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The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Tritrichomonas foetus infection and associated clinical signs in purebred cats in Germany, to investigate the role of co-infection, and identify determinants of infection. Faecal specimens accompanied by epidemiological questionnaires were scored and collected from 230 purebred cats. Faeces were examined for trichomonads and other enteroparasites. The prevalence of T foetus was 15.7% among cats and 18.5% among catteries. An abnormal faecal score and history of diarrhoea were observed in 64% and 61% of T foetus-positive cats, respectively, and correlated significantly with infection. Co-infection, observed in 36% of T foetus-infected cats, was not associated with diarrhoea. Norwegian Forest cats were infected significantly more often than other breeds. No association was found with any environmental factors. This study demonstrated a high prevalence of symptomatic T foetus infections in purebred cats in Germany. Co-infection with other enteroparasites did not worsen clinical signs of trichomonosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Development of an ATHLET model of the ROCOM test facility. • Validation of the 3D-Module of ATHLET against the experiment ROCOM E2.3. • Results from the numerical simulation are in good agreement with the experiment. • Assessed code capabilities to simulate fluid mixing under buoyancy-driven flow conditions. • Assessed numerical diffusion and effectiveness of the implemented multi-D approach. Inherent boron dilution in PWRs constitutes one of the key issues in nuclear safety research. This issue has been widely investigated analytically and experimentally through several test facilities in Germany. Besides the knowledge gained on the matter, the experimental research has contributed to the creation of large databases for the validation of computational tools used in nuclear safety analyses, such as system and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) codes. In this paper, the multidimensional features of the thermal–hydraulic system code ATHLET are assessed based on the results from the boron dilution experiment E2.3, carried out at the ROCOM test facility. The aim of the present paper is twofold; first contributing to the validation of the 3D-Module of ATHLET, as well as assessing the numerical diffusion introduced by the code during the calculation of boron transport and fluid mixing in the developed pseudo multidimensional vessel throughout the progression of the boron dilution event. Overall, the obtained results with ATHLET 3.1A are satisfactory and meet the validation exercise goals, namely in downcomer annulus and lower plenum. However, the limitations of the code to simulate fluid mixing in the cold legs lead to some deviations in the results at the vessel inlet nozzles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New tracking detectors are necessary for beam diagnostics and event-by-event particle identification for the Super-FRS, a next generation reaction product separation being constructed at GSI/FAIR in Germany. Novel detectors and electronics are currently being developed to meet the stringent requirements of this forefront fragment separator due to high radiation levels, long term electronic stability and the required homogeneity of materials in the beam, while maintaining very high tracking efficiency. The present contribution focuses on the electronics for a new Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM)-based Time Projection Chamber (TPC) to provide the position information, which are needed to reconstruct the A/q of the fragment from protons to uranium ions. The most recent Front End Electronics (FEE) developed at GSI with a novel Amplifier With Adaptive Gain Settings (AWAGS) ASIC are being tested. This FEE has a low noise level (sub fC), a large dynamic range (up to ∼ 71 pC) with excellent timing properties. The AWAGS uses a switched capacitance technique instead of fixed feedback capacitors to provide the large dynamic range. Results from the ASIC characterisation studies and the outlook for a new, updated chip for the full read out chain of the GEM TPC are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]