Sleep disordered breathing in the elderly

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB), i.e., obstructive, central or mixed sleep apneas, has been recognized as a common occurrence in the elderly. Aging is per se associated with a decrease in the quality of sleep; SDB may further disrupt the sleep architecture in older subjects. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases with aging; available studies report prevalence rates of 11-62%. Furthermore, OSA has been associated with increased mortality in older adults. Central apneas and periodic breathing occur with increased frequency either in subjects with neurological disorders such as infarction, tumor, sequelae of infection, diffuse encephalopathies, or in chronic heart failure. Patients with cerebrovascular disease (stroke, or transient ischemic attacks) have a markedly high prevalence of SDB, mainly OSA. In these patients, SDB is associated with a poorer functional prognosis at 3 and 12 months after the acute event, and a higher mortality. The clinical impact of SDB on cognitive function appears to be modest in patients without dementia, although there is a moderate increase in daytime sleepiness. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) however, SDB occurs more frequently than in non-demented older subjects, and its severity is correlated with the degree of cognitive impairment. The hypothesis of a causal relationship between AD and SDB remains a subject of controversy. The possibility of SDB should be considered in the elderly in the differential diagnosis of "reversible dementias”, increased daytime sleepiness, or unexplained right-sided heart failur

The effects of LHC civil engineering on the SPS and LEP machines

The LHC will utilise much of the existing LEP infrastructure but will require many new surface buildings and several smaller underground structures, two new transfer tunnels from the SPS to the LHC an d two huge cavern complexes to house the ATLAS and CMS experiments. Excavation for the underground structures will start while LEP and SPS are running, causig the existing tunnels in close proximity t o move. The predicted movements are of sufficient amplitude to prevent machine oepration if no precautions are taken

Final Report on the Consequences of LHC Civil Engineering for the SPS and LEP

The excavation of the shafts and caverns for the ATLAS and CMS experiments and the transfer lines between the SPS and LHC will start whilst LEP and the SPS are running. This will be during a period when LEP should be at its peak performance and the SPS will be providing beams for LEP, fixed target physics and LHC test beams. Simulations show that movements of the machine tunnels can be expected during the excavation and it is essential that this does not affect the performance of the SPS and LEP. The predicted movements are of sufficient amplitude to prevent machine operation if no precautions are taken. This report contains the conclusions of the working group which has been studying these problems

Preliminary Report on the Consequences of LHC Civil Engineering for the SPS and LEP

The excavation of the shafts and caverns for the ATLAS and CMS experiments of the LHC will start whilst LEP and the SPS are running. This will be at a period when LEP should be at its peak performance and the SPS will be providing beams for LEP, fixed target physics and LHC test beams. Simulations show that movements of the machine tunnels can be expected during the excavation and it is essential that this does not affect the performance of the SPS and LEP. These movements are of sufficient amplitude to prevent machine operation if no precautions are taken. This preliminary report outlines the problems and suggests what actions should be taken to ensure efficient operation of the SPS and LEP during the critical period

The desorption of condensed noble gases and gas mixtures from cryogenic surfaces

In accelerators, operating at liquid-helium temperature, cold surfaces are exposed to intense synchrotron radiation and bombardment by energetic electrons and ions. Molecular desorption yield and secondary electron yield can strongly influence the performance of the accelerator. In order to predict the gas density during the operation, the knowledge of electron-induced desorption yields of condensed gases and of its variation with the gas coverage is necessary. Desorption yields under electron impact of various noble gases and gas mixtures condensed on a copper surface cooled at 4.2 K have been measured