Electromagnetic dipole moments of charged baryons with bent crystals at the LHC

We propose a unique program of measurements of electric and magnetic dipole moments of charm, beauty and strange charged baryons at the LHC, based on the phenomenon of spin precession of channeled particles in bent crystals. Studies of crystal channeling and spin precession of positively- and negatively-charged particles are presented, along with feasibility studies and expected sensitivities for the proposed experiment using a layout based on the LHCb detector.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figure

Novel method for the direct measurement of the tau lepton dipole moments

A novel method for the direct measurement of the elusive magnetic and electric dipole moments of the tau lepton is presented. The experimental approach relies on the production of tau+ leptons from Ds+ -> tau+ nu_tau decays, originated in fixed-target collisions at the LHC. A sample of polarized tau+ leptons is kinematically selected and subsequently channeled in a bent crystal. The magnetic and electric dipole moments of the tau+ lepton are measured by determining the rotation of the spin-polarization vector induced by the intense electromagnetic field between crystal atomic planes. The experimental technique is discussed along with the expected sensitivities.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 2 pages supplemental material. Accepted by Phys.Rev.Let

Sampling protocol for skeletal structures of North Atlantic albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) and ageing interpretation

This paper presents a standardized protocol for sampling skeletal hard parts (dorsal fin ray and otoliths), preparation and age interpretation of albacore first dorsal fin ray. Ageing of albacore is focused in interpretation and reading of annual temporal marks (translucent bands) in first ray of dorsal fin. Preparation of fin ray sections (spines) is presented in detail using two different methods. The spines are usually cut individually using a low speed cutter. Depending of the size of spines, a new procedure has been developed for small spines based on encasing spines in a matrix of plastic resin allowing multiple spines cutting. Interpretation of growth marks on spine sections is explained and examples are presented for a range of size of albacore aged using this method.Ce document présente un protocole standardisé pour l’échantillonnage des pièces dures du squelette (rayon de la nageoire dorsale et otolithes), la préparation et l’interprétation de l’âge du rayon du premier rayon de la nageoire dorsale du germon. La détermination de l’âge du germon se centre sur l’interprétation et la lecture des marques temporelles annuelles (bandes translucides) du premier rayon de la nageoire dorsale. La préparation des sections du rayon de la nageoire (épines) est présentée en détail à l’aide de deux méthodes différentes. Les épines sont généralement sectionnées individuellement en utilisant un couteau basse vitesse. Selon la taille des épines, une nouvelle procédure a été élaborée pour les petites épines, consistant à enfermer les épines dans une matrice en résine plastique qui permet le découpage de plusieurs épines. L’interprétation des marques de croissance sur les sections des épines est expliquée et des exemples sont donnés pour une gamme de tailles de germon dont l’âge a été déterminé à l’aide de cette méthode.En este documento se presenta un protocolo estandarizado para el muestreo de partes duras del esqueleto (otolitos y rayo de la aleta dorsal) y para la preparación e interpretación de la edad del primer rayo de la aleta dorsal del atún blanco. La determinación de la edad del atún blanco se centra en la interpretación y lectura de las marcas temporales anuales (bandas traslucidas) en el primer rayo de la aleta dorsal. Se presenta en detalle la preparación de las secciones del rayo de la aleta (espinas) utilizando dos métodos diferentes. Las espinas suelen cortarse generalmente de forma individual utilizando un cortador de baja velocidad. Dependiendo del tamaño de las espinas, se ha desarrollado un nuevo procedimiento para las espinas pequeñas, que consiste en introducir las espinas en una matriz de resina plástica que permite cortar espinas múltiples. Se explica la interpretación de las marcas de crecimiento en las secciones de espinas y se presentan ejemplos para una gama de tallas de atún blanco cuya edad se determinó utilizando este método

Search for new physics via baryon EDM at LHC

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) of fundamental particles provide powerful probes for physics beyond the Standard Model. We propose to search for the EDM of strange and charm baryons at LHC, extending the ongoing experimental program on the neutron, muon, atoms, molecules and light nuclei. The EDM of strange $\Lambda$ baryons, selected from weak decays of charm baryons produced in pp collisions at LHC, can be determined by studying the spin precession in the magnetic field of the detector tracking system. A test of CPT symmetry can be performed by measuring the magnetic dipole moment of $\Lambda$ and $\overline{\Lambda}$ baryons. For short-lived $\Lambda_c^+$ and $\Xi_c^+$ baryons, to be produced in a fixed-target experiment using the 7 TeV LHC beam and channeled in a bent crystal, the spin precession is induced by the intense electromagnetic field between crystal atomic planes. The experimental layout based on the LHCb detector and the expected sensitivities in the coming years are discussed.Comment: Proceeding of Lepton Photon Interactions at High Energies (2017

Secondary use of data extracted from a clinical information system to assess the adherence of tidal volume and its impact on outcomes.

Objectives To extract data from clinical information systems to automatically calculate high-resolution quality indicators to assess adherence to recommendations for low tidal volume. Design We devised two indicators: the percentage of time under mechanical ventilation with excessive tidal volume (>8 mL/kg predicted body weight) and the percentage of patients who received appropriate tidal volume (≤8 mL/kg PBW) at least 80% of the time under mechanical ventilation. We developed an algorithm to automatically calculate these indicators from clinical information system data and analyzed associations between them and patients’ characteristics and outcomes. Settings This study has been carried out in our 30-bed polyvalent intensive care unit between January 1, 2014 and November 30, 2019. Patients All patients admitted to intensive care unit ventilated >72 h were included. Intervention Use data collected automatically from the clinical information systems to assess adherence to tidal volume recommendations and its outcomes. Main variables of interest Mechanical ventilation days, ICU length of stay and mortality. Results Of all admitted patients, 340 met the inclusion criteria. Median percentage of time under mechanical ventilation with excessive tidal volume was 70% (23%–93%); only 22.3% of patients received appropriate tidal volume at least 80% of the time. Receiving appropriate tidal volume was associated with shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay. Patients receiving appropriate tidal volume were mostly male, younger, taller, and less severely ill. Adjusted intensive care unit mortality did not differ according to percentage of time with excessive tidal volume or to receiving appropriate tidal volume at least 80% of the time. Conclusions Automatic calculation of process-of-care indicators from clinical information systems high-resolution data can provide an accurate and continuous measure of adherence to recommendations. Adherence to tidal volume recommendations was associated with shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay.pre-print1126 K

Propiedades geométricas y mecánicas del bloque hueco de concreto fabricado en el área de Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Chiapas, Mex.)

Se presentan los resultados de una serie de pruebas para la caracterización geométrica y mecánica de bloques de concreto -de 8 fabricantes- y del mortero utilizados en mampostería en la región de Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Los ensayos en laboratorio se realizaron de acuerdo con normas y protocolos de organismos mexicanos. Los resultados de las muestras analizadas revelan que la altura de los bloques es muy variable y difiere de la estándar, mientras que las demás dimensiones y espesores de pared cumplen la normativa. La resistencia a compresión de las probetas del mortero de pega es buena (4 veces superior a lo exigido). La absorción total de agua de los bloques es mayor que el máximo permitido (12 %) en la mitad de casos ensayados, pero el peso volumétrico no alcanza, en ningún caso, el mínimo exigido (1700 kg/m³). La resistencia a compresión de piezas individuales y de pilas de bloques hechas con mortero tipo I es muy inferior a la de la normativa (60 kg/cm² y 50 kg/cm² respectivamente). La calidad y resistencia deficiente que han mostrado las piezas ensayadas advierten la necesidad de regulación y control local del proceso de fabricación de los bloques

Molecular and genetic characterization of colicinogenic Escherichia coli strains active against Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7

The objective of this work was to molecularly and genotypically characterize and test the inhibitory activity of six colicinogenic Escherichia coli strains (ColEc) and their partially purified colicins against STEC O157:H7 isolated from clinical human cases. Inhibition tests demonstrated the activity of these strains and their colicins against STEC O157:H7. By PCR it was possible to detect colicins Ia, E7, and B and microcins M, H47, C7, and J25. By genome sequencing of two selected ColEc strains, it was possible to identify additional colicins such as E1 and Ib. No genes coding for stx1 and stx2 were detected after analyzing the genome sequence. The inhibitory activity of ColEc against STEC O157:H7 used as an indicator showed that colicins are potent growth inhibitors of E. coli O157:H7, being a potential alternative to reduce the presence of pathogens of public health relevance

On the search for the electric dipole moment of strange and charm baryons at LHC

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) of fundamental particles provide powerful probes for physics beyond the Standard Model. We propose to search for the EDM of strange and charm baryons at LHC, extending the ongoing experimental program on the neutron, muon, atoms, molecules and light nuclei. The EDM of strange \u39b baryons, selected from weak decays of charm baryons produced in pp collisions at LHC, can be determined by studying the spin precession in the magnetic field of the detector tracking system. A test of CPT symmetry can be performed by measuring the magnetic dipole moment of \u39b and \u39b\uaf baryons. For short-lived \u39bc+ and \u39ec+ baryons, to be produced in a fixed-target experiment using the 7 TeV LHC beam and channeled in a bent crystal, the spin precession is induced by the intense electromagnetic field between crystal atomic planes. The experimental layout based on the LHCb detector and the expected sensitivities in the coming years are discussed

Use of aequorin-based indicators for monitoring Ca2+ in acidic organelles

Over the last years, there is accumulating evidence that acidic organelles can accumulate and release Ca2+ upon cell activation. Hence, reliable recording of Ca2+ dynamics in these compartments is essential for understanding the physiopathological aspects of acidic organelles. Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators (GECIs) are valuable tools to monitor Ca2+ in specific locations, although their use in acidic compartments is challenging due to the pH sensitivity of most available fluorescent GECIs. By contrast, bioluminescent GECIs have a combination of features (marginal pH sensitivity, low background, no phototoxicity, no photobleaching, high dynamic range and tunable affinity) that render them advantageous to achieve an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio in acidic compartments. This article reviews the use of bioluminescent aequorin-based GECIs targeted to acidic compartments. A need for more measurements in highly acidic compartments is identified

Application of Model-driven engineering to multi-agent systems: a language to model behaviors of reactive agents

Many users of multi-agent systems (MAS) are very commonly disinclined to model and simulate using current MAS platforms. More specifically, modeling the dynamics of a system (in particular the agents' behaviors) is very often a challenge to MAS users. This issue is more often observed in the domain of socio-ecological systems (SES), because SES domain experts are rarely programmers. Indeed, the majority of MAS platforms were not conceived taking into consideration domain-experts who are non-programmers. Most current MAS tools are not dedicated to SES, or nor do they possess an easily understandable formalism to represent the behaviors of agents. Moreover, because it is platform-dependent, a model realized in a given MAS platform cannot be properly used on another platform due to incompatibility between MAS platforms. To overcome these limitations, we propose a domain-specific language (DSL) to describe the behaviors of reactive agents, regardless of the MAS platform used for simulation. To achieve this result, we used model-driven engineering (MDE), an approach that provides tools to develop DSLs from a meta-model (abstract syntax), textual editors with syntax highlighting (for the concrete syntax) and code generation capabilities (for source-code generation of a model). As a result, we implemented a language and a textual editor that allow SES domain experts to describe behaviors in three different ways that are close to their natural expression: as equations when they are familiar with these, as a sequence of activities close to natural language or as an activity diagram to represent decisions and a sequence of behaviors using a graphic formalism. To demonstrate interoperability, we also developed code generators targeting two different MAS platforms (Cormas and Netlogo). We tested the code generators by implementing two SES models with the developed DSL. The generated code was targeted to both MAS platforms (Cormas and Netlogo), and successfully simulated in one of them. We conclude that the MDE approach provides adequate tools to develop DSL and code generators to facilitate MAS modeling and simulation by non-programmers. Concerning the DSL developed, although the behavioral aspect of MAS simulation is part of the complexity of modeling in MAS, there are still other essential aspects of model and simulation of MAS that are yet to be explored, such as model initialization and points of view on the model simulated worl