<Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>–hadron correlation measurements to study jets fragmentation with ALICE at LHC

The possibility to study the fragmentation function of jets with energies below 50 GeV, which cannot be reconstructed in the heavy-ion environment, is explored. We propose to measure the imbalance distribution between prompt photon and charged hadrons with the ALICE experiment at LHC. In the present article, the case of proton–proton collisions at  TeV is examined with Monte-Carlo simulations. Performances for prompt photon identification and rejection of the π ⁰ decay photons are presented. We find that the measurement in proton–proton is meaningful with respect to statistical and systematic errors for photon energies larger than 20 GeV.     

Small molecule correctors of F508del-CFTR discovered by structure-based virtual screening

Folding correctors of F508del-CFTR were discovered by in silico structure-based screening utilizing homology models of CFTR. The intracellular segment of CFTR was modeled and three cavities were identified at inter-domain interfaces: (1) Interface between the two Nucleotide Binding Domains (NBDs); (2) Interface between NBD1 and Intracellular Loop (ICL) 4, in the region of the F508 deletion; (3) multi-domain interface between NBD1:2:ICL1:2:4. We hypothesized that compounds binding at these interfaces may improve the stability of the protein, potentially affecting the folding yield or surface stability. In silico structure-based screening was performed at the putative binding-sites and a total of 496 candidate compounds from all three sites were tested in functional assays. A total of 15 compounds, representing diverse chemotypes, were identified as F508del folding correctors. This corresponds to a 3% hit rate, ~tenfold higher than hit rates obtained in corresponding high-throughput screening campaigns. The same binding sites also yielded potentiators and, most notably, compounds with a dual corrector-potentiator activity (dual-acting). Compounds harboring both activity types may prove to be better leads for the development of CF therapeutics than either pure correctors or pure potentiators. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of structure-based discovery of CFTR modulators.     

QGP tomography with photon tagged jets in ALICE

γ+jet events provide a tomographic measurement of the medium formed in heavy ion collisions at LHC energies.Tagging events with a well identified high p T direct photon and measuring the correlation distribution of hadrons emitted oppositely to the photon in ALICE,allows us to determine,with a good approximation,both the jet fragmentation function and the back-to-back azimuthal alignment of the direct photon and the jet.Comparing these two observables measured in pp collisions with the ones measured in AA collisions will reveal the modifications of the jet structure induced by the medium formed in AA collisions and consequently will infer the medium properties.     

Effect of inclining strain on the crystal lattice along an extended series of lanthanide hydroxysulfates Ln(OH)SO4 (Ln = Pr-Yb, except Pm)

A series of trivalent lanthanide hydroxysulfates, Ln(OH)SO(4), (Ln = Pr through Yb, except radioactive Pm) has been synthesized via hydrothermal methods from Ln(2)(SO(4))(3)·8H(2)O by reaction with aqueous NaOH at 170 °C in Teflon lined Parr steel autoclaves, and were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy. Two types of arrangements were found in the solid state. The lighter (Ln = Pr-Nd, Sm-Gd) and heavier lanthanide(III) hydroxysulfates (Tb-Yb) are each isostructural. Both structure types exhibit the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, but the unit cell content is doubled with two crystallographically distinct LnO(8) polyhedra for the heavier lanthanide compounds. The lighter complexes maintain the coordination number 9, forming a three-dimensional extended lattice. The heavier counterparts exhibit the coordination number 8, and arrange as infinite columns of two crystallographically different LnO(8) polyhedra, while extending along the "c" axis. These columns of LnO(8) polyhedra are surrounded and separated by six columns of sulfate ions, also elongating in the "c" direction. The rigid sulfate entities seem to obstruct the closing in of the lighter LnO(9) polyhedra, and show an inclining degree of torsion into the "ac" layers. The crystal lattice of the lighter 4f complexes can sufficiently withstand the tension buildup, caused by the decreasing Ln(3+) radius, up to Gd(OH)SO(4). The energy profile of this structural arrangement then seems to exceed levels at which this structure type is favorable. The lattice arrangement of the heavier Ln-analogues seems to offer a lower energy profile. This appears to be the preferred arrangement for the heavier lanthanide hydroxysulfates, whose crystal lattice exhibits more flexibility, as the coordination sphere of these analogues is less crowded. The IR absorbance frequencies of the hydroxide ligands correlate as a function of the Ln(3+) ionic radius. This corresponds well with the X-ray single crystal analysis data.     

Photon physics at ultrarelativistic-energy heavy-ion collisions

Photons are discussed as potential probes of the dynamics of nucleus-nucleus reactions at ultrarelativistic energies. The signals conveyed by photons produced in the early partonic phase of the collision are explored. The discussion is illustrated by presently existing calculations which include photon production during the entire duration of the collision.     

Status of the ALICE experiment

The European Physical Journal C - A status of the ALICE experiment is given. Details on the advancement of the major projects, together with results of recent performance tests are presented. PACS:...     

Second backbending in the yrast line of 156Er

High spin yrast states of ¹⁵⁶Er were investigated using the reactions ¹⁴¹Pr(¹⁹F,4nγ) and ¹²³Sb(³⁷Cl, 4nγ), the latter in connection with a sum-crystal. In addition to the backbending at $\text{I = 12}\text{h}\text{?}$, a second one is found at $\text{I = 26}\text{h}\text{?}\text{;}$ and the yrast band is extended up to $\text{I = 32}\text{h}\text{?}\text{;}$. These results are interpreted in terms of a Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov Cranking (HFBC) method. It is demonstrated that for deformations in the vicinity of the Strutinsky equilibrium deformation, both a 2qp proton band crossing the yrast band or a 4qp neutron band crossing the yrast band can cause strong secondary backbending.     

The effect of CpG-ODN on antigen presenting cells of the foal

Background  

Cytosine-phosphate-guanosine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) has been used successfully to induce immune responses against viral and intracellular organisms in mammals. The main objective of this study was to test the effect of CpG-ODN on antigen presenting cells of young foals.