Ebola Virus Disease and Epidemic Development in the West-African Countries in 2014 (Review)

The review presents the data on the development of epidemic caused by Ebola virus in the West-African countries - Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali. Analyzed is also an epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, unrelated to the mentioned above outbreaks. Traced have been the chains of transmission and import of the disease (under control and out-of-control) into European and American states. Assessed are the premises for complications faced in the course of epidemic response, and the factors contributing to the wide spread of the infection

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION ON CHOLERA ACROSS THE GLOBE AND IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN 2007–2016. FORECAST FOR 2017

Analysis of epidemiological situation on cholera around the world has demonstrated downward trend in morbidity rates in 2016; annual average decline being 3.907 % (by reference to 2007). Comparative assessment of monthly incidence in 2015 and 2016 shows perennial registration of cholera cases in a number of African countries and in the Caribbean with up-rises in different seasons. Establishment of epidemic foci is on-going. Between 2007 and 2016, 1733 imported cases of cholera took place across the globe. Interstate import dominated in Asia. For forecast development, for the first time ever, risk assessment of epidemic process activation has been performed, taking into consideration emergency situations of varying origin, social and natural environments, using expert evaluation scores. Epidemic manifestations of cholera in the Russian Federation were characterized by import of the infection in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014; isolation of V. cholerae O1 biovar El Tor ctxA– tcpA–, ctxA+ and V. cholerae O139 ctxA– and tcpA– from surface water bodies, as well as individual V. cholerae O1 biovar El Tor сtхA+ tсра+. Worked out has been the algorithm for epidemiological investigation of causes and conditions of surface water body contamination with cholera vibrios. Cholera forecast worldwide and in Russia for the year 2017 remains unfavorable

PCR Results of Vector and Carrier Investigations for the Presence of Tick-Borne Borreliosis, Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis, and Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis Agents in Natural Foci of the Rostov Region

Objective of the study is to detect the circulation of the agents of ixodic tick-borne borreliosis (ITB), human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), and human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) in samples collected from carriers and vectors of transmissible tick-borne infections using PCR-assay. Materials and methods. Field material was studied in PCR for evaluating the rate of infection by causative agents of tick-borne infections (tick-borne borrelioses, ehrlichioses, anaplasmosis) in combined natural foci on the territory of the Rostov Region. Results and conclusions. The data obtained during epizootiological investigations carried out in 21 administrative districts and 10 cities of the Rostov Region between 2014 and 2016 were used in the study. The results were indicative of spontaneous infection in ixodic ticks by ITB causative agent on the territory of the Rostov Region, as well as of presence of corresponding natural focus. Since 2013 the activity of different components of ITB natural focus was confirmed by the detection and official registration of patients. Moreover, in the Rostov Region for the first time ever the circulation of HME and HGA causative agents was recorded and territorially combined foci of HME and HGA with ITB were identified. The results obtained allow assuming the genesis of a focus of ixodic tick-borne borreliosis and monocytic and granulocytic ehrlichioses owing to annual expansion of the areal of ticks, infected by these pathogens, and animals on which the ticks are feeding. PCR-analysis is of significant value for assessment of spread of causative agents of the “tick-borne” infections in the Rostov Region, forecasting of epidemiological situation, as well as implementation of preventive measures in the region

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION ON CHOLERA ACROSS THE GLOBE AND IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN 2007–2016. FORECAST FOR 2017

Analysis of epidemiological situation on cholera around the world has demonstrated downward trend in morbidity rates in 2016; annual average decline being 3.907 % (by reference to 2007). Comparative assessment of monthly incidence in 2015 and 2016 shows perennial registration of cholera cases in a number of African countries and in the Caribbean with up-rises in different seasons. Establishment of epidemic foci is on-going. Between 2007 and 2016, 1733 imported cases of cholera took place across the globe. Interstate import dominated in Asia. For forecast development, for the first time ever, risk assessment of epidemic process activation has been performed, taking into consideration emergency situations of varying origin, social and natural environments, using expert evaluation scores. Epidemic manifestations of cholera in the Russian Federation were characterized by import of the infection in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014; isolation of V. cholerae O1 biovar El Tor ctxA– tcpA–, ctxA+ and V. cholerae O139 ctxA– and tcpA– from surface water bodies, as well as individual V. cholerae O1 biovar El Tor сtхA+ tсра+. Worked out has been the algorithm for epidemiological investigation of causes and conditions of surface water body contamination with cholera vibrios. Cholera forecast worldwide and in Russia for the year 2017 remains unfavorable

Benchmark data and model independent event classification for the large hadron collider

We describe the outcome of a data challenge conducted as part of the Dark Machines (https://www.darkmachines.org) initiative and the Les Houches 2019 workshop on Physics at TeV colliders. The challenged aims to detect signals of new physics at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) using unsupervised machine learning algorithms. First, we propose how an anomaly score could be implemented to define model-independent signal regions in LHC searches. We define and describe a large benchmark dataset, consisting of > 1 billion simulated LHC events corresponding to 10 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. We then review a wide range of anomaly detection and density estimation algorithms, developed in the context of the data challenge, and we measure their performance in a set of realistic analysis environments. We draw a number of useful conclusions that will aid the development of unsupervised new physics searches during the third run of the LHC, and provide our benchmark dataset for future studies at https://www.phenoMLdata.org. Code to reproduce the analysis is provided at https://github.com/bostdiek/DarkMachines-UnsupervisedChallenge

ECOLOGICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF WEST NILE FEVER IN THE ROSTOV REGION

RETRACTEDPurpose: Th e study of the West Nile Fever (WNF) with the estimation of results of ecological/epizootological monitoring and epidemic manifestations of infection.Materials and methods: investigations for the presence of antigen of WN virus were carried out on 5754 specimen (4187 samples of brain suspensions) of birds belonging to 90 species, 15 orders; 4153 specimen (1038 samples of brain suspensions) of 17 species of mammals; 46113 specimen (2081) of 18 species of mosquitoes; 13883 specimen (1588) of imago ticks of six species, and others (2001-2013). Methods used: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, epidemiological analysis.Results: the territories of risk for WNF were defi ned with regard to bird ecology, fauna of mosquitoes of Culicidae family was characterized, the ecological linkages of WN virus with birds, mosquitoes and mammals were defi ned. Th e area of habitation of West Nile (WN) virus was determined. Epizootological/epidemiological zoning of the Rostov Region was carried out with identifi cation of territories, diff ering by the degree of risk of population infection with WN virus.Summary: Th e results obtained can serve the evidence of formation of natural and anthropurgic foci of WNF

A search for the dimuon decay of the Standard Model Higgs boson with the ATLAS detector

A search for the dimuon decay of the Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson is performed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb(-1) collected with the ATLAS detector in Run 2 pp collisions at root s = 13 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The observed (expected) significance over the background-only hypothesis for a Higgs boson with a mass of 125.09 GeV is 2.0 sigma (1.7 sigma). The observed upper limit on the cross section times branching ratio for pp -> H -> mu mu is 2.2 times the SM prediction at 95% confidence level, while the expected limit on a H -> mu mu signal assuming the absence (presence) of a SM signal is 1.1(2.0). The best-fit value of the signal strength parameter, defined as the ratio of the observed signal yield to the one expected in the SM, is mu = 1.2 +/- 0.6. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V

Search for resonant WZ production in the fully leptonic final state in proton–proton collisions at √s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for a WZ resonance, in the fully leptonic final state (electrons or muons), is performed using 139 fb - 1 of data collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The results are interpreted in terms of a singly charged Higgs boson of the Georgi–Machacek model, produced by WZ fusion, and of a Heavy Vector Triplet, with the resonance produced by WZ fusion or the Drell–Yan process. No significant excess over the Standard Model prediction is observed and limits are set on the production cross-section times branching ratio as a function of the resonance mass for these processes

Measurement of exclusive pion pair production in proton–proton collisions at √s=7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The exclusive production of pion pairs in the process pp→ ppπ+π- has been measured at s=7TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, using 80μb-1 of low-luminosity data. The pion pairs were detected in the ATLAS central detector while outgoing protons were measured in the forward ATLAS ALFA detector system. This represents the first use of proton tagging to measure an exclusive hadronic final state at the LHC. A cross-section measurement is performed in two kinematic regions defined by the proton momenta, the pion rapidities and transverse momenta, and the pion–pion invariant mass. Cross-section values of 4.8±1.0(stat)-0.2+0.3(syst)μb and 9±6(stat)-2+2(syst)μb are obtained in the two regions; they are compared with theoretical models and provide a demonstration of the feasibility of measurements of this type

Alignment of the ATLAS Inner Detector in Run 2

The performance of the ATLAS Inner Detector alignment has been studied using pp collision data at v s = 13 TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment during Run 2 (2015-2018) of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The goal of the detector alignment is to determine the detector geometry as accurately as possible and correct for time-dependent movements. The Inner Detector alignment is based on the minimization of track-hit residuals in a sequence of hierarchical levels, from global mechanical assembly structures to local sensors. Subsequent levels have increasing numbers of degrees of freedom; in total there are almost 750,000. The alignment determines detector geometry on both short and long timescales, where short timescales describe movementswithin anLHCfill. The performance and possible track parameter biases originating from systematic detector deformations are evaluated. Momentum biases are studied using resonances decaying to muons or to electrons. The residual sagitta bias and momentum scale bias after alignment are reduced to less than similar to 0.1 TeV-1 and 0.9 x 10(-3), respectively. Impact parameter biases are also evaluated using tracks within jets