Systematic analysis of transverse momentum distribution and non-extensive thermodynamics theory

A systematic analysis of transverse momentum distribution of hadrons produced in ultra-relativistic $p+p$ and $A+A$ collisions is presented. We investigate the effective temperature and the entropic parameter from the non-extensive thermodynamic theory of strong interaction. We conclude that the existence of a limiting effective temperature and of a limiting entropic parameter is in accordance with experimental data.Comment: 7 pages, XII Hadron Physics Conference, Bento Gon\c{c}alves - Brazi

A Framework for the Design of a Mobile-Based Alert System for Outpatient Adherence in Nigeria

Nigeria ranks among the countries with the highest child and maternal mortality rate. Chronic diseases are the most common contributors to the diseases burden in Nigeria most especially Malaria, Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. Adherence to long-term therapy in out-patient condition is required to reduce and curb the prevalence of these diseases. Poor adherence to long-term therapies severely compromises the effectiveness of treatment; making this a critical issue in population health both from the perspective of quality of life and of health economics. This work introduces a m-technology based system that will provide an easy way of complying with drug regimen. It will make use of the Short Messaging Service (SMS) of mobile phones to provide reminders at dosing times. It will design architecture for mobile health interventions and develop a prototype SMS-based system to improve out-patient adherence. This system will be deployed over a period of time at selected hospitals and chronic disease management centers in selected states in Nigeria, and the adherence rates measured via health outcomes and evaluated. This would provide a significant positive return on investment through primary prevention (of risk factors) and secondary prevention of adverse health outcomes. It will also inform predictions of future population health outcomes predicted by treatment efficacy data. Keywords: out-patient, m-technology, adherence, chronic diseases, Nigeria, SM

Double-core evolution and the formation of neutron-star binaries with compact companions

We present the results of a systematic exploration of an alternative evolutionary scenario to form double neutron-star binaries, first proposed by Brown (1995), which does not involve a neutron star passing through a common envelope. In this scenario, the initial binary components have very similar masses, and both components have left the main sequence before they evolve into contact; preferably the primary has already developed a CO core. We have performed population synthesis simulations to study the formation of double neutron star binaries via this channel and to predict the orbital properties and system velocities of such systems. We obtain a merger rate for DNSs in this channel in the range of 0.1 - 12/Myr. These rates are still subject to substantial uncertainties such as the modelling of the contact phase.Comment: MNRAS, accepte

Oral Contraceptive Use and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Experimental and clinical data suggest a role of sex steroids in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Scant information is available about the potential effect of oral contraceptive (OC) use on the prognosis of the disease. We aimed to evaluate this. The study population consisted of 132 women with relapsing-remitting MS before receiving disease modifying treatment and a mean disease duration 6.2 (SD 5.1) years. Three groups of patients were distinguished according to their OC behavior: [1] never-users, patients who never used OC [2] past-users, patients who stopped OC use before disease onset, and [3] after-users, those who used these drugs after disease onset. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between oral contraceptive use and annualized relapse rates, disability accumulation and severity of the disease. After-user patients had lower Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) values than never users (p<0.001 and p=0.002, respectively) and past users (p=0.010 and p=0.002, respectively). These patients were also more likely to have a benign disease course (MSSS<2.5) than never and past users together (OR: 4.52, 95%CI: 2.13-9.56, p<0.001). This effect remained significant after adjustment for confounders, including smoking and childbirths (OR: 2.97, 95%CI: 1.24, 6.54, p=0.011 and for MSSS β: -1.04; 95% C.I. -1.78, -0.30, p=0.006). These results suggest that OC use in women with relapsing-remitting MS is possible associated with a milder disabling disease course

El Movimiento Ecuménico en Cuba. Sus estrategias contra la pobreza en los últimos 20 años

Estas re&#64258;exiones nos avisan de las transformaciones que comenzaron a ocurrir en el pensamiento teológico protestante en Cuba, a raíz del triunfo de la Revolución. Mientras un grupo importante de miembros de las diferentes denominaciones evangélicas se iba de la isla, temeroso del curso socialista que tomaba el proceso iniciado en enero de 1959, otro pasaba a formar parte de la contrarrevolución y la mayoría se recogía a su accionar dentro de la iglesia, un pequeño conjunto de líderes religiosos emprendió el camino de la re&#64258;exión contextualizada de su fe y entendió que su lugar estaba con el pueblo. Una buena parte de esta labor se desarrolló dentro de los límites del movimiento ecuménico. Han pasado más de cuarenta años desde entonces. En ese trayecto hemos podido apreciar cómo esas ideas encontraron seguidores, y cómo aunque no de forma homogénea dentro de los sectores ecuménicos ha ido creciendo la concientización del rol social que pueden asumir las iglesias tanto en entornos capitalistas, como socialistas. Este trabajo es la exposición de ese proceso, en el que se van entretejiendo el contexto de la historia cubana y la postura de las iglesias

Influence of Apolipoprotein E Plasma Levels and Tobacco Smoking on the Induction of Neutralising Antibodies to Interferon-Beta

Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with a potential for induction of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Because immune reactivity depends on changes in lipoprotein metabolism, we investigated whether plasma lipoprotein profiles could be associated with the development of NAbs. Thirty-one female MS patients treated with subcutaneously administered IFN-beta were included. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between NAbs response groups using t tests for continuous and logistic regression analysis and Fisher's exact tests for categorical data, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of potential confounders. Patients who developed NAbs had lower apoE levels before treatment, 67 (47-74) mg/L median (interquartile range), and at the moment of NAb analysis, 53 (50-84) mg/L, in comparison to those who remained NAb-negative, 83 (68-107) mg/L, P = 0.03, and 76 (66-87) mg/L, P = 0.04, respectively. When adjusting for age and smoking for a one-standard deviation decrease in apoE levels, a 5.6-fold increase in the odds of becoming NAb-positive was detected: odds ratios (OR) 0.18 (95% CI 0.04-0.77), P = 0.04. When adjusting for apoE, smoking habit became associated with NAb induction: OR 5.6 (95% CI 1.3-87), P = 0.03. These results suggest that apoE-containing lipoprotein metabolism and, possibly, tobacco smoking may be associated with risk of NAb production in female MS patients treated with IFN-beta

Seismic strengthening of beam-column joints with multidirectional CFRP laminates

An experimental program was carried out to analyse the potentialities of a technique based on the use of multidirectional CFRP laminates (MDL-CFRP) for the seismic repair and strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column joints. This experimental program comprises cyclic tests on three full-scale RC joints, representative of interior beam-column connections in buildings. The joints were initially submitted to a cyclic test inducing a damage pattern representative of a seismic event. Subsequently, they were repaired and strengthened with MDL-CFRP. The strengthened joints were then tested for the same loading history of the original ones up to their failure. The adopted strengthening technique uses the MDL-CFRP that are simultaneously glued and anchored to the concrete surfaces. This technique is called Mechanically Fastened and Externally Bonded Reinforcement (MF-EBR). In the present study, the effectiveness of two different strengthening configurations was investigated. The tests are described and the main results are presented and analyzed

Development of an integrated heat pipe-thermal storage system for a solar receiver

The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Solar Dynamic Power System (SDPS) is one of the candidates for Space Station prime power application. In the low Earth orbit of the Space Station approximately 34 minutes of the 94-minute orbital period is spent in eclipse with no solar energy input to the power system. For this period the SDPS will use thermal energy storage (TES) material to provide a constant power output. An integrated heat-pipe thermal storage receiver system is being developed as part of the ORC-SDPS solar receiver. This system incorporates potassium heat pipe elements to absorb and transfer the solar energy within the receiver cavity. The heat pipes contain the TES canisters within the potassium vapor space with the toluene heater tube used as the condenser region of the heat pipe. During the insolation period of the Earth orbit, solar energy is delivered to the heat pipe in the ORC-SDPS receiver cavity. The heat pipe transforms the non-uniform solar flux incident in the heat pipe surface within the receiver cavity to an essentially uniform flux at the potassium vapor condensation interface in the heat pipe. During solar insolation, part of the thermal energy is delivered to the heater tube and the balance is stored in the TES units. During the eclipse period of the orbit, the balance stored in the TES units is transferred by the potassium vapor to the toluene heater tube