Triangle Singularity as the Origin of the a_{1}(1420).

The COMPASS Collaboration experiment recently discovered a new isovector resonancelike signal with axial-vector quantum numbers, the a_{1}(1420), decaying to f_{0}(980)π. With a mass too close to and a width smaller than the axial-vector ground state a_{1}(1260), it was immediately interpreted as a new light exotic meson, similar to the X, Y, Z states in the hidden-charm sector. We show that a resonancelike signal fully matching the experimental data is produced by the decay of the a_{1}(1260) resonance into K^{*}(→Kπ)K[over ¯] and subsequent rescattering through a triangle singularity into the coupled f_{0}(980)π channel. The amplitude for this process is calculated using a new approach based on dispersion relations. The triangle-singularity model is fitted to the partial-wave data of the COMPASS experiment. Despite having fewer parameters, this fit shows a slightly better quality than the one using a resonance hypothesis and thus eliminates the need for an additional resonance in order to describe the data. We thereby demonstrate for the first time in the light-meson sector that a resonancelike structure in the experimental data can be described by rescattering through a triangle singularity, providing evidence for a genuine three-body effect.

Cyclosporine Versus Tacrolimus: Which Calcineurin Inhibitor Has Influence on Cytomegalovirus Infection in Cardiac Transplantation?

INTRODUCTION: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a relevant cause of morbidity and mortality in transplantation patients. Its major incidence is in the first year and viral replication is related to acute rejection, survival reduction, and graft vascular disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate retrospectively whether a high dose of calcineurin inhibitors correlates with CMV-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), need for treatment, and death in cardiac transplantation patients. METHODS: This is a case-control study including patients who underwent transplantation between 2014 and 2016. They were separated into two groups (positive or negative PCR) and evaluated for dosage serum levels of cyclosporine and tacrolimus. Patients were classified with adequate dose of immunosuppressant or high dose, and was analyzed that there was any association with those and positive CMV-PCR, need for treatment for CMV, and deaths. For statistical analysis, the Student t test was used for the quantitative variables and the Fisher's Exact Test for qualitative variables. To show CMV-free survival, the Kaplan-Meier curve was used. The level of significance was set at 5%. RESULTS: CMV-positive PCR in the sample was 72% for a total of 50 individuals. Positive PCR correlated with a high dose of calcineurin inhibitors in a statistically significant way (P = .002), as did a high dose of cyclosporine (P = .004); however, a high dose of tacrolimus had no such association (P = .17). When a high dose was assessed with a need for treatment, the chance of needing treatment increased more than eight times (P = .024; odds ratio = 8.25; 95% CI = 1.33 to 51.26), which was different from results found with high-dose tacrolimus (P = 1.0). However, no significant association was found in relation to deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus serum levels showed no association with CMV-PCR, which was different from serum cyclosporine, which showed association with CMV-PCR positivity, increasing the need for treatment approximately 8-fold, without association with death.

Cyclosporine Versus Tacrolimus: Which Calcineurin Inhibitor Has Influence on Cytomegalovirus Infection in Cardiac Transplantation?

INTRODUCTION: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a relevant cause of morbidity and mortality in transplantation patients. Its major incidence is in the first year and viral replication is related to acute rejection, survival reduction, and graft vascular disease. Objective. This study aims to evaluate retrospectively whether a high dose of calcineurin inhibitors correlates with CMV-positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), need for treatment, and death in cardiac transplantation patients. Methods. This is a case-control study including patients who underwent transplantation between 2014 and 2016. They were separated into two groups (positive or negative PCR) and evaluated for dosage serum levels of cyclosporine and tacrolimus. Patients were classified with adequate dose of immunosuppressant or high dose, and was analyzed that there was any association with those and positive CMV-PCR, need for treatment for CMV, and deaths. For statistical analysis, the Student t test was used for the quantitative variables and the Fisher's Exact Test for qualitative variables. To show CMV-free survival, the Kaplan-Meier curve was used. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results. CMV-positive PCR in the sample was 72% for a total of 50 individuals. Positive PCR correlated with a high dose of calcineurin inhibitors in a statistically significant way (P » .002), as did a high dose of cyclosporine (P » .004); however, a high dose of tacrolimus had no such association (P » .17). When a high dose was assessed with a need for treatment, the chance of needing treatment increased more than eight times (P » .024; odds ratio » 8.25; 95% CI » 1.33 to 51.26), which was different from results found with high-dose tacrolimus (P » 1.0). However, no significant association was found in relation to deaths. Conclusions. Tacrolimus serum levels showed no association with CMV-PCR, which was different from serum cyclosporine, which showed association with CMV-PCR positivity, increasing the need for treatment approximately 8-fold, without association with death.

First Measurement of Transverse-Spin-Dependent Azimuthal Asymmetries in the Drell-Yan Process.

The first measurement of transverse-spin-dependent azimuthal asymmetries in the pion-induced Drell-Yan (DY) process is reported. We use the CERN SPS 190 GeV/c π^{-} beam and a transversely polarized ammonia target. Three azimuthal asymmetries giving access to different transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions (PDFs) are extracted using dimuon events with invariant mass between 4.3 GeV/c^{2} and 8.5 GeV/c^{2}. Within the experimental uncertainties, the observed sign of the Sivers asymmetry is found to be consistent with the fundamental prediction of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) that the Sivers TMD PDFs extracted from DY have a sign opposite to the one extracted from semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering (SIDIS) data. We present two other asymmetries originating from the pion Boer-Mulders TMD PDFs convoluted with either the nucleon transversity or pretzelosity TMD PDFs. A recent COMPASS SIDIS measurement was obtained at a hard scale comparable to that of these DY results. This opens the way for possible tests of fundamental QCD universality predictions.

Incidence and Surgical Management of Simultaneous Bilateral Retinal Detachment.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous bilateral retinal detachment (RD) is very rare and its incidence has not been very well characterised. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of RD cases treated at the Jules Gonin Eye Hospital between 1999 and 2010. RESULTS: Over the 11 year period, 10 patients (20 eyes) with simultaneous bilateral RD were identified (average incidence among RD= 0.9 %). Mean age: 46.4 ± 17.6 years, with a M : F Ratio of 6 : 4. Pseudophakia was present in 10 eyes and myopia ≥-5.0 dioptres in 11 eyes. Visual symptoms were unilateral in 7 patients, bilateral in 2 patients and absent in one patient. RD was macula-on in 15 eyes and macula-off in 5 eyes. Atrophic holes were present in 11 eyes, U-tears in 6 eyes and a combination in 3 eyes. Primary surgery consisted of buckle surgery (11 eyes), vitrectomy (6 eyes) and combines technique (3 eyes). The final anatomical success rate was 100 %. Mean follow-up time was 22.7 ± 4.95 months. CONCLUSION: The incidence of bilateral simultaneous RD appears to be very low and surgical success rates are excellent. Bilateral pre-operative dilated fundoscopy is mandatory, as the majority of patients have unilateral symptoms.

Observation of a New Narrow Axial-Vector Meson a1(1420).

The COMPASS Collaboration at CERN has measured diffractive dissociation of 190 GeV/c pions into the π(-)π(-)π(+) final state using a stationary hydrogen target. A partial-wave analysis (PWA) was performed in bins of 3π mass and four-momentum transfer using the isobar model and the so far largest PWA model consisting of 88 waves. A narrow peak is observed in the f0(980)π channel with spin, parity and C-parity quantum numbers J(PC)=1(++). We present a resonance-model study of a subset of the spin-density matrix selecting 3π states with J(PC)=2(++) and 4(++) decaying into ρ(770)π and with J(PC)=1(++) decaying into f0(980)π. We identify a new a1 meson with mass (1414(-13)(+15)) MeV/c2 and width (153(-23)(+8)) MeV/c2. Within the final states investigated in our analysis, we observe the new a1(1420) decaying only into f0(980)π, suggesting its exotic nature.

Accuracy of the capillary approximation for gas-filled kagomé-style photonic crystal fibers.

Precise knowledge of the group velocity dispersion in gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber is essential for accurate modeling of ultrafast nonlinear dynamics. Here we study the validity of the capillary approximation commonly used to calculate the modal refractive index in kagomé-style photonic crystal fibers. For area-preserving core radius a(AP) and core wall thickness t, measurements and finite element simulations show that the approximation has an error greater than 15% for wavelengths longer than 0.56√(a(AP)t), independently of the gas-filling pressure. By introducing an empirical wavelength-dependent core radius, the range of validity of the capillary approximation is extended out to a wavelength of at least 0.98√(a(AP)t).

Content validity of the work rehabilitation questionnaire-self-report version WORQ-SELF in a subgroup of spinal cord injury patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Mixed methods study design. OBJECTIVES: The Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire-Self-Report Version (WORQ-SELF) is an assessment tool based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) developed to evaluate functioning in different patient populations in vocational rehabilitation (VR) settings. The objective of this study is to establish the content validity of WORQ-SELF in a subgroup of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients in the early post-acute context. SETTING: Swiss Paraplegic Research and Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland. METHODS: Contents of WORQ-SELF were compared with semi-guided interviews with SCI patients in Switzerland, the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for SCI early post-acute, and outcome instruments used in VR and SCI. A frequency analysis was performed. RESULTS: WORQ-SELF represented 46 different ICF categories and of these 37 categories were confirmed by the patient interviews. The Comprehensive ICF Core Set for SCI confirmed 25 categories. Four instruments used in VR and SCI setting were identified. Contents of those instruments confirmed 14 categories of WORQ-SELF. Overall, 26 categories of the WORQ-SELF were confirmed by at least 2 of the 3 sources, 13 categories by 1 source and 7 were not confirmed by any of the sources. CONCLUSION: The WORQ-SELF proved to have content validity for utility in patients with SCI within the context of VR. WORQ-SELF can be used to assess the functioning and disability of patients in the return to work process.

Assessment of health-related quality of life of clients in vocational rehabilitation: association with depressive symptoms and type of services.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been frequently used as an outcome measure in disability-related studies, yet little is known about HRQOL in vocational rehabilitation (VR). AIM: To evaluate HRQOL in VR clients and identify factors associated with their HRQOL DESIGN, SETTING AND POPULATION: Cross-sectional study of 149 clients from 5 VR centers in Switzerland and Germany METHODS: HRQOL was measured by 8 dimensions of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and compared with sex-matched German population norms. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify whether VR-related variables (VR duration and type, sick leave duration) and depressive symptoms were associated with HRQOL dimensions independent of sociodemographics (age, sex, education) and clinical characteristics (type of disorders, number of comorbidities) RESULTS: HRQOL in VR clients was significantly lower in all dimensions measured by the SF-36 compared to the general population. Returning to the former workplace and being oriented to a new job were associated with less functional limitation due to physical problems, less pain and better mental health. Being oriented to a new job was also associated with better vitality. Presence of depressive symptoms was negatively related with all dimensions of HRQOL. Overall, the regression models explained 10%-25% variance of the physical HRQOL domain and 18%-27% variance of the mental HRQOL domain. CONCLUSION: Multiple dimensions of HRQOL were significantly decreased in VR clients. Depressive symptoms were prevalent and contributed significantly to poorer HRQOL, thus should be considered in the VR process. Further research is needed to ascertain the effect of different VR types to HRQOL and to elaborate the role of depressive symptoms in HRQOL over time. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Rehabilitation professionals should be informed of the level of HRQOL in VR clients in order to tailor effective interventions to improve HRQOL by not only focusing on functional ability but also the psychological well-being.

First measurement of chiral dynamics in π- γ → π- π- π+.

The COMPASS Collaboration at CERN has investigated the π- γ → π- π- π+ reaction at center-of-momentum energy below five pion masses, sqrt[s]<5m(π), embedded in the Primakoff reaction of 190 GeV pions impinging on a lead target. Exchange of quasireal photons is selected by isolating the sharp Coulomb peak observed at smallest momentum transfers, t'<0.001 GeV2/c2. Using partial-wave analysis techniques, the scattering intensity of Coulomb production described in terms of chiral dynamics and its dependence on the 3π-invariant mass m(3π)=sqrt[s] were extracted. The absolute cross section was determined in seven bins of sqrt[s] with an overall precision of 20%. At leading order, the result is found to be in good agreement with the prediction of chiral perturbation theory over the whole energy range investigated.

Kneelike structure in the spectrum of the heavy component of cosmic rays observed with KASCADE-Grande.

We report the observation of a steepening in the cosmic ray energy spectrum of heavy primary particles at about 8×10(16) eV. This structure is also seen in the all-particle energy spectrum, but is less significant. Whereas the "knee" of the cosmic ray spectrum at 3-5×10(15) eV was assigned to light primary masses by the KASCADE experiment, the new structure found by the KASCADE-Grande experiment is caused by heavy primaries. The result is obtained by independent measurements of the charged particle and muon components of the secondary particles of extensive air showers in the primary energy range of 10(16) to 10(18) eV. The data are analyzed on a single-event basis taking into account also the correlation of the two observables.

Observation of a J(PC)=1-+ exotic resonance in diffractive dissociation of 190   GeV/c π- into π- π- π+.

The COMPASS experiment at the CERN SPS has studied the diffractive dissociation of negative pions into the π- π- π+ final state using a 190 GeV/c pion beam hitting a lead target. A partial wave analysis has been performed on a sample of 420,000 events taken at values of the squared 4-momentum transfer t' between 0.1 and 1 GeV2/c2. The well-known resonances a1(1260), a2(1320), and π2(1670) are clearly observed. In addition, the data show a significant natural-parity exchange production of a resonance with spin-exotic quantum numbers J(PC)=1-+ at 1.66 GeV/c2 decaying to ρπ. The resonant nature of this wave is evident from the mass-dependent phase differences to the J(PC)=2-+ and 1++ waves. From a mass-dependent fit a resonance mass of (1660±10(-64)(+0)) MeV/c2 and a width of (269±21(-64)(+42)) MeV/c2 are deduced, with an intensity of (1.7±0.2)% of the total intensity.

Influence of gas atmosphere and temperature on the conductivity and the photoconductivity of a TiO2 single crystal in the surface region.

The electrical photoconductivity and conductivity at (and near) the surface of a TiO(2) single crystal (rutile) was studied in a range of temperatures between 300 and 573 K and under different ambient gases (oxygen and nitrogen) by means of impedance spectroscopy. The long times required (many hours) to reach steady state photoconductivity can be explained by the reduction of the material upon illumination. At about 475 K a maximum is observed in the equilibrium photoconductivity and a minimum in the rate constants of the rise and decay after switching on and off, respectively, the light. After switching off the light a fast decay takes place during the first milliseconds followed by a slow exponential decay. The first one is related to recombination through defects, while the latter is due to re-oxidation processes of the material. The results are correlated with measurements of photocatalytic activity.

Neural stem cell proliferation is decreased in schizophrenia, but not in depression.

The phenomenon of adult neurogenesis (AN), that is, the generation of functional neurons from neural stem cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, has attracted remarkable attention, especially as it was shown that this process is also active in the human brain. Based on animal studies, it has been suggested that reduced AN is implicated in the etiopathology of psychiatric disorders, and that stimulation of AN contributes to the mechanism of action of antidepressant therapies. As data from human post-mortem brain are still lacking, we investigated whether the first step of AN, that is, the level of neural stem cell proliferation (NSP; as quantified by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry), is altered in tissue from the Stanley Foundation Neuropathology Consortium comprising brain specimens from patients with bipolar affective disorder, major depression, schizophrenia as well as control subjects (n=15 in each group). The hypothesis was that stem cell proliferation is reduced in affective disorders, and that antidepressant treatment increases NSP. Neither age, brain weight or pH, brain hemisphere investigated nor duration of storage had an effect on NSP. Only in bipolar disorder, post-mortem interval was a significant intervening variable. In disease, onset of the disorder and its duration likewise did not affect NSP. Also, cumulative lifetime dose of fluphenazine was not correlated with NSP, and presence of antidepressant treatment did not result in an increase of NSP. Concerning the different diagnostic entities, reduced amounts of newly formed cells were found in schizophrenia, but not in major depression. Our findings suggest that reduced NSP may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, whereas the rate of NSP does not seem to be critical to the etiopathology of affective disorders, nor is it modified by antidepressant drug treatment.

First measurement of the transverse spin asymmetries of the deuteron in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering.

First measurements of the Collins and Sivers asymmetries of charged hadrons produced in deep-inelastic scattering of muons on a transversely polarized 6LiD target are presented. The data were taken in 2002 with the COMPASS spectrometer using the muon beam of the CERN SPS at 160 GeV/c. The Collins asymmetry turns out to be compatible with zero, as does the measured Sivers asymmetry within the present statistical errors.

A giant gamma-ray flare from the magnetar SGR 1806-20.

Two classes of rotating neutron stars-soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) and anomalous X-ray pulsars-are magnetars, whose X-ray emission is powered by a very strong magnetic field (B approximately 10(15) G). SGRs occasionally become 'active', producing many short X-ray bursts. Extremely rarely, an SGR emits a giant flare with a total energy about a thousand times higher than in a typical burst. Here we report that SGR 1806-20 emitted a giant flare on 27 December 2004. The total (isotropic) flare energy is 2 x 10(46) erg, which is about a hundred times higher than the other two previously observed giant flares. The energy release probably occurred during a catastrophic reconfiguration of the neutron star's magnetic field. If the event had occurred at a larger distance, but within 40 megaparsecs, it would have resembled a short, hard gamma-ray burst, suggesting that flares from extragalactic SGRs may form a subclass of such bursts.

Transcranial sonography in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial sonography (TCS) identifies hyperechogenic basal ganglia in extrapyramidal disorders such as Parkinson's disease or dystonia and reveals brain atrophy reflecting the stage of degeneration in Huntington's disease. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of TCS in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), a neurodegenerative disease affecting the cerebellum, multiple pontine nuclei, substantia nigra, pallidum, putamen, caudate nucleus and long spinal tracts. METHODS: 15 patients with a molecular diagnosis of SCA3 and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy control individuals were examined with TCS. Echogenicity of the substantia nigra, caudate nucleus, pallidum, putamen, dentate nucleus and cerebellar white matter were determined quantitatively (substantia nigra by measuring the area of incresed echogenicity) or semiquantitatively (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = marked) on both sides and compared with the echotexture of defined brain structures. Additionally, the width of the lateral ventricles, the 3rd and 4th ventricle was measured in both groups. RESULTS: SCA3 patients exhibited hyperechogenicities of the cerebellar white matter (57%), substantia nigra (40%), the dentate nucleus (54%), putamen (40%) and pallidum (40%) significantly more frequently (p <0.05) than controls (20%, 13%, 9%, 0%, and 0% in the corresponding areas). In none of the healthy individuals a marked signal increase could be observed, whereas 53% of SCA3 subjects had at least one region with marked echogenicity. Cerebellar atrophy as demonstrated by an enlarged 4th ventricle was observed in all SCA3 patients whereas this structure could not be differentiated from surrounding parenchyma due to its small size in healthy individuals. 3rd and lateral ventricles were significantly larger in SCA patients as compared to controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TCS is a suitable and non-invasive bed-side method to detect basal ganglia hyperechogenic lesions and posterior fossa abnormalities in SCA3 patients. The pattern of echotexture alterations and brain atrophy most likely reflects distribution and morphology of the neurodegenerative process.