[en] Recent experiments on small-p_T hadron production in pp collisions have shed new light on the apparent violation of the universality ansatz that the multiplicity dispersion in hadron-hadron collisions is much larger than that in e⁺e^- collisions. We present a model based on the universality ansatz, among other things. This model reproduces qualitatively the hadron multiplicity distributions in pp collisions over a wide range of energies. Within our framework, this essentially resolves the discrepancy stated above. In our approach the universality ansatz is also found to be applicable to the diffractive component events. This is supported by the inclusive x-distribution data having various specified number of prongs in the final states

[en] Spectroscopic ellipsometry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy are all invaluable routine characterization techniques to determine the thickness of silicon nitrides during manufacturing of compound semiconductor devices. We describe in detail the accuracy and convenience of each technique. In addition to thickness, nitride composition is another process parameter that needs to be controlled in manufacturing. Therefore, we also discuss using UV Raman spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, and spectroscopic ellipsometry to measure composition. Finally, we discuss the correlation between electrical parameters (capacitance and breakdown voltage) and the stoichiometry of the silicon nitride used as a dielectric in a metal-insulator-metal capacitor

[en] Idesia polycarpa Maxim. is a promising plant for biodiesel in China. We have reported the flowering phenology, breeding system and parental effect on fruit characters of this species distributed in Qinling-Bashan Mountain (Shaanxi Province) nature reserve. As a dioecious plant, the male and female flowered almost synchronously. The anthesis was from around 10th of May and proceeded until the end of May or the beginning of June at population level. To determine the breeding system of I. polycarpa, three pollination treatments were carried out on every three female plants: natural pollination (NP), apomixy (AP) and cross pollination (CP). Reproductive success of apoximy treatment indicated that, as a dioecious plant, I. polycarpa could also reproduce by apomixis. However, the mean fruit set under apomixy treatment was markerly lower (3.6–13.33%) than that of two pollination treatments (>65.69%). Fruit quality (fruit length, fruit width, 100 fruit weight, seed production and seed germination) of the cross pollination treatment was greater than the other two treatments, suggested that pollen competition in cross pollination treatment was the most intense in three treatments. To study parental effect on fruit characters, cross pollination was carried out with three female plants and three male plants. The result showed that maternal parents (P<0.001) and parental interaction significantly affected all the fruit characters (including 100 fruit weight, pulp/fruit ratio, oil content and seed germination) while paternal parents showed significant effects on 100 fruit weight, pulp/fruit ratio and seed germination. Fruit set was only significantly affected by maternal parents (P=0.001). Our findings will facilitate future breeding programs of I. polycarpa in parental selection. (author)

[en] Recent experiments on small-p_T hadron production in pp collisions have shed new light on the apparent violation of the universality ansatz by the fact that the multiplicity dispersion in hadron-hadron collisions is much larger than that in e⁺e^- collisions. We present a model based on the universality ansatz, among other things. This model reproduces qualitatively the hadron multiplicity distributions in pp collisions over a wide range of energies. Within our framework, this essentially resolves the discrepancy stated above. In our approach the universality ansatz is also found to be applicable to the diffractive component events. This is supported by the inclusive x-distribution data having various specified number of prongs in the final states

[en] Alteplase is increasingly used for treating ischemic stroke cases with low NIHSS scores, but the guidelines and evidence regarding outcomes are lacking. So, the authors conducted an updated meta-analysis to better understand the effects of alteplase for the treatment of acute mild ischemic stroke. PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE were systematically explored for all relevant investigations published as in September 2021. Study quality was assessed as per the Cochrane system criteria, and Stata 15.1 was utilised to carry out a meta-analysis. In total, 16 trials incorporating 5,846 patients were analysed (1,926 and 3,920 cases in the rt-PA and non-thrombolytic groups, respectively). The main outcome measure revealed that the treatment of rt-PA was correlated with better odds of a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-1 relating to the non-thrombolytic group (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02-1.23, p <0.05), and with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.930). For the secondary study outcomes, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage incidence was 4.46 times greater in the group of rt-PA, relating to the nonthrombolytic group (OR = 4.46, 95% CI = 2.75-7.23, p <0.001). There were no considerable differences in the mortality between the two groups (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.39-1.03, p >0.05). No significant heterogeneity was detected in secondary study outcomes. Subgroup analysis showed that the function outcomes was the best within 3-4.5 hours; and the risk and mortality of sICH were the lowest within 3-4.5 hours. Intravenous rt-PA administration is associated with improved functional outcomes at three months after the stroke in mild ischemic stroke patients. (author)

[en] The unprecedented radiation levels in current Large Hadron Collider runs, and plans to even increase the luminosity creates a need for new detector technologies to be investigated. Quartz plates to replace the plastic scintillators in current LHC calorimeters have been proposed in recent reports. Quartz based Cherenkov calorimeters can solve the radiation damage problem, however light production and transfer have proven to be challenging. This report summarizes the results from a computational study on the performance of a high-density glass calorimeter. High-density, scintillating, fluoride glass, CHG3, was used as the active material. This glass has been developed specifically for hadron collider experiments, and is known for fast response time, in addition to high light yield. Here, the details of a Geant4 model for a sampling calorimeter prototype with 20 layers, and its hadronic as well as electromagnetic performances are reported

[en] As an approach to realizing all-digital data acquisition for positron emission tomography (PET), we have previously proposed and studied a multithreshold sampling method to generate samples of a PET event waveform with respect to a few user-defined amplitudes. In this sampling scheme, one can extract both the energy and timing information for an event. In this paper, we report our prototype implementation of this sampling method and the performance results obtained with this prototype. The prototype consists of two multi-threshold discriminator boards and a time-to-digital converter (TDC) board. Each of the multi-threshold discriminator boards takes one input and provides up to 8 threshold levels, which can be defined by users, for sampling the input signal. The TDC board employs the CERN HPTDC chip that determines the digitized times of the leading and falling edges of the discriminator output pulses. We connect our prototype electronics to the outputs of two Hamamatsu R9800 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) that are individually coupled to a 6.25 x 6.25 x 25mm³ LSO crystal. By analyzing waveform samples generated by using four thresholds, we obtain a coincidence timing resolution of about 340 ps and an ∼18% energy resolution at 511 keV. We are also able to estimate the decay-time constant from the resulting samples and obtain a mean value of 44 ns with an ∼9 ns FWHM. In comparison, using digitized waveforms obtained at a 20 GSps sampling rate for the same LSO/PMT modules we obtain ∼300 ps coincidence timing resolution, ∼14% energy resolution at 511 keV, and ∼5 ns FWHM for the estimated decay-time constant. Details of the results on the timing and energy resolutions by using the multi-threshold method indicate that it is a promising approach for implementing digital PET data acquisition.

No abstract available

[en] Modern concepts of single photon or charged particle detection systems are based on geiger mode avalanche devices developed in CMOS technology. The key-problem encountered in the fabrication of these devices in CMOS is the dark rate level. The dark rate and single photon signal are not distinguishable. This sets also the limits of the application of geiger mode avalanche devices to single photon or charged particle detection systems. We report the design and fabrication of four possible layouts of these devices using the 0.18 μm BCDLite GLOBALFOUNDRIES process. The devices have an area of 50×50 μm². They are characterized by a fast response time and an approximately 60 ns recovery time. The best topology exhibits an average dark rate as low as 3×10³ kHz/mm².

[en] AIM: To investigate the correlation between the degree of contrast enhancement of bladder cancer in the early enhanced phase of helical computed tomography (CT) and microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and histological grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were examined by incremental unenhanced CT and helical CT at 40-45 s after initiation of intravenous administration of contrast medium before surgery. The CT density in Hounsfield units of bladder carcinomas were measured in the middle of the maximum diameter section of the cancer lesions on unenhanced and enhanced CT. The degree of contrast enhancement of the tumour was determined as the absolute increase in Hounsfield units. Histological grade, VEGF and MVD were analysed for each cancer. The Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were used to determine the strength of the relationships between CT enhancement and histological grade, VEGF expression and MVD. RESULTS: Different degrees of enhancement were observed in 91 cancers during the early enhanced phase of helical CT. Mean MVDs and mean CT enhancing values of different histological grade groups were statistically different (p<0.001). A positive correlation was found in the CT-enhancing value of bladder cancer and MVD (Pearson correlation test; r=0.938, p<0.001) and histological grade (Spearman rank correlation; r=0.734, p<0.001). VEGF of bladder cancer did not correlate with the change in CT attenuation (Spearman rank correlation; r=0.087, p=0.410) and MVD (Spearman rank correlation, r=0.103, p=0.330). CONCLUSION: In bladder cancer, the degree of contrast enhancement during the early enhanced helical CT is correlated with the MVD and histological grade of tumour. It is possible that MVD is the histopathological basis of early contrast enhancement of bladder cancer