A measurement of the fast neutron background in the Gran Sasso underground laboratory has been performed by the MOSCAB thermodynamic bubble chamber, a neutron detector which identifies fast neutrons ...passing through the metastable fluid by scattering ions. The result of this measurement confirms the results previously obtained using detectors based on totally different techniques, thus corroborating the previous results in terms of both integral intensity and spectral characteristics, at least in the energy region where the current measurement technique is sensitive.
The MOSCAB equipment, a geyser-concept bubble-chamber originally thought for the search of dark matter in the form of WIMPs, is employed for the detection of fast neutrons. Once the background-free ...operating conditions are determined such that the detector is sensitive only to neutrons, which occurs when the neutron energy threshold required for nucleation is higher than approximately 2.5 MeV, the detector response to fast neutrons is investigated using a
241
AmBe neutron source. Sets of detection efficiency functions are then produced via Monte Carlo simulations and post-processing, their validation being performed experimentally and discussed. Finally, the use of the detector to measure the fast neutron activity of very weak n-sources in low neutron background environments, as well as to monitor the cosmic ray variations through the neutron component of the Extensive Air Showers, is considered.
Background and purpose
Limited data are available in the literature for upper limb impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to report the distribution of values of hand grip strength ...(HGS), of the box and block test (BBT) and of the nine‐hole peg test (9HPT) correlated with demographic and clinical data in subjects with MS.
Methods
This study involved five Italian neurological centres. The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18, MS diagnosis, stable disease phase, right‐hand dominance. All subjects underwent HGS, BBT and 9‐HPT evaluation.
Results
In all, 202 subjects with MS were enrolled: 137 females; mean age 48.4 years; mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 4.17; mean disease duration 14.12 years; disease course 129 relapsing–remitting, 21 primary progressive and 52 secondary progressive MS subjects; mean right HGS 25.3 kg, left 23.2 kg; mean right BBT 45.7 blocks, left 44.9 blocks; mean right 9‐HPT 30.7 s, left 33.4 s. All results were statistically significantly different compared to healthy controls. HGS, BBT and 9‐HPT were associated with age, EDSS and disease duration, whilst disease course correlated with BBT and 9‐HPT. The BBT and 9‐HPT scores significantly differed according to level of disability (EDSS ≤3.0, 3.5–5.5, ≥6.0).
Conclusion
Hand grip strength and BBT value distribution in a large MS population is reported. Correlations between HGS, BBT and 9‐HPT were generally low.
ABSTRACT The Large Volume Detector (LVD) has been continuously taking data since 1992 at the INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratory. The LVD is sensitive to neutrino bursts from gravitational stellar ...collapses with full detection probability over the Galaxy. We have searched for neutrino bursts in LVD data taken over 7,335 days of operation. No evidence of neutrino signals has been found between 1992 June and 2013 December. The 90% C.L. upper limit on the rate of core collapse and failed supernova explosions out to distances of 25 kpc is found to be 0.114 yr−1.
This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be ...found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.
The ICARUS-T600 Liquid Argon (LAr) Time Projection Chamber (TPC) is taking data with the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam-line (BNB) in the Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program to search for a ...possible LSND-like sterile neutrino signal. A light detection system, based on 360 Hamamatsu R5912-MOD Photo-Multiplier Tubes (PMTs) deployed behind the TPC wire chambers, has been realized to detect vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photons produced by ionizing particles in LAr. This system is fundamental for the detector operation, providing an efficient trigger and contributing to the 3D reconstruction of events. Moreover, since the TPC is exposed to a huge flux of cosmic rays due to its shallow depths operations, the light detection system allows for the time reconstruction of events, contributing to the identification and to the selection of neutrino interactions within the beam spill gates.
The MOSCAB experiment (Materia OSCura A Bolle) uses the “geyser technique”, a variant of the superheated liquid technique of extreme simplicity. Operating principles of the new dark matter detector ...and technical solutions of the device are reported in detail. First results obtained in a series of test runs taken in laboratory demonstrate that we have successfully built and tested a geyser-concept bubble chamber that can be used in particle physics, especially in dark matter searches, and that we are ready to move underground for extensive data taking.
This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be ...found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.
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