Performances and stability of a 2.4 ton Gd organic liquid scintillator target for antineutrino detection

In this work we report the performances and the chemical and physical properties of a (2 x 1.2) ton organic liquid scintillator target doped with Gd up to ~0.1%, and the results of a 2 year long stability survey. In particular we have monitored the amount of both Gd and primary fluor actually in solution, the optical and fluorescent properties of the Gd-doped liquid scintillator (GdLS) and its performances as a neutron detector, namely neutron capture efficiency and average capture time. The experimental survey is ongoing, the target being continuously monitored. After two years from the doping time the performances of the Gd-doped liquid scintillator do not show any hint of degradation and instability; this conclusion comes both from the laboratory measurements and from the "in-tank" measurements. This is the largest stable Gd-doped organic liquid scintillator target ever produced and continuously operated for a long period

Experimental Proposal for Achieving Superadditive Communication Capacities with a Binary Quantum Alphabet

We demonstrate superadditivity in the communication capacity of a binary alphabet consisting of two nonorthogonal quantum states. For this scheme, collective decoding is performed two transmissions at a time. This improves upon the previous schemes of Sasaki et al. [Phys. Rev. A 58, 146 (1998)] where superadditivity was not achieved until a decoding of three or more transmissions at a time. This places superadditivity within the regime of a near-term laboratory demonstration. We propose an experimental test based upon an alphabet of low photon-number coherent states where the signal decoding is done with atomic state measurements on a single atom in a high-finesse optical cavity.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Participation of intracellular cysteine proteinases, in particular cathepsin B, in degradation of collagen in periosteal tissue explants

The involvement of cysteine proteinases in the degradation of soft connective tissue collagen was studied in cultured periosteal explants. Using cysteine proteinase inhibitors that were active intracellularly or extracellularly (Ep453 and Ep475, respectively), it was shown that over-all collagen degradation, as measured by the release of hydroxyproline, decreased significantly on inhibition of the intracellular pool of cysteine proteinases by Ep453. This inhibitor also induced an accumulation of intracellular fibrillar collagen in fibroblasts, indicating a decreased degradation of phagocytosed collagen. The extracellular inhibitor, Ep475, had minor or no effects. Histochemical analysis using a substrate for the cysteine proteinases cathepsins B and L revealed a high level of enzyme activity, which was completely blocked in explants preincubated with a selective intracellular inhibitor of cathepsin B, Ca074-Me. Moreover, the cathepsin B inhibitor strongly affected collagen degradation, decreasing the release of hydroxyproline and increasing the accumulation of phagocytosed collagen. These effects were comparable or slightly stronger than those found with the general intracellular inhibitor (Ep453). Taken together, these data strongly suggest that intracellular cysteine proteinases, in particular cathepsin B, play an important role in the digestion of soft connective tissue collage

Sequenced Questioning to Elicit the Patient\u27s Perspective on Illness: Effects on Information Disclosure, Patient Satisfaction, and Time Expenditure

Background: During the medical interview, clinicians frequently overlook the patient\u27s perspective on illness (PPI), ie, the patient\u27s explanations and concerns about the presenting symptoms and expectations for the encounter. Without special efforts, the PPI surfaces spontaneously in only about one fourth of medical interviews. We determined whether asking the patient a series of sequenced questions would elicit the PPI and what effect such questioning would have on patient and physician satisfaction and on the length of the clinical encounter Methods: Fifty-five interviews in a family practice clinic setting were studied by videotape and post-interview debriefings. On a random basis, 29 patients were asked sequenced questions at the end of the history, while 26 experienced usual medical interviews. Measures of patient and physician satisfaction were compared by descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney test for ordinal data. Results: In response to sequenced questioning, 44% of patients revealed specific, significant concerns that had not been otherwise disclosed. Among patients without prior contact with their provider, satisfaction with the encounter was significantly higher when the sequenced questions were used than when they were not; perception of time spent in discussion with the physician was also higher. Paradoxically, resident physicians expressed lower confidence that they had helped the patient when the sequenced questions were used to elicit the PPI. Conclusions: Use of sequenced questions to elicit the PPI results in significant sharing of new information and increased patient satisfaction and requires only a modest investment of time