1. |
- Bongi, M, et al.
(author)
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PAMELA : A satellite experiment for antiparticles measurement in cosmic rays
- 2004
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In: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. - 0018-9499 .- 1558-1578. ; 51:3, s. 854-859
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PAMELA is a satellite-borne experiment that will study the antiproton and positron fluxes in cosmic rays in a wide range of energy (from 80 MeV up to 190 GeV for antiprotons and from 50 MeV up to 270 GeV for positrons) and with high statistics, and that will measure the antihelium/helium ratio with a sensitivity of the order of 10(-8). The detector will fly on-board a polar orbiting Resurs DK1 satellite, which will be launched into space by a Soyuz rocket in 2004 from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, for a 3-year-long mission. Particle identification and energy measurements are performed in the PAMELA apparatus using the following subdetectors: a magnetic spectrometer made up of a permanent magnet equipped with double-sided microstrip silicon detectors, an electromagnetic imaging calorimeter composed of layers of tungsten absorber and silicon detectors planes, a transition radiation detector made of straw tubes interleaved with carbon fiber radiators, a plastic scintillator time-of-flight and trigger system, a set of anticounter plastic scintillator detectors, and a neutron detector. The features of the detectors and the main results obtained in beam test sessions are presented.
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2. |
- Beral, V, et al.
(author)
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Alcohol, tobacco and breast cancer - collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 53 epidemiological studies, including 58515 women with breast cancer and 95067 women without the disease
- 2002
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In: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1532-1827 .- 0007-0920. ; 87, s. 1234-45
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alcohol and tobacco consumption are closely correlated and published results on their association with breast cancer have not always allowed adequately for confounding between these exposures. Over 80% of the relevant information worldwide on alcohol and tobacco consumption and breast cancer were collated, checked and analysed centrally. Analyses included 58515 women with invasive breast cancer and 95067 controls from 53 studies. Relative risks of breast cancer were estimated, after stratifying by study, age, parity and, where appropriate, women's age when their first child was born and consumption of alcohol and tobacco. The average consumption of alcohol reported by controls from developed countries was 6.0 g per day, i.e. about half a unit/drink of alcohol per day, and was greater in ever-smokers than never-smokers, (8.4 g per day and 5.0 g per day, respectively). Compared with women who reported drinking no alcohol, the relative risk of breast cancer was 1.32 (1.19 - 1.45, P < 0.00001) for an intake of 35 - 44 g per day alcohol, and 1.46 (1.33 - 1.61, P < 0.00001) for greater than or equal to 45 g per day alcohol. The relative risk of breast cancer increased by 7.1% (95% CI 5.5-8.7%; P<0.00001) for each additional 10 g per day intake of alcohol, i.e. for each extra unit or drink of alcohol consumed on a daily basis. This increase was the same in ever-smokers and never-smokers (7.1 % per 10 g per day, P < 0.00001, in each group). By contrast, the relationship between smoking and breast cancer was substantially confounded by the effect of alcohol. When analyses were restricted to 22 255 women with breast cancer and 40 832 controls who reported drinking no alcohol, smoking was not associated with breast cancer (compared to never-smokers, relative risk for ever-smokers= 1.03, 95% CI 0.98 - 1.07, and for current smokers=0.99, 0.92 - 1.05). The results for alcohol and for tobacco did not vary substantially across studies, study designs, or according to 15 personal characteristics of the women; nor were the findings materially confounded by any of these factors. If the observed relationship for alcohol is causal, these results suggest that about 4% of the breast cancers in developed countries are attributable to alcohol. In developing countries, where alcohol consumption among controls averaged only 0.4 g per day, alcohol would have a negligible effect on the incidence of breast cancer. In conclusion, smoking has little or no independent effect on the risk of developing breast cancer; the effect of alcohol on breast cancer needs to be interpreted in the context of its beneficial effects, in moderation, on cardiovascular disease and its harmful effects on cirrhosis and cancers of the mouth, larynx, oesophagus and liver. (C) 2002 Cancer Research UK.
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3. |
- Bonvicini, V., et al.
(author)
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The PAMELA experiment in space
- 2001
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In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 461:03-jan, s. 262-268
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We provide in this paper a status report of the space experiment PAMELA. PAMELA aims primarily to measure the flux of antiparticles, namely antiprotons and positrons, in cosmic rays with unprecedented statistics over a large energy range. Tn addition, it will measure the light nuclear components of cosmic rays, investigate phenomena connected to Solar and Earth physics and it will search for cosmic ray antinuclei with sensitivity better than 10(-7) in the He/He ratio. PAMELA consists of a magnet spectrometer, a transition radiation detector, an imaging calorimeter, a time of flight system and an anticoincidence detector. The apparatus will be installed on board of the Russian satellite of the Resurs type in a polar orbit at about 680 km of altitude. The launch is foreseen for late 2002/early 2003.
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4. |
- Castro-Tirado, A. J., et al.
(author)
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GRB 030227 : The first multiwavelength afterglow of an INTEGRAL GRB
- 2003
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In: Astronomy & Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 411:1, s. 315-319
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present multiwavelength observations of a gamma-ray burst detected byINTEGRAL (GRB 030227) between 5.3 hours and ~ 1.7days after the event. Here we report the discovery of a dim opticalafterglow (OA) that would not have been detected by many previoussearches due to its faintess (R ~ 23). This OA was seen to declinefollowing a power law decay with index alpha R = -0.95 +/-0.16. The spectral index beta_ opt/NIR yielded -1.25 +/- 0.14. Thesevalues may be explained by a relativistic expansion of a fireball (withp = 2.0) in the cooling regime. We also find evidence for inverseCompton scattering in X-rays.Based on observations with INTEGRAL, an ESA project with instruments andscience data centre funded by ESA member states (especially the PIcountries: Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain), CzechRepublic and Poland, and with the participation of Russia and the USA.Also partially based on observations collected by the Gamma-Ray BurstCollaboration at ESO (GRACE) at the European Southern Observatory, Chile(ESO Large Programme 165.H-0464).
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5. |
- Bingham, SA, et al.
(author)
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Dietary fibre in food and protection against colorectal cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC): an observational study
- 2003
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In: The Lancet. - 1474-547X. ; 361:9368, s. 1496-1501
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Dietary fibre is thought to protect against colorectal cancer but this view has been challenged by recent prospective and intervention studies that showed no protective effect. Methods We prospectively examined the association between dietary fibre intake and incidence of colorectal cancer in 519 978 individuals aged 25-70 years taking part in the EPIC study, recruited from ten European countries. Participants completed a dietary questionnaire in 1992-98 and were followed up for cancer incidence. Relative risk estimates were obtained from fibre intake, categorised by sex-specific, cohort-wide quintiles, and from linear models relating the hazard ratio to fibre intake expressed as a continuous variable. Findings Follow-up consisted of 1939 011 person-years, and data for 1065 reported cases of colorectal cancer were included in the analysis. Dietary fibre in foods was inversely related to incidence of large bowel cancer (adjusted relative risk 0.75 [95% CI 0.59-0.95] for the highest versus lowest quintile of intake), the protective effect being greatest for the left side of the colon, and least for the rectum. After calibration with more detailed dietary data, the adjusted relative risk for the highest versus lowest quintile of fibre from food intake was 0.58 (0.41-0.85). No food source of fibre was significantly more protective than others, and non-food supplement sources of fibre were not investigated. Interpretation In populations with low average intake of dietary fibre, an approximate doubling of total fibre intake from foods could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 40%.
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6. |
- Boezio, M., et al.
(author)
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The space experiment PAMELA
- 2004
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In: Nuclear Physics B - Proceedings Supplements. - : Elsevier BV. ; , s. 39-46
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present in this paper a status report of the space experiment PAMELA. PAMELA is a satellite-borne experiment which primarily aims to measure the antiproton and positron spectra in the cosmic radiation over a large energy range (from 80 MeV up to 190 GeV for antiprotons and from 50 MeV up to 270 GeV for positrons) and to search for antinuclei with a sensitivity of the order of 10(-8) in the antihelium/ helium ratio. In addition, it will measure the light nucleax component of cosmic rays and investigate phenomena connected with Solar and Earth physics. The apparatus will be installed onboard the polar orbiting Resurs DK1 satellite, which will be launched into space by a Soyuz TM2 rocket in 2004 from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, for a 3 year long mission. PAMELA consists of: a time of flight system, a transition radiation detector, a magnetic spectrometer, an anticoincidence detector, an electromagnetic imaging calorimeter, a shower tail catcher scintillator and a neutron detector.
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7. |
- Carlson, P., et al.
(author)
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Beyond the RICH : innovative photosensitive gaseous detectors for new fields of applications
- 2003
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In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 502:1, s. 189-194
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have developed and successfully used several innovative designs of detectors with solid photocathodes. The main advantage of these detectors is that rather high gains (> 10(4)) can be achieved in a single multiplication step. This is possible by, for instance, exploiting the secondary electron multiplication and limiting the energy of the steamers by distributed resistivity. The single step approach also allows a very good position resolution to be achieved in some devices: 50 mum on line without applying any treatment method (like center of gravity). The main focus of our report is new fields of applications for these detectors and the optimization of their designs for such purposes.
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8. |
- Carlson, P., et al.
(author)
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Gaseous photomultipliers with solid photocathodes for the detection of sparks, flames and dangerous gases
- 2003
-
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 505:02-jan, s. 207-210
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In many applications, it is necessary to detect sparks or flames in daylight conditions or in illuminated areas. Most flames emit strongly in the ultraviolet spectrum (180-280 nm), and this property can be used for reliable identification of flames. We have developed new spark and flame detectors based on gaseous photomultipliers with CsI, CuI or CsTe photocathodes. A modified version of the detector can also detect smoke and dangerous vapors. These detectors are able to perform complex monitoring and detection functions. Some of their advantages are: low cost, high sensitivity, large output signal and operation under battery power. Gaseous photomultipliers can be position sensitive and, if necessary, be used in combination with various optical systems, for example for monitoring flames from space.
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9. |
- Feldman, V.I., et al.
(author)
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Effect of matrix and substituent on the electronic structure of trapped benzene radical cations
- 2000
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In: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084. ; 2:1, s. 29-35
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The structure and dynamics of the radical cations produced from benzene, monodeuterated benzene and toluene in various low-temperature matrices were characterized by EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy. It was found that the nature of the matrix had a dramatic effect on the EPR spectra of benzene cation. Rigid structures corresponding to the 2B(1g) and 2B(2g) states are revealed in solid argon and halocarbon (CFCl3) matrices, respectively, whereas only dynamically averaged patterns are observed in other hosts used (krypton, xenon, sulfur hexafluoride). Deuterium monosubstitution has no appreciable effect on the cation structure observed in argon and halocarbon matrices, which implies matrix control of the preferred electronic state. In contrast, the toluene radical cation exhibits only a 2B(2g)-like structure both in argon and in CFCl3 matrices, that is, the internal structural effect strongly predominates over environment effects in this case. The results are discussed in qualitative terms taking into consideration the matrix and substituent effects on the charge distribution in benzene cation.
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10. |
- Gonzalez, CA, et al.
(author)
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Smoking and the risk of gastric cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)
- 2003
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In: International Journal of Cancer. - : Wiley. - 0020-7136. ; 107:4, s. 629-634
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Smoking has recently been recognised as causally associated with the development of gastric cancer (GC). However, evidence on the effect by sex, duration and intensity of smoking, anatomic subsite and cessation of smoking is limited. Our objective was to assess the relation between tobacco use and GC incidence in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). We studied data from 521,468 individuals recruited from 10 European countries taking part in the EPIC study. Participants completed lifestyle questionnaires that included questions on lifetime consumption of tobacco and diet in 1991-1998. Participants were followed until September 2002, and during that period 305 cases of stomach cancer were identified. After exclusions, 274 were eligible for the analysis, using the Cox proportional hazard model. After adjustment for educational level, consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables and preserved meat, alcohol intake and body mass index (BMI), there was a significant association between cigarette smoking and gastric cancer risk: the hazard ratio (HR) for ever smokers was 1.45 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-1.94). The HR of current cigarette smoking was 1.73 (95% CI = 1.06-2.83) in males and 1.87 (95% CI = 1.12-3.12) in females. Hazard ratios increased with intensity and duration of cigarette smoked. A significant decrease of risk was observed after 10 years of quitting smoking. A preliminary analysis of 121 cases with identified anatomic site showed that current cigarette smokers had a higher HR of GC in the cardia (HR = 4.10) than in the distal part of the stomach (HR = 1.94). In this cohort, 17.6 % (95% CI = 10.5-29.5 %) of GC cases may be attributable to smoking. Findings from this large study support the causal relation between smoking and gastric cancer in this European population. Stomach cancer should be added to the burden of diseases caused by smoking. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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11. |
- Iacobaeus, C., et al.
(author)
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An X-ray scanner based on an "edge on" illuminated capillary plate combined with a gas amplification structure
- 2004
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In: 2004 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record. ; , s. 489-492
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have developed and successfully tested a prototype of a new type of high position resolution X-ray scanner. It contains a thin wall lead glass capillary plate converter of X-rays combined with a microgap parallel-plate avalanche chamber operating in various gas mixtures at 1 atm. The operation of these converters was studied in a wide range of X-ray energies (from 6 to 60 keV) at incident angles varying from 0-90°. The detection efficiency, depending on the geometry, photon's energy, incident angle and the mode of operation, was between 5-30% in a single step mode and up to 50% in a multi-layered combination. Depending on the capillary's geometry, the position resolution achieved was between 50-250 μm in digital form and was practically independent of the photon's energy or gas mixture. The usual lead glass capillary plates operated without noticeable charging up effects at counting rates of 50 Hz/mm2, and hydrogen treated capillaries up to 10 5 Hz/mm2. Finally, a prototype of the X-ray scanner based on an "edge-on" illumination capillary plate was built and tested. The developed detector open new possibilities for medical imaging, for example in mammography, portal imaging, radiography (including security devices), crystallography and many other applications.
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12. |
- Ivanov, Alexander V., et al.
(author)
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Adducts of zinc and copper(II) morpholinedithiocarbamate complexes with morpholine of the composition [M(Mf)(MfDtC)(2)] and [M(Mf)(MfDtC)(2)]center dot Mf: Synthesis, thermal analysis, EPR, and CP/MAS C-13 NMR
- 2003
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In: Russian Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. - 0036-0236 .- 1531-8613. ; 48:3, s. 415-421
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The zinc and copper(II) morpholineditiohcarbamate complexes [M-2(MfDtc)(4)] and their adducts with morpholine [M(Mf)(MfDtc)(2)], including the solvated forms [M(Mf)(MfDtc)(2)] . Mf (M = Zn, Cu-63, Cu-65), have been synthesized and characterized by thermal analysis, EPR, and CP/MAS C-13 NMR data. Upon thermal destruction, the initial complexes, their adducts, and solvated forms lose weight in one, two, and three steps, respectively. The ultimate products of the thermal destruction of these complexes are zinc and copper sulfides. The range of the thermal destruction of the "dithiocarbamate part" is progressively shifted to lower temperatures in going from the initial binuclear complexes to their adducts and solvated forms. EPR shows that the geometry of the [CuS4N] chromophore in the [Cu(Mf)(MfDtc)(2)] adduct is close to square-pyramidal, the unpaired electron being predominantly localized in the metal 3d(x2-y2) AO. The outer-sphere solvation of the adduct is accompanied by structural reorganization at the molecular level. This reorganization involves a distortion of the [CuS4] base of the square-pyramidal polyhedron [CuS4N] toward a trigonal bipyramid. C-13 NMR shows that all of the zinc complexes under consideration are characterized by intramolecular nonequivalence of dithiocarbamate ligands. The N-15 NMR spectra adequately reflect the difference in the structural functions of pairs of dithiocarbamate ligands in [Zn-2(MfDtc)(4)].
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13. |
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14. |
- Periale, L., et al.
(author)
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Successful operation of hole-type gaseous detectors at cryogenic temperatures
- 2004
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In: 2004 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record. - 0780387007 ; , s. 1147-1151
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have demonstrated that hole-type gaseous detectors, GEMs and capillary plates, can operate up to 77 K. For example, a single capillary plate can operate at gains of above 103 in the entire temperature interval between 300 until 77 K. The same capillary plate combined with Csi photocathodes could operate perfectly well at gains (depending on gas mixtures) of 100-1000. Obtained results may open new fields of applications for capillary plates as detectors of UV light and charge particles at cryogenic temperatures: noble liquid TPCs, WIMP detectors or LXe scintillating calorimeters and cryogenic PETs.
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15. |
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16. |
- Rohrmann, S, et al.
(author)
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Cooking of meat and fish in Europe - results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)
- 2002
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In: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-5640 .- 0954-3007. ; 56:12, s. 1216-1230
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: There is epidemiologic evidence that the consumption of fried, grilled or barbecued meat and fish that are well-done or browned may be associated with an increased cancer risk. These high-temperature cooking methods are thought to be surrogates for mutagens and carcinogens produced in meat and fish, eg heterocyclic amines or polycyclic hydrocarbons. Since data on food cooking methods are scarce, the aim of this study was to describe the variation in meat and fish cooking methods in different parts of Europe. Design: Using a standardized 24 h recall from a sub-sample of the EPIC cohort (35 644 persons, 35-75 y old), mean daily intake of meat and fish prepared by different cooking methods and the relative contribution of the cooking methods to the overall cooking of meat and fish was calculated. Results: Whereas frying was more often noted in northern Europe, roasting and stir frying were more often used in the south. Concerning high-temperature cooking methods, their frequency of application varies between 15% in the EPIC cohort of North-Italy and 49% in the cohort of The Netherlands. Average consumption of fried, grilled and barbecued meat and fish ranges from a low of 12 g/day in the centres in southern Spain to a high of 91 g/day in northern Spain. Conclusion: High variation in both the kind of meat/fish consumed as well as its cooking methods is observed within EPIC. In order to use this variation for the evaluation of the impact of cooking methods on cancer risk, a questionnaire on meat and fish cooking methods is being developed and could be applied in the whole EPIC cohort.
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17. |
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18. |
- Thuvander, A., et al.
(author)
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Levels of ochratoxin A in blood from Norwegian and Swedish blood donors and their possible correlation with food consumption
- 2001
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In: Food and Chemical Toxicology. - 0278-6915 .- 1873-6351. ; 39:12, s. 1145-1151
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Blood levels of ochratoxin A were determined in 406 Scandinavian blood donors (206 from Oslo, Norway, and 200 from Visby on the island of Gotland, Sweden), using an HPLC method. In connection with the blood collection, the subjects were asked to fill in a food questionnaire to obtain individual dietary information relevant to ochratoxin A exposure. The mean plasma level of ochratoxin A was 0.18 ng/ml in Oslo and slightly higher, 0.21 ng/ml (P = 0.046) in Visby. There was no correlation between plasma levels of ochratoxin A and the estimated total dietary intake of ochratoxin A based on consumption data and levels in food (retrieved from the literature), neither was the plasma level of ochratoxin A correlated with the total amount of food consumed. However, consumption of several foods, including cereal products, wine, beer and pork, were to some minor degree related to high plasma levels of ochratoxin A. The strongest correlations (correlation coefficient r >0.4; P <0.001) were observed for women in relation to the consumption of beer or medium brown bread. Correlation analysis of combinations of two or more food categories did not result in any statistically significant correlation.
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19. |
- Welch, AA, et al.
(author)
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Variability of fish consumption within the 10 European countries participating in the European Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study
- 2002
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In: Public Health Nutrition. - 1475-2727. ; 5:6B, s. 1273-1285
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To describe-and compare the consumption of total fish (marine foods) and the fish sub-groups - white fish, fatty fish, very fatty fish, fish products and crustacea, in participants from the European Investigation into. Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of dietary intake using a computerised standardised 24-hour recall interview. Crude means, means and standard errors adjusted by age, season and day of the week were calculated, stratified by centre and gender, Setting: Twenty-seven redefined centres in the 10 European countries participating in the EPIC study. Subjects.. In total, 35 955 subjects (13 031 men and 22 924 women), aged 35-74 years, selected from the main EPIC cohort. Results: A six- to sevenfold variation in total fish consumption exists in women and men, between the lowest consumption in Germany and the highest in Spain. Overall, white fish represented 49% and 45% of the intake of total fish in women and men, respectively, with the greatest consumption in centres in Spain and Greece and the least in the German and Dutch centres. Consumption of fatty fish reflected that of total fish. However, the greatest intake of very fatty fish was in the coastal areas of northern Europe (Denmark, Sweden and Norway) and in Germany. Consumption of fish products was greater in northern than in southern Europe, with white fish products predominating in centres in France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands and Norway. Intake of roe and roe products was low. The highest consumption of crustacea was found in the French, Spanish and Italian centres. The number of fish types consumed was greater in southern than in northern Europe. The greatest variability in consumption by day of the week-was found in the countries with - the lowest fish intake. Conclusions: Throughout Europe, substantial geographic variation exists in total fish intake, fish sub-groups and the number of types consumed. Day-to-day variability in consumption is also high.
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20. |
- Yliniemi, J, et al.
(author)
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EUROBRIDGE'95: deep seismic profiling within the East European Craton
- 2001
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In: TECTONOPHYSICS. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. - 0040-1951. ; 339:1-2, s. 153-175
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The EUROBRIDGE deep seismic sounding (DSS) profile is a key component of a EUROPROBE project to examine Palaeoproterozoic processes of continental collision and crustal accretion. Its purpose is to establish the deep lithospheric structure of the East Eur
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