No abstract available

No abstract available

[en] Background and purpose: for patients with inoperable brain metastases, whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has been the standard treatment for decades. Radiosurgery is an effective alternative strategy, but has failed to show a substantial survival benefit so far. The prognostic factors derived from the RTOG recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) provide a framework that allows a nonrandomized comparison of the two modalities. Patients and methods: from 1991 to 1998, 117 patients with one to three previously untreated cerebral metastases underwent single-dose linac radiosurgery (median dose 20 Gy) without adjuvant WBRT. After radiosurgery, 26/117 patients (22%) had salvage WBRT, radiosurgery or neurosurgical resection of recurrent (4/117) and/or new (24/117) metastases. Survival of these patients was compared to a historical group of 138 patients with one to three lesions treated by WBRT (30-36 Gy/3-Gy fractions) from 1978 to 1991; only nine of these patients (7%) had salvage WBRT. All patients were classified into the three RPA prognostic classes based on age, performance score, and presence of extracranial tumor manifestations. Results: in RPA class I (Karnofsky performance score ≥ 70, primary tumor controlled, no other metastases, age < 65 years), radiosurgery resulted in a median survival of 25.4 months (n = 23, confidence interval [CI] 5.8-45.0) which was significantly longer than for WBRT (n = 9, 4.7 months, CI 3.8-5.5; p < 0.0001). In RPA class III (Karnofsky performance score < 70), no significant difference in survival between radiosurgery (n = 20, 4.2 months, CI 3.2-5.3) and WBRT (n = 68, 2.5 months, CI 2.2-2.8) was found. In RPA class II (all other patients), radiosurgery produced a small, but significant survival advantage (radiosurgery: n = 74, 5.9 months, CI 3.2-8.5, WBRT: n = 61, 4.1 months, CI 3.4-4.9; p < 0.04). Conclusion: radiosurgery in patients with one to three cerebral metastases results in a substantial survival benefit only in younger patients with a low systemic tumor burden when compared to WBRT alone. It cannot be excluded that this effect is partially caused by the available salvage options after radiosurgery. (orig.)

[en] A new digital algorithm for online particle identification in CsI(Tl), called Reconstructive Particle IDentification (RPID) is reported. The concept is based on a model for the signal generation with two exponential components for the scintillation light output and an exponential response function of the preamplifier. To provide a fast algorithm which could be used online in modern FPGA-based electronics a simplified method for signal deconvolution was developed. Within a few simple processing steps the original pulse shape is modified to recover the amplitudes of the two scintillation components that determine the type of particle. Data from an experiment ¹²C (p,p') ¹²C^* at 21 MeV allowed to separate γ -rays and protons even of very low energies. We present the performance of this new algorithm concerning the γ -proton separation as well as the identification of protons not fully stopped within the CsI(Tl). (orig.)

[en] Objectives: To evaluate the performance and efficacy of endovascular irradiation after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of de-novo femoropopliteal stenoses in a pilot study. Methods: 6 patients received non-centered endovascular irradiation (12 Gray at surface of the vessel wall) immediately after angioplasty of de-novo femoropopliteal stenosis, 1 patient was given centered endovascular irradiation using 192-iridium (12 Gray at surface of the vessel wall) Centered irradiation was considered for two other patients. Duplex sonographies and interviews were performed the day before and after PTA and after 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 months up to 4 years. Intraarterial angiography was performed in symptomatic patients. Results: Non-centered endovascular irradiation was possible in all patiens without problems or complications. Centered irradiation was not possible in two patients with the cross-over approach. One thromboembolic complication occurred during centered irradiation. Both restenosis and new stenosis at the edge of irradiated distance occurred in 1/7 patiens. No other side effects were observed during follow-up. Conclusions: In our pilot study endovascular irradiation after angioplasty of de-novo femoropopliteal stenosis was possible with low rates of complications and restenosis and taking vessel anatomy into account. (orig.)

[en] Within this paper we will present an entirely new energy reconstruction method iPhos for charged particles detected in CsI(Tl) crystals. Based on pulse shape analysis of CsI(Tl) scintillation signals [1] protons that cannot be stopped within the active detector material can be distinguished from those fully stopped. Due to a special signature of punch-through protons, they can be identified and their full energy is reconstructed from their specific energy loss. In a dedicated experiment at the Cyclotron Center Bronowice, Krakow the first proof of this method was achieved

[en] The diversity of upcoming experiments within the NUSTAR collaboration, including experiments in storage rings, reactions at relativistic energies and high-precision spectroscopy, is reflected in the diversity of the required detection systems. A challenging task is to incorporate the different needs of individual detectors within the unified NUSTAR Data AcQuisition (NDAQ). NDAQ takes up this challenge by providing a high degree of availability via continuously running systems, high flexibility via experiment-specific configuration files for data streams and trigger logic, distributed timestamps and trigger information on km distances, all built on the solid basis of the GSI Multi-Branch System. NDAQ ensures interoperability between individual NUSTAR detectors and allows merging of formerly separate data streams according to the needs of all experiments, increasing reliability in NUSTAR data acquisition. An overview of the NDAQ infrastructure and the current progress is presented. The NUSTAR (NUclear STructure, Astrophysics and Reactions) collaboration represents one of the four pillars motivating the construction of the international FAIR facility. The diversity of NUSTAR experiments, including experiments in storage rings, reactions at relativistic energies and high-precision spectroscopy, is reflected in the diversity of the required detection systems. A challenging task is to incorporate the different needs of individual detectors and components under the umbrella of the unified NUSTAR Data AQuisition (NDAQ) infrastructure. NDAQ takes up this challenge by providing a high degree of availability via continuously running systems, high flexibility via experiment-specific configuration files for data streams and trigger logic, and distributed time stamps and trigger information on km distances, all built on the solid basis of the GSI Multi-Branch System (MBS). NDAQ ensures interoperability between individual NUSTAR detectors and allows merging of formerly separate data streams according to the needs of all experiments, leading to an increase of reliability in NUSTAR data acquisition. An overview of the NDAQ infrastructure and the current progress is presented.

[en] The ATLAS experiment is preparing for data taking at 14 TeV collision energy. A rich discovery physics program is being prepared in addition to the detailed study of Standard Model processes which will be produced in abundance. The ATLAS multi-level trigger system is designed to accept one event in 2/10⁵ to enable the selection of rare and unusual physics events. The ATLAS calorimeter system is a precise instrument, which includes liquid Argon electro-magnetic and hadronic components as well as a scintillator-tile hadronic calorimeter. All these components are used in the various levels of the trigger system. A wide physics coverage is ensured by inclusively selecting events with candidate electrons, photons, taus, jets or those with large missing transverse energy. The commissioning of the trigger system is being performed with cosmic ray events and by replaying simulated Monte Carlo events through the trigger and data acquisition system.

[en] The ATLAS Level-1 Calorimeter Trigger uses reduced-granularity information from all the ATLAS calorimeters to search for high transverse-energy electrons, photons, τ leptons and jets, as well as high missing and total transverse energy. The calorimeter trigger electronics has a fixed latency of about 1 μs, using programmable custom-built digital electronics. This paper describes the Calorimeter Trigger hardware, as installed in the ATLAS electronics cavern

[en] A method that uses fuzzy clustering algorithms to achieve particle identification based on pulse shape analysis is presented. The fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm is used to compute mean (principal) pulse shapes induced by different particle species in an automatic and unsupervised fashion from a mixed set of data. A discrimination amplitude is proposed using these principal pulse shapes to identify the originating particle species of a detector pulse. Since this method does not make any assumptions about the specific features of the pulse shapes, it is very generic and suitable for multiple types of detectors. The method is applied to discriminate between photon- and proton-induced signals in CsI(Tl) scintillator detectors and the results are compared to the well-known integration method. -- Highlights: • Proton–photon discrimination was achieved using fuzzy clustering algorithms. • Unsupervised method, no detector-specific calibrations are required. • Excellent separation compared to conventional methods