Recent developments for the calculation of elastic and non-elastic breakup of weakly-bound nuclei

In this contribution, we review some recent theoretical advances for the calculation of breakup cross sections in reactions induced by weakly-bound nuclei.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad FIS2013-41994-P, CSD2007-00042Junta de Andalucía FQM160, P07-FQM-02894European Commission 60037

Introducing a new multi-particle collision method for the evolution of dense stellar systems II. Core collapse

In a previous paper we introduced a new method for simulating collisional gravitational $N$-body systems with linear time scaling on $N$, based on the Multi-Particle Collision (MPC) approach. This allows us to simulate globular clusters with a realistic number of stellar particles in a matter of hours on a typical workstation. We evolve star clusters containing up to $10^6$ stars to core collapse and beyond. We quantify several aspects of core collapse over multiple realizations and different parameters, while always resolving the cluster core with a realistic number of particles. We run a large set of N-body simulations with our new code. The cluster mass function is a power-law with no stellar evolution, allowing us to clearly measure the effects of the mass spectrum. Leading up to core collapse, we find a power-law relation between the size of the core and the time left to core collapse. Our simulations thus confirm the theoretical self-similar contraction picture but with a dependence on the slope of the mass function. The time of core collapse has a non-monotonic dependence on the slope, which is well fit by a parabola. This holds also for the depth of core collapse and for the dynamical friction timescale of heavy particles. Cluster density profiles at core collapse show a broken power law structure, suggesting that central cusps are a genuine feature of collapsed cores. The core bounces back after collapse, and the inner density slope evolves to an asymptotic value. The presence of an intermediate-mass black hole inhibits core collapse. We confirm and expand on several predictions of star cluster evolution before, during, and after core collapse. Such predictions were based on theoretical calculations or small-size direct $N$-body simulations. Here we put them to the test on MPC simulations with a much larger number of particles, allowing us to resolve the collapsing core.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figs., 1 tab. Version accepted for publication in A&

Causa prima: cosmology meets causal discovery for the first time

In astrophysics, experiments are impossible. We thus must rely exclusively on observational data. Other observational sciences increasingly leverage causal inference methods, but this is not yet the case in astrophysics. Here we attempt causal discovery for the first time to address an important open problem in astrophysics: the (co)evolution of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and their host galaxies. We apply the Peter-Clark (PC) algorithm to a comprehensive catalog of galaxy properties to obtain a completed partially directed acyclic graph (CPDAG), representing a Markov equivalence class over directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). Central density and velocity dispersion are found to cause SMBH mass. We test the robustness of our analysis by random sub-sampling, recovering similar results. We also apply the Fast Causal Inference (FCI) algorithm to our dataset to relax the hypothesis of causal sufficiency, admitting unobserved confounds. Hierarchical SMBH assembly may provide a physical explanation for our findings.Comment: ML4PS NeurIPS workshop 2023 accepte

Reaction Theory and Advanced CDCC

The Continuum-Discretized Coupled-Channels (CDCC) has been successfully employed to describe elastic and breakup of nuclear reactions induced by weakly bound projectiles. In this contribution, we review some other, less widespread applications of the CDCC wavefunction, some of them in combination with other reaction formalisms, which are being currently employed in the analysis of reactions involving three or more fragments in the initial or final state.National Science Foundation NSF-PHY-1520972Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades FIS2017-88410-PEuropean Union's Horizon 2020 65400

Expanded CURB-65: A new score system predicts severity of community-acquired pneumonia with superior efficiency

Aim of this study was to develop a new simpler and more effective severity score for communityacquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. A total of 1640 consecutive hospitalized CAP patients in Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University were included. The effectiveness of different pneumonia severity scores to predict mortality was compared, and the performance of the new score was validated on an external cohort of 1164 patients with pneumonia admitted to a teaching hospital in Italy. Using age≥ 65 years, LDH>230u/L, albumin<3.5g/dL, platelet count<100×109/L, confusion, urea>7mmol/L, respiratory rate≥30/min, low blood pressure, we assembled a new severity score named as expanded-CURB-65. The 30-day mortality and length of stay were increased along with increased risk score. The AUCs in the prediction of 30-day mortality in the main cohort were 0.826 (95%CI, 0.807–0.844), 0.801 (95%CI, 0.781–0.820), 0.756 (95%CI, 0.735–0.777), 0.793 (95%CI, 0.773–0.813) and 0.759 (95%CI, 0.737–0.779) for the expanded-CURB-65, PSI, CURB-65, SMART-COP and A-DROP, respectively. The performance of this bedside score was confirmed in CAP patients of the validation cohort although calibration was not successful in patients with health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP). The expanded CURB-65 is objective, simpler and more accurate scoring system for evaluation of CAP severity, and the predictive efficiency was better than other score systems

Age related changes in the elastic fiber system of the interfoveolar ligament

Com o objetivo de avaliar as alterações do sistema de fibras elásticas relacionadas ao envelhecimento do ligamento interfoveolar estudou-se o anel inguinal profundo em 33 cadáveres do sexo masculino com idade variando de recém-nascido a 76 anos. Métodos de coloração seletiva para as fibras elásticas foram empregados para diferenciar fibras oxitalânicas, fibras elaunínicas e fibras elásticas maduras. Verificaram-se alterações quantitativas significantes no sistema de fibras elásticas do ligamento interfoveolar com o envelhecimento: uma redução progressiva de fibras oxitalânicas, responsáveis pela resistência do tecido conjuntivo, e um aumento de fibras elásticas maduras e elaunínicas, responsáveis pela elasticidade tecidual. Demonstraram-se alterações estruturais, como espessamento, encurtamento e encurvamento das fibras elásticas maduras e elaunínicas. Estas alterações induzem a perda de função das fibras elásticas, o que certamente levará a perda de complacência do ligamento interfoveolar, predispondo à hérnia inguinal indireta, que freqüentemente aparece em homens adultos ou idosos, especialmente acima de 50 anos de idade.In order to evaluate age related changes of the elastic fiber system in the interfoveolar ligament, we studied the deep inguinal ring from 33 male cadavers aged from stillborn to 76 years. Selective and alternated staining methods for elastic fibers were performed to differentiate oxytalan, elaunin, and mature elastic fibers. We confirmed quantitative changes of the elastic fiber system with aging. There was a significant and progressive reduction of the oxytalan fibers (responsible for tissue resistance) and a significant increment in the mature elastic and elaunin fibers (responsible for tissue elasticity). Furthermore, there were structural changes in the thickness, shortness and curling of these mature elastic fibers. These changes induced loss of the elastic fiber function and loss of the interfoveolar ligament compliance. These factors predispose individuals to the development of indirect inguinal hernias that frequently emerge in adults and aged individuals, especially above the fifth decade

Apoptotic Killing of HIV-1–Infected Macrophages Is Subverted by the Viral Envelope Glycoprotein

Viruses have evolved strategies to protect infected cells from apoptotic clearance. We present evidence that HIV-1 possesses a mechanism to protect infected macrophages from the apoptotic effects of the death ligand TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand). In HIV-1–infected macrophages, the viral envelope protein induced macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). This pro-survival cytokine downregulated the TRAIL receptor TRAIL-R1/DR4 and upregulated the anti-apoptotic genes Bfl-1 and Mcl-1. Inhibition of M-CSF activity or silencing of Bfl-1 and Mcl-1 rendered infected macrophages highly susceptible to TRAIL. The anti-cancer agent Imatinib inhibited M-CSF receptor activation and restored the apoptotic sensitivity of HIV-1–infected macrophages, suggesting a novel strategy to curtail viral persistence in the macrophage reservoir

Guest entrapment in metal-organic nanosheets for quantifiably tuneable luminescence

Luminescent metal-organic frameworks (LMOFs) are promising materials for nanophotonic applications due to their tuneable structure and programmability. Yet, the 3D nature of LMOFs creates challenges for stability, optical transparency, and device integration. Metal-organic nanosheets (MONs) potentially overcome these limitations by combining the benefits of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with an atomically thin morphology of large planar dimensions. Herein, the bottom-up synthesis of few-layer thin ZIF-7-III MONs via facile low-energy salt-templating is reported. Employing guest@MOF design, the fluorophores Rhodamine B and Fluorescein are intercalated into ZIF-7 nanosheets (Z7-NS) to form light emissive systems exhibiting intense and highly photostable fluorescence. Aggregation and Förster resonance energy transfer, enabled by the MON framework, are revealed as the mechanisms behind fluorescence. By varying guest concentration, these mechanisms provide predictable quantified control over emission chromaticity of a dual-guest Z7-NS material and the definition of an “emission chromaticity fingerprint” – a unique subset of the visible spectrum that a material can emit by fluorescence