Emergence of Long-Range Angular Correlations in Low-Multiplicity Proton-Proton Collisions

This Letter presents the measurement of near-side associated per-trigger yields, denoted ridge yields, from the analysis of angular correlations of charged hadrons in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV. Long-range ridge yields are extracted for pairs of charged particles with a pseudorapidity difference of 1.4<|Δη|<1.8 and a transverse momentum of 1 Collapse

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First Measurement of the |t| Dependence of Incoherent J/ψ Photonuclear Production

The first measurement of the cross section for incoherent photonuclear production of J/ψ vector mesons as a function of the Mandelstam |t| variable is presented. The measurement was carried out with the ALICE detector at midrapidity, |y|<0.8, using ultraperipheral collisions of Pb nuclei at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. This rapidity interval corresponds to a Bjorken-x range (0.3-1.4)×10^{-3}. Cross sections are given in five |t| intervals in the range 0.04<|t|<1  GeV^{2} and compared to the predictions by different models. Models that ignore quantum fluctuations of the gluon density in the colliding hadron predict a |t| dependence of the cross section much steeper than in data. The inclusion of such fluctuations in the same models provides a better description of the data.

The Use of CECT in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Obstruction: A Case of Difficult Diagnosis in a Strangulated Left Femoral Hernia

ABSTRACT

A femoral hernia is an uncommon and acquired hernia in the groin. Its incidence in adults is 2%-8% of all abdominal wall hernias, and it has a female-to-male ratio of 1.8:1. It is usually found in elderly patients and is associated with increased morbidity due to delays in diagnosis leading to a high incidence of incarceration and strangulation. Accurate preoperative diagnosis of femoral hernia is challenging, especially in obese patients in whom a small femoral hernia can be hidden under the groin fat. Unlike an inguinal hernia, it rarely reduces on its own and if asymptomatic and small, is often unnoticed by the elderly obese patient. Femoral hernia is often unsuspected and overlooked in males as it is predominant among females. Delay in diagnosis can lead to intestinal gangrene and high morbidity. We present a case of an incarcerated left femoral hernia in an elderly obese male who presented with acute intestinal obstruction. He was managed with resection of the gangrenous segment and double barrel ileostomy. Although uncommon in males, a femoral hernia has a high incidence of strangulation, and therefore should always be ruled out as a cause of acute intestinal obstruction in elderly patients. Therefore, never forget to examine the groin in case of intestinal obstruction.

Measurement of energy and directional distribution of neutron ambient dose equivalent for the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction

Double differential neutron fluence distributions were measured in the 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction for proton beam energies 7, 9 and 12 MeV. Seven liquid scintillator based detectors were employed to measure neutron fluence distributions using the Time of Flight technique. Neutron ambient dose equivalents were determined from the measured fluence distribution using ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) recommended fluence to dose equivalent conversion coefficients. Neutron dose equivalents were also measured using a conventional BF3 detector based REM counter. Ambient dose equivalent measured by the REM counter is found to be in agreement with that determined from the neutron fluence spectra within their uncertainties. Angular distributions of the ambient dose equivalents were also determined from the measured fluence distributions at different angles.

ψ(2S) Suppression in Pb-Pb Collisions at the LHC

The production of the ψ(2S) charmonium state was measured with ALICE in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, in the dimuon decay channel. A significant signal was observed for the first time at LHC energies down to zero transverse momentum, at forward rapidity (2.5 Collapse

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Cytokine and reactivity profiles in SLE patients following anti-CD19 CART therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting CD19+ B cells have demonstrated efficacy in refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although initial clinical data suggest that anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy is well tolerated and highly effective, the immunologic consequences of CAR T cell therapy in SLE patients remain unclear. We profiled serum in six refractory SLE patients prior to and 3 months following CAR T cell infusion. Three months post T cell infusion, the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNFα decreased in patient sera. This was accompanied by elevations in serum IL-7 and BAFF. Furthermore, SLE-associated antibodies dropped profoundly in five of six patients. Last, consistent with other reports of CD19 CAR T therapy in B cell malignancies, we were able to show marginal impact of anti-CD19 CART therapy on pre-existing humoral immune responses in SLE patients. Together, these results provide insights into the mechanisms of efficacy of anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy in SLE.

Measurements of Groomed-Jet Substructure of Charm Jets Tagged by D^{0} Mesons in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

Understanding the role of parton mass and Casimir color factors in the quantum chromodynamics parton shower represents an important step in characterizing the emission properties of heavy quarks. Recent experimental advances in jet substructure techniques have provided the opportunity to isolate and characterize gluon emissions from heavy quarks. In this Letter, the first direct experimental constraint on the charm-quark splitting function is presented, obtained via the measurement of the groomed shared momentum fraction of the first splitting in charm jets, tagged by a reconstructed D^{0} meson. The measurement is made in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV, in the low jet transverse-momentum interval of 15≤p_{T}^{jet ch}<30  GeV/c where the emission properties are sensitive to parton mass effects. In addition, the opening angle of the first perturbative emission of the charm quark, as well as the number of perturbative emissions it undergoes, is reported. Comparisons to measurements of an inclusive-jet sample show a steeper splitting function for charm quarks compared with gluons and light quarks. Charm quarks also undergo fewer perturbative emissions in the parton shower, with a reduced probability of large-angle emissions.

Live-cell three-dimensional single-molecule tracking reveals modulation of enhancer dynamics by NuRD

To understand how the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex regulates enhancers and enhancer-promoter interactions, we have developed an approach to segment and extract key biophysical parameters from live-cell three-dimensional single-molecule trajectories. Unexpectedly, this has revealed that NuRD binds to chromatin for minutes, decompacts chromatin structure and increases enhancer dynamics. We also uncovered a rare fast-diffusing state of enhancers and found that NuRD restricts the time spent in this state. Hi-C and Cut&Run experiments revealed that NuRD modulates enhancer-promoter interactions in active chromatin, allowing them to contact each other over longer distances. Furthermore, NuRD leads to a marked redistribution of CTCF and, in particular, cohesin. We propose that NuRD promotes a decondensed chromatin environment, where enhancers and promoters can contact each other over longer distances, and where the resetting of enhancer-promoter interactions brought about by the fast decondensed chromatin motions is reduced, leading to more stable, long-lived enhancer-promoter relationships.

Non-Canonical p16-SP1 Signaling in Head and Neck Cancer Potentially Affects Cell Plasticity

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

We have previously identified a non-canonical role for p16 in head and neck cancer (HNSCC) to repress homologous recombination (HR) via activation of a ubiquitin-mediated pathway. This was potentially via interaction with the transcription factor Sp1, however this interaction, as well as its downstream effects remain to be determined.

MATERIALS/METHODS

HPV- HN5 cells forced to overexpress p16 and HPV+ UM-SCC-47 cells p16 CRISPR knockout or shRNA to Sp1 were used. Following modulation, cells were evaluated via clonogenic assay and RNA Sequencing. Additionally, a nude mouse flank model of tumors derived from UM-SCC-47 cells expressing either scrambled control or Sp1 shRNA was performed to evaluate effects on tumor growth (n = 7/group).

RESULTS

Clonogenic assay revealed that, as expected, forced expression of p16 in HPV- cells significantly increased radiosensitivity, while CRISPR KO of p16 in HPV+ cells led to radioresistance. Preliminary results indicate a similar pattern observed when Sp1 is inhibited via shRNA. RNASeq data were examined to identify genes likely regulated by p16. Specifically, genes that were significant between p16 modulated cells (either forced expression or CRISPR KO; False Discovery Rate (FDR 1%)) with differences in expression tracking p16 (at least 1.5x higher in cells with intact p16) were evaluated via Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), with the most significant pathways repressed by p16 including: Stem cell signaling (p = 5e-4), Regulation of EMT (p = 9e-4) and WNT pathways (p = 1.6e-3). Initial results from in vivo studies indicate minimal, non-significant inhibitory effects on tumor growth following inhibition of Sp1 in UM-SCC-47. Confirmatory and radiation experiments are ongoing.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that non-canonical functions of p16 may extend beyond direct effects on HR to modulation of aspects of cell differentiation and plasticity. If accurate, p16 may be repressing EMT, contributing to its effects on radiosensitization.

Measurement of the Lifetime and Λ Separation Energy of _{Λ}^{3}H

The most precise measurements to date of the _{Λ}^{3}H lifetime τ and Λ separation energy B_{Λ} are obtained using the data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV collected by ALICE at the LHC. The _{Λ}^{3}H is reconstructed via its charged two-body mesonic decay channel (_{Λ}^{3}H→^{3}He+π^{-} and the charge-conjugate process). The measured values τ=[253±11(stat)±6(syst)]  ps and B_{Λ}=[102±63(stat)±67(syst)]  keV are compatible with predictions from effective field theories and confirm that the _{Λ}^{3}H structure is consistent with a weakly bound system.

Precision targeting of autoantigen-specific B cells in muscle-specific tyrosine kinase myasthenia gravis with chimeric autoantibody receptor T cells

Muscle-specific tyrosine kinase myasthenia gravis (MuSK MG) is an autoimmune disease that causes life-threatening muscle weakness due to anti-MuSK autoantibodies that disrupt neuromuscular junction signaling. To avoid chronic immunosuppression from current therapies, we engineered T cells to express a MuSK chimeric autoantibody receptor with CD137-CD3ζ signaling domains (MuSK-CAART) for precision targeting of B cells expressing anti-MuSK autoantibodies. MuSK-CAART demonstrated similar efficacy as anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells for depletion of anti-MuSK B cells and retained cytolytic activity in the presence of soluble anti-MuSK antibodies. In an experimental autoimmune MG mouse model, MuSK-CAART reduced anti-MuSK IgG without decreasing B cells or total IgG levels, reflecting MuSK-specific B cell depletion. Specific off-target interactions of MuSK-CAART were not identified in vivo, in primary human cell screens or by high-throughput human membrane proteome array. These data contributed to an investigational new drug application and phase 1 clinical study design for MuSK-CAART for the treatment of MuSK autoantibody-positive MG.

Measurement of the J/ψ Polarization with Respect to the Event Plane in Pb-Pb Collisions at the LHC

We study the polarization of inclusive J/ψ produced in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV at the LHC in the dimuon channel, via the measurement of the angular distribution of its decay products. We perform the study in the rapidity region 2.5 Collapse

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First Measurement of Antideuteron Number Fluctuations at Energies Available at the Large Hadron Collider

The first measurement of event-by-event antideuteron number fluctuations in high energy heavy-ion collisions is presented. The measurements are carried out at midrapidity (|η|<0.8) as a function of collision centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV using the ALICE detector. A significant negative correlation between the produced antiprotons and antideuterons is observed in all collision centralities. The results are compared with a state-of-the-art coalescence calculation. While it describes the ratio of higher order cumulants of the antideuteron multiplicity distribution, it fails to describe quantitatively the magnitude of the correlation between antiproton and antideuteron production. On the other hand, thermal-statistical model calculations describe all the measured observables within uncertainties only for correlation volumes that are different with respect to those describing proton yields and a similar measurement of net-proton number fluctuations.

Enhanced Deuteron Coalescence Probability in Jets

The transverse-momentum (p_{T}) spectra and coalescence parameters B_{2} of (anti)deuterons are measured in p-p collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV for the first time in and out of jets. In this measurement, the direction of the leading particle with the highest p_{T} in the event (p_{T}^{lead}>5  GeV/c) is used as an approximation for the jet axis. The event is consequently divided into three azimuthal regions, and the jet signal is obtained as the difference between the toward region, that contains jet fragmentation products in addition to the underlying event (UE), and the transverse region, which is dominated by the UE. The coalescence parameter in the jet is found to be approximately a factor of 10 larger than that in the underlying event. This experimental observation is consistent with the coalescence picture and can be attributed to the smaller average phase-space distance between nucleons in the jet cone as compared with the underlying event. The results presented in this Letter are compared to predictions from a simple nucleon coalescence model, where the phase-space distributions of nucleons are generated using pythia8 with the Monash 2013 tuning, and to predictions from a deuteron production model based on ordinary nuclear reactions with parametrized energy-dependent cross sections tuned on data. The latter model is implemented in pythia8.3. Both models reproduce the observed large difference between in-jet and out-of-jet coalescence parameters, although the almost flat trend of the B_{2}^{Jet} is not reproduced by the models, which instead give a decreasing trend.

A rare case of abdominal cocoon associated with internal hernia in an adult

A transmesenteric internal hernia (TIH) is a protrusion of a viscus through the mesenteric defect. It is secondary to previous gastrointestinal surgery in an adult. Early diagnosis and management are warranted to prevent the strangulation of the bowel in a TIH. Here, we are reporting a case of a 24-year-old gentleman with COVID-positive status who has presented with cough, abdominal cocoon, and features of subacute intestinal obstruction (SAIO) without any previous history of abdominal surgery. A nonoperative trial is given in the management of abdominal cocoon with SAIO. In contrast, delay in surgical intervention in TIH leads to bowel gangrene. Surprisingly even on contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen, TIH was not picked up. We have diagnosed this case intraoperatively with gangrene of the bowel. In an abdominal cocoon without any history suggestive of tuberculosis or previous surgery, or any other condition that leads to an intra-abdominal reaction, an internal hernia should be kept as a differential diagnosis. The delay in diagnosis and surgical intervention is associated with potentially disastrous complications.

Severe acute pancreatitis in the early postoperative period due to afferent loop syndrome following gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Afferent loop syndrome (ALS) is an uncommon complication of gastrojejunostomy. It may be acute or chronic depending on whether symptoms manifest within 7 days of surgery. Rarely acute ALS may give rise to acute pancreatitis. It may present early in the postoperative course and, if diagnosed late, may result in organ failure within 48h. We report a middle-aged woman with carcinoma of the stomach managed by subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth II gastrojejunostomy and Braun jejunojejunostomy. The patient developed vomiting and abdominal pain in the first postoperative day with acute renal shutdown and about 500ml drain output of dirty fluid. On investigation, a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis due to afferent loop syndrome was made, and the patient was resuscitated in the intensive care unit. However, she showed early signs of organ failure and succumbed to her condition within 6 days of surgery. Since the complication is rare following gastrojejunostomy and often mimics ALS, an early diagnosis becomes difficult. If delay in management happens, premature organ failure may lead to high morbidity and mortality.

Comparison of suspected and confirmed internal EVD-related infections: a prospective multi-centre U.K. observational study

Background

Diagnosis of internal external ventricular drain (EVD)-related infections (iERI) is an area of diagnostic difficulty. Empiric treatment is often initiated on clinical suspicion. There is limited guidance around antimicrobial management of confirmed versus suspected iERI.

Methods

Data on patients requiring EVD insertion were collected from 21 neurosurgical units in the United Kingdom from 2014 to 2015. Confirmed iERI was defined as clinical suspicion of infection with positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and/or Gram stain. Cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and clinical parameters and antimicrobial management were compared between the 2 groups. Mortality and Modified Rankin Scores were compared at 30 days post-EVD insertion.

Results

Internal EVD-related infection was suspected after 46 of 495 EVD insertions (9.3%), more common after an emergency insertion. Twenty-six of 46 were confirmed iERIs, mostly due to Staphylococci (16 of 26). When confirmed and suspected infections were compared, there were no differences in CSF white cell counts or glucose concentrations, nor peripheral blood white cell counts or C-reactive protein concentrations. The incidence of fever, meningism, and seizures was also similar, although altered consciousness was more common in people with confirmed iERI. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial usage was prevalent in both groups with no difference in median duration of therapy (10 days [interquartile range {IQR}, 7–24.5] for confirmed cases and 9.5 days [IQR, 5.75–14] for suspected, P = 0.3). Despite comparable baseline characteristics, suspected iERI was associated with lower mortality and better neurological outcomes.

Conclusions

Suspected iERI could represent sterile inflammation or lower bacterial load leading to false-negative cultures. There is a need for improved microbiology diagnostics and biomarkers of bacterial infection to permit accurate discrimination and improve antimicrobial stewardship.

A multicenter prospective observational study on the use of type and screen method versus conventional type and crossmatch policy for pre-transfusion testing in the Indian population

Despite knowing the benefits of the type and screen (TS) method in pre-transfusion testing (PTT), most transfusion centers in developing countries continue to be reluctant to adopt a TS strategy over the conventional type and antihuman globulin (AHG) crossmatch (TX) policy in their routine laboratory practice because of the cost of obtaining antibody screening reagents. To generate strong evidence, this multicenter, observational study was conducted in which we collected data prospectively over a 1-year period from six major blood centers in India. The primary objective of this study was to identify the discordance between TS and TX results. A secondary objective was to identify the allo-antibody specificity in patients with positive antibody detection tests. All patients with orders for red blood cell transfusion who met patient selection criteria were subjected to parallel testing by column agglutination technology (CAT) for both the antibody detection test (screen) using a commercial three-cell panel and for the AHG crossmatch. A total of 21,842 patients were tested. In 148 patients with incompatible crossmatches, samples from six patients gave negative results with the antibody detection test, whereas the antibody detection test was positive in samples from 118 patients among the 21,694 crossmatch-compatible cases. The TS approach achieved a positive percent agreement of 95.95 and was found to be significantly effective in preventing the transfusion of serologically incompatible blood. The risk associated with abbreviating the AHG crossmatch was found to be 0.009 percent. Most of the identified clinically significant alloantibodies were directed to Rh antigens (D>E>c>C>e), followed by anti-K and anti-M. This study has generated sufficient robust data for the Indian population by including patients from all major geographical areas of the country and concluded a satisfactory agreement level as well as non-inferiority to the current PTT policy. Therefore, TS policy can be implemented in developing countries with no compromise on blood safety, provided sufficient technical and infrastructural support are available.

A single dose of dietary nitrate supplementation protects against endothelial ischemia-reperfusion injury in early postmenopausal women

The onset of menopause and accompanying changes to ovarian hormones often precedes endothelial dysfunction in women. In particular, accelerated impairments in macrovascular and microvascular function coincide with the loss of estrogen, as does impaired endothelial responses to ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. In healthy, early postmenopausal women (n = 12; 3.9 ± 1.5 years since menopause) we tested the hypothesis that acute dietary nitrate (NO3-) supplementation would improve endothelial function and attenuate the magnitude of endothelial dysfunction following whole-arm IR in comparison with placebo. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study we tested participants before and after NO3--rich (BRnitrate) and NO3--depleted (BRplacebo) beetroot juice (BR) consumption, as well as following IR injury, and 15 min after IR to assess recovery. Analyses with repeated-measures general linear models revealed a condition × time interaction for brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD; P = 0.04), and no interaction effect was found for the near-infrared spectroscopy-derived reperfusion slope (P = 0.86). Follow-up analysis showed a significant decline in FMD following IR injury with BRplacebo in comparison with all other timepoints (all, P < 0.05), while this decline was not present with BRnitrate (all, P > 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that a single dose of dietary NO3- minimizes IR-induced macrovascular endothelial dysfunction in healthy, early postmenopausal women, but does not improve resting macrovascular and microvascular function. Trial registration number: NCT03644472. Novelty: In healthy, early postmenopausal women, a single dose of NO3--rich BR can protect against IR-induced endothelial dysfunction. This protection may be due to nitric oxide bioactivity during IR rather than improved endothelial function prior to the IR protocol per se.

Hypertriton Production in p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

The study of nuclei and antinuclei production has proven to be a powerful tool to investigate the formation mechanism of loosely bound states in high-energy hadronic collisions. The first measurement of the production of _{Λ}^{3}H in p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV is presented in this Letter. Its production yield measured in the rapidity interval -1<y<0 for the 40% highest-multiplicity p-Pb collisions is dN/dy=[6.3±1.8(stat)±1.2(syst)]×10^{-7}. The measurement is compared with the expectations of statistical hadronization and coalescence models, which describe the nucleosynthesis in hadronic collisions. These two models predict very different yields of the hypertriton in charged particle multiplicity environments relevant to small collision systems such as p-Pb, and therefore the measurement of dN/dy is crucial to distinguish between them. The precision of this measurement leads to the exclusion with a significance larger than 6.9σ of some configurations of the statistical hadronization model, thus constraining the theory behind the production of loosely bound states at hadron colliders.

Polarization of Λ and Λ[over ¯] Hyperons along the Beam Direction in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s]_{NN}=5.02 TeV

The polarization of the Λ and Λ[over ¯] hyperons along the beam (z) direction, P_{z}, has been measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV recorded with ALICE at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The main contribution to P_{z} comes from elliptic flow-induced vorticity and can be characterized by the second Fourier sine coefficient P_{z,s2}=⟨P_{z}sin(2φ-2Ψ_{2})⟩, where φ is the hyperon azimuthal emission angle and Ψ_{2} is the elliptic flow plane angle. We report the measurement of P_{z,s2} for different collision centralities and in the 30%-50% centrality interval as a function of the hyperon transverse momentum and rapidity. The P_{z,s2} is positive similarly as measured by the STAR Collaboration in Au-Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV, with somewhat smaller amplitude in the semicentral collisions. This is the first experimental evidence of a nonzero hyperon P_{z} in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. The comparison of the measured P_{z,s2} with the hydrodynamic model calculations shows sensitivity to the competing contributions from thermal and the recently found shear-induced vorticity, as well as to whether the polarization is acquired at the quark-gluon plasma or the hadronic phase.

Cambridge hybrid closed-loop algorithm in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a multicentre 6-month randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Closed-loop insulin delivery systems have the potential to address suboptimal glucose control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. We compared safety and efficacy of the Cambridge hybrid closed-loop algorithm with usual care over 6 months in this population.

METHODS

In a multicentre, multinational, parallel randomised controlled trial, participants aged 6-18 years using insulin pump therapy were recruited at seven UK and five US paediatric diabetes centres. Key inclusion criteria were diagnosis of type 1 diabetes for at least 12 months, insulin pump therapy for at least 3 months, and screening HbA1c levels between 53 and 86 mmol/mol (7·0-10·0%). Using block randomisation and central randomisation software, we randomly assigned participants to either closed-loop insulin delivery (closed-loop group) or to usual care with insulin pump therapy (control group) for 6 months. Randomisation was stratified at each centre by local baseline HbA1c. The Cambridge closed-loop algorithm running on a smartphone was used with either (1) a modified Medtronic 640G pump, Medtronic Guardian 3 sensor, and Medtronic prototype phone enclosure (FlorenceM configuration), or (2) a Sooil Dana RS pump and Dexcom G6 sensor (CamAPS FX configuration). The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c at 6 months combining data from both configurations. The primary analysis was done in all randomised patients (intention to treat). Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02925299.

FINDINGS

Of 147 people initially screened, 133 participants (mean age 13·0 years [SD 2·8]; 57% female, 43% male) were randomly assigned to either the closed-loop group (n=65) or the control group (n=68). Mean baseline HbA1c was 8·2% (SD 0·7) in the closed-loop group and 8·3% (0·7) in the control group. At 6 months, HbA1c was lower in the closed-loop group than in the control group (between-group difference -3·5 mmol/mol (95% CI -6·5 to -0·5 [-0·32 percentage points, -0·59 to -0·04]; p=0·023). Closed-loop usage was low with FlorenceM due to failing phone enclosures (median 40% [IQR 26-53]), but consistently high with CamAPS FX (93% [88-96]), impacting efficacy. A total of 155 adverse events occurred after randomisation (67 in the closed-loop group, 88 in the control group), including seven severe hypoglycaemia events (four in the closed-loop group, three in the control group), two diabetic ketoacidosis events (both in the closed-loop group), and two non-treatment-related serious adverse events. There were 23 reportable hyperglycaemia events (11 in the closed-loop group, 12 in the control group), which did not meet criteria for diabetic ketoacidosis.

INTERPRETATION

The Cambridge hybrid closed-loop algorithm had an acceptable safety profile, and improved glycaemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. To ensure optimal efficacy of the closed-loop system, usage needs to be consistently high, as demonstrated with CamAPS FX.

FUNDING

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Measurement of the Groomed Jet Radius and Momentum Splitting Fraction in pp and Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

This article presents groomed jet substructure measurements in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector. The soft drop grooming algorithm provides access to the hard parton splittings inside a jet by removing soft wide-angle radiation. We report the groomed jet momentum splitting fraction, z_{g}, and the (scaled) groomed jet radius, θ_{g}. Charged-particle jets are reconstructed at midrapidity using the anti-k_{T} algorithm with resolution parameters R=0.2 and R=0.4. In heavy-ion collisions, the large underlying event poses a challenge for the reconstruction of groomed jet observables, since fluctuations in the background can cause groomed parton splittings to be misidentified. By using strong grooming conditions to reduce this background, we report these observables fully corrected for detector effects and background fluctuations for the first time. A narrowing of the θ_{g} distribution in Pb-Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is seen, which provides direct evidence of the modification of the angular structure of jets in the quark-gluon plasma. No significant modification of the z_{g} distribution in Pb-Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is observed. These results are compared with a variety of theoretical models of jet quenching, and provide constraints on jet energy-loss mechanisms and coherence effects in the quark-gluon plasma.

33 ECGs in the Surgical Patient - a Review of Practice

Aim

To Identify if baseline admission ECGs are performed for all emergency surgical patients over the age of 50 being admitted directly to General Surgery from the community. Aim to have 100% of patients &gt;50 years to have admission ECGs.

Method

We undertook a retrospective audit analysing the following parameters:

** This Hospital offers an in-hours (0900-1630, weekdays) ECG service via the cardiac physiology department.

We Conducted 3 cycles of 1 month duration each to assess findings.

Interventions:

Results

Cycle 1–50% (8/16) patients had admission ECGs. 50% (8/16) within 2 hours.

Cycle 2–54% (12/21) patients had admission ECGs. 43% (9/21) within 2 hours.

Cycle 3–71% (17/24) patients had admission ECGs. 62% (15/24) within 2 hours.

Conclusions

We noted improvement in admission ECGs through our interventions. Reminder emails were deemed useful. Barriers identified in After-hours ECGs being done on time due to clinical priorities. We identified a potential role for ECG-trained health-care professionals. 0900–1630 ECG service deemed valuable to admitting doctors. ECG machines were reviewed and found satisfactory. Possible delays in treatment could not be analysed with data collected. Hence, there is further scope to look into outcomes of delayed/missed ECGs e.g., delayed surgery / missed or alternative diagnosis.

Senior triaging of ENT emergency clinic referrals alleviates pressures on the outpatient department

INTRODUCTION

The ear, nose and throat (ENT) emergency clinic is managed by foundation year (FY) doctors from taking referrals to discharging patients, under the supervision of a registrar. FYs learn essential skills and knowledge on how to manage common ENT problems. The clinic is often overloaded because of a high patient demand, and this limits the opportunities for teaching. We hypothesised that the clinic bookings would be better managed if referrals from general practitioners (GPs) were triaged by registrars.

METHODS

Telephone referrals from GPs for the ENT emergency clinic were directed to the on-call ENT registrar, between 8am and 1pm from Monday to Friday, and to the FY outside of this period. Consecutive referrals to the emergency clinic were analysed in a baseline audit and a post-intervention cycle.

RESULTS

A total of 646 and 611 patients were given clinic appointments in the first and second cycles, respectively. Clinic session overbookings decreased from 85% to 46.3%. Appointments for referrals that were deemed inappropriate had reduced from 22% to 12.1%.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Involvement of a registrar in taking referrals for the ENT emergency clinic was associated with a reduction in clinic overbookings. It is feasible and productive to involve a senior decision maker in the operational management of the emergency clinic, while preserving the delivery of this service by FYs for its training value.

From SARS-CoV-2 infection to COVID-19 morbidity: an in silico projection of virion flow rates to the lower airway via nasopharyngeal fluid boluses

Background: While the nasopharynx is initially the dominant upper airway infection site for SARS-CoV-2, the physiologic mechanism launching the infection at the lower airway is still not well-understood. Based on the rapidity of infection progression to the lungs, it has been hypothesized that the nasopharynx may be acting as the primary seeding zone for subsequent contamination of the lower airway via aspiration of virus-laden boluses of nasopharyngeal fluids. Methodology: To examine the plausibility of the aspiration-driven mechanism, we have computationally tracked the inhalation process in three anatomic airway reconstructions and have quantified the nasopharyngeal liquid volume transmitted to the lower airspace during each aspiration. Results: Extending the numerical trends on aspiration volume to earlier records on aspiration frequencies indicates a total aspirated nasopharyngeal liquid volume of 0.3 – 0.76 ml/day. Subsequently, for mean sputum viral load, our modeling projects that the number of virions reaching the lower airway will range over 2.1×106 – 5.3×106 /day; for peak viral load, the corresponding number hovers between 7.1×108 – 1.8×109. Conclusions: The virion transmission findings fill in a key piece of the mechanistic puzzle on the systemic progression of SARS-CoV-2, and subjectively point to health conditions like dysphagia, with proclivity to increased aspiration, as some of the potential underlying risk factors for aggressive lung infections.

Measurement of Prompt D^{0}, Λ_{c}^{+}, and Σ_{c}^{0,++}(2455) Production in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The p_{T}-differential production cross sections of prompt D^{0}, Λ_{c}^{+}, and Σ_{c}^{0,++}(2455) charmed hadrons are measured at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV. This is the first measurement of Σ_{c}^{0,++} production in hadronic collisions. Assuming the same production yield for the three Σ_{c}^{0,+,++} isospin states, the baryon-to-meson cross section ratios Σ_{c}^{0,+,++}/D^{0} and Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} are calculated in the transverse momentum (p_{T}) intervals 2<p_{T}<12 and 1<p_{T}<24  GeV/c. Values significantly larger than in e^{+}e^{-} collisions are observed, indicating for the first time that baryon enhancement in hadronic collisions also extends to the Σ_{c}. The feed-down contribution to Λ_{c}^{+} production from Σ_{c}^{0,+,++} is also reported and is found to be larger than in e^{+}e^{-} collisions. The data are compared with predictions from event generators and other phenomenological models, providing a sensitive test of the different charm-hadronization mechanisms implemented in the models.

Measurement of the Cross Sections of Ξ_{c}^{0} and Ξ_{c}^{+} Baryons and of the Branching-Fraction Ratio BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e})/BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+}) in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The p_{T}-differential cross sections of prompt charm-strange baryons Ξ_{c}^{0} and Ξ_{c}^{+} were measured at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in proton-proton (pp) collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The Ξ_{c}^{0} baryon was reconstructed via both the semileptonic decay (Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e}) and the hadronic decay (Ξ^{-}π^{+}) channels. The Ξ_{c}^{+} baryon was reconstructed via the hadronic decay (Ξ^{-}π^{+}π^{+}) channel. The branching-fraction ratio BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e})/BR(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+})=1.38±0.14(stat)±0.22(syst) was measured with a total uncertainty reduced by a factor of about 3 with respect to the current world average reported by the Particle Data Group. The transverse momentum (p_{T}) dependence of the Ξ_{c}^{0}- and Ξ_{c}^{+}-baryon production relative to the D^{0} meson and to the Σ_{c}^{0,+,++}- and Λ_{c}^{+}-baryon production are reported. The baryon-to-meson ratio increases toward low p_{T} up to a value of approximately 0.3. The measurements are compared with various models that take different hadronization mechanisms into consideration. The results provide stringent constraints to these theoretical calculations and additional evidence that different processes are involved in charm hadronization in electron-positron (e^{+}e^{-}) and hadronic collisions.

Λ_{c}^{+} Production and Baryon-to-Meson Ratios in pp and p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV at the LHC

The prompt production of the charm baryon Λ_{c}^{+} and the Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} production ratios were measured at midrapidity with the ALICE detector in pp and p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. These new measurements show a clear decrease of the Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} ratio with increasing transverse momentum (p_{T}) in both collision systems in the range 2<p_{T}<12  GeV/c, exhibiting similarities with the light-flavor baryon-to-meson ratios p/π and Λ/K_{S}^{0}. At low p_{T}, predictions that include additional color-reconnection mechanisms beyond the leading-color approximation, assume the existence of additional higher-mass charm-baryon states, or include hadronization via coalescence can describe the data, while predictions driven by charm-quark fragmentation processes measured in e^{+}e^{-} and e^{-}p collisions significantly underestimate the data. The results presented in this Letter provide significant evidence that the established assumption of universality (colliding-system independence) of parton-to-hadron fragmentation is not sufficient to describe charm-baryon production in hadronic collisions at LHC energies.

Experimental Evidence for an Attractive p-ϕ Interaction

This Letter presents the first experimental evidence of the attractive strong interaction between a proton and a ϕ meson. The result is obtained from two-particle correlations of combined p-ϕ⊕ p[over ¯]-ϕ pairs measured in high-multiplicity pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV by the ALICE Collaboration. The spin-averaged scattering length and effective range of the p-ϕ interaction are extracted from the fully corrected correlation function employing the Lednický-Lyuboshits approach. In particular, the imaginary part of the scattering length vanishes within uncertainties, indicating that inelastic processes do not play a prominent role for the p-ϕ interaction. These data demonstrate that the interaction is dominated by elastic p-ϕ scattering. Furthermore, an analysis employing phenomenological Gaussian- and Yukawa-type potentials is conducted. Under the assumption of the latter, the N-ϕ coupling constant is found to be g_{N-ϕ}=0.14±0.03(stat)±0.02(syst). This work provides valuable experimental input to accomplish a self-consistent description of the N-ϕ interaction, which is particularly relevant for the more fundamental studies on partial restoration of chiral symmetry in nuclear medium.

Multiharmonic Correlations of Different Flow Amplitudes in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76 TeV

The event-by-event correlations between three flow amplitudes are measured for the first time in Pb-Pb collisions, using higher-order symmetric cumulants. We find that different three-harmonic correlations develop during the collective evolution of the medium when compared to correlations that exist in the initial state. These new results cannot be interpreted in terms of previous lower-order flow measurements since contributions from two-harmonic correlations are explicitly removed in the new observables. A comparison to Monte Carlo simulations provides new and independent constraints for the initial conditions and system properties of nuclear matter created in heavy-ion collisions.

Nutrition and management of glycemia in neonates with neonatal encephalopathy treated with hypothermia

Adequate nutrition and glycemic homeostasis are increasingly recognized as potentially neuroprotective for the developing brain. In the context of hypoxia-ischemia, evidence is scarce regarding optimal nutritional support and administration route, as well as the short- and long-term consequences of such interventions. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on disturbances of brain metabolism of glucose and substrates by hypoxia-ischemia, and compound effects of these mechanisms on brain injury characterized by specific patterns on EEG and MRI. Risks and benefits of nutrition delivery via parenteral or enteral routes are examined. Nutrition could mitigate adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, and the impact of nutritional strategies and specific nutritional interventions are reviewed. Limited literature highlights the need for further studies to understand the changes in energy metabolism during and after hypoxic-ischemic injury, to optimize nutritional regimens and glucose management, and to inform the neuroprotective role of nutrition.

Soft-Dielectron Excess in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A measurement of dielectron production in proton-proton (pp) collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV, recorded with the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC, is presented in this Letter. The data set was recorded with a reduced magnetic solenoid field. This enables the investigation of a kinematic domain at low dielectron (ee) invariant mass m_{ee} and pair transverse momentum p_{T,ee} that was previously inaccessible at the LHC. The cross section for dielectron production is studied as a function of m_{ee}, p_{T,ee}, and event multiplicity dN_{ch}/dη. The expected dielectron rate from hadron decays, called hadronic cocktail, utilizes a parametrization of the measured η/π^{0} ratio in pp and proton-nucleus collisions, assuming that this ratio shows no strong dependence on collision energy at low transverse momentum. Comparison of the measured dielectron yield to the hadronic cocktail at 0.15<m_{ee}<0.6  GeV/c^{2} and for p_{T,ee}<0.4  GeV/c indicates an enhancement of soft dielectrons, reminiscent of the "anomalous" soft-photon and soft-dilepton excess in hadron-hadron collisions reported by several experiments under different experimental conditions. The enhancement factor over the hadronic cocktail amounts to 1.61±0.13(stat)±0.17(syst,data)±0.34(syst,cocktail) in the ALICE acceptance. Acceptance-corrected excess spectra in m_{ee} and p_{T,ee} are extracted and compared with calculations of dielectron production from hadronic bremsstrahlung and thermal radiation within a hadronic many-body approach.

Improved Constraints on Global Methane Emissions and Sinks Using δ 13C-CH4

We study the drivers behind the global atmospheric methane (CH4) increase observed after 2006. Candidate emission and sink scenarios are constructed based on proposed hypotheses in the literature. These scenarios are simulated in the TM5 tracer transport model for 1984-2016 to produce three-dimensional fields of CH4 and δ 13C-CH4, which are compared with observations to test the competing hypotheses in the literature in one common model framework. We find that the fossil fuel (FF) CH4 emission trend from the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research 4.3.2 inventory does not agree with observed δ 13C-CH4. Increased FF CH4 emissions are unlikely to be the dominant driver for the post-2006 global CH4 increase despite the possibility for a small FF emission increase. We also find that a significant decrease in the abundance of hydroxyl radicals (OH) cannot explain the post-2006 global CH4 increase since it does not track the observed decrease in global mean δ 13C-CH4. Different CH4 sinks have different fractionation factors for δ 13C-CH4, thus we can investigate the uncertainty introduced by the reaction of CH4 with tropospheric chlorine (Cl), a CH4 sink whose abundance, spatial distribution, and temporal changes remain uncertain. Our results show that including or excluding tropospheric Cl as a 13 Tg/year CH4 sink in our model changes the magnitude of estimated fossil emissions by ∼20%. We also found that by using different wetland emissions based on a static versus a dynamic wetland area map, the partitioning between FF and microbial sources differs by 20 Tg/year, ∼12% of estimated fossil emissions.

Comparative evaluation of the conventional tube test and column agglutination technology for ABO antibody titration in healthy individuals: a report from India

Determination of accurate anti-A/-B titers is important for treatment selection in ABO-incompatible stem cell and solid-organ transplants. The standard method for ABO antibody titration is the conventional tube test (CTT). Dithiothreitol (DTT) is commonly used to inactivate the IgM antibody component. The aim of this study was to compare six different methods for ABO antibody titration and to observe the effectiveness of DTT on antibody estimation. A total of 90 healthy voluntary blood donors were enrolled in this study, including 30 each for blood groups A, B, and O. Antibody titrations were performed and tested using the CTT-immediate spin (IS), CTT-antihuman globulin (AHG) with and without DTT, column agglutination technology (CAT)-IS, and CAT-AHG with and without DTT methods. Bead-CAT was used, and the positive cutoff value was set to 1+ for each method to determine the endpoint of the titer. The median values of anti-A/-B titers by IS were found to be higher than those values by AHG in CTT and CAT among group B and A individuals, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed in values from group O individuals for IS and AHG anti-A/-B titers, estimated by each method. Although there was positive correlation between the anti-A/-B titer results obtained using the CTT and CAT in all blood groups, testing using AHG showed poor agreement with and without DTT pretreatment (kappa value of 0.11 and 0.20, respectively). Moderate agreement was observed between CTT-IS and CAT-IS (kappa value of 0.46). Median anti-A/-B AHG titers were reduced by the use of DTT in all blood group samples. Significant differences in the interpretability of anti-A/-B titers were observed among different methods. A uniform approach for selecting the method for ABO antibody titration is highly recommended, and DTT pretreatment of plasma to neutralize IgM activity should be considered to obtain precise values of IgG anti-A/-B titers. Immunohematology 2021;37:25-32 .

Determination of accurate anti-A/-B titers is important for treatment selection in ABO-incompatible stem cell and solid-organ transplants. The standard method for ABO antibody titration is the conventional tube test (CTT). Dithiothreitol (DTT) is commonly used to inactivate the IgM antibody component. The aim of this study was to compare six different methods for ABO antibody titration and to observe the effectiveness of DTT on antibody estimation. A total of 90 healthy voluntary blood donors were enrolled in this study, including 30 each for blood groups A, B, and O. Antibody titrations were performed and tested using the CTT-immediate spin (IS), CTT-antihuman globulin (AHG) with and without DTT, column agglutination technology (CAT)-IS, and CAT-AHG with and without DTT methods. Bead-CAT was used, and the positive cutoff value was set to 1+ for each method to determine the endpoint of the titer. The median values of anti-A/-B titers by IS were found to be higher than those values by AHG in CTT and CAT among group B and A individuals, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed in values from group O individuals for IS and AHG anti-A/-B titers, estimated by each method. Although there was positive correlation between the anti-A/-B titer results obtained using the CTT and CAT in all blood groups, testing using AHG showed poor agreement with and without DTT pretreatment (kappa value of 0.11 and 0.20, respectively). Moderate agreement was observed between CTT-IS and CAT-IS (kappa value of 0.46). Median anti-A/-B AHG titers were reduced by the use of DTT in all blood group samples. Significant differences in the interpretability of anti-A/-B titers were observed among different methods. A uniform approach for selecting the method for ABO antibody titration is highly recommended, and DTT pretreatment of plasma to neutralize IgM activity should be considered to obtain precise values of IgG anti-A/-B titers. Immunohematology 2021;37:25–32 .

Elliptic Flow of Electrons from Beauty-Hadron Decays in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

The elliptic flow of electrons from beauty hadron decays at midrapidity (|y|<0.8) is measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The azimuthal distribution of the particles produced in the collisions can be parametrized with a Fourier expansion, in which the second harmonic coefficient represents the elliptic flow, v_{2}. The v_{2} coefficient of electrons from beauty hadron decays is measured for the first time in the transverse momentum (p_{T}) range 1.3-6  GeV/c in the centrality class 30%-50%. The measurement of electrons from beauty-hadron decays exploits their larger mean proper decay length cτ≈500  μm compared to that of charm hadrons and most of the other background sources. The v_{2} of electrons from beauty hadron decays at midrapidity is found to be positive with a significance of 3.75  σ. The results provide insights into the degree of thermalization of beauty quarks in the medium. A model assuming full thermalization of beauty quarks is strongly disfavored by the measurement at high p_{T}, but is in agreement with the results at low p_{T}. Transport models including substantial interactions of beauty quarks with an expanding strongly interacting medium describe the measurement within uncertainties.