Results are reported from an improved measurement of \(\nu_\mu \rightarrow \nu_e\) transitions by the NOvA experiment. Using an exposure equivalent to \(6.05\times10^{20}\) protons-on-target 33 ...\(\nu_e\) candidates were observed with a background of \(8.2\pm0.8\) (syst.). Combined with the latest NOvA \(\nu_\mu\) disappearance data and external constraints from reactor experiments on \(\sin^22\theta_{13}\), the hypothesis of inverted mass hierarchy with \(\theta_{23}\) in the lower octant is disfavored at greater than \(93\%\) C.L. for all values of \(\delta_{CP}\).
The LHCb experiment has been taking data at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN since the end of 2009. One of its key detector components is the Ring-Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) system. This ...provides charged particle identification over a wide momentum range, from 2-100 GeV/c. The operation and control software, and online monitoring of the RICH system are described. The particle identification performance is presented, as measured using data from the LHC. Excellent separation of hadronic particle types (pion, kaon and proton) is achieved.
This Letter reports new results on muon neutrino disappearance from NOvA, using a 14 kton detector equivalent exposure of \(6.05\times10^{20}\) protons-on-target from the NuMI beam at the Fermi ...National Accelerator Laboratory. The measurement probes the muon-tau symmetry hypothesis that requires maximal mixing (\(\theta_{23} = \pi/4\)). Assuming the normal mass hierarchy, we find \(\Delta m^2 = (2.67 \pm 0.11)\times 10^{-3}\) eV\(^2\) and \(\sin^2 \theta_{23}\) at the two statistically degenerate values \(0.404^{+0.030}_{-0.022}\) and \(0.624^{+0.022}_{-0.030}\), both at the 68% confidence level. Our data disfavor the maximal mixing scenario with 2.6 \(\sigma\) significance.
Forward single \(\pi^0\) production by coherent neutral-current interactions, \(\nu \mathcal{A} \to \nu \mathcal{A} \pi^0\), is investigated using a 2.8\(\times 10^{20}\) protons-on-target exposure ...of the MINOS Near Detector. For single-shower topologies, the event distribution in production angle exhibits a clear excess above the estimated background at very forward angles for visible energy in the range~1-8 GeV. Cross sections are obtained for the detector medium comprised of 80% iron and 20% carbon nuclei with \(\langle \mathcal{A} \rangle = 48\), the highest-\(\langle \mathcal{A} \rangle\) target used to date in the study of this coherent reaction. The total cross section for coherent neutral-current single-\(\pi^0\) production initiated by the \(\nu_\mu\) flux of the NuMI low-energy beam with mean (mode) \(E_{\nu}\) of 4.9 GeV (3.0 GeV), is \(77.6\pm5.0\,(\text{stat}) ^{+15.0}_{-16.8}\,(\text{syst})\times10^{-40}\,\text{cm}^2~\text{per nucleus}\). The results are in good agreement with predictions of the Berger-Sehgal model.
We report new constraints on flavor-changing non-standard neutrino interactions from the MINOS long-baseline experiment using \(\nu_{e}\) and \(\bar{\nu}_{e}\) appearance candidate events from ...predominantly \(\nu_{\mu}\) and \(\bar{\nu}_{\mu}\) beams. We used a statistical selection algorithm to separate \(\nu_{e}\) candidates from background events, enabling an analysis of the combined MINOS neutrino and antineutrino data. We observe no deviations from standard neutrino mixing, and thus place constraints on the non-standard interaction matter effect, \(|\varepsilon_{e\tau}|\), and phase, \((\delta_{CP}+\delta_{e\tau})\), using a thirty-bin likelihood fit.
Preterm infants must establish regular respirations at delivery. Sustained inflations may establish lung volume faster than short inflations.
To determine whether a ventilation strategy including ...sustained inflations, compared with standard intermittent positive pressure ventilation, reduces bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age without harm in extremely preterm infants.
Unmasked, randomized clinical trial (August 2014 to September 2017, with follow-up to February 15, 2018) conducted in 18 neonatal intensive care units in 9 countries. Preterm infants 23 to 26 weeks' gestational age requiring resuscitation with inadequate respiratory effort or bradycardia were enrolled. Planned enrollment was 600 infants. The trial was stopped after enrolling 426 infants, following a prespecified review of adverse outcomes.
The experimental intervention was up to 2 sustained inflations at maximal peak pressure of 25 cm H2O for 15 seconds using a T-piece and mask (n = 215); standard resuscitation was intermittent positive pressure ventilation (n = 211).
The primary outcome was the rate of BPD or death at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. There were 27 prespecified secondary efficacy outcomes and 7 safety outcomes, including death at less than 48 hours.
Among 460 infants randomized (mean SD gestational age, 25.30 0.97 weeks; 50.2% female), 426 infants (92.6%) completed the trial. In the sustained inflation group, 137 infants (63.7%) died or survived with BPD vs 125 infants (59.2%) in the standard resuscitation group (adjusted risk difference aRD, 4.7% 95% CI, -3.8% to 13.1%; P = .29). Death at less than 48 hours of age occurred in 16 infants (7.4%) in the sustained inflation group vs 3 infants (1.4%) in the standard resuscitation group (aRD, 5.6% 95% CI, 2.1% to 9.1%; P = .002). Blinded adjudication detected an imbalance of rates of early death possibly attributable to resuscitation (sustained inflation: 11/16; standard resuscitation: 1/3). Of 27 secondary efficacy outcomes assessed by 36 weeks' postmenstrual age, 26 showed no significant difference between groups.
Among extremely preterm infants requiring resuscitation at birth, a ventilation strategy involving 2 sustained inflations, compared with standard intermittent positive pressure ventilation, did not reduce the risk of BPD or death at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. These findings do not support the use of ventilation with sustained inflations among extremely preterm infants, although early termination of the trial limits definitive conclusions.
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02139800.
Congenital heart defect (CHD) occurs in 40% of Down syndrome (DS) cases. While carrying three copies of chromosome 21 increases the risk for CHD, trisomy 21 itself is not sufficient to cause CHD. ...Thus, additional genetic variation and/or environmental factors could contribute to the CHD risk. Here we report genomic variations that in concert with trisomy 21, determine the risk for CHD in DS. This case-control GWAS includes 187 DS with CHD (AVSD = 69, ASD = 53, VSD = 65) as cases, and 151 DS without CHD as controls. Chromosome 21-specific association studies revealed rs2832616 and rs1943950 as CHD risk alleles (adjusted genotypic P-values <0.05). These signals were confirmed in a replication cohort of 92 DS-CHD cases and 80 DS-without CHD (nominal P-value 0.0022). Furthermore, CNV analyses using a customized chromosome 21 aCGH of 135K probes in 55 DS-AVSD and 53 DS-without CHD revealed three CNV regions associated with AVSD risk (FDR ≤ 0.05). Two of these regions that are located within the previously identified CHD region on chromosome 21 were further confirmed in a replication study of 49 DS-AVSD and 45 DS- without CHD (FDR ≤ 0.05). One of these CNVs maps near the RIPK4 gene, and the second includes the ZBTB21 (previously ZNF295) gene, highlighting the potential role of these genes in the pathogenesis of CHD in DS. We propose that the genetic architecture of the CHD risk of DS is complex and includes trisomy 21, and SNP and CNV variations in chromosome 21. In addition, a yet-unidentified genetic variation in the rest of the genome may contribute to this complex genetic architecture.
Acute vagus nerve stimulation enhances reversal learning in rats Altidor, Lindsay K-P.; Bruner, Matthew M.; Deslauriers, Josue F. ...
Neurobiology of learning and memory,
October 2021, 2021-10-00, 20211001, 2021-10-01, Letnik:
184, Številka:
C
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
•A novel reversal learning task was developed in touchscreen operant chambers.•Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) enhanced reversal learning.•Enhancing effects of VNS depended on stimulation frequency and ...timing of delivery.•Reversal learning was also enhanced by baclofen and atomoxetine.•Unlike the pharmacological methods, VNS-induced enhancement had no off-target effects.
Cognitive flexibility is a prefrontal cortex-dependent neurocognitive process that enables behavioral adaptation in response to changes in environmental contingencies. Electrical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) enhances several forms of learning and neuroplasticity, but its effects on cognitive flexibility have not been evaluated. In the current study, a within-subjects design was used to assess the effects of VNS on performance in a novel visual discrimination reversal learning task conducted in touchscreen operant chambers. The task design enabled simultaneous assessment of acute VNS both on reversal learning and on recall of a well-learned discrimination problem. Acute VNS delivered in conjunction with stimuli presentation during reversal learning reliably enhanced learning of new reward contingencies. Enhancement was not observed, however, if VNS was delivered during the session but was not coincident with presentation of to-be-learned stimuli. In addition, whereas VNS delivered at 30 HZ enhanced performance, the same enhancement was not observed using 10 or 50 Hz. Together, these data show that acute VNS facilitates reversal learning and indicate that the timing and frequency of the VNS are critical for these enhancing effects. In separate rats, administration of the norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor atomoxetine also enhanced reversal learning in the same task, consistent with a noradrenergic mechanism through which VNS enhances cognitive flexibility.
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