Optical Readout in a Multi-Module System Test for the ATLAS Pixel Detector

The innermost part of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, CERN, will be a pixel detector. The command messages and the readout data of the detector are transmitted over an optical data path. The readout chain consists of many components which are produced at several locations around the world, and must work together in the pixel detector. To verify that these parts are working together as expected a system test has been built up. In this paper the system test setup and the operation of the readout chain is described. Also, some results of tests using the final pixel detector readout chain are given.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figures, Pixel 2005 proceedings preprin

Validation Studies of the ATLAS Pixel Detector Control System

The ATLAS pixel detector consists of 1744 identical silicon pixel modules arranged in three barrel layers providing coverage for the central region, and three disk layers on either side of the primary interaction point providing coverage of the forward regions. Once deployed into the experiment, the detector will employ optical data transfer, with the requisite powering being provided by a complex system of commercial and custom-made power supplies. However, during normal performance and production tests in the laboratory, only single modules are operated and electrical readout is used. In addition, standard laboratory power supplies are used. In contrast to these normal tests, the data discussed here was obtained from a multi-module assembly which was powered and read out using production items: the optical data path, the final design power supply system using close to final services, and the Detector Control System (DCS). To demonstrate the functionality of the pixel detector system a stepwise transition was made from the normal laboratory readout and power supply systems to the ones foreseen for the experiment, with validation of the data obtained at each transition.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, proceedings for the Pixel2005 worksho

Effects of the vasodilating beta-blocker nebivolol on smoking-induced endothelial dysfunction in young healthy volunteers

André C Schmidt1, Burkhard Flick1, Elke Jahn2, Peter Bramlage31Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute for Clinical Pharmacology and Toxikology, Berlin, Germany; 2Berlin-Chemie AG, Clinical Research and Medical Information, Berlin, Germany; 3Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, GermanyObjective: To assess the effect of nebivolol, a highly selective third generation β1-adrenoceptor antagonist with an endothelium-dependent vasodilatory action, on smoking-induced endothelial dysfunction.Research design and methods: This open-label study examined the effect of 14 daily doses of 5 mg nebivolol on forearm blood flow in 21 healthy, young, male, light smokers (≤5 cigarettes/day), measured by plethysmography on Days 1, 7, and 14. The primary endpoint was the difference in forearm blood flow after smoking one standard cigarette from baseline (Day 1) until treatment end on Day 14. Secondary outcomes included the difference in forearm blood flow between Day 1 and Day 7 compared with Day 14 before and after smoking, the effect of nebivolol on blood coagulation parameters, high-sensitive-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and the safety and tolerability of nebivolol.Results: Nebivolol for 14 days did not significantly affect forearm blood flow after smoking. On Day 7 of nebivolol treatment, forearm blood flow after smoking was significantly greater than blood flow before smoking (increase of 0.44 mL/min; p = 0.00656). Serum level of hs-CRP showed a marked decrease from Day 1 to Day 14. No changes in coagulation parameters were observed over the course of nebivolol treatment. Nebivolol was well tolerated throughout the study.Conclusions: The increase in forearm blood flow and the marked decrease in hs-CRP over 14 days of treatment suggest that nebivolol has a positive effect on endothelial function in light smokers, but larger studies are required to confirm these observations.Keywords: C-reactive protein, endothelial dysfunction, nebivolol, nitric oxide (NO), smokin

The yeast ubiquitin ligase SCF(Met30): connecting environmental and intracellular conditions to cell division

Ubiquitination regulates a host of cellular processes and is well known for its role in progression through the cell division cycle. In budding yeast, cadmium and arsenic stress, the availability of sulfur containing amino acids, and the intracellular concentration of S-adenosylmethionine are linked to cell cycle regulation through the ubiquitin ligase SCF(Met30). Regulation is achieved by ubiquitination of the transcription factor Met4. Met4 activity is controlled by a regulatory K48-linked ubiquitin chain that is synthesized by Cdc34/SCF(Met30). A ubiquitin-interacting-motif (UIM) present in Met4 prevents degradation of ubiquitinated Met4 allowing the ubiquitin chain to function as a reversible switch of Met4 activity. Here we discuss mechanisms of Met4 and SCF(Met30 )regulation in response to intracellular and environmental conditions, and describe the integration of these signals with cell cycle control

Using Interleukin 6 and 8 in Blood and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid to Predict Survival in Hematological Malignancy Patients With Suspected Pulmonary Mold Infection.

Background: Molds and other pathogens induce elevated levels of several cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of IL-6 and IL-8 as well as fungal biomarkers in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) for overall survival in patients with underlying hematological malignancies and suspected mold infection. Methods: This cohort study included 106 prospectively enrolled adult cases undergoing bronchoscopy. Blood samples were collected within 24 h of BAL sampling and, in a subset of 62 patients, serial blood samples were collected up until 4 days after bronchoscopy. IL-6, IL-8, and other cytokines as well as galactomannan (GM) and β-D-glucan (BDG) were assayed in blood and BAL fluid and associations with overall mortality were assessed at the end of the study using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Both blood IL-8 (AUC 0.731) and blood IL-6 (AUC 0.699) as well as BAL IL-6 (AUC 0.763) and BAL IL-8 (AUC 0.700) levels at the time of bronchoscopy were predictors of 30-day all-cause mortality. Increasing blood IL-6 levels between bronchoscopy and day four after bronchoscopy were significantly associated with higher 90-day mortality, with similar findings for increasing IL-8 levels. In ROC analysis the difference of blood IL-8 levels between 4 days after bronchoscopy and the day of bronchoscopy had an AUC of 0.829 (95%CI 0.71-0.95; p < 0.001) for predicting 90-day mortality. Conclusions: Elevated levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in blood or BAL fluid at the time of bronchoscopy, and rising levels in blood 4 days following bronchoscopy were predictive of mortality in these patients with underlying hematological malignancy who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected mold infection

Aeroelastic Airworthiness Assesment of the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge Flaps

Topics treated in this presentation include continuous mold line technologies and linearizing non-linear models in support of airworthiness assessments

Case studies on Inclusive Innovation: Engaging hard-to-reach target groups

Der Bericht schildert am Beispiel von zwei Fallstudien Wege, Methoden und Resultate kooperativer Innovationsprozesse (Co-Creation) mit Zielgruppen, für die spezifische Beteiligungsformen in praktischer und inhaltlicher Perspektive notwendig sind. Dabei handelt es sich zum einen um einkommensschwache Familien, zum anderen um blinde und nur eingeschränkt sehfähige Menschen. Der Bericht verdeutlicht die Potentiale für Innovationen durch inklusive Co-Creation, die neue Marktchancen für Unternehmen durch bedürfnisgerecht gestaltete Produkte und Lösungen eröffnet