Strangeness Production close to Threshold in Proton-Nucleus and Heavy-Ion Collisions

We discuss strangeness production close to threshold in p+A and A+A collision. Comparing the body of available K+, K0, K-, and Lambda data with the IQMD transport code and for some key observables as well with the HSD transport code, we find good agreement for the large majority of the observables. The investigation of the reaction with help of these codes reveals the complicated interaction of the strange particles with hadronic matter which makes strangeness production in heavy-ion collisions very different from that in elementary interactions. We show how different strange particle observables can be used to study the different facets of this interaction (production, rescattering and potential interaction) which finally merge into a comprehensive understanding of these interactions. We identify those observables which allow for studying (almost) exclusively one of these processes to show how future high precision experiments can improve our quantitative understanding. Finally, we discuss how the K+ multiplicity can be used to study the hadronic equation of state.Comment: 134 pages, pdf 3.3MB, version to be published in Physics Report

The effect of nonrecurring alcohol administration on pain perception in humans : a systematic review

PURPOSE: Alcohol is believed to have pain-dampening effects and is often used as self-medication by persons with pain problems; however, experimental evidence confirming this effect is scarce. We conducted a systematic review of experimental studies on the effects of nonrecurring alcohol administration on pain perception in healthy human subjects and the underlying mechanisms. METHOD: Three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched for relevant studies using a predefined algorithm. In a next step, irrelevant articles were excluded by screening titles and abstracts. Finally, articles were checked regarding a set of methodological criteria; only publications meeting these criteria were selected for this review. A total of 14 experimental studies were identified. RESULTS: Overall, most of the studies were able to show a pain-dampening effect of alcohol. However, many of them had methodological shortcomings (eg, lack of placebo control, insufficient blinding, or very small sample sizes). In addition, comparability is limited due to considerable variations in alcohol administration and pain measurement. More importantly, potential mechanisms of action and moderating variables have scarcely been investigated. CONCLUSION: Despite the frequent use of alcohol as self-medication by persons with pain problems, there are to date only a few experimental investigations of alcohol effects on pain perceptions. The results of these studies suggest that alcohol does in fact have pain-dampening effects. However, the mechanisms implicated in these effects are still unknown, and experimental research has been limited to pain-free subjects. Future research should provide more knowledge about alcohol effects on pain, especially in chronic pain patients. KEYWORDS

Telemedical support of paramedics : first results of the research project TemRas

Telemedical applications are increasingly moving into medical practise. For acute stroke and myocardial infarction the benefit of telemedical solutions is clearly proven. Within the research project "TemRas" ("telemedical rescue assistance system") a multifunctional mobile telemedicine system for the emergency medical service (EMS) is developed. In all kinds of emergencies the ambulance team can be supported telemedically by an experienced EMS physician who is located in a teleconsultation center. This way, the time interval when no physician is present can safely be bridged. Telemedical applications include two-way audio communication via a specifically designed communication unit, vital data transmission, still picture transmission, transmission of auscultation data and real-time video streaming from the inside of the ambulance. From August 2012 a one year lasting evaluation phase is scheduled and was approved by the local ethics committee (University Hospital Aachen, Germany; registration number EK 191/11). Prior to this study phase all participating EMS staff members run through a standardised training program. Tests with a prototype of the system showed satisfactorily results. Real-time vital data transmission and video transmission were possible when at least one mobile UMTS network was available. A conference call between the EMS team and the teleconsultation center could be established in a mean time of 15.82s (SD 1.16 s). The mean time interval for transmission of digital still pictures was 57.75s (SD 23.03 s)

The Jülich high-brilliance neutron source project

With the construction of the European Spallation Source ESS, the European neutron user community is looking forward to the brightest source worldwide. At the same time there is an ongoing concentration of research with neutrons to only a few but very powerful neutron facilities. Responding to this situation the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science has initiated a project for a compact accelerator driven high-brilliance neutron source, optimized for neutron scattering on small samples and to be realized at reasonable costs. The project deals with the optimization of potential projectiles, target and moderator concepts, versatile accelerator systems, cold sources, beam extraction systems and optimized instrumentation. A brief outline of the project, the achievements already reached, will be presented, as well as a vision for the future neutron landscape in Europe

Triacylglycerol synthesis enhances macrophage inflammatory function

As macrophages switch to a proinflammatory gylcolytic state they start to generate triglyceride-rich lipid droplets, but what function these droplets have in this context is not clear. Here the authors show that this triglyceride synthesis is requisite for prostaglandin E2 production and subsequent inflammatory activation

Proteometabolomics of initial and recurrent glioblastoma highlights an increased immune cell signature with altered lipid metabolism

International audienceAbstract Background There is an urgent need to better understand the mechanisms associated with the development, progression, and onset of recurrence after initial surgery in glioblastoma (GBM). The use of integrative phenotype-focused -omics technologies such as proteomics and lipidomics provides an unbiased approach to explore the molecular evolution of the tumor and its associated environment. Methods We assembled a cohort of patient-matched initial (iGBM) and recurrent (rGBM) specimens of resected GBM. Proteome and metabolome composition were determined by mass spectrometry-based techniques. We performed neutrophil-GBM cell coculture experiments to evaluate the behavior of rGBM-enriched proteins in the tumor microenvironment. ELISA-based quantitation of candidate proteins was performed to test the association of their plasma concentrations in iGBM with the onset of recurrence. Results Proteomic profiles reflect increased immune cell infiltration and extracellular matrix reorganization in rGBM. ASAH1, SYMN, and GPNMB were highly enriched proteins in rGBM. Lipidomics indicates the downregulation of ceramides in rGBM. Cell analyses suggest a role for ASAH1 in neutrophils and its localization in extracellular traps. Plasma concentrations of ASAH1 and SYNM show an association with time to recurrence. Conclusions We describe the potential importance of ASAH1 in tumor progression and development of rGBM via metabolic rearrangement and showcase the feedback from the tumor microenvironment to plasma proteome profiles. We report the potential of ASAH1 and SYNM as plasma markers of rGBM progression. The published datasets can be considered as a resource for further functional and biomarker studies involving additional -omics technologies

Phenotypic Variability in Siblings With Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a rare monogenic disorder characterized by early onset fibrocystic hepatorenal changes. Previous reports have documented pronounced phenotypic variability even among siblings in terms of patient survival. The underlying causes for this clinical variability are incompletely understood. We present the longitudinal clinical courses of 35 sibling pairs included in the ARPKD registry study ARegPKD, encompassing data on primary manifestation, prenatal and perinatal findings, genetic testing, and family history, including kidney function, liver involvement, and radiological findings. We identified 70 siblings from 35 families with a median age of 0.7 (interquartile range 0.1-6.0) years at initial diagnosis and a median follow-up time of 3.5 (0.2-6.2) years. Data on variants were available for 37 patients from 21 families. There were 8 patients from 7 families who required kidney replacement therapy (KRT) during follow-up. For 44 patients from 26 families, antihypertensive therapy was documented. Furthermore, 37 patients from 24 families had signs of portal hypertension with 9 patients from 6 families having substantial hepatic complications. Interestingly, pronounced variability in the clinical course of functional kidney disease was documented in only 3 sibling pairs. In 17 of 20 families of our cohort of neonatal survivors, siblings had only minor differences of kidney function at a comparable age. In patients surviving the neonatal period, our longitudinal follow-up of 70 ARPKD siblings from 35 families revealed comparable clinical courses of kidney and liver diseases in most families. The data suggest a strong impact of the underlying genotype