The PLASMONX Project for advanced beam physics experiments

The Project PLASMONX is well progressing into its design phase and has entered as well its second phase of procurements for main components. The project foresees the installation at LNF of a Ti:Sa laser system (peak power > 170 TW), synchronized to the high brightness electron beam produced by the SPARC photo-injector. The advancement of the procurement of such a laser system is reported, as well as the construction plans of a new building at LNF to host a dedicated laboratory for high intensity photon beam experiments (High Intensity Laser Laboratory). Several experiments are foreseen using this complex facility, mainly in the high gradient plasma acceleration field and in the field of mono- chromatic ultra-fast X-ray pulse generation via Thomson back-scattering. Detailed numerical simulations have been carried out to study the generation of tightly focused electron bunches to collide with laser pulses in the Thomson source: results on the emitted spectra of X-rays are presented

Incidence of hockey ankle injuries in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

The study investigated the incidence and mechanism of ankle injuries amongst male adolescent hockey players in the Kwa-Zulu Natal. A descriptive survey was conducted amongst 53 male hockey players aged 16-18 years old, who by informed voluntary consent participated in the study. Data were collected by the use of a validated questionnaire adapted from van Heerden (1996). Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science for Windows and chi-square tests with the probability set at 0.05. The evidence indicated that the prevalence ofankle injuries amongst hockey players was 26.41%. The most frequent ankle injury sustained by male adolescent hockey players was an inversion ankle sprain (84.62% of the 26.41% injured subjects of the sample cohort). The mechanisms of ankle injuries were attributed to rapid rotational movements of the ankle joint when changing direction (64.4%) and collision with other players (35.6%). Additional pre-disposing factors of ankle injuries were increased frequency of hockey played, lack of supplementary resistance training and the position of hockey players.The study concluded that inversion ankle sprains are the most common ankle injury experienced by male adolescent hockey players aged 16-18 years old in Kwa-Zulu Natal

Reducing opioid doses prescribed from a pediatric emergency department

Background: opioid overdose and abuse have reaches epidemic rates in the United States. Legitimate prescriptions are a large source of opioid misuse in adults and adolescents. The goal of this quality improvement project was to reduce opioid exposure from our pediatric emergency department (ED)

Reducing opioid doses prescribed from a pediatric emergency department

Background: opioid overdose and abuse have reaches epidemic rates in the United States. Legitimate prescriptions are a large source of opioid misuse in adults and adolescents. The goal of this quality improvement project was to reduce opioid exposure from our pediatric emergency department (ED)

Status of Thomson source at SPARC/PLASMONX

The PLASMONX project foresees the installation at LNF of a 0.3 PW (6 J, 20 fs pulse) Ti:Sa laser system FLAME (Frascati Laser for Acceleration and Multidisciplinary Experiments) to operate in close connection with the existent SPARC electron photo-injector, allowing for advanced laser/e-beam interaction experiments. Among the foreseen scientific activities, a Thomson scattering experiment between the SPARC electron bunch and the high power laser will be performed. At the present time the linac has been tested and the electron beam characterized up to the maximum operating energy (150 MeV). The beam lines transporting the beam to the interaction chamber with the laser have been designed. The electron final focusing system, featuring a quadrupole triplet and large radius solenoid magnet (ensuring an e-beam waist of 5-10 microns) as well as the whole interaction chamber layout have been defined. The optical transfer line issues: transport up to the interaction, tight focusing, diagnostics, fine positioning, have been solved within the final design. The construction of the building hosting the laser has been completed; delivering and installation of the laser, as much of the beam lines elements will take place in the next months

Status of Thomson source at SPARC/PLASMONX

The PLasmaAccelerationandMONochromaticX-raygeneration(PLASMONX)projectforeseesthe installationatLNFofa0.3PW(6J,20fspulse)Ti:Salasersystem,namedFrascatiLaserforAcceleration and MultidisciplinaryExperiments(FLAME),tooperateincloseconnectionwiththeexistentSPARC electron photo-injector,allowingforadvancedlaser/e-beaminteractionexperiments.Amongthe foreseen scientificactivities,aThomsonscatteringexperimentbetweentheSPARCelectronbunchand the highpowerlaserwillbeperformed.Atthepresenttimethelinachasbeentestedandtheelectron beam characterizeduptothemaximumoperatingenergy(150MeV).Thebeamlinestransportingthe beam totheinteractionchamberwiththelaserhavebeendesigned. The electronfinalfocusingsystem,featuringaquadrupoletripletandlargeradiussolenoidmagnet (ensuringane-beamwaistof5–10 mm) aswellasthewholeinteractionchamberlayouthasbeen defined.Theopticaltransferlineissues:transportuptotheinteraction;tightfocusing;diagnosticsand fine positioning;havebeensolvedwithinthefinaldesign.Theconstructionofthebuildinghostingthe laser hasbeencompleted;deliveringandinstallationofthelaser,asmuchofthebeamlineselements will takeplaceinthenextmonths