A
bstract
Results of searches for heavy stable charged particles produced in pp collisions at
= 7 and 8 TeV are presented corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb
−1
and 18.8 fb
−1
, ...respectively. Data collected with the CMS detector are used to study the momentum, energy deposition, and time-of-flight of signal candidates. Leptons with an electric charge between
e
/3 and 8
e
, as well as bound states that can undergo charge exchange with the detector material, are studied. Analysis results are presented for various combinations of signatures in the inner tracker only, inner tracker and muon detector, and muon detector only. Detector signatures utilized are long time-of-flight to the outer muon system and anomalously high (or low) energy deposition in the inner tracker. The data are consistent with the expected background, and upper limits are set on the production cross section of long-lived gluinos, scalar top quarks, and scalar
τ
leptons, as well as pair produced long-lived leptons. Corresponding lower mass limits, ranging up to 1322 GeV/
c
2
for gluinos, are the most stringent to date.
The Pandora Software Development Kit and algorithm libraries provide pattern-recognition logic essential to the reconstruction of particle interactions in liquid argon time projection chamber ...detectors. Pandora is the primary event reconstruction software used at ProtoDUNE-SP, a prototype for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment far detector. ProtoDUNE-SP, located at CERN, is exposed to a charged-particle test beam. This paper gives an overview of the Pandora reconstruction algorithms and how they have been tailored for use at ProtoDUNE-SP. In complex events with numerous cosmic-ray and beam background particles, the simulated reconstruction and identification efficiency for triggered test-beam particles is above 80% for the majority of particle type and beam momentum combinations. Specifically, simulated 1 GeV/
c
charged pions and protons are correctly reconstructed and identified with efficiencies of 86.1
±
0.6
% and 84.1
±
0.6
%, respectively. The efficiencies measured for test-beam data are shown to be within 5% of those predicted by the simulation.
No pharmacokinetic data are available with respect to the plasma concentrations and fentanyl or sufentanil during epidural administration in children. This double-blind randomized study included 12 ...children (5–12 yr). Patients in group F were given an epidural loading dose of fentanyl 1.5 μg kg−1 and in group S sufentanil 0.6 μg kg−1. Both groups then received a continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine 5 mg kg−1 day−1 with either fentanyl 5 μg kg−1 day−1 or sufentanil 2 μg kg−1 day−1. An epidural PCA system was also given to the children (bolus: bupivacaine 0.2 mg kg−1 and fentanyl 0.2 μg kg−1 or sufentanil 0.08 μg kg−1). Maximal median concentrations of plasma (0.117–0.247 ng ml−1 for fentanyl and 0.027–0.074 ng ml−1 for sufentanil) were reached approximately 30 and 20 min respectively after the loading doses. These values were similar to those measured after 48 h.
The nuclear modification factors of
J
/
ψ
and
ψ
(2S)
mesons are measured in
PbPb
collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of
s
NN
=
5.02
TeV
. The analysis is based on
PbPb
and
p
p
data ...samples collected by CMS at the LHC in 2015, corresponding to integrated luminosities of 464
μ
b
-
1
and 28
pb
-1
, respectively. The measurements are performed in the dimuon rapidity range of
|
y
|
<
2.4
as a function of centrality, rapidity, and transverse momentum (
p
T
) from
p
T
=
3
GeV
/
c
in the most forward region and up to 50
GeV
/
c
. Both prompt and nonprompt (coming from b hadron decays)
J
/
ψ
mesons are observed to be increasingly suppressed with centrality, with a magnitude similar to the one observed at
s
NN
=
2.76
TeV
for the two
J
/
ψ
meson components. No dependence on rapidity is observed for either prompt or nonprompt
J
/
ψ
mesons. An indication of a lower prompt
J
/
ψ
meson suppression at
p
T
>
25
GeV
/
c
is seen with respect to that observed at intermediate
p
T
. The prompt
ψ
(2S)
meson yield is found to be more suppressed than that of the prompt
J
/
ψ
mesons in the entire
p
T
range.
The Event Builder and Level 3 trigger systems of the CDF experiment at Fermilab are required to process about 300 events per second, with an average event size of ∼200 KB. In the event building ...process the event is assembled from 15 sources supplying event fragments with roughly equal sizes of 12–16 KB. In the subsequent commercial processor-based Level 3 trigger, the events are reconstructed and trigger algorithms are applied. The CPU power required for filtering such a high data throughput rate exceeds 45
000 MIPS. To meet these requirements a distributed and scalable architecture has been chosen. It is based on commodity components: VME-based CPU's for the data read out, an ATM switch for the event building and Pentium-based personal computers running the Linux operating system for the event processing. Event flow through ATM is controlled by a reflective memory ring. The roughly homogeneous distribution of the expected load allows the use of 100 Mbps Ethernet for event distribution and collection within the Level 3 system. Preliminary results from a test system obtained during the last year are presented.
BackgroundInvasive fungal infections (IFI) have a substantial morbidity and mortality, and their incidence has steadily increased over the past 20 years due to the increase in immunocompromised ...patients. The complex medical care, the expensive treatments and the emergence of antifungal resistance require appropriate prescribing.PurposeThe aim of this study was to assess the conformity of antifungal prescribing to local and international guidelines for the treatment of IFI in a teaching hospital and to compare with similar studies.Material and methodsProspective study was performed in six wards (paediatric oncology, haematology and intensive care units) that accounted for 90% of the antifungal consumption at our facility. The study was performed between April and May of 2018. A multidisciplinary group produced a grid for prescription compliance in accordance with the local and international guidelines from the European Conference on Infections Leukaemia and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The prescriptions were reviewed by two pharmacists.ResultsEighty-seven prescriptions were analysed for 79 patients. Treatments were prescribed for prophylaxis (n=29), empirical therapy (n=22), pre-emptive therapy (n=14) and targeted therapy (n=22). On average, the patients had three risk factors for IFI and 21 patients (24.1%) were deceased. The antifungal treatments were in keeping with the local guidelines for 63 prescriptions (72.4%) and with the international guidelines for 57 prescriptions (65.5%). The guidelines issued within the facility closely follow these international guidelines. The most common inappropriate use was an antifungal prescription of second- or third-line while the first-line antifungal therapy was an option (14.9%), typically by an azole. Another cause of misuse was the non-compliance with antifungal prophylaxis indications (9.2%), leading to unnecessary exposure to antifungal agents.ConclusionFew studies to date have assessed the appropriate use of antifungals. In the studies published to date with a similar methodology, compliance with the international guidelines has been reported to be between 34%1 and 58%2. A multidisciplinary antifungal group was implemented to curb IFI and to improve the use of antifungals. In this context, guidelines were updated in the form of decision algorithms that, once adopted as a guide, should be able to improve practices.3References and/or acknowledgements1. https://academic.oup.com/jac/article/67/10/2506/7270742. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0755498214002565?via%3Dihub3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0399077X14000262No conflict of interest.
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