Malformations of the axial skeleton in Museum Vrolik I: homeotic transformations and numerical anomalies

The Museum Vrolik collection of anatomical specimens in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, comprises over 5,000 specimens of human and animal anatomy, embryology, pathology, and congenital anomalies. Recently, we rediagnosed a subset of the collection comprising dried human trunk skeletons and cranial base preparations presenting with homeotic transformations (vertebral phenotypic shifts) and numerical vertebral anomalies. We identified 11 trunk skeletons with either anterior or posterior homeotic transformations (AHT or PHT), 5 trunk skeletons with either less or more than the normal number of vertebrae, and well over a hundred cranial base preparations with either AHT (atlas-assimilation) or PHT (occipital vertebra). We found that, although homeotic transformations and numerical anomalies are distinct conditions, both can be described in terms of mismatch between homeotic patterning and morphological segmentation of the paraxial mesoderm. Therefore these two processes are perhaps not as tightly linked as they may seem on the basis of recent molecular studies. In homeotic transformations there is a constant mismatch between homeotic patterning and morphological segmentation throughout the affected region of the vertebral column. In numerical anomalies there is a variable mismatch between homeotic patterning and morphological segmentation, either because of stretching or squeezing of the homeotic pattern or because of oligo- or polysegmentation of the presomitic mesoderm (PSM). Homeotic transformations of the axial skeleton have an incidence of about 1%-5%, apart from their occurrence in malformation syndromes. Of the various etiological possibilities, explaining their frequent but mostly sporadic occurrence, maternal hyperthermia seems an attractive candidat

Where Brain, Body and World Collide

The production cross section of electrons from semileptonic decays of beauty hadrons was measured at mid-rapidity (|y| < 0.8) in the transverse momentum range 1 < pt < 8 Gev/c with the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC in pp collisions at a center of mass energy sqrt{s} = 7 TeV using an integrated luminosity of 2.2 nb^{-1}. Electrons from beauty hadron decays were selected based on the displacement of the decay vertex from the collision vertex. A perturbative QCD calculation agrees with the measurement within uncertainties. The data were extrapolated to the full phase space to determine the total cross section for the production of beauty quark-antiquark pairs

Production of inclusive ϒ(1S) and ϒ(2S) in p-Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV

We report on the production of inclusive Y{hooktop}(1S) and Y{hooktop}(2S) in p-Pb collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV at the LHC. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector at backward (-4.46<ycms<-2.96) and forward (2.03<ycms<3.53) rapidity down to zero transverse momentum. The production cross sections of the Y{hooktop}(1S) and Y{hooktop}(2S) are presented, as well as the nuclear modification factor and the ratio of the forward to backward yields of Y{hooktop}(1S). A suppression of the inclusive Y{hooktop}(1S) yield in p-Pb collisions with respect to the yield from pp collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions is observed at forward rapidity but not at backward rapidity. The results are compared to theoretical model calculations including nuclear shadowing or partonic energy loss effects

Production of inclusive ϒ(1S) and ϒ(2S) in p-Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV

We report on the production of inclusive Y{hooktop}(1S) and Y{hooktop}(2S) in p-Pb collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV at the LHC. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector at backward (-4.46<ycms<-2.96) and forward (2.03<ycms<3.53) rapidity down to zero transverse momentum. The production cross sections of the Y{hooktop}(1S) and Y{hooktop}(2S) are presented, as well as the nuclear modification factor and the ratio of the forward to backward yields of Y{hooktop}(1S). A suppression of the inclusive Y{hooktop}(1S) yield in p-Pb collisions with respect to the yield from pp collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions is observed at forward rapidity but not at backward rapidity. The results are compared to theoretical model calculations including nuclear shadowing or partonic energy loss effects

Centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at mid-rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 2.76 TeV

The centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at mid-rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV is presented. The charged-particle density normalized per participating nucleon pair increases by about a factor 2 from peripheral (70-80%) to central (0-5%) collisions. The centrality dependence is found to be similar to that observed at lower collision energies. The data are compared with models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions.The centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at mid-rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 2.76 TeV is presented. The charged-particle density normalized per participating nucleon pair increases by about a factor 2 from peripheral (70-80%) to central (0-5%) collisions. The centrality dependence is found to be similar to that observed at lower collision energies. The data are compared with models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions

Underlying Event measurements in pp collisions at s=0.9 \sqrt {s} = 0.9 and 7 TeV with the ALICE experiment at the LHC

We present measurements of Underlying Event observables in pp collisions at s√=0.9 and 7TeV. The analysis is performed as a function of the highest charged-particle transverse momentum p T,LT in the event. Different regions are defined with respect to the azimuthal direction of the leading (highest transverse momentum) track: Toward, Transverse and Away. The Toward and Away regions collect the fragmentation products of the hardest partonic interaction. The Transverse region is expected to be most sensitive to the Underlying Event activity. The study is performed with charged particles above three different p T thresholds: 0.15, 0.5 and 1.0 GeV/c. In the Transverse region we observe an increase in the multiplicity of a factor 2–3 between the lower and higher collision energies, depending on the track p T threshold considered. Data are compared to Pythia 6.4, Pythia 8.1 and Phojet. On average, all models considered underestimate the multiplicity and summed p T in the Transverse region by about 10–30%

Underlying Event measurements in pp collisions at root s=0.9 and 7 TeV with the ALICE experiment at the LHC

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)We present measurements of Underlying Event observables in pp collisions at root s = 0 : 9 and 7 TeV. The analysis is performed as a function of the highest charged-particle transverse momentum p(T),L-T in the event. Different regions are defined with respect to the azimuthal direction of the leading (highest transverse momentum) track: Toward, Transverse and Away. The Toward and Away regions collect the fragmentation products of the hardest partonic interaction. The Transverse region is expected to be most sensitive to the Underlying Event activity. The study is performed with charged particles above three different p(T) thresholds: 0.15, 0.5 and 1.0 GeV/c. In the Transverse region we observe an increase in the multiplicity of a factor 2-3 between the lower and higher collision energies, depending on the track p(T) threshold considered. Data are compared to PYTHIA 6.4, PYTHIA 8.1 and PHOJET. On average, all models considered underestimate the multiplicity and summed p(T) in the Transverse region by about 10-30%.7Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation from LisbonSwiss Fonds Kidagan, ArmeniaConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)Chinese Ministry of Education (CMOE)Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MSTC)Ministry of Education and Youth of the Czech RepublicDanish Natural Science Research CouncilCarlsberg FoundationDanish National Research FoundationEuropean Research Council under European CommunityHelsinki Institute of PhysicsAcademy of FinlandFrench CNRS-IN2P3Region Pays de LoireRegion AlsaceRegion AuvergneCEA, FranceGerman BMBFHelmholtz AssociationGeneral Secretariat for Research and Technology, Ministry of Development, GreeceHungarian OTKANational Office for Research and Technology (NKTH)Department of Atomic EnergyDepartment of Science and Technology of the Government of IndiaIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) of ItalyMEXT, JapanJoint Institute for Nuclear Research, DubnaNational Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)CONACYTDGAPA, MexicoALFA-ECHELEN Program (High-Energy physics Latin-American-European Network)Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM)Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO), NetherlandsResearch Council of Norway (NFR)Polish Ministry of Science and Higher EducationNational Authority for Scientific Research - NASR (Autoritatea Nationala pentru Cercetare Stiintifica - ANCS)Federal Agency of Science of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian FederationInternational Science and Technology Center, Russian Academy of SciencesRussian Federal Agency of Atomic EnergyRussian Federal Agency for Science and InnovationsCERN-INTASMinistry of Education of SlovakiaDepartment of Science and Technology, South AfricaCIEMATEELAMinisterio de Educacion y Ciencia of SpainXunta de Galicia (Conselleria de Educacion)CEADENCubaenergia, CubaIAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)Swedish Reseach Council (VR)Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW)Ukraine Ministry of Education and ScienceUnited Kingdom Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)The United States Department of EnergyUnited States National Science FoundationState of TexasState of OhioFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq