[en] The development of a scintillating fiber-lead (SPACAL) calorimeter based on the super-ring approach is presented and discussed, with particular emphasis on R and D required to validate the EMPACT SPACAL conceptual design. These include module manufacturing and readout assembly, super ring construction and long term stability, and system assembly. While none of the R and D issues appear to be beyond current technology, the development of manufacturing techniques to control the end products and verification of these techniques is critical for the confirmation of the SPACAL concept

[en] Various methods of constructing modules of a Scintillating Fiber-Lead Calorimeter (SPACAL) are presented and discussed. Techniques for assembling the individual modules into a complete calorimeter are also presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the system level implications of construction tolerances and assembly processes. Considerations for maintenance and electronics access of the calorimeter as well as other detector systems are discussed

[en] Full text:Objective: The study compares the utility of dual-time point (early and delayed imaging) versus standard single-time (early imaging alone) 18F-FDG PET in the evaluation of suspected malignancy. Methods: Thirty-four patients with known or suspected malignancy were examined twice: initial and delayed whole-body 18F-FDG PET imaging at 1 hour and 2.5 hours. After visual interpretation, regions of interest were overlaid onto lesions to calculate the SUV early and SUV delayed for each lesion. Results: Surgical pathology and follow-up revealed 30 patients with 81 malignant tumours, whereas 4 patients only had benign lesions. The tumour SUVs (mean +/- SD) were 5.2+/-0.9 (early scan) and 6.7+/-1.3 (delayed scan) (29% increase; P<0.01). Benign lesions had SUVs of 2.5+/-0.3 (early scan) and 2.6+/-0.4 (delayed scan) (P=not significant). In 5 patients, 7 malignant lesions (3 mediastinal lymph nodes, 3 liver metastases and 1 para-aortic lymph node) were only seen in the delayed images. Two of these patients were upstaged and their management (radiotherapy field) altered. In 3 patients, 4 malignant lesions (1 mediastinal lymph node, 1 supraclavicular lymph node, 1 lung and 1 pancreatic lesion) classified as benign or equivocal on visual analysis in the early images were reported as malignant on delayed imaging. Management was altered in the patient with pancreatic lesion who went on to have surgery. Histology confirmed carcinoma in the head of pancreas. Conclusion: Dual-time point 18F-FDG PET imaging has the potential to improve the accuracy, staging and management in the evaluation of suspected malignant tumours.

[en] Full text: A retrospective study was performed to compare 3 different methods of estimating GFR: DTPA clearance, 24-hour urine collection and serum creatinine using the Cockcroft-Gault equation. 40 patients (22 female, 18 male, mean age 61 (range 23-82) years) referred between 1997 and 2000 for DTPA renal scans and assessment of GFR were studied. The DTPA renal scan used an administered dose of 413-874MBq. Blood samples were drawn at 60 minutes and 150 minutes. Blood samples were centrifuged and two 1 ml aliquots of each sample were pipetted and counted in a Wallac well counter. A 3.7 kBq Cobalt 57 and technetium dilution standards were used to calibrate the well counter against the dose calibrator. Urinary 24-hour collections and serum creatinine levels were measured in a NATA accredited pathology laboratory. GFR estimated by DTPA clearance gave results in the range 42-168 ml/min/1.73m2. Analysis of GFR estimates normalised for body area for all 3 methods gave correlation coefficients of 0.79 for DTPA clearance vs serum creatinine, 0.72 for DTPA clearance vs 24- hour urine collection and 0.80 for 24-hour urine collection vs serum creatinine. The correlation was stronger for patients with impaired renal function and estimated GFR less than 80 ml/min/1.73m2 (r= 0.87, 0.86, 0.86 respectively). The DTPA clearance correlates well with other routine measurements used to estimate GFR. Copyright (2003) The Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine Inc

[en] Integrated computer aided engineering and design techniques can be applied to a large variety of problems at the SSC. Two such problems, endcap cryostat designs and the cooling of electronics immersed in liquid argon, are presented in this paper. The cryostat designs were optimized, using sophisticated three dimensional solid modelers, for a minimum of dead material in front of active calorimeter elements. Although the primary design goal was improving calorimeter's energy resolution and minimizing electron conversion int he walls, the optimized designs had to be structurally stable with respect to stress and buckling under gravity, thermal and pressure loads. Different materials were investigated as alternatives to the nominal aluminum structure as an attempt to further reduce the wall thickness. This paper concludes with a discussion of thermal modeling of electronics immersed in LAr and a comparison of a simple experiment with the model predictions

[en] This paper discusses the role that integrated computer-aided-engineering and computer-aided-design (CAE/CAD) can play to improve the design, modeling and analysis cycle in the development of one-of-a-kind high technology systems. The authors consider the specific requirements of SSC detector systems, and propose a candidate integrated CAE/CAD resource architecture for the SSC Laboratory. The authors report the authors' progress in the development of such a resource, and demonstrate its capabilities on a model detector

[en] Integrated computer aided engineering and design (CAE/CAD) is having a significant impact on the way design, modeling and analysis is performed, from system concept exploration and definition through final design and integration. Experience with integrated CAE/CAD in high technology projects of scale and scope similar to SSC detectors leads them to propose an integrated computer-based design, modeling and analysis resource aimed specifically at SSC detector system development. The resource architecture emphasizes value-added contact with data and efficient design, modeling and analysis of components, sub-systems or systems with fidelity appropriate to the task. They begin with a general examination of the design, modeling and analysis cycle in high technology projects, emphasizing the transition from the classical islands of automation to the integrated CAE/CAD-based approach. They follow this with a discussion of lessons learned from various attempts to design and implement integrated CAE/CAD systems in scientific and engineering organizations. They then consider the requirements for design, modeling and analysis during SSC detector development, and describe an appropriate resource architecture. They close with a report on the status of the resource and present some results that are indicative of its performance. 10 refs., 7 figs

[en] The goal of our study is to evaluate the physics performance of a large liquid argon calorimeter for the SSC engineered to include a realistic support system, cryogenic vessels, signals, and services. The physics performance is dependent on the effect of the dead material on the hermeticity. An integrated design, modeling analysis, and simulation approach is used to allow rapid iteration of the three-dimensional model as well as to provide the ability to trace rays through the design. The results show that a liquid argon calorimeter for the SSC can be designed from a mechanical engineering standpoint and that such a device would achieve excellent physics performance. (orig.)

[en] There is general recognition that engineering issues are critical to the viability of liquid argon calorimetry (LAC) at the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC). The authors have undertaken to quantitatively address these issues and, if possible, perform a preliminary design of a proof of principle LAC for SSC. To establish LAC as viable at SSC, it must be demonstrate that the physics performance of the device is acceptable, despite the presence of dead material due to vessels and support structure. The approach involves the construction, by a team of physicists and engineers, of one three dimensional model of the LAC system, built as a hierarchy of components and structures, from which we directly perform interference checks, mechanical, thermal and magnetic analyses, particle tracking, hermeticity evaluation, physics simulation and assembly. This study, begun in February 1989 as part of the SSC generic detector R ampersand D program, was immediately preceded by a workshop at which engineering details of existing and planned LAC systems (FNAL-DO and E706, SLAC-SLD, HERA-HI and CERN-HELIOS) were thoroughly examined. They describe below the status of their work, beginning with short descriptions of the tools used, the study requirements and LAC configuration baseline. They then detail the LAC design as it presently stands (May 1989), including assembly considerations, and conclude with a quantitative assessment of the LAC hermeticity

[en] The SSC Calorimeter Workshop was organized to explore the feasibility of each calorimeter technology for use in a 4π detector at the SSC. The Liquid Argon Calorimeter group further subdivided into four subgroups; Hermeticity, Engineering, Module Details, and Electronics. This is the report of the Engineering Subgroup whose charge was to evaluate the cost, schedule, manpower, safety, and facilities requirements for the construction of a large liquid argon calorimeter for the SSC