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After the Phase-2 high-luminosity upgrade to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the collision rate and therefore the background rate will significantly increase, particularly in the high $\eta$ region. To improve both the tracking and triggering of muons, the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Collaboration plans to install triple-layer Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors in the CMS muon endcaps. Demonstrator GEM detectors were installed in CMS during 2017 to gain operational experience and perform a preliminary investigation of detector performance. We present the results of triple-GEM detector performance studies performed in situ during normal CMS and LHC operations in 2018. The distribution of cluster size and the efficiency to reconstruct high $p_T$ muons in proton--proton collisions are presented as well as the measurement of the environmental background rate to produce hits in the GEM detector., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures

We present analytical calculations, Finite Element Analysis modeling, and physical measurements of the interstrip capacitances for different potential strip geometries and dimensions of the readout boards for the GE2/1 triple-Gas Electron Multiplier detector in the CMS muon system upgrade. The main goal of the study is to find configurations that minimize the interstrip capacitances and consequently maximize the signal-to-noise ratio for the detector. We find agreement at the 1.5--4.8% level between the two methods of calculations and on the average at the 17% level between calculations and measurements. A configuration with halved strip lengths and doubled strip widths results in a measured 27--29% reduction over the original configuration while leaving the total number of strips unchanged. We have now adopted this design modification for all eight module types of the GE2/1 detector and will produce the final detector with this new strip design., Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures

International audience; Several wooden objects discovered in the sanctuary of the goddess Mephitis in the Ansanto Valley (Southern Italy), and dated to the second half of the 1st millennium BC, are analyzed in this study with the aim of investigating the woodworking technologies of the ancient population, the Samnites, who venerated the goddess.No woodworking tools have been discovered during archaeological excavations and original tool-marks on the objects were covered during the restoration of the objects in the mid 20th century. Therefore, a dendrotypological approach was used to study the objects, though challenges to the analyses and interpretation of results arose from the non-optimal state of preservation of the wood and the materials used during restoration, which interrupt the tree-ring sequences.The analyzed features (wood taxon, tree age and size and part of the trunk isolated for the carving process) highlight the presence of non-uniform woodworking practices, which could be related to the presence of several craftsmen or woodshops, as attested in the ancient Greek world. The stylistic differences identified in the sculptures from the Ansanto Valley might refer to the social status of Samnite families who commissioned the ex-voto.

Triple-GEM detector technology was recently selected by CMS for a part of the upgrade of its forward muon detector system as GEM detectors provide a stable operation in the high radiation environment expected during the future High-Luminosity phase of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). In a first step, GEM chambers (detectors) will be installed in the innermost muon endcap station in the $1.6, Comment: 23 pages, 24 figures

Diagnostic ultrasound (US) images can be obtained from a quality device, in optimal working conditions, combined with the capable actions of the operator in tweaking the equipment’s characteristics. The quality assurance (QA) is the topic of this review article, and it is addressed in an US practice through proper selection of the equipment when purchasing, and through care and preventive maintenance of the machine for ensuring accurate performance. For optimal US system functioning, QA steps carried out on the basis of a scheduled program are needed in any US practice or department. It is critical to confirm in a semiannual or annual basis that the image quality is maintained according to standards and any subtle change in equipment’s functioning is detected and amended at an early stage. The use of test objects (also called US testing phantoms) is required above the basic level of QA testing. The scope of this review article is to inform the US user about necessary QA knowledge and at the same time, present the state of the art of the most suitable test methods for US QA. We referred to relevant publications, selected after performing a systematic literature search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE databases, and also to the standards established by authoritative international societies.

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) affects up to 1% of Caucasian children. Primary VUR is characterized by failure of the ureterovesicular junction to prevent urine from traveling in a retrograde fashion from the bladder to the ureters and the kidneys. Several reports in the literature describe the prevalence of this condition in pediatric patients; overall, VUR affects more males during infancy and with higher grades. However, a thorough consideration of these articles reveals important contradictions regarding the prevalence by gender and age. We analyzed those contradictions and suggested a possible explanation based on our single center experience with this patient group. In particular, for the age interval 0-2 years: we have found that (1) VUR mostly affects boys; (2) the male/female ratio steadily declines over time; (3) the unequal prevalence between males and females essentially disappears when children reach the age of two years.The natural history of VUR in infant boys differs from that of infant girls, and therefore requires a gender-specific approach. Available data support the need to redefine the categorization and clinical guidelines for this disease.

Este trabalho visou a quantificar as características de resposta produtiva de pintos de corte provenientes de duas linhagens comerciais, em incubatório de regime de estágio múltiplo. Para tal, foram monitorados três lotes de ovos férteis em incubatório comercial, verificando o impacto das seguintes variáveis ambientais: temperatura, velocidade do ar, umidade relativa, concentração de dióxido de carbono e presença de fungos. O acompanhamento de pintos provenientes de duas linhagens comerciais distintas (Cobb® e Avian®) foi feito em três lotes, quando também foram coletados dados de perdas. A análise de componentes principais foi empregada para associar as variáveis de ambiente, produção e perdas, observando a magnitude dos vetores. Os resultados mostraram que o ambiente de incubação influenciou diretamente no desempenho (qualidade, incidência de anormalidades e mortalidade) das duas linhagens de frango de corte. Ambas as linhagens apresentaram perdas produtivas relacionadas à baixa temperatura de incubação na incubadora e no nascedouro, mostrando que a temperatura de incubação é o fator mais importante para que sejam alcançados índices produtivos ótimos.This research aimed to quantify the characteristics of the productive response of pullets from two distinct genetic strains in multi setter incubator. For this three batches of fertile eggs were monitored in a commercial incubator verifying the impact of the following environmental variables: temperature, air velocity, relative humidity, carbon dioxide concentration and presence of fungi. The follow up was done in three flocks of broiler pullets from two commercial genetic strains (Cobb® and Avian®) also along with the data of losses. The principal components analysis was used for associating the variables of environment, production and losses by observing the magnitude of the vectors. Results showed that the environment of incubation influenced the performance (quality, incidence of abnormalities and mortality) of the two broiler's strains. Both strains presented productive losses related to low temperature inside the incubator and in the hatchery showing that incubation temperature is the most important factor for reaching ideal productive index.

Este trabalho visou a quantificar as características de resposta produtiva de pintos de corte provenientes de duas linhagens comerciais, em incubatório de regime de estágio múltiplo. Para tal, foram monitorados três lotes de ovos férteis em incubatório comercial, verificando o impacto das seguintes variáveis ambientais: temperatura, velocidade do ar, umidade relativa, concentração de dióxido de carbono e presença de fungos. O acompanhamento de pintos provenientes de duas linhagens comerciais distintas (Cobb® e Avian®) foi feito em três lotes, quando também foram coletados dados de perdas. A análise de componentes principais foi empregada para associar as variáveis de ambiente, produção e perdas, observando a magnitude dos vetores. Os resultados mostraram que o ambiente de incubação influenciou diretamente no desempenho (qualidade, incidência de anormalidades e mortalidade) das duas linhagens de frango de corte. Ambas as linhagens apresentaram perdas produtivas relacionadas à baixa temperatura de incubação na incubadora e no nascedouro, mostrando que a temperatura de incubação é o fator mais importante para que sejam alcançados índices produtivos ótimos.

The production of river buffalo meat in Italy has long been under discussion due to poor acceptance by consumers. In order to understand whether dietary energy content may affect the organoleptic characteristics of buffalo meat, two groups of river buffalo calves were fed on two diets, with high (H) and low (L) energy contents. The animals were slaughtered at 4-monthly intervals starting from 6 months old (10, 14 and 18 months) and five muscles were dissected on the half-carcass: Caput longum tricipitis brachii (CloTB), Gluteobiceps (Gb), Semitendinosus (St), Semimembranosus (Sm) and Longissimus dorsi (LD). The results showed that from 6 to 10 months of age the meat lipid content decreases and protein content increases for both diets. The lipid content increases slowly with both diets from 10 to 14 months. In the last experimental period (from 14 to 18 months) an increase in the percentage of lipids with diet H and a decrease with diet L was observed. At all slaughtering ages the meat from the animals fed on diet H had a higher energy content. The different energy content of the two diets did not significantly influence the composition of triglycerides only formed by SFA and triglycerides with a higher degree of unsaturation. The triglycerides with an unsaturated fatty acid in position sn 2 did not show the same behaviour in relation to age and diet. The energy content of the feed did influence the unsaturated fatty acid composition: MUFA increased with an increased energy level of the diet, while PUFA increased with a reduction in the energy level of the diet. The muscle LD showed a significantly higher (P

The aim of this study is to prove if dynamic HASTE (half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo) sequences can be used in the diagnosis of internal derangement disorders of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) as an alternative to static proton density (PD) weighted/turbo spin echo (TSE) T2-weighted sequences which are considered up to now as the gold standard in the evaluation of TMJ disorders (TMDs).194 patients for a total of 388 TMJs were examined with a 1.5 Tesla field strength superconducting magnet. Sagittal static PD-weighted/TSE T2-weighted and dynamic HASTE sequences have been used. Three experts in the field of oral radiology (specialist A, B and C) independently and blinded to clinical symptoms and any treatment, assessed the articular disc position in each TMJ (rated as normal or disc displacement with reduction or disc displacement without reduction). The agreement between static and dynamic images and between the three different specialists in the assessment of the articular disc position was evaluated using kappa statistic.The agreement between static and dynamic images is: for specialist A, K = 0.862; for specialist B, K = 0.870 and for specialist C, K = 0.862.Since there is no complete agreement between these two MR techniques, dynamic sequences can not be used as a reliable alternative to static sequences in the evaluation of internal derangement disorders of TMJ.

Meat colour and oxidation parameters were investigated on Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle from Charolais young bulls fed with the same ration, based on mineral/vitamin mix supplementation, before slaughtering, for either 30 days (Mvit30) or 60 days (Mvit60). LT muscle was aged for 3, 7, 14 days. Different mineral/vitamin mix times supplementation had a significant influence on meat colour stability at the three different ageing times. Significant differences were found on Lightness value and Hue angle value. Oxidation parameters confirmed meat colour data. In fact, at 14 d ageing time, LT muscle, obtained from animals belong to the Mvit60 group, showed both Metamyoglobin percentage and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values lower than the others. Results point out that supplementation with mineral/vitamin mix before slaughtering increases meat colour stability and reduces oxidative processes which are the basis for degradative processes.

With the aim to assess if some molecular markers can help to select animals for meat characteristics, we studied 84 individuals equally representing the Marchigiana, Maremmana, and Holstein Friesian cattle breeds genotyped at 288 SNPs located within candidate genes. Several SNPs were found associated with meat quality parameters but with P which was higher than the Bonferroni threshold. However, several SNPs had a low P at different times during meat maturation, suggesting their involvement in the meat quality variation. Of particular interest for the biological role and potential for selection were: cathepsin G affecting MFI, IGF1R affecting pH and collagen XVIII affecting colour.

The relative effectiveness of phosphorus (P) applications on growth and the effect of added P on the extent of infection of roots of narrowleaf birsfoot trefoil (Lotus tenuis) and of broadleaf birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) by an indigenous VAM fungi (Glomus sp.) was studied on a P‐deficient soil (Typic Natraquoll). In terms of rate of increase of shoot growth per unit of added P, broadleaf was more efficient than narrowleaf birsdfoot trefoil but they did not differ in the relative effectiveness of P for growth. For the two Lotus species, when increasing the level of added P there was an initial increase in the percentage of root length infected, and then with further additions, there was a consistent decrease of the infection. For narrowleaf, the maximum percentage of root length infected was when plants reached 11% of their maximum shoot growth. Whereas for broafleaf, the maximum percentage of root infected was when plants reached the 66% of their maximum shoot growth. Despite differenc...

Production of one day-old chick production is one of the most important segments in the poultry production business. Broiler chicken incubation environment needs to be homogeneous and adequate so hatchability and final product quality are not affected. This research aimed at evaluating environmental conditions inside a multi-stage setter in a commercial hatchery house. The incubator was split into six areas and data loggers placed in the geometric center to register temperature and relative humidity data; carbon dioxide concentration and number of colony forming units (CFU) of fungi were also sampled and analyzed; Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test was used for statistical analysis; significant differences in temperature and relative humidity distribution inside the incubator (p < 0.05) were detected, but no differences were found in CO2 concentrations or CFU distribution inside the incubator (p > 0.05). Fungi incidence varied from average to good. Critical points were detected in all areas inside the setter. A produção de pintinhos de um dia é um dos segmentos mais importantes da cadeia avícola. O ambiente de incubação de frangos de corte precisa ser homogêneo e adequado de modo a não afetar a eclodibilidade e a qualidade do produto final. Avaliaram-se as condições de ambiência no interior de incubadora de estágio múltiplo durante um lote de produção em incubatório comercial. A incubadora foi dividida em seis quadrantes em cujo centro geométrico foram colocados registradores de valores de temperatura e umidade relativa. A concentração de dióxido de carbono, bem como o número de unidades formadoras de colônias (CFU) de fungos também foram amostradas nos mesmos locais; o teste não paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis foi utilizado para análise estatística. Foram detectadas diferenças na distribuição de temperatura e umidade relativa no interior da incubadora (p < 0,05), mas não foi encontrada diferença na distribuição de CO2 e de CFU no interior da incubadora (p > 0,05). A incidência de fungos variou de média a boa. Pontos críticos foram detectados em todas as áreas dentro da incubadora.

International audience; A total of 436 young bulls from fifteen Western European breeds, including beef, dairy and local types from five countries, were studied to assess variability in live weight, live weight gain, body measurements and carcass traits. Animals were logged indoors, and fed a diet based on concentrate and straw offered ad libitum from 9 months of age to slaughter at 15 months of age. The weight, body length, height at withers and pelvis width, of the animals were recorded at 9, 12 and 15 months of age. After slaughter, 15 carcass variables were recorded, including carcass weight, EU classification scores, morphological measurements and dissection data. Data were analysed by GLM, regression and principal component analysis procedures. Significant differences were found between breeds for all variables studied, however, the body size measurements and the carcass traits were more useful to discriminate among cattle breeds, than either live weight or daily gain. With respect to the body size and carcass traits the studied breeds could be grouped as: Specialized beef breeds, comprising Piemontese, Asturiana de los Valles, Pirenaica, Limousin, South Devon, Charolais and Aberdeen Angus, all of which were characterized by high muscularity, wide pelvis and medium height and a low to medium level of fatness. Local and dairy breeds, comprising Jersey, Casina, Highland, Holstein and Danish Red, the latter two breeds were tall animals, while the former three breeds were small in size. In general the group was poorly muscled and tended to have a high or medium level of fat. Intermediate group, Avilena, Marchigiana and Simmental: these breeds were characterized by an intermediate muscle conformation and fatness level and were relatively tall. This study provides a detailed assessment or a wide range of variables in the major breeds, and several minor breeds, that are used in breeding programmes across Europe and elsewhere, and will provide information that will be of use to define breeding strategies to meet the demands of the European beef market. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The impact of parasitic effects of integrated inductors for RFIC is not negligible so an accurate model of their behaviour is necessary. This paper presents a numerical parameterized model of integrated inductor with hollow planar spiral geometry and poly-ground-shield. The model allows to choose the inductor geometry with better quality in relation to its spiral side length and number of turns. A validation of the model has been achieved by a 3D electromagnetic field solver. The inductor model has been applied to the synthesis of matching networks for a low noise amplifier operating in the (5 to 6) GHz frequency band

The results of EHT calculations on the most stable conformations of the neurotransmitter molecule acetylcholine (ACh) are reported. These results are compared with those obtained with other semiempirical quantum mechanical methods CNDO/2, INDO and PCILO, and with those obtained by the classical partitioning of the energy method (PEM). From this comparison it becomes evident a wide agreement between the results of PCILO, EHT and PEM, all these methods allowing accessibility to discrete regions in conformational space.

Quantum Mechanical investigations have been performed by means of EHT and CNDO/2 methods on the three amino terminal peptides: NH 3 + -CH2-CONHCH3, NH 3 + -CH(CH3)-CONHCH3 and NH 3 + -CH2-CON(CH2)4. The resulting energy maps compare satisfactorily with the distribution of the experimental X-rays data.

The trial was carried out on 30 bovine male calves and 30 water buffalo male calves fed milk reiplacers and concentrate, subdivided into three groups and slaughtered at 20, 28 and 36 weeks.

A trial was carried out on 179 heifers of five genetic types (Chianina, Limousin , Marchigiana, Piemontese, Charolais) x Friesian to study the problems related to an early calving. The carcass value of the animals slaughtered ten days after first calving, or after weaning of their calf was also studied.

Some physical characteristics (colour, cooking losses and Warner Bratzler Shear force values) and taste -panel assessment were determined on some muscles from 30 Friesian male calves and 30 water buffalo male calves reared in identical conditions of environment and feeding and slaughtered at 20, 28 and 36 weeks of age.

Distribution of charges, derived for the cholinergic substrates acetylcholine and carbamylcholine using the EHT and CNDO/2 quantum mechanical techniques, have been used to compute the conformational energy of the two molecules by the pairwise addition of van der Waals non-bonded interactions, torsional potentials and electrostatic interactions. There is a variation in the energy sequence of the four low-energy conformations previously derived by neglecting the electrostatic energy, but they continue to be allowed supporting the view of a high degree of conformational freedom.

The concept of breed is rather questionable and it’s used more as a tool for “labelling” production systems than as a biological category. Here, production system is intended as a whole set of animal units, techniques, breeding schemes, marketing, etc. However, man has demonstrated to be very quick in capturing and disseminating good characteristics whence they appear in a breed by mutation or by selection. Therefore, it might be expected that breeds, nevertheless of recent origin, could bear distinguished productive characteristics. Due to the quan- titative nature of them, more characteristics should be measured in order to obtain a clear and statistically significant distinction. We have measured several meat characteristics in 15 European breeds (30 individuals for each breed), mostly with beef attitude, reared in similar conditions. This was accomplished to better reveal the genetic background of breeds. A canonical discriminant analysis showed a clear distinction among breeds. In particular lipid composition of meat was able to assign individuals to breeds with 57% and 63% of individuals correctly classified respectively for neutral and phospholipids. The classification is generally good for all breeds except for the Spanish ones,indicating probably some crossing in the past for these breeds. Neutral lipids can classify double muscled breeds with high precision (84% and 95% in Asturiana de los Valles and Piedmontese respectively). Tenderness related measures (collagen, µ-calpain, m-calpain, calpastatin, MFI) poorly assign indi- viduals to breeds (average 22%). The good classification of individuals to breeds for lipid composition suggests distinctive genetic features and encourages to look further to genetic determination of fat composition in the meat, as well as to exploit particular breeds to obtain products suitable for categories of consumers needing/searching for special components in their diet.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the meat quality of double muscled Marchigiana young bulls characterized by different genotypes for the hypertrophy: normal and mutated (heterozygous). Calpain and calpastatin activities were determined to verify the state of aging meat on a sample of Longissimus thoracis muscle (XIII thoracic rib) taken at slaughtering (0h) and after 24 hours (24h). After 14 days of aging, another sample of muscle was taken to evaluate physical and chemical parameters of meat quality. The results showed a better meat quality of mutated animals respect normal animals. Another interesting result was the correlation between the biochemical parameters and some physical parameters, such as WBS (Warner Bratzler Shear Force), CL (Cooking loss). These results showed the relationship between the proteolytic activity of calpain system and meat tenderness.