Narrowing the uncertainty on the total charm cross section and its effect on the J/\psi\ cross section

We explore the available parameter space that gives reasonable fits to the total charm cross section to make a better estimate of its true uncertainty. We study the effect of the parameter choices on the energy dependence of the J/\psi\ cross section.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figure

Improving the J/psi Production Baseline at RHIC and the LHC

We assess the theoretical uncertainties on the inclusive J/psi production cross section in the Color Evaporation Model (CEM) using values for the charm quark mass, renormalization and factorization scales obtained from a fit to the charm production data. We use our new results to provide improved baseline comparison calculations at RHIC and the LHC. We also study cold matter effects on J/psi production at leading relative to next-to-leading order in the CEM within this approach.Comment: Proceedings for Hard Probes 2012, Cagliari, Ital

Heavy flavor in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC and RHIC II

In the initial years of operation, experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) have identified a new form of matter formed in nuclei-nuclei collisions at energy densities more than 100 times that of a cold atomic nucleus. Measurements and comparison with relativistic hydrodynamic models indicate that the matter thermalizes in an unexpectedly short time, has an energy density at least 15 times larger than needed for color deconfinement, has a temperature about twice the critical temperature predicted by lattice QCD, and appears to exhibit collective motion with ideal hydrodynamic properties - a "perfect liquid" that appears to flow with a near-zero viscosity to entropy ratio - lower than any previously observed fluid and perhaps close to a universal lower bound. However, a fundamental understanding of the medium seen in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC does not yet exist. The most important scientific challenge for the field in the next decade is the quantitative exploration of the new state of nuclear matter. That will require new data that will, in turn, require enhanced capabilities of the RHIC detectors and accelerator. In this report we discuss the scientific opportunities for an upgraded RHIC facility - RHIC II - in conjunction with improved capabilities of the two large RHIC detectors, PHENIX and STAR. We focus solely on heavy flavor probes. Their production rates are calculable using the well-established techniques of perturbative QCD and their sizable interactions with the hot QCD medium provide unique and sensitive measurements of its crucial properties making them one of the key diagnostic tools available to us.Comment: 96 pages, 53 figures. Accepted for publication in Physics Reports. Fixed typo in Fig. 15 captio

I\u27ll Find A Way

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/3198/thumbnail.jp

Improved definition of crustal magnetic anomalies for MAGSAT data

The routine correction of MAGSAT vector magnetometer data for external field effects such as the ring current and the daily variation by filtering long wavelength harmonics from the data is described. Separation of fields due to low altitude sources from those caused by high altitude sources is affected by means of dual harmonic expansions in the solution of Dirichlet's problem. This regression/harmonic filter procedure is applied on an orbit by orbit basis, and initial tests on MAGSAT data from orbit 1176 show reduction in external field residuals by 24.33 nT RMS in the horizontal component, and 10.95 nT RMS in the radial component

Impact parameter dependence of the nuclear modification of J/psi production in d+Au collisions at sqrt(S_NN) = 200 GeV

The centrality dependence of sqrt(s_NN)= 200 GeV d+Au {J/\psi} data, measured in 12 rapidity bins that span -2.2 < y < 2.4, has been fitted using a model containing an effective absorption cross section combined with EPS09 NLO shadowing. The centrality dependence of the shadowing contribution was allowed to vary nonlinearly, employing a variety of assumptions, in an effort to explore the limits of what can be determined from the data. The impact parameter dependencies of the effective absorption cross section and the shadowing parameterization are sufficiently distinct to be determined separately. It is found that the onset of shadowing is a highly nonlinear function of impact parameter. The mid and backward rapidity absorption cross sections are compared with lower energy data and, for times of 0.05 fm/c or greater, data over a broad range of collision energies and rapidities are well described by a model in which the absorption cross section depends only on time spent in the nucleus.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures. Expanded discussion of methods, and added extensive comparison of effective absorption cross sections with lower energy data, and with theory. Corrected minor typos in table 1, corrected typos in best fit parameters for Fig.

Effects of Prior Fasting on Fat Oxidation during Resistance Exercise

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(2): 827-833, 2018. Prior research has demonstrated that the percentage of fuel utilization contributed by CHO compared to fat rises with an increase in exercise intensity. The role of food intake prior to exercise has been well studied and fasting prior to exercise generally increases reliance on fat as fuel. However, data on the role of fasting prior to resistance exercise is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects of one bout of resistance training in a fasted state compared to ingestion of standardized meal on fat and carbohydrate utilization. Twelve female (n = 12, age = 20.1 ± 0.79 yrs, height = 67.0 ± 2.63 in, weight = 143 ± 21.8 lbs) NCAA Division 1 athletes participated in the study. Each participant completed one 10 hour fasted resistance training session and one postprandial resistance training session. The respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and METs were measured using a Cosmed K4b2portable metabolic cart (Cosmed, Rome, Italy) and heart rate was measured by a Polar H1 heart rate monitor. Participants consumed the prescribed food, waited 15 minutes, and then completed three sets of five repetitions of bench press, back squat, and military press at 60% of their 1-repetition maximum. The mean fasted RER was significantly lower than postprandial for back squat (p=0.01) and military press (p=0.02), but not bench press (p=0.19). There was no difference in METs, RPE, or HR between fasted and postprandial trials for any exercise. Results suggest that fasted resistance exercise relies more heavily on fat metabolism than carbohydrate

An assessment of J/Psi formation in the light of initial RHIC data

Predictions of J/Psi formation at RHIC via "off-diagonal" combinations of charm and anticharm quarks in a region of color deconfinement are confronted with initial data from the PHENIX collaboration. We find that the measured centrality behavior places significant constraints on the various parameters which control model calculations of J/Psi formation. Within present statistical and systematic uncertainties, one can map out a region of parameter space within which the contribution of formation in a deconfined phase is allowed. As these uncertainties decrease and new data from d-Au interactions becomes available, it is expected that definitive tests for the presence of this formation mechanism will be possible. We anticipate that the rapidity and transverse momentum spectra will prove decisive for a final determination.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, presented at SQM2003, March 12-17, 2003. To be published in J. Phys.

Associations between complementary medicine utilization and influenza/pneumococcal vaccination: Results of a national cross-sectional survey of 9151 Australian women

© 2017 Elsevier Inc. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for all adults, with older adults considered a high-risk group for targeted intervention. As such it is important for factors affecting vaccine uptake in this group to be examined. Complementary medicine (CM) use has been suggested as a possible factor associated with lower vaccination uptake. To determine if associations exist between influenza and pneumococcal vaccine uptake in older Australian women and the use of CM, data from women aged 62–67 years surveyed as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) were analyzed in 2013 regarding their health and health care utilization. Associations between the uptake of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations and the use of CM were analyzed in 2016 using chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression modelling. Of the 9151 women, 65.6% and 17.7% reported that they had influenza and pneumococcal vaccination within the past 3 years respectively. Regression analyses show that women who consulted naturopaths/herbalists (OR = 0.64) and other CM practitioners (OR = 0.64) were less likely to have vaccination (influenza only), as were women who used yoga (OR = 0.77–0.80) and herbal medicines (OR = 0.78–0.83) (influenza and pneumococcal). Conversely, women using vitamin supplements were more likely to receive either vaccination (OR = 1.17–1.24) than those not using vitamin supplements. The interface between CM use and influenza and pneumococcal vaccination uptake in older women appears complex, multi-factorial and often highly individualized and there is a need for further research to provide a rich examination of the decision-making and motivations of stakeholders around this important public health topic

Efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine for stroke modifiable risk factors: A systematic review

© 2017 The Author(s). Background: The vast majority of stroke burden is attributable to its modifiable risk factors. This paper aimed to systematically summarise the evidence of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) interventions on stroke modifiable risk factors for stroke prevention. Methods: A literature search was conducted via the MEDLINE, CINAHL/EBSCO, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Database from 1996 to 2016. Randomised controlled trials or cross-over studies were included. Risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results: A total of 46 trials (6895 participants) were identified regarding the use of CHM interventions in the management of stroke risk factors, including 12 trials for hypertension, 10 trials for diabetes, eight trials for hyperlipidemia, seven trials for impaired glucose tolerance, three trials for obesity, and six trials for combined risk factors. Amongst the included trials with diverse study design, an intervention of CHM as a supplement to biomedicine and/or a lifestyle intervention was found to be more effective in lowering blood pressure, decreasing blood glucose level, helping impaired glucose tolerance reverse to normal, and/or reducing body weight compared to CHM monotherapy. While no trial reported deaths amongst the CHM groups, some papers do report moderate adverse effects associated with CHM use. However, the findings of such beneficial effects of CHM should be interpreted with caution due to the heterogeneous set of complex CHM studied, the various control interventions employed, the use of different participants' inclusion criteria, and low methodological quality across the published studies. The risk of bias of trials identified was largely unclear in the domains of selection bias and detection bias across the included studies. Conclusion: This study showed substantial evidence of varied CHM interventions improving the stroke modifiable risk factors. More rigorous research examining the use of CHM products for sole or multiple major stroke risk factors are warranted