CaloCube: a novel calorimeter for high-energy cosmic rays in space

In order to extend the direct observation of high-energy cosmic rays up to the PeV region, highly performing calorimeters with large geometrical acceptance and high energy resolution are required. Within the constraint of the total mass of the apparatus, crucial for a space mission, the calorimeters must be optimized with respect to their geometrical acceptance, granularity and absorption depth. CaloCube is a homogeneous calorimeter with cubic geometry, to maximise the acceptance being sensitive to particles from every direction in space; granularity is obtained by relying on small cubic scintillating crystals as active elements. Different scintillating materials have been studied. The crystal sizes and spacing among them have been optimized with respect to the energy resolution. A prototype, based on CsI(Tl) cubic crystals, has been constructed and tested with particle beams. Some results of tests with different beams at CERN are presented.Comment: Seven pages, seven pictures. Proceedings of INSTR17 Novosibirs

A separation of electrons and protons in the GAMMA-400 gamma-ray telescope

The GAMMA-400 gamma-ray telescope is intended to measure the fluxes of gamma rays and cosmic-ray electrons and positrons in the energy range from 100 MeV to several TeV. Such measurements concern with the following scientific goals: search for signatures of dark matter, investigation of gamma-ray point and extended sources, studies of the energy spectra of Galactic and extragalactic diffuse emission, studies of gamma-ray bursts and gamma-ray emission from the active Sun, as well as high-precision measurements of spectra of high-energy electrons and positrons, protons, and nuclei up to the knee. The main components of cosmic rays are protons and helium nuclei, whereas the part of lepton component in the total flux is ~10E-3 for high energies. In present paper, the capability of the GAMMA-400 gamma-ray telescope to distinguish electrons and positrons from protons in cosmic rays is investigated. The individual contribution to the proton rejection is studied for each detector system of the GAMMA-400 gamma-ray telescope. Using combined information from all detector systems allow us to provide the proton rejection from electrons with a factor of ~4x10E5 for vertical incident particles and ~3x10E5 for particles with initial inclination of 30 degrees. The calculations were performed for the electron energy range from 50 GeV to 1 TeV.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Advances and Space Researc

The GAMMA-400 space observatory: status and perspectives

The present design of the new space observatory GAMMA-400 is presented in this paper. The instrument has been designed for the optimal detection of gamma rays in a broad energy range (from ~100 MeV up to 3 TeV), with excellent angular and energy resolution. The observatory will also allow precise and high statistic studies of the electron component in the cosmic rays up to the multi TeV region, as well as protons and nuclei spectra up to the knee region. The GAMMA-400 observatory will allow to address a broad range of science topics, like search for signatures of dark matter, studies of Galactic and extragalactic gamma-ray sources, Galactic and extragalactic diffuse emission, gamma-ray bursts and charged cosmic rays acceleration and diffusion mechanism up to the knee

COMPARAÇÃO ENTRE OS PERFIS DE LIBERAÇÃO DE AZUL DE METILENO A PARTIR DE MICROPARTÍCULAS DE ALGINATO-QUITOSANA EM PH ÁCIDO

A utilização de alginato de sódio como biopolímero formador de micropartículas vêm sendo largamente estudada e investigada para obtenção de formas farmacêuticas de liberação controlada. Neste trabalho avaliou-se o perfil de liberação do azul de metileno de micropartículas deste polímero, preparadas por reticulação iônica com quitosana, com a presença ou não de sódio, em tampão ácido clorídrico pH 1,5, considerando o azul de metileno como modelo de princípio ativo de baixo peso molecular

CCRL2 Expression by Specialized Lung Capillary Endothelial Cells Controls NK-cell Homing in Lung Cancer

Patterns of receptors for chemotactic factors regulate the homing of leukocytes to tissues. Here we report that the CCRL2/chemerin/CMKLR1 axis represents a selective pathway for the homing of natural killer (NK) cells to the lung. C-C motif chemokine receptor-like 2 (CCRL2) is a nonsignaling seven-transmembrane domain receptor able to control lung tumor growth. CCRL2 constitutive or conditional endothelial cell targeted ablation, or deletion of its ligand chemerin, were found to promote tumor progression in a Kras/p53Flox lung cancer cell model. This phenotype was dependent on the reduced recruitment of CD27- CD11b+ mature NK cells. Other chemotactic receptors identified in lung-infiltrating NK cells by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), such as Cxcr3, Cx3cr1, and S1pr5, were found to be dispensable in the regulation of NK-cell infiltration of the lung and lung tumor growth. scRNA-seq identified CCRL2 as the hallmark of general alveolar lung capillary endothelial cells. CCRL2 expression was epigenetically regulated in lung endothelium and it was upregulated by the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza). In vivo administration of low doses of 5-Aza induced CCRL2 upregulation, increased recruitment of NK cells, and reduced lung tumor growth. These results identify CCRL2 as an NK-cell lung homing molecule that has the potential to be exploited to promote NK cell-mediated lung immune surveillance

CRT-700.1 Multi-Center Compassionate use Early Feasibility Evaluation of J-Valve Transcatheter Treatment for Severe Aortic Valve Regurgitation: Preliminary Results

Background: Although transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is accepted therapy for treatment of symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis (AS), current devices are associated with increased procedural complications and sub-optimal outcomes when used to treat of aortic valve regurgitation (AR). Severe AR is the indication for 20-30% of surgical aortic valve replacements and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. J-valve is a short frame, self-expanding TAVR device. (Figure) specifically designed for treatment of severe AR. Anchor rings facilitate commissural alignment and secure attachment to non-calcified native valves. Methods: From Sept 2019 through Oct 2022, patients with symptomatic severe AR who were not surgical candidates or excluded from the ALIGN-AR trial were enrolled into a compassionate use early feasibility study at 5 North American centers. All patients signed informed consent for protocol approved by respective institutional review boards. Results: Data from 13/28 patients (mean age 80 yrs; 38.5% male) with symptomatic (92.3% NYHA class III/IV; mean LVEF 48% [range 23-64%]) severe (92% grade III/IV) AR, atrial fibrillation (53.8%), and pacemaker/ICD (15.4%), had J-valve TAVR (15.4% alternative access). There were no deaths to 30 days and post-procedural AR grade was none/trivial in all patients. In follow-up (mean 333 days) there are 0 cardiac deaths (total mortality 30.7%; 3 malignancies, 1 sepsis). Serial echocardiograms demonstrate AR grade none/mild in 89%, and 100% at 30 days and 1 year respectively). Conclusion: Despite high risk profile, preliminary analysis of this multi-center compassionate use study suggests that J-valve is safe with durable effectiveness for the treatment of symptomatic severe AR. Full data set on all patients will be presented