Scaling Properties of Hyperon Production in Au + Au Collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV

We present the scaling properties of Λ, Ξ, and Ω in midrapidity Au+Au collisions at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at sNN−−−−√=200  GeV. The yield of multistrange baryons per participant nucleon increases from peripheral to central collisions more rapidly than that of Λ, indicating an increase of the strange-quark density of the matter produced. The strange phase-space occupancy factor γs approaches unity for the most central collisions. Moreover, the nuclear modification factors of p, Λ, and Ξ are consistent with each other for

Treatment of behavioural symptoms and dementia in Parkinson's disease

Behavioural symptoms such as anxiety, depression and psychosis are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), and dementia occurs in about 90% of the patients. These symptoms can be more disabling than the motor dysfunction and they negatively impact quality of life, increase caregiver distress and are more frequently associated with nursing home placement. Depression can be treated with counselling and pharmacotherapy. Tricyclic antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are widely used, but there is still need for controlled clinical trials. Management of psychosis in PD is complex and includes elimination of identifiable risk factors, reduction of polypharmacy and administration of atypical neuroleptics, which can alleviate psychotic symptoms without worsening motor functions. Clozapine is the best documented atypical neuroleptic shown to be effective against psychosis in PD patients. Cholinesterase inhibitors may prove additional benefit in psychotic PD patients. Recent evidence from small double-blind and open-label trials suggests that cholinesterase inhibitors may be effective in the treatment of dementia associated with PD

Application of carbon materials in redox flow batteries

The redox flow battery (RFB) has been the subject of state-of-the-art research by several groups around the world. Most work commonly involves the application of various low-cost carbon-polymer composites, carbon felts, cloth, paper and their different variations for the electrode materials of the RFB. Usually, the carbon-polymer composite electrode has relatively high bulk resistivity and can be easily corroded when the polarised potential on the anode is more positive than that of oxygen evolution and this kind of heterogeneous corrosion may lead to battery failure due to electrolyte leakage. Therefore, carbon electrodes with high electrical conductivity, acid-resistance and electrochemical stability are highly desirable. This review discusses such issues in depth and presents an overview on future research directions that may help commercialise RFB technology. A comprehensive discussion is provided on the advances made using nanotechnology and it is envisaged that if this is combined with ionic liquid technology, major advantages could be realised. In addition the identification of RFB failure mechanisms by means of X-ray computed nano tomography is expected to bring added benefits to the technology