Search

The production of beauty hadrons was measured via semi-leptonic decays at mid-rapidity with the ALICE detector at the LHC in the transverse momentum interval 1

The production of beauty hadrons was measured via semi-leptonic decays at mid-rapidity with the ALICE detector at the LHC in the transverse momentum interval 1

The production of K∗(892)0 and φ(1020) mesons in proton-proton (pp) and lead-lead (Pb-Pb) collisions at sNN=2.76TeV has been analyzed using a high luminosity data sample accumulated in 2011 with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Transverse momentum (pT) spectra have been measured for K∗(892)0 and φ(1020) mesons via their hadronic decay channels for pT up to 20GeV/c. The measurements in pp collisions have been compared to model calculations and used to determine the nuclear modification factor and particle ratios. The K∗(892)0/K ratio exhibits significant reduction from pp to central Pb-Pb collisions, consistent with the suppression of the K∗(892)0 yield at low pT due to rescattering of its decay products in the hadronic phase. In central Pb-Pb collisions the pT dependent φ(1020)/π and K∗(892)0/π ratios show an enhancement over pp collisions for pT≈3GeV/c, consistent with previous observations of strong radial flow. At high pT, particle ratios in Pb-Pb collisions are similar to those measured in pp collisions. In central Pb-Pb collisions, the production of K∗(892)0 and φ(1020) mesons is suppressed for pT>8GeV/c. This suppression is similar to that of charged pions, kaons, and protons, indicating that the suppression does not depend on particle mass or flavor in the light quark sector.

The production of K∗(892)0 and φ(1020) mesons in proton-proton (pp) and lead-lead (Pb-Pb) collisions at sNN=2.76TeV has been analyzed using a high luminosity data sample accumulated in 2011 with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Transverse momentum (pT) spectra have been measured for K∗(892)0 and φ(1020) mesons via their hadronic decay channels for pT up to 20GeV/c. The measurements in pp collisions have been compared to model calculations and used to determine the nuclear modification factor and particle ratios. The K∗(892)0/K ratio exhibits significant reduction from pp to central Pb-Pb collisions, consistent with the suppression of the K∗(892)0 yield at low pT due to rescattering of its decay products in the hadronic phase. In central Pb-Pb collisions the pT dependent φ(1020)/π and K∗(892)0/π ratios show an enhancement over pp collisions for pT≈3GeV/c, consistent with previous observations of strong radial flow. At high pT, particle ratios in Pb-Pb collisions are similar to those measured in pp collisions. In central Pb-Pb collisions, the production of K∗(892)0 and φ(1020) mesons is suppressed for pT>8GeV/c. This suppression is similar to that of charged pions, kaons, and protons, indicating that the suppression does not depend on particle mass or flavor in the light quark sector.

We present results on transverse momentum ([Formula: see text]) and rapidity ([Formula: see text]) differential production cross sections, mean transverse momentum and mean transverse momentum square of inclusive [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at forward rapidity ([Formula: see text]) as well as [Formula: see text]-to-[Formula: see text] cross section ratios. These quantities are measured in pp collisions at center of mass energies [Formula: see text] and 13 TeV with the ALICE detector. Both charmonium states are reconstructed in the dimuon decay channel, using the muon spectrometer. A comprehensive comparison to inclusive charmonium cross sections measured at [Formula: see text], 7 and 8 TeV is performed. A comparison to non-relativistic quantum chromodynamics and fixed-order next-to-leading logarithm calculations, which describe prompt and non-prompt charmonium production respectively, is also presented. A good description of the data is obtained over the full [Formula: see text] range, provided that both contributions are summed. In particular, it is found that for [Formula: see text] GeV/c the non-prompt contribution reaches up to 50% of the total charmonium yield.

The transverse momentum distributions of the strange and double-strange hyperon resonances (Σ(1385)±, Ξ(1530)0) produced in p-Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV were measured in the rapidity range -0.5

The first study of ϕ-meson production in p–Pb collisions at forward and backward rapidity, at a nucleon–nucleon centre-of-mass energy sNN=5.02 TeV, has been performed with the ALICE apparatus at the LHC. The ϕ-mesons have been identified in the dimuon decay channel in the transverse momentum (pT) range 1

The invariant differential cross sections for inclusive [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons at midrapidity were measured in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV for transverse momenta [Formula: see text] GeV/c and [Formula: see text] GeV/c, respectively, using the ALICE detector. This large range in [Formula: see text] was achieved by combining various analysis techniques and different triggers involving the electromagnetic calorimeter (EMCal). In particular, a new single-cluster, shower-shape based method was developed for the identification of high-[Formula: see text] neutral pions, which exploits that the showers originating from their decay photons overlap in the EMCal. Above 4 GeV/[Formula: see text], the measured cross sections are found to exhibit a similar power-law behavior with an exponent of about 6.3. Next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations differ from the measured cross sections by about 30% for the [Formula: see text], and between 30-50% for the [Formula: see text] meson, while generator-level simulations with PYTHIA 8.2 describe the data to better than 10-30%, except at [Formula: see text] GeV/[Formula: see text]. The new data can therefore be used to further improve the theoretical description of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] meson production.

The azimuthal correlations of D mesons with charged particles were measured with the ALICE apparatus in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] and p-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text] at the Large Hadron Collider. [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] mesons and their charge conjugates with transverse momentum [Formula: see text] and rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass system [Formula: see text] (pp collisions) and [Formula: see text] (p-Pb collisions) were correlated to charged particles with [Formula: see text]. The yield of charged particles in the correlation peak induced by the jet containing the D meson and the peak width are compatible within uncertainties in the two collision systems. The data are described within uncertainties by Monte-Carlo simulations based on PYTHIA, POWHEG, and EPOS 3 event generators.

The inclusive J/ψ production has been studied in Pb–Pb and pp collisions at the centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sNN=5.02 TeV, using the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC. The J/ψ meson is reconstructed, in the centre-of-mass rapidity interval 2.5>y

The W and Z boson production was measured via the muonic decay channel in proton-lead collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider with the ALICE detector. The measurement covers backward (−4.46 < ycms < −2.96) and forward (2.03 < ycms < 3.53) rapidity regions, corresponding to Pb-going and p-going directions, respectively. The Z-boson production cross section, with dimuon invariant mass of 60 < mμμ < 120 GeV/c2 and muon transverse momentum (pTμ) larger than 20 GeV/c, is measured. The production cross section and charge asymmetry of muons from W-boson decays with pTμ > 10 GeV/c are determined. The results are compared to theoretical calculations both with and without including the nuclear modification of the parton distribution functions. The W-boson production is also studied as a function of the collision centrality: the cross section of muons from W-boson decays is found to scale with the average number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions within uncertainties.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]

The W and Z boson production was measured via the muonic decay channel in proton-lead collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider with the ALICE detector. The measurement covers backward (−4.46 < ycms < −2.96) and forward (2.03 < ycms < 3.53) rapidity regions, corresponding to Pb-going and p-going directions, respectively. The Z-boson production cross section, with dimuon invariant mass of 60 < mμμ < 120 GeV/c2 and muon transverse momentum (pTμ) larger than 20 GeV/c, is measured. The production cross section and charge asymmetry of muons from W-boson decays with pTμ > 10 GeV/c are determined. The results are compared to theoretical calculations both with and without including the nuclear modification of the parton distribution functions. The W-boson production is also studied as a function of the collision centrality: the cross section of muons from W-boson decays is found to scale with the average number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions within uncertainties.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]

A detailed study of pseudorapidity densities and multiplicity distributions of primary charged particles produced in proton–proton collisions, at s= 0.9, 2.36, 2.76, 7 and 8 TeV, in the pseudorapidity range | η| < 2 , was carried out using the ALICE detector. Measurements were obtained for three event classes: inelastic, non-single diffractive and events with at least one charged particle in the pseudorapidity interval | η| < 1. The use of an improved track-counting algorithm combined with ALICE’s measurements of diffractive processes allows a higher precision compared to our previous publications. A KNO scaling study was performed in the pseudorapidity intervals | η| < 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. The data are compared to other experimental results and to models as implemented in Monte Carlo event generators PHOJET and recent tunes of PYTHIA6, PYTHIA8 and EPOS.

We present results on transverse momentum ([Formula: see text]) and rapidity ([Formula: see text]) differential production cross sections, mean transverse momentum and mean transverse momentum square of inclusive [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at forward rapidity ([Formula: see text]) as well as [Formula: see text]-to-[Formula: see text] cross section ratios. These quantities are measured in pp collisions at center of mass energies [Formula: see text] and 13 TeV with the ALICE detector. Both charmonium states are reconstructed in the dimuon decay channel, using the muon spectrometer. A comprehensive comparison to inclusive charmonium cross sections measured at [Formula: see text], 7 and 8 TeV is performed. A comparison to non-relativistic quantum chromodynamics and fixed-order next-to-leading logarithm calculations, which describe prompt and non-prompt charmonium production respectively, is also presented. A good description of the data is obtained over the full [Formula: see text] range, provided that both contributions are summed. In particular, it is found that for [Formula: see text] GeV/c the non-prompt contribution reaches up to 50% of the total charmonium yield.

The invariant differential cross sections for inclusive [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons at midrapidity were measured in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV for transverse momenta [Formula: see text] GeV/c and [Formula: see text] GeV/c, respectively, using the ALICE detector. This large range in [Formula: see text] was achieved by combining various analysis techniques and different triggers involving the electromagnetic calorimeter (EMCal). In particular, a new single-cluster, shower-shape based method was developed for the identification of high-[Formula: see text] neutral pions, which exploits that the showers originating from their decay photons overlap in the EMCal. Above 4 GeV/[Formula: see text], the measured cross sections are found to exhibit a similar power-law behavior with an exponent of about 6.3. Next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations differ from the measured cross sections by about 30% for the [Formula: see text], and between 30-50% for the [Formula: see text] meson, while generator-level simulations with PYTHIA 8.2 describe the data to better than 10-30%, except at [Formula: see text] GeV/[Formula: see text]. The new data can therefore be used to further improve the theoretical description of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] meson production.

A detailed study of pseudorapidity densities and multiplicity distributions of primary charged particles produced in proton–proton collisions, at s= 0.9, 2.36, 2.76, 7 and 8 TeV, in the pseudorapidity range | η| < 2 , was carried out using the ALICE detector. Measurements were obtained for three event classes: inelastic, non-single diffractive and events with at least one charged particle in the pseudorapidity interval | η| < 1. The use of an improved track-counting algorithm combined with ALICE’s measurements of diffractive processes allows a higher precision compared to our previous publications. A KNO scaling study was performed in the pseudorapidity intervals | η| < 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. The data are compared to other experimental results and to models as implemented in Monte Carlo event generators PHOJET and recent tunes of PYTHIA6, PYTHIA8 and EPOS.

The azimuthal correlations of D mesons with charged particles were measured with the ALICE apparatus in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] and p-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text] at the Large Hadron Collider. [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] mesons and their charge conjugates with transverse momentum [Formula: see text] and rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass system [Formula: see text] (pp collisions) and [Formula: see text] (p-Pb collisions) were correlated to charged particles with [Formula: see text]. The yield of charged particles in the correlation peak induced by the jet containing the D meson and the peak width are compatible within uncertainties in the two collision systems. The data are described within uncertainties by Monte-Carlo simulations based on PYTHIA, POWHEG, and EPOS 3 event generators.

The transverse momentum distributions of the strange and double-strange hyperon resonances ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) produced in p-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV were measured in the rapidity range [Formula: see text] for event classes corresponding to different charged-particle multiplicity densities, [Formula: see text]d[Formula: see text]/d[Formula: see text]. The mean transverse momentum values are presented as a function of [Formula: see text]d[Formula: see text]/d[Formula: see text], as well as a function of the particle masses and compared with previous results on hyperon production. The integrated yield ratios of excited to ground-state hyperons are constant as a function of [Formula: see text]d[Formula: see text]/d[Formula: see text]. The equivalent ratios to pions exhibit an increase with [Formula: see text]d[Formula: see text]/d[Formula: see text], depending on their strangeness content.

We present measurements of two-particle correlations with neutral pion trigger particles of transverse momenta 8>pTtrig>16 GeV/c and associated charged particles of 0.5>pTassoc>10 GeV/c versus the azimuthal angle difference Δφ at midrapidity in pp and central Pb–Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV with ALICE. The new measurements exploit associated charged hadrons down to 0.5 GeV/c, which significantly extends our previous measurement that only used charged hadrons above 3 GeV/c. After subtracting the contributions of the flow background, v2 to v5, the per-trigger yields are extracted for |Δφ|>0.7 on the near and for |Δφ−π|>1.1 on the away side. The ratio of per-trigger yields in Pb–Pb to those in pp collisions, IAA, is measured on the near and away side for the 0–10% most central Pb–Pb collisions. On the away side, the per-trigger yields in Pb–Pb are strongly suppressed to the level of IAA≈0.6 for pTassoc

O presente relato apresenta as ações do projeto de extensão Para Além da Leitura: Cidadania em Ação, vinculado ao Programa de Educação Tutorial Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (PET CiSA) da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM - RS), no ano de 2021. A metodologia norteadora trata-se da Pesquisa-ação, a qual fundamenta-se em Thiollent (2009), como uma pesquisa participativa onde os pesquisadores e participantes possuem uma relação frente à resolução de um problema coletivo. O projeto foi realizado em duas etapas: a primeira com o envio de formulários aos docentes com o objetivo de analisar demandas dos professores de escolas públicas e criar atividades com finalidade de cooperar com a redução dessas problemáticas; na segunda etapa, foram realizados os encontros via Google Meet onde foram discutidas formas de ingresso na UFSM, planos de permanência e apresentação de cursos solicitados pelos discentes. Nossos resultados demonstram como o projeto contribuiu para questões como a disseminação do conhecimento e a democratização do ensino, além de motivar, inspirar e estimular os alunos para ingressarem no ensino superior.

Zamak are zinc-aluminum alloys that, when processed by squeeze casting (injection), presents porosity defects on its surface, compromising its corrosion resistance. Thus, with the purpose to minimize these defects and increase corrosion resistance of Zamak, this work proposes formation of layers by anodizing, containing oxalates and oxides based on Zn and Al. Anodizing parameters used were 100 V, 10 mA.cm−2, room temperature, oxalic acid 0.3 mol.L−1 as electrolyte and 5 or 60 min. Samples were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The model suggested in this work shows that Zamak anodization occurs in three stages. In the first stage, zinc oxalate is formed as crystallites. In the second stage, zinc oxalate is solubilized and the formation of Al2O3 and ZnO (with smooth aspect) takes place. In the third stage, increasing thickness of the oxide layers promotes cracks on the anodized surface. Anodization of Zamak promotes better performance against corrosion, when compared to non-anodized samples, and this effect is attributed to the barrier effect of the oxides and the formation of corrosion products that fill the cracks generated during anodizing.

In this work, we first introduce a class of deterministic epidemic models with varying populations inspired by Arino et al. (2007), the parameterization of two matrices, demography, the waning of immunity, and vaccination parameters. Similar models have been focused on by Julien Arino, Fred Brauer, Odo Diekmann, and their coauthors, but mostly in the case of “closed populations” (models with varying populations have been studied in the past only in particular cases, due to the difficulty of this endeavor). Our Arino–Brauer models contain SIR–PH models of Riano (2020), which are characterized by the phase-type distribution (α→,A), modeling transitions in “disease/infectious compartments”. The A matrix is simply the Metzler/sub-generator matrix intervening in the linear system obtained by making all new infectious terms 0. The simplest way to define the probability row vector α→ is to restrict it to the case where there is only one susceptible class s, and when matrix B (given by the part of the new infection matrix, with respect to s) is of rank one, with B=bα→. For this case, the first result we obtained was an explicit formula (12) for the replacement number (not surprisingly, accounting for varying demography, waning immunity and vaccinations led to several nontrivial modifications of the Arino et al. (2007) formula). The analysis of (A,B) Arino–Brauer models is very challenging. As obtaining further general results seems very hard, we propose studying them at three levels: (A) the exact model, where only a few results are available—see Proposition 2; and (B) a “first approximation” (FA) of our model, which is related to the usually closed population model often studied in the literature. Notably, for this approximation, an associated renewal function is obtained in (7); this is related to the previous works of Breda, Diekmann, Graaf, Pugliese, Vermiglio, Champredon, Dushoff, and Earn. (C) Finally, we propose studying a second heuristic “intermediate approximation” (IA). Perhaps our main contribution is to draw attention to the importance of (A,B) Arino–Brauer models and that the FA approximation is not the only way to tackle them. As for the practical importance of our results, this is evident, once we observe that the (A,B) Arino–Brauer models include a large number of epidemic models (COVID, ILI, influenza, illnesses, etc.).

Tracheal reconstruction represents a challenge when primary anastomosis is not feasible. Within this scenario, the study aim was to develop a new pig-derived decellularized trachea (DecellT) to be compared with the cryopreserved counterpart (CryoT) for a close predictive analysis. Tracheal segments underwent decellularization by a physical + enzymatic + chemical method (12 cycles); in parallel, cryopreserved samples were also prepared. Once decellularized (histology/DNA quantification), the two groups were characterized for Alpha-Gal epitopes/structural proteins (immunohistochemistry/histology/biochemical assays/second harmonic generation microscopy)/ultrastructure (Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM))/mechanical behaviour. Cytotoxicity absence was assessed in vitro (extract-test assay/direct seeding, HM1SV40 cell line) while biocompatibility was verified in BALB/c mice, followed by histological/immunohistochemical analyses and SEM (14 days). Decellularization effectively removed Alpha-Gal epitopes; cartilage histoarchitecture was retained in both groups, showing chondrocytes only in the CryoT. Cryopreservation maintained few respiratory epithelium sparse cilia, not detectable in DecellT. Focusing on ECM, preserved structural/ultrastructural organization and collagen content were observed in the cartilage of both; conversely, the GAGs were significantly reduced in DecellT, as confirmed by mechanical study results. No cytotoxicity was highlighted by CryoT/DecellT in vitro, as they were also corroborated by a biocompatibility assay. Despite some limitations (cells presence/GAGs reduction), CryoT/DecellT are both appealing options, which warrant further investigation in comparative in vivo studies.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acidemia (HMGA) is a neurometabolic inherited disorder characterized by the predominant accumulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid (HMG) in the brain and biological fluids of patients. Symptoms often appear in the first year of life and include mainly neurological manifestations. The neuropathophysiology is not fully elucidated, so we investigated the effects of intracerebroventricular administration of HMG on redox and bioenergetic homeostasis in the cerebral cortex and striatum of neonatal rats. Neurodevelopment parameters were also evaluated. HMG decreased the activity of glutathione reductase (GR) and increased catalase (CAT) in the cerebral cortex. In the striatum, HMG reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, CAT, GR, glutathione S-transferase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Regarding bioenergetics, HMG decreased the activities of succinate dehydrogenase and respiratory chain complexes II–III and IV in the cortex. HMG also decreased the activities of citrate synthase and succinate dehydrogenase, as well as complex IV in the striatum. HMG further increased DRP1 levels in the cortex, indicating mitochondrial fission. Finally, we found that the HMG-injected animals showed impaired performance in all sensorimotor tests examined. Our findings provide evidence that HMG causes oxidative stress, bioenergetic dysfunction, and neurodevelopmental changes in neonatal rats, which may explain the neuropathophysiology of HMGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mugil liza juveniles (6.69 ± 0.06 g) were subjected to dietary citral (0-control, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mL per kg feed) for 45 days, and its possible effects on zootechnical and metabolic parameters, digestive enzymes, innate immunity, oxidative status and liver damage were evaluated. At the end of the experiment, fish fed 2.0 mL citral per kg feed showed a greater weight gain and protein retention efficiency, as well as enhanced activities of pepsin (stomach) and amylase (intestine) compared with control fish. Citral supplementation decreased liver lipoperoxidation and increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase and superoxide dismutase in the gills, liver and brain. The highest level of citral inclusion augmented non-protein thiol content in the brain and gills. Myeloperoxidase activity was lower in fish offered 1.0 and 2.0 mL citral per kg feed. Dietary citral did not influence the plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase or the hepatic histology. As it improved growth, the activity of digestive enzymes and general health, dietary citral may be recommended for M. liza at 2.0 mL per kg feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the dry matter intake (DMI), body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), beta-hydroxy-butyrate (BHB), milk yield, and milk composition during the transition period of Holstein and crossbred Holstein x Simmental cows. Thirty cows were used in the study. Each cow entered the study 21 days before their expected calving day (prepartum) and remained in the study until day 21 after calving (postpartum). DMI, and milk yield were recorded daily. Once a week, BW and BCS were recorded and blood was collected to measure the BHB. The SAS software was used for the statistical analysis. Holstein and crossbred Holstein x Simmental cows had similar DMI during the prepartum and postpartum periods with higher intakes after calving. Crossbred Holstein x Simmental cows had a higher BCS than Holstein cows during the prepartum and postpartum periods. BHB does not differ between genetic groups, but between periods – with lower values in the prepartum period. The genetic groups had similar milk yield and composition. Both genetic groups lost BCS after calving, but Holstein cows showed a greater decrease in BCS. The use of a crossbreeding programme with Simmental has no negative effect on the performance during the transition period in Holstein herds.

Os rotores Savonius apresentam vários parâmetros geométricos que influenciam no seu desempenho, dentre eles a razão de sobreposição, e atualmente estão sendo realizados diversos trabalhos de Dinâmica de Fluidos Computacional (CFD) para avaliar a eficiência de diferentes configurações. Dessa forma, o objetivo principal deste trabalho é analisar com o auxílio da CFD a influência de diferentes razões de sobreposição no torque estático da turbina Savonius. Para isso, foi variada a razão de sobreposição de 0 a 0,75 com passo de 0,075. As simulações de CFD foram realizadas utilizando o software Solidworks Flow Simulation 2016, o qual resolve as equações de conservação utilizando o modelo de turbulência k-ε com funções de amortecimento e o método de discretização por Volumes Finitos. Através da avaliação das simulações foi possível definir que o rotor com razão de sobreposição de 0,375 é o que proporciona melhor desempenho de autopartida à turbina Savonius.

Xylazine is a myorelaxant with sedative and analgesic effects that can be used in dogs and cats. The acupuncture point denominated Yin Tang has sedative effects when stimulated on animals. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate if xylazine in subdoses administered to dogs and cats in the Yin Tang acupoint has sedative effects as well as the therapeutic dose. Six dogs and six cats were used. The study comprised of four steps. In the first step (S1), the therapeutic dose was administered intramuscularly (IM). Second step (S2) was performed using one-tenth (1/10) of the dose used in S1 intramuscularly. In the third step (S3), the xylazine was applied in the acupoint Yin Tang, at the same dose used in S2. In the fourth stage (S4), physiological solution was administered in Yin Tang acupoint in the same volume administered in S3. The presence or absence of decubitus, somnolence, and other signs indicative of sedation were investigated in all steps and all animals. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.05). It was concluded that xylazine administered in subdoses in the Yin Tang acupoint in dogs and cats promotes sedation similar to the therapeutic dose administered intramuscularly.

The structure dependent radiative K+→e+νγ (Ke2γSD+) decay was investigated with stopped positive kaons. The e+ momentum spectra containing 574±30 Ke2γSD+ events with a K+→μ+ν (Kμ2) background of 28±19 events were measured with and without a photon in coincidence and analyzed with Monte Carlo simulations for acceptance and detector response to extract the ratio of the branching ratio of the Ke2γSD+ decay and the K+→e+ν decay including the internal bremsstrahlung process (Ke2(γ)). A value of Br(Ke2γSD+)/Br(Ke2(γ))=1.12±0.07stat±0.04syst was obtained. This indicates a partial branching ratio, Br(Ke2γSD+,pe>200MeV/c,Eγ>10MeV)/Br(Kμ2)=(1.85±0.11stat±0.07syst)×10−5, which is 25% (∼2.5σ) higher than the previous experimental result.

Background: In the context of the investigation of the quark gluon plasma produced in heavy-ion collisions, hadrons containing heavy (charm or beauty) quarks play a special role for the characterization of the hot and dense medium created in the interaction. The measurement of the production of charm and beauty hadrons in proton-proton collisions, besides providing the necessary reference for the studies in heavy-ion reactions, constitutes an important test of perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) calculations. Heavy-flavor production in proton-nucleus collisions is sensitive to the various effects related to the presence of nuclei in the colliding system, commonly denoted cold-nuclear-matter effects. Most of these effects are expected to modify open-charm production at low transverse momenta (pT) and, so far, no measurement of D-meson production down to zero transverse momentum was available at mid-rapidity at the energies attained at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Purpose: The measurements of the production cross sections of promptly produced charmed mesons in p-Pb collisions at the LHC down to pT=0 and the comparison to the results from pp interactions are aimed at the assessment of cold-nuclear-matter effects on open-charm production, which is crucial for the interpretation of the results from Pb-Pb collisions. Methods: The prompt charmed mesons D0,D+,D∗+, and Ds+ were measured at mid-rapidity in p-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sNN=5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. D mesons were reconstructed from their decays D0→K-π+,D+→K-π+π+, D∗+→D0π+,Ds+→φπ+→K-K+π+, and their charge conjugates, using an analysis method based on the selection of decay topologies displaced from the interaction vertex. In addition, the prompt D0 production cross section was measured in pp collisions at s=7 TeV and p-Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV down to pT=0 using an analysis technique that is based on the estimation and subtraction of the combinatorial background, without reconstruction of the D0 decay vertex. Results: The production cross section in pp collisions is described within uncertainties by different implementations of pQCD calculations down to pT=0. This allowed also a determination of the total cc production cross section in pp collisions, which is more precise than previous ALICE measurements because it is not affected by uncertainties owing to the extrapolation to pT=0. The nuclear modification factor RpPb(pT), defined as the ratio of the pT-differential D meson cross section in p-Pb collisions and that in pp collisions scaled by the mass number of the Pb nucleus, was calculated for the four D-meson species and found to be compatible with unity within uncertainties. The results are compared to theoretical calculations that include cold-nuclear-matter effects and to transport model calculations incorporating the interactions of charm quarks with an expanding deconfined medium. Conclusions: These measurements add experimental evidence that the modification of the D-meson transverse momentum distributions observed in Pb-Pb collisions with respect to pp interactions is due to strong final-state effects induced by the interactions of the charm quarks with the hot and dense partonic medium created in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. The current precision of the measurement does not allow us to draw conclusions on the role of the different cold-nuclear-matter effects and on the possible presence of additional hot-medium effects in p-Pb collisions. However, the analysis technique without decay-vertex reconstruction, applied on future larger data samples, should provide access to the physics-rich range down to pT=0.

We present measurements of the elliptic (v2), triangular (v3) and quadrangular (v4) anisotropic azimuthal flow over a wide range of pseudorapidities (−3.5

Background: In the context of the investigation of the quark gluon plasma produced in heavy-ion collisions, hadrons containing heavy (charm or beauty) quarks play a special role for the characterization of the hot and dense medium created in the interaction. The measurement of the production of charm and beauty hadrons in proton-proton collisions, besides providing the necessary reference for the studies in heavy-ion reactions, constitutes an important test of perturbative quantum chromodynamics (pQCD) calculations. Heavy-flavor production in proton-nucleus collisions is sensitive to the various effects related to the presence of nuclei in the colliding system, commonly denoted cold-nuclear-matter effects. Most of these effects are expected to modify open-charm production at low transverse momenta (pT) and, so far, no measurement of D-meson production down to zero transverse momentum was available at mid-rapidity at the energies attained at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Purpose: The measurements of the production cross sections of promptly produced charmed mesons in p-Pb collisions at the LHC down to pT=0 and the comparison to the results from pp interactions are aimed at the assessment of cold-nuclear-matter effects on open-charm production, which is crucial for the interpretation of the results from Pb-Pb collisions. Methods: The prompt charmed mesons D0,D+,D∗+, and Ds+ were measured at mid-rapidity in p-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sNN=5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. D mesons were reconstructed from their decays D0→K-π+,D+→K-π+π+, D∗+→D0π+,Ds+→φπ+→K-K+π+, and their charge conjugates, using an analysis method based on the selection of decay topologies displaced from the interaction vertex. In addition, the prompt D0 production cross section was measured in pp collisions at s=7 TeV and p-Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV down to pT=0 using an analysis technique that is based on the estimation and subtraction of the combinatorial background, without reconstruction of the D0 decay vertex. Results: The production cross section in pp collisions is described within uncertainties by different implementations of pQCD calculations down to pT=0. This allowed also a determination of the total cc production cross section in pp collisions, which is more precise than previous ALICE measurements because it is not affected by uncertainties owing to the extrapolation to pT=0. The nuclear modification factor RpPb(pT), defined as the ratio of the pT-differential D meson cross section in p-Pb collisions and that in pp collisions scaled by the mass number of the Pb nucleus, was calculated for the four D-meson species and found to be compatible with unity within uncertainties. The results are compared to theoretical calculations that include cold-nuclear-matter effects and to transport model calculations incorporating the interactions of charm quarks with an expanding deconfined medium. Conclusions: These measurements add experimental evidence that the modification of the D-meson transverse momentum distributions observed in Pb-Pb collisions with respect to pp interactions is due to strong final-state effects induced by the interactions of the charm quarks with the hot and dense partonic medium created in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. The current precision of the measurement does not allow us to draw conclusions on the role of the different cold-nuclear-matter effects and on the possible presence of additional hot-medium effects in p-Pb collisions. However, the analysis technique without decay-vertex reconstruction, applied on future larger data samples, should provide access to the physics-rich range down to pT=0.

We report the transverse energy (ET) measured with ALICE at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV as a function of centrality. The transverse energy was measured using identified single-particle tracks. The measurement was cross checked using the electromagnetic calorimeters and the transverse momentum distributions of identified particles previously reported by ALICE. The results are compared to theoretical models as well as to results from other experiments. The mean ET per unit pseudorapidity (η), (dET/dη), in 0%-5% central collisions is 1737±6(stat.)±97(sys.) GeV. We find a similar centrality dependence of the shape of (dET/dη) as a function of the number of participating nucleons to that seen at lower energies. The growth in (dET/dη) at the LHC energies exceeds extrapolations of low-energy data. We observe a nearly linear scaling of (dET/dη) with the number of quark participants. With the canonical assumption of a 1 fm/c formation time, we estimate that the energy density in 0%-5% central Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV is 12.3±1.0GeV/fm3 and that the energy density at the most central 80fm2 of the collision is at least 21.5±1.7GeV/fm3. This is roughly 2.3 times that observed in 0%-5% central Au-Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV.

The production of charged pions, kaons and (anti)protons has been measured at mid-rapidity (−0.510 GeV/c), the particle ratios are consistent with those reported for pp and Pb–Pb collisions at the LHC energies. At intermediate pT the (anti)proton RpPb shows a Cronin-like enhancement, while pions and kaons show little or no nuclear modification. At high pT the charged pion, kaon and (anti)proton RpPb are consistent with unity within statistical and systematic uncertainties.

We report the transverse energy (ET) measured with ALICE at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV as a function of centrality. The transverse energy was measured using identified single-particle tracks. The measurement was cross checked using the electromagnetic calorimeters and the transverse momentum distributions of identified particles previously reported by ALICE. The results are compared to theoretical models as well as to results from other experiments. The mean ET per unit pseudorapidity (η), (dET/dη), in 0%-5% central collisions is 1737±6(stat.)±97(sys.) GeV. We find a similar centrality dependence of the shape of (dET/dη) as a function of the number of participating nucleons to that seen at lower energies. The growth in (dET/dη) at the LHC energies exceeds extrapolations of low-energy data. We observe a nearly linear scaling of (dET/dη) with the number of quark participants. With the canonical assumption of a 1 fm/c formation time, we estimate that the energy density in 0%-5% central Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV is 12.3±1.0GeV/fm3 and that the energy density at the most central 80fm2 of the collision is at least 21.5±1.7GeV/fm3. This is roughly 2.3 times that observed in 0%-5% central Au-Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV.

The elliptic, triangular, quadrangular and pentagonal anisotropic flow coefficients for π±, K± and p + p ¯ in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV were measured with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The results were obtained with the Scalar Product method, correlating the identified hadrons with reference particles from a different pseudorapidity region. Effects not related to the common event symmetry planes (non-flow) were estimated using correlations in pp collisions and were subtracted from the measurement. The obtained flow coefficients exhibit a clear mass ordering for transverse momentum (pT) values below ≈ 3 GeV/c. In the intermediate pT region (3 < pT< 6 GeV/c), particles group at an approximate level according to the number of constituent quarks, suggesting that coalescence might be the relevant particle production mechanism in this region. The results for pT< 3 GeV/c are described fairly well by a hydrodynamical model (iEBE-VISHNU) that uses initial conditions generated by A Multi-Phase Transport model (AMPT) and describes the expansion of the fireball using a value of 0.08 for the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density (η/s), coupled to a hadronic cascade model (UrQMD). Finally, expectations from AMPT alone fail to quantitatively describe the measurements for all harmonics throughout the measured transverse momentum region. However, the comparison to the AMPT model highlights the importance of the late hadronic rescattering stage to the development of the observed mass ordering at low values of pT and of coalescence as a particle production mechanism for the particle type grouping at intermediate values of pT for all harmonics.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]