Limit on τ\tau branching ratios into 7 or more charged particles and into undetected particles

We present studies of QCD Coherence phenomenom, well know as the Angluar Ordering (AO), which has been predicted by QCD theory. The analysis is based on the Particle-Particle-Correlation-Asymetery (PPCA) and on the Energy-Mutiplicity-Mutiplicity-Correlation (EMMC) functions, as observables sensitive to Angular Ordering. The Monte Carlo programs and a sample of 800000 hadronic events registered by ALEPH detector in 1992 and 1993 were used in this analysis. We find that the data favors Monte Carlo programs with AO, which supports the QCD prediction

Airway Remodeling in Feline Lungs

Airway remodeling encompass structural changes that occur as the result of chronic injury and lead to persistently altered airway structure and function. Although this process is known in several human respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), airway remodeling is poorly characterized in the feline counterpart. In this study, we describe the spontaneous pulmonary changes in 3 cats paralleling the airway remodeling reported in humans. We observed airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) hyperplasia (peribronchial and interstitial), airway subepithelial and interstitial fibrosis, and vascular remodeling by increased number of vessels in the bronchial submucosa. The hyperplastic ASMCs co-expressed α-SMA, vimentin and desmin suggesting that vimentin, which is not normally expressed by ASMCs, may play a role in airway thickening, and remodeling. ASMCs had strong cytoplasmic expression of TGFβ-1, which is known to contribute to tissue remodeling in asthma and in various bronchial and interstitial lung diseases, suggesting its involvement in the pathogenesis of ASMCs hyperplasia. Our findings provide histologic evidence of airway remodeling in cats. Further studies on larger caseloads are needed to support our conclusions on the value of this feline condition as an animal model for nonspecific airway remodeling in humans

Diagnostic Accuracy of Five Serologic Tests for Strongyloides stercoralis Infection

Background:The diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis) infection is hampered by the suboptimal sensitivity of fecal-based tests. Serological methods are believed to be more sensitive, although assessing their accuracy is difficult because of the lack of sensitivity of a fecal-based reference ("gold") standard.Methods:The sensitivity and specificity of 5 serologic tests for S. stercoralis (in-house IFAT, NIE-ELISA and NIE-LIPS and the commercially available Bordier-ELISA and IVD-ELISA) were assessed on 399 cryopreserved serum samples. Accuracy was measured using fecal results as the primary reference standard, but also using a composite reference standard (based on a combination of tests).Results:According to the latter standard, the most sensitive test was IFAT, with 94.6% sensitivity (91.2-96.9), followed by IVD-ELISA (92.3%, 87.7-96.9). The most specific test was NIE-LIPS, with specificity 99.6% (98.9-100), followed by IVD-ELISA (97.4%, 95.5-99.3). NIE-LIPS did not cross-react with any of the specimens from subjects with other parasitic infections. NIE-LIPS and the two commercial ELISAs approach 100% specificity at a cut off level that maintains ≥70% sensitivity.Conclusions:NIE-LIPS is the most accurate serologic test for the diagnosis of S. stercoralis infection. IFAT and each of the ELISA tests are sufficiently accurate, above a given cut off, for diagnosis, prevalence studies and inclusion in clinical trials.Fil: Bisoffi, Zeno. Sacro Cuore Hospital; ItaliaFil: Buonfrate, Dora. Sacro Cuore Hospital; ItaliaFil: Sequi, Marco. Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri; ItaliaFil: Mejia, Rojelio. National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases; Estados UnidosFil: Cimino, Rubén Oscar. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Sede Regional Orán. Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Krolewiecki, Alejandro Javier. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Sede Regional Orán. Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Albonico, Marco. Sacro Cuore Hospital; ItaliaFil: Gobbo, Maria. Sacro Cuore Hospital; ItaliaFil: Bonafini, Stefania. Sacro Cuore Hospital; ItaliaFil: Angheben, Andrea. Sacro Cuore Hospital; ItaliaFil: Requena-Mendez, Ana. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Muñoz, José. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Nutman, Thomas B.. National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases; Estados Unido

The COMPASS Event Store in 2002

COMPASS, the fixed-target experiment at CERN studying the structure of the nucleon and spectroscopy, collected over 260 TB during summer 2002 run. All these data, together with reconstructed events information, were put from the beginning in a database infrastructure based on Objectivity/DB and on the hierarchical storage manager CASTOR. The experience in the usage of the database is reviewed and the evolution of the system outlined.Comment: Talk from the 2003 conference: "Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics" (CHEP03), La Jolla, Ca, USA, March 2003, 6 pages. PSN MOKT01

RHIP, a Radio-controlled High-Voltage Insulated Picoammeter and its usage in studying ion backflow in MPGD-based photon detectors

A picoammeter system has been developed and engineering. It consists in a current-voltage converter, based on an operational amplifier with very low input current, a high precision ADC, a radio controlled data acquisition unit and the computer-based control, visualization and storage. The precision is of the order of a tenth of picoampers and it can measure currents between electrodes at potentials up to 8 kV. The system is battery powered and a number of strategies have been implemented to limit the power consumption. The system is designed for multichannel applications, up to 256 parallel channels. The overall implementation is cost-effective to make the availability of multichannel setups easily affordable. The design, implementation and performance of the picoammeter system are described in detail as well as a an application: the measurement of ion backflow in MPGD-based photon detectors.Comment: 5th International Conference on Micro-Pattern Gas Detectors (MPGD2017), presentation by Silvia Dalla Torr

Life satisfaction and musculoskeletal complaints in a population seeking osteopathy care: consecutive sample of 611 patients.

BackgroundLife satisfaction is a component of the subjective well-being construct. Research consistently suggests that life satisfaction is associated with enhanced social benefits and improved health outcomes. However, its relationship to musculoskeletal health outcomes is underexplored. This study evaluates the life satisfaction of a patient population presenting with musculoskeletal complaints, and the relationship of life satisfaction with other health demographics and behaviours.MethodThe study used a consecutive sampling design. Patients attending the Victoria University Osteopathy Clinic (Melbourne, Australia) were invited to complete the PROMIS® General Life Satisfaction scale (GLSS) along with questions related to health demographics and behaviours.ResultsThe GLSS T-score was not significantly different for gender, being born outside of Australia, speaking English at home, or complaint chronicity.ConclusionsLife satisfaction did not appear to be related to a range of health and demographic variables in the current musculoskeletal pain cohort. The PROMIS® General Life Satisfaction scale could prove useful to explore the relationship between life satisfaction and treatment outcomes for musculoskeletal complaints