Phenomenological studies of initial state effects and jet quenching in High-Energy Nuclear Collisions at LHC

Heavy ion collisions (HICs) are the appropriate tools to study the so-called quark-gluon plasma (QGP). This thesis is focused on the analysis of two types of effects arising in HICs: initial state effects and final state effects. Among the former, there are the nuclear parton distribution functions (nPDFs), whose precise determination is crucial for the correct interpretation of any observable used in HICs. In this thesis a global analysis of nPDFs at next-to-next-to-leading-order in perturbative QCD (pQCD) is performed. Another very interesting issue regarding the initial stage of HICs are the collective phenomena that give rise to the QGP. These are addressed within the string percolation model (SPM). The results obtained in this framework for different observables are compared to available experimental data. Amongst the final state it is worth stressing hard probes, which are observables characterized by a high energy or mass. An analysis of single-inclusive suppression of hard particles at different center of mass energies and centralities in presented. The main result of this work is the extraction of the so-called jet quenching coefficient

Energy versus centrality dependence of the jet quenching parameter q̂ at RHIC and LHC: a new puzzle?

The central goal of jet quenching studies in high-energy nuclear collisions is the characterization of those QCD medium properties that are accessible by these probes. Most of the discussion in the last years has been focused on the determination of the jet quenching parameter, q^ . We present here an extraction of this parameter using data of inclusive particle suppression at RHIC and LHC energies for different centralities. Our approach consists in fitting a K factor that quantifies the departure of this parameter from an ideal estimate, K≡q^/(2ϵ3/4)K≡q^/(2ϵ3/4) , where q^q^ is determined by the local medium quantities as provided by hydrodynamical calculations. We find that this K factor is larger at RHIC than at the LHC, as obtained already in previous analyses, but, surprisingly, it is almost independent of the centrality of the collision. Taken at face value, the K factor would not depend on the local properties of the medium as energy density or temperature, but on global collision quantities such as the center of mass energy. This is a very intriguing, unexpected possibility for which we cannot yet provide a clear interpretation. We also comment on the limitations of the formalism that may affect this conclusionThis research was supported by the European Research Council Grant HotLHC ERC2011-StG-279579; the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013/under REA Grant Agreement #318921 (NA); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain under project FPA2014-58293-C2-1-P; Xunta de Galicia (Consellería de Educación)—the group is part of the Strategic Unit AGRUP2015/11. C. Andrés thanks the Spanish Ministery of Education, Culture and Sports for financial support (Grant FPU2013- 03558)S

Magnetic fabrics in the Western Central-Pyrenees: An overview

[EN] In the Western Central-Pyrenees numerous investigations during the past years have yielded an exceptional high density of localities (more than 700 sites) where the AMS and rock magnetic properties have been determined. This unique AMS dataset helps in understanding the orogenic evolution of the Pyrenees and its foreland basins. Processes related to AMS development in different structural units permit to identify: (i) an early recording of strain related to the transtensional or transpressional stages during the Early Triassic and Early Cretaceous, (ii) a moderate shortening related to the fold-and-thrust belt and foreland basin evolution during the Cretaceous–Tertiary orogenic stage, and (iii) a relatively strong deformation that produced cleavage related to the emplacement of basement thrusts in the Axial Zone during the Middle–Late Eocene. The main achievement of this contribution is the integration in cross-section and map-view of magnetic fabrics (orientation and parameters) in the western Central-Pyrenees, which allow constraining the processes affecting magnetic fabrics at the orogen scale. AMS results indicate: (i) a dominant bedding-controlled foliation, very sensitive to subtle layer parallel shortening (LPS) processes, especially in the foreland basins; (ii) magnetic lineations parallel to fold axes or strike of thrusts outside the cleavage front that can be deflected by vertical-axis rotations in particular areas; and (iii) an overall decrease of the definition of AMS fabrics (magnetic lineation or the anisotropy of the ellipsoid) associated with incipient cleavage and intersection lineation fabrics in the internal zones of the orogen. Therefore, AMS is a sensitive indicator to delineate the strain patterns at the orogen-scale, in particular, in those areas undergoing a modest degree of deformation.This study has been financed by the research projects CGL2006-05817 (PIRIMAG), CGL2009-08969 (BASINMAG), BTE2002-04168-C03-01, CGL2009-14214 and CGL2006-02289 (Pmag3Drest), CGL2006-02514 (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds), UZ2012-CIE-11 (University of Zaragoza) and the financial support from the E27 Geotransfer and E72 Aquifer research groups (Government of Aragon).Peer reviewe

Inappropriate antibiotic use in the COVID-19 era: Factors associated with inappropriate prescribing and secondary complications. Analysis of the registry SEMI-COVID

Background: Most patients with COVID-19 receive antibiotics despite the fact that bacterial co-infections are rare. This can lead to increased complications, including antibacterial resistance. We aim to analyze risk factors for inappropriate antibiotic prescription in these patients and describe possible complications arising from their use. Methods: The SEMI-COVID-19 Registry is a multicenter, retrospective patient cohort. Patients with antibiotic were divided into two groups according to appropriate or inappropriate prescription, depending on whether the patient fulfill any criteria for its use. Comparison was made by means of multilevel logistic regression analysis. Possible complications of antibiotic use were also identified. Results: Out of 13,932 patients, 3047 (21.6%) were prescribed no antibiotics, 6116 (43.9%) were appropriately prescribed antibiotics, and 4769 (34.2%) were inappropriately prescribed antibiotics. The following were independent factors of inappropriate prescription: February-March 2020 admission (OR 1.54, 95%CI 1.18-2.00), age (OR 0.98, 95%CI 0.97-0.99), absence of comorbidity (OR 1.43, 95%CI 1.05-1.94), dry cough (OR 2.51, 95%CI 1.94-3.26), fever (OR 1.33, 95%CI 1.13-1.56), dyspnea (OR 1.31, 95%CI 1.04-1.69), flu-like symptoms (OR 2.70, 95%CI 1.75-4.17), and elevated C-reactive protein levels (OR 1.01 for each mg/L increase, 95% CI 1.00-1.01). Adverse drug reactions were more frequent in patients who received ANTIBIOTIC (4.9% vs 2.7%, p < .001). Conclusion: The inappropriate use of antibiotics was very frequent in COVID-19 patients and entailed an increased risk of adverse reactions. It is crucial to define criteria for their use in these patients. Knowledge of the factors associated with inappropriate prescribing can be helpful

Art as a way of improving participatory action research: an experience with youngsters with an intellectual disability and their families

This chapter describes the use of different artistic expression strategies in a participatory action research process. The protagonists of this project are young people with intellectual disabilities and their families in the context of a socio- occupational training programme at the university. The main objective of the research is to explore themes around the overprotection– autonomy continuum from the participants’ perspectives. A set of artistic techniques from different disciplines (visual art, performing art, and music) were used as a means to discuss and define the terms and their implications. Critically, this was in a participatory manner. At the beginning, the young people and their parents worked separately and independently following the same research steps and performing similar activities. The process and the methodology created opportunities to bridge the gap and increase mutual understanding that would not be possible through the daily interactions of normal life. Concrete examples are presented that highlight the benefits and difficulties of introducing activities not commonly found in a university environment. The analysis also includes a critical reflection about the possible use of art techniques in participatory action research projects with people with intellectual disabilities.Depto. de Trabajo Social y Servicios SocialesFac. de Trabajo SocialTRUEpu

Primeros datos paleomagnéticos del anticlinal de Barbastro-Balaguer (Sector central del frente pirenaico meridional): implicaciones cinemáticas

El anticlinal de Barbastro-Balaguer se sitúa en el sector central del frente pirenaico meridional. En este trabajo se presentan los primeros datos paleomagnéticos realizados en esta estructura que buscan aclarar si existen rotaciones de eje vertical durante su emplazamiento. Se han realizado 19 estaciones distribuidas homogéneamente a lo largo del anticlinal y, mayoritariamente en la Fm Peraltilla (Priaboniense). La desmagnetización térmica revela una componente característica de alta temperatura (hasta 650°C o más) que, si bien presenta cierta dispersión, tiene dos polaridades y es preplegamiento. Además, las rotaciones observadas son dominantemente antihorarias, lo que nos hace ser optimistas a la hora de abordar futuros trabajos y que aporten información sobre la cinemática del emplazamiento de esta estructura en relación al frente surpirenaicoUnidad de Zaragoza, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaDepartamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, EspañaUnidad de Magnetometría, Universidad de Vigo, EspañaDepartamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Zaragoza, Españ

Exercicis d'alumnes curs 2007-2008: F. Ll. Wright George D. Sturges, Residence, 1939 Brentwood Heights, California

2010/201

Exercicis d'alumnes curs 2007-2008: F. Ll. Wright George D. Sturges, Residence, 1939 Brentwood Heights, California

2010/201

Challenge 6: Polar Oceans

19 pages, 1 figureThe Arctic and the Antarctic are the regions where temperature has raised most and faster than any other Earth’s place, producing a large number of impacts and feedback to the polar/climate system. Moreover, since polar oceans play a fundamental role in the Earth’s climate and global ecosystem, those changes produce climate consequences at mid latitudes . The study and monitoring of the poles from a global perspective and holistically is fundamental to better assess and understand the changes the polar regions are facing and its consequences on ocean circulation and climate, changes on the oceanic biogeochemistry composition and consequences on the oceanic living beings. Understanding the past to infer the future is another important leg to understand how the whole system is changing. The revision of the going on transformation and the continuous monitoring can be achieved with the combination of large amounts of observations (in situ and remote sensing) and numerical modelsPeer reviewe

Cardiometabolic Therapy and Mortality in Very Old Patients With Diabetes Hospitalized due to COVID-19.

The effects of cardiometabolic drugs on the prognosis of diabetic patients with COVID-19, especially very old patients, are not well known. This work was aimed to analyze the association between preadmission cardiometabolic therapy (antidiabetic, antiaggregant, antihypertensive, and lipid-lowering drugs) and in-hospital mortality among patients ≥80 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) hospitalized for COVID-19. We conducted a nationwide, multicenter, observational study in patients ≥80 years with T2DM hospitalized for COVID-19 between March 1 and May 29, 2020. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between preadmission cardiometabolic therapy and in-hospital mortality. Of the 2 763 patients ≥80 years old hospitalized due to COVID-19, 790 (28.6%) had T2DM. Of these patients, 385 (48.7%) died during admission. On the multivariate analysis, the use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.502, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.309-0.815, p = .005) and angiotensin receptor blockers (AOR 0.454, 95% CI: 0.274-0.759, p = .003) were independent protectors against in-hospital mortality, whereas the use of acetylsalicylic acid was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (AOR 1.761, 95% CI: 1.092-2.842, p = .020). Other antidiabetic drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and statins showed neutral association with in-hospital mortality. We found important differences between cardiometabolic drugs and in-hospital mortality in older patients with T2DM hospitalized for COVID-19. Preadmission treatment with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers could reduce in-hospital mortality; other antidiabetic drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and statins seem to have a neutral effect; and acetylsalicylic acid could be associated with excess mortality