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.

Testing Lorentz invariance and CPT conservation with NuMI neutrinos in the MINOS near detector

A search for a sidereal modulation in the MINOS near detector neutrino data was performed. If present, this signature could be a consequence of Lorentz and CPT violation as predicted by the effective field theory called the standard-model extension. No evidence for a sidereal signal in the data set was found, implying that there is no significant change in neutrino propagation that depends on the direction of the neutrino beam in a sun-centered inertial frame. Upper limits on the magnitudes of the Lorentz and CPT violating terms in the standard-model extension lie between 10(-4) and 10(-2) of the maximum expected, assuming a suppression of these signatures by a factor of 10(-17).

The genome of the simian and human malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi

Plasmodium knowlesi is an intracellular malaria parasite whose natural vertebrate host is Macaca fascicularis (the 'kra' monkey); however, it is now increasingly recognized as a significant cause of human malaria, particularly in southeast Asia. Plasmodium knowlesi was the first malaria parasite species in which antigenic variation was demonstrated, and it has a close phylogenetic relationship to Plasmodium vivax, the second most important species of human malaria parasite (reviewed in ref. 4). Despite their relatedness, there are important phenotypic differences between them, such as host blood cell preference, absence of a dormant liver stage or 'hypnozoite' in P. knowlesi, and length of the asexual cycle (reviewed in ref. 4). Here we present an analysis of the P. knowlesi (H strain, Pk1(A+) clone) nuclear genome sequence. This is the first monkey malaria parasite genome to be described, and it provides an opportunity for comparison with the recently completed P. vivax genome and other sequenced Plasmodium genomes. In contrast to other Plasmodium genomes, putative variant antigen families are dispersed throughout the genome and are associated with intrachromosomal telomere repeats. One of these families, the KIRs, contains sequences that collectively match over one-half of the host CD99 extracellular domain, which may represent an unusual form of molecular mimicry.

Measurement of neutrino oscillations with the MINOS detectors in the NuMI beam

This Letter reports new results from the MINOS experiment based on a two-year exposure to muon neutrinos from the Fermilab NuMI beam. Our data are consistent with quantum-mechanical oscillations of neutrino flavor with mass splitting |Deltam2| = (2.43+/-0.13) x 10(-3) eV2 (68% C.L.) and mixing angle sin2(2theta) > 0.90 (90% C.L.). Our data disfavor two alternative explanations for the disappearance of neutrinos in flight: namely, neutrino decays into lighter particles and quantum decoherence of neutrinos, at the 3.7 and 5.7 standard-deviation levels, respectively.

The surgical management of fistula-in-ano in a specialist colorectal unit

INTRODUCTION

Fistula-in-ano can be associated with a number of conditions, including Crohn's disease. The majority, however, are classified as idiopathic or cryptoglandular. The aim of this study was to review the outcome of surgical management of fistula-in-ano in a specialist colorectal unit.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and four consecutive patients underwent surgery for anal fistulae between 1st January 2000 and December 2004. Data was analysed in two main groups, according to the aetiology, cryptoglandular (n = 86) and Crohn's disease (n = 18). Follow-up data was available on 91 patients.

RESULTS

In the cryptoglandular group, 62 patients had an inter-sphincteric tract, of which 48 underwent a single-stage fistulotomy. Of those patients with a trans-sphincteric tract, six patients underwent a single-stage fistulotomy, 13 had a seton and staged fistulotomy. Follow-up data revealed that two fistulae recurred. The median number of procedures in this group was 1 (range 1-3). There was a significant difference in the inpatient stay depending of Park's classification (p = 0.001). In the Crohn's group, three patients with an inter-sphincteric tract underwent a single-stage fistulotomy, two patients with a trans-sphincteric tract had single-stage fistulotomy, and five required a loose seton and staged fistulotomy. Eight patients had multiple fistulae which required long-term setons. Four patients from this group eventually required proctectomy. In the Crohn's group, there was a significantly increased complexity of surgery and higher recurrence. This was reflected in an increased inpatient length of stay and a greater reliance on imaging (p = 0.001). The median number of procedures in this group was 3 (range 1-5).

DISCUSSION

The majority of cryptoglandular fistula-in-ano were treated by primary fistulotomy or staged fistulotomy with a loose seton. This was associated with a low recurrence rate and low rates of faecal incontinence. There was a low reliance on imaging techniques in this group. However, we would urge caution when dealing with fistula-in-ano related to Crohn's disease. In this group of patients, the fistulae tended to be more complex and require additional imaging and multiple procedures.

The RNAi pathway initiated by Dicer-2 in Drosophila

Injection or expression of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in Drosophila serves as a trigger that causes cells to specifically cleave homologous mRNA transcripts. Our approach is to identify essential components of the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism by isolating and characterizing mutations that cause the RNAi response to be abnormal. These studies have thus far led to the identification of seven genetic loci that encode proteins acting at various steps in the RNAi process. We have molecularly identified several of these proteins. Two are members of the Dicer family. Dicer-1 and Dicer-2 are required for short interfering RNA (siRNA)-directed mRNA cleavage by facilitating distinct steps in the assembly of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). AGO2 is a RISC component that both carries out transcript cleavage and facilitates RISC maturation. Other factors appear to function as regulators of RISC assembly rather than as core factors for RNAi.

Role of radiotherapy in the management of organ transplant recipients diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancers

Organ transplantation has had a major effect on the lives of thousands of patients worldwide. In Australia and New Zealand, over 13 000 patients have become organ transplant recipients (OTR). Following transplantation, patients require lifelong immunosuppression to prevent organ rejection. The loss of immune surveillance results in OTR experiencing a higher incidence of infection and malignancy in comparison with the general (immunocompetent) population. Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common malignancy worldwide, arising most often on the sun-exposed head and neck. Organ transplant recipients experience a higher incidence of NMSC when compared with the general population and a higher incidence of squamous cell carcinoma compared with basal cell carcinoma. Organ transplant recipients also develop NMSC at a younger age and experience multiple new NMSC. Australians experience the highest incidence of NMSC in the world with a consequence that NMSC arising in OTR can lead to significant morbidity and even mortality. Radiation oncologists treating patients with skin cancer will almost certainly make recommendations in the setting of NMSC arising in OTR. The aim of this article is to discuss the role of radiotherapy in the management of OTR diagnosed with NMSC. The emphasis will be on the treatment of patients with a high-risk NMSC (e.g. squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, unfavourable basal cell carcinoma) because this reflects the most common clinical scenario in which a recommendation of radiotherapy, usually adjuvant, may be considered.

Adolescents’ experience of a parental traumatic brain injury

This study explores the experiences of four adolescents, each living with a parent who has sustained a traumatic brain injury, against the theoretical backdrop of existential-phenomenological psychology. Opsomming Hierdie navorsing verken die belewenisse van vier adolessente wat saam met ‘n ouer wat ‘n traumatiese breinbesering opgedoen het, leef. *Please note: This is a reduced version of the abstract. Please refer to PDF for full text.

Observation of muon neutrino disappearance with the MINOS detectors in the NuMI neutrino beam

This Letter reports results from the MINOS experiment based on its initial exposure to neutrinos from the Fermilab NuMI beam. The rates and energy spectra of charged current nu(mu) interactions are compared in two detectors located along the beam axis at distances of 1 and 735 km. With 1.27 x 10(20) 120 GeV protons incident on the NuMI target, 215 events with energies below 30 GeV are observed at the Far Detector, compared to an expectation of 336+/-14 events. The data are consistent with nu(mu) disappearance via oscillations with |Delta(m)2/32|=2.74 +0.44/-0.26 x10(-3)eV(2) and sin(2)(2theta(23))>0.87 (68% C.L.).

Distributed situation awareness in dynamic systems: theoretical development and application of an ergonomics methodology

The purpose of this paper is to propose foundations for a theory of situation awareness based on the analysis of interactions between agents (i.e. both human and non-human) in subsystems. This approach may help to promote a better understanding of technology-mediated interaction in systems, as well as helping in the formulation of hypotheses and predictions concerning distributed situation awareness. It is proposed that agents within a system each hold their own situation awareness, which may be very different from (although compatible with) that of other agents. It is argued that we should not always hope for, or indeed want, sharing of this awareness, as different system agents have different purposes. This view marks situation awareness as a dynamic and collaborative process binding agents together on tasks on a moment-by-moment basis. Implications of this viewpoint for the development of a new theory of, and accompanying methodology for, distributed situation awareness are offered.

Quality of life in a clinical sample of obese children

OBJECTIVES

To measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a clinical sample of obese children by child self-report and parent-proxy report; to compare quality of life assessments provided by obese children and their parents; to assess differences in quality of life between the obese clinical sample and healthy control children.

DESIGN

Pairwise comparison of obese children matched for age, gender and socio-economic status with non-obese controls.

SUBJECTS

One hundred and twenty-six obese children (body mass index (BMI) >/=98th centile) and 71 lean control children (BMI <85th centile). Controls were matched with 71 children from the obese clinical group (mean age 8.6, standard deviation (s.d.) 1.9 years; 33 M/38 F).

MEASUREMENT

The Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (UK) version 4 was self-administered to parents and to children aged 8-12 years and interview was administered to children aged 5-7 years. This questionnaire assessed physical, social, emotional and school functioning from which total, physical and psychosocial health summary scores were derived.

RESULTS

In the obese clinical group (n=126), parent proxy-reported quality of life was low for all domains. In the obese clinical group, parent-reported scores were significantly lower than child self-reported scores in all domains except physical health and school functioning. Parent-proxy reports were significantly higher for healthy controls than obese children in all domains (median total score 85.2 vs 64.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 15.6, 24.1). For child self-reports, only physical health was significantly higher for healthy controls than obese children (median score 81.3 vs 75.0; 95% CI 3.1, 12.5).

CONCLUSIONS

HRQoL is impaired in clinical samples of obese children compared to lean children, but the degree of impairment is likely to be greatest when assessed using the parent perspective rather than the child perspective.