Damping of very soft moving quarks in high-temperature QCD

We determine the analytic expression of the damping rates for very soft moving quarks in an expansion to second order in powers of their momentum in the context of QCD at high temperature. The calculation is performed using the hard-thermal-loop-summed perturbation scheme. We describe the range of validity of the expansion and make a comparison with other calculations, particularly those using a magnetic mass as a shield from infrared sensitivity. We discuss the possible occurrence of infrared divergences in our results and argue that they are due to magnetic sensitivity.Comment: 24 pages, REVTe

Ultrasoft Quark Damping in Hot QCD

We determine the quark damping rates in the context of next-to-leading order hard-thermal-loop summed perturbation of high-temperature QCD where weak coupling is assumed. The quarks are ultrasoft. Three types of divergent behavior are encountered: infrared, light-cone and at specific points determined by the gluon energies. The infrared divergence persists and is logarithmic whereas the two others are circumvented.Comment: 16 page

The development of a portable optical system for telemonitoring of skin blood oxygen level

Oxygen is one of the keys parameters required for tissues metabolism to ensure life sustainability. Without it, human’s health would suffer and eventually result in fatal. Cells consume oxygen to break down sugar to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) during cellular respiration [1]. ATPs are the main source of energy for metabolic functions [2] and every cell in the body, especially muscles cell, for its ability to store and use energy; muscle would not contract or relax without ATP. Cell is not able to function well under the condition of low oxygen level, thus it would lead to hypoxemia. If left untreated, severe hypoxemia can be fatal [3]

Infrared Behavior of High-Temperature QCD

The damping rate \gamma_t(p) of on-shell transverse gluons with ultrasoft momentum p is calculated in the context of next-to-leading-order hard-thermal-loop-summed perturbation of high-temperature QCD. It is obtained in an expansion to second order in p. The first coefficient is recovered but that of order p^2 is found divergent in the infrared. Divergences from light-like momenta do also occur but are circumvented. Our result and method are critically discussed, particularly regarding a Ward identity obtained in the literature. When enforcing the equality between \gamma_t(0) and \gamma_l(0), a rough estimate of the magnetic mass is obtained. Carrying a similar calculation in the context of scalar quantum electrodynamics shows that the early ultrasoft-momentum expansion we make has little to do with the infrared sensitivity of the result.Comment: REVTEX4, 55 page

Tourisme et Croissance Inclusive au Bénin: Une Analyse d’Après l’Indice Synthétique de Croissance Inclusive

Cette étude vise à examiner le type de relation entre tourisme et croissance inclusive au Bénin de 1995 à 2021 en utilisant comme variable dépendante, contrairement à plusieurs études,  l’Indice Synthétique de Croissance Inclusive  (ISCI). En nous appuyant sur des données chronologiques, nous avons effectué des estimations à l'aide du Modèle Vectoriel à Correction d'Erreur (VECM), du test de causalité de Granger et du Modèle à Correction d'Erreur (MCE) sous STATA 15. Les résultats révèlent une relation significative positive entre le ratio des recettes touristiques réelles et l'Indice Synthétique de Croissance Inclusive (ISCI), démontrant que le tourisme contribue à la croissance inclusive jusqu'à un certain seuil. En outre,  la nature bidirectionnelle de cette relation (entre tourisme et croissance inclusive) a été également mise en évidence.   This study aims to examine the type of relationship between tourism and inclusive growth in Benin from 1995 to 2021 using as a dependent variable, unlike several studies, the Synthetic Inclusive Growth Index (ISCI). Based on historical data, we carried out estimations using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), the Granger causality test and the Error Correction Model (ECM) under STATA 15. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between the ratio of real tourism receipts and the Synthetic Inclusive Growth Index (ISCI), demonstrating that tourism contributes to inclusive growth up to a certain threshold. Furthermore, the bidirectional nature of this relationship (between tourism and inclusive growth) was also highlighted

Tourisme et Croissance Inclusive au Bénin: Une Analyse d’Après l’Indice Synthétique de Croissance Inclusive

Cette étude vise à examiner le type de relation entre tourisme et croissance inclusive au Bénin de 1995 à 2021 en utilisant comme variable dépendante, contrairement à plusieurs études,  l’Indice Synthétique de Croissance Inclusive  (ISCI). En nous appuyant sur des données chronologiques, nous avons effectué des estimations à l'aide du Modèle Vectoriel à Correction d'Erreur (VECM), du test de causalité de Granger et du Modèle à Correction d'Erreur (MCE) sous STATA 15. Les résultats révèlent une relation significative positive entre le ratio des recettes touristiques réelles et l'Indice Synthétique de Croissance Inclusive (ISCI), démontrant que le tourisme contribue à la croissance inclusive jusqu'à un certain seuil. En outre,  la nature bidirectionnelle de cette relation (entre tourisme et croissance inclusive) a été également mise en évidence.   This study aims to examine the type of relationship between tourism and inclusive growth in Benin from 1995 to 2021 using as a dependent variable, unlike several studies, the Synthetic Inclusive Growth Index (ISCI). Based on historical data, we carried out estimations using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), the Granger causality test and the Error Correction Model (ECM) under STATA 15. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between the ratio of real tourism receipts and the Synthetic Inclusive Growth Index (ISCI), demonstrating that tourism contributes to inclusive growth up to a certain threshold. Furthermore, the bidirectional nature of this relationship (between tourism and inclusive growth) was also highlighted

Tourisme et Croissance Inclusive au Bénin : Une Analyse d’Après l’Indice Synthétique de Croissance Inclusive

Cette étude vise à examiner le type de relation entre tourisme et croissance inclusive au Bénin de 1995 à 2021 en utilisant comme variable dépendante, contrairement à plusieurs études, l’Indice Synthétique de Croissance Inclusive (ISCI). En nous appuyant sur des données chronologiques, nous avons effectué des estimations à l'aide du Modèle Vectoriel à Correction d'Erreur (VECM), du test de causalité de Granger et du Modèle à Correction d'Erreur (MCE) sous STATA 15. Les résultats révèlent une relation significative positive entre le ratio des recettes touristiques réelles et l'Indice Synthétique de Croissance Inclusive (ISCI), démontrant que le tourisme contribue à la croissance inclusive jusqu'à un seuil donné. En outre, la nature bidirectionnelle de cette relation (entre tourisme et croissance inclusive) a été également mise en évidence. This study aims to examine the type of relationship between tourism and inclusive growth in Benin from 1995 to 2021 using as a dependent variable, unlike several studies, the Synthetic Inclusive Growth Index (ISCI). Based on historical data, we carried out estimations using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), the Granger causality test and the Error Correction Model (ECM) under STATA 15. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between the ratio of real tourism receipts and the Synthetic Inclusive Growth Index (ISCI), demonstrating that tourism contributes to inclusive growth up to a given threshold. Furthermore, the bidirectional nature of this relationship (between tourism and inclusive growth) was also highlighted

Market access agreements for pharmaceuticals in Europe: diversity of approaches and underlying concepts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Market Access Agreements (MAA) between pharmaceutical industry and health care payers have been proliferating in Europe in the last years. MAA can be simple discounts from the list price or very sophisticated schemes with inarguably high administrative burden.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>We distinguished and defined from the health care payer perspective three kinds of MAA: Commercial Agreements (CA), Payment for Performance Agreements (P4P) and Coverage with Evidence Development (CED). Apart from CA, the agreements assumed collection and analysis of real-life health outcomes data, either from a cohort of patients (CED) or on per patient basis (P4P). We argue that while P4P aim at reducing drug cost to payers without a systematic approach to addressing uncertainty about drugs' value, CED were implemented provisionally to reduce payer's uncertainty about value of a medicine within a defined time period.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>We are of opinion that while CA and P4P have a potential to reduce payers' expenditure on costly drugs while maintaining a high list price, CED address initial uncertainty related to assessing the real-life value of new drugs and enable a final HTA recommendation or reimbursement and pricing decisions. Further, we suggest that real cost to health care payers of drugs in CA and P4P should be made publicly available in a systematic manner, to avoid a perverse impact of these MAA types on the international reference pricing system.</p

Recommendations from the European Working Group for Value Assessment and Funding Processes in Rare Diseases (ORPH-VAL)

International audienceAbstractRare diseases are an important public health issue with high unmet need. The introduction of the EU Regulation on orphan medicinal products (OMP) has been successful in stimulating investment in the research and development of OMPs. Despite this advancement, patients do not have universal access to these new medicines. There are many factors that affect OMP uptake, but one of the most important is the difficulty of making pricing and reimbursement (P&R) decisions in rare diseases. Until now, there has been little consensus on the most appropriate assessment criteria, perspective or appraisal process. This paper proposes nine principles to help improve the consistency of OMP P&R assessment in Europe and ensure that value assessment, pricing and funding processes reflect the specificities of rare diseases and contribute to both the sustainability of healthcare systems and the sustainability of innovation in this field. These recommendations are the output of the European Working Group for Value Assessment and Funding Processes in Rare Diseases (ORPH-VAL), a collaboration between rare disease experts, patient representatives, academics, health technology assessment (HTA) practitioners, politicians and industry representatives. ORPH-VAL reached its recommendations through careful consideration of existing OMP P&R literature and through a wide consultation with expert stakeholders, including payers, regulators and patients. The principles cover four areas: OMP decision criteria, OMP decision process, OMP sustainable funding systems and European co-ordination. This paper also presents a guide to the core elements of value relevant to OMPs that should be consistently considered in all OMP appraisals. The principles outlined in this paper may be helpful in drawing together an emerging consensus on this topic and identifying areas where consistency in payer approach could be achievable and beneficial. All stakeholders have an obligation to work together to ensure that the promise of OMP’s is realised

Preliminary results of a study of magnetic properties in the Foum-Zguid dyke (Morocco)

This work focuses on the study of flow and propagation of magma using rock magnetic analyses along sections across the thick Jurassic dyke of Foum-Zguid (Southern Morocco). Thermomagnetic data show that Ti-poor titanomagnetite is the main magnetic carrier. Petrographic analysis shows that the main Ti phase (ilmenite) occurs either as lamellae within spinel (center of the dyke) or as isolated grains (dyke margin). Bulk magnetic properties display distinct behavior according to the distance to the dyke margin; grain size of the main magnetic carrier decreases towards the center of the dyke, while the natural remanent magnetization and the bulk magnetic susceptibility increase. Only the magnetic susceptibility ellipsoid close to the dyke margin corresponds to that usually found in thin dykes, with the magnetic foliation sub parallel to dyke margins. Maximum principal axis is in most cases either parallel or perpendicular to the intersection between the planes of magnetic foliation and dyke wall. Moreover, when this axis is perpendicular to the intersection it is associated with a more oblate magnetic susceptibility ellipsoid shape, indicating the presence of complex magnetic fabrics. The studied magnetic properties show that, in this 100 m wide thick dyke, flow structures related with dyke propagation are only preserved close to the quickly cooled dyke margins. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved