Showing papers by "University of Cagliari published in 2014"
Valentina Escott-Price1, Céline Bellenguez2, Li-San Wang3, Seung Hoan Choi4 +191 more•Institutions (67)
TL;DR: The additional genes identified in this study, have an array of functions previously implicated in Alzheimer's disease, including aspects of energy metabolism, protein degradation and the immune system and add further weight to these pathways as potential therapeutic targets in Alzheimers disease.
Abstract: Background: Alzheimer's disease is a common debilitating dementia with known heritability, for which 20 late onset susceptibility loci have been identified, but more remain to be discovered. This s ...
1,518 citations
TL;DR: Photoluminescence and transmission spectroscopy is used to show that photoexcitations give rise to a conducting plasma of unbound but Coulomb-correlated electron-hole pairs at all excitations of interest for light-energy conversion and stimulated optical amplification in organic-inorganic perovskites.
Abstract: Organic-inorganic perovskites are a class of solution-processed semiconductors holding promise for the realization of low-cost efficient solar cells and on-chip lasers. Despite the recent attention they have attracted, fundamental aspects of the photophysics underlying device operation still remain elusive. Here we use photoluminescence and transmission spectroscopy to show that photoexcitations give rise to a conducting plasma of unbound but Coulomb-correlated electron-hole pairs at all excitations of interest for light-energy conversion and stimulated optical amplification. The conductive nature of the photoexcited plasma has crucial consequences for perovskite-based devices: in solar cells, it ensures efficient charge separation and ambipolar transport while, concerning lasing, it provides a low threshold for light amplification and justifies a favourable outlook for the demonstration of an electrically driven laser. We find a significant trap density, whose cross-section for carrier capture is however low, yielding a minor impact on device performance.
518 citations
TL;DR: The major opportunities arising from the integration of social networking concepts into the Internet of Things are analyzed, the major ongoing research activities are presented, and the most critical technical challenges are pointed out.
Abstract: Social networking concepts have been applied to several communication network settings, which span from delay-tolerant to peer-to-peer networks. More recently, one can observe a flourish of proposals aimed at giving social-like capabilities to the objects in the Internet of Things. Such proposals address the design of conceptual (and software) platforms, which can be exploited to easily develop and implement complex applications that require direct interactions among objects. The major goal is to build techniques that allow the network to enhance the level of trust between objects that are "friends" with each other. Furthermore, a social paradigm could definitely guarantee network navigability even if the number of nodes becomes orders of magnitude higher than in the traditional Internet. Objectives of this article are to analyze the major opportunities arising from the integration of social networking concepts into the Internet of Things, present the major ongoing research activities, and point out the most critical technical challenges.
503 citations
TL;DR: Collins has proposed a phenomenological set of rules (the law of matching water affinities, LMWA) which explain and bring to order the order of ion-ion and ion-surface site interactions at a qualitative level and here it is pointed to that the two apparently opposing approaches might be reconciled.
Abstract: Specific effects of electrolytes have posed a challenge since the 1880's. The pioneering work was that of Franz Hofmeister who studied specific salt induced protein precipitation. These effects are the rule rather the exception and are ubiquitous in chemistry and biology. Conventional electrostatic theories (Debye–Huckel, DLVO, etc.) cannot explain such effects. Over the past decades it has been recognised that additional quantum mechanical dispersion forces with associated hydration effects acting on ions are missing from theory. In parallel Collins has proposed a phenomenological set of rules (the law of matching water affinities, LMWA) which explain and bring to order the order of ion–ion and ion–surface site interactions at a qualitative level. The two approaches appear to conflict. Although the need for inclusion of quantum dispersion forces in one form or another is not questioned, the modelling has often been misleading and inappropriate. It does not properly describe the chemical nature (kosmotropic/chaotropic or hard/soft) of the interacting species. The success of the LMWA rules lies in the fact that they do. Here we point to the way that the two apparently opposing approaches might be reconciled. Notwithstanding, there are more challenges, which deal with the effect of dissolved gas and its connection to ‘hydrophobic’ interactions, the problem of water at different temperatures and ‘water structure’ in the presence of solutes. They take us to another dimension that requires the rebuilding of theoretical foundations.
446 citations
TL;DR: This work defines two models for trustworthiness management starting from the solutions proposed for P2P and social networks and shows how the proposed models can effectively isolate almost any malicious nodes in the network at the expenses of an increase in thenetwork traffic for feedback exchange.
Abstract: The integration of social networking concepts into the Internet of things has led to the Social Internet of Things (SIoT) paradigm, according to which objects are capable of establishing social relationships in an autonomous way with respect to their owners with the benefits of improving the network scalability in information/service discovery. Within this scenario, we focus on the problem of understanding how the information provided by members of the social IoT has to be processed so as to build a reliable system on the basis of the behavior of the objects. We define two models for trustworthiness management starting from the solutions proposed for P2P and social networks. In the subjective model each node computes the trustworthiness of its friends on the basis of its own experience and on the opinion of the friends in common with the potential service providers. In the objective model, the information about each node is distributed and stored making use of a distributed hash table structure so that any node can make use of the same information. Simulations show how the proposed models can effectively isolate almost any malicious nodes in the network at the expenses of an increase in the network traffic for feedback exchange.
427 citations
National Institutes of Health1, Cleveland Clinic2, Barrow Neurological Institute3, Henry Ford Hospital4, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital5, University College London6, Queen Mary University of London7, Washington University in St. Louis8, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center9, University of Toronto10, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre11, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center12, University of Cagliari13, University of Turin14, Johns Hopkins University15, University of Würzburg16, The Catholic University of America17
TL;DR: Exome sequencing data provide more evidence supporting the role of aberrant RNA processing in motor neuron degeneration in ALS kindreds and observed MATR3 pathology in ALS-affected spinal cords with and withoutMATR3 mutations.
Abstract: MATR3 is an RNA- and DNA-binding protein that interacts with TDP-43, a disease protein linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. Using exome sequencing, we identified mutations in MATR3 in ALS kindreds. We also observed MATR3 pathology in ALS-affected spinal cords with and without MATR3 mutations. Our data provide more evidence supporting the role of aberrant RNA processing in motor neuron degeneration.
396 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors measured the isospin asymmetries of the B (0) -> K ( 0) mu (+) mu (-), B (1) → K (1)-m (+) m mu (-) and B (2)→ K (2)-m (-) m (-), respectively.
Abstract: The isospin asymmetries of B -> K mu (+) mu (-) and B -> K (*) mu (+) mu (-) decays and the partial branching fractions of the B (0) -> K (0) mu (+) mu (-), B (+) -> K (+) mu (+) mu (-) and B (+) -> K (*+) mu (+) mu (-) decays are measured as functions of the dimuon mass squared, q (2). The data used correspond to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb(-1) from proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7 TeV and 8 TeV in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The isospin asymmetries are both consistent with the Standard Model expectations. The three measured branching fractions favour lower values than their respective theoretical predictions, however they are all individually consistent with the Standard Model.
386 citations
University of Naples Federico II1, University of L'Aquila2, University of Turin3, University of Bari4, University of Bologna5, University of Catania6, University of Genoa7, University of Foggia8, Sapienza University of Rome9, University of Pisa10, University of Chieti-Pescara11, University of Siena12, University of Parma13, University of Salerno14, University of Milan15, University of Cagliari16, University of Brescia17, University of Padua18, University of Rome Tor Vergata19, University of Eastern Piedmont20
TL;DR: The observed complex associations among investigated predictors, mediators and real‐life functioning strongly suggest that integrated and personalized programs should be provided as standard treatment to people with schizophrenia.
344 citations
TL;DR: The most common inorganic supports for covalent immobilization of the enzymes are reviewed, with particular focus on their advantages and disadvantages in terms of enzyme loadings, operational stability, undesired adsorption, and costs.
Abstract: Several inorganic materials are potentially suitable for enzymatic covalent immobilization, by means of several different techniques. Such materials must meet stringent criteria to be suitable as solid matrices: complete insolubility in water, reasonable mechanical strength and chemical resistance under the operational conditions, the capability to form manageable particles with high surface area, reactivity towards derivatizing/functionalizing agents. Non-specific protein adsorption should be always considered when planning covalent immobilization on inorganic solids. A huge mass of experimental work has shown that silica, silicates, borosilicates and aluminosilicates, alumina, titania, and other oxides, are the materials of choice when attempting enzyme immobilizations on inorganic supports. More recently, some forms of elemental carbon, silicon, and certain metals have been also proposed for certain applications. With regard to the derivatization/functionalization techniques, the use of organosilanes through silanization is undoubtedly the most studied and the most applied, although inorganic bridge formation and acylation with selected acyl halides have been deeply studied. In the present article, the most common inorganic supports for covalent immobilization of the enzymes are reviewed, with particular focus on their advantages and disadvantages in terms of enzyme loadings, operational stability, undesired adsorption, and costs. Mechanisms and methods for covalent immobilization are also discussed, focusing on the most widespread activating approaches (such as glutaraldehyde, cyanogen bromide, divinylsulfone, carbodiimides, carbonyldiimidazole, sulfonyl chlorides, chlorocarbonates, N-hydroxysuccinimides).
341 citations
TL;DR: Key evidence supporting the role of fungal exposure, sensitisation and infection in asthmatics is set out, what is understood about pathogenesis and natural history is understood and the numerous areas for research studies are identified.
Abstract: Sensitization to fungi and long term or uncontrolled fungal infection are associated with poor control of asthma, the likelihood of more severe disease and complications such as bronchiectasis and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Modelling suggests that >6.5 million people have severe asthma with fungal sensitizations (SAFS), up to 50% of adult asthmatics attending secondary care have fungal sensitization, and an estimated 4.8 million adults have allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). There is much uncertainty about which fungi and fungal allergens are relevant to asthma, the natural history of sensitisation to fungi, if there is an exposure response relationship for fungal allergy, and the pathogenesis and frequency of exacerbations and complications. Genetic associations have been described but only weakly linked to phenotypes. The evidence base for most management strategies in ABPA, SAFS and related conditions is weak. Yet straightforward clinical practice guidelines for management are required. The role of environmental monitoring and optimal means of controlling disease to prevent disability and complications are not yet clear. In this paper we set out the key evidence supporting the role of fungal exposure, sensitisation and infection in asthmatics, what is understood about pathogenesis and natural history and identify the numerous areas for research studies.
286 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured the transverse momentum spectra of pi(+/-), K-+/- and p((p) over bar) up to p(T) = 20 GeV/c at mid-rapidity in pp, peripheral (60-80%) and central (0-5%) Pb-Pb collisions.
National Institutes of Health1, Mayo Clinic2, City of Hope National Medical Center3, University of New South Wales4, University of Alabama5, University of California, San Francisco6, Karolinska Institutet7, University of Chicago8, Yale University9, University of Bordeaux10, Macquarie University11, University of Paris-Sud12, Harvard University13, Stanford University14, Exponent15, Uppsala University16, Statens Serum Institut17, University of Florence18, Imperial College London19, German Cancer Research Center20, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai21, International Agency for Research on Cancer22, University of Cagliari23, University of Burgundy24, University of Freiburg25, Dublin City University26, University of Southern California27, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center28, University of Washington29, Drexel University30, Wayne State University31, University of York32, University of British Columbia33, Simon Fraser University34, University of Sydney35, University of Milan36, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research37, University of Rochester38, Cancer Prevention Institute of California39, Emory University40, Roger Williams Medical Center41, Boston University42
TL;DR: Using a novel approach to investigate etiologic heterogeneity among NHL subtypes,risk factors that were common among subtypes as well as risk factors that appeared to be distinct among individual or a few subtypes are identified, suggesting both subtype-specific and shared underlying mechanisms.
Abstract: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common hematologic malignancy and the fifth most common type of cancer in more developed regions of the world (1). Numerous NHL subtypes with distinct combinations of morphologic, immunophenotypic, genetic, and clinical features are currently recognized (2,3). The incidence of NHL subtypes varies substantially by age, sex, and race/ethnicity (4–7). However, the etiological implications of this biological, clinical, and epidemiological diversity are incompletely understood.
The importance of investigating etiology by NHL subtype is clearly supported by research on immunosuppression, infections, and autoimmune diseases, which are the strongest and most established risk factors for NHL. Studies of solid organ transplant recipients and individuals infected with HIV demonstrate that risks are markedly increased for several—but not all—NHL subtypes (8–13). Some infections and autoimmune diseases are associated with a single specific subtype [eg, human T-cell lymphotropic virus, type I (HTLV-I) with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (14), celiac disease with enteropathy-type peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) (15–17)], whereas others [eg, Epstein–Barr virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV), Sjogren’s syndrome (18–21)] have been associated with multiple subtypes.
In the last two decades, reports from individual epidemiological studies of NHL have suggested differences in risks among NHL subtypes for a wide range of risk factors, but most studies have lacked the statistical power to assess any differences quantitatively and have not systematically evaluated combinations of subtypes. One study assessed multiple risk factors and found support for both etiologic commonality and heterogeneity for NHL subtypes, with risk factor patterns suggesting that immune dysfunction is of greater etiologic importance for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and marginal zone lymphoma than for chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) and follicular lymphoma (22). However, that analysis was limited to approximately 1300 NHL cases and considered only the four most common NHL subtypes. Pooling data from multiple studies through the International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium (InterLymph) have provided substantial insight into associations between specific risk factors and NHL subtypes, with evidence that family history of hematologic malignancy, autoimmune diseases, atopic conditions, lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, anthropometric measures, and hair dye use), and sun exposure are associated with NHL risk (19,21,23–32). However, no previous study has compared patterns of risk for a range of exposures for both common and rarer NHL subtypes.
We undertook the InterLymph NHL Subtypes Project, a pooled analysis of 20 case–control studies including 17 471 NHL cases and 23 096 controls, to advance understanding of NHL etiology by investigating NHL subtype-specific risks associated with medical history, family history of hematologic malignancy, lifestyle factors, and occupation. The detailed risk factor profiles for each of 11 NHL subtypes appear in this issue (15–17,33–40). In this report, we assess risk factor heterogeneity among the NHL subtypes and identify subtypes that have similar risk factor profiles.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust1, University of Bergen2, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital3, King's College London4, University of Hamburg5, University of Leeds6, University of Cagliari7, Durham University8, University of Western Australia9, Macquarie University10, Academy for Urban School Leadership11, Utrecht University12, University of Liège13
TL;DR: Research on AVH in nonclinical individuals is reviewed and a cross-disciplinary view of the clinical relevance of these experiences in defining the risk of mental illness and need for care is provided.
Abstract: Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are complex experiences that occur in the context of various clinical disorders. AVH also occur in individuals from the general population who have no identifiable psychiatric or neurological diagnoses. This article reviews research on AVH in nonclinical individuals and provides a cross-disciplinary view of the clinical relevance of these experiences in defining the risk of mental illness and need for care. Prevalence rates of AVH vary according to measurement tool and indicate a continuum of experience in the general population. Cross-sectional comparisons of individuals with AVH with and without need for care reveal similarities in phenomenology and some underlying mechanisms but also highlight key differences in emotional valence of AVH, appraisals, and behavioral response. Longitudinal studies suggest that AVH are an antecedent of clinical disorders when combined with negative emotional states, specific cognitive difficulties and poor coping, plus family history of psychosis, and environmental exposures such as childhood adversity. However, their predictive value for specific psychiatric disorders is not entirely clear. The theoretical and clinical implications of the reviewed findings are discussed, together with directions for future research.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed an ultra-light, high-resolution Inner Tracking System (ITS) based on monolithic CMOS pixel detectors for detection of heavy-flavour hadrons, and of thermal photons and low-mass di- electrons emitted by the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) at the CERN LHC (Large Hadron Collider).
Abstract: ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is studying the physics of strongly interacting matter, and in particular the properties of the Quark–Gluon Plasma (QGP), using proton–proton, proton–nucleus and nucleus–nucleus collisions at the CERN LHC (Large Hadron Collider). The ALICE Collaboration is preparing a major upgrade of the experimental apparatus, planned for installation in the second long LHC shutdown in the years 2018–2019. A key element of the ALICE upgrade is the construction of a new, ultra-light, high- resolution Inner Tracking System (ITS) based on monolithic CMOS pixel detectors. The primary focus of the ITS upgrade is on improving the performance for detection of heavy-flavour hadrons, and of thermal photons and low-mass di- electrons emitted by the QGP. With respect to the current detector, the new Inner Tracking System will significantly enhance the determination of the distance of closest approach to the primary vertex, the tracking efficiency at low transverse momenta, and the read-out rate capabilities. This will be obtained by seven concentric detector layers based on a 50 μm thick CMOS pixel sensor with a pixel pitch of about 30×30 μm2. This document, submitted to the LHCC (LHC experiments Committee) in September 2013, presents the design goals, a summary of the R&D activities, with focus on the technical implementation of the main detector components, and the projected detector and physics performance.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a framework for empirical evaluation of classifier security that formalizes and generalizes the main ideas proposed in the literature, and give examples of its use in three real applications.
Abstract: Pattern classification systems are commonly used in adversarial applications, like biometric authentication, network intrusion detection, and spam filtering, in which data can be purposely manipulated by humans to undermine their operation. As this adversarial scenario is not taken into account by classical design methods, pattern classification systems may exhibit vulnerabilities, whose exploitation may severely affect their performance, and consequently limit their practical utility. Extending pattern classification theory and design methods to adversarial settings is thus a novel and very relevant research direction, which has not yet been pursued in a systematic way. In this paper, we address one of the main open issues: evaluating at design phase the security of pattern classifiers, namely, the performance degradation under potential attacks they may incur during operation. We propose a framework for empirical evaluation of classifier security that formalizes and generalizes the main ideas proposed in the literature, and give examples of its use in three real applications. Reported results show that security evaluation can provide a more complete understanding of the classifier's behavior in adversarial environments, and lead to better design choices.
TL;DR: Results indicate that ERK and NR1, but not GluR1 and DARPP-32, are differentially phosphorylated as a consequence of acquisition and expression of aversive associative learning and suggest the involvement of ERK cascade in learning-associated synaptic plasticity.
Abstract: Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) can be applied to study associative learning and its relevant underpinning molecular mechanisms in discrete brain regions. The present study examined, by immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry, the effects of acquisition and expression of lithium-induced CTA on activated Extracellular signal Regulated Kinase (p-ERK) in the prefrontal cortex (PFCx) and nucleus accumbens (Acb) of male Sprague-Dawley rats. The study also examined, by immunoblotting, whether acquisition and expression of lithium-induced CTA resulted in modified levels of phosphorylation of glutamate receptor subunits (NR1 and GluR1) and Thr34- and Thr75-Dopamine-and-cAMP-Regulated PhosphoProtein (DARPP-32). CTA acquisition was associated with an increase of p-ERK-positive neurons and phosphorylated NR1 receptor subunit (p-NR1) in the PFCx, whereas p-GluR1, p-Thr34- and p-Thr75-DARPP-32 levels were not changed in this brain region. CTA expression increased the number of p-ERK-positive neurons in the shell (AcbSh) and core (AcbC) but left unmodified p-NR1, p-GluR1, p-Thr34- and p-Thr75-DARPP-32 levels. Furthermore, post-embedding immunogold quantitative analysis in AcbSh revealed that CTA expression significantly increased nuclear p-ERK immunostaining as well as p-ERK-labeled axo-spinous contacts. Overall, these results indicate that ERK and NR1, but not GluR1 and DARPP-32, are differentially phosphorylated as a consequence of acquisition and expression of aversive associative learning. Moreover, these results confirm that CTA represents an useful approach to study the molecular basis of associative learning in rats and suggest the involvement of ERK cascade in learning-associated synaptic plasticity.
TL;DR: The results show that the dopaminergic degeneration was associated with a gradual microglia polarization to the inflammatory over the anti-inflammatory phenotype in a chronic mouse model of PD, and the effect of the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonist rosiglitazone acted as a modulator of cytokine production and phenotype in peripheral macrophages.
TL;DR: A complete and fully automated method for WBC identification and classification using microscopic images that permits the analysis of blood cells automatically via image processing techniques, and it represents a medical tool to avoid the numerous drawbacks associated with manual observation.
TL;DR: In this paper, the experimental results obtained through an anaerobic digestion pilot plant by using fruit and vegetable wastes as single substrate were presented, and the optimum daily loading rate of wastes was 35 kg/d, with a corresponding hydraulic residence time of 27 days.
TL;DR: It is shown the importance for hospital managers to carry out management practices that promote job control and provide employees with job resources, in order to reduce the burnout risk.
Abstract: Background As health care workers face a wide range of psychosocial stressors, they are at a high risk of developing burnout syndrome, which in turn may affect hospital outcomes such as the quality and safety of provided care. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the moderating effect of job control on the relationship between workload and burnout. Methods A total of 352 hospital workers from five Italian public hospitals completed a self-administered questionnaire that was used to measure exhaustion, cynicism, job control, and workload. Data were collected in 2013. Results In contrast to previous studies, the results of this study supported the moderation effect of job control on the relationship between workload and exhaustion. Furthermore, the results found support for the sequential link from exhaustion to cynicism. Conclusion This study showed the importance for hospital managers to carry out management practices that promote job control and provide employees with job resources, in order to reduce the burnout risk.
TL;DR: The current review with meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the incidence of RLN palsy when using IONM versus VA during thyroidectomy, and these results must be approached with caution, as they were mainly based on data coming from non-randomized observational studies.
TL;DR: Current evidence for gender differences not only in drug addiction, but also in other forms of addictive behaviours is summarized, with particular emphasis given to the role of sex hormones in modulating addictive behaviours.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured the nuclear modification factor in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S = 2.76TeV and showed that a contribution to the nuclear modify factor originates from the charm quark (re) combination in the deconfined partonic medium.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify three distinctive social media affordances for customer engagement in tourism: persistent engagement, customized engagement, and triggered engagement and extend prior research on customer engagement by examining the process of recognition (proprioception, exteroception and coperception).
TL;DR: In this minimal 2D system, the Poisson's ratio can be effectively controlled by changing the aspect ratio of the voids, indicating an effective strategy for designing auxetic structures with desired porosity.
Abstract: Auxetic behavior in low porosity metallic structures is demonstrated via a simple system of orthogonal elliptical voids. In this minimal 2D system, the Poisson's ratio can be effectively controlled by changing the aspect ratio of the voids. In this way, large negative values of Poisson's ratio can be achieved, indicating an effective strategy for designing auxetic structures with desired porosity.
31 May 2014
TL;DR: This study analyzes whether development artifacts like issue reports carry any emotional information about software development, a first step towards verifying the feasibility of an automatic tool for emotion mining in software development artifacts.
Abstract: Software development is a collaborative activity in which developers interact to create and maintain a complex software system. Human collaboration inevitably evokes emotions like joy or sadness, which can affect the collaboration either positively or negatively, yet not much is known about the individual emotions and their role for software development stakeholders. In this study, we analyze whether development artifacts like issue reports carry any emotional information about software development. This is a first step towards verifying the feasibility of an automatic tool for emotion mining in software development artifacts: if humans cannot determine any emotion from a software artifact, neither can a tool. Analysis of the Apache Software Foundation issue tracking system shows that developers do express emotions (in particular gratitude, joy and sadness). However, the more context is provided about an issue report, the more human raters start to doubt and nuance their interpretation of emotions. More investigation is needed before building a fully automatic emotion mining tool.
TL;DR: Main findings included the high death rates that may be explained by long-lasting negative health habits, disease- and treatment-related metabolic disorders, and consequent increased frequencies of cardiovascular diseases.
TL;DR: In this article, an optimal scheduling of storage devices is carried out to maximize the benefits of available renewable resources by operating the photovoltaic systems and the wind turbine at their maximum power points and by minimizing the overall utilization costs.
TL;DR: The ALICE Collaboration is preparing a major upgrade of the experimental apparatus, planned for installation in the second long LHC shutdown in the years 2018-2019 as mentioned in this paper, which will be achieved by an increase of the Pb-Pb instant luminosity up to 6×1027 cm−2s−1 and running the ALICE detector with the continuous readout at the 50 kHz event rate.
Abstract: ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is studying the physics of strongly interacting matter, and in particular the properties of the Quark–Gluon Plasma (QGP), using proton–proton, proton–nucleus and nucleus–nucleus collisions at the CERN LHC (Large Hadron Collider). The ALICE Collaboration is preparing a major upgrade of the experimental apparatus, planned for installation in the second long LHC shutdown in the years 2018–2019. These plans are presented in the ALICE Upgrade Letter of Intent, submitted to the LHCC (LHC experiments Committee) in September 2012. In order to fully exploit the physics reach of the LHC in this field, high-precision measurements of the heavy-flavour production, quarkonia, direct real and virtual photons, and jets are necessary. This will be achieved by an increase of the LHC Pb–Pb instant luminosity up to 6×1027 cm−2s−1 and running the ALICE detector with the continuous readout at the 50 kHz event rate. The physics performance accessible with the upgraded detector, together with the main detector modifications, are presented.
TL;DR: In this paper, the beam density profile at the LHC interaction point 8 was described by a two-dimensional description of the beams and a beam-gas imaging method was used.
Abstract: Measuring cross-sections at the LHC requires the luminosity to be determined accurately at each centre-of-mass energy root s. In this paper results are reported from the luminosity calibrations carried out at the LHC interaction point 8 with the LHCb detector for root s = 2.76, 7 and 8TeV (proton-proton collisions) and for root s(NN) = 5TeV (proton-lead collisions). Both the "van der Meer scan" and "beam-gas imaging" luminosity calibration methods were employed. It is observed that the beam density profile cannot always be described by a function that is factorizable in the two transverse coordinates. The introduction of a two-dimensional description of the beams improves significantly the consistency of the results. For proton-proton interactions at root s = 8TeV a relative precision of the luminosity calibration of 1.47% is obtained using van der Meer scans and 1.43% using beam-gas imaging, resulting in a combined precision of 1.12%. Applying the calibration to the full data set determines the luminosity with a precision of 1.16%. This represents the most precise luminosity measurement achieved so far at a bunched-beam hadron collider.