The NA62 experiment at CERN SPS aims at measuring-100 events of the very rare decay K+ →π +ννˉ (BR∼8.5xlO∼10). It poses stringent requirements on PID capabilities to reject the overwhelming π+π0 ...(63%) and Kμ2(21%) backgrounds. The photon veto system must provide a rejection factor of 10∼8 on π0 decays. As a main γ veto detector, the NA48 liquid Kripton calorimeter will be used. To have full geometrical acceptance up to 50 mr, a set of 12 veto stations should be placed along the vacuum decay tank, with an inefficiency <10∼4 in a wide energy range (200 MeV-35 GeV). Good energy resolution (∼10% at 1 GeV) for threshold definition, good time resolution (∼1 ns) to be used at the trigger level, sensitivity to MIP for calibration with muons of the beam halo are needed. A moderate segmentation in the azimuthal angle is desirable, for reducing the counting rate and providing information on the γ direction. We performed an intense R&D program on three solutions: “spaghetti” calorimeter, lead/scintillator sandwich calorimeter, and original re-use of the existing barrel of the OPAL lead-glass e.m. calorimeter. Studies have been performed at the Frascati BTF beam and all three meet the efficiency requirements. The final choice uses a peculiar radial arrangement of lead-glasses in rings. Front-end electronics has been designed to cover the tree orders of magnitude of the signal, contributing to the trigger, and integrated in the general TDAQ, while keeping low cost and simplicity. The first five full veto stations have been constructed. Two tests have been done and problems found fixed. We will discuss about R&D for the technology choice, LAV construction, test beams results and simulation performance.
The objective of this prospective study was to determine the site and pattern of upper airway collapse by a multiple-catheter technique in subjects demonstrated to have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) ...after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). Standard diagnostic nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) was done on all subjects. The PSG recordings included electroencephalogram, electro-oculogram, electrocardiogram, chin and leg electromyograms, nasal and oral airflow, and abdominal effort. Polysomnography with a multiport flexible airway Gaeltec catheter was performed in 22 subjects. The Gaeltec flexible airway catheter has 4 high-fidelity pressure sensors to aid in determining the primary site of airway collapse. The primary site of airway collapse was determined by differential pressure gradients between pressure ports and by visual inspection of the pressure tracings. Forty-two subjects with prior UPPP from a total of 60 (39 men and 3 women, ages 33 to 61) agreed to be to studied by the standard PSG technique. Thirty-five subjects complained of excessive daytime sleepiness. Ten had mild OSA, 10 had moderate OSA, 12 had severe OSA, and 10 were “normal.” Of the 22 subjects who had airway catheter monitoring, 3 of the normals were reclassified as having upper airway resistance (mean peak negative esophageal pressure of —28 cm H2O); 2 patients demonstrated airway obstruction in the nasopharynx, 2 at the oropharynx, and 11 at the level of the hypopharynx. Postoperative nocturnal PSG data were compared to data gathered prior to UPPP. The mean respiratory disturbance index (RDI) for the catheter group was 54 events per hour prior to UPPP, and the mean RDI after surgery was 44. There was no correlation between the severity of OSA and the stage of sleep. We conclude that the majority of patients who complain of excessive daytime sleepiness following UPPP have OSA with the primary site of obstruction at the level of the hypopharynx. The severity of airway collapse is variable during each stage of sleep. Esophageal pressure monitoring during sleep should be considered when evaluating symptoms of persistent OSA in patients who have had UPPP.
To evaluate how many women required the so-called "emergency contraception" at our outpatient service and what the actual role is of this kind of pharmacological administration in interfering with ...ovulation and pregnancy, paying particular attention to the ethical and medico-legal aspects of this subject.
During the period from 1 December 1998 to 30 November 2003, emergency contraception was prescribed to a total of 1,160 women. With regard to the contraceptives used, in most cases (1,132, 97.6%) a combined oral estrogen-progestogen pill (ethinyloestradiol 0.05 mg plus levonorgestrel 0.25 mg) was prescribed; in some cases (20 patients, 1.8%) danazol (400 mg), in four women (0.3%) a progestin-only pill (levonorgestrel 0.75 mg), and in four other women (0.3%) an intrauterine device.
It does not come out that there were any pregnancies in our study patients since none of them, who were told to come back for follow-up, were seen at our termination of pregnancy service or delivery room.
The "Yuzpe regimen" of a combined oral estrogen-progestogen pill has been the most commonly used method for emergency contraception. A new method recently proposed, a progestin-only pill with levonorgestrel 0.75 mg, is having better results than the previous one, with a lower incidence of side-effects and higher efficacy. Moreover, the treatment with this method does not interfere in case of a pregnancy already being carried and cannot interrupt it.
Mu2e calorimeter readout system Atanov, N.; Baranov, V.; Baldini, L. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
08/2019, Letnik:
936
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The Mu2e electromagnetic calorimeter is made of two disks of un-doped parallelepiped CsI crystals readout by SiPM. There are 674 crystals in one disk and each crystal is readout by an array of two ...SiPM. The readout electronics is composed of two types of modules: (1) the front-end module hosts the shaping amplifier and the high voltage linear regulator; since one front-end module is interfaced to one SiPM, a total of 2696 modules are needed for the entire calorimeter; (2) a waveform digitizer provides a further level of amplification and digitizes the SiPM signal at the sampling frequency of 200MHz with 12-bits ADC resolution; since one board digitizes the data received from 20 SiPMs, a total of 136 boards are needed. The readout system operational conditions are hostile: ionization dose of 20krads, neutron flux of 1012n(1MeVeq)∕cm2, magnetic field of 1T and in vacuum level of 10−4Torr. A description of the readout system and qualification tests is reported.
Eight patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes underwent two 2-wk study periods in random order during which they were provided with carbohydrate foods with either a high or low glycemic index ...(GI). Over both high-GI and low-GI periods there were significant reductions in body weight, serum fructosamine, and cholesterol. Reductions in fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and urinary c-peptide-to-creatinine ratio were significant only over the low-GI period despite a smaller mean weight loss. Reductions in triglyceride were significant only over the high-GI diet. Inclusion of low-GI foods into diets of patients with diabetes may be an additional measure that favorably influences carbohydrate metabolism without increasing insulin demand.
The aim of this Phase II study was to determine a bladder-sparing treatment in patients with invasive bladder cancer, allowing a better quality of life. Objectives were to test toxicity and ...disease-free and overall survival of patients given an alternated chemo-radiotherapy definitive treatment.
Seventy-six patients with bladder cancer Stage T1G3 through T4 N0 M0 were entered in the same chemotherapy regimen (Cisplatin 20 mg/mq and 5-Fluorouracil 200 mg/mq daily for 5 days) alternated with different radiotherapy scheduling, the first 18 patients received two cycles of 20 Gy/10 fractions/12 days each; the second group of 58 patients received two cycles of 25 Gy/10 fractions/12 days each (the last 21 patients received Methotrexate 40 mg/mq instead of 5-Fluorouracil).
A clinical complete response was observed in 57 patients (81%), partial response in 7 patients (10%), and a nonresponse in 6 patients (9%). At a median follow-up of 45 months, 33 patients (47%) were alive and free of tumor. The 6-year overall survival and progression-free survival was 42% and 40%, respectively. Systemic side effects were mild, while a moderate or severe local toxicity was observed in 14 patients and 13 patients (about 20%), respectively.
Our conservative combination treatment allowed bladder-sparing in a high rate of patients and resulted in a survival comparable to that reported after radical cystectomy.
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