Strange particle production in proton-proton collisions at s=0.9\sqrt{s}=0.9 TeV with ALICE at the LHC

The production of mesons containing strange quarks (K$^0_s$, $\phi$) and both singly and doubly strange baryons ($\Lambda$, Anti-$\Lambda$, and $\Xi$+Anti-$\Xi$) are measured at central rapidity in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 0.9 TeV with the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The results are obtained from the analysis of about 250 k minimum bias events recorded in 2009. Measurements of yields (dN/dy) and transverse momentum spectra at central rapidities for inelastic pp collisions are presented. For mesons, we report yields () of 0.184 $\pm$ 0.002 stat. $\pm$ 0.006 syst. for K$^0_s$ and 0.021 $\pm$ 0.004 stat. $\pm$ 0.003 syst. for $\phi$. For baryons, we find = 0.048 $\pm$ 0.001 stat. $\pm$ 0.004 syst. for $\Lambda$, 0.047 $\pm$ 0.002 stat. $\pm$ 0.005 syst. for Anti-$\Lambda$ and 0.0101 $\pm$ 0.0020 stat. $\pm$ 0.0009 syst. for $\Xi$+Anti-$\Xi$. The results are also compared with predictions for identified particle spectra from QCD-inspired models and provide a baseline for comparisons with both future pp measurements at higher energies and heavy-ion collisions.Comment: 33 pages, 21 captioned figures, 10 tables, authors from page 28, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/387

The Tyranny of the Horizon: Giant Myths and the Tenacity of the Apocalyptic Imagination

This paper examines some characteristically mythic tropes informing Judaic and Christian apocalyptic thought, sources of imagery that pervades discourse in recent espressions of religiously justified violence. For some adherents of monotheistic religions, the demonization of adversaries and the notion of divinely led cosmic warfare are elements of a narrative paradigm that frames present-day conflicts in esdchatological terms. Antecedents for these tropes are visible in the career of a biblical myth about giants: the Nephilim from Genesis 6:1-4, who are redeployed in quasi-historical 'conquest' accounts and later, influentially in 1 Enoch. This persistence of myth in monotheistic eschatology as response to perceived crises is viewed from Hans Blumenberg's perspective that myth expresses the ongoing mitigation of what he calls the "absolutism of reality" ―exposure to a lifeworld beyond the individual's control. The paradigmatic and polysemous qualities of myth help the 'monotheistic' imagination grapple with the often-terrifying contingencies of historical experience.Essays on the Theme: Monotheism and Polytheismapplication/pdfresearch repor

Planck intermediate results X : Physics of the hot gas in the Coma cluster

Peer reviewe

チヘイセン ノ アッセイ : キョジン シンワ ト クリカエサレル シュウマツロンテキ イマジネーション

本論文では、ユダヤ教とキリスト教の黙示録的な考えを伝えるいくつかの特徴的な神話的な比喩用法について考察する。その黙示録的な考え方は、宗教によって正当化される暴力に関する最近の表現のなかで言述(discourse)に浸透している比喩的表現の源である。一部の一神教信者にとっては、敵対者の「悪魔視」と、神の主導による「宇宙戦争(天界を巻き込んだ戦争)」の概念は、現代の紛争を終末論的言葉で枠付けする物語的パラダイムの要素である。これらの比喩的用法の先例は、巨人についての聖書神話に見られる。即ち、それは、創世記6章1-4節に記述があるネフィリムの神話である。ネフィリムは準歴史である「征服」の話と、その後これに影響を受けた第1エノク書(エチオピア語エノク書)でも採用されている。Hans Blumenbergは、神話は、彼が「リアリティー絶対主義」―個人の支配能力を超えた生命世界に曝されること―と呼んだものの継続的な緩和を表現していると言っているが、その視点からも、認識された危機への対応策として、一神教の終末論のなかに神話が執拗に繰り返されているのが見られる。神話のもつパラダイム的で多義的な特性は、「一神教的」イマジネーションが歴史的経験の往々にして恐るべき不測の事態に対処するのに役立つ。テーマ論文「一神教と多神教」本稿はVictor A. Faesselによる"The Tyranny of the Horizon: Giant Myths and the Tenacity of the Apocalyptic Imaginatoin"の翻訳である。application/pdfresearch repor

Planck Intermediate Results II: Comparison of Sunyaev–Zeldovich measurements from Planck and from the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager for 11 galaxy clusters

A comparison is presented of Sunyaev–Zeldovich measurements for 11 galaxy clusters as obtained by Planck and by the ground-based interferom- eter, the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager. Assuming a universal spherically-symmetric Generalised Navarro, Frenk & White (GNFW) model for the cluster gas pressure profile, we jointly constrain the integrated Compton-Y parameter (Y500) and the scale radius (θ500) of each cluster. Our resulting constraints in the Y500 − θ500 2D parameter space derived from the two instruments overlap significantly for eight of the clusters, although, overall, there is a tendency for AMI to find the Sunyaev–Zeldovich signal to be smaller in angular size and fainter than Planck. Significant discrepancies exist for the three remaining clusters in the sample, namely A1413, A1914, and the newly-discovered Planck cluster PLCKESZ G139.59+24.18. The robustness of the analysis of both the Planck and AMI data is demonstrated through the use of detailed simulations, which also discount confusion from residual point (radio) sources and from diffuse astrophysical foregrounds as possible explanations for the discrepancies found. For a subset of our cluster sample, we have investigated the dependence of our results on the assumed pressure profile by repeating the analysis adopting the best-fitting GNFW profile shape which best matches X-ray observations. Adopting the best-fitting profile shape from the X-ray data does not, in general, resolve the discrepancies found in this subset of five clusters. Though based on a small sample, our results suggest that the adopted GNFW model may not be sufficiently flexible to describe clusters universally

استبداد الأفق المعرفي – أساطير العمالقة و ثبات الخيال الرؤيوي

يتناول هذا البحث بعض العبارات الأساطورية المجازية المعهودة الناقلة للفكر اليهودي و المسيحي الرؤيوي و مصادر الصور المجازية التي تسود الخطاب في التعابير الحديثة عن العنف المبرر دينيا. يعتبر إطلاق صفة الشيطان على الخصوم و فكرة الحرب الكونية الموخهة إلهيا بالنسبة لبعض المتمسكين بالديانات التوحيدية عناصر لنمذج روائي يؤطر الصراعات الحالية بتعابير أخروية (تتسم بالإيمان بالآخرة في الأديان التوحيدية) و تشاهد سوابق هذه العبارات المجازية في المهمة التي تؤديها أسطورة توراتية عن انتصار شبه تاريخي، و لا حقا بطريقة مؤثرة في 1 أخنوز، و ينظر إلى هذه التكرار للأساطورة في الأخروية التي تنطوي عليها الأديان التوحيدية – كرد فعل على الأزمات المتصورة من منظو Hanse Blumeberg في أن الأسطورة هي تعبير عن التخفيف المتواصل من حدة مايدعوه استناد الواقع – ألا و هو الوقوف أمام عالم حياتي يتخطى سيطرة الفرد. تساعد صفات الأسطورة النمذ جية المبهمة الخيال الذي تعمر به الأديان التوحيدية على مصارعة الحوادث الطارئة في الخبرة التاريخية التي غالبا ما تكون مثيرة للرهبة.application/pdfresearch repor

Volumetric laser endomicroscopy and its application to Barrett\u27s esophagus: results from a 1,000 patient registry.

Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) uses optical coherence tomography (OCT) for real-time, microscopic cross-sectional imaging. A US-based multi-center registry was constructed to prospectively collect data on patients undergoing upper endoscopy during which a VLE scan was performed. The objective of this registry was to determine usage patterns of VLE in clinical practice and to estimate quantitative and qualitative performance metrics as they are applied to Barrett\u27s esophagus (BE) management. All procedures utilized the NvisionVLE Imaging System (NinePoint Medical, Bedford, MA) which was used by investigators to identify the tissue types present, along with focal areas of concern. Following the VLE procedure, investigators were asked to answer six key questions regarding how VLE impacted each case. Statistical analyses including neoplasia diagnostic yield improvement using VLE was performed. One thousand patients were enrolled across 18 US trial sites from August 2014 through April 2016. In patients with previously diagnosed or suspected BE (894/1000), investigators used VLE and identified areas of concern not seen on white light endoscopy (WLE) in 59% of the procedures. VLE imaging also guided tissue acquisition and treatment in 71% and 54% of procedures, respectively. VLE as an adjunct modality improved the neoplasia diagnostic yield by 55% beyond the standard of care practice. In patients with no prior history of therapy, and without visual findings from other technologies, VLE-guided tissue acquisition increased neoplasia detection over random biopsies by 700%. Registry investigators reported that VLE improved the BE management process when used as an adjunct tissue acquisition and treatment guidance tool. The ability of VLE to image large segments of the esophagus with microscopic cross-sectional detail may provide additional benefits including higher yield biopsies and more efficient tissue acquisition. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02215291

Integration of Sequence Data from a Consanguineous Family with Genetic Data from an Outbred Population Identifies PLB1 as a Candidate Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk Gene

Integrating genetic data from families with highly penetrant forms of disease together with genetic data from outbred populations represents a promising strategy to uncover the complete frequency spectrum of risk alleles for complex traits such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we demonstrate that rare, low-frequency and common alleles at one gene locus, phospholipase B1 (PLB1), might contribute to risk of RA in a 4-generation consanguineous pedigree (Middle Eastern ancestry) and also in unrelated individuals from the general population (European ancestry). Through identity-by-descent (IBD) mapping and whole-exome sequencing, we identified a non-synonymous c.2263G. C (p.G755R) mutation at the PLB1 gene on 2q23, which significantly co-segregated with RA in family members with a dominant mode of inheritance (P = 0.009). We further evaluated PLB1 variants and risk of RA using a GWAS meta-analysis of 8,875 RA cases and 29,367 controls of European ancestry. We identified significant contributions of two independent non-coding variants near PLB1 with risk of RA (rs116018341 [MAF = 0.042] and rs116541814 [MAF = 0.021], combined P = 3.26 x 10(-6)). Finally, we performed deep exon sequencing of PLB1 in 1,088 RA cases and 1,088 controls (European ancestry), and identified suggestive dispersion of rare protein-coding variant frequencies between cases and controls (P = 0.049 for C-alpha test and P = 0.055 for SKAT). Together, these data suggest that PLB1 is a candidate risk gene for RA. Future studies to characterize the full spectrum of genetic risk in the PLB1 genetic locus are warranted

Inapplicability of advance directives in a paternalistic setting: the case of a post-communist health system

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Albanian medical system and Albanian health legislation have adopted a paternalistic position with regard to individual decision making. This reflects the practices of a not-so-remote past when state-run facilities and a totalitarian philosophy of medical care were politically imposed. Because of this history, advance directives concerning treatment refusal and do-not-resuscitate decisions are still extremely uncommon in Albania. Medical teams cannot abstain from intervening even when the patient explicitly and repeatedly solicits therapeutic abstinence. The Albanian law on health care has no provisions regarding limits or withdrawal of treatment. This restricts the individual's healthcare choices.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The question of <it>'medically futile' </it>interventions and pointless life-prolonging treatment has been discussed by several authors. Dutch physicians call such interventions '<it>medisch zinloos</it>' (<it>senseless</it>), and the Netherlands, as one of the first states to legislate on end-of-life situations, actually regulates such issues through appropriate laws. In contrast, leaving an 'advance directive' is not a viable option for Albanian ailing individuals of advanced age. Verbal requests are provided during periods of mental competence, but unfortunately such instructions are rarely taken seriously, and none of them has ever been upheld in a legal or other official forum.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>End-of-life decisions, treatment refusal and do-not-resuscitate policies are hazardous options in Albania, from the legal point of view. Complying with them involves significant risk on the part of the physician. Culturally, the application of such instructions is influenced from a mixture of religious beliefs, death coping-behaviors and an immense confusion concerning the role of proxies as decision-makers. Nevertheless, Albanian tradition is familiar with the notion of '<it>amanet</it>', a sort of living will that mainly deals the property and inheritance issues. Such living wills, verbally transmitted, may in certain cases include advance directives regarding end-of-life decisions of the patient including refusal or termination of futile medical treatments. Since these living wills are never formally and legally validated, their application is impossible and treatment refusal remains still non practicable. Tricks to avoid institutional treatment under desperate conditions are used, aiming to provide legal coverage for medical teams and relatives that in extreme situations comply with the advice of withholding senseless treatment.</p