179 research outputs found
COVID-19: seroprevalence and adherence to preventive measures in Arkhangelsk, Northwest Russia
Background - The published estimates of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Russia are few. The study aimed to assess the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Arkhangelsk (Northwest Russia), in a year after the start of the pandemic, to evaluate the population adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), and to investigate characteristics associated with COVID-19 seropositive status.
Methods - We conducted a SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence study between 24 February and 30 June 2021 involving 1332 adults aged 40–74 years. Logistic regression models were fit to identify factors associated with seropositive status and with adherence to NPIs.
Results - Less than half (48.9%) of study participants adhered all recommended NPIs. Male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.7, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.3; 2.3), regular employment (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3; 2.5) and low confidence in the efficiency of the NPIs (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5; 2.5) were associated with low adherence to internationally recommended NPIs. The SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rate was 65.1% (95% CI: 62.5; 67.6) and increased to 73.0% (95% CI: 67.1; 85.7) after adjustment for test performance. Regular employment (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.5; 2.8) and current smoking (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2; 0.5) were associated with being seropositive due to the infection.
Conclusions - Two third of the study population were seropositive in a year after the onset of the pandemic in Arkhangelsk. Individuals with infection-acquired immunity were more likely to have regular work and less likely to be smokers. The adherence to NPIs was not found associated with getting the virus during the first year of the pandemic
Mobile app as a tool to collect health data: a survey on vaccination against COVID-19
Objective. To evaluate the feasibility of using a mobile app to collect health-related data and the impact of this data collection
method on the results obtained, using the COVID-19 vaccination attitude assessment as an example.
Material and methods. A survey was conducted on attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination using the «Know Your Heart» mobile app. A total of 1,770 Arkhangelsk region residents aged 35—74 years who participated in the ЭССЕ-РФ3 survey conducted
in the Arkhangelsk region in 2021 were invited to install the application and take part in the survey. Multiple logistic regression
analysis was used to evaluate factors related to application installation and survey participation.
Results. Of the total number of subjects invited to participate in the study, 611 (34.5%) installed the mobile app, and 150 (8.5%)
participated in the survey. Subjects under 65 were more likely to install the application than those 65—74, as were subjects with
a steady job versus those without one. Subjects under 65 years of age showed a higher responding rate to the invitation to participate in the mobile survey. Individuals who abused alcohol were less likely to agree to participate in the mobile survey. The majority of respondents are vaccinated against COVID-19 (81%). Vaccinated subjects and those confident in the effectiveness of nonspecific preventive measures were more likely to have positive attitudes towards vaccination.
Conclusion. The low response rate to the survey resulting in an unrepresentative sample determined the low effectiveness of the survey using the mobile app. When overcoming these obstacles, mobile applications have the potential to be used in scientific research due to their high speed, accessibility, and ease of data collection
Prevalence of metabolic phenotypes among citizens of Arctic area of the Russian Federation (in Arkhangelsk city setting)
BACKGROUND: Influence of obesity on the body at whole and with regard to metabolic changes is still unclear. In Russia there are a few data about prevalence of metabolic phenotypes among population based on epidemiological data.AIM: to assess the prevalence of metabolic phenotypes among citizens of Arctic area of the Russian Federation (in the Arkhangelsk city setting).MATERIALS AND METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted using a random sample of Arkhangelsk citizens (n=2380) 35–69 years old, which was obtained within a population study of cardiovascular diseases («Know your heart» (KYH)). The participants were divided into metabolic phenotypes according to the presence of obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2) and metabolic syndrome (AHA/NHBLI): phenotype 1 — metabolically healthy normal weight, phenotype 2 — metabolically unhealthy normal weight, phenotype 3 — metabolically healthy obesity, phenotype 4 — metabolically unhealthy obesity.RESULTS: 2352 participants of KYH were included in the study, 982 (41,8%) men and 1370 (58,3%) women. Mean age was 53,9 (SD 9,7) years. The distribution of participants by metabolic phenotypes was as follows: 1167 (49,6%) persons had phenotype 1, 489 (20,8%) — phenotype 2, 248 (10,5%) — phenotype 3, 448 (19,1%) — phenotype 4. In men, the second common after the first phenotype was phenotype 2, while in women, the second position was shared by the 2nd and 4th phenotypes, which had approximately the same frequency. «Arterial hypertension» was the most prevalent component of metabolic syndrome and seen in 68–96% men and 38–94% women in the study with different phenotypes. The proportions of phenotypes with metabolic disorders increased with age.CONCLUSION: in a study of a random population sample within the framework of the concept of metabolic phenotypes, a half of the participants had no obesity and metabolic syndrome. Proportions of participants with metabolic disorders with and without obesity was 20% each. Only 10% of participants had «metabolically healthy» obesity. If excluding individuals without obesity and metabolic syndrome, the phenotype characterized by metabolic disorders in the absence of obesity was the most common among men. Phenotypes with metabolic disorders on the background of obesity or without obesity were equally common among women. The most common component of metabolic syndrome was «arterial hypertension». There was a tendency of accumulation of metabolic disturbances with age
An Improved Limit on Invisible Decays of Positronium
The results of a new search for positronium decays into invisible final
states are reported. Convincing detection of this decay mode would be a strong
evid ence for new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM): for example the
existence of extra--dimensions, of milli-charged particles, of new light gauge
bosons or of mirror particles. Mirror matter could be a relevant dark matter
candidate.
In this paper the setup and the results of a new experiment are presented. In
a collected sample of about orthopositronium decay
s, no evidence for invisible decays in an energy window [0,80] keV was found
and an upper limit on the branching ratio of orthopositronium \invdecay could
be set: \binvdecay<4.2\times 10^{-7} (90% C.L.)
Our results provide a limit on the photon mirror-photon mixing strength
(90% C.L.) and rule out particles lighter
than the electron mass with a fraction of the
electron charge. Furthermore, upper limits on the branching ratios for the
decay of parapositronium (90%
C.L.) and the direct annihilation (90% C.L.) could be set.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures, added references, fixed limit on millicharged
particles and changed two plots accordingl
Search for an exotic three-body decay of orthopositronium
We report on a direct search for a three-body decay of the orthopositronium
into a photon and two penetrating particles, o-Ps -> gamma + X1 + X2. The
existence of this decay could explain the discrepancy between the measured and
the predicted values of the orthopositronium decay rate. From the analysis of
the collected data a single candidate event is found, consistent with the
expected background. This allows to set an upper limit on the branching ratio <
4.4 \times 10^{-5} (at the 90% confidence level), for the photon energy in the
range from 40 keV < E_gamma< 400 keV and for mass values in the kinematical
range 0
gamma + X1 + X2 decay mode as the origin of the discrepancy.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure
A new measurement of the properties of the rare decay K -> pi+ e+ e-
A large low-background sample of events (10300) has been collected for the
rare decay of kaons in flight K+ -> pi+ e+ e- by experiment E865 at the
Brookhaven AGS. The decay products were accepted by a broad band
high-resolution charged particle spectrometer with particle identification. The
branching ratio (2.94 +- 0.05(stat.) +- 0.13(syst.) +- 0.05(model))*10**{-7}
was determined normalizing to events from the decay chain K+ -> pi+ pi0; pi0 ->
e+ e- gamma. From the analysis of the decay distributions the vector nature of
this decay is firmly established now, and limits on scalar and tensor
contributions are deduced. From the (e+ e-) invariant mass distribution the
decay form factor f(z)=f0(1+ delta*z) (z=M(ee)**2/m(K)**2) is determined with
delta=2.14 +- 0.13 +- 0.15. Chiral QCD perturbation theory predictions for the
form factor are also tested, and terms beyond leading order O(p**4) are found
to be important.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Study of the K- -> pi0 e- nu decay
The decay K- -> pi0 e- nu has been studied using in-flight decays detected
with "ISTRA+" setup operating at the 25 GeV negative secondary beam of the U-70
PS. About 130K events were used for the analysis. The lambda_+ parameter of the
vector formfactor has been measured: lambda_+ = 0.0293 +- 0.0015(stat) +-
0.002(syst).
The limits on the possible tensor and scalar couplings have been derived:
f_T/f_+(0)=-0.044 +0.059 -0.057 (stat) f_S/f_+(0)=-0.020 +0.025 -0.016 (stat)Comment: 11 pages, Latex, 9 picture
Performance of the CMS Cathode Strip Chambers with Cosmic Rays
The Cathode Strip Chambers (CSCs) constitute the primary muon tracking device
in the CMS endcaps. Their performance has been evaluated using data taken
during a cosmic ray run in fall 2008. Measured noise levels are low, with the
number of noisy channels well below 1%. Coordinate resolution was measured for
all types of chambers, and fall in the range 47 microns to 243 microns. The
efficiencies for local charged track triggers, for hit and for segments
reconstruction were measured, and are above 99%. The timing resolution per
layer is approximately 5 ns
Performance and Operation of the CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter
The operation and general performance of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter
using cosmic-ray muons are described. These muons were recorded after the
closure of the CMS detector in late 2008. The calorimeter is made of lead
tungstate crystals and the overall status of the 75848 channels corresponding
to the barrel and endcap detectors is reported. The stability of crucial
operational parameters, such as high voltage, temperature and electronic noise,
is summarised and the performance of the light monitoring system is presented
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