Study of RPC gas mixtures for the ARGO-YBJ experiment

The ARGO-YBJ experiment consists of a RPC carpet to be operated at the Yangbajing laboratory (Tibet, P.R. China), 4300 m a.s.l., and devoted to the detection of showers initiated by photon primaries in the energy range 100 GeV - 20 TeV. The measurement technique, namely the timing on the shower front with a few tens of particles, requires RPC operation with 1 ns time resolution, low strip multiplicity, high efficiency and low single counting rate. We have tested RPCs with many gas mixtures, at sea level, in order to optimize these parameters. The results of this study are reported.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. To be published in Nucl. Instr. Meth. A, talk given at the "5th International Workshop on RPCs and Related Detectors", Bari (Italy) 199

Mathematical modeling of oxygen control in biocell composting plants

We propose an optimal control problem to determine the best aeration strategy for aerobic biodegradation in a composting cell. The goal is to minimize the deviation of the oxygen level from its reference value for the entire duration of the biodegradation process. The mathematical model includes several chemical phenomena, like the aerobic biodegradation of the soluble substrate by means of a bacterial biomass, the hydrolysis of insoluble substrate and the biomass decay. The oxygen and the optimal mechanical aeration time profiles are obtained and discussed. Finally, the plant performance is evaluated in absence and presence of external aeration by means of several specific indices

A minimum time control problem for aerobic degradation processes in biocell composting plants

We introduce a mathematical model for the composting process in biocells. The model includes several phenomena, like the aerobic biodegradation of the soluble substrate by means of a bacterial population, the hydrolysis of insoluble substrate, and the biomass decay. We investigate the best strategies to reduce substrate components in minimal time by controlling the effects of cell oxygen concentration on the degradation phenomenon. It is shown that singular controls are not optimal for this model and the optimal control time profiles are of bang or bang-bang type. The occurrence of switching curves is discussed. In the case of a bang-bang control we prove that optimal control profiles have a unique switching time and the corresponding switching curve is determined

Marine forests of the Mediterranean-Atlantic Cystoseira tamariscifolia complex show a southern Iberian genetic hotspot and no reproductive isolation in parapatry

Climate-driven range-shifts create evolutionary opportunities for allopatric divergence and subsequent contact, leading to genetic structuration and hybrid zones. We investigate how these processes influenced the evolution of a complex of three closely related Cystoseira spp., which are a key component of the Mediterranean-Atlantic seaweed forests that are undergoing population declines. The C. tamariscifolia complex, composed of C. tamariscifolia s.s., C. amentacea and C. mediterranea, have indistinct boundaries and natural hybridization is suspected. Our aims are to (1) infer the genetic structure and diversity of these species throughout their distribution ranges using microsatellite markers to identify ancient versus recent geographical populations, contact zones and reproductive barriers, and (2) hindcast past distributions using niche models to investigate the influence of past range shifts on genetic divergence at multiple spatial scales. Results supported a single, morphologically plastic species the genetic structure of which was incongruent with a priori species assignments. The low diversity and low singularity in northern European populations suggest recent colonization after the LGM. The southern Iberian genetic hotspot most likely results from the role of this area as a climatic refugium or a secondary contact zone between differentiated populations or both. We hypothesize that life-history traits (selfing, low dispersal) and prior colonization effects, rather than reproductive barriers, might explain the observed genetic discontinuities.Pew Charitable Trusts (USA); MARINERA, Spain [CTM2008-04183-E/MAR]; FCT (Portugal) [FCT-BIODIVERSA/004/2015, CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013, SFRH/BPD/107878/2015, SFRH/BPD/85040/2012]; FPU fellowship of the Spanish Ministry of Education; European Community ASSEMBLE visiting grant [00399/2012]; University of Cadi

Performance of the PADME calorimeter prototype at the DAΦ\PhiNE BTF

The PADME experiment at the DA$\Phi$NE Beam-Test Facility (BTF) aims at searching for invisible decays of the dark photon by measuring the final state missing mass in the process $e^+e^- \to \gamma+ A'$, with $A'$ undetected. The measurement requires the determination of the 4-momentum of the recoil photon, performed using a homogeneous, highly segmented BGO crystals calorimeter. We report the results of the test of a 5$\times$5 crystals prototype performed with an electron beam at the BTF in July 2016

The design and commissioning of the MICE upstream time-of-flight system

In the MICE experiment at RAL the upstream time-of-flight detectors are used for particle identification in the incoming muon beam, for the experiment trigger and for a precise timing (sigma_t ~ 50 ps) with respect to the accelerating RF cavities working at 201 MHz. The construction of the upstream section of the MICE time-of-flight system and the tests done to characterize its individual components are shown. Detector timing resolutions ~50-60 ps were achieved. Test beam performance and preliminary results obtained with beam at RAL are reported.Comment: accepted on Nuclear Instruments and Methods

Telehealth in oncofertility and breast cancer patients during COVID-19: preliminary results of insenoallasalute.it project

Abstract. – OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading diagnosis in premenopausal patients. Lockdown measures during COVID-19 pandemic reduced facilities for premenopausal patients, impairing oncological and reproductive health. To reduce its effect, a telehealth program called insenoallasalute.it was designed in Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A national-based multicentric observational study was undertaken by insenoallasalute.it study group (Italian Ministry of Health, Modena Hospital and Tor Vergata University Hospital) to raise awareness among women on a) BC and its negative role on reproductive health; b) increase adherence to screening programs and self-examination; c) present oncofertility strategies. A webbased platform with two sections was designed: an informative section and a telehealth application activated with a mobile one-time password. After a self-evaluation test to select premenopausal women with maternal desire and family or personal history for BC or ovarian cancer, and premenopausal women with maternity desires with prior medically assisted procreation, a dedicated agenda for telehealth evaluation was displayed and planned. In case the patients fulfilled the criteria for further evaluation, they were invited to perform an outpatient evaluation in one of the pilot centers. RESULTS: From July 2021 to December 2021, 2,830 single accounts were activated, and 2,450 (86.57%) completed the tests. 53 patients were selected to undergo telehealth consultation and 40 (80.0%) scheduled the telehealth visit. 6 patients underwent surgery in the study centers. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience insenoallasalute.it embodied an innovative solution to spread BC awareness, BC screening program, and oncofertility opportunities in the oncological population

Frequency of Pregnancy‐Associated Cancer: A Systematic Review of Population‐Based Studies

Despite numerous available resources of evidence, the results about the frequency of pregnancy\u2010associated cancer (PAC) still show poor comparability due to dissimilarities in the study design and methodology, inclusion criteria, incoherent duration of follow\u2010up and a heterogeneous reference population. We conducted a systematic review of population\u2010based studies on PAC published up to December 2019, to provide updated research on this topic, highlighting strengths and limitations. Of the 24 papers included, 11 considered all types of tumors and 13 dealt with specific types of cancer. Differences in the procedures for estimating the frequency of PAC emerged even among population studies. However, we found consistent results for overall frequency of PAC\u2014 around 1/1000 pregnancies. Our review suggests that about 25% of PAC cases are diagnosed during pregnancy, confirming the hypothesis of an excess of diagnosis in the postpregnancy period. Sparse and inconsistent results were found regarding a potential increase in the frequency of PAC over calendar years. Alignments in the strategy to identify PAC are needed to overcome methodological weaknesses