Design and operation of ARGONTUBE: a 5 m long drift liquid argon TPC

The Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) is a prime type of detector for future large-mass neutrino observatories and proton decay searches. In this paper we present the design and operation, as well as experimental results from ARGONTUBE, a LArTPC being operated at the AEC-LHEP, University of Bern. The main goal of this detector is to prove the feasibility of charge drift over very long distances in liquid argon. Many other aspects of the LArTPC technology are also investigated, such as a voltage multiplier to generate high voltage in liquid argon (Greinacher circuit), a cryogenic purification system and the application of multi-photon ionization of liquid argon by a UV laser. For the first time, tracks induced by cosmic muons and UVlaser beam pulses have been observed and studied at drift distances of up to 5 m, the longest reached to date.

Too exhausted for Operation? Anxiety, depleted self-control strength, and perceptual-motor performance

We tested the hypothesis that the interaction of self-control strength and state anxiety predicts perceptual–motor performance in a hand–eye coordination task. We predicted a stronger negative relation between anxiety and performance in a perceptual–motor task for participants whose self-control strength had been temporarily depleted compared to participants whose self-control strength was intact. In an experiment (N = 60), we manipulated self-control strength, measured state anxiety after an evaluative instruction, and assessed performance in the board game Operation as an indicator of perceptual–motor performance. The data supported our hypothesis: Only for participants whose self-control strength was temporarily depleted was there a statistically significant negative relation between anxiety and performance. Boosting self-control strength may help to prevent the potentially negative anxiety effects.

Operation bei asymptomatischer Inguinalhernie – unnötig?

Until recently, the repair of asymptomatic groin hernia has been advocated as a prophylaxis for incarceration. However, incarcerations of inguinal hernias are rare events and can be treated adequately if the patient presents himself early after onset of symptoms. Randomized controlled trials showed, that watchful waiting is not associated with increased incarcerations and can be offered as a save alternative. However, within seven years after randomization 50 % to 70 % of the patients in the watchful waiting groups required surgery, mainly because of new onset or increasing symptoms.

The EPICA Dronning Maud Land deep drilling operation

We report on the EPICA Dronning Maud Land (East Antarctica) deep drilling operation. Starting with the scientific questions that led to the outline of the EPICA project, we introduce the setting of sister drillings at NorthGRIP and EPICA Dome C within the European ice-coring community. The progress of the drilling operation is described within the context of three parallel, deep-drilling operations, the problems that occurred and the solutions we developed. Modified procedures are described, such as the monitoring of penetration rate via cable weight rather than motor torque, and modifications to the system (e.g. closing the openings at the lower end of the outer barrel to reduce the risk of immersing the drill in highly concentrated chip suspension). Parameters of the drilling (e.g. core-break force, cutter pitch, chips balance, liquid level, core production rate and piece number) are discussed. We also review the operational mode, particularly in the context of achieved core length and piece length, which have to be optimized for drilling efficiency and core quality respectively. We conclude with recommendations addressing the design of the chip-collection openings and strictly limiting the cable-load drop with respect to the load at the start of the run.

Risk Factors for Sternal Wound Infection After Open Heart Operations Vary According to Type of Operation

BACKGROUND This study evaluated whether risk factors for sternal wound infections vary with the type of surgical procedure in cardiac operations. METHODS This was a university hospital surveillance study of 3,249 consecutive patients (28% women) from 2006 to 2010 (median age, 69 years [interquartile range, 60 to 76]; median additive European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score, 5 [interquartile range, 3 to 8]) after (1) isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), (2) isolated valve repair or replacement, or (3) combined valve procedures and CABG. All other operations were excluded. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression were conducted to identify independent predictors for development of sternal wound infections. RESULTS We detected 122 sternal wound infections (3.8%) in 3,249 patients: 74 of 1,857 patients (4.0%) after CABG, 19 of 799 (2.4%) after valve operations, and 29 of 593 (4.9%) after combined procedures. In CABG patients, bilateral internal thoracic artery harvest, procedural duration exceeding 300 minutes, diabetes, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and female sex (model 1) were independent predictors for sternal wound infection. A second model (model 2), using the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation, revealed bilateral internal thoracic artery harvest, diabetes, obesity, and the second and third quartiles of the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation were independent predictors. In valve patients, model 1 showed only revision for bleeding as an independent predictor for sternal infection, and model 2 yielded both revision for bleeding and diabetes. For combined valve and CABG operations, both regression models demonstrated revision for bleeding and duration of operation exceeding 300 minutes were independent predictors for sternal infection. CONCLUSIONS Risk factors for sternal wound infections after cardiac operations vary with the type of surgical procedure. In patients undergoing valve operations or combined operations, procedure-related risk factors (revision for bleeding, duration of operation) independently predict infection. In patients undergoing CABG, not only procedure-related risk factors but also bilateral internal thoracic artery harvest and patient characteristics (diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, female sex) are predictive of sternal wound infection. Preventive interventions may be justified according to the type of operation.

A standard operation procedure and a pilot water testing for herbicides in northwest Harris County, Texas

Herbicides are used to control the growth of weeds along highways, power lines, and many other urban locations. Exposure to herbicides has been linked to adverse health outcomes. This study was initiated to pretest for the presence of herbicides in multiple water sources near intersections in a corridor in the Northwest Harris County (specifically in the Highway 6/FM 1960, North Freeway 45, US 290 and S 99 corridor). Roadside water and tap water samples were collected and analyzed for herbicides using the established Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 515.4: "Determination of Chlorinated Acids in Drinking Water by Liquid-Liquid Micro-extraction, Derivatization, and Fast Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detection." A standard operating procedure (adapted from the US EPA Method 515.4) was developed for subsequent, larger studies of environmental fate of herbicides and non-occupational exposure risks. Preliminary testing of 16 water samples was performed to pretest the existence of trace herbicides; all concentrations that were greater than the minimum reporting limits of each analyte are reported with a 99 percent confidence. This study failed to find concentrations above the limits of detection of the method in any of the samples collected on June 15, 2008. However, this does not indicate that the waters around the NW Harris County are free of herbicides and metabolites. A larger and repeated sampling in the region would be necessary to make that claim. ^

Posttraumatic stress disorder among veterans of the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) wars: Psychological comorbidities, postdeployment social support and unit support

Much attention has been given to treating Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring (OIF/OEF) Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little attention is given to those Veterans who do not meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD but who may still benefit from intervention. Research is needed to investigate the impact of how different racial/ethnic backgrounds, different levels of social support and comorbid mental health disorders impact OIF/OEF Veterans with varying levels of PTSD. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the association of comorbid Axis I disorders, race/ethnicity, different levels of postdeployment social support and unit support on OIF/OEF Veterans with varying levels of PTSD. Data for this dissertation were from postdeployment screenings of OIF/OEF Veterans from a large Veterans Affairs hospital in southeast Texas. To examine the study hypotheses, we conducted multinomial logistic regressions of the clinician reported data. ^ The first article examined the prevalence of subthreshold and full levels of PTSD and compared Axis I and alcohol use comorbidity rates among 1,362 OIF/OEF Veterans with varying levels of PTSD. Results suggest that OIF/OEF Veterans with subthreshold PTSD experience similar levels of psychological distress as those with full PTSD and highlight the need to provide timely and appropriate mental health services to individuals who may not meet the diagnostic criteria for full PTSD. ^ These results suggest that OIF/OEF Veterans of all race/ethnicities can benefit from strong social support systems. Postdeployment social support was found to be a protective factor against the development of PTSD among White, Black and Hispanic veterans while deployment unit support was a protective factor only among Black Veterans. The second article investigated the association between postdeployment social support and unit support with varying levels of PTSD by race/ethnicity among 1,115 OIF/OEF Veterans. ^ The results of this study can help to formulate treatment and interventions for OIF/OEF Veterans with varying levels of PTSD and social support systems.^

Treatment modalities of female Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review of the literature

Objective. To review professional literature regarding treatment modalities of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst female Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) veterans, to assess the efficacy of these treatment options, and to summarize implications of the findings from this literature. Design. Systematic review of published literature. Data sources. Medline, Pubmed, Psycinfo. Review Methods. Articles selected for the literature review pertain to the treatment options of female OIF or OEF veterans who have a diagnosis of PTSD. In addition, other relevant articles, such as articles that discuss the prevalence of the problem, access to care, and similar treatment modalities for PTSD in other war settings, were selected for background information for the review. Results. The search strategy identified 1,305 potential journal articles, taken from thorough searches in Medline, Pubmed, and Psycinfo. These articles were then imported into Refworks. Following final screening, there were 18 articles included in the systematic review and 28 articles used as background information. The remaining articles were excluded following screening of abstract and/or full text of articles. Treatment modalities presented in these trials include: Exposure Therapy (average of 68% reduction in PTSD symptoms), Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (23% reduction), Body-Oriented Therapy (57% reduction), Electroconvulsive Therapy (35% reduction), Holographic Reprocessing (47% reduction), a self-defense training program (13% reduction), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (65% reduction) and a variety of pharmacotherapies (antipsychotics at 81% reduction, sympatholytic drug at 100% reduction). Outcomes of the studies included in this systematic review were measured by using personal assessment of whether there was a reduction in symptoms of PTSD, based on the results in each study. Conclusion. Overall, all of the treatment modalities investigated in the systematic review proved to be somewhat effective in relieving the burden of symptoms of PTSD amongst female veterans of OIF/OEF. In addition to pharmacotherapy, which had the highest reduction in PTSD symptoms, both the Exposure Therapy and the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques proved to have the most positive results. As all of the therapies had a positive effect on this population, to some degree, a study needs to be done in the future to compare and contrast the efficacy of each therapy intervention when applied to a standardized population.^

Table I: Schedule of the drilling operation and lengths of the recovered core material for the boreholes on Vernagtferner in 1979

In 1979 a core drilling project was carried out on Vernagtferner in the Oetztal Alps (Austria). This report describes the field work of the drilling project, the recovered core material and the occurrence of water in the boreholes and compiles the succeding investigation program.

Silica final lenses under HiPER laser fusion reactor operation conditions

We have studied the thermo-mechanical response and atomistic degradation of final lenses in HiPER project. Final silica lenses are squares of 75 × 75 cm2 with a thickness of 5 cm. There are two scenarios where lenses are located at 8 m from the centre: •HiPER 4a, bunches of 100 shots (maximum 5 DT shots <48 MJ at ≈0.1 Hz). No blanket in chamber geometry. •HiPER 4b, continuous mode with shots ≈50 MJ at 10 Hz to generate 0.5 GW. Liquid metal blanket in chamber design.