Relationship between fear of falling and fall risk among older patients with stroke: a structural equation modeling

BACKGROUND

With reduced balance and mobility, older patients with stroke are more susceptible to fear of falling (FOF). A maladaptive form of FOF can cause excessive activity restriction, poor balance, and recurrent falls, forming a self-reinforcing vicious cycle. This study applied and adapted the FOF model to investigate the interaction between FOF and fall risk in older stroke patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 older stroke patients aged 60 and over. All participants were invited to complete the FOF, fall risk, physical activity, and balance tests, which were measured by the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), Self-Rated Fall Risk Questionnaire (FRQ), the long-form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-LF) and the Four-Stage Balance Test (FSBT) respectively. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

The mean age of the respondents was 68.62 ± 7.62 years; 8.94% reported a high level of FOF, and 18.21% reported a moderate level of FOF. The structural equation model showed that FOF was directly associated with fall risk (β=-0.38, p < 0.001), and was indirectly associated with fall risk via physical activity (β=-0.075, p < 0.05) and balance ability (β=-0.123, p < 0.05). Depression (β=-0.47, p < 0.001), fall history (β=-0.13, p < 0.05), and female sex (β=-0.16, p < 0.05) affected FOF, while anxiety was not associated with FOF.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased risk of falling in older stroke patients results from a maladaptive FOF affected by depression, fall history, poor balance ability, and limited physical activity. Our results suggest that greater attention should be paid to FOF during stroke recovery and fall prevention. A multifaced intervention program encompassing physiological and psychological factors should be designed to address FOF and prevent falls.

Machine learning assisted coarse-grained molecular dynamics modeling of meso-scale interfacial fluids

A hallmark of meso-scale interfacial fluids is the multi-faceted, scale-dependent interfacial energy, which often manifests different characteristics across the molecular and continuum scale. The multi-scale nature imposes a challenge to construct reliable coarse-grained (CG) models, where the CG potential function needs to faithfully encode the many-body interactions arising from the unresolved atomistic interactions and account for the heterogeneous density distributions across the interface. We construct the CG models of both single- and two-component polymeric fluid systems based on the recently developed deep coarse-grained potential [Zhang et al., J. Chem. Phys. 149, 034101 (2018)] scheme, where each polymer molecule is modeled as a CG particle. By only using the training samples of the instantaneous force under the thermal equilibrium state, the constructed CG models can accurately reproduce both the probability density function of the void formation in bulk and the spectrum of the capillary wave across the fluid interface. More importantly, the CG models accurately predict the volume-to-area scaling transition for the apolar solvation energy, illustrating the effectiveness to probe the meso-scale collective behaviors encoded with molecular-level fidelity.

Data-driven construction of stochastic reduced dynamics encoded with non-Markovian features

One important problem in constructing the reduced dynamics of molecular systems is the accurate modeling of the non-Markovian behavior arising from the dynamics of unresolved variables. The main complication emerges from the lack of scale separations, where the reduced dynamics generally exhibits pronounced memory and non-white noise terms. We propose a data-driven approach to learn the reduced model of multi-dimensional resolved variables that faithfully retains the non-Markovian dynamics. Different from the common approaches based on the direct construction of the memory function, the present approach seeks a set of non-Markovian features that encode the history of the resolved variables and establishes a joint learning of the extended Markovian dynamics in terms of both the resolved variables and these features. The training is based on matching the evolution of the correlation functions of the extended variables that can be directly obtained from the ones of the resolved variables. The constructed model essentially approximates the multi-dimensional generalized Langevin equation and ensures numerical stability without empirical treatment. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the method by constructing the reduced models of molecular systems in terms of both one-dimensional and four-dimensional resolved variables.

Prediction of concrete strength using response surface function modified depth neural network

In order to overcome the discreteness of input data and training data in deep neural network (DNN), the multivariable response surface function was used to revise input data and training data in this paper. The loss function based on the data on the response surface was derived, DNN based on multivariable response surface function (MRSF-DNN) was established. MRSF-DNN model of recycled brick aggregate concrete compressive strength was established, in which coarse aggregate volume content, fine aggregate volume content and water cement ratio are influencing factors. Furthermore, the predictive analysis and extended analysis of MRSF-DNN model were carried out. The results show that: MRSF-DNN model had high prediction accuracy, the correlation coefficient between the real values and the forecast values was 0.9882, the relative error was between -0.5% and 1%. Furthermore, MRSF-DNN had more stable prediction ability and stronger generalization ability than DNN.

[Analysis of curative effects of chemoembolization with drug-loaded microspheres of different particle sizes for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To compare and analyze the clinical curative effect and safety of chemoembolization with drug-loaded microspheres of different particle sizes (D-TACE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Clinical data of 281 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with drug-loaded microspheres-transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different particle sizes of drug-loaded microspheres, they were divided into 100~300 µm (small particle size) and 300~500 µm (large particle size) group. Tumor response rate and complication conditions at 1, 3, and 6 months after chemoembolization were compared. The overall survival time of the two groups were analyzed. Quantitative data conformed to normal distribution and homogeneity of variance were compared using t-test, while other with Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test. Qualitative data were compared using χ² test. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and the differences in survival were analyzed using Log-rank test. P＜0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Survival curves and histograms were drawn using GraphPad Prism9.1 software. Results: The complete remission rates at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery in the small and large particle size groups were 31.25%, 30.15%, and 42.45% and 18.25%, 15.79% and 24.74%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant between groups (P_{1 month}=0.012, P_{3 month}=0.009, P_{6 month}=0.008, P＜0.05). The objective remission rates at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery in the small and large particle size groups were 88.19%, 76.99%, and 70.75% and 81.02%, 72.81% and 53.60%, respectively. Six months after surgery, the small particle size group (objective response rate = 70.75%) was significantly higher than the large particle size group (objective response rate=53.6%, P=0.012). The disease control rates of the small particle size group were 95.14%, 83.33%, and 74.53%, while large particle size group were 91.24%, 81.58%, and 64.95%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. However, the incidence of postoperative biliary tumors (6.20%) was significantly higher in the small-size than large-size group (0.70%), and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05, P=0.03). There were no statistically significant differences between other adverse events such as post-embolization syndrome, liver abscess, and myelosuppression. The median survival time of the small and large particle size groups was 31.8 months and 20.5 months, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.182). Conclusions: In the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with D-TACE, the short-term curative effect of the small particle size group was better than large particle size group, but the incidence of biliary tumors was high, and D-TACE of different particle sizes had no significant effect on long-term survival.

Ultrasensitive airflow sensor prepared by electrostatic flocking for sound recognition and motion monitoring

Recently, airflow sensors have attracted great attention due to their unique characteristics. However, the preparation of high-performance airflow sensors via extraordinarily simple, controllable and cost-effective methods remains a great challenge. Herein, inspired by the fluff system of the spider, an ultrasensitive fluffy-like airflow sensor with carbon fibers (CFs) uniformly and firmly planted on the surface of a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibrous substrate has been easily fabricated using electrostatic flocking technology. The fluffy-like structure endows the airflow sensor with superior properties including ultra-sensitivity, fast response time (0.103 s), low airflow velocity detection limit (0.068 m s^-1), ultra-sensitive detection in a wide airflow range (0.068-16 m s^-1), and multi-directional consistent response to airflow. This sensor can be used to accurately recognize sound waves and voiceless speech and detect human and object motions in different postures and speeds. This work presents insights into designing and preparing high-performance airflow sensors on a large-scale for sound recognition, motion monitoring, and assisting the disabled.

Analysis of Shenhuang Capsule Using HPLC: Method Development, Validation, and Application

Objective:

Shenhuang (SH) capsule is a traditional Chinese medicine compound preparation containing rhubarb, coptis, scutellaria, salvia and Pueraria, used for diabetic nephropathy studied by our research group in the early stage. This study aims to develop the method of qualitative identification and content determination of the main active ingredients of SH capsules, so as to establish the quality standard.

Methods:

HPLC method was used to determine the contents of rhein, Pueraria and tanshinone in SH capsules. The determination method of SH capsules was established through the determination of specificity, regression equation, precision, repeatability, and recovery. The general quality standard of SH capsule was established by measuring water content, disintegration time and microorganism. The contents of rhein, puerarin and tanshinone IIA in SH capsules were determined by HPLC.

Results:

The precision was 1.10–3.00%, the reproducibility and recovery rates were 95.0–105.7%. The moisture determination, disintegration time and microorganism examination of SH capsule were all in line with the standard.

Conclusion:

The stable, feasible, simple and reliable content determination method was established through the content determination of SH capsules and the general quality standard test.

Changes of BKCA current and vascular reactivity in vascular smooth muscle of thoracic aorta and mesenteric artery in type 2 diabetic rats

The relationship between large conductance calcium activated potassium channel (BK_Ca) and vascular lesions in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was investigated by observing vascular reactivity of thoracic aorta and mesenteric artery and the current changes of BK_Ca in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The thoracic aorta and mesenteric artery of T2DM rats were isolated, the whole cell perforated patch clamp experiment and single channel patch clamp experiment of acute enzyme separation of thoracic aorta and mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells were performed to measure the membrane capacitance and the amplitude of macro current. And the vascular ring experiment was performed to observe the change of relaxation percentage. The results showed that the amplitude of BK_Ca current in vascular smooth muscle cells of diabetic rats was higher than that of the control group. The channel current had outward rectifying characteristics. BK_Ca is related to vascular reactivity and smooth muscle relaxation in T2DM rats. The opening probability of BK_Ca in VSMCs of diabetic rats was significantly increased. This study suggests that BK_Ca may be a new target for diabetic vascular disease.

Intestinal Guanylate Cyclase-C mRNA Expression in Duodenum and Colon of Children

OBJECTIVES

Guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonists, which increase intestinal secretion and accelerate transit, are used to treat chronic constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and are being evaluated for pediatric use. Prior studies suggest GC-C receptor density may be higher in young children, potentially amplifying GC-C agonism with treatment implications. We aimed to quantitate duodenal and colonic GC-C mRNA expression in children.

METHODS

Mucosal biopsies were obtained from subjects aged 6 months to 18 years during clinically indicated upper, that is, esophago-gastro-duodenal, and/or colonic endoscopy. Tissue samples without histologic abnormalities were grouped by subject age (<24 months, 24 months to <6 years, 6 to <12 years, and 12 to <18 years) and analyzed for GC-C mRNA expression by qPCR. The relationship between GC-C mRNA levels and age was modeled using regression analyses.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine subjects underwent upper endoscopy/colonoscopy; 93 had evaluable samples. Mean relative GC-C mRNA expression was 2.36 (range 2.21-2.46) for duodenal samples and 1.56 (range 1.22-1.91) for colonic samples. Predicted and observed normalized GC-C mRNA expression in each region were comparable among age groups. Pooled expression by region demonstrated lower expression in colonic versus duodenal samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Uniform levels of GC-C mRNA expression were detected in children aged >6 months in the duodenum and >12 months in the colon. Higher expression was observed in all age groups in duodenal versus colonic samples, indicating regional variability in GC-C receptor density. These data are reassuring for further studies of GC-C agonists in children.

Therapeutic effect of interleukin-10 in keloid fibroblasts by suppression of TGF-β/Smad pathway

OBJECTIVE

Keloids are a skin disorder where the skin goes beyond the original border of the wound or trauma, resulting in functional and cosmetic deformities, displeasure, itching, pain, psychological stress, and patient dissatisfaction. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of interleukin-10 (IL-10) on the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Keloid fibroblasts were isolated, primarily cultured, and treated with IL-10 at different concentrations. Normal skin fibroblasts were used as normal control. Immunofluorescent staining was performed to identify the establishment of keloid, as well as normal skin fibroblast. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was carried out to monitor the proliferative variation, while Western blot was conducted to detect the expression variation of key members involved in the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

RESULTS

Identified by the IF staining of Vimentin, a classical biomarker of fibroblast, both primary culture of keloid and normal skin fibroblasts have been established. Compared with control, the proliferation of Keloid fibroblasts was shown to be significantly suppressed on treatment with IL-10 in a time and dose-dependent manner. Expression of P-Smad2/3 and Smad4 were increasingly down-regulated, whereas Smad-7 was up-regulated with the increasing concentration of IL-10. By contrast, the variation of Smad 2/3 expressions was hardly influenced. Furthermore, the Collagen Type I and Collagen Type II were found to be markedly decreased after treatment with IL-10.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-10 was shown to be able to significantly inhibit the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts, which was explicitly and strongly suggestive of its potential therapeutic effect in the management of keloid.

Hemorrhagic patterns and their risk factors in patients with moyamoya disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The aim was to describe the profiles of hemorrhagic patterns of moyamoya disease (MMD) and analyze the risk factors in a large population.

METHODS

A total of 335 conservatively managed MMD patients with hemorrhage in our hospital were included in this cross-sectional study. The correlation between clinical and angiographic characteristics and hemorrhagic patterns (anterior or posterior hemorrhage) was assessed in the hemorrhagic hemisphere by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. In addition, stratified analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The 335 hemorrhagic hemispheres (patients) comprised 179 (53.4%) anterior and 156 (46.6%) posterior hemorrhages. For all cases, age at onset [odds ratio (OR) 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-1.00; P = 0.048] and choroidal anastomosis (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.19-2.94; P = 0.007) were found by multivariate regression analysis to be negatively and positively associated with a significantly increased risk of posterior hemorrhage, respectively. After stratified analysis, hypertension (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.14-0.97; P = 0.043) was identified by multivariate regression analysis as a risk factor for anterior hemorrhage in patients without dilation of choroidal anastomosis. On the other hand, choroidal anastomosis (OR 2.62; 95% CI 1.02-6.72; P = 0.045) and involvement of the posterior cerebral artery (OR 3.39; 95% CI 1.20-9.63; P = 0.022) were associated with significantly increased risk of posterior hemorrhage in children and young adults (<30 years of age).

CONCLUSIONS

A dynamic change in hemorrhagic patterns in MMD patients with increasing age at onset was observed. Choroidal anastomosis is a predictor of posterior hemorrhage. Hypertension is a risk factor for anterior hemorrhage in patients without extreme dilation of choroidal anastomosis.

Angiographic characteristics in Moyamoya disease with the p.R4810K variant: a propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The p.R4810K variant was identified as a strong susceptibility in patients with Moyamoya disease (MMD). The aim of this study was to investigate the angiographic characteristics in MMD with the p.R4810K variant.

METHODS

Angiographic characteristics were compared between patients with wild-type p.R4810K variant (GG) and patients with heterozygous p.R4810K variant (GA) after 1:1 propensity score matching, including Suzuki stage, collateral circulation and external carotid artery (ECA) collateral. Collateral circulation was graded with scores ranging from 0 to 12: posterior collateral circulation from the posterior cerebral artery to the middle cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery was scored from 0 to 6; anterior collateral circulation was scored as 6 to 0 corresponding to Suzuki stages 0 to 6.

RESULTS

A total of 489 patients were screened; 133 pairs were obtained after 1:1 propensity score matching. Compared with the patients in the GA group, unilateral MMD was more frequent in the GG group (P = 0.026). Hemispheres in the GA group (86/266) had more posterior cerebral artery involvement than hemispheres in the GG group (48/266) (P < 0.001). Hemispheres in the GA group had a lower grade in collateral circulation than hemispheres in the GG group (P = 0.011), but ECA collateral was more frequently observed in the GA group than in the GG group (53.4% vs. 39.8%, P = 0.002). Superficial temporal artery and occipital artery collateral was more frequently observed in the GA group than in the GG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients in the GA group had lower grades in collateral circulation than patients in the GG group, but ECA collateral was more frequently observed in the GA group than in the GG group.

Four weeks of hypoxia training improves cutaneous microcirculation in trained rowers

Hypoxia training can improve endurance performance. However, the specific benefits mechanism of hypoxia training is controversial, and there are just a few studies on the peripheral adaptation to hypoxia training. The main objective of this study was to observe the effects of hypoxia training on cutaneous blood flow (CBF), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), nitric oxide (NO), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Twenty rowers were divided into two groups for four weeks of training, either hypoxia training (Living High, Exercise High and Training Low, HHL) or normoxia training (NOM). We tested cutaneous microcirculation by laser Doppler flowmeter and blood serum parameters by ELISA. HHL group improved the VO(2peak) and power at blood lactic acid of 4 mmol/l (P(4)) significantly. The CBF and the concentration of moving blood cells (CMBC) in the forearm of individuals in the HHL group increased significantly at the first week. The HIF level of the individuals in the HHL group increased at the fourth week. The NO of HHL group increased significantly at the fourth week. In collusion, four weeks of HHL training resulted in increased forearm cutaneous blood flow and transcutaneous oxygen pressure. HHL increases rowers' NO and VEGF, which may be the mechanism of increased blood flow. The increased of CBF seems to be related with improving performance.

Chronic linaclotide treatment reduces colitis-induced neuroplasticity and reverses persistent bladder dysfunction

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients suffer from chronic abdominal pain and extraintestinal comorbidities, including overactive bladder (OAB) and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC-PBS). Mechanistic understanding of the cause and time course of these comorbid symptoms is lacking, as are clinical treatments. Here, we report that colitis triggers hypersensitivity of colonic afferents, neuroplasticity of spinal cord circuits, and chronic abdominal pain, which persists after inflammation. Subsequently, and in the absence of bladder pathology, colonic hypersensitivity induces persistent hypersensitivity of bladder afferent pathways, resulting in bladder-voiding dysfunction, indicative of OAB/IC-PBS. Daily administration of linaclotide, a guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonist that is restricted to and acts within the gastrointestinal tract, reverses colonic afferent hypersensitivity, reverses neuroplasticity-induced alterations in spinal circuitry, and alleviates chronic abdominal pain in mice. Intriguingly, daily linaclotide administration also reverses persistent bladder afferent hypersensitivity to mechanical and chemical stimuli and restores normal bladder voiding. Linaclotide itself does not inhibit bladder afferents, rather normalization of bladder function by daily linaclotide treatment occurs via indirect inhibition of bladder afferents via reduced nociceptive signaling from the colon. These data support the concepts that cross-organ sensitization underlies the development and maintenance of visceral comorbidities, while pharmaceutical treatments that inhibit colonic afferents may also improve urological symptoms through common sensory pathways.

Linaclotide inhibits colonic and urinary bladder hypersensitivity in adult female rats following unpredictable neonatal stress

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and bladder pain syndrome (BPS) are female-predominant, chronic functional pain disorders that are associated with early life stress (ELS) and therapeutic options for such patients remain limited. Linaclotide, a guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonist, relieves abdominal pain and bowel symptoms in adult patients suffering from IBS with constipation. Here, we test the hypothesis that linaclotide will reverse colon and bladder hyperalgesia in a female-specific rodent model of adverse early life experience.

METHODS

Neonatal rats were exposed to an odor-attachment learning paradigm of early life stress (ELS). In adulthood, the effect of linaclotide (3 μg kg^-1  d^-1 , p.o.) on colonic and bladder sensitivity was assessed via quantification of the visceromotor response to colorectal distension and the frequency of withdrawal responses to the application of von Frey hairs to the suprapubic region. In another cohort of rats, the effect of linaclotide on ELS-induced colonic and bladder permeability was investigated via measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER).

KEY RESULTS

Rats exposed to unpredictable ELS exhibited colonic and bladder hypersensitivity that was significantly reduced by linaclotide compared to vehicle-treated controls. Colonic and bladder tissue isolated from adult rats exposed to unpredictable ELS exhibited a decrease in colonic and bladder TEER that was reversed by linaclotide.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES

Our results demonstrate that neonatal rats exposed to unpredictable ELS develop increased sensitivity and permeability of the colon and bladder in adulthood through a mechanism involving activation of peripheral GC-C signaling.

Picoeukaryotes of the Micromonas genus: sentinels of a warming ocean

Photosynthetic picoeukaryotesx in the genus Micromonas show among the widest latitudinal distributions on Earth, experiencing large thermal gradients from poles to tropics. Micromonas comprises at least four different species often found in sympatry. While such ubiquity might suggest a wide thermal niche, the temperature response of the different strains is still unexplored, leaving many questions as for their ecological success over such diverse ecosystems. Using combined experiments and theory, we characterize the thermal response of eleven Micromonas strains belonging to four species. We demonstrate that the variety of specific responses to temperature in the Micromonas genus makes this environmental factor an ideal marker to describe its global distribution and diversity. We then propose a diversity model for the genus Micromonas, which proves to be representative of the whole phytoplankton diversity. This prominent primary producer is therefore a sentinel organism of phytoplankton diversity at the global scale. We use the diversity within Micromonas to anticipate the potential impact of global warming on oceanic phytoplankton. We develop a dynamic, adaptive model and run forecast simulations, exploring a range of adaptation time scales, to probe the likely responses to climate change. Results stress how biodiversity erosion depends on the ability of organisms to adapt rapidly to temperature increase.

Linaclotide Attenuates Visceral Organ Crosstalk: Role of Guanylate Cyclase-C Activation in Reversing Bladder-Colon Cross-Sensitization

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is poorly understood; however, there is a female predominance and comorbidity with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Here we test the hypothesis that linaclotide, a guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonist approved for the treatment of IBS with constipation (IBS-C), may represent a novel therapeutic for BPS acting through a mechanism involving an inhibition of visceral organ cross-sensitization. We showed previously that infusion of dilute protamine sulfate (PS) into the bladder increased sensitivity and permeability in the bladder and colon. PS was infused into the bladder of female rats; sensitivity was assessed via application of von Frey filaments applied to the suprapubic area and the frequency of withdrawal responses was recorded. Colonic sensitivity was measured via visceromotor behavioral response to graded pressures of colorectal distension (CRD). Permeability was measured in vitro via transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and conductance (G). Linaclotide (3 µg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle was administered daily for 7 days prior to experiments. Rats treated with PS bladder infusion exhibited visceral hyperalgesia, as shown by a significantly higher response frequency to individual von Frey filaments and increased behavioral responses to CRD. Linaclotide attenuated bladder and colonic hyperalgesia to control levels. PS infusion into the bladder increased bladder and colon permeability measured as a decrease in TEER and increased G. Linaclotide significantly inhibited PS-induced colonic hyperpermeability while having no effect on bladder hyperpermeability. Our findings suggest a novel treatment paradigm for GC-C agonism in IBS-C and BPS mediated through a mechanism involving visceral organ crosstalk.

Topological cell clustering in the ATLAS calorimeters and its performance in LHC Run 1

The reconstruction of the signal from hadrons and jets emerging from the proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and entering the ATLAS calorimeters is based on a three-dimensional topological clustering of individual calorimeter cell signals. The cluster formation follows cell signal-significance patterns generated by electromagnetic and hadronic showers. In this, the clustering algorithm implicitly performs a topological noise suppression by removing cells with insignificant signals which are not in close proximity to cells with significant signals. The resulting topological cell clusters have shape and location information, which is exploited to apply a local energy calibration and corrections depending on the nature of the cluster. Topological cell clustering is established as a well-performing calorimeter signal definition for jet and missing transverse momentum reconstruction in ATLAS.

Temperature is a key factor in Micromonas-virus interactions

The genus Micromonas comprises phytoplankton that show among the widest latitudinal distributions on Earth, and members of this genus are recurrently infected by prasinoviruses in contrasted thermal ecosystems. In this study, we assessed how temperature influences the interplay between the main genetic clades of this prominent microalga and their viruses. The growth of three Micromonas strains (Mic-A, Mic-B, Mic-C) and the stability of their respective lytic viruses (MicV-A, MicV-B, MicV-C) were measured over a thermal range of 4-32.5 °C. Similar growth temperature optima (T_opt) were predicted for all three hosts but Mic-B exhibited a broader thermal tolerance than Mic-A and Mic-C, suggesting distinct thermoacclimation strategies. Similarly, the MicV-C virus displayed a remarkable thermal stability compared with MicV-A and MicV-B. Despite these divergences, infection dynamics showed that temperatures below T_opt lengthened lytic cycle kinetics and reduced viral yield and, notably, that infection at temperatures above T_opt did not usually result in cell lysis. Two mechanisms operated depending on the temperature and the biological system. Hosts either prevented the production of viral progeny or maintained their ability to produce virions with no apparent cell lysis, pointing to a possible switch in the viral life strategy. Hence, temperature changes critically affect the outcome of Micromonas infection and have implications for ocean biogeochemistry and evolution.

Performance of pile-up mitigation techniques for jets in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV using the ATLAS detector

The large rate of multiple simultaneous proton-proton interactions, or pile-up, generated by the Large Hadron Collider in Run 1 required the development of many new techniques to mitigate the adverse effects of these conditions. This paper describes the methods employed in the ATLAS experiment to correct for the impact of pile-up on jet energy and jet shapes, and for the presence of spurious additional jets, with a primary focus on the large 20.3 [Formula: see text] data sample collected at a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text]. The energy correction techniques that incorporate sophisticated estimates of the average pile-up energy density and tracking information are presented. Jet-to-vertex association techniques are discussed and projections of performance for the future are considered. Lastly, the extension of these techniques to mitigate the effect of pile-up on jet shapes using subtraction and grooming procedures is presented.

[Radical cystectomy in patients with pathological non-muscle invasive bladder cancer]

OBJECTIVE

Carcinoma of bladder is the most common malignancy in the urinary system in China. Most patients with this disease had non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) at the time of diagnosis. Radical cystectomy was indicated for patients with high risk or refractory NMIBC. We aimed to investigate the overall survival and disease-specific survival and related influence factors in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for pathological non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

METHODS

From Jan. 2006 to Dec. 2012, a total of 164 patients with pathological non-muscle invasive bladder cancer underwent radical cystectomy in Peking University First Hospital. Clinical data were retrospectively collected.Incidence of lymph node metastasis and disease recurrence were calculated. The risk factors of disease recurrence were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to estimate the overall survival and cancer-specific survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic factors for survival.

RESULTS

Of all the patients included, 159 had T1 disease, and 5 had CIS only. The median follow-up duration was 46.5 months (range: 7-99 months). Fourteen patients were lost during the follow-up. Lymph node metastasis was noted in 6 patients (3.7%), 4 patients had N1 disease, one patient had N2 disease, and one patient had N3 disease. Disease recurrence occurred in 16 patients (9.8%).The most common recurrence sites were the liver, bones, and lungs. The 5-year overall survival and disease-specific survival for all the patients were 85% and 91%, respectively. The patients who underwent pelvic lymph node dissection showed a better prognosis in terms of disease-specific survival than those without (P=0.012). Patients with recurrence harbored a significant poorer survival (P<0.001). According to univariate Cox regression analysis, whether lymph node dissection was performed was an independent risk factor of disease recurrence (P=0.050, OR=2.695, 95%CI 0.999-7.271). In COX regression model, age (P=0.008, OR=1.071, 95%CI 1.018-1.126) and whether lymph node dissection was performed (P=0.011, OR=3.385, 95%CI 1.329-8.621) were related to disease-specific survival.

CONCLUSION

Patients with pathological non-muscle invasive bladder cancer underwent early radical cystectomy have a favorable prognosis, and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection is essential for this procedure as it gains a survival benefit for the patients.

The Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator IWP-953 Increases Conventional Outflow Facility in Mouse Eyes

PURPOSE

The nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) pathway regulates aqueous humor outflow and therefore, intraocular pressure. We investigated the pharmacologic effects of the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator IWP-953 on primary human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells and conventional outflow facility in mouse eyes.

METHODS

Cyclic GMP levels were determined in vitro in HEK-293 cells and four HTM cell strains (HTM120/HTM123: predominantly myofibroblast-like phenotype, HTM130/HTM141: predominantly endothelial-like phenotype), and in HTM cell culture supernatants. Conventional outflow facility was measured following intracameral injection of IWP-953 or DETA-NO using a computerized pressure-controlled perfusion system in enucleated mouse eyes ex vivo.

RESULTS

IWP-953 markedly stimulated cGMP production in HEK-293 cells in the presence and absence of DETA-NO (half maximal effective concentrations: 17 nM, 9.5 μM). Similarly, IWP-953 stimulated cGMP production in myofibroblast-like HTM120 and HTM123 cells, an effect that was greatly amplified by the presence of DETA-NO. In contrast, IWP-953 stimulation of cGMP production in endothelial-like HTM130 and HTM141 cells was observed, but was markedly less prominent than in HTM120 and HTM123 cells. Notably, cGMP was found in all HTM culture supernatants, following IWP-953/DETA-NO stimulation. In paired enucleated mouse eyes, IWP-953 at 10, 30, 60, and 100 μM concentration-dependently increased outflow facility. This effect (89.5%) was maximal at 100 μM (P = 0.002) and in magnitude comparable to DETA-NO at 100 μM (97.5% increase, P = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that IWP-953, via modulation of the sGC-cGMP pathway, increases aqueous outflow facility in mouse eyes, suggesting therapeutic potential for sGC stimulators as novel ocular hypotensive drugs.

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.

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.

Measurement of the centrality dependence of the charged-particle pseudorapidity distribution in proton-lead collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector

The centrality dependence of the mean charged-particle multiplicity as a function of pseudorapidity is measured in approximately 1 [Formula: see text]b[Formula: see text] of proton-lead collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] using the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Charged particles with absolute pseudorapidity less than 2.7 are reconstructed using the ATLAS pixel detector. The [Formula: see text] collision centrality is characterised by the total transverse energy measured in the Pb-going direction of the forward calorimeter. The charged-particle pseudorapidity distributions are found to vary strongly with centrality, with an increasing asymmetry between the proton-going and Pb-going directions as the collisions become more central. Three different estimations of the number of nucleons participating in the [Formula: see text] collision have been carried out using the Glauber model as well as two Glauber-Gribov inspired extensions to the Glauber model. Charged-particle multiplicities per participant pair are found to vary differently for these three models, highlighting the importance of including colour fluctuations in nucleon-nucleon collisions in the modelling of the initial state of [Formula: see text] collisions.

TWISTED DWARF1 Mediates the Action of Auxin Transport Inhibitors on Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics

Plant growth and architecture is regulated by the polar distribution of the hormone auxin. Polarity and flexibility of this process is provided by constant cycling of auxin transporter vesicles along actin filaments, coordinated by a positive auxin-actin feedback loop. Both polar auxin transport and vesicle cycling are inhibited by synthetic auxin transport inhibitors, such as 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), counteracting the effect of auxin; however, underlying targets and mechanisms are unclear. Using NMR, we map the NPA binding surface on the Arabidopsis thaliana ABCB chaperone TWISTED DWARF1 (TWD1). We identify ACTIN7 as a relevant, although likely indirect, TWD1 interactor, and show TWD1-dependent regulation of actin filament organization and dynamics and that TWD1 is required for NPA-mediated actin cytoskeleton remodeling. The TWD1-ACTIN7 axis controls plasma membrane presence of efflux transporters, and as a consequence act7 and twd1 share developmental and physiological phenotypes indicative of defects in auxin transport. These can be phenocopied by NPA treatment or by chemical actin (de)stabilization. We provide evidence that TWD1 determines downstream locations of auxin efflux transporters by adjusting actin filament debundling and dynamizing processes and mediating NPA action on the latter. This function appears to be evolutionary conserved since TWD1 expression in budding yeast alters actin polarization and cell polarity and provides NPA sensitivity.

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 charge asymmetry in top-quark pair production in the lepton-plus-jets final state in pp collision data at [Formula: see text] with the ATLAS detector

This paper reports inclusive and differential measurements of the [Formula: see text] charge asymmetry [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] collisions recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Three differential measurements are performed as a function of the invariant mass, transverse momentum and longitudinal boost of the [Formula: see text] system. The [Formula: see text] pairs are selected in the single-lepton channels (e or [Formula: see text]) with at least four jets, and a likelihood fit is used to reconstruct the [Formula: see text] event kinematics. A Bayesian unfolding procedure is performed to infer the asymmetry at parton level from the observed data distribution. The inclusive [Formula: see text] charge asymmetry is measured to be [Formula: see text] (stat. [Formula: see text] syst.). The inclusive and differential measurements are compatible with the values predicted by the Standard Model.

[Radical cystectomy in patients with pathological non-muscle invasive bladder cancer]

OBJECTIVE

Carcinoma of bladder is the most common malignancy in the urinary system in China. Most patients with this disease had non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) at the time of diagnosis. Radical cystectomy was indicated for patients with high risk or refractory NMIBC. We aimed to investigate the overall survival and disease-specific survival and related influence factors in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for pathological non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

METHODS

From Jan. 2006 to Dec. 2012, a total of 164 patients with pathological non-muscle invasive bladder cancer underwent radical cystectomy in Peking University First Hospital. Clinical data were retrospectively collected.Incidence of lymph node metastasis and disease recurrence were calculated. The risk factors of disease recurrence were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to estimate the overall survival and cancer-specific survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic factors for survival.

RESULTS

Of all the patients included, 159 had T1 disease, and 5 had CIS only. The median follow-up duration was 46.5 months (range: 7-99 months). Fourteen patients were lost during the follow-up. Lymph node metastasis was noted in 6 patients (3.7%), 4 patients had N1 disease, one patient had N2 disease, and one patient had N3 disease. Disease recurrence occurred in 16 patients (9.8%).The most common recurrence sites were the liver, bones, and lungs. The 5-year overall survival and disease-specific survival for all the patients were 85% and 91%, respectively. The patients who underwent pelvic lymph node dissection showed a better prognosis in terms of disease-specific survival than those without (P=0.012). Patients with recurrence harbored a significant poorer survival (P<0.001). According to univariate Cox regression analysis, whether lymph node dissection was performed was an independent risk factor of disease recurrence (P=0.050, OR=2.695, 95%CI 0.999-7.271). In COX regression model, age (P=0.008, OR=1.071, 95%CI 1.018-1.126) and whether lymph node dissection was performed (P=0.011, OR=3.385, 95%CI 1.329-8.621) were related to disease-specific survival.

CONCLUSION

Patients with pathological non-muscle invasive bladder cancer underwent early radical cystectomy have a favorable prognosis, and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection is essential for this procedure as it gains a survival benefit for the patients.

Search for direct top squark pair production in final states with two tau leptons in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for direct pair production of the supersymmetric partner of the top quark, decaying via a scalar tau to a nearly massless gravitino, has been performed using 20 fb[Formula: see text] of proton-proton collision data at [Formula: see text]. The data were collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in 2012. Top squark candidates are searched for in events with either two hadronically decaying tau leptons, one hadronically decaying tau and one light lepton, or two light leptons. No significant excess over the Standard Model expectation is found. Exclusion limits at [Formula: see text] confidence level are set as a function of the top squark and scalar tau masses. Depending on the scalar tau mass, ranging from the [Formula: see text] LEP limit to the top squark mass, lower limits between 490 and [Formula: see text] are placed on the top squark mass within the model considered.

Search for single top-quark production via flavour-changing neutral currents at 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for single top-quark production via flavour-changing neutral current processes from gluon plus up- or charm-quark initial states in proton-proton collisions at the LHC is presented. Data collected with the ATLAS detector in 2012 at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] are used. Candidate events for a top quark decaying into a lepton, a neutrino and a jet are selected and classified into signal- and background-like candidates using a neural network. No signal is observed and an upper limit on the production cross-section multiplied by the [Formula: see text] branching fraction is set. The observed 95 % CL limit is [Formula: see text] and the expected 95 % CL limit is [Formula: see text]. The observed limit can be interpreted as upper limits on the coupling constants of the flavour-changing neutral current interactions divided by the scale of new physics [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and on the branching fractions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].

Search for an additional, heavy Higgs boson in the [Formula: see text] decay channel at [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] collision data with the ATLAS detector

A search is presented for a high-mass Higgs boson in the [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] decay modes using the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The search uses proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb[Formula: see text]. The results of the search are interpreted in the scenario of a heavy Higgs boson with a width that is small compared with the experimental mass resolution. The Higgs boson mass range considered extends up to [Formula: see text] for all four decay modes and down to as low as 140 [Formula: see text], depending on the decay mode. No significant excess of events over the Standard Model prediction is found. A simultaneous fit to the four decay modes yields upper limits on the production cross-section of a heavy Higgs boson times the branching ratio to [Formula: see text] boson pairs. 95 % confidence level upper limits range from 0.53 pb at [Formula: see text] GeV to 0.008 pb at [Formula: see text] GeV for the gluon-fusion production mode and from 0.31 pb at [Formula: see text] GeV to 0.009 pb at [Formula: see text] GeV for the vector-boson-fusion production mode. The results are also interpreted in the context of Type-I and Type-II two-Higgs-doublet models.

Search for flavour-changing neutral current top-quark decays to [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at [Formula: see text] TeV

A search for the flavour-changing neutral-current decay [Formula: see text] is presented. Data collected by the ATLAS detector during 2012 from proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider at a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb[Formula: see text], are analysed. Top-quark pair-production events with one top quark decaying through the [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) channel and the other through the dominant Standard Model mode [Formula: see text] are considered as signal. Only the decays of the Z boson to charged leptons and leptonic W boson decays are used. No evidence for a signal is found and an observed (expected) upper limit on the [Formula: see text] branching ratio of [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) is set at the 95 % confidence level.

Measurements of fiducial cross-sections for [Formula: see text] production with one or two additional b-jets in pp collisions at [Formula: see text]=8 TeV using the ATLAS detector

Fiducial cross-sections for [Formula: see text] production with one or two additional b-jets are reported, using an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider, collected with the ATLAS detector. The cross-section times branching ratio for [Formula: see text] events with at least one additional b-jet is measured to be 950 [Formula: see text] 70 (stat.) [Formula: see text] (syst.) fb in the lepton-plus-jets channel and 50 [Formula: see text] 10 (stat.) [Formula: see text] (syst.) fb in the [Formula: see text] channel. The cross-section times branching ratio for events with at least two additional b-jets is measured to be 19.3 [Formula: see text] 3.5 (stat.) [Formula: see text] 5.7 (syst.) fb in the dilepton channel ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and  ee) using a method based on tight selection criteria, and 13.5 [Formula: see text] 3.3 (stat.) [Formula: see text] 3.6 (syst.) fb using a looser selection that allows the background normalisation to be extracted from data. The latter method also measures a value of 1.30 [Formula: see text] 0.33 (stat.) [Formula: see text] 0.28 (syst.)% for the ratio of [Formula: see text] production with two additional b-jets to [Formula: see text] production with any two additional jets. All measurements are in good agreement with recent theory predictions.

Searches for scalar leptoquarks in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Searches for pair-produced scalar leptoquarks are performed using 20 fb[Formula: see text] of proton-proton collision data provided by the LHC and recorded by the ATLAS detector at [Formula: see text] TeV. Events with two electrons (muons) and two or more jets in the final state are used to search for first (second)-generation leptoquarks. The results from two previously published ATLAS analyses are interpreted in terms of third-generation leptoquarks decaying to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] final states. No statistically significant excess above the Standard Model expectation is observed in any channel and scalar leptoquarks are excluded at 95 % CL with masses up to [Formula: see text] 1050 GeV for first-generation leptoquarks, [Formula: see text] 1000 GeV for second-generation leptoquarks, [Formula: see text] 625 GeV for third-generation leptoquarks in the [Formula: see text] channel, and 200 [Formula: see text] 640 GeV in the [Formula: see text] channel.

Study of the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] decays with the ATLAS detector

The decays [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are studied with the ATLAS detector at the LHC using a dataset corresponding to integrated luminosities of 4.9 and 20.6 fb[Formula: see text] of pp collisions collected at centre-of-mass energies [Formula: see text] TeV and 8 TeV, respectively. Signal candidates are identified through [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] decays. With a two-dimensional likelihood fit involving the [Formula: see text] reconstructed invariant mass and an angle between the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] candidate momenta in the muon pair rest frame, the yields of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and the transverse polarisation fraction in [Formula: see text] decay are measured. The transverse polarisation fraction is determined to be [Formula: see text], and the derived ratio of the branching fractions of the two modes is [Formula: see text], where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. Finally, a sample of [Formula: see text] decays is used to derive the ratios of branching fractions [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], where the third error corresponds to the uncertainty of the branching fraction of [Formula: see text] decay. The available theoretical predictions are generally consistent with the measurement.

Measurements of the Higgs boson production and decay rates and coupling strengths using pp collision data at [Formula: see text] and 8 TeV in the ATLAS experiment

Combined analyses of the Higgs boson production and decay rates as well as its coupling strengths to vector bosons and fermions are presented. The combinations include the results of the analyses of the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] decay modes, and the constraints on the associated production with a pair of top quarks and on the off-shell coupling strengths of the Higgs boson. The results are based on the LHC proton-proton collision datasets, with integrated luminosities of up to 4.7 [Formula: see text] at [Formula: see text] TeV and 20.3 [Formula: see text] at [Formula: see text] TeV, recorded by the ATLAS detector in 2011 and 2012. Combining all production modes and decay channels, the measured signal yield, normalised to the Standard Model expectation, is [Formula: see text]. The observed Higgs boson production and decay rates are interpreted in a leading-order coupling framework, exploring a wide range of benchmark coupling models both with and without assumptions on the Higgs boson width and on the Standard Model particle content in loop processes. The data are found to be compatible with the Standard Model expectations for a Higgs boson at a mass of 125.36 GeV for all models considered.

Measurements of top-quark pair differential cross-sections in the lepton+jets channel in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] using the ATLAS detector

Measurements of normalized differential cross-sections of top-quark pair production are presented as a function of the top-quark, [Formula: see text] system and event-level kinematic observables in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text]. The observables have been chosen to emphasize the [Formula: see text] production process and to be sensitive to effects of initial- and final-state radiation, to the different parton distribution functions, and to non-resonant processes and higher-order corrections. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb[Formula: see text], recorded in 2012 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Events are selected in the lepton+jets channel, requiring exactly one charged lepton and at least four jets with at least two of the jets tagged as originating from a b-quark. The measured spectra are corrected for detector effects and are compared to several Monte Carlo simulations. The results are in fair agreement with the predictions over a wide kinematic range. Nevertheless, most generators predict a harder top-quark transverse momentum distribution at high values than what is observed in the data. Predictions beyond NLO accuracy improve the agreement with data at high top-quark transverse momenta. Using the current settings and parton distribution functions, the rapidity distributions are not well modelled by any generator under consideration. However, the level of agreement is improved when more recent sets of parton distribution functions are used.

Reconstruction of hadronic decay products of tau leptons with the ATLAS experiment

This paper presents a new method of reconstructing the individual charged and neutral hadrons in tau decays with the ATLAS detector. The reconstructed hadrons are used to classify the decay mode and to calculate the visible four-momentum of reconstructed tau candidates, significantly improving the resolution with respect to the calibration in the existing tau reconstruction. The performance of the reconstruction algorithm is optimised and evaluated using simulation and validated using samples of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]+jets events selected from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy [Formula: see text], corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 [Formula: see text].

Determination of the Ratio of b-Quark Fragmentation Fractions f(s)/f(d) in pp Collisions at √s=7 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

With an integrated luminosity of 2.47  fb(-1) recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, the exclusive decays B(s)(0)→J/ψϕ and B(d)(0)→J/ψK(*0) of B mesons produced in pp collisions at √s=7  TeV are used to determine the ratio of fragmentation fractions f(s)/f(d). From the observed B(s)(0)→J/ψϕ and B(d)(0)→J/ψK(*0) yields, the quantity (f(s)/f(d))[B(B(s)(0)→J/ψϕ)/B(B(d)(0)→J/ψK(*0))] is measured to be 0.199±0.004(stat)±0.008(syst). Using a recent theory prediction for [B(B(s)(0)→J/ψϕ)/B(B(d)(0)→J/ψK(*0))] yields (f(s)/f(d))=0.240±0.004(stat)±0.010(syst)±0.017(th). This result is based on a new approach that provides a significant improvement of the world average.

Proteomic Analysis Reveals Key Proteins and Phosphoproteins upon Seed Germination of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the oldest cultivated crops and the second most important food crop in the world. Seed germination is the key developmental process in plant growth and development, and poor germination directly affects plant growth and subsequent grain yield. In this study, we performed the first dynamic proteome analysis of wheat seed germination using a two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE)-based proteomic approach. A total of 166 differentially expressed protein (DEP) spots representing 73 unique proteins were identified, which are mainly involved in storage, stress/defense/detoxification, carbohydrate metabolism, photosynthesis, cell metabolism, and transcription/translation/transposition. The identified DEPs and their dynamic expression profiles generally correspond to three distinct seed germination phases after imbibition: storage degradation, physiological processes/morphogenesis, and photosynthesis. Some key DEPs involved in storage substance degradation and plant defense mechanisms, such as globulin 3, sucrose synthase type I, serpin, beta-amylase, and plastid ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) small subunit, were found to be phosphorylated during seed germination. Particularly, the phosphorylation site Ser(355) was found to be located in the enzyme active region of beta-amylase, which promotes substrate binding. Phosphorylated modification of several proteins could promote storage substance degradation and environmental stress defense during seed germination. The central metabolic pathways involved in wheat seed germination are proposed herein, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms of cereal seed germination.

ATLAS Run 1 searches for direct pair production of third-generation squarks at the Large Hadron Collider

This paper reviews and extends searches for the direct pair production of the scalar supersymmetric partners of the top and bottom quarks in proton-proton collisions collected by the ATLAS collaboration during the LHC Run 1. Most of the analyses use 20 [Formula: see text] of collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] TeV, although in some case an additional [Formula: see text] of collision data at [Formula: see text] TeV are used. New analyses are introduced to improve the sensitivity to specific regions of the model parameter space. Since no evidence of third-generation squarks is found, exclusion limits are derived by combining several analyses and are presented in both a simplified model framework, assuming simple decay chains, as well as within the context of more elaborate phenomenological supersymmetric models.