Tumor treating fields: a novel treatment modality and its use in brain tumors.

Tumor treating fields (TTFields) are low-intensity electric fields alternating at an intermediate frequency (200kHz), which have been demonstrated to block cell division and interfere with organelle assembly. This novel treatment modality has shown promise in a variety of tumor types. It has been evaluated in randomized phase 3 trials in glioblastoma (GBM) and demonstrated to prolong progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) when administered together with standard maintenance temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. TTFields are continuously delivered by 4 transducer arrays consisting each of 9 insulated electrodes that are placed on the patient's shaved scalp and connected to a portable device. Here we summarize the preclinical data and mechanism of action, the available clinical data, and further outlook of this treatment modality in brain tumors and other cancer indications

Complexity and white-dwarf structure

From the low-mass non-relativistic case to the relativistic limit, the density profile of a white dwarf is used to evaluate the complexity measure. Similarly to the recently reported atomic case where, by averaging shell effects, complexity grows with the atomic number, here complexity grows as a function of the star mass reaching a maximum finite value in the Chandrasekhar limit.Comment: 9 pages and 4 figure

Self-Organized Criticality in a Fibre-Bundle type model

The dynamics of a fibre-bundle type model with equal load sharing rule is numerically studied. The system, formed by N elements, is driven by a slow increase of the load upon it which is removed in a novel way through internal transfers to the elements broken during avalanches. When an avalanche ends, failed elements are regenerated with strengths taken from a probability distribution. For a large enough N and certain restrictions on the distribution of individual strengths, the system reaches a self-organized critical state where the spectrum of avalanche sizes is a power law with an exponent $\tau\simeq 1.5$.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures. To be published in Physica

Skipping-based handover algorithm for video distribution over ultra-dense VANET

Next-generation networks will pave the way for video distribution over vehicular Networks (VANETs), which will be composed of ultra-dense heterogeneous radio networks by considering existing communication infrastructures to achieve higher spectral efficiency and spectrum reuse rates. However, the increased number of cells makes mobility management schemes a challenging task for 5G VANET, since vehicles frequently switch among different networks, leading to unnecessary handovers, higher overhead, and ping-pong effect. In this sense, an inefficient handover algorithm delivers videos with poor Quality of Experience (QoE), caused by frequent and ping-pong handover that leads to high packets/video frames losses. In this article, we introduce a multi-criteria skipping-based handover algorithm for video distribution over ultra-dense 5G VANET, called Skip-HoVe. It considers a skipping mechanism coupled with mobility prediction, Quality of Service (QoS)- and QoE-aware decision, meaning the handovers are made more reliable and less frequently. Simulation results show the efficiency of Skip-HoVe to deliver videos with Mean Opinion Score (MOS) 30% better compared to state-of-the-art algorithms while maintaining a ping-pong rate around 2%.publishe

Atmospheric effects on extensive air showers observed with the Surface Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Atmospheric parameters, such as pressure (P), temperature (T) and density, affect the development of extensive air showers initiated by energetic cosmic rays. We have studied the impact of atmospheric variations on extensive air showers by means of the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The rate of events shows a ~10% seasonal modulation and ~2% diurnal one. We find that the observed behaviour is explained by a model including the effects associated with the variations of pressure and density. The former affects the longitudinal development of air showers while the latter influences the Moliere radius and hence the lateral distribution of the shower particles. The model is validated with full simulations of extensive air showers using atmospheric profiles measured at the site of the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

The exposure of the hybrid detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It consists of a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level and a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The "hybrid" detection mode combines the information from the two subsystems. We describe the determination of the hybrid exposure for events observed by the fluorescence telescopes in coincidence with at least one water-Cherenkov detector of the surface array. A detailed knowledge of the time dependence of the detection operations is crucial for an accurate evaluation of the exposure. We discuss the relevance of monitoring data collected during operations, such as the status of the fluorescence detector, background light and atmospheric conditions, that are used in both simulation and reconstruction.Comment: Paper accepted by Astroparticle Physic

The Fluorescence Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a hybrid detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It combines a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level together with a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The fluorescence detector comprises 24 large telescopes specialized for measuring the nitrogen fluorescence caused by charged particles of cosmic ray air showers. In this paper we describe the components of the fluorescence detector including its optical system, the design of the camera, the electronics, and the systems for relative and absolute calibration. We also discuss the operation and the monitoring of the detector. Finally, we evaluate the detector performance and precision of shower reconstructions.Comment: 53 pages. Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section