The Underlying Event in Herwig++

We review the modelling of multiple interactions in the event generator Herwig++ and study implications of recent tuning efforts to LHC data. A crucial ingredient to a successful description of minimum-bias and underlying-event observables is a model for colour reconnection. Improvements to this model, inspired by statistical physics, are presented.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Contribution to the DIS 2012 proceeding

Simulation of Soft Inclusive Events at Hadron Colliders

Soft high-energy hadron collisions are driven by nonperturbative physics. This thesis investigates nonperturbative colour reconnections in a Monte Carlo event generator. This model allows for an improved simulation of soft inclusive events and the underlying event. To account for diffraction in simulated inclusive event samples, a unitarization model for diffractive cross sections, based on a two-channel eikonal formalism and enhanced pomeron diagrams, is analytically developed and studied

High-Throughput miRNA and mRNA Sequencing of Paired Colorectal Normal, Tumor and Metastasis Tissues and Bioinformatic Modeling of miRNA-1 Therapeutic Applications

MiRNAs are discussed as diagnostic and therapeutic molecules. However, effective miRNA drug treatments with miRNAs are, so far, hampered by the complexity of the miRNA networks. To identify potential miRNA drugs in colorectal cancer, we profiled miRNA and mRNA expression in matching normal, tumor and metastasis tissues of eight patients by Illumina sequencing. We validated six miRNAs in a large tissue screen containing 16 additional tumor entities and identified miRNA-1, miRNA-129, miRNA-497 and miRNA-215 as constantly de-regulated within the majority of cancers. Of these, we investigated miRNA-1 as representative in a systems-biology simulation of cellular cancer models implemented in PyBioS and assessed the effects of depletion as well as overexpression in terms of miRNA-1 as a potential treatment option. In this system, miRNA-1 treatment reverted the disease phenotype with different effectiveness among the patients. Scoring the gene expression changes obtained through mRNA-Seq from the same patients we show that the combination of deep sequencing and systems biological modeling can help to identify patient-specific responses to miRNA treatments. We present this data as guideline for future pre-clinical assessments of new and personalized therapeutic options

Prevalence of pain and its associated factors among the oldest-olds in different care settings – results of the AgeQualiDe study

Background; The prevalence of pain is very common in the oldest age group. Managing pain successfully is a key topic in primary care, especially within the ageing population. Different care settings might have an impact on the prevalence of pain and everyday life. Methods: Participants from the German longitudinal cohort study on Needs, Health Service Use, Costs and Health-related Quality of Life in a large Sample of Oldest-old Primary Care Patients (85+) (AgeQualiDe) were asked to rate their severity of pain as well as the impairment with daily activities. Besides gender, age, education, BMI and use of analgesics we focused on the current housing situation and on cognitive state. Associations of the dependent measures were tested using four ordinal logistic regression models. Model 1 and 4 consisted of the overall sample, model 2 and 3 were divided according to no cognitive impairment (NCI) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Results: Results show a decline in pain at very old age but nonetheless a high prevalence among the 85+ year olds. Sixty-three per cent of the participants report mild to severe pain and 69% of the participants mild to extreme impairment due to pain with daily activities. Use of analgesics, depression and living at home with care support are significantly associated with higher and male gender with lower pain ratings. Conclusions: Sufficient pain management among the oldest age group is inevitable. Outpatient care settings are at risk of overlooking pain. Therefore focus should be set on pain management in these settings

Changes in Social Network Size Are Associated With Cognitive Changes in the Oldest-Old

Objectives:Social isolation is increasing in aging societies and several studies have shown a relation with worse cognition in old age. However, less is known about the association in the oldest-old (85+); the group that is at highest risk for both social isolation and dementia. Methods:Analyses were based on follow-up 5 to 9 of the longitudinal German study on aging, cognition, and dementia in primary care patients (AgeCoDe) and the study on needs, health service use, costs, and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (AgeQualiDe), a multi-center population-based prospective cohort study. Measurements included the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), with a score below 12 indicating social isolation, as well as the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) as an indicator of cognitive function. Results:Dementia-free study participants (n = 942) were M = 86.4 (SD = 3.0) years old at observation onset, 68.2% were women. One third (32.3%) of them were socially isolated. Adjusted linear hybrid mixed effects models revealed significantly lower cognitive function in individuals with smaller social networks (β = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3-0.7, p < .001). Moreover, changes in an individual's social network size were significantly associated with cognitive changes over time (β = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1-0.4, p = .003), indicating worse cognitive function with shrinking social networks. Conclusion:Social isolation is highly prevalent among oldest-old individuals, being a risk factor for decreases in cognitive function. Consequently, it is important to maintain a socially active lifestyle into very old age. Likewise, this calls for effective ways to prevent social isolation

Colour reconnections in Herwig++

We describe the implementation details of the colour reconnection model in the event generator Herwig++. We study the impact on final-state observables in detail and confirm the model idea from colour preconfinement on the basis of studies within the cluster hadronization model. Moreover, we show that the description of minimum bias and underlying event data at the LHC is improved with this model and present results of a tune to available data.Comment: 19 pages, 21 figures, 2 tables. Matches with published versio

Recruitment and Baseline Characteristics of Participants in the AgeWell.de Study: A Pragmatic Cluster-Randomized Controlled Lifestyle Trial against Cognitive Decline

Targeting dementia prevention, first trials addressing multiple modifiable risk factors showed promising results in at-risk populations. In Germany, AgeWell.de is the first large-scale initiative investigating the effectiveness of a multi-component lifestyle intervention against cognitive decline. We aimed to investigate the recruitment process and baseline characteristics of the AgeWell.de participants to gain an understanding of the at-risk population and who engages in the intervention. General practitioners across five study sites recruited participants (aged 60-77 years, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia/CAIDE dementia risk score ≥ 9). Structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with eligible participants, including neuropsychological assessments. We analyzed group differences between (1) eligible vs. non-eligible participants, (2) participants vs. non-participants, and (3) between intervention groups. Of 1176 eligible participants, 146 (12.5%) dropped out before baseline; the study population was thus 1030 individuals. Non-participants did not differ from participants in key sociodemographic factors and dementia risk. Study participants were M = 69.0 (SD = 4.9) years old, and 52.1% were women. The average Montreal Cognitive Assessment/MoCA score was 24.5 (SD = 3.1), indicating a rather mildly cognitively impaired study population; however, 39.4% scored ≥ 26, thus being cognitively unimpaired. The bandwidth of cognitive states bears the interesting potential for differential trial outcome analyses. However, trial conduction is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring adjustments to the study protocol with yet unclear methodological consequences

Die Genese der Leptinite und Paragneise zwischen Nordrach und Gengenbach im mittleren Schwarzwald

Nachdem die Erforschung der anatektischen Prozesse lange Jahre das Bild des metamorphen Schwarzwalds prägte, wurden durch das Erkennen von Niedrigdruck- und Mitteldruck-Faziesserien (BLÜMEL 1983) und durch die lithologische Gliederung (WIMMENAUER 1984) neue Akzente im metamorphen Grundgebirge gesetzt. Im Rahmen des Kontinentalen Tiefbohrprogramms der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (KTB) wurde im Raum Nordrach-Gengenbach eine Leptinit-Paragneis-Wechselfolge kartiert. Vier Einheiten konnten unterschieden werden: (1) homogene Areale aus biotitarmen Leptiniten, (2) homogene Areale aus biotitreichen Leptiniten, (3) Areale aus verschiedenen, psammopelitischen Paragneisen und (4) eine Wechsellagerung im Aufschlussbereich zwischen Paragneisen und biotitarmen Leptiniten. Die ganze Wechselfolge stellt einen metamorphen, vulkano-sedimentären Komplex aus mindestens zwei verschiedenen Rhyolithen, rhyolithischen Tuffen, Tonsteinen, Grauwacken/Arkosen und Tuffiten dar. Die Struktur des Arbeitsgebiets wird durch die Wippersbach-Mulde, einen Bereich entlang des Haigerach-Tals mit Tendenz zu einem hochtemperatur-mylonitischen Gefüge und den Nordracher Granit, der parallel zur Foliation der Metamorphite intrudierte, geprägt. Im Mittelbachtal ist in streichender Verlängerung der Zone Diersburg-Berghaupten eine ca. 200 m breite Störungszone aufgeschlossen, die mehrphasig mylonitisch und kataklastisch überprägt wurde. Die biotitarmen Leptinite bestehen im wesentlichen aus 40 % Quarz und 60 % Feldspat. Sie sind nahezu massig, feinkörnig-ungleichkörnig (0,1 - 1 mm) mit amöboiden Kornformen. Mylonitische Gefüge kommen untergeordnet vor. Ihr Mineralbestand lautet: Quarz, Biotit, Granat, Sillimanit, Cordierit, Spinell, Ilmenit, Rutil. Die ehemaligen Hypersolvus-Feldspäte Mesoperthit und Antiperthit zeigen eine Entwicklungsreihe zu diskreten Plagioklas(An10-20)- und Orthoklas-Körnern. Um Granat ist eine Corona aus Cordierit-Quarz-Symplektit oder hellgrünem Biotit entwickelt. Die biotitreichen Leptinite haben durch den erhöhten Biotit-Gehalt (um 3 %) ein flaseriges Gefüge. Ihnen fehlt Mesoperthit, dafür führen sie reichlich Antiperthit (An20). Monazit ist ein charakteristischer akzessorischer Gemengteil. Die chemische Zusammensetzung der Leptinite entspricht der von Rhyolithen und ist über viele km nahezu konstant. Eine Probe ist stark an Uran verarmt. Die untersuchten Leptinite ähneln nach Auftreten, Chemismus und Metamorphose den Leptiniten von Todtmoos im Südschwarzwald. Die Paragneise werden in Quarz-Feldspat-reiche Meta-Grauwacken/Meta-Arkosen und Cordierit-reiche Meta-Pelite gegliedert. Das Gefüge ist feinkörnig, lagig-flaserig, teilweise mittelkörnig-migmatitisch und selten mylonitisch oder metablastisch. Der Mineralbestand lautet: Quarz, Plagioklas(An30), Antiperthit, Orthoklas, Biotit, Cordierit, Granat, Kyanit, Sillimanit (meist pseudomorph nach Kyanit), Andalusit (kontaktmetamorph), Spinell, Diaspor, Rutil, Graphit, Ilmenit und Sulfide. Die chemischen Analysen der Paragneise wurden mit denen von nicht metamorphen Sedimenten verglichen: die cordieritreichen Paragneise konnten als metamorphe Tongesteine bestimmt werden, die Quarz-Feldspat-reichen Paragneise sind metamorphe Grauwacken oder Arkosen, da sich Grauwacken und Arkosen nach ihrer chemischen Analyse nicht eindeutig unterscheiden lassen. Im Arbeitsgebiet gibt es nur ein kleines Amphibolit-Vorkommen. Es handelt sich um einen Cummingtonit-führenden Amphibolit, bei dem sich noch ein früheres Metamorphose-Stadium unter hohen Drücken nachweisen lässt. Der Strukturzustand der Alkalifeldspäte (Or85) ist lithologieabhängig und liegt zwischen Orthoklas und Maximum Mikroklin. Granat ist nur schwach diffusions-zoniert. Die Ca-reichen Zentren und Ca-armen Ränder der Granate zeigen eine Druckentlastung an. Aus den Biotit-Analysen (TiO2 bis 5,3 Gew.-%) wurde abgeleitet, da die Tschermak-Substitution die AlVI-Variation nicht erklären kann, sondern dass der AlVI-Gehalt in den untersuchten Biotiten wahrscheinlich vom Fe/(Fe+Mg)-Verhältnis des Gesteins abhängt. Cordierit (teilweise Fe-reich) ist meist pinitisiert. Bei einigen Piniten kann nicht ausgeschlossen werden, dass nach NEDELEC & PAQUET (1981) nicht Cordierit sondern eine Schmelze das Edukt war. Grüner und brauner Fe-Mg-Zn-Aluminat-Spinell kommt vorwiegend zusammen mit Cordierit (±Diaspor) als Corona um Kyanit vor. Das ganze Aggregat wird durch eine äußere Plagioklas-Corona vom Rest des Gesteins abgekapselt. Die metamorphe Entwicklung der untersuchten Gesteine beginnt mit einem druckbetonten Stadium (Hochdruck-Granulitfazies bis ?Eklogit-Fazies) und der Paragenese Granat + Kyanit + Hypersolvus-Feldspäte + Quarz ± Biotit. Die Temperatur lässt sich nur recht unsicher zu 700 °C abschätzen. Mit dem jetzt vorliegenden Plagioklas ergibt sich mit dem GPAQ-Thermobarometer, dem GRAIL- und dem GRIPS-Barometer ein Druck um 7-9 kbar, der als gut belegter Mindestdruck interpretiert wird. Falls aber während dieses Stadiums die Ca-reichen Granat-Zentren der biotitarmen Leptinite mit einem Hypersolvus-Alkalifeldspat (3 Mol-% Anorthit-Komponente nach der CIPW-Norm der Gesteinsanalyse) und Kyanit im Gleichgewicht standen, dann ergeben sich deutlich höhere Drücke von 14-19 kbar. Dieses Metamorphose-Stadium lässt sich mit dem geochronologischen 480 Ma-Ereignis (Ordovizium) korrelieren. Darauf folgt ein Druckentlastungs-Zwischenstadium mit der Umwandlung von Kyanit in Sillimanit und der Bildung der Spinell-Coronen um Al2SiO5-Minerale. Den Abschluss der Metamorphose-Entwicklung bildet ein statisches Cordieritisierungs-Stadium (LP-HT-Metamorphose, Cordierit-Kalifeldspat-Paragenese). Es bewirkte das statische Wachstum von reichlich Cordierit in Biotit-Sillimanit-reichen Teilgefügen und um Granat. Die Temperatur lag dabei nach dem Granat-Biotit-, dem Granat-Cordierit- und dem Granat-Ilmenit-Thermometer bei 650±50 °C. Der Druck betrug dabei nach dem GPAQ-Thermobarometer 3±2 kbar. Dieses Metamorphose-Stadium ist im NE des Raums Nordrach-Gengenbach stark ausgeprägt, im SW, wo das frühe, druckbetonte Stadium gut erhalten ist, nur schwach. Das statische Cordieritisierungs-Stadium lässt sich in das Karbon einstufen.For many years research of anatectic processes dominated the picture of the metamorphic Black Forest. New impulses were given to metamorphic geology by recognition of low pressure and medium pressure facies series (BLÜMEL 1983) and by lithological differentiation (WIMMENAUER 1984). As part of the German Continental Deep Drilling Program (KTB) a leptinite-paragneiss-sequence was mapped in the area of Nordrach-Gengenbach (Black Forest). Four units were differentiated: (1) homogeneous areas made of biotite-poor leptinites, (2) homogeneous areas made of biotite-rich leptinites, (3) areas of different psammopelitic paragneisses and (4) interlayering of paragneisses and leptinites. The whole sequence is interpreted to be a metamorphic, volcano-sedimentary complex at least made of two different rhyolites, rhyolitic tuffs, claystones, graywackes/arkoses and tuffites. Main structural features of the area are the Wippersbach syncline, an area along the Haigerach-Valley with high temperature mylonitic fabric, and the Nordrach granite, which intruded parallel to the foliation of the gneisses. A 200 m wide polyphase mylonitic-cataclastic fault zone outcrops in the Mittelbach-Valley. This fault zone is the extension of the Zone of Diersburg-Berghaupten, where Late Carboniferous sediments were overthrust by gneisses. Biotite-poor leptinites consist essentially of quartz (40 %) and feldspar (60 %). They are nearly massive, fine grained, uneven grained (0.1 - 1 mm) with amoeboid grain shapes. Mylonitic fabric is subordinate. Their mineral contents is: quartz, biotite, garnet, sillimanite, cordierite, spinel, ilmenite, rutile. The former hypersolvus-feldspars mesoperthite and antiperthite transform to discrete plagioclase(An10-20) and orthoclase grains. Coronas of quartz-cordierite-symplektite or light green biotite are developed around garnet. Because of their higher amount of biotite (3 %) biotite-rich leptinites have a flaserlike texture. Mesoperthite is missing, but antiperthite (An20) is common. Monazite is a characteristic accessoric component. The chemical composition of the leptinites is equivalent to rhyolites. It is almost constant over several kilometers. One sample is depleted in uranium. The investigated leptinites resemble those of Todtmoos of the Southern Black Forest. The paragneisses are divided in quartz-feldspar-rich meta-graywackes/arkoses and meta-pelites rich in cordierite. The texture is layered-flaserlike, fine grained, partly medium grained-migmatitic, seldom mylonitic or metablastic. The mineral contents is: quartz, plagioclase(An30), antiperthite, orthoclase, biotite, cordierite, garnet, kyanite, sillimanite (mostly pseudomorphic after kyanite), andalusite (contactmetamorphic), spinel, diaspore, rutile, graphite, ilmenite and sulfides. The chemical analyses of the paragneisses were compared with those of non-metamorphic sediments: the paragneisses rich in cordierite are interpreted as metamorphic claystones, the paragneisses rich in quartz and feldspar are interpreted as metamorphic graywackes or arkoses. Arkoses and graywackes cannot be clearly seperated using chemical analyses. There is just one small amphibolite outcrop. It is a cummintonite-bearing amphibolite, that shows evidence of an older metamorphic stage of elevated pressure. The structure of alkalifeldspars (Or85) depends on lithology and varies between orthoclase and maximum microcline. Garnet is weakly diffusion-zoned. Ca-rich centers and Ca-poor rims of the garnets indicate pressure release. The analyses of biotite (TiO2 up to 5.3 wt.-%) are interpreted to the effect that AlVI-variation cannot be explained by tschermak's substitution, but depends on Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio of the rock. Cordierite partly rich in Fe, mostly ist pinitized. For some pinites it cannot be excluded, that after NEDELEC & PAQUET (1981) the educts have not been cordierites but some melts. Coronas around kyanite consist of spinel ± cordierite ± diaspore. The metamorphic development began with a stage of elevated pressures (high pressure granulite to ?eclogite facies) indicated by the paragenesis of garnet + kyanite + hypersolvus-feldspars + quartz ± biotite. The temperature is losely estimated to 700 °C. When using the plagioclase present now, GPAQ thermobarometer, GRAIL, and GRIPS barometer the resulting pressure is 7 to 9 kbars. This is interpreted as good approximation of minimum pressure. If, however, at time of metamorphism Ca-rich centers of garnets of leptinites poor in biotite were in equilibrium with hypersolvus-alkalifeldspar (3 mol-% anorthite after CIPW-norm of the rock) and kyanite, higher pressure in the range of 14 to 19 kbar would result. This metamorphic stage is correlated with the geochronologic event 480 Ma ago (Ordovician). A pressure release stage followed which led to the transformation of kyanite to sillimanite and to the development of coronas of spinel around Al2SiO5-minerals. A static cordieritization stage (LP-HT-metamorphism, cordierite - K-feldspar paragenesis) terminated the metamorphic development. It led to static growth of relatively large amounts of cordierite out of biotite and sillimanite and as coronas around garnet. Using garnet-biotite, garnet-cordierite, and garnet-ilmenite thermometry and GPAQ-thermobarometry temperature and pressure of that stage was 650±50 °C and 3±2 kbar respectively. The northeastern area of Nordrach - Gengenbach was strongly affected by this metamorphic stage, whereas the southwestern area was just moderately affected. This metamorphic event is interpreted to be of Carboniferous age