64 research outputs found
Chemical equilibration of quarks and gluons at RHIC and LHC energies
We study chemical equilibration of quarks and gluons in central nuclear
collisions at RHIC and LHC energies. The initial quark and gluon densities are
taken from earlier studies as well as from recent perturbative QCD estimates
and are then evolved via rate equations coupled to longitudinally
boost-invariant fluid dynamics. We find that, for RHIC initial conditions, the
lifetime of quark-gluon matter is too short in order for the quark and gluon
number densities to chemically equilibrate prior to hadronization. In contrast,
at LHC energies chemical equilibration is complete before the system
hadronizes. Entropy production due to chemical equilibration can be as large as
30%.Comment: 30 pages (latex2e), 13 postscript figures, corrected one figure,
further analysis performed, to be published in NP
Space-time evolution and HBT analysis of relativistic heavy ion collisions in a chiral SU(3) x SU(3) model
The space-time dynamics and pion-HBT radii in central heavy ion-collisions at
CERN-SPS and BNL-RHIC are investigated within a hydrodynamic simulation. The
dependence of the dynamics and the HBT-parameters on the EoS is studied with
different parametrisations of a chiral SU(3) sigma-omega model. The
selfconsistent collective expansion includes the effects of effective hadron
masses, generated by the nonstrange and strange scalar condensates. Different
chiral EoS show different types of phase transitions and even a crossover. The
influence of the order of the phase transition and of the difference in the
latent heat on the space-time dynamics and pion-HBT radii is studied. A small
latent heat, i.e. a weak first-order chiral phase transition, or even a smooth
crossover leads to distinctly different HBT predictions than a strong first
order phase transition. A quantitative description of the data, both at SPS
energies as well as at RHIC energies, appears difficult to achieve within the
ideal hydrodynamical approach using the SU(3) chiral EoS. A strong first-order
quasi-adiabatic chiral phase transition seems to be disfavored by the pion-HBT
data from CERN-SPS and BNL-RHIC
Dynamics of Hot Bulk QCD Matter: from the Quark-Gluon Plasma to Hadronic Freeze-Out
We introduce a combined macroscopic/microscopic transport approach employing
relativistic hydrodynamics for the early, dense, deconfined stage of the
reaction and a microscopic non-equilibrium model for the later hadronic stage
where the equilibrium assumptions are not valid anymore. Within this approach
we study the dynamics of hot, bulk QCD matter, which is expected to be created
in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions at the SPS, the RHIC and the LHC.
Our approach is capable of self-consistently calculating the freeze-out of the
hadronic system, while accounting for the collective flow on the hadronization
hypersurface generated by the QGP expansion. In particular, we perform a
detailed analysis of the reaction dynamics, hadronic freeze-out, and transverse
flow.Comment: 55 pages, 15 figure
Significant benefits of AIP testing and clinical screening in familial isolated and young-onset pituitary tumors
Context
Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene are responsible for a subset of familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) cases and sporadic pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs).
Objective
To compare prospectively diagnosed AIP mutation-positive (AIPmut) PitNET patients with clinically presenting patients and to compare the clinical characteristics of AIPmut and AIPneg PitNET patients.
Design
12-year prospective, observational study.
Participants & Setting
We studied probands and family members of FIPA kindreds and sporadic patients with disease onset ≤18 years or macroadenomas with onset ≤30 years (n = 1477). This was a collaborative study conducted at referral centers for pituitary diseases.
Interventions & Outcome
AIP testing and clinical screening for pituitary disease. Comparison of characteristics of prospectively diagnosed (n = 22) vs clinically presenting AIPmut PitNET patients (n = 145), and AIPmut (n = 167) vs AIPneg PitNET patients (n = 1310).
Results
Prospectively diagnosed AIPmut PitNET patients had smaller lesions with less suprasellar extension or cavernous sinus invasion and required fewer treatments with fewer operations and no radiotherapy compared with clinically presenting cases; there were fewer cases with active disease and hypopituitarism at last follow-up. When comparing AIPmut and AIPneg cases, AIPmut patients were more often males, younger, more often had GH excess, pituitary apoplexy, suprasellar extension, and more patients required multimodal therapy, including radiotherapy. AIPmut patients (n = 136) with GH excess were taller than AIPneg counterparts (n = 650).
Conclusions
Prospectively diagnosed AIPmut patients show better outcomes than clinically presenting cases, demonstrating the benefits of genetic and clinical screening. AIP-related pituitary disease has a wide spectrum ranging from aggressively growing lesions to stable or indolent disease course
Clinical phenotype and linkage analysis of the congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles in an Indian family
Purpose: To describe the clinical phenotype and linkage analysis of the congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles (CFEOM) in an Indian family.
Methods: Individuals were examined and their peripheral blood samples were withdrawn for genetic analysis. The disorder was tested for linkage to two known autosomal dominant CFEOM loci on chromosome 12p11.2-q12 (CFEOM1) and chromosome 16q24 (CFEOM3) using microsatellite markers.
Results: Nine individuals including seven affecteds participated in the study. All seven affecteds had a classic form of CFEOM which included congenital bilateral ptosis, hypotropia, and chin elevation. The disorder segregated as an autosomal dominant trait in this family. The maximum simulated lod score in this family was 2.02. Linkage to CFEOM3 was excluded (Z<-2.00), whereas analysis of chromosome 12 markers was positive. The maximum observed two-point lod score was 1.8 (given the size and structure of the family) at theta=0 with marker D12S345. Markers D12S61, D12S1631,D12S87, D12S345, D12S59, D12S1048, and D12S1668 cosegregated with the disease locus in all affecteds. Haplotype analysis showed that the candidate region spanned the centromere.
Conclusions: The present data showed a classic CFEOM phenotype in an Indian family. The family’s phenotype is consistent with linkage to CFEOM1 locus on chromosome 12p11.2-q12
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