A novel type of proximity focusing RICH counter with multiple refractive index aerogel radiator

A proximity focusing ring imaging Cherenkov detector, with the radiator consisting of two or more aerogel layers of different refractive indices, has been tested in 1-4 GeV/c pion beams at KEK. Essentially, a multiple refractive index aerogel radiator allows for an increase in Cherenkov photon yield on account of the increase in overall radiator thickness, while avoiding the simultaneous degradation in single photon angular resolution associated with the increased uncertainty of the emission point. With the refractive index of consecutive layers suitably increasing in the downstream direction, one may achieve overlapping of the Cherenkov rings from a single charged particle. In the opposite case of decreasing refractive index, one may obtain well separated rings. In the former combination an approximately 40% increase in photon yield is accompanied with just a minor degradation in single photon angular resolution. The impact of this improvement on the pion/kaon separation at the upgraded Belle detector is discussed.Comment: submitted to Nucl. Instr. Meth.

Associations of Renal Vascular Resistance With Albuminuria and Other Macroangiopathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

OBJECTIVE—Albuminuria can be caused by endothelial dysfunction as a result of ischemic nephropathy rather than classic diabetic nephropathy. We studied whether renal vascular resistance (resistive index [RI]) of the main renal arteries could be associated with albuminuria and further assessed the relationship between RI and aorta stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV)

Sample collection from asteroid (162173) Ryugu by Hayabusa2: Implications for surface evolution

International audienc

Thermally altered subsurface material of asteroid (162173) Ryugu

International audienc

Anomalously porous boulders on (162173) Ryugu as primordial materials from its parent body

Planetesimals – the initial stage of the planetary formation process – are considered to be initially very porous aggregates of dusts, and subsequent thermal and compaction processes reduce their porosity. The Hayabusa2 spacecraft found that boulders on the surface of asteroid (162173) Ryugu have an average porosity of 30-50%, higher than meteorites but lower than cometary nuclei, which are considered to be remnants of the original planetesimals. Here, using high-resolution thermal and optical imaging of Ryugu’s surface, we discovered, on the floor of fresh small craters (70%, which is as high as in cometary bodies. The artificial crater formed by Hayabusa2’s impact experiment is similar to these craters in size but does not have such high-porosity boulders. Thus, we argue that the observed high porosity is intrinsic and not created by subsequent impact comminution and/or cracking. We propose that these boulders are the least processed material on Ryugu and represent remnants of porous planetesimals that did not undergo a high degree of heating and compaction. Our multi-instrumental analysis suggests that fragments of the highly porous boulders are mixed within the surface regolith globally, implying that they might be captured within collected samples by touch-down operations

ANKRD11 variants cause variable clinical features associated with KBG syndrome and Coffin-Siris-like syndrome.

KBG syndrome (KBGS) is an autosomal dominant multiple congenital anomaly-intellectual disability syndrome, characterized by developmental delay with neurological involvements, macrodontia of the upper central incisors, characteristic facial dysmorphism and skeletal anomalies. Variants in ANKRD11 cause KBGS. We present five individuals from four families with ANKRD11 variants identified by whole-exome sequencing. Four of the five were clinically affected, and their diagnoses were varied. One was typical KBGS, two were Coffin-Siris syndrome-like (CSS), and one was intellectual disability with infantile spasms. One individual showed extremely mild phenotype. All individuals fulfilled the proposed diagnostic criteria for KBGS. Phenotypic features overlap between KBGS and CSS to some extent, and characteristic dental and fifth finger/toe findings can indicate differential diagnosis. These findings indicate that patients with ANKRD11 variants occupy a wide spectrum of intellectual disability, including clinically normal individuals. This is the first report highlighting the clinical overlap between KBGS and CSS and supporting the recently proposed clinical concept, in which transcriptional machineries are disrupted