Measurement of the Bottom-Strange Meson Mixing Phase in the Full CDF Data Set

We report a measurement of the bottom-strange meson mixing phase \beta_s using the time evolution of B0_s -> J/\psi (->\mu+\mu-) \phi (-> K+ K-) decays in which the quark-flavor content of the bottom-strange meson is identified at production. This measurement uses the full data set of proton-antiproton collisions at sqrt(s)= 1.96 TeV collected by the Collider Detector experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron, corresponding to 9.6 fb-1 of integrated luminosity. We report confidence regions in the two-dimensional space of \beta_s and the B0_s decay-width difference \Delta\Gamma_s, and measure \beta_s in [-\pi/2, -1.51] U [-0.06, 0.30] U [1.26, \pi/2] at the 68% confidence level, in agreement with the standard model expectation. Assuming the standard model value of \beta_s, we also determine \Delta\Gamma_s = 0.068 +- 0.026 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps-1 and the mean B0_s lifetime, \tau_s = 1.528 +- 0.019 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps, which are consistent and competitive with determinations by other experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett 109, 171802 (2012

Defining the causes of sporadic Parkinson's disease in the global Parkinson's genetics program (GP2)

The Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) will genotype over 150,000 participants from around the world, and integrate genetic and clinical data for use in large-scale analyses to dramatically expand our understanding of the genetic architecture of PD. This report details the workflow for cohort integration into the complex arm of GP2, and together with our outline of the monogenic hub in a companion paper, provides a generalizable blueprint for establishing large scale collaborative research consortia

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

A Legacy of Religious Educators: Historical and Theological Introductions

A Legacy of Religious Educators examines individuals who shaped the educational foundations of the church. These chapters, on well-known patristic and medieval scholars such as Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas; renowned theologian-educators such as Luther, Calvin, Edwards and Wesley; and modern-day educators such as Henrietta Mears, C.S. Lewis, and Frank Gaebelein, reflect the contextualized theology of education of significant educators who have profoundly influenced religious education, in both the church and society. (Amazon

Une méta-analyse de l’efficacité des thérapies cognitivo-comportementales dans le traitement de la dépression chez les personnes âgées

A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted using studies of cognitive-behavioural-therapy based interventions (CBT-BIs) for late-life depression. Patient characteristics, CBT modality, and other study variables were analyzed using subgroup and metaregression analysis methods. Results showed the collective treatment effect of CBT-BIs for reducing late-life depression to be moderate (g = -0.63) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 66.12%). CBT-BIs were found to be no more effective immediately posttreatment than other psychological treatments, pharmacotherapy, or combination interventions. The data support the notion that CBT is more effective in the long term.On a mené une méta-analyse approfondie d’après des interventions basées sur la thérapie cognitivo-comportementale (IB-TCC) conçues pour le traitement de la dépression à un âge avancé. On analysa les caractéristiques du patient, les modalités de la TCC et d’autres variables de l’étude, en ayant recours à des méthodes d’analyse de sous-groupe et d’analyse de métarégression. Les résultats ont révélé que l’effet du traitement collectif des IB-TCC en vue d’atténuer la dépression en âge avancé était moyen (g = -0,63) et considérablement hétérogène (I2 = 66,12 %). On a conclu que les IB-TCC ne se révélaient pas plus efficaces immédiatement après le traitement que les autres types de traitements psychologiques, pharmacothérapeutiques ou que les interventions combinées. Les données semblent indiquer que la TCC est plus efficace à long terme