Low emittance muon accelerator studies with production from positrons on target

A new scheme to produce very low emittance muon beams using a positron beam of about 45~GeV interacting on electrons on target is presented. One of the innovative topics to be investigated is the behaviour of the positron beam stored in a low emittance ring with a thin target, that is directly inserted in the ring chamber to produce muons. Muons can be immediately collected at the exit of the target and transported to two $\mu^+$ and $\mu^-$ accumulator rings and then accelerated and injected in muon collider rings. We focus in this paper on the simulation of the e$^+$ beam interacting with the target, the effect of the target on the 6-D phase space and the optimization of the e$^+$ ring design to maximize the energy acceptance. We will investigate the performance of this scheme, ring plus target system, comparing different multi-turn simulations. The source is considered for use in a multi-TeV collider in ref.[1]Comment: accepted for publication in Physical Review Accelerators and Beam

How are native vegetation and reserves affected by different road types in a Southeastern Brazilian State?

Reducing connectivity, road networks may threaten the effectiveness of natural reserves, thus, representing acritical conservation matter. This work aims to: 1) evaluate the relationship between native vegetation cover and roaddistance; 2) evaluate the extent to which native vegetation and nature reserves are affected by roads. Our study area wasa neotropical landscape in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. We divided the study area into 15 subregions to represent itshigh heterogeneity. First, we demarcated buffer zones of 10 different distances around each road, and quantified thedensity of roads and native vegetation cover. Second, we estimated the area ecologically affected by roads, the roadeffect zone, using buffers of increasing distances according to each road type. The most dense road network was foundin the São Paulo Metropolitan area and the lowest was the Southern Coastline subregion, but this subregion showed thesecond highest expressway density. These two subregions had stronger positive relationships between native vegetationcover and road distance. Almost 10% of São Paulo state, about 6% of the remaining native vegetation, and more than10% of the reserves were ecologically affected by roads. More than 50% of reserves were ecologically affected, andsome have more than 60% of their territory affected. Threats related to proximity of roads, i.e. logging, may reduceeffectiveness of more than 50% of natural reserves. Thus, we propose that identifying priority areas for integral conservationof pristine environments should include mostly remote areas, which are far from larger roads and under lower generalroad influence.FAPESP (Freitas’ post-doctorate fellowship, Proc. 2006/02673- 9

Machine detector interface for the e+e−e^+e^- future circular collider

The international Future Circular Collider (FCC) study aims at a design of $pp$, $e^+e^-$, $ep$ colliders to be built in a new 100 km tunnel in the Geneva region. The $e^+e^-$ collider (FCC-ee) has a centre of mass energy range between 90 (Z-pole) and 375 GeV (tt_bar). To reach such unprecedented energies and luminosities, the design of the interaction region is crucial. The crab-waist collision scheme has been chosen for the design and it will be compatible with all beam energies. In this paper we will describe the machine detector interface layout including the solenoid compensation scheme. We will describe how this layout fulfills all the requirements set by the parameters table and by the physical constraints. We will summarize the studies of the impact of the synchrotron radiation, the analysis of trapped modes and of the backgrounds induced by single beam and luminosity effects giving an estimate of the losses in the interaction region and in the detector.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, 62th ICFA ABDW on High Luminosity Circular $e^+e^-$ Colliders, eeFACT2018, Hong Kong, Chin

Status of the Super-B factory Design

The SuperB international team continues to optimize the design of an electron-positron collider, which will allow the enhanced study of the origins of flavor physics. The project combines the best features of a linear collider (high single-collision luminosity) and a storage-ring collider (high repetition rate), bringing together all accelerator physics aspects to make a very high luminosity of 10$^{36}$ cm$^{-2}$ sec$^{-1}$. This asymmetric-energy collider with a polarized electron beam will produce hundreds of millions of B-mesons at the $\Upsilon$(4S) resonance. The present design is based on extremely low emittance beams colliding at a large Piwinski angle to allow very low $\beta_y^\star$ without the need for ultra short bunches. Use of crab-waist sextupoles will enhance the luminosity, suppressing dangerous resonances and allowing for a higher beam-beam parameter. The project has flexible beam parameters, improved dynamic aperture, and spin-rotators in the Low Energy Ring for longitudinal polarization of the electron beam at the Interaction Point. Optimized for best colliding-beam performance, the facility may also provide high-brightness photon beams for synchrotron radiation applications

Baseline Design of the SuperB Factory Injection System

TUPPR088International audienceThe injection complex of the SuperB, B-factory project of INFN consists of a polarized electron gun, a positron production system, electron and positron linac sections, a positron damping ring and the transfer lines connecting these systems and the collider main rings. To keep the ultra high luminosity nearly constant, continuous injection of 4 GeV electrons and 7 GeV positrons in both Low Energy Ring (LER) and High Energy Ring (HER) is necessary. In this paper we describe the baseline design and the beam dynamics studies performed to evaluate the system performance

Taming the pandemic? The importance of homemade plant-based foods and beverages as community responses to COVID-19

Household responses to COVID-19 in different corners of the world represent the primary health care that communities have relied on for preventing and mitigating symptoms. During a very complex and confusing time, in which public health services in multiple countries have been completely overwhelmed, and in some cases even collapsed, these first-line household responses have been quintessential for building physical, mental, and social resilience, and for improving individual and community health. This editorial discusses the outcomes of a rapid-response preliminary survey during the first phase of the pandemic among social and community contacts in five metropolises heavily affected by the COVID-19 health crisis (Wuhan, Milan, Madrid, New York, and Rio de Janeiro), and in twelve rural areas or countries initially less affected by the pandemic (Appalachia, Jamaica, Bolivia, Romania, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Georgia, Turkey, Pakistan, Cambodia, and South Africa). We summarized our perspectives as 17 case studies, observing that people have relied primarily on teas and spices (“food-medicines”) and that there exist clear international plant favorites, popularized by various new media. Urban diasporas and rural households seem to have repurposed homemade plant-based remedies that they use in normal times for treating the flu and other respiratory symptoms or that they simply consider healthy foods. The most remarkable shift in many areas has been the increased consumption of ginger and garlic, followed by onion, turmeric, and lemon. Our preliminary inventory of food medicines serves as a baseline for future systematic ethnobotanical studies and aims to inspire in-depth research on how use patterns of plant-based foods and beverages, both “traditional” and “new”, are changing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our reflections in this editorial call attention to the importance of ethnobiology, ethnomedicine, and ethnogastronomy research into domestic health care strategies for improving community health

Randomized Clinical Trial on Ivermectin versus Thiabendazole for the Treatment of Strongyloidiasis

Strongyloidiasis is the infection caused by the worm Strongyloides stercoralis. Due to its peculiar life cycle Strongyloides may remain indefinitely in the host, if not effectively cured. Although the disease is usually mild, in case of weakening of the host's immune defenses the worm may invade virtually all organs and tissues (disseminated strongyloidiasis, almost invariably fatal). The treatment must then reach the goal of the complete elimination of the parasite. Small size clinical trials showed similar, high efficacy of the two drugs ivermectin (used as a single dose) and thiabendazole (used twice daily for two consecutive days). All trials used as the criterion for cure the absence of larvae in stool exams. The latter however may easily miss the infection, falsely suggesting that the infection has been cured. This trial, using a test detecting specific Strongyloides antibodies as an additional and more sensitive diagnostic tool, confirms previous reports: the two drugs have similar efficacy but ivermectin is better tolerated and is therefore the first choice. However the cure rate was lower than 70% for the standard, single dose. The authors then conclude that a larger, multi center trial is needed to find the optimal dose schedule of ivermectin

Alcohol-related cerebellar degeneration: not all down to toxicity?

Background: Alcohol-related cerebellar degeneration is one of the commonest acquired forms of cerebellar ataxia. The exact pathogenic mechanisms by which alcohol leads to cerebellar damage remain unknown. Possible autoreactive immune mediated mechanisms have not been explored previously. In this study, we aim to investigate the potential role of alcohol-induced immune mediated cerebellar degeneration. Methods: Patients with ataxia and a history of alcohol misuse were recruited from the Ataxia and Hepatology tertiary clinics at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. We determined the pattern of cerebellar involvement both on clinical (SARA score) and imaging (MRI volumetry and MR spectroscopy) parameters. In addition, HLA genotyping, serological markers for gluten-related disorders and serological reactivity on rat cerebellar tissue using indirect immunohistochemistry were assessed. Results: Thirty-eight patients were included in the study all of whom had ataxia. The gait (97 %), stance (89 %) and heel-shin slide (89 %) were the predominant SARA elements affected. MRI volumetric and spectroscopy techniques demonstrated significant structural, volumetric and functional deficits of the cerebellum with particular involvement of the cerebellar vermis. Circulating anti-gliadin antibodies were detected in 34 % patients vs. 12 % in healthy controls. Antibodies to transglutaminase 6 (TG6) were detected in 39 % of patients and 4 % of healthy control subjects. Using immunohistochemistry, Purkinje cell and/or granular layer reactivity was demonstrated in 71 % of patient sera. Conclusions: Alcohol induced tissue injury to the CNS leading to cerebellar degeneration may also involve immune mediated mechanisms, including sensitisation to gluten

Proposal for taking data with the KLOE-2 detector at the DAΦ\PhiNE collider upgraded in energy

This document reviews the physics program of the KLOE-2 detector at DA$\Phi$NE upgraded in energy and provides a simple solution to run the collider above the $\phi$-peak (up to 2, possibly 2.5 GeV). It is shown how a precise measurement of the multihadronic cross section in the energy region up to 2 (possibly 2.5) GeV would have a major impact on the tests of the Standard Model through a precise determination of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon and the effective fine-structure constant at the $M_Z$ scale. With a luminosity of about $10^{32}$cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$, DA$\Phi$NE upgraded in energy can perform a scan in the region from 1 to 2.5 GeV in one year by collecting an integrated luminosity of 20 pb$^{-1}$ (corresponding to a few days of data taking) for single point, assuming an energy step of 25 MeV. A few years of data taking in this region would provide important tests of QCD and effective theories by $\gamma\gamma$ physics with open thresholds for pseudo-scalar (like the $\eta'$), scalar ($f_0,f'_0$, etc...) and axial-vector ($a_1$, etc...) mesons; vector-mesons spectroscopy and baryon form factors; tests of CVC and searches for exotics. In the final part of the document a technical solution for the energy upgrade of DA$\Phi$NE is proposed.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure