Recoil Polarization Measurements for Neutral Pion Electroproduction at Q^2=1 (GeV/c)^2 Near the Delta Resonance

We measured angular distributions of differential cross section, beam analyzing power, and recoil polarization for neutral pion electroproduction at Q^2 = 1.0 (GeV/c)^2 in 10 bins of W across the Delta resonance. A total of 16 independent response functions were extracted, of which 12 were observed for the first time. Comparisons with recent model calculations show that response functions governed by real parts of interference products are determined relatively well near 1.232 GeV, but variations among models is large for response functions governed by imaginary parts and for both increases rapidly with W. We performed a nearly model-independent multipole analysis that adjusts complex multipoles with high partial waves constrained by baseline models. Parabolic fits to the W dependence of the multipole analysis around the Delta mass gives values for SMR = (-6.61 +/- 0.18)% and EMR = (-2.87 +/- 0.19)% that are distinctly larger than those from Legendre analysis of the same data. Similarly, the multipole analysis gives Re(S0+/M1+) = (+7.1 +/- 0.8)% at W=1.232 GeV, consistent with recent models, while the traditional Legendre analysis gives the opposite sign because its truncation errors are quite severe. Finally, using a unitary isobar model (UIM), we find that excitation of the Roper resonance is dominantly longitudinal with S1/2 = (0.05 +/- 0.01) GeV^(-1/2) at Q^2=1. The ReS0+ and ReE0+ multipoles favor pseudovector coupling over pseudoscalar coupling or a recently proposed mixed-coupling scheme, but the UIM does not reproduce the imaginary parts of 0+ multipoles well.Comment: 60 pages, 54 figure

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) - 2018 Summary Report

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) is a TeV-scale high-luminosity linear $e^+e^-$ collider under development at CERN. Following the CLIC conceptual design published in 2012, this report provides an overview of the CLIC project, its current status, and future developments. It presents the CLIC physics potential and reports on design, technology, and implementation aspects of the accelerator and the detector. CLIC is foreseen to be built and operated in stages, at centre-of-mass energies of 380 GeV, 1.5 TeV and 3 TeV, respectively. CLIC uses a two-beam acceleration scheme, in which 12 GHz accelerating structures are powered via a high-current drive beam. For the first stage, an alternative with X-band klystron powering is also considered. CLIC accelerator optimisation, technical developments and system tests have resulted in an increased energy efficiency (power around 170 MW) for the 380 GeV stage, together with a reduced cost estimate at the level of 6 billion CHF. The detector concept has been refined using improved software tools. Significant progress has been made on detector technology developments for the tracking and calorimetry systems. A wide range of CLIC physics studies has been conducted, both through full detector simulations and parametric studies, together providing a broad overview of the CLIC physics potential. Each of the three energy stages adds cornerstones of the full CLIC physics programme, such as Higgs width and couplings, top-quark properties, Higgs self-coupling, direct searches, and many precision electroweak measurements. The interpretation of the combined results gives crucial and accurate insight into new physics, largely complementary to LHC and HL-LHC. The construction of the first CLIC energy stage could start by 2026. First beams would be available by 2035, marking the beginning of a broad CLIC physics programme spanning 25-30 years

The Effect of a Grouted Isolating Barrier on the Seismic Performance of a Reinforced Concrete Structure

Passive structural systems installed at the foundation level of existing buildings are a common solution to protect them against earthquakes. However, installation procedures are expensive and not always feasible, as for instance in the case of valuable buildings. In this paper, an alternative and innovative solution for the seismic isolation of existing buildings is presented: the idea is to create a barrier buried in the ground, made of grouted soil, able to properly filter the seismic input. This can be obtained by using soft grouts, having a dynamic impedance much lower than that of the natural soil. Previous papers published by some of the authors have shown that the soft barrier can be effective, tending to filter the high frequency components of the amplitude spectrum without modifying in a significant way the low frequency ones. This implies that ground treatment has to be tuned on the characteristics of the structure to be protected, above all its natural frequencies. In this paper, the case of a simple four-story building with a reinforced concrete structure and a shallow slab foundation resting on a sandy soil is considered. Analyses are carried out with the commercial codes PLAXIS 2D and SAP2000, considering a fixed base, the foundation on the soil and finally the existence of a soft barrier. It is shown that the natural frequencies of the structure are largely influenced by the characteristics of the subsoil. Once the soft barrier is created in the soil, a sharp decrease of the first natural frequency of the structure is obtained, similarly to the effect of traditional isolators. In the paper, dynamic analyses with different input motions are considered. It is confirmed that the soft barrier, whose dynamic impedance was assigned considering some experimental results obtained by the authors and previously published, is able to filter higher frequencies, while it has a minimum or even nil effect in the case of low frequency input signals

Does compulsory vaccination limit personal freedom? Ethical issues

Background Despite vaccinations are scientifically proven to be safe and effective public controversies limit their application in many countries. Aims Aim of this review is to provide an overview of biological effects of vaccination and a picture of the ethical dilemmas about compulsory vaccination. Methods We conducted a review on the literature about the subject. Recent news were also included. Results Vaccines are the best weapon against many infectious diseases. The spread of false beliefs among people have led the government authorities to increase compulsory vaccination in order to embank new outbreaks of preventable infectious diseases. Conclusion Even if compulsory is quite drastic approach it could be the on only way to reach an adequate coverage and protect immunoexpressed subjects

Does compulsory vaccination limit personal freedom? Ethical issues

Background Despite vaccinations are scientifically proven to be safe and effective public controversies limit their application in many countries. Aims Aim of this review is to provide an overview of biological effects of vaccination and a picture of the ethical dilemmas about compulsory vaccination. Methods We conducted a review on the literature about the subject. Recent news were also included. Results Vaccines are the best weapon against many infectious diseases. The spread of false beliefs among people have led the government authorities to increase compulsory vaccination in order to embank new outbreaks of preventable infectious diseases. Conclusion Even if compulsory is quite drastic approach it could be the on only way to reach an adequate coverage and protect immunoexpressed subjects

Impact of transitioning to an online course – A report from the ESTRO gyn teaching course

Introduction: In 2020, the ESTRO course on image-guided radiotherapy and chemotherapy in gynaecological cancer was converted into an online version due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper describes the change process and evaluates the impact on participants compared with previous live courses. Methods and materials: The 2019 live course contained 41 h of educational content, comprising 33 h of synchronous activities (lectures, interactive activities, videos) and 8 h of homework (contouring, dose planning). For the online course, the lectures were provided as pre-course material (11 mandatory, 22 optional). Contouring/dose planning homework was unchanged. The synchronous sessions were reconfigured as six 2-hour webinars (total educational content ~38 h).Participant numbers/characteristics, engagement and satisfaction for six live courses and the online course were compared. Results: Participant numbers for the online and live courses were similar (90 vs. mean 96). There were more participants from outside Europe (28% vs. mean 18%) and more non-doctors (47% vs. mean 33%). Proportion of participants responding to the pre-course questionnaire was similar (77% vs. mean 78%) but post-course questionnaire response was lower (62% vs. mean 92%).43% participants viewed ≥75% of mandatory lectures before the webinars. 86% viewed the optional lectures. Submissions of contouring and dose planning homework was higher (contouring 77%–90% vs. 56%–69%, dose planning 74%–89% vs. 29%–57%).96% (47/49) participants rated the online course as Excellent (43%) or Good (53%). Overall satisfaction was similar (4.4 vs. mean 4.6). Conclusion: Participant satisfaction and engagement with the online course remained high despite less contact time with faculty