Higher harmonic anisotropic flow measurements of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s(NN)) = 2.76 TeV

We report on the first measurement of the triangular v3, quadrangular v4, and pentagonal v5 charged particle flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s(NN)) = 2.76  TeV measured with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. We show that the triangular flow can be described in terms of the initial spatial anisotropy and its fluctuations, which provides strong constraints on its origin. In the most central events, where the elliptic flow v2 and v3 have similar magnitude, a double peaked structure in the two-particle azimuthal correlations is observed, which is often interpreted as a Mach cone response to fast partons. We show that this structure can be naturally explained from the measured anisotropic flow Fourier coefficients.

Are microbial indicators and pathogens correlated? A statistical analysis of 40 years of research

Indicator organisms are used to assess public health risk in recreational waters, to highlight periods of challenge to drinking water treatment plants, and to determine the effectiveness of treatment and the quality of distributed water. However, many have questioned their efficacy for indicating pathogen risk. Five hundred and forty cases representing independent indicator-pathogen correlations were obtained from the literature for the period 1970-2009. The data were analyzed to assess factors affecting correlations using a logistic regression model considering indicator classes, pathogen classes, water types, pathogen sources, sample size, the number of samples with pathogens, the detection method, year of publication and statistical methods. Although no single indicator was identified as the most correlated with pathogens, coliphages, F-specific coliphages, Clostridium perfringens, fecal streptococci and total coliforms were more likely than other indicators to be correlated with pathogens. The most important factors in determining correlations between indicator-pathogen pairs were the sample size and the number of samples positive for pathogens. Pathogen sources, detection methods and other variables have little influence on correlations between indicators and pathogens. Results suggest that much of the controversy with regards to indicator and pathogen correlations is the result of studies with insufficient data for assessing correlations.

Multiphoton ionization and Coulomb explosion of C2H5Br clusters: a mass spectrometric and charge density study

Using time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS), laser-induced photochemistry of ethyl bromide clusters has been investigated at three different wavelengths (viz. 266, 355 and 532  nm) utilizing nanosecond laser pulses of ~5 × 10(9)  W/cm(2). An interesting finding of the present work is the observation of multiply charged atomic ions of carbon and bromine at 355 and 532  nm, arising from the Coulomb explosion of (C(2)H(5)Br)(n) clusters. At 266  nm, however, the (C(2)H(5)Br)(n) clusters were found to exhibit the usual multiphoton dissociation/ionization behaviour. The TOFMS studies are complemented by measuring the total charge density of the ionized volume at 266, 355 and 532  nm, using the parallel plate method, and the charge densities were found to be ~2 × 10(9), 6 × 10(9) and 2 × 10(11)  charges/cm(3), respectively. The significantly higher charge density and the presence of energetic, multiply charged atomic ions at 532  nm are explained by the higher ponderomotive energy of the 532  nm photon, coupled with the Coulomb stability of the residual multiply charged ethyl bromide clusters generated upon laser irradiation, due to their larger effective cluster size at 532  nm than at 355 and 266  nm.

Hypertension with elevated levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein and anticardiolipin antibody in the circulation of premenopausal Indian women chronically exposed to biomass smoke during cooking

This study aims to investigate whether indoor air pollution (IAP) from biomass fuel use was associated with hypertension, platelet hyperactivity, and elevated levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and anticardiolipin antibody (aCL). We enrolled 244 biomass fuel-using (median age 34 year) and 236 age-matched control women who cooked with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure oxLDL in plasma and aCL in serum, flow cytometry for P-selectin expression on platelet and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by leukocytes, aggregometry for platelet aggregation, spectrophotometry for superoxide dismutase (SOD) in erythrocytes, and laser photometer for particulate matter <10 and 2.5 μm in diameter (PM(10) and PM(2.5), respectively) in cooking areas. Biomass users had three times more particulate pollution in kitchen, had higher prevalence of hypertension (29.5 vs. 11.0% in control, P < 0.05), elevated oxLDL (170.6 vs. 45.9 U/l; P < 0.001), platelet P-selectin expression (9.1% vs. 2.4%), platelet aggregation (23.2 vs. 15.9 Ohm), raised aCL IgG (28.7% vs. 2.1%), IgM (8.6% of vs. 0.4%), and ROS (44%) but depleted (13%) SOD. After controlling potential confounders, the changes were positively associated with PM(10) and PM(2.5) in indoor air, suggesting a positive association between IAP and increased cardiovascular risk.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The study showing high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among poor, underprivileged women in their reproductive ages in rural India is important from public health perspectives. It may motivate the government and the regulatory agencies of the country to take a serious note of the indoor air pollution (IAP) from biomass fuel use as it threatens the health of millions of women, children, and the elderly who mostly stay indoor. We hope the findings will strengthen the demand for setting up a standard for indoor air quality in the country in the line of national ambient air quality standard. The findings may also inspire the authorities to take measures for the reduction in IAP by improving housing, kitchen ventilation, and cook stoves. Moreover, the parameters used in this study can be utilized for large, population-based studies to identify women at a higher risk of developing CVD so that medical intervention can be taken at the formative stage of a disease.

Centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity 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 of 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.

Elliptic flow of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

We report the first measurement of charged particle elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] =2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurement is performed in the central pseudorapidity region (|η|<0.8) and transverse momentum range 0.2<p t<5.0 GeV/c. The elliptic flow signal v₂, measured using the 4-particle correlation method, averaged over transverse momentum and pseudorapidity is 0.087 ± 0.002(stat) ± 0.003(syst) in the 40%-50% centrality class. The differential elliptic flow v₂ p t reaches a maximum of 0.2 near p t =3 GeV/c. Compared to RHIC Au-Au collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] 200 GeV, the elliptic flow increases by about 30%. Some hydrodynamic model predictions which include viscous corrections are in agreement with the observed increase.

Charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The first measurement of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair √ S NN = 2.76 TeV is presented. For an event sample corresponding to the most central 5% of the hadronic cross section, the pseudorapidity density of primary charged particles at midrapidity is 1584 ± 4(stat) ± 76(syst), which corresponds to 8.3 ± 0.4(syst) per participating nucleon pair. This represents an increase of about a factor 1.9 relative to pp collisions at similar collision energies, and about a factor 2.2 to central Au-Au collisions at √ S NN = 2.76 TeV. This measurement provides the first experimental constraint for models of nucleus-nucleus collisions at LHC energies.

Adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution using chitosan-tripolyphosphate (CTPP) beads

Chitosan-tripolyphosphate (CTPP) beads were prepared using in-liquid curing method and used for the adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution. Beads were prepared at two different cross-linking densities by adjusting the pH of the tripolyphosphate solution. The synthesized beads were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy before and after adsorption of uranium. Beads having higher cross-linking are found to have better adsorption capacity for uranium. Factors that influence the uranium adsorption onto CTPP beads such as solution pH, contact time and initial uranium concentration were studied in detail. The experimental results were fitted into Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. From Langmuir adsorption model the adsorption capacity of CTPP beads for uranium is estimated as 236.9 mg/g. Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion model were applied to the observed kinetics data and the results shows that the pseudo-second order model is more suitable to explain the kinetics of adsorption of uranium on CTPP beads. FTIR spectroscopic characterization of the beads showed that the phosphate groups may be more responsible for the adsorption of uranium on CTPP beads.

Measurement of the bottom quark contribution to nonphotonic electron production in p + p collisions at √s=200 GeV

The contribution of B meson decays to nonphotonic electrons, which are mainly produced by the semileptonic decays of heavy-flavor mesons, in p + p collisions at √s=200  GeV has been measured using azimuthal correlations between nonphotonic electrons and hadrons. The extracted B decay contribution is approximately 50% at a transverse momentum of pT≥5  GeV/c. These measurements constrain the nuclear modification factor for electrons from B and D meson decays. The result indicates that B meson production in heavy ion collisions is also suppressed at high pT.

Nanocrystalline NiFe2O4 and nanocomposites of (NiFe2O4)(1-x)(Al2O3)x (x = 0.25, 0.40): superparamagnetic behavior and Mössbauer spectroscopy

Nanocrystalline NiFe2O4 with different particle sizes and nanocomposites of (NiFe2O4)(1-x)(Al2O3)x (x = 0.25, 0.40) were prepared by using co-precipitation method. In this method two techniques viz., 'ultrasonication' and 'magnetic stirring' during co-precipitation were used. The as prepared samples were annealed at different temperatures to obtain samples with different particle sizes. The formation of the nanocrystalline spinel phases of all the samples were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The sizes of the nanoparticles of all the samples were calculated from the broadening of the (311) line in the XRD pattern. The distribution of sizes are remarkably less in samples obtained from 'ultrasonication' technique compared to those obtained in 'magnetic stirring' technique. The different soft magnetic quantities viz., coercive field, magnetization, remanance, hysteresis losses etc. were extracted from the ac hysteresis loops observed at different frequencies. The variations of coercive field and hysteresis loss as functions of frequency and particle sizes have been studied. Mössbauer spectra of the samples along with the hysteresis loops recorded at room temperature indicate the presence of superparamagnetic (SPM) relaxations of the nanoparticles. Also, SPM relaxations have been introduced in the samples annealed at higher temperature by encapsulating the nanoparticles in non-magnetic matrix of Al2O3 with 40% coating.

Higher moments of net proton multiplicity distributions at RHIC

We report the first measurements of the kurtosis (κ), skewness (S), and variance (σ2) of net-proton multiplicity (Np-Np) distributions at midrapidity for Au+Au collisions at square root of s(NN)=19.6, 62.4, and 200 GeV corresponding to baryon chemical potentials (μB) between 200 and 20 MeV. Our measurements of the products κσ2 and Sσ, which can be related to theoretical calculations sensitive to baryon number susceptibilities and long-range correlations, are constant as functions of collision centrality. We compare these products with results from lattice QCD and various models without a critical point and study the square root of s(NN) dependence of κσ2. From the measurements at the three beam energies, we find no evidence for a critical point in the QCD phase diagram for μB below 200 MeV.

Three-particle coincidence of the long range pseudorapidity correlation in high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions

We report the first three-particle coincidence measurement in pseudorapidity (Δη) between a high transverse momentum (p⊥) trigger particle and two lower p⊥ associated particles within azimuth |Δϕ|<0.7 in square root of s(NN)=200 GeV d+Au and Au+Au collisions. Charge ordering properties are exploited to separate the jetlike component and the ridge (long range Δη correlation). The results indicate that the correlation of ridge particles are uniform not only with respect to the trigger particle but also between themselves event by event in our measured Δη. In addition, the production of the ridge appears to be uncorrelated to the presence of the narrow jetlike component.

A study in awareness about eye health care and eye donation among secondary level students of North Kolkata, India

BACKGROUND

Corneal blindness is one of the important types of blindness that can be prevented by proper health care education and conventionally cured by corneal transplantation for which awareness regarding eye donation is essential.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study is to assess the awareness of eye health care and eye donation among secondary level school students of North Kolkata.

METHODS

It was a cross-sectional study.

SETTINGS

Eight Government aided schools of North Kolkata, West Bengal, India. A total of 1525 students of standard VIII, IX and X of Government aided schools of North Kolkata participated in this study. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was administered on eye health care and eye donation.

RESULTS

1284 (84.2%) participants opined that awareness on eye health care can prevent most of the blindness and 1206 (79.1%) students knew that Vitamin A has important role in prevention of childhood blindness. Majority, 1235 (81.0%) students were aware of eye donation after death while only 489 (32.1%) participants knew that the ideal time for eye donation is within 6 hours of death. 802 (52.6%) participants mentioned printed and electronic media (like newspaper and television) as the major source of information on eye donation.

CONCLUSIONS

Media publicity to increase awareness of eye donation and eye health care is not enough. Strategies have to be developed to educate the students, so that they can act as motivators for enhancing eye donation and increasing eye health care awareness in the community.

Ellis van Creveld syndrome with unusual association of essential infantile esotropia

Ellis-van Creveld syndrome is a rare short-limbed disproportionate dwarfism characterized by postaxial polydactyly, several skeletal, oral mucosal and dental anomalies, nail dysplasia and in 50-60% cases of congenital cardiac defects. It is an autosomal recessive disorder with mutations of the EVC1 and EVC2 genes located on chromosome 4p16. Patients with this syndrome usually have a high mortality in early life due to cardiorespiratory problems. We present the case of a six- month-old female infant with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome - essential infantile esotropia, which has been infrequently documented in the literature.

Azimuthal charged-particle correlations and possible local strong parity violation

Parity-odd domains, corresponding to nontrivial topological solutions of the QCD vacuum, might be created during relativistic heavy-ion collisions. These domains are predicted to lead to charge separation of quarks along the system's orbital momentum axis. We investigate a three-particle azimuthal correlator which is a P even observable, but directly sensitive to the charge separation effect. We report measurements of charged hadrons near center-of-mass rapidity with this observable in Au + Au and Cu + Cu collisions at square root of s(NN) = 200 GeV using the STAR detector. A signal consistent with several expectations from the theory is detected. We discuss possible contributions from other effects that are not related to parity violation.

From the Lab to the Clinic: Gene-Expression Profiles That Are Associated with Mek-Inhibitor Sensitivity In Vitro Are Coordinately Co-Expressed in Breast Cancer Biopsy Samples from the I-SPY Trial (CALGB 150007/150012, ACRIN 6657)

There is increasing appreciation that response to breast cancer therapy is dependent on the specific characteristics of each tumor, as has also been observed in the first analyses of 221 patients treated by standard neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in the I-SPY 1 TRIAL (CALGB 150007/150012, ACRIN 6657). I-SPY 1 has collected full-genome gene expression data on pre-treatment biopsies as well as outcome data for initial tumor response (pathological assessment) and 3-year outcome data. In addition, we have established an in vitro high-throughput system using 50 breast cancer cell lines that can be used to identify gene-expression patterns predictive of drug sensitivity using 'Adaptive Splines'. Though several groups are using cell lines to develop drug response predictors, there is understandable skepticism as to whether the cancer cell lines have retained sufficient similarity to in vivo tumors to make such an endeavor successful.Methods: We used the in vitro cell lines to identify molecular markers of sensitivity to the MEK inhibitor CI1040. We next used the molecular data collected in I-SPY 1, in particular Affymetrix U133A data from 121 patients, to see whether subgroups could be identified among the ISPY patients that vary according to the expression of genes in this signature. In addition, we used the network visualization tool, EGAN, to identify biological networks among the significant predictors of CI-1040 sensitivity or resistance.Results: Analysis of in vitro data using adaptive splines identified 406 genes predictive of response to CI1040, of which 135 and 271 were expressed more highly in CI1040-resistant or -sensitive cell lines respectively. EGAN analyses of these predictors revealed multiple subnetworks and pathways as important. Some of these expression patterns could be corroborated in additional datasets. When we clustered the gene expression data from biopsies using the best linear-classifier based gene predictors of CI1040 sensitivity, the genes and patients each divided into two classes. Notably, most of the genes expressed more highly in the CI-1040-resistant cell lines formed one cluster, while most of the genes expressed more highly in the sensitive cell lines formed another cluster (p&lt;&lt;0.001; Fisher Exact Test), a strong indicator that these genes are similarly co-expressed in both cell lines and tumor samples. Preliminary results indicate that roughly a third of patients show a pattern of gene-expression that is similar to the CI1040-sensitive cell lines.Conclusion: The expression of genes identified to associate with CI1040 sensitivity in vitro show a similar pattern of co-expression in I-SPY patient samples. These data suggest that this CI1040-sensitivity predictor should be tested for its ability to predict the therapeutic response among patients receiving CI1040 (or other drugs in this class). The I-SPY 2 trial will include phase II targeted drugs for which predictor gene sets will be derived from our in vitro system and prospectively tested in patients receiving that treatment.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 2042.