Charm production nearby threshold in pA-interactions at 70 GeV

The results of the SERP-E-184 experiment at the U-70 accelerator (IHEP, Protvino) are presented. Interactions of the 70 GeV proton beam with C, Si and Pb targets were studied to detect decays of charmed $D^0$, $\overline D^0$, $D^+$, $D^-$ mesons and $\Lambda _c^+$ baryon near their production threshold. Measurements of lifetimes and masses are shown a good agreement with PDG data. The inclusive cross sections of charm production and their A-dependencies were obtained. The yields of these particles are compared with the theoretical predictions and the data of other experiments. The measured cross section of the total open charm production ($\sigma _{\mathrm {tot}}(c\overline c)$ = 7.1 $\pm$ 2.3(stat) $\pm$1.4(syst) $\mu$b/nucleon) at the collision c.m. energy $\sqrt {s}$ = 11.8 GeV is well above the QCD model predictions. The contributions of different species of charmed particles to the total cross section of the open charm production in proton-nucleus interactions vary with energy.Comment: 4 pages, 6 pages, 38th International Conference on High Energy Physics 3-10 August 2016, Chicago, US

Challenges in QCD matter physics - The Compressed Baryonic Matter experiment at FAIR

Substantial experimental and theoretical efforts worldwide are devoted to explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter. At LHC and top RHIC energies, QCD matter is studied at very high temperatures and nearly vanishing net-baryon densities. There is evidence that a Quark-Gluon-Plasma (QGP) was created at experiments at RHIC and LHC. The transition from the QGP back to the hadron gas is found to be a smooth cross over. For larger net-baryon densities and lower temperatures, it is expected that the QCD phase diagram exhibits a rich structure, such as a first-order phase transition between hadronic and partonic matter which terminates in a critical point, or exotic phases like quarkyonic matter. The discovery of these landmarks would be a breakthrough in our understanding of the strong interaction and is therefore in the focus of various high-energy heavy-ion research programs. The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR will play a unique role in the exploration of the QCD phase diagram in the region of high net-baryon densities, because it is designed to run at unprecedented interaction rates. High-rate operation is the key prerequisite for high-precision measurements of multi-differential observables and of rare diagnostic probes which are sensitive to the dense phase of the nuclear fireball. The goal of the CBM experiment at SIS100 (sqrt(s_NN) = 2.7 - 4.9 GeV) is to discover fundamental properties of QCD matter: the phase structure at large baryon-chemical potentials (mu_B > 500 MeV), effects of chiral symmetry, and the equation-of-state at high density as it is expected to occur in the core of neutron stars. In this article, we review the motivation for and the physics programme of CBM, including activities before the start of data taking in 2022, in the context of the worldwide efforts to explore high-density QCD matter.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures. Published in European Physical Journal

Долгосрочное влияние нетакимаба на качество жизни, боль в спине и работоспособность пациентов с анкилозирующим спондилитом: результаты международного многоцентрового рандомизированного двойного слепого клинического исследования III фазы BCD-085-5/ASTERA

The article contains the data obtained during the 156-week follow-up of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the ASTERA phase III study.Objective: to evaluate the effect impact of netakimab (NTK) on quality of life (QoL), back pain and work capacity in patients with active AS.Material and methods. The study enrolled 228 patients with active AS who were randomized 1:1 to receive NTK 120 mg or placebo. At week 52, patients in Group 1 (NTK) who achieved ASAS20 continued therapy (NTK at a dose of 120 mg once every 2 weeks) until week 156. Patients in Group 2 (placebo/NTK) received the study drug at a dose of 120 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks from week 20 until week 68, after which the efficacy of therapy was determined (by achieving an ASAS20 response). Patients who achieved ASAS20 received treatment (NTK at a dose of 120 mg once every 2 weeks) until week 172.Results and discussion. Under NTK therapy, a significant improvement in QoL was observed in the assessment of the physical and psychological components of the SF-36 questionnaire, which was maintained during the three years of therapy: increase in indicator by 12.68±9.92; 13.27±10.14; 12.92±10.03; 14.10±10.35; 14.76±9.77 and 6.10±11.59; 5.50±11.82; 6.32±11.01; 5.87±11.45; 5.25±11.98 points at week 52, 76, 104, 128 and 156, respectively. During the extended therapy period, a reduction in the proportion of working hours missed for health reasons, an improvement in work capacity and work efficiency and an increase in daily activity were observed. Back pain (BASDAI question 2) and nocturnal back pain decreased steadily during the entire follow-up period compared to the screening values.Conclusion. NTK is an effective therapy for active AS that improves QoL scores, significantly reduces pain intensity and improves work productivity.В статье приведены данные, полученные в ходе 156 нед наблюдения за пациентами с анкилозирующим спондилитом (АС) в исследовании III фазы ASTERA.Цель исследования – оценить влияние нетакимаба (НТК) на качество жизни (КЖ), боль в спине и работоспособность пациентов с активным АС.Материал и методы. В исследование включено 228 больных активным АС, которые были рандомизированы в соотношении 1:1 в группу НТК 120 мг или группу плацебо. На неделе 52 пациенты группы 1 (НТК), достигшие ASAS20, продолжили получать терапию (НТК в дозе 120 мг 1 раз в 2 нед) до недели 156. Пациенты группы 2 (плацебо/НТК), начиная с недели 20, использовали исследуемый препарат в дозе 120 мг подкожно 1 раз в 2 нед до недели 68, после которой у них была определена эффективность терапии (по достижению ответа ASAS20). Пациенты, достигшие ASAS20, получали лечение (НТК в дозе 120 мг 1 раз в 2 нед) до недели 172.Результаты и обсуждение. На фоне лечения НТК наблюдалось значимое улучшение КЖ при оценке физического и психологического компонентов опросника SF-36, которое сохранялось на протяжении 3 лет терапии: повышение показателя на 12,68±9,92; 13,27±10,14; 12,92±10,03; 14,10±10,35; 14,76±9,77 и 6,10±11,59; 5,50±11,82; 6,32±11,01; 5,87±11,45; 5,25±11,98 балла на неделях 52, 76, 104, 128, 156 соответственно. В течение продленного периода терапии было выявлено снижение доли рабочего времени, пропущенного по состоянию здоровья, улучшение работоспособности и эффективности труда, а также повышение повседневной активности. Боль в спине (вопрос 2 BASDAI) и ночная боль в спине стойко уменьшались на протяжении всего периода наблюдения по сравнению с их показателями на момент скрининга.Заключение. НТК является эффективным методом терапии активного АС. Под действием НТК улучшаются показатели КЖ, в том числе значимо снижается интенсивность боли и улучшается производительность труда

From soft photon study at Nuclotron and U-70 to NICA

Experimental and theoretical studies of direct photon production in hadronic collisions essentially expand our insights in multiparticle production mechanisms. These photons are useful probes to investigate nuclear matter at all stages of the interaction. Soft photons play a particular role in these studies. Until now we have no explanation for the experimentally observed excess of soft photons. These photons have low transverse momenta $p_{T} < 0.1$ GeV/c, $\vert x\vert < 0.01$ . In this domain their yield exceeds the theoretical estimates by 5-8 times. The registration of soft photons at Nuclotron (LHEP, JINR) has been carried out by the electromagnetic calorimeter built by the SVD-2 Collaboration. Soft photon electromagnetic calorimeter was tested at U-70, IHEP (Protvino). For the first time the soft photon yield at interactions of 3.5A GeV/c per nucleon deuterium and lithium beams has been measured. The obtained energy spectra confirm the increased yield of soft photons with their energy less than 50MeV (in the laboratory system) in comparison with theoretical predictions and agree with previous experiments at high-energy interactions. It is planned to continue soft photon study at the future accelerator complex NICA with heavy-ion beams