*Article* **Particle Production in Xe+Xe Collisions at the LHC within the Integrated Hydrokinetic Model**

**Yuri Sinyukov 1,2,\*, Musfer Adzhymambetov 1 and Volodymyr Shapoval 1**

Received: 15 December 2019; Accepted: 5 February 2020; Published: 18 February 2020

**Abstract:** The paper is devoted to the theoretical study of particle production in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Xe+Xe collisions at the energy √*sNN* = 5.44 TeV. The description of common bulk observables, such as mean charged particle multiplicity, particle number ratios, and *pT* spectra, is obtained within the integrated hydrokinetic model, and the simulation results are compared to the corresponding experimental points. The comparison shows that the model is able to adequately describe the measured data for the considered collision type, similarly as for the cases of Pb+Pb LHC collisions and top Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) energy Au+Au collisions, analyzed in our previous works.

**Keywords:** xenon; heavy-ion collision; LHC; particle momentum spectrum; particle number ratio


**3. Results**

This study analysed a sample of 51 MS patients, divided into an intervention group and a control group, whose socio-demographic and clinical characteristics are shown in Table 1.

**Table 1.** Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the population of the study.

Z: U de Mann Whitney; CG: control group; IG: intervention group; MS: multiple sclerosis; EDSS: Expanded Disability Status Scale; IL-6: interleukin 6; STAI: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; BMI: body mass index; SD: standard deviation.

After the 4-month intervention, the changes in the analysed variables of the study are shown in Table 2 as the mean and standard deviation. Regarding the intervention group, a significant decrease in serum concentration was produced for IL-6: patients' anxiety for this group also varied after the diet, significantly decreasing state anxiety, and a significant improvement is shown in functional capacity. Regarding the control group, a significant decrease in the levels of IL-6 in blood is also observed. However, there is no improvement in the level of state or trait anxiety. No change was observed in terms of functional capacity. It is also noteworthy that there was a significant decrease in BMI in both groups.

**Table 2.** Differences between the study variables after intervention.

EDSS: Expanded Disability Status Scale; IL-6: interleukin 6 (mean value of normal IL-6, 1.4 pg/mL); STAI: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; \*: statistically significant differences *p* < 0.05; Z: Wilcoxon signed-rank test; BMI: body mass index; SD: standard deviation.

### **4. Discussion**

Among the most representative inflammation biomarkers that activate the immune system caused by stress is IL-6 [36]. This explains that in an immune disease like MS with high oxidative stress, its levels are increased [4]. In this sense, both EGCG and ketone bodies obtained from following ketogenic diets show anti-inflammatory effects [37,38], thus decreasing the levels of IL-6 in blood: EGCG as it negatively regulates its gene expression [39], and ketone bodies block NMDA receptors [40]. After conducting our study, indeed the results prove a decrease in IL-6 levels in the group that received both EGCG and coconut oil. Nonetheless, this significant improvement has also been observed in the control group. This could be explained by the high levels of antioxidants in the Mediterranean diet followed by both groups. The Mediterranean diet is characterised by containing soluble or low molecular weight antioxidants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, phenolic compounds and carotenoids, and other macromolecular antioxidants that are polymeric phenolic compounds or polyphenols and carotenoids linked to macromolecules of plant foods, which contribute to the antioxidant capacity of the diet [41]; including polyphenols that are greatly contained in fruit and drinks such as tea, red wine and coffee, or in vegetables, pulses and cereals in the Mediterranean diet [30]. In addition, a significant improvement in BMI is observed in both groups that, according to other studies, is positively correlated with IL-6 in blood [42,43], which could explain the decrease in the proinflammatory cytokine in both the control group and the intervention group.

In terms of assessing the psychological variables, although both depression and anxiety disorders are the most frequent nosological entities in MS, the repercussions of symptoms of depression in this pathology have been studied more, and fewer studies assess the impact of anxiety. However, the relation with functional performance and cognitive capacity for MS is only established with levels of anxiety and not with levels of depression [44]. On the other hand, two kinds of anxiety can be differentiated: state anxiety and trait anxiety. According to Spielberger (1972) [45], state anxiety entails an immediate "emotional state" that can be modified in time, while trait anxiety is considered to be relatively stable. In this sense, hyperactivity of the limbic system has been observed in anxiety disorders that could be a result of: a decrease in the inhibitory neurotransmitters (γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA), an increase in the excitatory neurotransmitters based on the action of glutamate or a combination of both [46].

Regarding our intervention, the association of EGCG and ketone bodies causes a significant improvement in state anxiety. This fact seems to be explained through both their action mechanisms. On the one hand, EGCG increases inhibition mediated through the GABA neurotransmitter, which would generate a similar activity to that caused by some medications, such as benzodiazepines [47–49], also decreasing levels of occasional anxiety and causing an anxiolytic effect, as observed after administering it in MS patients [28]. Completing this EGCG activity and based on mechanisms that trigger state anxiety, the action mechanism that ketone bodies have that improves anxiousness [19,20] is based on the inhibition of the activation of NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptors. These receptors have an essential role, not only on a cognitive level [50], but also regarding the presence of anxiety [51]. On the other hand, anxiety is felt both on a physiological level, as well as on a cognitive and a mental level [52]; therefore, symptoms have a negative effect on the cognitive function of those who suffer from anxiety. Anxiety symptoms are especially associated with a lower cognitive function [53] in MS, showing a similar pattern to that observed in people with other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) and in individuals without an IMID [54]. Therefore, anxiety in MS patients is related to functional disability and constitutes an indicator of the level of this disability [15]. Our results are in line with this idea, as the patients from the intervention group whose levels of anxiety decrease also show a significant improvement in functional capacity. Nonetheless, we must remember that regarding the two types of anxiety, it is state anxiety that significantly improved, therefore it seems that functionality is more directly related to this kind of anxiety and not trait anxiety. These findings would be supported by the results obtained by other authors, who observed how state anxiety (consisting of a temporary emotional state or condition of the human organism that can vary over time and whose intensity can vary), yet not trait anxiety, predicts the performance in the executive function index. Thus, we can conclude that improving state anxiety improves patients' functionality [44].

However, these results need to be confirmed as this study is somewhat limited. These limitations include a small sample and the lack of intervention groups to study the single contribution of EGCG and coconut oil to improve different variables. Therefore, future research should involve a larger sample leading to a more complex statistical analysis, as well as studying different groups of patients using EGCG, coconut oil and Mediterranean diet, separately.


**5.2 Enriched information**

As explained above, technology will enable a faster detection of threats on the battlefield. The Law of Moore has sometimes been used to describe the increase in the capabilities of digital cameras, according to a ratio of "twice as far" or "twice as cheap" or "twice as small" every 3 years. In fact, each innovation allows to see further for a smaller footprint. The digital zoom allows high magnifications but at the cost of algorithmic processing of the image which causes lesser definition quality. It is often paired with the optical zoom, which consists of adapting the focal length to the target you want to look at. Cameras can now merge data from multiple sensors of different types. In particular, thermal imaging allowing you to see a large fraction of the spectrum and to view and measure the thermal energy emitted by an equipment or a human. To which one can add light intensification processes to amplify the existing residual light to recreate an image usable by the human eye, in low light conditions.

All of this fused data can enrich the field of vision of the combatant by superimposing additional data that completes his knowledge of the tactical situation. This is the principle of augmented reality.


**5. Discussion**

By presenting Mark's and Eleanor's cases in detail, we wanted to show how PTSD can take various forms of expression. Its experience and healing process are complex and unique to every individual, despite common symptoms. PTSD may be understood as a complex experience that has biological and psychological components, but also cultural and existential. A humanistic-existential approach to PTSD emphasizes the exploration of the patient's lived experience, as well as the idiographic meaning that trauma takes for the individual. By relying on phenomenology and on the safety of the therapeutic encounter, a humanistic-existential psychotherapy for PTSD aims at exploring new meanings for the traumatic event and new meanings to surviving, healing, and growing.

was complex and profound, and that it required time. We worked on reintegrating her story in a different way, so she could try to relate to herself, to others, and to the world more freely. While Eleanor seemed to slowly get better (having more energy and no more nightmares), she wanted to know more about "*growing*" from trauma. At this point, I decided to lend her my book "*Man's search for meaning*" [27], in which Frankl tells about his own history of concentration camps and in which he extrapolates his theory on life's meaning. Eleanor was particularly moved by the understanding that suffering may have meaning. Following this reading, she initiated rich and deep discussions about the different sources of meaning in her own life. Notably, she mentioned increasing her awareness and gratitude of the value of the relationship she had with her adoptive parents. She would still feel guilty at times for what the world has given her, but would also be able to relate to her experience differently, which motivated her for a fuller engagement toward life. In fact, Frankl's strong thoughts about self-engagement toward life empowered Eleanor to continue to search for and to create her own unique and

198 A Multidimensional Approach to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - from Theory to Practice

In the meantime, Eleanor continued to take nursing classes on a part-time basis. She temporarily postponed her practical training and started volunteering at the hospital to see if she could develop a new way to relate to others' illness and suffering. By volunteering, Eleanor experienced rich human contact and compassionate care with patients and got progressively used to witnessing suffering. She created significant bonds with patients and other caregivers, and received good feedback on her listening abilities, kindness, and compassionate way of being. Such bounds may have facilitated her sense of worth and value. Eleanor started giving meaning to her suffering, thinking that her past history contributed to cultivate her sense of humanity and compassion. We worked on cultivating this self-compassion, especially when

After a moment, Eleanor felt that she was ready "*to fly a bit on her own*." The overall psychotherapy process lasted 18 months, on a regular weekly basis. Before saying goodbye, Eleanor and I identified what her next challenge may be: for the first time, she was thinking in building an intimate relationship with someone. Although the idea pleased her, she was still terrorized by physical and psychological intimacy and quite aware of the challenges it would be to develop attachment toward someone. She fluctuated between states of hope (being with someone), desire for self-protection, and preservation (it is easier to be alone) or self-depreciation (no man would be interested in me). To date, Eleanor still struggles with self-worth at

By presenting Mark's and Eleanor's cases in detail, we wanted to show how PTSD can take various forms of expression. Its experience and healing process are complex and unique to every individual, despite common symptoms. PTSD may be understood as a complex experience that has biological and psychological components, but also cultural and existential. A humanistic-existential approach to PTSD emphasizes the exploration of the patient's lived

valuable way of living a purposeful existence.

her feelings of guilt and worthlessness would surface.

times, but has come a long way from the first time I met her.

**5. Discussion**

In both cases, we wanted to show how the therapeutic process aimed at exploring the history and the lived experience of Mark and Eleanor. In both cases, the exploration process allowed to shed light on the meaning of the traumatic experience itself, as well as the disrupted meanings of life as it was experienced here and now. The co-comprehension enabled by the therapeutic encounter made possible the exploration of other meanings of the event, and of a search for new meanings in life. In both cases, the psychotherapeutic process involved exploration, comprehension, and reconstruction. This sequence should not be seen as linear, but as a repeated and iterative process.

We have chosen cases that honor the diversity and the complexity of PTSD manifestations, origins, recovery, and, most importantly, meaning. In both cases, we offered a humble, yet incomplete view of the meaning of humanistic-existential psychotherapy with trauma patients. With both cases, we also wanted to show how humanistic-existential psychotherapy can be complemented by other approaches.

For instance, in Mark's case, symptom management was first ensured by medication for allowing conditions of deeper exploration. As a matter of fact, exploration may not be possible if the person is constantly in a state of arousal. In Eleanor's case, she had already completed 3 years of psychotherapy before addressing the existential aspects of her traumatic history. Moreover, in the future, Eleanor may again be confronted with life's situation that will reopen her wound. Major grief or loss could trigger PTSD symptoms and another psychotherapeutic process may be helpful at that time. Such experience may not be understood as static conditions that can be treated, but as major existential challenges that may as well be an opportunity for existential growth.

The humanistic-existential psychotherapy has often been criticized for being too intellectual or too abstract. By presenting concrete, yet incomplete case studies, we aimed at illustrating different ways to approach PTSD from a humanistic-existential perspective. That being said, such an approach may not be relevant or helpful with all PTSD patients. In the cases presented above, both Eleanor and Mark were able to verbalize their lived experience and reflect upon their existence. In that sense, they already had significant existential awareness.

However, the therapeutic process being coconstructed between the therapist and the patient, we can imagine how different therapists may have approached Mark's and Eleanor's stories differently. Different path would have been as valuable. The humanistic-existential movement represents a great diversity of approaches that may differ in their philosophical roots, premises, definitions, and views of psychotherapy. Although of crucial importance, more detailed descriptions of those nuances appeared to be beyond the scope of this chapter.

Humanistic-existential psychotherapy may also share theoretical thoughts or even therapeutic techniques with other approaches. In fact, some third wave cognitive psychotherapy may include relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation that are congruent with the approach we presented. It is also close to Frankl's description of experiential values. Moreover, Frankl's belief in man's ability to take a different attitude toward situations that cannot be changed may be part of the acceptance and commitment therapy. However, the humanisticexistential approach distinguishes itself from others by its focus on increasing existential awareness and, therefore, freedom of being. Such a freedom accounts for new existential responsibilities: to live a life that is coherent and meaningful.


**2. Related works**

to the new high efficiency video coding (HEVC) [1, 2]. HEVC is developed in 2013 by the joint collaborative team on video coding (ISO/IEC) Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and the International ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG). It is urbanized to overcome the enormous amount of UHD video contents. Compared to the earlier H.264/AVC [3] standard and at the identical visual quality, HEVC guarantees a high encoding performance, reaching 50% of bitrate [4]. Facing to this immense huge encoding performance, a huge computational complexity is obtained. Motion estimation (ME) represents the large part of encoding process that occupies around 70% of the total time of inter prediction, as Jungho [5]

This large consumption is principally due to the new hierarchy of the block

macroblocks in the earlier standard of compression. Each picture frame is divided into square forms, called coding units (CUs) [6], where 64 64 represents the maximum size, and recursively subdivided into 8 8 blocks. Prediction and

coding based on coding tree units (CTU). This new concept is analog to

indicates in **Figure 1**.

*Digital Imaging*

**Figure 1.**

**Figure 2.**

**12**

*CTU tree structure in the HEVC standard.*

*Encoding time distribution.*

Aiming to optimize the HEVC encoder complexity, several works have been proposed to reduce the test zonal search (TZS) motion estimation algorithm. Some works are interested in hardware solutions, and others are focused on software optimizations.

In [11], using sequential and parallel techniques, two hardware diamond architectures for HEVC video coding are proposed. These architectures achieve an encoding in full HD at 30 frames per second using a Virtex-7 field programmable gate array (FPGA) design.

Authors in [12] have proposed a hardware parallel sum of absolute difference (SAD) design for gray-scale images to reduce motion estimation time for block size of 4 4 pixels. A multiplier is exploited for addition as a partial product reduction (PPR). Results obtained on Virtex-2 Xilinx FPGA show that the maximum frequency obtained is 133.2 MHz for 4 4 block size. Nalluri et al., in [13, 14], have proposed two other SAD architectures on FPGA Xilinx Virtex without and with parallelism. The proposed parallel architecture has accelerated the SAD calculation by 3.9 compared to the serial SAD architecture. In [15], authors have proposed two implementations of the SAD and SSD algorithms using NVIDIA GeForce GTX480 with CUDA language in order to reduce the ME run-time. The proposed architecture saved about 32% of encoding time for class E video sequences with nonsignificant degradation in the PSNR and the bitrate.

Regarding software solutions, the 8-point square and the 8-point diamond have been replaced by Nalluri et al. [16] with a 6-point hexagonal in the TZS ME algorithm, and 50% in encoding time is saved without degradation in bitrate and PSNR. To replace the TZS algorithm, in [17, 18], authors proposed small diamond pattern search (SDPS), large diamond pattern search (LDPS), and horizontal diamond search (HDS). Experiments using HM8.0 showed that these algorithms allow a reduction of 49% of motion estimation calculation time with nonsignificant increase in bitrate and slight degradation in video quality.

In [19], Liquan et al. have proposed a fast mode decision algorithm by skipping some depths. The proposed work allows saving about 21.5% of encoding time with a slight bitrate increase and a negligible efficiency loss coding. The algorithm proposed by Qin [20] uses the ECU algorithm according to an adaptive MSE threshold value. This work ensures time saving without degradation in the quality. Podder [21] has also proposed an interesting software method to reduce the ME time. Based on human visual features (HVF), an efficient decision of the appropriate block partitioning mode has been obtained. This work allows saving 41.44% of the execution time for SCVS video sequences. In the work published in [22], a fast HEVC ME based on DS and three fast mode decisions, ECU, ESD, and CBF modes, have been presented. Simulation results show a reduction of 56.75% in the complexity of HEVC in terms of execution time, accompanied with slight degradation in video quality and bitrate, when comparing the HM.16.2 executed on an Intel® Core TM i7–3770 @3.4 GHz processor. Authors in [22] have tested just one sequence from each class with just two quantification parameters (QPs), QP = 22 and 37, to evaluate the use of the fast modes.

The median computation is done via the following equation.

*Fast Motion Estimation's Configuration Using Diamond Pattern and ECU, CFM,…*

**3.2 Initial grid search**

**Figure 4.**

**Figure 5.**

**15**

*pattern stride length equal to 4.*

*MV adjacent of a current PU.*

file through the "Diamondsearch" variable.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86792*

*Median A*ð Þ¼ *; B;C A* þ *B* þ *C* � Minð*A;* Minð Þ *B;C* Þ � Maxð Þ *A;* Maxð Þ *B;C* (1)

The first search is performed by the determination of the search pattern and the "searchrange." As it is detailed in **Figure 5(a)** and **(b)**, the main goal of this stage is

Thus, these two search patterns are referred to the eight points for each round.

to localize the search window via a pattern of square or a diamond forms.

The distance corresponding to the minimum distortion point is saved in the "BestDistance" variable. Currently, diamond search pattern is used as default, but the square pattern search can also be used by modifying the HEVC configuration

*Diamond/square search pattern. (a) Diamond search pattern stride length equal to 4. (b) Square search*

By analyzing all these previous works, we can note that using fast mode decision algorithms represents an interesting technique in order to reduce the HEVC computational complexity.