We present the first measurements of long-range angular correlations and the transverse momentum dependence of elliptic flow v2 in high-multiplicity p+Au collisions at √ s N N = 200 GeV. A comparison of these results with previous measurements in high-multiplicity d+Au and 3 He+Au collisions demonstrates a relation between v2 and the initial collision eccentricity ε2, suggesting that the observed momentum-space azimuthal anisotropies in these small systems have a collective origin 3 and reflect the initial geometry. Good agreement is observed between the measured v2 and hydrodynamic calculations for all systems, and an argument disfavoring theoretical explanations based on initial momentum-space domain correlations is presented. The set of measurements presented here allows us to leverage the distinct intrinsic geometry of each of these systems to distinguish between different theoretical descriptions of the long-range correlations observed in small collision systems.

Objective The pleiotropic effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) independent of cholesterol-lowering effects are thought to be mediated through inhibition of the Rho/Rho-kinase pathway. However, we have previously demonstrated that the pleiotropic effects of regular-dose statins are mediated mainly through inhibition of the Rac1 signaling pathway rather than the Rho/Rho-kinase pathway, although the molecular mechanisms of the selective inhibition of the Rac1 signaling pathway by regular-dose statins remain to be elucidated. In this study, we tested our hypothesis that small GTP-binding protein GDP dissociation stimulator (SmgGDS) plays a crucial role in the molecular mechanisms of the Rac1 signaling pathway inhibition by statins in endothelial cells. Approach and Results In cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cells, statins concentration-dependently increased SmgGDS expression and decreased nuclear Rac1. Statins also enhanced SmgGDS expression in mouse aorta. In control mice, the protective effects of statins against angiotensin II–induced medial thickening of coronary arteries and fibrosis were noted, whereas in SmgGDS-deficient mice, the protective effects of statins were absent. When SmgGDS was knocked down by its small interfering RNA in human umbilical venous endothelial cells, statins were no longer able to induce Rac1 degradation or inhibit angiotensin II–induced production of reactive oxygen species. Finally, in normal healthy volunteers, statins significantly increased SmgGDS expression with a significant negative correlation between SmgGDS expression and oxidative stress markers, whereas no correlation was noted with total or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Conclusions These results indicate that statins exert their pleiotropic effects through SmgGDS upregulation with a resultant Rac1 degradation and reduced oxidative stress in animals and humans.

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Background Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a well‐established treatment for psychiatric disorders, including depression and psychosis. ECT has been reported to be effective in treating such psychiatric symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and has been also reported to be effective in treating motor symptoms. The aim of the study is to summarize previous clinical studies investigating the efficacy of ECT for symptoms in patients with PD. Methods A systematic review and meta‐analysis of any study designs assessing motor and/or non‐motor symptoms in patients with PD before and after ECT. Co‐primary outcomes were set as motor manifestations assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale or other rating scales, and non‐motor symptoms included depression and psychosis. Secondary outcomes were wearing‐off phenomenon and cognitive function. The impact of ECT on those symptoms was examined by comparing the severity of the symptoms before and after ECT using a random effect model and was expressed in standardized mean difference. Results Of 1219 identified citations, 14 studies (n = 129; 1 randomized controlled study, 9 prospective observational studies, and 4 retrospective studies) were analyzed. The findings were as follows: ECT significantly improved motor manifestations in patients with PD, and the improvement was significant in the subpopulation without psychiatric symptoms; ECT significantly improved depression and psychosis; and ECT significantly relieved wearing‐off phenomenon and did not worsen cognitive functioning. Conclusion The current meta‐analysis suggests the potential benefit of ECT on motor and non‐motor symptoms in presumably complicated and difficult‐to‐treat subgroups. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

Recently, multiparticle-correlation measurements of relativistic p/d/^{3}He+Au, p+Pb, and even p+p collisions show surprising collective signatures. Here, we present beam-energy-scan measurements of two-, four-, and six-particle angular correlations in d+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200, 62.4, 39, and 19.6 GeV. We also present measurements of two- and four-particle angular correlations in p+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. We find the four-particle cumulant to be real valued for d+Au collisions at all four energies. We also find that the four-particle cumulant in p+Au has the opposite sign as that in d+Au. Further, we find that the six-particle cumulant agrees with the four-particle cumulant in d+Au collisions at 200 GeV, indicating that nonflow effects are subdominant. These observations provide strong evidence that the correlations originate from the initial geometric configuration, which is then translated into the momentum distribution for all particles, commonly referred to as collectivity.

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PHENIX reports differential cross sections of μμ pairs from semileptonic heavy-flavor decays and the Drell-Yan production mechanism measured in p þ p collisions at ffiffi ffi s p ¼ 200 GeV at forward and backward rapidity (1.2 < jηj < 2.2). The μμ pairs from cc, bb, and Drell-Yan are separated using a template fit to unlike-and like-sign muon pair spectra in mass and p T. The azimuthal opening angle correlation between the muons from cc and bb decays and the pair-p T distributions are compared to distributions generated using PYTHIA and POWHEG models, which both include next-to-leading order processes. The measured distributions for pairs from cc are consistent with PYTHIA calculations. The cc data present narrower azimuthal correlations and softer p T distributions compared to distributions generated from POWHEG. The bb data are well described by both models. The extrapolated total cross section for bottom production is 3.75 AE 0.24ðstatÞ AE 0.35 0.50 ðsystÞ AE 0.45ðglobalÞ ½μb, which is consistent with previous measurements at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider in the same system at the same collision energy and is approximately a factor of 2 higher than the central value calculated with theoretical models. The measured Drell-Yan cross section is in good agreement with next-to-leading-order quantumchromodynamics calculations.

Background Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is currently being used to treat social anxiety disorder (SAD); however, VRET's magnitude of efficacy, duration of efficacy, and impact on treatment discontinuation are still unclear. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis of studies that investigated the efficacy of VRET for SAD. The search strategy and analysis method are registered at PROSPERO (#CRD42019121097). Inclusion criteria were: (1) studies that targeted patients with SAD or related phobias; (2) studies where VRET was conducted for at least three sessions; (3) studies that included at least 10 participants. The primary outcome was social anxiety evaluation score change. Hedges' g and its 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random-effect models. The secondary outcome was the risk ratio for treatment discontinuation. Results Twenty-two studies (n = 703) met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The efficacy of VRET for SAD was significant and continued over a long-term follow-up period: Hedges' g for effect size at post-intervention, −0.86 (−1.04 to −0.68); three months post-intervention, −1.03 (−1.35 to −0.72); 6 months post-intervention, −1.14 (−1.39 to −0.89); and 12 months post-intervention, −0.74 (−1.05 to −0.43). When compared to in vivo exposure, the efficacy of VRET was similar at post-intervention but became inferior at later follow-up points. Participant dropout rates showed no significant difference compared to in vivo exposure. Conclusion VRET is an acceptable treatment for SAD patients that has significant, long-lasting efficacy, although it is possible that during long-term follow-up, VRET efficacy lessens as compared to in vivo exposure.