Book Review: Woody Guthrie, House of Earth

Woody Guthrie, House of Earth: A Novel, edited and introduced by Douglas Brinkley and Johnny Depp. New York: Infinitum Nihil/HarperCollins, 2013. xliv + 234pp., ISBN 978-0-06-224839-8. Cloth, £25.99 / £14.99

Multilayer film shields for the protection of PMT from constant magnetic field

This is the Published Version made available with the permission of the publisher.Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) are widely used in physical experiments as well as in applied devices. PMTs are sensitive to magnetic field, so creation of effective magnetic shields for their protection is very important. In this paper, the results of measurements of shielding effectiveness of multilayer film magnetic shields on PMT-85 are presented. Shields were formed by alternating layers of a material with high magnetic permeability (Ni-Fe) and high electric conductivity—Cu. The maximum number of bilayers reached 45. It is shown that in weak magnetic fields up to 0.5 mT, the output signal amplitude from PMT-85 does not change for all used multilayer shields. In strong magnetic field of 2–4 mT, the output signal amplitude decrease with 10%–40% depending from the number of layers in the shield. The Pulse distribution of PMT-85 in magnetic field 0.2–4 mT slightly changed in the range 1.1%–1.3% for the case when the number of layers do not exceed 10 and practically did not change for a shield with 45 double layers

Multilayer film shields for the protection of PMT from constant magnetic field

This is the Published Version made available with the permission of the publisher.Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) are widely used in physical experiments as well as in applied devices. PMTs are sensitive to magnetic field, so creation of effective magnetic shields for their protection is very important. In this paper, the results of measurements of shielding effectiveness of multilayer film magnetic shields on PMT-85 are presented. Shields were formed by alternating layers of a material with high magnetic permeability (Ni-Fe) and high electric conductivity—Cu. The maximum number of bilayers reached 45. It is shown that in weak magnetic fields up to 0.5 mT, the output signal amplitude from PMT-85 does not change for all used multilayer shields. In strong magnetic field of 2–4 mT, the output signal amplitude decrease with 10%–40% depending from the number of layers in the shield. The Pulse distribution of PMT-85 in magnetic field 0.2–4 mT slightly changed in the range 1.1%–1.3% for the case when the number of layers do not exceed 10 and practically did not change for a shield with 45 double layers

SiPM-based azimuthal position sensor in ANITA-IV Hi-Cal Antarctic balloon experiment

Hi-Cal (High-Altitude Calibration) is a balloon-borne experiment that will be launched in December, 2016 in Antarctica following ANITA-IV (Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna) and will generate a broad-band pulse over the frequency range expected from radiation induced by a cosmic ray shower. Here, we describe a device based on an array of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for determination of the azimuthal position of Hi-Cal. The angular resolution of the device is about 3 degrees. Since at the float altitude of ~38 km the pressure will be ~0.5 mbar and temperature ~ − 20 °C, the equipment has been tested in a chamber over a range of corresponding pressures (0.5 ÷ 1000) mbar and temperatures (−40 ÷ +50) °C

Future vision for the quality assurance of oncology clinical trials

The National Cancer Institute clinical cooperative groups have been instrumental over the past 50 years in developing clinical trials and evidence-based process improvements for clinical oncology patient care. The cooperative groups are undergoing a transformation process as we further integrate molecular biology into personalized patient care and move to incorporate international partners in clinical trials. To support this vision, data acquisition and data management informatics tools must become both nimble and robust to support transformational research at an enterprise level. Information, including imaging, pathology, molecular biology, radiation oncology, surgery, systemic therapy, and patient outcome data needs to be integrated into the clinical trial charter using adaptive clinical trial mechanisms for design of the trial. This information needs to be made available to investigators using digital processes for real-time data analysis. Future clinical trials will need to be designed and completed in a timely manner facilitated by nimble informatics processes for data management. This paper discusses both past experience and future vision for clinical trials as we move to develop data management and quality assurance processes to meet the needs of the modern trial

Essentials in Accident and Emergency Medicine Radiation Injury: Response and Treatment

The discovery of radiation has enabled great healthcare advances as well as catastrophic injury. This paper reviews major historical incidents of public radiation exposure and the evolution of standards affecting today’s public and health care workers. Current patient care and response assessment to radiation exposure are reviewed. The strengths of modern radiation therapy and the need for continuous process improvements to ensure optimal patient care and secure safe environments are identified. The discovery of radiation has brought significant scientific achievements as well as catastrophic injury

Up All Night: The Shifting Roles of Home Media Formats as Transmedia Storytelling

In this age of convergence, where media platforms and industries are becoming increasingly connected and intertwined, ‘transmedia’ has become a buzzword that scholars and industry alike have come to perceive as the media production strategy of the future. When scholars theorise transmedia storytelling, they typically prioritise film, TV, videogames and websites. DVDs and Blu-Rays—physical formats that occupy a vital role in extending and repurposing media content across new terrains—are often overlooked. This chapter will question what specific roles they play in extending stories across media platforms. This chapter explores the specific case studies of Doctor Who and the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Advances and Trends in the Physicochemical Properties of Corn Starch Blends

Corn starch is one of the most widely used biopolymers in the world for various applications, due to its high production, renewable, low cost, non-toxic, biodegradable and provide great stereochemical diversity by presenting a complex structure with unique qualities that they depend on multiple factors to obtain special properties for a specific use and/or of interest. From the synthesis of the starch granule to its extraction for its subsequent use, it promotes innovative characteristics, presenting infinite functionalities applicable and/or as a substitute for synthetic polymers. However, some limitations of hydrophilicity, thermal and mechanical properties, rapid degradability and strong intra and intermolecular bonds of the polymer chains make their use difficult in the medium and long term. Enzymatic, chemical and physical methods continue to be used today, creating by-products such as polluting waste and which can be costly. Therefore, the polymeric modification of the starch granule is necessary to mitigate limitations and by-products, currently the use of starch blends is a promising trend to produce new and innovative desirable properties. This chapter describes the advances and trends in the physicochemical properties of corn starch blends Zea mays L. as a potential material, leader for its attractive properties and benefits that it has to offer, demonstrating that when combined with other starches from different botanical sources and/or molecular structure present unique and unequaled synergisms