potential of 670-nm light as a non-invasive anti-inflammatory therapy

Measurement of the radiative decay of polarized muons in the MEG experiment

We studied the radiative muon decay $\mu^+ \to e^+\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$ by using for the first time an almost fully polarized muon source. We identified a large sample (~13000) of these decays in a total sample of 1.8x10^14 positive muon decays collected in the MEG experiment in the years 2009--2010 and measured the branching ratio B($\mu^+ \to e^+\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$) = (6.03+-0.14(stat.)+-0.53(sys.))x10^-8 for E_e > 45 MeV and E_{\gamma} > 40 MeV, consistent with the Standard Model prediction. The precise measurement of this decay mode provides a basic tool for the timing calibration, a normalization channel, and a strong quality check of the complete MEG experiment in the search for $\mu^+ \to e^+\gamma$ process.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. Added an introduction to NLO calculation which was recently calculated. Published versio

Measurement of the radiative decay of polarized muons in the MEG experiment

We studied the radiative muon decay (Formula presented.) by using for the first time an almost fully polarized muon source. We identified a large sample ((Formula presented.) 13,000) of these decays in a total sample of (Formula presented.) positive muon decays collected in the MEG experiment in the years 2009–2010 and measured the branching ratio (Formula presented.) for (Formula presented.) and (Formula presented.) , consistent with the Standard Model prediction. The precise measurement of this decay mode provides a basic tool for the timing calibration, a normalization channel, and a strong quality check of the complete MEG experiment in the search for (Formula presented.) process

Search for the lepton flavour violating decay μ+→ e +γ with the full dataset of the MEG experiment: MEG Collaboration

The final results of the search for the lepton flavour violating decay μ+→ e +γ based on the full dataset collected by the MEG experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institut in the period 2009–2013 and totalling 7.5 × 10 14 stopped muons on target are presented. No significant excess of events is observed in the dataset with respect to the expected background and a new upper limit on the branching ratio of this decay of B(μ+→ e +γ) < 4.2 × 10 - 13 (90 % confidence level) is established, which represents the most stringent limit on the existence of this decay to date

Approaching the socialist factory and its workforce: considerations from fieldwork in (former) Yugoslavia

The socialist factory, as the ‘incubator’ of the new socialist (wo)man, is a productive entry point for the study of socialist modernization and its contradictions. By outlining some theoretical and methodological insights gathered through field-research in factories in former Yugoslavia, we seek to connect the state of labour history in the Balkans to recent breakthroughs made by labour historians of other socialist countries. The first part of this article sketches some of the specificities of the Yugoslav self-managed factory and its heterogeneous workforce. It presents the ambiguous relationship between workers and the factory and demonstrates the variety of life trajectories for workers in Yugoslav state-socialism (from model communists to alienated workers). The second part engages with the available sources for conducting research inside and outside the factory advocating an approach which combines factory and local archives, print media and oral history

Search for the lepton flavour violating decay μ+→ e +γ with the full dataset of the MEG experiment: MEG Collaboration

none84siThe final results of the search for the lepton flavour violating decay mu(+) -> e(+)gamma based on the full dataset collected by the MEG experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institut in the period 2009-2013 and totalling 7.5x10(14) stopped muons on target are presented. Nosignificant excess of events is observed in the dataset with respect to the expected background and a new upper limit on the branching ratio of this decay of B(mu(+) -> e(+) gamma) < 4.2 x 10(-13) (90 % confidence level) is established, which represents the most stringent limit on the existence of this decay to date.Baldini, A.M.; Bao, Y.; Baracchini, E.; Bemporad, C.; Berg, F.; Biasotti, M.; Boca, G.; Cascella, M.; Cattaneo, P.W.; Cavoto, G.; Cei, F.; Cerri, C.; Chiarello, G.; Chiri, C.; Corvaglia, A.; de Bari, A.; De Gerone, M.; Doke, T.; D’Onofrio, A.; Dussoni, S.; Egger, J.; Fujii, Y.; Galli, L.; Gatti, F.; Grancagnolo, F.; Grassi, M.; Graziosi, A.; Grigoriev, D.N.; Haruyama, T.; Hildebrandt, M.; Hodge, Z.; Ieki, K.; Ignatov, F.; Iwamoto, T.; Kaneko, D.; Kang, T.I.; Kettle, P.-R.; Khazin, B.I.; Khomutov, N.; Korenchenko, A.; Kravchuk, N.; Lim, G.M.A.; Maki, A.; Mihara, S.; Molzon, W.; Mori, Toshinori; Morsani, F.; Mtchedilishvili, A.; Mzavia, D.; Nakaura, S.; Nardò, R.; Nicolò, D.; Nishiguchi, H.; Nishimura, M.; Ogawa, S.; Ootani, W.; Orito, S.; Panareo, M.; Papa, A.; Pazzi, R.; Pepino, A.; Piredda, G.; Pizzigoni, G.; Popov, A.; Raffaelli, F.; Renga, F.; Ripiccini, E.; Ritt, S.; Rossella, M.; Rutar, G.; Sawada, R.; Sergiampietri, F.; Signorelli, G.; Simonetta, M.; Tassielli, G.F.; Tenchini, F.; Uchiyama, Y.; Venturini, M.; Voena, C.; Yamamoto, A.; Yoshida, K.; You, Z.; Yudin, Yu. V.; Zanello, D.Baldini, A. M.; Bao, Y.; Baracchini, E.; Bemporad, C.; Berg, F.; Biasotti, M.; Boca, Gianluigi; Cascella, M.; Cattaneo, P. W.; Cavoto, G.; Cei, F.; Cerri, C.; Chiarello, G.; Chiri, C.; Corvaglia, A.; DE BARI, Antonio; De Gerone, M.; Doke, T.; D’Onofrio, A.; Dussoni, S.; Egger, J.; Fujii, Y.; Galli, L.; Gatti, F.; Grancagnolo, F.; Grassi, M.; Graziosi, A.; Grigoriev, D. N.; Haruyama, T.; Hildebrandt, M.; Hodge, Z.; Ieki, K.; Ignatov, F.; Iwamoto, T.; Kaneko, D.; Kang, T. I.; Kettle, P. R.; Khazin, B. I.; Khomutov, N.; Korenchenko, A.; Kravchuk, N.; Lim, G. M. A.; Maki, A.; Mihara, S.; Molzon, W.; Mori, Toshinori; Morsani, F.; Mtchedilishvili, A.; Mzavia, D.; Nakaura, S.; Nardo', Roberto; Nicolò, D.; Nishiguchi, H.; Nishimura, M.; Ogawa, S.; Ootani, W.; Orito, S.; Panareo, M.; Papa, A.; Pazzi, R.; Pepino, A.; Piredda, G.; Pizzigoni, G.; Popov, A.; Raffaelli, F.; Renga, F.; Ripiccini, E.; Ritt, S.; Rossella, M.; Rutar, G.; Sawada, R.; Sergiampietri, F.; Signorelli, G.; Simonetta, M.; Tassielli, G. F.; Tenchini, F.; Uchiyama, Y.; Venturini, M.; Voena, C.; Yamamoto, A.; Yoshida, K.; You, Z.; Yudin, Y. u. V.; Zanello, D

Technical design of the phase I Mu3e experiment

The Mu3e experiment aims to find or exclude the lepton flavour violating decay $\mu \rightarrow eee$ at branching fractions above $10^{-16}$. A first phase of the experiment using an existing beamline at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) is designed to reach a single event sensitivity of $2\cdot 10^{-15}$. We present an overview of all aspects of the technical design and expected performance of the phase~I Mu3e detector. The high rate of up to $10^{8}$ muon decays per second and the low momenta of the decay electrons and positrons pose a unique set of challenges, which we tackle using an ultra thin tracking detector based on high-voltage monolithic active pixel sensors combined with scintillating fibres and tiles for precise timing measurements.Comment: 114 pages, 185 figures. Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods A. Edited by Frank Meier Aeschbacher This version has many enhancements for better readability and more detail

Technical design of the phase I Mu3e experiment

The Mu3e experiment aims to find or exclude the lepton flavour violating decay μ→eee at branching fractions above 10−16. A first phase of the experiment using an existing beamline at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) is designed to reach a single event sensitivity of 2⋅10−15. We present an overview of all aspects of the technical design and expected performance of the phase I Mu3e detector. The high rate of up to 108 muon decays per second and the low momenta of the decay electrons and positrons pose a unique set of challenges, which we tackle using an ultra thin tracking detector based on high-voltage monolithic active pixel sensors combined with scintillating fibres and tiles for precise timing measurements