Neutron irradiation effect on SiPMs up to Φneq\Phi_{neq} = 5 ×\times 1014^{14} cm−2^{-2}

Silicon Photo-Multipliers (SiPM) are becoming the photo-detector of choice for increasingly more particle detection applications, from fundamental physics to medical and societal applications. One major consideration for their use at high-luminosity colliders is the radiation damage induced by hadrons, which leads to a dramatic increase of the dark count rate. KETEK SiPMs have been exposed to various fluences of reactor neutrons up to $\Phi_{neq}$ = 5$\times$10$^{14}$ cm$^{-2}$ (1 MeV equivalent neutrons). Results from the I-V, and C-V measurements for temperatures between $-$30$^\circ$C and $+$30$^\circ$C are presented. We propose a new method to quantify the effect of radiation damage on the SiPM performance. Using the measured dark current the single pixel occupation probability as a function of temperature and excess voltage is determined. From the pixel occupation probability the operating conditions for given requirements can be optimized. The method is qualitatively verified using current measurements with the SiPM illuminated by blue LED light

Improving tuberculosis surveillance in Europe is key to controlling the disease.

As underlined by the joint ECDC and World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe TB report, launched on 18 March the importance of good surveillance to stem this trend cannot be underestimated. Where do we go with surveillance in Europe? Can we do more? How many MDR and XDR TB cases occur because of sub-optimal patient management? This issue of Eurosurveillance casts light on these important questions with four interesting articles. The results of the studies reported in this issue of Eurosurveillance allow us to point out some key topics: \u2022The completeness of reporting information (including treatment outcomes), the proportion of culture-confirmed TB cases reported as well as the proportion of strains on which DST for both first- and second-line drugs is performed and reported are still sub-optimal overall in Europe. The relevance of these pitfalls goes beyond the \u201csimple\u201d surveillance limitation, having the potential to affect other important TB control pillars, e.g. infection control and case-management. \u2022MDR and XDR TB still persist in Europe. The high proportion of MDR TB identified among new TB cases reported by certain countries indicates that sub-optimal infection control practices are likely to occur, while the high percentage of MDR TB notified among retreatment cases is probably the result of sub-optimal case management in the past decade

Inverse Low Gain Avalanche Detectors (iLGADs) for precise tracking and timing applications

Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) is the baseline sensing technology of the recently proposed Minimum Ionizing Particle (MIP) end-cap timing detectors (MTD) at the Atlas and CMS experiments. The current MTD sensor is designed as a multi-pad matrix detector delivering a poor position resolution, due to the relatively large pad area, around 1 $mm^2$; and a good timing resolution, around 20-30 ps. Besides, in his current technological incarnation, the timing resolution of the MTD LGAD sensors is severely degraded once the MIP particle hits the inter-pad region since the signal amplification is missing for this region. This limitation is named as the LGAD fill-factor problem. To overcome the fill factor problem and the poor position resolution of the MTD LGAD sensors, a p-in-p LGAD (iLGAD) was introduced. Contrary to the conventional LGAD, the iLGAD has a non-segmented deep p-well (the multiplication layer). Therefore, iLGADs should ideally present a constant gain value over all the sensitive region of the device without gain drops between the signal collecting electrodes; in other words, iLGADs should have a 100${\%}$ fill-factor by design. In this paper, tracking and timing performance of the first iLGAD prototypes is presented.Comment: Conference Proceedings of VCI2019, 15th Vienna Conference of Instrumentation, February 18-22, 2019, Vienna, Austri

Multiresistentse tuberkuloosi ravi kulutulusus ja ravitulemused erinevate ravistrateegiate rakendamisel

Järjest laialdasemalt rakendatakse multiresistentse tuberkuloosi haigete raviks DOTS-Plus strateegiat, kasutades teise rea ravimeid, kuid teadmised nende efektiivsuse ja kulutulususe kohta on vähesed. Uuringus hinnati alates 2001. a augustist Eestis rakendatud DOTS-Plus strateegia tõhusust, maksumust ja kulutulusust võrreldes 3 alternatiivset ravi strateegiat: DOTS-Plus strateegia, pre-DOTS-plus strateegia ja DOTS-strateegia. Kulud arvutati 2002. a kehtinud hindades, tõhususe näitajateks olid tuberkuloosist põhjustatud surmade arv, kaotatud haiguskoormus ja kulutulususe näitajaks säästetud haiguskoormuse maksumus. Saadud andmete alusel võib väita, et kasutades DOTS-Plus strateegiat, on võimalik oluliselt paran dada multiresistentse tuberkuloosi haigete ravitulemusi ning võrreldes teiste võimalustega on see kulutulusaim. Eesti Arst 2006; 85 (3): 148–15

Applicability of the shorter 'Bangladesh regimen' in high multidrug-resistant tuberculosis settings

In spite of the recent introduction of two new drugs (delamanid and bedaquiline) and a few repurposed compounds to treat multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR- and XDR-TB), clinicians are facing increasing problems in designing effective regimens in severe cases. Recently a 9 to 12-month regimen (known as the 'Bangladesh regimen') proved to be effective in treating MDR-TB cases. It included an initial phase of 4 to 6 months of kanamycin, moxifloxacin, prothionamide, clofazimine, pyrazinamide, high-dose isoniazid, and ethambutol, followed by 5 months of moxifloxacin, clofazimine, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. However, recent evidence from Europe and Latin America identified prevalences of resistance to the first-line drugs in this regimen (ethambutol and pyrazinamide) exceeding 60%, and of prothionamide exceeding 50%. Furthermore, the proportions of resistance to the two most important pillars of the regimen - quinolones and kanamycin - were higher than 40%. Overall, only 14 out of 348 adult patients (4.0%) were susceptible to all of the drugs composing the regimen, and were therefore potentially suitable for the 'shorter regimen'. A shorter, cheaper, and well-tolerated MDR-TB regimen is likely to impact the number of patients treated and improve adherence if prescribed to the right patients through the systematic use of rapid MTBDRsl testing

Classifying new anti-tuberculosis drugs: Rationale and future perspectives

The classification of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs is important as it helps the clinician to build an appropriate anti-TB regimen for multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB cases that do not fulfil the criteria for the shorter MDR-TB regimen. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently approved a revision of the classification of new anti-TB drugs based on current evidence on each drug. In the previous WHO guidelines, the choice of drugs was based on efficacy and toxicity in a step-down manner, from group 1 first-line drugs and groups 2-5 second-line drugs, to group 5 drugs with potentially limited efficacy or limited clinical evidence. In the revised WHO classification, exclusively aimed at managing drug-resistant cases, medicines are again listed in hierarchical order from group A to group D. In parallel, a possible future classification is independently proposed. The aim of this viewpoint article is to describe the evolution in WHO TB classification (taking into account an independently proposed new classification) and recent changes in WHO guidance, while commenting on the differences between them. The latest evidence on the ex-group 5 drugs is also discussed

controlling the disease

Surveillance and outbreak reports Surveillance of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in Europe, 2003-2007 15 by I Devaux, D Manissero, K Fernandez de la Hoz, K Kremer, D van Soolingen, on behalf of the EuroTB network Analysis of tuberculosis treatment outcomes in the European Union and European Economic Area: efforts needed towards optimal case management and control 21 by D Manissero, V Hollo, E Huitric, C Ködmön, A Amato-Gauci Risk of developing tuberculosis from a school contact: retrospective cohort study

Multidrug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis treatment regimens and patient outcomes: an individual patient data meta-analysis of 9,153 patients.

Treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is lengthy, toxic, expensive, and has generally poor outcomes. We undertook an individual patient data meta-analysis to assess the impact on outcomes of the type, number, and duration of drugs used to treat MDR-TB

Mapping socioeconomic vulnerabilities of the centro region´s Portuguese population to land use

This analysis maps the vulnerability of Portugal's Centro region population to land use, exploring the relationship between land use patterns, socioeconomic indicators, and environmental hazards. It reveals concentrations of wealth and education in coastal and urban areas, contrasting with heightened vulnerability in forested inland regions. The study highlights intensified flood risks in coastal territories, underlining amplified vulnerability due to economic activity and human presence. Additionally, it emphasizes the correlation between forested areas and fire risks, impacting the resilience of vulnerable communities. The findings underscore the necessity for tailored policies, informed by local dynamics, to enhance community resilience against environmental risks