Abstract: Dark matter energy injection in the early universe modifies both the ionization history and the temperature of the intergalactic medium. In this work, we improve the CMB bounds on sub-keV dark matter and extend previous bounds from Lyman-& alpha; observations to the same mass range, resulting in new and competitive constraints on axion-like particles (ALPs) decaying into two photons. The limits depend on the underlying reionization history, here accounted self-consistently by our modified version of the publicly available DarkHistory and CLASS codes. Future measurements such as the ones from the CMB-S4 experiment may play a crucial, leading role in the search for this type of light dark matter candidates.

Abstract: A front-end electronics (FEE) chain for accurate time measurements has been developed for the new Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC)-based Time-of-Flight (TOF) wall of the High Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES). The wall covers an area of around 8 m(2) divided in 6 sectors. In total, 1122 4-gap timing RPC cells are read-out by 2244 time and charge sensitive channels. The FEE chain consists of 2 custom-made boards: a 4-channel Daughter BOard(DBO) and a 32-channel MotherBOard (MBO). The DBO uses a fast 2 GHz amplifier feeding a dual high-speed discriminator. The time and charge information are encoded, respectively, in the leading edge and the width of an LVDS signal. Each MBO houses up to 8 DBOs providing them regulated voltage supply, threshold values via DACs, test signals and, additionally, routing out a signal proportional to the channel multiplicity needed for a 1st level trigger decision. The MBO delivers LVDS signals to a multi-purpose Trigger Readout Board (TRB) for data acquisition. The FEE allows achieving a system resolution around 75 ps fulfilling comfortably the requirements of the HADES upgrade [1]. The commissioning of the whole RPC wall is finished and the 6 sectors are already mounted in their final position in the HADES spectrometer and ready to take data during the beam-times foreseen for 2010.

Abstract: PurposeThe aim of the study was to evaluate the heterogeneity of primary tumor F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) uptake in breast cancer patients using a dedicated breast PET.Patients and methodsA positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) of the thorax was performed 60 min after administration of 180-240 MBq of F-18-FDG in patients with breast cancer. Subsequently, 110 min after injection, a scan was taken with a dedicated high-resolution breast PET [MAMmography with Molecular Imaging (MAMMI)]. Both procedures were performed with the patients in the prone position. Four-point scores were used to compare the intensity (0: none; 1: mild; 2: moderate; 3: high) and heterogeneity (0: none; 1: mild; 2: moderate; 3: high) of F-18-FDG uptake between PET/CT and MAMMI images.ResultsThirty-five patients in whom the primary tumor was visualized on both scans were included in this analysis. The mean primary tumor size was 35.1 mm (range 10-108 mm). The mean intensity score was similar on both devices (2.4 for PET/CT and 2.3 for MAMMI; P=0.439), but the mean heterogeneity score on MAMMI images was significantly higher (PET/CT 1.9 vs. MAMMI 2.3; P=0.005). MAMMI showed a higher heterogeneity score in 11 (31%) of 35 patients, especially in tumors with moderate or high intensity. Significantly higher heterogeneity scores on both PET/CT and MAMMI were seen in large tumors (P=0.005 and 0.014, respectively) and in tumors with high intensity scores (P=0.012 and P<0.001, respectively).ConclusionHeterogeneous tumor F-18-FDG uptake in breast cancer is frequently observed, particularly in large tumors with intense F-18-FDG uptake. It is more often seen on MAMMI PET than on conventional PET/CT. Although the observed heterogeneity should be proven histopathologically, this finding offers a rationale for F-18-FDG-guided biopsies.