Energy dependence of the transverse momentum distributions of charged particles in pp collisions measured by ALICE

Differential cross sections of charged particles in inelastic pp collisions as a function of p_T have been measured at [Formula: see text] at the LHC. The p_T spectra are compared to NLO-pQCD calculations. Though the differential cross section for an individual [Formula: see text] cannot be described by NLO-pQCD, the relative increase of cross section with [Formula: see text] is in agreement with NLO-pQCD. Based on these measurements and observations, procedures are discussed to construct pp reference spectra at [Formula: see text] up to p_T=50 GeV/c as required for the calculation of the nuclear modification factor in nucleus-nucleus and proton-nucleus collisions.

Directed flow of charged particles at midrapidity relative to the spectator plane in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV

The directed flow of charged particles at midrapidity is measured in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV relative to the collision symmetry plane defined by the spectator nucleons. A negative slope of the rapidity-odd directed flow component with approximately 3 times smaller magnitude than found at the highest RHIC energy is observed. This suggests a smaller longitudinal tilt of the initial system and disfavors the strong fireball rotation predicted for the LHC energies. The rapidity-even directed flow component is measured for the first time with spectators and found to be independent of pseudorapidity with a sign change at transverse momenta p(T) between 1.2 and 1.7  GeV/c. Combined with the observation of a vanishing rapidity-even p(T) shift along the spectator deflection this is strong evidence for dipolelike initial density fluctuations in the overlap zone of the nuclei. Similar trends in the rapidity-even directed flow and the estimate from two-particle correlations at midrapidity, which is larger by about a factor of 40, indicate a weak correlation between fluctuating participant and spectator symmetry planes. These observations open new possibilities for investigation of the initial conditions in heavy-ion collisions with spectator nucleons.

K(S)0 and Λ production in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV

The ALICE measurement of K(S)(0) and Λ production at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV is presented. The transverse momentum (p(T)) spectra are shown for several collision centrality intervals and in the p(T) range from 0.4 GeV/c (0.6 GeV/c for Λ) to 12 GeV/c. The p(T) dependence of the Λ/K(S)(0) ratios exhibits maxima in the vicinity of 3 GeV/c, and the positions of the maxima shift towards higher p(T) with increasing collision centrality. The magnitude of these maxima increases by almost a factor of three between most peripheral and most central Pb-Pb collisions. This baryon excess at intermediate p(T) is not observed in pp interactions at √s=0.9 TeV and at √s=7 TeV. Qualitatively, the baryon enhancement in heavy-ion collisions is expected from radial flow. However, the measured p(T) spectra above 2 GeV/c progressively decouple from hydrodynamical-model calculations. For higher values of p(T), models that incorporate the influence of the medium on the fragmentation and hadronization processes describe qualitatively the p(T) dependence of the Λ/K(S)(0) ratio.

Comparative study of photodynamic therapy with 5%, 10% and 20% aminolevulinic acid in the treatment of generalized recalcitrant facial verruca plana: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Generalised recalcitrant facial verruca plana responds poorly to current therapeutic options, including cryotherapy, topical drugs and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser. Case reports and uncontrolled studies suggested that topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is effective choice of treatment free from potential complications associated with invasive therapies.

AIMS

To investigate the efficacy and safety of PDT with different concentrations of photosensitiser in the treatment of verruca plana.

MATERIALS & METHODS

The two sides of a subject's face were separately randomized to receive aminolevulinic acid (ALA) of 5%, 10% or 20% concentration. All patients were irradiated with 633-nm red light for 339 J/cm(2) total dose. Complete response (CR) rate was assessed on Week 4, 8, and 16 respectively.

RESULTS

The mean overall clearance rate was 74.1%, 68.8%, and 64.6% on Week 4, 8, and 12, respectively, in the 110 treated sides. The CR rate was lower in the 5%-ALA group than in the 10%-ALA group (14.3% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.05) and 20%-ALA group (14.3% vs. 26.3%, p < 0.05) after 12 weeks. The mean severity of pain measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) scoring was 3.8 (range: 2 to 10, depending on the lesion location). The overall recurrence rate was 16.7% (4/24) on Week 12. Hyperpigmentation was observed in 61% (67/110) of all treated sides. On Week 4, 8, and 16, hyperpigmentation was more developed in the 20%-ALA group than in the other two groups (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

In terms of complete clearance rate, the 5% ALA-PDT group was significantly inferior to the 10% and 20% ALA-PDT groups at each follow-up. In contrast, the 20% ALA group showed a higher incidence rate of transient hyperpigmentation than the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This randomised clinical trial suggests that PDT with ALA of 10% concentration offers better efficacy and safety than 5% or 20% concentration for generalised recalcitrant facial verruca plana.

Charmonium and e+e- pair photoproduction at mid-rapidity in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text]

The ALICE Collaboration at the LHC has measured the J/ψ and ψ' photoproduction at mid-rapidity in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text]. The charmonium is identified via its leptonic decay for events where the hadronic activity is required to be minimal. The analysis is based on an event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 23 μb-1. The cross section for coherent and incoherent J/ψ production in the rapidity interval -0.9 Collapse

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J/ψ elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV

We report on the first measurement of inclusive J/ψ elliptic flow v2 in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV in the rapidity range 2.5<y<4.0. The dependence of the J/ψ v2 on the collision centrality and on the J/ψ transverse momentum is studied in the range 0≤p(T)<10 GeV/c. For semicentral Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV, an indication of nonzero v2 is observed with a largest measured value of v2=0.116±0.046(stat)±0.029(syst) for J/ψ in the transverse momentum range 2≤p(T)<4 GeV/c. The elliptic flow measurement complements the previously reported ALICE results on the inclusive J/ψ nuclear modification factor and favors the scenario of a significant fraction of J/ψ production from charm quarks in a deconfined partonic phase.

High-dose immunosuppressive therapy combined with cord blood infusion and non-myeloablative peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for patients with severe aplastic anemia

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effective rates of high-dose immunosuppressive therapy combined with cord blood infusion (IS + CBI) and non-myeloablative peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (NSCT) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched patients received immunosuppressive therapy combined with IS + CBI, whereas those with HLA matches received NSCT. Clinical effective rates, hematopoietic recovery, and prevalence of complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

No significant difference in total effective rate or 2 years long-term survival was observed between the two groups. The total effective treatment in the NSCT, IS + CBI group was 80%, 68.75%, and the 2 years long-term survival rate in two groups was 2 years 76.66%, 68.75%, respectively. The median times of WBC > 1.0×109/L in the NSCT group was faster than that of IS + CBI group (13 vs 19 days) (p = 0.027). The median recovery times of PLT and Hb in the NSCT group was significantly faster than that of IS + CBI group (19 vs 50 days) (p = 0.00), (27 vs 57 days) (p = 0.001). The SAA group and the very SAA (VSAA) group did not show a significant difference in effective rate (76.74% vs 68.42%) (p = 0.490). In the NSCT group, two preparative regimens did not show a significant difference in effect (70.59% vs 92.31%) (p = 0.141).

CONCLUSIONS

IS + CBI is applicable to HLA-mismatched patients with SAA. NSCT is the treatment of choice for patients with HLA matching alleles. Both treatment methods are effective on VSAA.

D meson elliptic flow in noncentral Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[sNN]=2.76 Tev

Azimuthally anisotropic distributions of D0, D+, and D*+ mesons were studied in the central rapidity region (|y|<0.8) in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[sNN]=2.76  TeV per nucleon-nucleon collision, with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The second Fourier coefficient v2 (commonly denoted elliptic flow) was measured in the centrality class 30%-50% as a function of the D meson transverse momentum pT, in the range 2-16  GeV/c. The measured v2 of D mesons is comparable in magnitude to that of light-flavor hadrons. It is positive in the range 2<pT<6  GeV/c with 5.7σ significance, based on the combination of statistical and systematic uncertainties.

Comparative analysis of viral protein interaction networks in Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus infected HCC

Previously, the different mechanisms of HBV infection and HCV infection were studied experimentally. Multiple studies also compared the differential network between HBV induced HCC and HCV induced HCC based on gene expression data. However network level comparison combining viral-human interaction network and dysfunctional protein interaction network for HBV and HCV-HCC has rarely been done before. In this work we did some pioneer job in construction of HBV/HCV viral dysfunctional network in HCC, in hope of investigating viral infection impact on the change of genome expression and eventually, the development of HCC. We found that HBx, the main HBV viral protein, directly acted on the gene groups of cell cycle, which could perfectly explain the dominant cell proliferation effect shown in the dysfunctional network of HBV-HCC. On the other hand, multiple important HCV viral proteins including CORE, NS3 and NS5A were found to target very important cancer related proteins such as TP53 and SMAD3, but no direct targeting to major immune response or inflammation related proteins. Therefore the dominant activation of immune response and inflammation related pathways shown in dysfunctional network of HCV-HCC might not be a direct effect of HCV infection. They might have been an indirect demonstration of activated cancer promoting pathways. Similar approaches may as well be applied to other important virus infection caused human diseases to help elucidate the mechanisms of virus-host interaction, and even help with investigations on anti-virus based therapies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Computational Proteomics, Systems Biology & Clinical Implications.

Measurement of inelastic, single- and double-diffraction cross sections in proton-proton collisions at the LHC with ALICE

Measurements of cross sections of inelastic and diffractive processes in proton-proton collisions at LHC energies were carried out with the ALICE detector. The fractions of diffractive processes in inelastic collisions were determined from a study of gaps in charged particle pseudorapidity distributions: for single diffraction (diffractive mass MX <200 GeV/c2) [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], respectively at centre-of-mass energies [Formula: see text]; for double diffraction (for a pseudorapidity gap Δη>3) σDD/σINEL=0.11±0.03,0.12±0.05, and [Formula: see text], respectively at [Formula: see text]. To measure the inelastic cross section, beam properties were determined with van der Meer scans, and, using a simulation of diffraction adjusted to data, the following values were obtained: [Formula: see text] mb at [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at [Formula: see text]. The single- and double-diffractive cross sections were calculated combining relative rates of diffraction with inelastic cross sections. The results are compared to previous measurements at proton-antiproton and proton-proton colliders at lower energies, to measurements by other experiments at the LHC, and to theoretical models.

Synergy between Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) vIL-6 and HIV-1 Nef protein in promotion of angiogenesis and oncogenesis: role of the AKT signaling pathway

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the cause of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), which is the most common AIDS-associated malignancy. KS is characterized by neovascularization and spindle cell proliferation. The interaction between HIV-1 and KSHV has a central role in promoting the aggressive manifestations of KS in AIDS patients; however, the pathogenesis underlying AIDS-related KS (AIDS-KS) remains unknown. Herein, we examined the potential of HIV-1 negative factor (Nef) to impact KSHV viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6)-induced angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. In vitro experiments showed that exogenous Nef penetrated vIL-6-expressing endothelial cells. Both internalized and ectopic expression of Nef in endothelial cells and fibroblasts synergized with vIL-6 to promote vascular tube formation and cell proliferation. Using a chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model, we demonstrated that Nef synergistically promotes vIL-6-induced angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. Animal experiments further showed that Nef facilitates vIL-6-induced angiogenesis and tumor formation in athymic nu/nu mice. Mechanistic studies indicated that Nef synergizes with vIL-6 to enhance angiogenesis and tumorigenesis by activating the AKT pathway in the CAM model, as well as nude mice. LY294002, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), significantly impaired the ability of Nef to promote vIL-6-induced tumorigenesis in an allograft model of nude mice. Our data provide first-line evidence that Nef may contribute to the pathogenesis underlying AIDS-KS in synergy with vIL-6. These novel findings also suggest that targeting the PI3K/AKT signal may be a potentially effective therapeutic approach in AIDS-KS patients.

Measurement of gain characteristics of semiconductor lasers by amplified spontaneous emissions from dual facets

In this letter, we describe a novel gain measurement approach for semiconductor edge-emitting lasers, with which TE and TM gain spectra can be easily obtained by collecting the amplified spontaneous emissions at dual facets of the device. An unstrained and continuously-operated GaAs/AlGaAs single quantum well laser strip is used to illustrate this method. The measured gain spectra are compared with theoretical gain curves to analyze the gain polarization characteristics and the relevant subband structure in the valence band of the well using the measured gain spectra.

Bilateral prediction and intersection calculation autofocus method for automated microscopy

In this paper, a bilateral prediction and intersection calculation autofocus method for automated microscopy, which obtains the in-focus position by calculating the intersection of the predicted left and right focus measure curves located respectively in the left and right sides of the peak position of the focus measure curve, is proposed and performed. According to the autofocus method, the area including the peak position of the focus measure curve and its left and right neighbourhoods should be determined firstly, and the left and right neighbourhoods are considered as the left and right sampling areas. The left and right focus measure curves are predicted by appropriate predicting models according to the two sample sequences, which comprise the focus values by evaluating the sampled images in the left sampling area and right sampling area, respectively and their corresponding sampling positions. The intersection of the predicted left and right focus measure curves is calculated and can be considered as the in-focus position. The autofocus can be realized by moving the focus plane of the microscope to the intersection of the predicted left and right focus measure curves. The proposed bilateral prediction and intersection calculation autofocus method is experimentally verified in an automated light microscopy for implementing microassembly and micromanipulation. The theoretical analyses have shown that the proposed bilateral prediction and intersection calculation autofocus method can not only effectively avoid the principle error caused by assuming the symmetrical focus measure curve in the autofocus methods based on curve fitting, but also eliminate the possible waver search near the peak position in the modified fast climbing servo method. The experimental results have shown that the proposed bilateral prediction and intersection calculation autofocus method possesses the merits as follows: (1) the focusing accuracy is high and slightly affected by the sampling step size and (2) the focusing speed is higher than those of the 7-point hill-climbing search method and the quadratic curve fitting method with a determinate focusing accuracy.

Net-charge fluctuations in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[sNN]=2.76 TeV

We report the first measurement of the net-charge fluctuations in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[sNN]=2.76  TeV, measured with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The dynamical fluctuations per unit entropy are observed to decrease when going from peripheral to central collisions. An additional reduction in the amount of fluctuations is seen in comparison to the results from lower energies. We examine the dependence of fluctuations on the pseudorapidity interval, which may account for the dilution of fluctuations during the evolution of the system. We find that the fluctuations at the LHC are smaller compared to the measurements at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, and as such, closer to what has been theoretically predicted for the formation of a quark-gluon plasma.

In-mold Melt Front Rate Control Using a Capacitive Transducer in Injection Molding

In the filling phase of injection molding process, melt-front rate plays a particularly important role in determining the part quality. Prior researches recommend a constant melt-front rate for this phase. A measurement device based on a capacitor principle has been developed. It has been shown that this sensor is effective to measure online and continuously melt-front position in mold cavity. Based on this sensor, this work develops and tests closed-loop control system of direct in-mold melt-front rate control. Several advanced control algorithms, Generalized Predictive Control (GPC), Iterative Learning Control (ILC), and Generalized 2D Model Predictive Iterative Learning Control (2D-GPILC), are designed, implemented, and tested with different mold inserts. The results show that 2D-GPILC, a combination scheme of feedback and iterative learning scheme, gives the best control results.

Expression of corticotrophin-releasing hormone and its receptor in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common pregnancy-specific liver disorders. Although various biological effects of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) has in pregnancy have been reported, its activities in patients with ICP are lacking. Here we evaluated CRH and its receptor (CRH-R1) expression in placenta and serum in control and ICP patients, to assess their potential activities in the ICP pathogenesis.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Placental tissues were obtained from the control and ICP patients (10 cases for each group) between 37 and 39 gestational weeks. Immunohistochemistry, Western Blotting and real-time PCR analysis were used to detect the CRH and CRH-R1 expression in placenta. Meanwhile, maternal serums were analyzed for detecting CRH in the control and ICP patients (80 cases for each group) in 34-37 gestational weeks. All data were observed and recorded for comparing and analyzing in control and ICP patients.

RESULTS

CRH staining was found in syncytiotrophoblast and feto-placental vascular endothelium cells of placenta, whereas CRH-R1 staining was found in syncytiotrophoblast by using immunohistochemical analysis. The CRH expression level in ICP placenta was significantly lower than those results in controls (P < 0.01). For CRH-R1, CRH mRNA and CRH-R1 mRNA expressions, no statistical differences were found between control and ICP groups (all P > 0.05). Serum CRH levels increased in both control and ICP groups, but the growth rate was limited in ICP group, especially in late pregnancy (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The down-regulation of CRH in ICP placentas and the limited growth rate of CRH in the maternal serum of ICP patients might impair the blood flow regulation of the utero-placental-fetal unit, which might result in poor fetoplacental vascular perfusion and adverse pregnancy outcomes. CRH might play a significant role in the pathogenesis of ICP and provide a new approach to further investigate the etiology of ICP.

Transverse momentum distribution and nuclear modification factor of charged particles in p+Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 5.02 TeV

The transverse momentum (p(T)) distribution of primary charged particles is measured in minimum bias (non-single-diffractive) p+Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The p(T) spectra measured near central rapidity in the range 0.5<p(T) <20 GeV/c exhibit a weak pseudorapidity dependence. The nuclear modification factor R(pPb) is consistent with unity for p(T) above 2 GeV/c. This measurement indicates that the strong suppression of hadron production at high p(T) observed in Pb+Pb collisions at the LHC is not due to an initial-state effect. The measurement is compared to theoretical calculations.

Multifactor analysis on the outcomes of cervical spondylotic myelopathy with expansive open-door laminoplasty

OBJECTIVES

To examine clinical outcomes following expansive open-door laminoplasty (EOLP) in the treatment of multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and the factors that influence these outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis in CSM patients following EOLP investigated the relationship between recovery rate, based on the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and the impact of age, duration of CSM, and axial symptoms, including the effect of EOLP on cervical curvature.

RESULTS

In total, 79 CSM patients were included. Overall, the preand postoperative (1 year after surgery) mean±SD JOA scores were 9.6±1.4 and 14.7±1.9, respectively, indicating an improvement of 68.9%. Factors that were significantly related to 'excellent' (≥75%) or 'good' (≥50%-<75%) recovery rates included a high preoperative JOA score, short duration of CSM (≤12 months) and patient age<50 years. Significant reductions in cervical curvature angle were only observed in patients with axial symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that CSM should be treated early. The severity of CSM, the patient's age, cervical curvature angle, operation technique and axial symptoms play important roles in clinical outcomes.

Pseudorapidity density of charged particles in p+Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV

The charged-particle pseudorapidity density measured over four units of pseudorapidity in nonsingle-diffractive p+Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV is presented. The average value at midrapidity is measured to be 16.81±0.71 (syst), which corresponds to 2.14±0.17 (syst) per participating nucleon, calculated with the Glauber model. This is 16% lower than in nonsingle-diffractive pp collisions interpolated to the same collision energy and 84% higher than in d+Au collisions at s√(s(NN))=0.2 TeV. The measured pseudorapidity density in p+Pb collisions is compared to model predictions and provides new constraints on the description of particle production in high-energy nuclear collisions.

Charge separation relative to the reaction plane in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

Measurements of charge-dependent azimuthal correlations with the ALICE detector at the LHC are reported for Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV. Two- and three-particle charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in the pseudorapidity range |η| < 0.8 are presented as a function of the collision centrality, particle separation in pseudorapidity, and transverse momentum. A clear signal compatible with a charge-dependent separation relative to the reaction plane is observed, which shows little or no collision energy dependence when compared to measurements at RHIC energies. This provides a new insight for understanding the nature of the charge-dependent azimuthal correlations observed at RHIC and LHC energies.

Pion, kaon, and proton production in central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

In this Letter we report the first results on π(±), K(±), p, and p production at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV, measured by the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The p(T) distributions and yields are compared to previous results at sqrt[s(NN)] = 200 GeV and expectations from hydrodynamic and thermal models. The spectral shapes indicate a strong increase of the radial flow velocity with sqrt[s(NN)], which in hydrodynamic models is expected as a consequence of the increasing particle density. While the K/π ratio is in line with predictions from the thermal model, the p/π ratio is found to be lower by a factor of about 1.5. This deviation from thermal model expectations is still to be understood.