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- Abate, E., et al.
(author)
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Combined performance tests before installation of the ATLAS Semiconductor and Transition Radiation Tracking Detectors
- 2008
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In: Journal of Instrumentation. - 1748-0221. ; 3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The ATLAS (A Toroidal LHC ApparatuS) Inner Detector provides charged particle tracking in the centre of the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The Inner Detector consists of three subdetectors: the Pixel Detector, the Semiconductor Tracker (SCT), and the Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT). This paper summarizes the tests that were carried out at the final stage of SCT+TRT integration prior to their installation in ATLAS. The combined operation and performance of the SCT and TRT barrel and endcap detectors was investigated through a series of noise tests, and by recording the tracks of cosmic rays. This was a crucial test of hardware and software of the combined tracker detector systems. The results of noise and cross-talk tests on the SCT and TRT in their final assembled configuration, using final readout and supply hardware and software, are reported. The reconstruction and analysis of the recorded cosmic tracks allowed testing of the offline analysis chain and verification of basic tracker performance parameters, such as efficiency and spatial resolution, in combined operation before installation.
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3. |
- Bye, E., et al.
(author)
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Quantitative Determination of Airborne Respirable Non-Fibrous alpha-Silicon Carbide by X-ray Powder Diffractometry
- 2009
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In: Annals of Occupational Hygiene. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0003-4878 .- 1475-3162. ; 53:4, s. 403-408
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: The purpose of the present investigation was to establish a method for the determination of airborne respirable non-fibrous silicon carbide (SiC). The main application is within the industrial production of SiC. Methods: Due to the complex airborne aerosol mixture of crystalline compounds in the SiC industry, X-ray powder diffractometry was selected as the most appropriate method. Without any international standard material for the respirable fraction of non-fibrous SiC, pure and suitable products from three SiC plants in Norway were selected. These products have a median particle diameter in the range 4.4-5.1 mu m. The method is based on thin sample technique, with the dust deposited on a polycarbonate filter. Absorption correction is done by standard procedures with the use of a silver filter, situated below the polycarbonate filter. Results: The diffraction line used for quantitative determination was selected carefully. This was done to avoid interferences from quartz, cristobalite, and graphite, which all are airborne components present in the atmosphere during the industrial process. The instrumental limit of detection for the method is 12 mu g. Conclusions: This method has been used to determine airborne non-fibrous SiC in a comprehensive ongoing project in the Norwegian SiC industry for further epidemiological studies. The method is fully applicable for compliance work.
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4. |
- Kettu, T., et al.
(author)
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Using architecture analysis to evolve complex industrial systems
- 2008
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In: Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics) Volume 5135. - Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer. - 354085570X - 9783540855705 ; , s. 326-341
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ABB is a large industrial company with a broad product portfolio that contains products that can be categorized as highly complex industrial systems. Software embedded in complex industrial systems must support rigid system dependability requirements. It is not only a challenge to design and implement these systems as dependable, but it is also difficult to maintain this important property over time. There are several factors that make software evolution a challenging task, such as: size of the software base is measured in order of MLOC, products are long-lived and extended to support new requirements over time longer than 10 years. Because of personnel turnover important knowledge is lost from time to time, and the only artifact that is really up-to-date is the implementation itself. Therefore, to obtain an up-to-date view of the system and prevent expensive mistakes during system evolution, it is beneficial to find practical ways to obtain an up-to-date view on an architectural level without having to read thousands of lines of source code. These activities should be seen as an important contribution for preventing the introduction of faults into software systems since they contribute to improve and maintain the overall system dependability. This experience paper provides practical advices on how to reconstruct the architecture of existing systems by combining the use of tools and the existing knowledge within the organization. The paper is based on experiences from two cases in different sub domains within industrial automation.
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5. |
- Koos, Björn, et al.
(author)
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Platelet-derived growth factor receptor expression and activation in choroid plexus tumors
- 2009
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In: American Journal of Pathology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9440 .- 1525-2191. ; 175:4, s. 1631-1637
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Choroid plexus tumors are intraventricular neoplasms predominantly affecting young children. In contrast to choroid plexus papillomas, choroid plexus carcinomas progress frequently, necessitating the development of adjuvant treatment concepts. Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling has been shown to support growth in a variety of tumors. The finding of PDGF receptor expression in choroid plexus tumors prompted us to elucidate PDGF receptor activation state using a novel method, in situ proximity ligation assay, on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, archival samples of 19 choroid plexus tumors. As assessed by in situ proximity ligation assay, the proportion of phosphorylated PDGF receptor alpha was low in choroid plexus papillomas and choroid plexus carcinomas, whereas phosphorylated PDGF receptor beta was found to be significantly higher in choroid plexus carcinomas. In the immortalized choroid plexus epithelial cell line Z310 expressing PDGF receptor beta, PDGF-BB exhibited a time- and dose-dependent proliferative response, which was significantly attenuated by imatinib (gleevec). In conclusion, our findings suggest that PDGF receptor beta is functionally involved in the biology of choroid plexus tumors and may represent a molecular target for therapy. In addition, this study demonstrates the feasibility and usefulness of in situ proximity ligation assay for monitoring receptor tyrosine kinase activation in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, archival tissues.
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6. |
- Kruse, Anja, et al.
(author)
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Red blood cell lifespan, erythropoiesis and hemoglobin control.
- 2008
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In: Contributions to Nephrology. - Basel : KARGER. - 0302-5144 .- 1662-2782. ; 161, s. 247-254
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Erythropoietin (EPO) and iron deficiency as causes of anemia in patients with limited renal function or end-stage renal disease are well addressed. The concomitant impairment of red blood cell (RBC) survival has been largely neglected. Properties of the uremic environment like inflammation, increased oxidative stress and uremic toxins seem to be responsible for the premature changes in RBC membrane and cytoskeleton. The exposure of antigenic sites and breakdown of the phosphatidylserine asymmetry promote RBC phagocytosis. While the individual response to treatment with EPO-stimulating agents (ESA) depends on both the RBC's lifespan and the production rate, uniform dosing algorithms do not meet that demand. The clinical use of mathematical models predicting ESA-induced changes in hematocrit might be greatly improved once independent estimates of RBC production rate and/or lifespan become available, thus making the concomitant estimation of both parameters unnecessary. Since heme breakdown by the hemoxygenase pathway results in carbon monoxide (CO) which is exhaled, a simple CO breath test has been used to calculate hemoglobin turnover and therefore RBC survival and lifespan. Future research will have to be done to validate and implement this method in patients with kidney failure. This will result in new insights into RBC kinetics in renal patients. Eventually, these findings are expected to improve our understanding of the hemoglobin variability in response to ESA.
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7. |
- Kruse, Jacqueline J.C.M., et al.
(author)
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A portrait of cisplatin-induced transcriptional changes in mouse embryonic stem cells reveals a dominant p53-like response
- 2007
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In: Mutation research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0027-5107 .- 1873-135X. ; 617:1-2, s. 58-70
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Accumulation of damage in undifferentiated cells may threaten homeostasis and regenerative capacity. Remarkably, p53 has been suggested to be transcriptionally inactive in these cells. To gain insight in the kinetics and interplay of the predominant transcriptional responses of DNA damage signalling pathways in undifferentiated cells, mouse embryonic stem cells were exposed to cisplatin at four different time points (2, 4, 8 and 24 h) and concentrations (1, 2, 5 and 10 μM). RNA was isolated and subjected to genome-wide expression profiling. Up to one fourth of the tested genes could be identified as being differentially expressed (false discovery rate = 10%) after the cisplatin treatment. Clustering of the expression changes showed a strong time dependency. To investigate the relationship between affected genes, a gene set analysis method was used. Functionally related gene sets were defined using gene ontologies or transcription factor binding sites and were tested for overrepresentation within the differentially expressed genes. A variety of gene sets were clearly enriched among which 'apoptosis' and 'cell cycle' were the most pronounced. Furthermore, there was a strong enrichment of genes with a p53-binding motif. The involvement of the 'cell cycle' and 'apoptosis' gene sets in the cisplatin response was detected at concentrations and time points where the respective biological assays were still negative. The results reveal novel insights into the mechanisms which maintain the genomic integrity in undifferentiated cells. Additionally the results illustrate that gene set analysis of genome-wide expression changes provides a sensitive instrument to detect cellular stress responses to DNA damage.
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