Report on the Conference The Politics of Beginnings: Hannah Arendt Today (Anna Argirò)

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Performance Study of the CMS Ecal Electronics using electrons from 15 GeV to 250 GeV

The experimental conditions and physics goals of LHC experiments set challenging specifications for detectors and their readout electronics. The CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter (Ecal) is an example of a complex system in which every component needs to be understood in detail in order to ensure the quality of the physics results. In 2006, 9 ECAL supermodules were exposed to an electron test beam in the energy range from 15 GeV and 250 GeV. Many aspects of the calorimeter response have been studied in detail. We will describe the results of these studies, with emphasis on the contribution of the electronics to linearity, resolution and noise of the system

Comparison between X-ray-hysterosalpingography and 3 Tesla magnetic resonance-hysterosalpingography in the assessment of the tubal patency in the cause of female infertility

Objectives XR-hysterosalpingography currently represents the gold standard for tubal pathology evaluation. Magnetic resonance-HSG is an innovative technique. With our study, we aim to comprehend if and how MR-HSG, compared to traditional XR-HSG, could give us this additional information in the diagnostic/therapeutic process. Materials and methods This study included 19 patients between 30 and 42 years old (average age 37.7) affected by infertility. Patients underwent contextually both XR-HSG and MR-HSG, using a single catheterization. The dynamic MR-HSG exam consisted a MR sequence during contrast administration through the cervical catheter. Results Both XR-HSG and MR-HSG documented that 15 of the 19 patients had bilateral tubal patency, while four patients had monolateral tubal patency. However, MR-HSG allowed us to diagnose additional findings: Two active endometriosis foci in adnexal localization and a condition of adenomyosis A unicornuate uterus malformation A submucous uterine myoma near the tubal ostium A decrease of the ovarian reserve in a patient So MR-HSG could potentially detect in 10/19 (52%) women the cause of their infertility, compared to 4/19 (21%) detected with XR-HSG and about 30% of women would have resulted as false negatives if we only used XR-HSG. Finally, with a questionnaire, we demonstrated that MR-HSG is less painful than XR-HSG. Conclusions These data thus confirm that XR-HSG and MR-HSG present the same diagnostic of assessing tubal patency. We also demonstrated that MR-HSG is able to detect further collateral findings that could likewise be a possible therapeutic target and it could possibly become the new gold standard in female infertility diagnostics

Monitoring DC anode current of a grounded-cathode photomultiplier tube

Abstract The Pierre Auger Observatories (PAO) for the highest energy cosmic rays will make use of both the Cherenkov and Air Fluorescence techniques. Surface Detectors (SD) and Fluorescence Detectors (FD) will have to operate in a desert-type environment during at least 15 years. In order to avoid dust deposition, due to electrostatics, and other practical inconveniences derived from biasing the cathode with a negative potential, the 15 000 PMTs of the FD will operate in the grounded cathode configuration. Despite the fact that the anodes will remain at high voltage with respect to ground, the DC anode current, which varies with background light, will have to be recorded. We have developed a current monitoring system based on a novel optocoupled feedback circuit that allows sensitive, linear, and temperature-independent measurements of the DC anode current. A distinctive feature of this circuit is that it uses optical coupling between passive components at high voltage and active components near the ground potential. This represents a substantial improvement over classical solutions which require the supply of power to an active circuit at high voltage. We report on the first tests performed with both active and passive biasing networks which demonstrate the validity of this new method

Polyethylene Glycol Epirubicin-Loaded Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Procedures Utilizing a Combined Approach with 100 and 200 μm Microspheres: A Promising Alternative to Current Standards

PURPOSE:To report clinical effectiveness, toxicity profile, and prognostic factors of combined 100 μm ± 25 and 200 μm ± 50 epirubicin-loaded polyethylene glycol (PEG) microsphere drug-eluting embolic transcatheter arterial chemoembolization protocol in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, single-center, single-arm study with 18 months of follow-up, 36 consecutive patients (mean age 69.9 y ± 10.8; 26 men, 10 women; 54 naïve lesions) were treated. Embolization was initiated with 100 μm ± 25 microspheres, and if stasis (10 heart beats) was not achieved, 200 μm ± 50 microspheres were administered. Each syringe (2 mL) of PEG microsphere was loaded with 50 mg of epirubicin. Results were evaluated using Modified Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors with multidetector computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging at 1, 3-6, 9-12, and 15-18 months. Toxicity profile was assessed by laboratory testing before and after the procedure. Complications were recorded. Postembolization syndrome (PES) was defined as onset of fever/nausea/pain after the procedure. Patient/lesion characteristics and treatment results were correlated with predicted outcome using regression analysis. Child-Pugh score was A in 86.1% of patients (31/36) and B in 13.9% (5/36). RESULTS: In 10 of 21 lesions, < 2 cm in diameter (47.5%) stasis was achieved with 100 μm ± 25 microspheres only, whereas all other lesions required adjunctive treatment with 200 μm ± 50 microspheres. Reported adverse events were grade 1 acute liver bile duct injury (3/39 cases, 7.7%) and PES (grade 2; 3/39 cases, 7.7%). Complete response (CR) at 1, 3-6, 9-12, and 15-18 months was 61.1%, 65.5%, 63.63%, and 62.5%. Objective response (CR + partial response) at 1, 3-6, 9-12, and 15-18 months was 83.3%, 65.85%, 63.63%, and 62.5%. No single factor (laboratory testing, etiology, patient status, hepatic status, tumor characteristics, administration protocol) predicted outcomes except for albumin level at baseline for CR (P < .05, odds ratio = 1.09). CONCLUSIONS: The combined microsphere sizing strategy was technically feasible and yielded promising results in terms of effectiveness and toxicity

Lambert W Function for Applications in Physics

The Lambert W(x) function and its possible applications in physics are presented. The actual numerical implementation in C++ consists of Halley's and Fritsch's iterations with initial approximations based on branch-point expansion, asymptotic series, rational fits, and continued-logarithm recursion.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures. Extended version of arXiv:1003.1628, updated link to source

Simulation of large photomultipliers for experiments in astroparticle physics

We have developed an accurate simulation model of the large 9 inch photomultiplier tubes (PMT) used in water-Cherenkov detectors of cosmic-ray induced extensive air-showers. This work was carried out as part of the development of the Offline simulation software for the Pierre Auger Observatory surface array, but our findings may be relevant also for other astrophysics experiments that employ similar large PMTs. The implementation is realistic in terms of geometrical dimensions, optical processes at various surfaces, thin-film treatment of the photocathode, and photon reflections on the inner structure of the PMT. With the quantum efficiency obtained for this advanced model we have calibrated a much simpler and a more rudimentary model of the PMT which is more practical for massive simulation productions. We show that the quantum efficiency declared by manufactures of the PMTs is usually determined under conditions substantially different from those relevant for the particular experiment and thus requires careful (re)interpretation when applied to the experimental data or when used in simulations. In principle, the effective quantum efficiency could vary depending on the optical characteristics of individual events.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figure

Thoracic Duct Embolization for Delayed Chyle Leak After Lewis-Tanner Esophagectomy

BACKGROUND Radical esophagectomy for cancer is a potentially curative treatment that requires two/three-field lymphadenectomy. Serious complications can occur, including chyle leak (CL). CL has an incidence rate of 1-9% and is associated with a higher rate of postsurgical morbidity and mortality. It usually occurs in the early postoperative period; delayed CL is less common and is thought to be due to an occult leak or late diagnosis. CASE REPORT A 54-year-old man with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus underwent Lewis-Tanner esophagectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with FLOT. During en bloc lymphadenectomy, the main thoracic duct was identified, clipped, and divided. The postoperative course was uneventful. One month after hospital discharge, he was readmitted with severe abdominal, scrotal, and lower-limb edema. A chest-abdomen CT scan revealed massive pleural effusion with left shift and compression of the mediastinum. The patient was initially treated with fasting and fat-free total parenteral nutrition, and the drain output was 2800-3000 mL/dL. Lymphoscintigraphy with ethiodized oil eventually revealed a thoracic duct leak, and lymphatic embolization was successfully performed with a 4-mm metallic spiral and glue. Drain output dramatically reduced, and after 11 days the thoracic drain was removed and the patient was safely discharged. CONCLUSIONS Thoracic duct embolization seems be an effective therapy in treating high-output (>1000 mL/dL) CL that has occurred more than 2 weeks after esophagectomy. It can be considered as a first-line treatment due to its simplicity and effectiveness

CMS Software Distribution on the LCG and OSG Grids

The efficient exploitation of worldwide distributed storage and computing resources available in the grids require a robust, transparent and fast deployment of experiment specific software. The approach followed by the CMS experiment at CERN in order to enable Monte-Carlo simulations, data analysis and software development in an international collaboration is presented. The current status and future improvement plans are described.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, latex with hyperref