A spike-based head-movement and echolocation model of the bat superior colliculus

Echolocating bats use sonar to sense their environment and hunt for food in darkness. To understand this unusual sensory system from a computational perspective with aspirations towards developing high performance electronic implementations, we study the bat brain. The midbrain superior colliculus (SC) has been shown (in many species) to support multisensory integration and orientation behaviors, namely eye saccades and head turns. Previous computational models of the SC have emphasized the behavior typical to monkeys, barn owls, and cats. Using unique neurobiological data for the bat and incorporating knowledge from other species, a computational spiking model has been developed to produce both head-movement and sonar vocalization. The model accomplishes this with simple neuron equations and synapses, which is promising for implementation on a VLSI chip. This model can serve as a foundation for further developments, using new data from bat experiments, and be easily connected to spiking motor and vocalization systems

Interviews with Energy Healers: Perspectives on Trauma and Practice

Healing from trauma is a complex process, and current recommendations include working with the body. Energy healing (EH) is a holistic health practice using light or near-body touch to balance the body’s energy system. Research indicates EH reduces trauma associated symptoms. The pervasiveness of trauma makes it probable EH practitioners encounter trauma survivors. We interviewed 12 EH practitioners in a metropolitan area to describe perspectives on trauma and practice, initiating action research through information gathering and interpretation. Results of descriptive and conceptual analysis show in several ways EH practitioner’s perspectives and practices align with a trauma-informed approach even with little trauma training. They are aware of trauma prevalence, knowledgeable about signs and symptoms, use a client-centered approach, and emphasize self-care. Yet, in order to feel more effective with clients, the EH practitioners in this study are eager to learn more about trauma and consult with other practitioners. This study offers direction for supplemental EH training to include scope of practice, spiritual nature of EH and practitioner responsibility, as well as future research to include client perspectives, and to evaluate energy healing curricula for inclusion of trauma education

Measurements of azimuthal anisotropy and charged-particle multiplicity in d + Au collisions at √sNN = 200, 62.4, 39, and 19.6 GeV

We present measurements of the elliptic flow (v(2)) as a function of transverse momentum (p(T)), pseudorapidity (eta), and centrality in d + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200, 62.4, 39, and 19.6 GeV. The beam-energy scan of d + Au collisions provides a testing ground for the onset of flow signatures in small collision systems. We measure a nonzero v(2) signal at all four collision energies, which, at midrapidity and low p(T), is consistent with predictions from viscous hydrodynamic models. Comparisons with calculations from parton transport models (based on the AMPT Monte Carlo generator) show good agreement with the data at midrapidity to forward (d-going) rapidities and low p(T). At backward (Au-going) rapidities and p(T) \u3e 1.5GeV/c, the data diverges from AMPT calculations of v(2) relative to the initial geometry, indicating the possible dominance of nongeometry related correlations, referred to as nonflow. We also present measurements of the charged-particle multiplicity (d N-ch/d eta) as a function of eta in central d + Au collisions at the same energies. We find that in d + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV the v(2) scales with d N-ch/d eta over all eta in the PHENIX acceptance. At root s(NN) = 62.4, and 39 GeV, v(2) scales with d N-ch/d eta at midrapidity and forward rapidity, but falls off at backward rapidity. This departure from the d N-ch/d eta scaling may be a further indication of nonflow effects dominating at backward rapidity

Measurement of long-range angular correlations and azimuthal anisotropies in high-multiplicity p plus Au collisions at root S-NN=200 GeV

We present measurements of long-range angular correlations and the transverse momentum dependence of elliptic flow v(2) in high-multiplicity p + Au collisions at root S-NN = 200 GeV. A comparison of these results to previous measurements in high-multiplicity d + Au and He-3+Au collisions demonstrates a relation between v(2) and the initial collision eccentricity epsilon(2), suggesting that the observed momentum-space azimuthal anisotropies in these small systems have a collective origin and reflect the initial geometry. Good agreement is observed between the measured v(2) and hydrodynamic calculations for all systems, and an argument disfavoring theoretical explanations based on initial momentum-space domain correlations is presented. The set of measurements presented here allows us to leverage the distinct intrinsic geometry of each of these systems to distinguish between different theoretical descriptions of the long-range correlations observed in small collision systems

Measurements of Multiparticle Correlations in d + Au Collisions at 200, 62.4, 39, and 19.6 GeV and p + Au Collisions at 200 GeV and Implications for Collective Behavior

Recently, multiparticle-correlation measurements of relativistic p/d(3)He + Au, p + Pb, and even p + p collisions show surprising collective signatures. Here, we present beam-energy-scan measurements of two, four-, and six-particle angular correlations in d + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200, 62.4, 39, and 19.6 GeV. We also present measurements of two-and four-particle angular correlations in p + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 200 GeV. We find the four-particle cumulant to be real valued for d + Au collisions at all four energies. We also find that the four-particle cumulant in p + Au has the opposite sign as that in d + Au. Further, we find that the six-particle cumulant agrees with the four-particle cumulant in d + Au collisions at 200 GeV, indicating that nonflow effects are subdominant. These observations provide strong evidence that the correlations originate from the initial geometric configuration, which is then translated into the momentum distribution for all particles, commonly referred to as collectivity

Nonperturbative-transverse-momentum broadening in dihadron angular correlations in √sNN = 200 GeV proton-nucleus collisions

The PHENIX collaboration has measured high-pT dihadron correlations in p+p, p+Al, and p+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV. The correlations arise from inter- and intrajet correlations and thus have sensitivity to nonperturbative effects in both the initial and final states. The distributions of pout, the transverse-momentum component of the associated hadron perpendicular to the trigger hadron, are sensitive to initial- and final-state transverse momenta. These distributions are measured multidifferentially as a function of xE, the longitudinal momentum fraction of the associated hadron with respect to the trigger hadron. The near-side pout widths, sensitive to fragmentation transverse momentum, show no significant broadening between p+Au, p+Al, and p+p. The away-side nonperturbative pout widths are found to be broadened in p+Au when compared to p+p; however, there is no significant broadening in p+Al compared to p+p collisions. The data also suggest that the away-side pout broadening is a function of Ncoll, the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, in the interaction. The potential implications of these results with regard to initial- and final-state transverse-momentum broadening and energy loss of partons in a nucleus, among other nuclear effects, are discussed

Measurement of the relative yields of psi(2S) to psi(1S) mesons produced at forward and backward rapidity in p plus p, p plus Al, p + Au, and He-3+Au collisions at root S-NN=200 GeV

The PHENIX Collaboration has measured the ratio of the yields of psi(2S) to psi(1S) mesons produced in p + p, p + Al, p + Au, and He-3+Au collisions at root S-NN = 200 GeV over the forward and backward rapidity intervals 1.2 \u3c | y | \u3c 2.2. We find that the ratio in p + p collisions is consistent with measurements at other collision energies. In collisions with nuclei, we find that in the forward (p-going or He-3-going) direction, the relative yield of psi(2S) mesons to psi(1S) mesons is consistent with the value measured in p + p collisions. However, in the backward (nucleus-going) direction, the psi(2S) meson is preferentially suppressed by a factor of similar to 2. This suppression is attributed in some models to the breakup of the weakly bound psi(2S) meson through final-state interactions with comoving particles, which have a higher density in the nucleus-going direction. These breakup effects may compete with color screening in a deconfined quark-gluon plasma to produce sequential suppression of excited quarkonia states

Measurement of charm and bottom production from semileptonic hadron decays in p + p collisions at √s = 200 GeV

Measurements of the differential production of electrons from open-heavy-flavor hadrons with charm- and bottom-quark content in p+p collisions at √s=200  GeV are presented. The measurements proceed through displaced-vertex analyses of electron tracks from the semileptonic decay of charm and bottom hadrons using the PHENIX silicon-vertex detector. The relative contribution of electrons from bottom decays to inclusive heavy-flavor-electron production is found to be consistent with fixed-order-plus-next-to-leading-log perturbative-QCD calculations within experimental and theoretical uncertainties. These new measurements in p+p collisions provide a precision baseline for comparable forthcoming measurements in A+A collisions

Measurements of μμ pairs from open heavy flavor and Drell-Yan in p + p collisions at √s = 200 GeV

PHENIX reports differential cross sections of mu mu pairs from semileptonic heavy-flavor decays and the Drell-Yan production mechanism measured in p + p collisions at root s = 200 GeV at forward and backward rapidity (1.2 \u3c vertical bar eta vertical bar \u3c 2.2). The mu mu pairs from c (c) over bar, b (b) over bar, and Drell-Yan are separated using a template fit to unlike- and like-sign muon pair spectra in mass and p(T). The azimuthal opening angle correlation between the muons from c (c ) over bar and b (b) over bar decays and the pair-p(T) distributions are compared to distributions generated using PYTHIA and POWHEG models, which both include next-to-leading order processes. The measured distributions for pairs from a are consistent with PYTHIA calculations. The c (c) over bar data present narrower azimuthal correlations and softer p(T) distributions compared to distributions generated from POWHEG. The b (b ) over bar data are well described by both models. The extrapolated total cross section for bottom production is 3.75 +/- 0.24(stat) +/-(0.35)(0.50) (syst) +/- 0.45(global) [mu b], which is consistent with previous measurements at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider in the same system at the same collision energy and is approximately a factor of 2 higher than the central value calculated with theoretical models. The measured Drell-Yan cross section is in good agreement with next-to-leading-order quantum-chromodynamics calculations

Correlations of μμ, eμ, and ee pairs in p+p collisions at s√=200 GeV and implications for cc¯ and bb¯ production mechanisms

PHENIX has measured the azimuthal correlations of muon pairs from charm and bottom semi-leptonic decays in p+p collisions at s√=200 GeV, using a novel analysis technique utilizing both unlike- and like-sign muon pairs to separate charm, bottom and Drell-Yan contributions. The dimuon measurements combined with the previous electron-muon and dielectron measurements span a wide range in rapidity, and are well described by PYTHIA Tune A. Through a Bayesian analysis based on PYTHIA Tune A, we show that leading order pair creation is the dominant (76%±1419%) contribution for bb¯ production, whereas the data favor the scenario in which next-to-leading-order processes dominate cc¯ production. The small contribution of next-to-leading-order processes in bb¯ production at the collision energies of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider contrasts with the case at Large-Hadron-Collider energies, where next-to-leading-order processes are expected to dominate