The First Stars: formation under X-ray feedback

We investigate the impact of a cosmic X-ray background (CXB) on Population III stars forming in a minihalo at $z\simeq25$. Using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics code GADGET-2, we attain sufficient numerical resolution to follow gas collapsing into the centre of the minihalo from cosmological initial conditions up to densities of $10^{12}\,{\rm cm}^{-3}$, at which point we form sink particles. This allows us to study how the presence of a CXB affects the formation of H$_2$ and HD in the gas prior to becoming fully molecular. Using a suite of simulations for a range of possible CXB models, we follow each simulation for 5000\yr after the first sink particle forms. The CXB provides two competing effects, with X-rays both heating the gas and increasing the free electron fraction, allowing more H$_2$ to form. X-ray heating dominates below $n\sim1\,{\rm cm}^{-3}$, while the additional H$_2$ cooling becomes more important above $n\sim10^2\,{\rm cm}^{-3}$. The gas becomes optically thick to X-rays as it exits the quasi-hydrostatic `loitering phase,' such that the primary impact of the CXB is to cool the gas at intermediate densities, resulting in an earlier onset of baryonic collapse into the dark matter halo. At the highest densities, self-shielding results in similar thermodynamic behaviour across a wide range of CXB strengths. Consequently, we find that star formation is relatively insensitive to the presence of a CXB; both the number and the characteristic mass of the stars formed remains quite similar even as the strength of the CXB varies by several orders of magnitude.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Includes improved treatment of X-ray optical depth. 13 pages, 12 figure

A search for new physics in central exclusive production using the missing mass technique with the CMS detector and the CMS-TOTEM precision proton spectrometer

A generic search is presented for the associated production of a Z boson or a photon with an additional unspecified massive particle X, pp → pp + Z/γ + X, in proton-tagged events from proton–proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV, recorded in 2017 with the CMS detector and the CMS-TOTEM precision proton spectrometer. The missing mass spectrum is analysed in the 600–1600 GeV range and a fit is performed to search for possible deviations from the background expectation. No significant excess in data with respect to the background predictions has been observed. odelindependent upper limits on the visible production cross section of pp → pp + Z/γ + X are set

The impact of x-rays on primordial minihalos

One of the current problems in cosmology is to understand how the first gravitationally- bound objects, or dark matter minihalos, evolved to form chemically rich, star-forming galaxies. The first stars to exist are believed to have formed in the center of minihalos that have cooled and collapsed enough to fragment into stellar-sized gas clouds. However, to reach such low temperatures, minihalos needed a more effective coolant than atomic hydrogen, namely molecular hydrogen (H2). The formation of H2 could be catalyzed by an x-ray background, which is expected to originate primarily from high-mass x-ray binaries (HMXBs). By simulating the collapse of a minihalo in the presence of x-ray backgrounds of varying strengths, we ascertain the resulting properties of a minihalo and compare to the case of no x-ray background. For sufficiently weak backgrounds (energy density uXR < 10−16J/m3), a minihalo can cool to lower temperatures than without an x- ray background, leading to the formation of lower mass stars. The mass of these primitive stars affected the abundance of heavy chemical elements that formed during their deaths as supernovae, which in turn influenced how the earliest galaxies formed.Astronom

High-Frequency Surface Acoustic Wave Devices Based on Epitaxial Z-LiNbO3 Layers on Sapphire

International audienceFilter market demand pushes to the development of new piezoelectric materials to address modern telecommunication challenges. Composite wafers combining an epitaxial piezoelectric layer and a said high velocity and acoustic quality substrate is a promising way to answer that demand. However, the fabrication of high-quality LiNbO3 films with reproducible physical properties is complicated by the difficulty to control volatile Li2O incorporation into the film and to measure its composition. So far, large-scale production of films with physical properties suitable for the targeted applications is not available. In this paper, lithium niobate films with controlled nonstoichiometry were deposited by means of pulsed injection metalorganic vapor phase deposition. We have demonstrated a high acoustical performance for surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices operating in the frequency range from 3.7 GHz up to 5.3 GHz and based on grown epitaxial Z-axis oriented LiNbO3 films on sapphire. An electromechanical coupling of 8 % for the Rayleigh wave at 5.3 GHz was demonstrated experimentall

Opioids for chronic non-cancer pain: a protocol for a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND: Opioids are prescribed frequently and increasingly for the management of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP). Current systematic reviews have a number of limitations, leaving uncertainty with regard to the benefits and harms associated with opioid therapy for CNCP. We propose to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the evidence for using opioids in the treatment of CNCP and the risk of associated adverse events. METHODS AND DESIGN: Eligible trials will include those that randomly allocate patients with CNCP to treatment with any opioid or any non-opioid control group. We will use the guidelines published by the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT) to inform the outcomes that we collect and present. We will use the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to evaluate confidence in the evidence on an outcome-by-outcome basis. Teams of reviewers will independently and in duplicate assess trial eligibility, abstract data, and assess risk of bias among eligible trials. To ensure interpretability of our results, we will present risk differences and measures of relative effect for all outcomes reported and these will be based on anchor-based minimally important clinical differences, when available. We will conduct a priori defined subgroup analyses consistent with current best practices. DISCUSSION: Our review will evaluate both the effectiveness and the adverse events associated with opioid use for CNCP, evaluate confidence in the evidence using the GRADE approach, and prioritize patient-important outcomes with a focus on functional gains guided by IMMPACT recommendations. Our results will facilitate evidence-based management of patients with CNCP and identify key areas for future research. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Our protocol is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42012003023), http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPER

Opioids for chronic non-cancer pain: a protocol for a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Background Opioids are prescribed frequently and increasingly for the management of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP). Current systematic reviews have a number of limitations, leaving uncertainty with regard to the benefits and harms associated with opioid therapy for CNCP. We propose to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the evidence for using opioids in the treatment of CNCP and the risk of associated adverse events. Methods and design Eligible trials will include those that randomly allocate patients with CNCP to treatment with any opioid or any non-opioid control group. We will use the guidelines published by the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT) to inform the outcomes that we collect and present. We will use the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to evaluate confidence in the evidence on an outcome-by-outcome basis. Teams of reviewers will independently and in duplicate assess trial eligibility, abstract data, and assess risk of bias among eligible trials. To ensure interpretability of our results, we will present risk differences and measures of relative effect for all outcomes reported and these will be based on anchor-based minimally important clinical differences, when available. We will conduct a priori defined subgroup analyses consistent with current best practices. Discussion Our review will evaluate both the effectiveness and the adverse events associated with opioid use for CNCP, evaluate confidence in the evidence using the GRADE approach, and prioritize patient-important outcomes with a focus on functional gains guided by IMMPACT recommendations. Our results will facilitate evidence-based management of patients with CNCP and identify key areas for future research. Systematic review registration Our protocol is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42012003023), http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO