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Showing papers by "Federal University of Rio de Janeiro published in 2013"


Journal ArticleDOI
B. S. Acharya1, Marcos Daniel Actis2, T. Aghajani3, G. Agnetta4  +979 moreInstitutions (122)
TL;DR: The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) as discussed by the authors is a very high-energy (VHE) gamma ray observatory with an international collaboration with more than 1000 members from 27 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America.

701 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
S. Schael1, R. Barate2, R. Brunelière2, D. Buskulic2  +1672 moreInstitutions (143)
TL;DR: In this paper, the results of the four LEP experiments were combined to determine fundamental properties of the W boson and the electroweak theory, including the branching fraction of W and the trilinear gauge-boson self-couplings.

684 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Roel Aaij1, Bernardo Adeva2, Marco Adinolfi3, C. Adrover4  +653 moreInstitutions (44)
TL;DR: A measurement of form-factor-independent angular observables in the decay B(0)→K*(892)(0)μ(+)μ(-) is presented, based on a data sample collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV.
Abstract: We present a measurement of form-factor-independent angular observables in the decay B-0 -> K*(892)(0)mu(+)mu(-). The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1), collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV. Four observables are measured in six bins of the dimuon invariant mass squared q(2) in the range 0.1 < q(2) < 19.0 GeV2/c(4). Agreement with recent theoretical predictions of the standard model is found for 23 of the 24 measurements. A local discrepancy, corresponding to 3.7 Gaussian standard deviations is observed in one q(2) bin for one of the observables. Considering the 24 measurements as independent, the probability to observe such a discrepancy, or larger, in one is 0.5%.

641 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, T. Abajyan2, Brad Abbott3, Jalal Abdallah  +2942 moreInstitutions (201)
TL;DR: In this paper, the spin and parity quantum numbers of the Higgs boson were studied based on the collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, and the results showed that the standard model spin-parity J(...

608 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Providing guidance on making a definitive diagnosis, methods for disease staging and evaluation of disease progression, and discuss symptom mitigation and treatment strategies, including liver transplant and several pharmacotherapies that have shown promise in clinical trials are provided.
Abstract: Transthyretin amyloidosis is a progressive and eventually fatal disease primarily characterized by sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathy and/or cardiomyopathy. Given its phenotypic unpredictability and variability, transthyretin amyloidosis can be difficult to recognize and manage. Misdiagnosis is common, and patients may wait several years before accurate diagnosis, risking additional significant irreversible deterioration. This article aims to help physicians better understand transthyretin amyloidosis—and, specifically, familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy—so they can recognize and manage the disease more easily and discuss it with their patients. We provide guidance on making a definitive diagnosis, explain methods for disease staging and evaluation of disease progression, and discuss symptom mitigation and treatment strategies, including liver transplant and several pharmacotherapies that have shown promise in clinical trials.

525 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, T. Abajyan2, Brad Abbott3, Jalal Abdallah4  +2942 moreInstitutions (200)
TL;DR: In this article, the production properties and couplings of the recently discovered Higgs boson using the decays into boson pairs were measured using the complete pp collision data sample recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider at centre-of-mass energies of 7 TeV and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 25/fb.

513 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Developing pharmacological strategies facilitating the release of BDNF from synapses or prolongation of the half-life of secreted BDNF may improve the therapeutic responses of humans expressing the BDNF polymorphism.
Abstract: Background/Aims: Anxious responses are evolutionarily adaptive, but excessive fear can become disabling and lead to anxiety disorders. Translational models of anxiety might be useful sources for understanding the neurobiology of fear and anxiety and can contribute to future proposals of therapeutic intervention for the disorders studied. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is known for its importance on neuroplasticity and contextual memory, has emerged as a relevant element for emotional memory. Recent studies show that the Val 66 Met BDNF polymorphism

504 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, T. Abajyan2, Brad Abbott3, J. Abdallah4  +2897 moreInstitutions (184)
TL;DR: In this article, the luminosity calibration for the ATLAS detector at the LHC during pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV in 2010 and 2011 is presented, and a luminosity uncertainty of delta L/L = +/- 3.5 % is obtained.
Abstract: The luminosity calibration for the ATLAS detector at the LHC during pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV in 2010 and 2011 is presented. Evaluation of the luminosity scale is performed using several luminosity-sensitive detectors, and comparisons are made of the long-term stability and accuracy of this calibration applied to the pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV. A luminosity uncertainty of delta L/L = +/- 3.5 % is obtained for the 47 pb(-1) of data delivered to ATLAS in 2010, and an uncertainty of delta L/L = +/- 1.8 % is obtained for the 5.5 fb(-1) delivered in 2011.

499 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study resulted in a consistent PRP preparation method that yielded a cytokine and growth factor pool from different donors with high reproducibility and its content characterization will allow us to understand and improve the clinical outcomes.
Abstract: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is nowadays widely applied in different clinical scenarios, such as orthopedics, ophthalmology and healing therapies, as a growth factor pool for improving tissue regeneration. Studies into its clinical efficiency are not conclusive and one of the main reasons for this is that different PRP preparations are used, eliciting different responses that cannot be compared. Platelet quantification and the growth factor content definition must be defined in order to understand molecular mechanisms behind PRP regenerative strength. Standardization of PRP preparations is thus urgently needed. PRP was prepared by centrifugation varying the relative centrifugal force, temperature, and time. Having quantified platelet recovery and yield, the two-step procedure that rendered the highest output was chosen and further analyzed. Cytokine content was determined in different fractions obtained throughout the whole centrifugation procedure. Our method showed reproducibility when applied to different blood donors. We recovered 46.9 to 69.5% of total initial platelets and the procedure resulted in a 5.4-fold to 7.3-fold increase in platelet concentration (1.4 × 106 to 1.9 × 106 platelets/μl). Platelets were highly purified, because only <0.3% from the initial red blood cells and leukocytes was present in the final PRP preparation. We also quantified growth factors, cytokines and chemokines secreted by the concentrated platelets after activation with calcium and calcium/thrombin. High concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor, endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor (TGF) were secreted, together with the anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-4, IL-8, IL-13, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-α. No cytokines were secreted before platelet activation. TGF-β3 and IFNγ were not detected in any studied fraction. Clots obtained after platelet coagulation retained a high concentration of several growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor and TGF. Our study resulted in a consistent PRP preparation method that yielded a cytokine and growth factor pool from different donors with high reproducibility. These findings support the use of PRP in therapies aiming for tissue regeneration, and its content characterization will allow us to understand and improve the clinical outcomes.

480 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Carlotta Gruppioni1, Francesca Pozzi2, Giulia Rodighiero3, Ivan Delvecchio2, S. Berta4, Lucia Pozzetti1, G. Zamorani1, P. Andreani, Alessandro Cimatti2, O. Ilbert5, E. Le Floc'h, Dieter Lutz4, Benjamin Magnelli4, Lucia Marchetti3, Lucia Marchetti6, Pierluigi Monaco7, Raanan Nordon4, Seb Oliver8, P. Popesso4, L. Riguccini, Isaac Roseboom9, Isaac Roseboom8, David J. Rosario4, Mark Sargent, Mattia Vaccari3, Mattia Vaccari10, Bruno Altieri, H. Aussel, Ángel Bongiovanni11, J. Cepa11, Emanuele Daddi, H. Dominguez-Sanchez11, H. Dominguez-Sanchez1, D. Elbaz, N. M. Foerster Schreiber4, R. Genzel4, Alvaro Iribarrem12, M. Magliocchetti1, Roberto Maiolino13, Albrecht Poglitsch4, A. M. Pérez García, M. Sánchez-Portal, Eckhard Sturm4, Linda J. Tacconi4, Ivan Valtchanov, Alexandre Amblard14, V. Arumugam9, M. Bethermin, James J. Bock15, James J. Bock16, A. Boselli5, V. Buat5, Denis Burgarella5, N. Castro-Rodríguez17, N. Castro-Rodríguez11, Antonio Cava18, P. Chanial, David L. Clements19, A. Conley20, Asantha Cooray16, Asantha Cooray21, C. D. Dowell15, C. D. Dowell16, Eli Dwek22, Stephen Anthony Eales23, Alberto Franceschini3, Jason Glenn20, Matthew Joseph Griffin23, Evanthia Hatziminaoglou, Edo Ibar24, K. G. Isaak25, Rob Ivison24, Rob Ivison9, Guilaine Lagache26, Louis Levenson15, Louis Levenson16, Nanyao Y. Lu16, S. C. Madden, Bruno Maffei27, G. Mainetti3, H. T. Nguyen15, H. T. Nguyen16, B. O'Halloran19, M. J. Page28, P. Panuzzo, Andreas Papageorgiou23, Chris Pearson29, Chris Pearson30, Ismael Perez-Fournon11, Ismael Perez-Fournon17, Michael Pohlen23, Dimitra Rigopoulou31, Dimitra Rigopoulou29, Michael Rowan-Robinson19, Benjamin L. Schulz16, Douglas Scott32, Nick Seymour28, Nick Seymour33, D. L. Shupe16, Anthony J. Smith8, Jamie Stevens34, M. Symeonidis28, Markos Trichas35, K. E. Tugwell28, L. Vigroux36, Lian-Tao Wang8, G. Wright24, C. K. Xu16, Michael Zemcov16, Michael Zemcov15, S. Bardelli1, M. Carollo37, Thierry Contini38, O. Le Fevre5, Simon J. Lilly37, Vincenzo Mainieri, Alvio Renzini1, Marco Scodeggio1, E. Zucca1 
TL;DR: In this article, the authors exploit the deep and extended far-IR data sets (at 70, 100 and 160 μm) of the GPS PACS Evolutionary Probe (PEP) Survey, in combination with the Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey data at 250, 350 and 500 μm, to derive the evolution of the rest-frame 35-, 60-, 90- and total infrared luminosity functions (LFs) up to z ∼ 4.
Abstract: We exploit the deep and extended far-IR data sets (at 70, 100 and 160 μm) of the Herschel Guaranteed Time Observation (GTO) PACS Evolutionary Probe (PEP) Survey, in combination with the Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey data at 250, 350 and 500 μm, to derive the evolution of the rest-frame 35-, 60-, 90- and total infrared (IR) luminosity functions (LFs) up to z ∼ 4. We detect very strong luminosity evolution for the total IR LF (LIR ∝ (1 + z)3.55 ± 0.10 up to z ∼ 2, and ∝ (1 + z)1.62 ± 0.51 at 2 < z ≲ 4) combined with a density evolution (∝(1 + z)−0.57 ± 0.22 up to z ∼ 1 and ∝ (1 + z)−3.92 ± 0.34 at 1 < z ≲ 4). In agreement with previous findings, the IR luminosity density (ρIR) increases steeply to z ∼ 1, then flattens between z ∼ 1 and z ∼ 3 to decrease at z ≳ 3. Galaxies with different spectral energy distributions, masses and specific star formation rates (SFRs) evolve in very different ways and this large and deep statistical sample is the first one allowing us to separately study the different evolutionary behaviours of the individual IR populations contributing to ρIR. Galaxies occupying the well-established SFR–stellar mass main sequence (MS) are found to dominate both the total IR LF and ρIR at all redshifts, with the contribution from off-MS sources (≥0.6 dex above MS) being nearly constant (∼20 per cent of the total ρIR) and showing no significant signs of increase with increasing z over the whole 0.8 < z < 2.2 range. Sources with mass in the range 10 ≤ log(M/M⊙) ≤ 11 are found to dominate the total IR LF, with more massive galaxies prevailing at the bright end of the high-z (≳2) LF. A two-fold evolutionary scheme for IR galaxies is envisaged: on the one hand, a starburst-dominated phase in which the Super Massive Black Holes (SMBH) grows and is obscured by dust (possibly triggered by a major merging event), is followed by an AGN-dominated phase, then evolving towards a local elliptical. On the other hand, moderately star-forming galaxies containing a low-luminosity AGN have various properties suggesting they are good candidates for systems in a transition phase preceding the formation of steady spiral galaxies.

461 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The LHCb trigger and its performance based on data taken at the LHC in 2011 is presented in this article, where a combination of lepton identification of particles, transverse momentum of particles and selects particles originating from hadrons which decay after a finite flight distance.
Abstract: The LHCb trigger and its performance based on data taken at the LHC in 2011 is presented. LHCb is designed to perform flavour physics measurements, and its trigger distinguishes charm and beauty decays from the light quark background. It uses a combination of lepton identification of particles, transverse momentum of particles and selects particles originating from hadrons which decay after a finite flight distance. The trigger reduces the $\sim 11$ MHz of bunch-bunch crossings with at least one non-elastic pp-interaction to 3 kHz of events which are written to storage in two trigger levels. The first level is implemented in hardware, while the next level is a software application which runs on all processors of a large computer farm. A data driven method is used to evaluate the performance of the trigger for several charm and beauty decay modes.

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, T. Abajyan2, Brad Abbott3, J. Abdallah4  +2912 moreInstitutions (183)
TL;DR: Two-particle correlations in relative azimuthal angle and pseudorapidity are measured using the ATLAS detector at the LHC and the resultant Δø correlation is approximately symmetric about π/2, and is consistent with a dominant cos2Δø modulation for all ΣE(T)(Pb) ranges and particle p(T).
Abstract: Two-particle correlations in relative azimuthal angle (Delta phi) and pseudorapidity (Delta eta) are measured in root S-NN = 5.02 TeV p + Pb collisions using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements are performed using approximately 1 mu b(-1) of data as a function of transverse momentum (p(T)) and the transverse energy (Sigma E-T(Pb)) summed over 3.1 < eta < 4.9 in the direction of the Pb beam. The correlation function, constructed from charged particles, exhibits a long-range (2 < vertical bar Delta eta vertical bar < 5) "near-side" (Delta phi similar to 0) correlation that grows rapidly with increasing Sigma E-T(Pb). A long-range "away-side" (Delta phi similar to pi) correlation, obtained by subtracting the expected contributions from recoiling dijets and other sources estimated using events with small Sigma E-T(Pb), is found to match the near-side correlation in magnitude, shape (in Delta eta and Delta phi) and Sigma E-T(Pb) dependence. The resultant Delta phi correlation is approximately symmetric about pi/2, and is consistent with a dominant cos2 Delta phi modulation for all Sigma E-T(Pb) ranges and particle p(T).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that it is possible to extend the minimal evolution time between two distinguishable states of a system to nonunitary processes, using an attainable lower bound that is connected to the quantum Fisher information for time estimation.
Abstract: The evaluation of the minimal evolution time between two distinguishable states of a system is important for assessing the maximal speed of quantum computers and communication channels. Lower bounds for this minimal time have been proposed for unitary dynamics. Here we show that it is possible to extend this concept to nonunitary processes, using an attainable lower bound that is connected to the quantum Fisher information for time estimation. This result is used to delimit the minimal evolution time for typical noisy channels.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) is a high-resolution infrared spectroscopic survey spanning all Galactic environments (i.e., bulge, disk, and halo), with the principal goal of constraining dynamical and chemical evolution models of the Milky Way as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) is a high-resolution infrared spectroscopic survey spanning all Galactic environments (i.e., bulge, disk, and halo), with the principal goal of constraining dynamical and chemical evolution models of the Milky Way. APOGEE takes advantage of the reduced effects of extinction at infrared wavelengths to observe the inner Galaxy and bulge at an unprecedented level of detail. The survey's broad spatial and wavelength coverage enables users of APOGEE data to address numerous Galactic structure and stellar populations issues. In this paper we describe the APOGEE targeting scheme and document its various target classes to provide the necessary background and reference information to analyze samples of APOGEE data with awareness of the imposed selection criteria and resulting sample properties. APOGEE's primary sample consists of ~105 red giant stars, selected to minimize observational biases in age and metallicity. We present the methodology and considerations that drive the selection of this sample and evaluate the accuracy, efficiency, and caveats of the selection and sampling algorithms. We also describe additional target classes that contribute to the APOGEE sample, including numerous ancillary science programs, and we outline the targeting data that will be included in the public data releases.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Molecular mechanisms potentially underlying the memory-enhancing and neuroprotective effects of intranasal insulin are presented and an overview of neuroimaging studies indicating that disturbances in insulin metabolism and altered brain responses to insulin are linked to decreased cerebral volume and especially to hippocampal atrophy is provided.
Abstract: Research in animals and humans has associated Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with decreased cerebrospinal fluid levels of insulin in combination with decreased insulin sensitivity (insulin resistance) in the brain. This phenomenon is accompanied by attenuated receptor expression of insulin and insulin-like growth factor, enhanced serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1, and impaired transport of insulin across the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, clinical trials have demonstrated that intranasal insulin improves both memory performance and metabolic integrity of the brain in patients suffering from AD or its prodrome, mild cognitive impairment. These results, in conjunction with the finding that insulin mitigates hippocampal synapse vulnerability to beta amyloid, a peptide thought to be causative in the development of AD, provide a strong rationale for hypothesizing that pharmacological strategies bolstering brain insulin signaling, such as intranasal administration of insulin, could have significant potential in the treatment and prevention of AD. With this view in mind, the review at hand will present molecular mechanisms potentially underlying the memory-enhancing and neuroprotective effects of intranasal insulin. Then, we will discuss the results of intranasal insulin studies that have demonstrated that enhancing brain insulin signaling improves memory and learning processes in both cognitively healthy and impaired humans. Finally, we will provide an overview of neuroimaging studies indicating that disturbances in insulin metabolism—such as insulin resistance in obesity, type 2 diabetes and AD—and altered brain responses to insulin are linked to decreased cerebral volume and especially to hippocampal atrophy.

Journal ArticleDOI
Roel Aaij, C. Abellan Beteta1, A. Adametz2, Bernardo Adeva3  +615 moreInstitutions (42)
TL;DR: In this paper, a search for the rare decays Bs->mu+mu- and B0->Mu+Mu- is performed using data collected in 2011 and 2012 with the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider.
Abstract: A search for the rare decays Bs->mu+mu- and B0->mu+mu- is performed using data collected in 2011 and 2012 with the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The data samples comprise 1.1 fb^-1 of proton-proton collisions at sqrt{s} = 8 TeV and 1.0 fb^-1 at sqrt{s}=7 TeV. We observe an excess of Bs -> mu+ mu- candidates with respect to the background expectation. The probability that the background could produce such an excess or larger is 5.3 x 10^-4 corresponding to a signal significance of 3.5 standard deviations. A maximum-likelihood fit gives a branching fraction of BR(Bs -> mu+ mu-) = (3.2^{+1.5}_{-1.2}) x 10^-9, where the statistical uncertainty is 95% of the total uncertainty. This result is in agreement with the Standard Model expectation. The observed number of B0 -> mu+ mu- candidates is consistent with the background expectation, giving an upper limit of BR(B0 -> mu+ mu-) < 9.4 x 10^-10 at 95% confidence level.

Journal ArticleDOI
Roel Aaij, C. Abellan Beteta1, Bernardo Adeva2, Marco Adinolfi3  +617 moreInstitutions (42)
TL;DR: The quantum numbers of the X(3872) meson are determined to be J(PC)=1(++) based on angular correlations in B(+)→X( 3872)K(+) decays, where X(3772)→π(+)π(-)J/ψ and J/ω→μ(+)μ(-).
Abstract: The quantum numbers of the X(3872) meson are determined to be J(PC) = 1(++) based on angular correlations in B+ -> X(3872)K+ decays, where X(3872) -> pi(+) pi(-) j/psi and J/psi -> pi(+) mu(-). The data correspond to 1.0 fb(-1) of pp collisions collected by the LHCb detector. The only alternative assignment allowed by previous measurements J(PC) = 2(-+) is rejected with a confidence level equivalent to more than 8 Gaussian standard deviations using a likelihood-ratio test in the full angular phase space. This result favors exotic explanations of the X(3872) state.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate that climate warming might not be as a result of higher growth rates of cyanobacteria compared with their chlorophyte competitors, and can more likely be attributed to their ability to migrate vertically and prevent sedimentation in warmer and more strongly stratified waters and to their resistance to grazing, especially when warming reduces zooplankton body size.
Abstract: 1. The hypothesis that cyanobacteria have higher optimum growth temperatures and higher growth rates at the optimum as compared to chlorophytes was tested by running a controlled experiment with eight cyanobacteria species and eight chlorophyte species at six different temperatures (20–35 C) and by performing a literature survey. 2. In the experiment, all organisms except the chlorophyte Monoraphidium minutum grew well up to 35 C. The chlorophyte Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was the fastest-growing organism over the entire temperature range (20–35 C). 3. Mean optimum growth temperatures were similar for cyanobacteria (29.2 C) and chlorophytes (29.2 C). These results are concordant with published data, yielding slightly higher mean optimum growth temperatures for cyanobacteria (27.2 C) than for chlorophytes (26.3 C). 4. Mean growth rates of cyanobacteria at 20 C (0.42 day)1) were significantly lower than those of chlorophytes at 20 C (0.62 day)1). However, at all other temperatures, there were no differences between mean growth rates of cyanobacteria and chlorophytes. 5. Mean growth rates at the optimum temperature were similar for cyanobacteria (0.92 day)1) and chlorophytes (0.96 day)1). However, analysis of published data revealed that growth rates of cyanobacteria (0.65 day)1) were significantly lower than those of chlorophytes (0.93 day)1) at their optimum temperatures. 6. Although climate warming will probably lead to an intensification of cyanobacterial blooms, our results indicate that this might not be as a result of higher growth rates of cyanobacteria compared with their chlorophyte competitors. The competitive advantage of cyanobacteria can more likely be attributed to their ability to migrate vertically and prevent sedimentation in warmer and more strongly stratified waters and to their resistance to grazing, especially when warming reduces zooplankton body size.

Journal ArticleDOI
27 Mar 2013-AIDS
TL;DR: In HIV-infected individuals on ART, with a recent undetectable viral load, who maintained or had recovery of CD4+ cell counts to at least 500 cells/&mgr;l, there is no evidence for a raised risk of death compared with the general population.
Abstract: Background: Due to the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART), it is relevant to ask whether death rates in optimally treated HIV are higher than the general population. The objective was to compare mortality rates in well controlled HIV-infected adults in the SMART and ESPRIT clinical trials with the general population. Methods: Non-IDUs aged 20-70 years from the continuous ART control arms of ESPRIT and SMART were included if the person had both low HIV plasma viral loads (≤400 copies/ml SMART, ≤500 copies/ml ESPRIT) and high CD4 T-cell counts (≥350 cells/ml) at any time in the past 6 months. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated by comparing death rates with the Human Mortality Database. Results: Three thousand, two hundred and eighty individuals [665 (20%) women], median age 43 years, contributed 12 357 person-years of follow-up. Sixty-two deaths occurred during follow up. Commonest cause of death was cardiovascular disease (CVD) or sudden death (19, 31%), followed by non-AIDS malignancy (12, 19%). Only two deaths (3%) were AIDS-related. Mortality rate was increased compared with the general population with a CD4 cell count between 350 and 499 cells/ml [SMR 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-2.55]. No evidence for increased mortality was seen with CD4 cell counts greater than 500 cells/ml (SMR 1.00, 95% CI 0.69-1.40). Conclusion: In HIV-infected individuals on ART, with a recent undetectable viral load, who maintained or had recovery of CD4 cell counts to at least 500 cells/ml, we identified no evidence for a raised risk of death compared with the general population.

Journal ArticleDOI
Roel Aaij, Bernardo Adeva1, Marco Adinolfi2, C. Adrover3  +650 moreInstitutions (44)
TL;DR: An excess of Bs(0)→μ+ μ- signal candidates with respect to the background expectation is seen with a significance of 4.0 standard deviations, consistent with the standard model expectations.
Abstract: A search for the rare decays $B^0_s \to\mu^+\mu^-$ and $B^0 \to\mu^+\mu^-$ is performed at the LHCb experiment. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1 fb$^{-1}$ of $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV and 2 fb$^{-1}$ at 8 TeV. An excess of $B^0_s \to\mu^+\mu^-$ signal candidates with respect to the background expectation is seen with a significance of 4.0 standard deviations. A time-integrated branching fraction of ${\cal B}(B^0_s \to\mu^+\mu^-) = (2.9^{+1.1}_{-1.0})\times 10^{-9}$ is obtained and an upper limit of ${\cal B}(B^0 \to\mu^+\mu^-) < 7.4\times 10^{-10}$ at 95% confidence level is set. These results are consistent with the Standard Model expectations.


Journal ArticleDOI
Roel Aaij, C. Abellan Beteta1, A. Adametz2, Bernardo Adeva3  +618 moreInstitutions (45)
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the LHCb's charmed hadron species in bins of transverse momentum and rapidity in the region 0

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the morphology of natural fibers was correlated with their mechanical properties via image analysis and the cross-sectional areas of the fibers were calculated using images obtained in a scanning electron microscopy.
Abstract: In the present work the morphology of natural fibers was correlated with their mechanical properties via image analysis. Jute, sisal, curaua, coir and piassava fibers were tested under direct tension in a universal testing machine and the cross-sectional areas of the fibers were calculated using images obtained in a scanning electron microscopy. For the jute fiber the tests were performed for several gage lengths in order to investigate its influence on the tensile strength and to compute the machine compliance. For sisal, jute and curaua fibers the amount of fiber-cells, the size of the cell walls and the real area of the fibers were measured and their correlation with the tensile strength addressed. The curaua fiber presented the highest mechanical performance with tensile strength and Young’s modulus of 543 MPa and 63.7 GPa, respectively. Weibull statistical analysis was used to quantify the variability of fiber strength. The sisal fibers presented the highest Weibull modulus (3.70), whereas the curaua presented the lowest one (m = 2.2), which means that the sisal had the lowest variability and curaua the highest.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that the Nlrp3 inflammasome is activated in response to Leishmania infection and is important for the restriction of parasite replication both in macrophages and in vivo as demonstrated through the infection of inflammaome-deficient mice with Leishmaniasis.
Abstract: Parasites of the Leishmania genus are the causative agents of leishmaniasis in humans, a disease that affects more than 12 million people worldwide. These parasites replicate intracellularly in macrophages, and the primary mechanisms underlying host resistance involve the production of nitric oxide (NO). In this study we show that the Nlrp3 inflammasome is activated in response to Leishmania infection and is important for the restriction of parasite replication both in macrophages and in vivo as demonstrated through the infection of inflammasome-deficient mice with Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum chagasi. Inflammasome-driven interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production facilitated host resistance to infection, as signaling through IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) and MyD88 was necessary and sufficient to trigger inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2)-mediated production of NO. In this manuscript we identify a major signaling platform for host resistance to Leishmania spp. infection and describe the molecular mechanisms underlying Leishmania-induced NO production.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The case of an individual with social phobia who developed a dependency on communication through virtual environments, and used a PC as a form of relating to the outside world to reduce stress and to avoid direct social relations is reported.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: NoON-like photonic states of m quanta of angular momentum up to m=100 are demonstrated, in a setup that acts as a ‘photonic gear’, converting, for each photon, a mechanical rotation of an angle θ into an amplified rotation of the optical polarization by mθ, corresponding to a ’super-resolving’ Malus’ law.
Abstract: Quantum metrology bears a great promise in enhancing measurement precision, but is unlikely to become practical in the near future. Its concepts can nevertheless inspire classical or hybrid methods of immediate value. Here we demonstrate NOON-like photonic states of m quanta of angular momentum up to m=100, in a setup that acts as a 'photonic gear', converting, for each photon, a mechanical rotation of an angle θ into an amplified rotation of the optical polarization by mθ, corresponding to a 'super-resolving' Malus' law. We show that this effect leads to single-photon angular measurements with the same precision of polarization-only quantum strategies with m photons, but robust to photon losses. Moreover, we combine the gear effect with the quantum enhancement due to entanglement, thus exploiting the advantages of both approaches. The high 'gear ratio' m boosts the current state of the art of optical non-contact angular measurements by almost two orders of magnitude.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Tafamidis was well tolerated, with the reduced rate of neurologic deterioration sustained over 30 months, and slowed neurologic impairment in patients previously given placebo, but treatment benefits were greater when taf amidis was begun earlier.
Abstract: Tafamidis, a transthyretin (TTR) kinetic stabilizer, delayed neuropathic progression in patients with Val30Met TTR familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) in an 18-month randomized controlled trial (study Fx-005). This 12-month, open-label extension study evaluated the long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of tafamidis 20 mg once daily in 86 patients who earlier received blinded treatment with tafamidis or placebo. Efficacy measures included the Neuropathy Impairment Score in the Lower Limbs (NIS-LL), Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy total quality of life (TQOL) score, and changes in neurologic function and nutritional status. We quantified the monthly rates of change in efficacy measures, and TTR stabilization, and monitored adverse events (AEs). Patients who continued on tafamidis had stable rates of change in NIS-LL (from 0.08 to 0.11/month; p = 0.60) and TQOL (from −0.03 to 0.25; p = 0.16). In patients switched from placebo, the monthly rate of change in NIS-LL declined (from 0.34 to 0.16/month; p = 0.01), as did TQOL score (from 0.61 to −0.16; p < 0.001). Patients treated with tafamidis for 30 months had 55.9 % greater preservation of neurologic function as measured by the NIS-LL than patients in whom tafamidis was initiated later. Plasma TTR was stabilized in 94.1 % of patients treated with tafamidis for 30 months. AEs were similar between groups; no patients discontinued because of an AE. Long-term tafamidis was well tolerated, with the reduced rate of neurologic deterioration sustained over 30 months. Tafamidis also slowed neurologic impairment in patients previously given placebo, but treatment benefits were greater when tafamidis was begun earlier.

Journal ArticleDOI
19 Mar 2013-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: This first large epidemiologic study of candidemia in Latin America showed a high incidence ofCandida albicans, high percentage of children, typical species distribution, and low resistance rates.
Abstract: Background The epidemiology of candidemia varies depending on the geographic region. Little is known about the epidemiology of candidemia in Latin America. Methods We conducted a 24-month laboratory-based survey of candidemia in 20 centers of seven Latin American countries. Incidence rates were calculated and the epidemiology of candidemia was characterized. Results Among 672 episodes of candidemia, 297 (44.2%) occurred in children (23.7% younger than 1 year), 36.2% in adults between 19 and 60 years old and 19.6% in elderly patients. The overall incidence was 1.18 cases per 1,000 admissions, and varied across countries, with the highest incidence in Colombia and the lowest in Chile. Candida albicans (37.6%), C. parapsilosis (26.5%) and C. tropicalis (17.6%) were the leading agents, with great variability in species distribution in the different countries. Most isolates were highly susceptible to fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and anidulafungin. Fluconazole was the most frequent agent used as primary treatment (65.8%), and the overall 30-day survival was 59.3%. Conclusions This first large epidemiologic study of candidemia in Latin America showed a high incidence of candidemia, high percentage of children, typical species distribution, with C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis accounting for the majority of episodes, and low resistance rates.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the performance of the LHCb Muon system and its stability across the full 2010 data taking with LHC running at root s = 7 TeV energy is studied.
Abstract: The performance of the LHCb Muon system and its stability across the full 2010 data taking with LHC running at root s = 7 TeV energy is studied. The optimization of the detector setting and the time calibration performed with the first collisions delivered by LHC is described. Particle rates, measured for the wide range of luminosities and beam operation conditions experienced during the run, are compared with the values expected from simulation. The space and time alignment of the detectors, chamber efficiency, time resolution and cluster size are evaluated. The detector performance is found to be as expected from specifications or better. Notably the overall efficiency is well above the design requirements.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A hypothesis is put forward on how a cross-talk between peripheral tissues and the brain might influence the development of AD, and a rational basis for the use of antidiabetic agents as novel and potentially effective therapeutics in AD is discussed.
Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and diabetes are currently considered among the top threats to human health worldwide. Intriguingly, a connection between these diseases has been established during the past decade, since insulin resistance, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, also develops in Alzheimer brains. In this article, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying defective brain insulin signaling in AD are discussed, with emphasis on evidence that Alzheimer’s and diabetes share common inflammatory signaling pathways. I put forward here a hypothesis on how a cross-talk between peripheral tissues and the brain might influence the development of AD, and highlight important unanswered questions in the field. Furthermore, I discuss a rational basis for the use of antidiabetic agents as novel and potentially effective therapeutics in AD.