6,022 research outputs found
Statistical analysis of the trigger algorithm for the NEMO project
We discuss the performances of a trigger implemented for the planned neutrino
telescope NEMO. This trigger seems capable to discriminate between the signal
and the strong background introduced by atmospheric muons and by the beta decay
of the K-40 nuclei present in the water. The performances of the trigger, as
evaluated on simulated data are analyzed in detail.Comment: Published in the Proceedings of the "I Workshop of Astronomy and
Astrophysics for Students", Eds. N.R. Napolitano & M. Paolillo, Naples, 19-20
April 2006 (astro-ph/0701577
Implementation of the trigger algorithm for the NEMO project
We describe the implementation of trigger algorithm specifically tailored on
the characteristics of the neutrino telescope NEMO. Extensive testing against
realistic simulations shows that, by making use of the uncorrelated nature of
the noise produced mainly by the decay of K-40 beta-decay, this trigger is
capable to discriminate among different types of muonic events.Comment: Published in the Proceedings of the "I Workshop of Astronomy and
Astrophysics for Students", Eds. N.R. Napolitano & M. Paolillo, Naples, 19-20
April 2006 (astro-ph/0701577
Migration and Accretion of Protoplanets in 2D and 3D Global Hydrodynamical Simulations
Planet evolution is tightly connected to the dynamics of both distant and
close disk material. Hence, an appropriate description of disk-planet
interaction requires global and high resolution computations, which we
accomplish by applying a Nested-Grid method. Through simulations in two and
three dimensions, we investigate how migration and accretion are affected by
long and short range interactions. For small mass objects, 3D models provide
longer growth and migration time scales than 2D ones do, whereas time lengths
are comparable for large mass planets.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; to appear in the Conference Proceedings of
"Scientific Frontiers in Research on Extrasolar Planets
Multi-objective design of robust flight control systems
A multi–objective evolutionary algorithm is used in the framework of H1 control theory
to find the controller gains that minimize a weighted combination of the infinite–norm
of the sensitivity function (for disturbance attenuation requirements) and complementary
sensitivity function (for robust stability requirements). After considering a single operating
point for a level flight trim condition of a F-16 fighter aircraft model, two different
approaches will then be considered to extend the domain of validity of the control law: 1)
the controller is designed for different operating points and gain scheduling is adopted; 2)
a single control law is designed for all the considered operating points by multiobjective
minimisation. The two approaches are analyzed and compared in terms of effectiveness of
the design method and resulting closed loop performance of the system
Contribution to diffuse gamma-ray emission coming from self-confined CRs around their Galactic sources
Recent observations of the diffuse Galactic gamma-ray emission by the
Fermi-LAT satellite have shown significant deviations from models which assume
the same diffusion properties for cosmic rays (CR) throughout the Galaxy. We
explore the possibility that a fraction of this diffuse Galactic emission could
be due to hadronic interactions of CRs self-confined in the region around their
sources. In fact, freshly accelerated CRs that diffuse away from the
acceleration region can trigger the streaming instability able to amplify
magnetic disturbance and to reduce the particle diffusion. When this happen,
CRs are trapped in the near source region for a time longer than expected and
an extended gamma-ray halo is produces around each source. Here we calculate
the contribution to the diffuse gamma-ray background due to the overlap along
lines of sight of several of these extended halos. We find that if the density
of neutrals is low, the halos can account for a substantial fraction of the
diffuse emission observed by Fermi-LAT, depending on the orientation of the
line of sight with respect to the direction of the galactic center.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figs. Proceeding the 35th International Cosmic Ray
Conference (ICRC2017), Bexco, Busan, Kore
Follow-up after curative resection for gastric cancer. Is it time to tailor it?
There is still no consensus on the follow-up frequency and regimen after curative resection for gastric cancer. Moreover, controversy exists regarding the utility of follow-up in improving survival, and the recommendations of experts and societies vary considerably. The main reason to establish surveillance programs is to diagnose tumor recurrence or metachronous cancers early and to thereby provide prompt treatment and prolong survival. In the setting of gastric malignancies, other reasons have been put forth: (1) the detection of adverse effects of a previous surgery, such as malnutrition or digestive sequelae; (2) the collection of data; and (3) the identification of psychological and/or social problems and provision of appropriate support to the patients. No randomized controlled trials on the role of follow-up after curative resection of gastric carcinoma have been published. Herein, the primary retrospective series and systematic reviews on this subject are analyzed and discussed. Furthermore, the guidelines from international and national scientific societies are discussed. Follow-up is recommended by the majority of institutions; however, there is no real evidence that follow-up can improve long-term survival rates. Several studies have demonstrated that it is possible to stratify patients submitted to curative gastrectomy into different classes according to the risk of recurrence. Furthermore, promising studies have identified several molecular markers that are related to the risk of relapse and to prognosis. Based on these premises, a promising strategy will be to tailor follow-up in relation to the patient and tumor characteristics, molecular marker status, and individual risk of recurrence
Closed-loop approach to thermodynamics
We present the closed loop approach to linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics
considering a generic heat engine dissipatively connected to two temperature
baths. The system is usually quite generally characterized by two parameters:
the output power and the conversion efficiency , to which we add a
third one, the working frequency . We establish that a detailed
understanding of the effects of the dissipative coupling on the energy
conversion process, necessitates the knowledge of only two quantities: the
system's feedback factor and its open-loop gain , the product of
which, , characterizes the interplay between the efficiency, the
output power and the operating rate of the system. By placing thermodynamics
analysis on a higher level of abstraction, the feedback loop approach provides
a versatile and economical, hence a very efficient, tool for the study of
\emph{any} conversion engine operation for which a feedback factor may be
defined
Astrophysics in S.Co.P.E
S.Co.P.E. is one of the four projects funded by the Italian Government in
order to provide Southern Italy with a distributed computing infrastructure for
fundamental science. Beside being aimed at building the infrastructure,
S.Co.P.E. is also actively pursuing research in several areas among which
astrophysics and observational cosmology. We shortly summarize the most
significant results obtained in the first two years of the project and related
to the development of middleware and Data Mining tools for the Virtual
Observatory
Numerical simulations of the type III migration:I. Disc model and convergence tests
We investigate the fast (type III) migration regime of high-mass protoplanets
orbiting in protoplanetary disks. This type of migration is dominated by
corotational torques. We study the details of flow structure in the planet's
vicinity, the dependence of migration rate on the adopted disc model, and the
numerical convergence of models (independence of certain numerical parameters
such as gravitational softening). We use two-dimensional hydrodynamical
simulations with adaptive mesh refinement,based on the FLASH code with improved
time-stepping scheme. We perform global disk simulations with sufficient
resolution close to the planet, which is allowed to freely move throughout the
grid. We employ a new type of equation of state in which the gas temperature
depends on both the distance to the star and planet, and a simplified
correction for self-gravity of the circumplanetary gas. We find that the
migration rate in the type III migration regime depends strongly on the gas
dynamics inside the Hill sphere (Roche lobe of the planet) which, in turn, is
sensitive to the aspect ratio of the circumplanetary disc. Furthermore,
corrections due to the gas self-gravity are necessary to reduce numerical
artifacts that act against rapid planet migration. Reliable numerical studies
of Type III migration thus require consideration of both the thermal andthe
self-gravity corrections, as well as a sufficient spatial resolution and the
calculation of disk-planet attraction both inside and outside the Hill sphere.
With this proviso, we find Type III migration to be a robust mode of migration,
astrophysically promising because of a speed much faster than in the previously
studied modes of migration.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, submitted to MNRAS. Comments welcom
Intestinal perforation after surgical treatment for incisional hernia. iatrogenic or idiopathic?
Intestinal perforation (IP) is a life-threatening gastroenterological condition requiring urgent surgical care, which may present itself as an uncommon complication following incisional hernia repair surgery, most often because of iatrogenic traumatism occurring during the procedure. However, we report a case where a spontaneous onset can be hypothesised. A 60-years-old patient underwent repair of an abdominal laparocele, through rectus abdominis muscle plasty, 5Â years after development of an incisional hernia due to exploratory laparotomy for the treatment of acute appendicitis. Xipho-pubic scar was excised and umbilicus and supra-umbilical hernia sac dissected, a linear median incision was performed along the sub-umbilical linea alba, reaching preperitoneal plane to assess any intestinal loop adherence to the abdominal wall. After limited viscerolysis, abdominal wall defect was corrected by 'rectus abdominis muscle plasty' and umbilicus reconstruction by Santanelli technique. Postoperative course was uneventful until Day 29, with sudden onset of epigastric pain, fever and bulge. Sixty cubic centimeter pus was drained percutaneously and cavity was rinsed with a 50% H2O2 and H2O V-V solution until draining clear fluid. Symptoms recurred two days later, while during rinsing presented dyspnoea. X-Ray and CT scan diagnosed IP, and she underwent under emergency an exploratory laparotomy, leading to right hemicolectomy extended to last ileal loops and middle third of the transverse, right monolateral salpingo-ovariectomy and a temporary ileostomy by general surgeon. Twenty-three days later an ileostomy reversal surgery was performed and 8 days after she was discharged. At latest follow-up patient showed fair conditions, complaining abdominal pain and diarrhoea, attributable to the extensive intestinal resection. IP following incisional hernia repair, is reported as uncommon and early postoperative complication. In our case, the previous regular postoperative course with late onset lead us to hypothesise a possible idiopathic etiopathogenesis, because of a strangulation followed by gangrene and abscess formation, which might begin before the incisional hernia repair and unnoticed at the time surgery was performed
- …