A new method of lower extremity immobilization in radiotherapy

We developed a new method for immobilization of the fix lower extremities by using a thermoplastic mask, a carbon fiber base plate, a customized headrest, and an adjustable angle holder. The lower extremities of 11 patients with lower extremity tumors were immobilized by this method. CT simulation was performed for each patient. For all 11 patients, the device fit was suitable and comfortable and had good reproducibility, which was proven in daily radiotherapy

Snowmass Theory Frontier: Effective Field Theory

We summarize recent progress in the development, application, and understanding of effective field theories and highlight promising directions for future research. This Report is prepared as the TF02 "Effective Field Theory" topical group summary for the Theory Frontier as part of the Snowmass 2021 process.Comment: 12 page

Potential of Core-Collapse Supernova Neutrino Detection at JUNO

JUNO is an underground neutrino observatory under construction in Jiangmen, China. It uses 20kton liquid scintillator as target, which enables it to detect supernova burst neutrinos of a large statistics for the next galactic core-collapse supernova (CCSN) and also pre-supernova neutrinos from the nearby CCSN progenitors. All flavors of supernova burst neutrinos can be detected by JUNO via several interaction channels, including inverse beta decay, elastic scattering on electron and proton, interactions on C12 nuclei, etc. This retains the possibility for JUNO to reconstruct the energy spectra of supernova burst neutrinos of all flavors. The real time monitoring systems based on FPGA and DAQ are under development in JUNO, which allow prompt alert and trigger-less data acquisition of CCSN events. The alert performances of both monitoring systems have been thoroughly studied using simulations. Moreover, once a CCSN is tagged, the system can give fast characterizations, such as directionality and light curve

Detection of the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background with JUNO

As an underground multi-purpose neutrino detector with 20 kton liquid scintillator, Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is competitive with and complementary to the water-Cherenkov detectors on the search for the diffuse supernova neutrino background (DSNB). Typical supernova models predict 2-4 events per year within the optimal observation window in the JUNO detector. The dominant background is from the neutral-current (NC) interaction of atmospheric neutrinos with 12C nuclei, which surpasses the DSNB by more than one order of magnitude. We evaluated the systematic uncertainty of NC background from the spread of a variety of data-driven models and further developed a method to determine NC background within 15\% with {\it{in}} {\it{situ}} measurements after ten years of running. Besides, the NC-like backgrounds can be effectively suppressed by the intrinsic pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) capabilities of liquid scintillators. In this talk, I will present in detail the improvements on NC background uncertainty evaluation, PSD discriminator development, and finally, the potential of DSNB sensitivity in JUNO

Real-time Monitoring for the Next Core-Collapse Supernova in JUNO

Core-collapse supernova (CCSN) is one of the most energetic astrophysical events in the Universe. The early and prompt detection of neutrinos before (pre-SN) and during the SN burst is a unique opportunity to realize the multi-messenger observation of the CCSN events. In this work, we describe the monitoring concept and present the sensitivity of the system to the pre-SN and SN neutrinos at the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), which is a 20 kton liquid scintillator detector under construction in South China. The real-time monitoring system is designed with both the prompt monitors on the electronic board and online monitors at the data acquisition stage, in order to ensure both the alert speed and alert coverage of progenitor stars. By assuming a false alert rate of 1 per year, this monitoring system can be sensitive to the pre-SN neutrinos up to the distance of about 1.6 (0.9) kpc and SN neutrinos up to about 370 (360) kpc for a progenitor mass of 30$M_{\odot}$ for the case of normal (inverted) mass ordering. The pointing ability of the CCSN is evaluated by using the accumulated event anisotropy of the inverse beta decay interactions from pre-SN or SN neutrinos, which, along with the early alert, can play important roles for the followup multi-messenger observations of the next Galactic or nearby extragalactic CCSN.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figure

Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene: Chemical Modification and Application of these Modifiers in Propellants and Explosives

Hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) as a telechelic liquid polymer has been widely used in propellants and explosives and many modified-HTPBs have been reported in the literature. As a binder or additive in propellants and explosives, the chemical modification of HTPB for improving certain properties of propellants has been summarized in detail in this article. According to the application drawbacks of HTPB, modified-HTPB can be classified differently. Furthermore, there are polymers that have been modified on their energetic properties, such as GAP-PB-GAP, BAMO-PB-BAMO, AMMO-PB-AMMO, Nitro-HTPB, HTPB-DNB and NHTPB. Pre-polymers modified on their combustion properties include Butacene®, FPDS-g-HTPB, Fc-HTPB, BiFc-g-HTPB, HTPB→[Fe(CO)3]x, PPA-HTPB-PPA and PNBE-HTPB-PNBE. HTPBs are also modified in curing systems containing, for example ETPB, PTPB, PrTPB, AzTPB, and PUPB, and other modification results are reviewed. Additionally, this overview is expected to provide an outlook for further studies in these fields

Synthesis and Curing of Allyl Urethane NIMMO-THF Copolyether with Three Functional Groups as a Potential Energetic Binder

A tri-functional NIMMO-THF copolyether (T-NT) was synthesized by polymerization of 3-nitratomethyl-3-methyloxetane (NIMMO) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the presence of trimethylolpropane and catalyzed by BF3·OEt2. The allyl urethane NIMMO-THF copolyether with three functional groups (AUT-NT) was synthesized from tri-functional NIMMO-THF copolyether and allyl isocyanate. The polymer was characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. Furthermore, an elastomer that was prepared from allyl urethane NIMMO-THF copolyether with three functional groups and trimethylisophthalodinitrile oxide (TINO) had satisfactory mechanical properties and good thermal stability. The elastomer is expected to be used in composite solid propellants and polymer-bonded explosives (PBX)

Combination Low-Dose Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Plus Annexin A2 for Improving Thrombolytic Stroke Therapy

Risk of hemorrhagic transformation, incomplete reperfusion, neurotoxicity, and a short treatment time window comprises major challenges for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) thrombolytic stroke therapy. Improving tPA therapy has become one of the highest priorities in the stroke field. This mini review article focuses on our recent efforts aimed at evaluating a novel combination approach of low-dose tPA plus recombinant annexin A2 (rA2, a tPA, and plasminogen co-receptor), which might enhance tPA thrombolytic efficacy, while reducing its associated complications related to intracerebral hemorrhagic transformation. Results of our experimental studies using a focal embolic stroke model in rats support the feasibility of the combination approach and suggest the potential for successful clinical translation

Combination Low Dose Tissue Type-Plasminogen Activator plus Annexin A2 for Improving Thrombolytic Stroke Therapy

Risk of hemorrhagic transformation, incomplete reperfusion, neurotoxicity and a short treatment time window comprise major challenges for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) thrombolytic stroke therapy. Improving tPA therapy has become one of the highest priorities in the stroke field. This mini review article focuses on our recent efforts aimed at evaluating a novel combination approach of low-dose tPA plus recombinant annexin A2 (rA2, a tPA and plasminogen co-receptor), that might enhance tPA thrombolytic efficacy, while reducing its associated complications related to intracerebral hemorrhagic (ICH) transformation. Results of our experimental studies using a focal embolic stroke model in rats support the feasibility of the combination approach and suggest the potential for successful clinical translation