Particle production at LHC energies involves the interplay of hard (perturbative) and soft (non-perturbative) QCD processes. Global observables, such as the charged-particle multiplicity, are related ...to the initial geometry and the energy density produced in the collision. They are important to characterise relativistic heavy-ion collisions and to constrain model calculations. The LHC produced Xenon–Xenon collisions for the first time in October 2017. New results on the primary charged-particle pseudorapidity density, and its pseudorapidity and centrality dependence are presented for this lighter and deformed nucleus, and compared to measurements obtained for lead ions. New results will also be presented for p-Pb collisions at the highest energy of 8.16 TeV, as part of an overview of all the measurements at LHC Run 1 and 2 energies. These studies allow us to investigate the evolution of particle production with energy and system size and to compare models based on various particle production mechanisms and different initial conditions.
Lopez, RM, Casa, DJ, Jensen, KA, DeMartini, JK, Pagnotta, KD, Ruiz, RC, Roti, MW, Stearns, RL, Armstrong, LE, and Maresh, CM. Examining the influence of hydration status on physiological responses ...and running speed during trail running in the heat with controlled exercise intensity. J Strength Cond Res 25(11)2944–2954, 2011—The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dehydration at a controlled relative intensity on physiological responses and trail running speed. Using a randomized, controlled crossover design in a field setting, 14 male and female competitive, endurance runners aged 30 ± 10.4 years completed 2 (hydrated HY and dehydrated DHY) submaximal trail runs in a warm environment. For each trial, the subjects ran 3 laps (4 km per lap) on trails with 4-minute rests between laps. The DHY were fluid restricted 22 hours before the trial and during the run. The HY arrived euhydrated and were given water during rest breaks. The subjects ran at a moderate pace matched between trials by providing pacing feedback via heart rate (HR) throughout the second trial. Gastrointestinal temperature (TGI), HR, running time, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored. Percent body mass (BM) losses were significantly greater for DHY pretrial (−1.65 ± 1.34%) than for HY (−0.03 ± 1.28%; p < 0.001). Posttrial, DHY BM losses (−3.64 ± 1.33%) were higher than those for HY (−1.38 ± 1.43%; p < 0.001). A significant main effect of TGI (p = 0.009) was found with DHY having higher TGI postrun (DHY39.09 ± 0.45°C, HY38.71 ± 0.45°C; p = 0.030), 10 minutes post (DHY38.85 ± 0.48°C, HY38.46 ± 0.46°C; p = 0.009) and 30 minutes post (DHY38.18 ± 0.41°C, HY37.60 ± 0.25°C; p = 0.000). The DHY had slower run times after lap 2 (p = 0.019) and lap 3 (p = 0.025). The DHY subjects completed the 12-km run 99 seconds slower than the HY (p = 0.027) subjects did. The RPE in DHY was slightly higher than that in HY immediately postrun (p = 0.055). Controlling relative intensity in hypohydrated runners resulted in slower run times, greater perceived effort, and elevated TGI, which is clinically meaningful for athletes using HR as a gauge for exercise effort and performance.
AIMS To determine the extent of off label and unlicensed drug use in French office based paediatric practice. METHODS A prospective one day survey of all written prescriptions, for patients under 15 ...years, among 95 office based paediatricians in the Paris, France metropolitan area. Main outcome measures were: comparison of the use of each drug with its product licence for age, indication, dose, and route of administration. RESULTS A total of 2522 prescriptions were administered to 989 patients; 844 (33%) were used either in an unlicensed (4%) or an off label (29%) manner. A total of 550 (56%) paediatric patients received one or more off label prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS Off label prescriptions (that is, outside the terms of the Summary of Product Characteristics) are widespread in office based paediatric practice, while unlicensed drug use is rare in our study. New regulations in the licensing process in Europe are needed to allow children to receive drugs that have been fully evaluated in their specific age group.
This paper describes the results of neutron spectrometry and dose measurements using a Bonner Sphere Spectrometer (BSS) at the ring cyclotron facility of the Research Center for Nuclear Physics ...(RCNP), Osaka University, Japan. Quasi-monoenergetic neutron fields were generated using the 7 Li (p,n) 7 Be reaction and 246 and 389 MeV protons. Neutrons produced at 0° and 30° emission angles were extracted into a time-of-flight (TOF) tunnel, and the energy spectra were measured at a distance of 35 m from the target. To deduce the corresponding neutron spectra from thermal to the nominal maximum energy, the BSS data were unfolded using the MSANDB code and response functions were calculated by Monte Carlo (MC) methods. These spectra are compared to spectral measurements using NE213 organic liquid scintillators applying the TOF method. The results are discussed in terms of ambient dose equivalent H* (10) and compared with the readings of other instruments operated during the experiment.
Shb (Src homology 2 protein B) is an adapter protein downstream of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Previous experiments have suggested a role for Shb in ...endothelial cell function. Recently, the Shb gene was inactivated and Shb null mice were obtained on a mixed genetic background, but not on C57Bl6 mice. The present study was performed to address endothelial function in the Shb knockout mouse and its relevance for tumor angiogenesis. Tumor growth was retarded in Shb mutant mice, and this correlated with decreased angiogenesis both in tumors and in Matrigel plugs. Shb null mice display an abnormal endothelial ultrastructure in liver sinusoids and heart capillaries with cytoplasmic extensions projecting toward the lumen. Shb null heart VE-cadherin staining was less distinct than that of control heart, exhibiting in the former case a wavy and punctuate pattern. Experiments on isolated endothelial cells suggest that these changes could partly reflect cytoskeletal abnormalities. Vascular permeability was increased in Shb null mice in heart, kidney, and skin, whereas VEGF-stimulated vascular permeability was reduced in Shb null mice. It is concluded that Shb plays an important role in maintaining a functional vasculature in adult mice, and that interference with Shb signaling may provide novel means to regulate tumor angiogenesis.
Anisotropic flow is a key observable to characterise the system created in heavy-ion collisions, as it is sensitive to the system's initial state, transport properties, the equation of state and ...freeze-out conditions. In these proceedings we present the anisotropic flow coefficients of inclusive charged particles in Pb–Pb collisions at sNN=2.76and5.02TeV, and in Xe–Xe collisions at sNN=5.44TeV. The results are reported for a wide range of particle transverse momentum within the pseudo-rapidity range |η| < 0.8 at different collision centralities. The energy and system dependence are found to place strong constraints on the temperature dependence of η/s and the modeling of the initial state, respectively. We also present detailed studies of flow fluctuations in heavy-ion collisions, in order to precisely characterise the underlying flow probability density function. We find evidence of non-Bessel-Gaussian fluctuations and discuss the origin of this observation.
The production of low-mass dielectrons is one of the most promising tools for the investigation of chiral symmetry restoration and thermal radiation from the QGP created in heavy-ion collisions. To ...single out the signal characteristics of the QGP, it is crucial to understand the primordial e+e− pair production in vacuum, i.e. in inelastic proton-proton (pp) collisions. Low-mass dielectrons have been measured with ALICE at the LHC in pp collisions at s=7and13TeV, and in Pb–Pb collisions at sNN=2.76TeV. An overview of the results on dielectron production is presented, together with their implications for the direct-photon and heavy-quark production.
PURPOSE: There is increasing evidence that vitamin E (primarily α- and γ-tocopherol) may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and some cancers, therefore it is important to understand factors ...that influence blood levels.
METHODS: The correlates of serum α- and γ-tocopherol were investigated among participants in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a 40-site disease prevention trial. Subjects were 1047 postmenopausal women aged 50–79 years, who provided fasting blood specimens and detailed information on diet, supplement use, and other factors at entry to the study (1994–96).
RESULTS: Total serum cholesterol and triglycerides were highly correlated with serum α- and γ-tocopherol concentrations and were controlled for in all analyses along with age, ethnicity and body mass index (BMI). Alpha and γ-tocopherol were strongly negatively correlated (partial
r = −0.69). The strongest predictor of serum tocopherols was average daily intake of vitamin E from supplements (partial
r = 0.60 for α,
r = −0.54 for γ). Other factors associated with increased α- and/or decreased γ-tocopherol concentrations were serum retinol and carotenoids, supplemental vitamin C, α-tocopherol intake from food, dietary fiber, and Hispanic ethnicity. Factors associated with lower α- and/or higher γ-tocopherol concentrations included γ-tocopherol intake from food, total fat intake, and BMI. Age, income, hormone use, and geographic location were “spuriously” associated with serum tocopherol levels through their association with supplement use, i.e., there was no such association among the subset of women not taking supplements.
CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin E intake from supplements and BMI are the major independent predictors of serum tocopherol levels in women, whereas dietary factors only play a small role.
Cette thèse souhaite fournir des outils pour qu’un utilisateur puisse contribuer activement à la sécurité de son usage d’un système informatique. Les activités de sensibilités différentes d’un ...utilisateur nécessitent tout d’abord d’être cloisonnées dans des domaines dédiés, par un contrôle d’accès s’ajustant aux besoins de l’utilisateur. Afin de conserver ce cloisonnement, celui-ci doit être en mesure d’identifier de manière fiable les domaines avec lesquels il interagit, à partir de l’interface de sa machine. Dans une première partie, nous proposons un nouveau mécanisme de cloisonnement qui peut s’adapter de manière transparente aux changements d’activité de l’utilisateur, sans altérer le fonctionnement des contrôles d’accès existants, ni dégrader la sécurité du système. Nous en décrivons une première implémentation, nommée StemJail, basée sur les espaces de noms de Linux. Nous améliorons ce cloisonnement en proposant un nouveau module de sécurité Linux, baptisé Landlock, utilisable sans nécessiter de privilèges. Dans un second temps, nous identifions et modélisons les propriétés de sécurité d’une interface homme-machine (IHM) nécessaires à la compréhension fiable et sûre du système par l’utilisateur. En particulier, il s’agit d’établir un lien entre les entités avec lesquelles l’utilisateur pense communiquer, et celles avec lesquelles il communique vraiment. Cette modélisation permet d’évaluer l’impact de la compromission de certains composants d’IHM et d’aider à l’évaluation d’une architecture donnée.
This thesis aims to provide end users with tools enhancing the security of the system they use. First, user activities of different sensitivities require to be confined in dedicated domains by an access control fitting the user’s needs. Next, in order to maintain this confinement, users must be able to reliably identify the domains they interact with, from their machine’s interface. In the first part, we present a new confinement mechanism that seamlessly adapts to user activity changes, without altering the behavior of existing access controls nor degrading the security of the system. We also describe a first implementation named StemJail, based on Linux namespaces. We improve this confinement tool by creating a new Linux security module named Landlock which can be used without requiring privileges. In a second step, we identify and model the security properties a human-computer interface (HCI) requires for the reliable and secure understanding of the system by the user. Precisely, the goal is to establish a link between the entities with which the users think they communicate, and those with which they actually communicate. This model enables to evaluate the impact of HCI components jeopardization and helps assessing a given architecture.
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