Probing Transverse Momentum Broadening via Dihadron and Hadron-jet Angular Correlations in Relativistic Heavy-ion Collisions

Dijet, dihadron, hadron-jet angular correlations have been reckoned as important probes of the transverse momentum broadening effects in relativistic nuclear collisions. When a pair of high-energy jets created in hard collisions traverse the quark-gluon plasma produced in heavy-ion collisions, they become de-correlated due to the vacuum soft gluon radiation associated with the Sudakov logarithms and the medium-induced transverse momentum broadening. For the first time, we employ the systematical resummation formalism and establish a baseline calculation to describe the dihadron and hadron-jet angular correlation data in $pp$ and peripheral $AA$ collisions where the medium effect is negligible. We demonstrate that the medium-induced broadening $\langle p_\perp^2\rangle$ and the so-called jet quenching parameter $\hat q$ can be extracted from the angular de-correlations observed in $AA$ collisions. A global $\chi^2$ analysis of dihadron and hadron-jet angular correlation data renders the best fit $\langle p_\perp^2 \rangle \sim 13~\textrm{GeV}^2$ for a quark jet at RHIC top energy. Further experimental and theoretical efforts along the direction of this work shall significantly advance the quantitative understanding of transverse momentum broadening and help us acquire unprecedented knowledge of jet quenching parameter in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Optimal estimation and control for lossy network: stability, convergence, and performance

In this paper, we study the problems of optimal estimation and control, i.e., the linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control, for systems with packet losses but without acknowledgment. Such acknowledgment is a signal sent by the actuator to inform the estimator of the incidence of control packet losses. For such system, which is usually called as a user datagram protocol (UDP)-like system, the optimal estimation is nonlinear and its calculation is time-consuming, making its corresponding optimal LQG problem complicated. We first propose two conditions: 1) the sensor has some computation abilities; and 2) the control command, exerted to the plant, is known to the sensor. For a UDP-like system satisfying these two conditions, we derive the optimal estimation. By constructing the finite and infinite product probability measure spaces for the estimation error covariances (EEC), we give the stability condition for the expected EEC, and show the existence of a measurable function to which the EEC converges in distribution, and propose some practical methods to evaluate the estimation performance. Finally, the LQG controllers are derived, and the conditions for the mean square stability of the closed-loop system are established

Blockage of NOX2/MAPK/NF- κ

Acute energy failure is one of the critical factors contributing to the pathogenic mechanisms of retinal ischemia. Our previous study demonstrated that glucose deprivation can lead to a caspase-dependent cell death of photoreceptors. The aim of this study was to decipher the upstream signal pathway in glucose deprivation- (GD-) induced cell death. We mimicked acute energy failure by using glucose deprivation in photoreceptor cells (661W cells). GD-induced oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring ROS with the DCFH-DA assay and HO-1 expression by Western blot analysis. The activation of NOX2/MAPK/NF-κB signal was assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemical assays. The roles of these signals in GD-induced cell death were measured by using their specific inhibitors. Inhibition of Rac-1 and NOX2 suppressed GD-induced oxidative stress and protected photoreceptors against GD-induced cell death. NOX2 was an upstream signal in the caspase-dependent cell death cascade, yet the downstream MAPK pathways were activated and blocking MAPK signals rescued 661W cells from GD-induced death. In addition, GD caused the activation of NF-κB signal and inhibiting NF-κB significantly protected 661W cells. These observations may provide insights for treating retinal ischemic diseases and protecting retinal neurons from ischemia-induced cell death

Severe 2009 H1N1 infection in early pregnancy

AbstractObjectiveBecause pregnancy suppresses the immune system, women at any stage of pregnancy are more susceptible to bacterial and viral infection. Pregnant women might thus be at increased risk of complications from pandemic H1N1 virus infection, and illness may progress rapidly.Case ReportA 23-year-old primigravida at 9 weeks’ gestation was presented to our institution because of the sudden onset of sore throat, fever, chills, and vomiting for 5 days. She was diagnosed with early pregnancy H1N1 infection, vulvar herpes infection, and impending intravascular disseminated coagulopathy. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) 75 mg and valacyclovir 500 mg were then administered orally twice daily for 5 days. The patient’s fever, chills, and vomiting subsided 2 days later. The real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of nasal discharge for influenza virus types A and B showed positive results for the A/H1N1 influenza virus. The early pregnancy was terminated by therapeutic curettage at the patient’s request. The surgical specimen revealed products of conception with the presence of necrotic chorionic villi, and focal lymphocytes in decidual tissue. RT-PCR analysis of gestational tissue for A/H1N1 was negative.ConclusionPregnant women with H1N1 infection seem to benefit from antiviral therapy

One-year cardiovascular outcomes of drug-eluting stent versus bare-metal stent implanted in diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome

AbstractBackgroundThe outcomes of drug-eluting stent (DES) versus bare-metal stent (BMS) use in patients with diabetic mellitus (DM) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are rarely reported in Taiwan. This study aimed to investigate the 1-year cardiovascular outcomes of DESs versus BMSs implanted in Taiwanese patients with DM and ACS.MethodsFor this study, we collected and analyzed patient information from the database of the Taiwan ACS Full Spectrum registry regarding characteristics and cardiovascular events in participants with DM and ACS who received implantation of either BMS (BMS group) or DES (DES group) from October 2008 to January 2010.ResultsWe found that several characteristics significantly varied between the groups. Compared with the BMS group (n = 575), the DES group (n = 199) had significantly lower rates of in-hospital cardiogenic shock (1.5% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.037) and acute renal failure (0.5% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.008), all-cause mortality (5.0% vs. 8.9%, p = 0.048), and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 1 year (11.1% vs. 18.6%, p = 0.006) with an identical target vessel revascularization (TVR) rate (6.0% vs. 7.3%, p = 0.395). The BMS group had significantly higher risk-adjusted all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0–5.7; p = 0.048] and MACE (HR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–3.9; p = 0.011) at 1 year with identical risks of TVR (HR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.6–2.9; p = 0.505) and nonfatal myocardial infarction (HR = 1.5, 95% CI 0.5–4.4; p = 0.478).ConclusionThe results of this study support the use of DES over BMS in Taiwanese patients with DM and ACS, providing the clinical benefits of lower rates of total mortality and MACE, and without increased TVR at 1 year in a real-world setting

Ethyl (Z)-2-(2-fluoro­benzyl­idene)-7-methyl-3-oxo-5-phenyl-3,5-dihydro-2H-thia­zolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxyl­ate

The title compound, C23H19FN2O3S, a fused-pyrimidine derivative, displays dihedral angles between the thia­zole ring and the benzene ring and substituted benzene ring of 7.10 (14) and 3.48 (12)°, respectively. The dihydro­pyrimidine ring adopts a flattened boat conformation. The olefinic double bond is in a Z configuration