Food additives in chemistry lessons

Els additius alimentaris són components comuns en els aliments i un bon context d'estudi per a les classes de química. En aquest treball, es descriu una sessió de laboratori per a estudiants de secundària (17-18 anys). Els alumnes van determinar algunes propietats físiques i químiques de quatre additius «desconeguts». Utilitzant els resultats de les proves, els estudiants havien d'esbrinar, entre els deu possibles additius d'una determinada llista, quins eren els quatre additius analitzats. Els estudiants van treballar en petits grups. Un 26 % dels estudiants (grups) va identificar correctament els quatre additius, un 29 % en va identificar tres i el 45 % en va identificar dos.Food additives are common food components and they should be studied in chemistry classes. This paper describes a lab lesson for high school seniors (17-18 years old). They tested some physical and chemical properties of four unknown additives. Using the test results the students had to figure out which four of the ten additives from a list given had been tested. The students worked in small groups. All four correct additives were chosen by 26 % of students (groups), three correct additives by 29 % and two correct additives by 45 % of students

NBA Pre-Draft Combine is the weak predictor of rookie basketball player’s performance

The goal of the study was to assess the relationship between rookie player’s Pre-Draft Combine physical abilities and basketball performance in the first NBA season. In strictly homogenized sample of players (N = 58) who matched the inclusion criterion of average playing time and number games in the period 2012-2015, the results indicate that Pre-Draft Combine testing procedures show low to moderate correlations with only few observed basketball performance variables in the first NBA season. The highest correlation was found between upper body strength and number of rebounds (r = .403, p = .002) and blocked shots (r = .333, p = .011). Regression model of Combine performance explained 24.7% of basketball performance with three physical performance tests. Practical application might suggest that some parts of the Combine might be restructured in order to include some other tests more informative tests for the future player performance and player selection.The paper is a part of the project III47015, funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia – Scientific Projects 2011 – 2019

Performance of irradiated thin n-in-p planar pixel sensors for the ATLAS Inner Tracker upgrade

The ATLAS collaboration will replace its tracking detector with new all silicon pixel and strip systems. This will allow to cope with the higher radiation and occupancy levels expected after the 5-fold increase in the luminosity of the LHC accelerator complex (HL-LHC). In the new tracking detector (ITk) pixel modules with increased granularity will implement to maintain the occupancy with a higher track density. In addition, both sensors and read-out chips composing the hybrid modules will be produced employing more radiation hard technologies with respect to the present pixel detector. Due to their outstanding performance in terms of radiation hardness, thin n-in-p sensors are promising candidates to instrument a section of the new pixel system. Recently produced and developed sensors of new designs will be presented. To test the sensors before interconnection to chips, a punch-through biasing structure has been implemented. Its design has been optimized to decrease the possible tracking efficiency losses observed. After irradiation, they were caused by the punch-through biasing structure. A sensor compatible with the ATLAS FE-I4 chip with a pixel size of 50x250 $\mathrm{\mu}$m$^{2}$, subdivided into smaller pixel implants of 30x30 $\mathrm{\mu}$m$^{2}$ size was designed to investigate the performance of the 50x50 $\mathrm{\mu}$m$^{2}$ pixel cells foreseen for the HL-LHC. Results on sensor performance of 50x250 and 50x50 $\mathrm{\mu}$m$^{2}$ pixel cells in terms of efficiency, charge collection and electric field properties are obtained with beam tests and the Transient Current Technique

Recent efforts toward the establishment of the Lonjsko Polje Geomagnetic Observatory

More than ten years ago, the Geophysical Institute initiated the installation of a geomagnetic observatory in Croatia. Over the past decade, extensive surveys and studies have been conducted in order to determine the proper location for the observatory. Finally, in 2012, the observatory was established in Lonjsko Polje. This paper presents the first data recorded in the period 2012.5-2015.0. Also presented are the technical aspects and data processing techniques of this remotely operated observatory. Analysis of data quality and comparison with data from the surrounding INTERMAGNET observatories is discussed in detail. Although remote observatories cannot provide the ideal environment for magnetometers, the obtained results accentuate the potential of the new observatory to provide high-quality data. The establishment of this observatory paves the way for scientific and professional development of geomagnetism in Croatia

Smart strategies for the transition in coal intensive regions

The TRACER project supports a number of coal-intensive regions around Europe to design (or re-design) their Research and Innovation (R&I) strategies in order to facilitate their transition towards a sustainable energy system. The TRACER consortium consists of different target regions: South East Bulgaria, North West Bohemia - Czech Republic, Lusatian Lignite District - Germany, Western Macedonia - Greece, Upper Silesian Coalfield - Poland, West Region, Jiu Valley - Romania, Wales – UK, Kolubara - Serbia, Donetsk - Ukraine. Core activities of TRACER include the implementation of an EDP (Entrepreneurial Discovery Process) to mobilise a wide range of stakeholders in each target region to develop an appropriate governance structure and to bring regional stakeholders together to discuss and agree on a shared vision and priorities for coal transition. R&I strategies, industrial roadmaps and decision support tools will be developed jointly with key stakeholders of the TRACER target regions. Further TRACER activities include the identification and analysis of best practice examples of successful and ambitious transition processes in coal intensive regions, a detailed assessment of social, environmental and technological challenges, the elaboration of guidelines on how to mobilise investment as well as dedicated activities to stimulate R&I cooperation among coal intensive regions in Europe and beyond

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Design and construction of the ATLAS ITk Strip Detector

For the ATLAS Phase-II Upgrade the inner tracker of the ATLAS detector will be replaced by the new full silicon tracker ITk designed for operation in the HL-LHC environment. ITk consists of several layers of silicon particle detectors. The innermost layers will be composed of silicon pixel sensors, and the outer layers will consist of silicon microstrip sensors. This contribution focuses on the strip region of the ITk. The central part of the strip tracker (barrel) will be composed of rectangular short (' 2.4 cm) and long (' 4.8 cm) strip sensors. The forward regions of the strip tracker (end-caps) consist of six disks per side, with trapezoidal shaped sensors of various lengths and strip pitches. After the completion of final design reviews in key areas, such as Sensors, Modules, Front-End electronics, and ASICs, a large scale prototyping program has been completed in all areas successfully. In this contribution we present an overview of the Strip System and highlight the final design choices of sensors, module designs and ASICs. We will summarise results achieved during prototyping and the current status of pre-production and production on various detector components, with an emphasis on QA and QC procedures

Performance of the Online Radiation Dose Monitoring System in ATLAS experiment

Slides to be presented at the ANIMMA 2019 conference in Portorož, Slovenia on June 19, 2019. Slides describe the online radiation dose monitoring system in ATLAS. Radiation monitors are installed in the ID and also at locations outside of the ID. Sensors and design of the system is presented and results of radiation measurements are shown and compared with Geant4 and Fluka simulations