A new calculation of atmospheric neutrino flux: the FLUKA approach.

Abstract Preliminary results from a full 3-D calculation of atmospheric neutrino fluxes using the FLUKA interaction model are presented and compared to previous existing calculations. This effort is motivated mainly by the 3-D capability and the satisfactory degree of accuracy of the hadron-nucleus models embedded in the FLUKA code. Here we show examples of benchmarking tests of the model with cosmic ray experiment results. A comparison of our calculation of the atmospheric neutrino flux with that of the Bartol group, for E ν > 1 GeV, is presented

Imatinib mesylate in the treatment of newly diagnosed or refractory/resistant c-KIT positive acute myeloid leukemia. Results of an Italian Multicentric Phase II Study

We evaluated safety and efficacy of imatinib (600 mg) in 36 c-KIT+ acute myeloid leukemia patients not amenable to receive conventional chemotherapy. No patient achieved complete remission. One patient obtained a hematologic improvement (platelet increase with transfusion independence). Median overall survival was 3 months (0.5-44+). Non-hematologic toxicity was overall mild

Imatinib mesylate in the treatment of newly diagnosed or refractory/resistant c-KIT positive acute myeloid leukemia. Results of an Italian Multicentric Phase II Study

We evaluated safety and efficacy of imatinib (600 mg) in 36 c-KIT+ acute myeloid leukemia patients not amenable to receive conventional chemotherapy. No patient achieved complete remission. One patient obtained a hematologic improvement (platelet increase with transfusion independence). Median overall survival was 3 months (0.5-44+). Non-hematologic toxicity was overall mild

Preparation of Sterically Demanding 2,2-Disubstituted-2-Hydroxy Acids by Enzymatic Hydrolysis

Preparation of optically-pure derivatives of 2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylacetic acid of general structure 2 was accomplished by enzymatic hydrolysis of the correspondent esters. A screening with commercial hydrolases using the methyl ester of 2-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylacetic acid (1a) showed that crude pig liver esterase (PLE) was the only preparation with catalytic activity. Low enantioselectivity was observed with substrates 1a\u2013d, whereas PLE-catalysed hydrolysis of 1e proceeded with good enantioselectivity (E = 28), after optimization. Enhancement of the enantioselectivity was obtained by chemical re-esterification of enantiomerically enriched 2e, followed by sequential enzymatic hydrolysis with PLE. The preparation of optically-pure (S)-2e was validated on multi-milligram scale

Performance Of A Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber Exposed To The WANF Neutrino Beam

We present the results of the first exposure of a Liquid Argon TPC to a multi-GeV neutrino beam. The data have been collected with a 50 liters ICARUS-like chamber located between the CHORUS and NOMAD experiments at the CERN West Area Neutrino Facility (WANF). We discuss both the instrumental performance of the detector and its capability to identify and reconstruct low multiplicity neutrino interactions.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures. Submitted for publication to Physical Review

Comparison of HTK-Custodiol and St-Thomas solution as cardiac preservation solutions on early and midterm outcomes following heart transplantation.

The choice of the cardiac preservation solution for myocardial protection at time of heart procurement remains controversial and uncertainties persist regarding its effect on the early and midterm heart transplantation (HTx) outcomes. We retrospectively compared our adult HTx performed with 2 different solutions, in terms of hospital mortality, mid-term survival, inotropic score, primary graft dysfunction and rejection score. From January 2009 to December 2020, 154 consecutive HTx of adult patients, followed up in pre- and post-transplantation by 2 different tertiary centres, were performed at the University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland. From 2009 to 2015, the cardiac preservation solution used was exclusively St-Thomas, whereafter an institutional decision was made to use HTK-Custodiol only. Patients were classified in 2 groups accordingly. There were 75 patients in the St-Thomas group and 79 patients in the HTK-Custodiol group. The 2 groups were comparable in terms of preoperative and intraoperative characteristics. Postoperatively, compared to the St-Thomas group, the Custodiol group patients showed significantly lower inotropic scores [median (interquartile range): 35.7 (17.5-60.2) vs 71.8 (31.8-127), P < 0.001], rejection scores [0.08 (0.0-0.25) vs 0.14 (0.05-0.5), P = 0.036] and 30-day mortality rate (2.5% vs 14.7%, P = 0.007) even after adjusting for potential confounders. Microscopic analysis of the endomyocardial biopsies also showed less specific histological features of subendothelial ischaemia (3.8% vs 17.3%, P = 0.006). There was no difference in primary graft dysfunction requiring postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The use of HTK-Custodiol solution significantly improved midterm survival (Custodiol versus St-Thomas: hazard ratio = 0.20, 95% confidence interval: 0.069-0.60, P = 0.004). This retrospective study comparing St-Thomas solution and HTK-Custodiol as myocardial protection during heart procurement showed that Custodiol improves outcomes after HTx, including postoperative inotropic score, rejection score, 30-day mortality and midterm survival

Core Biopsies from Prostate Cancer Patients in Active Surveillance Protocols Harbor PTEN and MYC Alterations

Background: Genomic characterization of prostate cancer (PCa) biopsies may improve criteria for the selection of patients suitable for active surveillance (AS). Objective: To identify somatic genomic aberrations associated with adverse outcome as AS protocol exclusion indicators. Design, setting and participants: Whole-exome sequencing profiles were generated for Gleason score (GS) = 3 + 3 biopsies obtained from 54 PCa patients enrolled in two AS protocols. Patients were selected as representative of a nonindolent population, consisting of 27 patients who dropped out from AS due to upgrading (ie, finding of GS > 3 + 3 at a follow-up biopsy) within 2 yr, and a potentially indolent population, consisting of 27 patients in AS for 654 yr without any evidence of reclassification. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The genomic alteration landscape of core biopsies was analyzed using an integrated computational pipeline and correlated with patient reclassification due to upgrading. Results and limitations: Of all the GS = 3 + 3 biopsies of the study cohort, 34% showed clear evidence of somatic copy number aberrations along the genome. Of these, 39% came from the potentially indolent and 61% from the nonindolent population. Single-nucleotide variants demonstrated low allelic fractions and included a common F133C mutation in the SPOP gene. The minimally altered genomic landscape of the study cohort presented a distinct set of monoallelic deletions, including on 8p, 13q, 16q, and 21q, and rare amplifications of 8q, which were observed in both AS patient populations. Concerning lesions typically associated with adverse outcome, PTEN deletions and MYC amplification, though observed in a small number of cases, were detected exclusively or preferentially, respectively, in nonindolent patients. Such molecular findings were confirmed by immunohistochemistry on the same tissue blocks. The small sample size and the retrospective nature of the analysis represent the main study limitations. Conclusions: Genomic features enriched in aggressive tumors can be detected in GS = 3 + 3 core biopsies of AS patients. Patient summary: PTEN and MYC alterations at the time of diagnosis would deserve investigation in larger cohorts of AS patients to assess their potential as biomarkers for a more precise/earlier identification of patients at risk of reclassification. The presence of adverse outcome-related genomic lesions, such as PTEN deletion and MYC amplification, in GPS = 3 + 3 diagnostic core biopsies of prostate cancer patients could be considered for a more precise/earlier selection of patients not suitable for active surveillance

Measurement of the muon decay spectrum with the ICARUS liquid Argon TPC

Examples are given which prove the ICARUS detector quality through relevant physics measurements. We study the muon decay energy spectrum from a sample of stopping muon events acquired during the test run of the ICARUS T600 detector. This detector allows the spatial reconstruction of the events with fine granularity, hence, the precise measurement of the range and dE/dx of the muon with high sampling rate. This information is used to compute the calibration factors needed for the full calorimetric reconstruction of the events. The Michel rho parameter is then measured by comparison of the experimental and Monte Carlo simulated muon decay spectra, obtaining rho = 0.72 +/- 0.06(stat.) +/- 0.08(syst.). The energy resolution for electrons below ~50 MeV is finally extracted from the simulated sample, obtaining (Emeas-Emc)/Emc = 11%/sqrt(E[MeV]) + 2%.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, LaTex, A4. Some text and 1 figure added. Final version as accepted for publication in The European Physical Journal