1,493 research outputs found
Bailout Embeddings, Targeting of KAM Orbits, and the Control of Hamiltonian Chaos
We present a novel technique, which we term bailout embedding, that can be
used to target orbits having particular properties out of all orbits in a flow
or map. We explicitly construct a bailout embedding for Hamiltonian systems so
as to target KAM orbits. We show how the bailout dynamics is able to lock onto
extremely small KAM islands in an ergodic sea.Comment: 3 figures, 9 subpanel
Pulse Shape Discrimination Techniques in Scintillating CsI(Tl) Crystals
There are recent interests with CsI(Tl) scintillating crystals for Dark
Matter experiments. The key merit is the capability to differentiate nuclear
recoil (nr) signatures from the background -events due to
ambient radioactivity on the basis of their different pulse shapes. One of the
major experimental challenges is to perform such pulse shape analysis in the
statistics-limited domain where the light output is close to the detection
threshold. Using data derived from measurements with low energy 's and
nuclear recoils due to neutron elastic scatterings, it was verified that the
pulse shapes between -events are different. Several methods of
pulse shape discrimination are studied, and their relative merits are compared.
Full digitization of the pulse shapes is crucial to achieve good
discrimination. Advanced software techniques with mean time, neural network and
likelihood ratios give rise to satisfactory performance, and are superior to
the conventional Double Charge method commonly applied at higher energies.
Pulse shape discrimination becomes effective starting at a light yield of about
20 photo-electrons. This corresponds to a detection threshold of about 5 keV
electron-equivalence energy, or 4050 keV recoil kinetic energy, in realistic
experiments.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figure
Measurement of the Intrinsic Radiopurity of Cs-137/U-235/U-238/Th-232 in CsI(Tl) Crystal Scintillators
The inorganic crystal scintillator CsI(Tl) has been used for low energy
neutrino and Dark Matter experiments, where the intrinsic radiopurity is an
issue of major importance. Low-background data were taken with a CsI(Tl)
crystal array at the Kuo-Sheng Reactor Neutrino Laboratory. The pulse shape
discrimination capabilities of the crystal, as well as the temporal and spatial
correlations of the events, provide powerful means of measuring the intrinsic
radiopurity of Cs-137 as well as the U-235, U-238 and Th-232 series. The event
selection algorithms are described, with which the decay half-lives of Po-218,
Po-214, Rn-220, Po-216 and Po-212 were derived. The measurements of the
contamination levels, their concentration gradients with the crystal growth
axis, and the uniformity among different crystal samples, are reported. The
radiopurity in the U-238 and Th-232 series are comparable to those of the best
reported in other crystal scintillators. Significant improvements in
measurement sensitivities were achieved, similar to those from dedicated
massive liquid scintillator detector. This analysis also provides in situ
measurements of the detector performance parameters, such as spatial
resolution, quenching factors, and data acquisition dead time.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figure
Developing a Graphical Route Information Panel (GRIP) for use on the UK motorway network. The first steps
This paper describes the initial stages of research to develop design guidelines and draft designs for Graphical Route Information Panels to be used on the UK motorway network to display traffic congestion information. The studies utilised a funnelling approach to initially capture the broad design principles involving all stakeholders and then narrow down the design options using a range of validation and evaluation activities to achieve the desired design guidelines. Guidance for graphical road based display design is presented along with a methodological approach for the implementation of new designs
Studies of Prototype CsI(Tl) Crystal Scintillators for Low-Energy Neutrino Experiments
Crystal scintillators provide potential merits for the pursuit of low-energy
low-background experiments. A CsI(Tl) scintillating crystal detector is being
constructed to study low-energy neutrino physics at a nuclear reactor, while
projects are underway to adopt this technique for dark matter searches. The
choice of the geometrical parameters of the crystal modules, as well as the
optimization of the read-out scheme, are the results of an R&D program.
Crystals with 40 cm in length were developed. The detector requirements and the
achieved performance of the prototypes are presented. Future prospects for this
technique are discussed.Comment: 32 pages, 14 figure
Prospects of Scintillating Crystal Detector in Low-Energy Low-Background Experiments
Scintillating crystal detector offers potential advantages in low-energy
(keV-MeV range) low-background experiments for particle physics and
astrophysics. The merits are discussed using CsI(Tl) crystal as illustrations.
The various physics topics which can be pursued with this detector technology
are summarized. A conceptual design for a generic detector is presented.Comment: 20 pages, 1 tables, 7 figures, submitted to Astroparticle Physic
A CsI(Tl) Scintillating Crystal Detector for the Studies of Low Energy Neutrino Interactions
Scintillating crystal detector may offer some potential advantages in the
low-energy, low-background experiments. A 500 kg CsI(Tl) detector to be placed
near the core of Nuclear Power Station II in Taiwan is being constructed for
the studies of electron-neutrino scatterings and other keV-MeV range neutrino
interactions. The motivations of this detector approach, the physics to be
addressed, the basic experimental design, and the characteristic performance of
prototype modules are described. The expected background channels and their
experimental handles are discussed.Comment: 34 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Nucl. Instrum. Method
Immediate and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delivery of surgical services
Background
The ongoing pandemic is having a collateral health effect on delivery of surgical care to millions of patients. Very little is known about pandemic management and effects on other services, including delivery of surgery.
Methods
This was a scoping review of all available literature pertaining to COVIDâ19 and surgery, using electronic databases, society websites, webinars and preprint repositories.
Results
Several perioperative guidelines have been issued within a short time. Many suggestions are contradictory and based on anecdotal data at best. As regions with the highest volume of operations per capita are being hit, an unprecedented number of operations are being cancelled or deferred. No major stakeholder seems to have considered how a pandemic deprives patients with a surgical condition of resources, with patients disproportionally affected owing to the nature of treatment (use of anaesthesia, operating rooms, protective equipment, physical invasion and need for perioperative care). No recommendations exist regarding how to reopen surgical delivery. The postpandemic evaluation and future planning should involve surgical services as an essential part to maintain appropriate surgical care for the population during an outbreak. Surgical delivery, owing to its crossâcutting nature and synergistic effects on health systems at large, needs to be built into the WHO agenda for national health planning.
Conclusion
Patients are being deprived of surgical access, with uncertain loss of function and risk of adverse prognosis as a collateral effect of the pandemic. Surgical services need a contingency plan for maintaining surgical care in an ongoing or postpandemic phase.publishedVersio
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