A large Time Projection Chamber is the main device for tracking and charged-particle identification in the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC. After the second long shutdown in 2019/20, the LHC will deliver Pb beams colliding at an interaction rate of about 50 kHz, which is about a factor of 50 above the present readout rate of the TPC. This will result in a significant improvement on the sensitivit

Background: Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) increase survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Although international guidelines recommend the use of AED registries to increase AED use, little is known about implementation. The aim of this paper is to describe the development of a national AED registry, to analy

The polyether ionophore salinomycin has recently captured much interest due to its potent activity against multi-drug resistant cancer cells and cancer stem cells. Previous studies have shown that either acylation of the C20 position or esterification/amidation of the C1 carboxylate moiety is beneficial in terms of biological properties. In this paper, we present the first analogs combining such m

Endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (EndoS) is a family 18 glycosyl hydrolase secreted by Streptococcus pyogenes. Recombinant EndoS hydrolyzes the β-1,4-di-N-acetylchitobiose core of the N-linked complex type glycan on the asparagine 297 of the γ-chains of IgG. Here, we report that EndoS and IgG hydrolyzed by EndoS induced suppression of local immune complex (IC)-mediated arthritis. A small amount (1 µ

Introduction: Middle Eastern immigrants exhibit high levels of physical inactivity and are at an increased risk for Type 2 diabetes. The primary aim of this study was to examine the changes in objectively assessed physical activity levels following a culturally adapted lifestyle intervention program. The secondary aim was to examine the association between objectively assessed physical activity an

Tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs) are designed for low off-state leakage and low drive voltages. To investigate how capable TFETs are of RF operation, we measured their scattering parameters and performed small-signal modeling. We find that in the low frequency ranges, gate oxide defects have a major influence on the RF performance of these devices, which can be modeled by a frequency-depend

To allow for large-scale forming applications, such as converting paperboard into package containers, efficient and reliable numerical tools are needed. In finite element simulations of thin structures, elements including structural features are required to reduce the computational cost. Solid-shell elements based on reduced integration with hourglass stabilization is an attractive choice. One adv

Urological problems can be caused by diseases that affect the bladder wall and its innervation. Contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is essential for maintaining detrusor function and for emptying the bladder. It is well established that a family of regulatory proteins called Myocardin Related Transcription Factors (MRTFs) controls the property of SMCs. SMCs have a number of un

The prevalence and consequences of nasal obstruction in untreated obstructive sleep apnea patients are not known. The study objectives were to investigate the frequency of subjective and objective nasal obstruction in untreated sleep apnea patients and the associations with sleep and quality of life. Patients in the Icelandic Sleep Apnea Cohort were subjected to a type 3 sleep study, answered ques

Despite the essential role of thymic epithelial cells (TEC) in T cell development, the signals regulating TEC differentiation and homeostasis remain incompletely understood. In this study, we show a key in vivo role for the vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid (RA), in TEC homeostasis. In the absence of RA signaling in TEC, cortical TEC (cTEC) and CD80loMHC class IIlo medullary TEC displayed subset

AIM: To investigate the effects of a case management intervention for community-dwelling frail older people, with functional dependency and repeated contacts with the healthcare services, focusing on loneliness, depressive symptoms and life satisfaction.DESIGN: A two-armed, nonblinded, randomised control trial with repeated follow-ups, of N = 153 participants at baseline allocated to an interventi

Pathogens causing pneumonia utilize the complement regulator vitronectin to evade complement-mediated killing. Although vitronectin is associated with several chronic lung diseases, the role of bronchoalveolar vitronectin in pneumonia has not been studied. This study sought to reveal the involvement of vitronectin in the bronchoalveolar space during pneumonia, to assess the effect of outer membran

The morphological transformation of soot particles via condensation of low-volatility materials constitutes a dominant atmospheric process with serious implications for the optical and hygroscopic properties, as well as atmospheric lifetime of the soot. We consider the morphological transformation of soot aggregates under the influence of condensation of vapors of sulfuric acid, and/or limonene oz

Executive functions (EFs) are essential in almost all aspects of daily life and have been robustly related to antisocial behavior. However, the relationship between psychopathy and EFs has remained equivocal. Research investigating lower-level trait dimensions of psychopathy using standardized EF measures could be beneficial in addressing this issue. In this study, we examined associations between

In order to be convergent, linear multistep methods must be zero stable. While constant step size theory was established in the 1950’s, zero stability on nonuniform grids is less well understood. Here we investigate zero stability on compact intervals and smooth nonuniform grids. In practical computations, step size control can be implemented using smooth (small) step size changes. The resulting g

Longitudinal Schottky signals froma laser-cooled, spatially dense, ionbeam have been studied inthe ASTRID storage ring. Thefluctuation signals are distortedby the effects of space charge, asis observed in electron cooling experiments.However,the spectra also exhibit previously unobservedcoherent components. The ions' velocity distribution, measured by alaser fluorescence technique, suggests that t

Introduction: A previous genome-wide association study found three genetic loci, rs9388451, rs10428132, and rs11708996, to increase the risk of Brugada Syndrome (BrS). Since the effect of these loci in the general population is unknown, we aimed to investigate the effect on electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters and outcomes in the general population. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 6,161 individua

Plastic is a versatile material that has contributed to numerous product innovations and convenience in everyday life. However, plastic production is growing at an alarming rate, and so has the generation of plastic waste. Unsound waste management results in plastic leakage to the environment with multiple adverse effects to ecosystems. Incineration of plastic waste produces excessive greenhouse g

Improving the product lifetime of consumer electronics can provide significant environmental benefits. However, there is a tendency among both professional users and consumers to change products, like computers and mobile phones regularly, and as a result their lifetimes become increasingly shorter. With the rise of the Circular Economy, new policies to promote longer product lifetimes have emerge

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs, e.g. cardiovascular disease) are responsible for high rates of morbidity and the majority of premature deaths worldwide. It is necessary to develop preventative interventions that can reduce the associated risk factors of NCDs. Researchers have found that the biomarker adrenomedullin (ADM) becomes elevated years before the onset of NCDs and might play a