Measurement of prompt D-meson production in p-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV.

The p_{T}-differential production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons D^{0}, D^{+}, D^{*+}, and D_{s}^{+} and their charge conjugate in the rapidity interval -0.96

Exclusive J/ψ photoproduction off protons in ultraperipheral p-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV.

We present the first measurement at the LHC of exclusive J/ψ photoproduction off protons, in ultraperipheral proton-lead collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV. Events are selected with a dimuon pair produced either in the rapidity interval, in the laboratory frame, 2.5

J/ψ elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV.

We report on the first measurement of inclusive J/ψ elliptic flow v2 in heavy-ion collisions at the LHC. The measurement is performed with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV in the rapidity range 2.5

D meson elliptic flow in noncentral Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[sNN]=2.76 Tev.

Azimuthally anisotropic distributions of D0, D+, and D*+ mesons were studied in the central rapidity region (|y|<0.8) in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[sNN]=2.76 TeV per nucleon-nucleon collision, with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The second Fourier coefficient v2 (commonly denoted elliptic flow) was measured in the centrality class 30%-50% as a function of the D meson transverse momentum pT, in the range 2-16 GeV/c. The measured v2 of D mesons is comparable in magnitude to that of light-flavor hadrons. It is positive in the range 2

Directed flow of charged particles at midrapidity relative to the spectator plane in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV.

The directed flow of charged particles at midrapidity is measured in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV relative to the collision symmetry plane defined by the spectator nucleons. A negative slope of the rapidity-odd directed flow component with approximately 3 times smaller magnitude than found at the highest RHIC energy is observed. This suggests a smaller longitudinal tilt of the initial system and disfavors the strong fireball rotation predicted for the LHC energies. The rapidity-even directed flow component is measured for the first time with spectators and found to be independent of pseudorapidity with a sign change at transverse momenta p(T) between 1.2 and 1.7 GeV/c. Combined with the observation of a vanishing rapidity-even p(T) shift along the spectator deflection this is strong evidence for dipolelike initial density fluctuations in the overlap zone of the nuclei. Similar trends in the rapidity-even directed flow and the estimate from two-particle correlations at midrapidity, which is larger by about a factor of 40, indicate a weak correlation between fluctuating participant and spectator symmetry planes. These observations open new possibilities for investigation of the initial conditions in heavy-ion collisions with spectator nucleons.

K(S)0 and Λ production in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV.

The ALICE measurement of K(S)(0) and Λ production at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=2.76 TeV is presented. The transverse momentum (p(T)) spectra are shown for several collision centrality intervals and in the p(T) range from 0.4 GeV/c (0.6 GeV/c for Λ) to 12 GeV/c. The p(T) dependence of the Λ/K(S)(0) ratios exhibits maxima in the vicinity of 3 GeV/c, and the positions of the maxima shift towards higher p(T) with increasing collision centrality. The magnitude of these maxima increases by almost a factor of three between most peripheral and most central Pb-Pb collisions. This baryon excess at intermediate p(T) is not observed in pp interactions at √s=0.9 TeV and at √s=7 TeV. Qualitatively, the baryon enhancement in heavy-ion collisions is expected from radial flow. However, the measured p(T) spectra above 2 GeV/c progressively decouple from hydrodynamical-model calculations. For higher values of p(T), models that incorporate the influence of the medium on the fragmentation and hadronization processes describe qualitatively the p(T) dependence of the Λ/K(S)(0) ratio.

Transverse momentum distribution and nuclear modification factor of charged particles in p+Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 5.02 TeV.

The transverse momentum (p(T)) distribution of primary charged particles is measured in minimum bias (non-single-diffractive) p+Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The p(T) spectra measured near central rapidity in the range 0.5

Pseudorapidity density of charged particles in p+Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV.

The charged-particle pseudorapidity density measured over four units of pseudorapidity in nonsingle-diffractive p+Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV is presented. The average value at midrapidity is measured to be 16.81±0.71 (syst), which corresponds to 2.14±0.17 (syst) per participating nucleon, calculated with the Glauber model. This is 16% lower than in nonsingle-diffractive pp collisions interpolated to the same collision energy and 84% higher than in d+Au collisions at s√(s(NN))=0.2 TeV. The measured pseudorapidity density in p+Pb collisions is compared to model predictions and provides new constraints on the description of particle production in high-energy nuclear collisions.

Hadron production models' prediction for pT distribution of charged hadrons in pp interactions at 7 TeV.

The yield of transverse momentum (pT) spectra of integrated hadrons and their ratios produced in pp collisions at 7 TeV are reported using DPMJET-III, EPOS1.99, EPOS-LHC, HIJING1.383, QGSJETII-04, and Sibyll2.3c models. The models' predictions are compared with the ALICE measurements obtained at mid rapidity and in the pT range from 0.3-6 GeV/c, 0.2-6 GeV/c, and 0.1-3 GeV/c for protons, kaons and pions respectively. Compared to the experimental data, the EPOS1.99 and EPOS-LHC models predict the yield of pion very well while reproducing yields of kaon and proton at low pT only. The DPMJET-III model predicts the yield of pions, kaons and protons only at intermediate value of pT. The HIJING and Sibyll models describe the integrated yield of pion well at high pT only. The QGSJETII model predicts the yield of kaon for almost the whole pT range. EPOS1.99 and Sibyll models reproduce excellent prediction of the K/π ratio over the entire range of pT whereas the EPOS-LHC, HIJING and DPMJET models underpredict with increasing order of discrepancy respectively. The EPOS1.99, EPOS-LHC, and Sibyll models predict the p/π ratio for low values of pT, but overpredict at high values, while the DPMJET-III and HIJING models underpredict over the entire range of pT. Although the models' predictions are mostly consistent with the ALICE measurements but none of the models completely describe the entire distribution for the integrated yield of hadron and their ratios.

Relation between direct detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in human coronary arteries at postmortem examination and histological severity (Stary grading) of associated atherosclerotic plaque.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have suggested a link between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease. However, it is still unclear whether C pneumoniae plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of these conditions. Accordingly, we have performed a systematic dissection of the 3 coronary arteries on 33 postmortem subjects and studied the relationship in individual artery segments between the presence of C pneumoniae DNA and the severity of associated atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: The prevalence of C pneumoniae DNA in arterial segments was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after controlling for the presence of PCR inhibitors. Atherosclerosis in each arterial segment was graded histologically with the Stary classification. C pneumoniae was detected by PCR in 78.8% of subjects, but there was no association between the presence of this DNA and cause of death or grade of atherosclerosis. When paired mild and severe atherosclerotic lesions within subjects were compared, mild lesions were as likely to be positive for C pneumoniae as severe lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that C pneumoniae can frequently be detected in atheromatous plaques in coronary arteries. However, its distribution did not correlate with severity or extent of disease.

Measurement of pion, kaon and proton production in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV.

The measurement of primary [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] production at mid-rapidity ([Formula: see text] 0.5) in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] 7 TeV performed with a large ion collider experiment at the large hadron collider (LHC) is reported. Particle identification is performed using the specific ionisation energy-loss and time-of-flight information, the ring-imaging Cherenkov technique and the kink-topology identification of weak decays of charged kaons. Transverse momentum spectra are measured from 0.1 up to 3 GeV/[Formula: see text] for pions, from 0.2 up to 6 GeV/[Formula: see text] for kaons and from 0.3 up to 6 GeV/[Formula: see text] for protons. The measured spectra and particle ratios are compared with quantum chromodynamics-inspired models, tuned to reproduce also the earlier measurements performed at the LHC. Furthermore, the integrated particle yields and ratios as well as the average transverse momenta are compared with results at lower collision energies.

Production of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] 7 TeV.

The production of the strange and double-strange baryon resonances ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) has been measured at mid-rapidity ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]) in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] 7 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. Transverse momentum spectra for inelastic collisions are compared to QCD-inspired models, which in general underpredict the data. A search for the [Formula: see text] pentaquark, decaying in the [Formula: see text] channel, has been carried out but no evidence is seen.

Current and investigational drug strategies for glioblastoma.

Medical treatments for glioblastoma face several challenges. Lipophilic alkylators remain the mainstay of treatment, emphasising the primacy of good blood-brain barrier penetration. Temozolomide has emerged as a major contributor to improved patient survival. The roles of procarbazine and vincristine in the procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine (PCV) schedule have attracted scrutiny and several lines of evidence now support the use of lomustine as effective single-agent therapy. Bevacizumab has had a convoluted development history, but clearly now has no major role in first-line treatment, and may even be detrimental to quality of life in this setting. In later disease, clinically meaningful benefits are achievable in some patients, but more impressively the combination of bevacizumab and lomustine shows early promise. Over the last decade, investigational strategies in glioblastoma have largely subscribed to the targeted kinase inhibitor paradigm and have mostly failed. Low prevalence dominant driver lesions such as the FGFR-TACC fusion may represent a niche role for this agent class. Immunological, metabolic and radiosensitising approaches are being pursued and offer more generalised efficacy. Finally, trial design is a crucial consideration. Progress in clinical glioblastoma research would be greatly facilitated by improved methodologies incorporating: (i) routine pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments by preoperative dosing; and (ii) multi-stage, multi-arm protocols incorporating new therapy approaches and high-resolution biology in order to guide necessary improvements in science.

Synergistic cytotoxicity of radiation and oncolytic Lister strain vaccinia in (V600D/E)BRAF mutant melanoma depends on JNK and TNF-α signaling.

Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer that carries an extremely poor prognosis when local invasion, nodal spread or systemic metastasis has occurred. Recent advances in melanoma biology have revealed that RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling has a pivotal role in governing disease progression and treatment resistance. Proof-of-concept clinical studies have shown that direct BRAF inhibition yields impressive responses in advanced disease but these are short-lived as treatment resistance rapidly emerges. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop new targeted strategies for BRAF mutant melanoma. As such, oncolytic viruses represent a promising cancer-specific approach with significant activity in melanoma. This study investigated interactions between genetically-modified vaccinia virus (GLV-1h68) and radiotherapy in melanoma cell lines with BRAF mutant, Ras mutant or wild-type genotype. Preclinical studies revealed that GLV-1h68 combined with radiotherapy significantly increased cytotoxicity and apoptosis relative to either single agent in (V600D)BRAF/(V600E)BRAF mutant melanoma in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism of enhanced cytotoxicity with GLV-1h68/radiation (RT) was independent of viral replication and due to attenuation of JNK, p38 and ERK MAPK phosphorylation specifically in BRAF mutant cells. Further studies showed that JNK pathway inhibition sensitized BRAF mutant cells to GLV-1h68-mediated cell death, mimicking the effect of RT. GLV-1h68 infection activated MAPK signaling in (V600D)BRAF/(V600E)BRAF mutant cell lines and this was associated with TNF-α secretion which, in turn, provided a prosurvival signal. Combination GLV-1h68/RT (or GLV-1h68/JNK inhibition) caused abrogation of TNF-α secretion. These data provide a strong rationale for combining GLV-1h68 with irradiation in (V600D/E)BRAF mutant tumors.

Measurement of quarkonium production at forward rapidity in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text]TeV.

The inclusive production cross sections at forward rapidity of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text](1S) and [Formula: see text](2S) are measured in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.35 pb[Formula: see text]. Quarkonia are reconstructed in the dimuon-decay channel and the signal yields are evaluated by fitting the [Formula: see text] invariant mass distributions. The differential production cross sections are measured as a function of the transverse momentum [Formula: see text] and rapidity [Formula: see text], over the ranges [Formula: see text] GeV/c for [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] GeV/c for all other resonances and for [Formula: see text]. The measured cross sections integrated over [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and assuming unpolarized quarkonia, are: [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]b, [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]b, [Formula: see text] nb and [Formula: see text] nb, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second one is systematic. The results are compared to measurements performed by other LHC experiments and to theoretical models.

Charmonium and e+e- pair photoproduction at mid-rapidity in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text].

The ALICE Collaboration at the LHC has measured the J/ψ and ψ' photoproduction at mid-rapidity in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text]. The charmonium is identified via its leptonic decay for events where the hadronic activity is required to be minimal. The analysis is based on an event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 23 µb-1. The cross section for coherent and incoherent J/ψ production in the rapidity interval -0.9

Energy dependence of the transverse momentum distributions of charged particles in pp collisions measured by ALICE.

Differential cross sections of charged particles in inelastic pp collisions as a function of pT have been measured at [Formula: see text] at the LHC. The pT spectra are compared to NLO-pQCD calculations. Though the differential cross section for an individual [Formula: see text] cannot be described by NLO-pQCD, the relative increase of cross section with [Formula: see text] is in agreement with NLO-pQCD. Based on these measurements and observations, procedures are discussed to construct pp reference spectra at [Formula: see text] up to pT=50 GeV/c as required for the calculation of the nuclear modification factor in nucleus-nucleus and proton-nucleus collisions.

Radioactive waste management in a hospital.

Most of the tertiary care hospitals use radioisotopes for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Safe disposal of the radioactive waste is a vital component of the overall management of the hospital waste. An important objective in radioactive waste management is to ensure that the radiation exposure to an individual (Public, Radiation worker, Patient) and the environment does not exceed the prescribed safe limits. Disposal of Radioactive waste in public domain is undertaken in accordance with the Atomic Energy (Safe disposal of radioactive waste) rules of 1987 promulgated by the Indian Central Government Atomic Energy Act 1962. Any prospective plan of a hospital that intends using radioisotopes for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures needs to have sufficient infrastructural and manpower resources to keep its ambient radiation levels within specified safe limits. Regular monitoring of hospital area and radiation workers is mandatory to assess the quality of radiation safety. Records should be maintained to identify the quality and quantity of radioactive waste generated and the mode of its disposal. Radiation Safety officer plays a key role in the waste disposal operations.