Particle Spectra and Mass Composition in the Ultra-High Energy Region in the Framework of the Galactic Origin of Cosmic Rays

The possibility for a self-consistent description of all the basic features of the observed cosmic ray spectra and primary composition variations in the energy range of $10^{15}\div 10^{20}$ eV within the Galactic origin scenario is examined. We assume the existence of Galactic sources that accelerate particles up to $\sim 3\cdot 10^{18}Z$ eV and take into account a highly inhomogeneous (fractal-like) distribution of matter and magnetic fields in the Galaxy that leads to extremely large free paths of particles ("L\'{e}vy flights"), along with an overwhelming contribution to the cosmic ray fluxes observed above $\sim 10^{18}$ eV from particles reaching the Solar System without scattering. Our scenario was refined on the basis of recent experimental results on primary mass composition. Model predictions, which could be verified with the improved high-precision measurements in the nearest future are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, 19th International Symposium on Very High Energy Cosmic Ray Interactions (22-27 August 2016). Moscow, Russia. P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (LPI RAS

Trauma to the Eye -A Low Fidelity Resident Teaching Module for Identifying and Treating a Retrobulbar Hematoma.

Introduction: A retrobulbar hematoma (RH) is a serious time-dependent diagnosis due to its potential for permanent damage of the optic nerve, resulting in blindness. Emergency medicine (EM) physicians face the challenge of recognizing this time-sensitive injury and treating it before irreversible damage occurs. Due to its relative infrequency in the emergency department, residents may not have adequate experience in recognizing and treating RH. Methods: This educational intervention outlined a simulated scenario that we developed to educate EM residents to diagnose RH and perform an emergent lateral canthotomy and cantholysis (LCC). Participating residents were asked to obtain a history and perform a physical examination that was consistent with a 34-year-old patient presenting with pushing behind the eye suggesting RH. Once residents made a diagnosis, they practiced performing an emergent LCC on a low-fidelity task trainer supplemented with a novel checklist. The residents completed an assessment questionnaire before and after the teaching module to measure the educational intervention\u27s effectiveness. Results: Learners\u27 scores significantly improved in the ability to recognize and treat RH (12%, Discussion: This educational intervention is a successful resource that can decrease cases of preventable blindness by improving EM residents\u27 ability to recognize and treat RHs

Bone stress injury of the ankle in professional ballet dancers seen on MRI

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ballet Dancers have been shown to have a relatively high incidence of stress fractures of the foot and ankle. It was our objective to examine MR imaging patterns of bone marrow edema (BME) in the ankles of high performance professional ballet dancers, to evaluate clinical relevance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>MR Imaging was performed on 12 ankles of 11 active professional ballet dancers (6 female, 5 male; mean age 24 years, range 19 to 32). Individuals were imaged on a 0.2 T or 1.5 T MRI units. Images were evaluated by two musculoskeletal radiologists and one orthopaedic surgeon in consensus for location and pattern of bone marrow edema. In order to control for recognized sources of bone marrow edema, images were also reviewed for presence of osseous, ligamentous, tendinous and cartilage injuries. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the strength of the correlation between bone marrow edema and ankle pain.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Bone marrow edema was seen only in the talus, and was a common finding, observed in nine of the twelve ankles imaged (75%) and was associated with pain in all cases. On fluid-sensitive sequences, bone marrow edema was ill-defined and centered in the talar neck or body, although in three cases it extended to the talar dome. No apparent gender predilection was noted. No occult stress fracture could be diagnosed. A moderately strong correlation (phi = 0.77, p= 0.0054) was found between edema and pain in the study population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Bone marrow edema seems to be a specific MRI finding in the talus of professional ballet dancers, likely related to biomechanical stress reactions, due to their frequently performed unique maneuvers. Clinically, this condition may indicate a sign of a bone stress injury of the ankle.</p

Tunka Advanced Instrument for cosmic rays and Gamma Astronomy

The paper is a script of a lecture given at the ISAPP-Baikal summer school in 2018. The lecture gives an overview of the Tunka Advanced Instrument for cosmic rays and Gamma Astronomy (TAIGA) facility including historical introduction, description of existing and future setups, and outreach and open data activities.Comment: Lectures given at the ISAPP-Baikal Summer School 2018: Exploring the Universe through multiple messengers, 12-21 July 2018, Bol'shie Koty, Russi

Charm CP Violation and the Electric Dipole Moments from the Charm Scale

The reported CP asymmetry in D->K^+K^- / pi^+pi^- is argued to be too large to naturally fit the SM. If so, a new source of CP violation is implied in the Delta C=1 sector with a milliweak strength. CP-odd interactions in the flavor-diagonal sector are strongly constrained by the EDMs placing severe limitations on the underlying theory. While the largest effects usually come from the New Physics energy scale, they are strongly model-dependent. Yet the interference of the CP-odd forces manifested in D decays with the conventional CP-even Delta C=1 weak interaction generates at the charm scale a background level. It has been argued that the d_n in the SM is largely generated via such an interference, with mild KM-specific additional suppression. The reported CP asymmetry is expected to generate d_n of 30 to 100 times larger than in the SM, or even higher in certain model yet not quite natural examples. In the SM the charm-induced loop-less |d_n| is expected around 10^{-31}e*cm. On the technical side, we present a compact Ward-identity--based derivation of the induced scalar pion-nucleon coupling in the presence of the CP-odd interactions, which appears once the latter include the right-handed light quarks.Comment: 29pages, 5 figure