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Observation of t t ¯ γ γ production at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
No full textThis paper presents the first observation of top-quark pair production in association with two photons ( t t ¯ γ γ ). The measurement is performed in the single-lepton decay channel using proton–proton collision data collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb − 1 recorded during Run 2 at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The t t ¯ γ γ production cross section, measured in a fiducial phase space based on particle-level kinematic criteria for the lepton, photons, and jets, is found to be 2 . 42 − 0.53 + 0.58 fb , corresponding to an observed significance of 5.2 standard deviations. Additionally, the ratio of the production cross section of t t ¯ γ γ to top-quark pair production in association with one photon is determined, yielding ( 3 . 30 − 0.65 + 0.70 ) × 10 − 3
A modelling assessment of the impact of control measures on highly pathogenic avian influenza transmission in poultry in Great Britain
Get PDFSince 2020, large-scale outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Great Britain have resulted in substantial poultry mortality and economic losses. Alongside the costs, the risk of circulation leading to a viral reassortment that causes zoonotic spillover raises additional concerns. However, the precise mechanisms driving transmission between poultry premises and the impact of potential control measures in Great Britain, such as vaccination, are not fully understood. We have developed a spatial transmission model for the spread of HPAI in poultry premises calibrated to infected premises data for the 2022–23 season using Markov chain Monte Carlo. Our results indicate that reducing the susceptibility of the premises surrounding an identified infected premises (for example, through enhanced biosecurity measures and/or vaccination) can substantially reduce the overall number of infected premises. Our findings highlight that enhanced control measures could limit the future impact of HPAI on the poultry industry and reduce the risk of broader health threats
Quantitative characterisation of a blocky peperite : 2D image analysis of clast shape and distribution in an andesite sill at Honister, Cumbria
Get PDFPeperites record complex interactions between magma and wet sediments that are fundamental to hydromagmatic volcanism. However, interpretations of these processes have historically been limited by a reliance on qualitative field descriptions. We present the first quantification of clast shape and distribution in a peperite exposure, applying a novel morphometric approach to a well-exposed upper margin of a peperitic andesite sill at Honister, Cumbria, England. Here, blocky peperite formed where magma intruded and mingled with a wet and unconsolidated volcaniclastic sediment during the Ordovician volcanism that formed the Borrowdale Volcanic Group. We applied Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry to create a high-resolution 2D image of the exposure, enabling outcrop-scale quantification of clast characteristics through image analysis. Based on our field observations and a complementary dataset of clast morphological and textural characteristics, we identify four syn-magmatic processes governing peperite formation at Hopper Quarry: (1) shallow emplacement of poorly vesicular magma into wet, unconsolidated sediment, with magma propagation accommodated by non-brittle processes and the formation of a vapour film at the interface, as evidenced by fluidisation cross-cutting undisturbed sediment; (2) localised vesiculation of the sill margin driven by a volatile saturation gradient at the magma-wet sediment interface, recorded by heterogenous clast vesicularity unrelated to clast dimensions; (3) brittle cooling-contraction granulation of the sill margin, forming an initial population of closelypacked blocky, in situ clasts characterised by angular margins and jigsaw-fit arrangements, with fine fragmentation driven by localised instabilities of the vapour film; (4) clast dispersion driven by fluidisation of the host sediment and bulk magma-sediment density contrasts, producing a transition from framework-supported to matrix-supported clast domains with distance from the sill. A quantitative baseline for blocky peperite clast shape and distribution has been established here, providing abundant scope for comparison with a broader suite of peperites and blocky lavas
Growing Complexity in the Legal Variability of Cannabis Markets
No full textCannabis is most popular psychoactive substance among those prohibited by the international drug control regime. Yet, at least partly driven by the increased recognition that prohibitionist approaches to cannabis control cause more problems than they solve, cracks are appearing in the historic global consensus of prohibiting cannabis. Recent years have seen an increase in both the number of countries deviating from strict prohibition and the variety of policy approaches underpinning this deviation. As such, cannabis arguably has more variation in legality than any other controlled drug. The aim of this chapter is to explore this variation by outlining some of the key legal and policy deviations from prohibition and reflecting on the implications these have for the future of cannabis as a controlled substance
Reliable repurposing of the antibody interactome inside the cell
No full textEighty-five percent of the human proteome has at least one interacting monoclonal antibody. These molecules penetrate the cytoplasm poorly and are very often non-functional within the cell. Analysis of antibody variable domains and characterisation of forty-five single-chain variable fragment (scFv) intrabodies expressed in human cells indicated charge to have the greatest impact on solubility. We created new interdomain linkers, optimised scFv domain orientation and found an optimisable charge discrepancy between variable heavy framework and CDR sites. When applied to reduce the search space and rank the products of AI-led inverse folding this creates a single highly soluble, abundant and stable intrabody with parent antibody epitope recognition. Over six hundred intrabody sequences are presented targeting sixty cytoplasmic proteins with linear, conformational, post-translational modification or oligomer specificity. Interactions were validated for p53, α-synuclein, SOD1, polyQ, FUS/TLS, UCHL1 and GFP. Here we show reliable repurposing of the sequenced antibody interactome inside the cell
Association between sarcopenia index based on the serum creatinine to cystatin C ratio and cancer incidence in middle-aged and older adults in China : A nationwide cohort study
Get PDFOBJECTIVES: To examine the association between a novel sarcopenia index and cancer incidence among Chinese adults aged ≥45 y. METHODS: Data were derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The sarcopenia index was calculated as the ratio of serum creatinine (mg/L) to serum cystatin C (mg/L), multiplied by 100. Incident cancer was identified through self-reported physician diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association between the sarcopenia index and cancer risk, evaluated both continuously and by tertiles. Dose-response and linearity were assessed using restricted cubic spline regression and likelihood ratio tests, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 10 446 participants (median age, 59 y) were included. During a median follow-up of 8.92 y, 248 participants developed cancer. The sarcopenia index was linearly associated with cancer risk. Each 1.0-SD increase in the index was associated with a 2% reduction in cancer risk. Compared with the lowest tertile (T1), adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were 0.97 (95% CI, 0.73-1.29; P = 0.83) for T2 and 0.58 (95% CI, 0.41-0.83; P < 0.01) for T3 (P for trend < 0.01). Using T3 as the reference, HRs were 1.67 (95% CI, 1.18-2.36; P < 0.01) for T2 and 1.72 (95% CI, 1.21-2.46; P < 0.01) for T1 (P for trend < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A significant inverse association was observed between the sarcopenia index and incident cancer risk in middle-aged and older adults, highlighting the potential role of skeletal muscle health in cancer prevention
3734 The impact of digital interventions to reverse frailty—systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textIntroduction Frailty is defined as a clinically recognised state of increased vulnerability, reflecting a decline in an individual’s psychological and physical reserves. Digital interventions, such as smartwatches, are increasingly utilised to monitor and support the health of older adults. Evidence on the effectiveness of digital interventions in reducing or reversing frailty is limited. This systematic review aimed to investigate the types of digital interventions tested and the resulting outcomes. Method The following databases: Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, PsychInfo and Embase were searched from time of origin until July 2024. A search strategy was designed to identify randomised controlled trials assessing the impact of digital interventions on older adults. Outcome measures explored include frailty, wellbeing and quality of life. Narrative synthesis was performed for all studies and meta-analysis was performed for outcomes reported in four or more studies. Risk of bias was conducted using Cochrane Risk of Bias-2 tool. Results From 4476 titles and abstracts screened, 17 studies were included following full text review. Overall, 12 studies included exercises as a component or the sole form of intervention. The mean duration of intervention was 4.04 (SD 2.56) months. Mean adherence to the intervention was 59%. The most reported frailty-specific outcome was walking speed (n = 8), while the least reported outcome was self-reported exhaustion level (n = 2). Meta-analysis showed non-exercise-based interventions showed significant improvements in SPPB. There was no statistically significant change in TUG and handgrip strength. Narrative synthesis indicates there was insufficient evidence to evaluate the impact of digital interventions on frailty, cognition, wellbeing, activities of daily living and health-related quality of life. Conclusions The findings suggest low technological readiness and adherence among digital interventions for older adults. Narrative synthesis of overall frailty and outcome measures showed mixed results and insufficient evidence on the impact of digital interventions on frailty and outcomes reviewed
Recent Progress in Silicon-Based On-Chip Integrated Infrared Photodetectors
No full textInfrared (IR) photodetectors are indispensable to modern optoelectronic systems, ranging from night vision imaging, surveillance, and industrial process control to environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics. However, traditional detectors based on bulk semiconductors are constrained by prohibitive fabrication costs and the stringent requirement for bulky cryogenic cooling, which severely hinders their widespread deployment in Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP)-sensitive scenarios. Silicon-based on-chip integration, leveraging compatibility with mature CMOS processes, has emerged as a transformative paradigm. It enables the realization of fully functional photonic integrated circuits (PICs) capable of on-chip sensing and high-speed data transmission, offering a pathway toward miniaturized and cost-effective architectures. This article provides a review of recent progress in silicon-based infrared photodetectors across three core material systems: Group IV (Ge/GeSn), III–V compounds, and two-dimensional (2D) materials. In the end, we offer an outlook on the development trends of next-generation intelligent sensing systems driven by optoelectronic convergence
Caught between flags and borders : Structural injustice in the transnational governance of migrant fishers
No full textThis paper interrogates the systemic enforcement failures in monitoring migrant fishers by critically examining the legal responsibilities of labour-sending and flag states within the framework of international human rights law, the law of the sea, and transnational labour regulation. Labour-sending states, while normatively empowered to regulate recruitment and working conditions through extraterritorial measures, frequently fail to meet their due diligence obligations due to institutional fragmentation and remittance-driven policy choices. Flag states, though vested with exclusive jurisdiction under Article 92 of UNCLOS, exploit open registries and fragmented oversight to evade enforcement, resulting in a profound accountability vacuum. Anchored in the principles of effective control, positive obligations, and structural injustice, this study shows how jurisdictional fragmentation enables states and private actors to circumvent liability, leaving migrant fishers in a persistent legal lacuna. The paper calls for a reconfiguration of the monitoring paradigm, shifting from fragmented, territorially bound enforcement to a polycentric model grounded in transnational legal accountability and binding obligations. Without structural change, the prevailing regime not only fails to prevent harm but structurally enables a transnational economy of exploitation at sea
Euclid : The first statistical census of dusty and massive objects in the ERO/Perseus field
No full textOur comprehension of the history of star formation at z > 3 strongly relies on rest-frame ultraviolet observations. However, this selection systematically misses the dustiest and most massive sources, resulting in an incomplete census at earlier times. Infrared facilities such as Spitzer and the James Webb Space Telescope have shed light on a hidden population lying at z = 3 − 6 characterised by extreme red colours named HIEROs (HST-to-IRAC extremely red objects), identified by the colour criterion H E − ch2 > 2.25. Recently, Euclid Early Release Observations (EROs) have opened the possibility to further study such objects, exploiting the comparison between Euclid and ancillary Spitzer /IRAC observations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of this synergy in characterising the population of a small test area of 232 arcmin 2 . We utilised catalogues in the Perseus field across the VIS and NISP bands, supplemented by data from the four Spitzer channels and several ground-based MegaCam bands ( u , g , r , H α , i , and z ) already included in the ERO catalogue. We selected 121 HIEROs by applying the H E − ch2 > 2.25 colour cut, cleaned this sample of globular clusters and brown dwarfs, and then inspected by eye the multi-band cutouts of each source, ending with 42 reliable HIEROs. Photometric redshifts and other physical properties of the final sample were estimated using the spectral-energy-distribution-fitting software Bagpipes . From the z phot and M * values, we computed the galaxy stellar mass function at 3.5 < z < 5.5. When we exclude all galaxies that could host an active galactic nucleus, or whose stellar masses might be overestimated, we still find that the high-mass end of the galaxy stellar mass function is similar to previous estimates, indicating that the true value could be even higher. This investigation highlights the importance of a deeper study of this still mysterious population, in particular to assess its contribution to the cosmic star-formation rate density and its agreement with current galaxy evolution and formation models. These early results demonstrate Euclid ’s capabilities to push the boundaries of our understanding of obscured star formation across a wide range of epochs