A LYSO calorimeter for the SuperB factory Eigen, G.; Zhou, Z.; Chao, D. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
08/2013, Letnik:
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The SuperB project is an asymmetric e+e− accelerator of 1036cm−2s−1 design luminosity, capable of collecting a data sample of 50–75ab−1 in five years running. The SuperB electromagnetic calorimeter ...(EMC) provides energy and direction measurement of photons and electrons, and is used for identification of electrons versus other charged particles. In particular we present its design, geometry study and related simulations, as well as R&D on LYSO crystals and developments on readout electronics. A matrix of 25 crystals has been tested at the Beam Test Facility of Frascati (BTF) in May 2011 at energies between 200MeV and 500MeV. Results from this test are presented.
Invasive mycoses represent a rare but severe complication following hemopoietic SCT (HSCT) in children. Their incidence is related to the type of donor, being higher after allogeneic transplant, ...especially from alternative donors. Moreover, the incidence of invasive mycoses varies in the different post transplant phases. Neutropenia, lymphopenia, GvHD, high-dose steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs represent well-known risk factors. The clinical features of invasive mycoses after HSCT in children are similar to those observed in adults, and the diagnostic tools, including Aspergillus galactomannan antigen detection, are feasible also in pediatrics. Mortality due to invasive mycoses after HSCT in children is high.
Objectives: The association between piperacillin/tazobactam and the positivity of the galactomannan (GM) detection ELISA test is well described. Little information is available about the kinetics of ...GM in patients treated with piperacillin/tazobactam. The present study aimed at clarifying the baseline interaction between piperacillin/tazobactam and GM in patients receiving this drug. Patients and methods: Seven patients undergoing abdominal surgery received perioperative prophylaxis with piperacillin/tazobactam. Each patient received three doses of 4.5 g of the drug, administered at 8 h intervals (one before and two after surgery). Three patients received antibiotic batches with ‘medium’ (GM-index = 1.782) and four patients received antibiotic batches with ‘high’ (GM-index = 6.665) GM content. Serum samples for GM evaluation were collected before drug infusion and at times +1, +3, +6 and +8 h after the first and third infusions. Results: GM levels increased after infusion, in particular when batches with ‘high’ GM content were used. Moreover, a non-statistically significant increase between the first dose and the third dose was observed. All samples taken >6 h after administration were negative (GM-index < 0.2), both with the ‘medium’ and the ‘high’ GM content batches. Conclusions: The low content of GM 8 h after piperacillin/tazobactam infusion suggests that in non-neutropenic cancer patients with solid tumours receiving up to three doses of piperacillin/tazobactam, serum sampling for GM detection should be performed immediately before the next piperacillin/tazobactam administration.
A retrospective study was conducted to assess the role of initial serum (1,3)- beta -d-glucan (BDG) values in predicting mortality in proven candidaemia. The study was conducted in two large teaching ...hospitals in Italy and Brazil. From January 2009 to June 2014, all patients with proven candidaemia who underwent a BDG test within 96 hours before or after the first positive blood culture were included in the study. The primary end point was 28-day mortality, with the role of initial BDG being assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 104 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the crude 28-day mortality was 30% (31/104). In the final multivariate model, an initial BDG of >287 pg/mL (odds ratio (OR) 4.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.56-12.39, p 0.005), haemodialysis (OR 4.33, 95% CI 1.24-15.17, p 0.022) and a Pitt score of greater than or equal to 2 (OR 4.10, 95% CI 1.24-13.54, p 0.021) were significant predictors of 28-day mortality. The >287 pg/mL cutoff predicted 28-day mortality with 65% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Centre of enrolment (p for interaction 0.012), haemodialysis (p for interaction 0.062) and timing of BDG test of more than 24 hours before or after the positive culture (p for interaction 0.143) appeared to interact with BDG's ability to predict mortality. Although not statistically significant, the last two of these interactions might partially explain why BDG's ability to predict mortality was present only in the Italian cohort.
A combination of two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry and optical microscopy is used to investigate the effects of ripening and high-pressure treatment on tomato pericarp ...tissue. It is shown that the relaxation times of the vacuolar water increase during the early stages of ripening even when there is no visible change and that this could be the basis of a useful on-line sensor for sorting tomatoes. The membrane rupturing and biopolymer denaturation associated with high-pressure treatments are also reflected in the NMR relaxation spectra.