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The decays 𝜒𝑐𝐽→Σ0¯𝑝𝐾++c.c. (𝐽=0,1,2) are studied via the radiative transition 𝜓(3686)→𝛾𝜒𝑐𝐽 based on a data sample of (448.1±2.9)×106 𝜓(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector. The branching fractions of 𝜒𝑐𝐽→Σ0¯𝑝𝐾++c.c. (𝐽=0,1,2) are measured to be (3.03±0.12±0.15)×10−4, (1.46±0.07±0.07)×10−4, and (0.91±0.06±0.05)×10−4, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. In addition, no evident structure is found for excited baryon resonances on the two-body subsystems with the limited statistics.
Using a total of 11.0 fb−1 of e+e− collision data with center-of-mass energies between 4.009 GeV and 4.6 GeV and collected with the BESIII detector at BEPCII, we measure fifteen exclusive cross sections and effective form factors for the process e+e−→Ξ−Ξ¯+ by means of a single baryon-tag method. After performing a fit to the dressed cross section of e+e−→Ξ−Ξ¯+, no significant ψ(4230) or ψ(4260) resonance is observed in the Ξ−Ξ¯+ final states, and upper limits at the 90\% confidence level on ΓeeB for the processes ψ(4230)/ψ(4260)→Ξ−Ξ¯+ are determined. In addition, an excited Ξ baryon at 1820 MeV/c2 is observed with a statistical significance of 6.2 ∼ 6.5σ by including the systematic uncertainty, and the mass and width are measured to be M=(1825.5±4.7±4.7)~MeV/c2 and Γ=(17.0±15.0±7.9)~MeV, which confirms the existence of the JP=32− state Ξ(1820).
The SU(3)-flavor violating decay J/ψ→Ξ(1530)−Ξ¯++c.c. is studied using (1310.6±7.0)×106 J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector at BEPCII and the branching fraction is measured to be B(J/ψ→Ξ(1530)−Ξ¯++c.c.) = (3.17±0.02stat.±0.08syst.)×10−4. This is consistent with previous measurements with an improved precision. The angular parameter for this decay is measured for the first time and is found to be α=−0.21±0.04stat.±0.06syst.. In addition, we report evidence for the radiative decay Ξ(1530)−→γΞ− with a significance of 3.9σ, including the systematic uncertainties. The 90\% confidence level upper limit on the branching fraction is determined to be B(Ξ(1530)−→γΞ−)≤3.7\%.
Using an e+e− annihilation data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93fb−1 collected at the center-of-mass energy of 3.773\,GeV with the BESIII detector, we measure the absolute branching fractions of D+→ηηπ+, D+→ηπ+π0, and D0→ηπ+π− to be (2.96±0.24±0.13)×10−3, (2.23±0.15±0.11)×10−3, and (1.20±0.07±0.04)×10−3, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones systematic. The D+→ηηπ+ decay is observed for the first time and the branching fractions of D+(0)→ηπ+π0(−) are measured with much improved precision. In addition we test for CP asymmetries in the separated charge-conjugate branching fractions; no evidence of CP violation is found.
Using a data sample of (448.1±2.9)×106 ψ(3686) decays collected by the BESIII detector at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPCII), we observe the decays χcJ→ϕϕη (J=0, 1, 2), where the χcJ are produced via the radiative processes ψ(3686)→γχcJ. The branching fractions are measured to be B(χc0→ϕϕη)=(8.41±0.74±0.62)×10−4, B(χc1→ϕϕη)=(2.96±0.43±0.22)×10−4, and B(χc2→ϕϕη)=(5.33±0.52±0.39)×10−4, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. We also search for intermediate states in the ϕϕ or ηϕ combinations, but no significant structure is seen due to the limited statistics.
Using a 2.93 fb−1 data sample of electron-positron collisions taken with the BESIII detector at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV, which corresponds to (8296±31±64)×103D+D− pairs, we search for the baryon and lepton number violating decays D+→Λ¯(Σ¯0)e+ and D+→Λ(Σ0)e+. No obvious signals are found with the current statistics and upper limits on the branching fractions of these four decays are set at the level of 10−6 at 90% confidence level.
From 1310.6×106 J/ψ and 448.1×106 ψ(3686) events collected with the BESIII experiment, we report the first observation of Σ+ and Σ¯− spin polarization in e+e−→J/ψ(ψ(3686))→Σ+Σ¯− decays. The relative phases of the form factors ΔΦ have been measured to be (−15.5±0.7±0.5)∘ and (21.7±4.0±0.8)∘ with J/ψ and ψ(3686) data, respectively. The non-zero value of ΔΦ allows for a direct and simultaneous measurement of the decay asymmetry parameters of Σ+→pπ0 (α0=−0.998±0.037±0.009) and Σ¯−→p¯π0 (α¯0=0.990±0.037±0.011), the latter value being determined for the first time. The average decay asymmetry, (α0−α¯0)/2, is calculated to be −0.994±0.004±0.002. The CP asymmetry ACP,Σ=(α0+α¯0)/(α0−α¯0)=−0.004±0.037±0.010 is extracted for the first time, and is found to be consistent with CP conservation.
Based on 2.93~fb−1 e+e− collision data taken at center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV by the BESIII detector, we report the measurements of the absolute branching fractions of D0→K+K−π0π0, D0→K0SK0Sπ+π−, D0→K0SK−π+π0, D0→K0SK+π−π0, D+→K+K−π+π0, D+→K0SK+π0π0, D+→K0SK−π+π+, D+→K0SK+π+π−, and D+→K0SK0Sπ+π0. The decays D0→K+K−π0π0, D0→K0SK−π+π0, D0→K0SK+π−π0, D+→K0SK0Sπ+π0, and D+→K0SK+π0π0 are observed for the first time. The branching fractions of the decays D0→K0SK0Sπ+π−, D+→K+K−π+π0, D+→K0SK−π+π+, and D+→K0SK+π+π− are measured with improved precision compared to the world-average values.
Objective: This study presents data from the admission trial to show the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of the Nit-Occlud® Lê VSD in the treatment of perimembranous ventricular septal defects with an aneurysmal configuration and a diameter up to 8 mm.
Background: The majority of ventricular septal defects (VSD) are still closed surgically, while a less invasive transcatheter treatment by closure devices is available. Device-based closure is reported to be associated with the risk of complete atrio-ventricular block, especially with double-disc devices in perimembranous defects.
Methods: In six tertiary centers in Germany and Israel, an interventional closure of a periembranous VSD was attempted in 88 patients using the Nit-Occlud® Lê VSD.
Results: The interventional VSD closure was performed in 85 patients. Patients had a median age of 8.0 (2–65) years and a median body weight of 26.7 (10–109) kg. A complete closure of the defects was achieved in 85.4% 2 weeks after device implantation, in 88.9% after three months and in 98.6% at the 5-year follow-up. There was no incidence of death during the study nor did any patient suffer of permanent atrio-ventricular block of higher degree. Serious adverse events, by definition, are potentially life-threatening or require surgery to correct, while major serious events require medical or transcatheter intervention to correct. The study results exhibit a serious adverse event rate of 3.5% (3/85 patients) and a major adverse event rate of 5.9% (5/85 patients).
Conclusion: The Nit-Occlud® Lê VSD coil offers the possibility of an effective and safe approach in patients with aneurysmal perimembranous ventricular septal defects.
Using a sample of (448.1±2.9)×106 ψ(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector, we perform the first partial wave analysis of ψ(3686)→K+K−η. In addition to the well established states, ϕ(1020), ϕ(1680), and K∗3(1780), contributions from X(1750), ρ(2150), ρ3(2250), and K∗2(1980) are also observed. The X(1750) state is determined to be a 1−− resonance. The simultaneous observation of the ϕ(1680) and X(1750) indicates that the X(1750), with previous observations in photoproduction, is distinct from the ϕ(1680). The masses, widths, branching fractions of ψ(3686)→K+K−η and the intermediate resonances are also measured.
We measured the branching fractions of the decays χcJ→Σ−Σ¯+ for the first time using the final states nn¯π+π−. The data sample exploited here is 448.1×106 ψ(3686) events collected with BESIII. We find B(χcJ→Σ−Σ¯+)=(51.3±2.4±4.1)×10−5,(5.7±1.4±0.6)×10−5,and (4.4±1.7±0.5)×10−5, for J=0,1,2, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.
We report on an analysis of the decay J/ψ→γπ0η′ using a sample of (1310.6±7.0)× 106 J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector. We search for the CP-violating process ηc→π0η′ and a dark gauge boson U′ in J/ψ→U′η′, U′→γπ0, π0→γγ. No evidence of an ηc signal is observed in the π0η′ invariant-mass spectrum and the upper limit of the branching fraction is determined to be 7.2× 10−5 at the 90\% confidence level. We also find no evidence of U′ production and set upper limits at the 90\% confidence level on the product branching fraction B(J/ψ→U′η′)×B(U′→π0γ) in the range between (0.8−6.5)×10−7 for 0.2 ≤mU′≤2.1GeV/c2. In addition, we study the process J/ψ→ωη′ with ω→γπ0. The branching fraction of J/ψ→ωη′ is found to be (1.87±0.09±0.12)×10−4, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic, with a precision that is improved by a factor of 1.4 over the previously published BESIII measurement.
Using e+e− collision data samples with center-of-mass energies ranging from 2.000 to 2.644 GeV, collected by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, and with a total integrated luminosity of 300 pb^{-1}, a partial-wave analysis is performed for the process e+e−→K+K−π0π0. The total Born cross sections for the process e+e−→K+K−π0π0, as well as the Born cross sections f or the subprocesses e+e−→ϕπ0π0, K+(1460)K−, K+1(1400)K−, K+1(1270)K− and K∗+(892)K∗−(892), are measured versus the center-of-mass energy. The corresponding results for e+e−→K+K−π0π0 and ϕπ0π0 are consistent with those of BaBar and have much improved this http URL analyzing the cross sections for the four subprocesses, K+(1460)K−, K+1(1400)K−, K+1(1270)K− and K∗+K∗−, a structure with mass M = (2126.5 ± 16.8 ± 12.4)~MeV/c^{2} and width Γ = (106.9 ± 32.1 ± 28.1)~MeV is observed with an overall statistical significance of 6.3 σ, although with very limited significance in the subprocesses e+e−→K+1(1270)K− and K∗+(892)K∗−(892). The resonant parameters of the observed structure suggest it can be identified with the ϕ(2170), thus the results provide valuable input to the internal nature of the ϕ(2170).
We study fermionic excitations in a hot and dense strongly interacting medium consisting of quarks and (pseudo-)scalar mesons. In particular, we use the two-flavor quark-meson model in combination with the functional renormalization group (FRG) approach, which allows to take into account the effects from thermal and quantum fluctuations. The resulting fermionic excitation spectrum is investigated by calculating the quark spectral function at finite temperature, quark chemical potential, and spatial momentum. This involves an analytic continuation from imaginary to real energies by extending the previously introduced analytically continued FRG method to the present case. We identify three different collective excitations in the medium: the ordinary thermal quark, the plasmino mode, and an ultrasoft “phonino” mode. The dispersion relations of these modes are extracted from the quark spectral function. When compared to corresponding results from an FRG-improved one-loop calculation, a remarkable agreement has been found.
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important mediators of immunological self-tolerance and homeostasis. Being cluster of differentiation 4+Forkhead box protein3+ (CD4+FOXP3+), these cells are a subset of CD4+ T lymphocytes and can originate from the thymus (tTregs) or from the periphery (pTregs). The malfunction of CD4+ Tregs is associated with autoimmune responses such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), type 1 diabetes (T1D), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and transplant rejection. Recent evidence supports an opposed role in sepsis. Therefore, maintaining functional Tregs is considered as a therapy regimen to prevent autoimmunity and allograft rejection, whereas blocking Treg differentiation might be favorable in sepsis patients. It has been shown that Tregs can be generated from conventional naïve T cells, called iTregs, due to their induced differentiation. Moreover, Tregs can be effectively expanded in vitro based on blood-derived tTregs. Taking into consideration that the suppressive role of Tregs has been mainly attributed to the expression and function of the transcription factor Foxp3, modulating its expression and binding to the promoter regions of target genes by altering the chromatin histone acetylation state may turn out beneficial. Hence, we discuss the role of histone deacetylation inhibitors as epigenetic modulators of Tregs in this review in detail.
The small GTPases H, K, and NRAS are molecular switches indispensable for proper regulation of cellular proliferation and growth. Several mutations in the genes encoding members of this protein family are associated with cancer and result in aberrant activation of signaling processes caused by a deregulated recruitment of downstream effector proteins. In this study, we engineered variants of the Ras-binding domain (RBD) of the C-Raf proto-oncogene, Ser/Thr kinase (CRAF). These variants bound with high affinity with the effector-binding site of Ras in an active conformation. Structural characterization disclosed how the newly identified RBD mutations cooperate and thereby enhance affinity with the effector-binding site in Ras compared with WT RBD. The engineered RBD variants closely mimicked the interaction mode of naturally occurring Ras effectors and acted as dominant-negative affinity reagents that block Ras signal transduction. Experiments with cancer cells showed that expression of these RBD variants inhibits Ras signaling, reducing cell growth and inducing apoptosis. Using these optimized RBD variants, we stratified patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids with known Ras mutational status according to their response to Ras inhibition. These results revealed that the presence of Ras mutations was insufficient to predict sensitivity to Ras inhibition, suggesting that not all of these tumors required Ras signaling for proliferation. In summary, by engineering the Ras/Raf interface of the CRAF-RBD, we identified potent and selective inhibitors of Ras in its active conformation that outcompete binding of Ras-signaling effectors.
Treatment of relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) remains a great challenge. Aiming to evaluate the combination of venetoclax and hypomethylating agents (HMAClax) for the treatment of relapse of myeloid malignancies after alloHSCT, we retrospectively collected data from 32 patients treated at 11 German centers. Venetoclax was applied with azacitidine (n = 13) or decitabine (n = 19); 11 patients received DLI in addition. HMAClax was the first salvage therapy in 8 patients. The median number of cycles per patient was 2 (1–19). All but 1 patient had grade 3/4 neutropenia. Hospital admission for grade 3/4 infections was necessary in 23 patients (72%); 5 of these were fatal. In 30 evaluable patients, overall response rate (ORR) was 47% (14/30, 3 CR MRDneg, 5 CR, 2 CRi, 1 MLFS, 3 PR). ORR was 86% in first salvage patients versus 35% in later salvage patients (p = 0.03). In 6 patients with molecular relapse (MR), ORR was 67% versus 42% in patients with hematological relapse (HR) (n = 24, p = n.s.). After a median follow-up of 8.4 months, 25 patients (78%) had died and 7 were alive. Estimated median overall survival was 3.7 months. Median survival of patients with HMAClax for first versus later salvage therapy was 5.7 and 3.4 months (p = n.s.) and for patients with MR (not reached) compared to HR (3.4 months, p = 0.024). This retrospective case series shows that venetoclax is utilized in various different combinations, schedules, and doses. Toxicity is substantial and patients who receive venetoclax/HMA combinations for MR or as first salvage therapy derive the greatest benefit.
Machine learning entails a broad range of techniques that have been widely used in Science and Engineering since decades. High-energy physics has also profited from the power of these tools for advanced analysis of colliders data. It is only up until recently that Machine Learning has started to be applied successfully in the domain of Accelerator Physics, which is testified by intense efforts deployed in this domain by several laboratories worldwide. This is also the case of CERN, where recently focused efforts have been devoted to the application of Machine Learning techniques to beam dynamics studies at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This implies a wide spectrum of applications from beam measurements and machine performance optimisation to analysis of numerical data from tracking simulations of non-linear beam dynamics. In this paper, the LHC-related applications that are currently pursued are presented and discussed in detail, paying also attention to future developments.
Background: Patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (aSCT) are at high risk to develop an invasive fungal disease (IFD). Optimisation of antifungal prophylaxis strategies may improve patient outcomes and reduce treatment costs.
Objectives: To analyse the clinical and economical impact of using continuous micafungin as antifungal prophylaxis.
Patients/Methods: We performed a single-centre evaluation comparing patients who received either oral posaconazole with micafungin as intravenous bridging as required (POS-MIC) to patients who received only micafungin (MIC) as antifungal prophylaxis after aSCT. Epidemiological, clinical and direct treatment cost data extracted from the Cologne Cohort of Neutropenic Patients (CoCoNut) were analysed.
Results: Three hundred and thirteen patients (97 and 216 patients in the POS-MIC and MIC groups, respectively) were included into the analysis. In the POS-MIC and MIC groups, median overall length of stay was 42 days (IQR: 35–52 days) vs 40 days (IQR: 35–49 days; p = .296), resulting in median overall costs of €42,964 (IQR: €35,040–€56,348) vs €43,291 (IQR: €37,281 vs €51,848; p = .993), respectively. Probable/proven IFD in the POS-MIC and MIC groups occurred in 5 patients (5%) vs 3 patients (1%; p = .051), respectively. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed improved outcome of patients in the MIC group at day 100 (p = .037) and day 365 (p < .001) following aSCT.
Conclusions: Our study results demonstrate improved outcomes in the MIC group compared with the POS-MIC group, which can in part be explained by a tendency towards less probable/proven IFD. Higher drug acquisition costs of micafungin did not translate into higher overall costs.
Surface temperature is a fundamental parameter of Earth’s climate. Its evolution through time is commonly reconstructed using the oxygen isotope and the clumped isotope compositions of carbonate archives. However, reaction kinetics involved in the precipitation of carbonates can introduce inaccuracies in the derived temperatures. Here, we show that dual clumped isotope analyses, i.e., simultaneous ∆47 and ∆48 measurements on the single carbonate phase, can identify the origin and quantify the extent of these kinetic biases. Our results verify theoretical predictions and evidence that the isotopic disequilibrium commonly observed in speleothems and scleractinian coral skeletons is inherited from the dissolved inorganic carbon pool of their parent solutions. Further, we show that dual clumped isotope thermometry can achieve reliable palaeotemperature reconstructions, devoid of kinetic bias. Analysis of a belemnite rostrum implies that it precipitated near isotopic equilibrium and confirms the warmer-than-present temperatures during the Early Cretaceous at southern high latitudes.
Heavy quarks are useful probes to investigate the properties of the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) produced in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC, since they are produced in initial hard scattering processes. To single out the signals that are characteristic of the QGP, it is nevertheless crucial to understand the primordial heavy-quark production in vacuum, and to disentangle hot from cold nuclear matter effects. Moreover, observations of collective effects in high-multiplicity pp and p-Pb collisions show surprising similarities with those in heavy-ion collisions. Heavy-flavour production in such collisions could give further insight into the underlying processes. The heavy-flavour production can be studied with e+e− pairs from correlated semileptonic decays of heavy-flavour hadrons. Compared to single heavy-flavour measurements, the dielectron yield contains information about the initial kinematical correlations between the charm and anti-charm quarks, which is otherwise not accessible, and is sensitive to soft heavy-flavour production. We report results on correlated e+e− pairs in pp collisions recorded by the ALICE detector at different collision energies. The production of heavy quarks is discussed by comparing the yield of dielectrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays as a function of invariant mass, pair transverse momentum and distance of closest approach to the primary vertex with different Monte Carlo event generators. The heavy-flavour production cross sections are also presented. Results from high-multiplicity pp collisions at √s=13 TeV and the status of the p-Pb analysis at √sNN=5.02 TeV are reported as well.
A comprehensive study of sillenite Bi12SiO20 single-crystal properties, including elastic stiffness and piezoelectric coefficients, dielectric permittivity, thermal expansion and molar heat capacity, is presented. Brillouin-interferometry measurements (up to 27 GPa), which were performed at high pressures for the first time, and ab initio calculations based on density functional theory (up to 50 GPa) show the stability of the sillenite structure in the investigated pressure range, in agreement with previous studies. Elastic stiffness coefficients c11 and c12 are found to increase continuously with pressure while c44 increases slightly for lower pressures and remains nearly constant above 15 GPa. Heat-capacity measurements were performed with a quasi-adiabatic calorimeter employing the relaxation method between 2 K and 395 K. No phase transition could be observed in this temperature interval. Standard molar entropy, enthalpy change and Debye temperature are extracted from the data. The results are found to be roughly half of the previous values reported in the literature. The discrepancy is attributed to the overestimation of the Debye temperature which was extracted from high-temperature data. Additionally, Debye temperatures obtained from mean sound velocities derived by Voigt-Reuss averaging are in agreement with our heat-capacity results. Finally, a complete set of electromechanical coefficients was deduced from the application of resonant ultrasound spectroscopy between 103 K and 733 K. No discontinuities in the temperature dependence of the coefficients are observed. High-temperature (up to 1100 K) resonant ultrasound spectra recorded for Bi12MO20 crystals revealed strong and reversible acoustic dissipation effects at 870 K, 960 K and 550 K for M = Si, Ge and Ti, respectively. Resonances with small contributions from the elastic shear stiffness c44 and the piezoelectric stress coefficient e123 are almost unaffected by this dissipation.
Using 2.93 fb−1 of 𝑒+𝑒− annihilation data collected at a center-of-mass energy √𝑠=3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider, we search for the semileptonic 𝐷0(+) decays into a 𝑏1(1235)−(0) axial-vector meson for the first time. No significant signal is observed for either charge combination. The upper limits on the product branching fractions are ℬ𝐷0→𝑏1(1235)−𝑒+𝜈𝑒·ℬ𝑏1(1235) −→ 𝜔𝜋−<1.12×10−4 and ℬ𝐷+→𝑏1(1235)0𝑒+𝜈𝑒·ℬ𝑏1(1235)0→𝜔𝜋0<1.75×10−4 at the 90% confidence level.
Libra — a global virtual currency project initiated by Facebook — has been the subject of many controversial discussions since its announcement in June 2019. This paper provides a differentiated view on Libra, recognising that different development scenarios of Libra are conceivable. Libra could serve purely as an alternative payment system in combination with a dedicated payment token, the Libra coin. Alternatively, the Libra project could develop into a broader financial infrastructure for advanced financial services such as savings and loan products operating on the Libra Blockchain. Based on a comparison of the Libra architecture with other cryptocurrencies, the opportunities and challenges for the development of the respective Libra ecosystems are investigated from a commercial, regulatory and monetary policy perspective.
Mehr Nachhaltigkeit im deutschen Leitindex DAX : Reformvorschläge im Lichte des Wirecard-Skandals
(2020)
Im Rahmen der Aufarbeitung des Wirecard-Skandals wird auch eine Änderung der Kriterien zur Aufnahme in den deutschen Leitindex DAX diskutiert. Die bislang von der Deutschen Börse vorgesehenen Maßnahmen gehen in die richtige Richtung, sind aber nicht weitreichend genug. Es bedarf eines deutlichen Zeichens, dass sich künftig nur solche Unternehmen für den DAX qualifizieren können, die ein zumindest befriedigendes Maß an Nachhaltigkeit gemessen durch einen ESG-Risk-Score (Environment, Social, Governance) in ihrer Geschäftstätigkeit erreichen. Eine Simulation verdeutlicht, dass nach ESG-Kriterien seit langem kritisch betrachtete Unternehmen dem DAX nicht mehr angehören würden. Damit könnte mehr Kapital in nachhaltig wirtschaftende Unternehmen und Sektoren fließen.
We report on the measurement of the Central Exclusive Production of charged particle pairs h+h− (h = π, K, p) with the STAR detector at RHIC in proton-proton collisions at √s = 200 GeV. The charged particle pairs produced in the reaction pp → p′ + h+h− + p′ are reconstructed from the tracks in the central detector and identified using the specific energy loss and the time of flight method, while the forward-scattered protons are measured in the Roman Pot system. Exclusivity of the event is guaranteed by requiring the transverse momentum balance of all four final-state particles. Differential cross sections are measured as functions of observables related to the central hadronic final state and to the forward-scattered protons. They are measured in a fiducial region corresponding to the acceptance of the STAR detector and determined by the central particles’ transverse momenta and pseudorapidities as well as by the forward-scattered protons’ momenta. This fiducial region roughly corresponds to the square of the four-momentum transfers at the proton vertices in the range 0.04 GeV2 < −t1, −t2 < 0.2 GeV2, invariant masses of the charged particle pairs up to a few GeV and pseudorapidities of the centrally-produced hadrons in the range |η| < 0.7. The measured cross sections are compared to phenomenological predictions based on the Double Pomeron Exchange (DPE) model. Structures observed in the mass spectra of π+π− and K+K− pairs are consistent with the DPE model, while angular distributions of pions suggest a dominant spin-0 contribution to π+π− production. For π+π− production, the fiducial cross section is extrapolated to the Lorentz-invariant region, which allows decomposition of the invariant mass spectrum into continuum and resonant contributions. The extrapolated cross section is well described by the continuum production and at least three resonances, the f0(980), f2(1270) and f0(1500), with a possible small contribution from the f0(1370). Fits to the extrapolated differential cross section as a function of t1 and t2 enable extraction of the exponential slope parameters in several bins of the invariant mass of π+π− pairs. These parameters are sensitive to the size of the interaction region.
Measurement of inclusive charged-particle jet production in Au + Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV
(2020)
The STAR Collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider reports the first measurement of inclusive jet production in peripheral and central Au+Au collisions at √𝑠𝑁𝑁=200 GeV. Jets are reconstructed with the anti-𝑘𝑇 algorithm using charged tracks with pseudorapidity |𝜂|<1.0 and transverse momentum 0.2<𝑝ch
𝑇,jet<30 GeV/𝑐, with jet resolution parameter 𝑅=0.2, 0.3, and 0.4. The large background yield uncorrelated with the jet signal is observed to be dominated by statistical phase space, consistent with a previous coincidence measurement. This background is suppressed by requiring a high-transverse-momentum (high-𝑝𝑇) leading hadron in accepted jet candidates. The bias imposed by this requirement is assessed, and the 𝑝𝑇 region in which the bias is small is identified. Inclusive charged-particle jet distributions are reported in peripheral and central Au+Au collisions for 5<𝑝ch
𝑇,jet<25 GeV/𝑐 and 5<𝑝ch
𝑇,jet<30 GeV/𝑐, respectively. The charged-particle jet inclusive yield is suppressed for central Au+Au collisions, compared to both the peripheral Au+Au yield from this measurement and to the 𝑝𝑝 yield calculated using the PYTHIA event generator. The magnitude of the suppression is consistent with that of inclusive hadron production at high 𝑝𝑇 and that of semi-inclusive recoil jet yield when expressed in terms of energy loss due to medium-induced energy transport. Comparison of inclusive charged-particle jet yields for different values of 𝑅 exhibits no significant evidence for medium-induced broadening of the transverse jet profile for 𝑅 <0.4 in central Au+Au collisions. The measured distributions are consistent with theoretical model calculations that incorporate jet quenching.
Digitale Technologien begünstigen den Einsatz einer dynamischen Preisgestaltung, also von Preisen, die für ein prinzipiell gleiches Produkt unangekündigt variieren. Dabei werden in der öffentlichen Diskussion unterschiedliche Ausgestaltungsformen dynamischer Preise oftmals vermischt, was eine sinnvolle Analyse der Vor- und Nachteile der dynamischen Preisgestaltung erschwert. Das Ziel des Beitrags ist die Darstellung der ökonomischen Grundlagen und die Diskussion sowie Klassifikation der Ausgestaltungsmöglichkeiten der dynamischen Preisgestaltung. Darüber hinaus erfolgt eine Bewertung der Vor- und Nachteile der dynamischen Preisgestaltung aus Käufer- und Verkäufersicht. Abschließend werden Implikationen für die betriebswirtschaftliche Forschung diskutiert.
Measurement of inclusive J/ψ polarization in p + p collisions at √s=200 GeV by the STAR experiment
(2020)
We report on new measurements of inclusive 𝐽/𝜓 polarization at midrapidity in 𝑝+𝑝 collisions at √𝑠=200 GeV by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The polarization parameters, 𝜆𝜃, 𝜆𝜙, and 𝜆𝜃𝜙, are measured as a function of transverse momentum (𝑝T) in both the helicity and Collins-Soper (CS) reference frames within 𝑝T<10 GeV/𝑐. Except for 𝜆𝜃 in the CS frame at the highest measured 𝑝T, all three polarization parameters are consistent with 0 in both reference frames without any strong 𝑝T dependence. Several model calculations are compared with data, and the one using the Color Glass Condensate effective field theory coupled with nonrelativistic QCD gives the best overall description of the experimental results, even though other models cannot be ruled out due to experimental uncertainties.
Ten hadronic final states of the ℎ𝑐 decays are investigated via the process 𝜓(3686)→𝜋0ℎ𝑐, using a data sample of (448.1±2.9)×106 𝜓(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector. The decay channel ℎ𝑐→𝐾+𝐾−𝜋+𝜋−𝜋0 is observed for the first time and has a measured significance of 6.0𝜎. The corresponding branching fraction is determined to be ℬ(ℎ𝑐→𝐾+𝐾−𝜋+𝜋−𝜋0)=(3.3±0.6±0.6)×10−3 (where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively). Evidence for the decays ℎ𝑐→𝜋+𝜋−𝜋0𝜂 and ℎ𝑐→𝐾0𝑆𝐾±𝜋∓𝜋+𝜋− is found with a significance of 3.6𝜎 and 3.8𝜎, respectively. The corresponding branching fractions (and upper limits) are obtained to be ℬ(ℎ𝑐→𝜋+𝜋−𝜋0𝜂)=(7.2±1.8±1.3)×10−3 (<1.8×10−2) and ℬ(ℎ𝑐→𝐾0𝑆𝐾±𝜋∓𝜋+𝜋−)=(2.8±0.9±0.5)×10−3 (<4.7×10−3). Upper limits on the branching fractions for the final states ℎ𝑐→𝐾+𝐾−𝜋0, 𝐾+𝐾−𝜂, 𝐾+𝐾−𝜋+𝜋−𝜂, 2(𝐾+𝐾−)𝜋0, 𝐾+𝐾−𝜋0𝜂, 𝐾0𝑆𝐾±𝜋∓, and 𝑝¯𝑝𝜋0𝜋0 are determined at a confidence level of 90%.
Using a dedicated data sample taken in 2018 on the J/ψ peak, we perform a detailed study of the trigger efficiencies of the BESIII detector. The efficiencies are determined from three representative physics processes, namely Bhabha scattering, dimuon production and generic hadronic events with charged particles. The combined efficiency of all active triggers approaches 100% in most cases, with uncertainties small enough not to affect most physics analyses.
Measurement of cross sections for e⁺e⁻ → μ⁺μ⁻ at center-of-mass energies from 3.80 to 4.60 GeV
(2020)
The observed cross sections for 𝑒+𝑒−→𝜇+𝜇− at energies from 3.8 to 4.6 GeV are measured using data samples taken with the BESIII detector operated at the BEPCII collider. We measure the muonic widths and determine the branching fractions of the charmonium states 𝜓(4040), 𝜓(4160), and 𝜓(4415) decaying to 𝜇+𝜇−, as well as making a first determination of the phase of the amplitudes. In addition, we observe evidence for a structure in the dimuon cross section near 4.220 GeV/𝑐2, which we denote as 𝑆(4220). Analyzing a coherent sum of amplitudes yields eight solutions, one of which gives a mass of 𝑀𝑆(4220) = 4216.7±8.9±4.1 MeV/𝑐2, a total width of Γtot S(4220) = 47.2±22.8±10.5 MeV, and a muonic width of Γ𝜇𝜇 𝑆(4220) = 1.53±1.26±0.54 keV, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The eight solutions give the central values of the mass, total width, muonic width to be, respectively, in the range from 4212.8 to 4219.4 MeV/𝑐2, from 36.4 to 49.6 MeV, and from 1.09 to 1.53 keV. The statistical significance of the 𝑆(4220) signal is 3.9𝜎. Correcting the total dimuon cross section for radiative effects yields a statistical significance for this structure of 8.1𝜎.
Cross sections of the process 𝑒+𝑒−→𝜋0𝜋0𝐽/𝜓 at center-of-mass energies between 3.808 and 4.600 GeV are measured with high precision by using 12.4 fb−1 of data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider facility. A fit to the measured energy-dependent cross sections confirms the existence of the charmoniumlike state 𝑌(4220). The mass and width of the 𝑌(4220) are determined to be (4220.4±2.4±2.3) MeV/𝑐2 and (46.2±4.7±2.1) MeV, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The mass and width are consistent with those measured in the process 𝑒+𝑒−→𝜋+𝜋−𝐽/𝜓. The neutral charmonium-like state 𝑍𝑐(3900)0 is observed prominently in the 𝜋0𝐽/𝜓 invariant-mass spectrum, and, for the first time, an amplitude analysis is performed to study its properties. The spin-parity of 𝑍𝑐(3900)0 is determined to be 𝐽𝑃=1+, and the pole position is (3893.1±2.2±3.0)−𝑖(22.2±2.6±7.0) MeV/𝑐2, which is consistent with previous studies of electrically charged 𝑍𝑐(3900)±. In addition, cross sections of 𝑒+𝑒− → 𝜋0𝑍𝑐(3900)0 → 𝜋0𝜋0𝐽/𝜓 are extracted, and the corresponding line shape is found to agree with that of the 𝑌(4220).
Using 2.93 fb−1 of 𝑒+𝑒− collision data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector, the first observation of the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decay 𝐷+→𝐾+𝜋+𝜋−𝜋0 is reported. After removing decays that contain narrow intermediate resonances, including 𝐷+→𝐾+𝜂, 𝐷+→𝐾+𝜔, and 𝐷+→𝐾+𝜙, the branching fraction of the decay 𝐷+→𝐾+𝜋+𝜋−𝜋0 is measured to be (1.13±0.08stat±0.03syst)×10−3. The ratio of branching fractions of 𝐷+→𝐾+𝜋+𝜋−𝜋0 over 𝐷+→𝐾−𝜋+𝜋+𝜋0 is found to be (1.81±0.15)%, which corresponds to (6.28±0.52)tan4𝜃𝐶, where 𝜃𝐶 is the Cabibbo mixing angle. This ratio is significantly larger than the corresponding ratios for other doubly Cabibbo-suppressed decays. The asymmetry of the branching fractions of charge-conjugated decays 𝐷±→𝐾±𝜋±𝜋∓𝜋0 is also determined, and no evidence for 𝐶𝑃 violation is found. In addition, the first evidence for the 𝐷+→𝐾+𝜔 decay, with a statistical significance of 3.3𝜎, is presented and the branching fraction is measured to be ℬ(𝐷+→𝐾+𝜔) = (5.7+2.5−2.1stat±0.2syst)×10−5.
The process 𝑒+𝑒−→𝜙𝜂′ has been studied for the first time in detail using data sample collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider at center of mass energies from 2.05 to 3.08 GeV. A resonance with quantum numbers 𝐽𝑃𝐶=1−− is observed with mass 𝑀=(2177.5±4.8(stat)±19.5(syst))MeV/𝑐2 and width Γ=(149.0±15.6(stat)±8.9(syst)) MeV with a statistical significance larger than 10𝜎, including systematic uncertainties. If the observed structure is identified with the 𝜙(2170), then the ratio of partial width between the 𝜙𝜂′ by BESIII and 𝜙𝜂 by BABAR is (ℬ𝑅𝜙𝜂Γ𝑅𝑒𝑒)/(ℬ𝑅𝜙𝜂′Γ𝑅𝑒𝑒)=0.23±0.10(stat)±0.18(syst), which is smaller than the prediction of the 𝑠¯𝑠𝑔 hybrid models by several orders of magnitude.
By analyzing a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1 collected at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with By analyzing a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1 collected at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector, we measure for the first time the absolute branching fraction of the 𝐷+→𝜂𝜇+𝜈𝜇 decay to be ℬ𝐷+→𝜂𝜇+𝜈𝜇=(10.4±1.0stat±0.5syst)×10−4. Using the world averaged value of ℬ𝐷+→𝜂𝑒+𝜈𝑒, the ratio of the two branching fractions is determined to be ℬ𝐷+→𝜂𝜇+𝜈𝜇/ℬ𝐷+→𝜂𝑒+𝜈𝑒=0.91±0.13(stat+syst), which agrees with the theoretical expectation of lepton flavor universality within uncertainty. By studying the differential decay rates in five four-momentum transfer intervals, we obtain the product of the hadronic form factor 𝑓𝜂+(0) and the 𝑐→𝑑 Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |𝑉𝑐𝑑| to be 𝑓𝜂+(0)|𝑉𝑐𝑑|=0.087±0.008stat±0.002syst. Taking the input of |𝑉𝑐𝑑| from the global fit in the standard model, we determine 𝑓𝜂+(0)=0.39±0.04stat±0.01syst. On the other hand, using the value of 𝑓𝜂+(0) calculated in theory, we find |𝑉𝑐𝑑| = 0.242±0.022stat±0.006syst±0.033theory.
We report the first observation of the semimuonic decay 𝐷+→𝜔𝜇+𝜈𝜇 using an 𝑒+𝑒− collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1 collected with the BESIII detector at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV. The absolute branching fraction of the 𝐷+→𝜔𝜇+𝜈𝜇 decay is measured to be ℬ𝐷+→𝜔𝜇+𝜈𝜇=(17.7±1.8stat±1.1syst)×10−4. Its ratio with the world average value of the branching fraction of the 𝐷+→𝜔𝑒+𝜈𝑒 decay probes lepton flavor universality and it is determined to be ℬ𝐷+→𝜔𝜇+𝜈𝜇/ℬPDG 𝐷+→𝜔𝑒+𝜈𝑒=1.05±0.14, in agreement with the standard model expectation within one standard deviation.
Cross sections of the process 𝑒+𝑒−→𝜋0𝜋0𝐽/𝜓 at center-of-mass energies between 3.808 and 4.600 GeV are measured with high precision by using 12.4 fb−1 of data samples collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider facility. A fit to the measured energy-dependent cross sections confirms the existence of the charmoniumlike state 𝑌(4220). The mass and width of the 𝑌(4220) are determined to be (4220.4±2.4±2.3) MeV/𝑐2 and (46.2±4.7±2.1) MeV, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. The mass and width are consistent with those measured in the process 𝑒+𝑒−→𝜋+𝜋−𝐽/𝜓. The neutral charmonium-like state 𝑍𝑐(3900)0 is observed prominently in the 𝜋0𝐽/𝜓 invariant-mass spectrum, and, for the first time, an amplitude analysis is performed to study its properties. The spin-parity of 𝑍𝑐(3900)0 is determined to be 𝐽𝑃=1+, and the pole position is (3893.1±2.2±3.0)−𝑖(22.2±2.6±7.0) MeV/𝑐2, which is consistent with previous studies of electrically charged 𝑍𝑐(3900)±. In addition, cross sections of 𝑒+𝑒− → 𝜋0𝑍𝑐(3900)0 → 𝜋0𝜋0𝐽/𝜓 are extracted, and the corresponding line shape is found to agree with that of the 𝑌(4220).
The processes 𝑒+𝑒−→𝐷+ 𝑠𝐷𝑠1(2460)−+c.c. and 𝑒+𝑒−→𝐷*+ 𝑠𝐷𝑠1(2460)−+c.c. are studied for the first time using data samples collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The Born cross sections of 𝑒+𝑒−→𝐷+ 𝑠𝐷𝑠1(2460)−+c.c. at nine center-of-mass energies between 4.467 GeV and 4.600 GeV and those of 𝑒+𝑒−→𝐷*+ 𝑠𝐷𝑠1(2460)−+c.c. at √𝑠=4.590 GeV and 4.600 GeV are measured. No obvious charmonium or charmoniumlike structure is seen in the measured cross sections.
Digital spatial processes have been widely explored and investigated in subject-specific geographic research. So far, however, this research has not been sufficiently reflected in classrooms or teacher education, and remains unconnected to notions of geographical digital literacy. Viral constructions of space – realities shaped in everyday life that are experienced and (re-)produced by students and teachers alike through social media – present an opportunity for Geography education to adapt to the digital society. This paper attempts to connect viral constructions of space, the digital society and the knowledge teachers need to include viral constructions of space in the classroom using Mishra and Koehler’s (2006) TPACK model, a well-established means for summarizing teachers’ technological, pedagogical and content knowledge for a specific topic. The paper focuses on content knowledge, identifies five sub-types of viral constructions of space, and extracts nine descriptors of teachers’ content knowledge. By focusing on content knowledge, the paper presents a starting point for future investigations of pedagogical and technological teacher knowledge as well as their intersections. It also raises awareness of viral constructions of space as both a new essential topic in the Geography classroom and a phenomenon already shaping learning environments for spatial acquisition.
Using a sample of 106 million 𝜓(3686) decays, 𝜓(3686)→𝛾𝜒𝑐𝐽(𝐽=0,1,2) and 𝜓(3686)→𝛾𝜒𝑐𝐽,𝜒𝑐𝐽→𝛾𝐽/𝜓(𝐽=1,2) events are utilized to study inclusive 𝜒𝑐𝐽→anything, 𝜒𝑐𝐽→hadrons, and 𝐽/𝜓→anything distributions, including distributions of the number of charged tracks, electromagnetic calorimeter showers, and 𝜋0s, and to compare them with distributions obtained from the BESIII Monte Carlo simulation. Information from each Monte Carlo simulated decay event is used to construct matrices connecting the detected distributions to the input predetection “produced” distributions. Assuming these matrices also apply to data, they are used to predict the analogous produced distributions of the decay events. Using these, the charged particle multiplicities are compared with results from MARK I. Further, comparison of the distributions of the number of photons in data with those in Monte Carlo simulation indicates that G-parity conservation should be taken into consideration in the simulation.
Using 2.93 fb−1 of 𝑒+𝑒− collision data taken at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII, we measure the branching fractions of the singly Cabibbo-suppressed decays 𝐷→𝜔𝜋𝜋 to be ℬ(𝐷0→𝜔𝜋+𝜋−)=(1.33±0.16±0.12)×10−3 and ℬ(𝐷+→𝜔𝜋+𝜋0)=(3.87±0.83±0.25)×10−3, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones systematic. The statistical significances are 12.9𝜎 and 7.7𝜎, respectively. The precision of ℬ(𝐷0→𝜔𝜋+𝜋−) is improved by a factor of 2.1 over prior measurements, and ℬ(𝐷+→𝜔𝜋+𝜋0) is measured for the first time. No significant signal for 𝐷0→𝜔𝜋0𝜋0 is observed, and the upper limit on the branching fraction is ℬ(𝐷0→𝜔𝜋0𝜋0)<1.10×10−3 at the 90% confidence level. The branching fractions of 𝐷→𝜂𝜋𝜋 are also measured and consistent with existing results.
Using 2.93 fb−1 of 𝑒+𝑒− collision data taken at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector, we report the first measurements of the absolute branching fractions of 14 hadronic 𝐷0(+) decays to exclusive final states with an 𝜂, e.g., 𝐷0→𝐾−𝜋+𝜂, 𝐾0𝑆𝜋0𝜂, 𝐾+𝐾−𝜂, 𝐾0𝑆𝐾0𝑆𝜂, 𝐾−𝜋+𝜋0𝜂, 𝐾0𝑆𝜋+𝜋−𝜂, 𝐾0𝑆𝜋0𝜋0𝜂, and 𝜋+𝜋−𝜋0𝜂; 𝐷+→𝐾0𝑆𝜋+𝜂, 𝐾0𝑆𝐾+𝜂, 𝐾−𝜋+𝜋+𝜂, 𝐾0𝑆𝜋+𝜋0𝜂, 𝜋+𝜋+𝜋−𝜂, and 𝜋+𝜋0𝜋0𝜂. Among these decays, the 𝐷0→𝐾−𝜋+𝜂 and 𝐷+→𝐾0 𝑆𝜋+𝜂 decays have the largest branching fractions, which are ℬ(𝐷0→𝐾−𝜋+𝜂) = (1.853±0.025stat±0.031syst)% and ℬ(𝐷+→𝐾0𝑆𝜋+𝜂) = (1.309±0.037stat±0.031syst)%, respectively. The charge-parity asymmetries for the six decays with highest event yields are determined, and no statistically significant charge-parity violation is found.
There has recently been a dramatic renewal of interest in hadron spectroscopy and charm physics. This renaissance has been driven in part by the discovery of a plethora of charmonium-like XYZ states at BESIII and B factories, and the observation of an intriguing proton-antiproton threshold enhancement and the possibly related X(1835) meson state at BESIII, as well as the threshold measurements of charm mesons and charm baryons.
We present a detailed survey of the important topics in tau-charm physics and hadron physics that can be further explored at BESIII during the remaining operation period of BEPCII. This survey will help in the optimization of the data-taking plan over the coming years, and provides physics motivation for the possible upgrade of BEPCII to higher luminosity.
Highlights
• German patients with LGS identified using most specific algorithm to date.
• Prevalence of probable LGS with epilepsy diagnosis before age 6 was 6.5 per 100,000.
• High healthcare costs of €22,787 PPY; mostly due to inpatient and home nursing care.
• Costs were greater in patients prescribed rescue medications.
• Over 10 years, LGS patients had significant mortality vs. controls (2.88 vs. 0.01%).
Abstract
Objective: This retrospective study examined patients with probable Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) identified from German healthcare data.
Methods: This 10-year study (2007–2016) assessed healthcare insurance claims information from the Vilua Healthcare research database. A selection algorithm considering diagnoses and drug prescriptions identified patients with probable LGS. To increase the sensitivity of the identification algorithm, two populations were defined: all patients with probable LGS (broadly defined) and only those with a documented epilepsy diagnosis before 6 years of age (narrowly defined). This specific criterion was used as LGS typically has a peak seizure onset between age 3 and 5 years. Primary analyses were prevalence and demographics; secondary analyses included healthcare costs, hospitalization rate and length of stay (LOS), medication use, and mortality.
Results: In the final year of the study, 545 patients with broadly defined probable LGS (mean [range] age: 31.4 [2–89] years; male: 53%) were identified. Using the narrowly defined probable LGS definition, the number of patients was reduced to 102 (mean [range] age: 7.4 [2–14] years; male: 52%). Prevalence of broadly defined and narrowly defined probable LGS was 39.2 and 6.5 per 100,000 people. During the 10-year study, 208 patients with narrowly defined probable LGS were identified and followed up for 1379 patient-years. The mean annual cost of healthcare was €22,787 per patient-year (PPY); greatest costs were attributable to inpatient care (33%), home nursing care (13%), and medication (10%). Mean annual healthcare costs were significantly greater for those with prescribed rescue medication (45% of patient-years) versus those without (€33,872 vs. €13,785 PPY, p < 0.001). Mean (standard deviation [SD]) annual hospitalization rate was 1.6 (2.0) PPY with mean (SD) annual LOS of 22.7 (46.0) days. Annual hospitalization rate was significantly greater in those who were prescribed rescue medication versus those who were not (2.2 [2.3] vs. 1.1 [1.6] PPY, p < 0.001). The mean (SD) number of different medications prescribed was 11.3 (7.3) PPY and 33.8 (17.0) over the entire observable time per patient (OET); antiepileptic drugs only accounted for 2.1 (1.1) of the medications prescribed PPY and 3.8 (2.0) OET. Over the 10-year study period, mortality in patients with narrowly defined probable LGS was significantly higher than the matched control population (six events [2.88%] vs. one event [0.01%], p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Annual healthcare costs incurred by patients with probable LGS in Germany were substantial, and mostly attributable to inpatient care, home nursing care, and medication. Patients prescribed with rescue medication incurred significantly greater costs than those who were not. Patients with narrowly defined probable LGS had a higher mortality rate versus control populations.
100 Jahre Dieter Janz
(2020)
The 20 April 2020 marks the centenary of Dieter Janz’s birth. This issue of Zeitschrift für Epileptologie is published in his honor with the aim of tracing the work of Dieter Janz over the last five decades and summarizing new findings on the Janz syndrome (Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy), which is named after him.
Protein turnover, the net result of protein synthesis and degradation, enables cells to remodel their proteomes in response to internal and external cues. Previously, we analyzed protein turnover rates in cultured brain cells under basal neuronal activity and found that protein turnover is influenced by subcellular localization, protein function, complex association, cell type of origin, and by the cellular environment (Dörrbaum et al., 2018). Here, we advanced our experimental approach to quantify changes in protein synthesis and degradation, as well as the resulting changes in protein turnover or abundance in rat primary hippocampal cultures during homeostatic scaling. Our data demonstrate that a large fraction of the neuronal proteome shows changes in protein synthesis and/or degradation during homeostatic up- and down-scaling. More than half of the quantified synaptic proteins were regulated, including pre- as well as postsynaptic proteins with diverse molecular functions.
We examined the feedback between the major protein degradation pathway, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), and protein synthesis in rat and mouse neurons. When protein degradation was inhibited, we observed a coordinate dramatic reduction in nascent protein synthesis in neuronal cell bodies and dendrites. The mechanism for translation inhibition involved the phosphorylation of eIF2α, surprisingly mediated by eIF2α kinase 1, or heme-regulated kinase inhibitor (HRI). Under basal conditions, neuronal expression of HRI is barely detectable. Following proteasome inhibition, HRI protein levels increase owing to stabilization of HRI and enhanced translation, likely via the increased availability of tRNAs for its rare codons. Once expressed, HRI is constitutively active in neurons because endogenous heme levels are so low; HRI activity results in eIF2α phosphorylation and the resulting inhibition of translation. These data demonstrate a novel role for neuronal HRI that senses and responds to compromised function of the proteasome to restore proteostasis.
Keystone mutualisms, such as corals, lichens or mycorrhizae, sustain fundamental ecosystem functions. Range dynamics of these symbioses are, however, inherently difficult to predict because host species may switch between different symbiont partners in different environments, thereby altering the range of the mutualism as a functional unit. Biogeographic models of mutualisms thus have to consider both the ecological amplitudes of various symbiont partners and the abiotic conditions that trigger symbiont replacement. To address this challenge, we here investigate 'symbiont turnover zones'--defined as demarcated regions where symbiont replacement is most likely to occur, as indicated by overlapping abundances of symbiont ecotypes. Mapping the distribution of algal symbionts from two species of lichen-forming fungi along four independent altitudinal gradients, we detected an abrupt and consistent β-diversity turnover suggesting parallel niche partitioning. Modelling contrasting environmental response functions obtained from latitudinal distributions of algal ecotypes consistently predicted a confined altitudinal turnover zone. In all gradients this symbiont turnover zone is characterized by approximately 12°C average annual temperature and approximately 5°C mean temperature of the coldest quarter, marking the transition from Mediterranean to cool temperate bioregions. Integrating the conditions of symbiont turnover into biogeographic models of mutualisms is an important step towards a comprehensive understanding of biodiversity dynamics under ongoing environmental change.
Two-person neuroscience (2 PN) is a recently introduced conceptual and methodological framework used to investigate the neural basis of human social interaction from simultaneous neuroimaging of two or more subjects (hyperscanning). In this study, we adopted a 2 PN approach and a multiple-brain connectivity model to investigate the neural basis of a form of cooperation called joint action. We hypothesized different intra-brain and inter-brain connectivity patterns when comparing the interpersonal properties of joint action with non-interpersonal conditions, with a focus on co-representation, a core ability at the basis of cooperation. 32 subjects were enrolled in dual-EEG recordings during a computerized joint action task including three conditions: one in which the dyad jointly acted to pursue a common goal (joint), one in which each subject interacted with the PC (PC), and one in which each subject performed the task individually (Solo).
A combination of multiple-brain connectivity estimation and specific indices derived from graph theory allowed to compare interpersonal with non-interpersonal conditions in four different frequency bands. Our results indicate that all the indices were modulated by the interaction, and returned a significantly stronger integration of multiple-subject networks in the joint vs. PC and Solo conditions. A subsequent classification analysis showed that features based on multiple-brain indices led to a better discrimination between social and non-social conditions with respect to single-subject indices. Taken together, our results suggest that multiple-brain connectivity can provide a deeper insight into the understanding of the neural basis of cooperation in humans.