MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS OF MUON PRODUCTION

Muon production requirements for a muon collider are presented. Production of muons from pion decay is studied. Lithium lenses and solenoids are considered for focussing pions from a target, and for matching the pions into a decay channel. Pion decay channels of alternating quadrupoles and long solenoids are compared. Monte Carlo simulations are presented for production of $\pi \rightarrow \mu$ by protons over a wide energy range, and criteria for choosing the best proton energy are discussed.Comment: Latex uses mu95.sty, 19 pages, 5 postscript figures. A postscript file can be seen at URL http://www.cap.bnl.gov/~cap/mumu/important.html Search for Publication

Evaluation of the Mineral Element Profile of Wastes of Some Wine Grape (Vitis Vinifera L.) Varieties

In this study, the level of macro and micro elements of six wine grape cultivars were determined in seeds, bagasse (skin and pulp) and pomace (seed, skin and pulp) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy after microwave digestion (ICP-AES). The levels of macro and micro elements exhibited a genotype dependent alteration and affected by the part of the berry sampled. Potassium was the predominant macro element in bagasse and pomace, varying from 6.78 g/kg dry weight in pomace (Carignane) to 21.05 g/kg dry weight in bagasse (Cabernet Sauvignon). However, the level of calcium was higher than potassium in seeds and varied between 4.95 g/kg (Kalecik karası) and 6.73 g/kg (Carignane). Seeds were also richer than the bagasse and pomace related with phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfur. Among the micro elements, Fe had the highest amount in all parts of the berries. Its content ranged from 13.9 mg/kg dry weights in bagasse of Semillon to 24.8 mg/kg dry weight in seeds of Syrah. Iron, manganese, zinc and molybdenum in seeds; copper and boron in bagasse were higher amount than the other groups analyzed. The results of this study show that all parts of the grape berries are potentially rich sources of mineral elements. So, they could be used as a food supplement to improve the nutritive value of the human diet and for some engineering processes in food industry

Pseudophakic corneal donor tissue in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK): implications for cornea banks and surgeons

Objective: Increasingly, cornea banks are recovering donor tissue from pseudophakic donors. Little is known about their suitability for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) surgery in terms of endothelial cell density (ECD) and preparation failure. Methods and Analysis: We explored ECD during donor tissue preparation in 2076 grafts. Preparation failure was analysed in 1028 grafts used in DMEK surgery at our clinic. To monitor ECD and functional results, we matched 86 DMEK patients who received pseudophakic donor grafts with similar recipients of phakic donor grafts and followed them up for 36 months. Results: At recovery, mean ECD in pseudophakic donor grafts was 2193 cells/mm2 (SD 28.7) and 2364 cells/mm2 (SD 15.7) in phakic donor grafts (p<0.001). After cultivation, the difference increased as pseudophakic donor grafts lost 14% of ECD while phakic lost only 6% (p<0.001). At transplantation, mean ECD in pseudophakic donor grafts was 2272 cells/mm2 (SD 250) and 2370 cells/mm2 (SD 204) in phakic donor grafts (p<0.001). After transplantation, the difference in ECD increased as pseudophakic donor grafts lost 27.7% of ECD while phakic donor grafts lost only 13.3% (p<0.001). The risk of preparation failure in pseudophakic donor grafts was higher than in phakic donor grafts (OR 4.75, 95% CI 1.78 to 12.67, p=0.02). Visual acuity increased in both groups similarly. Conclusions: Pseudophakic donor grafts have a lower ECD, are more prone to endothelial cell loss during recovery and surgery and are associated with a higher risk of preparation failure. Cornea banks and surgeons should consider this in the planning of graft preparation and transplantation

Exploring the precision of femtosecond laser-assisted descemetorhexis in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty

Objective Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) remains a challenging technique. We compare the precision of femtosecond laser-assisted DMEK to manual DMEK. Methods and Analysis A manual descemetorhexis (DR) of 8 mm diameter was compared with a femtosecond laser-assisted DR of the same diameter (femto-DR) in 22 pseudophakic patients requiring DMEK. We used OCT images with a centred xy-diagram to measure the postoperative precision of the DR and the amount of endothelial denuded area. Endothelial cell loss (ECL) and best corrected visual acuity were measured 3 months after surgery. Results In the manual group, the median error of the DR was 7% (range 3%-16%) in the x-diameter and 8% (range 2%-17%) in the y-diameter. In the femto group, the median error in the respective x and y-diameters was 1% (range 0.4%-3%) and 1% (range 0.006%-2.5%), smaller than in the manual group (p=0.001). Endothelial denuded areas were larger in the manual group (11.6 mm(2), range 7.6-18 mm(2)) than in the femto group (2.5 mm(2), range 1.25.9 mm(2)) (p<0.001). The ECL was 21% (range 5%-78%) in the manual DR and 17% (range 6%-38%) in the femto-DR group (p=0.351). The median visual acuity increased from 0.4 logMAR (range 0.6-0.4 logMAR) in both groups to 0.1 logMAR (range 0.4-0 logMAR) in the manual group and to 0.1 logMAR (range 0.3-0 logMAR) in the femto group (p=0.461). Three rebubblings were required in the manual group, whereas the femto group required only one. Conclusion The higher precision of the femto-DR bears the potential to improve DMEK surgery

Surface Acoustic Waves to Control Droplet Impact onto Superhydrophobic and Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces

Superhydrophobic coatings and slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) have shown their potentials in self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-erosion, and antibiofouling applications. Various studies have been done on controlling the droplet impact on such surfaces using passive methods such as modifying the lubricant layer thickness in SLIPS. Despite their effectiveness, passive methods lack on-demand control over the impact dynamics of droplets. This paper introduces a new method to actively control the droplet impact onto superhydrophobic and SLIPS surfaces using surface acoustic waves (SAWs). In this study, we designed and fabricated SLIPS on ZnO/aluminum thin-film SAW devices and investigated different scenarios of droplet impact on the surfaces compared to those on similar superhydrophobic-coated surfaces. Our results showed that SAWs have insignificant influences on the impact dynamics of a porous and superhydrophobic surface without an infused oil layer. However, after infusion with oil, SAW energy could be effectively transferred to the droplet, thus modifying its impact dynamics onto the superhydrophobic surface. Results showed that by applying SAWs, the spreading and retraction behaviors of the droplets are altered on the SLIPS surface, leading to a change in a droplet impact regime from deposition to complete rebound with altered rebounding angles. Moreover, the contact time was reduced up to 30% when applying SAWs on surfaces with an optimum oil lubricant thickness of ∼8 μm. Our work offers an effective way of applying SAW technology along with SLIPS to effectively reduce the contact time and alter the droplet rebound angles

The experimental program for high pressure gas filled radio frequency cavities for muon cooling channels

An intense beam of muons is needed to provide a luminosity on the order of 10(34) cm(-2)s(-1) for a multi-TeV collider. Because muons produced by colliding a multi-MW proton beam with a target made of carbon or mercury have a large phase space, significant six dimensional cooling is required. Through ionization cooling - the only cooling method that works within the lifetime of the muon - and emittance exchange, the desired emittances for a Higgs Factory or higher energy collider are attainable. A cooling channel utilizing gas filled radio frequency cavities has been designed to deliver the requisite cool muon beam. Technology development of these RF cavities has progressed from breakdown studies, through beam tests, to dielectric loaded and reentrant cavity designs. The results of these experiments are summarized

Healthcare workers as parents: attitudes toward vaccinating their children against pandemic influenza A/H1N1

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Both the health care workers (HCWs) and children are target groups for pandemic influenza vaccination. The coverage of the target populations is an important determinant for impact of mass vaccination. The objective of this study is to determine the attitudes of HCWs as parents, toward vaccinating their children with pandemic influenza A/H1N1 vaccine.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with health care workers (HCWs) in a public hospital during December 2009 in Istanbul. All persons employed in the hospital with or without a health-care occupation are accepted as HCW. The HCWs who are parents of children 6 months to 18 years of age were included in the study. Pearson's chi-square test and logistic regression analysis was applied for the statistical analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 389 HCWs who were parents of children aged 6 months-18 years participated study. Among all participants 27.0% (n = 105) reported that themselves had been vaccinated against pandemic influenza A/H1N1. Two third (66.1%) of the parents answered that they will not vaccinate their children, 21.1% already vaccinated and 12.9% were still undecided. Concern about side effect was most reported reason among who had been not vaccinated their children and among undecided parents. The second reason for refusing the pandemic vaccine was concerns efficacy of the vaccine. Media was the only source of information about pandemic influenza in nearly one third of HCWs. Agreement with vaccine safety, self receipt of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 vaccine, and trust in Ministry of Health were found to be associated with the positive attitude toward vaccinating their children against pandemic influenza A/H1N1.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Persuading parents to accept a new vaccine seems not be easy even if they are HCWs. In order to overcome the barriers among HCWs related to pandemic vaccines, determination of their misinformation, attitudes and behaviors regarding the pandemic influenza vaccination is necessary. Efforts for orienting the HCWs to use evidence based scientific sources, rather than the media for information should be considered by the authorities.</p