Optical MTF and aberration predictions with the Helmholtz-Lagrange invariant.

The paper presents a method for a rough estimation of the aberrations and of the MTF of an optical system by means of the Helmholtz-Lagrange invariant. The method allows for a rough understanding of an optical design and can find application in those cases where approximated performance predictions are needed, for example, before running complex and time-consuming analyses. The simple approach presented here is a rough approximation and should always be followed by the usual tolerance analyses.

A storage ring experiment to detect a proton electric dipole moment.

A new experiment is described to detect a permanent electric dipole moment of the proton with a sensitivity of 10-29 e ⋅ cm by using polarized "magic" momentum 0.7 GeV/c protons in an all-electric storage ring. Systematic errors relevant to the experiment are discussed and techniques to address them are presented. The measurement is sensitive to new physics beyond the standard model at the scale of 3000 TeV.

Endovascular Stent Grafting of a Deep Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm.

INTRODUCTION: Pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) are uncommon, but can occur as a complication of orthopedic procedures, usually associated with femur surgery. This report describes successful management of a PSA of the deep femoral artery (DFA) with an endovascular stent graft. REPORT: This case reports an injury that presented as a false aneurysm secondary to a fractured neck of femur, which was initially confused with hematoma. Imaging confirmed the diagnosis of PSA, and the decision was taken to implant an endovascular stent graft. DISCUSSION: The endovascular stent graft was implanted based on radiological, anatomical, and clinical parameters. This case supports the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of stenting for PSA of the DFA.

Strong-interaction shifts and widths of kaonic helium isotopes.

The kaonic 3He and 4He [Formula: see text] transitions in gaseous targets were observed by the SIDDHARTA experiment. The X-ray energies of these transitions were measured with large-area silicon-drift detectors using the timing information of the [Formula: see text] pairs produced by the DAΦNE [Formula: see text] collider. The strong-interaction shifts and widths both of the kaonic 3He and 4He 2p states were determined, which are much smaller than the results obtained by the previous experiments. The "kaonic helium puzzle" (a discrepancy between theory and experiment) was now resolved.

Preliminary study of kaonic deuterium X-rays by the SIDDHARTA experiment at DAΦNE.

The study of the [Formula: see text] system at very low energies plays a key role for the understanding of the strong interaction between hadrons in the strangeness sector. At the DAΦNE electron-positron collider of Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati we studied kaonic atoms with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], taking advantage of the low-energy charged kaons from Φ-mesons decaying nearly at rest. The SIDDHARTA experiment used X-ray spectroscopy of the kaonic atoms to determine the transition yields and the strong interaction induced shift and width of the lowest experimentally accessible level (1s for H and D and 2p for He). Shift and width are connected to the real and imaginary part of the scattering length. To disentangle the isospin dependent scattering lengths of the antikaon-nucleon interaction, measurements of [Formula: see text] and of [Formula: see text] are needed. We report here on an exploratory deuterium measurement, from which a limit for the yield of the K-series transitions was derived: [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (CL 90%). Also, the upcoming SIDDHARTA-2 kaonic deuterium experiment is introduced.

Parameters for evaluation of clinical trial in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi / Parâmetros para avaliação clínica de camundongos infectados pelo Trypanosoma cruzi em experimentação

The effectiveness of clinical parameters in the evaluation of Trypanosoma cruzi infection was analyzed in male Swiss mice at 8 weeks old Animals were divided into HG (healthy) and IG (1400 trypomastigotes, intraperitoneally, Y strain - Trypanosoma cruzi). Quantitative and qualitative parameters were evaluated in non-consecutive days in the period, from 7th-11th and 15th-18th days of infection. There were significant differences (P<0.05) between both groups in both periods regarding water consumption, abdominal circumference and weight. The second group presented differences in amount of excreta, body temperature, move-up and mortality. There was no difference (P>0.05) between the groups in food consumption, exploration of self-cleaning and skin staining. The fecal feature differed between the groups in the second period. The occurrence of isolation was not practical. Differences were observed in the hair between groups, although the parameter had been interfered by fights between animals. The consumption of water, feed, excreta production, characteristic of the faeces, body temperature, abdominal circumference, move up, weight and mortality parameters are easy to be measured and effective in clinical differentiation of healthy mice infected with T. cruzi, elected in protocols for clinical study with mice, which is the first work to gather information of qualitative and quantitative clinical parameters evaluated in these animals.

Analisou-se a eficiência de parâmetros clínicos na avaliação da infecção pelo Trypanosoma cruzi em camundongos suíços, machos de 8 semanas. Os grupos foram divididos em GS (sadios) e GI (1400 tripomastigotas, intraperitoneal, cepa Y - Trypanosoma cruzi). Avaliaram-se parâmetros quantitativos e qualitativos em dias não consecutivos nos períodos, 7º-11º e 15º-18º dias de infecção. Observaram-se diferenças (P<0.05) significativas entre os grupos, nos dois períodos: consumo de água, circunferência abdominal e peso; apenas no segundo período: quantidade de excretas, temperatura corporal, movimento-levantar e mortalidade. Não houve diferença (P>0.05) entre os grupos: consumo de ração, exploração de auto-limpeza e coloração da pele. As fezes diferiram entre os grupos no segundo período. A ocorrência de isolamento não se mostrou prática. Diferenças no pêlo foram observadas entre os grupos, embora o parâmetro sofra interferência de brigas entre os animais. O consumo de água, ração, produção de excretas, característica das fezes, temperatura corporal, circunferência abdominal, movimento-levantar, peso e mortalidade são parâmetros fáceis de serem medidos e eficientes na diferenciação da clínica de camundongos sadios e infectados pelo T. cruzi, eleitos para protocolos de estudos clínicos com camundongos, sendo este o primeiro trabalho a reunir informações de parâmetros clínicos qualitativos e quantitativos avaliados nesses animais.

Measurements of the strong-interaction widths of the kaonic (3)He and (4)He 2p levels.

The kaonic (3)He and (4)He X-rays emitted in the [Formula: see text] transitions were measured in the SIDDHARTA experiment. The widths of the kaonic (3)He and (4)He 2p states were determined to be [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text], respectively. Both results are consistent with the theoretical predictions. The width of kaonic (4)He is much smaller than the value of [Formula: see text] determined by the experiments performed in the 70's and 80's, while the width of kaonic (3)He was determined for the first time.

First measurement of kaonic helium-3 X-rays.

The first observation of the kaonic (3)He 3d→2p transition was made, using slow K- mesons stopped in a gaseous (3)He target. The kaonic atom X-rays were detected with large-area silicon drift detectors using the timing information of the K+K- pairs of ϕ-meson decays produced by the DAΦNE e+e- collider. The strong interaction shift of the kaonic (3)He 2p state was determined to be -2±2(stat)±4(syst) eV.

Limits on light-speed anisotropies from Compton scattering of high-energy electrons.

The possibility of anisotropies in the speed of light relative to the limiting speed of electrons is considered. The absence of sidereal variations in the energy of Compton-edge photons at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility's GRAAL facility constrains such anisotropies representing the first nonthreshold collision-kinematics study of Lorentz violation. When interpreted within the minimal standard-model extension, this result yields the two-sided limit of 1.6×10(-14) at 95% confidence level on a combination of the parity-violating photon and electron coefficients (κ(o+))(YZ), (κ(o+))(ZX), c(TX), and c(TY). This new constraint provides an improvement over previous bounds by 1 order of magnitude.

Simultaneous photoproduction of eta and pi0 mesons on the proton.

The analysis of the gammap-->etapi(0)p reaction has been performed using data from the GRAAL experiment. The total and differential cross sections and the beam asymmetry have been obtained from threshold up to 1.5 GeV of beam energy. The two resonances S11(1535) and Delta(1700) are expected to be excited in the intermediate states of this reaction. The results are used to test predictions based on the assumption that both resonances are dynamically generated from the meson-baryon interaction provided by chiral Lagrangians. The term involving the Delta(1700) excitation, followed by the decay into etaDelta(1232), is found to be dominant.

Double pi(0) Photoproduction on the Proton at GRAAL.

The double pi(0) photoproduction off the proton has been measured in the beam energy range of 0.65-1.5 GeV. The total and differential cross sections and the Sigma beam asymmetry were extracted. The total cross section measured for the first time in the third resonance region of the nucleon shows a prominent peak. The interpretation of these results by two independent theoretical models infers mostly the selective excitation of P11- and D13-nucleon resonances.

Josephson junction coupled to a transmission line: a comparison of different approaches.

The case of a Josephson junction loaded by a transmission line is reexamined, according to the Green's function method, in order to compare the results with those that we previously obtained, analytically and numerically, following a different procedure.

Tunneling as a stochastic process: a path-integral model for microwave experiments.

Delay time results obtained in microwave experiments at frequencies above and below the cutoff frequency of different waveguide sections are interpreted on the basis of wave propagation in the presence of dissipative effects. Kac's original suggestion was the starting point for the formulation of a stochastic model, which has now been substantially improved, also in relation to the transition-elements theory of Feynman-Hibbs. In this way, an approach to the problem is provided, which is completely distinct from the ones formulated elsewhere.

Anomalous pulse delay in microwave propagation: A stochastic process interpretation.

An experiment involving microwave propagation in the near-field region with two horn antennas demonstrated a superluminal behavior which is strongly dependent on the frequency. The models previously proposed are found to be inadequate for interpreting the results. An attempt is made within the framework of a stochastic model, which can be improved by a path-integral analysis.

Simple stochastic model for optical tunneling.

A simple model, derived from a Brownian-motion scheme, is capable of interpreting the results of delay-time measurements relative to frustrated total reflection experiments at the microwave scale but also in the visible region. In this framework we also obtain a plausible description of the trajectories (rays) inside the tunneling region, the air gap between two paraffin prisms.

Anomalous delay in wave propagation and tunneling: a transition-elements analysis of the traversal time.

An alternative model for near-field propagation and optical tunneling is proposed following the lines of the path-integral method developed by Feynman, and in particular by using a transition-elements analysis. Such a model was able to account for the frequency dependency of delay-time results of an experiment involving microwave propagation in the near field using two horn antennas [A. Ranfagni et al., Phys. Rev. E 66, 036111 (2002)]. Furthermore, this approach is also capable of interpreting delay-time results as a function of the barrier width in a frustrated total internal reflection experiment performed at the microwave scale and in the optical region.

Experimental evidence of tunneling as a stochastic process.

A model for tunneling based on stochastic processes proves to be capable of interpreting the results of two experiments at the microwave scale. The first of these consisted of measuring the penetration time in a subcutoff waveguide; the second one, in measuring the shift of a beam in a frustrated total reflection. Said shift which is a measurement of the traversal time of the barrier. In both cases, a peak in the real-time component was evidenced, as predicted by the theoretical model.

A double blind randomized study of oral clodronate in the treatment of bone metastases from tumors poorly responsive to chemotherapy.

Bisphosphonates are used in oncology as a means of decreasing complications due to bone metastases, in association with anticancer treatment, especially in patients with breast cancer, prostate cancer and myeloma. Little is known about the effects of bisphosphonates on bone metastases from other tumors and in particular from tumors for which no effective treatment is available. We conducted a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of oral clodronate in patients with bone metastases from tumors poorly responsive to chemotherapy, with the aims of evaluating the effects of this drug on symptoms control and bone metastases evolution. Sixty-six patients with poorly responsive tumors such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), bladder cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, kidney cancer, melanoma and metastatic carcinoma of unknown origin entered the study. Patients were randomized to receive either clodronate 1,600 mg/day for one year or identical placebo-containing tablets. Various parameters such as Karnofsky performance status, pain score (measured by a visual-analogue scale) and analgesic requirement were recorded at monthly intervals. Of the 66 patients enrolled, 9 were observed for one month or less; 7 were followed for two months; only 50 patients were followed for more than 2 months and could be adequately evaluated. At 3 months both clodronate and placebo-treated patients had a decrease in Karnofsky performance status, with the decrease being more evident in the placebo group. Mean pain scores showed an increase of pain in patients receiving placebo and a decrease of pain in patients receiving clodronate, although the difference failed to be statistically significant. Analgesics requirement increased in both groups, but significantly more in patients receiving placebo (p = 0.042), in whom increase in opioid requirements was particularly evident. Toxicity was low, with occasional gastroenteric discomfort in both groups. The main problem of this study was the difficulty in recruiting an adequate number of patients and following them for a sufficient period of time: general conditions rapidly deteriorated in many patients, and approximately 25% of the 66 enrolled were not considered evaluable; few patients survived for the length of the study, one year. This might partly account for the lack of significance of some of the parameters under study. With these limits, oral clodronate demonstrated some efficacy in symptom control and in reducing the need for analgesics.

[Management of breast cancer in geriatric age; observations on 164 cases]. / La terapia del cancro della mammella in età geriatrica: considerazioni su 164 casi osservati.

Progressive increasing of the life expectancy and the ever more frequent finding of breast cancer in elderly women have focused the attention on the treatment of this pathology in the elderly women. Today most studies support a more aggressive locoregional and systemic therapy in older patients in good physical condition. Authors analyze retrospectively a series of 164 women with breast cancer aged over 69 years treated with combined modality therapy regarding the stage of disease and the status of the patient. Survival by stage, tumor characteristics, node involvement have been compared with a series of patients less than 70 years treated on the same period. Survival curves were not significantly different between the two groups, except for T1 which showed a better survival in younger patients. Also survival according to node involvement did not show significant differences between the two groups. in conclusion, older women should be treated with the same surgical procedures, according to stage, of the younger patients, if they are not too frail to undergo surgery. Only the definitive results of prospective randomized trials will better define the indications and limits of a further reduction of the extent of surgical excision.

The combination of metoclopramide, methylprednisolone and ondansetron against antiblastic-delayed emesis: a randomised phase II study.

The aim of the study was to verify whether the combination of an antiserotoninergic, metoclopramide, and a steroid could improve the complete control (CC) of delayed emesis, a contraversial issue, 105 patients undergoing highly-emetogenic chemotherapy, receiving Ondansetron (O) 8 mg + Dexamethasone 20 mg i.v. for the prevention of acute emesis, were randomly treated p.o for three further days with a) Metoclopramide 10 mg x 3 b) the same as a) + Methylprednisolone 4 mg c) the same as b) + O 8 mg x 3. CC (acute+delayed emesis) over three cycles was: a) 0.b) 12.5%, c) 38.5% (p = 0.02). Days with nausea/vomiting: 59%, 51%, 29.7% of the total observed period, respectively (b vs c p = 0.0000). CC of acute emesis was similar in the first cycle (about 85%), remained unchanged in the following cycles (c) and decreased to 30% and 68% in the third cycle (a and b) (p = 0.01). The three drug combination significantly improved complete control of acute and delayed emesis over successive chemotherapy cycles.