Search

Ground-level particle detection is now a well-established approach to TeV gamma-ray astronomy. Detection of Cherenkov light produced in water-filled detection units is a proven and cost-effective method. Here we discuss the optimization of the units towards the future Southern Wide-field Gamma-ray Observatory (SWGO). In this context, we investigate a new type of configuration in which each water Cherenkov detector (WCD) unit in the array comprises two chambers with black or reflective walls and a single photomultiplier tube (PMT) in each chamber. We find that this is a cost-effective approach that improves the performance of the WCD array with respect to current approaches. A shallow lower chamber with a PMT facing downwards enables muon tagging and the identification of hadron-induced air showers, which are the primary source of background in gamma-ray astronomy. We investigate how gamma/hadron separation power and achievable angular resolution depend on the geometry and wall reflectivity of the detector units in this configuration. We find that excellent angular resolution, background rejection power and low-energy response are achievable in this double-layer configuration, with the aid of reflective surfaces in both chambers., 17 pages, 20 figures

Exposure to radon progeny results in heterogeneous dose distributions in many different spatial scales. The aim of this review is to provide an overview on the state of the art in epidemiology, clinical observations, cell biology, dosimetry, and modelling related to radon exposure and its association with lung cancer, along with priorities for future research. Particular attention is paid on the effects of spatial variation in dose delivery within the organs, a factor not considered in radiation protection. It is concluded that a multidisciplinary approach is required to improve risk assessment and mechanistic understanding of carcinogenesis related to radon exposure. To achieve these goals, important steps would be to clarify whether radon can cause other diseases than lung cancer, and to investigate radon-related health risks in children or persons at young ages. Also, a better understanding of the combined effects of radon and smoking is needed, which can be achieved by integrating epidemiological, clinical, pathological, and molecular oncology data to obtain a radon-associated signature. While in vitro models derived from primary human bronchial epithelial cells can help to identify new and corroborate existing biomarkers, they also allow to study the effects of heterogeneous dose distributions including the effects of locally high doses. These novel approaches can provide valuable input and validation data for mathematical models for risk assessment. These models can be applied to quantitatively translate the knowledge obtained from radon exposure to other exposures resulting in heterogeneous dose distributions within an organ to support radiation protection in general.

We present a model of a tunable distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser describing the effect of cavity losses on the gain voltage. Theoretical and experimental results are in good agreement. Measurements show the gain voltage trace for Bragg grating and phase section tuning. The model is also valid for lasers with optical feedback from an external reflection.

To develop a stochastic five-lobe lung model and to compute particle deposition fractions in the five lobes, considering anatomical as well as ventilatory asymmetry.The stochastic five-lobe lung model was derived from an existing stochastic model for the whole lung, which implicitly contains information on the lobar airway structure. Differences in lobar ventilation and sequential filling of individual lobes were simulated by a stochastic lobar ventilation model. Deposition fractions of inhaled unit density particles in the five lobes were calculated by an updated version of the Monte Carlo deposition code Inhalation, Deposition, and Exhalation of Aerosols in the Lung (IDEAL).Simulations for defined exposure and breathing conditions revealed that the two lower lobes receive higher deposition and the two upper lobes lower deposition, compared to the average deposition for the whole lung. The resulting inter-lobar distribution of deposition fractions indicated that the non-uniform lung morphometry is the dominating effect, while non-uniform ventilation only slightly enhances the lobar differences. The relation between average lobe-specific deposition fractions and corresponding average values for the whole lung allowed the calculation of lobe-specific deposition weighting factors.Comparison with limited deposition measurements for upper

The realtime follow-up of neutrino events is a promising approach to search for astrophysical neutrino sources. It has so far provided compelling evidence for a neutrino point source: the flaring gamma-ray blazar TXS 0506+056 observed in coincidence with the high-energy neutrino IceCube-170922A detected by IceCube. The detection of very-high-energy gamma rays (VHE, $\mathrm{E} > 100\,\mathrm{GeV}$) from this source helped establish the coincidence and constrained the modeling of the blazar emission at the time of the IceCube event. The four major imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope arrays (IACTs) - FACT, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS - operate an active follow-up program of target-of-opportunity observations of neutrino alerts sent by IceCube. This program has two main components. One are the observations of known gamma-ray sources around which a cluster of candidate neutrino events has been identified by IceCube (Gamma-ray Follow-Up, GFU). Second one is the follow-up of single high-energy neutrino candidate events of potential astrophysical origin such as IceCube-170922A. GFU has been recently upgraded by IceCube in collaboration with the IACT groups. We present here recent results from the IACT follow-up programs of IceCube neutrino alerts and a description of the upgraded IceCube GFU system., Presented at the 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2021). See arXiv:2107.06966 for all IceCube contributions. See arXiv:2108.05257 for all H.E.S.S. contributions

Die vaskularen Demenzen (VD; aufgrund der verschiedenen Auspragungen von VD wird im vorliegenden Beitrag die Mehrzahl verwendet) stellen nach der Alzheimer-Demenz die zweithaufigste Demenzform dar und spielen besonders bei geriatrischen Patienten eine wichtige Rolle. Vaskulare Demenzen konnen nach akuten Situationen (z. B. durch Schlaganfalle) und durch langsam fortschreitende vaskulare Schadigungen auftreten. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden VD aufgrund von kortikalen und strategischen Infarkten, von mikroangiopathischen Infarkten mit Lakunen sowie von Blutungen genauer dargestellt. Dabei werden neben der klinischen Beschreibung beispielhafte radiologische Befund gezeigt sowie ein besonderes Augenmerk auf Edukation, Pravention und Rehabilitation gelegt.

The aim of this continuing medical education (CME) article (part II) is to describe the particular challenge of the treatment of hyponatremia, which occurs in older patients. This part II follows on from part I concerning the diagnosis in the previous volume. A staged approach is necessary. The best treatment is always when the underlying cause can be eliminated. Hyponatremia in older patients is mainly induced by the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion. The authors use a concept for the first, second and third line strategy: (1) changing or discontinuation of drugs, (2) fluid restriction and (3) tolvaptan medication. The algorithm for treatment should be simple. It also contains recommendations for the correction rate. Caution is also needed in order to avoid the occurrence of an osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS).

Geriatric medicine is a rapidly evolving field that addresses diagnostic, therapeutic and care aspects of older adults. Some disabilities and disorders affecting cognition (e.g. dementia), motor function (e.g. stroke, Parkinson’s disease, neuropathies), mood (e.g. depression), behavior (e.g. delirium) and chronic pain disorders are particularly frequent in old subjects. As knowledge about these age-associated conditions and disabilities is steadily increasing, the integral implementation of neurogeriatric knowledge in geriatric medicine and specific neurogeriatric research is essential to develop the field. This article discusses how neurological know-how could be integrated in academic geriatric medicine to improve care of neurogeriatric patients, to foster neurogeriatric research and training concepts and to provide innovative care concepts for geriatric patients with predominant neurological conditions and disabilities.

In this paper we explain how to use rate equations to describe a laser that includes integrated optical feedback. We find a relation between the threshold current, the voltage drop at the gain section, output power, linewidth, and side mode suppression ratio, and show experimental results.

The majority of the active galactic nuclei (AGN) detected at very-high-energies above 100 GeV belong to the class of blazars with a small angle between the jet-axis and the line-of-sight. Only about 10 percent of the gamma-ray AGN are objects with a larger viewing angle resulting in a smaller Doppler boosting of the emission. Originally, it was believed that gamma-ray emission can only be observed from blazars and those are variable in its brightness. Instead, the last years have shown that non-blazar active galaxies also show a fascinating variability behaviour which provide important new insights into the physical processes responsible for the gamma-ray production and especially for flaring events. Here, we report on the observation of gamma-ray variability of the active galaxy PKS 0625−354 detected with the H.E.S.S. telescopes in November 2018. The classification of PKS 0625−354 is a still matter of debate. The H.E.S.S. measurements were performed as part of a flux observing program and showed in the first night of the observation a detection of the object with > 5σ. A denser observation campaign followed for the next nine nights resulting in a decrease of the gamma-ray flux. Those observations were accompanied with Swift in the X-ray and UV/optical band allowing for the reconstruction of a multi-band broad-band spectral energy distribution. We will discuss the implications of the gamma-ray variability of the object.

The presence of dark matter (DM) is suggested by a wealth of astrophysical and cosmological measurements. However, its underlying nature is yet unknown. Among the most promising candidates are weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs): particles with mass and coupling strength at the electroweak scale and thermally produced in the early universe have a present relic density consistent with that observed today. WIMP self-annihilation would produce Standard Model particles including gamma-rays, which have been long-time recognized as a prime messenger to indirectly detect dark matter signals. The centre of the Milky Way is predicted as the brightest source of DM annihilations. The H.E.S.S. collaboration is currently performing a survey of the inner region of the Milky Way, the Inner Galaxy Survey (IGS), intended to achieve the best sensitivity to faint and diffuse emissions in a region of several degrees around the Galactic Centre. We analyzed 2014-2020 observations taken with the five-telescope array to search for a DM annihilation signal. With the current dataset of about 550 hours, we found no significant excess and therefore derived strong constraints on the velocity-weighted annihilation cross-section. TeV thermal WIMPs can be probed in different annihilation channels.

A traversal algorithm considering both of the mesa interval and the entire area of the mesas was applied to find a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array with minimal heat coupling factor. An optimized array was obtained and modeled in finite element software to simulate the thermal distribution. A conventional circular and an optimized array were fabricated. The maximum output power of optimized array is 14.3% higher than the conventional array and reaches 1.6 W operating in continuous wave (CW) mode. The wavelength shift of optimized VCSEL array is slightly slower than the reference device although its higher power.

Polarization-stable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with a simple fabrication process are presented. The gratings fixing the polarization are defined by a two-step exposure technology taking advantage of the displacement Talbot lithography technique. This enables grating lines to remain within the inner circle mesa of the VCSELs. These surface grating VCSELs with different periods are theoretically modeled and experimentally verified. Most of these VCSELs exhibit full polarization stability as predicted theoretically. For VCSELs with grating periods larger than the emission wavelength we found a weak orthogonal polarization suppression ratio, thereby deviating from those grating VCSELs with smaller periods.

The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment searched for the lepton-number-violating neutrinoless double-$\beta$ ($0\nu\beta\beta$) decay of $^{76}$Ge, whose discovery would have far-reaching implications in cosmology and particle physics. By operating bare germanium diodes, enriched in $^{76}$Ge, in an active liquid argon shield, GERDA achieved an unprecedently low background index of $5.2\times10^{-4}$ counts/(keV$\cdot$kg$\cdot$yr) in the signal region and met the design goal to collect an exposure of 100 kg$\cdot$yr in a background-free regime. When combined with the result of Phase I, no signal is observed after 127.2 kg$\cdot$yr of total exposure. A limit on the half-life of $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay in $^{76}$Ge is set at $T_{1/2}>1.8\times10^{26}$ yr at 90% C.L., which coincides with the sensitivity assuming no signal., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters

Modeling particle deposition in the human lung requires information about the morphology of the lung in terms of simple geometric units, e.g., characterizing bronchial airways by straight cylindrical tubes. Five different regional deposition models are discussed in this section with respect to morphometric lung models and related mathematical modeling techniques: 1) one-dimensional cross-section or "trumpet" model, 2) deterministic symmetric generation or "single-path" model, 3) deterministic asymmetric generation or "multiple-path" model, 4) stochastic asymmetric generation or "multiple-path" model, and 5) single-path computational fluid and particle dynamics (CFPD) model. Current deposition models can predict the following regional deposition quantities relevant for the administration of medical aerosols: 1) regional bronchial and alveolar deposition, 2) generational lung deposition, 3) lobar deposition, 4) generational lobar deposition, and 5) generational surface deposition. Although deposition fractions predicted by the different models depend on the selection of a specific morphometric lung model and a specific set of analytical deposition equations, all models predict the same trends as functions of particle diameter and breathing parameters. In general, the overall agreement between the modeling predictions obtained by the various deposition models and the available experimental evidence indicates that current deposition models correctly predict regional and generational deposition.

We present the first search for bosonic superweakly interacting massive particles (super-WIMPs) as keV-scale dark matter candidates performed with the GERDA experiment. GERDA is a neutrinoless double-s decay experiment which operates high-purity germanium detectors enriched in ^{76}Ge in an ultralow background environment at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of INFN in Italy. Searches were performed for pseudoscalar and vector particles in the mass region from 60 keV/c^{2} to 1 MeV/c^{2}. No evidence for a dark matter signal was observed, and the most stringent constraints on the couplings of super-WIMPs with masses above 120 keV/c^{2} have been set. As an example, at a mass of 150 keV/c^{2} the most stringent direct limits on the dimensionless couplings of axionlike particles and dark photons to electrons of g_{ae}

Realizing that vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) are continuously breaking higher bandwidth limits, it is essential to understand their basic material constituting properties and extract their physical characteristics, in order to fine tune their high-speed performance. Throughout the past decade, the device performance was continuously optimized towards higher bandwidths, faster data rates, and efficient operation. Therefore, for a successful further optimization of their dynamic characteristics, the extraction of a reliable set of their physical parameters becomes indispensable. Consequently, the main objective of this work is to provide accurate physical parameter values of cutting-edge high-speed VCSELs. The extraction process of these set of parameters is based on the novel intrinsic and extrinsic dynamic models that were recently developed by our research group. For the intrinsic dynamics, the advanced split carrier reservoir multimode model is employed. Furthermore, the pure intrinsic modulation response is de-embedded from the total measured device response using our recently proposed novel parasitic-network model. Moreover, the extraction of these device physical parameters is based on the device’s performance indicators, such as the relaxation oscillation frequencies and damping coefficients obtained by fitting the intrinsic model to the measured modulation data. Furthermore, since these performance indicators can be expressed in terms of a combination of these physical parameters, a precise estimation of their values and their possible ranges, along with a carefully designed fitting process, is crucial. Consequently, for extracting a reliable set of data, the accurate prior estimation of these parameters was conducted based on the device physical structure and reported material properties, leading to the establishment of an accurate set of parameters along with their possible ranges. These final calculations are based on simple device geometrical considerations, reported physical and material properties and device static performance measurements. Finally, the estimated values and their ranges are further validated by comparing them to ones in standard literature.

To investigate the origin of the deep-notch in the modulation response of multi-mode vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) that occurs at low frequencies, the carrier transport and the mode intensity nonuniformity effects are considered in this work. The model that includes the carrier transport effect is a possible candidate to explain the deep-notch behavior, as it introduces a first-order low-pass filter to the pure intrinsic transfer function. Nevertheless, the expected dynamic characteristics of this filter for high-performance VCSELs, disfavor the transport effect as a possible candidate. Therefore, to fully rule out its impact, we optimized the transport theory by first considering both the transverse and longitudinal carrier transport effects, and second by including the frequency dependence of the transport factor into the derivation of the VCSELs’ dynamic transfer function. Taking all these factors into consideration, however, did not result in a significant improvement in the resulting transfer function form and order. Thus, a second effect, which is the mode intensity nonuniformity effect, is favored as a possible candidate to explain the deep-notch phenomenon. In this effect, the spatial nonuniformity of the transverse optical mode in the radial direction results in concentric disk-like regions with different dynamic properties under small signal modulation. At low driving currents, the model predicts a notch ahead of the relaxation oscillation frequency. This notch is caused by a low frequency roll-off resulting from the spatial nonuniformity of the optical transverse mode. The proposed model introduces a ratio containing a pole and a zero to the pure intrinsic transfer function and can very accurately fit the deep-notch in the measured modulation response. Furthermore, this fitting results in the extraction of very reliable performance indicators. A second topic that is also presented in this work is about the dynamics of the mode resolved modulation response. To achieve a higher bandwidths, it is necessary to study the mode ensemble resolved modulation characteristics of the intrinsic dynamics. Based on the novel carrier-reservoir splitting approach, analytical expressions for the dynamics in the two spatially separated central and peripheral regions are derived.

A critical element of the risk assessment of exposure to airborne ambient ultrafine particles (UFP) is the quantification of respiratory tract deposition (RTD) of the particles, which is intrinsically challenging, particularly at the population scale. In this study, we used a recently proposed method to experimentally determine the RTD of urban UFP in a large group of children exposed to these particles in a school setting in Brisbane, Australia. Children are one of the most susceptible population groups; However, little is known about the deposition of UFP from urban traffic in their airways. In order to advance the knowledge in this field, the objectives of this study were: to determine the deposition of ambient urbane UFP in large number children, to catergorize the source of inhaled UFPs and hence to assess the contribution of air pollution sources to the deposition. RTD was measured in children aged 8–11 at primary schools using a flow-through chamber bag system. First, the inhaled and exhaled air was separated; then the particle number size distribution and particle number concentration were measured. The sources of inhaled UFP were categorized according to their particle number size distribution by a K means cluster technique. A total of 128 children from five schools performed the RTD measurement. The mean total deposition fraction of urban UFP in all children was 0.59 ± 0.10. Inhaled UFP were categorized into two groups: traffic and urban background, with the GMD of corresponding particle number size distribution of 20 nm and 40 nm, respectively. The total deposition fraction (mean ± SD) of UFP from these two groups was 0.68 ± 0.09 for traffic and 0.55 ± 0.08 for urban background respectively. This is the first study in which RTD was measured in a large group of children inhaling real urban UFP. First, we proved that this novel method can indeed be applied easily and quickly to a large group of people. Second, we quantified the RTD of children, thus providing an important input to the risk assessment for exposure to UFP.

Aims. Colliding wind binary systems have long been suspected to be high-energy (HE; 100 MeV < E < 100 GeV) {\gamma}-ray emitters. {\eta} Car is the most prominent member of this object class and is confirmed to emit phase-locked HE {\gamma} rays from hundreds of MeV to ~100 GeV energies. This work aims to search for and characterise the very-high-energy (VHE; E >100 GeV) {\gamma}-ray emission from {\eta} Car around the last periastron passage in 2014 with the ground-based High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.). Methods. The region around {\eta} Car was observed with H.E.S.S. between orbital phase p = 0.78 - 1.10, with a closer sampling at p {\approx} 0.95 and p {\approx} 1.10 (assuming a period of 2023 days). Optimised hardware settings as well as adjustments to the data reduction, reconstruction, and signal selection were needed to suppress and take into account the strong, extended, and inhomogeneous night sky background (NSB) in the {\eta} Car field of view. Tailored run-wise Monte-Carlo simulations (RWS) were required to accurately treat the additional noise from NSB photons in the instrument response functions. Results. H.E.S.S. detected VHE {\gamma}-ray emission from the direction of {\eta} Car shortly before and after the minimum in the X-ray light-curve close to periastron. Using the point spread function provided by RWS, the reconstructed signal is point-like and the spectrum is best described by a power law. The overall flux and spectral index in VHE {\gamma} rays agree within statistical and systematic errors before and after periastron. The {\gamma}-ray spectrum extends up to at least ~400 GeV. This implies a maximum magnetic field in a leptonic scenario in the emission region of 0.5 Gauss. No indication for phase-locked flux variations is detected in the H.E.S.S. data., Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, in press with A&A

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of a novel inclination-angle sensor (inclinometer) using heating and sensing elements based on conductive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composited with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The inclinometer consists of a PDMS cube-shaped chamber, a CNTs/PDMS composite-based heater, and four CNTs/PDMS composite-based temperature sensors. The working mechanism of this sensor is based on thermal convective sensing theory on the basis of the detection of thermal disturbance caused by inclination-induced convection in a sealed chamber. In order to prepare the conductive CNTs/PDMS composite, toluene was applied as a solvent to facilitate CNT dispersion in PDMS matrix and then was removed by evaporation. The resistive heating and thermal sensing properties of CNT/PDMS composite-based elements were tested and analyzed first. Then, the responses to inclination-angle were monitored and reported. Experimental results demonstrate that the inclinometer can measure dual-axis angular position in the range of 360° with high stability and repeatability.

ZusammenfassungMit dem Gesetz zur Verbesserung der Rechte von Patientinnen und Patienten (Patientenrechtegesetz) wurden im Februar 2013 eine ganze Reihe gesetzlicher Neuregelungen für unterschiedliche Geltungsbereiche des Gesundheitswesens in Kraft gesetzt. Für die Arzthaftung brachte das Patientenrechtegesetz mit der Einführung der Paragraphen 630a–h in das Bürgerliche Gesetzbuch (BGB) eine auf Transparenz ausgerichtete Darstellung allgemeiner vertragstypischer Aspekte, eine zusammenfassende gesetzliche Regelung der Patientenaufklärung und -einwilligung, die Normierung der Behandlungsdokumentation und eine neue Grundlage für die Einsichtsrechte in die Behandlungsakte. Dabei wurden die im Rahmen höchstrichterlicher Rechtsprechung entwickelten Besonderheiten des Behandlungsvertrags in Gesetzesform überführt und die aus der gefestigten Rechtsprechung bekannten, unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen für den Patienten als günstig anzunehmenden Tatsachenvermutungen als Ausnahmen vom Prinzip der objektiven Beweislast abschließend zusammengefasst. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden die Regelungen der neuen Paragraphen 630a–h im BGB vorgestellt und im Hinblick auf die vom ärztlichen Sachverständigen im Arzthaftungsprozess zu berücksichtigenden Konsequenzen untersucht.

A machine-learning algorithm (MLA) was developed to assess the operational state of solar thermal plants, based on the data of only one temperature sensor, and the irradiance and ambient temperature data from the nearest weather station. A detailed requirements analysis of the situation results in the classification of a multivariate time series problem. Neural networks used in the field of data science are ideally suited for problems of this type. Data from the operational monitoring system, which runs a rule-based algorithm, were used to train the neural network using the software framework TensorFlow. It was shown that the chosen MLA can detect malfunctions such as heat loss due to gravity-driven circulation during night. However, further development towards a practical tool requires not only far more data for training and validation. It became clear that corresponding pressure data are needed to classify temperature transients and to attribute these classes to certain malfunctions.

We propose a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with two transverse modes independently controlled by two contacts. By directly etching a trench in the p-doped distributed Bragg reflector, we form an air gap and two sub-mesas as waveguides above the oxide layer. Contacts are deposited on each sub-mesa. Emission control on two different spatial modes in a single VCSEL is achieved by changing the driving condition of one-contact or two-contact injection. Owing to this feature, the proposed VCSEL has a potential as a cost-effective source for optical communications using spatial-division multiplexing.

The purpose of the present work is the implementation of the aerosol dynamics model ADiC, specifically its heat/vapor transport and phase transition components, into the stochastic lung deposition model IDEAL. The combined ADiC/IDEAL model allows the simultaneous calculation of relative humidity, hygroscopic growth and deposition of inhaled NaCl aerosols in individual airways of the human lung along randomly selected particle paths and randomly selected times during the inhalation phase. Hygroscopic growth decreases deposition of submicron particles compared to hydrophobic particles with equivalent diameters due to a less efficient diffusion mechanism, while the more efficient impaction and sedimentation mechanisms increase total deposition for micrometer particles. Due to the variability and asymmetry of the human airway system, individual trajectories of inhaled particles are associated with individual growth factors. For a realistic breathing scenario, particles are inhaled at different times during the inspiratory phase and hence experience individual growth factors, thereby further enhancing the variability of individual growth factors and resulting deposition patterns. While nanometer particles adopt their equilibrium growth factor value already within the mouth and pharynx/larynx during the inspiratory phase, micrometer particles approach this value at the end of inspiration, thus further increasing in size during the exhalation phase. In summary, individual hygroscopic growth factors vary for different paths and different inhalation times. For model validation purposes, theoretical predictions were compared with human experimental deposition data and previous hygroscopic growth model simulations for total deposition of ultrafine and micrometer-sized NaCl particles.

The incidence of spondylodiscitis is increasing and attributable to an aging population with multimorbidities. Spondylodiscitis represents a life-threatening disease. Typical clinical manifestations often involve nonspecific symptoms with back pain; however, due to the frequent absence of fever the disease is often overlooked. Pathogen detection and spinal imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are essential for the diagnosis. Identification of the causative pathogen is particularly important for initiating targeted antibiotic treatment. Debridement and stabilization are the mainstays of surgical management, even though foreign material must be implanted into the focus of inflammation.

The objective of this study is the prediction and comparison of airway deposition patterns of an industrial aerosol in healthy workers and workers suffering from silicosis. Mass concentrations and related size distributions of particulate matter were measured in the industrial area of Samalut in Minia, Egypt. A novel stochastic lung deposition model, simulating the symptoms of silicosis by chronic bronchial (Br) obstruction and emphysema in the acinar (Ac) region, was applied to compute mass deposition fractions, deposition density, deposition rate and deposition density rate distributions in healthy and diseased workers. In the case of healthy workers, both mass deposition fractions and deposition rates are highest in the first half of the Ac region of the lung, while the corresponding deposition density and deposition density rate distributions exhibit a maximum in the large Br airways. In the case of diseased lungs, bullous emphysema causes a large deposition peak in the region of the bronchioli respiratorii. Regional mass deposition fractions adopt maximum values in the extrathoracic region, except during mouth breathing for bullous emphysema, where Ac deposition can be the most prominent. In general, lung deposition is significantly higher in diseased than in healthy lungs. Indeed, workers suffering from silicosis receive significantly higher Ac doses than healthy workers exposed to the same aerosol. Thus, this illness may progress faster if a diseased worker remains in a strongly polluted area.

The GERmanium Detector Array (Gerda) experiment at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory (LNGS) of INFN is searching for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay of 76Ge. The technological challenge of Gerda is to operate in a “background-free” regime in the region of interest (ROI) after analysis cuts for the full 100 kg·yr target exposure of the experiment. A careful modeling and decomposition of the full-range energy spectrum is essential to predict the shape and composition of events in the ROI around Qββ for the 0νββ search, to extract a precise measurement of the half-life of the double-beta decay mode with neutrinos (2νββ) and in order to identify the location of residual impurities. The latter will permit future experiments to build strategies in order to further lower the background and achieve even better sensitivities. In this article the background decomposition prior to analysis cuts is presented for Gerda Phase II. The background model fit yields a flat spectrum in the ROI with a background index (BI) of $$ {16.04}_{-0.85}^{+0.78}\cdotp {10}^{-3} $$ 16.04 − 0.85 + 0.78 · 10 − 3 cts/(keV·kg·yr) for the enriched BEGe data set and $$ {14.68}_{-0.52}^{+0.47}\cdotp {10}^{-3} $$ 14.68 − 0.52 + 0.47 · 10 − 3 cts/(keV·kg·yr) for the enriched coaxial data set. These values are similar to the one of Phase I despite a much larger number of detectors and hence radioactive hardware components.

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of a middle-infrared (MIR) linear variable optical filter (LVOF) and thermopile detectors that will be used in a miniaturized mixed gas detector for CH4/CO2/CO measurement. The LVOF was designed as a tapered-cavity Fabry-Pérot optical filter, which can transform the MIR continuous spectrum into multiple narrow band-pass spectra with peak wavelength in linear variation. Multi-layer dielectric structures were used to fabricate the Bragg reflectors on the both sides of tapered cavity as well as the antireflective film combined with the function of out-of-band rejection. The uncooled thermopile detectors were designed and fabricated as a multiple-thermocouple suspension structure using micro-electro-mechanical system technology. Experimentally, the LVOF exhibits a mean full-width-at-half-maximum of 400 nm and mean peak transmittance of 70% at the wavelength range of 2.3~5 μm. The thermopile detectors exhibit a responsivity of 146 μV/°C at the condition of room temperature. It is demonstrated that the detectors can achieve the quantification and identification of CH4/CO2/CO mixed gas.

To establish highly performing vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), it is essential to have an adequate understanding of the intrinsic laser dynamics of these devices. However, this is done while bearing in mind that extrinsic parasitic elements in VCSELs play an important role in limiting the intrinsic modulation bandwidth. In this paper, we analyse different electrical parasitic equivalent circuit models in the aim of comparing them and selecting the one that can best describe and represent the physical properties of our high-performance VCSELs. Through measuring the microwave reflection coefficient $\mathrm{S}_{11}(\mathrm{f})$ and fitting it into the calculated counterpart from the equivalent-circuit impedance model, the parasitic components of the equivalent circuit model are extracted.

In this paper, we present a high-performance self-powered ultraviolet (UV) photodetector using electrochemical micro-porous-channel arrays based on a cost-effective and environment-friendly black TiO 2 nanotube arrays (BTNAs) and polysulfide (S2-/S x 2-) electrolyte. By self-doping TiO 2 the concentration and lifetime of UV photo-generated carriers are increased due to increasing oxygen vacancies and Ti3+ defects in BTNAs, effectively enhancing the carrier transport and multiple exciton effect of carriers, and thus the self-powered UV photodetector based on electrochemical micro-porous-channel arrays demonstrates a high photoresponsivity of ~22 mA/W and high-speed photoresponse of ~4 ms in rise and decay time.

We report a self-powered ultraviolet (UV) photo- detector (PD) utilizing two sets of free-standing ZnO nanorod arrays (ZNRAs) to assemble as a face-to-face nanohybrid structure. In comparison with the PDs based on single-side ZNRAs, the face-to-face ZNRAs based PD exhibits "1+1>2"enhancements in photoelectric conversion. The ZNRAs were prepared on ITO/glass and Ti foil using a facile hydrothermal method. The face-to-face ZNRAs device operates with the Schottky junctions in ITO/ZnO interface, ohmic contact in Ti/ZnO interface, and the effective NR-NR contacts in neighboring ZNRs as a transport network of carriers. Thanks to the Schottky and NR-NR junction barriers, the electron-hole pairs are effectively separated. The device exhibits a self-powered current density of 5.52 μA•cm−2 and a responsivity of 1.81 mA•W-1 under an irradiation of 3.06 mW•cm-2, and a photogain of 0.80% at photon absorption rate of 5.6×1015 s-1. It is considered that face-to-face ZNRAs could be a promising candidate for high-efficiency photo-detection.

Basal and secretory cell doses in the different lobes of the human lung following inhalation of short-lived radon progeny were calculated for a five-lobe asymmetric, stochastic lung model, considering the non-uniform ventilation of the lobes. Dose calculations for defined exposure conditions revealed that the upper lobes receive higher doses than the average bronchial dose for the whole lung, with the right upper lobe receiving the highest dose. The resulting inter-lobar distribution of cellular bronchial doses indicated that the non-uniform lung morphometry is the dominating factor, while non-uniform ventilation only slightly enhances the lobar differences. The comparison of average lobe-specific bronchial doses with the average bronchial dose for the whole lung allows the calculation of lobe-specific dose weighting factors, which can be used to convert average bronchial doses based on symmetric airway generation or bronchial compartment models to lobar bronchial doses.

Inhalation of short-lived radon progeny is an important cause of lung cancer. To characterize the absorbed doses in the bronchial region of the airways due to inhaled radon progeny, mostly regional lung deposition models, like the Human Respiratory Tract Model (HRTM) of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, are used. However, in this model the site specificity of radiation burden in the airways due to deposition and fast airway clearance of radon progeny is not described. Therefore, in the present study, the Radact version of the stochastic lung model was used to quantify the cellular radiation dose distribution at airway generation level and to simulate the kinetics of the deposited radon progeny resulting from the moving mucus layer. All simulations were performed assuming an isotope ratio typical for an average dwelling, and breathing mode characteristic of a healthy adult sitting man. The study demonstrates that the cell nuclei receiving high doses are non-uniformly distributed within the bronchial airway generations. The results revealed that the maximum of the radiation burden is at the first few bronchial airway generations of the respiratory tract, where most of the lung carcinomas of former uranium miners were found. Based on the results of the present simulations, it can be stated that regional lung models may not be fully adequate to describe the radiation burden due to radon progeny. A more realistic and precise calculation of the absorbed doses from the decay of radon progeny to the lung requires deposition and clearance to be simulated by realistic models of airway generations.

The proportion of patients with functional movement disorders (FMD) is particularly high in neurology clinics. Treatment options have not been consistently developed, not well evaluated and not validated. This article presents the preliminary data on the prevalence and treatment response of patients with FMD who were treated within the framework of an early rehabilitative geriatric complex treatment at a university hospital for neurology. From July 2017 to November 2018 the prevalence, demographic and clinical parameters, and response to treatment of FMD patients were documented and compared to non-FMD patients treated at the neurogeriatric ward of the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, in Kiel. Clinical endpoints were the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) for mobility and the Barthel index for instrumented activity of daily life (iADL). The prevalence of FMD was 11% (19/175) and predominantly observed in women (74%). Of the FMD patients nine also had a diagnosis of either idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (N = 7), dementia with Lewy bodies (N = 1) or progressive supranuclear palsy (N = 1). At admission, neither the SPPB nor the iADL differed significantly between FMD and non-FMD patients. The treatment response was comparable between the groups: SPPB change was +0.3±1.8 (mean, standard deviation) in FMD and +0.4±1.9 in non-FMD patients (p = 0.83). The iADL change was +19±15 in FMD and +18±17 in non-FMD (p = 0.83). The prevalence of FMD was unexpectedly high in the neurogeriatric ward of a German university hospital. There were comparable impairments and responses to multidisciplinary treatment in mobility and iADL between FMD and non-FMD geriatric patients, suggesting that specific and informed treatment provided by a multidisciplinary geriatric team is effective in geriatric FMD patients. Further studies of this underdiagnosed disorder in older age are warranted.

At the tissue level, energy deposition in cells is determined by the microdistribution of alpha-emitting radionuclides in relation to sensitive target cells. Furthermore, the highly localized energy deposition of alpha particle tracks and the limited range of alpha particles in tissue produce a highly inhomogeneous energy deposition in traversed cell nuclei. Thus, energy deposition in cell nuclei in a given tissue is characterized by the probability of alpha particle hits and, in the case of a hit, by the energy deposited there. In classical microdosimetry, the randomness of energy deposition in cellular sites is described by a stochastic quantity, the specific energy, which approximates the macroscopic dose for a sufficiently large number of energy deposition events. Typical examples of the alpha-emitting radionuclides in internal microdosimetry are radon progeny and plutonium in the lungs, plutonium and americium in bones, and radium in targeted radionuclide therapy. Several microdosimetric approaches have been proposed to relate specific energy distributions to radiobiological effects, such as hit-related concepts, LET and track length-based models, effect-specific interpretations of specific energy distributions, such as the dual radiation action theory or the hit-size effectiveness function, and finally track structure models. Since microdosimetry characterizes only the initial step of energy deposition, microdosimetric concepts are most successful in exposure situations where biological effects are dominated by energy deposition, but not by subsequently operating biological mechanisms. Indeed, the simulation of the combined action of physical and biological factors may eventually require the application of track structure models at the nanometer scale.

This chapter deals with the application of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) as directly-modulated light-sources in optical interconnects. It shows that VCSEL-based optical interconnects are going to replace the conventional copper-based technology. VCSELs can deliver higher bandwidths below the cost of copper and enable highly scalable solutions with their small footprint. If lasers have to provide excellent beam quality at low cost and energy-consumption, VCSELs are the current technology of choice. Directly modulated VCSELs have bandwidth limitations that must be conquered to enable the highest bandwidths at ultra-low cost. The High-Speed, Temperature-Stable 980-nm VCSELs made at the Center of Nanophotonics at the Technical University of Berlin were processed in a coplanar low-parasitic ground-signal-ground contact pad layout incorporating thick BCB passivation layers. VCSELs designed to work at ultra-high bit rates don’t automatically get more energy efficient just by simply reducing the pumping current and the bit rate.

Auch wenn eine ursachliche Demenzbehandlung und eine voll wirksame Pravention die nachsten Jahrzehnte wohl nicht in Aussicht stehen, gibt es keinen Anlass fur Nihilismus. Pravention ist moglich. Diagnose und Behandlung der Komorbiditaten fordern Mobilitat, Kognition und Befinden. Krankenhauseinweisungen von Menschen mit Demenz gilt es zu vermeiden, praoperativ ist das kognitive OP-Risiko einzuschatzen. Evidenzgestutzte, generalisierbare Handlungsempfehlungen existieren derzeit nicht. Ein vertrauensvolles Verhaltnis zwischen Betroffenem und Arzt sowie eine individualisierte Behandlung sind daher umso wichtiger. Differenziertes Vorgehen, eingebettet in einfuhlsame Gesprachsfuhrung und Beratung, ist Basis einer praventiven Strategie. Eine genaue Diagnose sichert Leistungen der Kranken- und Pflegeversicherung, erlaubt einen zielgerichteten Einsatz von Angeboten, stellt den erhohten Ressourcenaufwand dar und wirkt entlastend, weil sie die Symptome der Krankheitsentitat „beim Namen nennt“.

A microspectrometer based on a middle-infrared (Mid-IR) linear variable optical filters (LVOF) and a MEMS-based infrared thermopile detector array has been developed for multi-gases sensing in the indoor and industrial environments. The designs, fabrications, and characterizations of LVOF and thermopile detector are presented. Experimentally, the LVOF exhibits a mean FWHM of ∼ 400 nm and mean peak transmittance of ∼ 70% at the central wavelength of the operating spectrum of $2.5 \sim 5\ \mu \mathrm{m}$ . The thermopile detectors used ${p-}$ and $n$ -polysilicon/Al metal as thermocouple materials, exhibiting a resistance temperature coefficient of 0.08%/°C and a responsivity of 112 V/W. The LVOF can be regarded as a narrow-band filter array that is installed above the thermopile detector array to form a portable and inexpensive Mid-IR spectrometer for multi-gases sensing.

36th International Cosmic Ray Conference, ICRC2019, Madison, USA, 24 Jul 2019 - 1 Aug 2019; 9 pages (2019)., The search for Dark Matter (DM) has great potential to reveal physics beyond the Standard Model. As such, searches for evidence of DM particles are being carried out using a wide range of techniques, such as direct searches for DM particles, searches for DM produced with colliders, and indirect searches for the Standard Model annihilation products of DM. Dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) are excellent targets for indirect Dark Matter searches due to their relatively high DM content and negligible expected astrophysical background. A collaboration was formed to maximise the sensitivity of DM searches towards dSphs by combining for the first time dSph data from three imaging air Cherenkov telescope (IACT) arrays: HESS, MAGIC, and VERITAS; the Fermi-LAT satellite, and the water Cherenkov detector HAWC. Due to the diverse nature of the instruments involved, each experiment will analyse their individual datasets from multiple targets and then the results will be combined at the likelihood level. For consistency of the likelihoods across the five experiments, a common approach is used to treat the astrophysical factor (J-Factor) for each target and an agreed set of annihilation channels are considered. We also agree on a common statistical approach and treatment of instrumental systematic uncertainties. The results are presented in terms of constraints on the velocity-weighted cross section for DM self-annihilation as a function of the DM particle mass.

We present the results of our investigation, using a Chandra X-ray observation, into the stellar population of the massive star formation region G5.89-0.39, and its potential connection to the coincident TeV gamma-ray source HESSJ1800-240B. G5.89-0.39 comprises two separate HII regions G5.89-0.39A and G5.89-0.39B (an ultra-compact HII region). We identified 159 individual X-ray point sources in our observation using the source detection algorithm \texttt{wavdetect}. 35 X-ray sources are associated with the HII complex G5.89-0.39. The 35 X-ray sources represent an average unabsorbed luminosity (0.3-10\,keV) of $\sim10^{30.5}$\,erg/s, typical of B7-B5 type stars. The potential ionising source of G5.89-0.39B known as Feldt's star is possibly identified in our observation with an unabsorbed X-ray luminosity suggestive of a B7-B5 star. The stacked energy spectra of these sources is well-fitted with a single thermal plasma APEC model with kT$\sim$5\,keV, and column density N$_{\rm H}=2.6\times10^{22}$\,cm$^{-2}$ (A$_{\rm V}\sim 10$). The residual (source-subtracted) X-ray emission towards G5.89-0.39A and B is about 30\% and 25\% larger than their respective stacked source luminosities. Assuming this residual emission is from unresolved stellar sources, the total B-type-equivalent stellar content in G5.89-0.39A and B would be 75 stars, consistent with an earlier estimate of the total stellar mass of hot stars in G5.89-0.39. We have also looked at the variability of the 35 X-ray sources in G5.89-0.39. Ten of these sources are flagged as being variable. Further studies are needed to determine the exact causes of the variability, however the variability could point towards pre-main sequence stars. Such a stellar population could provide sufficient kinetic energy to account for a part of the GeV to TeV gamma-ray emission in the source HESSJ1800-240B., Comment: 34 pages, 9 figures

The Aerosol Dynamics in Containments (ADiC) model describes the dynamic changes of inhaled cigarette smoke droplets during puffing, mouth-hold, and inspiration and expiration, considering coagulation, phase transition, conductive heat and diffusive/convective vapor transport, and dilution/mixing. The ADiC model has been implemented into a single path representation of the stochastic lung dosimetry model IDEAL to compute particulate phase deposition as well as vapor phase deposition in the airway generations of the human lung. In the present study, the ADiC model has been applied to the inhalation of combustible and electronic cigarette aerosols. Aerosol dynamics processes significantly influence the physical properties of particle and vapor phase in the human respiratory tract: (i) number reduction of inhaled aerosol particles is caused primarily by coagulation and less by deposition for both aerosols; (ii) hygroscopic growth rates are higher for e-cigarettes than for combustible cigarettes; (iii) the effect of particle growth on deposition leads to a lower total deposition in the case of cigarette smoke particles and a higher total deposition in the case of e-cigarette droplets relative to their initial size distributions; and, (iv) most of the nicotine is deposited by the vapor phase for both aerosols.