Muon capture in the front end of the IDS neutrino factory

We discuss the design of the muon capture front end of the neutrino factory International Design Study. In the front end, a proton bunch on a target creates secondary pions that drift into a capture transport channel, decaying into muons. A sequence of rf cavities forms the resulting muon beams into strings of bunches of differing energies, aligns the bunches to (nearly) equal central energies, and initiates ionization cooling. The muons are then accelerated to high energy where their decays provide neutrino beams. For the International Design Study (IDS), a baseline design must be developed and optimized for an engineering and cost study. We present a baseline design that can be used to establish the scope of a future neutrino Factory facility.Comment: 3 pp. 1st International Particle Accelerator Conference: IPAC'10, 23-28 May 2010: Kyoto, Japa

Twisted versus braided magnetic flux ropes in coronal geometry. I. Construction and relaxation.

We introduce a technique for generating tubular magnetic fields with arbitrary axial geometry and internal topology. As an initial application, this technique is used to construct two magnetic flux ropes that have the same sigmoidal tubular shape, but have different internal structures. One is twisted, the other has a more complex braided magnetic field. The flux ropes are embedded above the photospheric neutral line in a quadrupolar linear force-free background. Using resistive-magnetohydrodynamic simulations, we show that both fields can relax to stable force-free equilibria whilst maintaining their tubular structure. Both end states are nonlinear force-free; the twisted field contains a single sign of alpha (the force-free parameter), indicating a twisted flux rope of a single dominant chirality, the braided field contains both signs of alpha, indicating a flux rope whose internal twisting has both positive and negative chirality. The electric current structures in these final states differ significantly between the braided field, which has a diffuse structure, and the twisted field, which displays a clear sigmoid. This difference might be observable

The results of an agricultural analysis of the ERTS-1 MSS data at the Johnson Space Center

The initial analysis of the ERTS-1 multispectral scanner (MSS) data at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, Texas is discussed. The primary data set utilized was the scene over Monterey Bay, California, on July 25, 1972, NASA ERTS ID No. 1002-18134. It was submitted to both computerized and image interpretative processing. An area in the San Joaquin Valley was submitted to an intensive evaluation of the ability of the data to (1) discriminate between crop types and (2) to provide a reasonably accurate area measurement of agricultural features of interest. The results indicate that the ERTS-1 MSS data is capable of providing the identifications and area extent of agricultural lands and field crop types

Muon Ionisation Cooling in Reduced RF

In Muon Ionisation Cooling, closely packed high-field RF cavities are interspersed with energy-absorbing material in order to reduce particle beam emittance. Transverse focussing of the muon beams is achieved by superconducting magnets. This results in the RF cavities sitting in intense magnetic fields. Recent studies have shown that this may limit the peak gradient that can be achieved in the RF cavities. In this paper, we study the effect that a reduced RF gradient may have on the cooling performance of the Neutrino Factory lattice and examine methods to mitigate the effect

Prenatal diagnosis and follow-up of congenital splenic cysts

Los quistes esplénicos congénitos son entidades poco frecuentes, particularmente en la edad pediátrica. En la literatura especializada existen pocos casos publicados con diagnóstico durante el período prenatal. Los autores describen 2 casos clínicos, identificados por ecografía prenatal a las 34 y 30 semanas de gestación, y su evolución posnatal hasta su resolución espontánea a los 5 meses y a los 2 años de vida, respectivamente. Se revisa la etiología, clínica y evolución de esta patología.Congenital splenic cysts are uncommon entities, especially in children. Few cases diagnosed in the prenatal period have been reported in the literature. We describe two cases that were identified by prenatal sonography at 34 and 30 gestational weeks. Their follow- up until spontaneous full regression at 5 months and 2 years, respectively, is discussed. The etiology, clinical findings, and clinical course of this entity are reviewed

The effects of arthritis gloves on hand pain in people with rheumatoid or inflammatory arthritis : a randomised controlled trial (A-GLOVES TRIAL)

Background: Arthritis (compression) gloves are commonly provided to people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis (IA) in the UK health service. These apply pressure and warmth to relieve hand pain, stiffness and improve hand function. A systematic review identified little evidence to support their use.[1] Objectives: This randomised controlled trial tested effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mid-finger length compression (intervention) gloves (20% Lycra: commonest glove model provided) with control gloves (i.e. oedema gloves: 11% Lycra: fitted at least one size too big) in people with RA and IA. Methods: Both gloves, which had similar thermal qualities although the control gloves did not provide compression, were provided by rheumatology occupational therapists, following training.[2] Participants were also given brief advice on hand exercise and joint protection. Adults with RA/IA and persistent hand pain were randomised 1:1 to the two glove types, stratified by disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) change in previous 12 weeks. The primary outcome was dominant hand pain on activity Visual Analogue Scale (VAS:0–10); other outcomes included night hand pain, hand stiffness (both 0–10 VAS); Measure of Activity Performance Hand (MAP-HAND: 0–3). Multiple linear regression was undertaken to estimate the effect of group allocation on hand pain during activity, adjusting for the stratification variable and baseline values. Cost-effectiveness used individual patient level costs (intervention plus healthcare utilisation) and health benefit data (EQ-5D) to calculate costs and QALYs. Results: 206 participants were randomised (103 to each glove type): median age 59 years [IQR 51,67]; women:166 (81%); mean disease duration: 8.2 (SD 9.5) years; employed:76 (37%); right hand dominant:185 (90%). Of these, 163 (79%) completed 12 week follow-up questionnaires. Both groups reported similar adherence to glove wear (mean 5.2 days/week). At 12 w, hand pain scores in both groups similarly improved: the between-groups mean difference of 0.1 was not statistically significant (95% CI: −0.47 to 0.67; p=0.72). There were no significant differences between groups on any measures, with both groups improving similarly between baseline and 12 w. 73% in both groups considered gloves beneficial. Intervention gloves had higher costs (£552 (SD £464); control £391 (SD £543) but comparable benefits to control gloves. Intervention gloves would cost £83 700 to gain one QALY and were not likely to be cost-effective. Conclusions: Compression (intervention) and loose-fitting arthritis (control) gloves had similar effects on hand pain, stiffness and function. Therefore, compression is not the ‘active ingredient’ in arthritis gloves. Loose fitting gloves providing warmth were perceived as equally effective by participants. We do not know if the therapist effect is important or whether ordinary gloves providing warmth would provide similar results. References: Hammond, et al. Clin Rehabil 2016 30:213–24. Prior, et al. Rheumatology 2017. www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4205 Acknowledgements: This project was funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme (PB-PG-0214–33010). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health