Production of radioisotopes within a plasma focus device

In recent years, research conducted in the US and in Italy has demonstrated production of radioisotopes in plasma focus devices, and particularly, on what could be termed "endogenous" production, to wit, production within the plasma it self, as opposed to irradiation of tar gets. This technique relies on the formation of localized small plasma zones characterized by very high densities and fairly high temperatures. The conditions prevailing in these zones lead to high nuclear reaction rates, as pointed out in previous work by several authors. Further investigation of the cross sections involved has proven necessary to model the phenomena involved. In this paper, the present status of research in this field is re viewed, both with regards to cross section models and to experimental production of radio isotopes. Possible out comes and further development are discussed

Lymphogranuloma venereum proctitis mimicking inflammatory bowel diseases in 11 patients: a 4-year single-center experience

ABSTRACT Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) serovars L1–L3. Our study wants to underline the similarities between rectal LGV and idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which can share clinical, endoscopic and histopathological findings

The Large-Scale Polarization Explorer (LSPE)

The LSPE is a balloon-borne mission aimed at measuring the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) at large angular scales, and in particular to constrain the curl component of CMB polarization (B-modes) produced by tensor perturbations generated during cosmic inflation, in the very early universe. Its primary target is to improve the limit on the ratio of tensor to scalar perturbations amplitudes down to r = 0.03, at 99.7% confidence. A second target is to produce wide maps of foreground polarization generated in our Galaxy by synchrotron emission and interstellar dust emission. These will be important to map Galactic magnetic fields and to study the properties of ionized gas and of diffuse interstellar dust in our Galaxy. The mission is optimized for large angular scales, with coarse angular resolution (around 1.5 degrees FWHM), and wide sky coverage (25% of the sky). The payload will fly in a circumpolar long duration balloon mission during the polar night. Using the Earth as a giant solar shield, the instrument will spin in azimuth, observing a large fraction of the northern sky. The payload will host two instruments. An array of coherent polarimeters using cryogenic HEMT amplifiers will survey the sky at 43 and 90 GHz. An array of bolometric polarimeters, using large throughput multi-mode bolometers and rotating Half Wave Plates (HWP), will survey the same sky region in three bands at 95, 145 and 245 GHz. The wide frequency coverage will allow optimal control of the polarized foregrounds, with comparable angular resolution at all frequencies.Comment: In press. Copyright 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibite

Detection chain and electronic readout of the QUBIC instrument

The Q and U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology (QUBIC) Technical Demonstrator (TD) aiming to shows the feasibility of the combination of interferometry and bolometric detection. The electronic readout system is based on an array of 128 NbSi Transition Edge Sensors cooled at 350mK readout with 128 SQUIDs at 1K controlled and amplified by an Application Specific Integrated Circuit at 40K. This readout design allows a 128:1 Time Domain Multiplexing. We report the design and the performance of the detection chain in this paper. The technological demonstrator unwent a campaign of test in the lab. Evaluation of the QUBIC bolometers and readout electronics includes the measurement of I-V curves, time constant and the Noise Equivalent Power. Currently the mean Noise Equivalent Power is ~ 2 x 10⁻¹⁶ W/√Hz

Detection chain and electronic readout of the QUBIC instrument

The Q and U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology (QUBIC) Technical Demonstrator (TD) aiming to shows the feasibility of the combination of interferometry and bolometric detection. The electronic readout system is based on an array of 128 NbSi Transition Edge Sensors cooled at 350mK readout with 128 SQUIDs at 1K controlled and amplified by an Application Specific Integrated Circuit at 40K. This readout design allows a 128:1 Time Domain Multiplexing. We report the design and the performance of the detection chain in this paper. The technological demonstrator unwent a campaign of test in the lab. Evaluation of the QUBIC bolometers and readout electronics includes the measurement of I-V curves, time constant and the Noise Equivalent Power. Currently the mean Noise Equivalent Power is ~ 2 x 10⁻¹⁶ W/√Hz

PRISM (Polarized Radiation Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission): A White Paper on the Ultimate Polarimetric Spectro-Imaging of the Microwave and Far-Infrared Sky

PRISM (Polarized Radiation Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) was proposed to ESA in response to the Call for White Papers for the definition of the L2 and L3 Missions in the ESA Science Programme. PRISM would have two instruments: (1) an imager with a 3.5m mirror (cooled to 4K for high performance in the far-infrared---that is, in the Wien part of the CMB blackbody spectrum), and (2) an Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) somewhat like the COBE FIRAS instrument but over three orders of magnitude more sensitive. Highlights of the new science (beyond the obvious target of B-modes from gravity waves generated during inflation) made possible by these two instruments working in tandem include: (1) the ultimate galaxy cluster survey gathering 10e6 clusters extending to large redshift and measuring their peculiar velocities and temperatures (through the kSZ effect and relativistic corrections to the classic y-distortion spectrum, respectively) (2) a detailed investigation into the nature of the cosmic infrared background (CIB) consisting of at present unresolved dusty high-z galaxies, where most of the star formation in the universe took place, (3) searching for distortions from the perfect CMB blackbody spectrum, which will probe a large number of otherwise inaccessible effects (e.g., energy release through decaying dark matter, the primordial power spectrum on very small scales where measurements today are impossible due to erasure from Silk damping and contamination from non-linear cascading of power from larger length scales). These are but a few of the highlights of the new science that will be made possible with PRISM.Comment: 20 pages Late

Progression from actinic keratosis to locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma: clinical, dermoscopy and molecular markers

Il carcinoma a cellule squamose è un tumore della pelle la cui incidenza è in costante crescita. Per questo motivo si sta ritagliando uno spazio sempre più importante all’interno di quella che è la dermatologia oncologica. Sebbene la nostra accuratezza diagnostica sia in progressivo miglioramento rimangono due nodi fondamentali da sciogliere: la differenziazione delle forme precoci dalla controparte precancerosa (cheratosi attinica), ed il riconoscimento di lesioni particolarmente aggressive con possibile prognosi infausta per stabilire un trattamento adeguato. La maggior attenzione rivolta a queste neoplasie ha portato negli ultimi anni ad innumerevoli pubblicazioni ed alla produzione di molteplici linee guida con indicazioni talvolta non conclusive, che spesso creano confusione nella pratica clinica quotidiana. In questo studio vengono prese in esame queste due problematiche analizzando la casistica a nostra disposizione. Vengono quindi valutati i criteri diagnostici dermoscopici ed il follow-up clinico e strumentale del carcinoma a cellule squamose con un intento di semplificare per rendere più agevole la pratica clinica. Inoltre, viene valutata l’utilità di alcuni marker molecolari come le proteine p16 e Ki67, che risultano facilmente reperibili, e la cui ricerca risulta poco costosa per valutarne l’utilità di uno studio più ampio in occasione di migliorare la definizione prognostica di queste lesioni.Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin is a highly prevalent tumor with increasing incidence. As a result, it is becoming increasingly important in the field of dermato-oncology. Although diagnostic accuracy is improving, two key challenges remain: differentiating early lesions from precursor lesions (actinic keratosis), and recognizing aggressive lesions with poor prognosis to guide treatment. The increased attention to these neoplasms has led to numerous publications and the production of multiple guidelines in recent years, with sometimes inconclusive recommendations that often create confusion in daily clinical practice. This study addresses these two issues by analyzing our available data. The dermoscopic diagnostic criteria and clinical and instrumental follow-up of SCC are evaluated with the aim of simplifying and facilitating clinical practice. In addition, the usefulness of some molecular markers such as the proteins p16 and Ki67, which are easily available and inexpensive to test, is evaluated to assess their usefulness in a larger study to improve the prognostic definition of these lesions

Perspectives for the Application of Plasma Focus Technology to Neutron Capture Therapy

Perspectives for the Application of Plasma Focus Technology to Neutron Capture Therapy Marco Sumini1, Giacomo Grasso1, Federico Rocchi1, Agostino Tartari2 1 Nuclear Engineering Laboratory of Montecuccolino, University of Bologna, Italy 2 Physics Department, University of Ferrara and INFN Ferrara, Italy One of the major problems in the widespread diffusion of neutron capture therapy installations, both for research and treatment purposes, is the lack of safe neutron sources. By safe it is meant a source that satisfies at leats three requirements: 1) doesn\u2019t rely upon even small quantities of fertile/fissile materials; 2) doesn\u2019t rely upon the strong emissions of radioisotopes; 3) can be switched off and turned on at will. In 2002 we presented a preliminary design for a thermal neutron source based on the Plasma Focus technology for TAORMINA-like treatment protocols. The Plasma Focus (PF) technology in fact satisfies all the three requirements mentioned above. PF machines can produce fast neutrons by triggering D-D or D-T nuclear fusion reactions in a repetitively generated pulsed plasma discharge. Deuterium and Tritium are used at fairly low values of pressure (a few hundred Pa), so that only small amounts of these gases are required. The typical neutron yield per discharge is proportional to the square of the input energy E which is stored in a high voltage capacitor bank. For D-D reactions and for E = 50 kJ, the neutron yield results to be about 2.5\ub71010 n/discharge, while for D-T reactions at the same input energy the yield is about 2.5\ub71012 n/discharge. For these values of E it is possible to build PF machines capable of 1 Hz discharge repetition rates with a continuous workload up to total neutron yields for a D-T plasma of about 3\ub71014 n in 2 minutes. In the present paper we present a different PF design which can accommodate two special types of irradiators, one that can be used to provide thermal neutrons for TAORMINA-like treatments, and another that can provide epithermal neutrons for standard protocols. The PF end-user can shift between these two at will depending on the day-by-day needs. Evaluations of the performances of the two irradiators will be presented by Montecarlo (MCNP code) simulation of the neutron transport processes

Production of Radioisotopes within a Plasma Focus Device

In recent years, research conducted in the US and in Italy has demonstrated production of radioisotopes in Plasma Focus (PF) devices, and particularly, on what could be termed \u201cendogenous\u201d production, to wit, production within the plasma itself, as opposed to irradiation of targets. This technique relies on the formation of localized small plasma zones characterized by very high densities and fairly high temperatures. The conditions prevailing in these zones lead to high nuclear reaction rates, as pointed out in previous work by several authors [1,2,3,4]. Further investigation of the cross sections involved has proven necessary to model the phenomena involved. In this paper, the present status of research in this field is reviewed, both with regards to cross section models and to experimental production of radioisotopes. Possible outcomes and further development are discussed