VO2 Kinetics in Supra-Anaerobic Threshold Constant Tests Allow the Visualization and Quantification of the O2 Saving After Cytochrome C Oxidase Inhibition by Aerobic Training or Nitrate Administration

We tested whether the known cytochrome c oxidase (COX) inhibition by nitric oxide (NO) could be quantified by VO2 kinetics during constant load supra-Anaerobic Threshold (AT) exercises in healthy trained or untrained subjects following aerobic training or nitrate administration. In cycle ergometer constant load exercises supra-AT, identified in previous incremental tests, VO2 kinetics describe a double exponential curve, one rapid and one appreciably slower, allowing the area between them to be calculate in O2 l. After training, with increased NO availability, this area decreases in inverse ratio to treatment efficacy. In fact, in 11 healthy subjects after aerobic training for 6-7 weeks, area was decreased on average by 51 %. In 11 untrained subjects, following the assumption of an NO donor, 20 mg isosorbide 5 mononitrate, area was decreased on average by 53 %. In conclusion, supra-AT VO2 kinetics in constant load exercises permit the quantification of the inhibitory effect NO-dependent on COX after either physical training or nitrate assumption

Metal Abundances of Red Clump Stars in Open Clusters: I. NGC 6819

We present an analysis of high dispersion spectra (R~40000) of three red clump stars in the old open cluster NGC 6819. The spectra were obtained with SARG, the high dispersion spectrograph of the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo. The spectra were analyzed using both equivalent widths measured with an automatic procedure, and comparisons with synthetic spectra. NGC 6819 is found to be slightly metal-rich ([Fe/H]= +0.09 +/-0.03, internal error); there are no previous high resolution studies to compare with. Most element-to-element abundance ratios are close to solar; we find a slight excess of Si, and a significant Na overabundance. Our spectra can also be used to derive the interstellar reddening towards the cluster, by comparing the observed colours with those expected from line excitation: we derive E(B-V)=0.14 +/-0.04, in agreement with the most recent estimate for this cluster.Comment: 30 pages, 4 encapsulated figures, uses aastex, AJ in pres

Tinnitus in elderly patients and prognosis of mild-to-moderate congestive heart failure: a cross-sectional study with a long-term extension of the clinical follow-up

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The complex mechanism responsible for tinnitus, a symptom highly prevalent in elderly patients, could involve an impaired control of the microcirculation of the inner ear, particularly in patients with poor blood pressure control and impaired left ventricular (LV) function.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In order to define the relationship between the presence of tinnitus and the severity and clinical prognosis of mild-to-moderate chronic heart failure (CHF) in a large population of elderly patients (N = 958), a cross-sectional study was conducted with a long-term extension of the clinical follow-up. Blood pressure, echocardiographic parameters, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), hospitalization, and mortality for CHF were measured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between the presence of tinnitus and some of the prognostic determinants of heart failure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The presence of tinnitus was ascertained in 233 patients (24.3%; mean age 74.9 ± 6 years) and was associated with reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure (123.1 ± 16/67.8 ± 9 vs 125.9 ± 15/69.7 ± 9; <it>P </it>= .027/<it>P </it>= .006), reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF%; 43.6 ± 15 vs 47.9 ± 14%, <it>P </it>= .001), and increased BNP plasma levels (413.1 ± 480 vs 286.2 ± 357, <it>P </it>= .013) in comparison to patients without symptoms. The distribution of CHF functional class was shifted toward a greater severity of the disease in patients with tinnitus. Combined one-year mortality and hospitalization for CHF (events/year) was 1.43 ± 0.2 in patients with tinnitus and 0.83 ± 0.1 in patients without tinnitus, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.61 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37 to 0.93, <it>P </it><.002).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our preliminary data indirectly support the hypothesis that tinnitus is associated with a worse CHF control in elderly patients and can have some important clinical implications for the early identification of patients who deserve a more aggressive management of CHF.</p

Azimuthal anisotropy of charged jet production in root s(NN)=2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions

We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as nu(ch)(2) (jet). Jet finding is performed employing the anti-k(T) algorithm with a resolution parameter R = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero nu(ch)(2) (jet) is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50% centrality) for 20 <p(T)(ch) (jet) <90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the nu(2) of single charged particles at high p(T). Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Forward-central two-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5 2GeV/c. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B. V.Peer reviewe

Event-shape engineering for inclusive spectra and elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV

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Centrality evolution of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density over a broad pseudorapidity range in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

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Pseudorapidity and transverse-momentum distributions of charged particles in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

The pseudorapidity (eta) and transverse-momentum (p(T)) distributions of charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions are measured at the centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV. The pseudorapidity distribution in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1.8 is reported for inelastic events and for events with at least one charged particle in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1. The pseudorapidity density of charged particles produced in the pseudorapidity region vertical bar eta vertical bar <0.5 is 5.31 +/- 0.18 and 6.46 +/- 0.19 for the two event classes, respectively. The transverse-momentum distribution of charged particles is measured in the range 0.15 <p(T) <20 GeV/c and vertical bar eta vertical bar <0.8 for events with at least one charged particle in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1. The evolution of the transverse momentum spectra of charged particles is also investigated as a function of event multiplicity. The results are compared with calculations from PYTHIA and EPOS Monte Carlo generators. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Elliptic flow of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

The elliptic flow, v(2), of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity (2.5 <y <4) is measured in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)= 2.76TeVwith the ALICE detector at the LHC. The scalar product, two- and four-particle Q cumulants and Lee-Yang zeros methods are used. The dependence of the v(2) of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays on the collision centrality, in the range 0-40%, and on transverse momentum, p(T), is studied in the interval 3 <p(T)<10 GeV/c. A positive v(2) is observed with the scalar product and two-particle Q cumulants in semi-central collisions (10-20% and 20-40% centrality classes) for the p(T) interval from 3 to about 5GeV/c with a significance larger than 3 sigma, based on the combination of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The v(2) magnitude tends to decrease towards more central collisions and with increasing pT. It becomes compatible with zero in the interval 6 <p(T)<10 GeV/c. The results are compared to models describing the interaction of heavy quarks and open heavy-flavour hadrons with the high-density medium formed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe