Measurement of multi-particle azimuthal correlations in pp, p + Pb and low-multiplicity Pb + Pb collisions with the ATLAS detector

Multi-particle cumulants and corresponding Fourier harmonics are measured for azimuthal angle distributions of charged particles in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] = 5.02 and 13 TeV and in [Formula: see text] + Pb collisions at [Formula: see text] = 5.02 TeV, and compared to the results obtained for low-multiplicity [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] = 2.76 TeV. These measurements aim to assess the collective nature of particle production. The measurements of multi-particle cumulants confirm the evidence for collective phenomena in [Formula: see text] + Pb and low-multiplicity [Formula: see text] collisions. On the other hand, the [Formula: see text] results for four-particle cumulants do not demonstrate collective behaviour, indicating that they may be biased by contributions from non-flow correlations. A comparison of multi-particle cumulants and derived Fourier harmonics across different collision systems is presented as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity. For a given multiplicity, the measured Fourier harmonics are largest in [Formula: see text], smaller in [Formula: see text] + Pb and smallest in [Formula: see text] collisions. The [Formula: see text] results show no dependence on the collision energy, nor on the multiplicity.

Search for squarks and gluinos in events with hadronically decaying tau leptons, jets and missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector

A search for supersymmetry in events with large missing transverse momentum, jets, and at least one hadronically decaying tau lepton has been performed using 3.2 fb[Formula: see text] of proton-proton collision data at [Formula: see text] recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2015. Two exclusive final states are considered, with either exactly one or at least two tau leptons. No excess over the Standard Model prediction is observed in the data. Results are interpreted in the context of gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking and a simplified model of gluino pair production with tau-rich cascade decays, substantially improving on previous limits. In the GMSB model considered, supersymmetry-breaking scale ([Formula: see text]) values below [Formula: see text] are excluded at the 95% confidence level, corresponding to gluino masses below [Formula: see text]. For large values of [Formula: see text], values of [Formula: see text] up to [Formula: see text] and gluino masses up to [Formula: see text] are excluded. In the simplified model, gluino masses are excluded up to [Formula: see text] for neutralino masses around [Formula: see text]. Neutralino masses below [Formula: see text] are excluded for all gluino masses between 800 and [Formula: see text], while the strongest exclusion of [Formula: see text] is achieved for gluino masses around [Formula: see text].

Measurement of the [Formula: see text] dijet cross section in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector

The dijet production cross section for jets containing a b-hadron (b-jets) has been measured in proton-proton collisions with a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] TeV, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The data used correspond to an integrated luminosity of [Formula: see text]. The cross section is measured for events with two identified b-jets with a transverse momentum [Formula: see text] GeV and a minimum separation in the [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] plane of [Formula: see text]. At least one of the jets in the event is required to have [Formula: see text] GeV. The cross section is measured differentially as a function of dijet invariant mass, dijet transverse momentum, boost of the dijet system, and the rapidity difference, azimuthal angle and angular distance between the b-jets. The results are compared to different predictions of leading order and next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamics matrix elements supplemented with models for parton-showers and hadronization.

Measurement of the photon identification efficiencies with the ATLAS detector using LHC Run-1 data

The algorithms used by the ATLAS Collaboration to reconstruct and identify prompt photons are described. Measurements of the photon identification efficiencies are reported, using 4.9 fb[Formula: see text] of pp collision data collected at the LHC at [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] and 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] at [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]. The efficiencies are measured separately for converted and unconverted photons, in four different pseudorapidity regions, for transverse momenta between 10 [Formula: see text] and 1.5 [Formula: see text]. The results from the combination of three data-driven techniques are compared to the predictions from a simulation of the detector response, after correcting the electromagnetic shower momenta in the simulation for the average differences observed with respect to data. Data-to-simulation efficiency ratios used as correction factors in physics measurements are determined to account for the small residual efficiency differences. These factors are measured with uncertainties between 0.5% and 10% in 7 [Formula: see text] data and between 0.5% and 5.6% in 8 [Formula: see text] data, depending on the photon transverse momentum and pseudorapidity.

Test of CP invariance in vector-boson fusion production of the Higgs boson using the Optimal Observable method in the ditau decay channel with the ATLAS detector

A test of CP invariance in Higgs boson production via vector-boson fusion using the method of the Optimal Observable is presented. The analysis exploits the decay mode of the Higgs boson into a pair of [Formula: see text] leptons and is based on 20.3 [Formula: see text] of proton-proton collision data at [Formula: see text] = 8 [Formula: see text] collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. Contributions from CP-violating interactions between the Higgs boson and electroweak gauge bosons are described in an effective field theory framework, in which the strength of CP violation is governed by a single parameter [Formula: see text]. The mean values and distributions of CP-odd observables agree with the expectation in the Standard Model and show no sign of CP violation. The CP-mixing parameter [Formula: see text] is constrained to the interval [Formula: see text] at 68% confidence level, consistent with the Standard Model expectation of [Formula: see text].

Protection of resveratrol on acute kidney injury in septic rats

AIM

The aim of the study is to investigate protective effect of resveratrol (Res) on acute kidney injury (AKI) in sepsis.

METHODS

Rats in sham group received sham operation; in sham + Res received sham operation and Res (3 mg/kg); in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) established as sepsis; in CLP + Res (3 mg/kg) with sepsis and Res (3 mg/kg); and in CLP + Res (10 mg/kg) with sepsis and Res (10 mg/kg). Survival rate, serum indexes, inflammatory factors, NF-κB-P65, and SIRT1 were detected. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mesangial cell was with Res and SIRT1 silencing.

RESULTS

(1) Res intervention improved survival rate of CLP rat. (2) Compared to sham, serum creatinine, blood urine nitrogen, serum cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, kidney injury molecule-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, IL-6, and renal injury index increased in CLP group, while decreased in CLP + Res (3 mg/kg) and CLP + Res (10 mg/kg), significantly, as dose-dependent ( p < 0.05). (3) With Res, NF-κB-P65 and de-acetylated SIRT1 decreased, while SIRT1 and de-acetylated Nuclear factor kB-p65 9 NF-κB-P65) increased, significantly ( p < 0.05). (4) SIRT1 and de-acetylated NF-κB-P65 decreased in LPS cells, while SIRT1 increased after Res intervention, significantly ( p < 0.05). After silencing SIRT1, de-acetylated NF-κB-P65 increased, significantly ( p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Res increases the survival rate of septic rats by inhibiting inflammatory factors to ease AKI and promotes NF-κB-P65 de-acetylation by upregulating SIRT1.

Search for the Higgs boson produced in association with a W boson and decaying to four b-quarks via two spin-zero particles in pp collisions at 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents a dedicated search for exotic decays of the Higgs boson to a pair of new spin-zero particles, [Formula: see text], where the particle a decays to b-quarks and has a mass in the range of 20-60 GeV. The search is performed in events where the Higgs boson is produced in association with a [Formula: see text] boson, giving rise to a signature of a lepton (electron or muon), missing transverse momentum, and multiple jets from b-quark decays. The analysis is based on the full dataset of pp collisions at [Formula: see text] recorded in 2015 by the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 [Formula: see text]. No significant excess of events above the Standard Model prediction is observed, and a [Formula: see text] confidence-level upper limit is derived for the product of the production cross section for [Formula: see text] times the branching ratio for the decay [Formula: see text]. The upper limit ranges from 6.2 pb for an a-boson mass [Formula: see text] to 1.5 pb for [Formula: see text].

Identification of the Lowest T=2, J^{π}=0^{+} Isobaric Analog State in ^{52}Co and Its Impact on the Understanding of β-Decay Properties of ^{52}Ni

Masses of ^{52g,52m}Co were measured for the first time with an accuracy of ∼10  keV, an unprecedented precision reached for short-lived nuclei in the isochronous mass spectrometry. Combining our results with the previous β-γ measurements of ^{52}Ni, the T=2, J^{π}=0^{+} isobaric analog state (IAS) in ^{52}Co was newly assigned, questioning the conventional identification of IASs from the β-delayed proton emissions. Using our energy of the IAS in ^{52}Co, the masses of the T=2 multiplet fit well into the isobaric multiplet mass equation. We find that the IAS in ^{52}Co decays predominantly via γ transitions while the proton emission is negligibly small. According to our large-scale shell model calculations, this phenomenon has been interpreted to be due to very low isospin mixing in the IAS.

Measurement of the Inelastic Proton-Proton Cross Section at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector at the LHC

This Letter presents a measurement of the inelastic proton-proton cross section using 60  μb^{-1} of pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s] of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Inelastic interactions are selected using rings of plastic scintillators in the forward region (2.07<|η|<3.86) of the detector. A cross section of 68.1±1.4  mb is measured in the fiducial region ξ=M_{X}^{2}/s>10^{-6}, where M_{X} is the larger invariant mass of the two hadronic systems separated by the largest rapidity gap in the event. In this ξ range the scintillators are highly efficient. For diffractive events this corresponds to cases where at least one proton dissociates to a system with M_{X}>13  GeV. The measured cross section is compared with a range of theoretical predictions. When extrapolated to the full phase space, a cross section of 78.1±2.9  mb is measured, consistent with the inelastic cross section increasing with center-of-mass energy.

Search for minimal supersymmetric standard model Higgs Bosons H / A and for a [Formula: see text] boson in the [Formula: see text] final state produced in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for neutral Higgs bosons of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) and for a heavneutral [Formula: see text] boson is performed using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb[Formula: see text] from proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text]  [Formula: see text] recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The heavy resonance is assumed to decay to a [Formula: see text] pair with at least one [Formula: see text] lepton decaying to final states with hadrons and a neutrino. The search is performed in the mass range of 0.2-1.2  [Formula: see text] for the MSSM neutral Higgs bosons and 0.5-2.5  [Formula: see text] for the heavy neutral [Formula: see text] boson. The data are in good agreement with the background predicted by the Standard Model. The results are interpreted in MSSM and [Formula: see text] benchmark scenarios. The most stringent constraints on the MSSM [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] space exclude at 95 % confidence level (CL) [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] in the [Formula: see text] MSSM scenario. For the Sequential Standard Model, a [Formula: see text] mass up to 1.90  [Formula: see text] is excluded at 95 % CL and masses up to 1.82-2.17  [Formula: see text] are excluded for a [Formula: see text] of the strong flavour model.

Search for gluinos in events with an isolated lepton, jets and missing transverse momentum at [Formula: see text] = 13 Te V with the ATLAS detector

The results of a search for gluinos in final states with an isolated electron or muon, multiple jets and large missing transverse momentum using proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] are presented. The dataset used was recorded in 2015 by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb[Formula: see text]. Six signal selections are defined that best exploit the signal characteristics. The data agree with the Standard Model background expectation in all six signal selections, and the largest deviation is a 2.1 standard deviation excess. The results are interpreted in a simplified model where pair-produced gluinos decay via the lightest chargino to the lightest neutralino. In this model, gluinos are excluded up to masses of approximately 1.6 Te V depending on the mass spectrum of the simplified model, thus surpassing the limits of previous searches.

[Association between parental exposure to environmental risk factors and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia]

Objective: To investigate the association between parental environmental risk factors exposure and the risk for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods: A total of 179 ALL children cases were selected in Tianjin Blood Disease Hospital and 136 healthy children matched by age, gender and living place were selected in 2015 for a case control study. The data were analyzed with univariate and multivariate non conditional logistic regression models. Results: The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that sex, history of abortion, exposure in a smoking environment during pregnancy, catching a cold, taking antipyretic analgesics, maternal exposure to air purifying agent, father' s occupational exposure to petroleum products and home decoration during pregnancy were associated with the risk of childhood ALL (P<0.05) and the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that sex, history of abortion, catching a cold, father's occupational exposure to petroleum products and home decoration during pregnancy were associated with the risk of childhood ALL (P<0.05). Conclusion: The five factors including sex, history of abortion, catching a cold, father' s occupational exposure to petroleum products and home decoration during pregnancy were risk factors for childhood ALL.

Search for bottom squark pair production in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector

The result of a search for pair production of the supersymmetric partner of the Standard Model bottom quark ([Formula: see text]) is reported. The search uses 3.2 fb[Formula: see text]  of pp collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider in 2015. Bottom squarks are searched for in events containing large missing transverse momentum and exactly two jets identified as originating from b-quarks. No excess above the expected Standard Model background yield is observed. Exclusion limits at 95 % confidence level on the mass of the bottom squark are derived in phenomenological supersymmetric R-parity-conserving models in which the [Formula: see text] is the lightest squark and is assumed to decay exclusively via [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the lightest neutralino. The limits significantly extend previous results; bottom squark masses up to 800 (840) GeV are excluded for the [Formula: see text] mass below 360 (100) GeV whilst differences in mass above 100 GeV between the [Formula: see text] and the [Formula: see text] are excluded up to a [Formula: see text] mass of 500 GeV.

Search for new phenomena in different-flavour high-mass dilepton final states in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] Tev with the ATLAS detector

A search is performed for a heavy particle decaying into different flavour dilepton pairs ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]), using 3.2 fb[Formula: see text] of proton-proton collision data at [Formula: see text] TeV collected in 2015 by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. No excess over the Standard Model prediction is observed. Limits at the 95 % credibility level are set on the mass of a [Formula: see text] boson with lepton-flavour-violating couplings at 3.0, 2.7 and 2.6 TeV, and on the mass of a supersymmetric [Formula: see text] sneutrino with R-parity-violating couplings at 2.3, 2.2 and 1.9 TeV, for [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] final states, respectively. The results are also interpreted as limits on the threshold mass for quantum black hole production.

The performance of the jet trigger for the ATLAS detector during 2011 data taking

The performance of the jet trigger for the ATLAS detector at the LHC during the 2011 data taking period is described. During 2011 the LHC provided proton-proton collisions with a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV and heavy ion collisions with a 2.76 TeV per nucleon-nucleon collision energy. The ATLAS trigger is a three level system designed to reduce the rate of events from the 40 MHz nominal maximum bunch crossing rate to the approximate 400 Hz which can be written to offline storage. The ATLAS jet trigger is the primary means for the online selection of events containing jets. Events are accepted by the trigger if they contain one or more jets above some transverse energy threshold. During 2011 data taking the jet trigger was fully efficient for jets with transverse energy above 25 GeV for triggers seeded randomly at Level 1. For triggers which require a jet to be identified at each of the three trigger levels, full efficiency is reached for offline jets with transverse energy above 60 GeV. Jets reconstructed in the final trigger level and corresponding to offline jets with transverse energy greater than 60 GeV, are reconstructed with a resolution in transverse energy with respect to offline jets, of better than 4 % in the central region and better than 2.5 % in the forward direction.

Search for supersymmetry in a final state containing two photons and missing transverse momentum in [Formula: see text] = 13 TeV [Formula: see text] collisions at the LHC using the ATLAS detector

A search has been made for supersymmetry in a final state containing two photons and missing transverse momentum using the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The search makes use of [Formula: see text] of proton-proton collision data collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV in 2015. Using a combination of data-driven and Monte-Carlo-based approaches, the Standard Model background is estimated to be [Formula: see text] events. No events are observed in the signal region; considering the expected background and its uncertainty, this observation implies a model-independent 95 % CL upper limit of 0.93 fb (3.0 events) on the visible cross section due to physics beyond the Standard Model. In the context of a generalized model of gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking with a bino-like next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle, this leads to a lower limit of 1650 GeV on the mass of a degenerate octet of gluino states, independent of the mass of the lighter bino-like neutralino.

Study of the rare decays of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] into muon pairs from data collected during the LHC Run 1 with the ATLAS detector

A study of the decays [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] has been performed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 25 fb[Formula: see text] of 7 and 8 TeV proton-proton collisions collected with the ATLAS detector during the LHC Run 1. For the [Formula: see text] dimuon decay, an upper limit on the branching fraction is set at [Formula: see text] at 95 % confidence level. For [Formula: see text], the branching fraction [Formula: see text] is measured. The results are consistent with the Standard Model expectation with a p value of 4.8 %, corresponding to 2.0 standard deviations.

Charged-particle distributions at low transverse momentum in [Formula: see text] TeV pp interactions measured with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Measurements of distributions of charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions with a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV are presented. The data were recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 151 [Formula: see text]. The particles are required to have a transverse momentum greater than 100 MeV and an absolute pseudorapidity less than 2.5. The charged-particle multiplicity, its dependence on transverse momentum and pseudorapidity and the dependence of the mean transverse momentum on multiplicity are measured in events containing at least two charged particles satisfying the above kinematic criteria. The results are corrected for detector effects and compared to the predictions from several Monte Carlo event generators.

Search for Higgs and Z Boson Decays to ϕγ with the ATLAS Detector

A search for the decays of the Higgs and Z bosons to a ϕ meson and a photon is performed with a pp collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.7  fb^{-1} collected at sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. No significant excess of events is observed above the background, and 95% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions of the Higgs and Z boson decays to ϕγ of 1.4×10^{-3} and 8.3×10^{-6}, respectively, are obtained.

Time series analysis of temporal trends in the pertussis incidence in Mainland China from 2005 to 2016

Short-term forecast of pertussis incidence is helpful for advanced warning and planning resource needs for future epidemics. By utilizing the Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model and Exponential Smoothing (ETS) model as alterative models with R software, this paper analyzed data from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) between January 2005 and June 2016. The ARIMA (0,1,0)(1,1,1)₁₂ model (AICc = 1342.2 BIC = 1350.3) was selected as the best performing ARIMA model and the ETS (M,N,M) model (AICc = 1678.6, BIC = 1715.4) was selected as the best performing ETS model, and the ETS (M,N,M) model with the minimum RMSE was finally selected for in-sample-simulation and out-of-sample forecasting. Descriptive statistics showed that the reported number of pertussis cases by China CDC increased by 66.20% from 2005 (4058 cases) to 2015 (6744 cases). According to Hodrick-Prescott filter, there was an apparent cyclicity and seasonality in the pertussis reports. In out of sample forecasting, the model forecasted a relatively high incidence cases in 2016, which predicates an increasing risk of ongoing pertussis resurgence in the near future. In this regard, the ETS model would be a useful tool in simulating and forecasting the incidence of pertussis, and helping decision makers to take efficient decisions based on the advanced warning of disease incidence.

LKB1 inhibits HPV-associated cancer progression by targeting cellular metabolism

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is mutationally inactivated in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and in a variety of cancers including human papillomavirus (HPV)-caused cervical cancer. However, the significance of LKB1 mutations in cervical cancer initiation and progress has not been examined. Herein, we demonstrated that, in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, loss of LKB1 and transduction of HPV16 E6/E7 had an additive effect on constraining cell senescence while promoting cell proliferation and increasing glucose consumption, lactate production, and ATP generation. Knock-down of LKB1 increased and ectopic expression of LKB1 decreased glycolysis, anchorage-independent cell growth, and cell migration and invasion in HPV transformed cells. In the tumorigenesis and lung metastasis model in syngeneic mice, depletion of LKB1 markedly increased tumor metastatic colonies in lungs without affecting subcutaneous tumor growth. We showed that HPV16 E6/E7 enhanced the expression of hexokinase-ll (HK-II) in the glycolytic pathway through elevated c-MYC. Ectopic LKB1 reduced HK-II along with glycolysis. The inverse relationship between HK-II and LKB1 was also observed in normal and HPV-associated cervical lesions. We propose that LKB1 acts as a safeguard against HPV-stimulated aerobic glycolysis and tumor progression. These findings may eventually aid in the development of therapeutic strategy for HPV-associated malignancies by targeting cell metabolism.

Search for single production of vector-like quarks decaying into Wb in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for singly produced vector-like Q quarks, where Q can be either a T quark with charge [Formula: see text] or a Y quark with charge [Formula: see text], is performed in proton-proton collisions recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] and was produced with a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] TeV. This analysis targets [Formula: see text] decays where the W boson decays leptonically. A veto on massive large-radius jets is used to reject the dominant [Formula: see text] background. The reconstructed Q-candidate mass, ranging from 0.4 to 1.2 TeV, is used in the search to discriminate signal from background processes. No significant deviation from the Standard Model expectation is observed, and limits are set on the [Formula: see text] cross-section times branching ratio. The results are also interpreted as limits on the QWb coupling and the mixing with the Standard Model sector for a singlet T quark or a Y quark from a doublet. T quarks with masses below 0.95 TeV are excluded at 95 % confidence level, assuming a unit coupling and a BR[Formula: see text], whereas the expected limit is 1.10 TeV.

[The expression of serum miRNAs in pneumoconiosis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis patients]

Objective: To inquiry the changes of serum miRNAs expression in pneumoconiosis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Methods: The study subjects (all subjects are male) were divided into three groups: Ⅰstage pneumoconiosis (38 cases) 、Pneumoconiosis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis (12 cases) and healthy control (40cases) . The first two groups come from Tianjin worker's sanatorium and healthy control group came from a Hospital Health Screening Center. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-21, miR-200c, miR-16, miR-204, miR-206, miR-155, let-7g, miR-30b, miR-192, miR-29a in serum. Results: Compared with the healthy control group, the expression levels of miR-204, miR-206, miR-21, miR-16, miR-29a, miR-155, miR-200c in other two groups are different (P<0.05) ; Compared with the Ⅰstage pneumoconiosis, the expression levels of miR-155 is significantly higher (P<0.05) and miR-29a is significantly lower (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Compared with the Ⅰstage pneumoconiosis, the expression levels of miR-155 and miR-29a are significantly different, suggesting that these two miRNAs may play a important role in the process of pneumoconiosis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Charged-particle distributions in pp interactions at [Formula: see text] measured with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents measurements of distributions of charged particles which are produced in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] and recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. A special dataset recorded in 2012 with a small number of interactions per beam crossing (below 0.004) and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 160 [Formula: see text] was used. A minimum-bias trigger was utilised to select a data sample of more than 9 million collision events. The multiplicity, pseudorapidity, and transverse momentum distributions of charged particles are shown in different regions of kinematics and charged-particle multiplicity, including measurements of final states at high multiplicity. The results are corrected for detector effects and are compared to the predictions of various Monte Carlo event generator models which simulate the full hadronic final state.

Search for squarks and gluinos in final states with jets and missing transverse momentum at [Formula: see text] =13 [Formula: see text]with the ATLAS detector

A search for squarks and gluinos in final states containing hadronic jets, missing transverse momentum but no electrons or muons is presented. The data were recorded in 2015 by the ATLAS experiment in [Formula: see text] proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. No excess above the Standard Model background expectation was observed in 3.2 [Formula: see text] of analyzed data. Results are interpreted within simplified models that assume R-parity is conserved and the neutralino is the lightest supersymmetric particle. An exclusion limit at the 95 % confidence level on the mass of the gluino is set at 1.51 [Formula: see text] for a simplified model incorporating only a gluino octet and the lightest neutralino, assuming the lightest neutralino is massless. For a simplified model involving the strong production of mass-degenerate first- and second-generation squarks, squark masses below 1.03 [Formula: see text] are excluded for a massless lightest neutralino. These limits substantially extend the region of supersymmetric parameter space excluded by previous measurements with the ATLAS detector.

Measurement of event-shape observables in [Formula: see text] events in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Event-shape observables measured using charged particles in inclusive Z-boson events are presented, using the electron and muon decay modes of the Z bosons. The measurements are based on an integrated luminosity of [Formula: see text] of proton-proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]. Charged-particle distributions, excluding the lepton-antilepton pair from the Z-boson decay, are measured in different ranges of transverse momentum of the Z boson. Distributions include multiplicity, scalar sum of transverse momenta, beam thrust, transverse thrust, spherocity, and [Formula: see text]-parameter, which are in particular sensitive to properties of the underlying event at small values of the Z-boson transverse momentum. The measured observables are compared with predictions from Pythia 8, Sherpa, and Herwig 7. Typically, all three Monte Carlo generators provide predictions that are in better agreement with the data at high Z-boson transverse momenta than at low Z-boson transverse momenta, and for the observables that are less sensitive to the number of charged particles in the event.

Measurement of the charged-particle multiplicity inside jets from [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

The number of charged particles inside jets is a widely used discriminant for identifying the quark or gluon nature of the initiating parton and is sensitive to both the perturbative and non-perturbative components of fragmentation. This paper presents a measurement of the average number of charged particles with [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] inside high-momentum jets in dijet events using 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] of data recorded with the ATLAS detector in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] collisions at the LHC. The jets considered have transverse momenta from 50 [Formula: see text] up to and beyond 1.5 [Formula: see text]. The reconstructed charged-particle track multiplicity distribution is unfolded to remove distortions from detector effects and the resulting charged-particle multiplicity is compared to several models. Furthermore, quark and gluon jet fractions are used to extract the average charged-particle multiplicity for quark and gluon jets separately.

Expressions of Mast Cell Tryptase and Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Myocardium of Sudden Death due to Hypersensitivity and Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease

OBJECTIVES

To explore the value of mast cell tryptase and brain natriuretic peptide（BNP） in the differential diagnostic of sudden death due to hypersensitivity and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

METHODS

Totally 30 myocardial samples were collected from the autopsy cases in the Department of Forensic Pathology, Shanxi Medical University during 2010-2015. All samples were divided into three groups： death of craniocerebral injury group, sudden death of hypersensitivity group and sudden death of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group, 10 cases in each group. Mast cell tryptase and BNP in myocardium were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western Blotting.

RESULTS

Immunofluorescence staining showed that the positive staining mast cell tryptase appeared in myocardium of sudden death of hypersensitivity group and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group. Among the three groups, the expression of mast cell tryptase showed significantly differences through pairwise comparison （P<0.05）; The expression level of BNP in sudden death of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease group were significantly higher than the sudden death of hypersensitivity group and death of craniocerebral injury group （P<0.05）. The difference of the expression level of BNP between the sudden death of hypersensitivity group and the death of craniocerebral injury group had no statistical significance （P>0.05）.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined detection of the mast cell tryptase and BNP in myocardium is expected to provide help for the forensic differential diagnosis of sudden death due to hypersensitivity and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

Genome-wide identification of suitable zebrafish Danio rerio reference genes for normalization of gene expression data by RT-qPCR

In this study, to systematically identify the most stably expressed genes for internal reference in zebrafish Danio rerio investigations, 37 D. rerio transcriptomic datasets (both RNA sequencing and microarray data) were collected from gene expression omnibus (GEO) database and unpublished data, and gene expression variations were analysed under three experimental conditions: tissue types, developmental stages and chemical treatments. Forty-four putative candidate genes were identified with the c.v. <0·2 from all datasets. Following clustering into different functional groups, 21 genes, in addition to four conventional housekeeping genes (eef1a1l1, b2m, hrpt1l and actb1), were selected from different functional groups for further quantitative real-time (qrt-)PCR validation using 25 RNA samples from different adult tissues, developmental stages and chemical treatments. The qrt-PCR data were then analysed using the statistical algorithm refFinder for gene expression stability. Several new candidate genes showed better expression stability than the conventional housekeeping genes in all three categories. It was found that sep15 and metap1 were the top two stable genes for tissue types, ube2a and tmem50a the top two for different developmental stages, and rpl13a and rp1p0 the top two for chemical treatments. Thus, based on the extensive transcriptomic analyses and qrt-PCR validation, these new reference genes are recommended for normalization of D. rerio qrt-PCR data respectively for the three different experimental conditions.

Cardiac Specific Overexpression of hHole Attenuates Isoproterenol-Induced Hypertrophic Remodeling through Inhibition of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases (ERKs) Signalling

The human Hole gene (hHole) encodes a six-transmembrane protein with 319- amino acids. Our previous study showed that hHole was strongly expressed in adult heart and may act as a suppressor of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), overactivation of which contributed to pathological cardiac hypertrophy. In this study, it was observed that Hole expression was up-regulated in murine hypertrophic hearts. In a cardiac specific transgenic mouse model, it was observed that overexpression of hHole specifically in heart attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis induced by isoproterenol (ISO), with blunted transcriptions of ERK1/2, total ERK1/2 proteins and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) levels. Furthermore, overexpression of hHole in mice by hydrodynamic tail-vein injection with hHole plamids also inhibited cardiac hypertrophy induced by ISO. Our work identified hHole as a novel repressor of cardiac hypertrophy, and provided new insights into the possible target for the prevention or treatment of cardiac diseases.

Muon reconstruction performance of the ATLAS detector in proton-proton collision data at [Formula: see text]=13 TeV

This article documents the performance of the ATLAS muon identification and reconstruction using the LHC dataset recorded at [Formula: see text] TeV in 2015. Using a large sample of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] decays from 3.2 fb[Formula: see text] of pp collision data, measurements of the reconstruction efficiency, as well as of the momentum scale and resolution, are presented and compared to Monte Carlo simulations. The reconstruction efficiency is measured to be close to [Formula: see text] over most of the covered phase space ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] GeV). The isolation efficiency varies between 93 and [Formula: see text] depending on the selection applied and on the momentum of the muon. Both efficiencies are well reproduced in simulation. In the central region of the detector, the momentum resolution is measured to be [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) for muons from [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) decays, and the momentum scale is known with an uncertainty of [Formula: see text]. In the region [Formula: see text], the [Formula: see text] resolution for muons from [Formula: see text] decays is [Formula: see text] while the precision of the momentum scale for low-[Formula: see text] muons from [Formula: see text] decays is about [Formula: see text].

Measurement of the transverse momentum and [Formula: see text] distributions of Drell-Yan lepton pairs in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector

Distributions of transverse momentum [Formula: see text] and the related angular variable [Formula: see text] of Drell–Yan lepton pairs are measured in 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] of proton–proton collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Measurements in electron-pair and muon-pair final states are corrected for detector effects and combined. Compared to previous measurements in proton–proton collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV, these new measurements benefit from a larger data sample and improved control of systematic uncertainties. Measurements are performed in bins of lepton-pair mass above, around and below the Z-boson mass peak. The data are compared to predictions from perturbative and resummed QCD calculations. For values of [Formula: see text] the predictions from the Monte Carlo generator ResBos are generally consistent with the data within the theoretical uncertainties. However, at larger values of [Formula: see text] this is not the case. Monte Carlo generators based on the parton-shower approach are unable to describe the data over the full range of [Formula: see text] while the fixed-order prediction of Dynnlo falls below the data at high values of [Formula: see text]. ResBos and the parton-shower Monte Carlo generators provide a much better description of the evolution of the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] distributions as a function of lepton-pair mass and rapidity than the basic shape of the data.

Measurement of the differential cross-sections of prompt and non-prompt production of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] and 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The production rates of prompt and non-prompt [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons in their dimuon decay modes are measured using 2.1 and 11.4 fb[Formula: see text] of data collected with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] and 8 respectively. Production cross-sections for prompt as well as non-prompt sources, ratios of [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] production, and the fractions of non-prompt production for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are measured as a function of meson transverse momentum and rapidity. The measurements are compared to theoretical predictions.

Search for supersymmetry at [Formula: see text] TeV in final states with jets and two same-sign leptons or three leptons with the ATLAS detector

A search for strongly produced supersymmetric particles is conducted using signatures involving multiple energetic jets and either two isolated leptons (e or [Formula: see text]) with the same electric charge or at least three isolated leptons. The search also utilises b-tagged jets, missing transverse momentum and other observables to extend its sensitivity. The analysis uses a data sample of proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2015 corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb[Formula: see text]. No significant excess over the Standard Model expectation is observed. The results are interpreted in several simplified supersymmetric models and extend the exclusion limits from previous searches. In the context of exclusive production and simplified decay modes, gluino masses are excluded at [Formula: see text] confidence level up to 1.1-1.3 TeV for light neutralinos (depending on the decay channel), and bottom squark masses are also excluded up to 540 GeV. In the former scenarios, neutralino masses are also excluded up to 550-850 GeV for gluino masses around 1 TeV.

Observation of Long-Range Elliptic Azimuthal Anisotropies in sqrt[s]=13 and 2.76 TeV pp Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

ATLAS has measured two-particle correlations as a function of the relative azimuthal angle, Δϕ, and pseudorapidity, Δη, in sqrt[s]=13 and 2.76 TeV pp collisions at the LHC using charged particles measured in the pseudorapidity interval |η|<2.5. The correlation functions evaluated in different intervals of measured charged-particle multiplicity show a multiplicity-dependent enhancement at Δϕ∼0 that extends over a wide range of Δη, which has been referred to as the "ridge." Per-trigger-particle yields, Y(Δϕ), are measured over 2<|Δη|<5. For both collision energies, the Y(Δϕ) distribution in all multiplicity intervals is found to be consistent with a linear combination of the per-trigger-particle yields measured in collisions with less than 20 reconstructed tracks, and a constant combinatoric contribution modulated by cos(2Δϕ). The fitted Fourier coefficient, v_{2,2}, exhibits factorization, suggesting that the ridge results from per-event cos(2ϕ) modulation of the single-particle distribution with Fourier coefficients v_{2}. The v_{2} values are presented as a function of multiplicity and transverse momentum. They are found to be approximately constant as a function of multiplicity and to have a p_{T} dependence similar to that measured in p+Pb and Pb+Pb collisions. The v_{2} values in the 13 and 2.76 TeV data are consistent within uncertainties. These results suggest that the ridge in pp collisions arises from the same or similar underlying physics as observed in p+Pb collisions, and that the dynamics responsible for the ridge has no strong sqrt[s] dependence.

A new method to distinguish hadronically decaying boosted Z bosons from W bosons using the ATLAS detector

The distribution of particles inside hadronic jets produced in the decay of boosted W and Z bosons can be used to discriminate such jets from the continuum background. Given that a jet has been identified as likely resulting from the hadronic decay of a boosted W or Z boson, this paper presents a technique for further differentiating Z bosons from W bosons. The variables used are jet mass, jet charge, and a b-tagging discriminant. A likelihood tagger is constructed from these variables and tested in the simulation of [Formula: see text] for bosons in the transverse momentum range 200 GeV [Formula: see text] 400 GeV in [Formula: see text] TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. For Z-boson tagging efficiencies of [Formula: see text], 50, and [Formula: see text], one can achieve [Formula: see text]-boson tagging rejection factors ([Formula: see text]) of 1.7, 8.3 and 1000, respectively. It is not possible to measure these efficiencies in the data due to the lack of a pure sample of high [Formula: see text], hadronically decaying Z bosons. However, the modelling of the tagger inputs for boosted W bosons is studied in data using a [Formula: see text]-enriched sample of events in 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] of data at [Formula: see text] TeV. The inputs are well modelled within uncertainties, which builds confidence in the expected tagger performance.

Probing lepton flavour violation via neutrinoless [Formula: see text] decays with the ATLAS detector

This article presents the sensitivity of the ATLAS experiment to the lepton-flavour-violating decays of [Formula: see text]. A method utilising the production of [Formula: see text] leptons via [Formula: see text] decays is used. This method is applied to the sample of 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] of pp collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in 2012. No event is observed passing the selection criteria, and the observed (expected) upper limit on the [Formula: see text] lepton branching fraction into three muons, [Formula: see text], is [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) at 90 % confidence level.

Search for new phenomena in events with at least three photons collected in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Results of a search for new phenomena in events with at least three photons are reported. Data from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb[Formula: see text], were collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The observed data are well described by the Standard Model. Limits at the 95 % confidence level on new phenomena are presented based on the rate of events in an inclusive signal region and a restricted signal region targeting the rare decay [Formula: see text], as well as di-photon and tri-photon resonance searches. For a Standard Model Higgs boson decaying to four photons via a pair of intermediate pseudoscalar particles (a), limits are found to be [Formula: see text] for 10 GeV [Formula: see text] 62 GeV. Limits are also presented for Higgs boson-like scalars (H) for [Formula: see text] 125 GeV, and for a [Formula: see text] decaying to three photons via [Formula: see text]. Additionally, the observed limit on the branching ratio of the Z boson decay to three photons is found to be BR[Formula: see text], a result five times stronger than the previous result from LEP.

Identification of boosted, hadronically decaying W bosons and comparisons with ATLAS data taken at [Formula: see text] TeV

This paper reports a detailed study of techniques for identifying boosted, hadronically decaying W bosons using 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] of proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy [Formula: see text]. A range of techniques for optimising the signal jet mass resolution are combined with various jet substructure variables. The results of these studies in Monte Carlo simulations show that a simple pairwise combination of groomed jet mass and one substructure variable can provide a 50 % efficiency for identifying W bosons with transverse momenta larger than 200 GeV while maintaining multijet background efficiencies of 2-4 % for jets with the same transverse momentum. These signal and background efficiencies are confirmed in data for a selection of tagging techniques.

Measurement of the ZZ Production Cross Section in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

The ZZ production cross section in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV center-of-mass energy is measured using 3.2  fb^{-1} of data recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The considered Z boson candidates decay to an electron or muon pair of mass 66-116 GeV. The cross section is measured in a fiducial phase space reflecting the detector acceptance. It is also extrapolated to a total phase space for Z bosons in the same mass range and of all decay modes, giving 16.7_{-2.0}^{+2.2}(stat)+0.9/-0.7(syst)+1.0/-0.7(lumi)  pb. The results agree with standard model predictions.