Suitability of high-pressure xenon as scintillator for gamma ray spectroscopy

In this paper we report the experimental study of high-pressure xenon used as a scintillator, in the context of developing a gamma ray detector. We measure a light yield near 2 photoelectrons per keV for xenon at 40 bar. Together with the light yield, we also measured an energy resolution of ~9% (FWHM) at 662 keV, dominated by the statistical fluctuations in the number of photoelectrons.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figure

A versatile automated pipeline for quantifying virus infectivity by label-free light microscopy and artificial intelligence

Virus infectivity is traditionally determined by endpoint titration in cell cultures, and requires complex processing steps and human annotation. Here we developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered automated framework for ready detection of virus-induced cytopathic effect (DVICE). DVICE uses the convolutional neural network EfficientNet-B0 and transmitted light microscopy images of infected cell cultures, including coronavirus, influenza virus, rhinovirus, herpes simplex virus, vaccinia virus, and adenovirus. DVICE robustly measures virus-induced cytopathic effects (CPE), as shown by class activation mapping. Leave-one-out cross-validation in different cell types demonstrates high accuracy for different viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 in human saliva. Strikingly, DVICE exhibits virus class specificity, as shown with adenovirus, herpesvirus, rhinovirus, vaccinia virus, and SARS-CoV-2. In sum, DVICE provides unbiased infectivity scores of infectious agents causing CPE, and can be adapted to laboratory diagnostics, drug screening, serum neutralization or clinical samples

Transthoracic echocardiographic imaging of coronary arteries: tips, traps, and pitfalls

The aim of this paper is to highlight coronary investigation by transthoracic Doppler evaluation. This application has recently been introduced into clinical practice and has received enthusiastic feedback in terms of coronary flow reserve evaluation on left anterior coronary artery disease diagnosis. Such diagnosis represents the most important clinical application but has in itself some limitations regarding anatomical and technological knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to offer a didactic approach on how to investigate the different segments of left anterior and posterior descending coronary arteries by transthoracic ultrasound using different anatomical key structures .as marker

FEC-CCS: A common Front-End Controller card for the CMS detector electronics

The FEC-CCS is a custom made 9U VME64x card for the CMS Off-Detector electronics. The FEC-CCS card is responsible for distributing the fast timing signals and the slow control data, through optical links, to the Front-End system. Special effort has been invested in the design of the card in order to make it compatible with the operational requirements of multiple CMS detectors namely the Tracker, ECAL, Preshower, PIXELs, RPCs and TOTEM. This paper describes the design architecture of the FEC-CCS card focusing on the special design features that enable the common utilization by most of the CMS detectors. Results from the integration tests with the detector electronics subsystems and performance measurements will be reported. The design of a custom made testbench for the production testing of the 150 cards produced will be presented and the attained yield will be reported

High-content, arrayed compound screens with rhinovirus, influenza A virus and herpes simplex virus infections

Viruses are genetically and structurally diverse, and outnumber cells by orders of magnitude. They can cause acute and chronic infections, suppress, or exacerbate immunity, or dysregulate survival and growth of cells. To identify chemical agents with pro- or antiviral effects we conducted arrayed high-content image-based multi-cycle infection screens of 1,280 mainly FDA-approved compounds with three human viruses, rhinovirus (RV), influenza A virus (IAV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) differing in genome organization, composition, presence of an envelope, and tropism. Based on Z’-factors assessing screening quality and Z-scores ranking individual compounds, we identified potent inhibitors and enhancers of infection: the RNA mutagen 5-Azacytidine against RV-A16; the broad-spectrum antimycotic drug Clotrimazole inhibiting IAV-WSN; the chemotherapeutic agent Raltitrexed blocking HSV-1; and Clobetasol enhancing HSV-1. Remarkably, the topical antiseptic compound Aminacrine, which is clinically used against bacterial and fungal agents, inhibited all three viruses. Our data underscore the versatility and potency of image-based, full cycle virus propagation assays in cell-based screenings for antiviral agents

Years of life that could be saved from prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes premature death and loss of life expectancy worldwide. Its primary and secondary prevention can result in a significant number of years of life saved. AIM: To assess how many years of life are lost after HCC diagnosis. METHODS: Data from 5346 patients with first HCC diagnosis were used to estimate lifespan and number of years of life lost after tumour onset, using a semi-parametric extrapolation having as reference an age-, sex- and year-of-onset-matched population derived from national life tables. RESULTS: Between 1986 and 2014, HCC lead to an average of 11.5 years-of-life lost for each patient. The youngest age-quartile group (18-61 years) had the highest number of years-of-life lost, representing approximately 41% of the overall benefit obtainable from prevention. Advancements in HCC management have progressively reduced the number of years-of-life lost from 12.6 years in 1986-1999, to 10.7 in 2000-2006 and 7.4 years in 2007-2014. Currently, an HCC diagnosis when a single tumour <2 cm results in 3.7 years-of-life lost while the diagnosis when a single tumour 65 2 cm or 2/3 nodules still within the Milan criteria, results in 5.0 years-of-life lost, representing the loss of only approximately 5.5% and 7.2%, respectively, of the entire lifespan from birth. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence results in the loss of a considerable number of years-of-life, especially for younger patients. In recent years, the increased possibility of effectively treating this tumour has improved life expectancy, thus reducing years-of-life lost

Clinical and pathological findings of a fatal systemic capillary leak syndrome (Clarkson Disease)

Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare disorder with episodes of hypotension, hypoalbuminemia, and hemoconcentration. During attacks endothelial hyperpermeability results in leakage of plasma proteins into the interstitial space. Attacks vary in severity and may be lethal.A 49-year-old previously healthy man was admitted to hospital for hypovolemic shock, anasarca with pleuropericardial effusion, muscle fatigue, and oliguria occurring after a flu-like syndrome. Laboratory data showed an increase in hematocrit (65%), leucocytes (24.590\u200a\u3bc/L), creatinine (2.5\u200amg/dL), creatine phosphokinase (10.000\u200aU/L), and a decrease in serum albumin (17\u200ag/L) without proteinuria. Immunoglobulins of class G/\u3bb monoclonal gammopathy were detected (1.3\u200ag/L). The initial suspicions addressed to a protein-loosing syndrome or to an effort-related rhabdomyolysis. Initial therapy was based on steroids, albumin, and high molecular weight plasma expanders (hydroxyethyl starch). Because of high hematocrit, phlebotomy was also performed. The patient had complete clinical remission and a diagnosis of SCLS was finally made. He received prophylactic therapy with verapamil and theophylline that was self-stopped for intolerance (hypotension and tachycardia). He had a new crisis 2 days after a physical effort, and was admitted in intensive care unit. The patient died for severe hypovolemic shock with multiorgan failure and sudden cardiac arrest 15 hours after hospital admission. Postmortem investigation revealed massive interstitial edema of main organs with myocardial hyperacute ischemia.Studies on SCLS are limited for the rarity of the disease and its unpredictable course. Both prophylactic and acute crisis treatments are empirical and optimal management of severe attacks is still lacking