Low-cost,stand-off, 2D+3D face imaging for biometric identification using Fourier transform profilometry –Update

Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies is developing laser-based technologies for stand-off 2D+3D face imaging for biometric identification. Among other potential industrial, commercial, and governmental users, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DoD) desire the ability to capture biometric data from minimally cooperative subjects with a minimally invasive system at stand-off distances. The initial applications are fixed installations for relatively large volume access points such as security check points and transportation gateways for which minimal cooperation, stand-off operation, and real-time operation are desired so that the biometric identification process will have little impact on traffic flow. Last year we presented a paper on the development and testing of a 2D+3D face imager breadboard based on th

Stress corrosion crack initiation testing with tapered specimens in high-temperature water – results of a collaborative research project

The applicability of an accelerated test technique using tapered tensile specimens for investigating thestress corrosion crack (SCC) initiation behaviour of structural materials in high-temperature water wasassessed in the framework of a European collaborative research project (MICRIN – MItigation of CRackINitiation). The main advantage of using a tapered geometry is, that in a single test a stress gradient isobtained through the gauge length, and therefore a stress threshold for SCC initiation can bedetermined in a reasonable timeframe. This method was used to investigate two different materialsthat were known to be susceptible to SCC in light water reactor environment: a high-Si stainlesssteel and a Ni-base weld metal (Alloy 182). The results of the international test programmeconfirmed that the tapered specimen test methodology could be used to identify a SCC initiation stress threshold, albeit that significant scatter was present in the data

INCEFA-PLUS Findings on Environmental Fatigue

INCEFA-PLUS is a five year project supported by the European Commission HORIZON2020 programme. The project concluded in October 2020. 16 organisations from across Europe have combined forces to deliver new experimental data which is being used to develop improved guidelines for assessment of environmental fatigue damage to ensure safe operation of nuclear power plants. Within INCEFA-PLUS, the effects of mean strain and stress, hold time, strain amplitude and surface finish on fatigue endurance of austenitic stainless steels in light water reactor environments have been studied experimentally. This document constitutes a Reference Book compiling the research developed within the INCEFA-PLUS Project. It provides a comprehensive overview of the tasks performed, and it also presents the background and the assumptions taken to develop the INCEFA-PLUS experimental and analytical works. It compiles and orders documents and contributions from INCEFA-PLUS partners.This project has received funding from the Euratom research and training program 2014-2018 under grant agreement No 662320

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

ATLAS and CMS results on CP-Violation: new results &\& prospects

The latest measurements of the CP-violation and other physics parameters in the $B_s^0\rightarrow J/\psi(\mu^+\mu^-) \phi(K^+K^-)$ ) channel using data collected by the ATLAS and CMS detectors from 13 TeV proton-proton collisions at the LHC with integrated luminosity of $80.5~\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$ and $96.4~\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$, respetively, are presented

Production of Heavy Flavour in ATLAS

This talk will summarize the recent heavy Flavour production analyses published by the ATLAS collaboration

Production of Heavy Flavor in ATLAS

The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron collider measures various heavy flavor production processes. This paper focuses on the measurement of $W$ boson production in association with a charmed hadron in $pp$ collisions at 13 TeV as well as on the production of $\Upsilon(nS)$ mesons in $Pb + Pb$ and $pp$ collisions at 5.02 TeV. Both of these analyses are important for the understanding of the heavy flavor properties under various conditions

Non-leptonic hadron decays at the LHC

This manuscript is devoted to the overview of the most recent measurements of non-leptonic hadron decays at the LHC, including results from the ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb collaborations. The non-leptonic hadron decays cover a very rich sample of the physics phenomena that form foundation of the Standard Model of particle physics and could contain a hint of new physics particles that are not described by the Standard Model predictions. There exist multiple physics analyses of non-leptonic hadron decays, focusing on various aspects of these decays. Some of them focus on the search for rare decays that are constrained by theoretical predictions; other provide newly precise measurements of known channels. Altogether, these measurements improve existing theories and bring us deeper understating of these processes