An Experimental Overview of Results Presented at SQM 2006

I have been asked to give an critical overview on the experimental results shown in the conference with a emphasis of what has been learned and the challenges that are ahead in trying to understand the physics of the strongly interacting quark-gluon plasma. I will not try to summarize all of the results presented, rather I will concentrate primarily on RHIC data from this conference. Throughout this summary, I will periodically review some of the previous results for those not familiar with the present state of the field.Comment: 15 pages, 12 Figure

A hydroalcoholic gel-based disinfection system for deteriogenic fungi on the contemporary mixed media artwork Poesia by Alessandro Kokocinski

The disinfection of deteriogenic microorganisms and the removal of induced chromatic alterations in artworks are still open challenges in the field of conservation. For this purpose, a new alcoholic hydrogel was tested to remove an extensive fungal attack from a multimaterial collage by the artist Alessandro Kokocinski and to mitigate chromatic changes caused by the contamination of its poster paper and plywood support layers. A Gellan gum-based hydrogel was used, which was modified by adding a high concentration of alcohol (66.7% ethanol), to give the system an effective disinfecting agent in addition to the detergent capacity of the gel for water-sensitive works of art. It was successfully tested on samples mimicking the complex stratigraphy of the artwork under study. To create replica mock-ups, the artwork materials and stratigraphy were investigated through diagnostic and laboratory techniques such as multispectral imaging, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and pyrolysis coupled with gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry. The treatment was shown to have a disinfecting effect on the test samples and did not alter their structure, allowing us to apply the method to the artwork. Here, the hydrogel successfully removed and inhibited fungal proliferation in addition to mitigating the color changes caused by fungi

Spectral anisotropy of Elsässer variables in two-dimensional wave-vector space as observed in the fast solar wind turbulence

Intensive studies have been conducted to understand the anisotropy of solar wind turbulence. However, the anisotropy of Elsässer variables Z± in 2D wave-vector space has yet to be investigated. Here we first verify the transformation based on the projection-slice theorem between the power spectral density PSD2D(k∥,k⊥) and the spatial correlation function CF2D(r∥,r⊥) Based on the application of the transformation to the magnetic field and the particle measurements from the WIND spacecraft, we investigate the spectral anisotropy of Elsässer variables (Z±), and the distribution of residual energy ER, Alfvén ratio R∧, and Elsässer ratio RE in the (k∥,k⊥) space. The spectra PSD2D(k∥,k⊥) of B, V, and Zmajor (the larger of Z±) show a similar pattern that PSD2D(k∥,k⊥) is mainly distributed along a ridge inclined toward the k⊥ axis. This is probably the signature of the oblique Alfvénic fluctuations propagating outwardly. Unlike those of B, V, and Zmajorm the spectrum PSD2D(k∥,k⊥) of Zminor is distributed mainly along the k⊥ axis. Close to the k⊥ axis, |ER| becomes larger while R∧ becomes smaller, suggesting that the dominance of magnetic energy over kinetic energy becomes more significant at small k∥. RE is larger at small k∥, implying that PSD2D(k∥,k⊥) of Zminor is more concentrated along the k⊥ direction as compared to that of Z major. The residual energy condensate at small k∥ is consistent with simulation results in which ER is spontaneously generated by Alfvén wave interaction

Multiple plasmon resonances in naturally-occurring multiwall nanotubes: infrared spectra of chrysotile asbestos

Chrysotile asbestos is formed by densely packed bundles of multiwall hollow nanotubes. Each wall in the nanotubes is a cylindrically wrapped layer of $Mg_3 Si_2 O_5 (OH)_4$. We show by experiment and theory that the infrared spectrum of chrysotile presents multiple plasmon resonances in the Si-O stretching bands. These collective charge excitations are universal features of the nanotubes that are obtained by cylindrically wrapping an anisotropic material. The multiple plasmons can be observed if the width of the resonances is sufficiently small as in chrysotile.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Revtex4 compuscript. Misprint in Eq.(6) correcte

Dietary nitrate and diet quality: An examination of changing dietary intakes within a representative sample of Australian women

© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Dietary nitrate is increasingly linked to a variety of beneficial health outcomes. Our purpose was to estimate dietary nitrate consumption and identify key dietary changes which have occurred over time within a representative sample of Australian women. Women from the 1946–1951 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health with complete food frequency questionnaire data for both 2001 and 2013 were included for analysis. Dietary nitrate intakes were calculated using key published nitrate databases. Diet quality scores including the Australian Recommended Food Score, the Mediterranean Diet Score and the Nutrient Rich Foods Index were calculated along with food group serves as per the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Wilcoxon matched pairs tests were used to test for change in dietary intakes and Spearman’s correlations were used to examine associations. In our sample of 8161 Australian women, dietary nitrate intakes were on average 65–70 mg/day, and we detected a significant increase in dietary nitrate consumption over time (+6.57 mg/day). Vegetables were the primary source of dietary nitrate (81–83%), in particular lettuce (26%), spinach (14–20%), beetroot (10–11%), and celery (7–8%) contributed primarily to vegetable nitrate intakes. Further, increased dietary nitrate intakes were associated with improved diet quality scores (r = 0.3, p < 0.0001). Although there is emerging evidence indicating that higher habitual dietary nitrate intakes are associated with reduced morbidity and mortality, future work in this area should consider how dietary nitrate within the context of overall diet quality can facilitate health to ensure consistent public health messages are conveyed

Tracking Cooper Pairs in a Cuprate Superconductor by Ultrafast Angle-Resolved Photoemission

In high-temperature superconductivity, the process that leads to the formation of Cooper pairs, the fundamental charge carriers in any superconductor, remains mysterious. We use a femtosecond laser pump pulse to perturb superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+{\delta}, and study subsequent dynamics using time- and angle-resolved photoemission and infrared reflectivity probes. Gap and quasiparticle population dynamics reveal marked dependencies on both excitation density and crystal momentum. Close to the d-wave nodes, the superconducting gap is sensitive to the pump intensity and Cooper pairs recombine slowly. Far from the nodes pumping affects the gap only weakly and recombination processes are faster. These results demonstrate a new window into the dynamical processes that govern quasiparticle recombination and gap formation in cuprates.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figure

Alpenloopings in Heimatklänge : Jodeln als Globalisierungsbewegung zwischen Tradition und Experiment

The subject of my contribution is the functioning and effect of yodeling as an experimental form of vocals and singing as presented in Stefan Schwieterts documentary Heimatklänge [Sounds of home] (CH/D 2007); a recursive figure that co-constitutes what is identified as home and forges a sense of identity. Yodeling enables two home »loops« of a special kind: first, the recursive calling-singing in the Swiss Alps, which returns to inside the body as a result of a specific geographic location and its echo, and second, a worldwide sounds network, which through the art of the three Swiss vocal artists Erika Stucky, Noldi Alder, and Christian Zehnder, forms an acoustic bridge from Switzerland via Mongolia to the USA. The essay follows the associative structure of the ilm, which describes a circular movement that seeks to locate the concept of home while alternating in sounds and images between region and global, own and alien, traditional and experimental. With its description of the hypothesis of the origin of yodeling the study begins with a musicological perspective; next, it present an in-depth film analysis of Heimatklänges presentation of yodeling; finally, it formulates a globalization hypothesis in the context of culture studies, which in conjunction with the film endeavours to rethink the relationship between mountain landscape and people

AB0370 UTILITY OF CRP AND ESR IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS RELAPSE IN A PHASE 2 TRIAL OF MAVRILIMUMAB

Background:No universally accepted definition of flare currently exists in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Although relapses are defined mostly on clinical grounds (recurrence of GCA-related signs/symptoms), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) help clinicians assess disease activity. In fact, >70% of patients on glucocorticoids (GCs) alone have increased CRP or ESR when the disease is active. In contrast, tocilizumab, given its IL-6-blockade effect in the liver, rapidly reduces CRP and ESR levels, rendering them unreliable for disease activity monitoring. Mavrilimumab – a GM-CSF receptor α inhibitor with demonstrated efficacy in a Phase 2 GCA trial1 – downregulates inflammation upstream of IL-6. We hypothesized that mavrilimumab would not interfere with the utility of CRP and ESR in monitoring disease activity and in identifying GCA relapse.Objectives:To analyze the relationship between CRP/ESR and clinical disease activity in GCA patients treated with mavrilimumab.Methods:New-onset and relapsing GCA patients with active disease were recruited. GC-induced remission (no GCA symptoms and CRP <1 mg/dL or ESR <20 mm/hr) was required by baseline. Patients were randomized 3:2 to mavrilimumab 150 mg or placebo subcutaneously every 2 weeks plus a protocol-defined 26-week prednisone taper. The primary efficacy endpoint was time to relapse by Week 26. Relapse (adjudicated) was defined as recurrent GCA-related signs/symptoms, including new/worsening vasculitis on imaging, concurrent with CRP ≥1 mg/dL and/or ESR ≥30 mm/hr. CRP and ESR were also measured periodically during the trial.This post hoc analysis assessed the association of recurrent GCA-related signs/symptoms with concurrent CRP or ESR elevation post-randomization by treatment arm. We also assessed the proportion of patients with CRP or ESR elevation without GCA-related signs/symptoms up to Week 26.Results:Seventy patients were enrolled (mavrilimumab, N=42; placebo, N=28). The association of CRP or ESR elevation with unequivocal GCA-related signs/symptoms post-randomization was consistent regardless of treatment arm: 8/8 in the mavrilimumab group and 13/13 in the placebo group (Table 1). During relapse, median (range) CRP was 1.8 (1.4 – 8.4) mg/dL (mavrilimumab group) and 1.8 (1.1 – 9.0) mg/dL (placebo group). Corresponding ESR values were 39.5 (30 – 102) mm/hr (mavrilimumab group) and 49 (31 – 101) mm/hr (placebo group). Four mavrilimumab recipients had self-limited, equivocal GCA-related signs/symptoms without concurrent CRP or ESR elevation; all 4 completed the prespecified GC taper by Week 26 without need for rescue GCs, so relapse was not confirmed. At least 1 elevated CRP or ESR value in the absence of GCA-related signs/symptoms was observed in 58.8% of mavrilimumab recipients and 93.3% of placebo recipients by Week 26.Conclusion:The observed association of CRP or ESR elevation with GCA-related signs/symptoms is consistent with the upstream mechanism and supports the utility of the stringent protocol definition of relapse. The frequency and magnitude of CRP and ESR elevations at relapse were similar in both treatment groups, suggesting that CRP and ESR remain useful in assessments of disease activity in mavrilimumab-treated patients. CRP and ESR elevations without GCA-related signs/symptoms occurred more often in placebo recipients.References:[1]Cid, Unizony et al. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020; 72 (suppl 10)Table 1.CRP and ESR levels in patients with or without GCA relapseAssessment§MavrilimumabPlaceboMavrilimumabPlaceboN=42N=28N=42N=28With RelapseWithout Relapse# of patients8 (19.1)13 (46.4)34 (81.0)15 (53.6) Elevated CRP* or ESR†8 (100.0)13 (100.0)20 (58.8)14 (93.3)  Elevated CRP*7 (87.5)10 (76.9)10 (29.4)11 (73.3)   Median (range) mg/dL1.8 (1.4 - 8.4)1.8 (1.1 - 9.0)2.6 (1.3 – 7.0)2.0 (1.0 – 6.6) Elevated ESR†6 (75.0)9 (69.2)16 (47.1)10 (66.7)  Median (range) mm/hr39.5 (30 - 102)49.0 (31 - 101)41.5 (30 - 110)53.5 (30 - 82)§# (%), except where indicated otherwise.*CRP ≥ 1 mg/dL†ESR ≥ 30 mm/hrDisclosure of Interests:Sebastian Unizony Consultant of: Janssen and Kiniksa, Grant/research support from: Genentech, Maria C. Cid Speakers bureau: Roche and Kiniksa, Paid instructor for: GSK and Vifor, Consultant of: Janssen, GSK, and Abbvie, Grant/research support from: Kiniksa, Elisabeth Brouwer Speakers bureau: Dr. E.Brouwer as an employee of the UMCG received speaker fees and consulting fees from Roche in 2017 2018 which were paid to the UMCG., Consultant of: Dr. E.Brouwer as an employee of the UMCG received speaker fees and consulting fees from Roche in 2017 2018 which were paid to the UMCG., Lorenzo Dagna Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Glaxo SmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Glaxo SmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI; clinical trial for Kiniksa, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI, Merk Sharp &Dohme, Janssen, Kiniksa, Bhaskar Dasgupta Paid instructor for: Educational grant symposium/workshop for Roche-chugai, Sanofi, and Abbvie, Consultant of: CI UK for the Kiniksa trial, Grant/research support from: Educational grant symposium/workshop for Roche-chugai, Sanofi, and Abbvie, Bernhard Hellmich Consultant of: Honoraria paid to the institution for participation in the clinical trial, Eamonn Molloy: None declared, Carlo Salvarani: None declared, Bruce C. Trapnell Consultant of: Consultant member of DSMB for Kiniksa., Kenneth J Warrington Consultant of: Clinical trial support from Eli Lilly and Kiniksa, Ian Wicks: None declared, Manoj Samant Shareholder of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Employee of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Teresa Zhou Shareholder of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Employee of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Lara Pupim Shareholder of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Employee of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, John F. Paolini Shareholder of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Employee of: Kiniksa Pharmaceutical

Efficacy and safety of mavrilimumab in giant cell arteritis: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is implicated in pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis. We evaluated the efficacy of the GM-CSF receptor antagonist mavrilimumab in maintaining disease remission. METHODS: This phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled patients with biopsy-confirmed or imaging-confirmed giant cell arteritis in 50 centres (North America, Europe, Australia). Active disease within 6 weeks of baseline was required for inclusion. Patients in glucocorticoid-induced remission were randomly assigned (3:2 ratio) to mavrilimumab 150 mg or placebo injected subcutaneously every 2 weeks. Both groups received a 26-week prednisone taper. The primary outcome was time to adjudicated flare by week 26. A prespecified secondary efficacy outcome was sustained remission at week 26 by Kaplan-Meier estimation. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: Of 42 mavrilimumab recipients, flare occurred in 19% (n=8). Of 28 placebo recipients, flare occurred in 46% (n=13). Median time to flare (primary outcome) was 25.1 weeks in the placebo group, but the median was not reached in the mavrilimumab group (HR 0.38; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.92; p=0.026). Sustained remission at week 26 was 83% for mavrilimumab and 50% for placebo recipients (p=0.0038). Adverse events occurred in 78.6% (n=33) of mavrilimumab and 89.3% (n=25) of placebo recipients. No deaths or vision loss occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Mavrilimumab plus 26 weeks of prednisone was superior to placebo plus 26 weeks of prednisone for time to flare by week 26 and sustained remission in patients with giant cell arteritis. Longer treatment is needed to determine response durability and quantify the glucocorticoid-sparing potential of mavrilimumab. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03827018, Europe (EUdraCT number: 2018-001003-36), and Australia (CT-2018-CTN-01 865-1)