First Measurement of η Meson Production in Neutrino Interactions on Argon with MicroBooNE

We present a measurement of η production from neutrino interactions on argon with the MicroBooNE detector. The modeling of resonant neutrino interactions on argon is a critical aspect of the neutrino oscillation physics program being carried out by the DUNE and Short Baseline Neutrino programs. η production in neutrino interactions provides a powerful new probe of resonant interactions, complementary to pion channels, and is particularly suited to the study of higher-order resonances beyond the Δ(1232). We measure a flux-integrated cross section for neutrino-induced η production on argon of 3.22±0.84(stat)±0.86(syst) 10^{-41}  cm^{2}/nucleon. By demonstrating the successful reconstruction of the two photons resulting from η production, this analysis enables a novel calibration technique for electromagnetic showers in GeV accelerator neutrino experiments.

Towards building a trustworthy pipeline integrating Neuroscience Gateway and Open Science Chain

When the scientific dataset evolves or is reused in workflows creating derived datasets, the integrity of the dataset with its metadata information, including provenance, needs to be securely preserved while providing assurances that they are not accidentally or maliciously altered during the process. Providing a secure method to efficiently share and verify the data as well as metadata is essential for the reuse of the scientific data. The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Open Science Chain (OSC) utilizes consortium blockchain to provide a cyberinfrastructure solution to maintain integrity of the provenance metadata for published datasets and provides a way to perform independent verification of the dataset while promoting reuse and reproducibility. The NSF- and National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Neuroscience Gateway (NSG) provides a freely available web portal that allows neuroscience researchers to execute computational data analysis pipeline on high performance computing resources. Combined, the OSC and NSG platforms form an efficient, integrated framework to automatically and securely preserve and verify the integrity of the artifacts used in research workflows while using the NSG platform. This paper presents the results of the first study that integrates OSC-NSG frameworks to track the provenance of neurophysiological signal data analysis to study brain network dynamics using the Neuro-Integrative Connectivity tool, which is deployed in the NSG platform. Database URL: https://www.opensciencechain.org.

Study of High-Transverse-Momentum Higgs Boson Production in Association with a Vector Boson in the qqbb Final State with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter presents the first study of Higgs boson production in association with a vector boson (V=W or Z) in the fully hadronic qqbb final state using data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137  fb^{-1}. The vector bosons and Higgs bosons are each reconstructed as large-radius jets and tagged using jet substructure techniques. Dedicated tagging algorithms exploiting b-tagging properties are used to identify jets consistent with Higgs bosons decaying into bb[over ¯]. Dominant backgrounds from multijet production are determined directly from the data, and a likelihood fit to the jet mass distribution of Higgs boson candidates is used to extract the number of signal events. The VH production cross section is measured inclusively and differentially in several ranges of Higgs boson transverse momentum: 250-450, 450-650, and greater than 650 GeV. The inclusive signal yield relative to the standard model expectation is observed to be μ=1.4_{-0.9}^{+1.0} and the corresponding cross section is 3.1±1.3(stat)_{-1.4}^{+1.8}(syst)  pb.

Measurement of the Centrality Dependence of the Dijet Yield in p+Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

ATLAS measured the centrality dependence of the dijet yield using 165  nb^{-1} of p+Pb data collected at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16  TeV in 2016. The event centrality, which reflects the p+Pb impact parameter, is characterized by the total transverse energy registered in the Pb-going side of the forward calorimeter. The central-to-peripheral ratio of the scaled dijet yields, R_{CP}, is evaluated, and the results are presented as a function of variables that reflect the kinematics of the initial hard parton scattering process. The R_{CP} shows a scaling with the Bjorken x of the parton originating from the proton, x_{p}, while no such trend is observed as a function of x_{Pb}. This analysis provides unique input to understanding the role of small proton spatial configurations in p+Pb collisions by covering parton momentum fractions from the valence region down to x_{p}∼10^{-3} and x_{Pb}∼4×10^{-4}.

Search for New Phenomena in Two-Body Invariant Mass Distributions Using Unsupervised Machine Learning for Anomaly Detection at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

Searches for new resonances are performed using an unsupervised anomaly-detection technique. Events with at least one electron or muon are selected from 140  fb^{-1} of pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV recorded by ATLAS at the Large Hadron Collider. The approach involves training an autoencoder on data, and subsequently defining anomalous regions based on the reconstruction loss of the decoder. Studies focus on nine invariant mass spectra that contain pairs of objects consisting of one light jet or b jet and either one lepton (e,μ), photon, or second light jet or b jet in the anomalous regions. No significant deviations from the background hypotheses are observed. Limits on contributions from generic Gaussian signals with various widths of the resonance mass are obtained for nine invariant masses in the anomalous regions.

Ultra-high resistive switching current ratio and improved ferroelectricity and dielectric tunability performance in a BaTiO3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 heterostructure by inserting a SrCoO2.5 layer

A BaTiO3/SrCoO2.5 (BTO/SCO) bilayer and a BTO single film were prepared by radio frequency magnetron sputtering on La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) buffered SrTiO3 (001) substrates. Interestingly, compared with reported BTO-based films, the BTO/SCO/LSMO heterostructure has a maximum ON/OFF current ratio of ∼945. More interestingly, compared with the BTO single layer, a larger Pr (∼18.4 μC cm-2) and larger dielectric tunability (∼71.9%) were achieved in the BTO/SCO bilayer. The improved performance may be attributed to the large tetragonality and improved oxygen vacancy concentrations in the BTO/SCO/LSMO heterostructure. Furthermore, our BTO/SCO/LSMO stacks exhibit potential for flexible electronic informational devices.

Search for Heavy Neutral Leptons in Electron-Positron and Neutral-Pion Final States with the MicroBooNE Detector

We present the first search for heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) decaying into νe^{+}e^{-} or νπ^{0} final states in a liquid-argon time projection chamber using data collected with the MicroBooNE detector. The data were recorded synchronously with the NuMI neutrino beam from Fermilab's main injector corresponding to a total exposure of 7.01×10^{20} protons on target. We set upper limits at the 90% confidence level on the mixing parameter |U_{μ4}|^{2} in the mass ranges 10≤m_{HNL}≤150  MeV for the νe^{+}e^{-} channel and 150≤m_{HNL}≤245  MeV for the νπ^{0} channel, assuming |U_{e4}|^{2}=|U_{τ4}|^{2}=0. These limits represent the most stringent constraints in the mass range 35 Collapse

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Observation of WZγ Production in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of WZγ production and a measurement of its cross section using 140.1±1.2  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The WZγ production cross section, with both the W and Z bosons decaying leptonically, pp→WZγ→ℓ^{'}^{±}νℓ^{+}ℓ^{-}γ (ℓ^{(^{'})}=e, μ), is measured in a fiducial phase-space region defined such that the leptons and the photon have high transverse momentum and the photon is isolated. The cross section is found to be 2.01±0.30(stat)±0.16(syst)  fb. The corresponding standard model predicted cross section calculated at next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics and at leading order in the electroweak coupling constant is 1.50±0.06  fb. The observed significance of the WZγ signal is 6.3σ, compared with an expected significance of 5.0σ.

Combined Measurement of the Higgs Boson Mass from the H→γγ and H→ZZ^{*}→4ℓ Decay Channels with the ATLAS Detector Using sqrt[s]=7, 8, and 13 TeV pp Collision Data

A measurement of the mass of the Higgs boson combining the H→ZZ^{*}→4ℓ and H→γγ decay channels is presented. The result is based on 140  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS detector during LHC run 2 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV combined with the run 1 ATLAS mass measurement, performed at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, yielding a Higgs boson mass of 125.11±0.09(stat)±0.06(syst)=125.11±0.11  GeV. This corresponds to a 0.09% precision achieved on this fundamental parameter of the Standard Model of particle physics.

Search for Dark Photons in Rare Z Boson Decays with the ATLAS Detector

A search for events with a dark photon produced in association with a dark Higgs boson via rare decays of the standard model Z boson is presented, using 139  fb^{-1} of sqrt[s]=13  TeV proton-proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The dark boson decays into a pair of dark photons, and at least two of the three dark photons must each decay into a pair of electrons or muons, resulting in at least two same-flavor opposite-charge lepton pairs in the final state. The data are found to be consistent with the background prediction, and upper limits are set on the dark photon's coupling to the dark Higgs boson times the kinetic mixing between the standard model photon and the dark photon, α_{D}ϵ^{2}, in the dark photon mass range of [5, 40] GeV except for the ϒ mass window [8.8, 11.1] GeV. This search explores new parameter space not previously excluded by other experiments.

Observation of Single-Top-Quark Production in Association with a Photon Using the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of single top quarks produced together with a photon, which directly probes the electroweak coupling of the top quark. The analysis uses 139  fb^{-1} of 13 TeV proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Requiring a photon with transverse momentum larger than 20 GeV and within the detector acceptance, the fiducial cross section is measured to be 688±23(stat) _{-71}^{+75}(syst)  fb, to be compared with the standard model prediction of 515_{-42}^{+36}  fb at next-to-leading order in QCD.

Measurement of Suppression of Large-Radius Jets and Its Dependence on Substructure in Pb+Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

This letter presents a measurement of the nuclear modification factor of large-radius jets in sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV Pb+Pb collisions by the ATLAS experiment. The measurement is performed using 1.72  nb^{-1} and 257  pb^{-1} of Pb+Pb and pp data, respectively. The large-radius jets are reconstructed with the anti-k_{t} algorithm using a radius parameter of R=1.0, by reclustering anti-k_{t} R=0.2 jets, and are measured over the transverse momentum (p_{T}) kinematic range of 158 Collapse

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Measurement of the Sensitivity of Two-Particle Correlations in pp Collisions to the Presence of Hard Scatterings

A key open question in the study of multiparticle production in high-energy pp collisions is the relationship between the "ridge"-i.e., the observed azimuthal correlations between particles in the underlying event that extend over all rapidities-and hard or semihard scattering processes. In particular, it is not known whether jets or their soft fragments are correlated with particles in the underlying event. To address this question, two-particle correlations are measured in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV using data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, with an integrated luminosity of 15.8  pb^{-1}, in two different configurations. In the first case, charged particles associated with jets are excluded from the correlation analysis, while in the second case, correlations are measured between particles within jets and charged particles from the underlying event. Second-order flow coefficients, v_{2}, are presented as a function of event multiplicity and transverse momentum. These measurements show that excluding particles associated with jets does not affect the measured correlations. Moreover, particles associated with jets do not exhibit any significant azimuthal correlations with the underlying event, ruling out hard processes contributing to the ridge.

Observation of an Excess of Dicharmonium Events in the Four-Muon Final State with the ATLAS Detector

A search is made for potential ccc[over ¯]c[over ¯] tetraquarks decaying into a pair of charmonium states in the four muon final state using proton-proton collision data at sqrt[s]=13  TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140  fb^{-1} recorded by the ATLAS experiment at LHC. Two decay channels, J/ψ+J/ψ→4μ and J/ψ+ψ(2S)→4μ, are studied. Backgrounds are estimated based on a hybrid approach involving Monte Carlo simulations and data-driven methods. Statistically significant excesses with respect to backgrounds dominated by the single parton scattering are seen in the di-J/ψ channel consistent with a narrow resonance at 6.9 GeV and a broader structure at lower mass. A statistically significant excess is also seen in the J/ψ+ψ(2S) channel. The fitted masses and decay widths of the structures are reported.

Observation of the γγ→ττ Process in Pb+Pb Collisions and Constraints on the τ-Lepton Anomalous Magnetic Moment with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of τ-lepton-pair production in ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions Pb+Pb→Pb(γγ→ττ)Pb and constraints on the τ-lepton anomalous magnetic moment a_{τ}. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.44  nb^{-1} of LHC Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment in 2018. Selected events contain one muon from a τ-lepton decay, an electron or charged-particle track(s) from the other τ-lepton decay, little additional central-detector activity, and no forward neutrons. The γγ→ττ process is observed in Pb+Pb collisions with a significance exceeding 5 standard deviations and a signal strength of μ_{ττ}=1.03_{-0.05}^{+0.06} assuming the standard model value for a_{τ}. To measure a_{τ}, a template fit to the muon transverse-momentum distribution from τ-lepton candidates is performed, using a dimuon (γγ→μμ) control sample to constrain systematic uncertainties. The observed 95% confidence-level interval for a_{τ} is -0.057 Collapse

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CRISPR-Based Epigenome Editing and Genome Wide Screening Define Mediators of Chemotherapy Response in Glioblastoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Alkylating chemotherapies exhibit survival benefit for patients with glioblastoma (GBM), the most common malignant primary brain tumor. CRISPRoff is a programmable epigenetic memory writer that stably and heritably silences any gene through DNA methylation. Epigenetic silencing of MGMT via promoter methylation is predictive of response to alkylating agents as well as prognostic for progression free and overall survival. Here we performed epigenome editing using CRISPRoff to stably silence MGMT through induced promoter methylation, as a therapeutically tractable approach for potentiating GBM to temozolomide (TMZ) or lomustine (CCNU). We then used genome-wide engineered CRISPR/Cas9 systems to broadly define sensitizers of GBM cells to alkylating agents, as a platform to discover novel sensitizing targets.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Targeted epigenome editing was performed through electroporation of modified mRNAs encoding CRISPRoff machinery comprising deactivated Cas9 fused to a DNA methyltransferase complex, combined with sgRNAs, into MGMT unmethylated GBM cell lines (LN18, T98G) and then treated with either vehicle, TMZ, or CCNU. Parallel experiments were performed through electroporation of sgRNA/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins. Gene silencing was assessed using bisulfite targeted sequencing, RT-qPCR, and western blot. Drug sensitization was determined using luminescent cell viability assays. Genome-wide CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screens were performed in triplicate cultures.

RESULTS

Epigenomic silencing of the MGMT promoter through CRISPRoff-induced methylation reduced MGMT transcript levels by 96.7% and generated up to 88-fold sensitization to TMZ mediated cell death in GBM cells, with IC50 superior to GBM cells with baseline methylated MGMT. In addition, CRISPRoff of MGMT induced 20-fold sensitization to CCNU. CRISPRoff methylation of MGMT was equivalent to CRISPR/Cas9 homozygous deletion of the MGMT gene for drug sensitization and was superior to polyclonal Cas9 mediated deletion of MGMT by a factor of 10. To define additional mediators of chemotherapy response in GBM, CRISPRi screens revealed 185 and 266 genetic sensitizers to TMZ treatment in LN18 and T98G cells, respectively, in addition to validating MGMT. One hundred eighty and 238 sensitizers to CCNU were identified in LN18 and T98G cells, respectively. TMZ sensitizing genes conserved across cell lines were enriched for the ATR (i.e., BCRA2), DNA repair (i.e., REV1), and cell cycle pathways (i.e., PSMD13), while CCNU sensitizing genes were enriched for the Fanconi anemia pathway (i.e., FANCI, FANCD2). In contrast, gene hits that resulted in resistance to alkylating agents were enriched for the mismatch repair pathway (i.e., MSH2, PMS2).

CONCLUSION

We integrate targeted epigenome editing with unbiased genome-wide approaches to build a novel discovery and therapeutic platform in glioblastoma, a framework that is well suited for targeting diseases with known or suspected epigenetic vulnerabilities.

Insurance Request and Approval Process for Proton Beam Therapy in Patients with Esophageal Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Randomized data suggests proton beam therapy (PBT) reduces the risk and severity of toxicities when compared to IMRT in the neoadjuvant or definitive setting for esophageal cancer. As a critical barrier to access to PBT, we investigate our institutional experience with the prior authorization (PA) process for patients (pts) with esophageal cancer.

MATERIALS/METHODS

One hundred and four (104) consecutive pts with esophageal cancer from 2016-2020 at one institution for whom PBT was recommended were analyzed. Data was collected from the customer relations management (CRM) database and electronic health record. Patient characteristics, tumor characteristics, treatment parameters, types of insurance, and clinical outcomes (OS, LF, DF) were recorded. Timepoints of the steps of the PA process included the PA team's initial inquiry, the initial decision, first through third appeals, and outcomes of each appeal (the third of which was regarded as the final decision). Rates of approval and successful appeal were calculated. Logistic and Cox regression models were used to evaluate whether insurance decisions were associated with clinical factors or clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Approval rates by Medicare (n = 68) and private insurance (n = 36) were 100 and 42% on initial request, at a median (range) 0 and 3 (0-15) days from inquiry to determination, respectively. All 21 pts initially denied coverage appealed the decision. Overall, denial was overturned in 48% of pts (median [range] time, 14 [7-36] days from initial inquiry [FIQ]), i.e., PBT was eventually approved for them. The remaining pts proceeded with self-pay or photon therapy. Upon first appeal, 14 pts were denied (median [range] time, 7 [1-26] days FIQ). Upon second appeal, 6 pts were denied (median [range] time, 18 [7-34] days FIQ). Finally, upon third appeal, 2 pts were denied and 1 patient was approved (median [range] time, 2 [20-39] days). Medicare insurance (P < .01) and possessing secondary insurance (P = .02) were found to be associated with increased likelihood of initial approval. Notably, a trend was found between clinical trial enrollment and decreased likelihood of initial approval. Neither initial nor final insurance decisions were found to be associated with OS, LF, or DF.

CONCLUSION

Despite randomized data and policy efforts supporting the use of PBT in esophageal cancer, pts with private payers experience treatment delays and often eventual denial after appeal.

Characterizing Hospital Admissions after Proton Beam Therapy Using the National Inpatient Sample Database

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To characterize the diagnoses, comorbidities, and length of stay in patients who received proton beam therapy during their hospital stay as part of their cancer treatment regimen.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample database was queried using ICD-10 codes to identify all hospitalizations with proton beam therapy between 2016 and 2018. Weighted frequencies for categorical variables and geometric mean with standard error for continuous variables were derived. Generalized linear models for clustered data in SAS v 9.4 (Cary, NC) were used to determine the association between length of stay with patient and hospital baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

We studied 511 patients, representing a weighted estimate of 2,555 patients from the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2018 who received proton beam therapy during hospitalization. The mean age was 40 years (StdErr = 3.0). The estimated average length of stay was 7.7 days (StdErr = 0.4). The cohort was 53.6% White, 15.3% Black, 10.4% Hispanic, 7.0% Asian or Pacific Islander, and 0.2% Native American. The most frequent diagnoses at admission were encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy (10.0%), secondary malignant neoplasm of brain (9.2%), secondary malignant neoplasm of bone (9.0%), encounter for antineoplastic radiation therapy (6.1%), and neoplasm-related pain (3.3%). Large- and medium-sized hospitals were associated with significantly longer lengths of stay than small-sized hospitals (p<0.0001 and p = 0.0186, respectively). Compared to private investor-owned (proprietary) hospitals, nonfederal government-owned (public) hospitals are associated with prolonged length of stay (p = 0.0033). Hospital region and patient age, race, sex, comorbidity, and income quartile were not associated with a longer length of stay.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that hospital-level characteristics are more important than patient-level characteristics in predicting length of stay in patients undergoing proton beam therapy while hospitalized. Patients undergoing proton beam therapy while hospitalized at large- and medium-sized hospitals had longer lengths of stay than those at small-sized hospitals. Additionally, publicly owned hospitals were associated with prolonged length of stay compared to private hospitals. The underlying reason for this difference in length of stay is unclear but may suggest different management strategies, protocols, and discharge criteria for patients receiving proton beam therapy in larger and publicly-owned hospitals compared to smaller and privately-owned hospitals. Future investigations should explore the underlying causes for these discrepancies and identify potential strategies to shorten unnecessarily prolonged hospital stays in patients undergoing proton beam therapy.

First Double-Differential Measurement of Kinematic Imbalance in Neutrino Interactions with the MicroBooNE Detector

We report the first measurement of flux-integrated double-differential quasielasticlike neutrino-argon cross sections, which have been made using the Booster Neutrino Beam and the MicroBooNE detector at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The data are presented as a function of kinematic imbalance variables which are sensitive to nuclear ground-state distributions and hadronic reinteraction processes. We find that the measured cross sections in different phase-space regions are sensitive to different nuclear effects. Therefore, they enable the impact of specific nuclear effects on the neutrino-nucleus interaction to be isolated more completely than was possible using previous single-differential cross section measurements. Our results provide precision data to help test and improve neutrino-nucleus interaction models. They further support ongoing neutrino-oscillation studies by establishing phase-space regions where precise reaction modeling has already been achieved.

Strong Constraints on Jet Quenching in Centrality-Dependent p+Pb Collisions at 5.02 TeV from ATLAS

Jet quenching is the process of color-charged partons losing energy via interactions with quark-gluon plasma droplets created in heavy-ion collisions. The collective expansion of such droplets is well described by viscous hydrodynamics. Similar evidence of collectivity is consistently observed in smaller collision systems, including pp and p+Pb collisions. In contrast, while jet quenching is observed in Pb+Pb collisions, no evidence has been found in these small systems to date, raising fundamental questions about the nature of the system created in these collisions. The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider has measured the yield of charged hadrons correlated with reconstructed jets in 0.36  nb^{-1} of p+Pb and 3.6  pb^{-1} of pp collisions at 5.02 TeV. The yields of charged hadrons with p_{T}^{ch}>0.5  GeV near and opposite in azimuth to jets with p_{T}^{jet}>30 or 60 GeV, and the ratios of these yields between p+Pb and pp collisions, I_{pPb}, are reported. The collision centrality of p+Pb events is categorized by the energy deposited by forward neutrons from the struck nucleus. The I_{pPb} values are consistent with unity within a few percent for hadrons with p_{T}^{ch}>4  GeV at all centralities. These data provide new, strong constraints that preclude almost any parton energy loss in central p+Pb collisions.

Search for Heavy Neutral Leptons in Decays of W Bosons Using a Dilepton Displaced Vertex in sqrt[s]=13 TeV pp Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

A search for a long-lived, heavy neutral lepton (N) in 139  fb^{-1} of sqrt[s]=13  TeV pp collision data collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider is reported. The N is produced via W→Nμ or W→Ne and decays into two charged leptons and a neutrino, forming a displaced vertex. The N mass is used to discriminate between signal and background. No signal is observed, and limits are set on the squared mixing parameters of the N with the left-handed neutrino states for the N mass range 3  GeV Collapse

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Test of CP Invariance in Higgs Boson Vector-Boson-Fusion Production Using the H→γγ Channel with the ATLAS Detector

A test of CP invariance in Higgs boson production via vector-boson fusion has been performed in the H→γγ channel using 139  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data at sqrt[s]=13  TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The optimal observable method is used to probe the CP structure of interactions between the Higgs boson and electroweak gauge bosons, as described by an effective field theory. No sign of CP violation is observed in the data. Constraints are set on the parameters describing the strength of the CP-odd component in the coupling between the Higgs boson and the electroweak gauge bosons in two effective field theory bases: d[over ˜] in the HISZ basis and c_{HW[over ˜]} in the Warsaw basis. The results presented are the most stringent constraints on CP violation in the coupling between Higgs and weak bosons. The 95% C.L. constraint on d[over ˜] is derived for the first time and the 95% C.L. constraint on c_{HW[over ˜]} has been improved by a factor of 5 compared to the previous measurement.

First Measurement of Quasielastic Λ Baryon Production in Muon Antineutrino Interactions in the MicroBooNE Detector

We present the first measurement of the cross section of Cabibbo-suppressed Λ baryon production, using data collected with the MicroBooNE detector when exposed to the neutrinos from the main injector beam at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The data analyzed correspond to 2.2×10^{20} protons on target running in neutrino mode, and 4.9×10^{20} protons on target running in anti-neutrino mode. An automated selection is combined with hand scanning, with the former identifying five candidate Λ production events when the signal was unblinded, consistent with the GENIE prediction of 5.3±1.1 events. Several scanners were employed, selecting between three and five events, compared with a prediction from a blinded Monte Carlo simulation study of 3.7±1.0 events. Restricting the phase space to only include Λ baryons that decay above MicroBooNE's detection thresholds, we obtain a flux averaged cross section of 2.0_{-1.7}^{+2.2}×10^{-40}  cm^{2}/Ar, where statistical and systematic uncertainties are combined.

First Constraints on Light Sterile Neutrino Oscillations from Combined Appearance and Disappearance Searches with the MicroBooNE Detector

We present a search for eV-scale sterile neutrino oscillations in the MicroBooNE liquid argon detector, simultaneously considering all possible appearance and disappearance effects within the 3+1 active-to-sterile neutrino oscillation framework. We analyze the neutrino candidate events for the recent measurements of charged-current ν_{e} and ν_{μ} interactions in the MicroBooNE detector, using data corresponding to an exposure of 6.37×10^{20} protons on target from the Fermilab booster neutrino beam. We observe no evidence of light sterile neutrino oscillations and derive exclusion contours at the 95% confidence level in the plane of the mass-squared splitting Δm_{41}^{2} and the sterile neutrino mixing angles θ_{μe} and θ_{ee}, excluding part of the parameter space allowed by experimental anomalies. Cancellation of ν_{e} appearance and ν_{e} disappearance effects due to the full 3+1 treatment of the analysis leads to a degeneracy when determining the oscillation parameters, which is discussed in this Letter and will be addressed by future analyses.

[Characteristics and related factors of viral nucleic acid negative conversion in children infected with Omicron variant strain of SARS-CoV-2]

Objective: To understand the characteristics and associated factors of viral nucleic acid conversion in children infected with Omicron variant strain of SARS-CoV-2 in Shanghai. Methods: The clinical symptoms, laboratory results and other data of 177 children infected with SARS-CoV-2 who were hospitalized in Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (designated hospital for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Shanghai) from April 25 to June 8, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the chest imaging findings, the children were divided into mild and common type groups. According to their age, the unvaccinated children were divided into<3 years old group and 3-<18 years old group. According to the vaccination status, the children aged 3-<18 year were divided into non-vaccination group, 1-dose vaccination group and 2-dose vaccination group. Comparison between groups was performed by independent sample t-test and analysis of variance, and multivariate linear regression analysis was used for multivariate analysis. Results: Among the 177 children infected with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, 96 were males and 81 were females, aged 3 (1, 6) years. The time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion was (10.3±3.1) days. The 177 children were 138 cases of mild type and 39 cases of common type. Among the children aged 3-<18 years old, 55 cases were not vaccinated, 5 cases received 1-dose and 36 cases received 2-dose vaccination. Among the 36 children who received 2 doses of vaccination, the time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion was shorter in those vaccinated within 6 months than those over 6 months ((7.1±1.9) vs. (10.8±3.0) d, t=-3.23, P=0.004). Univariate analysis showed that the time of nucleic acid negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 was associated with age, underlying diseases, gastrointestinal symptoms, white blood cell count, proportion of neutrophils, proportion of lymphocytes, and the number of doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (t=3.87, 2.55, 2.04, 4.24, 3.51, 2.92, F=16.27, all P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that older age (β=-0.33, 95% CI -0.485--0.182, P<0.001) and more doses of vaccination (β=-0.79, 95% CI -1.463--0.120, P=0.021) were associated with shortened nucleic acid negative conversion time in children, while lower lymphocyte proportion (β=-0.02, 95% CI -0.044--0.002, P=0.031) and underlying diseases (β=1.52, 95% CI 0.363-2.672, P=0.010) were associated with prolonged nucleic acid negative conversion time in children. Conclusion: The children infected with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 with reduced lymphocyte proportion and underlying diseases may have longer time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion,while children with older age and more doses of vaccination may have shorter time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion.

MiniBooNE and MicroBooNE Combined Fit to a 3+1 Sterile Neutrino Scenario

This Letter presents the results from the MiniBooNE experiment within a full "3+1" scenario where one sterile neutrino is introduced to the three-active-neutrino picture. In addition to electron-neutrino appearance at short baselines, this scenario also allows for disappearance of the muon-neutrino and electron-neutrino fluxes in the Booster Neutrino Beam, which is shared by the MicroBooNE experiment. We present the 3+1 fit to the MiniBooNE electron-(anti)neutrino and muon-(anti)neutrino data alone and in combination with MicroBooNE electron-neutrino data. The best-fit parameters of the combined fit with the exclusive charged-current quasielastic analysis (inclusive analysis) are Δm^{2}=0.209  eV^{2}(0.033  eV^{2}), |U_{e4}|^{2}=0.016(0.500), |U_{μ4}|^{2}=0.500(0.500), and sin^{2}(2θ_{μe})=0.0316(1.0). Comparing the no-oscillation scenario to the 3+1 model, the data prefer the 3+1 model with a Δχ^{2}/d.o.f.=24.7/3(17.3/3), a 4.3σ(3.4σ) preference assuming the asymptotic approximation given by Wilks's theorem.

Impact of COVID 19 Pandemic on Radiation Oncology Care Path Time

Purpose/Objective(s)

We seek to investigate the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the radiation oncology care path timeline. We hypothesized that the COVID19 pandemic would result in increased time to complete the care path from simulation to start of radiation.

Materials/Methods

Care path data of patients treated at a single institution were included for 3 epochs: Pre COVID (July 2019 – March 2020), C1 [PreV] (April 2020 – Dec 2020), and C2 [PostV] (Jan 2021 – September 2021). The following tasks in the care path were evaluated: simulation start time, contours completed, physician review, plan finalization, IMRT/IMPT QA, and radiation treatment start. Time stamps of completion of tasks in the radiation treatment planning care pathway were extrapolated and used to create 9-time intervals. Demographic, tumor, and treatment characteristics were gathered to stratify patients. Patients with care path times greater than 25 days were excluded from the analysis. Numerical variables are summarized using mean and standard deviation while categorical data is summarized using counts and percentages. The ANOVA test is used to compare means in RT planning times between time epochs.

Results

A total of 3557 patients were included in the study analysis: 1095 PC, 1105 C1, and 1357 C2. There were improvements in multiple car path intervals following the start of the pandemic. Across epochs, the mean time from simulation to RT Start was 10.5 days (10.9 PC, 10.3C1, and 10.3 C2) (p =0.008). The mean time from simulation to plan finalization was 5.5 days (5.6 PC, 5.7 C1, 5.2 C2, p =0.008). The mean time for plan review to start time was 5.5 days (5.7 PC, 5.2 C1, and 5.5 C2) (p=0.010). Contour completion to radiation start time was significantly shorter after the pandemic (8.8 PC vs. 8.4 C1 vs. 8.4 C2, p =0.046). The mean time from physician review to IMRT/IMPT QA was 1.7 days (1.8 PC, 1.7 C1, 1.5 C2, p = 0.007). Physician review to RT start took a mean time of 5.5 days (5.7 PC, 5.2 C1, 5.5 C2, p = 0.010). Plan finalization to IMRT/IMPT QA took a mean time of 1.1 days (1.2 PC, 1.1 C1, 1.0 C2, p = 0.01). IMRT/QA to RT start took a mean time of 4.4 days (4.6 PC, 4.0 C1, and 4.5 C2, p =0.002). The mean time from plan finalization to RT start was 5.0 days (5.2 PC, 4.6 C1, 5.0 C2, p = 0.004). There were no significant differences in simulation to contour time (p =0.181) and physician review completion to plan finalization (p =0.223)

Conclusion

The COVID19 pandemic has been a disruptive force in the management of patients in Radiation Oncology. However, we demonstrate improved efficiency in care path completion as we entered into the pandemic. Further investigation into care path efficiency is important for provider and patient satisfaction.

Commercial ChIP-Seq Library Preparation Kits Performed Differently for Different Classes of Protein Targets

Background

Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-Seq) is a powerful method commonly used to study global protein-DNA interactions including both transcription factors and histone modifications. We have found that the choice of ChIP-Seq library preparation protocol plays an important role in overall ChIP-Seq data quality. However, very few studies have compared ChIP-Seq libraries prepared by different protocols using multiple targets and a broad range of input DNA levels.

Results

In this study, we evaluated the performance of 4 ChIP-Seq library preparation protocols (New England Biolabs [NEB] NEBNext Ultra II, Roche KAPA HyperPrep, Diagenode MicroPlex, and Bioo [now PerkinElmer] NEXTflex) on 3 target proteins, chosen to represent the 3 typical signal enrichment patterns in ChIP-Seq experiments: sharp peaks (H3K4me3), broad domains (H3K27me3), and punctate peaks with a protein binding motif (CTCF). We also tested a broad range of different input DNA levels from 0.10 to 10 ng for H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 experiments.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the NEB protocol may be better for preparing H3K4me3 (and potentially other histone modifications with sharp peak enrichment) libraries; the Bioo protocol may be better for preparing H3K27me3 (and potentially other histone modifications with broad domain enrichment) libraries, and the Diagenode protocol may be better for preparing CTCF (and potentially other transcription factors with well-defined binding motifs) libraries.  For ChIP-Seq experiments using novel targets without a known signal enrichment pattern, the NEB protocol might be the best choice, as it performed well for each of the 3 targets we tested across a wide array of input DNA levels.

Observation of WWW Production in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of WWW production and a measurement of its cross section using 139  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Events with two same-sign leptons (electrons or muons) and at least two jets, as well as events with three charged leptons, are selected. A multivariate technique is then used to discriminate between signal and background events. Events from WWW production are observed with a significance of 8.0 standard deviations, where the expectation is 5.4 standard deviations. The inclusive WWW production cross section is measured to be 820±100 (stat)±80 (syst)  fb, approximately 2.6 standard deviations from the predicted cross section of 511±18  fb calculated at next-to-leading-order QCD and leading-order electroweak accuracy.

A detailed map of Higgs boson interactions by the ATLAS experiment ten years after the discovery

The standard model of particle physics1-4 describes the known fundamental particles and forces that make up our Universe, with the exception of gravity. One of the central features of the standard model is a field that permeates all of space and interacts with fundamental particles5-9. The quantum excitation of this field, known as the Higgs field, manifests itself as the Higgs boson, the only fundamental particle with no spin. In 2012, a particle with properties consistent with the Higgs boson of the standard model was observed by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN10,11. Since then, more than 30 times as many Higgs bosons have been recorded by the ATLAS experiment, enabling much more precise measurements and new tests of the theory. Here, on the basis of this larger dataset, we combine an unprecedented number of production and decay processes of the Higgs boson to scrutinize its interactions with elementary particles. Interactions with gluons, photons, and W and Z bosons-the carriers of the strong, electromagnetic and weak forces-are studied in detail. Interactions with three third-generation matter particles (bottom (b) and top (t) quarks, and tau leptons (τ)) are well measured and indications of interactions with a second-generation particle (muons, μ) are emerging. These tests reveal that the Higgs boson discovered ten years ago is remarkably consistent with the predictions of the theory and provide stringent constraints on many models of new phenomena beyond the standard model.

Search for an Excess of Electron Neutrino Interactions in MicroBooNE Using Multiple Final-State Topologies

We present a measurement of ν_{e} interactions from the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam using the MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection chamber to address the nature of the excess of low energy interactions observed by the MiniBooNE Collaboration. Three independent ν_{e} searches are performed across multiple single electron final states, including an exclusive search for two-body scattering events with a single proton, a semi-inclusive search for pionless events, and a fully inclusive search for events containing all hadronic final states. With differing signal topologies, statistics, backgrounds, reconstruction algorithms, and analysis approaches, the results are found to be either consistent with or modestly lower than the nominal ν_{e} rate expectations from the Booster Neutrino Beam and no excess of ν_{e} events is observed.

First Measurement of Energy-Dependent Inclusive Muon Neutrino Charged-Current Cross Sections on Argon with the MicroBooNE Detector

We report a measurement of the energy-dependent total charged-current cross section σ(E_{ν}) for inclusive muon neutrinos scattering on argon, as well as measurements of flux-averaged differential cross sections as a function of muon energy and hadronic energy transfer (ν). Data corresponding to 5.3×10^{19} protons on target of exposure were collected using the MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection chamber located in the Fermilab booster neutrino beam with a mean neutrino energy of approximately 0.8 GeV. The mapping between the true neutrino energy E_{ν} and reconstructed neutrino energy E_{ν}^{rec} and between the energy transfer ν and reconstructed hadronic energy E_{had}^{rec} are validated by comparing the data and Monte Carlo (MC) predictions. In particular, the modeling of the missing hadronic energy and its associated uncertainties are verified by a new method that compares the E_{had}^{rec} distributions between data and a MC prediction after constraining the reconstructed muon kinematic distributions, energy, and polar angle to those of data. The success of this validation gives confidence that the missing energy in the MicroBooNE detector is well modeled and underpins first-time measurements of both the total cross section σ(E_{ν}) and the differential cross section dσ/dν on argon.

[Efficacy analysis of selective genicular artery embolization in the treatment of knee pain secondary to osteoarthritis]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of selective genicular artery embolization for the treatment of the knee pain secondary to osteoarthritis. Methods: From October 2020 to July 2021, 17 patients (23 knees) aged (68±7) years with moderate to severe knee pain secondary to knee osteoarthritis were prospectively included in the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University. There were 6 males and 11 females included in this research. Patients were assessed with knee pain, stiffness, and function with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at baseline, using the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grading to evaluate the severity of KOA, and using the Magnetic Resonance Knee Osteoarthritis Score (MOAKS) to evaluate the MR imaging characteristics of the affected knee. Selective genicular artery embolization (GAE) was performed in all patients. The patients were followed up for 6 months after the procedure. Patients were assessed with the VAS score and WOMAC scale at 1 d, 1 week and 1, 3 and 6 months after the procedure to evaluate the clinical outcomes, including the improvement of knee joint pain, stiffness and function, as well as the occurrence of adverse reactions. Results: Three to seven genicular artery branches were superselected and embolized in 23 knees, and 4 to 7 genicular artery branches were embolized in 7 patients with K-L grade 4. The clinical improvement was 95.6% (22/23) at 1 month, 86.9% (20/23) at 3 months, and 91.3% (21/23) at 6 months. Twenty-three knees completed the 6-month follow-up, and the VAS score, WOMAC pain score, and total WOMAC score at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery were (2.5±1.3), (3.4±2.4), and (19.7±9.8) points, (3.0±1.8), (4.5±3.4), and (22.3±11.3) points, (2.8±1.5), (4.1±3.0), and (20.5±11.0) points, which were lower than the (6.6±0.9), (11.4±2.6) and (47.0±12.0) points at baseline (all P<0.001). During the follow-up period, 7 patients had adverse reactions: 3 cases had skin ecchymosis in the femoral artery puncture area, 4 cases had knee joint stiffness and pain within 1 day after operation, which were relieved spontaneously in 1 week, 6 patients had joint clicking during extension and flexion activities after operation, of which 3 cases subsided spontaneously within 3 months after operation. None of the patients had major procedure-related adverse events. Conclusion: GAE has a high clinical improvement rate and a low incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment of the pain secondary to knee osteoarthritis, which provides a new treatment option for patients who fail to respond to conservative treatment.

Search for Neutrino-Induced Neutral-Current Δ Radiative Decay in MicroBooNE and a First Test of the MiniBooNE Low Energy Excess under a Single-Photon Hypothesis

We report results from a search for neutrino-induced neutral current (NC) resonant Δ(1232) baryon production followed by Δ radiative decay, with a ⟨0.8⟩  GeV neutrino beam. Data corresponding to MicroBooNE's first three years of operations (6.80×10^{20} protons on target) are used to select single-photon events with one or zero protons and without charged leptons in the final state (1γ1p and 1γ0p, respectively). The background is constrained via an in situ high-purity measurement of NC π^{0} events, made possible via dedicated 2γ1p and 2γ0p selections. A total of 16 and 153 events are observed for the 1γ1p and 1γ0p selections, respectively, compared to a constrained background prediction of 20.5±3.65(syst) and 145.1±13.8(syst) events. The data lead to a bound on an anomalous enhancement of the normalization of NC Δ radiative decay of less than 2.3 times the predicted nominal rate for this process at the 90% confidence level (C.L.). The measurement disfavors a candidate photon interpretation of the MiniBooNE low-energy excess as a factor of 3.18 times the nominal NC Δ radiative decay rate at the 94.8% C.L., in favor of the nominal prediction, and represents a greater than 50-fold improvement over the world's best limit on single-photon production in NC interactions in the sub-GeV neutrino energy range.

[Exploration of construction mode of real-world data system]

Real-world data study evidence, as an important part of evaluating the safety and effectiveness of drugs and devices, has attracted increasing attention from regulatory agencies and scholars both at home and abroad, and has become an essential source of evidence to support the development and review of drugs and devices. This paper systematically discusses the process and mode of real-world data system construction based on the preliminary practical study of real-world data according to the guidelines/technical specifications issued by regulatory agencies and academic research results. This study result provides not only reference for the generation of clinical evaluation evidence to meet the regulatory requirements for innovative drugs and devices, but also reference for researchers, sponsors and regulators to carry out real-world data studies successfully.

Search for Lepton-Flavor Violation in Z-Boson Decays with τ Leptons with the ATLAS Detector

A search for lepton-flavor-violating Z→eτ and Z→μτ decays with pp collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC is presented. This analysis uses 139  fb^{-1} of Run 2 pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV and is combined with the results of a similar ATLAS search in the final state in which the τ lepton decays hadronically, using the same data set as well as Run 1 data. The addition of leptonically decaying τ leptons significantly improves the sensitivity reach for Z→ℓτ decays. The Z→ℓτ branching fractions are constrained in this analysis to B(Z→eτ)<7.0×10^{-6} and B(Z→μτ)<7.2×10^{-6} at 95% confidence level. The combination with the previously published analyses sets the strongest constraints to date: B(Z→eτ)<5.0×10^{-6} and B(Z→μτ)<6.5×10^{-6} at 95% confidence level.

Evaluation of different late left ventricular remodeling definitions for predicting long-term outcomes in acute myocardial infarction patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

Late left ventricular remodeling (LLVR) after the index acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common complication, and is associated with poor outcome. However, the optimal definition of LLVR has been debated because of its different incidence and influence on prognosis. At present, there are limited data regarding the influence of different LLVR definitions on long-term outcomes in AMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Purpose

To explore the impact of different definitions of LLVR on long-term mortality, re-hospitalization or an urgent visit for heart failure, and identify which definition was more suitable for predicting long-term outcomes in AMI patients undergoing PCI.

Methods

We prospectively observed 460 consenting first-time AMI patients undergoing PCI from January 2012 to December 2018. LLVR was defined as a ≥20% increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), or a &gt;15% increase in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) from the initial presentation to the 3–12 months follow-up, or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) &lt;50% at follow up. These parameters of the cardiac structure and function were measuring through the thoracic echocardiography. The association of LLVR with long-term prognosis was investigated by Cox regression analysis.

Results

The incidence rate of LLVR was 38.1% (n=171). The occurrence of LLVR according to LVESV, LVEDV and LVEF definition were 26.6% (n=117), 31.9% (n=142) and 11.5% (n=51), respectively. During a median follow-up of 2 years, after adjusting other potential risk factors, multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed LLVR of LVESV definition [hazard ratio (HR): 2.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–5.22, P=0.015], LLVR of LVEF definition (HR: 16.46, 95% CI: 6.96–38.92, P&lt;0.001) and LLVR of Mix definition (HR: 5.86, 95% CI: 2.45–14.04, P&lt;0.001) were risk factors for long-term mortality, re-hospitalization or an urgent visit for heart failure. But only LLVR of LVEF definition was a risk predictor for long-term mortality (HR: 6.84, 95% CI: 1.98–23.65, P=0.002).

Conclusions

LLVR defined by LVESV or LVEF may be more suitable for predicting long-term mortality, re-hospitalization or an urgent visit for heart failure in AMI patients undergoing PCI. However, only LLVR defined by LVEF could be used for predicting long-term mortality.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. Association Between LLVR and outcomesKaplan-Meier Estimates of the Mortality

Predictive value of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio for contrast-associated acute kidney injury in patients without chronic kidney disease undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

Although previous studies have demonstrated that neutrophil and albumin are biomarkers of inflammation and malnutrition, which are highly related with contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI). However, there has been no study investigated the combined evaluation of neutrophil and albumin in predicting CA-AKI.

Purpose

To explore the predictive value of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) for CA-AKI in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

We prospectively observed 5083 consenting patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing elective PCI from January 2012 to December 2018. NPAR was calculated as neutrophil percentage numerator divided by serum albumin concentration. CA-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) ≥50% or 0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours after contrast medium exposure. The association between NPAR and CA-AKI was investigated by logistic regression analysis. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC), continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were calculated to make comparison for CA-AKI prediction.

Result

The incidence of CA-AKI was 5.6% (n=286). The median NPAR was 14.9 (13.0–17.1). According to the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC), the best cut-off value of NPAR for predicting CA-AKI was 15.7 with 66.8% sensitivity and 61.9% specificity (C statistic=0.679; 95% CI, 0.666–0.691). NPAR displayed higher AUC value in comparison to neutrophil percentage (p&lt;0.001), but not albumin (P=0.063), as a predictor of CA-AKI. However, NPAR significantly improved the prediction of CA-AKI in the continuous NRI and IDI over neutrophil percentage (NRI: 0.353, 95% CI: 0.234–0.472, P&lt;0.001; IDI: 0.017, 95% CI: 0.010–0.024, p&lt;0.001) and albumin (NRI: 0.141, 95% CI: 0.022–0.260, P=0.020; IDI: 0.009, 95% CI: 0.003–0.015, p=0.003) alone. After adjusting for potential confounding risk factors of CA-AKI, multivariable logistic analysis showed that NPAR &gt;15.7 was a strong independent predictor of CA-AKI (OR=1.998, 95% CI, 1.511–2.643, p&lt;0.001).

Conclusion

NPAR is an independent predictor of CA-AKI, which significantly improved the prediction of CA-AKI over neutrophil and albumin alone in patients without CKD undergoing elective PCI.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. ROC for NPAR to predict CA-AKIPredictors of CA-AKI

The De-Ritis ratio is associated with contrast-associated acute kidney injury in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention

Background

Preoperative liver dysfunction has been demonstrated as a poor prognostic factor after major surgery. Recent researches discovered that an increased De-Ritis ratio (aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio) reflects the liver dysfunction and was associated with adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes. However, there is a lack of data exploring the predictive value of the De-Ritis ratio on contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Purpose

To evaluate the predictive value of the De-Ritis ratio for CA-AKI in patients undergoing elective PCI.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, observational study with 5780 consenting patients undergoing elective PCI from January 2012 to December 2018. CA-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) ≥50% or 0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours after contrast medium exposure. The relationship between the De-Ritis ratio and CA-AKI was investigated by logistic regression analysis. The predictive utility of the De-Ritis ratio was determined and compared using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Result

CA-AKI developed in 363 (6.3%) patients. The median De-Ritis ratio was 1.00 (0.77–1.33). The De-Ritis ratio showed an AUC of 0.636 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.624–0.649; P&lt;0.001) in predicting CA-AKI, which was significantly greater than aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (AUC: 0.636 vs 0.589, p=0.015) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (AUC: 0.636 vs 0.506, p&lt;0.001). The best cut-off value of the De-Ritis ratio for predicting CA-AKI was 1.30 with 47.1% sensitivity and 74.7% specificity. Multivariable logistic analysis showed that the De-Ritis ratio &gt;1.30 was a remarkable independent predictor of CA-AKI (OR=1.757, 95% CI, 1.385–2.229, p&lt;0.001) even after adjusting for other CA-AKI risk factors.

Conclusion

The De-Ritis ratio is an independent risk factor for predicting CA-AKI in patients undergoing elective PCI.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None. ROC for De-Ritis ratio to predict CA-AKIPredictors of CA-AKI

Search for a Higgs Portal Scalar Decaying to Electron-Positron Pairs in the MicroBooNE Detector

We present a search for the decays of a neutral scalar boson produced by kaons decaying at rest, in the context of the Higgs portal model, using the MicroBooNE detector. We analyze data triggered in time with the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beam spill, with an exposure of 1.93×10^{20} protons on target. We look for monoenergetic scalars that come from the direction of the NuMI hadron absorber, at a distance of 100 m from the detector, and decay to electron-positron pairs. We observe one candidate event, with a standard model background prediction of 1.9±0.8. We set an upper limit on the scalar-Higgs mixing angle of θ<(3.3-4.6)×10^{-4} at the 95% confidence level for scalar boson masses in the range (100-200)  MeV/c^{2}. We exclude, at the 95% confidence level, the remaining model parameters required to explain the central value of a possible excess of K_{L}^{0}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] decays reported by the KOTO collaboration. We also provide a model-independent limit on a new boson X produced in K→πX decays and decaying to e^{+}e^{-}.

Search for New Phenomena in Final States with Two Leptons and One or No b-Tagged Jets at sqrt[s]=13 TeV Using the ATLAS Detector

A search for new phenomena is presented in final states with two leptons and one or no b-tagged jets. The event selection requires the two leptons to have opposite charge, the same flavor (electrons or muons), and a large invariant mass. The analysis is based on the full run-2 proton-proton collision dataset recorded at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139  fb^{-1}. No significant deviation from the expected background is observed in the data. Inspired by the B-meson decay anomalies, a four-fermion contact interaction between two quarks (b, s) and two leptons (ee or μμ) is used as a benchmark signal model, which is characterized by the energy scale and coupling, Λ and g_{*}, respectively. Contact interactions with Λ/g_{*} lower than 2.0 (2.4) TeV are excluded for electrons (muons) at the 95% confidence level, still far below the value that is favored by the B-meson decay anomalies. Model-independent limits are set as a function of the minimum dilepton invariant mass, which allow the results to be reinterpreted in various signal scenarios.

Search for Displaced Leptons in sqrt[s]=13 TeV pp Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

A search for charged leptons with large impact parameters using 139  fb^{-1} of sqrt[s]=13  TeV pp collision data from the ATLAS detector at the LHC is presented, addressing a long-standing gap in coverage of possible new physics signatures. Results are consistent with the background prediction. This search provides unique sensitivity to long-lived scalar supersymmetric lepton partners (sleptons). For lifetimes of 0.1 ns, selectron, smuon, and stau masses up to 720, 680, and 340  GeV, respectively, are excluded at 95% confidence level, drastically improving on the previous best limits from LEP.

[Real-world data studies of medical products in the context of special healthcare policy: study designs and key considerations]

Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Area is the only administrative area in China where the pilot application of real-world data is performed. Based on the special healthcare policy in Boao Lecheng, conducting real-world data study to provide real-world evidence for the clinical evaluations and approvals of innovated medical products has become an important field that supports the reform of China's evaluation and approval system of medical products. Trustworthy real-world evidence needs to rely on both high-quality real-world data and reasonable and rigorous study designs. Based on the real-world data research guidelines and specifications issued by relevant academic research and regulatory authorities both at home and abroad, combined with the special policy environment of Boao Lecheng and previous practice experience, this paper summarizes the study designs of real world data in Boao Lecheng and discusses the key considerations of different study design in the context of special healthcare policies in Boao Lecheng in order to provide reference for the further study of real-world data.

[CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TEAD1 knockout induces phenotypic modulation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells in diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction]

OBJECTIVE

To construct a corpus cavemosum smooth muscle cell (CCSMCs) line with TEAD1 knockout from diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction (ED) using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and explore the role of TEAD1 in phenotypic modulation of CCSMCs in diabetic rats with ED.

OBJECTIVE

Models of diabetic ED were established in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. CCSMCs from the rat models were primarily cultured and identified with immunofluorescence assay. Three sgRNAs (sgRNA-1, sgRNA-2 and sgRNA-3) were transfected via lentiviral vectors into 293T cells to prepare the sgRNA-Cas9 lentivirus. CCSMCs from diabetic rats with ED were infected by the lentivirus, and the cellular expression of TEAD1 protein was detected using Western blotting. In CCSMCs infected with the sgRNA-Cas9 lentivirus (CCSMCs-sgRNA-2), or the empty lentiviral vector (CCSMCs-sgRNA-NC) and the blank control cells (CCSMCs-CK), the expressions of cellular phenotypic markers SMMHC, calponin and PCNA at the mRNA and protein levels were detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively.

OBJECTIVE

The primarily cultured CCSMCs from diabetic rats with ED showed a high α-SMA-positive rate of over 95%. The recombinant lentivirus of TEAD1-sgRNA was successfully packaged, and stable TEAD1-deficient CCSMC lines derived from diabetic rat with ED were obtained. Western blotting confirmed that the protein expression of TEAD1 in TEAD1-sgRNA-2 group was the lowest (P < 0.05), and this cell line was used in subsequent experiment. The results of qRT-PCR and Western blotting showed significantly up-regulated expressions of SMMHC and calponin (all P < 0.05) and down-regulated expression of PCNA (all P < 0.05) at both the mRNA and protein levels in TEAD1-deficient CCSMCs from diabetic rats with ED.

OBJECTIVE

We successfully constructed a stable CCSMCs line with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TEAD1 knockout from diabetic rats with ED. TEAD1 gene knockout can induce phenotype transformation of the CCSMCs from diabetic rats with ED from the synthetic to the contractile type.