Inelastic interaction mean free path of negative pions in tungsten

The inelastic interaction mean free paths lambda of 5, 10, and 15 GeV/c pions were measured by determining the distribution of first interaction locations in a modular tungsten-scintillator ionization spectrometer. In addition to commonly used interaction signatures of a few (2-5) particles in two or three consecutive modules, a chi2 distribution is used to calculate the probability that the first interaction occurred at a specific depth in the spectrometer. This latter technique seems to be more reliable than use of the simpler criteria. No significant dependence of lambda on energy was observed. In tungsten, lambda for pions is 206 plus or minus 6 g/sq cm

Mechanisms of Injury and Countermeasures for EVA Associated Upper Extremity Medical Issues: Extended Vent Tube Study

The goal of this study is to determine the role that moisture plays in the injury to the fingers and fingernails during EVA training operations in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Current Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU, with a PLSS) as configured in the NBL was used for all testing and a vent tube was extended down a single arm of the crewmember during the test; vent tube was moved between left and right arm to serve as experimental condition being investigated and the other arm served as control condition

Numerical simulations of stellar SiO maser variability. Investigation of the effect of shocks

A stellar hydrodynamic pulsation model has been combined with a SiO maser model in an attempt to calculate the temporal variability of SiO maser emission in the circumstellar envelope (CE) of a model AGB star. This study investigates whether the variations in local physical conditions brought about by shocks are the predominant contributing factor to SiO maser variability because, in this work, the radiative part of the pump is constant. We find that some aspects of the variability are not consistent with a pump provided by shock-enhanced collisions alone. In these simulations, gas parcels of relatively enhanced SiO abundance are distributed in a model CE by a Monte Carlo method, at a single epoch of the stellar cycle. From this epoch on, Lagrangian motions of individual parcels are calculated according to the velocity fields encountered in the model CE during the stellar pulsation cycle. The potentially masing gas parcels therefore experience different densities and temperatures, and have varying line-of-sight velocity gradients throughout the stellar cycle, which may or may not be suitable to produce maser emission. At each epoch (separated by 16.6 days), emission lines from the parcels are combined to produce synthetic spectra and VLBI-type images. We report here the results for v=1, J=1-0 (43-GHz) and J=2-1 (86-GHz) masers.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, accepted by A&

General population screening for type 1 diabetes using islet autoantibodies at the preschool vaccination visit:a proof-of-concept study (the T1Early study)

Objective: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) screening programmes testing islet autoantibodies (IAbs) in childhood can reduce life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis. General population screening is required to detect the majority of children with T1D, since in >85% there is no family history. Age 3–5 years has been proposed as an optimal age for a single screen approach. Design: Capillary samples were collected from children attending their preschool vaccination and analysed for IAbs to insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase, islet antigen-2 and zinc transporter 8 using radiobinding/luciferase immunoprecipitation system assays. Acceptability was assessed using semistructured interviews and open-ended postcard questionnaires with parents. Setting: Two primary care practices in Oxfordshire, UK. Main outcome measures: The ability to collect capillary blood to test IAbs in children at the routine preschool vaccination (3.5–4 years). Results: Of 134 parents invited, 66 (49%) were recruited (median age 3.5 years (IQR 3.4–3.6), 26 (39.4%) male); 63 provided a sample (97% successfully), and one participant was identified with a single positive IAb. Parents (n=15 interviews, n=29 postcards) were uniformly positive about screening aligned to vaccination and stated they would have been less likely to take part had screening been a separate visit. Themes identified included preparedness for T1D and the long-term benefit outweighing short-term upset. The perceived volume of the capillary sample was a potential concern and needs optimising. Conclusions: Capillary IAb testing is a possible method to screen children for T1D. Aligning collection to the preschool vaccination visit can be convenient for families without the need for an additional visit

Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of Morphogenetic and Developmental Traits in an SSR and AFLP-Based Genetic Map of White Clover (\u3cem\u3eTrifolium Repens\u3c/em\u3e L.)

Molecular marker-assisted plant breeding is a key target for the temperate legume pasture crop white clover (Trifolium repens L.). The first genetic linkage map of white clover has been constructed using self-fertile mutants to derive an intercross based fourth and fifth generation inbred parental genotypes (F2[I.4R x I.5J]). The framework map was constructed using simple sequence repeat (TRSSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Eighteen linkage groups (LG) corresponding to the anticipated 16 chromosomes of white clover (2n = 4x = 32), with a total map length of 825 cM were derived from a total of 135 markers (78 TRSSR loci and 57 AFLP loci). The F2(I.4R x I.5J) family has been subjected to intensive phenotypic analysis for a range of morphogenetic and developmental traits over several years at IGER, Aberystwyth, Wales and East Craigs, near Edinburgh, Scotland. The resulting phenotypic data were analysed independently to identify QTL (quantitative trait loci) for the various traits, using single marker regression (SMR), interval mapping (IM) and composite interval mapping (CIM) techniques. Multiple coincident QTL regions were identified from the different years and different sites for the same or related traits. The data were reanalysed using a meta-analysis across years and sites and Best Linear Unbiased Estimates (BLUEs) were derived for the plant spread, petiole length, leaf width, leaf length, leaf area, internode length, plant height and flowering date traits. A total of 24 QTLs were identified on 10 of the linkage groups. Three regions on LGs 2, 7 and 12 all demonstrated overlapping QTLs for multiple traits (Figure 1). A meta-analysis approach can quickly identify regions of the genome that control the trait in a robust predictable manner across multiple spatial and temporal replication for rapid targeted genetic enhancement via marker-assisted breeding. This first genetic dissection of agronomic traits in white clover provides the basis for comparative trait-mapping studies and the enhanced development and implementation of marker-assisted breeding strategies

General population screening for type 1 diabetes using islet autoantibodies at the preschool vaccination visit:a proof-of-concept study (the T1Early study)

Objective: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) screening programmes testing islet autoantibodies (IAbs) in childhood can reduce life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis. General population screening is required to detect the majority of children with T1D, since in >85% there is no family history. Age 3–5 years has been proposed as an optimal age for a single screen approach. Design: Capillary samples were collected from children attending their preschool vaccination and analysed for IAbs to insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase, islet antigen-2 and zinc transporter 8 using radiobinding/luciferase immunoprecipitation system assays. Acceptability was assessed using semistructured interviews and open-ended postcard questionnaires with parents. Setting: Two primary care practices in Oxfordshire, UK. Main outcome measures: The ability to collect capillary blood to test IAbs in children at the routine preschool vaccination (3.5–4 years). Results: Of 134 parents invited, 66 (49%) were recruited (median age 3.5 years (IQR 3.4–3.6), 26 (39.4%) male); 63 provided a sample (97% successfully), and one participant was identified with a single positive IAb. Parents (n=15 interviews, n=29 postcards) were uniformly positive about screening aligned to vaccination and stated they would have been less likely to take part had screening been a separate visit. Themes identified included preparedness for T1D and the long-term benefit outweighing short-term upset. The perceived volume of the capillary sample was a potential concern and needs optimising. Conclusions: Capillary IAb testing is a possible method to screen children for T1D. Aligning collection to the preschool vaccination visit can be convenient for families without the need for an additional visit

Circulating Serum Exosomal miRNAs As Potential Biomarkers for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Author version made available in accordance with publisher policy.Abstract Background The poor prognosis and rising incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma highlight the need for improved detection methods. The potential for circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as biomarkers in other cancers has been shown, but circulating miRNAs have not been well characterized in esophageal adenocarcinoma. We investigated whether circulating exosomal miRNAs have potential to discriminate individuals with esophageal adenocarcinoma from healthy controls and non-dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus. Methods Seven hundred fifty-eight miRNAs were profiled in serum circulating exosomes from a cohort of 19 healthy controls, 10 individuals with Barrett’s esophagus, and 18 individuals with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma. MiRNA expression was assessed using all possible permutations of miRNA ratios per individual. Four hundred eight miRNA ratios were differentially expressed in individuals with cancer compared to controls and Barrett’s esophagus (Mann-Whitney U test, P<0.05). The 179/408 ratios discriminated esophageal adenocarcinoma from healthy controls and Barrett’s esophagus (linear regression, P0.7, P<0.05). A multi-biomarker panel (RNU6-1/miR- 16-5p, miR-25-3p/miR-320a, let-7e-5p/miR-15b-5p, miR- 30a-5p/miR-324-5p, miR-17-5p/miR-194-5p) demonstrated enhanced specificity and sensitivity (area under ROC=0.99, 95 % CI 0.96–1.0) over single miRNA ratios to distinguish esophageal adenocarcinoma from controls and Barrett’s esophagus. Conclusions This study highlights the potential for serum exosomal miRNAs as biomarkers for the detection of esophageal adenocarcinoma

Does Manual Therapy Provide Additional Benefit To Breathing Retraining In The Management Of Dysfunctional Breathing? A Randomised Controlled Trial

Purpose: Dysfunctional breathing (DB) is associated with an abnormal breathing pattern, unexplained breathlessness and significant patient morbidity. Treatment involves breathing retraining through respiratory physiotherapy. Recently, manual therapy (MT) has also been used, but no evidence exists to validate its use. This study sought to investigate whether MT produces additional benefit when compared with breathing retraining alone in patients with DB. Methods: Sixty subjects with primary DB were randomised into either breathing retraining (standard treatment; n¼30) or breathing retraining plus MT (intervention; n¼30) group. Both the groups received standardised respiratory physiotherapy, which included: DB education, breathing retraining, home regimen, and audio disc. Intervention group subjects additionally received MT following further assessment. Data from 57 subjects were analysed. Results: At baseline, standard treatment group subjects were statistically younger (41.7 + 13.5 versus 50.8 + 13.0 years; p¼0.001) with higher Nijmegen scores (38.6 + 9.5 versus 31.5 + 6.9; p¼0.001). However, no significant difference was found between the groups for primary outcome Nijmegen score (95% CI ( 1.1, 6.6) p¼0.162), or any secondary outcomes (Hospital Anxiety & Depression Score, spirometry or exercise tolerance). Conclusion: Breathing retraining is currently the mainstay of treatment for patients with DB. The results of this study suggest MT provides no additional benefit in this patient group.Juliana Burgess, Dr Robert Wilson, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, and Dr Andy Jones fo

Signaling in Secret: Pay-for-Performance and the Incentive and Sorting Effects of Pay Secrecy

Key Findings: Pay secrecy adversely impacts individual task performance because it weakens the perception that an increase in performance will be accompanied by increase in pay; Pay secrecy is associated with a decrease in employee performance and retention in pay-for-performance systems, which measure performance using relative (i.e., peer-ranked) criteria rather than an absolute scale (see Figure 2 on page 5); High performing employees tend to be most sensitive to negative pay-for- performance perceptions; There are many signals embedded within HR policies and practices, which can influence employees’ perception of workplace uncertainty/inequity and impact their performance and turnover intentions; and When pay transparency is impractical, organizations may benefit from introducing partial pay openness to mitigate these effects on employee performance and retention