Comparison of the TESLA, NLC and CLIC Beam Collimation Systems Performance

This note describes studies performed in the framework of the Collimation task Force organized to support work of the International Linear Collider Technical Review Committee aiming in comparison of performance of the post-linac beam collimation systems in TESLA, JLC/NLC and CLIC linear collider designs. Collimation of the beam halo and synchrotron radiation collimation have been compared for all projects using the same computer code and same assumptions. It is shown that though the performance of the presently designed systems differ, and not always correspond to expected performance, achieving required performance in the future collider is feasible. Furthe, post-TRC plans of the Collimation task Force are discussed as well

Perinatal outcome of monochorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancy: multicenter cohort study

Objective Monochorionic (MC) triplet pregnancies are extremely rare and information on these pregnancies and their complications is limited. We aimed to investigate the risk of early and late pregnancy complications, perinatal outcome and the timing and methods of fetal intervention in these pregnancies.Methods This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study of MC triamniotic (TA) triplet pregnancies managed in 21 participating centers around the world from 2007 onwards. Data on maternal age, mode of conception, diagnosis of major fetal structural anomalies or aneuploidy, gestational age (GA) at diagnosis of anomalies, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS), twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence and or selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) were retrieved from patient records. Data on antenatal interventions were collected, including data on selective fetal reduction (three to two or three to one), laser surgery and any other active fetal intervention (including amniodrainage). Data on perinatal outcome were collected, including numbers of live birth, intrauterine demise, neonatal death, perinatal death and termination of fetus or pregnancy (TOP). Neonatal data such as GA at birth, birth weight, admission to neonatal intensive care unit and neonatal morbidity were also collected. Perinatal outcomes were assessed according to whether the pregnancy was managed expectantly or underwent fetal intervention.Results Of an initial cohort of 174 MCTA triplet pregnancies, 11 underwent early TOP, three had an early miscarriage, six were lost to follow-up and one was ongoing at the time of writing. Thus, the study cohort included 153 pregnancies, of which the majority (92.8%) were managed expectantly. The incidence of pregnancy affected by one or more fetal structural abnormality was 13.7% (21/153) and that of TRAP sequence was 5.2% (8/153). The most common antenatal complication related to chorionicity was TTTS, which affected just over one quarter (27.6%; 42/152, after removing a pregnancy with TOP < 24 weeks for fetal anomalies) of the pregnancies, followed by sFGR (16.4%; 25/152), while TAPS (spontaneous or post TTTS with or without laser treatment) occurred in only 4.6% (7/152) of pregnancies. No monochorionicity-related antenatal complication was recorded in 49.3% (75/152) of pregnancies. Survival was apparently associated largely with the development of these complications: there was at least one survivor beyond the neonatal period in 85.1% (57/67) of pregnancies without antenatal complications, in 100% (25/25) of those complicated by sFGR and in 47.6% (20/42) of those complicated by TTTS. The overall rate of preterm birth prior to 28 weeks was 14.5% (18/124) and that prior to 32 weeks' gestation was 49.2% (61/124).Conclusion Monochorionicity-related complications, which can impact adversely perinatal outcome, occur in almost half of MCTA triplet pregnancies, creating a challenge with regard to counseling, surveillance and management. (c) 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Learning and generalization under ambiguity: an fMRI study.

Adaptive behavior often exploits generalizations from past experience by applying them judiciously in new situations. This requires a means of quantifying the relative importance of prior experience and current information, so they can be balanced optimally. In this study, we ask whether the brain generalizes in an optimal way. Specifically, we used Bayesian learning theory and fMRI to test whether neuronal responses reflect context-sensitive changes in ambiguity or uncertainty about experience-dependent beliefs. We found that the hippocampus expresses clear ambiguity-dependent responses that are associated with an augmented rate of learning. These findings suggest candidate neuronal systems that may be involved in aberrations of generalization, such as over-confidence

Comparative assessment of simulation tools for beam delivery systems of linear colliders

In this paper, simulation codes for Beam Delivery Systems in linear colliders are discussed. Several tracking codes are available for particle tracking. They do not normally include precise calculation of the beam-beam effect, with accounting for pinch, hour-glass, air production. They provide instead the particle distributions at the interaction point, after tracking through the different components of the linear collider. Other simulation programs must be used to compute precisely the beam-beam interaction. The traditional approach is to use the output bunches from the tracking codes as input for the beam-beam programs. Several tools suitable for advanced luminosity studies are presented. The use of these codes is put into perspective, treating in detail the example of the Compact LInear Collider (CLIC) beam delivery system (3 TeV option)

Novel microdeletions affecting the gnas locus in pseudohypoparathyroidism: characterization of the underlying mechanisms

Context: Pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia (PHP1A) is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, multiple hormonal resistance and features of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy. When the phenotype is present but not associated to hormonal resistance, it is called psedopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP). Both entities have been associated to GNAS haploinsufficiency, and are mostly caused by inherited inactivating mutations at GNAS gene that codes for the stimulatory alpha subunit of G protein (Gs\u3b1), though the cause remains unidentified in about 30% of patients. Objectives: The aims of our work were (i) to identify GNAS locus defects in 112 patients with clinical diagnosis of PHP1A/PPHP and no point mutations at GNAS, to improve molecular diagnostic and genetic counseling; (ii) to outline the underlying molecular mechanism(s). Methods: MS-MLPA, quantitative PCR, aCGH and long-PCR were used to search for genomic rearrangements at chromosome 20q and to identify their boundaries. We used different bioinformatic approaches to assess the involvement of the genomic architecture in the origin of the deletions. Results: We discovered seven novel genomic deletions, ranging from 106-bp to 2.6-Mb. The characterization of 5 of 7 deletion breakpoints and the definition of the putative molecular mechanisms responsible for these rearrangements revealed that Alu sequences play a major role in determining the genetic instability of the region. Conclusion: We observed that deletions at GNAS locus represent a significant cause of PPHP/PHP1A and that such defects are mostly associated with Alu-mediated recombination events. Their investigation revealed to be fundamental as, in some cases they could be misdiagnosed as imprinting defects