Multi-strange particle production in relativistic heavy ion collisions at sNN=62.4\sqrt{s_{NN}}=62.4 GeV

We present preliminary STAR results on measurements of multi-strange particles $\Xi$, $\Omega$ and their anti-particles from Au+Au and Cu+Cu at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=62.4$ GeV collisions. In order to better understand the role of strangeness enhancement in nucleus-nucleus collisions and its scaling properties with system size, we compare the results from Au+Au and Cu+Cu reactions for different event centrality classes. Strangeness enhancement is discussed in the context of multi-strange to pion ratios. Finally, $\Omega/\phi$ ratio is shown for different systems and energies for a systematic study

Lateral Effects in Fermion Antibunching

Lateral effects are analyzed in the antibunching of a beam of free non-interacting fermions. The emission of particles from a source is dynamically described in a 3D full quantum field-theoretical framework. The size of the source and the detectors, as well as the temperature of the source are taken into account and the behavior of the visibility is scrutinized as a function of these parameters.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figure

Measuring beauty production in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC via single electrons in ALICE

We present the expected ALICE performance for the measurement of the p_t-differential cross section of electrons from beauty decays in central Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, proceeding of poster presentation at "Quark Matter 2005

New Insights into HIV/AIDS-Associated Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic fungal infection in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients. According to the most recent taxonomy, the responsible fungus is classified into a complex that contains two species (Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii), with eight major molecular types. HIV infection is recognized worldwide as the main underlying disease responsible for the development of cryptococcal meningitis (accounting for 80-90% of cases). In several areas of sub-Saharan Africa with the highest HIV prevalence despite the recent expansion of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy programme, cryptococcal meningitis is the leading cause of community-acquired meningitis with a high mortality burden. Although cryptococcal meningitis should be considered a neglected disease, a large body of knowledge has been developed by several studies performed in recent years. This paper will focus especially on new clinical aspects such as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, advances on management, and strategies for the prevention of clinical diseas

Production and test of a readout chip for the ALICE SDD experiment

The paper summarizes the design, the fabrication and test of a chip for the silicon drift detector experiment, part of the A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) at CERN. The chip performs data reduction via bidimensional compression and packing for the readout chain of the experiment. The chip interfaces with front-end electronics and with the counting room. It is synchronized with a 40 MHz system master clock and configured via a serial signal. The work presents the tests that were performed to characterize the chip and it exploits the final yield of 89% over 700 fabricated chips. The whole tests were performed in laboratory and the chip was also tested in a test beam at CERN in November 2004

Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and malaria in solid organ transplant recipients

Solid organ transplantation (SOT) is increasingly employed worldwide to treat several diseases causing both acute and chronic organ failure. Recipients of SOT are at an increased risk to develop infections as a consequence of immunosuppressive therapy. Sometimes such infections may be acquired by the transplanted organ or by reactivation of a previously acquired latent infection. The globalization and the increase of international travel poses a risk for exposure to infections such as Chagas disease (CD), leishmaniasis, and malaria endemic in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. We have reviewed the literature regarding risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of CD, leishmaniasis, and malaria in the setting of SOT