The goal of the INFN-RETINA R&D project is to develop and implement a computational methodology that allows to reconstruct events with a large number (> 100) of charged-particle tracks in pixel and ...silicon strip detectors at 40 MHz, thus matching the requirements for processing LHC events at the full bunch-crossing frequency. Our approach relies on a parallel pattern-recognition algorithm, dubbed artificial retina, inspired by the early stages of image processing by the brain. In order to demonstrate that a track-processing system based on this algorithm is feasible, we built a sizable prototype of a tracking processor tuned to 3 000 patterns, based on already existing readout boards equipped with Altera Stratix III FPGAs. The detailed geometry and charged-particle activity of a large tracking detector currently in operation are used to assess its performances. We report on the test results with such a prototype.
Abstract Background In HIV/HCV co-infected patients, HIV-1 gp120 activates human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) which play a key role in fibrosis pathogenesis. It is still unclear whether ...pro-fibrogenic effects are more attributable to X4 or R5 strains in vivo. Objective To assess if HIV-1 X4 or R5 variants are associated with a different progression of fibrosis. Study design A total of 105 HIV/HCV co-infected patients were submitted to gp120 sequencing on proviral DNA and classified as X4 or R5 based on g2p (20% false positive rate). The fibrosis evolution was retrospectively determined by means of APRI and FIB-4 scores at 3-month intervals from the first anti-HCV-positive test. The association of co-receptor tropism with increased fibrosis scores was evaluated by linear mixed models. Results X4 variants were found in 41 patients (39%). The median observation period was similar in X4 and R5 patients (17 years). No difference was observed between the two groups of patients, except for nadir CD4 which was lower in X4 compared to R5 (percentage, p = 0.005, and absolute number, p = 0.005). X4 and R5 patients did not significantly differ for FIB-4 and APRI score over time ( p = 0.5, and p = 0.1, respectively). No association between HCV-RNA levels over time and co-receptor tropism was noted ( p = 0.9). Conversely, a significant correlation of fibrosis scores with gamma-glutamyl transferase levels, lower current CD4 count, HIV viremia and use of antiretrovirals was observed. Conclusions This retrospective analysis of fibrosis evolution did not support the evidence of a differing pro-fibrogenic activity for X4 and R5 HIV-1 variants in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.
The CDF Silicon Vertex Trigger Ashmanskas, Bill; Barchiesi, A.; Bardi, A. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
02/2004, Letnik:
518, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) experiment's Silicon Vertex Trigger (SVT) is a system of 150 custom 9U VME boards that reconstructs axial tracks in the CDF silicon strip detector in a
15
μs
...pipeline. SVT's
35
μm
impact parameter resolution enables CDF's Level 2 trigger to distinguish primary and secondary particles, and hence to collect large samples of hadronic bottom and charm decays. We review some of SVT's key design features. Speed is achieved with custom VLSI pattern recognition, linearized track fitting, pipelining, and parallel processing. Testing and reliability are aided by built-in logic state analysis and test-data sourcing at each board's input and output, a common interboard data link, and a universal “Merger” board for data fan-in/fan-out. Speed and adaptability are enhanced by use of modern FPGAs.
We describe a statistical method to estimate the composition of a sample of particle tracks in terms of the species of these particles. We consider the case when the particle identification ...information strongly depends on some kinematical variables, whose distributions are poorly known and different for each particle species. We show that the proposed procedure provides a properly normalized estimate of the unknown distributions with minimal assumption on their functional form. Moreover, we show that the method can be generalized to any kinematical distribution of the particles.
We present the first prototype of a silicon tracker using the artificial retina algorithm for fast track finding. The algorithm is inspired by the neurobiological mechanism of recognition of edges in ...mammals visual cortex. It is based on extensive parallelization and is implemented on commercial FPGAs allowing us to reconstruct real time tracks with offline-like quality and <1μs latencies. The practical device consists of a telescope with 8 single-sided silicon strip sensors and custom DAQ boards equipped with Xilinx Kintex 7 FPGAs that perform the readout of the sensors and the track reconstruction in real time.
•First prototype of silicon tracker using the “artificial retina” algorithm.•Algorithm implemented on FPGA to reconstruct tracks with offline quality and sub-μs latencies.•The artificial retina is modular and can be extended to large experiments.•The artificial retina has been proved to be able to work with up to 40MHz.
We present the latest results of an R&D study for a specialized processor capable of reconstructing, in a silicon pixel detector, high-quality tracks from high-energy collision events at 40MHz. The ...processor applies a highly parallel pattern-recognition algorithm inspired to quick detection of edges in mammals visual cortex. After a detailed study of a real-detector application, demonstrating that online reconstruction of offline-quality tracks is feasible at 40MHz with sub-microsecond latency, we are implementing a prototype using common high-bandwidth FPGA devices.
We present the results of an R&D study for a specialized processor capable of precisely reconstructing events with hundreds of charged-particle tracks in pixel and silicon strip detectors at 40 MHz, ...thus suitable for processing LHC events at the full crossing frequency. For this purpose we design and test a massively parallel pattern-recognition algorithm, inspired to the current understanding of the mechanisms adopted by the primary visual cortex of mammals in the early stages of visual-information processing. The detailed geometry and charged-particle's activity of a large tracking detector are simulated and used to assess the performance of the artificial retina algorithm. We find that high-quality tracking in large detectors is possible with sub-microsecond latencies when the algorithm is implemented in modern, high-speed, high-bandwidth FPGA devices.
The mass of the
boson, a mediator of the weak force between elementary particles, is tightly constrained by the symmetries of the standard model of particle physics. The Higgs boson was the last ...missing component of the model. After observation of the Higgs boson, a measurement of the
boson mass provides a stringent test of the model. We measure the
boson mass,
, using data corresponding to 8.8 inverse femtobarns of integrated luminosity collected in proton-antiproton collisions at a 1.96 tera-electron volt center-of-mass energy with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. A sample of approximately 4 million
boson candidates is used to obtain
, the precision of which exceeds that of all previous measurements combined (stat, statistical uncertainty; syst, systematic uncertainty; MeV, mega-electron volts;
, speed of light in a vacuum). This measurement is in significant tension with the standard model expectation.
The prevalence of drug resistance associated with the failure of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens and the predictors of resistance to Etravirine (ETR) were ...assessed in 2854 subjects: 39 < 18 (paediatric) and 2815 ≥ 18 (adult) years old. These subjects failed to respond to their current NNRTI treatment, were three-class experienced and had been exposed to NNRTI for ≥ 3 months. A total of 1827 adult (64.9%) and 32 paediatric subjects (82.1%) harboured the virus with at least one ETR mutation. V179I, Y181C and G190A were the most frequent mutations in both groups. A significantly increased risk of ETR resistance with all three algorithms (Monogram (MGR) >3, Tibotec (TBT) >2 and enhanced MGR (ENH) ≥ 4) emerged in the paediatric population. Multivariate analysis revealed an increased risk of developing TBT >2 for NNRTI exposure, ENH ≥ 4 for NNRTI and EFV exposure in paediatric subjects; NVP exposure and higher (≥ 3.5 log10) HIV-RNA values for all three algorithms in adult subjects, whereas CD4 ≥ 200/μL appeared to be protective. The risk of being ETR resistant was more than doubled for paediatric vs. adult subjects, probably due to a more extensive use of NNRTI and an incomplete virological control.
Abstract
Conventional, hadronic matter consists of baryons and mesons made of three quarks and a quark–antiquark pair, respectively
1,2
. Here, we report the observation of a hadronic state ...containing four quarks in the Large Hadron Collider beauty experiment. This so-called tetraquark contains two charm quarks, a
$$\overline{{{u}}}$$
u
¯
and a
$$\overline{{{d}}}$$
d
¯
quark. This exotic state has a mass of approximately 3,875 MeV and manifests as a narrow peak in the mass spectrum of
D
0
D
0
π
+
mesons just below the
D
*+
D
0
mass threshold. The near-threshold mass together with the narrow width reveals the resonance nature of the state.
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