31. Mass composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays at the Pierre Auger ObservatoryGašper Kukec Mezek, 2019, doctoral dissertation Abstract: Cosmic rays with energies above 10^18 eV, usually referred to as ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), have been a mystery from the moment they have been discovered. Although we have now more information on their extragalactic origin, their direct sources still remain hidden due to deviations caused by galactic magnetic fields. Another mystery, apart from their production sites, is their nature. Their mass composition, still uncertain at these energies, would give us a better understanding on their production, acceleration, propagation and capacity to produce extensive air showers in the Earth's atmosphere. Mass composition studies of UHECR try to determine their nature from the difference in development of their extensive air showers.
In this work, observational parameters from the hybrid detection system of the Pierre Auger Observatory are used in a multivariate analysis to obtain the mass composition of UHECR. The multivariate analysis (MVA) approach combines a number of mass composition sensitive variables and tries to improve the separation between different UHECR particle masses. Simulated distributions of different primary particles are fitted to measured observable distributions in order to determine individual elemental fractions of the composition. When including observables from the surface detector, we find a discrepancy in the estimated mass composition between a mixed simulation sample and the Pierre Auger data. Our analysis results from the Pierre Auger data are to a great degree independent on hadronic interaction models. Although they differ at higher primary masses, the different models are more consistent, when combining fractions of oxygen and iron. Compared to previously published results, the systematic uncertainty from hadronic interaction models is roughly four times smaller. Our analysis reports a predominantly heavy composition of UHECR, with more than a 50% fraction of oxygen and iron at low energies. The composition is then becoming heavier with increasing energy, with a fraction of oxygen and iron above 80% at the highest energies.
Keywords: astroparticle physics, ultra-high energy cosmic rays, extensive air showers, mass composition, Pierre Auger Observatory, machine learning, multivariate analysis
Published in RUNG: 03.04.2019; Views: 5032; Downloads: 188
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34. Depth of maximum of air-shower profiles at the Pierre Auger Observatory: Measurements above 10^17.2 eV and Composition ImplicationsJosé Bellido, Andrej Filipčič, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Marta Trini, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2017, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, depth of maximum of air-shower, mass composition
Published in RUNG: 16.02.2018; Views: 3210; Downloads: 143
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35. Results from the Pierre Auger ObservatoryIvan De Mitri, Andrej Filipčič, Samo Stanič, Darko Veberič, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2015, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR), UHECR energy spectrum, UHECR mass composition
Published in RUNG: 27.06.2017; Views: 4222; Downloads: 0
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36. Astroparticles at the High Energy Frontier: Results from the Pierre Auger ObservatoryGonzalo Parente, Andrej Filipčič, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Darko Veberič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2014, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), UHECR energy spectrum, mass composition, anisotropies
Published in RUNG: 20.06.2017; Views: 4973; Downloads: 0
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37. Auger HighlightsAntonella Castellina, Andrej Filipčič, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Marta Trini, Darko Veberič, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2014, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: Pierre Auger Observatory, ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), UHECR hybrid detection technique, UHECR energy spectrum, UHECR mass composition, UHECR arrival directions
Published in RUNG: 20.06.2017; Views: 5235; Downloads: 395
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38. Development and Validation of a High- Performance Liquid Chromatography– Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Irinotecan and Its Main Metabolites in Human Plasma and Its Application in a Clinical Pharmacokinetic StudyBianca Posocco, Elisa Mazzega, Elena Marangon, Giuseppe Toffoli, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: Irinotecan is currently used in several cancer regimens mainly in colorectal cancer (CRC). This drug has a narrow therapeutic range and treatment can lead to side effects, mainly neutropenia and diarrhea, frequently requiring discontinuing or lowering the drug dose. A wide inter-individual variability in irinotecan pharmacokinetic parameters and pharmacodynamics has been reported and associated to patients’ genetic background. In particular, a polymorphism in the UGT1A1 gene (UGT1A1*28) has been linked to an impaired detoxification of SN-38 (irinotecan active metabolite) to SN-38 glucuronide (SN-38G) leading to increased toxicities. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring of irinotecan, SN-38 and SN-38G is recommended to personalize therapy. In order to quantify simultaneously irinotecan and its main metabolites in patients’ plasma, we developed and validated a new, sensitive and specific HPLC–MS/MS method applicable to all irinotecan dosages used in clinic. This method required a small plasma volume, addition of camptothecin as internal standard and simple protein precipitation. Chromatographic separation was done on a Gemini C18 column (3 μM, 100 mm x 2.0 mm) using 0.1% acetic acid/bidistilled water and 0.1% acetic acid/acetonitrile as mobile phases. The mass spectrometer worked with electrospray ionization in positive ion mode and selected reaction monitoring. The standard curves were linear (R20.9962) over the concentration ranges (10–10000 ng/mL for irinotecan, 1–500 ng/mL for SN-38 and SN-38G and 1–5000 ng/mL for APC) and had good back-calculated accuracy and precision. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy, determined on three quality control levels for all the analytes, were always <12.3% and between 89.4% and 113.0%, respectively. Moreover, we evaluated this bioanalytical method by re-analysis of incurred samples as an additional measure of assay reproducibility. This method wassuccessfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in metastatic CRC patients enrolled in a genotype-guided phase Ib study of irinotecan administered in combination with 5-fluorouracil/ leucovorin and bevacizumab.
Keywords: Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics, phase I clinical study, colorectal cancer, Mass spectrometry, pharmacogenetics
Published in RUNG: 21.03.2017; Views: 4671; Downloads: 0
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39. Evidence for a mixed mass composition at the ‘ankle’ in the cosmic-ray spectrumA. Aab, Andrej Filipčič, Gašper Kukec Mezek, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Marta Trini, Darko Veberič, Serguei Vorobiov, Lili Yang, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2016, original scientific article Keywords: ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), UHECR mass composition, UHECR energy spectrum, Pierre Auger Observatory, composition studies at the ‘ankle’ region in the UHECR spectrum
Published in RUNG: 25.11.2016; Views: 4806; Downloads: 180
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40. Report of the Working Group on the Composition of Ultra High Energy Cosmic RaysR. Abbasi, Andrej Filipčič, Ahmed Saleh, Samo Stanič, Serguei Vorobiov, Danilo Zavrtanik, Marko Zavrtanik, 2016, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR), UHECR mass composition, Pierre Auger Observatory, Telescope Array, cross-calibration studies
Published in RUNG: 17.11.2016; Views: 5328; Downloads: 0
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