Comparison of cell casted and 3D-printed plastic scintillators for dosimetry applications.

Currently, the most used methods of plastic scintillator (PS) manufacturing are cell casting and bulk polymerisation, extrusion, injection molding, whereas digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing technique has been recently introduced. For our research, we measured blue-emitting EJ-200, EJ-208, green-emitting EJ-260, EJ-262 cell cast and two types of blue-emitting DLP-printed PSs. The light output of the samples, with the same dimension of 10 mm × 10 mm × 10 mm, was compared. The light output of the samples, relative to the reference EJ-200 cell-cast scintillator, equals about 40-49 and 70-73% for two types of 3D-printed, and two green-emitting cell-casted PSs, respectively. Performance of the investigated scintillators is sufficient to use them in a plastic scintillation dosemeter operating in high fluence gamma radiation fields.

Higgs physics at the CLIC electron-positron linear collider.

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) is an option for a future [Formula: see text] collider operating at centre-of-mass energies up to [Formula: see text], providing sensitivity to a wide range of new physics phenomena and precision physics measurements at the energy frontier. This paper is the first comprehensive presentation of the Higgs physics reach of CLIC operating at three energy stages: [Formula: see text], 1.4 and [Formula: see text]. The initial stage of operation allows the study of Higgs boson production in Higgsstrahlung ([Formula: see text]) and [Formula: see text]-fusion ([Formula: see text]), resulting in precise measurements of the production cross sections, the Higgs total decay width [Formula: see text], and model-independent determinations of the Higgs couplings. Operation at [Formula: see text] provides high-statistics samples of Higgs bosons produced through [Formula: see text]-fusion, enabling tight constraints on the Higgs boson couplings. Studies of the rarer processes [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] allow measurements of the top Yukawa coupling and the Higgs boson self-coupling. This paper presents detailed studies of the precision achievable with Higgs measurements at CLIC and describes the interpretation of these measurements in a global fit.

[Advantages and controversies regarding physiologic electrostimulation of the heart in sinus node disease]. / Korzysci i kontrowersje tzw. fizjologicznej elektrostymulacji serca w chorobie wezla zatokowego.

UNLABELLED: Pacing mode in sinus node disease (SND) is one of controversies in cardiac pacing. We evaluated atrial pacing mode (AAI) in SND patients (pts). Between 1985 and 1994 AAI pacemaker was inserted in 179 pts due to symptomatic SND of varied etiology. RESULTS: The majority of pts (91.6%) were free from syncopal episodes after AAI implantation, in 15 pts (8.4%) syncopes were occasionally observed due to disturbances in pacemaker function, AVB III degrees, vaso-vagal syndrome, orthostatic hypotonia or atherosclerotic insufficiency of the cerebral circulation. In 49 (51%) out of 96 pts with brady-tachy syndrome (BTS), episodes of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia were not observed after AAI insertion and in the majority of the remaining pts the frequency of the episodes decreased significantly. Chronic atrial fibrillation developed in 5 (5.2%) pts. In some of the pts the symptoms related to chronic heart failure decreased or disappeared. A reoperation was performed in 44 (24%) pts due to electrode dislocation or fracture, atrio-ventricular conduction disturbances, an increase in pacing threshold or due to local infections. During the follow-up period 13 (7.3%) pts died of reasons unrelated to cardiac pacing therapy. CONCLUSION: In the majority of SND pts AAI pacing mode prevents from syncopal episodes caused by sinus node disfunction. It decreases the symptoms of heart failure in SND pts and stabilizes the sinus rhythm in the majority of BTS pts. Complications accompanying AAI do not post a major threat for the pts and can be easily resolved. They should by no means discourage from AAI implantation in SND.

[Our experience using continuous atrial stimulation in sick sinus syndrome]. / Doswiadczenie wlasne z zastosowaniem stalej stymulacji przedsionkowej w chorobie wezla zatokowego.

Temporary atrial pacing (AAI) was applied in 31 patients with sick sinus syndrome (S.S.S.), including 20 with tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (t.b.s.). In all patients before pacemaker implantation atrioventricular conduction was estimated using rapid left atrial, transoseophegeal stimulation assuming Wenckebach's point over 120 imp./min to be a physiological one. In all cases, but one ventricular electrodes were implanted and connected with multiprogrammable pacemakers (MP). Follow-up time ranged from 3 to 38 months (mean 18,4). Electrode dislodgment was not observed. In 9 persons sensing disorders were observed but thanks to programming the pacemaker sensitivity they could be resolved almost in all of them. Second degree Mobitz type I a-v block occurred in 3 patients during a long-term follow-up. In one of them changing the pacing mode to VVI was necessary. In persons with tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome cardiac pacing together with pharmacologic therapy allowed to almost eliminate tachycardia attacks. Authors positively estimated AAI pacing mode.