Validation tests of the CMS TIB/TID structures

Tracker Inner Barrel half-cylinders and Tracker Inner Disks of the CMS tracker have been integrated in three INFN sites. Integrated structures are submitted to an extensive set of tests whose main aim is to validate the functioning of the structures in CMS-like conditions. The tests have furthermore proven to be a great opportunity to study several aspects of the performance in detail. In this note the tests are described in some detail and an overview of the results is presented

Molecular and clinical features of the myeloproliferative neoplasm associated with JAK2 exon 12 mutations

Although approximately 95% of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) harbor the V617F mutation in JAK2 exon 14, several mutations in exon 12 have been described in the remaining patients. We conducted a European collaborative study to define the molecular and clinical features of patients harboring these mutations. Overall, 106 PVs were recruited and 17 different mutations identified. Irrespective of the mutation, two-thirds of patients had isolated erythrocytosis, whereas the remaining subjects had erythrocytosis plus leukocytosis and/or thrombocytosis. Compared with JAK2 (V617F)-positive PV patients, those with exon 12 mutations had significantly higher hemoglobin level and lower platelet and leukocyte counts at diagnosis but similar incidences of thrombosis, myelofibrosis, leukemia, and death. In a multivariable analysis, age more than 60 years and prior thrombosis predicted thrombosis. These findings suggest that, despite the phenotypical difference, the outcome of JAK2 exon 12 mutations-positive PV is similar to that of JAK2 (V617F)-positive PV

Engineered Prototypes of the Barrel and Forward Single-Sided Silicon Modules of CMS: Milestone Report

This is intended to describe the main features of the first engineered versions of the basic single-sided detector modules for the barrel and forward silicon tracker of CMS

Molecular diagnosis of the myeloproliferative neoplasms: UK guidelines for the detection ofJAK2V617F and other relevant mutations

Molecular genetic assays for the detection of the JAK2 V617F (c.1849G>T) and other pathogenetic mutations within JAK2 exon 12 and MPL exon 10 are part of the routine diagnostic workup for patients presenting with erythrocytosis, thrombocytosis or otherwise suspected to have a myeloproliferative neoplasm. A wide choice of techniques are available for the detection of these mutations, leading to potential difficulties for clinical laboratories in deciding upon the most appropriate assay, which can lead to problems with inter-laboratory standardization. Here, we discuss the most important issues for a clinical diagnostic laboratory in choosing a technique, particularly for detection of the JAK2 V617F mutation at diagnosis. The JAK2 V617F detection assay should be both specific and sensitive enough to detect a mutant allele burden as low as 1-3%. Indeed, the use of sensitive assays increases the detection rate of the JAK2 V617F mutation within myeloproliferative neoplasms. Given their diagnostic relevance, it is also beneficial and relatively straightforward to screen JAK2 V617F negative patients for JAK2 exon 12 mutations (in the case of erythrocytosis) or MPL exon 10 mutations (thrombocytosis or myelofibrosis) using appropriate assays. Molecular results should be considered in the context of clinical findings and other haematological or laboratory results

Track Reconstruction with Cosmic Ray Data at the Tracker Integration Facility

The subsystems of the CMS silicon strip tracker were integrated and commissioned at the Tracker Integration Facility (TIF) in the period from November 2006 to July 2007. As part of the commissioning, large samples of cosmic ray data were recorded under various running conditions in the absence of a magnetic field. Cosmic rays detected by scintillation counters were used to trigger the readout of up to 15\,\% of the final silicon strip detector, and over 4.7~million events were recorded. This document describes the cosmic track reconstruction and presents results on the performance of track and hit reconstruction as from dedicated analyses