Condensate fraction and critical temperature of a trapped interacting Bose gas

By using a mean field approach, based on the Popov approximation, we calculate the temperature dependence of the condensate fraction of an interacting Bose gas confined in an anisotropic harmonic trap. For systems interacting with repulsive forces we find a significant decrease of the condensate fraction and of the critical temperature with respect to the predictions of the non-interacting model. These effects go in the opposite direction compared to the case of a homogeneous gas. An analytic result for the shift of the critical temperature holding to first order in the scattering length is also derived.Comment: 8 pages, REVTEX, 2 figures, also available at http://anubis.science.unitn.it/~oss/bec/BEC.htm

Highly-parallelized simulation of a pixelated LArTPC on a GPU

The rapid development of general-purpose computing on graphics processing units (GPGPU) is allowing the implementation of highly-parallelized Monte Carlo simulation chains for particle physics experiments. This technique is particularly suitable for the simulation of a pixelated charge readout for time projection chambers, given the large number of channels that this technology employs. Here we present the first implementation of a full microphysical simulator of a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) equipped with light readout and pixelated charge readout, developed for the DUNE Near Detector. The software is implemented with an end-to-end set of GPU-optimized algorithms. The algorithms have been written in Python and translated into CUDA kernels using Numba, a just-in-time compiler for a subset of Python and NumPy instructions. The GPU implementation achieves a speed up of four orders of magnitude compared with the equivalent CPU version. The simulation of the current induced on 10^3 pixels takes around 1 ms on the GPU, compared with approximately 10 s on the CPU. The results of the simulation are compared against data from a pixel-readout LArTPC prototype

Tumescent Local Anesthesia With Ropivacaine In Different Concentrations In Bitches Undergoing Mastectomy: Plasma Concentration And Post-operative Analgesia

Objective: To compare two concentrations of ropivacaine administered for tumescent local anesthesia (TLA) in dogs undergoing mastectomy. Study design: Prospective randomized clinical study. Animals: Seventeen bitches of various breeds, aged 12 ± 2 years and weighing 10 ± 6.5 kg requiring total unilateral or bilateral mastectomy. Methods: Dogs were premedicated with acepromazine (0.04 mg kg-1) and morphine (0.4 mg kg-1) intramuscularly. Anesthesia was induced with propofol (2.5 mg kg-1) and midazolam (0.2 mg kg-1) intravenously, followed by intubation and maintenance with isoflurane and TLA. Dogs were randomly allocated to receive TLA either with 0.1% ropivacaine (group G1) or with 0.05% ropivacaine (group G05). TLA was performed by insertion of a multihole needle under the skin and infusion of ropivacaine and lactated Ringer's solution at a fixed volume of 15 mL kg-1. Ropivacaine concentrations in arterial blood were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Post-operative pain was assessed using two scales (University of Melbourne pain scale and a modified composite measure pain scale) and von Frey filaments, 4 hours after TLA and at 1 hour intervals until sensitivity was regained. A score above 30% of the maximum possible score was considered a positive indicator of pain. Results: Peak plasma concentrations of ropivacaine were measured 240 minutes after TLA in G1. Low concentrations were measured in G05 for 60 minutes, with subsequent increase. Analgesic rescue and return of sensitivity occurred at 7 ± 2.3 and 7 ± 1.9 hours (mean ± SD) after TLA for G1 and G05, respectively. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Tumescent local anesthesia with ropivacaine provided satisfactory post-operative analgesia that lasted for several hours, with no difference in duration between the concentrations. No serious side effects were attributed to TLA. Results indicated that 0.05% ropivacaine provided adequate analgesia for mastectomy, however, more studies are required to support this conclusion. © 2014 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.415516525Agarwal, P., Safe method for release of severe post burn neck contracture under tumescent local anesthesia and ketamine (2004) Indian J Plast Surg, 37, pp. 51-54Behroozan, D.S., Goldberg, L.H., Dermal tumescent local anesthesia in cutaneous surgery (2005) J Am Acad Dermatol, 53, pp. 828-830Breuninger, H., Hobbach, P.S., Schimek, F., Ropivacaine: an important anesthetic agent for slow infusion and other forms of tumescent anesthesia (1999) Dermatol Surg, 25, pp. 799-802Bussolin, L., Busoni, P., Giorgi, L., Tumescent local anesthesia for the surgical treatment of burns and postburn sequelae in pediatric patients (2003) Anesthesiology, 99, pp. 1371-1375Butterwick, K.J., Goldman, M.P., Sriprachya-Anunt, S., Lidocaine levels during the first two hours of infiltration of dilute anesthetic solution for tumescent liposuction: rapid versus slow delivery (1999) Dermatol Surg, 25, pp. 681-685Cederholm, I., Akerman, B., Evers, H., Local analgesic and vascular effects of intradermal ropivacaine and bupivacaine in various concentrations with and without addition of adrenaline in man (1994) Acta Anaesthesiol Scand, 38, pp. 322-327Coleman III, W.P., Glogau, R.G., Klein, J.A., Guidelines of care for liposuction (2001) J Am Acad Dermatol, 45, pp. 438-447Craig, S.B., Concannon, M.J., McDonald, G.A., The antibacterial effects of tumescent liposuction fluid (1999) Plast Reconstr Surg, 103, pp. 666-670Do, D.V., Kelley, L.C., Tumescent anesthesia: evolution and current uses (2007) Adv Dermatol, 23, pp. 33-46Feldman, H.S., Arthur, R., Covino, B.G., Comparative systemic toxicity of convulsant and supraconvulsant doses of intravenous ropivacaine, bupivacaine and lidocaine in the conscious dog (1989) Anesth Analg, 69, pp. 794-801Felice, K.L., Schumann, H.M., Intravenous lipid emulsion for local anesthetic toxicity: a review of the literature (2008) J Med Toxicol, 4, pp. 184-191Firth, A.M., Haldane, S.L., Development of a scale to evaluate postoperative pain in dogs (1999) J Am Vet Med Assoc, 24, pp. 651-659Futema, F., (2005), pp. 88-97. , Anestesia por tumescência. Proceedings of 7° Encontro de Anestesiologia Veterinária, São Luiz, BrazilHabbema, L., Efficacy of tumescent local anesthesia with variable lidocaine concentration in 3430 consecutive cases of liposuction (2010) J Am Acad Dermatol, 62, pp. 988-994Hanke, C.W., Coleman III, BW.P., Lillis, P.J., Infusion rates and levels of premedication in tumescent liposuction (1997) Dermatol Surg, 23, pp. 1131-1134Hanke, C.W., Sommer, B., Sattler, G., (2001) Practical Application. Tumescent Anesthesia, , Springer, New York, USAHuang, J.M., Xian, H., Bacaner, M., Long-chain fatty acids activate calcium channels in ventricular myocytes (1992) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 89, pp. 6452-6456Hunstad, J.P., Aitken, M.E., Liposuction and tumescent surgery (2006) Clin Plast Surg, 33, pp. 39-46Klein, J.A., Tumescent technique for liposuction surgery (1987) Am J Cosm Surg, 4, pp. 263-267Klein, J.A., Anesthesia for liposuction in dermatologic surgery (1988) J Dermatol Surg Oncol, 14, pp. 1124-1132Klein, J.A., Tumescent technique chronicles: local anesthesia, liposuction and beyond (1995) Dermatol Surg, 21, pp. 449-457Klein, J.A., Anesthetic formulation of tumescent solution (1999) Dermatol Clin, 17, pp. 751-759Klein, J.A., (2000) Tumescent Technique: Tumescent Anesthesia & Microcannular Liposuction, , Mosby, St. Louis, USALapid, O., Syringe-delivered tumescent anesthesia made easier (2011) Aesthetic Plast Surg, 35, pp. 601-602Lopes, B.C.C., De Almeida, R.M., Anestesia local no controle da dor: a técnica infiltrativa por tumescência - revisão de literatura (2008) Clín Vet, 77, pp. 70-74Massone, F., Cortopassi, S.R.G., Anestésicos locais (2007) Anestesia em cães e gatos, pp. 298-309. , In: (2nd edn). Fantoni DT, Cortopassi SRG (eds). Rocca, São Paulo, BrazilMoehrle, M., Sleth, J.C., Breuninger, H., Anesthésie locale tumescente automatisée [Slow infusion tumescent anesthesia] (2007) Ann Fr Anesth Réanim, 26, pp. 821-825Morton, C., Reid, J., Scott, E., Application of a scaling model to establish and validate an interval level pain scale for assessment of acute pain in dogs (2005) Am J Vet Res, 66, pp. 2154-2166Ordway, R.W., Walsh, J.V., Singer, J.J., Arachidonic acid and other fatty acids directly activate potassium channels in smooth muscle cells (1989) Science, 244, pp. 1176-1179Pettersson, N., Emanuelsson, B.M., Reventlid, H., High-dose ropivacaine wound infiltration for pain relief after inguinal hernia repair: a clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation (1998) Reg Anesth Pain Med, 23, pp. 189-196Sleth, J.C., Lavie, M., Mion, P., Tumescent local anesthesia for mastectomy: lidocaine plasma concentration (2006) Ann Fr Anesth Réanim, 25, pp. 74-76Svedman, K.J., Coldiron, B., Coleman III, W.P., ASDS guidelines of care for tumescent liposuction (2006) Dermatol Surg, 32, pp. 709-716Sztark, F., Malgat, M., Dabadie, P., Comparison of the effects of bupivacaine and ropivacaine on heart cell mitochondrial bioenergetics (1998) Anesthesiology, 88, pp. 1340-1349Weinberg, G., Ripper, R., Feinstein, D.L., Lipid emulsion infusion rescues dogs from bupivacaine-induced cardiac toxicity (2003) Reg Anesth Pain Med, 28, pp. 198-202Weinberg, G.L., Ripper, R., Murphy, P., Lipid infusion accelerates removal of bupivacaine and recovery from bupivacaine toxicity in the isolated rat heart (2006) Reg Anesth Pain Med, 31, pp. 296-30

Supernova Remnants Interacting with Molecular Clouds: X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Signatures

The giant molecular clouds (MCs) found in the Milky Way and similar galaxies play a crucial role in the evolution of these systems. The supernova explosions that mark the death of massive stars in these regions often lead to interactions between the supernova remnants (SNRs) and the clouds. These interactions have a profound effect on our understanding of SNRs. Shocks in SNRs should be capable of accelerating particles to cosmic ray (CR) energies with efficiencies high enough to power Galactic CRs. X-ray and γ-ray studies have established the presence of relativistic electrons and protons in some SNRs and provided strong evidence for diffusive shock acceleration as the primary acceleration mechanism, including strongly amplified magnetic fields, temperature and ionization effects on the shock-heated plasmas, and modifications to the dynamical evolution of some systems. Because protons dominate the overall energetics of the CRs, it is crucial to understand this hadronic component even though electrons are much more efficient radiators and it can be difficult to identify the hadronic component. However, near MCs the densities are sufficiently high to allow the γ-ray emission to be dominated by protons. Thus, these interaction sites provide some of our best opportunities to constrain the overall energetics of these particle accelerators. Here we summarize some key properties of interactions between SNRs and MCs, with an emphasis on recent X-ray and γ-ray studies that are providing important constraints on our understanding of cosmic rays in our Galaxy

Novel and emerging biotechnological crop protection approaches

Traditional breeding or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have for a long time been the sole approaches to effectively cope with biotic and abiotic stresses and implement the quality traits of crops. However, emerging diseases as well as unpredictable climate changes affecting agriculture over the entire globe force scientists to find alternative solutions required to quickly overcome seasonal crises. In this review, we first focus on cisgenesis and genome editing as challenging biotechnological approaches for breeding crops more tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition, we take into consideration a toolbox of new techniques based on applications of RNA interference and epigenome modifications, which can be adopted for improving plant resilience. Recent advances in these biotechnological applications are mainly reported for non‐model plants and woody crops in particular. Indeed, the characterization of RNAi machinery in plants is fundamental to transform available information into biologically or biotechnologically applicable knowledge. Finally, here we discuss how these innovative and environmentally friendly techniques combined with traditional breeding can sustain a modern agriculture and be of potential contribution to climate change mitigation

Doping Liquid Argon with Xenon in ProtoDUNE Single-Phase: Effects on Scintillation Light

International audienceDoping of liquid argon TPCs (LArTPCs) with a small concentration of xenon is a technique for light-shifting and facilitates the detection of the liquid argon scintillation light. In this paper, we present the results of the first doping test ever performed in a kiloton-scale LArTPC. From February to May 2020, we carried out this special run in the single-phase DUNE Far Detector prototype (ProtoDUNE-SP) at CERN, featuring 770 t of total liquid argon mass with 410 t of fiducial mass. The goal of the run was to measure the light and charge response of the detector to the addition of xenon, up to a concentration of 18.8 ppm. The main purpose was to test the possibility for reduction of non-uniformities in light collection, caused by deployment of photon detectors only within the anode planes. Light collection was analysed as a function of the xenon concentration, by using the pre-existing photon detection system (PDS) of ProtoDUNE-SP and an additional smaller set-up installed specifically for this run. In this paper we first summarize our current understanding of the argon-xenon energy transfer process and the impact of the presence of nitrogen in argon with and without xenon dopant. We then describe the key elements of ProtoDUNE-SP and the injection method deployed. Two dedicated photon detectors were able to collect the light produced by xenon and the total light. The ratio of these components was measured to be about 0.65 as 18.8 ppm of xenon were injected. We performed studies of the collection efficiency as a function of the distance between tracks and light detectors, demonstrating enhanced uniformity of response for the anode-mounted PDS. We also show that xenon doping can substantially recover light losses due to contamination of the liquid argon by nitrogen

Doping Liquid Argon with Xenon in ProtoDUNE Single-Phase: Effects on Scintillation Light

International audienceDoping of liquid argon TPCs (LArTPCs) with a small concentration of xenon is a technique for light-shifting and facilitates the detection of the liquid argon scintillation light. In this paper, we present the results of the first doping test ever performed in a kiloton-scale LArTPC. From February to May 2020, we carried out this special run in the single-phase DUNE Far Detector prototype (ProtoDUNE-SP) at CERN, featuring 770 t of total liquid argon mass with 410 t of fiducial mass. The goal of the run was to measure the light and charge response of the detector to the addition of xenon, up to a concentration of 18.8 ppm. The main purpose was to test the possibility for reduction of non-uniformities in light collection, caused by deployment of photon detectors only within the anode planes. Light collection was analysed as a function of the xenon concentration, by using the pre-existing photon detection system (PDS) of ProtoDUNE-SP and an additional smaller set-up installed specifically for this run. In this paper we first summarize our current understanding of the argon-xenon energy transfer process and the impact of the presence of nitrogen in argon with and without xenon dopant. We then describe the key elements of ProtoDUNE-SP and the injection method deployed. Two dedicated photon detectors were able to collect the light produced by xenon and the total light. The ratio of these components was measured to be about 0.65 as 18.8 ppm of xenon were injected. We performed studies of the collection efficiency as a function of the distance between tracks and light detectors, demonstrating enhanced uniformity of response for the anode-mounted PDS. We also show that xenon doping can substantially recover light losses due to contamination of the liquid argon by nitrogen