Analysis of diffractive dissociation of K - into K - pi + pi - on a liquid hydrogen target at the COMPASS spectrometer

The systematic exploration of excited meson and baryon states was the central topic of the COMPASS physics program in the years 2008 and 2009 at the CERN facility. A hadron beam of 190 GeV/c particle momentum was impinging on a 40 cm long liquid hydrogen target to create excited states of beam particles by diffractive processes. The presented work is about the study of the process $K^- p rightarrow K^- pi^+ pi^- p_{recoil}$ where special emphasis is put on how kaons were distinguished from pions with the CEDAR detectors in the initial channel as well as with the RICH detector in the final states. At the end formed 270 000 events an invariant K pi pi mass distribution of overlapping resonances. In addition a detailed MC simulation study of 44 million decays in the range of 0.8 < m(K pi pi) [GeV/c^2] < 3.0 was performed and analysed for acceptance corrections.All information was combined into a mass independent partial wave analysis to observe resonances of individual particles. The main contribution was found in the JP = 0+, 1+, 2- and 2+ spin-parity states.

Ict security: Testing methodology for targeted attack defence tools

La tesi di laurea presentata si inserisce nell’ampio contesto della Sicurezza Informatica, in particolare tratta il problema del testing dei sistemi di sicurezza concepiti per contrapporsi alle odierne minacce: gli attacchi mirati (Targeted Attacks) ed in generale le minacce avanzate persistenti (Advanced Persistent Threats). Il principale obiettivo del lavoro svolto è lo sviluppo e la discussione di una metodologia di test per sistemi di sicurezza focalizzati su questo genere di problemi. Le linee guida proposte hanno lo scopo di aiutare a colmare il divario tra quello che viene testato e quello che in realt`a deve essere affrontato realmente. Le attività svolte durante la preparazione della tesi sono state sia di tipo teorico, per quanto concerne lo sviluppo di una metodologia per affrontare al meglio il testing di sistemi di sicurezza a fronte di attacchi mirati, che ne di tipo sperimentale in quanto si sono utilizzati tali concetti per lo svolgimento di test su più strumenti di difesa in uno scenario d’interesse reale.

Symbolic Dynamics Analysis: a new methodology for foetal heart rate variability analysis

Cardiotocography (CTG) is a widespread foetal diagnostic methods. However, it lacks of objectivity and reproducibility since its dependence on observer's expertise. To overcome these limitations, more objective methods for CTG interpretation have been proposed. In particular, many developed techniques aim to assess the foetal heart rate variability (FHRV). Among them, some methodologies from nonlinear systems theory have been applied to the study of FHRV. All the techniques have proved to be helpful in specific cases. Nevertheless, none of them is more reliable than the others. Therefore, an in-depth study is necessary. The aim of this work is to deepen the FHRV analysis through the Symbolic Dynamics Analysis (SDA), a nonlinear technique already successfully employed for HRV analysis. Thanks to its simplicity of interpretation, it could be a useful tool for clinicians. We performed a literature study involving about 200 references on HRV and FHRV analysis; approximately 100 works were focused on non-linear techniques. Then, in order to compare linear and non-linear methods, we carried out a multiparametric study. 580 antepartum recordings of healthy fetuses were examined. Signals were processed using an updated software for CTG analysis and a new developed software for generating simulated CTG traces. Finally, statistical tests and regression analyses were carried out for estimating relationships among extracted indexes and other clinical information. Results confirm that none of the employed techniques is more reliable than the others. Moreover, in agreement with the literature, each analysis should take into account two relevant parameters, the foetal status and the week of gestation. Regarding the SDA, results show its promising capabilities in FHRV analysis. It allows recognizing foetal status, gestation week and global variability of FHR signals, even better than other methods. Nevertheless, further studies, which should involve even pathological cases, are necessary to establish its reliability.

SWISSspine—a nationwide health technology assessment registry for balloon kyphoplasty: methodology and first results

The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health demanded a nationwide health technology assessment registry for cervical and lumbar total disc arthroplasty and for balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) to make a decision about reimbursement of these interventions.

Methodology and models in erosion research: discussion and conclusions

This paper summarises the discussions which took place at the Workshop on Methodology in Erosion Research in Zürich, 2010, and aims, where possible, to offer guidance for the development and application of both in vitro and in situ models for erosion research. The prospects for clinical trials are also discussed. All models in erosion research require a number of choices regarding experimental conditions, study design and measurement techniques, and these general aspects are discussed first. Among in vitro models, simple (single- or multiple-exposure) models can be used for screening products regarding their erosive potential, while more elaborate pH cycling models can be used to simulate erosion in vivo. However, in vitro models provide limited information on intra-oral erosion. In situ models allow the effect of an erosive challenge to be evaluated under intra-oral conditions and are currently the method of choice for short-term testing of low-erosive products or preventive therapeutic products. In the future, clinical trials will allow longer-term testing. Possible methodologies for such trials are discussed.

Analysis Methodology for Flow-level Evaluation of a Hybrid Mobile-Sensor Network

Our society uses a large diversity of co-existing wired and wireless networks in order to satisfy its communication needs. A cooper- ation between these networks can benefit performance, service availabil- ity and deployment ease, and leads to the emergence of hybrid networks. This position paper focuses on a hybrid mobile-sensor network identify- ing potential advantages and challenges of its use and defining feasible applications. The main value of the paper, however, is in the proposed analysis approach to evaluate the performance at the mobile network side given the mixed mobile-sensor traffic. The approach combines packet- level analysis with modelling of flow-level behaviour and can be applied for the study of various application scenarios. In this paper we consider two applications with distinct traffic models namely multimedia traffic and best-effort traffic.

Future trials of endovascular mechanical recanalisation therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients - A position paper endorsed by ESMINT and ESNR : Part II: methodology of future trials

Based on current data and experience, the joint working group of the European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy (ESMINT) and the European Society of Neuroradiology (ESNR) make suggestions on trial design and conduct aimed to investigate therapeutic effects of mechanical thrombectomy (MT). We anticipate that this roadmap will facilitate the setting up and conduct of successful trials in close collaboration with our neighbouring disciplines.