Anomalous suppression of π0\pi^0 production at large transverse momentum in Au + Au and d + Au collisions at sNN=\sqrt{{\bf s}_{\bf NN}} = 200 GeV

We propose a model of suppression of large $p_T$-pions in heavy ion collisions based on the interaction of the large $p_T$ pion with the dense medium created in the collision. The model is practically the same as the one previously introduced to describe $J/\psi$ suppression. Both the $p_T$ and the centrality dependence of the data are reproduced. In deuteron-gold collisions, the effect of the final state interaction with the dense medium turns out to be negligibly small. Here the main features of the data are also reproduced both at mid and at forward rapidities.Comment: 20 pages, latex, 3 postscript figures. Last version, to be published in EJP

Are available models reliable for predicting the FRP contribution to the shear resistance of RC beams

In this paper the trustworthiness of the existing theory for predicting the FRP contribution to the shear resistance of reinforced concrete beams is discussed. The most well-known shear models for EBR (External Bonded Reinforcement) are presented, commented on and compared with an extensive experimental database. The database contains the results from more than 200 tests performed in different research institutions across the world. The results of the comparison are not very promising and the use of the additional principle in the actual shear design equations should be questioned. The large scatter between the predicted values of different models and experimental results is of real concern bearing in mind that some of the models are used in present design codes

Planck intermediate results X : Physics of the hot gas in the Coma cluster

Peer reviewe

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II, randomized study of lovastatin therapy in the treatment of mildly active rheumatoid arthritis

© 2019 The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMG Co-A) reductase inhibitors (statins) are standard treatment for hyperlipidaemia. In addition to lipid-lowering abilities, statins exhibit multiple anti-inflammatory effects. The objectives of this study were to determine whether treatment of patients with RA with lovastatin decreased CRP or reduced disease activity. Methods: We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled 12 week trial of lovastatin vs placebo in 64 RA patients with mild clinical disease activity but an elevated CRP. The primary efficacy end point was the reduction in mean log CRP. Secondary end points included disease activity, RF and anti-CCP antibody titres. Mechanistic end points included levels of serum cytokines. Safety was assessed; hepatic and muscle toxicities were of particular interest. Results: Baseline features were similar between groups. No significant difference in mean log CRP reduction between the two groups was observed, and disease activity did not change from baseline in either treatment group. Mechanistic analyses did not reveal significant changes in any biomarkers. A post hoc analysis of subjects not using biologic therapy demonstrated a significantly greater proportion achieving ≥20% reduction in CRP from baseline in the lovastatin group compared with placebo (P-value = 0.007). No difference was observed in subjects receiving biologics. Lovastatin was well tolerated with no serious safety concerns. Conclusion: This study showed no anti-inflammatory or clinical effects on RA disease activity after 12 weeks of treatment with lovastatin. Lovastatin had a modest effect on CRP in subjects not using biologics, suggesting statins may be anti-inflammatory in selected patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00302952

Planck Intermediate Results II: Comparison of Sunyaev–Zeldovich measurements from Planck and from the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager for 11 galaxy clusters

A comparison is presented of Sunyaev–Zeldovich measurements for 11 galaxy clusters as obtained by Planck and by the ground-based interferom- eter, the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager. Assuming a universal spherically-symmetric Generalised Navarro, Frenk & White (GNFW) model for the cluster gas pressure profile, we jointly constrain the integrated Compton-Y parameter (Y500) and the scale radius (θ500) of each cluster. Our resulting constraints in the Y500 − θ500 2D parameter space derived from the two instruments overlap significantly for eight of the clusters, although, overall, there is a tendency for AMI to find the Sunyaev–Zeldovich signal to be smaller in angular size and fainter than Planck. Significant discrepancies exist for the three remaining clusters in the sample, namely A1413, A1914, and the newly-discovered Planck cluster PLCKESZ G139.59+24.18. The robustness of the analysis of both the Planck and AMI data is demonstrated through the use of detailed simulations, which also discount confusion from residual point (radio) sources and from diffuse astrophysical foregrounds as possible explanations for the discrepancies found. For a subset of our cluster sample, we have investigated the dependence of our results on the assumed pressure profile by repeating the analysis adopting the best-fitting GNFW profile shape which best matches X-ray observations. Adopting the best-fitting profile shape from the X-ray data does not, in general, resolve the discrepancies found in this subset of five clusters. Though based on a small sample, our results suggest that the adopted GNFW model may not be sufficiently flexible to describe clusters universally

Planck intermediate results I : Further validation of new Planck clusters with XMM-Newton

Peer reviewe

Measurement of D+- and D0 production in deep inelastic scattering using a lifetime tag at HERA

The production of D-+/-- and D-0-mesons has been measured with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 133.6 pb(-1). The measurements cover the kinematic range 5 < Q(2) < 1000 GeV2, 0.02 < y < 0.7, 1.5 < p(T)(D) < 15 GeV and |eta(D)| < 1.6. Combinatorial background to the D-meson signals is reduced by using the ZEUS microvertex detector to reconstruct displaced secondary vertices. Production cross sections are compared with the predictions of next-to-leading-order QCD, which is found to describe the data well. Measurements are extrapolated to the full kinematic phase space in order to obtain the open-charm contribution, F-2(c (c) over bar), to the proton structure function, F-2