TileCal TDAQ/DCS communication

This document describes the communication between the TDAQ and DCS systems of the Hadronic Tile Calorimeter detector of the ATLAS experiment, currently under commissioning phase at CERN. It is a further step on the TDAQ and DCS communication for TileCal operation. The aim of the implementation is to increase the robustness and understanding of the detector from the two systems involved. The basic principle observed is that the two systems operate independently in parallel. Hence, the knowledge of the status of the whole detector from each of the two systems is required for further analysis of the archived data

Capillary glucose concentration during oral glucose tolerance test for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes

Objective: To assess concordance between two point-of-care testing (POCT) devices and the standard laboratory method in screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Huesca. Methods: Pregnant women who met criteria for an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and attended the laboratory between October 2017 and November 2018 were recruited in this prospective observational study. Glucose was measured in venous (laboratory) and capillary blood (Accu-Chek or Contour Next glucometers). GDM was diagnosed attending to NDDG criteria for venous samples or capillary-specific cut-off. Linear regression, Passing–Bablok, Bland–Altman, and the kappa coefficient were used to study concordance between POCT and laboratory method. Results: Data from 109 women were analyzed (57 for Accu-Chek, 52 for Contour Next). Statistical analyses showed good agreement between both POCT and laboratory method. There were no statistical differences in fasting glucose measurements between capillary and venous samples and both POCT devices meet the ISO 15197 standard. Accu-Chek showed good agreement (k=0.629) regarding the laboratory method in classifying GDM, with an acceptable inter-evaluator bias of 3.5% (P<0.001). Conclusion: POCT can be used to obtain fasting values and reduce overall waiting times for patients. Additionally, Accu-Chek can be used to diagnose GDM in remote areas applying specific cut-off values

The PhoP-Dependent ncRNA Mcr7 Modulates the TAT Secretion System in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The PhoPR two-component system is essential for virulence in Mycobacterium tuberculosis where it controls expression of approximately 2% of the genes, including those for the ESX-1 secretion apparatus, a major virulence determinant. Mutations in phoP lead to compromised production of pathogen-specific cell wall components and attenuation both ex vivo and in vivo. Using antibodies against the native protein in ChIP-seq experiments (chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing) we demonstrated that PhoP binds to at least 35 loci on the M. tuberculosis genome. The PhoP regulon comprises several transcriptional regulators as well as genes for polyketide synthases and PE/PPE proteins. Integration of ChIP-seq results with high-resolution transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) revealed that PhoP controls 30 genes directly, whilst regulatory cascades are responsible for signal amplification and downstream effects through proteins like EspR, which controls Esx1 function, via regulation of the espACD operon. The most prominent site of PhoP regulation was located in the intergenic region between rv2395 and PE_PGRS41, where the mcr7 gene codes for a small non-coding RNA (ncRNA). Northern blot experiments confirmed the absence of Mcr7 in an M. tuberculosis phoP mutant as well as low-level expression of the ncRNA in M. tuberculosis complex members other than M. tuberculosis. By means of genetic and proteomic analyses we demonstrated that Mcr7 modulates translation of the tatC mRNA thereby impacting the activity of the Twin Arginine Translocation (Tat) protein secretion apparatus. As a result, secretion of the immunodominant Ag85 complex and the beta-lactamase BlaC is affected, among others. Mcr7, the first ncRNA of M. tuberculosis whose function has been established, therefore represents a missing link between the PhoPR two-component system and the downstream functions necessary for successful infection of the host

Comportamiento sísmico de presas de relaves construidas aguas abajo y línea central

The growth of ore treatment rates during the last decades has required an increase in the tailings impoundment capacity. Consequently, the height and volume of the designed sand dams have reached unprecedented dimensions. This has been caused by environmental constraints according to current regulations. In this context, the sand dam design with the centreline method is an alternative to reduce the sand volume without affecting the global dam stability. This method of construction has been applied successfully in seismic countries with high tailings dams such as Canada and more recently in Peru. This article presents 2D numerical modelling of high tailings dams under a strong seismic event. For this analysis it has been considered a standard section of dam built by downstream in one case. A second case considers the same section modifying its growth method to centreline from a certain height. The seismic response for both methods and the effect of variation in the upstream slope, in terms of seismic deformations, crest accelerations, amplification respect to free field and among others, are compared

A Complete Set of Firmware for the TileCal Read-Out Driver

TileCal is the hadronic tile calorimeter of the ATLAS experiment at LHC/CERN. The Read-Out Driver (ROD) is the main component of the TileCal back-end electronics. The ROD is a VME 64x 9u board with multiple programmable devices which requires a complete set of firmware. This paper describes the firmware and functionalities of all these programmable devices, especially the DSP Processing Units daughterboards where the data processing takes place

Effects of a nanoemulsion with Copaifera officinalis oleoresin against monogenean parasites of Colossoma macropomum: A Neotropical Serrasalmidae.

Monogeneans are ectoparasites that may cause losses in production and productivity in the aquaculture of Colossoma macropomum. Chemotherapeutics used in aquaculture usually have major adverse effects on fish; hence, the use of essential oils has been considered advantageous, but these are not soluble in water. Thus, the use of nanostructures to enhance water solubility of compounds and improve bioactivity may be very promising. This study investigated the antiparasitic activity of nanoemulsion prepared with Copaifera officinalis oleoresin (50, 100, 150, 200 and 300 mg/L), against monogenean parasites from the gills of C. macropomum. The particle size distribution and zeta potential suggested that a potentially kinetic stable system was generated. The nanoemulsion from C. officinalis oleoresin achieved high efficacy (100%) at low concentrations (200 and 300 mg/L) after 15 min of exposure. This was the first time that a nanoemulsion was generated from C. officinalis oleoresin using a solvent-free, non-heating and low-energy method. Moreover, this was the first time that an antiparasitic against monogeneans on fish gills, based on nanoemulsion of C. officinalis oleoresin, was tested

Status of the Optical Multiplexer Board 9U Prototype

This paper presents the architecture and the status of the Optical Multiplexer Board (OMB) 9U for the ATLAS/LHC Tile hadronic calorimeter (TileCal). This board will analyze the front-end data CRC to prevent bit and burst errors produced by radiation. Besides, due to its position within the data acquisition chain it will be used to emulate front-end data for tests. The first two prototypes of the final OMB 9U version have been produced at CERN. Detailed design issues and manufacture features of these prototypes are described. Functional descriptions of the board on its two main operation modes as CRC checking and data ROD injector are explained as well as other functionalities. Finally, the schedule for next year when the production of the OMB will be take place is also presented

On the development of the final optical multiplexer board prototype for the TileCal experiment

This paper describes the architecture of the final optical multiplexer board for the TileCal experiment. The results of the first VME 6U prototype have led to the definition of the final block diagram and functionality of this prototype. Functional description of constituent blocks and the state of the work currently undergoing at the Department of Electronic Engineering, in collaboration with IFIC-Valencia, is presented. As no board is yet produced, no experimental results are presented but, nevertheless, design issues that have been taking into account as component placement and signal integrity issues will be detailed

Optical Buffer 1:16

This document is a manual describing the functionality and the operation of the Optical Buffer 1:16 (OB). The OB was specially designed to repeat optical signals during the TileCal Read-Out drivers (ROD) production. The data generated in one Optical Multiplexer Board (OMB) 6U prototypes were repeated with two OB in order to inject data simultaneously to four RODs

Monte Carlo Performance of the TileCal Low pT Muon Identification Algorithm

This note describes the TileCal standalone low pT muon identification algorithm (TileMuId) developed to contribute to the Level-2 trigger. This algorithm is based on the characteristic muon energy deposition inside the calorimeter. The implementation of this algorithm in the core of the Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) in the TileCal Read-Out Drivers (RODs) is also discussed in this paper. The TileMuId performance with Monte Carlo data from single muons and bb events is shown in terms of efficiencies and fraction of fakes for both a fully Level-2 version and a ROD-based version of the algorithm