Measurement of the proton-air cross section at √s=57 TeV with the Pierre Auger Observatory

We report a measurement of the proton-air cross section for particle production at the center-of-mass energy per nucleon of 57 TeV. This is derived from the distribution of the depths of shower maxima observed with the Pierre Auger Observatory: systematic uncertainties are studied in detail. Analyzing the tail of the distribution of the shower maxima, a proton-air cross section of [505±22(stat)(-36)(+28)(syst)] mb is found.

Chiral domains in cycloidal multiferroic thin films: switching and memory effects

Cycloidal magnetic order occurring in some AMnO(3) perovskites is known to induce ferroelectricity. The polarization is perpendicular to the propagation vector direction of the cycloid and its chirality, and therefore it is directly related to the chiral domain structure. We show that the switching process of chiral domains is sensitively dependent on the magnetoelectric history of the sample. Moreover, by appropriate field cycling, magnetic order can display partial chiral memory. We argue that memory results from electric field coupling of cycloidal domain and nucleation and pinning of chiral domain walls, much like the domain structure in other ferroic systems.

A phase transition close to room temperature in BiFeO3 thin films

BiFeO3 (BFO) multiferroic oxide has a complex phase diagram that can be mapped by using appropriately substrate-induced strain in epitaxial films. By using Raman spectroscopy, we conclusively show that films of the so-called supertetragonal T-BFO phase, stabilized under compressive strain, display a reversible temperature-induced phase transition at about 100 °C, and thus close to room temperature.

Indication of electron neutrino appearance from an accelerator-produced off-axis muon neutrino beam

The T2K experiment observes indications of ν(μ) → ν(e) appearance in data accumulated with 1.43×10(20) protons on target. Six events pass all selection criteria at the far detector. In a three-flavor neutrino oscillation scenario with |Δm(23)(2)| = 2.4×10(-3)  eV(2), sin(2)2θ(23) = 1 and sin(2)2θ(13) = 0, the expected number of such events is 1.5±0.3(syst). Under this hypothesis, the probability to observe six or more candidate events is 7×10(-3), equivalent to 2.5σ significance. At 90% C.L., the data are consistent with 0.03(0.04) < sin(2)2θ(13) < 0.28(0.34) for δ(CP) = 0 and a normal (inverted) hierarchy.

Relationships between antithrombin activity, anticoagulant efficacy of heparin therapy and perioperative variables in patients undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass

INTRODUCTION

A study on 149 cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) patients was performed to elucidate possible relationships between antithrombin (AT) activity and a subject's clinical profile or surgery characteristics.

METHODS

An initial dose (300 IU/kg) of heparin was administered before CPB. Additional boluses (100 IU/kg) were administered if the activated clotting time (ACT)≤460 s. AT activity and hematological parameters were determined preoperatively, during and after CPB, and at 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours post-intervention.

RESULTS

29.5% patients required an additional dose of heparin during CPB. Preoperative AT was 96.5 ± 13.9% in all but 4 patients. AT was significantly lower during CPB and upon leaving the operating room (59.7%-80.0%). A small, but significant, inverse correlation was observed between AT at the end of CPB and the patient's age, as well as between basal preoperative AT and total heparin administered.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient's age could be a moderate indicator of AT activity drop and low preoperative AT activity could be a sign of reduced anticoagulant efficacy of heparin during CPB.

[Transfusion requirements, morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery and the use of antifibrinolytic agents: a comparison of aprotinin and tranexamic acid]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate transfusion requirements, morbidity and mortality when 2 antifibrinolytic agents (aprotinin and tranexamic acid) were used in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Comparison of the effects of 2 antifibrinolytic agents in 243 patients undergoing cardiac surgery between December 2006 and June 2008. We recorded the surgical procedures used, blood product transfusions required, complications (particularly renal), mortality, and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

The patients were distributed into 2 groups to receive tranexamic acid (n = 144) or aprotinin (n = 99). The incidence of transfusion in the tranexamic acid group (31.94%) was nonsignificantly lower than in the aprotinin group (38.38%) (PF = .31). The mean (SD) number of units of packed red blood cells transfused was 0.67 (1.18) in the tranexamic acid group and 1.01 (1.54) in the aprotinin group (P = .07). The mean preoperative hemoglobin concentration in the tranexamic acid group (11.79 [1.71] mg/dL) was significantly lower than in the aprotinin group (12.35 [1.70] mg/dL) (P < .01). Incipient postoperative renal failure tended to occur more frequently in the aprotinin group (19.6% compared to 16%; P = .47). Mortality at 1 year was 9.02% in the tranexamic acid group (compared to 14.14% in the aprotinin group; PF-.21); the trend for mortality related to postoperative renal failure was similar (7.6% in the tranexamic acid group compared to 12.4% in the aprotinin group; P = .22). No significant differences were observed in postoperative complications or length of hospital stay. However, the lack of randomization and the small sample size do not allow for definitive conclusions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study, subject to the aforementioned limitations, shows that tranexamic acid is as effective as aprotinin for reducing transfusion requirements in cardiac surgery in Spain.

Willingness to pay and conjoint analysis to determine women's preferences for ovarian stimulating hormones in the treatment of infertility in Spain

BACKGROUND

Despite many advances in assisted reproductive techniques (ART), little is known about preferences for technological developments of women undergoing fertility treatments. The aims of this study were to investigate the preferences of infertile women undergoing ART for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) treatments; to determine the utility values ascribed to different attributes of COS treatments; and to estimate women's willingness to pay (WTP) for COS.

METHODS

A representative sample of ambulatory patients ready to receive, or receiving, COS therapies for infertility were recruited from seven specialized private centres in six autonomous communities in Spain. Descriptive, inferential and conjoint analyses (CA) were used to elicit preferences and WTP. Attributes and levels of COS treatments were identified by literature review and two focus groups with experts and patients. WTP valuations were derived by a combination of double-bounded (closed-ended) and open questions and contingent ranking methods.

RESULTS

In total, 160 patients [mean (standard deviation; SD) age: 35.8 (4.2) years] were interviewed. Over half of the participants (55.0%) had a high level of education (university degree), most (78.8%) were married and half (50.0%) had an estimated net income of >€1502 per month and had paid a mean (SD) €1194.17 (€778.29) for their most recent hormonal treatment. The most frequent causes of infertility were related to sperm abnormalities (50.3%). In 30.6% of cases, there were two causes of infertility. The maximum WTP for COS treatment was €800 (median) per cycle; 35.5% were willing to pay an additional €101-€300 for a 1-2% effectiveness gain in the treatment. Utility values (CA) showed that effectiveness was the most valued attribute (39.82), followed by costs (18.74), safety (17.75) and information sharing with physicians (14.93).

CONCLUSIONS

WTP for COS therapies exceeds current cost. Additional WTP exists for 1-2% effectiveness improvement. Effectiveness and costs were the most important determinants of preferences, followed by safety and information sharing with physicians.

Magnetization reversal by electric-field decoupling of magnetic and ferroelectric domain walls in multiferroic-based heterostructures

We demonstrate that the magnetization of a ferromagnet in contact with an antiferromagnetic multiferroic (LuMnO(3)) can be speedily reversed by electric-field pulsing, and the sign of the magnetic exchange bias can switch and recover isothermally. As LuMnO(3) is not ferroelastic, our data conclusively show that this switching is not mediated by strain effects but is a unique electric-field driven decoupling of the ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic domain walls. Their distinct dynamics are essential for the observed magnetic switching.

Measurement of the depth of maximum of extensive air showers above 10{18} eV

We describe the measurement of the depth of maximum, X{max}, of the longitudinal development of air showers induced by cosmic rays. Almost 4000 events above 10;{18} eV observed by the fluorescence detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory in coincidence with at least one surface detector station are selected for the analysis. The average shower maximum was found to evolve with energy at a rate of (106{-21}{+35}) g/cm{2}/decade below 10{18.24+/-0.05} eV, and (24+/-3) g/cm{2}/decade above this energy. The measured shower-to-shower fluctuations decrease from about 55 to 26 g/cm{2}. The interpretation of these results in terms of the cosmic ray mass composition is briefly discussed.

[The molecular bases of Huntington's disease: the role played by oxidative stress]

INTRODUCTION

Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative, autosomal dominant disease that mainly affects the basal ganglia. The disorder is caused by mutation in the gene encoding the huntingtin protein (Htt), producing intracellular aggregates. The adult form (chorea with dementia) is the most frequent. It is characterized by unpredictable, spasmodic, involuntary and constant movements, mostly associated with psychiatric and cognitive alterations.

DEVELOPMENT

The main characteristics of Huntington's disease are: neuronal loss, glyosis, and accumulations of mutated Htt, all associated with different underlying channels in the pathogenesis of the disease, such as: excitotoxicity, energy deficit (ATP depletion), reduction in the synthesis and release of neurotrophic factors (BDNF and GDNF), and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease, and numerous studies have shown the existence of oxidative damage in the plasma and tissue of patients suffering from this disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Oxidative stress in patients with Huntington's disease may be used as an evolutionary-prognostic marker of both the disease and therapeutic effectiveness, as well as an interesting field of research for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Resource utilization by deep-sea sharks at the Le Danois Bank, Cantabrian Sea, north-east Atlantic Ocean

The feeding habits of birdbeak dogfish Deania calcea, velvet belly lantern shark Etmopterus spinax and blackmouth catshark Galeus melastomus at Le Danois Bank, Cantabrian Sea, south Bay of Biscay were studied in relation to their bathymetric distribution. Deep-sea sharks were collected during two multidisciplinary surveys carried out in October 2003 and April 2004 at the Le Danois Bank. Two different habitats were defined: (1) the top of the bank, ranging from 454 to 642 m depth and covered by fine-sand sediments with a low percentage of organic matter, and (2) the inner basin located between the bank and the Cantabrian Sea's continental shelf, at depths of 810-1048 m, which was characterized by a high proportion of silt and organic matter. Deania calcea was not present at the top of the bank but was abundant below 642 m, while E. spinax was abundant in the shallower top of the bank but was not found in the deeper inner basin. There was almost no bathymetric overlap between these two deep-sea shark species. Galeus melastomus was found over the whole depth range. There seemed to be an ontogenetic segregation with depth for this species, however, since 80% of the specimens collected at the top of the bank were < 600 mm total length (L(T)) (mean 510 mm L(T)), whereas larger individuals (mean 620 mm L(T)) inhabited deeper zones. Galeus melastomus exhibited a significantly higher feeding intensity than both E. spinax at the top of the bank and D. calcea in the inner basin. Little dietary overlap between D. calcea and G. melastomus in the inner basin was found, with D. calcea being an ichthyophagous predator while the diet of G. melastomus at these depths was composed of a variety of meso-bathypelagic shrimps (e.g. Acantephyra pelagica, Pasiphaea spp. and Sergia robusta), cephalopods and fishes. The diets of E. spinax and G. melastomus at the top of the bank showed a high dietary overlap of euphausiids, which represented the main prey taxa for both species. Euphausiids declined in abundance with depth which was reflected in the diet of G. melastomus. The cluster analysis of prey affinities among hauls depicted two major groups, corresponding to the two different habitats (top of the bank and inner basin). Redundancy analysis also indicated top-basin segregation, with euphausiids representing the main prey taxa at the top of the bank and bathypelagic shrimps in the inner basin. Euphausiids and Micromesistius poutassou were key prey within the Le Danois Bank ecosystem since they were positively selected by the three deep-sea shark species. These results show that the feeding ecology of these predators in Le Danois Bank ecosystem is highly influenced by depth-related variables, as a result of changes in prey availability. Overall results were analysed in relation to the deep-sea Le Danois ecosystem structure and functioning.

Lower respiratory tract respiratory virus infections increase the risk of invasive aspergillosis after a reduced-intensity allogeneic hematopoietic SCT

We have analyzed the incidence and risk factors for the occurrence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) among 219 consecutive recipients of an allogeneic hematopoietic SCT after a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen (Allo-RIC). Twenty-seven patients developed an IA at a median of 218 days (range 24–2051) post-Allo-RIC, for a 4-year incidence of 13% (95% confidence interval 4–24%). In multivariate analysis, risk factors for developing IA were steroid therapy for moderate-to-severe graft vs host disease (GVHD) (Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.9, P=0.03), occurrence of a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) by a respiratory virus (RV) (HR 4.3, P<0.01) and CMV disease (HR 2.8, P=0.03). Variables that decreased survival after Allo-RIC were advanced disease phase (HR 1.9, P=0.02), steroid therapy for moderate-to-severe GVHD (HR 2.2, P<0.01), not developing chronic GVHD (HR 4.3, P<0.01), occurrence of LRTI by an RV (HR 3.4, P<0.01) and CMV disease (HR 2, P=0.01), whereas occurrence of IA had no effect on survival (P=0.5). Our results show that IA is a common infectious complication after an Allo-RIC, which occurs late post-transplant and may not have a strong effect on survival. An important observation is the possible role of LRTI by conventional RVs as risk factors for IA.

Evaluation of three-year monitoring with biomarkers in fish following the Prestige oil spill (N Spain)

A previous study using a suite of hepatic enzymatic biomarker in two demersal fish species (Lepidorhombus boscii and Callionymus lyra) indicated exposure of the fish to the hydrocarbons in the oil spilled by the Prestige five months after the accident. The main objective of this follow-up study is to determine whether the same biomarkers in both fish species show any significant variations in responses over the years following the Prestige oil spill. Detoxification and antioxidant enzyme measurements--of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT)--were taken from immature specimens. The results show significant lowering of biomarker activity two and three-years after the oil spill, indicating a decreasing level of exposure of the fish to residual hydrocarbons associated with the spillage (p < 0.01) and a recovery to baseline levels existing before the accident. Overall, spatial biomarker patterns over time are in agreement with the oil slick trajectories and the spatial distribution of tar aggregates found on the bottom shelf after the accident. The results also indicate that the Prestige oil spill had an impact on sublethal responses in fish not only in inshore areas, but also in offshore areas along the middle/outer northern Iberian shelf. In both species, EROD activity was found to be the most discriminating biomarker.

Observation of the suppression of the flux of cosmic rays above 4 x 10 (19) eV

The energy spectrum of cosmic rays above 2.5 x 10;{18} eV, derived from 20,000 events recorded at the Pierre Auger Observatory, is described. The spectral index gamma of the particle flux, J proportional, variantE;{-gamma}, at energies between 4 x 10;{18} eV and 4 x 10;{19} eV is 2.69+/-0.02(stat)+/-0.06(syst), steepening to 4.2+/-0.4(stat)+/-0.06(syst) at higher energies. The hypothesis of a single power law is rejected with a significance greater than 6 standard deviations. The data are consistent with the prediction by Greisen and by Zatsepin and Kuz'min.

Upper limit on the diffuse flux of ultrahigh energy tau neutrinos from the Pierre Auger Observatory

The surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory is sensitive to Earth-skimming tau neutrinos that interact in Earth's crust. Tau leptons from nu(tau) charged-current interactions can emerge and decay in the atmosphere to produce a nearly horizontal shower with a significant electromagnetic component. The data collected between 1 January 2004 and 31 August 2007 are used to place an upper limit on the diffuse flux of nu(tau) at EeV energies. Assuming an E(nu)(-2) differential energy spectrum the limit set at 90% C.L. is E(nu)(2)dN(nu)(tau)/dE(nu)<1.3 x 10(-7) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) sr(-1) in the energy range 2 x 10(17) eV< E(nu)< 2 x 10(19) eV.

Short Communication: Changes in the Association Between Milk Yield and Age at First Calving in Holstein Cows with Herd Environment Level for Milk Yield

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of herd environment class on the genetic and phenotypic relationships of mature equivalent milk yield (MY) on age at first calving (AFC). Data analyzed were 248,230 first parity records of Holstein cows, daughters of 588 sires in 3,042 herds in the United States. Heritability for AFC was 0.33 +/- 0.01 and 0.20 +/- 0.01 in high and low environment herds, respectively, and 0.47 +/- 0.01 in the complete data set. The correlation between AFC sires' predicted breeding values of low and high classes was 0.69. Genetic correlations between MY and AFC were -0.52 +/- 0.02 and -0.31 +/- 0.03 in high and low environment herds, respectively, and -0.44 +/- 0.02 in the complete data set representing intermediate environments. If selection is based on the whole data set, expected correlated responses for AFC estimated as a result of 1,000 kg of genetic gain in MY, for high and low herd environment herds were -26.1 and -15.3 d, respectively, and -32.6 for the complete data set; hence the highest reduction in AFC occurs in intermediate environment herds. Different estimates of the heritability of AFC, the correlation between AFC breeding values of low and high classes as well as changes in the genetic correlation between MY and AFC across environments indicate genotype x environment interaction. Caution in interpretation is warranted because genetic relationships are dynamic, especially in populations undergoing selection. Current relationships may differ from those during the time period of the present study (1987-1994). Notwithstanding this possibility, methods and findings from the present study provide insight about the complexity of genetic association and genotype x environment interactions between AFC and MY.

Clinical and microbiological features of nocardiosis 1997–2003

Nocardiosis has been believed to be caused by the members of the Nocardia asteroides complex and the Nocardia brasiliensis species. However, recent advances in genotypic identification have shown that the genus exhibits considerable taxonomic complexity and the phenotypic markers used in the past for its identification can be ambiguous. The aim of this study was to assess the species distribution of Nocardia isolates and to determine whether there are differences in pathogenicity or antimicrobial susceptibility between the different species identified. Nocardia isolates obtained over a 7 year period were retrospectively reviewed. The isolates were identified genotypically, their antibiotic susceptibility was tested and the clinical data of the 27 patients were retrieved. Eight different Nocardia species were identified: Nocardia farcinica (n=9), Nocardia abscessus (n=6), Nocardia cyriacigeorgica (n=6), Nocardia otitidiscaviarum (n=2), Nocardia nova (n=1), N. nova complex (n=1), Nocardia carnea (n=1) and Nocardia transvalensis complex (n=1). All species were susceptible to co-trimoxazole but different patterns of susceptibility to other agents were observed. All patients had active comorbidities at the time of infection. A total of 19 patients were immunosuppressed, due to human immunodeficiency virus infection, chronic corticosteroid therapy, immunosupressive therapy or haematological malignancies. Six patients displayed a Charlson comorbidity index score above 4. Global mortality was 50 % while attributable mortality was 34.6 %. Patients infected with N. farcinica – the most resistant species – had the highest Charlson index score and the highest mortality rate. Accurate identification of the species and susceptibility testing of Nocardia isolates may play an important role in diagnosis and treatment.