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Background Calcification of arteries is a frequent occurrence in hemodialysis (HD) patients and is linked to mortality. This study was conducted to evaluate the correspondence between coronary calcification scores and calcifications observed histologically in peripheral arteries in HD patients. In addition the association of humoral parameters including fetuin-A and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) with arterial calcifications was studied. Patients and methods HD patients (n=44) were studied with multislice computed tomography (CT) and histological quantification of arterial calcifications in the lower epigastric artery sampled at the time of renal transplant. In addition, humoral assays were performed including fetuin-A and FGF-23. Results There was a significant correlation between medial calcification of the artery and Agatston scores. Natural logarithm (Ln) FGF-23 significantly correlated to Ln Agatston score but not to Ln medial calcification. A significant negative correlation between fetuin-A and Ln FGF-23 was observed, changing to borderline significance after correction for age and Ln HD age. Ln Agatston score in a multiregression analysis was predicted by Ln FGF-23 and age. Conclusions The association found between histologically evaluated calcification of the media of a peripheral artery in HD and the multislice CT Agatston scores is in favor of a generalized arterial calcification, either intimal or of tunica media, when calcium deposits are found in the coronary arteries. The association of FGF-23 with coronary calcification score, already reported, and less so with histological medial calcification is in favor of a link between the protein and intimal more than the medial calcification. FGF-23 may be considered a potential biomarker of arterial calcification in HD patients. The negative association between fetuin-A and FGF-23 may suggest a linkage between these humoral substances, vascular calcifications and mortality. The nature of this linkage requires further studies. more...

The electron-positron collider DANE , the Italianfactory, has been recently upgraded in order to implement an innovative collision scheme based on large crossing angle, small beam sizes at the crossing point, and compensation of beam-beam interaction by means of sextupole pairs creating a ''crab-waist'' configuration in the interaction region. Experimental tests of the novel scheme exhibited an increase by a factor of 3 in the peak luminosity of the collider with respect to the performances reached before the upgrade. In this Letter we present the new collision scheme, discuss its advantages, describe the hardware modifications realized for the upgrade, and report the results of the experimental tests carried out during commissioning of the machine in the new configuration and standard operation for the users. more...

The aim of this study is to investigate the release of some inflammatory cytokines (Cks) during the very early phase (first 24 h) of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Twenty-six consecutive subjects admitted to coronary care unit with ACS underwent serial blood sampling in order to evaluate concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ. Blood samples were taken within 6 h after onset of chest pain (T0), at 12 h (T1), and at 24 h (T2). Patients were thus divided into four groups comparing pro-inflammatory Ck release (IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) and anti-inflammatory activity (IL-10). Clinical features, risk factors, incidence of adverse events, and coronary angiography findings were compared with Ck activation. Ck levels were significantly increased if compared with baseline. Subjects with marked inflammatory response showed a higher incidence of left anterior descending coronary disease (IL-2, p < 0.001; TNF-α and IFN-γ, p < 0.05) and more often incurred early complications (IL-2, p < 0.05; IFN-γ, p < 0.001). A correlation was detectable between IL-18 levels and myocardial enzyme release (creatine kinase, r = 0.47; lactate dehydrogenase, r = 0.54; troponin I, r = 0.58; p < 0.05). TNF-α levels were associated with a worse prognosis at follow-up (Log rank, p < 0.05). A Ck activation characterizes the early phase of ACS. Early inflammatory reaction seems to correlate with coronary disease and adverse events. more...

Congenital absence of the portal vein with systemic diversion of mesenteric blood is extremely rare. We report a case of a congenital absence of the portal vein, accidentally discovered in a 59-year-old man, completely asymptomatic and not associated with other malformations or biochemical disorders. Ultrasonography imaging showed the absence of the portal vein and the distal tract of superior mesenteric and splenic veins draining together into a dilated left renal vein. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance confirmed the presence of a congenital portosystemic venous shunt and also revealed two hepatic arteries: one arising from the celiac trunk and the other from the superior mesenteric artery. more...

To evaluate levels of carbohydrate antigen-125 (CA-125) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), with regard to incidence of acute heart failure (AHF) and levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).In 47 consecutive patients with ACS, circulating levels of CA-125 and BNP were ascertained in the first 24 h and after 3 days of hospitalization. Left ventricular function and in-hospital incidence of AHF were also evaluated.BNP and CA-125 levels were significantly higher in patients with pulmonary oedema (PO) (564.25+/-500.50 vs. 258.57+/-284.81 pg/ml, P0.05; 51.78+/-54.71 vs. 13.78+/-12.01 UI/ml, P0.001) proportionally to Killip class (r=0.44, r=0.47; P0.01) and were related to LV end-diastolic dimension (r=0.47, P0.01; r=0.66, P0.001) and LV ejection fraction (r=-0.63, P0.001; r=-0.37, P0.01). CA-125 levels identified patients with PO with higher specificity (97.1 vs. 31.4%), positive predictive value (83.3 vs. 33.3%) and accuracy (83.0 vs. 48.9%) when compared with BNP.CA-125 levels are increased in patients with ACS and systolic dysfunction or AHF. Patients with PO are better identified by combined BNP and CA-125 assay rather than by only BNP. more...

The Frascati Φ-Factory DAΦNE has been delivering luminosity to the KLOE, DEAR and FINUDA experiments since year 2000. During the current run for the KLOE experiment peak luminosity of 1.4 · 1032cm−2s−1 and integrated luminosity of 8.6pb−1/day have been achieved. The scientific program of the three high-energy experiments sharing DAΦNE operation will be completed approximately by the end of year 2007. A scientific program for DAΦNE beyond that date has not been defined yet and it is a matter of discussion in the high-energy physics and accelerator physics communities. In this paper we present some future scenarios for DAΦNE discussing the expected ultimate performances of the machine as it is now and addressing the design for an energy and/or luminosity upgrade. The options presented in the following are not exhaustive and they are intended to give a glance of what is doable using the existing infrastructures. more...

We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with new onset dyspnoea, hypotension, and right bundle branch block. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed a thrombus in the right pulmonary artery and acute pulmonary embolism was diagnosed. The patient immediately underwent fibrinolysis with tenecteplase, with prompt recovery of clinical conditions and ECG anomalies. Bedside TTE might be helpful for immediate diagnosis of massive PE needing rapid treatment by fibrinolysis. more...

International audience; The DAΦNE Φ-factory at INFN-LNF has been upgraded in the second half of 2007 with the scope of testing a recently proposed scheme of crab waist collisions. New vacuum chambers and permanent quadrupole magnets have been designed, fabricated and installed to realize the new configuration. The ring injection systems have been also modified with the installation of new stripline fast injection kickers. Moreover the old bellows have been substituted by the new ones and all ion clearing electrodes in the electron ring have been removed. In the talk we describe the new layout as well as several experimental results obtained during the new run. more...

The new generation of linac injectors driving free electron lasers in the self-amplified stimulated emission (SASE-FEL) regime requires high brightness electron beams to generate radiation in the wavelength range from UV to x rays. The choice of the injector working point and its matching to the linac structure are the key factors to meet this requirement. An emittance compensation scheme presently applied in several photoinjectors worldwide is known as the "Ferrario" working point. In spite of its great importance there was, so far, no direct measurement of the beam parameters, such as emittance, transverse envelope, and energy spread, in the region downstream the rf gun and the solenoid of a photoinjector to validate the effectiveness of this approach. In order to fully characterize the beam dynamics with this scheme, an innovative beam diagnostic device, the emittance meter, consisting of a movable emittance measurement system, has been designed and built. With the emittance meter, measurements of the main beam parameters in both transverse phase spaces can be performed in a wide range of positions downstream the photoinjector. These measurements help in tuning the injector to optimize the working point and provide an important benchmark for the validation of simulation codes. We report the results of these measurements in the SPARC photoinjector and, in particular, the first experimental evidence of the double minimum in the emittance oscillation, which provides the optimized matching to the SPARC linac. © 2008 The American Physical Society. more...

Aim: To investigate the effect a 3-month treatment with atorvastatin 20 mg compared with rosuvastatin 10 mg on endothelium dysfunction in subjects with diabetes. Methods: A total of 22 consecutive subjects with diabetes who were not receiving statins were enrolled in the study. Endothelium function was assessed before treatment (T0), after 1 month (T1), and after 3 months of treatment (T2) with statins with brachial echo-Doppler test. Patients were randomized to receive atorvastatin 20 mg or rosuvastatin 10 mg. Blood samples were drawn in the meantime in order to evaluate C-reactive protein (CRP) plasmatic concentrations. Results: A total of 82% of patients enrolled showed endothelium dysfunction (hyperemic reserve more...

The SPARC project foresees the realization of a high brightness photo-injector to produce a 150-200 MeV electron beam to drive a SASE-FEL in the visible light. As a first stage of the commissioning a complete characterization of the photoinjector has been accomplished with a detailed study of the emittance compensation process downstream the gun-solenoid system with a novel beam diagnostic device, called emittance meter. In this paper we report the results obtained so far including the first experimental observation of the double emittance minimum effect on which is based the optimised matching with the SPARC linac. more...

An upgrade of the ΦNE Φ-Factory at LNF is planned in view of the installation of the Siddharta detector in fall 2007. A new interaction region suitable to test the large Piwinski angle and crab waist (CW) collision schemes will be installed. Other machine improvements, such as new injection kickers, bellows and beam pipe layouts will be realized, with the goal of reaching luminosity of the order of 1033/cm2 /s. The principle of operation of the new scheme, together with hardware designs and simulation studies, are presented. more...

Beam operations at DAΦPNE restarted in October 2006 after a four months shut-down to remove the KLOE experimental detector and to install the FINUDA one. This period has been also used for maintenance and implementation of several upgrades. Already in the first two months of operation the peak and integrated luminosity exceeded the values obtained during the first FINUDA run by 20%, and have been steadily improving toward the end of the operation. By June 2007 ˜ 1 fb-1 integrated luminosity has been logged by the experiment. The collider performances during the run are presented together with the improvements obtained in terms of beam dynamics and beam-beam behaviour coming from several collider modifications. more...

Long-QT syndrome is a rare disease characterized by prolonged ventricular repolarization. The clinical presentation of long-QT syndrome is the occurrence of syncope, seizures, or cardiac arrest in young patients. Previous studies have demonstrated locus heterogeneity, with causative mutations reported in ≥8 different genes, including the human ether-a-go-go-related gene. This study was conducted in 26 members of a 4-generation family with long-QT syndrome. The proband was a 14-year-old female patient referred to the emergency department for the evaluation of recurrent syncope associated with a prolonged QT interval on electrocardiography at rest. There was a family history of sudden death in a 27-year-old woman. Sequencing of the entire coding regions of the human ether-a-go-go-related gene and the intron and exon boundaries of the proband identified a single base-pair substitution (guanine to cytosine at nucleotide 1468). This mutation resulted in a novel missense mutation, alanine to proline at position 490 (Ala490Pro), in the inner loop of the S 2 and S 3 domains. The proband was heterozygous for the Ala490Pro mutation. To address whether the mutational change detected in the patient would be a polymorphism, 100 control subjects from the same ethnical background were investigated. None showed the Ala490Pro substitution. Of 26 family members, 9 were mutation carriers, and none had normal electrocardiographic results. The penetrance of this pedigree was assumed to be 100%. In conclusion, the Ala490Pro mutation of the human ether-a-go-go-related gene is a rare, novel mutation that was inherited in this family, leading to Romano-Ward syndrome with complete penetrance. more...

In this Letter we report the first experimental observation of the double emittance minimum effect in the beam dynamics of high-brightness electron beam generation by photoinjectors; this effect, as predicted by the theory, is crucial in achieving minimum emittance in photoinjectors aiming at producing electron beams for short wavelength single-pass free electron lasers. The experiment described in this Letter was performed at the SPARC photoinjector site, during the first stage of commissioning of the SPARC project. The experiment was made possible by a newly conceived device, called an emittance meter, which allows a detailed and unprecedented study of the emittance compensation process as the beam propagates along the beam pipe. more...

The design and construction of the 990-ton gapless iron magnets for the OPERA experiment represent a major challenge from the point of view of mechanics, electric and heat engineering. Two of such magnets have been built in a deep underground hall of the Gran Sasso laboratories between 2003 and 2006 and they have been switched on for the first time in March 2006. In this paper we discuss the construction and characterization of these devices. First experience with the CNGS beam are also reported. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. more...

Research in medicine is characterized by a complex interaction between industry and physicians. What is intended to be an intellectually productive and mutually satisfying relationship often becomes a sterile, disruptive, and competitive one, sometimes degenerating into a real state of hostility. Problems arise as a result of the increasing costs of health care in western countries facing an aging population in recent decades [1]. The cost of providing medical assistance to so many elderly patients is such that the funds available for medical research in public institutions have been reduced drastically. Parallel to this increase in medical costs is a progressive rise in the cost of medical research, due to expenditures incurred by industry as well as by public institutions [2]. This occurrence would seem to describe exponential trends with worrying scenarios for the future. On the other hand, academic institutions still consider research and publishing as pivotal to their existence and to advancement/promotion in university careers (“publish or perish”). Scientific journals are facing a deluge of manuscripts [3], some of which suffer from methodological flaws or even substantial false claims, as evidenced by cases recently reported in the media [4]. An unmanageable number of trials precludes any attempt to stay up-to-date: there are currently more than 3000 ongoing trials on cardiovascular issues, almost half of which are still in the patient recruitment stage [5]. This plethora of information and investigations cannot be managed by academic institutions and public funding alone. more...

Obtaining very short bunches is an issue especially for colliders but also for CSR sources. The modulation of the bunch length in a strong rf focusing regime had been proposed, corresponding to a high value of the synchrotron tune. A ring structure where the function R56 along the ring oscillates between large positive and negative values will produce bunch length modulation. The synchrotron frequency can be tuned both by the rf power and by the integral of the function R 56 , up to the limit of zero value corresponding to the isochronicity condition. The proposal of a bunch length modulation along the ring in DAΦNE is here described. DAΦNE lattice can be tuned to positive or negative momentum compaction values, or to structures in which the two arcs are respectively set to positive/negative integrals of the R56 function. With the installation of an extra rf system at 1.3 GHz, experiments on bunch length modulation both in the regime of high and low synchrotron tune can be realized. more...

The e+e- collider DAΦNE, a 1.02 GeV c.m. Φ-factory, has reached a peak luminosity of about 1.4×1032cm-2s-1and a peak integrated luminosity in one day of about 8.6 pb-1. With the current rates the physics program of the three main experiments DEAR, FINUDA and KLOE will be completed by the end of 2007. In this paper we describe in detail the steps which have led to the luminosity improvement and the options for the upgrade of the collider towards higher energy and/or luminosity. more...

The construction and commissioning of the 990-ton gapless iron magnets for the OPERA experiment is presented. These magnets have been built in a deep underground hall of the Gran Sasso laboratories between 2003 and 2006 and they have been switched on for the first time in March 2006. In this poster we discuss the mechanic, electric and thermal characterization of these devices as well as measurements of the magnetic field by means of pickup coils. Moreover, we discuss the commissioning of the auxiliary systems (power supply, water cooling plant); First neutrino beam has been sent in August 2006 and is also reported. more...

Increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) could be detected in subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Several factors, atherosclerosis, coronary flow impairment, myocardial necrosis, each one acting during a different, earlier or later, phase of ACS, are supposed to be involved in CRP release in case of ACS. Role and relevance of each factor, not mutually exclusive, still need to be comparatively evaluated but a cooperative synergism could be presumably hypothesized. more...

SPARC and SPARX are two different initiatives toward an X-ray FEL SASE source at LNF. SPARC is a high gain FEL project devoted to provide a source of visible and VUV radiation while exploiting SASE mechanism. An advanced Photo-Injector system, emittance self-compensating RF-gun plus a 150 MeV Linac, will inject a high quality e-beam into the undulator to generate high brilliance FEL radiation in the visible region at the fundamental wavelength, (530 nm). The production of flat top drive laser beams, high peak current bunches, and an emittance compensation scheme will be investigated together with the generation of higher harmonic radiation in the VUV region. SPARX is the direct evolution of such a high gain SASE FEL towards the 13.5 and 1.5 nm operating wavelengths, at 2.5 GeV. The first phase of the SPARX project, fiinded by Government Agencies, will be focused on R&D activity on critical components and techniques for future X-ray facilities as described in this paper. more...

C-reactive protein (CRP) plasmatic levels increase in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Correlations between CRP levels, myocardial functional damage and cardiomyocyte lysis remain to be defined.192 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes (64.97 +/- 11.08 mean age, 71.35% male gender) were included in the study; 138 patients (71.87%) were discharged with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) diagnosis (28 with non Q-wave AMI) and 54 with an unstable angina (UA) diagnosis (28.13%). In all patients CRP, CK, LDH, CK-MB and troponin I plasmatic concentrations were evaluated every 6 h for 48 h and every 24 h for the following 2 days from the onset of symptoms. Ejection fraction was estimated by bidimensional echocardiography and extension of myocardial lysis by cardiac enzymes plasmatic release. 92 patients (67 with AMI, 25 with UA) underwent coronary-angiography. Incidence of adverse cardiac events was recorded in a 6 months follow up.Mean CRP levels in Q-wave MI showed a statistically significant increase in the different blood samples with baseline. Mean CRP levels of the three groups were not statistically different at baseline and after 6, 12, and 18 h. Q-wave AMI CRP levels showed a statistically significant difference as against non Q-wave AMI at 36 (p0.05), 48 (p0.05) and 72 h (p0.05) and UA at 24 (p0.01), 30 (p0.01), 48 (p0.0001), 72 (p = 0.0001) and 96 h (p = 0.0003); non Q-wave AMI CPR levels showed a statistically significant difference as against UA at 48 h (p0.01). CRP peak mean levels were significantly different when comparing Q-wave AMI patients with UA patients (8.21 +/- 7.85 vs. 2.75 +/- 3.33 mg/dl, p0.001). In patients with Q-wave AMI there was a correlation between CRP peak concentrations and CK (r = 0.264, p = 0.008) and LDH (r = 0.32, p = 0.001), while correlation with CK-MB peak concentrations was not statistically significant (r = 0.196, p = 0.051). In the same patient group, there was also a correlation between CRP plasmatic concentrations and troponin I plasmatic concentrations from the 30th to 96th h after the onset of symptoms (r = 0.38-0.53, p0.05). No correlation was found between CRP levels and ejection fraction and angio-coronarography findings (number of stenotic vessels, culprit lesions, ruptured plaques). Peak CRP levels were associated in a 6 months follow up with an increased incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in patients with Q-wave AMI (HR 1.1649, 95% C.I. 1.0197-1.3307, p0.05).CRP plasmatic concentrations showed a different release curve in patients with Q-wave AMI in comparison with patients with non Q-wave AMI and with patients with UA. CRP peak concentrations did not correlate with ejection fraction and angiographic findings, but correlate with incidence of MACE. The increase in CRP levels during Q-wave MI seems to be linked to the extension of myocardial damage rather than pre-existing inflammation. more...

The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is a short neuropsychological tool aiming to assess executive functions at the bedside. Two-hundred and thirty-six normal controls were administered the FAB and three other tasks assessing attentional and executive functions. The FAB was also administered to 28 patients suffering from mild Alzheimer's disease (AD, n. 15 subjects) or frontotemporal dementia (FTD, n. 13 subjects). The FAB showed good concurrent and discriminant validity and high internal consistency. Test-retest and inter-rater reliability were fairly good. A multiple regression analysis showed a significant positive effect of education and a negative effect of age. Cut-off values of non-parametric distribution were computed. A difference on FAB scores within dementia patients was observed, with subjects with FTD performing worse than patients suffering from AD. more...

SPARC and SPARX are two different initiatives toward an ItalianFreeElectronLaser (FEL) source operating in theSelfAmplifiedSpontaneousEmission (SASE) mode, in which several national research institutions are involved. SPARC is a high gain FEL project devoted to provide a source of visible and VUV radiation while exploiting the SASE mechanism. An advanced Photo-Injector system, emittance compensating RF-gun plus a 150 MeV Linac, will inject a high quality e-beam into the undulator to generate high brilliance FEL radiation in the visible region at the fundamental wavelength, (∼500 nm). The production of flat top drive laser beams, high peak current bunches, and emittance compensation scheme will be investigated together with the generation of higher harmonic radiation in the VUV region. SPARX is the direct evolution of such a high gain SASE FEL toward the 13.5 and 1.5 nm operating wavelengths, at 2.5 GeV. To get the required value for the bunch peak current, Ipeak≈ 2.5 kA, the “hybrid” scheme, RF-compression stage plus magnetic chicane, is analyzed and compared with the more standard double stage of magnetic compression. The two options are reviewed considering the tolerance to the drive laser pulse phase jitter. more...

FELs based on SASE are believed to be powerful tools to explore the frontiers of basic sciences, from physics to chemistry to biology. Intense R&D programs have started in the USA and Europe in order to understand the SASE physics and to prove the feasibility of these sources. The allocation of considerable resources in the Italian National Research Plan (PNR) brought about the formation of a CNR‐ENEA‐INFN‐University of Roma “Tor Vergata” study group. A conceptual design study has been developed and possible schemes for linac sources have been investigated, bringing to the SPARX proposal. We report in this paper the results of a preliminary start to end simulation concerning one option we are considering based on an S‐band normal conducting linac with high brightness photoinjector integrated in a RF compressor. more...

The installation of a passive 3/sup rd/ harmonic cavity in both the e/sup +/ and e/sup -/ rings of the Frascati /spl Phi/-factory DA/spl Phi/NE has been decided in order to improve the Touschek lifetime by increasing the bunch length. The implications of the RF harmonic system on the beam dynamics, in particular those related to the gap in the bunch filling pattern, have been carefully studied by means of analytical and numerical tools. A single-cell cavity incorporating a ferrite ring for the HOM damping has been designed through the extensive use of MAFIA and HFSS simulation codes. One cavity prototype has been built and extensively bench tested, while the fabrication of the two final cavities is almost completed. A description of the design and construction activities, and a set of experimental measurements are reported in this paper. more...

Purpose : This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topiramate (TPM) in refractory partial epilepsy in children, adolescents and young adults. Methods : We performed a prospective open label add-on study in 55 patients (age 2–30 years, mean 15 years) with refractory partial seizures. Topiramate was added to one or two other baseline drugs and the efficacy was rated according to seizure type and frequency. Results : TPM was initiated at a daily dose of 0.5–1 mg/kg, followed by a 2-week titration at increments of 1–3 mg/kg/24h, up to a maximum daily dose of 12 mg/kg. After 9 months of treatment, 11 patients (20%) had 100% fewer seizures and 25 patients (45%) had a more than 50% seizure reduction. TPM appeared to be effective both in cryptogenic (76.2%) and symptomatic (58.8%) partial epilepsies. Mild to moderate adverse events were present in 25 patients (45.4%), mostly represented by drowsiness, nervousness and hyporexia with or without weight loss. Conclusion : TPM was an overall effective and safe add-on drug both in cryptogenic and symptomatic childhood refractory partial seizures, the adverse reactions being generally mild or moderate. more...

The Project SPARC (Sorgente Pulsata e Amplificata di Radiazione Coerente), proposed by a collaboration among ENEA-INFN-CNR-Universitadi Roma Tor Vergata- INFM-ST, was recently funded by the Italian Government. The aim of the project is to promote an R&D activity oriented to the development of a coherent ultra-brilliant X-ray source in Italy (SPARX proposal (1)). The SPARC collaboration identified a program based on two main issues: the generation of ultra-high peak brightness electron beams and experimental study of SASE-FEL process with generation of resonant higher harmonics. The SPARC project is being designed in order to encompass the construction of an advanced photo- injector producing a 150-200 MeV beam to drive a SASE-FEL in the optical range. The machine will be built at LNF, inside an underground bunker: it is comprised of an rf gun driven by a Ti:Sa laser, injecting into three SLAC accelerating sections. We foresee conducting investigations on the emittance correction(2) and on the rf compression techniques(3), which are expected to increase the peak current achievable at the injector exit up to kA level, with proper preservation of the transverse emittance. Although the system is expected to drive a FEL experiment, it can be used also to investigate beam physics issues like surface-roughness-induced wake fields, bunch-length measurements in the sub-ps range, emittance degradation in magnetic compressors due to CSR, and Compton backscattering production of sub-ps X-ray pulses. more...

While the main advances in the standard model probing require the construction of very high-energy colliders, many open questions still remain which can be answered by exploring low and medium energy regions. In this framework we are investigating the possibility of upgrading the /spl phi/-factory DA/spl phi/NE from the energy of 1.02 GeV c.m. up to the neutron-antineutron threshold (about 2 GeV c.m.) using the existing systems and structures. The luminosity required by the experiments for a light quark factory is of the order of few 10/sup 31/ cm/sup -2/ s/sup -1/, easily achievable in the particle factory era. The very first results of the feasibility study are presented. more...

DA/spl Phi/NE, the Frascati LNF /spl Phi/-factory, is providing luminosity for the KLOE experiment since July 2000. A steady increase of daily integrated luminosity in KLOE has been obtained, due to interspersed machine physics studies. The main results are: increase of single bunch luminosity by reduction of the effects of nonlinear terms in the machine, background reduction, refill of the colliding beams while keeping the KLOE detector taking data and increase of stable stored current. A fraction of machine time has been used to tune luminosity and reduce background in the DEAR configuration. The luminosity delivered to DEAR was sufficient to conclude the first phase of the experiment. more...