Guiding of Charged Particle Beams in Curved Plasma-Discharge Capillaries.

We present a new approach that demonstrates the deflection and guiding of relativistic electron beams over curved paths by means of the magnetic field generated in a plasma-discharge capillary. We experimentally prove that the guiding is much less affected by the beam chromatic dispersion with respect to a conventional bending magnet and, with the support of numerical simulations, we show that it can even be made dispersionless by employing larger discharge currents. This proof-of-principle experiment extends the use of plasma-based devices, that revolutionized the field of particle accelerators enabling the generation of GeV beams in few centimeters. Compared to state-of-the-art technology based on conventional bending magnets and quadrupole lenses, these results provide a compact and affordable solution for the development of next-generation tabletop facilities.

Effects of winter housing systems on production, economics, body weight, body condition score, and bedding cultures for organic dairy cows.

Certified-organic dairy cows (n = 268) were used to evaluate the effect of 2 winter (December to April) housing systems on milk production, somatic cell score (SCS), body weight, body condition score (BCS), and economics across 3 winter seasons (2013, 2014, and 2015). Bedding cultures from the housing systems were also evaluated. Cows were randomly assigned to 2 treatments (2 replicates per group): (1) outdoor (straw pack, n = 140) or (2) indoor (3-sided compost bedded pack barn, n = 128). Cows calved during 2 seasons (spring or fall) at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, Minnesota, organic dairy. Milk, fat, and protein production and SCS were recorded from monthly milk recording. Body weight and BCS were recorded biweekly as cows exited the milking parlor. Bedding cultures from the housing systems were collected biweekly. Costs for key inputs and the price received for milk production were recorded for the study period and averaged for use in the profitability analysis. Energy-corrected milk and SCS were not different for the outdoor (15.1 kg/d, 2.64) and indoor (15.7 kg/d, 2.57) housing systems, respectively. In addition, cows in the outdoor and indoor housing systems were not different for body weight (528 vs. 534 kg) and BCS (3.22 vs. 3.23), respectively. Daily dry matter intake was 19.1 kg/d for the outdoor cows and 19.6 kg/d for indoor cows. The total bacteria count from bedding samples tended to be lower in the outdoor (13.0 log10 cfu/mL) compared with the indoor (14.9 log10 cfu/mL) system. Milk revenue and feed cost were not different for the 2 housing systems. Labor and bedding costs were lower and net return was higher for the outdoor housing system. The outdoor straw pack system had a $1.42/cow per day net return advantage over the indoor compost bedded pack barn. In summary, lactating cows housed outdoors on straw-bedded packs did not differ for production or SCS, or for body weight, BCS, or dry matter intake, but had greater profitability than cows housed in an indoor compost bedded pack barn.

Acceleration and focusing of relativistic electron beams in a compact plasma device.

Plasma wakefield acceleration represented a breakthrough in the field of particle accelerators by pushing beams to gigaelectronvolt energies within centimeter distances. The large electric fields excited by a driver pulse in the plasma can efficiently accelerate a trailing witness bunch paving the way toward the realization of laboratory-scale applications like free-electron lasers. However, while the accelerator size is tremendously reduced, upstream and downstream of it the beams are still handled with conventional magnetic optics with sizable footprints and rather long focal lengths. Here we show the operation of a compact device that integrates two active-plasma lenses with short focal lengths to assist the plasma accelerator stage. We demonstrate the focusing and energy gain of a witness bunch whose phase space is completely characterized in terms of energy and emittance. These results represent an important step toward the accelerator miniaturization and the development of next-generation table-top machines.

Tackling a Major Deficiency of Diversity in Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic Trials: An CTAD Task Force Report.

As the last opportunity to assess treatment effect modification in a controlled setting prior to formal approval, clinical trials are a critical tool for understanding the safety and efficacy of new treatments in diverse populations. Recruitment of diverse participants in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) clinical trials are therefore essential to increase the generalizability of study results, with diversity broadly described to be representative and inclusive. This representation of study participants is equally critical in longitudinal cohort (observational) studies, which will be key to understanding disease disparities and are often used to design adequately powered AD clinical trials. New and innovative recruitment initiatives and enhanced infrastructure facilitate increased participant diversity in AD clinical studies.

Perspectives in linear accelerator for FLASH VHEE: Study of a compact C-band system.

PURPOSE: In order to translate the FLASH effect in clinical use and to treat deep tumors, Very High Electron Energy irradiations could represent a valid technique. Here, we address the main issues in the design of a VHEE FLASH machine. We present preliminary results for a compact C-band system aiming to reach a high accelerating gradient and high current necessary to deliver a Ultra High Dose Rate with a beam pulse duration of 3µs. METHODS: The proposed system is composed by low energy high current injector linac followed by a high acceleration gradient structure able to reach 60-160 MeV energy range. To obtain the maximum energy, an energy pulse compressor options is considered. CST code was used to define the specifications RF parameters of the linac. To optimize the accelerated current and therefore the delivered dose, beam dynamics simulations was performed using TSTEP and ASTRA codes. RESULTS: The VHEE parameters Linac suitable to satisfy FLASH criteria were simulated. Preliminary results allow to obtain a maximum energy of 160 MeV, with a peak current of 200 mA, which corresponds to a charge of 600 nC. CONCLUSIONS: A promising preliminary design of VHEE linac for FLASH RT has been performed. Supplementary studies are on going to complete the characterization of the machine and to manufacture and test the RF prototypes.

Canine pancreatic endocrine function after interruption of pancreatic exocrine drainage.

Pancreatic endocrine function was studied in forty dogs after ligation or free i.p. drainage of the pancreatic duct, with or without simultaneous partial pancreatectomy. Shrinkage and fibrosis of the pancreas occurred in all dogs, with equal severity in the open duct and duct-tied groups. Fasting blood sugars remained within the normal range but fasting levels of plasma insulin and glucagon were reduced. Dynamic tests of endocrine function indicated that partial pancreatectomy reduced the insulin response to i.v. injection of dextrose or glucagon and delayed the reestablishment of glucose homeostasis. Glucose tolerance was normal in dogs with intact pancreases, but duct ligation was associated with deteriorating recovery after glucagon injection. The precise coordination of circulating glucose, insulin, and glucagon levels seen in normal dogs was lost in both partial and intact pancreas groups and these disturbances were attributed to the fibrotic changes arising from interference with the ductal drainage. Both ligation and free i.p. drainage of the pancreatic duct therefore resulted in abnormalities of islet function. When combined with partial pancreatectomy, both techniques were associated with significant pancreatic endocrine insufficiency.

[Delayed iatrogenic tracheal post-intubation rupture. A short review of the aetiopathology and treatment]. / Rotura traqueal postintubación de instauración clínica tardía. Breve revisión etiopatológica y del tratamiento.

Iatrogenic tracheal rupture is a rare complication with a high morbidity and mortality. Tracheal intubation is the main cause and its origin is multifactorial. The diagnosis is based on non-specific but highly suggestive signs and symptoms, such as subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, respiratory distress, or haemoptysis. Confirmation of the diagnosis requires an examination by bronchoscopy. Surgical repair has traditionally been the treatment of choice although the current trend is conservative management.

Different integrated and unintegrated HIV-1 DNA after superinfection and cell to cell transmission

Efficient superinfection of H9HTLVIIIB cell line (persistently infected with HIVHXB2 strain) with HIVMN strain is reported. The superinfecting viral DNA was found in the chromosomic and extrachromosomic fractions at early stages, but at 48 hours post superinfection, it remained mainly unintegrated. Interestingly, superinfected cells only produced HIVHXB2 in the supernatant and no increase of viral yield of this persistent virus was observed. Remarkably, virions of both strains, HIVHXB2 and HIVMN, were recovered after cocultivating superinfected cells with MT2 cell line. In the extrachromosomic fractions of seven different superinfected subclons of H9HTLVIIIB, viral DNA of the superinfecting HIVMN strain predominated while in the chromosomic fraction, the proportion of superinfecting viral DNA differed. The study of the presence of different integrated and unintegrated genomes in a single cell could be crucial in the understanding of HIV biology.