Measurements of muon flux in the Pyh\"asalmi underground laboratory

The cosmic-ray induced muon flux was measured at several depths in the Pyh\"asalmi mine (Finland) using a plastic scintillator telescope mounted on a trailer. The flux was determined at four different depths underground at 400 m (980 m.w.e), at 660 m (1900 m.w.e), at 990 m (2810 m.w.e) and at 1390 m (3960 m.w.e) with the trailer, and also at the ground surface. In addition, previously measured fluxes from depths of 90 m (210 m.w.e) and 210 m (420 m.w.e) are shown. A relation was obtained for the underground muon flux as a function of the depth. The measured flux follows well the general behaviour and is consistent with results determined in other underground laboratories.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures. Submitted to Nuclear Instrum. Methods

FlashCam: A fully digital camera for CTA telescopes

The future Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will consist of several tens of telescopes of different mirror sizes. CTA will provide next generation sensitivity to very high energy photons from few tens of GeV to >100 TeV. Several focal plane instrumentation options are currently being evaluated inside the CTA consortium. In this paper, the current status of the FlashCam prototyping project is described. FlashCam is based on a fully digital camera readout concept and features a clean separation between photon detector plane and signal digitization/triggering electronics.Comment: In Proceedings of the 2012 Heidelberg Symposium on High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy. All CTA contributions at arXiv:1211.184

FlashCam: a fully-digital camera for the medium-sized telescopes of the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The FlashCam group is currently preparing photomultiplier-tube based cameras proposed for the medium-sized telescopes (MST) of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). The cameras are designed around the FlashCam readout concept which is the first fully-digital readout system for Cherenkov cameras, based on commercial FADCs and FPGAs as key components for the front-end electronics modules and a high performance camera server as back-end. This contribution describes the progress of the full-scale FlashCam camera prototype currently under construction, as well as performance results also obtained with earlier demonstrator setups. Plans towards the production and implementation of FlashCams on site are also briefly presented.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures. In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands. All CTA contributions at arXiv:1508.0589

Performance Verification of the FlashCam Prototype Camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a future gamma-ray observatory that is planned to significantly improve upon the sensitivity and precision of the current generation of Cherenkov telescopes. The observatory will consist of several dozens of telescopes with different sizes and equipped with different types of cameras. Of these, the FlashCam camera system is the first to implement a fully digital signal processing chain which allows for a traceable, configurable trigger scheme and flexible signal reconstruction. As of autumn 2016, a prototype FlashCam camera for the medium-sized telescopes of CTA nears completion. First results of the ongoing system tests demonstrate that the signal chain and the readout system surpass CTA requirements. The stability of the system is shown using long-term temperature cycling.Comment: 5 pages, 13 figures, Proceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detectors (RICH 2016), Lake Bled, Sloveni

EMMA - A New Underground Cosmic-Ray Experiment

A new type of cosmic-ray experiment is under construction in the Pyh\"asalmi mine in the underground laboratory of the University of Oulu, Finland. It aims to study the composition of cosmic rays at and above the knee region. The experiment, called EMMA, will cover approximately 150 square-metres of detector area. The array is capable of measuring the multiplicity and the lateral distribution of underground muons, and the arrival direction of the air shower. The full-size detector is expected to run by the end of 2007.Comment: Extended and updated TAUP2005 Proceedings contribution. 8 pages, 5 figures (part in colour). Preprint not submitte

Curative treatment of an experimentally induced colitis by a CD44 variant V7-specific antibody

Inflammatory bowel disease is a quite severe chronic inflammation, treated mainly by immunosuppression, which often has serious side effects. As CD44 is important in lymphocyte activation and migration, we asked whether Abs against CD44 isoforms influence trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice. A lethal colitis (73/111 mice) could be prevented in 69 of 97 mice by anti-CD44v7 (CD44 variant isoform v7), whereas anti-CD44s (CD44 standard isoform) and anti-CD44v6 had no effect. Upon receiving anti-CD44v7 after the disease had been fully exacerbated, <90% of the mice recovered. TNBS plus anti-CD44v7-treated mice developed early signs of inflammation, with infiltration of leukocytes in the lamina propria and increased IFN-gamma production. However, while control mice developed a severe pancolitis, the intestine fully regenerated in anti-CD44v7-treated mice. Locally and systemically, a strong increase in IL-10 production was noted. Thus, anti-CD44v7 can be regarded as a highly efficient and specific therapeutic reagent in chronic colitis, which probably functions by regulating an overshooting Th1 reaction