Directed, Elliptic, and Higher Order Flow Harmonics of Protons, Deuterons, and Tritons in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.4 GeV.

Flow coefficients v_{n} of the orders n=1-6 are measured with the High-Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer (HADES) at GSI for protons, deuterons, and tritons as a function of centrality, transverse momentum, and rapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.4 GeV. Combining the information from the flow coefficients of all orders allows us to construct for the first time, at collision energies of a few GeV, a multidifferential picture of the angular emission pattern of these particles. It reflects the complicated interplay between the effect of the central fireball pressure on the emission of particles and their subsequent interaction with spectator matter. The high precision information on higher order flow coefficients is a major step forward in constraining the equation of state of dense baryonic matter.

Strong Absorption of Hadrons with Hidden and Open Strangeness in Nuclear Matter.

We present the first observation of K^{-} and ϕ absorption within nuclear matter by means of π^{-}-induced reactions on C and W targets at an incident beam momentum of 1.7 GeV/c studied with HADES at SIS18/GSI. The double ratio (K^{-}/K^{+})_{W}/(K^{-}/K^{+})_{C} is found to be 0.319±0.009(stat)_{-0.012}^{+0.014}(syst) indicating a larger absorption of K^{-} in heavier targets as compared to lighter ones. The measured ϕ/K^{-} ratios in π^{-}+C and π^{-}+W reactions within the HADES acceptance are found to be equal to 0.55±0.04(stat)_{-0.07}^{+0.06}(syst) and to 0.63±0.06(stat)_{-0.11}^{+0.11}(syst), respectively. The similar ratios measured in the two different reactions demonstrate for the first time experimentally that the dynamics of the ϕ meson in nuclear medium is strongly coupled to the K^{-} dynamics. The large difference in the ϕ production off C and W nuclei is discussed in terms of a strong ϕN in-medium coupling. These results are relevant for the description of heavy-ion collisions and the structure of neutron stars.

Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica: validación del cuestionario IPAG y dispositivo PIKO-6(R), en las Unidades de Atención Primaria de Salud de Portugal / Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: validation of IPAG questionnaire and PIKO-6(R) device, in Portuguese Primary Health Care Units

Introducción: La Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica (EPOC) es una causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad en todo el mundo, generalmente no se diagnostica hasta etapas avanzadas de la enfermedad. En Portugal, el estudio de la Carga Portuguesa de Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva (BOLD) ha estimado una prevalencia de 14,2% en adultos mayores de 40 años, con un 86,8% de infradiagnóstico. El uso de herramientas simples de cribado en Atención Primaria de Salud (APS) puede aumentar el número de pacientes identificados en riesgo de desarrollar EPOC. Objetivos: Validar un cuestionario de EPOC y determinar la exactitud diagnóstica de una relación FEV1/FEV6de la mini-espirometría con respecto a una prueba de espirometría diagnóstica como un instrumento de tamizaje a la EPOC en Atención Primaria. Métodos: Se seleccionaron pacientes de más de 40 años de 4 unidades de APS diferentes. Se aplicó el cuestionario IPAG y se realizaron pruebas con el dispositivo PIKO-6(R). Los resultados se compararon con la espirometría. Resultados. Se analizaron datos de 471 sujetos (235 hombres, con una edad media de 60,1 ± 10,9 años). Se diagnosticaron cincuenta y siete (12,1%) casos de EPOC. La sensibilidad y especificidad fueron, respectivamente, 84,1% y 49,9% para el cuestionario del IPAG; 61,4% y 93,7% para PIKO-6(R)y 45,6% y 96,5% para IPAG + PIKO-6(R). La mejor zona bajo la curva que se encontró con la combinación IPAG + PIKO-6(R) fue del 73%. Conclusión: El cuestionario IPAG y el dispositivo PIKO-6(R) son herramientas útiles para la detección de la EPOC y podrían utilizarse en combinación. Se debe realizar una espirometría confirmatoria en presencia de resultados positivos de IPAG y/o PIKO-6(R) Estas herramientas podrían ser útiles para disminuir el infradiagnóstico de EPOC

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, usually not diagnosed until advanced stages of the disease. In Portugal, the Portuguese Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study has estimated a prevalence of 14.2% in adults over 40 years, with 86.8% of under-diagnosis. The use of simple screening tools in Primary Health Care (PHC) can increase the number of identified patients at risk of developing COPD. Objectives: To validate a COPD questionnaire and determine the diagnostic accuracy of a FEV1/FEV6 ratio from mini-spirometry relative to a diagnostic spirometry test as a screening tolls to COPD in Primary Care. Methods: Patients aged over 40 years were selected from 4 different PHC units. It was applied the IPAG questionnaire and tests with PIKO-6(R) device were performed. The results were then compared with spirometry. Results. Data from 471 subjects were analysed (235 men; mean age 60.1±10.9 years).Fifty seven (12.1%) cases of COPD were diagnosed. The sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 84.1% and 49.9% for the IPAG questionnaire; 61.4% and 93.7% for the PIKO-6(R) and 45.6% and 96.5% for the IPAG+PIKO-6(R). The best area under the curve that was found with the IPAG+ PIKO-6(R) combination was 73%. Conclusion: The IPAG questionnaire and PIKO-6(R) device are useful COPD screening tools and could be used in combination. A confirmatory spirometry should be carried out in the presence of positive results from IPAG and/or PIKO-6(R) . These tools could be useful to diminish COPD underdiagnosis

Subthreshold Ξ

Results on the production of the double strange cascade hyperon Ξ^{-} are reported for collisions of p(3.5 GeV)+Nb, studied with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at SIS18 at GSI Helmholtzzentrum for Heavy-Ion Research, Darmstadt. For the first time, subthreshold Ξ^{-} production is observed in proton-nucleus interactions. Assuming a Ξ^{-} phase-space distribution similar to that of Λ hyperons, the production probability amounts to P_{Ξ^{-}}=[2.0±0.4(stat)±0.3(norm)±0.6(syst)]×10^{-4} resulting in a Ξ^{-}/(Λ+Σ^{0}) ratio of P_{Ξ^{-}}/P_{Λ+Σ^{0}}=[1.2±0.3(stat)±0.4(syst)]×10^{-2}. Available model predictions are significantly lower than the measured Ξ^{-} yield.

Deep subthreshold Xi;{-} production in Ar + KCl reactions at 1.76A GeV.

We report first results on a deep subthreshold production of the doubly strange hyperon Xi;{-} in a heavy-ion reaction. At a beam energy of 1.76A GeV the reaction Ar + KCl was studied with the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer at SIS18/GSI. A high-statistics and high-purity Lambda sample was collected, allowing for the investigation of the decay channel Xi;{-} --> Lambdapi;{-}. The deduced Xi;{-}/(Lambda + Sigma;{0}) production ratio of (5.6 +/- 1.2_{-1.7};{+1.8}) x 10;{-3} is significantly larger than available model predictions.

The social impact of children's dentofacial appearance.

AIM: To assess the influence of dentofacial appearance of 10-year-old children on interpersonal attractiveness. STUDY DESIGN: Survey. METHODS: Four sets of photographs were prepared, having as their initial models facial portraits of four boys and four girls. In each set facial portraits were presented in four situations: the original, harmonic face and three versions produced by a graphic computing program, classified as the class II, class III and long face syndromes. These photographs were shown to 802 schoolchildren so that they could choose which one they would most and which one they would least, want to have as a friend. Also they were asked which one they considered the most and the least aggressive, the most and least intelligent and the most and the least good-looking. RESULTS: The harmonic face was the predominant choice in the friendship dimension (68.9%), as for intelligence (46.8%), and regarding attractiveness for males (55.4%) and females (61.7%); as regards aggressiveness, class III was the predominant choice (57.9%). CONCLUSIONS: There is an association between harmonic and unharmonic facial appearances and interpersonal attractiveness in 10-year-old Brazilian children.