Radiation and magnetic field effects on new semiconductor power devices for HL-LHC experiments

The radiation hardness of commercial Silicon Carbide and Gallium Nitride power MOSFETs is presented in this paper, for Total Ionizing Dose effects and Single Event Effects, under gamma, neutrons, protons and heavy ions. Similar tests are discussed for commercial DC-DC converters, also tested in operation under magnetic field

An Algebra of Hierarchical Graphs

We define an algebraic theory of hierarchical graphs, whose axioms characterise graph isomorphism: two terms are equated exactly when they represent the same graph. Our algebra can be understood as a high-level language for describing graphs with a node-sharing, embedding structure, and it is then well suited for defining graphical representations of software models where nesting and linking are key aspects

Tree Compression with Top Trees Revisited

We revisit tree compression with top trees (Bille et al, ICALP'13) and present several improvements to the compressor and its analysis. By significantly reducing the amount of information stored and guiding the compression step using a RePair-inspired heuristic, we obtain a fast compressor achieving good compression ratios, addressing an open problem posed by Bille et al. We show how, with relatively small overhead, the compressed file can be converted into an in-memory representation that supports basic navigation operations in worst-case logarithmic time without decompression. We also show a much improved worst-case bound on the size of the output of top-tree compression (answering an open question posed in a talk on this algorithm by Weimann in 2012).Comment: SEA 201

Voxel-based investigations of regional cerebral blood flow abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease using a single-detector SPECT system

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of using the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) program for an automated, voxel-by-voxel assessment of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects relative to age-matched controls studied with a conventional, single-detector SPECT system. METHODS: We used a databank of 99mTc-HMPAO images of 19 patients with a diagnosis of probable AD and 15 elderly healthy volunteers; data were acquired using an Orbiter-Siemens single-detector SPECT system. Using SPM, images were transformed spatially, smoothed (12mm), and the data were compared on a voxel-by-voxel basis with t-tests. RESULTS: There were significant rCBF reductions in AD patients relative to controls involving regions predicted a priori to be affected in AD, namely the left temporal and parietal neocortices, and the right posterior cingulate gyrus (pOBJETIVO: Avaliar a viabilidade de emprego do programa Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) para investigar de forma automatizada, voxel-a-voxel, a presença de déficits de fluxo sanguíneo cerebral regional (FSCr) em pacientes com doença de Alzheimer (DA) comparados a sujeitos-controle pareados para idade, usando imagens de SPECT adquiridas com um equipamento convencional de detector único. MÉTODOS: Foi utilizado um banco de imagens adquiridas após injeção de 99mTc-HMPAO em 19 pacientes com diagnóstico provável de DA e 15 voluntários idosos saudáveis, usando um equipamento de SPECT Orbiter-Siemens de detector único. Empregando o programa SPM, as imagens foram transformadas espacialmente, suavizadas (12mm FWHM), e comparadas estatisticamente voxel-a-voxel entre os dois grupos, usando o teste de T. RESULTADOS: Foram identificadas reduções significativas de FSCr nos pacientes com DA comparados aos controles em regiões previstas a priori como afetadas por esta forma de demência, quais sejam os neocórtices temporal e parietal em hemisfério esquerdo e o cíngulo posterior direito (p<0,05, corrigido para comparações múltiplas). DISCUSSÃO: A localização dos focos de redução de FSCr em pacientes com DA no nosso estudo é, de forma geral, consistente com os achados de déficits cerebrais detectados em estudos anteriores de neuroimagem funcional na DA realizados com equipamentos de resolução espacial mais alta. Isto sugere o potencial de utilidade do programa SPM para a análise de dados de SPECT adquiridos com equipamentos de detector único, apesar da sensibilidade e resolução espacial limitadas de tais aparelhos

Voxel-based investigations of regional cerebral blood flow abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease using a single-detector SPECT system

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of using the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) program for an automated, voxel-by-voxel assessment of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects relative to age-matched controls studied with a conventional, single-detector SPECT system. METHODS: We used a databank of 99mTc-HMPAO images of 19 patients with a diagnosis of probable AD and 15 elderly healthy volunteers; data were acquired using an Orbiter-Siemens single-detector SPECT system. Using SPM, images were transformed spatially, smoothed (12mm), and the data were compared on a voxel-by-voxel basis with t-tests. RESULTS: There were significant rCBF reductions in AD patients relative to controls involving regions predicted a priori to be affected in AD, namely the left temporal and parietal neocortices, and the right posterior cingulate gyrus (pOBJETIVO: Avaliar a viabilidade de emprego do programa Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) para investigar de forma automatizada, voxel-a-voxel, a presença de déficits de fluxo sanguíneo cerebral regional (FSCr) em pacientes com doença de Alzheimer (DA) comparados a sujeitos-controle pareados para idade, usando imagens de SPECT adquiridas com um equipamento convencional de detector único. MÉTODOS: Foi utilizado um banco de imagens adquiridas após injeção de 99mTc-HMPAO em 19 pacientes com diagnóstico provável de DA e 15 voluntários idosos saudáveis, usando um equipamento de SPECT Orbiter-Siemens de detector único. Empregando o programa SPM, as imagens foram transformadas espacialmente, suavizadas (12mm FWHM), e comparadas estatisticamente voxel-a-voxel entre os dois grupos, usando o teste de T. RESULTADOS: Foram identificadas reduções significativas de FSCr nos pacientes com DA comparados aos controles em regiões previstas a priori como afetadas por esta forma de demência, quais sejam os neocórtices temporal e parietal em hemisfério esquerdo e o cíngulo posterior direito (

mechanoluminescence of nylon under high velocity impact

The light emissions produced during deformation of solids induced by any mechanical action is called mechanoluminescence (ML). This phenomenon was reported mostly in hypervelocity impacts. Using high speed video-recording, the authors found evidence of ML for nylon at much lower impact velocity (of the order of 100 m/s). In order to understand the mechanism responsible for ML, Taylor impact experiments were planned and performed. Several impact configurations were investigated: Taylor anvil impact, Taylor impact on nylon anvil and rod-on-rod impact experiment. During the tests, the emitted light was measured using a wide-spectrum visible-to-infrared photodiode with response below 1 microsecond, and the signals were analyzed. The existence of a limiting impact velocity below which ML is no longer observed seems to be indicative of the fact that ML is controlled by the high pressure that is generated under uniaxial strain loading conditions. This result is consistent with the fact that, as soon as the compressive stress wave travels longitudinally in the Taylor sample and the pressure drops as a result of the arrival of the release waves, the ML no longer occurs. When tests were repeated in vacuum, no light emission in the visible range was observed. This finding seems to indicate that light emission occurs as a result of the oxidation of free radicals generated by the rupture of the polymer chains caused by the dynamic pressure wave

Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature

Background We conducted a systematic review to assess the evidence for specific effects of cannabis on brain structure and function. The review focuses on the cognitive changes associated with acute and chronic use of the drug. Method We reviewed literature reporting neuroimaging studies of chronic or acute cannabis use published up until January 2009. The search was conducted using Medline, EMBASE, LILACS and PsycLIT indexing services using the following key words: cannabis, marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, cannabidiol, CBD, neuroimaging, brain imaging, computerized tomography, CT, magnetic resonance, MRI, single photon emission tomography, SPECT, functional magnetic resonance, fMRI, positron emission tomography, PET, diffusion tensor MRI, DTI-MRI, MRS and spectroscopy. Results Sixty-six studies were identified, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-three were functional (SPECT/PET/fMRI) and eight structural (volumetric/DTI) imaging studies. The high degree of heterogeneity across studies precluded a meta-analysis. The functional studies suggest that resting global and prefrontal blood flow are lower in cannabis users than in controls. The results from the activation studies using a cognitive task are inconsistent because of the heterogeneity of the methods used. Studies of acute administration of THC or marijuana report increased resting activity and activation of the frontal and anterior cingulate cortex during cognitive tasks. Only three of the structural imaging studies found differences between users and controls. Conclusions Functional neuroimaging studies suggest a modulation of global and prefrontal metabolism both during the resting state and after the administration of THC/marijuana cigarettes. Minimal evidence of major effects of cannabis on brain structure has been reporte

Analysis of a nanoparticle‑enriched fraction of plasma reveals miRNA candidates for down syndrome pathogenesis

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by the presence of part or all of a third copy of chromosome 21. DS is associated with several phenotypes, including intellectual disability, congenital heart disease, childhood leukemia and immune defects. Specific microRNAs (miRNAs/miR) have been described to be associated with DS, although none of them so far have been unequivocally linked to the pathology. The present study focuses to the best of our knowledge for the first time on the miRNAs contained in nanosized RNA carriers circulating in the blood. Fractions enriched in nanosized RNA-carriers were separated from the plasma of young participants with DS and their non-trisomic siblings and miRNAs were extracted. A microarray-based analysis on a small cohort of samples led to the identification of the three most abundant miRNAs, namely miR-16-5p, miR-99b-5p and miR-144-3p. These miRNAs were then profiled for 15 pairs of DS and non‑trisomic sibling couples by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results identified a clear differential expression trend of these miRNAs in DS with respect to their non-trisomic siblings and gene ontology analysis pointed to their potential role in a number of typical DS features, including ‘nervous system development’, ‘neuronal cell body’ and certain forms of ‘leukemia’. Finally, these expression levels were associated with certain typical quantitative and qualitative clinical features of DS. These results contribute to the efforts in defining the DS‑associated pathogenic mechanisms and emphasize the importance of properly stratifying the miRNA fluid vehicles in order to probe biomolecules that are otherwise hidden and/or not accessible to (standard) analysis

The validity and reliability of the CAMDEX-DS for assessing dementia in adults with Down syndrome in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease occurs at a higher prevalence and an earlier age in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) than typically developing individuals. However, diagnosing dementia in individuals with intellectual disability remains a challenge due to pre-existing cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of Older People with Down's syndrome and Others with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMDEX-DS) for individuals with DS. METHODS: Two psychiatrists, working independently, evaluated 92 adults with DS ≥ 30 years of age. The concurrent validity of the CAMDEX-DS was analyzed in relation to the gold standard of established international criteria. In a subgroup of 20 subjects, the concurrent validity of the CAMDEX-DS was analyzed in relation to an independent objective assessment of cognitive decline over three years. We analyzed the inter-rater reliability of cognitive assessment. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of the CAMDEX-DS compared to the gold standard was 96.7%. CAMDEX-DS-based diagnosis was considered consistent with cognitive decline. The probability of a participant with dementia having cognitive decline was 83%. Inter-rater reliability for the participant assessment was good, with a kappa of > 0.8 for 93% of the CAMDEX-DS items. CONCLUSION: The CAMDEX-DS can be considered the first valid and reliable instrument for evaluating dementia in adults with DS in Brazil. Its use in such individuals could improve clinical practice and research

The validity and reliability of the CAMDEX-DS for assessing dementia in adults with Down syndrome in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease occurs at a higher prevalence and an earlier age in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) than typically developing individuals. However, diagnosing dementia in individuals with intellectual disability remains a challenge due to pre-existing cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of Older People with Down's syndrome and Others with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMDEX-DS) for individuals with DS. METHODS: Two psychiatrists, working independently, evaluated 92 adults with DS ≥ 30 years of age. The concurrent validity of the CAMDEX-DS was analyzed in relation to the gold standard of established international criteria. In a subgroup of 20 subjects, the concurrent validity of the CAMDEX-DS was analyzed in relation to an independent objective assessment of cognitive decline over three years. We analyzed the inter-rater reliability of cognitive assessment. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of the CAMDEX-DS compared to the gold standard was 96.7%. CAMDEX-DS-based diagnosis was considered consistent with cognitive decline. The probability of a participant with dementia having cognitive decline was 83%. Inter-rater reliability for the participant assessment was good, with a kappa of > 0.8 for 93% of the CAMDEX-DS items. CONCLUSION: The CAMDEX-DS can be considered the first valid and reliable instrument for evaluating dementia in adults with DS in Brazil. Its use in such individuals could improve clinical practice and research