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Showing papers by "University of Perugia published in 2015"


Journal ArticleDOI
Mohsen Naghavi1, Haidong Wang1, Rafael Lozano1, Adrian Davis2  +728 moreInstitutions (294)
TL;DR: In the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) as discussed by the authors, the authors used the GBD 2010 methods with some refinements to improve accuracy applied to an updated database of vital registration, survey, and census data.

5,792 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor study 2013 (GBD 2013) as discussed by the authors provides a timely opportunity to update the comparative risk assessment with new data for exposure, relative risks, and evidence on the appropriate counterfactual risk distribution.

5,668 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Theo Vos1, Ryan M Barber1, Brad Bell1, Amelia Bertozzi-Villa1  +686 moreInstitutions (287)
TL;DR: In the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) as mentioned in this paper, the authors estimated the quantities for acute and chronic diseases and injuries for 188 countries between 1990 and 2013.

4,510 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Fausto Acernese1, M. Agathos2, Kazuhiro Agatsuma2, D. Aisa3  +230 moreInstitutions (19)
TL;DR: Advanced Virgo as mentioned in this paper is the project to upgrade the Virgo interferometric detector of gravitational waves, with the aim of increasing the number of observable galaxies (and thus the detection rate) by three orders of magnitude.
Abstract: Advanced Virgo is the project to upgrade the Virgo interferometric detector of gravitational waves, with the aim of increasing the number of observable galaxies (and thus the detection rate) by three orders of magnitude. The project is now in an advanced construction phase and the assembly and integration will be completed by the end of 2015. Advanced Virgo will be part of a network, alongside the two Advanced LIGO detectors in the US and GEO HF in Germany, with the goal of contributing to the early detection of gravitational waves and to opening a new window of observation on the universe. In this paper we describe the main features of the Advanced Virgo detector and outline the status of the construction.

3,004 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor study 2013 (GBD 2013) as mentioned in this paper provides a timely opportunity to update the comparative risk assessment with new data for exposure, relative risks, and evidence on the appropriate counterfactual risk distribution.

1,656 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Patterns of the epidemiological transition with a composite indicator of sociodemographic status, which was constructed from income per person, average years of schooling after age 15 years, and the total fertility rate and mean age of the population, were quantified.

1,609 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, Ovsat Abdinov4  +5117 moreInstitutions (314)
TL;DR: A measurement of the Higgs boson mass is presented based on the combined data samples of the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the CERN LHC in the H→γγ and H→ZZ→4ℓ decay channels.
Abstract: A measurement of the Higgs boson mass is presented based on the combined data samples of the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the CERN LHC in the H→γγ and H→ZZ→4l decay channels. The results are obtained from a simultaneous fit to the reconstructed invariant mass peaks in the two channels and for the two experiments. The measured masses from the individual channels and the two experiments are found to be consistent among themselves. The combined measured mass of the Higgs boson is mH=125.09±0.21 (stat)±0.11 (syst) GeV.

1,567 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
J. Aasi1, J. Abadie1, B. P. Abbott1, Richard J. Abbott1  +884 moreInstitutions (98)
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review the performance of the LIGO instruments during this epoch, the work done to characterize the detectors and their data, and the effect that transient and continuous noise artefacts have on the sensitivity of the detectors to a variety of astrophysical sources.
Abstract: In 2009–2010, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) operated together with international partners Virgo and GEO600 as a network to search for gravitational waves (GWs) of astrophysical origin. The sensitivity of these detectors was limited by a combination of noise sources inherent to the instrumental design and its environment, often localized in time or frequency, that couple into the GW readout. Here we review the performance of the LIGO instruments during this epoch, the work done to characterize the detectors and their data, and the effect that transient and continuous noise artefacts have on the sensitivity of LIGO to a variety of astrophysical sources.

1,266 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Derrek P. Hibar1, Jason L. Stein2, Jason L. Stein1, Miguel E. Rentería3  +341 moreInstitutions (93)
09 Apr 2015-Nature
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors conduct genome-wide association studies of the volumes of seven subcortical regions and the intracranial volume derived from magnetic resonance images of 30,717 individuals from 50 cohorts.
Abstract: The highly complex structure of the human brain is strongly shaped by genetic influences. Subcortical brain regions form circuits with cortical areas to coordinate movement, learning, memory and motivation, and altered circuits can lead to abnormal behaviour and disease. To investigate how common genetic variants affect the structure of these brain regions, here we conduct genome-wide association studies of the volumes of seven subcortical regions and the intracranial volume derived from magnetic resonance images of 30,717 individuals from 50 cohorts. We identify five novel genetic variants influencing the volumes of the putamen and caudate nucleus. We also find stronger evidence for three loci with previously established influences on hippocampal volume and intracranial volume. These variants show specific volumetric effects on brain structures rather than global effects across structures. The strongest effects were found for the putamen, where a novel intergenic locus with replicable influence on volume (rs945270; P = 1.08 × 10(-33); 0.52% variance explained) showed evidence of altering the expression of the KTN1 gene in both brain and blood tissue. Variants influencing putamen volume clustered near developmental genes that regulate apoptosis, axon guidance and vesicle transport. Identification of these genetic variants provides insight into the causes of variability in human brain development, and may help to determine mechanisms of neuropsychiatric dysfunction.

721 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: SIR2014 as discussed by the authors is the latest program of the SIR suite for crystal structure solution of small, medium and large structures, which contains tools for crystal refinement and for the study of three-dimensional electron density maps via suitable viewers.
Abstract: SIR2014 is the latest program of the SIR suite for crystal structure solution of small, medium and large structures. A variety of phasing algorithms have been implemented, both ab initio (standard or modern direct methods, Patterson techniques, Vive la Difference) and non-ab initio (simulated annealing, molecular replacement). The program contains tools for crystal structure refinement and for the study of three-dimensional electron-density maps via suitable viewers.

685 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Markus Ackermann, Marco Ajello1, Andrea Albert2, W. B. Atwood3  +174 moreInstitutions (43)
TL;DR: The first IGRB measurement with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) used 10 months of sky-survey data and considered an energy range between 200 MeV and 100 GeV.
Abstract: The gamma-ray sky can be decomposed into individually detected sources, diffuse emission attributed to the interactions of Galactic cosmic rays with gas and radiation fields, and a residual all-sky emission component commonly called the isotropic diffuse gamma-ray background (IGRB). The IGRB comprises all extragalactic emissions too faint or too diffuse to be resolved in a given survey, as well as any residual Galactic foregrounds that are approximately isotropic. The first IGRB measurement with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) used 10 months of sky-survey data and considered an energy range between 200 MeV and 100 GeV. Improvements in event selection and characterization of cosmic-ray backgrounds, better understanding of the diffuse Galactic emission, and a longer data accumulation of 50 months, allow for a refinement and extension of the IGRB measurement with the LAT, now covering the energy range from 100 MeV to 820 GeV. The IGRB spectrum shows a significant high-energy cutoff feature, and can be well described over nearly four decades in energy by a power law with exponential cutoff having a spectral index of 2.32 plus or minus 0.02 and a break energy of (279 plus or minus 52) GeV using our baseline diffuse Galactic emission model. The total intensity attributed to the IGRB is (7.2 plus or minus 0.6) x 10(exp -6) cm(exp -2) s(exp -1) sr(exp -1) above 100 MeV, with an additional +15%/-30% systematic uncertainty due to the Galactic diffuse foregrounds.

Journal ArticleDOI
Vardan Khachatryan1, Albert M. Sirunyan1, Armen Tumasyan1, Wolfgang Adam  +2134 moreInstitutions (142)
TL;DR: The couplings of the Higgs boson are probed for deviations in magnitude from the standard model predictions in multiple ways, including searches for invisible and undetected decays, and no significant deviations are found.
Abstract: Properties of the Higgs boson with mass near 125 GeV are measured in proton-proton collisions with the CMS experiment at the LHC. Comprehensive sets of production and decay measurements are combined. The decay channels include gamma gamma, ZZ, WW, tau tau, bb, and mu mu pairs. The data samples were collected in 2011 and 2012 and correspond to integrated luminosities of up to 5.1 inverse femtobarns at 7 TeV and up to 19.7 inverse femtobarns at 8 TeV. From the high-resolution gamma gamma and ZZ channels, the mass of the Higgs boson is determined to be 125.02 +0.26 -0.27 (stat) +0.14 -0.15 (syst) GeV. For this mass value, the event yields obtained in the different analyses tagging specific decay channels and production mechanisms are consistent with those expected for the standard model Higgs boson. The combined best-fit signal relative to the standard model expectation is 1.00 +/- 0.09 (stat) +0.08 -0.07 (theo) +/- 0.07 (syst) at the measured mass. The couplings of the Higgs boson are probed for deviations in magnitude from the standard model predictions in multiple ways, including searches for invisible and undetected decays. No significant deviations are found.

Journal ArticleDOI
Markus Ackermann, Marco Ajello1, W. B. Atwood2, Luca Baldini3  +180 moreInstitutions (41)
TL;DR: The third catalog of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) detected by the Fermi-LAT (3LAC) is presented in this paper, which is based on the 3FGL of sources detected between 100 MeV and 300 GeV.
Abstract: The third catalog of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) detected by the Fermi-LAT (3LAC) is presented. It is based on the third Fermi-LAT catalog (3FGL) of sources detected between 100 MeV and 300 GeV w ...

Journal ArticleDOI
Fengpeng An1, Guangpeng An, Qi An2, Vito Antonelli3  +226 moreInstitutions (55)
TL;DR: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) as mentioned in this paper is a 20 kton multi-purpose underground liquid scintillator detector with the determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy as a primary physics goal.
Abstract: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), a 20 kton multi-purpose underground liquid scintillator detector, was proposed with the determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy as a primary physics goal. It is also capable of observing neutrinos from terrestrial and extra-terrestrial sources, including supernova burst neutrinos, diffuse supernova neutrino background, geoneutrinos, atmospheric neutrinos, solar neutrinos, as well as exotic searches such as nucleon decays, dark matter, sterile neutrinos, etc. We present the physics motivations and the anticipated performance of the JUNO detector for various proposed measurements. By detecting reactor antineutrinos from two power plants at 53-km distance, JUNO will determine the neutrino mass hierarchy at a 3-4 sigma significance with six years of running. The measurement of antineutrino spectrum will also lead to the precise determination of three out of the six oscillation parameters to an accuracy of better than 1\%. Neutrino burst from a typical core-collapse supernova at 10 kpc would lead to ~5000 inverse-beta-decay events and ~2000 all-flavor neutrino-proton elastic scattering events in JUNO. Detection of DSNB would provide valuable information on the cosmic star-formation rate and the average core-collapsed neutrino energy spectrum. Geo-neutrinos can be detected in JUNO with a rate of ~400 events per year, significantly improving the statistics of existing geoneutrino samples. The JUNO detector is sensitive to several exotic searches, e.g. proton decay via the $p\to K^++\bar u$ decay channel. The JUNO detector will provide a unique facility to address many outstanding crucial questions in particle and astrophysics. It holds the great potential for further advancing our quest to understanding the fundamental properties of neutrinos, one of the building blocks of our Universe.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A mini review of the classical pathways involving these mechanisms of neurodegeneration, the biochemical and molecular events that mediate or regulate DA neuronal vulnerability, and the role of PD-related gene products in modulating cellular responses to oxidative stress in the course of the Neurodegenerative process are given.
Abstract: Parkinson disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neurological disease that is associated with a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta of the brain. The molecular mechanisms underlying the loss of these neurons still remain elusive. Oxidative stress is thought to play an important role in dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Complex I deficiencies of the respiratory chain account for the majority of unfavorable neuronal degeneration in PD. Environmental factors, such as neurotoxins, pesticides, insecticides, dopamine (DA) itself, and genetic mutations in PD-associated proteins contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction which precedes reactive oxygen species formation. In this mini review, we give an update of the classical pathways involving these mechanisms of neurodegeneration, the biochemical and molecular events that mediate or regulate DA neuronal vulnerability, and the role of PD-related gene products in modulating cellular responses to oxidative stress in the course of the neurodegenerative process.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The role of peripheral (i.e. not related to coronary circulation) noninvasive vascular biomarkers for primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention is scrutinized and it is still unclear whether a specific vascular biomarker is overly superior.

Journal ArticleDOI
02 Jan 2015-Science
TL;DR: Pervasive autosomal introgression between these human malaria vectors, including nonsister vector species, suggests that traits enhancing vectorial capacity may be gained through interspecific gene flow, including between nonsister species.
Abstract: Introgressive hybridization is now recognized as a widespread phenomenon, but its role in evolution remains contested. Here, we use newly available reference genome assemblies to investigate phylogenetic relationships and introgression in a medically important group of Afrotropical mosquito sibling species. We have identified the correct species branching order to resolve a contentious phylogeny and show that lineages leading to the principal vectors of human malaria were among the first to split. Pervasive autosomal introgression between these malaria vectors means that only a small fraction of the genome, mainly on the X chromosome, has not crossed species boundaries. Our results suggest that traits enhancing vectorial capacity may be gained through interspecific gene flow, including between nonsister species.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present position paper is the most recent in a series produced by the International Life Sciences Institute's European Branch and is co-authored by the speakers from a 2013 workshop led by the Obesity and Diabetes Task Force entitled ‘Low-grade inflammation, a high-grade challenge: biomarkers and modulation by dietary strategies’.
Abstract: The importance of chronic low-grade inflammation in the pathology of numerous age-related chronic conditions is now clear. An unresolved inflammatory response is likely to be involved from the early stages of disease development. The present position paper is the most recent in a series produced by the International Life Sciences Institute's European Branch (ILSI Europe). It is co-authored by the speakers from a 2013 workshop led by the Obesity and Diabetes Task Force entitled ‘Low-grade inflammation, a high-grade challenge: biomarkers and modulation by dietary strategies’. The latest research in the areas of acute and chronic inflammation and cardiometabolic, gut and cognitive health is presented along with the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying inflammation–health/disease associations. The evidence relating diet composition and early-life nutrition to inflammatory status is reviewed. Human epidemiological and intervention data are thus far heavily reliant on the measurement of inflammatory markers in the circulation, and in particular cytokines in the fasting state, which are recognised as an insensitive and highly variable index of tissue inflammation. Potential novel kinetic and integrated approaches to capture inflammatory status in humans are discussed. Such approaches are likely to provide a more discriminating means of quantifying inflammation–health/disease associations, and the ability of diet to positively modulate inflammation and provide the much needed evidence to develop research portfolios that will inform new product development and associated health claims.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report a state of the art of building insulation products made of natural or recycled materials that are not or scarcely commercialized, considering in particular thermal characteristics in terms of thermal conductivity, specific heat and density.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings demonstrate that the burden on workers' quality of life and productivity associated with workplace bullying is substantial, and provides key data to inform policy-making and prioritize occupational health interventions.
Abstract: Background. Although the prevalence of work-limiting diseases is increasing, the interplay between occupational exposures and chronic medical conditions remains largely uncharacterized. Research has shown the detrimental effects of workplace bullying but very little is known about the humanistic and productivity cost in victims with chronic illnesses. We sought to assess work productivity losses and health disutility associated with bullying among subjects with chronic medical conditions. Methods. Participants () with chronic diseases answered a self-administered survey including sociodemographic and clinical data, workplace bullying experience, the SF-12 questionnaire, and the Work Productivity Activity Impairment questionnaire. Results. The prevalence of significant impairment was higher among victims of workplace bullying as compared to nonvictims (SF-12 PCS: 55.5% versus 67.9%, ; SF-12 MCS: 59.4% versus 74.3%, ). The adjusted marginal overall productivity cost of workplace bullying ranged from 13.9% to 17.4%, corresponding to Italian Purchase Power Parity (PPP) 2010 US$ 4182–5236 yearly. Association estimates were independent and not moderated by concurrent medical conditions. Conclusions. Our findings demonstrate that the burden on workers’ quality of life and productivity associated with workplace bullying is substantial. This study provides key data to inform policy-making and prioritize occupational health interventions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: PCs are complex tumors which require a multidisciplinary approach and long-term follow-up, and may be considered as first-line systemic antiproliferative treatment in unresectable PCs, particularly of low-grade TC and AC.

Journal ArticleDOI
Daniel E. Neafsey1, Robert M. Waterhouse, Mohammad Reza Abai2, Sergey Aganezov3, Max A. Alekseyev3, James E. Allen4, James Amon, Bruno Arcà5, Peter Arensburger6, Gleb N. Artemov7, Lauren A. Assour8, Hamidreza Basseri2, Aaron M. Berlin1, Bruce W. Birren1, Stéphanie Blandin9, Stéphanie Blandin10, Andrew I. Brockman11, Thomas R. Burkot12, Austin Burt11, Clara S. Chan13, Cedric Chauve14, Joanna C. Chiu15, Mikkel B. Christensen4, Carlo Costantini16, Victoria L.M. Davidson17, Elena Deligianni18, Tania Dottorini11, Vicky Dritsou19, Stacey Gabriel1, Wamdaogo M. Guelbeogo, Andrew Brantley Hall20, Mira V. Han21, Thaung Hlaing, Daniel S.T. Hughes4, Daniel S.T. Hughes22, Adam M. Jenkins23, Xiaofang Jiang20, Irwin Jungreis13, Evdoxia G. Kakani19, Evdoxia G. Kakani24, Maryam Kamali20, Petri Kemppainen25, Ryan C. Kennedy26, Ioannis K. Kirmitzoglou27, Ioannis K. Kirmitzoglou11, Lizette L. Koekemoer28, Njoroge Laban, Nicholas Langridge4, Mara K. N. Lawniczak11, Manolis Lirakis29, Neil F. Lobo8, Ernesto Lowy4, Robert M. MacCallum11, Chunhong Mao20, Gareth Maslen4, Charles Mbogo30, Jenny McCarthy6, Kristin Michel17, Sara N. Mitchell24, Wendy Moore31, Katherine A. Murphy15, Anastasia N. Naumenko20, Tony Nolan11, Eva Maria Novoa13, Samantha M. O’Loughlin11, Chioma Oringanje31, Mohammad Ali Oshaghi2, Nazzy Pakpour15, Philippos Aris Papathanos11, Philippos Aris Papathanos19, Ashley Peery20, Michael Povelones32, Anil Prakash33, David P. Price34, Ashok Rajaraman14, Lisa J. Reimer35, David C. Rinker36, Antonis Rokas37, Tanya L. Russell12, N’Fale Sagnon, Maria V. Sharakhova20, Terrance Shea1, Felipe A. Simão38, Felipe A. Simão39, Frédéric Simard16, Michel A. Slotman40, Pradya Somboon41, V. N. Stegniy7, Claudio J. Struchiner42, Claudio J. Struchiner43, Gregg W.C. Thomas44, Marta Tojo45, Pantelis Topalis18, Jose M. C. Tubio46, Maria F. Unger8, John Vontas29, Catherine Walton25, Craig S. Wilding47, Judith H. Willis48, Yi-Chieh Wu49, Yi-Chieh Wu13, Guiyun Yan50, Evgeny M. Zdobnov38, Evgeny M. Zdobnov39, Xiaofan Zhou37, Flaminia Catteruccia19, Flaminia Catteruccia24, George K. Christophides11, Frank H. Collins8, Robert S. Cornman48, Andrea Crisanti19, Andrea Crisanti11, Martin J. Donnelly35, Martin J. Donnelly46, Scott J. Emrich8, Michael C. Fontaine8, Michael C. Fontaine51, William M. Gelbart24, Matthew W. Hahn44, Immo A. Hansen34, Paul I. Howell52, Fotis C. Kafatos11, Manolis Kellis13, Daniel Lawson4, Christos Louis18, Shirley Luckhart15, Marc A. T. Muskavitch53, Marc A. T. Muskavitch23, José M. C. Ribeiro, Michael A. Riehle31, Igor V. Sharakhov20, Zhijian Tu20, Laurence J. Zwiebel37, Nora J. Besansky8 
Broad Institute1, Tehran University of Medical Sciences2, George Washington University3, European Bioinformatics Institute4, Sapienza University of Rome5, Temple University6, Tomsk State University7, University of Notre Dame8, French Institute of Health and Medical Research9, Centre national de la recherche scientifique10, Imperial College London11, James Cook University12, Massachusetts Institute of Technology13, Simon Fraser University14, University of California, Davis15, Institut de recherche pour le développement16, Kansas State University17, Foundation for Research & Technology – Hellas18, University of Perugia19, Virginia Tech20, University of Nevada, Las Vegas21, Baylor College of Medicine22, Boston College23, Harvard University24, University of Manchester25, University of California, San Francisco26, University of Cyprus27, National Health Laboratory Service28, University of Crete29, Kenya Medical Research Institute30, University of Arizona31, University of Pennsylvania32, Indian Council of Medical Research33, New Mexico State University34, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine35, Vanderbilt University Medical Center36, Vanderbilt University37, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics38, University of Geneva39, Texas A&M University40, Chiang Mai University41, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation42, Rio de Janeiro State University43, Indiana University44, University of Santiago de Compostela45, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute46, Liverpool John Moores University47, University of Georgia48, Harvey Mudd College49, University of California, Irvine50, University of Groningen51, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention52, Biogen Idec53
02 Jan 2015-Science
TL;DR: The authors investigated the genomic basis of vectorial capacity and explore new avenues for vector control, sequenced the genomes of 16 anopheline mosquito species from diverse locations spanning ~100 million years of evolution Comparative analyses show faster rates of gene gain and loss, elevated gene shuffling on the X chromosome, and more intron losses, relative to Drosophila.
Abstract: Variation in vectorial capacity for human malaria among Anopheles mosquito species is determined by many factors, including behavior, immunity, and life history To investigate the genomic basis of vectorial capacity and explore new avenues for vector control, we sequenced the genomes of 16 anopheline mosquito species from diverse locations spanning ~100 million years of evolution Comparative analyses show faster rates of gene gain and loss, elevated gene shuffling on the X chromosome, and more intron losses, relative to Drosophila Some determinants of vectorial capacity, such as chemosensory genes, do not show elevated turnover but instead diversify through protein-sequence changes This dynamism of anopheline genes and genomes may contribute to their flexible capacity to take advantage of new ecological niches, including adapting to humans as primary hosts

Journal ArticleDOI
M. Aguilar, D. Aisa1, Behcet Alpat, A. Alvino  +308 moreInstitutions (42)
TL;DR: The detailed variation with rigidity of the helium flux spectral index is presented for the first time and the spectral index progressively hardens at rigidities larger than 100 GV.
Abstract: Knowledge of the precise rigidity dependence of the helium flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. A precise measurement of the helium flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1.9 GV to 3 TV based on 50 million events is presented and compared to the proton flux. The detailed variation with rigidity of the helium flux spectral index is presented for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at rigidities larger than 100 GV. The rigidity dependence of the helium flux spectral index is similar to that of the proton spectral index though the magnitudes are different. Remarkably, the spectral index of the proton to helium flux ratio increases with rigidity up to 45 GV and then becomes constant; the flux ratio above 45 GV is well described by a single power law.

Journal ArticleDOI
Vardan Khachatryan1, Albert M. Sirunyan1, Armen Tumasyan1, Wolfgang Adam2  +2802 moreInstitutions (215)
04 Jun 2015-Nature
TL;DR: In this paper, the branching fractions of the B meson (B-s(0)) and the B-0 meson decaying into two oppositely charged muons (mu(+) and mu(-)) were observed.
Abstract: The standard model of particle physics describes the fundamental particles and their interactions via the strong, electromagnetic and weak forces. It provides precise predictions for measurable quantities that can be tested experimentally. The probabilities, or branching fractions, of the strange B meson (B-s(0)) and the B-0 meson decaying into two oppositely charged muons (mu(+) and mu(-)) are especially interesting because of their sensitivity to theories that extend the standard model. The standard model predicts that the B-s(0)->mu(+)mu(-) and B-0 ->mu(+)mu(-) decays are very rare, with about four of the former occurring for every billion B-s(0) mesons produced, and one of the latter occurring for every ten billion B-0 mesons(1). A difference in the observed branching fractions with respect to the predictions of the standard model would provide a direction in which the standard model should be extended. Before the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN2 started operating, no evidence for either decay mode had been found. Upper limits on the branching fractions were an order of magnitude above the standard model predictions. The CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) and LHCb(Large Hadron Collider beauty) collaborations have performed a joint analysis of the data from proton-proton collisions that they collected in 2011 at a centre-of-mass energy of seven teraelectronvolts and in 2012 at eight teraelectronvolts. Here we report the first observation of the B-s(0)->mu(+)mu(-) decay, with a statistical significance exceeding six standard deviations, and the best measurement so far of its branching fraction. Furthermore, we obtained evidence for the B-0 ->mu(+)mu(-) decay with a statistical significance of three standard deviations. Both measurements are statistically compatible with standard model predictions and allow stringent constraints to be placed on theories beyond the standard model. The LHC experiments will resume taking data in 2015, recording proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 teraelectronvolts, which will approximately double the production rates of B-s(0) and B-0 mesons and lead to further improvements in the precision of these crucial tests of the standard model.

Journal ArticleDOI
Vardan Khachatryan1, Albert M. Sirunyan1, Armen Tumasyan1, Wolfgang Adam2  +2119 moreInstitutions (141)
29 May 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, a search for particle dark matter (DM), extra dimensions, and unparticles using events containing a jet and an imbalance in transverse momentum was conducted at the LHC.
Abstract: Results are presented from a search for particle dark matter (DM), extra dimensions, and unparticles using events containing a jet and an imbalance in transverse momentum. The data were collected by the CMS detector in proton-proton collisions at the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb$^{-1}$ at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The number of observed events is found to be consistent with the standard model prediction. Limits are placed on the DM-nucleon scattering cross section as a function of the DM particle mass for spin-dependent and spin-independent interactions. Limits are also placed on the scale parameter $M_\mathrm{D}$ in the ADD model of large extra dimensions, and on the unparticle model parameter $\Lambda_\mathrm{U}$. The constraints on ADD models and unparticles are the most stringent limits in this channel and those on the DM-nucleon scattering cross section are an improvement over previous collider results.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: BRAF mutation was associated with poorer recurrence-free probability in Kaplan-Meier survival analyses in various clinicopathologic categories and demonstrated an independent prognostic value of BRAF V600E mutation for PTC recurrence in various clinical categories.
Abstract: Purpose To investigate the prognostic value of BRAF V600E mutation for the recurrence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Patients and Methods This was a retrospective multicenter study of the relat...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the spin-parity and tensor structure of the interactions of the recently discovered Higgs boson is performed using the H to ZZ, Z gamma*, gamma* gamma* to 4 l, H to WW to l nu l nu, and H to gamma gamma decay modes.
Abstract: The study of the spin-parity and tensor structure of the interactions of the recently discovered Higgs boson is performed using the H to ZZ, Z gamma*, gamma* gamma* to 4 l, H to WW to l nu l nu, and H to gamma gamma decay modes. The full dataset recorded by the CMS experiment during the LHC Run 1 is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of up to 5.1 inverse femtobarns at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV and up to 19.7 inverse femtobarns at 8 TeV. A wide range of spin-two models is excluded at a 99% confidence level or higher, or at a 99.87% confidence level for the minimal gravity-like couplings, regardless of whether assumptions are made on the production mechanism. Any mixed-parity spin-one state is excluded in the ZZ and WW modes at a greater than 99.999% confidence level. Under the hypothesis that the resonance is a spin-zero boson, the tensor structure of the interactions of the Higgs boson with two vector bosons ZZ, Z gamma, gamma gamma, and WW is investigated and limits on eleven anomalous contributions are set. Tighter constraints on anomalous HVV interactions are obtained by combining the HZZ and HWW measurements. All observations are consistent with the expectations for the standard model Higgs boson with the quantum numbers J[PC]=0[++].

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: IADL requiring higher neuropsychological functioning seem to be most severely affected in patients with MCI, and the development of performance-based assessment instruments should be intensified, as they allow a valid and reliable assessment of subtle IADL deficits in MCI.
Abstract: There is a growing body of evidence that subtle deficits in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) may be present in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, it is not clear if there are IADL domains that are consistently affected across patients with MCI. In this systematic review, therefore, we aimed to summarize research results regarding the performance of MCI patients in specific IADL (sub)domains compared with persons who are cognitively normal and/or patients with dementia. The databases PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science were searched for relevant literature in December 2013. Publications from 1999 onward were considered for inclusion. Altogether, 497 articles were retrieved. Reference lists of selected articles were searched for potentially relevant articles. After screening the abstracts of these 497 articles, 37 articles were included in this review. In 35 studies, IADL deficits (such as problems with medication intake, telephone use, keeping appointments, finding things at home and using everyday technology) were documented in patients with MCI. Financial capacity in patients with MCI was affected in the majority of studies. Effect sizes for group differences between patients with MCI and healthy controls were predominantly moderate to large. Performance-based instruments showed slight advantages (in terms of effect sizes) in detecting group differences in IADL functioning between patients with MCI, patients with Alzheimer’s disease and healthy controls. IADL requiring higher neuropsychological functioning seem to be most severely affected in patients with MCI. A reliable identification of such deficits is necessary, as patients with MCI with IADL deficits seem to have a higher risk of converting to dementia than patients with MCI without IADL deficits. The use of assessment tools specifically designed and validated for patients with MCI is therefore strongly recommended. Furthermore, the development of performance-based assessment instruments should be intensified, as they allow a valid and reliable assessment of subtle IADL deficits in MCI, even if a proxy is not available. Another important point to consider when designing new scales is the inclusion of technology-associated IADL. Novel instruments for clinical practice should be time-efficient and easy to administer.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A novel high fidelity primer pair for TEF1α has potential as a supplementary DNA barcode with superior resolution to ITS, while TOPI and LNS2 are attractive for the Pucciniomycotina, for which universal primers for ribosomal subunits often fail.
Abstract: Primer development and testing by partners in the European Consortium of Microbial Resource Centres (EMbaRC) was supported through funding of the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7, 2007–2013), Research Infrastructures action, under grant agreement no. FP7-228310. Part of sequencing work in CBS was supported by Fonds Economische Structuurversterking (FES), Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science grant BEK/BPR-2009/137964-U). WM and VR were supported by research grant NH&MRC #APP1031952. Genome mining at CBS and AAFC, and primer development and testing at AAFC, were supported by grants from the A.P. Sloan Foundation Programme on the Microbiology of the Built Environment. We acknowledge the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, under grant No. 1-965/1434 HiCi for technical and financial support. AY was supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (Portugal), project PTDC/BIA-BIC/4585/2012. MPM was supported by grant CGL2012-359 (Spain).