Higgs physics at Muon Collider with detailed detector simulation

Muon collisions at multi-TeV center-of-mass energies are ideal for studying Higgs boson properties. At these energies, the production rates will allow precise measurements of its couplings to fermions and bosons. In addition, the double Higgs boson production rate could be sufficiently high to directly measure the parameters of trilinear self-couplings, giving access to the determination of the Higgs potential. This communication aims to give an overview of the results that have been obtained so far on Higgs couplings by studying the μ+μ− → H(b¯ b)ν¯ ν, μ+μ− → H(WW∗)ν¯ ν and μ+μ− → H(b¯ b)H(b¯ b)ν¯ ν processes. All the studies have been performed with a detailed simulation of the signal and physics background samples and by taking into account the effects of the beam-induced background on the detector performance. Evaluations of Higgs boson production cross-sections sensitivities and results on the uncertainty on double Higgs production cross-section, together with the trilinear self-coupling, will be discussed at a center-of-mass energy of 3 TeV

Feasibility of Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting in Ovarian Tumors for T1 and T2 Mapping in a PET/MR Setting.

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to characterize many cancer subtypes including ovarian cancer. Quantitative mapping of MRI relaxation values, such as T 1 and T 2 mapping, is promising for improving tumor assessment beyond conventional qualitative T 1- and T 2-weighted images. However, quantitative MRI relaxation mapping methods often involve long scan times due to sequentially measuring many parameters. Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a new method that enables fast quantitative MRI by exploiting the transient signals caused by the variation of pseudorandom sequence parameters. These transient signals are then matched to a simulated dictionary of T 1 and T 2 values to create quantitative maps. The ability of MRF to simultaneously measure multiple parameters, could represent a new approach to characterizing cancer and assessing treatment response. This feasibility study investigates MRF for simultaneous T 1, T 2, and relative proton density (rPD) mapping using ovarian cancer as a model system

The effect of gadolinium-based contrast agent administration on magnetic resonance fingerprinting-based T 1 relaxometry in patients with prostate cancer

Abstract: Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a rapidly developing fast quantitative mapping technique able to produce multiple property maps with reduced sensitivity to motion. MRF has shown promise in improving the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer but requires further validation as part of a prostate multiparametric (mp) MRI protocol. mpMRI protocol mandates the inclusion of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) imaging, known for its significant T1 shortening effect. MRF could be used to measure both pre- and post-contrast T1 values, but its utility must be assessed. In this proof-of-concept study, we sought to evaluate the variation in MRF T1 measurements post gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) injection and the utility of such T1 measurements to differentiate peripheral and transition zone tumours from normal prostatic tissue. We found that the T1 variation in all tissues increased considerably post-GBCA following the expected significant T1 shortening effect, compromising the ability of MRF T1 to identify transition zone lesions. We, therefore, recommend performing MRF T1 prior to DCE imaging to maintain its benefit for improving detection of both peripheral and transition zone lesions while reducing additional scanning time. Demonstrating the effect of GBCA on MRF T1 relaxometry in patients also paves the way for future clinical studies investigating the added value of post-GBCA MRF in PCa, including its dynamic analysis as in DCE-MRF

Monoamine oxidase-dependent endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria dysfunction and mast cell degranulation lead to adverse cardiac remodeling in diabetes.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors ameliorate contractile function in diabetic animals, but the mechanisms remain unknown. Equally elusive is the interplay between the cardiomyocyte alterations induced by hyperglycemia and the accompanying inflammation. Here we show that exposure of primary cardiomyocytes to high glucose and pro-inflammatory stimuli leads to MAO-dependent increase in reactive oxygen species that causes permeability transition pore opening and mitochondrial dysfunction. These events occur upstream of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and are abolished by the MAO inhibitor pargyline, highlighting the role of these flavoenzymes in the ER/mitochondria cross-talk. In vivo, streptozotocin administration to mice induced oxidative changes and ER stress in the heart, events that were abolished by pargyline. Moreover, MAO inhibition prevented both mast cell degranulation and altered collagen deposition, thereby normalizing diastolic function. Taken together, these results elucidate the mechanisms underlying MAO-induced damage in diabetic cardiomyopathy and provide novel evidence for the role of MAOs in inflammation and inter-organelle communication. MAO inhibitors may be considered as a therapeutic option for diabetic complications as well as for other disorders in which mast cell degranulation is a dominant phenomenon

The Botanical Record of Archaeobotany Italian Network - BRAIN: a cooperative network, database and website

The BRAIN (Botanical Records of Archaeobotany Italian Network) database and network was developed by the cooperation of archaeobotanists working on Italian archaeological sites. Examples of recent research including pollen or other plant remains in analytical and synthetic papers are reported as an exemplar reference list. This paper retraces the main steps of the creation of BRAIN, from the scientific need for the first research cooperation to the website which has a free online access since 2015

The Botanical Record of Archaeobotany Italian Network - BRAIN: a cooperative network, database and website

The BRAIN (Botanical Records of Archaeobotany Italian Network) database and network was developed by the cooperation of archaeobotanists working on Italian archaeological sites. Examples of recent research including pollen or other plant remains in analytical and synthetic papers are reported as an exemplar reference list. This paper retraces the main steps of the creation of BRAIN, from the scientific need for the first research cooperation to the website which has a free online access since 2015

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting of the pancreas at 1.5 T and 3.0 T

Funder: GlaxoSmithKline; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100004330Funder: National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research CentreFunder: Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002927Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging of the pancreas is increasingly used as an important diagnostic modality for characterisation of pancreatic lesions. Pancreatic MRI protocols are mostly qualitative due to time constraints and motion sensitivity. MR Fingerprinting is an innovative acquisition technique that provides qualitative data and quantitative parameter maps from a single free‐breathing acquisition with the potential to reduce exam times. This work investigates the feasibility of MRF parameter mapping for pancreatic imaging in the presence of free-breathing exam. Sixteen healthy participants were prospectively imaged using MRF framework. Regions-of-interest were drawn in multiple solid organs including the pancreas and T1 and T2 values determined. MRF T1 and T2 mapping was performed successfully in all participants (acquisition time:2.4–3.6 min). Mean pancreatic T1 values were 37–43% lower than those of the muscle, spleen, and kidney at both 1.5 and 3.0 T. For these organs, the mean pancreatic T2 values were nearly 40% at 1.5 T and < 12% at 3.0 T. The feasibility of MRF at 1.5 T and 3 T was demonstrated in the pancreas. By enabling fast and free-breathing quantitation, MRF has the potential to add value during the clinical characterisation and grading of pathological conditions, such as pancreatitis or cancer

The physics case of a 3 TeV muon collider stage

In the path towards a muon collider with center of mass energy of 10 TeV ormore, a stage at 3 TeV emerges as an appealing option. Reviewing the physicspotential of such muon collider is the main purpose of this document. In orderto outline the progression of the physics performances across the stages, a fewsensitivity projections for higher energy are also presented. There are manyopportunities for probing new physics at a 3 TeV muon collider. Some of themare in common with the extensively documented physics case of the CLIC 3 TeVenergy stage, and include measuring the Higgs trilinear coupling and testingthe possible composite nature of the Higgs boson and of the top quark at the 20TeV scale. Other opportunities are unique of a 3 TeV muon collider, and stemfrom the fact that muons are collided rather than electrons. This isexemplified by studying the potential to explore the microscopic origin of thecurrent $g$-2 and $B$-physics anomalies, which are both related with muons.<br

The physics case of a 3 TeV muon collider stage

In the path towards a muon collider with center of mass energy of 10 TeV ormore, a stage at 3 TeV emerges as an appealing option. Reviewing the physicspotential of such muon collider is the main purpose of this document. In orderto outline the progression of the physics performances across the stages, a fewsensitivity projections for higher energy are also presented. There are manyopportunities for probing new physics at a 3 TeV muon collider. Some of themare in common with the extensively documented physics case of the CLIC 3 TeVenergy stage, and include measuring the Higgs trilinear coupling and testingthe possible composite nature of the Higgs boson and of the top quark at the 20TeV scale. Other opportunities are unique of a 3 TeV muon collider, and stemfrom the fact that muons are collided rather than electrons. This isexemplified by studying the potential to explore the microscopic origin of thecurrent $g$-2 and $B$-physics anomalies, which are both related with muons.<br