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Showing papers by "University of Buenos Aires published in 2013"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines into one current, useful reporting guidance and it is hoped that this guidance will lead to more consistent and transparent reporting, and ultimately, better health decisions.

1,563 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
25 Mar 2013-BMJ
TL;DR: The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement as mentioned in this paper is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance.
Abstract: Economic evaluations of health interventions pose a particular challenge for reporting. There is also a need to consolidate and update existing guidelines and promote their use in a user friendly manner. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance. The primary audiences for the CHEERS statement are researchers reporting economic evaluations and the editors and peer reviewers assessing them for publication. The need for new reporting guidance was identified by a survey of medical editors. A list of possible items based on a systematic review was created. A two round, modified Delphi panel consisting of representatives from academia, clinical practice, industry, government, and the editorial community was conducted. Out of 44 candidate items, 24 items and accompanying recommendations were developed. The recommendations are contained in a user friendly, 24 item checklist. A copy of the statement, accompanying checklist, and this report can be found on the ISPOR Health Economic Evaluations Publication Guidelines Task Force website (www.ispor.org/TaskForces/ EconomicPubGuidelines.asp). We hope CHEERS will lead to better reporting, and ultimately, better health decisions. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the CHEERS statement is being co-published across 10 health economics and medical journals. We encourage other journals and groups, to endorse CHEERS. The author team plans to review the checklist for an update in five years.

1,454 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented the collation and analysis of the gridded land-based dataset of indices of temperature and precipitation extremes: HadEX2, which was calculated based on station data using a consistent approach recommended by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices.
Abstract: [1] In this study, we present the collation and analysis of the gridded land-based dataset of indices of temperature and precipitation extremes: HadEX2. Indices were calculated based on station data using a consistent approach recommended by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices, resulting in the production of 17 temperature and 12 precipitation indices derived from daily maximum and minimum temperature and precipitation observations. High-quality in situ observations from over 7000 temperature and 11,000 precipitation meteorological stations across the globe were obtained to calculate the indices over the period of record available for each station. Monthly and annual indices were then interpolated onto a 3.75° × 2.5° longitude-latitude grid over the period 1901–2010. Linear trends in the gridded fields were computed and tested for statistical significance. Overall there was very good agreement with the previous HadEX dataset during the overlapping data period. Results showed widespread significant changes in temperature extremes consistent with warming, especially for those indices derived from daily minimum temperature over the whole 110 years of record but with stronger trends in more recent decades. Seasonal results showed significant warming in all seasons but more so in the colder months. Precipitation indices also showed widespread and significant trends, but the changes were much more spatially heterogeneous compared with temperature changes. However, results indicated more areas with significant increasing trends in extreme precipitation amounts, intensity, and frequency than areas with decreasing trends.

1,055 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The global niche models suggest that oceanic microbial communities will experience complex changes as a result of projected future climate conditions, and these changes may have large impacts on ocean ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles.
Abstract: The Cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus account for a substantial fraction of marine primary production. Here, we present quantitative niche models for these lineages that assess present and future global abundances and distributions. These niche models are the result of neural network, nonparametric, and parametric analyses, and they rely on >35,000 discrete observations from all major ocean regions. The models assess cell abundance based on temperature and photosynthetically active radiation, but the individual responses to these environmental variables differ for each lineage. The models estimate global biogeographic patterns and seasonal variability of cell abundance, with maxima in the warm oligotrophic gyres of the Indian and the western Pacific Oceans and minima at higher latitudes. The annual mean global abundances of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus are 2.9 ± 0.1 × 1027 and 7.0 ± 0.3 × 1026 cells, respectively. Using projections of sea surface temperature as a result of increased concentration of greenhouse gases at the end of the 21st century, our niche models projected increases in cell numbers of 29% and 14% for Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus, respectively. The changes are geographically uneven but include an increase in area. Thus, our global niche models suggest that oceanic microbial communities will experience complex changes as a result of projected future climate conditions. Because of the high abundances and contributions to primary production of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus, these changes may have large impacts on ocean ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles.

980 citations



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
TL;DR: The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance.
Abstract: Economic evaluations of health interventions pose a particular challenge for reporting. There is also a need to consolidate and update existing guidelines and promote their use in a user friendly manner. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance. The primary audiences for the CHEERS statement are researchers reporting economic evaluations and the editors and peer reviewers assessing them for publication. The need for new reporting guidance was identified by a survey of medical editors. A list of possible items based on a systematic review was created. A two round, modified Delphi panel consisting of representatives from academia, clinical practice, industry, government, and the editorial community was conducted. Out of 44 candidate items, 24 items and accompanying recommendations were developed. The recommendations are contained in a user friendly, 24 item checklist. A copy of the statement, accompanying checklist, and this report can be found on the ISPOR Health Economic Evaluations Publication Guidelines Task Force website ( www.ispor.org/TaskForces/EconomicPubGuidelines.asp ). We hope CHEERS will lead to better reporting, and ultimately, better health decisions. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the CHEERS statement is being co-published across 10 health economics and medical journals. We encourage other journals and groups, to endorse CHEERS. The author team plans to review the checklist for an update in five years.

697 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Multiple regulatory loops and the input of the circadian clock create a complex network able to respond even to subtle threats of competition with neighbors while still compensating for major environmental fluctuations such as the day-night cycles.
Abstract: The dynamic light environment of vegetation canopies is perceived by phytochromes, cryptochromes, phototropins, and UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8). These receptors control avoidance responses to preclude exposure to limiting or excessive light and acclimation responses to cope with conditions that cannot be avoided. The low red/far-red ratios of shade light reduce phytochrome B activity, which allows PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORS (PIFs) to directly activate the transcription of auxin-synthesis genes, leading to shade-avoidance responses. Direct PIF interaction with DELLA proteins links gibberellin and brassinosteroid signaling to shade avoidance. Shade avoidance also requires CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS 1 (COP1), a target of cryptochromes, phytochromes, and UVR8. Multiple regulatory loops and the input of the circadian clock create a complex network able to respond even to subtle threats of competition with neighbors while still compensating for major environmental fluctuations such as the day-night cycles.

611 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: The data suggest that although 62% of children with severe ALRI are treated in hospitals, 81% of deaths happen outside hospitals, which suggests community-based management of severe disease could be an important complementary strategy to reduce pneumonia mortality and health inequities.

597 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
04 Apr 2013-Nature
TL;DR: An analysis of tapeworm genome sequences using the human-infective species Echinococcus multilocularis, E. granulosus, Taenia solium and the laboratory model Hymenolepis microstoma offers insights into the evolution of parasitism and identifies new potential drug targets.
Abstract: Tapeworms (Cestoda) cause neglected diseases that can be fatal and are difficult to treat, owing to inefficient drugs. Here we present an analysis of tapeworm genome sequences using the human-infective species Echinococcus multilocularis, E. granulosus, Taenia solium and the laboratory model Hymenolepis microstoma as examples. The 115- to 141-megabase genomes offer insights into the evolution of parasitism. Synteny is maintained with distantly related blood flukes but we find extreme losses of genes and pathways that are ubiquitous in other animals, including 34 homeobox families and several determinants of stem cell fate. Tapeworms have specialized detoxification pathways, metabolism that is finely tuned to rely on nutrients scavenged from their hosts, and species-specific expansions of non-canonical heat shock proteins and families of known antigens. We identify new potential drug targets, including some on which existing pharmaceuticals may act. The genomes provide a rich resource to underpin the development of urgently needed treatments and control.

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.

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.

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: The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance.
Abstract: Economic evaluations of health interventions pose a particular challenge for reporting. There is also a need to consolidate and update existing guidelines and promote their use in a user friendly manner. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance. The primary audiences for the CHEERS statement are researchers reporting economic evaluations and the editors and peer reviewers assessing them for publication. The need for new reporting guidance was identified by a survey of medical editors. A list of possible items based on a systematic review was created. A two round, modified Delphi panel consisting of representatives from academia, clinical practice, industry, government, and the editorial community was conducted. Out of 44 candidate items, 24 items and accompanying recommendations were developed. The recommendations are contained in a user friendly, 24 item checklist. A copy of the statement, accompanying checklist, and this report can be found on the ISPOR Health Economic Evaluations Publication Guidelines Task Force website ( http://www.ispor.org/TaskForces/EconomicPubGuidelines.asp ). We hope CHEERS will lead to better reporting, and ultimately, better health decisions. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the CHEERS statement is being co-published across 10 health economics and medical journals. We encourage other journals and groups, to endorse CHEERS. The author team plans to review the checklist for an update in five years.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Double field theory (DFT) as discussed by the authors is a generalization of string theory that incorporates T-duality as a symmetry of a field theory defined on a double configuration space.
Abstract: Double field theory (DFT) is a proposal to incorporate T-duality, a distinctive symmetry of string theory, as a symmetry of a field theory defined on a double configuration space. The aim of this review is to provide a pedagogical presentation of DFT and its applications. We first introduce some basic ideas on T-duality and supergravity in order to proceed to the construction of generalized diffeomorphisms and an invariant action on the double space. Steps towards the construction of a geometry on the double space are discussed. We then address generalized Scherk–Schwarz compactifications of DFT and their connection to gauged supergravity and flux compactifications. We also discuss U-duality extensions and present a brief parcours on worldsheet approaches to DFT. Finally, we provide a summary of other developments and applications that are not discussed in detail in the review.

Journal ArticleDOI
Paul E. Goss1, Brittany L. Lee1, Brittany L. Lee2, Tanja Badovinac-Crnjevic1, Kathrin Strasser-Weippl, Yanin Chavarri-Guerra, Jessica St. Louis1, Cynthia Villarreal-Garza, Karla Unger-Saldaña3, Mayra Ferreyra, Marcio Debiasi4, Pedro E.R. Liedke5, Diego Touya6, Gustavo Werutsky4, Michaela J. Higgins1, Lei Fan1, Claudia Vasconcelos, Eduardo Cazap7, Carlos S. Vallejos, Alejandro Mohar8, Felicia Marie Knaul1, Héctor Arreola, Rekha Batura9, Silvana Luciani10, Richard Sullivan9, Dianne M. Finkelstein1, Sergio Daniel Simon11, Carlos H. Barrios4, Rebecca S. Kightlinger12, Andres Gelrud13, Vladimir Bychkovsky14, Gilberto Lopes15, Gilberto Lopes16, Stephen Stefani, Marcelo Blaya17, Fabiano Hahn Souza18, Franklin Santana Santos, Alberto Kaemmerer, Evandro de Azambuja, Andres Felipe Cardona Zorilla, Raúl Murillo, Jose Jeronimo19, Vivien Tsu19, André Lopes Carvalho, Carlos Ferreira Gil, Cinthya Sternberg, Alfonso Dueñas-González8, Dennis C. Sgroi1, Mauricio Cuello6, Rodrigo Fresco6, Rui Manuel Reis, G. Masera20, Raul Gabus21, Raul C. Ribeiro22, Raul C. Ribeiro23, Renata Knust, Gustavo Ismael, Eduardo Rosenblatt24, B. M. C. Roth25, Luisa L. Villa26, Argelia Lara Solares, Marta Ximena Leon27, Isabel Torres-Vigil28, Isabel Torres-Vigil29, Alfredo Covarrubias-Gómez, Andrés Hernández, Mariela Bertolino, Gilberto Schwartsmann5, Sergio Santillana30, Francisco J. Esteva29, Luis Fein, Max S. Mano, Henry L. Gomez, Marc Hurlbert, Alessandra Durstine31, Gustavo S. Azenha31 
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the findings of their Cancer Commission and their recommendations to encourage Latin American stakeholders to redouble their efforts to address this increasing cancer burden and to prevent it from worsening and threatening their societies.
Abstract: Non-communicable diseases, including cancer, are overtaking infectious disease as the leading health-care threat in middle-income and low-income countries. Latin American and Caribbean countries are struggling to respond to increasing morbidity and death from advanced disease. Health ministries and health-care systems in these countries face many challenges caring for patients with advanced cancer: inadequate funding; inequitable distribution of resources and services; inadequate numbers, training, and distribution of health-care personnel and equipment; lack of adequate care for many populations based on socioeconomic, geographic, ethnic, and other factors; and current systems geared toward the needs of wealthy, urban minorities at a cost to the entire population. This burgeoning cancer problem threatens to cause widespread suffering and economic peril to the countries of Latin America. Prompt and deliberate actions must be taken to avoid this scenario. Increasing efforts towards prevention of cancer and avoidance of advanced, stage IV disease will reduce suffering and mortality and will make overall cancer care more affordable. We hope the findings of our Commission and our recommendations will inspire Latin American stakeholders to redouble their efforts to address this increasing cancer burden and to prevent it from worsening and threatening their societies.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The evidence of how organisms and populations are currently responding to climate change through phenotypic plasticity, genotypic evolution, changes in distribution and, in some cases, local extinction is reviewed.
Abstract: We review the evidence of how organisms and populations are currently responding to climate change through phenotypic plasticity, genotypic evolution, changes in distribution and, in some cases, local extinction. Organisms alter their gene expression and metabolism to increase the concentrations of several antistress compounds and to change their physiology, phenology, growth and reproduction in response to climate change. Rapid adaptation and microevolution occur at the population level. Together with these phenotypic and genotypic adaptations, the movement of organisms and the turnover of populations can lead to migration toward habitats with better conditions unless hindered by barriers. Both migration and local extinction of populations have occurred. However, many unknowns for all these processes remain. The roles of phenotypic plasticity and genotypic evolution and their possible trade-offs and links with population structure warrant further research. The application of omic techniques to ecological studies will greatly favor this research. It remains poorly understood how climate change will result in asymmetrical responses of species and how it will interact with other increasing global impacts, such as N eutrophication, changes in environmental N : P ratios and species invasion, among many others. The biogeochemical and biophysical feedbacks on climate of all these changes in vegetation are also poorly understood. We here review the evidence of responses to climate change and discuss the perspectives for increasing our knowledge of the interactions between climate change and life.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The evolution of ocean temperature measurement systems is presented with a focus on the development and accuracy of two critical devices in use today (expendable bathythermographs and conductivity-temperature-depth instruments used on Argo floats).
Abstract: The evolution of ocean temperature measurement systems is presented with a focus on the development and accuracy of two critical devices in use today (expendable bathythermographs and conductivity-temperature-depth instruments used on Argo floats). A detailed discussion of the accuracy of these devices and a projection of the future of ocean temperature measurements are provided. The accuracy of ocean temperature measurements is discussed in detail in the context of ocean heat content, Earth's energy imbalance, and thermosteric sea level rise. Up-to-date estimates are provided for these three important quantities. The total energy imbalance at the top of atmosphere is best assessed by taking an inventory of changes in energy storage. The main storage is in the ocean, the latest values of which are presented. Furthermore, despite differences in measurement methods and analysis techniques, multiple studies show that there has been a multidecadal increase in the heat content of both the upper and deep ocean regions, which reflects the impact of anthropogenic warming. With respect to sea level rise, mutually reinforcing information from tide gauges and radar altimetry shows that presently, sea level is rising at approximately 3 mm yr-1 with contributions from both thermal expansion and mass accumulation from ice melt. The latest data for thermal expansion sea level rise are included here and analyzed. Key Points Oceanographic techniques and analysis have improved over many decadesThese improvements allow more accurate Earth-energy balance estimatesUnderstanding of ocean heat content and sea-level rise has also increased ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A substantial reduction in the scale dependence is observed, with overlap between the current and previous order prediction, in the standard model Higgs boson pair production inclusive cross section at hadron colliders within the large top-mass approximation.
Abstract: We compute the next-to-next-to-leading order QCD corrections for standard model Higgs boson pair production inclusive cross section at hadron colliders within the large top-mass approximation. We provide numerical results for the LHC, finding that the corrections are large, resulting in an increase of $\mathcal{O}(20%)$ with respect to the next-to-leading order result at c.m. energy $\sqrt{{s}_{H}}=14\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$. We observe a substantial reduction in the scale dependence, with overlap between the current and previous order prediction. All our results are normalized using the full top- and bottom-mass dependence at leading order. We also provide analytical expressions for the $K$ factors as a function of ${s}_{H}$.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a flux formulation of double field theory in which fluxes are dynamical and field-dependent is considered, and the strong constraint-violating terms needed to make contact with gauged supergravities containing duality orbits of non-geometric fluxes, systematically arise in this formulation.
Abstract: We consider a flux formulation of Double Field Theory in which fluxes are dynamical and field-dependent. Gauge consistency imposes a set of quadratic constraints on the dynamical fluxes, which can be solved by truly double configurations. The constraints are related to generalized Bianchi Identities for (non-)geometric fluxes in the double space, sourced by (exotic) branes. Following previous constructions, we then obtain generalized connections, torsion and curvatures compatible with the consistency conditions. The strong constraint-violating terms needed to make contact with gauged supergravities containing duality orbits of non-geometric fluxes, systematically arise in this formulation.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2013-Gut
TL;DR: Hematic methylation and transcriptional activity of the MT-ND6 are associated with the histological severity of NAFLD, and Ultrastructural evaluation showed that NASH is associated with mitochondrial defects and peroxisome proliferation.
Abstract: Objective & design Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinical condition that refers to progressive histological changes ranging from simple steatosis (SS) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We evaluated the status of cytosine methylation (5mC) of liver mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in selected regions of the mtDNA genome, such as D-loop control region, and mitochondrially encoded NADH dehydrogenase 6 ( MT-ND6 ) and cytochrome C oxidase I ( MT-CO1 ), to contrast the hypothesis that epigenetic modifications play a role in the phenotypic switching from SS to NASH. Methods We studied liver biopsies obtained from patients with NAFLD in a case-control design; 45 patients and 18 near-normal liver-histology subjects. Results MT-ND6 methylation was higher in the liver of NASH than SS patients (p MT-ND6 methylated DNA/unmethylated DNA ratio was significantly associated with NAFLD activity score (p MT-ND6 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in NASH patients (0.26±0.30) versus SS (0.74±0.48), p MT-ND6 methylation in NASH group was inversely correlated with the level of regular physical activity ( R =-0.54, p MT-CO1 were not associated with the disease severity. DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferase 1 was significantly upregulated in NASH patients (p Conclusion Hepatic methylation and transcriptional activity of the MT-ND6 are associated with the histological severity of NAFLD. Epigenetic changes of mtDNA are potentially reversible by interventional programs, as physical activity could modulate the methylation status of MT-ND6.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Two new composite measures to assess disease activity in PsA have been developed by multiple linear regression and empirically, utilising physician-defined cut-offs for disease activity, and area under the receiver operating curves (AUC) were generally smaller.
Abstract: Objective To develop new composite disease activity indices for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods Data from routine clinic visits at multiple centres were collected in a systematic manner. Data included all domains identified as important in randomised controlled trials in PsA. Decisions to change treatment were used as surrogates for high disease activity. New indices were developed by multiple linear regression (psoriatic arthritis disease activity score: PASDAS) and empirically, utilising physician-defined cut-offs for disease activity (arithmetic mean of desirability functions: AMDF). These were compared with existing composite measures: Composite Psoriatic arthritis Disease Activity Index (CPDAI), Disease Activity for PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), and Disease Activity Score for rheumatoid arthritis (DAS28). Results 161/503 (32%) subjects had treatment changes. Although all measures performed well, compared with existing indices, PASDAS was better able to discriminate between high and low disease activity (area under receiver operating curves (ROC)) curve with 95% CI: PASDAS 0.773 (0.723, 0.822); AMDF 0.730 (0.680, 0.780); CPDAI 0.719 (0.668, 0.770); DAPSA 0.710 (0.654, 0.766); DAS28 0.736 (0.680, 0.792). All measures were able to discriminate between disease activity states in patients with oligoarthritis, although area under the receiver operating curves (AUC) were generally smaller. In patients with severe skin disease (psoriasis area and severity index >10) both nonparametric and AUC curve statistics were nonsignificant for all measures. Conclusions Two new composite measures to assess disease activity in PsA have been developed. Further testing in other datasets, including comparison with existing measures, is required to validate these instruments.

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, T. Abajyan2, Brad Abbott3, Jalal Abdallah4  +2954 moreInstitutions (201)
TL;DR: In this paper, the results of a search for pair production of supersymmetric partners of the Standard Model third-generation quarks are reported using 20.1 fb-1 of pp collisions collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider.
Abstract: The results of a search for pair production of supersymmetric partners of the Standard Model third-generation quarks are reported. This search uses 20.1 fb-1 of pp collisions at sqrt{s}=8 TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The lightest bottom and top squarks (b1 and t1 respectively) are searched for in a final state with large missing transverse momentum and two jets identified as originating from b-quarks. No excess of events above the expected level of Standard Model background is found. The results are used to set upper limits on the visible cross section for processes beyond the Standard Model. Exclusion limits at the 95% confidence level on the masses of the third-generation squarks are derived in phenomenological supersymmetric R-parity-conserving models in which either the bottom or the top squark is the lightest squark. The b1 is assumed to decay via b1->b chi0 and the t via t1->b chipm, with undetectable products of the subsequent decay of the chipm due to the small mass splitting between the chipm and the chi0.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Despite evidence of a higher α-SYN burden in the upper gut, only constipation and defecatory dysfunction were prominent premotor GIS of PD.
Abstract: To assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared to control subjects and their timing of appearance in relationship to the onset of motor symptoms. There is a rostrocaudal gradient of alpha-synuclein (α-SYN) neuropathology in the enteric nervous system at early stages of PD with higher burden in the upper than the lower gut. However, only constipation has been recognized as a premotor gastrointestinal manifestation of PD. 129 PD patients and 120 controls underwent a structured questionnaire to assess the presence of GIS and, in PD patients, the time of their appearance respect to the onset of motor manifestations. GIS significantly more prevalent in PD patients were dry mouth, drooling, dysphagia, constipation and defecatory dysfunction. Constipation and defecatory dysfunction preceded motor manifestations. Whereas gastroparesis symptoms preceded motor manifestations, their prevalence was not significantly different from controls. Despite evidence of a higher α-SYN burden in the upper gut, only constipation and defecatory dysfunction were prominent premotor GIS of PD.

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, T. Abajyan2, Brad Abbott3, Jalal Abdallah4  +2931 moreInstitutions (200)
TL;DR: In this paper, a search for new phenomena in events with a high-energy jet and large missing transverse momentum is performed using data from proton-proton collisions at root s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the Large flatiron Collider.
Abstract: A search for new phenomena in events with a high-energy jet and large missing transverse momentum is performed using data from proton-proton collisions at root s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the Large flatiron Collider. Four kinematic regions are explored using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 fb(-1). No excess of events beyond expectations from Standard Model processes is observed, and limits are set on large extra dimensions and the pair production of dark matter particles.

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, J. Abdallah3, S. Abdel Khalek4  +2849 moreInstitutions (179)
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured the effect of jet suppression in heavy ion collisions at the LHC and provided a direct sensitivity to the physics of jet quenching, using a sample of lead-lead collisions at root S-NN = 2.76 TeV.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The severity assessment criteria of TG13 have been revised so as not to lose the timing of biliary drainage or treatment for etiology, and the diagnostic criteria of the updated Tokyo Guidelines have high sensitivity and specificity.
Abstract: Since the publication of the Tokyo Guidelines for the management of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis (TG07), diagnostic criteria and severity assessment criteria for acute cholangitis have been presented and extensively used as the primary standard all over the world. However, it has been found that there are crucial limitations in these criteria. The diagnostic criteria of TG07 do not have enough sensitivity and specificity, and its severity assessment criteria are unsuitable for clinical use. A working team for the revision of TG07 was organized in June, 2010, and these criteria have been updated through clinical implementation and its assessment by means of multi-center analysis. The diagnostic criteria of acute cholangitis have been revised as criteria to establish the diagnosis where cholestasis and inflammation demonstrated by clinical signs or blood test in addition to biliary manifestations demonstrated by imaging are present. The diagnostic criteria of the updated Tokyo Guidelines (TG13) have high sensitivity (87.6 %) and high specificity (77.7 %). TG13 has better diagnostic capacity than TG07. Severity assessment is classified as follows: Grade III: associated with organ failure; Grade II: early biliary drainage should be conducted; Grade1: others. As for the severity assessment criteria of TG07, separating Grade II and Grade I at the time of diagnosis was impossible, so they were unsuitable for clinical practice. Therefore, the severity assessment criteria of TG13 have been revised so as not to lose the timing of biliary drainage or treatment for etiology. Based on evidence, five predictive factors for poor prognosis in acute cholangitis––hyperbilirubinemia, high fever, leukocytosis, elderly patient and hypoalbuminemia––have been extracted. Grade II can be diagnosed if two of these five factors are present. Free full-text articles and a mobile application of TG13 are available via http://www.jshbps.jp/en/guideline/tg13.html .

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance.
Abstract: Economic evaluations of health interventions pose a particular challenge for reporting. There is also a need to consolidate and update existing guidelines and promote their use in a user friendly manner. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance. The primary audiences for the CHEERS statement are researchers reporting economic evaluations and the editors and peer reviewers assessing them for publication. The need for new reporting guidance was identified by a survey of medical editors. A list of possible items based on a systematic review was created. A two round, modified Delphi panel consisting of representatives from academia, clinical practice, industry, government, and the editorial community was conducted. Out of 44 candidate items, 24 items and accompanying recommendations were developed. The recommendations are contained in a user friendly, 24 item checklist. A copy of the statement, accompanying checklist, and this report can be found on the ISPOR Health Economic Evaluations Publication Guidelines Task Force website (www.ispor.org/TaskForces/EconomicPubGuidelines.asp). We hope CHEERS will lead to better reporting, and ultimately, better health decisions. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the CHEERS statement is being co-published across 10 health economics and medical journals. We encourage other journals and groups, to endorse CHEERS. The author team plans to review the checklist for an update in five years.