Community Priority setting for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Research in Australia.

INTRODUCTION: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). FASD research is a rapidly growing field that crosses multiple disciplines. To ensure research is relevant and meaningful for people living with FASD, their families, and the broader public there is a need to engage community members in setting priorities for research. OBJECTIVES: Our primary objective was to formally identify the views of people living with FASD, their parents/caregivers, service providers, and the general community on the research priorities for FASD and alcohol use in pregnancy in Australia. Our secondary objective was to provide an overview of current research in the highest priority areas identified. METHODS: The approach for this study involved two community surveys and a consensus workshop, followed by a rapid literature review. Survey responses (n = 146) were collected and grouped using qualitative thematic analysis. The themes identified were then ranked in a second survey (n = 45). The 22 highest ranked themes were considered in a workshop with 21 community members, and consensus on the top ten priority areas was sought. The priority areas were grouped into conceptually similar topics and rapid literature reviews were undertaken on each. RESULTS: A diverse range of priorities was identified within key areas of prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. On request from participants, separate priority lists were developed by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants. CONCLUSION: There is need for a national network of researchers to take forward the research commenced by the Centre of Research Excellence, FASD Research Australia, in addressing community priorities. KEY WORDS: Community, priorities, FASD, rapid review, Australia.

School performance for children with cleft lip and palate: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Educational attainment is important in shaping young people's life prospects. To investigate whether being born with orofacial cleft (OFC) affects school performance, we compared school test results between children born with and without OFC. METHODS: Using record-linked datasets, we conducted a population-based cohort study of children liveborn in Western Australia 1980-2010 with a diagnosis of OFC on the Register of Developmental Anomalies, and a random sample of 6603 children born without OFC. We compared odds ratios for meeting national minimum standards in five domains (reading, numeracy, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation), and adjusted OR (aOR) for children with cleft lip only (CLO), cleft lip and palate (CL + P) and cleft palate only (CPO) for each domain. RESULTS: Results from two testing programs (WALNA and NAPLAN) were available for 3238 (89%) children expected to participate. Most met the national minimum standards. Compared with children without OFC, children with CPO were less likely to meet minimum standards for NAPLAN reading (aOR 0.57 [95%CI 0.34, 0.96]) grammar and punctuation (aOR 0.49 [95%CI 0.32, 0.76]), WALNA writing (aOR 0.66 [95%CI 0.47, 0.92]), and WALNA and NAPLAN numeracy (aOR 0.64 [95%CI 0.43, 0.95] and aOR 0.47 [95%CI 0.28, 0.82]), respectively. Children with CL + P had significantly lower odds for reaching the spelling standard in NAPLAN tests (aOR 0.52 [95%CI 0.29, 0.94]). Children with CLO had similar odds for reaching all minimum standards. CONCLUSION: Children born with OFC, particularly children with CPO, should be monitored to identify learning difficulties early, to enable intervention to maximize school attainment.

Maternal first trimester serum levels of free-beta human chorionic gonadotrophin and male genital anomalies.

STUDY QUESTION: Are maternal first trimester levels of serum free-beta hCG associated with the development of hypospadias or undescended testis (UDT) in boys? SUMMARY ANSWER: Overall, first trimester maternal levels of serum free-beta hCG are not associated with hypospadias or UDT. However, elevated levels were found in severe phenotypes (proximal hypospadias and bilateral UDT) suggesting an altered pathway of hormonal release in early pregnancy. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Human chorionic gonadotrophin peaks in first trimester of pregnancy stimulating fetal testosterone production, which is key to normal male genital development. Endocrine-disrupting insults early in pregnancy have been associated with increased risk of common genital anomalies in males such as hypospadias and UDT. One plausible etiological pathway is altered release of hCG. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: We conducted a record-linkage study of two separate populations of women attending first trimester aneuploidy screening in two Australian states, New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA), in 2006-2009 and 2001-2003, respectively. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Included were women who gave birth to a singleton live born male infant. There were 12 099 boys from NSW and 10 518 from WA included, of whom 90 and 77 had hypospadias; and 107 and 109 UDT, respectively. Serum levels of free-beta hCG were ascertained from laboratory databases and combined with relevant birth outcomes and congenital anomalies via record linkage of laboratory, birth, congenital anomalies and hospital data. Median and quartile levels of gestational age specific free-beta hCG multiple of the median (MoM) were compared between affected and unaffected boys. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between levels of free-beta hCG MoM and hypospadias or UDT, stratified by suspected placental dysfunction and co-existing anomalies. Where relevant, pooled analysis was conducted. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: There was no difference in median hCG levels amongst women with an infant with hypospadias (NSW = 0.88 MoM, P = 0.83; WA = 0.84 MoM, P = 0.76) or UDT (NSW = 0.89 MoM, P = 0.54; WA = 0.95 MoM, P = 0.95), compared with women with an unaffected boy (NSW = 0.92 MoM; WA = 0.88 MoM). Low (<25th centile) or high (>75th centile) hCG levels were not associated with hypospadias or UDT, nor when stratifying by suspected placental dysfunction and co-existing anomalies. However, there was a tendency towards high levels for severe types, although confidence intervals were wide. When combining NSW and WA results, high hCG MoM levels (>75th centile) were associated with increased risk of proximal hypospadias (odds ratio (OR) 4.34; 95% CI: 1.08-17.4) and bilateral UDT (OR 2.86; 95% CI: 1.02-8.03). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: There were only small numbers of proximal hypospadias and bilateral UDT in both cohorts and although we conducted pooled analyses, results reported on these should be interpreted with caution. Gestational age by ultrasound may have been inaccurately estimated in small and large for gestational age fetuses affecting hCG MoM calculation in those pregnancies. Despite the reliability of our datasets in identifying adverse pregnancy outcomes, we did not have pathology information to confirm tissue lesions in the placenta and therefore our composite outcome should be considered as a proxy for placental dysfunction. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This is one of the largest population-based studies examining the association between maternal first trimester serum levels of free-beta hCG and genital anomalies-hypospadias and UDT; and the first to compare specific phenotypes by severity. Overall, our findings does not support the hypothesis that alteration in maternal hCG levels is associated with the development of male genital anomalies; however, high hCG free-beta levels found in severe types suggest different underlying etiology involving higher production and secretion of hCG. These findings require further exploration and replication. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant APP1047263. N.N. is supported by a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship APP1067066. C.B. was supported by a NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship #634341. The funding agencies had no role in the design, analysis, interpretation or reporting of the findings. There are no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Not applicable.

First Measurement of Electron Neutrino Appearance in NOvA.

We report results from the first search for ν_{µ}→ν_{e} transitions by the NOvA experiment. In an exposure equivalent to 2.74×10^{20} protons on target in the upgraded NuMI beam at Fermilab, we observe 6 events in the Far Detector, compared to a background expectation of 0.99±0.11(syst) events based on the Near Detector measurement. A secondary analysis observes 11 events with a background of 1.07±0.14(syst). The 3.3σ excess of events observed in the primary analysis disfavors 0.1π<δ_{CP}<0.5π in the inverted mass hierarchy at the 90% C.L.

Hospital utilization, costs and mortality rates during the first 5 years of life: a population study of ART and non-ART singletons.

STUDY QUESTION: Do singletons conceived following assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) have significantly different hospital utilization, and therefore costs, compared with non-ART children during the first 5 years of life? SUMMARY ANSWER: ART singletons have longer hospital birth-admissions and a small increased risk of re-admission during the first 5 years of life resulting in higher costs of hospital care. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: ART singletons are at greater risk of adverse perinatal outcomes compared with non-ART singletons. Long-term physical and mental health outcomes of ART singletons are generally reassuring. There is a scarcity of information on health service utilization and the health economic impact of ART conceived children. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A population cohort study using linked birth, hospital and death records. Perinatal outcomes, hospital utilization and costs, and mortality rates were compared for non-ART and ART singletons to 5 years. Adjustments were made for maternal age, parity, sex, birth year, socioeconomic status and funding source. Australian Diagnosis Related Groups cost-weights were used to derive costs. All costs are reported in 2009/2010 Australian dollars. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: All babies born in Western Australia between 1994 and 2003 were included; 224 425 non-ART singletons and 2199 ART conceived singletons. Hospital admission and death records in Western Australia linked to 2008 were used. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Overall, ART singletons had a significantly longer length of stay during the birth-admission (mean difference 1.8 days, P < 0.001) and a 20% increased risk of being admitted during the first 5 years of life. The average adjusted difference in hospital admission costs up to 5 years of age was $2490, with most of the additional cost occurring during the birth-admission ($1473). The independent residual cost associated with ART conception was $342 during the birth-admission and an additional $548 up to 5 years of age, indicating that being conceived as an ART child predicts not only higher birth-admission costs but excess costs to at least 5 years of age. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study could not investigate the impact of different ART practices and techniques on perinatal outcomes or hospital utilization, nor could it adjust for parental characteristics such as cause of infertility and treatment-seeking behaviour. This study related to ART treatment undertaken before 2003. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Clinicians and patients should be aware of the risk of poorer perinatal outcomes and increased hospitalization of ART singletons compared with non-ART singletons. These differences are significant enough to affect health-care resource consumption, but are substantially and significantly less than those associated with ART multiple birth infants. Understanding the short- and long-term health services and economic impact of ART is important for setting the research agenda in ART, for informing economic evaluations of infertility and treatment strategies, and for providing an important input to clinical and administrative decision making. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No specific funding was used to undertake this study and the authors report no conflicts of interest. A number of the authors receive Research Grants to their institutions from the Australian Government. G.M.C. receives grant support to her institution from the Australian Government, Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant No LP1002165; ARC Linkage Grant Partner Organisations are IVFAustralia, Melbourne IVF and Queensland Fertility Group. V.P.H. is employed as an Economics Research Associate on the same grant. TRIAL REGISTRATIONS NUMBER: NA.

Adaptive control with state-dependent modeling of patient impairment for robotic movement therapy.

This paper presents an adaptive control approach for robotic movement therapy that learns a state-dependent model of patient impairment. Unlike previous work, this approach uses an unstructured inertial model that depends on both the position and direction of the desired motion in the robot's workspace. This method learns a patient impairment model that accounts for movement specific disability in neuro-muscular output (such as flexion vs. extension and slow vs. dynamic tasks). Combined with assist-as-needed force decay, this approach may promote further patient engagement and participation. Using the robotic therapy device, FINGER (Finger Individuating Grasp Exercise Robot), several experiments are presented to demonstrate the ability of the adaptive control to learn state-dependent abilities.

Alcohol-use disorders during and within one year of pregnancy: a population-based cohort study 1985-2006.

OBJECTIVES: To examine alcohol-use disorders in pregnant women and the extent of under-reporting. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Western Australia. POPULATION: Women with a birth recorded on the Western Australian Midwives Notification System (1985-2006). METHODS: Mothers with an International Classification of Diseases 9/10 alcohol-related diagnosis, indicating heavy alcohol consumption, recorded on population-based health datasets (non-Aboriginal n=5,839; Aboriginal n=2,583) were identified through the Western Australian data-linkage system. This 'exposed' cohort was frequency matched (on maternal age, year of birth of offspring, Aboriginal status) with comparison mothers without an alcohol-related diagnosis (non-Aboriginal n=33,979; Aboriginal n=8,005). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Trends in maternal alcohol diagnoses in relation to pregnancy for non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal women. The proportion of children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) who had a mother with an alcohol diagnosis recorded during pregnancy. RESULTS: The proportion of Aboriginal mothers in Western Australia with an alcohol diagnosis (23.1%) is ten times greater than for non-Aboriginal mothers (2.3%). There has been a six-fold increase in the percentage of non-Aboriginal births with a maternal alcohol diagnosis recorded during pregnancy and a 100-fold increase for Aboriginal births. Around 70% of the mothers of children diagnosed with FAS did not have an alcohol diagnosis recorded during pregnancy and 18% of the mothers had no record of an alcohol diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal alcohol exposure during pregnancy is significantly under-ascertained. Given the severe risks to the fetus from heavy prenatal alcohol exposure, assessment and recording of alcohol use should be routinely undertaken in maternity and other health settings.

Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and increased risk of stillbirth.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and stillbirth. DESIGN: Data linkage cohort study. SETTING: Western Australia (WA). POPULATION: The exposed cohort included mothers with an alcohol-related diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, ninth/tenth revisions) recorded in health data sets and all their offspring born in WA (1983-2007). Mothers without an alcohol-related diagnosis and their offspring comprised the comparison cohort. METHODS: Exposed and comparison mothers were identified through the WA Data Linkage System. Odds ratios for stillbirth at 20+ weeks of gestation were estimated by logistic regression, stratified by Aboriginal status. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of stillbirths at 20+ weeks of gestation is presented per 1000 births, as well as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and population-attributable fractions. RESULTS: Increased odds of stillbirth were observed for mothers with an alcohol-related diagnosis at any stage of their life for both non-Aboriginal (aOR 1.36; 95% CI 1.05-1.76) and Aboriginal (aOR 1.33; 95% CI 1.08-1.64) births. When an alcohol diagnosis was recorded during pregnancy, increased odds were observed for non-Aboriginal births (aOR 2.24; 95% CI 1.09-4.60), with the highest odds of Aboriginal stillbirth occurring when an alcohol diagnosis was recorded within 1 year postpregnancy (aOR 2.88; 95% CI 1.75-4.73). The population-attributable fractions indicate that 0.8% of non-Aboriginal and 7.9% of Aboriginal stillbirths are the result of heavy alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention of heavy maternal alcohol use has the potential to reduce stillbirths. The lack of an association between exposure during pregnancy and Aboriginal stillbirth in this study needs further investigation.

First-trimester placental protein 13, PAPP-A, uterine artery Doppler and maternal characteristics in the prediction of pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that a combination of PP13, PAPP-A and first-trimester uterine artery Doppler would improve the prediction of pre-eclampsia. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study of pregnant women followed from the first-trimester to delivery. PP13 and PAPP-A were determined by immunoassay of maternal serum at 11-14 weeks', when uterine artery Doppler measurements were assessed. Cases identified with any form of pre-eclampsia were compared with a control group without pre-eclampsia. The sensitivity of each marker or their combinations in predicting pre-eclampsia for different fixed false positive rates was calculated from the ROC curves. RESULTS: Forty two women were diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and 410 women with pregnancies not complicated by pre-eclampsia were used as controls. For a fixed false positive rate (FPR) of 20%, PP13, PAPP-A and mean uterine artery pulsatility index identified 49%, 58% and 62% respectively, of women who developed any form of pre-eclampsia. PP13 was best in predicting early onset pre-eclampsia with a sensitivity of 79% at a 20% FPR. Combinations of the three first-trimester assessments did not improve the prediction of pre-eclampsia in later pregnancy. CONCLUSION: First-trimester PP13, PAPP-A and uterine artery PI are reasonable, individual predictors of women at risk to develop pre-eclampsia. Combinations of these assessments do not further improve the prediction of pre-eclampsia.

The impact of single gene and chromosomal disorders on hospital admissions of children and adolescents: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: It is well recognized that genetic disease makes a significant contribution to childhood illness. Here, we present recent population data describing the impact of single gene and chromosomal disorders on hospital admissions of children and adolescents. METHODS: Hospital admissions for patients aged 0-19 years between 2000 and 2006, with a single gene or chromosomal disorder, were extracted from the Western Australian Hospital Morbidity Data System using 296 diagnosis codes identified from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification. Data extracted for each patient included the number, length and cost of all admissions. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2006, 14,197 admissions were identified for 3,271 patients aged 0-19 years with single gene and chromosomal disorders, representing 2.6% of admissions and 4.3% of total hospital costs in this age group. Patients with genetic disorders had more admissions and stayed longer in hospital than patients admitted for any reason. Specific disorders associated with a high demand on hospital services included cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, thalassemia, and von Willebrand's disease. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with single gene and chromosomal disorders placed higher demands on hospital services than other patients in their age group, but were responsible for a relatively small proportion of hospital admissions and costs. These data will enable informed planning of health care services for patients with single gene and chromosomal disorders in Western Australia.

A new method of prenatal alcohol classification accounting for dose, pattern and timing of exposure: improving our ability to examine fetal effects from low to moderate alcohol.

BACKGROUND: When examining the association between prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal effects, the timing and intensity of exposure have been ignored in epidemiological studies. The effect of using dose, pattern and timing of consumption ("composite" method) was investigated in this study, to examine the association between prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal effects. METHODS: The composite method resulted in six categories of exposure (abstinent, low, moderate, binge

Search for Lorentz invariance and CPT violation with the MINOS far detector.

We searched for a sidereal modulation in the MINOS far detector neutrino rate. Such a signal would be a consequence of Lorentz and CPT violation as described by the standard-model extension framework. It also would be the first detection of a perturbative effect to conventional neutrino mass oscillations. We found no evidence for this sidereal signature, and the upper limits placed on the magnitudes of the Lorentz and CPT violating coefficients describing the theory are an improvement by factors of 20-510 over the current best limits found by using the MINOS near detector.

Stabilizing oils from smoked pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha).

Smoking of meats and fish is one of the earliest preservation technologies developed by humans. In this study, the smoking process was evaluated as a method for reducing oxidation of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) oils and also maintaining the quality of oil in aged fish prior to oil extraction. Salmon heads that were subjected to high temperatures (95 degrees C) during smoking unexpectedly produced oils with fewer products of oxidation than their unprocessed counterparts, as measured by peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and fatty acids (FA). Higher temperatures and longer smoking times resulted in correspondingly lower quantities of oxidative products in the oils. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis of smoke-processed oils confirmed that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were not being destroyed. Smoke-processing also imparted antioxidant potential to the extracted oils. Even when antioxidants, such as ethoxyquin or butylated hydroxytoluene, were added to raw oils, the smoke-processed oils still maintained lower levels of oxidation after 14 d of storage. However, decreased antioxidant capacity of smoke-processed oils was noted when they were heated above 75 degrees C. Vitamin studies supported the antioxidant results, with smoke-processed oils displaying higher levels of alpha-tocopherol than raw oils. Results suggest that smoking salmon prior to oil extraction can protect valuable PUFA-rich oils from oxidation. Improved preservation methods for marine oils may extend their usefulness when added as a supplement to enhance levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in foods.

The effect of maternal alcohol consumption on fetal growth and preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal growth and preterm birth and to estimate the effect of dose and timing of alcohol exposure in pregnancy. DESIGN: A population-based cohort study linked to birth information on the Western Australian Midwives Notification System. SETTING: Western Australia. POPULATION: A 10% random sample of births restricted to nonindigenous women who had delivered a singleton infant (n= 4719) in 1995-1997. METHODS: The impact of alcohol consumption in pregnancy on fetal growth (small-for-gestational-age [SGA] and large-for-gestational-age infants [LGA]) and preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis and adjusting for confounding factors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds ratios and 95% CI, attributable risk, and population attributable risk were calculated. RESULTS: The percentage of SGA infants and preterm birth increased with higher levels of prenatal alcohol exposure; however, the association between alcohol intake and SGA infants was attenuated after adjustment for maternal smoking. Low levels of prenatal alcohol were not associated with preterm birth; however, binge drinking resulted in a nonsignificant increase in odds. Preterm birth was associated with moderate and higher levels of prenatal alcohol consumption for the group of women who ceased drinking before the second trimester. This group of women was significantly more likely to deliver a preterm infant than women who abstained from alcohol (adjusted OR 1.73 [95% CI 1.01-3.14]). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol intake at higher levels, particularly heavy and binge drinking patterns, is associated with increased risk of preterm birth even when drinking is ceased before the second trimester. This finding, however, is based on small numbers and needs further investigation. Dose and timing of prenatal alcohol exposure appears to affect preterm delivery and should be considered in future research and health education.

Factors associated with dental admissions for children aged under 5 years in Western Australia.

OBJECTIVE: There is limited literature describing dental admissions in preschool children. This paper describes dental hospital admissions and associated factors in children aged under 5 years. DESIGN: This study uses total population data for Western Australia, which link midwives' information with birth defects, intellectual disability, hospital admissions and deaths. Children born 1980-1995 (n = 383,665) were followed until 5 years. Intellectual disability data were available for children born between 1983 and 1992. Admission data including length of stay were examined. OUTCOME MEASURES: Admissions for each relevant 9th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD-9) principal diagnosis category and factors associated with having had a dental admission (all categories) and ICD-9 521 (mostly caries) in particular were investigated. RESULTS: There were 11,523 dental admissions involving 10,493 children. Of all dental admissions, 76% were in ICD-9 category 521, which included admissions for dental caries. After adjusting for confounders, children with intellectual disability (odds ratio 1.92; 95% CI 1.63 to 2.27) and birth defect 1.85 (1.68 to 2.05) were more likely to have had a dental admission. Children living in a region without fluoridated water were also more likely to have had a dental admission 2.16 (1.94 to 2.40). Males were more likely to have had a dental admission 1.16 (1.08 to 1.25), as were children with an indigenous mother 1.17 (1.02 to 1.34). Investigation of ICD-9 521 admissions showed associations similar to those described above except for mother being indigenous, which was associated with reduced likelihood of admission. CONCLUSION: Given the burden of dental admissions in young children, these findings highlight the need for improved oral care for children.

Expectations prior to epilepsy surgery: an exploratory comparison of men and women.

Although the clinical goal of resective epilepsy surgery is seizure freedom, patients have a wide set of expectations for this invasive procedure. The goal of this study was to evaluate potential gender differences in expectations among patients undergoing resective epilepsy surgery. Ratings of the importance of 12 potential impacts ("expectations") of resective surgery were analyzed in a seven-center cohort study including 389 adults aged 16 and older who underwent resective epilepsy surgery. Men and women both ranked anticipated changes in driving and memory as the most important presurgical expectations. Women rated driving, physical activity limitations, and economic worries as less important, and fatigue and pregnancy concerns as more important than did men (p's< or =0.05). Exploratory factor analysis indicated a different pattern of associations among the 12 importance items for men and women. Whether gender differences in presurgical values are associated with outcomes needs exploration.

Search for muon-neutrino to electron-neutrino transitions in MINOS.

This Letter reports on a search for nu(mu) --> nu(e) transitions by the MINOS experiment based on a 3.14x10(20) protons-on-target exposure in the Fermilab NuMI beam. We observe 35 events in the Far Detector with a background of 27+/-5(stat)+/-2(syst) events predicted by the measurements in the Near Detector. If interpreted in terms of nu(mu) --> nu(e) oscillations, this 1.5sigma excess of events is consistent with sin2(2theta(13)) comparable to the CHOOZ limit when |Delta m2|=2.43x10(-3) eV2 and sin2(2theta(23))=1.0 are assumed.

Search for active neutrino disappearance using neutral-current interactions in the MINOS long-baseline experiment.

We report the first detailed comparisons of the rates and spectra of neutral-current neutrino interactions at two widely separated locations. A depletion in the rate at the far site would indicate mixing between nu(mu) and a sterile particle. No anomalous depletion in the reconstructed energy spectrum is observed. Assuming oscillations occur at a single mass-squared splitting, a fit to the neutral- and charged-current energy spectra limits the fraction of nu(mu) oscillating to a sterile neutrino to be below 0.68 at 90% confidence level. A less stringent limit due to a possible contribution to the measured neutral-current event rate at the far site from nu(e) appearance at the current experimental limit is also presented.