Improved Tensor Current Limit from ^{8}B β Decay Including New Recoil-Order Calculations

A precision measurement of the β^{+} decay of ^{8}B was performed using the Beta-decay Paul Trap to determine the β-ν angular correlation coefficient a_{βν}. The experimental results were combined with new ab initio symmetry-adapted no-core shell-model calculations to yield the second-most precise measurement from Gamow-Teller decays, a_{βν}=-0.3345±0.0019_{stat}±0.0021_{syst}. This value agrees with the standard model value of -1/3 and improves uncertainties in ^{8}B by nearly a factor of 2. By combining results from ^{8}B and ^{8}Li, a tight limit on tensor current coupling to right-handed neutrinos was obtained. A recent global evaluation of all other precision β decay studies suggested a nonzero value for right-handed neutrino coupling in contradiction with the standard model at just above 3σ. The present results are of comparable sensitivity and do not support this finding.

Screening H3 Histone Acetylation in a Wild Bird, the House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus)

Epigenetic mechanisms are increasingly understood to have major impacts across ecology. However, one molecular epigenetic mechanism, DNA methylation, currently dominates the literature. A second mechanism, histone modification, is likely important to ecologically relevant phenotypes and thus warrants investigation, especially because molecular interplay between methylation and histone acetylation can strongly affect gene expression. There are a limited number of histone acetylation studies on non-model organisms, yet those that exist show that it can impact gene expression and phenotypic plasticity. Wild birds provide an excellent system to investigate histone acetylation, as free-living individuals must rapidly adjust to environmental change. Here, we screen histone acetylation in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus); we studied this species because DNA methylation was important in the spread of this bird globally. This species has one of the broadest geographic distributions in the world, and part of this success is related to the way that it uses methylation to regulate its gene expression. Here, we verify that a commercially available assay that was developed for mammals can be used in house sparrows. We detected high variance in histone acetylation among individuals in both liver and spleen tissue. Further, house sparrows with higher epigenetic potential in the Toll Like Receptor-4 (TLR-4) promoter (i.e., CpG content) had higher histone acetylation in liver. Also, there was a negative correlation between histone acetylation in spleen and TLR-4 expression. In addition to validating a method for measuring histone acetylation in wild songbirds, this study also shows that histone acetylation is related to epigenetic potential and gene expression, adding a new study option for ecological epigenetics.

Direct Mass Measurements to Inform the Behavior of ^{128m}Sb in Nucleosynthetic Environments

Nuclear isomer effects are pivotal in understanding nuclear astrophysics, particularly in the rapid neutron-capture process where the population of metastable isomers can alter the radioactive decay paths of nuclei produced during astrophysical events. The β-decaying isomer ^{128m}Sb was identified as potentially impactful since the β-decay pathway along the A=128 isobar funnels into this state bypassing the ground state. We report the first direct mass measurements of the ^{128}Sb isomer and ground state using the Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer at Argonne National Laboratory. We find mass excesses of -84564.8(25)  keV and -84608.8(21)  keV, respectively, resulting in an excitation energy for the isomer of 43.9(33) keV. These results provide the first key nuclear data input for understanding the role of ^{128m}Sb in nucleosynthesis, and we show that it will influence the flow of the rapid neutron-capture process.

Improved Limit on Tensor Currents in the Weak Interaction from ^{8}Li β Decay

The electroweak interaction in the standard model is described by a pure vector-axial-vector structure, though any Lorentz-invariant component could contribute. In this Letter, we present the most precise measurement of tensor currents in the low-energy regime by examining the β-ν[over ¯] correlation of trapped ^{8}Li ions with the Beta-decay Paul Trap. We find a_{βν}=-0.3325±0.0013_{stat}±0.0019_{syst} at 1σ for the case of coupling to right-handed neutrinos (C_{T}=-C_{T}^{'}), which is consistent with the standard model prediction.

Build Up and Characterization of Ultraslow Nuclear Burn-Up Wave in Epithermal Neutron Multiplying Medium

A study is carried out on the build-up and characterization of ultraslow nuclear burn-up wave in epithermal neutron multiplying medium for slab geometry. Uranium-plutonium fissile medium is considered for the calculation. Transient part of the wave is characterized by transient time (TT), transient length (TL), and TT and TL are defined as the time and distance required to develop asymptotic neutron flux propagating through the media. Steady-state part of the wave is characterized with wave velocity and reaction zone width (full width half maximum (FWHM) and full width 10% of maximum (FW10M)). Parametric studies are carried out for different enrichment of 235U and different values of external source of neutron. It is observed that TT, TL, FWHM, and FW10M decrease with the increase in enrichment. The velocity of the wave increases with the enrichment of 235U. This study is beneficial for understanding the characteristics of nuclear burn-up wave in epithermal region as it will help in further researches in this area.

Guideline for the management of hip fractures 2020: Guideline by the Association of Anaesthetists

We convened a multidisciplinary Working Party on behalf of the Association of Anaesthetists to update the 2011 guidance on the peri-operative management of people with hip fracture. Importantly, these guidelines describe the core aims and principles of peri-operative management, recommending greater standardisation of anaesthetic practice as a component of multidisciplinary care. Although much of the 2011 guidance remains applicable to contemporary practice, new evidence and consensus inform the additional recommendations made in this document. Specific changes to the 2011 guidance relate to analgesia, medicolegal practice, risk assessment, bone cement implantation syndrome and regional review networks. Areas of controversy remain, and we discuss these in further detail, relating to the mode of anaesthesia, surgical delay, blood management and transfusion thresholds, echocardiography, anticoagulant and antiplatelet management and postoperative discharge destination. Finally, these guidelines provide links to supplemental online material that can be used at readers' institutions, key references and UK national guidance about the peri-operative care of people with hip and periprosthetic fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

India's lockdown: an interim report

The world has continued to change rapidly since the last version of this article was written on May 20, 2020. Yet, as this article goes to press, we are aware of two realities; first, that we cannot perennially chase a moving target, but second, that nothing about the fundamental trends that we have identified appear to have changed. India is firmly in the throes of a vicious pandemic that we can only hope will abate with the development of an effective vaccine. Our plea for the widespread provision of adequate health and medical facilities, adequate protection for the elderly, and transfers to those severely affected by the lockdown are absolutely unchanged in the face of the latest data. In contrast, the brutal enforcement of a lockdown with none of these accompanying measures can only worsen outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable among the population.

Analysis of Loss of Heat Sink for ITER Divertor Cooling System Using Modified RELAP/SCDAPSIM/MOD 4.0

The present work includes thermal hydraulic modeling and analysis of loss of heat sink (LOHS) accident for the ITER divertor cooling system. The analysis is done for the new design of full tungsten divertor. The new design is also analyzed for different local heat loads ranging from 10 MW/m2 to 20 MW/m2 (while maintaining the total heat load 200 MW) under the steady-state fluid conditions. The LOHS event is selected since divertor is the most sensitive component to loss or reduction in coolability of divertor primary heat transport system (DV-PHTS) loop as it receives large heat flux from plasma. The main objective of this analysis is to find margins to unwanted conditions like overstress temperatures of structure and elevated water level in the pressurizer. The analysis is done by modified thermal hydraulic code RELAP/SCDAPSIM/MOD 4.0. The results obtained are compared with the results of old divertor design which uses carbon fiber composite (CFC) layer to show that how the new design of divertor behaves compared to the older design under the accident scenario. A detailed model of DV-PHTS loop and its ancillary system is presented. The model includes promotional integral differential (PID) controller for controlling the pressurizer heater and spray system. A detailed pump model is also included in the present analysis which was previously used as a time-dependent junction. The analysis shows that under the accident scenario, (a) the divertor structure temperature at the critical sites (inner vertical target (IVT) and outer vertical target (OVT)) is always within the design limit and does not affect the structural integrity of the divertor. (b) The water level in the pressurizer increases moderately and finely controlled by the PID controller, and pressurizer safety valve does not open.

Lanreotide vs octreotide LAR for patients with advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: An observational time and motion analysis

BACKGROUND

Lanreotide and octreotide acetate suspension for injectable (LAR) are both recommended for clinical use in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. However, each agent possesses unique attributes in terms of their drug-delivery characteristics. The study objective was to compare overall drug-delivery efficiency between lanreotide and octreotide LAR in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor patients.

METHODS

This study employed an observational time and motion design among patients treated with lanreotide or octreotide LAR across five US cancer centers. Baseline patient data collection included age, disease grade and duration, prior therapies and performance status. Drug-delivery time (drug preparation and administration), total patient time and resource use data were collected for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors receiving lanreotide (n = 22) or octreotide LAR (n = 22). Following each administration, qualitative data on the drug-delivery experience was collected from patients and nurses.

RESULTS

Lanreotide was associated with a significant reduction in mean delivery time (2.5 min; 95% CI:2.0 to 3.1) compared to octreotide LAR (6.2 min; 95%CI: 4.4 to 7.9; p = 0.004). The mean total patient time for lanreotide and octreotide LAR was comparable between groups (32.1 vs. 36.6 minutes; p = 0.97). Nurses reported increased concerns with octreotide LAR related to needle clogging (p = 0.034) and device failures (p = 0.057). Overall, lanreotide had a median satisfaction score of 5.0 compared to a score of 4.0 with octreotide LAR (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Lanreotide was associated with significant reductions in drug-delivery time compared to octreotide LAR, which contributed to an improvement in overall healthcare efficiency.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03017690.