Radiation Hardness tests with neutron flux on different Silicon photomultiplier devices

Radiation hardness is an important requirement for solid state readout devices operating in high radiation environments common in particle physics experiments. The MEGII experiment, at PSI, Switzerland, investigates the forbidden decay $\mu^+ \to \mathrm{e}^+ \gamma$. Exploiting the most intense muon beam of the world. A significant flux of non-thermal neutrons (kinetic energy $E_k\geq 0.5 ~MeV$) is present in the experimental hall produced along the beamline and in the hall itself. We present the effects of neutron fluxes comparable to the MEGII expected doses on several Silicon PhotoMulitpliers (SiPMs). The tested models are: AdvanSiD ASD-NUV3S-P50 (used in MEGII experiment), AdvanSiD ASD-NUV3S-P40, AdvanSiD ASD-RGB3S-P40, Hamamatsu and Excelitas C30742-33-050-X. The neutron source is the thermal Sub-critical Multiplication complex (SM1) moderated with water, located at the University of Pavia (Italy). We report the change of SiPMs most important electric parameters: dark current, dark pulse frequency, gain, direct bias resistance, as a function of the integrated neutron fluency.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. Proceedings from Instrumentation for colliding Beam Physics (INSTR-17) 27-02-2017/03-03-2017 Novosibirsk (R

The structure of radiatively induced Lorentz and CPT violation in QED at finite temperature

We obtain the induced Lorentz- and CPT-violating term in QED at finite temperature using imaginary-time formalism and dimensional regularization. Its form resembles a Chern-Simons-like structure, but, unexpectedly, it does not depend on the temporal component of the fixed $b_\mu$ constant vector that is coupled to the axial current. Nevertheless Ward identities are respected and its coefficient vanishes at T=0, consistently with previous computations with the same regularization procedure, and it is a non-trivial function of temperature. We argue that at finite $T$ a Chern-Simons-like Lorentz- and CPT-violating term is generically present, the value of its coefficient being unambiguously determined up to a $T-$independent constant, related to the zero-temperature renormalization conditions.Comment: 15 pages, Latex, 1 figure in eps-format (included

Blood Transfusion Requirement and not Preoperative Anaemia is associated with Perioperative Complications following Intracorporeal Robotic Assisted Radical Cystectomy

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of preoperative anaemia and the impact of preoperative anaemia and blood transfusion requirement on 30- and 90-day complications in a cohort of patients undergoing robotic assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion (iRARC). PATIENTS & METHODS: IRARC was performed on 166 patients between June 2011-March 2016. Prospective data was collected for patient demographics, clinical and pathological characteristics, perioperative variables, transfusion requirements and hospital length of stay. Thirty- and 90-day complications were classified according to the modified Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Clavian-Dindo system. RESULTS: Preoperative anaemia was common (43.4%) and greatest in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (48.6%) (p<0.001). Patients with preoperative anaemia were significantly more likely to have an Ileal conduit (p=0.033), higher cystectomy stage (≥pT3) (p=0.028) and a lower lymph node yield (p=0.031). Preoperative anaemia was not associated with increased perioperative morbidity but was associated with the need for blood transfusion (p=0.001). Blood transfusion was required in 20.4% of patients with intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion rate was 10.2% and 13.9% respectively. The 30-day all complication rate and 30-day major complication rate was 55.4% and 15.7% respectively while 90-day all complication rate and 90-day major complication rate were 65.7% and 19.3% respectively. Intraoperative blood transfusion was not associated with increased complications but postoperative blood transfusion requirement was independently associated with perioperative morbidity: all 30 day complications (p=0.003), all 90-day complications (p=0.009) and 90-day major complications (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: The presence of preoperative anaemia in patients undergoing iRARC is not associated with increased surgical risk although preoperative anaemic patients were significantly more likely to require blood transfusion. Blood transfusion requirement and specifically postoperative blood transfusion is independently associated with perioperative morbidity and is an important factor for the optimisation of postoperative outcomes

Steps towards the hyperfine splitting measurement of the muonic hydrogen ground state: pulsed muon beam and detection system characterization

The high precision measurement of the hyperfine splitting of the muonic-hydrogen atom ground state with pulsed and intense muon beam requires careful technological choices both in the construction of a gas target and of the detectors. In June 2014, the pressurized gas target of the FAMU experiment was exposed to the low energy pulsed muon beam at the RIKEN RAL muon facility. The objectives of the test were the characterization of the target, the hodoscope and the X-ray detectors. The apparatus consisted of a beam hodoscope and X-rays detectors made with high purity Germanium and Lanthanum Bromide crystals. In this paper the experimental setup is described and the results of the detector characterization are presented.Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures, published and open access on JINS

SICUT INVENI IN QUATERNO NOTARII POPULI. SPERIMENTAZIONI ISTITUZIONALI E INIZIATIVE DOCUMENTARIE PROMOSSE DAL POPOLO NEI COMUNI UMBRI DEL DUECENTO

This thesis analyses the political and institutional development of the populus of the Umbrian city-states in connection with the municipal documentary activity in the second half of the thirteenth century. The aim of the research was to identify the initiatives explicitly promoted by the populus in the field of production and documentation management. Umbria was chosen as field of study because of its historical and geographical context, characterized by a particularly high density of small and medium city-states and a remarkably rich municipal documentation. This research has focused in particular on the city-states of Assisi, Gubbio, Orvieto, Perugia, Spoleto and Todi, all presenting different characteristics, such as territorial extension, incisiveness of popular regimes, relevance in historiography field. In this area municipal records directly related to an offitium of the populus\u2019 institutional bodies have been identified and analysed. The gradual affirmation of the populus in the Umbrian city-states government as well as the many documentary initiatives specifically commissioned by popular magistrates are characterized by the extreme variety of the solutions adopted both in the institutional field and in the municipal documentation management. Finally re-writing of certain acts, operated by the offitium capitanei populi, seems to indicate a direct interference and a control of the capitaneus in preforming certain tasks by other municipal offitiales

Karyology and cytotaxonomy of the genus Passiflora L. (Pasifloraseae).

The chromosomes of 31 species of Pas- siflora, distributed throughout the subgenera As- trophea, Calopathanthus, Distephana, Dysosmia, Passiflora, Plectostemma and Tacsonia were ana1- ysed. Three different karyotypes were observed: 2n = 12, 24, 36; 2n = 18, 72 and 2n = 20. The karyotype of these species was a1most always constituted of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes with variable karyotype symmetry. In the group with x = 6, represented by the subgenus Plectostemma, six diploid species with 2n = 12, one tetraploid with 2n = 24 (P. suberosa) and an intraspecific polyploid with 2n = 12, 36 (P. misera) were analysed. P. pentagona (subgenus Astrophea) may also be included in this karyolog- ical group since it presents 2n = 24 and may be of polyploid origin, with x = 6. The interphase nuclei in this group were areticulate, except those of P. morifolia and P. pentagona with semi-reticulate characteristics. Two small terminal heterochroma- tic blocks, positive for chromomycin A3, were identified in the largest chromosome pair of P. capsularis and P. rubra, species very closely related, while P. tricuspis displayed four chromo- somes with proximal blocks. In the group with x = 9, represented mainly by subgenus Passiflora, 20 species with 2n = 18 and one with 2n = 72 were studied. They presented chromosomes larger than those species with x = 6 and interphase nuclei of semi-reticulate type, except for P. mixta with areticulate nuclei. Four terminal CMA + block: were observed in P. edulis, six blocks in P. caerulel and P. racemosa, while five blocks were observed ir the single P. amethystina plant analysed. P. foetid\{ (subgenus Dysosmia), the only species witt 2n = 20, exhibited six chromosomes with CMA + blocks and interphase nuclei of the areticulate type The meiotic analysis of representatives of the three groups (P. foetida, P. suberosa, P. cincinnata and P. racemosa) always presented regular pairing and regular chromosome segregation, except in P.jilekil where a tetravalent was observed. The analysis of the chromosome variation within the genus and the family suggests that the base number of Passiflora may be xi = 6 or XI = 12, whereas X2 = 9 is only an important secondary base number

Prospective randomized comparison of open versus laparoscopic management of splenic artery aneurysms: a 10-year study

Abstract BACKGROUND: The literature does not support the choice between open and laparoscopic management of splenic artery aneurysms (SAA). METHODS: We designed a prospective, randomized comparison between open and laparoscopic surgery for SAA. Primary end points were types of surgical procedures performed and clinical outcomes. Analysis was developed on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were allocated to laparotomy (group A) and 15 to laparoscopy (group B). Groups displayed similar patient- and aneurysm-related characteristics. The conversion rate to open surgery was 13.3 %. The type of surgical procedure performed on the splenic artery was similar in the two groups: aneurysmectomy with splenic artery ligature or direct anastomosis was performed in 51 % and 21 % of patients in group A and in 60 % and 20 % in group B, respectively. The splenectomy rate was similar (14 % vs. 20 %). Postoperative splenic infarction was observed in one case in each group. Laparoscopy was associated with shorter procedures (p = 0.0003) and lower morbidity (25 % vs. 64 %, p = 0.045). Major morbidity requiring interventional procedures and blood transfusion was observed only in group A. Laparoscopy was associated with quicker resumption of oral diet (p < 0.001), earlier drain removal (p = 0.046), and shorter hospital stay (p < 0.01). During a mean follow-up of 50 months, two patients in group A required hospital readmission. In group B, two patients developed a late thrombosis of arterial anastomoses. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that laparoscopy permits multiple technical options, does not increase the splenectomy rate, and reduces postoperative complications. It confirms the supposed clinical benefits of laparoscopy when ablative procedures are required but laparoscopic anastomoses show poor long-term results

First FAMU observation of muon transfer from \u3bcp atoms to higher-Z elements

Abstract: The FAMU experiment aims to accurately measure the hyperfine splitting of the ground state of the muonic hydrogen atom. A measurement of the transfer rate of muons from hydrogen to heavier gases is necessary for this purpose. In June 2014, within a preliminary experiment, a pressurized gas-target was exposed to the pulsed low-energy muon beam at the RIKEN RAL muon facility (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, U.K.). The main goal of the test was the characterization of both the noise induced by the pulsed beam and the X-ray detectors. The apparatus, to some extent rudimental, has served admirably to this task. Technical results have been published that prove the validity of the choices made and pave the way for the next steps. This paper presents the results of physical relevance of measurements of the muon transfer rate to carbon dioxide, oxygen, and argon from non-thermalized excited \u3bcp atoms. The analysis methodology and the approach to the systematics errors are useful for the subsequent study of the transfer rate as function of the kinetic energy of the \u3bcp currently under way