ATLAS (A Toroidal LHC ApparatuS) is a general-purpose experiment, which will start its operation at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in 2007. The ATLAS detector is designed to explore numerous ...physics processes by measuring, recording, and investigating the products emerging from proton-proton collisions at energies up to 14 TeV. High-precision muon momentum measurement (dp/p-10% at p/sub T/=1 TeV/c) over large areas using Monitored Drift Tube (MDT) chambers is crucial for the ATLAS experiment. More than 1,200 MDT chambers, assembled from approximately 370,000 drift tubes operated at 3 bar pressure, will be used to provide for the total detector coverage of 5,500 m/sup 2/. Three Greek universities have taken the responsibility to construct 30,000 drift tubes of /spl sim/1.7 in length, to test them and finally assemble them into 120 BIS (Barrel Inner Small) chambers. The design of the muon drift tubes aims at high efficiency (>95%) and a spatial resolution of <80 /spl mu/m (single tube resolution). This paper describes the cosmic ray setup, which has been instrumented in order to verify. that the BIS chamber Module-0 fulfils its design requirements. The analysis of its data shows that the chamber meets these requirements; it has low noise levels, uniform drift properties, good spatial resolution and high particle detection efficiency.
Several risk factors have been identified for childhood lymphomas. The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to synthesize current evidence regarding the association between birth weight with primarily ...the risk for non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), given its similarity to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and any category of lymphoma. Two cohort (278,751 children) and seven case–control studies (2,660 cases and 69,274 controls) were included. Effects estimates regarding NHL, HL and any lymphoma were appropriately pooled using fixed or random effects model in two separate analyses: specifically, high was compared to normal or any birth weight. Similarly, low was compared to normal or any birth weight. No statistically significant association was found between high birth weight, as compared to normal birth weight, and risk for NHL plus Burkitt lymphoma (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.76–1.80, random effects), HL (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.64–1.38, fixed effects) or any plus Burkitt lymphoma (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.76–1.56, fixed effects). A null association emerged when low was compared with normal birth weight for NHL plus Burkitt lymphoma (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.71–1.62, random effects), HL (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.54–1.65, fixed effects) or any plus Burkitt lymphoma (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.79–1.33, fixed effects). Accordingly, no association was found when high or low birth weight was compared to any birth weight. Although current evidence suggests no association, birth weight might be a too crude indicator to reveal a genuine association of fetal growth with specific lymphoma categories; hence, there is an emerging need for use of more elaborate proxies, at least those accounting for gestational week.
•Color-based MI had limited correspondence with anthocyanins at early maturity.•Harvest before oil peak yields higher fruit firmness, critical for tables olives.•Sugar metabolism during ripening was ...more pronounced in table than oil cultivars.•High oil and oleuropein content render cv. Ladoelia a prime oil cultivar.
Analytical characterization of the ripening process is prerequisite to establishing cultivar-specific harvest maturity windows and safeguarding the quality of olive products. In this context, we profiled the ripening of select Cypriot olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars ‘Ladoelia’, ‘Kato Drys’ and ‘Korakou’ juxtaposed against introduced ‘Koroneiki’. Fruit skin and flesh color-based maturity index (MI) evolved linearly over time but differentially among local cultivars. Anthocyanin content exhibited better correspondence to MI with progressive maturity. Cultivars varied widely in their sugar content (60.2–180.9 mg g−1 dw) and their fructose/glucose ratio, which impacted their relative sweetness. Putative connection of declining mannitol levels with oleogenesis during ripening was not supported by ‘Korakou’, wherein mannitol declined without concomitant oil accumulation. However, fruit firmness correlated negatively with oil content prompting harvest of table olives before oil peak. Succinic and oxalic acid levels may constitute valuable cultivar signature traits. Decline pattern in total phenolic content (TPC) during ripening was cultivar-specific, with oleuropein, rutin and hydroxytyrosol constituting the major constituents in diminishing abundance. No cultivar differences were observed in rutin content, while hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol levels were independent of maturity. At MI3, ‘Ladoelia’ had higher total phenolic content (TPC) than ‘Korakou’ and ‘Kato Drys’ but inferior to ‘Koroneiki’ (12.3, 9.9, 2.5 and 20.4 g kg-1 dw, respectively). Oleuropein relative content in ‘Ladoelia’ (85.6 %TPC) was higher than ‘Kato Drys’ (63.6 %TPC) and ‘Korakou’ (59.2 %TPC). ‘Ladoelia’ exhibited superior but maturity-dependent phenolic acids content. Our results corroborate a cultivar-specific application of MI supported by additional physicochemical parameters of maturity. The current findings may facilitate cultivar and product-specific integrative harvest maturity indices, which are especially critical for dual purpose large-fruited cultivars.
•Current evidence does not support an adverse impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy on cognitive performance in birth-assigned either male or female transgender individuals•An enhanced effect on ...visuospatial ability following post-pubertal hormone therapy was shown in assigned females•Pooling data from cross-sectional studies showed a higher performance in verbal working memory in treated assigned males•New longitudinal studies with longer follow-up should explore the long-term effects of hormone therapy, especially the effects on younger individuals, where there is greater scarcity of data
Previous studies have examined whether steroid hormone treatment in transgender individuals may affect cognitive function; yet, their limited power does not allow firm conclusions to be drawn. We leveraged data from to-date literature aiming to explore the effect of gender-affirming hormone administration on cognitive function in transgender individuals.
A search strategy of MEDLINE was developed (through June 1, 2019) using the key terms transgender, hormone therapy and cognitive function. Eligible were (i) cohort studies examining the longitudinal effect of hormone therapy on cognition, and (ii) cross-sectional studies comparing the cognitive function between treated and non-treated individuals. Standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) were pooled using random-effects models. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
Ten studies (seven cohort and three cross-sectional) were eligible representing 234 birth-assigned males (aM) and 150 birth-assigned females (aF). The synthesis of cohort studies (n = 5) for visuospatial ability following hormone treatment showed a statistically significant enhancement among aF (g = 0.55, 95% confidence intervals CI: 0.29, 0.82) and an improvement with a trend towards statistical significance among aM (g = 0.28, 95%CI: -0.01, 0.58). By contrast, no adverse effects of hormone administration were shown. No heterogeneity was evident in most meta-analyses.
Current evidence does not support an adverse impact of hormone therapy on cognitive function, whereas a statistically significant enhancing effect on visuospatial ability was shown in aF. New longitudinal studies with longer follow-up should explore the long-term effects of hormone therapy, especially the effects on younger individuals, where there is greater scarcity of data.
Human MRI scanners at ultra-high magnetic field strengths of 7 T and higher are increasingly available to the neuroscience community. A key advantage brought by ultra-high field MRI is the ...possibility to increase the spatial resolution at which data is acquired, with little reduction in image quality. This opens a new set of opportunities for neuroscience, allowing investigators to map the human cortex at an unprecedented level of detail. In this review, we present recent work that capitalizes on the increased signal-to-noise ratio available at ultra-high field and discuss the theoretical advances with a focus on sensory and motor systems neuroscience. Further, we review research performed at sub-millimeter spatial resolution and discuss the limits and the potential of ultra-high field imaging for structural and functional imaging in human cortex. The increased spatial resolution achievable at ultra-high field has the potential to unveil the fundamental computations performed within a given cortical area, ultimately allowing the visualization of the mesoscopic organization of human cortex at the functional and structural level.
•Ultra-high field MRI (UHF) provides improved sensitivity and specificity.•UHF provides access to human mesoscopic organization, including laminae and columns.•The mesoscopic scale may contain the fundamental computational unit of the brain.•This may be the most fundamental unit required to understand human brain function.
Summary Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased arterial stiffness, a cumulative indicator of arterial health. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard ...treatment for OSA. We conducted a meta-analysis of the available literature investigating the effect of CPAP on arterial stiffness in patients with OSA. Fifteen articles ( n = 615 patients) assessing indices of arterial stiffness were identified. Five different meta-analyses were performed assessing: a) all indices of arterial stiffness, b) augmentation index (AIx), c) all pulse wave velocities (PWV), d) brachial-ankle PWV and e) carotid-femoral PWV. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) were appropriately calculated through fixed or random effects models after assessing between-study heterogeneity. A significant improvement of all indices of arterial stiffness was observed after CPAP treatment (SMD = −0.74; 95%CI: −1.08 to −0.41). AIx and PWVs were also significantly improved (WMD = −4.86; 95%CI: −7.31 to −2.41 and WMD = −0.87; 95%CI: −0.98 to −0.77, respectively), as well as brachial-ankle PWV and carotid-femoral PWV (WMD = −0.86; 95%CI: −0.97 to −0.75 and WMD = −1.21; 95%CI:−1.92 to −0.50, respectively). Neither the proportion of compliant patients nor the duration of CPAP use altered the effect of arterial stiffness reduction after CPAP treatment. In conclusion, our meta-analyses showed significant improvements in all indices of arterial stiffness after CPAP treatment in patients with OSA. As clinical use of arterial stiffness is growing in popularity, the efficacy of this useful tool in assessing cardiovascular risk reduction among patients with OSA treated with CPAP needs to be further explored.
Abstract Although obesity is an established risk factor for several cancer types, its possible role in the aetiology of malignant melanoma remains unclear. This meta-analysis aims to examine the ...association between obesity and melanoma risk, exploring any tentative gender-specific associations. After the identification of eligible studies, we estimated pooled effect estimates (odds ratios and relative risks), undertook a meta-regression analysis and analysed separately risk of malignant melanoma among males and females in relation to body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA). Out of the 21 eligible articles, 11 used a case–control design encompassing 4460 cases/6342 controls; 10 used a cohort design whose total size comprised 7895 incident cases/6,368,671 subjects. Among males, the pooled effect estimate was 1.31 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18–1.45) for overweight and 1.31 (95% CI: 1.19–1.44) for obese. Meta-regression revealed no significant slope, most probably due to the underlying plateau in effect estimates. Among females, no significant association was documented; the pooled effect estimate for overweight and obese subjects was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.92–1.05) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.83–1.18), respectively. Noticeably, there was evidence for confounding between sunlight exposure and obesity in females. All results were reproducible upon analyses on BSA. In conclusion, overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk of malignant melanoma among males. Meticulous assessment of sunlight exposure is needed especially in women, since self limited public sun exposure may be prevalent among overweight or obese females. Higher-order associations between BMI and melanoma risk should be addressed and examined by the future studies.
Wind harnessing is a fast-developing and cost-effective Renewable Energy Source, but the land impacts of wind power stations are often overlooked or underestimated. We digitized land take, i.e., the ...generation of artificial land, derived from 90 wind power stations in Greece constructed between 2002 and 2020 (1.2 GW). We found substantial land take impacts of 7729 m2/MW (3.5 m2/MWh) of new artificial land, 148 m/MW of new roads and 174 m/MW of widened roads on average. Models showed that the number and size of wind turbines, the absence of other existing infrastructures and the elevational difference across new access roads increased artificial land generation. The elevational difference across new and widened access roads also increased their length. New wind power stations in Greece are planned to be installed at higher elevations and in terrains facing higher risks for soil erosion and soil biodiversity. The general tendency in the European Union is to sit fewer wind power stations in mountainous and forested land. Still, this pattern is inversed in several countries, particularly in Southern Europe. After screening 28 policy and legal documents, we found that land take is indirectly inferred in the global policy but more directly in the European policy through five non-legally binding documents and three Directives. However, the current European energy policies seem to conflict with nature conservation policies, risking land take acceleration. The study provides insights for reducing land take when planning and constructing wind power stations. We underline the need for better quantification of land take and its integration in the complex process of sustainable spatial planning of investments.
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•The artificial land generated by wind power stations is substantial.•New access road construction is land-consuming.•Milder topography minimizes land take at a fine scale.•Mediterranean natural areas and mountains are mostly affected by wind harnessing.•Conflicts emerge in nature conservation vs renewables deployment policies.
ObjectiveTo study trends of infant mortality rate (IMR) and neonatal mortality rate in Greece during the period 2004–2016 and explore the role of sociodemographic factors in the years of ...crisis.DesignNationwide individual data for live births and infant (0–11 months) deaths provided by the Hellenic Statistical Authority were examined using Poisson, joinpoint regression and interrupted time series (ITS) analyses.SettingGreece.ParticipantsAll infant deaths (n=4862) over the 13-year period, of which 87.2% were born to Greek mothers, and respective live births.Main outcome measuresEvolution of IMR (0–364 days), early (<7 days) neonatal mortality rate (ENMR), late (7–27 days) neonatal mortality rate (LNMR) and post neonatal (28–364 days) mortality rate (PNMR) trends, by maternal nationality, place of residence and Human Development Index (HDI).ResultsBy Poisson regression, overall, during the study period, among infants of Greek mothers, IMR and PNMR declined significantly (−0.9%; 95% CI −1.7% to −0.1% and −1.6%; −3.0% to −0.2% annually, respectively), although differentially by place of residence (IMRurban: −2.1%; −2.9% to −1.3%, IMRrural: +10.6%; 7.6% to 13.6%). By contrast, among infants of non-Greek mothers, the low starting IMR/ENMR/LNMR/PNMR increased significantly (max ENMR:+12.5%; 8.6% to 16.5%) leading to a non-significant time–trend pattern overall in Greece. The inverse associations of HDI with IMR, ENMR and PNMR were restricted to Greek mothers’ infants. Joinpoint regression analyses among Greek mothers’ infants indicated non-significant increasing trends of IMR and ENMR following the crisis (+9.3%, 2012–2016, p=0.07 and +10.2%, 2011–2016, p=0.06, respectively). By contrast, the high (+17.1%; 8.1% to 26.9%, p=0.002) IMR increases among non-Greek infants were restricted to 2004–2011 and equalised to those of Greek mothers’ infants thereafter. ITS analyses in preset years (2008, 2010, 2012) identified significantly increasing trends in IMR, LNMR and PNMR after 2012, and in ENMR after 2010, among Greek mothers’ infants.ConclusionsHDI and rural residence were significantly associated with IMR. The strongly decreasing IMR trends among Greek-mothers’ infants were stagnated after a lag time of ~4 years of crisis approximating the previously sharply increasing trends among non-Greeks.
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