On particle production for high energy neutrino beams

Analytical formulae for the calculation of secondary particle yields in p-A interactions are given. These formulae can be of great practical importance for fast calculations of neutrino fluxes and for designing new neutrino beam-lines. The formulae are based on a parameterization of the inclusive invariant cross sections for secondary particle production measured in p-Be interactions. Data collected in different energy ranges and kinematic regions are used. The accuracy of the fit to the data with the empirical formulae adopted is within the experimental uncertainties. Prescriptions to extrapolate this parameterization to finite targets and to targets of different materials are given. The results obtained are then used as an input for the simulation of neutrino beams. We show that our approach describes well the main characteristics of measured neutrino spectra at CERN. Thus it may be used in fast simulations aiming at the optimisation of the proposed long-baseline neutrino beams at CERN and FNAL. In particular we will show our predictions for the CNGS beam from CERN to Gran Sasso.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures. Submitted to The European Physics Journal

Cross-border critical transportation infrastructure: a multi-level index for resilience assessment

Today, more than ever before, our society depends on interdependent infrastructure systems, such as transportation, energy, water, and telecommunications networks. These systems are often considered critical because they are necessary for the organization, functionality, and stability of a modern industrialized country. However, these infrastructures are vulnerable to accidents, malicious failures, and disruptions that could generate consequences impacting on the economy, health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of a country or of several neighboring countries. The disruption of critical cross-border transportation infrastructure, road or rail, as a result of a major event can affect the area where the event occurs and a wider area. Depending on the type and duration of an event, which can be natural or anthropogenic in origin, it is possible to estimate the impacts on the mobility of people and goods in terms of delays (alternative routes), increased traffic (congestion), and a potential increase in accidents. For instance, in 2019 there was an accident in Rastatt (Germany) that affected rail traffic on the Karlsruhe-Basel line of the Rhine-Alpine corridor in Europe. The rail line was disrupted for more than 50 days, causing disservices and about 2 billion Euro in economic losses in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. The extended disruption of road and rail sections can have consequences (impacts) not only on the transport system but also on the socio-economic system in a macro-regional context. The research is part of the SICt project - Resilience of Critical Cross-Border Infrastructure developed in the Interreg VA Italy-Switzerland Programme 2014-2020. The work aims to define a RI - Resilience Index for the road and rail transport network falling within the study area. The RI index describes the capability of each network element (i-th link) to cope with a relevant event. The formulation of the index involves the calculation of three independent indicators: i) RIRM - Rescue Management related to the resources that can be activated and used to cope with an event; ii) RIPP - Plans & Management related to the speed with which the necessary resources can be activated and in fact, considers management aspects such as the presence of plans and procedures; iii) RIRN - Network & Traffic related to the robustness of the elements of the transport network. This work aims to present the proposed model and its application to the project area that includes the Lombardy Region (Italy) and the Canton Ticino (Switzerland) within the SICt Project

Data from a multidisciplinary poll of 178 expert physicians on the usage of non-vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism

This data article contains data from a multidisciplinary questionnaires filled in by 178 expert physicians on the usage of non-vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and for the treatment of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE). The questionnaire consists of 9 statements of clinical complex AF and VTE cases and informative campaign on antithrombotic therapy for stroke prevention in AF. The data are potentially valuable for the scientific community, showing the doubts of different specialists (Internists, Pneumologists, Geriatricians, Cardiologists and Neurologists) with a large experience in prescribing oral anticoagulation in difficult AF and VTE cases (see full list of participants provided). The data obtained in some particular clinical cases such as CHA2DS2-VASc=1, comorbid coronary artery disease, frailty, advanced age, risk of falling and prior haemorrhagic stroke, can be compared with indications from published guidelines and recommendations for future insight and to be considered as a benchmark for future trials in the area or oral anticoagulation for AF and VTE.The data concerning informative campaign on antithrombotic therapy for stroke prevention showed the expert panel agreement on the inclusion of self monitoring of heart rhythm by pulse taking in subjects older than 64 years of age (81% agreement, item 3); knowledge that the risk of stroke associated with AF is almost twice the risk associated with hypertension (95% agreement, item 4); knowledge that the CHA2DS2-VASc score exerts a higher influence on stroke risk compared to AF duration (92% agreement, item 5); knowledge that stroke prevention in AF with a NOAC is more effective, does not cause any higher bleeding risk, and is equally simple compared to aspirin treatment (91% agreement, item 6).Data on strategies to optimise appropriate prescription of antithrombotic therapy showed agreement on the utility of short television advertisements about the risks of stroke associated with AF (79% agreement, item 8), on a campaign encouraging regular control of cardiac rhythm by pulse taking (77% agreement, item 1), on a campaign reporting the advantages of anticoagulation over no antithrombotic therapy (98% agreement, item 2) or of NOACs over aspirin (96% agreement, item 3) or on the practical use of NOAC (93% agreement, item 6) or on stroke and bleeding risk scores (87% agreement, item 7). See Colonna et al. (2017) [1] for further interpretation and discussion

Cross-border Digital Platform for Transport Critical Infrastructure Resilience: Functionalities and Use-case

The resilience of increasingly interdependent Critical Infrastructure (CI) systems hugely depends on the stakeholder organizations’ ability to exchange information and coordinate, while CI’s cross-border dimension further increases the complexity and challenges. This paper presents the progress in the Lombardy Region (Italy) and Canton Ticino (Switzerland) on the joint capacity to manage disruptive events involving transportation CI between the two countries. We present a cross-border digital platform (Critical Infrastructure Platform – PIC) and its main functionalities for improved cross-border risk and resilience management of CI. A use case, based on a scenario of an intense snowfall along the transboundary motorway impacting both countries, demonstrates how PIC advances the exchange of information, its visualization and analysis in real-time. The use case also shows the practical value of the digital platform and its potential to support the management of cross-border events (and their cascading events) that require the cooperation of Italian and Swiss actors

Is the solar neutrino deficit energy-dependent?

All existing measurements of the solar neutrino flux are compared with the predictions of the most recent solar model by Bahcall and Pinsonneault, modified by introducing the hypothesis of neutrino oscillations with mass differences large enough to render energy-independent any quantity observable on earth. It is concluded that the data are consistent with this hypothesis and that, at least for the time being, any energy-dependence of the solar neutrino deficit must be regarded as just an attractive theoretical possibility, but not as a compelling reality.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, contributed paper to the XVIII Int. Symposium on Lepton-Photon Interactions, Hamburgh, Germany, 28 July - 1 August 199

Experimental and Numerical Dynamic Investigation of an ORC System for Waste Heat Recovery Applications in Transportation Sector

ORC power units represent a promising technology for the recovery of waste heat in Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs), allowing to reduce emissions while keeping ICE performance close to expectations. However, the intrinsic transient nature of exhaust gases represents a challenge since it leads ORCs to often work in off-design conditions. It then becomes relevant to study their transient response to optimize performance and prevent main components from operating at inadequate conditions. To assess this aspect, an experimental dynamic analysis was carried out on an ORC-based power unit bottomed to a 3 L Diesel ICE. The adoption of a scroll expander and the control of the pump revolution speed allow a wide operability of the ORC. Indeed, the refrigerant mass flow rate can be adapted according to the exhaust gas thermal power availability in order to increase thermal power recovery from exhaust gases. The experimental data confirmed that when the expander speed is not regulated, it is possible to control the cycle maximum pressure by acting on the refrigerant flow rate. The experimental data have also been used to validate a model developed to extend the analysis beyond the experimental operating limits. It was seen that a 30% mass flow rate increase allowed to raise the plant power from 750 W to 830 W