The Thin Gap Chambers database experience in test beam and preparations for ATLAS

Thin gap chambers (TGCs) are used for the muon trigger system in the forward region of the LHC experiment ATLAS. The TGCs are expected to provide a trigger signal within 25 ns of the bunch spacing. An extensive system test of the ATLAS muon spectrometer has been performed in the H8 beam line at the CERN SPS during the last few years. A relational database was used for storing the conditions of the tests as well as the configuration of the system. This database has provided the detector control system with the information needed for configuration of the front end electronics. The database is used to assist the online operation and maintenance. The same database is used to store the non event condition and configuration parameters needed later for the offline reconstruction software. A larger scale of the database has been produced to support the whole TGC system. It integrates all the production, QA tests and assembly information. A 1/12th model of the whole TGC system is currently in use for testing the performance of this database in configuring and tracking the condition of the system. A prototype of the database was first implemented during the H8 test beams. This paper describes the database structure, its interface to other systems and its operational performance.Comment: Proceedings IEEE, Nuclear Science Symposium 2005, Stockholm, Sweeden, May 200

Using a neural network approach for muon reconstruction and triggering

The extremely high rate of events that will be produced in the future Large Hadron Collider requires the triggering mechanism to take precise decisions in a few nano-seconds. We present a study which used an artificial neural network triggering algorithm and compared it to the performance of a dedicated electronic muon triggering system. Relatively simple architecture was used to solve a complicated inverse problem. A comparison with a realistic example of the ATLAS first level trigger simulation was in favour of the neural network. A similar architecture trained after the simulation of the electronics first trigger stage showed a further background rejection.Comment: A talk given at ACAT03, KEK, Japan, November 2003. Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section

Metabolic syndrome does not affect sustained virologic response of direct-acting antivirals while hepatitis C clearance improves hemoglobin A1c.

AimTo determine whether successful treatment with directacting antivirals (DAA) is associated with improvements in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and if type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or metabolic syndrome affects sustained virologic response (SVR).MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of all hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System treated with varying DAA therapy between 2014-2016. Separate multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine predictors of HbA1c decrease ≥ 0.5 after DAA treatment and predictors of SVR 12-wk post treatment (SVR12).ResultsA total of 1068 patients were treated with DAA therapy between 2014-2016. The presence of T2DM or metabolic syndrome did not adversely affect SVR12. 106 patients had both HCV and T2DM. Within that cohort, patients who achieved SVR12 had lower mean HbA1c pre treatment (7.35 vs 8.60, P = 0.02), and lower mean HbA1c post-treatment compared to non-responders (6.55 vs 8.61, P = 0.01). The mean reduction in HbA1c after treatment was greater for those who achieved SVR12 than for non-responders (0.79 vs 0.01, P = 0.03). In adjusted models, patients that achieved SVR12 were more likely to have a HbA1c decrease of ≥ 0.5 than those that did not achieve SVR12 (adjusted OR = 7.24, 95%CI: 1.22-42.94).ConclusionIn HCV patients with T2DM, successful treatment with DAA was associated with a significant reduction in HbA1c suggesting that DAA may have a role in improving insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, the presence of T2DM or metabolic syndrome does not adversely affect SVR12 rates in patients treated with DAA

How PV systems can be cost-competitive for mobile BTS in remote areas of Algeria

Solar electricity for telecom infrastructure has became one of the main contributors of electrical energy to the energy system in the future, but solar technology needs support to find its way to the market. Since photovoltaic (PV) electricity always involves  very high costs compared to electricity from other sources, a striking question is: how can PVs achieve competitiveness? There are  different strategies for promoting applied PV electricity generation around the world. Here, we simulated and designed a 40 KWp injected PV power, to evaluate the energy of the incident photon flux, that produced by PV panels and the energy injected into the electricity grid, and judge whether the installation is profitable, and if the technology is economical. The results reveal that the site of Tamanrasset (in the extreme south of Algeria) could produce an annual energy production 73879 kWh, which justify the reason the German Academy has chosen such site for the famous desert project, lastly launched between the two countries

Race affects SVR12 in a large and ethnically diverse hepatitis C-infected patient population following treatment with direct-acting antivirals: Analysis of a single-center Department of Veterans Affairs cohort.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease. HCV cure has been linked to improved patient outcomes. In the era of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), HCV cure has become the goal, as defined by sustained virological response 12 weeks (SVR12) after completion of therapy. Historically, African-Americans have had lower SVR12 rates compared to White people in the interferon era, which had been attributed to the high prevalence of non-CC interleukin 28B (IL28B) type. Less is known about the association between race/ethnicity and SVR12 in DAA-treated era. The aim of the study is to evaluate the predictors of SVR12 in a diverse, single-center Veterans Affairs population. We conducted a retrospective study of patients undergoing HCV therapy with DAAs from 2014 to 2016 at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. We performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine predictors of SVR12, adjusting for age, HCV genotype, DAA regimen and duration, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, fibrosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis score, homelessness, mental health, and adherence. Our cohort included 1068 patients, out of which 401 (37.5%) were White people and 400 (37.5%) were African-American. Genotype 1 was the most common genotype (83.9%, N = 896). In the adjusted models, race/ethnicity and the presence of fibrosis were statistically significant predictors of non-SVR. African-Americans had 57% lower odds for reaching SVR12 (adj.OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 1.5-4.1) compared to White people. Advanced fibrosis (adj.OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.26-0.68) was also a significant predictor of non-SVR. In a single-center VA population on DAAs, African-Americans were less likely than White people to reach SVR12 when adjusting for covariates

Maladie de kimura: À propos d’un cas

Introduction :  Mots-clés : Maladie de Kimura, parotide, chirurgie.La maladie de Kimura ou lymphogranulome éosinophile est une pathologie inflammatoire chronique très rare, d’étiologie inconnue. Nous rapportons un cas de maladie de Kimura à localisation parotidienne et à travers une revue de la littérature, rappelons les principales caractéristiques cliniques, paracliniques, thérapeutiques et évolutives de cette pathologie. Matériel et méthodes : Patient de 17 ans qui a consulté devant l’apparition d’une tuméfaction de la région parotidienne gauche évoluant depuis un an et sans paralysie faciale. Résultats : L’échographie cervico-parotidienne a révélé une parotide gauche hypertrophiée siège de multiples nodules hypoéchogènes. La tomodensitométrie cervico-faciale a mis en évidence une glande parotide gauche augmentée de taille et de structure hétérogène nodulaire sans adénopathies cervicales. La cytopontion était non concluante. Le patient a bénéficié d’une parotidectomie exofaciale gauche et l’étude anatomopathologique de la pièce opératoire revenue en faveur de la maladie de Kimura. Les suites opératoires étaient simples. Le recul est d’un an sans récidive. Discussion : La Maladie de Kimura se caractérise cliniquement par des nodules sous cutanés de localisation cervicofaciale, une augmentation du volume des glandes salivaires et des adénopathies satellites. Son diagnostic est histologique reposant sur l’identification d’une hyperplasie follicullaire avec des abcès à polynucléaires éosinophiles. Le traitement est chirurgical le plus souvent mais dans certains cas la corticothérapie est proposée. Ce diagnostic doit cependant rester à l’esprit devant toute masse cervico-faciale

Investigation of the performance of an optimised MicroCAT, a GEM and their combination by simulations and current measurements

A MicroCAT (Micro Compteur A Trous) structure which is used for avalanche charge multiplication in gas filled radiation detectors has been optimised with respect to maximum electron transparency and minimum ion feedback. We report on the charge transfer behaviour and the achievable gas gain of this device. A three-dimensional electron and ion transfer simulation is compared to results derived from electric current measurements. Similarly, we present studies of the charge transfer behaviour of a GEM (Gas Electron Multiplier) by current measurements and simulations. Finally, we investigate the combination of the MicroCAT and the GEM by measurements with respect to the performance at different voltage settings, gas mixtures and gas pressures.Comment: 26 pages, 32 figure