Global constraints on absolute neutrino masses and their ordering

Within the standard three-neutrino framework, the absolute neutrino masses and their ordering (either normal, NO, or inverted, IO) are currently unknown. However, the combination of current data coming from oscillation experiments, neutrinoless double beta decay searches, and cosmological surveys, can provide interesting constraints for such unknowns in the sub-eV mass range, down to O(0.1) eV in some cases. We discuss current limits on absolute neutrino mass observables by performing a global data analysis, that includes the latest results from oscillation experiments, neutrinoless double beta decay bounds from the KamLAND-Zen experiment, and constraints from representative combinations of Planck measurements and other cosmological data sets. In general, NO appears to be somewhat favored with respect to IO at the level of ~2 sigma, mainly by neutrino oscillation data (especially atmospheric), corroborated by cosmological data in some cases. Detailed constraints are obtained via the chi^2 method, by expanding the parameter space either around separate minima in NO and IO, or around the absolute minimum in any ordering. Implications for upcoming oscillation and non-oscillation neutrino experiments, including beta-decay searches, are also discussed.Comment: 17 pages, including 3 tables and 11 figure

Shared alterations in resting-state brain connectivity in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and their unaffected first-degree relatives.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental condition that often persists into adulthood with extensive negative consequences on quality of life. Despite emerging evidence indicating the genetic basis of ADHD, investigations into the familial expression of latent neurocognitive traits remain limited. METHODS: In a group of adult ADHD probands (n = 20), their unaffected first-degree relatives (n = 20) and typically developing control participants (n = 20), we assessed endophenotypic alterations in the default mode network (DMN) connectivity during resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in relation to cognitive performance and clinical symptoms. In an external validation step, we also examined the dimensional nature of this neurocognitive trait in a sample of unrelated healthy young adults (n = 100) from the Human Connectome Project (HCP). RESULTS: The results illustrated reduced anti-correlations between the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus and right middle frontal gyrus that was shared between adult ADHD probands and their first-degree relatives, but not with healthy controls. The observed connectivity alterations were linked to higher ADHD symptoms that was mediated by performance in a sustained attention task. Moreover, this brain-based neurocognitive trait dimensionally explained ADHD symptom variability in the HCP sample. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations in the default mode connectivity may represent a dimensional endophenotype of ADHD, hence a significant aspect of the neuropathophysiology of this disorder. As such, brain network organisation can potentially be employed as an important neurocognitive trait to enhance statistical power of genetic studies in ADHD and as a surrogate efficacy endpoint in the development of novel pharmaceuticals

anosmia in COVID-19. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 through the nasoliary epithelium and a possible spreading way to the central nervous system—a purpose to study

Italy is currently one of the countries most affected by the global emergency of COVID-19, a lethal disease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).1 A lot of emergency centers from China,2 United Kingdom, and Italy,3 including our Department of Policlinic Umberto I of Rome, reported a significant number of COVID-19 patients presenting anosmia and ageusia as onset symptoms,4 and it is reported that anosmia appear at an early stage of the disease

Determination of pKa and Hydration Constants for a Series of α-Keto-Carboxylic Acids Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry

The determination of the acid-base dissociation constants, and thus the pKa values, of α-keto acids such as pyruvic acid is complex because of the existence of these acids in their hydrated and nonhydrated or oxo state. Equilibria involved in the hydration and dehydration of the α-keto group of pyruvic acid and three other α-keto acids, 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoic acid, 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoic acid, and 2-oxo-2-phenylacetic acid, were investigated by proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, at constant ionic strength, 0.15, and 25°C. Dissociation constants for the oxo (pKaoxo) and hydrated (pKahyd) acids of each compound were estimated from the change in the degree of hydration with changes in pH and directly from the changes in chemical shifts of various hydrogen and carbons nuclei with pH. α-Keto acids showed greater hydration in their acidic forms than their carboxylate forms. The degree of hydration was sensitive to steric and electronic/resonance factors. As expected, the oxo forms of the acids were stronger acids compared with their hydrated analogs, and their dissociation constants were also sensitive to steric and electronic factors

Qualidade no atendimento ao cliente no SENAC - Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso apresentado ao Departamento Acadêmico de Administração da Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, campus Professor Francisco Gonçalves Quiles, para obtenção do título de Bacharel em Administração. Orientador: Prof. M.e Geraldo da Silva Correia.O presente trabalho descreve a qualidade no atendimento aos clientes do SENAC (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial). Existem vários pontos a serem trabalhados quando se fala em atendimento ao cliente, considerando que sempre há algum ponto a ser melhorado, adaptado ou alterado para conseguir realizar um atendimento satisfatório. A pesquisa realizada teve como procedimento uma pesquisa exploratória direta. Com o propósito de alcançar os objetivos mensurados; foram aplicados cento e cinqüenta questionários junto aos clientes do SENAC, empregando-se as técnicas de pesquisa bibliográficas e levantamento de dados tabulados por meio de planilha Excel, expondo o material pesquisado de forma descritiva. Com isso foi possível verificar a opinião dos clientes quanto ao que poderia ser melhorado, buscando a satisfação total dos mesmos. Os resultados obtidos foram sempre objetivando principalmente a melhora no desempenho dos funcionários perante seus clientes, sendo que o mesmo geralmente tem uma boa imagem da empresa já que são mais de 67 anos de história. Um atendimento de qualidade consta como diferencial para uma organização de sucesso, é o que pode ser comprovado com essa pesquisa realizada para compor o presente artigo. Quando uma empresa é negligente no bom relacionamento com seus clientes, corre o risco de perdê-los e ter sua imagem fortemente comprometida. Por fim, sugere-se aumentar o número de funcionários e também treinamentos para que estes tenham no que se respaldar e consequentemente satisfazer as necessidades de seus clientes

Inference for Lorenz curve orderings

Summary In this paper we consider the issue of performing statistical inference for Lorenz curve orderings. This involves testing for an ordered relationship in a multivariate context and making comparisons among more than two population distributions. Our approach is to frame the hypotheses of interest as sets of linear inequality constraints on the vector of Lorenz curve ordinates, and apply order-restricted statistical inference to derive test statistics and their sampling distributions. We go on to relate our results to others which have appeared in recent literature, and use Monte Carlo analysis to highlight their respective properties and comparative performances. Finally, we discuss in general terms the issue and problems of framing hypotheses, and testing them, in the context of the study of income inequality, and suggest ways in which the distributional analyst could best proceed, illustrating with empirical examples

Minimally Invasive Treatment of Acute Intrahepatic Fluid Collections With Acute Biliary Pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: Peripancreatic fluid collection suggests the anatomical-clinical scenario of necrotizing acute pancreatitis. However, intrahepatic fluid collection is a rare occurrence with fewer than 30 cases being reported in the medical literature. We describe 2 cases of intrahepatic fluid collection in 2 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis and discuss the therapeutic possibilities. CASE REPORTS: The first case report is that of a 68-year-old female with a diagnosis of acute biliary pancreatitis with several necrotizing fluid collections and a large infected intrahepatic collection in the left lobe. The patient was successfully treated by percutaneous US/CT guided drainage. The second case report is that of a 72-year-old female with a diagnosis of acute biliary pancreatitis with several peripancreatic fluid collections and a voluminous intrahepatic fluid collection in the left lobe that caused epigastric pain. This patient was also successfully treated with percutaneous US/CT guided drainage. CONCLUSION: Intrahepatic fluid collection in the course of acute biliary pancreatitis is a rare occurrence. The therapeutic approach is the same as that for pancreatic and peripancreatic fluid collections. In case of infection, the patient undergoes percutaneous US/CT guided drainage. This therapeutic procedure can be added to the therapeutic program for necrotizing acute biliary pancreatitis together with ERCP/ES and videolaparocholecystectomy (VLC)

Performance of the ALICE luminosity levelling software architecture in the Pb-Pb physics run

Luminosity leveling is performed in the ALICE experi-ment of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in order to limitthe event pile-up probability, and ensure a safe operation forthe detectors. It will be even more important during Run3 when 50 KHz Pb ion-Pb ion (Pb-Pb) collisions will bedelivered in IP2. On the ALICE side, it is handled by theALICE-LHC Interface project, which also ensures an onlinedata exchange between ALICE and the LHC. An automated luminosity leveling algorithm was developed for the proton-proton physics run, and was also deployed for the Pb-Pb run with some minor changes following experience gained. The algorithm is implemented in the SIMATIC WinCC SCADA environment, and determines the leveling step from measured beam parameters received from the LHC, and the luminosity recorded by ALICE. In this paper, the softwarearchitecture of the luminosity leveling software is presented,and the performance achieved during the Pb-Pb run and Vander Meer scans is discussed.peer-reviewe

Microbiota of the Tongue and Systemic Connections: The Examination of the Tongue as an Integrated Approach in Oral Medicine

The tongue is able to quickly reflect the state of health or disease of the human body. Tongue inspection is an important diagnostic approach. It is a unique method that allows to explore the pathogenesis of diseases based on the guiding principles of the holistic concept that involves the observation of changes in the lining of the tongue in order to understand the physiological functions and pathological changes of the body. It is a potential method of screening and early detection of cancer. However, the subjective inspection of the tongue has a low reliability index, and therefore computerized systems of acquisition of diagnostic bioinformation have been developed to analyze the lining of the tongue. Next-generation sequencing technology is used to determine the V2–V4 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA to study the microbiota. A lot of neoplasms are identified only at an advanced phase, while in the early stages, many subjects remain in an asymptomatic form. On the contrary, the early diagnosis is able to increase the prognosis of cancer and improve the survival rates of subjects. Evidently, it is necessary to develop new strategies in oral medicine for the early diagnosis of diseases, and the diagnosis of the tongue as a minimally invasive method is certainly one of them