Dijet production in √s = 7 TeV pp collisions with large rapidity gaps at the ATLAS experiment

A 6.8 nb−¹ sample of pp collision data collected under low-luminosity conditions at √s = 7 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider is used to study diffractive dijet production. Events containing at least two jets with pT > 20 GeV are selected and analysed in terms of variables which discriminate between diffractive and non-diffractive processes. Cross sections are measured differentially in ΔηF, the size of the observable forward region of pseudorapidity which is devoid of hadronic activity, and in an estimator, ξ˜, of the fractional momentum loss of the proton assuming single diffractive dissociation (pp → p X). Model comparisons indicate a dominant non-diffractive contribution up to moderately large ηF and small ξ˜, with a diffractive contribution which is significant at the highest ΔηF and the lowest ξ˜. The rapidity-gap survival probability is estimated from comparisons of the data in this latter region with predictions based on diffractive parton distribution functions

The ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC

ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is a general-purpose, heavy-ion detector at the CERN LHC which focuses on QCD, the strong-interaction sector of the Standard Model. It is designed to address the physics of strongly interacting matter and the quark-gluon plasma at extreme values of energy density and temperature in nucleus-nucleus collisions. Besides running with Pb ions, the physics programme includes collisions with lighter ions, lower energy running and dedicated proton-nucleus runs. ALICE will also take data with proton beams at the top LHC energy to collect reference data for the heavy-ion programme and to address several QCD topics for which ALICE is complementary to the other LHC detectors. The ALICE detector has been built by a collaboration including currently over 1000 physicists and engineers from 105 Institutes in 30 countries. Its overall dimensions are 161626 m3 with a total weight of approximately 10 000 t. The experiment consists of 18 different detector systems each with its own specific technology choice and design constraints, driven both by the physics requirements and the experimental conditions expected at LHC. The most stringent design constraint is to cope with the extreme particle multiplicity anticipated in central Pb-Pb collisions. The different subsystems were optimized to provide high-momentum resolution as well as excellent Particle Identification (PID) over a broad range in momentum, up to the highest multiplicities predicted for LHC. This will allow for comprehensive studies of hadrons, electrons, muons, and photons produced in the collision of heavy nuclei. Most detector systems are scheduled to be installed and ready for data taking by mid-2008 when the LHC is scheduled to start operation, with the exception of parts of the Photon Spectrometer (PHOS), Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) and Electro Magnetic Calorimeter (EMCal). These detectors will be completed for the high-luminosity ion run expected in 2010. This paper describes in detail the detector components as installed for the first data taking in the summer of 2008

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Tyrosine kinase-altered spindle cell neoplasms with EGFR internal tandem duplications.

In this study, we present two extra-renal pediatric spindle cell neoplasms with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) internal tandem duplications (ITD). Histologically, these tumors demonstrated the same histologic features seen in other tyrosine kinase-altered spindle cell neoplasms, with one case showing abundant adipose tissue with cellular fibrous septae resembling lipofibromatosis and the other case showing fascicles of spindled cells resembling infantile fibrosarcoma. There was variable expression of CD34, S100, and SMA, and all cases were negative for panTRK. This case series adds to our molecular understanding of the spectrum of tyrosine kinase-altered spindle cell neoplasms and represents the first reported examples of EGFR ITDs in extra-renal tumors. The presence of EGFR alterations in the absence of gene fusions represents a potential therapeutic target and necessitates a broader testing panel for this group of tumors

Acute Complications After High-Dose Chemotherapy and Stem-Cell Rescue in Pediatric Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma Treated in Countries With Different Resources

Purpose: High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell rescue (SCR) is a key component of high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) therapy. Carboplatin, etoposide, and melphalan (CEM) or busulfan and melphalan (Bu/Mel) are the most evaluated, effective high-dose chemotherapy for HRNB on the basis of results from major cooperative group studies. Toxicity profiles vary between these regimens, and practice variation exists regarding the preferred high-dose therapy (HDT). We sought to evaluate the safety of HDT and autologous SCR for HRNB in a resource-limited country (Egypt) compared with the resource-rich United States. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective comparative review of single CEM-based HDT/SCR outcomes through day 100 for HRNB at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FH) in the United States (2005 to 2015) versus Bu/Mel-based HDT at El-Sheikh Zayed Specialized Hospital (SZ) in Egypt (2009 to 2015). Results: Forty-four patients at FH and 77 patients at SZ were reviewed. Pretransplant hepatic comorbidities were significantly higher at SZ (29 of 77 v nine of 44; P = .05), with 19 of 77 patients at SZ having hepatitis infection. Engraftment was delayed after SZ-Bu/Mel therapy compared with FH-CEM therapy for neutrophils (median 12 days v 10 days, respectively; P < .001) and platelets (median 20 days v 18 days, respectively; P < .001). Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome occurred later, after SZ-Bu/Mel therapy (median 19 days v 7 days; P = .033), and four of eight cases were fatal (six of eight patients had underlying hepatitis infection), whereas three of three cases after FH-CEM therapy were moderately severe. Resource utilization associated with the number of days with fever, antibiotic use, and the number of transfusions administered was significantly higher after FH-CEM therapy than after SZ-Bu/Mel therapy. Conclusion: Use of autologous stem-cell transplantation is feasible in the context of a resource-limited country