An experiment to search for light sterile neutrinos is conducted at a reactor with a thermal power of 2.8 GW located at the Hanbit nuclear power complex. The search is done with a detector consisting ...of a ton of Gd-loaded liquid scintillator in a tendon gallery approximately 24 m from the reactor core. The measured antineutrino event rate is 1976 per day with a signal to background ratio of about 22. The shape of the antineutrino energy spectrum obtained from the eight-month data-taking period is compared with a hypothesis of oscillations due to active-sterile antineutrino mixing. No strong evidence of 3+1 neutrino oscillation is found. An excess around the 5 MeV prompt energy range is observed as seen in existing longer-baseline experiments. The mixing parameter sin^{2}2θ_{14} is limited up to less than 0.1 for Δm_{41}^{2} ranging from 0.2 to 2.3 eV^{2} with a 90% confidence level.
The RENO experiment has observed the disappearance of reactor electron antineutrinos, consistent with neutrino oscillations, with a significance of 4.9 standard deviations. Antineutrinos from six 2.8 ... GW(th) reactors at the Yonggwang Nuclear Power Plant in Korea, are detected by two identical detectors located at 294 and 1383 m, respectively, from the reactor array center. In the 229 d data-taking period between 11 August 2011 and 26 March 2012, the far (near) detector observed 17102 (154088) electron antineutrino candidate events with a background fraction of 5.5% (2.7%). The ratio of observed to expected numbers of antineutrinos in the far detector is 0.920±0.009(stat)±0.014(syst). From this deficit, we determine sin(2)2θ(13)=0.113±0.013(stat)±0.019(syst) based on a rate-only analysis.
The RENO experiment reports more precisely measured values of θ_{13} and |Δm_{ee}^{2}| using ∼2200 live days of data. The amplitude and frequency of reactor electron antineutrino (νover ¯_{e}) ...oscillation are measured by comparing the prompt signal spectra obtained from two identical near and far detectors. In the period between August 2011 and February 2018, the far (near) detector observed 103 212 (850 666) νover ¯_{e} candidate events with a background fraction of 4.8% (2.0%). A clear energy and baseline dependent disappearance of reactor νover ¯_{e} is observed in the deficit of the measured number of νover ¯_{e}. Based on the measured far-to-near ratio of prompt spectra, we obtain sin^{2}2θ_{13}=0.0896±0.0048(stat)±0.0047(syst) and |Δm_{ee}^{2}|=2.68±0.12(stat)±0.07(syst)×10^{-3} eV^{2}.
A major amendment in recent models of hierarchical galaxy formation is the inclusion of so-called active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback. The energy input from an active central massive black hole is ...invoked to suppress star formation in early-type galaxies at later epochs. A major problem is that this process is poorly understood, and compelling observational evidence for its mere existence is still missing. In search for signatures of AGN feedback, we have compiled a sample of 16 000 early-type galaxies in the redshift range 0.05 < z < 0.1 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data base (MOSES: Morphologically Selected Ellipticals in SDSS). Key in our approach is the use of a purely morphological selection criterion through visual inspection which produces a sample that is not biased against recent star formation and nuclear activity. Based on the nebular emission-line characteristics we separate between star formation activity, black hole activity, the composite of the two and quiescence. We find that emission is mostly LINER (low ionization nuclear emission line region) like in high-mass galaxies (σ > 200 km s−1) and roughly evenly distributed between star formation and AGN at intermediate and low (σ < 100 km s−1) masses. The objects with emission (∼20 per cent) are offset from the red sequence and form a well-defined pattern in the colour–mass diagram. Star-forming early-types inhabit the blue cloud, while early-types with AGN are located considerably closer to and almost on the red sequence. Star formation–AGN composites are found right between these two extremes. We further derive galaxy star formation histories using a novel method that combines multiwavelength photometry from near-ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (IR) and stellar absorption indices. We find that in those objects deviating from the red sequence star formation occurred several 100 Myr in the past involving 1–10 per cent of the total stellar mass. We identify an evolutionary sequence from star formation via nuclear activity to quiescence. This transition process lasts about 1 Gyr, and the peak AGN phase occurs roughly half a Gyr after the starburst. The most likely interpretation is that star formation is suppressed by nuclear activity in these objects before they settle on the red sequence. This is empirical evidence for the occurrence of AGN feedback in early-type galaxies at recent epochs.
We present the first measurements of the absolute branching fractions of Ξc+ decays into Ξ−π+π+ and pK−π+ final states. Our analysis is based on a data set of (772±11)×106 BB¯ pairs collected at the ...ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e− collider. We measure the absolute branching fraction of B¯0→Λ¯c−Ξc+ with the Ξc+ recoiling against Λ¯c− in B¯0 decays resulting in B(B¯0→Λ¯c−Ξc+)=1.16±0.42(stat.)±0.15(syst.)×10−3. We then measure the product branching fractions B(B¯0→Λ¯c−Ξc+)B(Ξc+→Ξ−π+π+) and B(B¯0→Λ¯c−Ξc+)B(Ξc+→pK−π+). Dividing these product branching fractions by B¯0→Λ¯c−Ξc+ yields B(Ξc+→Ξ−π+π+)=2.86±1.21(stat.)±0.38(syst.)% and B(Ξc+→pK−π+)=0.45±0.21(stat.)±0.07(syst.)%. Our result for B(Ξc+→Ξ−π+π+) can be combined with Ξc+ branching fractions measured relative to Ξc+→Ξ−π+π+ to set the absolute scale for many Ξc+ branching fractions.
TFOS DEWS II Definition and Classification Report Craig, Jennifer P.; Nichols, Kelly K.; Akpek, Esen K. ...
The ocular surface,
July 2017, 2017-Jul, 2017-07-00, 20170701, Volume:
15, Issue:
3
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The goals of the TFOS DEWS II Definition and Classification Subcommittee were to create an evidence-based definition and a contemporary classification system for dry eye disease (DED). The new ...definition recognizes the multifactorial nature of dry eye as a disease where loss of homeostasis of the tear film is the central pathophysiological concept. Ocular symptoms, as a broader term that encompasses reports of discomfort or visual disturbance, feature in the definition and the key etiologies of tear film instability, hyperosmolarity, and ocular surface inflammation and damage were determined to be important for inclusion in the definition. In the light of new data, neurosensory abnormalities were also included in the definition for the first time. In the classification of DED, recent evidence supports a scheme based on the pathophysiology where aqueous deficient and evaporative dry eye exist as a continuum, such that elements of each are considered in diagnosis and management. Central to the scheme is a positive diagnosis of DED with signs and symptoms, and this is directed towards management to restore homeostasis. The scheme also allows consideration of various related manifestations, such as non-obvious disease involving ocular surface signs without related symptoms, including neurotrophic conditions where dysfunctional sensation exists, and cases where symptoms exist without demonstrable ocular surface signs, including neuropathic pain. This approach is not intended to override clinical assessment and judgment but should prove helpful in guiding clinical management and research.
We analyzed the incidence and risk factors for ocular GVHD in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in Korea. In this retrospective, noncomparative, ...observational study, 635 subjects were included who had at least 2 years of follow-up ophthalmological examinations after allo-HSCT from 2009 to 2012 at Seoul St Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea. The mean duration between allo-HSCT and onset of ocular GVHD was 225.5±194.3 days. The adjusted incidence for acute ocular GVHD was 1.33% and that for chronic GVHD was 33.33%. In the multivariate analysis, preexisting diabetes mellitus (odds ratio (OR): 4.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.66-10.72), repeated allo-HSCT (OR: 29.10, 95% CI: 1.02-8.28) and the number of organs that chronically developed GVHD by stage I (OR: 14.63, 95% CI: 9.81-21.84) increased risk of ocular GVHD. Careful monitoring of ocular GVHD is needed in patients with chronic GVHD in multiple organs and preexisting diabetes.
Reactor experiment for neutrino oscillation (RENO) began data-taking from August 2011. It successfully observed reactor antineutrino disappearance in April 2012 to measure the smallest mixing angle ...of θ13. Two identical detectors, one at near location and the other at far location, are constructed at the Yonggwang nuclear power plant in South Korea, to compare the observed reactor neutrino fluxes. Each RENO detector is filled with 16 mass tons of Gadolinium loaded liquid scintillator (GdLS) in the neutrino target region, and with 28 mass tons of unloaded liquid scintillator (LS) in the γ-catcher region surrounding the target. LS was developed to satisfy chemical, physical, optical properties, and safety requirements. Linear alkyl benzene (LAB) was chosen as a solvent because of its high flash-point, sufficient light yield, and being environmentally friendly. GdLS is carefully developed to keep a long attenuation length and high light yield for a long time period. In this paper, we report the characteristics and mass production of the RENO LS and GdLS.
The experimental results on the ratios of branching fractions R(D)=B(Bover ¯→Dτ^{-}νover ¯_{τ})/B(Bover ¯→Dℓ^{-}νover ¯_{ℓ}) and R(D^{*})=B(Bover ¯→D^{*}τ^{-}νover ¯_{τ})/B(Bover ¯→D^{*}ℓ^{-}νover ...¯_{ℓ}), where ℓ denotes an electron or a muon, show a long-standing discrepancy with the standard model predictions, and might hint at a violation of lepton flavor universality. We report a new simultaneous measurement of R(D) and R(D^{*}), based on a data sample containing 772×10^{6} BBover ¯ events recorded at the ϒ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider. In this analysis the tag-side B meson is reconstructed in a semileptonic decay mode and the signal-side τ is reconstructed in a purely leptonic decay. The measured values are R(D)=0.307±0.037±0.016 and R(D^{*})=0.283±0.018±0.014, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. These results are in agreement with the standard model predictions within 0.2, 1.1, and 0.8 standard deviations for R(D), R(D^{*}), and their combination, respectively. This work constitutes the most precise measurements of R(D) and R(D^{*}) performed to date as well as the first result for R(D) based on a semileptonic tagging method.
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