A
bstract
The Double Chooz experiment presents improved measurements of the neutrino mixing angle
θ
13
using the data collected in 467.90 live days from a detector positioned at an average distance ...of 1050 m from two reactor cores at the Chooz nuclear power plant. Several novel techniques have been developed to achieve significant reductions of the backgrounds and systematic uncertainties with respect to previous publications, whereas the efficiency of the
ν
¯
e
signal has increased. The value of
θ
13
is measured to be sin
2
2
θ
13
= 0.090
− 0.029
+ 0.032
from a fit to the observed energy spectrum. Deviations from the reactor
ν
¯
e
prediction observed above a prompt signal energy of 4 MeV and possible explanations are also reported. A consistent value of
θ
13
is obtained from a fit to the observed rate as a function of the reactor power independently of the spectrum shape and background estimation, demonstrating the robustness of the
θ
13
measurement despite the observed distortion.
Summary
Background
Nowadays, benign inflammatory esophageal diseases represent a rising socioeconomic burden. Recently, novel therapeutic approaches have been introduced to enrich personalized ...surgical options.
Methods
A PubMed research was conducted and merged with institutional guidelines and data.
Results
Magnetic sphincter augmentation strengthens the lower esophageal sphincter and therefore recreates the natural reflux barrier. Electrical sphincter stimulation offers the possibility to personalize minimal invasive treatment and considers even changing lifestyles. Endoscopic antireflux procedures try to mimic the outcome of laparoscopic fundoplication and aim to improve the angle of His. However, laparoscopic fundoplication remains the surgical treatment of choice in advanced reflux disease.
Reflux can also cause eosinophilic infiltration and therefore hinders diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis. Once diagnosis is established, dietary modifications and topical steroids offer relevant relief. Reflux produces Barrett’s esophagus, a neoplastic progression, which is commonly treated with radiofrequency ablation.
Conclusion
Novel therapeutic options are facing the rising incidence of benign inflammatory diseases.
Summary
BACKGROUND: Carcinomas at the pharyngesophageal junction have a poor prognosis due to late symptom manifestation and diagnosis. Treatment of choice includes gastrointestinal replacement after ...esophagectomy. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate whether the type of reconstruction influences postoperative mortality, complications and functional outcome. METHODS: Out of 114 reviewed papers between 1956 and 2008, 33 papers were included in the review. Postoperative hospital mortality, non-surgical and surgical complications were assessed. Furthermore, functional success rates were compared. RESULTS: A total of 1200 patients were evaluated, out of whom 60.8% were reconstructed with gastric pull-up, 24.5% with jejunal autograft and 14.7% with colon interposition. The overall hospital mortality was 10.7%. In particular, patients with jejunal autograft presented reduced hospital mortality and fewest non-surgical complications. Lowest surgical complications and best functional success rates were reported in the gastric pull-up group. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical segmental esophagectomy with jejunal autograft can be recommended but it has to be performed by highly experienced professionals due to risky surgical complications.
The precise modeling of the de-excitation of Gd isotopes is of great interest for experimental studies of neutrinos using Gd-loaded organic liquid scintillators. The FIFRELIN code was recently used ...within the purposes of the STEREO experiment for the modeling of the Gd de-excitation after neutron capture in order to achieve a good control of the detection efficiency. In this work, we report on the recent additions in the FIFRELIN de-excitation model with the purpose of enhancing further the de-excitation description. Experimental transition intensities from the EGAF database are now included in the FIFRELIN cascades, in order to improve the description of the higher energy part of the spectrum. Furthermore, the angular correlations between
γ
rays are now implemented in FIFRELIN, to account for the relative anisotropies between them. In addition, conversion electrons are now treated more precisely in the whole spectrum range, while the subsequent emission of X rays is also accounted for. The impact of the aforementioned improvements in FIFRELIN is tested by simulating neutron captures in various positions inside the STEREO detector. A repository of up-to-date FIFRELIN simulations of the Gd isotopes is made available for the community, with the possibility of expanding for other isotopes which can be suitable for different applications.
A
bstract
The Double Chooz collaboration presents a measurement of the neutrino mixing angle
θ
13
using reactor
ν
e
¯
observed via the inverse beta decay reaction in which the neutron is captured on ...hydrogen. This measurement is based on 462.72 live days data, approximately twice as much data as in the previous such analysis, collected with a detector positioned at an average distance of 1050 m from two reactor cores. Several novel techniques have been developed to achieve significant reductions of the backgrounds and systematic uncertainties. Accidental coincidences, the dominant background in this analysis, are suppressed by more than an order of magnitude with respect to our previous publication by a multi-variate analysis. These improvements demonstrate the capability of precise measurement of reactor
ν
e
¯
without gadolinium loading. Spectral distortions from the
ν
e
¯
reactor flux predictions previously reported with the neutron capture on gadolinium events are confirmed in the independent data sample presented here. A value of sin
2
2
θ
13
= 0.095
− 0.039
+ 0.038
(stat+syst) is obtained from a fit to the observed event rate as a function of the reactor power, a method insensitive to the energy spectrum shape. A simultaneous fit of the hydrogen capture events and of the gadolinium capture events yields a measurement of sin
2
2
θ
13
= 0
.
088 ± 0
.
033(stat+syst).
Summary
Background
Barrett’s esophagus (BE) results from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and harbors an increased cancer risk. Via low (LGD) and high grade dysplasia (HGD) BE may progress ...towards cancer (0.5 %–0.75 % annual risk). Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) represents a novel endoscopic method for durable elimination of BE. RFA is effective for cancer prevention persons with HGD. Remains to be questioned the value of RFA in those with LGD.
Methods
Critical analysis of the paper by Phoa K et al., published in the recent issue of JAMA. The randomized clinical study compared the effect of surveillance vs. RFA in persons with BE and LGD.
Results
After 3 years, RFA was superior vs. surveillance as it significantly inhibited progression to cancer and/or high grade dysplasia (1.5 % vs. 26.5 %). The number necessary to treat to prevent cancer/HGD and cancer was 4.0 and 13.6, respectively.
Conclusions
RFA is superior to surveillance to prevent the progression of BE with LGD to HGD/cancer and cancer. Thus RFA should be recommended as the treatment of choice for the management of BE with LGD in those fit for the endoscopic procedure. Future studies will have to elicit the impact of orchestrated therapy of dysplastic BE including anti reflux surgery. Finally the value of RFA for cancer development in those with non-dysplastic BE should be addressed.
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