Studies of the Response of the Prototype CMS Hadron Calorimeter, Including Magnetic Field Effects, to Pion, Electron, and Muon Beams

We report on the response of a prototype CMS hadron calorimeter module to charged particle beams of pions, muons, and electrons with momenta up to 375 GeV/c. The data were taken at the H2 and H4 beamlines at CERN in 1995 and 1996. The prototype sampling calorimeter used copper absorber plates and scintillator tiles with wavelength shifting fibers for readout. The effects of a magnetic field of up to 3 Tesla on the response of the calorimeter to muons, electrons, and pions are presented, and the effects of an upstream lead tungstate crystal electromagnetic calorimeter on the linearity and energy resolution of the combined calorimetric system to hadrons are evaluated. The results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations and are used to optimize the choice of total absorber depth, sampling frequency, and longitudinal readout segmentation.Comment: 89 pages, 41 figures, to be published in NIM, corresponding author: P de Barbaro, [email protected]

Особенности работы с минимизированной системой для кардиоплегии у детей. Стендовое испытание

It is very important to observe all the parameters of cardioplegia when protecting myocardium during cardiac surgery. To perform this task, it is necessary to have clear understanding of properties of the elements of the extracorporeal circuit of cardiopulmonary bypass.The objective: to develop a test model and using it to evaluate technical capabilities of blood cardioplegic system reducing the filling volume of the heat exchange chamber and the system supplying solution to the myocardium.Subjects and methods. A model of a neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass circuit was tested, it included an oxygenator and the cardioplegic system with a 7-ml heat exchange chamber; changes in the pressure and temperature in key nodes of the extracorporeal and cardioplegic circuits were assessed when the pump velocity, ambient temperature and fluid temperature in the main circuit were changed.Results. This modification provides a wide range of liquid volumetric velocities. Maintaining the selected variant of blood cardioplegia and safe pressure within the cardioplegic circuit is ensured at the perfusion rate of up to 350 ml/min. With normothermal circulation and air temperature in the operating room of 23°C, parameters of the cardioplegic circuit and solution delivery system allows maintaining the solution temperature within the range from 16 to 19°C. When the solution is cooled in a heat exchanger down to 4°C, the temperature of the final cardioplegic solution is maintained within 12-17°C; and with normothermal perfusion, air temperature in the operating room of 15°C and the solution temperature in the heat exchange chamber of 4°C, the temperature of the final cardioplegic solution can be within 6‒13°C. With perfusion in the mode of moderate hypothermia (32°C), air temperature in the operating room 15°C and temperature in the heat exchange chamber 4°C, the final cardioplegic solution can be delivered at the temperature from 5 to 9°C.Conclusions. The proposed test model allows investigating aimed to find out additional characteristics of the cardioplegic circuit.Ambient air temperature, cardioplegic pump velocity and main circuit fluid temperature are the main factors influencing the final cardioplegic solution temperature.When using the studied variant of the cardioplegic circuit assembly, the maintenance of the selected variant of blood cardioplegia and safe pressure inside the cardioplegic circuit are ensured at a perfusion rate of up to 350 ml/min.При обеспечении защиты миокарда во время операций на сердце принципиально важно четко соблюдать параметры проведения кардиоплегии. Эта задача реализуется посредством точного представления о свойствах компонентов экстракорпорального контура искусственного кровообращения.Цель: разработать тестовую модель и с ее помощью оценить технические возможности кровяной кардиоплегической системы с уменьшенным объемом заполнения камеры теплообмена и системы доставки раствора к миокарду.Материал и методы. Исследована тестовая модель неонатального контура искусственного кровообращения с использованием оксигенатора и кардиоплегической системы с объемом заполнения камеры теплообмена 7 мл с оценкой динамики давления и температуры в ключевых узлах экстракорпорального и кардиоплегического контура при изменении скорости работы насоса, температуры окружающей среды и жидкости в основном контуре.Результаты. Данная модификация полностью обеспечивает широкий диапазон объемных скоростей жидкости. Поддержание избранного варианта кровяной кардиоплегии и безопасного давления внутри кардиоплегического контура обеспечивается при скорости перфузии до 350 мл/мин. Возможности кардиоплегического контура и системы доставки раствора при нормотермической циркуляции и температуре воздуха в операционной 23°С позволяют обеспечивать поддержание температуры раствора в пределах от 16 до 19°С. При охлаждении раствора в теплообменном устройстве до 4°С температура конечного кардиоплегического раствора обеспечивается в пределах 12‒17°С, а при нормотермической перфузии, температуре воздуха в операционной 15°С и температуре раствора в камере теплообмена 4°С ‒ в пределах 6‒13°С. При перфузии в режиме умеренной гипотермии (32°С), температуре воздуха в операционной 15°С и температуре в камере теплообмена 4°С подача готового кардиоплегического раствора возможна с t от 5 до 9°С.Выводы. Предложенная тестовая модель позволяет проводить исследования с целью получения дополнительных характеристик кардиоплегического контура.Температура окружающего воздуха, скорость работы кардиоплегического насоса и температура жидкости в основном контуре являются основными факторами, влияющими на температуру конечного кардиоплегического раствора.При использовании исследованного варианта сборки кардиоплегического контура поддержание избранного варианта кровяной кардиоплегии и безопасного давления внутри кардиоплегического контура обеспечивается при скорости перфузии до 350 мл/мин

Baseline characteristics of patients in the reduction of events with darbepoetin alfa in heart failure trial (RED-HF)

<p>Aims: This report describes the baseline characteristics of patients in the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure trial (RED-HF) which is testing the hypothesis that anaemia correction with darbepoetin alfa will reduce the composite endpoint of death from any cause or hospital admission for worsening heart failure, and improve other outcomes.</p> <p>Methods and results: Key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, along with baseline treatment, are reported and compared with those of patients in other recent clinical trials in heart failure. Compared with other recent trials, RED-HF enrolled more elderly [mean age 70 (SD 11.4) years], female (41%), and black (9%) patients. RED-HF patients more often had diabetes (46%) and renal impairment (72% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients in RED-HF had heart failure of longer duration [5.3 (5.4) years], worse NYHA class (35% II, 63% III, and 2% IV), and more signs of congestion. Mean EF was 30% (6.8%). RED-HF patients were well treated at randomization, and pharmacological therapy at baseline was broadly similar to that of other recent trials, taking account of study-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range) haemoglobin at baseline was 112 (106–117) g/L.</p> <p>Conclusion: The anaemic patients enrolled in RED-HF were older, moderately to markedly symptomatic, and had extensive co-morbidity.</p&gt

Specific parameters of operation of the minimized system for cardioplegia in children. Bench test

It is very important to observe all the parameters of cardioplegia when protecting myocardium during cardiac surgery. To perform this task, it is necessary to have clear understanding of properties of the elements of the extracorporeal circuit of cardiopulmonary bypass.The objective: to develop a test model and using it to evaluate technical capabilities of blood cardioplegic system reducing the filling volume of the heat exchange chamber and the system supplying solution to the myocardium.Subjects and methods. A model of a neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass circuit was tested, it included an oxygenator and the cardioplegic system with a 7-ml heat exchange chamber; changes in the pressure and temperature in key nodes of the extracorporeal and cardioplegic circuits were assessed when the pump velocity, ambient temperature and fluid temperature in the main circuit were changed.Results. This modification provides a wide range of liquid volumetric velocities. Maintaining the selected variant of blood cardioplegia and safe pressure within the cardioplegic circuit is ensured at the perfusion rate of up to 350 ml/min. With normothermal circulation and air temperature in the operating room of 23°C, parameters of the cardioplegic circuit and solution delivery system allows maintaining the solution temperature within the range from 16 to 19°C. When the solution is cooled in a heat exchanger down to 4°C, the temperature of the final cardioplegic solution is maintained within 12-17°C; and with normothermal perfusion, air temperature in the operating room of 15°C and the solution temperature in the heat exchange chamber of 4°C, the temperature of the final cardioplegic solution can be within 6‒13°C. With perfusion in the mode of moderate hypothermia (32°C), air temperature in the operating room 15°C and temperature in the heat exchange chamber 4°C, the final cardioplegic solution can be delivered at the temperature from 5 to 9°C.Conclusions. The proposed test model allows investigating aimed to find out additional characteristics of the cardioplegic circuit.Ambient air temperature, cardioplegic pump velocity and main circuit fluid temperature are the main factors influencing the final cardioplegic solution temperature.When using the studied variant of the cardioplegic circuit assembly, the maintenance of the selected variant of blood cardioplegia and safe pressure inside the cardioplegic circuit are ensured at a perfusion rate of up to 350 ml/min

Mass-spectrometric study on

The present study continues the 2015–2016 research project on biological characteristics of stable isotopes fractionation in grapes taking into account the agro-climatic growth conditions of this representative of the C3-pathway of photosynthesis group of plants in different geographical Black Sea regions. The first parts of the project were presented at the 39th and 40th Congresses of OIV in Bento Gonçalves (Brazil) and Sofia (Bulgaria). The scientific data on compositions of 13C/12C carbon and 18O/16O oxygen stable isotopes in carbohydrates, organic acids, and intracellular water were obtained for grapes of 2015–2016 growing seasons in the four areas of the Crimean peninsula as well as in several areas of the Don Basin and the Western Caspian region. This report presents the results of the 2017 season study of 13C/12C carbon and 18O/16O oxygen stable isotopes in carbohydrates and intracellular water of 12 red and white grape varieties (Aligote, Rkatsiteli, Sauvignon Zeleny, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Risling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Sira, Krasnostop) as well as in ethanol of wines made from corresponding grapes from the Crimean Peninsula and South-West Coast of the Greater Caucasus. To measure the ratio of carbon isotopes 13C/12C in grape (must) carbohydrates and wine ethanol the Flash-Combustion technique (FC-IRMS/SIRA) has been used, while the method of isotopic equilibration (EQ-IRMS/SIRA) has been used for the measurement of 18O/16O oxygen isotopes ratio in the intracellular water of grapes (must) and in the water fraction of wine. The GC-Combustion technique (GC-IRMS/SIRA) has been used for the first time to measure the carbon isotopes 13C/12C distribution in ethanol of studied wines. It has been found that the δ13CVPDB values for carbohydrates of red and white grape varieties as a result of biological fractionation of carbon isotopes in the agro-climatic conditions of plant growth (2017 season) for the studied geographical areas formed the following quantitative ranges: from − 26.72 to − 23.35‰ (the Crimean Peninsula) and from − 25.92 to − 23.87‰ (South-West Coast of the Greater Caucasus). The δ13CVPDB values for wine ethanol are in the following ranges: from − 28.15 to − 24.47‰ (the Crimean Peninsula) and from − 27.29 to − 25.78‰ (South-West Coast of the Greater Caucasus). The δ18OVSMOW values in intracellular water of grapes of the 2017 season range from − 1.24 to 2.17‰ (the Crimean Peninsula) and from 1.08 to 4.09‰ (South-West Coast of the Greater Caucasus). The results of this study show, in comparison with the results of studies of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, a decrease in the δ13CVPDB values for carbohydrates of grapes and ethanol of wine, which is explained by the changed climatic conditions of grapes growing in the vegetation period of 2017

Proof of concept for multiple nerve transfers to a single target muscle

Surgical nerve transfers are used to efficiently treat peripheral nerve injuries, neuromas, phantom limb pain, or improve bionic prosthetic control. Commonly, one donor nerve is transferred to one target muscle. However, the transfer of multiple nerves onto a single target muscle may increase the number of muscle signals for myoelectric prosthetic control and facilitate the treatment of multiple neuromas. Currently, no experimental models are available. This study describes a novel experimental model to investigate the neurophysiological effects of peripheral double nerve transfers to a common target muscle. In 62 male Sprague-Dawley rats, the ulnar nerve of the antebrachium alone (n=30) or together with the anterior interosseus nerve (n=32) was transferred to reinnervate the long head of the biceps brachii. Before neurotization, the motor branch to the biceps’ long head was transected at the motor entry point. Twelve weeks after surgery, muscle response to neurotomy, behavioral testing, retrograde labeling, and structural analyses were performed to assess reinnervation. These analyses indicated that all nerves successfully reinnervated the target muscle. No aberrant reinnervation was observed by the originally innervating nerve. Our observations suggest a minimal burden for the animal with no signs of functional deficit in daily activities or auto-mutilation in both procedures. Furthermore, standard neurophysiological analyses for nerve and muscle regeneration were applicable. This newly developed nerve transfer model allows for the reliable and standardized investigation of neural and functional changes following the transfer of multiple donor nerves to one target muscle

Mass-spectrometric study on13C/12C carbon and18O/16O oxygenstable isotopes distributions in grapes and wines from the BlackSea regions

The present study continues the 2015–2016 research project on biological characteristics of stableisotopes fractionation in grapes taking into account the agro-climatic growth conditions of this representativeof the C3-pathway of photosynthesis group of plants in different geographical Black Sea regions. The firstparts of the project were presented at the 39th and 40th Congresses of OIV in Bento Gonc ̧alves (Brazil) andSofia (Bulgaria). The scientific data on compositions of13C/12C carbon and18O/16O oxygen stable isotopes incarbohydrates, organic acids, and intracellular water were obtained for grapes of 2015–2016 growing seasonsin the four areas of the Crimean peninsula as well as in several areas of the Don Basin and the Western Caspianregion. This report presents the results of the 2017 season study of13C/12C carbon and18O/16O oxygen stableisotopes in carbohydrates and intracellular water of 12 red and white grape varieties (Aligote, Rkatsiteli,Sauvignon Zeleny, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Risling, Pinot Noir, CabernetFranc, Sira, Krasnostop) as well as in ethanol of wines made from corresponding grapes from the CrimeanPeninsula and South-West Coast of the Greater Caucasus. To measure the ratio of carbon isotopes13C/12Cin grape (must) carbohydrates and wine ethanol the Flash-Combustion technique (FC-IRMS/SIRA) has beenused, while the method of isotopic equilibration (EQ-IRMS/SIRA) has been used for the measurement of18O/16O oxygen isotopes ratio in the intracellular water of grapes (must) and in the water fraction of wine. TheGC-Combustion technique (GC-IRMS/SIRA) has been used for the first time to measure the carbon isotopes13C/12C distribution in ethanol of studied wines. It has been found that theδ13CVPDBvalues for carbohydratesof red and white grape varieties as a result of biological fractionation of carbon isotopes in the agro-climaticconditions of plant growth (2017 season) for the studied geographical areas formed the following quantitativeranges: from−26.72 to−23.35‰ (the Crimean Peninsula) and from−25.92 to−23.87‰ (South-West Coastof the Greater Caucasus). Theδ13CVPDBvalues for wine ethanol are in the following ranges: from−28.15to−24.47‰ (the Crimean Peninsula) and from−27.29 to−25.78‰ (South-West Coast of the GreaterCaucasus). Theδ18OVSMOWvalues in intracellular water of grapes of the 2017 season range from−1.24to 2.17‰ (the Crimean Peninsula) and from 1.08 to 4.09‰ (South-West Coast of the Greater Caucasus). Theresults of this study show, in comparison with the results of studies of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, a decreasein theδ13CVPDBvalues for carbohydrates of grapes and ethanol of wine, which is explained by the changedclimatic conditions of grapes growing in the vegetation period of 201

Peculiarities of hemodynamic status of healthy newborns in early neonatal period

The study is devoted to the assessment of hemodynamic parameters in healthy newborns in the early neonatal period. The authors examined 76 healthy newborns aged up to 7 days. 12 (15.7%) of 76 children were diagnosed with intrauterine growth retardation of hypotrophic type and 14 children (18.49%) were premature. The authors evaluated the diameter of the outgoing tract of the left ventricle, pulmonary artery trunk, mitral and tricuspid valve rings. The disc method was used to determine the final diastolic volume of the left ventricle. The pulse Doppler was used to determine the integrated flow rate in the outflow tract of the left ventricle, the pulmonary artery trunk, on the mitral and tricuspid valves. After US there were calculated the stroke volume index, cardiac index, total peripheral vascular resistance and oxygen delivery index.The results. It integral flow rate was found to be a key indicator of central hemodynamics, which determines the magnitude of the stroke volume. Body weight and the presence of functioning fetal communications do not have a significant impact on the indexed systemic blood flow in healthy newborns. There is a direct correlation between the integral blood flow velocity and the stroke volume index, which is characteristic of all intracardiac anatomical structures

European weed vegetation database – A gap-focused vegetation-plot database

This report presents the European Weed Vegetation Database, a new database of vegetation plots documenting short-lived vegetation of arable and ruderal habitats from Europe and Macaronesia. The database comprises the phytosociological classes Papaveretea rhoeadis, Sisymbrietea, Chenopodietea and Digitario sanguinalis-Eragrostietea minoris. It is a gap-focused database containing mainly plots of this vegetation from the areas not yet represented in the European Vegetation Archive (EVA), to facilitate its accessibility for researchers to answer various questions. As of the end of 2018, it contained 24,734 plots, predominantly from Southern Europe. The data can be used for phytosociological studies, various kinds of interdisciplinary research as well as for studies for agronomy, nature management and biodiversity conservation. Syntaxonomic reference: Mucina et al. (2016) Abbreviations: EVA = European Vegetation Archive; GIVD = Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases