Aquatic Fate and Ecotoxicology Effect of ZnS:Mn Quantum Dots on Chlorella vulgaris in Fresh Water

With the increasing integration of nanomaterials into daily life, the potential ecotoxicological impacts of nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted increased attention from the scientific community. This study assessed the ecotoxicity of ZnS quantum dots (QDs) doped with varying molar concentrations of Mn2+ on Chlorella vulgaris. The ZnS:Mn QDs were synthesized using the polyol method. The size of the ZnS:Mn QDs ranged from approximately 1.1 nm to 2 nm, while the aggregation size in Seine River water was 341 nm at pH 6 and 8. The presence of ZnS:Mn (10%) NPs exhibited profound toxicity to Chlorella vulgaris, with immediate reductions in viability (survival cells) from 71%, 60% to 51%, 52% in BG11 and Seine River water, respectively, at a concentration of 100 mg L-1 of ZnS:Mn (10%) NPs. Additionally, the ATP content in Chlorella vulgaris significantly decreased in Seine River water (by 20%) after 3 h of exposure to ZnS:Mn (10%) NPs. Concurrently, SOD activity significantly increased in Seine River water, indicating that the ZnS:Mn (10%) NPs induced ROS production and triggered an oxidative stress response in microalgae cells.

Dual-Mode Nanoprobes Based on Lanthanide Doped Fluoride Nanoparticles Functionalized by Aryl Diazonium Salts for Fluorescence and SERS Bioimaging

The design of dual-mode fluorescence and Raman tags stimulates a growing interest in biomedical imaging and sensing applications as they offer the possibility to synergistically combine the versatility and velocity of fluorescence imaging with the specificity of Raman spectroscopy. Although lanthanide-doped fluoride nanoparticles (NPs) are among the most studied fluorescent nanoprobes, their use for the development of bimodal fluorescent-Raman probes has never been reported yet, to the best of the authors knowledge, probably due to the difficulty to functionalize them with Raman reporter groups. This gap is filled herein by proposing a fast and straightforward approach based on aryl diazonium salt chemistry to functionalize Eu3+ or Tb3+ doped CaF2 and LaF3 NPs by Raman scatters. The resulting surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-encoded lanthanide-doped fluoride NPs retain their fluorescence labeling capacity and display efficient SERS activity for cell bioimaging. The potential of this new generation of bimodal nanoprobes is assessed through cell viability assays and intracellular fluorescence and Raman imaging, opening up unprecedented opportunities for biomedical applications.

Mechanism of formation of Co-Ru nanoalloys: the key role of Ru in the reduction pathway of Co

The chemical synthesis of alloy nanoparticles requires adequate conditions to enable co-reduction instead of separate reduction of the two metal cations. The mechanism of formation of bimetallic cobalt-ruthenium nanoalloys by reducing metal salts in an alcohol medium was explored to draw general rules to extrapolate to other systems. The relative kinetics of the reduction of both metal cations were studied by UV-visible and in situ Quick-X-ray absorption spectroscopies as well as H2 evolution. The addition of Co(II) ions does not influence the reduction kinetics of Ru(III) but adding Ru(III) to a Co(II) solution promotes the reduction of cobalt cations. Indeed, while CoO is formed when reaching the boiling temperature of the solvent for the monometallic system, a direct reduction of Co is observed at this temperature without formation of the oxide for the bimetallic one. The co-reduction of the metal cations results in the formation of bimetallic nanoplatelets, the size of which can be tuned by changing the Ru content.

Does Atmospheric Corrosion Alter the Sound Quality of the Bronze Used for Manufacturing Bells?

Bells are made of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Art objects and musical instruments belong to tangible and intangible heritage. The effect of atmospheric alteration on their sound is not well documented. To address this question, alteration cycles of bronze specimens are performed in a chamber reproducing a realistic polluted coastal atmosphere. The corrosion layers are characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry. The buried interface of the film (alloy-layer interface) is formed by a thin, adherent and micro-cracked layer, mainly composed of sulfates, copper oxide and chloride, on top of tin corrosion products. Near the atmosphere-film interface, less adherent irregular clusters of soot, calcite, gypsum and halite developed. Through these observations, an alteration scenario is proposed. To correlate the bronze corrosion effect on the bell sound, linear and nonlinear resonance experiments are performed on the corroded bronze specimens, where resonance parameters are monitored as a function of increasing driving force using a shaker. Results show that the corrosion effect on the acoustic properties can be monitored through the evolution of the acoustic nonlinear parameters (damping and resonance). These well-calibrated original experiments confirm the effect of corrosion on the acoustic properties of bronze.

5f covalency from x-ray resonant Raman spectroscopy

X-ray resonant Raman spectroscopy (XRRS), a variant of resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, has been used to investigate the two prototype systems, UF₄and UO₂. Both are U5f²and each is an example of 5f localized, ionic behavior and 5f localized, covalent behavior, respectively. From the M₅XRRS measurements, the 5f band gap in each can be directly determined and, moreover, a clear and powerful sensitivity to 5f covalency emerges.

High-Entropy-Alloy Nanocrystal Based Macro- and Mesoporous Materials

High-entropy-alloy (HEA) nanoparticles are attractive for several applications in catalysis and energy. Great efforts are currently devoted to establish composition-property relationships to improve catalytic activity or selectivity. Equally importantly, developing practical fabrication methods for shaping HEA-based materials into complex architectures is a key requirement for their utilization in catalysis. However, shaping nano-HEAs into hierarchical structures avoiding demixing or collapse remains a great challenge. Herein, we overcome this issue by introducing a simple soft-chemistry route to fabricate ordered macro- and mesoporous materials based on HEA nanoparticles, with high surface area, thermal stability, and catalytic activity toward CO oxidation. The process is based on spray-drying from an aqueous solution containing five different noble metal precursors and polymer latex beads. Upon annealing, the polymer plays a double role: templating and reducing agent enabling formation of HEA nanoparticle-based porous networks at only 350 °C. The formation mechanism and the stability of the macro- and mesoporous materials were investigated by a set of in situ characterization techniques; notably, in situ transmission electron microscopy unveiled that the porous structure is stable up to 800 °C. Importantly, this process is green, scalable, and versatile and could be potentially extended to other classes of HEA materials.

Objective Neurophysiologic Markers of Cognition After Pediatric Brain Injury

Background and Objectives

Following brain injury, clinical assessments of residual and emerging cognitive function are difficult and fraught with errors. In adults, recent American Academy of Neurology (AAN) practice guidelines recommend objective neuroimaging and neurophysiologic measures to support diagnosis. Equivalent measures are lacking in pediatrics-an especially great challenge due to the combined heterogeneity of both brain injury and pediatric development. Therefore, we aim to establish quantitative, clinically practicable measures of cognitive function following pediatric brain injury.

Methods

Participants with and without brain injury were aged 8-18 years, clinically classified according to cognitive recovery state: N = 8 in disorders of consciousness (DoC), N = 7 in confusional state, N = 19 cognitively impaired, and N = 13 typically developing uninjured controls. We prospectively measured electroencephalographic markers of sensory processing and attention in an auditory oddball paradigm, and of covert movement attempts in a command-following paradigm.

Results

In 3 participants with DoC, EEG markers of active attempted command following revealed cognitive function that clinical assessment had failed to detect. These same 3 individuals could also be distinguished from the rest of their group by 2 event-related potentials that correlate with sensory processing and orienting attention in the oddball paradigm. Considered across the whole participant group, magnitudes of these 2 ERP markers significantly increased as cognitive recovery progressed (ANOVA: each p < 0.001); viewed jointly, the 2 ERP markers cleanly delineated the 4 cognitive states.

Discussion

Despite heterogeneity of brain injuries and brain development, our objective EEG markers reflected cognitive recovery independent of motor function. Two of these markers required no active participation. Together, they allowed us to identify 3 individuals who meet the criteria for cognitive-motor dissociation. To diagnose, prognose, and track cognitive recovery accurately, such markers should be used in pediatrics.

Cognitive-Motor Dissociation Following Pediatric Brain Injury: What About the Children?

Background and Objectives

Following severe brain injury, up to 16% of adults showing no clinical signs of cognitive function nonetheless have preserved cognitive capacities detectable via neuroimaging and neurophysiology; this has been designated cognitive-motor dissociation (CMD). Pediatric medicine lacks both practice guidelines for identifying covert cognition and epidemiologic data regarding CMD prevalence.

Methods

We applied a diverse battery of neuroimaging and neurophysiologic tests to evaluate 2 adolescents (aged 15 and 18 years) who had shown no clinical evidence of preserved cognitive function following brain injury at age 9 and 13 years, respectively. Clinical evaluations were consistent with minimally conscious state (minus) and vegetative state, respectively.

Results

Both participants' EEG, and 1 participant's fMRI, provided evidence that they could understand commands and make consistent voluntary decisions to follow them. Both participants' EEG demonstrated larger-than-expected responses to auditory stimuli and intact semantic processing of words in context.

Discussion

These converging lines of evidence lead us to conclude that both participants had preserved cognitive function dissociated from their motor output. Throughout the 5+ years since injury, communication attempts and therapy had remained uninformed by such objective evidence of their cognitive abilities. Proper diagnosis of CMD is an ethical imperative. Children with covert cognition reflect a vulnerable and isolated population; the methods outlined here provide a first step in identifying such persons to advance efforts to alleviate their condition.

COVID-19: Seroprevalence and Vaccine Responses in UK Dental Care Professionals

Dental care professionals (DCPs) are thought to be at enhanced risk of occupational exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, robust data to support this from large-scale seroepidemiological studies are lacking. We report a longitudinal seroprevalence analysis of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, with baseline sampling prior to large-scale practice reopening in July 2020 and follow-up postimplementation of new public health guidance on infection prevention control (IPC) and enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE). In total, 1,507 West Midlands DCPs were recruited into this study in June 2020. Baseline seroprevalence was determined using a combined IgGAM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the cohort followed longitudinally for 6 mo until January/February 2021 through the second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the United Kingdom and vaccination commencement. Baseline seroprevalence was 16.3%, compared to estimates in the regional population of 6% to 7%. Seropositivity was retained in over 70% of participants at 3- and 6-mo follow-up and conferred a 75% reduced risk of infection. Nonwhite ethnicity and living in areas of greater deprivation were associated with increased baseline seroprevalence. During follow-up, no polymerase chain reaction-proven infections occurred in individuals with a baseline anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG level greater than 147.6 IU/ml with respect to the World Health Organization international standard 20-136. After vaccination, antibody responses were more rapid and of higher magnitude in those individuals who were seropositive at baseline. Natural infection with SARS-CoV-2 prior to enhanced PPE was significantly higher in DCPs than the regional population. Natural infection leads to a serological response that remains detectable in over 70% of individuals 6 mo after initial sampling and 9 mo from the peak of the first wave of the pandemic. This response is associated with protection from future infection. Even if serological responses wane, a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech 162b vaccine is associated with an antibody response indicative of immunological memory.

Elastic and magnetoelastic properties of TbMnO3single crystal by nanosecond time resolved acoustics and first-principles calculations

Time resolved pump and probe acoustics and first-principles calculations were employed to assess elastic properties of the TbMnO₃perovskite manganite having orthorhombic symmetry. Measuring sound velocities of bulk longitudinal and shear acoustic waves propagating along at least two different directions in the high symmetry planes (100), (010) and (001), provided a powerful mean to selectively determine the six diagonal elastic constantsC₁₁= 227 GPa,C₂₂= 349 GPa,C₃₃= 274 GPa,C₄₄= 71 GPa,C₅₅= 57 GPa,C₆₆= 62 GPa. Among the three remaining off-diagonal ones,C₂₃= 103 GPa was determined with a bissectrice direction. Density functional theory calculations with colinear spin-polarized provided complementary insights on their optical, elastic and magnetoelastic properties.

Acute Imaging Findings Predict Recovery of Cognitive and Motor Function after Inpatient Rehabilitation for Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pediatric Brain Injury Consortium Study

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children; survivors experience long-term cognitive and motor deficits. To date, studies predicting outcome following pediatric TBI have primarily focused on acute behavioral responses and proxy measures of injury severity; unsurprisingly, these measures explain very little of the variance following heterogenous injury. In adults, certain acute imaging biomarkers help predict cognitive and motor recovery following moderate to severe TBI. This multi-center, retrospective study, characterizes the day-of-injury computed tomographic (CT) reports of pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients (2 months to 21 years old) who received inpatient rehabilitation services for TBI (n = 247). The study also determines the prognostic utility of CT findings for cognitive and motor outcomes assessed by the Pediatric Functional Independence Measure, converted to age-appropriate developmental functional quotient (DFQ), at discharge from rehabilitation. Subdural hematomas (66%), contusions (63%), and subarachnoid hemorrhages (59%) were the most common lesions; the majority of subjects had less severe Rotterdam CT scores (88%, ≤ 3). After controlling for age, gender, mechanism of injury, length of acute hospital stay, and admission DFQ in multivariate regression analyses, the highest Rotterdam score (β = -25.2, p < 0.01) and complete cisternal effacement (β = -19.4, p < 0.05) were associated with lower motor DFQ, and intraventricular hemorrhage was associated with lower motor (β = -3.7, p < 0.05) and cognitive DFQ (β = -4.9, p < 0.05). These results suggest that direct detection of intracranial injury provides valuable information to aid in prediction of recovery after pediatric TBI, and needs to be accounted for in future studies of prognosis and intervention.

Cognitive Recovery During Inpatient Rehabilitation Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pediatric Brain Injury Consortium Study

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the demographics, clinical course, and predictors of cognitive recovery among children and young adults receiving inpatient rehabilitation following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI).

DESIGN

Retrospective observational, multicenter study.

SETTING

Eight acute pediatric inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States with specialized programs for treating patients with TBI.

PARTICIPANTS

Children and young adults (0-21 years) with TBI (n = 234) receiving inpatient rehabilitation.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Admission and discharge status assessed by the WeeFIM Cognitive Developmental Functional Quotient (DFQ) and Cognitive and Linguistic Scale (CALS).

RESULTS

Patients admitted to pediatric inpatient rehabilitation are diverse in cognitive functioning. While the majority of patients make improvements, cognitive recovery is constrained for those admitted with the most severe cognitive impairments. Age, time since injury to rehabilitation admission, and admission WeeFIM Cognitive DFQ are significant predictors of cognitive functioning at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

CONCLUSIONS

This work establishes a multicenter Pediatric Brain Injury Consortium and characterized the demographics and clinical course of cognitive recovery during inpatient rehabilitation of pediatric patients with TBI to aid in prospective study design.

Introducing cobalt as a potential plasmonic candidate combining optical and magnetic functionalities within the same nanostructure

The control of magnetic properties at the nanoscale is a current topic of intense research. It was shown that combining both magnetic and plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) led to the improvement of their magneto-optical signal. In this context, common strategies consist of the design of bimetallic NPs. However, the understanding of the physics leading to the coupling between magnetic and plasmonic NPs is lacking, preventing any significant progress for the development of future photonic devices. In this article, we propose to focus our attention on an efficient and commonly used magnetic metal, cobalt, and evaluate its plasmonic properties at the nanoscale through the use of NP regular arrays, as a potential candidate combining both optical and magnetic functionalities within the same metal. We show that such NPs display plasmonic properties within a large spectral range from the UV to the NIR spectral range, with efficient quality factors, when the inter-particle distance is properly selected. These as-fabricated simple materials could find applications in integrated photonic devices for telecommunications.

Development of a thermodynamic approach to assist the control of the precipitation of hydroxyapatites and associated calcium phosphates in open systems

Thermodynamics of the precipitation of calcium phosphates shows the importance of the pH and the order of introduction of the precursor ions on the textural (morphology, surface area) and structural (defects) properties of hydroxyapatites.

Pulmonary vein isolation procedure may be associated with intracranial artery microembolism and increased risk of acute neurological incidents

Background

Atrial fibrillation ablation can be associated with the microembolism detected in intracranial arteries and risk of acute neurological incidents.

Purpose

The aims of this study were a quantitative and a qualitative evaluation of microembolic signals (MES) during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and establishing the potential significance of MES for damage of brain assessed in radiological investigation and neurological state of patients.

Methods

To the prospective project we qualified patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous pulmonary vein isolation (radiofrequency ablation / balloon cryoablation) with ultrasound monitoring of microembolisms in right middle cerebral artery. Baseline and up to 12 months post pulmonary vein isolation the neurological examination and brain MRI were performed in all participants.

Results

The study enrolled 80 patients at a mean age of 58 years. Microembolisms during the monitoring of the flow in the right middle cerebral artery were recorded in 61 (76.3%) patients in the amount of 51–489 (mean 239). Most often the microembolic signals were registered during the trans-septal puncture and the stage of ablation. In 89%, microembolisms were gaseous. Mean score on Fazekas scale for the whole group before ablation: 0.87±0.7 (0–3, med. 1); after: 0.93±0.71. In 3 (4.3%) patients the lesions worsened during the follow-up period. None of the patients revealed a cardiovascular event during the follow-up period and no changes were observed in the neurological status.

Conclusions

The majority of cerebral microembolism generated during PVI are gaseous in nature. The cerebral microembolism associated with PVI probably result from the technical aspects of the procedure and do not cause neither the permanent brain damage in the radiological investigation nor neurological deficit.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland - statutory work

On the importance of the crystalline surface structure on the catalytic activity and stability of tailored unsupported cobalt nanoparticles for the solvent-free acceptor-less alcohol dehydrogenation

Unsupported nanoparticles are now recognized as model catalysts to evaluate the intrinsic activity of metal particles, irrespectively of that of the support. Co nanoparticles with different morphologies, rods, diabolos and cubes have been prepared by the polyol process and tested for the acceptorless catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols under solvent-free conditions. Rods crystallize with the pure hcp structure, diabolos with a mixture of hcp and fcc phases, while the cubes crystallize in a complex mixture of hcp, fcc and ε-Co phases. All the cobalt particles are found to be highly selective towards the oxidation of a model secondary alcohol, octan-2-ol, into the corresponding ketone while no significant activity is found with octan-1-ol. Our results show the strong influence of particle shape on the activity and catalytic stability of the catalysts: Co nanorods display the highest conversion (85%), selectivity (95%) and recyclability compared to Co diabolos and Co cubes. We correlate the nanorods excellent stability with a strong binding of carboxylate ligands on their {1 1 2¯ 0} facets, preserving their crystalline superficial structure, as evidenced by phase modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy.

Correction: Haj-Khlifa, S., et al. Polyol Process Coupled to Cold Plasma as a New and Efficient Nanohydride Processing Method: Nano-Ni2H as a Case Study. Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 136

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [1]: there are two mistakes inthis article [1] [...].

Feasibility of National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery in pediatric brain injury rehabilitation settings

OBJECTIVE

Cognitive impairments are a devastating consequence of acquired brain injury (ABI) in children. Current pediatric tools for assessing cognitive impairments are generally time intensive and applicable only to a restricted age span. The National Institutes of Health Toolbox-Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) is a standardized, tablet-based cognitive assessment that has been normed across the life span in the general population and validated in adults with brain injuries. However, its clinical utility and validity has not yet been demonstrated in pediatric patients with brain injuries. The current study examines the feasibility of NIHTB-CB administration in both a pediatric inpatient and day treatment rehabilitation setting.

DESIGN

The NIHTB-CB was attempted in 40 children with ABI aged 4-18 years within 1 year of injury in pediatric rehabilitation settings.

RESULTS

Of the 40 participants tested, 38 (95%) were able to complete the full battery and 28 were able to complete it in 1 session. The average time to complete the NIHTB-CB for our sample was 40.2 min. Barriers to completion included both external (scheduling conflicts) and internal (fatigue, attention, and behavioral) limitations. Cohort results are consistent with expected impairments following ABI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the feasibility of using the NIHTB-CB in postacute pediatric inpatient rehabilitation and day-treatment clinical settings following ABI. The NIHTB-CB has the potential to provide a quick, standardized assessment of cognitive function during the rehabilitation process. Further longitudinal studies of NIHTB-CB using larger samples will be needed to determine its validity, test-retest capabilities, and clinical utility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Excitation Mechanism of Low-n Edge Harmonic Oscillations in Edge Localized Mode-Free, High Performance, Tokamak Plasmas

The excitation mechanism for low-n edge harmonic oscillations in quiescent H-mode regimes is identified analytically. We show that the combined effect of diamagnetic and poloidal magnetohydrodynamic flows, with the constraint of a Doppler-like effect of the ion flow, leads to the stabilization of short wavelength modes, allowing low-n perturbation to grow. The analysis, performed in tokamak toroidal geometry, includes the effects of large edge pressure gradients, associated with the local flattening of the safety factor and diamagnetic flows, sheared parallel and E×B rotation, and a vacuum region between plasma and the ideal metallic wall. The separatrix also is modeled analytically.

Erratum to: Measurement of the W boson polarisation in t t ¯ events from pp collisions at s = 8 TeV in the lepton + jets channel with ATLAS

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-017-4819-4.].

Pulmonary vein anatomy variants as a biomarker of atrial fibrillation - CT angiography evaluation

Background

It has been suggested that changes in pulmonary veins (PV) and left atrium (LA) anatomy may have an influence on initiating atrial fibrillation (AF) and the effectiveness of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients (pts) with atrial fibrillation.

The aim of the study was to assess anatomy abnormalities of the PV and LA in the patients with the history of AF and compare it with the control group(CG).

Methods

The multi-slice tomography (MSCT) scans were performed in 224 AF pts. before PVI (129 males, mean age 59 ± 9 yrs). The CG consisted of 40 pts. without AF (26 males, age 45 ± 9 yrs). LA and PV anatomy were evaluated. Diameters of PV ostia were measured in two directions: anterior-posterior (AP) and superior-inferior (SI) automatically using Vitrea 4.0.

Results

Pulmonary veins anatomy variants were observed more frequently in the atrial fibrillation group - 83 pts. (37%) vs 6 pts. (15%) in CG; 9% (21 pts) left common ostia (CO), 2% (5 pts) right CO, 19% (42 pts) additional right PV (APV), (1.8%) 4 pts. APV left, 8% right early branching (EB) and 3.5% left EB. The LA diameter differed significantly in AF vs CG group (41.2 ± 6 mm vs 35 ± 4.2 mm, p < 0.0001) respectively.

Conclusions

The anomalies of pulmonary vein anatomy occurred more often in pts. with AF. They can be defined as an image biomarkers of atrial fibrillation. Right additional (middle) pulmonary vein was the most important anomaly detected in AF patients as well as enlargered diameters of the LA and PV ostia.

Search for a new heavy gauge-boson resonance decaying into a lepton and missing transverse momentum in 36 fb - 1 of pp collisions at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS experiment

The results of a search for new heavy W ' bosons decaying to an electron or muon and a neutrino using proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy ofs = 13  TeV are presented. The dataset was collected in 2015 and 2016 by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb - 1 . As no excess of events above the Standard Model prediction is observed, the results are used to set upper limits on the W ' boson cross-section times branching ratio to an electron or muon and a neutrino as a function of the W ' mass. Assuming a W ' boson with the same couplings as the Standard Model W boson, W ' masses below 5.1 TeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level.

Measurement of the W-boson mass in pp collisions at s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A measurement of the mass of the W boson is presented based on proton-proton collision data recorded in 2011 at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, and corresponding to 4.6 fb - 1 of integrated luminosity. The selected data sample consists of 7.8 × 10 6 candidates in the W → μ ν channel and 5.9 × 10 6 candidates in the W → e ν channel. The W-boson mass is obtained from template fits to the reconstructed distributions of the charged lepton transverse momentum and of the W boson transverse mass in the electron and muon decay channels, yielding m W = 80370 ± 7 ( stat. ) ± 11 ( exp. syst. ) ± 14 ( mod. syst. ) MeV = 80370 ± 19 MeV , where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second corresponds to the experimental systematic uncertainty, and the third to the physics-modelling systematic uncertainty. A measurement of the mass difference between the W + and W - bosons yields m W + - m W - = - 29 ± 28  MeV.

Measurement of the W-boson mass in pp collisions at s = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A measurement of the mass of the W boson is presented based on proton-proton collision data recorded in 2011 at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC, and corresponding to 4.6 fb - 1 of integrated luminosity. The selected data sample consists of 7.8 × 10 6 candidates in the W → μ ν channel and 5.9 × 10 6 candidates in the W → e ν channel. The W-boson mass is obtained from template fits to the reconstructed distributions of the charged lepton transverse momentum and of the W boson transverse mass in the electron and muon decay channels, yieldingm W = 80370 ± 7 ( stat. ) ± 11 ( exp. syst. ) ± 14 ( mod. syst. ) MeV = 80370 ± 19 MeV , where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second corresponds to the experimental systematic uncertainty, and the third to the physics-modelling systematic uncertainty. A measurement of the mass difference between the W + and W - bosons yieldsm W + - m W - = - 29 ± 28  MeV.

A chemically-responsive bis-acridinium receptor

The recognition and the chemical-response properties of a bis-acridinium triphenylene receptor were investigated.

The structural and the photoelectrochemical properties of ZnO–ZnS/ITO 1D hetero-junctions prepared by tandem electrodeposition and surface sulfidation: on the material processing limits

ZnO nanorods were electrodeposited on ITO and immersed in a Na₂S solution for a variable time. As a function of this experimental parameter, different ZnS surface growth mechanisms take place, leading to specific microstructures.

Determination of the strong coupling constant α s from transverse energy-energy correlations in multijet events at s = 8 TeV using the ATLAS detector

Measurements of transverse energy-energy correlations and their associated asymmetries in multi-jet events using the ATLAS detector at the LHC are presented. The data used correspond tos = 8 TeV proton-proton collisions with an integrated luminosity of 20.2fb - 1 . The results are presented in bins of the scalar sum of the transverse momenta of the two leading jets, unfolded to the particle level and compared to the predictions from Monte Carlo simulations. A comparison with next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD is also performed, showing excellent agreement within the uncertainties. From this comparison, the value of the strong coupling constant is extracted for different energy regimes, thus testing the running ofα s ( μ ) predicted in QCD up to scales over 1 TeV . A global fit to the transverse energy-energy correlation distributions yieldsα s ( m Z ) = 0.1162 ± 0.0011 (exp.) - 0.0070 + 0.0084 (theo.) , while a global fit to the asymmetry distributions yields a value ofα s ( m Z ) = 0.1196 ± 0.0013 (exp.) - 0.0045 + 0.0075 (theo.) .

Measurement of detector-corrected observables sensitive to the anomalous production of events with jets and large missing transverse momentum in p p collisions at s = 13 TeV using the ATLAS detector

Observables sensitive to the anomalous production of events containing hadronic jets and missing momentum in the plane transverse to the proton beams at the Large Hadron Collider are presented. The observables are defined as a ratio of cross sections, for events containing jets and large missing transverse momentum to events containing jets and a pair of charged leptons from the decay of a Z / γ ∗ boson. This definition minimises experimental and theoretical systematic uncertainties in the measurements. This ratio is measured differentially with respect to a number of kinematic properties of the hadronic system in two phase-space regions; one inclusive single-jet region and one region sensitive to vector-boson-fusion topologies. The data are found to be in agreement with the Standard Model predictions and used to constrain a variety of theoretical models for dark-matter production, including simplified models, effective field theory models, and invisible decays of the Higgs boson. The measurements use 3.2 fb- 1 of proton-proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at a centre-of-mass energy of 13  TeV and are fully corrected for detector effects, meaning that the data can be used to constrain new-physics models beyond those shown in this paper.

Search for Dark Matter Produced in Association with a Higgs Boson Decaying to bb[over ¯] Using 36 fb^{-1} of pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

Several extensions of the standard model predict associated production of dark-matter particles with a Higgs boson. Such processes are searched for in final states with missing transverse momentum and a Higgs boson decaying to a bb[over ¯] pair with the ATLAS detector using 36.1  fb^{-1} of pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC. The observed data are in agreement with the standard model predictions and limits are placed on the associated production of dark-matter particles and a Higgs boson.

Performance of the ATLAS track reconstruction algorithms in dense environments in LHC Run 2

With the increase in energy of the Large Hadron Collider to a centre-of-mass energy of 13 [Formula: see text] for Run 2, events with dense environments, such as in the cores of high-energy jets, became a focus for new physics searches as well as measurements of the Standard Model. These environments are characterized by charged-particle separations of the order of the tracking detectors sensor granularity. Basic track quantities are compared between 3.2 fb[Formula: see text] of data collected by the ATLAS experiment and simulation of proton-proton collisions producing high-transverse-momentum jets at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 [Formula: see text]. The impact of charged-particle separations and multiplicities on the track reconstruction performance is discussed. The track reconstruction efficiency in the cores of jets with transverse momenta between 200 and 1600 [Formula: see text] is quantified using a novel, data-driven, method. The method uses the energy loss, [Formula: see text], to identify pixel clusters originating from two charged particles. Of the charged particles creating these clusters, the measured fraction that fail to be reconstructed is [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for jet transverse momenta of 200-400 [Formula: see text] and 1400-1600 [Formula: see text], respectively.

Study of W W γ and W Z γ production in p p collisions at s = 8 TeV and search for anomalous quartic gauge couplings with the ATLAS experiment

This paper presents a study of W W γ and W Z γ triboson production using events from proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy ofs = 8 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.2 fb- 1 . The W W γ production cross-section is determined using a final state containing an electron, a muon, a photon, and neutrinos ( e ν μ ν γ ). Upper limits on the production cross-section of the e ν μ ν γ final state and the W W γ and W Z γ final states containing an electron or a muon, two jets, a photon, and a neutrino ( e ν j j γ or μ ν j j γ ) are also derived. The results are compared to the cross-sections predicted by the Standard Model at next-to-leading order in the strong-coupling constant. In addition, upper limits on the production cross-sections are derived in a fiducial region optimised for a search for new physics beyond the Standard Model. The results are interpreted in the context of anomalous quartic gauge couplings using an effective field theory. Confidence intervals at 95% confidence level are derived for the 14 coupling coefficients to which W W γ and W Z γ production are sensitive.

Identification and rejection of pile-up jets at high pseudorapidity with the ATLAS detector

The rejection of forward jets originating from additional proton-proton interactions (pile-up) is crucial for a variety of physics analyses at the LHC, including Standard Model measurements and searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. The identification of such jets is challenging due to the lack of track and vertex information in the pseudorapidity range | η | > 2.5 . This paper presents a novel strategy for forward pile-up jet tagging that exploits jet shapes and topological jet correlations in pile-up interactions. Measurements of the per-jet tagging efficiency are presented using a data set of 3.2 fb- 1 of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13TeV collected with the ATLAS detector. The fraction of pile-up jets rejected in the range 2.5 < | η | < 4.5 is estimated in simulated events with an average of 22 interactions per bunch-crossing. It increases with jet transverse momentum and, for jets with transverse momentum between 20 and 50 GeV, it ranges between 49% and 67% with an efficiency of 85% for selecting hard-scatter jets. A case study is performed in Higgs boson production via the vector-boson fusion process, showing that these techniques mitigate the background growth due to additional proton-proton interactions, thus enhancing the reach for such signatures.

Fiducial, total and differential cross-section measurements of t-channel single top-quark production in pp collisions at 8 TeV using data collected by the ATLAS detector

Detailed measurements of t-channel single top-quark production are presented. They use 20.2 fb[Formula: see text] of data collected by the ATLAS experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV at the LHC. Total, fiducial and differential cross-sections are measured for both top-quark and top-antiquark production. The fiducial cross-section is measured with a precision of 5.8% (top quark) and 7.8% (top antiquark), respectively. The total cross-sections are measured to be [Formula: see text] for top-quark production and [Formula: see text] for top-antiquark production, in agreement with the Standard Model prediction. In addition, the ratio of top-quark to top-antiquark production cross-sections is determined to be [Formula: see text]. The differential cross-sections as a function of the transverse momentum and rapidity of both the top quark and the top antiquark are measured at both the parton and particle levels. The transverse momentum and rapidity differential cross-sections of the accompanying jet from the t-channel scattering are measured at particle level. All measurements are compared to various Monte Carlo predictions as well as to fixed-order QCD calculations where available.

Search for the Dimuon Decay of the Higgs Boson in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

A search for the dimuon decay of the Higgs boson was performed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36.1  fb^{-1} collected with the ATLAS detector in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. No significant excess is observed above the expected background. The observed (expected) upper limit on the cross section times branching ratio is 3.0 (3.1) times the Standard Model prediction at the 95% confidence level for a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV. When combined with the pp collision data at sqrt[s]=7  TeV and sqrt[s]=8  TeV, the observed (expected) upper limit is 2.8 (2.9) times the Standard Model prediction.

Candidate Genes for Nonsyndromic Cleft Palate Detected by Exome Sequencing

Nonsyndromic cleft palate only (nsCPO) is a facial malformation that has a livebirth prevalence of 1 in 2,500. Research suggests that the etiology of nsCPO is multifactorial, with a clear genetic component. To date, genome-wide association studies have identified only 1 conclusive common variant for nsCPO, that is, a missense variant in the gene grainyhead-like-3 ( GRHL3). Thus, the underlying genetic causes of nsCPO remain largely unknown. The present study aimed at identifying rare variants that might contribute to nsCPO risk, via whole-exome sequencing (WES), in multiply affected Central European nsCPO pedigrees. WES was performed in 2 affected first-degree relatives from each family. Variants shared between both individuals were analyzed for their potential deleterious nature and a low frequency in the general population. Genes carrying promising variants were annotated for 1) reported associations with facial development, 2) multiple occurrence of variants, and 3) expression in mouse embryonic palatal shelves. This strategy resulted in the identification of a set of 26 candidate genes that were resequenced in 132 independent nsCPO cases and 623 independent controls of 2 different ethnicities, using molecular inversion probes. No rare loss-of-function mutation was identified in either WES or resequencing step. However, we identified 2 or more missense variants predicted to be deleterious in each of 3 genes ( ACACB, PTPRS, MIB1) in individuals from independent families. In addition, the analyses identified a novel variant in GRHL3 in 1 patient and a variant in CREBBP in 2 siblings. Both genes underlie different syndromic forms of CPO. A plausible hypothesis is that the apparently nonsyndromic clefts in these 3 patients might represent hypomorphic forms of the respective syndromes. In summary, the present study identified rare variants that might contribute to nsCPO risk and suggests candidate genes for further investigation.