Among the existing elemental characterization techniques, particle-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy are two of the most widely used in different scientific and technological fields. Here, we present the first quantitative laser-driven PIXE and laser-driven EDX experimental investigation performed at the Centro de Láseres Pulsados in Salamanca. Thanks to their potential for compactness and portability, laser-driven particle sources are very appealing for materials science applications, especially for materials analysis techniques. We demonstrate the possibility to exploit the x-ray signal produced by the co-irradiation with both electrons and protons to identify the elements in the sample. We show that, using the proton beam only, we can successfully obtain quantitative information about the sample structure through laser-driven PIXE analysis. These results pave the way toward the development of a compact and multifunctional apparatus for the elemental analysis of materials based on a laser-driven particle source.
The authors report a very unusual case of intermittent and painful rectal bleeding occurring in a two-year-old female. At proctosigmoidoscopy, a bluish mucosal fold was found in the rectal ampulla. Histological examination showed the presence of heterotopic gastric mucosa islands intermingled with normal rectal mucosa. Surgical transanal excision of the lesion was undertaken due to the persistence of rectal bleeding with anemia, notwithstanding a three-month course of pharmacological therapy with a proton pump inhibitor. At a one-year follow-up, the child is well and symptom-free. The international pediatric literature was reviewed.
Choristoma/diagnosis , Gastric Mucosa , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology , Rectal Diseases/diagnosis , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male
The authors report the case of a baby girl with an unusual communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation consisting of extralobar pulmonary sequestration and cystic adenomatoid malformation. A well-formed bronchus was the communication between the sequestration and lower esophagus.
Abnormalities, Multiple/diagnosis , Bronchi/abnormalities , Bronchopulmonary Sequestration/diagnosis , Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital/diagnosis , Stomach/abnormalities , Abnormalities, Multiple/surgery , Bronchopulmonary Sequestration/surgery , Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital/surgery , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Ultrasonography, Prenatal
