We develop methodology for causal inference in observational studies when using propensity score subclassification on data constructed with probabilistic record linkage techniques. We focus on ...scenarios where covariates and binary treatment assignments are in one file and outcomes are in another file, and the goal is to estimate an additive treatment effect by merging the files. We assume that the files can be linked using variables common to both files, eg, names or birth dates, but that links are subject to errors, eg, due to reporting errors in the linking variables. We develop methodology for cases where such reporting errors are independent of the other variables on the files. We describe conceptually how linkage errors can affect causal estimates in subclassification contexts. We also present and evaluate several algorithms for deciding which record pairs to use in estimation of causal effects. Using simulation studies, we demonstrate that case selection procedures can result in improved accuracy in estimates of treatment effects from linked data compared to using only cases known to be true links.
There is a large body of evidence that atomic nuclei can undergo octupole distortion and assume the shape of a pear. This phenomenon is important for measurements of electric-dipole moments of atoms, ...which would indicate CP violation and hence probe physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Isotopes of both radon and radium have been identified as candidates for such measurements. Here, we observed the low-lying quantum states in
Rn and
Rn by accelerating beams of these radioactive nuclei. We show that radon isotopes undergo octupole vibrations but do not possess static pear-shapes in their ground states. We conclude that radon atoms provide less favourable conditions for the enhancement of a measurable atomic electric-dipole moment.
In Wilson disease (WD), functional loss of ATPase copper-transporting β (ATP7B) impairs biliary copper excretion, leading to excessive copper accumulation in the liver and fulminant hepatitis. ...Current US Food and Drug Administration- and European Medicines Agency-approved pharmacological treatments usually fail to restore copper homeostasis in patients with WD who have progressed to acute liver failure, leaving liver transplantation as the only viable treatment option. Here, we investigated the therapeutic utility of methanobactin (MB), a peptide produced by Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, which has an exceptionally high affinity for copper. We demonstrated that ATP7B-deficient rats recapitulate WD-associated phenotypes, including hepatic copper accumulation, liver damage, and mitochondrial impairment. Short-term treatment of these rats with MB efficiently reversed mitochondrial impairment and liver damage in the acute stages of liver copper accumulation compared with that seen in untreated ATP7B-deficient rats. This beneficial effect was associated with depletion of copper from hepatocyte mitochondria. Moreover, MB treatment prevented hepatocyte death, subsequent liver failure, and death in the rodent model. These results suggest that MB has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of acute WD.
Electric quadrupole matrix elements, Mp, for the Jπ=2+→0+, ΔT=0, T=1 transitions across the A=46 isobaric multiplet 46Cr-46V-46Ti have been measured at GSI with the FRS-LYCCA-AGATA setup. This allows ...direct insight into the isospin purity of the states of interest by testing the linearity of Mp with respect to Tz. Pairs of nuclei in the T=1 triplet were studied using identical reaction mechanisms in order to control systematic errors. The Mp values were obtained with two different methodologies: (i) a relativistic Coulomb excitation experiment was performed for 46Cr and 46Ti; (ii) a “stretched target” technique was adopted here, for the first time, for lifetime measurements in 46V and 46Ti. A constant value of Mp across the triplet has been observed. Shell-model calculations performed within the fp shell fail to reproduce this unexpected trend, pointing towards the need of a wider valence space. This result is confirmed by the good agreement with experimental data achieved with an interaction which allows excitations from the underlying sd shell. A test of the linearity rule for all published data on complete T=1 isospin triplets is presented.
Conceptual design of the AGATA 1π array at GANIL Clément, E.; Michelagnoli, C.; de France, G. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
05/2017, Letnik:
855
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) has been installed at the GANIL facility, Caen-France. This set-up exploits the stable and radioactive heavy-ions beams delivered by the cyclotron ...accelerator complex of GANIL. Additionally, it benefits from a large palette of ancillary detectors and spectrometers to address in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of exotic nuclei. The set-up has been designed to couple AGATA with a magnetic spectrometer, charged-particle and neutron detectors, scintillators for the detection of high-energy γ rays and other devices such as a plunger to measure nuclear lifetimes. In this paper, the design and the mechanical characteristics of the set-up are described. Based on simulations, expected performances of the AGATA 1π array are presented.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rising in prevalence, and a better pathophysiologic understanding of the transition to its inflammatory phenotype (NASH) is key to the development of ...effective therapies. To evaluate the contribution of the NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream effectors IL-1 and IL-18 in this process, we applied the true-to-life "American lifestyle-induced obesity syndrome" (ALiOS) diet mouse model. Development of obesity, fatty liver and liver damage was investigated in mice fed for 24 weeks according to the ALiOS protocol. Lipidomic changes in mouse livers were compared to human NAFLD samples. Receptor knockout mice for IL-1 and IL-18 were used to dissect the impact of downstream signals of inflammasome activity on the development of NAFLD. The ALiOS diet induced obesity and liver steatosis. The lipidomic changes closely mimicked changes in human NAFLD. A pro-inflammatory gene expression pattern in liver tissue and increased serum liver transaminases indicated early liver damage in the absence of histological evidence of NASH. Mechanistically,
- but not
mice were protected from early liver damage, possibly due to silencing of the pro-inflammatory gene expression pattern. Our study identified NLRP3 activation and IL-18R-dependent signaling as potential modulators of early liver damage in NAFLD, preceding development of histologic NASH.
Background: Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-iCCA) is a rare type of primary liver cancer displaying characteristics of both hepatocytic and cholangiocytic differentiation. Summary: ...Because of its aggressive nature, patients with cHCC-iCCA exhibit a poorer prognosis than those with HCC. Surgical resection and liver transplantation may be considered curative treatment approaches; however, only a minority of patients are eligible at the time of diagnosis, and postoperative recurrence rates are high. For cases that are not eligible for surgery, locoregional and systemic therapy are often administered based on treatment protocols applied for HCC or iCCA. Owing to the rarity of this cancer, there are still no established standard treatment protocols; therefore, the choice of therapy is often personalized and guided by the suspected predominant component. Further, the genomic and molecular heterogeneity of cHCC-iCCA can severely compromise the efficacy of the available therapies. Key Messages: In the present review, we summarize the latest advances in cHCC-iCCA and attempt to clarify its terminology and molecular biology. We provide an overview of the etiology of cHCC-iCCA and present new insights into the molecular pathology of this disease that could contribute to further studies aiming to improve the patient outcomes through new systemic therapies.
When sharing microdata (i. e., data on individuals) with the public, organizations face competing objectives. On the one hand, they strive to release data files that are useful for a wide range of ...statistical purposes and easy for secondary data users to analyze with standard statistical methods.On the other hand, they must protect the confidentiality of data subjects' identities and sensitive attributes from attacks by ill-intentioned data users.To address such threats, organizations typically alter microdata before sharing it with others; in fact, most public-use data sets with unrestricted access have undergone one or more disclosure protection treatments. This research synthesis reviews statistical approaches to protecting data confidentiality commonly used by government agencies and survey organizations, with particular emphasis on their impacts on the accuracy of secondary data analyses. In general terms, it discusses potential biases that can result from the disclosure treatments, as well as when and how it is possible to avoid or correct those biases. The synthesis is intended for social scientists doing secondary data analysis with microdata; it does not prescribe best practices for implementing disclosure protection methods or gauging disclosure risks when disseminating microdata.
The neutron-rich nuclei 94,96Kr were studied via projectile Coulomb excitation at the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. Level energies of the first excited 2(+) states and their absolute E2 transition ...strengths to the ground state are determined and discussed in the context of the E(2(1)(+)) and B(E2;2(1)(+)→0(1)(+)) systematics of the krypton chain. Contrary to previously published results no sudden onset of deformation is observed. This experimental result is supported by a new proton-neutron interacting boson model calculation based on the constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach using the microscopic Gogny-D1M energy density functional.
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