Nevin Manimala

Phys Rev Lett. 2024 Feb 2;132(5):051802. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.051802.

ABSTRACT

The decay-time-dependent CP asymmetry in B_{s}^{0}→J/ψ(→μ^{+}μ^{-})K^{+}K^{-} decays is measured using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6 fb^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Using a sample of approximately 349 000 B_{s}^{0} signal decays with an invariant K^{+}K^{-} mass in the vicinity of the ϕ(1020) resonance, the CP-violating phase ϕ_{s} is measured, along with the difference in decay widths of the light and heavy mass eigenstates of the B_{s}^{0}-B[over ¯]_{s}^{0} system, ΔΓ_{s}, and the difference of the average B_{s}^{0} and B^{0} meson decay widths, Γ_{s}-Γ_{d}. The values obtained are ϕ_{s}=-0.039±0.022±0.006 rad, ΔΓ_{s}=0.0845±0.0044±0.0024 ps^{-1}, and Γ_{s}-Γ_{d}=-0.0056_{-0.0015}^{+0.0013}±0.0014 ps^{-1}, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. These are the most precise single measurements to date and are consistent with expectations based on the Standard Model and with the previous LHCb analyses of this decay. These results are combined with previous independent LHCb measurements. The phase ϕ_{s} is also measured independently for each polarization state of the K^{+}K^{-} system and shows no evidence for polarization dependence.

PMID:38364143 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.051802

Phys Rev Lett. 2024 Feb 2;132(5):057001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.057001.

ABSTRACT

We study the interplay between Coulomb blockade and superconductivity in a tunable superconductor-superconductor-normal-metal single-electron transistor. The device is realized by connecting the superconducting island via an oxide barrier to the normal-metal lead and with a break junction to the superconducting lead. The latter enables Cooper pair transport and (multiple) Andreev reflection. We show that these processes are relevant also far above the superconducting gap and that signatures of Coulomb blockade may reoccur at high bias while they are absent for small bias in the strong-coupling regime. Our experimental findings agree with simulations using a rate equation approach in combination with the full counting statistics of multiple Andreev reflection.

PMID:38364128 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.057001

J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2024 Jan 1;45(1):e46-e53. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000001232.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Determine the risk of autoimmune disease in research-identified cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with referents using a longitudinal, population-based birth cohort.

METHODS: ASD incident cases were identified from a population-based birth cohort of 31,220 individuals. Inclusive ASD definition based on DSM-IV-TR autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified, was used to determine ASD cases. For each ASD case, 2 age- and sex-matched referents without ASD were identified. Diagnosis codes assigned between birth and December 2017 were electronically obtained. Individuals were classified as having an autoimmune disorder if they had at least 2 diagnosis codes more than 30 days apart. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) between ASD status and autoimmune disorder.

RESULTS: Of 1014 ASD cases, 747 (73.7%) were male. Fifty ASD cases and 59 of the 1:2 matched referents were diagnosed with first autoimmune disorder at the median age of 14 and 17.1 years, respectively. ASD cases had increased risk of autoimmune disease compared with matched referents (HR 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-2.52). The increased risk was statistically significant among male patients (HR 2.01; 95% CI, 1.26-3.21) but not among the smaller number of female subjects (HR 1.38; 95% CI, 0.76-2.50).

CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence from a longitudinal, population-based birth cohort for co-occurrence of ASD and autoimmune disorders. Thus, children with ASD should be monitored for symptoms of autoimmune disease and appropriate workup initiated.

PMID:38364086 | DOI:10.1097/DBP.0000000000001232

J Acoust Soc Am. 2024 Feb 1;155(2):1451-1468. doi: 10.1121/10.0024890.

ABSTRACT

Theoretical accounts posit a close link between speech perception and production, but empirical findings on this relationship are mixed. To explain this apparent contradiction, a proposed view is that a perception-production relationship should be established through the use of critical perceptual cues. This study examines this view by using Mandarin tones as a test case because the perceptual cues for Mandarin tones consist of perceptually critical pitch direction and noncritical pitch height cues. The defining features of critical and noncritical perceptual cues and the perception-production relationship of each cue for each tone were investigated. The perceptual stimuli in the perception experiment were created by varying one critical and one noncritical perceptual cue orthogonally. The cues for tones produced by the same group of native Mandarin participants were measured. This study found that the critical status of perceptual cues primarily influenced within-category and between-category perception for nearly all tones. Using cross-domain bidirectional statistical modelling, a perception-production link was found for the critical perceptual cue only. A stronger link was obtained when within-category and between-category perception data were included in the models as compared to using between-category perception data alone, suggesting a phonetically and phonologically driven perception-production relationship.

PMID:38364045 | DOI:10.1121/10.0024890

Eur J Emerg Med. 2024 Feb 16. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0000000000001128. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Whether high-flow nasal oxygen can improve clinical signs of acute respiratory failure in acute heart failure (AHF) is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of high-flow oxygen with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) on respiratory rate in patients admitted to an emergency department (ED) for AHF-related acute respiratory failure.

DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: Multicenter, randomized pilot study in three French EDs. Adult patients with acute respiratory failure due to suspected AHF were included. Key exclusion criteria were urgent need for intubation, Glasgow Coma Scale <13 points or hemodynamic instability.

INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned to receive high-flow oxygen (minimum 50 l/min) or noninvasive bilevel positive pressure ventilation.

OUTCOMES MEASURE: The primary outcome was change in respiratory rate within the first hour of treatment and was analyzed with a linear mixed model. Secondary outcomes included changes in pulse oximetry, heart rate, blood pressure, blood gas samples, comfort, treatment failure and mortality.

MAIN RESULTS: Among the 145 eligible patients in the three participating centers, 60 patients were included in the analysis [median age 86 (interquartile range (IQR), 90; 92) years]. There was a median respiratory rate of 30.5 (IQR, 28; 33) and 29.5 (IQR, 27; 35) breaths/min in the high-flow oxygen and NIV groups respectively, with a median change of -10 (IQR, -12; -8) with high-flow nasal oxygen and -7 (IQR, -11; -5) breaths/min with NIV [estimated difference -2.6 breaths/min (95% confidence interval (CI), -0.5-5.7), P = 0.052] at 60 min. There was a median SpO2 of 95 (IQR, 92; 97) and 96 (IQR, 93; 97) in the high-flow oxygen and NIV groups respectively, with a median change at 60 min of 2 (IQR, 0; 5) with high-flow nasal oxygen and 2 (IQR, -1; 5) % with NIV [estimated difference 0.8% (95% CI, -1.1-2.8), P = 0.60]. PaO2, PaCO2 and pH did not differ at 1 h between groups, nor did treatment failure, intubation and mortality rates.

CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, we did not observe a statistically significant difference in changes in respiratory rate among patients with acute respiratory failure due to AHF and managed with high-flow oxygen or NIV. However, the point estimate and its large confidence interval may suggest a benefit of high-flow oxygen.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04971213 (https://clinicaltrials.gov).

PMID:38364020 | DOI:10.1097/MEJ.0000000000001128

J Chem Phys. 2024 Feb 21;160(7):074106. doi: 10.1063/5.0185580.

ABSTRACT

The terminal alkyne C≡C stretch has a large Raman scattering cross section in the “silent” region for biomolecules. This has led to many Raman tag and probe studies using this moiety to study biomolecular systems. A computational investigation of these systems is vital to aid in the interpretation of these results. In this work, we develop a method for computing terminal alkyne vibrational frequencies and isotropic transition polarizabilities that can easily and accurately be applied to any terminal alkyne molecule. We apply the discrete variable representation method to a localized version of the C≡C stretch normal mode. The errors of (1) vibrational localization to the terminal alkyne moiety, (2) anharmonic normal mode isolation, and (3) discretization of the Born-Oppenheimer potential energy surface are quantified and found to be generally small and cancel each other. This results in a method with low error compared to other anharmonic vibrational methods like second-order vibrational perturbation theory and to experiments. Several density functionals are tested using the method, and TPSS-D3, an inexpensive nonempirical density functional with dispersion corrections, is found to perform surprisingly well. Diffuse basis functions are found to be important for the accuracy of computed frequencies. Finally, the computation of vibrational properties like isotropic transition polarizabilities and the universality of the localized normal mode for terminal alkynes are demonstrated.

PMID:38364010 | DOI:10.1063/5.0185580

Holist Nurs Pract. 2024 Mar-Apr 01;38(2):93-101. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000633.

ABSTRACT

Midlife women often experience menopausal symptoms despite being treated according to clinical guidelines. The consequences of not addressing menopausal symptoms holistically are that 55% of women see primary care providers frequently with menopausal symptom complaints. The problem was women’s lack of coping strategies to deal with their symptoms effectively. The interventions aimed to (1) develop a protocol to provide point-of-care mindfulness-based meditation intervention as a standard of care, (2) evaluate improvements in coping self-efficacy skills, and (3) demonstrate the intervention’s impact on menopausal symptoms. Twenty women participated in a short meditation intervention at a micro practice in Oregon from January to May 2022 and continued an 8-week home practice. Self-reported measures of menopausal symptoms, coping self-efficacy, and demographic data were collected pre- and pos-tprogram. A percentage of women determined improvements, and t tests evaluated differences between pre-and postintervention assessments. Pearson correlation coefficients identified associations between the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS), its subscales, and the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) postintervention. The women showed 78% improved coping self-efficacy and 89% alleviated menopausal symptoms. The t test revealed a statistically significant change between pre- and post-CSES scores (t17 = 4.19, P < .001) and MRS scores (t17 = 4.78, P < .001). The post-MRS total score was significantly negatively correlated with the post-CSES score (r = -0.49, P = .039), indicating that symptoms decreased as self-efficacy improved. The outcomes of this project show that menopausal women can cope and alleviate their symptoms with an easy and feasible mindfulness-based meditation intervention.

PMID:38363970 | DOI:10.1097/HNP.0000000000000633

JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Feb 16;13:e54672. doi: 10.2196/54672.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fungal infections are now a great public health threat, especially in those with underlying risk factors such as neutropenia, diabetes, high-dose steroid treatment, cancer chemotherapy, prolonged intensive care unit stay, and so on, which can lead to mycoses with higher mortality rates. The rates of these infections have been steadily increasing over the past 2 decades due to the increasing population of patients who are immunocompromised. However, the data regarding the exact burden of such infection are still not available from India. Therefore, this registry was initiated to collate systematic data on invasive fungal infections (IFIs) across the country.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study is to create a multicenter digital clinical registry and monitor trends of IFIs and emerging fungal diseases, as well as early signals of any potential fungal outbreak in any region. The registry will also capture information on the antifungal resistance patterns and the contribution of fungal infections on overall morbidity and inpatient mortality across various conditions.

METHODS: This multicenter, prospective, noninterventional observational study will be conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research through a web-based data collection method from 8 Advanced Mycology Diagnostic and Research Centers across the country. Data on age, gender, clinical signs and symptoms, date of admission, date of discharge or death, diagnostic tests performed, identified pathogen details, antifungal susceptibility testing, outcome, and so on will be obtained from hospital records. Descriptive and multivariate statistical methods will be applied to investigate clinical manifestations, risk variables, and treatment outcomes.

RESULTS: These Advanced Mycology Diagnostic and Research Centers are expected to find the hidden cases of fungal infections in the intensive care unit setting. The study will facilitate the enhancement of the precision of fungal infection diagnosis and prompt treatment modalities in response to antifungal drug sensitivity tests. This registry will improve our understanding of IFIs, support evidence-based clinical decision-making ability, and encourage public health policies and actions.

CONCLUSIONS: Fungal diseases are a neglected public health problem. Fewer diagnostic facilities, scanty published data, and increased vulnerable patient groups make the situation worse. This is the first systematic clinical registry of IFIs in India. Data generated from this registry will increase our understanding related to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of fungal diseases in India by addressing pertinent gaps in mycology. This initiative will ensure a visible impact on public health in the country.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/54672.

PMID:38363632 | DOI:10.2196/54672

Tumour Biol. 2024 Feb 8. doi: 10.3233/TUB-230014. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Protein tumor markers are released in high amounts into the blood in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relevance of serum tumor markers (STM) for prognosis, prediction and monitoring of therapy response in NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapy.

METHODS: In a biomarker substudy of a prospective, multicentric clinical trial (CEPAC-TDM) on 261 advanced NSCLC patients, CYFRA 21-1, CEA, SCC, NSE, ProGRP, CA125, CA15-3 and HE4 were assessed in serial serum samples and correlated with radiological response after two cycles of chemotherapy and overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS: While pretherapeutic STM levels at staging did not discriminate between progressive and non-progressive patients, CYFRA 21-1, CA125, NSE and SCC at time of staging did, and yielded AUCs of 0.75, 0.70, 0.69 and 0.67 in ROC curves, respectively. High pretherapeutic CA15-3 and CA125 as well as high CYFRA 21-1, SCC, CA125 and CA15-3 levels at staging were prognostic for shorter PFS and OS -also when clinical variables were added to the models.

CONCLUSIONS: STM at the time of first radiological staging and pretherapeutic CA15-3, CA125 are predictive for first-line treatment response and highly prognostic in patients with advanced NSCLC.

PMID:38363625 | DOI:10.3233/TUB-230014

J Parkinsons Dis. 2024 Feb 15. doi: 10.3233/JPD-230292. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A possible genetic contribution of dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) to cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has yet to be investigated.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of rs6280 (Ser9Gly) genotype on PD patients’ cognitive performance and to clarify possible interactions with psychopathology.

METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-three consecutive PD patients underwent neurological and neuropsychological evaluations, which included: Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Hoehn & Yahr scale (H&Y), Dementia Rating Scale-2 (DRS-2), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). rs6280 polymorphism was genotyped for all PD patients and for 270 ethnically matched healthy volunteers (HC). Non-parametric group comparisons and logistic regressions were used for data analyses.

RESULTS: rs6280 genotype did not differ between PD and HC groups. PD patients with rs6280 CC genotype had more impaired cognitive performance (i.e., <1st percentile of demographically adjusted norms) on DRS-2 subscales Initiation/Perseveration and Construction than those with TT genotype. These associations remained statistically significant when other covariates (e.g., demographic features, disease duration, severity of motor symptoms in OFF and ON states, anti-parkinsonian medication, and psychopathology symptoms) were taken into consideration. PD patients with rs6280 TC had less anxiety (i.e., HADS Anxiety≥11) than those with TT (p = 0.012). This association was also independent of other covariates.

CONCLUSIONS: Study findings suggest that rs6280 CC genotype predisposes to executive dysfunction and visuoconstructional deficits, whereas the heterozygous genotype protects from anxiety in PD. These effects do not appear to be dependent of one another. rs6280 is not a genotypic susceptibility factor for PD.

PMID:38363619 | DOI:10.3233/JPD-230292