Taxonomy of the extrasolar planet

When a star is described as a spectral class G2V, we know that the star is similar to our Sun. We know its approximate mass, temperature, age, and size. When working with an extra-solar planet database, it is very useful to have a taxonomy scale (classification) such as, for example, the Harvard classification for stars. The taxonomy has to be easily interpreted and present the most relevant information about extra-solar planets. I propose the following the extra-solar planet taxonomy scale with four parameters. The first parameter concerns the mass of an extra-solar planet in the form of the units of the mass of other known planets, where M represents the mass of Mercury, E that of Earth, N Neptune, and J Jupiter. The second parameter is the planet's distance from its parent star (semi-major axis) described in logarithm with base 10. The third parameter is the mean Dyson temperature of the extra-solar planet, for which I established four main temperature classes; F represents the Freezing class, W the Water Class, G the Gaseous Class, and R the Roasters Class. I devised one additional class, however: P, the Pulsar Class, which concerns extra-solar planets orbiting pulsar stars. The fourth parameter is eccentricity. If the attributes of the surface of the extra-solar planet are known, we are able to establish this additional parameter where t represents a terrestrial planet, g a gaseous planet, and i an ice planet. According to this taxonomy scale, for example, Earth is 1E0W0t, Neptune is 1N1.5F0i, and extra-solar planet 55 Cnc e is 9E-1.8R1. Key words: Catalogues - Extra-solar planet - Habitable zone - PlanetsComment: 11 pages, 1 figure, 4 table

The trigger system of the NOMAD experiment

The NOMAD trigger system is described in the present paper. It is made up of a largearea plastic scintillator veto system, two trigger scintillator planes inside a 0.4~Tmagnetic field and their associated trigger electronics. Special features of the systemconsist of the use of proximity mesh photomultipliers which allow the trigger scintillators to operate in the magnetic field, and the use of custom-built VME moduleswhich perform the trigger logic decisions, the signal synchronisation and gate generation,event counting and livetime calculations. This paper also includes a description of each of the NOMAD triggers, with their calculated and measured rates, efficiencies and livetimes

Scan Free GEXRF in the Soft X ray Range for the Investigation of Structured Nanosamples

Scan free grazing emission X ray fluorescence spectroscopy GEXRF is an established technique for the investigation of the elemental depth profiles of various samples. Recently it has been applied to investigating structured nanosamples in the tender X ray range. However, lighter elements such as oxygen, nitrogen or carbon cannot be efficiently investigated in this energy range, because of the ineffective excitation. Moreover, common CCD detectors are not able to discriminate between fluorescence lines below 1 keV. Oxygen and nitrogen are important components of insulation and passivation layers, for example, in silicon oxide or silicon nitride. In this work, scan free GEXRF is applied in proof of concept measurements for the investigation of lateral ordered 2D nanostructures in the soft X ray range. The sample investigated is a Si3N4 lamellar grating, which represents 2D periodic nanostructures as used in the semiconductor industry. The emerging two dimensional fluorescence patterns are recorded with a CMOS detector. To this end, energy dispersive spectra are obtained via single photon event evaluation. In this way, spatial and therefore angular information is obtained, while discrimination between different photon energies is enabled. The results are compared to calculations of the sample model performed by a Maxwell solver based on the finite elements method. A first measurement is carried out at the UE56 2 PGM 2 beamline at the BESSY II synchrotron radiation facility to demonstrate the feasibility of the method in the soft X ray range. Furthermore, a laser produced plasma source LPP is utilized to investigate the feasibility of this technique in the laboratory. The results from the BESSY II measurements are in good agreement with the simulations and prove the applicability of scan free GEXRF in the soft X ray range for quality control and process engineering of 2D nanostructures. The LPP results illustrate the chances and challenges concerning a transfer of the methodology to the laborator

The Use of Imaging Methods in the Diagnosis of Bisphosphonate-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Objectives: Osteonecrosis of the jaws is a rare side effect of bisphosphonate therapy, occurring especially in oncological patients but also in patients with metabolic bone diseases. Because it is a relatively recently described disease (year 2003), the etiopathogenesis of these lesions has not yet been fully clarified, there is also no consensus for their treatment. Conservative as well as surgical therapy leads to complete healing in a small percentage of cases only, the emphasis is therefore placed on preventive measures. The diagnosis is based primarily on patient's history and clinical examination, without the need of using imaging methods. Pathological changes in this jawbone necrosis imagined by any of known methods are nonspecific only, distinction of these lesions from other pathological condition is difficult. Imaging of jawbones is important for disease staging and determining the real extent of bone lesion, which does not correlate with the extent of exposed necrotic bone into the oral cavity. These information are useful mainly during the planning of surgical therapy, ie. resections of the jaws. Detection of associated complications such as pathological fractures, deep neck space infections or maxillary sinusitis is another kind of use. Some of the imaging methods seem to be good in early detection of subclinical lesions or even for differentiation of osteonecrosis from neoplastic jawbone disease. The ability to fulfill these criteria is different for each type of imaging examination, so far the most useful imaging methods are hybrid methods which combine functional and morphological imaging. This hybrid imaging gives information not only about structural pathological changes in the jaws and surrounding soft tissues, but also about osteoblast activity and bone metabolism. There is not enough reported cases of such an imaging in the indication of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. High price of some of these examinations is also a limiting factor. Aim of study: In this review article the authors summarize the current knowledge of the use of all available imaging methods in the diagnosis of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (radiography, computed tomography, cone beam computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, bone scintigraphy and single photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography and hybrid imaging methods

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Salivary Glands. Case Series of 27 Patients

Aim of the study: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is the second most common salivary gland cancer. This malignant tumor is characterized by its slow growth and in spite of the fact that it has a histological low - grade appearance, a prolonged clinical course usually lasting for years, repeated recurrences, development of distant metastases and high mortality rate are typical signs. New facts of its biological behavior as well as new fusion oncogenes probably responsible for its carcinogenesis were described in the last few years. In light of these facts, the authors evaluate their own case series of patients suffering from AdCC in this manuscript. Methods: The retrospective case series included 27 patients with AdCC, who were treated at the University Hospital in Pilsen in the last 30 years (01/1986-01/2016). Clinical and demographic para-meters were identified and evaluated. Detection of the 1p36 deletion and the tumor-specific MYB-NFIB fusion oncogene by fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed. Results: The incidence of AdCC in minor salivary glands, submandibular gland, parotid gland and sublingual gland was 41%, 26%, 22 % and 11% respectively. The following staging was observed: the 1st stage in 26%, the 2nd stage in 18%, the 3rd stage in 26% and the 4th stage in 30% of cases. Metastases to regional lymph nodes were diagnosed in 26% and distant metastases in 30% of patients (55% to lung, 27% to liver, 9% to bones and 9% of peritoneal metastases). The average follow-up was 76.4 ± 67.0 months (range 7-287 months). An outcome of the treatment during follow-up was as follows: 59% of patients were with no evidence of the disease, 22% of patients died because of the disease and 19% of patients were alive with a recurrence or metastases of AdCC. The MYB-NFIB fusion transcript was detected in 79% of cases (19/24) and the 1p36 deletion in 13% of cases (3/23). Conclusion: The AdCC of salivary glands shows a greater tendency to development of regional lymph node metastases than previously thought. The MYB-NFIB gene fusion is the major tumor-specific oncogenic event in AdCC with high detection rate. The MYB-NFIB fusion oncogene could currently only be used as a potential diagnostic tool in difficult histopathological cases of AdCC, especially in late distant metastases

Central Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma

Introduction: Intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a relatively rare variant of the histologically identical malignant tumor affecting salivary glands. It is a recently described separate nosological entity with a clearly defined histopathological feature. To date, only hundreds of cases of this disease have been reported in the literature worldwide. According to its typical occurrence this tumor is classified as a primary intraosseous carcinoma of the jaw. Methods: In the present paper, the authors describe two patients with this diagnosis, in both cases with tumors afflicting upper jaw diagnosed and treated at the Department of maxillofacial surgery in Pilsen since the years 2008. The treatment outcomes are evaluated after five-year follow-up. Results: The first patient was treated by the radical surgical procedure and adjuvant cancer therapy. Long-term complete remission was achieved and today the patient is with no evidence of malignant disease. The second patient is of advanced age and with much co-morbidity. For this reason, only radiotherapy was indicated, but without any therapeutic response in terms of tumor regression. The subsequently indicated palliative chemotherapy led to the significant tumor shrinkage. Currently, the patient is in the partial remission of malignant disease, with no evidence of tumor progression or metastases. Conclusion: The pathogenesis of intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma is still not well understood. The diagnosis is based on histological examination performed by experienced pathologist. Immunohistochemical examination seems to be of no benefit for the diagnosis. A squamous cell carcinoma and glandular odontogenic cyst is necessary to be considered in histopathological differential diagnosis. A clinician has to rule out metastasis of salivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the jaws. Most intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinomas are classified as low-grade tumors with the little metastatic potential. The radical resection procedure should be the first choice for the treatment of this cancer. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are only indicated as an adjuvant therapy, especially in high-grade tumors. Despite its clear malignant nature the intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma is not an aggressive tumor with high mortality

Shape and element sensitive reconstruction of periodic nanostructures with grazing incidence x ray fluorescence analysis and machine learning

The characterization of nanostructured surfaces with sensitivity in the sub nm range is of high importance for the development of current and next generation integrated electronic circuits. Modern transistor architectures for, e.g., FinFETs are realized by lithographic fabrication of complex, well ordered nanostructures. Recently, a novel characterization technique based on X ray fluorescence measurements in grazing incidence geometry was proposed for such applications. This technique uses the X ray standing wave field, arising from an interference between incident and the reflected radiation, as a nanoscale sensor for the dimensional and compositional parameters of the nanostructure. The element sensitivity of the X ray fluorescence technique allows for a reconstruction of the spatial element distribution using a finite element method. Due to a high computational time, intelligent optimization methods employing machine learning algorithms are essential for timely provision of results. Here, a sampling of the probability distributions by Bayesian optimization is not only fast, but it also provides an initial estimate of the parameter uncertainties and sensitivities. The high sensitivity of the method requires a precise knowledge of the material parameters in the modeling of the dimensional shape provided that some physical properties of the material are known or determined beforehand. The unknown optical constants were extracted from an unstructured but otherwise identical layer system by means of soft X ray reflectometry. The spatial distribution profiles of the different elements contained in the grating structure were compared to scanning electron and atomic force microscopy and the influence of carbon surface contamination on the modeling results were discussed. This novel approach enables the element sensitive and destruction free characterization of nanostructures made of silicon nitride and silicon oxide with sub nm resolutio