The full data set of the NEMO-3 experiment has been used to measure the half-life of the two-neutrino double beta decay of Formula omittedMo to the ground state of Formula omittedRu, Formula omitted ...year. The two-electron energy sum, single electron energy spectra and distribution of the angle between the electrons are presented with an unprecedented statistics of Formula omitted events and a signal-to-background ratio of Formula omitted 80. Clear evidence for the Single State Dominance model is found for this nuclear transition. Limits on Majoron emitting neutrinoless double beta decay modes with spectral indices of Formula omitted, as well as constraints on Lorentz invariance violation and on the bosonic neutrino contribution to the two-neutrino double beta decay mode are obtained.
Sharing attention between two tasks requiring the same mental resources is supposed to increase the resulting strain. Phoning while driving may elicit cognitive interference between driving ...operations and conversation and consequently, may affect driving efficiency. The road scene cues may thus be perceived late or even omitted, increasing the probability to be involved in a critical situation. The aim of the experiment was to study how the additional strain elicited by a secondary task may change drivers' arousal with potential consequences on driving performance. Electrodermal activity, heart rate and reaction time (RT) were the dependent variables. Listening to the radio, holding an in-vehicle or a cell-phone conversation were the secondary communication tasks, performed by 10 participants during a driving sequence on a private circuit. Within nominal driving, each communication task was requested at random to prevent any habituation or anticipation. The cell-phone conversation made RT increase by about 20%, by comparison to the nominal driving condition. Nevertheless, the in-vehicle conversation impacted RT almost in the same proportion. Physiological data showed that arousal level increased as a function of dual-tasks requirements, the in-vehicle conversation eliciting the same strain as the remote conversation. With caution due to contextual differences between these two communication tasks, conversing with a passenger was thus as detrimental as using a cell-phone.
This study proposes to highlight cortical regions involved in a short-term memory painful task, and their interactions by using intra-cerebral recordings from 10 epileptic patients. In order to ...emphasize pain memory specificity, three different stimulations were used: painful, somatosensory non-painful and auditory. Two different intensities were delivered in each condition, and patients had to compare stimulation from the previous one, delivered 8–10 s before. In a control task, patients had to read numbers on a screen between two stimuli, in order to ensure that they did not memorize anything about the stimulation. Data were analyzed in terms of evoked potentials and time frequency during retention phase. When painful stimuli had to be memorized, early components of evoked potentials showed an increased amplitude as compared to the control task, in regions involved in affective aspects of pain (anterior insula, prefrontal cortex). Moreover a specific late negativity was observed only for painful stimuli memorisation, which suggests an enhanced arousal. Time-frequency analysis showed an alpha desynchronisation in memory tasks during retention phase in regions involved in cognitive and affective dimensions of pain (anterior insula, anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex) which might be related to cognitive processing and mechanisms of attention.
This study consists of a first assessment of a new technological solution (e-Celsius™ prototype) designed to perform intra peritoneal (IP) temperature measurements in animals.
The tested prototype ...temperature sensor is composed of a miniaturized electronic sensor (capsule), which uses wireless technology to transmit temperature data to a dedicated monitor. The performance assessment was based on the comparison with commercially available analog tools (VitalSense, Jonah™ ingestible core temperature capsules) considered as gold standards.
The variability (mean absolute deviation) of the calculated difference score around its mean value was taken as a reliability index. Thus, 6 pairs of capsules (1 Jonah™+1 e-Celsius™ prototype temperature sensor) were constituted. All the electronic capsules were first tested in a water bath heated to 37°C and then implanted intra-abdominally in 6 male Sprague Dawley rats. The capsules' performances were assessed while rats were in free living conditions (24h alone in cage) and then again during the cooling process (anesthesia+ice). In a second step, a test was designed to assess the maximum distance of communication between sensors and the monitor.
The mean absolute deviation of the difference scores was greater in the 24h free living conditions (±0.17°C) compared to the water bath conditions (±0.04°C). No difference was observed when compared to the cooling stage (±0.1°C). Considering that 50% of the data collected as a satisfactory performance criterion, the Jonah™ device could not be used at a distance exceeding 0.5m while the maximum distance recorded for the e-Celsius™ was 3m. The minimum life span for the tested e-Celsius™ and Jonah™ capsules was 14 days. The development of a precise calibration method is needed to finalize its validation.
► e-celsius reliability and accuracy performances are similar to those of existing systems. ► The distance of transmission for e-celsius allows considering applications in animal studies. ► The study aims at testing in animals a new telemetric sensor for temperature measurement.
Using data from the NEMO-3 experiment, we have measured the two-neutrino double beta decay ( Formula omitted) half-life of Formula omittedSe as Formula omitted y under the single-state dominance ...hypothesis for this nuclear transition. The corresponding nuclear matrix element is Formula omitted. In addition, a search for neutrinoless double beta decay ( Formula omitted) using 0.93 kg of Formula omittedSe observed for a total of 5.25 y has been conducted and no evidence for a signal has been found. The resulting half-life limit of Formula omitted for the light neutrino exchange mechanism leads to a constraint on the effective Majorana neutrino mass of Formula omitted, where the range reflects Formula omitted nuclear matrix element values from different calculations. Furthermore, constraints on lepton number violating parameters for other Formula omitted mechanisms, such as right-handed currents, majoron emission and R-parity violating supersymmetry modes have been set.
This study aims to assess the thermal homogeneity of the intraperitoneal (IP) cavity and the relevance of using a fixed telemetric temperature sensor at a given location in studying rodents. Ten rats ...were intraperitoneally implanted with three Jonah® capsules each; after assessing the accuracy and reliability of the sensors. Two capsules were attached, one to the right iliac fossa (RIF) and the other to the left hypochondrium (LH), and another was placed between the intestines but not attached (Free). In the ex vivo condition, the differences between sensors and reference values remained in the range of ±0.1. In the in vivo condition, each sensor enabled the observation of temperature patterns. However, sensor location affected mean and median temperature values while the rats were moving freely. Indeed, temperature data collected in the LH were 0.1 significantly higher than those collected in the RIF and temperature data collected in the LH were 0.11 significantly higher than those collected with the Free capsules. In in vivo conditions, intra-sensor variability of temperature data was not affected by sensor location. Taking into account sensor accuracy, similar intra-sensor variability, and mean differences observed between the three locations, the impact of sensor location within the IP cavity could be considered negligible. In in vivo conditions, temperature differences between locations regularly exceeded ±0.2 and reached up to 2.5. These extreme values could be explained by behavioral factors such as food or water intake. Finally, considering the good thermal homogeneity of the IP cavity and possible adverse consequences of sensor attachment, it seems better to let sensors range free within the cavity.
This study evaluated the effect of time of day and temperature measurement site on core temperature response to exercise. Six trained cyclists performed a 1h cycling exercise at a fixed power-output ...of 160W in a controlled environment (ambient temperature of 21.5±1.6°C and relative humidity of 31±6%) at batyphase +2h (08:00h) and acrophase +2h (20:00h) of their estimated circadian temperature rhythm; corresponding respectively to the heat gain and heat loss mode phases. Throughout the exercise, rectal and gastro-intestinal temperature data were collected. A two-way ANOVA was applied and a common nonlinear logistic-type function dependant on three parameters (asymptote, xmid and scale) was used to fit collected data. ANOVA only indicated a time of day effect without interaction with exercise duration. A nonlinear mixed-effect model allowed further analysis of temperature kinetics. The model indicated a higher theoretical increase in temperature at the end of morning exercise compared to the evening session. However, the circadian difference observed at rest persists throughout the exercise. Theoretical asymptotic temperature values at the end of the exercise and scale values (inversely proportional to the slope) are higher for the rectal measurement site than for the gastro-intestinal measurement. The model proposed offers a solution for refining the study of individual core temperature response to prolonged exercise. The main advantage is that it takes into consideration intra- and inter-individual variability in temperature kinetics.
The readout noise of a H2RG HgCdTe NIR detector from Teledyne is measured at a temperature T=105K. In a previous work, we have analysed the evolution of the readout noise as a function of the number ...of reads in terms of the frequency power spectrum of the noise with our in-house hybrid readout electronics. The new measurements with the SIDECARTM ASIC provided by Teledyne Imaging Sensors are compared to the previous ones. The noise power spectrum found can be used in a wide range of timing conditions and allows to predict quantitatively the 1/f effects arising from different time samplings. In contrast with most previous publications, we investigate the time properties of single pixel signals rather than the spatial correlations.
This study aims to assess the relevance of 1-point calibration procedure, within the framework of the development of a new telemetric temperature sensor. The criteria used for performance assessment ...were the level of accuracy, and the time of inertia of the temperature sensor prototype (TSP) tested. First, the stability of the calibration bath was assessed. Then, the accuracy of 16 prototypes was evaluated for 7 target temperatures (ranging from 29 °C to 45 °C). Finally, the inertia of TSP response was evaluated while increasing and decreasing the bath temperature. The difference between prototype and target temperature increases as bath temperature moves away from 37 °C; however, the accuracy of the sensor conforms to applicable standards. Most TSP remain in the range of ±0.2 °C for each temperature level tested, but a linear, decreasing slope is observed; prototypes underestimate high temperatures and overestimate low temperatures. Data from time of inertia assessment show that probes were within the range of ±0.2 °C from the target temperature with a maximal delay of 150 s which satisfy standard norms. However, results indicate that a 1-point calibration procedure of the sensors appears non optimal, a 2-point calibration procedure should be performed to avoid the observed temperature data slope.
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