Measurement of the inclusive and dijet cross-sections of b-jets in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The inclusive and dijet production cross-sections have been measured for jets containing b-hadrons (b-jets) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements use data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb^-1. The b-jets are identified using either a lifetime-based method, where secondary decay vertices of b-hadrons in jets are reconstructed using information from the tracking detectors, or a muon-based method where the presence of a muon is used to identify semileptonic decays of b-hadrons inside jets. The inclusive b-jet cross-section is measured as a function of transverse momentum in the range 20 < pT < 400 GeV and rapidity in the range |y| < 2.1. The bbbar-dijet cross-section is measured as a function of the dijet invariant mass in the range 110 < m_jj < 760 GeV, the azimuthal angle difference between the two jets and the angular variable chi in two dijet mass regions. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. Good agreement is observed between the measured cross-sections and the predictions obtained using POWHEG + Pythia. MC@NLO + Herwig shows good agreement with the measured bbbar-dijet cross-section. However, it does not reproduce the measured inclusive cross-section well, particularly for central b-jets with large transverse momenta.Comment: 10 pages plus author list (21 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version published in European Physical Journal

Impact of inter-judge agreement on perceptual judgment of nasality

To investigate the effect of perceptual inter-judge agreement of hypernasality on velopharyngeal (VP) closure prediction. Two logistic regression models were developed aiming to verify the possibility of predicting the VP closure using the following characteristics: rating of VP closure (adequate, borderline, inadequate), determined by the pressure-flow technique, degree of hypernasality (absent, mild, moderate, severe), and the presence/absence of nasal air emission and nasal rustle determined perceptually by three experienced speech language pathologists. In the first model, 100 speech samples with a moderate agreement rate of hypernasality (kappa coefficient: 0.41) were used. In the second model, 43 speech samples with a perfect agreement among judges were included. The χ²-test was used to compare the models (p≤0.05). In the first model, 65 of the 100 samples were rated in the correct VP closure category, with 42 adequate and 23 inadequate. The borderline VP closure was not predicted. The second model rated 31 of the 43 samples in the correct category, with 21 adequate VP closure, 5 in the borderline VP closure, and 5 inadequate. There was no difference (p=0.526) between the two models. However, the second model showed a higher proportion of accuracy (7%) than the first one, and it has also predicted the borderline VP closure. These results showed the importance of high index of inter-judge agreement when using subjective parameters of speech evaluation, especially when compared to an instrumental evaluation. This suggests the need for strategies for training and calibration of judges in the perceptual judgment to improve the reliability of auditory-perceptual assessment.Objetivo: Investigar o efeito da concordância entre diferentes avaliadores no julgamento perceptivo da hipernasalidade na previsão do fechamento velofaríngeo (FVF). Métodos: Dois modelos de regressão logística foram desenvolvidos com o objetivo de se prever o FVF utilizando as seguintes características: FVF (adequado, marginal e inadequado), determinado pela técnica fluxo-pressão, grau da hipernasalidade (ausente, leve, moderado, grave) e a presença/ausência de emissão de ar nasal e ronco nasal, determinados perceptivamente por três fonoaudiólogas experientes. O primeiro modelo foi composto de 100 amostras de fala com índice de concordância moderado para a hipernasalidade (coeficiente kappa: 0,41) e o segundo, de 43 amostras com concordância total entre os avaliadores. O teste do χ2 foi utilizado para comparar os modelos (p≤0,05). Resultados: No primeiro modelo, 65 das 100 amostras foram classificadas na categoria correta de FVF, sendo 42 adequado e 23 inadequado. O FVF marginal não foi previsto. O segundo modelo classificou 31 das 43 amostras na categoria correta, sendo 21 FVF adequado, 5 marginal e 5 inadequado. Não houve diferença (p=0,526) entre os dois modelos. No entanto, o segundo mostrou proporção de acerto mais alta (7%) do que o primeiro modelo, além de ter conseguido prever o FVF marginal. Conclusão: Esses resultados mostram a importância da concordância total entre diferentes avaliadores quando se utilizam parâmetros subjetivos de avaliação da fala, especialmente quando comparados com a avaliação instrumental, e sugerem a necessidade de estratégias para o treinamento e calibração de avaliadores no julgamento perceptivo a fim de aumentar a confiabilidade da avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da fala.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Bauru, SP, BrasilFaculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Bauru, SP, BrasilUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Bauru, SP, BrasilUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Bauru, SP, Brasi

Integrins as therapeutic targets: lessons and opportunities.

The integrins are a large family of cell adhesion molecules that are essential for the regulation of cell growth and function. The identification of key roles for integrins in a diverse range of diseases, including cancer, infection, thrombosis and autoimmune disorders, has revealed their substantial potential as therapeutic targets. However, so far, pharmacological inhibitors for only three integrins have received marketing approval. This article discusses the structure and function of integrins, their roles in disease and the chequered history of the approved integrin antagonists. Recent advances in the understanding of integrin function, ligand interaction and signalling pathways suggest novel strategies for inhibiting integrin function that could help harness their full potential as therapeutic targets

Avaliação da nasalidade de fala na fissura labiopalatina

Objetivo Descrever os resultados da nasalidade de fala de indiv&#237;duos com fissura labiopalatina e comparar os achados de nasalidade estabelecidos por meio do julgamento perceptivo-auditivo realizado ao vivo com os achados estabelecidos por an&#225;lise de grava&#231;&#245;es por ju&#237;zes, em dois tipos de amostras de fala. M&#233;todos O estudo envolveu a an&#225;lise retrospectiva dos resultados de avalia&#231;&#245;es perceptivo-auditivas da nasalidade de fala realizadas ao vivo por uma fonoaudi&#243;loga e o julgamento prospectivo, por consenso de ju&#237;zas de 100 grava&#231;&#245;es de amostras de fala, obtidas durante a produ&#231;&#227;o de dois conjuntos de est&#237;mulos de fala: um com consoantes de alta press&#227;o (CAP, n=100) e outro com consoantes de baixa press&#227;o (CBP, n=100). Os dados pertenciam a pacientes de ambos os g&#234;neros, com idades entre 5 e 12 anos, que tiveram a fissura labiopalatina operada por um mesmo cirurgi&#227;o. Resultados A aus&#234;ncia de hipernasalidade foi constatada em 69% dos julgamentos ao vivo. Quando presente, a hipernasalidade leve foi constatada em 23% dos casos, enquanto a hipernasalidade moderada em 8%. Para os julgamentos das amostras gravadas, 50% foram identificadas com hipernasalidade durante a produ&#231;&#227;o das amostras CAP e 62% durante a das amostras CBP. Diferen&#231;a significativa foi encontrada entre o resultado do julgamento ao vivo e o julgamento pelas ju&#237;zas nas amostras CAP. A concord&#226;ncia entre as modalidades de avalia&#231;&#227;o variou de 79% para as amostras CAP e 80% para as amostras CBP, sendo considerada moderada. Conclus&#227;o O julgamento perceptivo ao vivo da nasalidade de fala pode detectar melhor a aus&#234;ncia de hipernasalidade, seguida pela hipernasalidade de grau leve, em compara&#231;&#227;o com o julgamento realizado por ju&#237;zes m&#250;ltiplos, a partir de amostras gravadas. Contudo, tem a desvantagem de os dados n&#227;o poderem ser reproduzidos, nem quantificados, nem compartilhados por outros membros da equipe

Diversity of experimentation by farmers engaged in agroecology

International audienceAbstractAgroecology questions the production of generic knowledge. Rather than searching for the best practices for large-scale transfer, it would be more efficient to help farmers find their own solutions. A promising activity for farmers is experimentation because it answers their needs and helps them learn. However, how agroecological practices are tested by farmers in their own experiments is still poorly known. In this study, we examined the short-term experimental activity, i.e., experiments carried out at a yearly scale in pre-defined fields. Seventeen farmers in south eastern France were surveyed. The farmers practiced conventional or organic farming and cultivated either arable or market garden crops. Experiments on agroecological practices were characterized, located along a timeline, and discussed with them. To conduct the interviews with the farmers, each experiment was described in three stages: (1) designing the experiment, (2) managing it in real time, and (3) evaluating the results of the experiment. The data collected in the interviews were first analyzed to build a descriptive framework of farmers’ experiments, after which hierarchical cluster analysis was used to analyze the diversity of the farmers’ experiments. Here, we propose for the first time a generic framework to describe farmers’ experiments at a short time scale based on the consistency between the Design, Management, and Evaluation stages. We used the framework to characterize the diversity of farmers’ experiments and identified four clusters. The originality of this work is both building a descriptive framework resulting from in-depth analyses of farmers’ discourse and using statistical tools to identify and interpret the groups of experiments. Our results provide a better understanding of farmers’ experiments and suggest tools and methods to help them experiment, a major challenge in the promotion of a large-scale agroecological transition

Nasalance and nasality at experimental velopharyngeal openings in palatal prosthesis: a case study

The use of prosthetic devices for correction of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is an alternative treatment for patients with conditions that preclude surgery and for those individuals with a hypofunctional velopharynx (HV) with a poor prognosis for the surgical repair of VPI. Understanding the role and measuring the outcome of prosthetic treatment of velopharyngeal dysfunction requires the use of tools that allow for documenting pre- and post-treatment outcomes. Experimental openings in speech bulbs have been used for simulating VPI in studies documenting changes in aerodynamic, acoustic and kinematics aspects of speech associated with the use of palatal prosthetic devices. The use of nasometry to document changes in speech associated with experimental openings in speech bulbs, however, has not been described in the literature. OBJECTIVE: This single-subject study investigated nasalance and nasality at the presence of experimental openings drilled through the speech bulb of a patient with HV. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nasometric recordings of the word "pato" were obtained under 4 velopharyngeal conditions: no-opening (control condition), no speech bulb, speech bulb with a 20 mm(2) opening, and speech bulb with 30 mm(2) opening. Five speech-language pathologists performed auditory-perceptual ratings while the subject read an oral passage under all conditions. RESULTS: Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant difference among conditions (p=0.0002), with Scheffé post hoc test indicating difference from the no-opening condition. CONCLUSION: The changes in nasalance observed after drilling holes of known sizes in a speech bulb suggest that nasometry reflect changes in transfer of sound energy related to different sizes of velopharyngeal opening

Guidelines for management of ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack 2008

This article represents the update of the European Stroke Initiative Recommendations for Stroke Management. These guidelines cover both ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attacks, which are now considered to be a single entity. The article covers referral and emergency management, Stroke Unit service, diagnostics, primary and secondary prevention, general stroke treatment, specific treatment including acute management, management of complications, and rehabilitation