J/psi Production at the LHC

We firstly examine hadroproduction of prompt J/psi's at the Fermilab Tevatron in a Monte Carlo Framework by means of the event generator PYTHIA 5.7 in which those colour-octet matrix elements processes relevant for charmonium production have been implemented accordingly. We find that colour-octet matrix elements presented in literature from p-pbar collider data are systematically overestimated due to overlooking of the effective primordial transverse momentum of partons (i.e. including higher-order QCD effects). We estimate the size of these effects using different parton distribution functions. Finally, after normalization to Tevatron data, we extrapolate up to LHC energies making a prediction on the expected pt differential cross-section for charmonium.Comment: 4 pages, LaTex, 3 Figures included in the text, Contribution to the 2nd Int. Conference on Hyperons, charm and beauty hadrons (Montreal, Aug 27-30, 1996

Allergy, inflammation, hepatopathy and coagulation biomarkers in dogs with suspected anaphylaxis due to insect envenomation

Objectives: To compare concentrations of biomarkers of; allergy [mast cell tryptase (MCT) and histamine], inflammation [interleukin (IL)-6,-10, and−18, CXCL8, CCL2, keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC), C-reactive protein (CRP)], endothelial glycocalyx shedding (hyaluronan), coagulation [prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen concentration, and von Willebrand Factor antigen, protein C (PC) and antithrombin (AT) activity], and hepatopathy [alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin] between dogs with anaphylaxis after suspected insect exposure, dogs with critical illness, and healthy dogs. Design: This was a single center prospective clinical observational comparative biomarker study that included 25 dogs with anaphylaxis (evidence of insect exposure, acute dermatological signs, and other organ involvement), 30 dogs with other critical illness, and 20 healthy dogs. Differences across groups in biomarker concentrations were tested using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test, with significant P values (<0.05) reported for pairwise differences detected by post-hoc tests. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) for discrimination between anaphylaxis and non-anaphylactic illness. Results: Histamine concentration was significantly higher in the anaphylaxis group than the healthy (P < 0.001) and critically ill groups (P < 0.001), whereas no differences in MCT were detected amongst groups. Biomarker concentrations that were increased relative to healthy dogs in both the anaphylaxis and critically ill groups included IL-10 (P < 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively), CCL2 (P = 0.007 and P < 0.001, respectively) and AST (both P < 0.001), whereas only the critically ill group had significantly increased CRP (P < 0.001), IL-6 (P < 0.001), KC (P < 0.001), ALP (P < 0.001), and fibrinogen (P = 0.016) concentrations, compared to the healthy group. Only dogs with anaphylaxis had significantly higher hyaluronan (P = 0.021) and ALT (P = 0.021) concentrations, and lower PC (P = 0.030) and AT (P = 0.032) activities, compared to healthy dogs. Both CRP and histamine concentration showed good discrimination between anaphylaxis and other critical illness, with an AUROC of 0.96 (95% CI 0.91–1) and 0.81 (95% CI 0.69–0.93), respectively. Conclusions: This preliminary study in dogs with anaphylaxis after suspected insect exposure, found evidence of an early innate immune response, glycocalyx shedding and anticoagulant consumption. Both CRP and histamine showed potential clinical utility for differentiation between anaphylaxis and other critical illness

Experimental results of crystal-assisted slow extraction at the SPS

The possibility of extracting highly energetic particles from the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) by means of silicon bent crystals has been explored since the 1990's. The channelling effect of a bent crystal can be used to strongly deflect primary protons and eject them from the synchrotron. Many studies and experiments have been carried out to investigate crystal channelling effects. The extraction of 120 and 270 GeV proton beams has already been demonstrated in the SPS with dedicated experiments located in the ring. Presently in the SPS, the UA9 experiment is performing studies to evaluate the possibility to use bent silicon crystals to steer particle beams in high energy accelerators. Recent studies on the feasibility of extraction from the SPS have been made using the UA9 infrastructure with a longer-term view of using crystals to help mitigate slow extraction induced activation of the SPS. In this paper, the possibility to eject particles into the extraction channel in LSS2 using the bent crystals already installed in the SPS is presented. Details of the concept, simulations and measurements carried out with beam are presented, before the outlook for the future is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures, submitted to to International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC) 2017 in Copenhagen, Denmar

Network Awareness of P2P Live Streaming Applications: A Measurement Study

Abstract: Early P2P-TV systems have already attracted millions of users, and many new commercial solutions are entering this market. Little information is however available about how these systems work, due to their closed and proprietary design. In this paper, we present large scale experiments to compare three of the most successful P2P-TV systems, namely PPLive, SopCast and TVAnts. Our goal is to assess what level of "network awareness" has been embedded in the applications. We first define a general framework to quantify which network layer parameters leverage application choices, i.e., what parameters mainly drive the peer selection and data exchange. We then apply the methodology to a large dataset, collected during a number of experiments where we deployed about 40 peers in several European countries. From analysis of the dataset, we observe that TVAnts and PPLive exhibit a mild preference to exchange data among peers in the same autonomous system the peer belongs to, while this clustering effect is less intense in SopCast. However, no preference versus country, subnet or hop count is shown. Therefore, we believe that next-generation P2P live streaming applications definitively need to improve the level of network-awareness, so to better localize the traffic in the network and thus increase their network-friendliness as well

Obtention of Hard Coating Using Electrochemical Process in Aluminum-Silicon Alloys for Automotive Vehicles

Automotive industry is searching for new ways to improve vehicles’ energy efficiency through mass reduction, using aluminum alloys. This change requires a surface protection to extend the life cycle of the components and aluminum anodization is the most used solution. This research is focused on the intake and exhaust ducts’ surfaces of aluminum internal combustion engines cylinder head, which are subject to chemical agents and temperature variation. To extend the working life of this component it is necessary to obtain a covering protective layer. The process targeted the anodization of an internal surface of a much larger part of a cast aluminum-silicon alloy cylinder head. The anodization was obtained using a H2SO4 solution (184 g.L-1) and a DC voltage starting at 20 V. The Al2O3 layer obtained, inside the cylinder head´s ducts, has an average thickness of 120 µm in accordance with the proposal of providing a suitable surface protection

Identification of a miRNAs signature associated with exposure to stress early in life and enhanced vulnerability for schizophrenia: New insights for the key role of miR-125b-1-3p in neurodevelopmental processes

Epidemiological and clinical studies have provided evidence for a role of both genetic and environmental factors, such as stressful experiences early in life, in the pathogenesis of Schizophrenia (SZ) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested to play a key role in the interplay between the environment and our genome. In this study, we conducted a miRNOme analysis in different samples (blood of adult subjects exposed to childhood trauma, brain (hippocampus) of rats exposed to prenatal stress and human hippocampal progenitor cells treated with cortisol) and we identified miR-125b-1-3p as a down-regulated miRNA in all the three datasets. Interestingly, a significant down-regulation was observed also in SZ patients exposed to childhood trauma. To investigate the biological systems targeted by miR-125b-1-3p and also involved in the effects of stress, we combined the list of biological pathways modulated by predicted and validated target genes of miR-125b-1-3p, with the biological systems significantly regulated by cortisol in the in vitro model. We found, as common pathways, the CXCR4 signaling, the G-alpha signaling, and the P2Y Purigenic Receptor Signaling Pathway, which are all involved in neurodevelopmental processes. Our data, obtained from the combining of miRNAs datasets across different tissues and species, identified miR-125b-1-3p as a key marker associated with the long-term effects of stress early in life and also with the enhanced vulnerability of developing SZ. The identification of such a miRNA biomarker could allow the early detection of vulnerable subjects for SZ and could provide the basis for the development of preventive therapeutic strategies

Variational convergence of gradient flows and rate-independent evolutions in metric spaces

We study the asymptotic behaviour of families of gradient flows in a general metric setting, when the metric-dissipation potentials degenerate in the limit to a dissipation with linear growth. We present a general variational definition of BV solutions to metric evolutions, showing the different characterization of the solution in the absolutely continuous regime, on the singular Cantor part, and along the jump transitions. By using tools of metric analysis, BV functions and blow-up by time rescaling, we show that this variational notion is stable with respect to a wide class of perturbations involving energies, distances, and dissipation potentials. As a particular application, we show that BV solutions to rate-independent problems arise naturally as a limit of $p$-gradient flows, $p>1$, when the exponents $p$ converge to 1

Quantification and characterization of water and wastewater in dairy farms II. Effluent quality and treatment process efficiency

This study was carried out in three dairy production areas in Buenos Aires. Effluent quality, treatment process efficiency, water management strategies and environmental contamination risk by effluent discharge, was characterized in 9 dairy farms. Holding area feces were measured. Treatment lagoons were sampled. Physicochemical and microbiological qualities, and BOD and COD were determined, and used as environmental risk indicators. Plate-cooler water management strategies were established in order to divide the dairy farms in two groups (G1 and G2). Treatment lagoons were inefficient in regards to effluent treatment. BOD, COD, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and enterococci found in the samples were not within acceptable values according to effluent discharge guidelines. NPK concentration would allow its potential use as a nutrient source. Variability found in the several parameters measured is related to the different lagoons? characteristics and water management strategies. Significant differences (p<0.05) were detected in N and P contents between G1 and G2. Proper environmental management in animal production systems requires an appropriate wastewater handling within each farm.Fil: Nosetti, L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Herrero, M.A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Producción Animal. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Pol, M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Producción Animal. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Maldonado May, V. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Producción Animal. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Korol, S. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Cátedra de Higiene y Sanidad. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Rossi, S. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Cátedra de Higiene y Sanidad. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Gemini, V. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Cátedra de Higiene y Sanidad. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Flores, M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Salud Pública. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaEl estudio fue realizado en tres cuencas lecheras de Buenos Aires. Se caracterizaron en 9 establecimientos, la calidad de efluentes, la eficiencia de los sistemas de tratamiento, la estrategia del manejo del agua en el ordeño y el riesgo de contaminación ambiental por el vertido de efluentes. Fueron cuantificadas las heces en corrales de espera. Se tomaron muestras de las lagunas de tratamiento, analizando la calidad fisicoquímica y microbiológica. La DBO y DQO fueron utilizados como indicadores de riesgo ambiental. Los tambos fueron agrupados según la utilización del agua de la placa de refrescado (G1 y G2). Las lagunas no resultaron eficientes ya que no completaron el tratamiento de los efluentes, tampoco se obtuvieron valores aceptables de DQO, DBO, Nitrógeno (N), Fósforo (P) y enterococos, compatibles con normativas de vertido para evitar la contaminación de cursos de agua. La concentración de NPK permitiría su uso potencial como abono. La variabilidad de los parámetros analizados se relaciona a las diferentes características de las lagunas y a los sistemas de reutilización de agua. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (p<0.05), entre G1 y G2, para el contenido de nitrógeno y fósforo. Las necesidades de una gestión ambiental adecuada en los sistemas de producción animal, requiere de un manejo apropiado de estos residuos dentro del mismo establecimiento

Anisotropic magnetization, specific heat and resistivity of RFe2Ge2 single crystals

We have grown RFe2Ge2 single crystals for R = Y and ten members of the lanthanide series (Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd-Tm, Lu) using Sn flux as the solvent. The method yields clean, high quality crystal plates as evidenced by residual resistivities and RRR values in the range of 3-12 uOhm cm and 20-90 respectively. The crystals are also virtually free of magnetic impurities or secondary phases, allowing the study of the intrinsic anisotropic magnetic behavior of each compound. Characterization was made with X-Ray diffraction, and temperature and field dependent magnetization, specific heat and resistivity. Very strong anisotropies arising mostly from CEF effects were observed for all magnetic rare earths except Gd. Antiferromagnetic ordering occurred at temperatures between 16.5 K (Nd) and 1.1 K (Ho) that roughly scale with the de Gennes factor for the heavy rare earths. For some members there is also a lower temperature transition associated with changes in the magnetic structure. Tm did not order down to 0.4 K, and appears to be a van Vleck paramagnet. All members which ordered above 2 K showed a metamagnetic transition at 2 K for fields below 70 kOe. The calculated effective moments per rare earth atom are close to the expected free ion values of R^3+ except for Sm which displays anomalous behavior in the paramagnetic state. The non-magnetic members of this series (Y, Lu) are characterized by an unusually large electronic specific heat coefficient (gamma ~ 60 mJ/mol K^2) and temperature-independent susceptibility term (chi_0 ~ 0.003 emu/mol), indicative of a relatively large density of states at the Fermi surface.Comment: 34 pages, 13 figures, 1 table, submitted to J. Magn. Magn. Mate

Leishmania guyanensis parasites block the activation of the inflammasome by inhibiting maturation of IL-1β.

The various symptomatic outcomes of cutaneous leishmaniasis relates to the type and potency of its underlying inflammatory responses. Presence of the cytoplasmic javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@52daeaa2 RNA virus-1 (LRV1) within javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@be11ae5 , worsens lesional inflammation and parasite burden, as the viral dsRNA genome acts as a potent innate immunogen stimulating Toll-Like-Receptor-3 (TLR3). Here we investigated other innate pattern recognition receptors capable of reacting to dsRNA and potentially contributing to LRV1-mediated inflammatory pathology. We included the cytoplasmic dsRNA sensors, namely, the RIG-like receptors (RLRs) and the inflammasome-dependent and -independent Nod-like-receptors (NLRs). Our study found no role for RLRs or inflammasome-dependent NLRs in the pathology of javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@3dfe8dc4 infection irrespective of its LRV1-status. Further, neither LRV1-bearing javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@6e03fdb4 ( javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@6b89952c +) nor LRV1-negative javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@68bc8c8a ( javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@2165acf4 ) activated the inflammasome javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@507a0b31 . Interestingly, similarly to javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@77fdd4e7 , javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@7b29ce4e infection induced the up-regulation of the A20 protein, known to be involved in the evasion of inflammasome activation. Moreover, we observed that javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@77a7dfd3 + promoted the transcription of inflammasome-independent NLRC2 (also called NOD2) and NLRC5. However, only NLRC2 showed some contribution to LRV1-dependent pathology. These data confirmed that the endosomal TLR3 pathway is the dominant route of LRV1-dependent signalling, thus excluding the cytosolic and inflammasome pathways. We postulate that avoidance of the inflammasome pathways is likely an important mechanism of virulence in javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@77047195 infection irrespective of the LRV1-status