Showing papers by "University of Catania published in 2017"
TL;DR: A fully-fledged particle-flow reconstruction algorithm tuned to the CMS detector was developed and has been consistently used in physics analyses for the first time at a hadron collider as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The CMS apparatus was identified, a few years before the start of the LHC operation at CERN, to feature properties well suited to particle-flow (PF) reconstruction: a highly-segmented tracker, a fine-grained electromagnetic calorimeter, a hermetic hadron calorimeter, a strong magnetic field, and an excellent muon spectrometer. A fully-fledged PF reconstruction algorithm tuned to the CMS detector was therefore developed and has been consistently used in physics analyses for the first time at a hadron collider. For each collision, the comprehensive list of final-state particles identified and reconstructed by the algorithm provides a global event description that leads to unprecedented CMS performance for jet and hadronic τ decay reconstruction, missing transverse momentum determination, and electron and muon identification. This approach also allows particles from pileup interactions to be identified and enables efficient pileup mitigation methods. The data collected by CMS at a centre-of-mass energy of 8\TeV show excellent agreement with the simulation and confirm the superior PF performance at least up to an average of 20 pileup interactions.
719 citations
Queen's University Belfast1, Max Planck Society2, California Institute of Technology3, University College Dublin4, University of Southampton5, University of Hawaii6, University of Copenhagen7, Weizmann Institute of Science8, University of Warwick9, University of Edinburgh10, Millennium Institute11, Andrés Bello National University12, European Southern Observatory13, Liverpool John Moores University14, Stockholm University15, Space Science Institute16, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile17, INAF18, University of Padua19, Radboud University Nijmegen20, Netherlands Institute for Space Research21, Spanish National Research Council22, Centre national de la recherche scientifique23, University of Chile24, University of Portsmouth25, University of Pittsburgh26, Instituto Superior Técnico27, University of Warsaw28, University of Turku29, University of Iceland30, Valparaiso University31, University of Cambridge32, Lancaster University33, Humboldt University of Berlin34, Heidelberg University35, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies36, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris37, University of Oxford38, University of Catania39, Johns Hopkins University40, Space Telescope Science Institute41, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics42, Australian National University43, University of New South Wales44, Harvard University45, University of the Free State46, Northwestern University47, University of Minnesota48
TL;DR: Observations and physical modelling of a rapidly fading electromagnetic transient in the galaxy NGC 4993, which is spatially coincident with GW170817, indicate that neutron-star mergers produce gravitational waves and radioactively powered kilonovae, and are a nucleosynthetic source of the r-process elements.
Abstract: Gravitational waves were discovered with the detection of binary black-hole mergers and they should also be detectable from lower-mass neutron-star mergers. These are predicted to eject material rich in heavy radioactive isotopes that can power an electromagnetic signal. This signal is luminous at optical and infrared wavelengths and is called a kilonova. The gravitational-wave source GW170817 arose from a binary neutron-star merger in the nearby Universe with a relatively well confined sky position and distance estimate. Here we report observations and physical modelling of a rapidly fading electromagnetic transient in the galaxy NGC 4993, which is spatially coincident with GW170817 and with a weak, short γ-ray burst. The transient has physical parameters that broadly match the theoretical predictions of blue kilonovae from neutron-star mergers. The emitted electromagnetic radiation can be explained with an ejected mass of 0.04 ± 0.01 solar masses, with an opacity of less than 0.5 square centimetres per gram, at a velocity of 0.2 ± 0.1 times light speed. The power source is constrained to have a power-law slope of -1.2 ± 0.3, consistent with radioactive powering from r-process nuclides. (The r-process is a series of neutron capture reactions that synthesise many of the elements heavier than iron.) We identify line features in the spectra that are consistent with light r-process elements (atomic masses of 90-140). As it fades, the transient rapidly becomes red, and a higher-opacity, lanthanide-rich ejecta component may contribute to the emission. This indicates that neutron-star mergers produce gravitational waves and radioactively powered kilonovae, and are a nucleosynthetic source of the r-process elements.
695 citations
U. Bhawandeep1, Vardan Khachatryan, Albert M. Sirunyan, Armen Tumasyan +2289 more•Institutions (147)
TL;DR: In this paper, the trigger system consists of two levels designed to select events of potential physics interest from a GHz (MHz) interaction rate of proton-proton (heavy ion) collisions.
Abstract: This paper describes the CMS trigger system and its performance during Run 1 of the LHC. The trigger system consists of two levels designed to select events of potential physics interest from a GHz (MHz) interaction rate of proton-proton (heavy ion) collisions. The first level of the trigger is implemented in hardware, and selects events containing detector signals consistent with an electron, photon, muon, tau lepton, jet, or missing transverse energy. A programmable menu of up to 128 object-based algorithms is used to select events for subsequent processing. The trigger thresholds are adjusted to the LHC instantaneous luminosity during data taking in order to restrict the output rate to 100 kHz, the upper limit imposed by the CMS readout electronics. The second level, implemented in software, further refines the purity of the output stream, selecting an average rate of 400 Hz for offline event storage. The objectives, strategy and performance of the trigger system during the LHC Run 1 are described.
532 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an improved jet energy scale corrections, based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb^(-1) collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, are presented.
Abstract: Improved jet energy scale corrections, based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb^(-1) collected by the CMS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, are presented. The corrections as a function of pseudorapidity η and transverse momentum p_T are extracted from data and simulated events combining several channels and methods. They account successively for the effects of pileup, uniformity of the detector response, and residual data-simulation jet energy scale differences. Further corrections, depending on the jet flavor and distance parameter (jet size) R, are also presented. The jet energy resolution is measured in data and simulated events and is studied as a function of pileup, jet size, and jet flavor. Typical jet energy resolutions at the central rapidities are 15–20% at 30 GeV, about 10% at 100 GeV, and 5% at 1 TeV. The studies exploit events with dijet topology, as well as photon+jet, Z+jet and multijet events. Several new techniques are used to account for the various sources of jet energy scale corrections, and a full set of uncertainties, and their correlations, are provided. The final uncertainties on the jet energy scale are below 3% across the phase space considered by most analyses (p_T > 30 GeV and 0|η| 30 GeV is reached, when excluding the jet flavor uncertainties, which are provided separately for different jet flavors. A new benchmark for jet energy scale determination at hadron colliders is achieved with 0.32% uncertainty for jets with p_T of the order of 165–330 GeV, and |η| < 0.8.
505 citations
01 Mar 2017
TL;DR: The evolutionary stages, i.e., generations, that have characterized the development of IoT are presented, along with the motivations of their triggering, and the role that IoT can play in addressing the main societal challenges and the set of features expected from the relevant solutions are analyzed.
Abstract: The high penetration rate of new technologies in all the activities of everyday life is fostering the belief that for any new societal challenge there is always an ICT solution able to successfully deal with it. Recently, the solution that is proposed almost anytime is the “Internet of Things” (IoT). This apparent panacea of the ICT world takes different aspects on and, actually, is identified with different (often very different) technological solutions. As a result, many think that IoT is just RFIDs, others think that it is sensor networks, and yet others that it is machine-to-machine communications. In the meanwhile, industrial players are taking advantage of the popularity of IoT to use it as a very trendy brand for technology solutions oriented to the consumer market. The scientific literature sometimes does not help much in clarifying, as it is rich in definitions of IoT often discordant between them. Objective of this paper is to present the evolutionary stages, i.e., generations, that have characterized the development of IoT, along with the motivations of their triggering. Besides, it analyzes the role that IoT can play in addressing the main societal challenges and the set of features expected from the relevant solutions. The final objective is to give a modern definition of the phenomenon, which de facto shows a strong pervasive nature, and, if not well understood in its theories, technologies, methodologies, and real potentials, then runs the risk of being regarded with suspicion and, thus, rejected by users.
431 citations
01 Oct 2017
TL;DR: A semi-supervised framework is proposed – based on Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) – which consists of a generator network to provide extra training examples to a multi-class classifier, acting as discriminator in the GAN framework, that assigns sample a label y from the K possible classes or marks it as a fake sample (extra class).
Abstract: Semantic segmentation has been a long standing challenging task in computer vision. It aims at assigning a label to each image pixel and needs a significant number of pixel-level annotated data, which is often unavailable. To address this lack of annotations, in this paper, we leverage, on one hand, a massive amount of available unlabeled or weakly labeled data, and on the other hand, non-real images created through Generative Adversarial Networks. In particular, we propose a semi-supervised framework – based on Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) – which consists of a generator network to provide extra training examples to a multi-class classifier, acting as discriminator in the GAN framework, that assigns sample a label y from the K possible classes or marks it as a fake sample (extra class). The underlying idea is that adding large fake visual data forces real samples to be close in the feature space, which, in turn, improves multiclass pixel classification. To ensure a higher quality of generated images by GANs with consequently improved pixel classification, we extend the above framework by adding weakly annotated data, i.e., we provide class level information to the generator. We test our approaches on several challenging benchmarking visual datasets, i.e. PASCAL, SiftFLow, Stanford and CamVid, achieving competitive performance compared to state-of-the-art semantic segmentation methods.
417 citations
University of Catania1, University of Pisa2, St Thomas' Hospital3, University of Liège4, Copenhagen University Hospital5, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham6, McGill University Health Centre7, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich8, Queen Mary University of London9, Erasmus University Rotterdam10, University of Bern11, Leiden University12
TL;DR: Standardized definitions of structural deterioration and valve failure in assessing long-term durability of transcatheter and surgical aortic bioprosthetic valves are proposed.
Abstract: Hancock J, Mehilli J, Byrne RA, Baumbach A, Kappetein AP, Windecker S, Bax J, Haude M. Standardized definitions of structural deterioration and valve failure in assessing long-term durability of transcatheter and surgical aortic bioprosthetic valves: a consensus statement from the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) endorsed by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2017;52:408–17.
383 citations
TL;DR: The Pierre Auger Collaboration reports the observation of thousands of cosmic rays with ultrahigh energies of several exa–electron volts, arriving in a slightly dipolar distribution, showing that they originate outside the Milky Way Galaxy.
Abstract: Cosmic rays are atomic nuclei arriving from outer space that reach the highest energies observed in nature Clues to their origin come from studying the distribution of their arrival directions Using 3 × 10 4 cosmic rays with energies above 8 × 10 18 electron volts, recorded with the Pierre Auger Observatory from a total exposure of 76,800 km 2 sr year, we determined the existence of anisotropy in arrival directions The anisotropy, detected at more than a 52σ level of significance, can be described by a dipole with an amplitude of 65 − 09 + 13 percent toward right ascension α d = 100 ± 10 degrees and declination δ d = − 24 − 13 + 12 degrees That direction indicates an extragalactic origin for these ultrahigh-energy particles
369 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the pertinent practical, theoretical and social aspects of rainwater harvesting are reviewed in order to ascertain the state of the art and a major finding is that the degree of RWH systems implementation and the technology selection are strongly influenced by economic constraints and local regulations.
363 citations
20 Jun 2017
TL;DR: KVASIR is a dataset containing images from inside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that contains two categories of images related to endoscopic polyp removal and is important for research on both single and multi-disease computer aided detection.
Abstract: Automatic detection of diseases by use of computers is an important, but still unexplored field of research. Such innovations may improve medical practice and refine health care systems all over the world. However, datasets containing medical images are hardly available, making reproducibility and comparison of approaches almost impossible. In this paper, we present KVASIR, a dataset containing images from inside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The collection of images are classified into three important anatomical landmarks and three clinically significant findings. In addition, it contains two categories of images related to endoscopic polyp removal. Sorting and annotation of the dataset is performed by medical doctors (experienced endoscopists). In this respect, KVASIR is important for research on both single- and multi-disease computer aided detection. By providing it, we invite and enable multimedia researcher into the medical domain of detection and retrieval.
351 citations
TL;DR: A meta-analysis of prospective studies and randomized control trials between Mediterranean diet adherence and CVD incidence and mortality revealed that the protective effects of the diet appear to be most attributable to olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Abstract: Many studies have reported that higher adherence to Mediterranean diet may decrease cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the association in prospective studies and randomized control trials (RCTs) between Mediterranean diet adherence and CVD incidence and mortality. The PubMed database was searched up to June 2014. A total of 17 studies were extracted and 11 qualified for the quantitative analysis. Individuals in the highest quantile of adherence to the diet had lower incidence [relative risk (RR): 0.76, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.68, 0.83] and mortality (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.83) from CVD compared to those least adherent. A significant reduction of risk was found also for coronary heart disease (CHD) (RR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.86), myocardial infarction (MI) (RR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.83), and stroke (RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.96) incidence. Pooled analyses of individual components of the diet revealed that the protective effects of the diet appear to be most attributable to olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. An average reduced risk of 40% for the aforementioned outcomes has been retrieved when pooling results of RCTs. A Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with lower risks of CVD incidence and mortality, including CHD and MI. The relative effects of specific food groups should be further investigated.
TL;DR: This paper proposes and test several deep learning approaches to assess skeletal bone age automatically and shows an average discrepancy between manual and automatic evaluation of about 0.8 years, which is state‐of‐the‐art performance.
27 Oct 2017
TL;DR: This textbook presents a detailed overview of the new theory and methods of network science, covering algorithms for graph exploration, node ranking and network generation, among the others, and allows students to experiment with network models and real-world data sets.
Abstract: Networks constitute the backbone of complex systems, from the human brain to computer communications, transport infrastructures to online social systems and metabolic reactions to financial markets. Characterising their structure improves our understanding of the physical, biological, economic and social phenomena that shape our world. Rigorous and thorough, this textbook presents a detailed overview of the new theory and methods of network science. Covering algorithms for graph exploration, node ranking and network generation, among the others, the book allows students to experiment with network models and real-world data sets, providing them with a deep understanding of the basics of network theory and its practical applications. Systems of growing complexity are examined in detail, challenging students to increase their level of skill. An engaging presentation of the important principles of network science makes this the perfect reference for researchers and undergraduate and graduate students in physics, mathematics, engineering, biology, neuroscience and the social sciences.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center1, Leiden University Medical Center2, University of Catania3, University of British Columbia4, Columbia University Medical Center5, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust6, Ruhr University Bochum7, University of Freiburg8, Keio University9, University of Zurich10, Royal Perth Hospital11, National Taiwan University12, Seoul National University Hospital13, NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital14, Asan Medical Center15, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University16
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the procedural and clinical outcomes in patients with bicuspid versus tricusid aortic valve stenosis (AS) from the BICUSID AS TAVR multicenter registry.
TL;DR: Findings indicate that coffee can be part of a healthful diet and associated with a probable decreased risk of Parkinson's disease and type-2 diabetes and an increased risk of pregnancy loss.
Abstract: To evaluate the associations between coffee and caffeine consumption and various health outcomes, we performed an umbrella review of the evidence from meta-analyses of observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Of the 59 unique outcomes examined in the selected 112 meta-analyses of observational studies, coffee was associated with a probable decreased risk of breast, colorectal, colon, endometrial, and prostate cancers; cardiovascular disease and mortality; Parkinson's disease; and type-2 diabetes. Of the 14 unique outcomes examined in the 20 selected meta-analyses of observational studies, caffeine was associated with a probable decreased risk of Parkinson's disease and type-2 diabetes and an increased risk of pregnancy loss. Of the 12 unique acute outcomes examined in the selected 9 meta-analyses of RCTs, coffee was associated with a rise in serum lipids, but this result was affected by significant heterogeneity, and caffeine was associated with a rise in blood pressure. Given the spectrum of conditions studied and the robustness of many of the results, these findings indicate that coffee can be part of a healthful diet.
Vardan Khachatryan1, Albert M. Sirunyan1, Armen Tumasyan1, Wolfgang Adam +2333 more•Institutions (195)
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors acknowledge the enduring support for the construction and operation of the LHC and the CMS detector provided by the following funding agencies:======BMWFW and FWF (Austria); FNRS and FWO (Belgium); CNPq, CAPES, FAPERJ,======And FAPESP (Brazil); MES (Bulgaria); CERN; CAS, MoST, and NSFC (China); COLCIENCIAS======(Colombia); MSES and CSF (Croatia); RPF (
Abstract: we acknowledge the enduring support for the construction and
operation of the LHC and the CMS detector provided by the following funding agencies:
BMWFW and FWF (Austria); FNRS and FWO (Belgium); CNPq, CAPES, FAPERJ,
and FAPESP (Brazil); MES (Bulgaria); CERN; CAS, MoST, and NSFC (China); COLCIENCIAS
(Colombia); MSES and CSF (Croatia); RPF (Cyprus); SENESCYT (Ecuador);
MoER, ERC IUT and ERDF (Estonia); Academy of Finland, MEC, and HIP (Finland);
CEA and CNRS/IN2P3 (France); BMBF, DFG, and HGF (Germany); GSRT (Greece);
OTKA and NIH (Hungary); DAE and DST (India); IPM (Iran); SFI (Ireland); INFN
(Italy); MSIP and NRF (Republic of Korea); LAS (Lithuania); MOE and UM (Malaysia);
BUAP, CINVESTAV, CONACYT, LNS, SEP, and UASLP-FAI (Mexico); MBIE (New
Zealand); PAEC (Pakistan); MSHE and NSC (Poland); FCT (Portugal); JINR (Dubna);
MON, RosAtom, RAS and RFBR (Russia); MESTD (Serbia); SEIDI and CPAN (Spain);
Swiss Funding Agencies (Switzerland); MST (Taipei); ThEPCenter, IPST, STAR and
NSTDA (Thailand); TUBITAK and TAEK (Turkey); NASU and SFFR (Ukraine); STFC
(United Kingdom); DOE and NSF (U.S.A.).
TL;DR: In this paper, the Higgs boson mass was measured in the H → ZZ → 4l (l = e, μ) decay channel and the signal strength modifiers for individual Higgs production modes were also measured.
Abstract: Properties of the Higgs boson are measured in the H → ZZ → 4l (l = e, μ) decay channel. A data sample of proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s}=13 $ TeV, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$^{−1}$ is used. The signal strength modifier μ, defined as the ratio of the observed Higgs boson rate in the H → ZZ → 4l decay channel to the standard model expectation, is measured to be μ = 1.05$_{− 0.17}^{+ 0.19}$ at m$_{H}$ = 125.09 GeV, the combined ATLAS and CMS measurement of the Higgs boson mass. The signal strength modifiers for the individual Higgs boson production modes are also measured. The cross section in the fiducial phase space defined by the requirements on lepton kinematics and event topology is measured to be 2. 92$_{− 0.44}^{+ 0.48}$ (stat)$_{− 0.24}^{+ 0.28}$ (syst)fb, which is compatible with the standard model prediction of 2.76 ± 0.14 fb. Differential cross sections are reported as a function of the transverse momentum of the Higgs boson, the number of associated jets, and the transverse momentum of the leading associated jet. The Higgs boson mass is measured to be m$_{H}$ = 125.26 ± 0.21 GeV and the width is constrained using the on-shell invariant mass distribution to be Γ$_{H}$ < 1.10 GeV, at 95% confidence level.
Vardan Khachatryan, Albert M. Sirunyan, Armen Tumasyan, Wolfgang Adam1 +2273 more•Institutions (154)
TL;DR: In this article, the second-order and third-order azimuthal anisotropy harmonics of unidentified charged particles, as well as v2v2 of View the MathML sourceKS0 and ViewTheMathML sourceΛ/Λ ǫ particles, are extracted from long-range two-particle correlations as functions of particle multiplicity and transverse momentum.
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the application of phytoremediation processes in soils contaminated by heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using herbaceous and woody plants is presented.
Abstract: Acute and diffuse contamination of soil by organic and inorganic pollutants causes wide concerns and intentional or accidental introduction of these substances poses serious impact in public health and environment. Heavy metals are elements not degradable and can be teratogenic, mutagenic, endocrine disruptors. PAHs are elements of difficult management and they can cause carcinogenesis and toxicity in human. Different techniques have been used for the remediation of contaminated soils, but the phytoremediation is proposed as possible alternative, convenient and environmentally friendly than traditional physicochemical techniques. Phytoremediation employs different plant species able to accumulate or degrade different contaminants and, the biomass produced can be used for other purposes such as cogeneration of energy and/or biofuels production, obtaining benefits to health, environment and cost management. A better knowledge of phytoremediation potential is essential in order to increase the use of this technique in the near future for remediation of contaminated lands in the economic and sustainable way. This review provides additional information about the application of phytoremediation processes in soils contaminated by heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using herbaceous and woody plants.
TL;DR: A simple, personalized, home-based, low-intensity exercise program at home, managed by dialysis staff, improves functional status in adult patients on Dialysis and quality of life in patients on dialysis is tested.
Abstract: Previous studies have suggested the benefits of physical exercise for patients on dialysis. We conducted the Exercise Introduction to Enhance Performance in Dialysis trial, a 6-month randomized, multicenter trial to test whether a simple, personalized walking exercise program at home, managed by dialysis staff, improves functional status in adult patients on dialysis. The main study outcomes included change in physical performance at 6 months, assessed by the 6-minute walking test and the five times sit-to-stand test, and in quality of life, assessed by the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF) questionnaire. We randomized 296 patients to normal physical activity (control; n=145) or walking exercise (n=151); 227 patients (exercise n=104; control n=123) repeated the 6-month evaluations. The distance covered during the 6-minute walking test improved in the exercise group (mean distance±SD: baseline, 328±96 m; 6 months, 367±113 m) but not in the control group (baseline, 321±107 m; 6 months, 324±116 m; P<0.001 between groups). Similarly, the five times sit-to-stand test time improved in the exercise group (mean time±SD: baseline, 20.5±6.0 seconds; 6 months, 18.2±5.7 seconds) but not in the control group (baseline, 20.9±5.8 seconds; 6 months, 20.2±6.4 seconds; P=0.001 between groups). The cognitive function score (P=0.04) and quality of social interaction score (P=0.01) in the kidney disease component of the KDQOL-SF improved significantly in the exercise arm compared with the control arm. Hence, a simple, personalized, home-based, low-intensity exercise program managed by dialysis staff may improve physical performance and quality of life in patients on dialysis.
TL;DR: Novel information that has generated remarkable progress in the understanding of the physiology of IR isoforms and their role in disease are discussed and novel IR ligands and modulators should now be considered as an important strategy for better and safer treatment of diabetes and cancer and possibly other IR-related diseases.
Abstract: The insulin receptor (IR) gene undergoes differential splicing that generates two IR isoforms, IR-A and IR-B. The physiological roles of IR isoforms are incompletely understood and appear to be determined by their different binding affinities for insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), particularly for IGF-2. Predominant roles of IR-A in prenatal growth and development and of IR-B in metabolic regulation are well established. However, emerging evidence indicates that the differential expression of IR isoforms may also help explain the diversification of insulin and IGF signaling and actions in various organs and tissues by involving not only different ligand-binding affinities but also different membrane partitioning and trafficking and possibly different abilities to interact with a variety of molecular partners. Of note, dysregulation of the IR-A/IR-B ratio is associated with insulin resistance, aging, and increased proliferative activity of normal and neoplastic tissues and appears to sustain detrimental effects. This review discusses novel information that has generated remarkable progress in our understanding of the physiology of IR isoforms and their role in disease. We also focus on novel IR ligands and modulators that should now be considered as an important strategy for better and safer treatment of diabetes and cancer and possibly other IR-related diseases.
TL;DR: The aim of this narrative review is to elucidate the impact of anxiety and depression in the management of women with endometriosis and suggest that the experience of pelvic pain is an important component of endometRIosis and may significantly affect emotive functioning of affected women.
Abstract: Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases and affects ~10% of women in reproductive age The most common clinical signs of endometriosis are menstrual irregularities, chronic pelvic pain (CPP), dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and infertility Symptoms of endometriosis often affect psychological and social functioning of patients For this reason, endometriosis is considered as a disabling condition that may significantly compromise social relationships, sexuality and mental health Considering this point, the aim of this narrative review is to elucidate the impact of anxiety and depression in the management of women with endometriosis Psychological factors have an important role in determining the severity of symptoms, and women who suffer from endometriosis report high levels of anxiety, depression and other psychiatric disorders In addition, endometriosis is one of the most important causes of CPP; women with endometriosis suffer from a wide range of pelvic pain such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, nonmenstrual (chronic) pelvic pain, pain at ovulation, dyschezia and dysuria Several studies have underlined the influence of CPP on quality of life and psychological well-being of women with endometriosis Data suggest that the experience of pelvic pain is an important component of endometriosis and may significantly affect emotive functioning of affected women It has been demonstrated that high levels of anxiety and depression can amplify the severity of pain Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between psychological factors and perception of pain Treatment of endometriosis may be hormonal or surgical Surgery is the primary treatment for more severe forms of endometriosis There are few data in the literature about the influence of psychological factors and psychiatric comorbidities on the effectiveness of treatments It is important to evaluate the presence of previous psychiatric diseases in order to select the most appropriate treatment for the patient
TL;DR: Clustering based on clinicophysiologic parameters yielded 4 stable and reproducible clusters of asthmatic patients that associate with different pathobiological pathways.
Abstract: Background Asthma is a heterogeneous disease in which there is a differential response to asthma treatments. This heterogeneity needs to be evaluated so that a personalized management approach can be provided. Objectives We stratified patients with moderate-to-severe asthma based on clinicophysiologic parameters and performed an omics analysis of sputum. Methods Partition-around-medoids clustering was applied to a training set of 266 asthmatic participants from the European Unbiased Biomarkers for the Prediction of Respiratory Diseases Outcomes (U-BIOPRED) adult cohort using 8 prespecified clinic-physiologic variables. This was repeated in a separate validation set of 152 asthmatic patients. The clusters were compared based on sputum proteomics and transcriptomics data. Results Four reproducible and stable clusters of asthmatic patients were identified. The training set cluster T1 consists of patients with well-controlled moderate-to-severe asthma, whereas cluster T2 is a group of patients with late-onset severe asthma with a history of smoking and chronic airflow obstruction. Cluster T3 is similar to cluster T2 in terms of chronic airflow obstruction but is composed of nonsmokers. Cluster T4 is predominantly composed of obese female patients with uncontrolled severe asthma with increased exacerbations but with normal lung function. The validation set exhibited similar clusters, demonstrating reproducibility of the classification. There were significant differences in sputum proteomics and transcriptomics between the clusters. The severe asthma clusters (T2, T3, and T4) had higher sputum eosinophilia than cluster T1, with no differences in sputum neutrophil counts and exhaled nitric oxide and serum IgE levels. Conclusion Clustering based on clinicophysiologic parameters yielded 4 stable and reproducible clusters that associate with different pathobiological pathways.
TL;DR: In this paper, the photocatalytic properties of ZnO synthesized in several forms were reported, such as the formation of 3-nm thin films by ALD, electrospinnig, and chemical bath deposition.
TL;DR: Overall results may be promising but are inconclusive, and further prospective cohorts assessing dietary polyphenol exposure and studies using other methods to evaluate exposure are needed to confirm and determine consumption levels required to achieve health benefits.
Abstract: cope
To summarize available evidence on the association between dietary flavonoid as well as lignan intake and cancer risk in observational studies.
Methods and results
A systematic search on electronic databases of all English language case–control and prospective studies published up to June 2016 was performed. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by random-effects model separately by study design. Heterogeneity and publication bias were tested. Out of the 143 studies included, meta-analyses of prospective studies showed isoflavones significantly associated with decreased risk of lung and stomach cancers and nearly significant breast and colorectal cancers; total flavonoids showed nonsignificant decreased risk of breast cancer. Meta-analyses of case–control studies showed: total and/or individual classes of flavonoids associated with upper aero-digestive tract, colorectal, breast, and lung cancers; isoflavones with ovarian, breast, and colorectal cancers, endometrial and lung cancers.
Conclusions
Most evidence reported in previous meta-analyses was driven by case–control studies. Overall results may be promising but are inconclusive. Further prospective cohorts assessing dietary polyphenol exposure and studies using other methods to evaluate exposure (i.e. markers of consumption, metabolism, excretion) are needed to confirm and determine consumption levels required to achieve health benefits.
Vardan Khachatryan1, Albert M. Sirunyan1, Armen Tumasyan1, Wolfgang Adam +2325 more•Institutions (191)
TL;DR: In this paper, an upper bound on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson decay to invisible particles, as a function of the assumed production cross-sections, was established, and the results were also interpreted in the context of Higgs-portal dark matter models.
Abstract: Searches for invisible decays of the Higgs boson are presented. The data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC correspond to integrated luminosities of 5.1, 19.7, and 2.3 fb−1 at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, respectively. The search channels target Higgs boson production via gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and in association with a vector boson. Upper limits are placed on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson decay to invisible particles, as a function of the assumed production cross sections. The combination of all channels, assuming standard model production, yields an observed (expected) upper limit on the invisible branching fraction of 0.24 (0.23) at the 95% confidence level. The results are also interpreted in the context of Higgs-portal dark matter models.
TL;DR: Findings from this meta-analysis indicated that dietary flavonoids are associated with decreased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality.
Abstract: Recent evidence has suggested that flavonoid and lignan intake may be associated with decreased risk of chronic and degenerative diseases. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the association between dietary flavonoid and lignan intake and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in prospective cohort studies. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases to identify studies published from January 1996 to December 2015 that satisfied inclusion/exclusion criteria. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were extracted and analyzed using a random-effects model. Nonlinear dose-response analysis was modeled by using restricted cubic splines. The inclusion criteria were met by 22 prospective studies exploring various flavonoid and lignan classes. Compared with lower intake, high consumption of total flavonoids was associated with decreased risk of all-cause mortality (risk ratio = 0.74, 95% confidence intervals: 0.55, 0.99), while a 100-mg/day increment in intake led to a (linear) decreased risk of 6% and 4% of all-cause and CVD mortality, respectively. Among flavonoid classes, significant results were obtained for intakes of flavonols, flavones, flavanones, anthocyanidins, and proanthocyanidins. Only limited evidence was available on flavonoid classes and lignans and all-cause mortality. Findings from this meta-analysis indicated that dietary flavonoids are associated with decreased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality.
TL;DR: Cognitive impairment is present in all MS subtypes since the clinical onset and its frequency is increased in the progressive forms, but these differences seem to be more associated with patient age and physical disability than to disease subtype per se.
Abstract: Background:There is limited and inconsistent information on the clinical determinants of cognitive impairment (CI) in multiple sclerosis (MS).Objective:The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and profile of CI across MS disease subtypes and assess its clinical determinants.Methods:Cognitive performance was assessed through the Brief Repeatable Battery and the Stroop test in consecutive patients with MS referred to six Italian centers. CI was defined as impairment in ⩾ 2 cognitive domains.Results:A total of 1040 patients were included, 167 with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), 759 with relapsing remitting (RR), 74 with secondary progressive (SP), and 40 with primary progressive (PP) disease course. The overall prevalence of CI was 46.3%; 34.5% in CIS, 44.5% in RR, 79.4% in SP, and 91.3% in PP. The severity of impairment and the number of involved domains were significantly higher in SP and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) than in CIS and RR. In multivariable logistic regression ...
TL;DR: Nintedanib with add‐on pirfenidone had a manageable safety and tolerability profile in patients with IPF, in line with the adverse event profiles of each drug.
Abstract: Rationale: Nintedanib and pirfenidone slow the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but the disease continues to progress. More data are needed on the safety and efficacy of combinat...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors search for high-energy neutrinos from the binary neutron star merger in the GeV-EeV energy range using the Antares, IceCube, and Pierre Auger Observatories.
Abstract: The Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo observatories recently discovered gravitational waves from a binary neutron star inspiral. A short gamma-ray burst (GRB) that followed the merger of this binary was also recorded by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (Fermi-GBM), and the Anti-Coincidence Shield for the Spectrometer for the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL), indicating particle acceleration by the source. The precise location of the event was determined by optical detections of emission following the merger. We searched for high-energy neutrinos from the merger in the GeV–EeV energy range using the Antares, IceCube, and Pierre Auger Observatories. No neutrinos directionally coincident with the source were detected within ±500 s around the merger time. Additionally, no MeV neutrino burst signal was detected coincident with the merger. We further carried out an extended search in the direction of the source for high-energy neutrinos within the 14 day period following the merger, but found no evidence of emission. We used these results to probe dissipation mechanisms in relativistic outflows driven by the binary neutron star merger. The non-detection is consistent with model predictions of short GRBs observed at a large off-axis angle.