Search

The ACCESS (Array of Cryogenic Calorimeters to Evaluate Spectral Shapes) project aims to establish a novel technique to perform precision measurements of forbidden β -decays, which can serve as an important benchmark for nuclear physics calculations and represent a significant background in astroparticle physics experiments. ACCESS will operate a pilot array of cryogenic calorimeters based on natural and doped crystals containing β -emitting radionuclides. In this way, natural (e.g. 113 Cd and 115 In) and synthetic isotopes (e.g. 99 Tc) will be simultaneously measured with a common experimental technique. The array will also include further crystals optimised to disentangle the different background sources, thus reducing the systematic uncertainty. In this paper, we give an overview of the ACCESS research program, discussing a detector design study and promising results of 115 In. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Regional Administration of Sicily recently erected Isola delle Femmine—a small island of the Tyrrhenian Sea, close to Palermo—as a geosite. A detailed geological survey has been carried out in order to define the most important geological features of the island together with the development of a new geological map based on topographic data and a digital model at 1:2.000 scale specially processed. Finally, a geological pathway through the island has been traced and illustrated. The geological substrate of Isola delle Femmine consists of a Mesozoic carbonate succession belonging to the Panormide Carbonate Platform. Two lithostratigraphic units have been differentiated. The lowest one consists of dolomitic limestones cropping out in the intermediate and northern part of the island. Despite the absence of biostratigraphic constrains, analogies with comparable deposits from the Palermo Mountains suggested to ascribe this unit to the Upper Triassic. The overlying unit consists of well-bedded rudist and stromatolitic limestones organized in peritidal cycles. The macro- and micro-facies analysis of these Cretaceous limestones allows to attribute this unit to the Lower Cretaceous (i.e., Aptian). Patches of upper Pleistocene skeletal calcarenites rich in benthic foraminifers and calcareous algae overlap the Mesozoic units. Spectacular speleothems such as stalagmites, ray crystals (“raggioni”) of calcite, and mammillary calcite suggest a relative long-lasting exposure of the Mesozoic carbonate substrate to groundwater. This is not surprising since glacio-eustatic oscillations caused sea-level to fall up to 125 m during the Pleistocene thus exposing and linking to the mainland (Sicily) Isola delle Femmine and the surrounding area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In prospect of its application in cryogenic rare-event searches, we have investigated the low-temperature scintillation properties of CaWO4 crystals down to 3.4K under α and γ excitation. Concerning the scintillation decay times, we observe a long component in the ms range which significantly contributes to the light yield below 40 K. For the first time we have measured the temperature dependence of the α/γ-ratio of the light yield. This parameter, which can be used to discriminate α and γ events in scintillating bolometers, is found to be ~8%-15% smaller at low temperatures compared to room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searches for dark matter with cryogenic detectors are pushing to lower energy thresholds at each development stage. Consequently, new approaches for detector calibration at the proposed energy scales are necessary. In the case of SuperCDMS SNOLAB, energy thresholds in the range of a few eV are expected. In this paper, we are reporting R&D work for new ideas to calibrate cryogenic detectors in the eV range utilizing LEDs of various wavelengths operated at cryogenic temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DEAP-3600 is a liquid-argon scintillation detector looking for dark matter. Scintillation events in the liquid argon (LAr) are registered by 255 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), and pulseshape discrimination (PSD) is used to suppress electromagnetic background events. The excellent PSD performance of LAr makes it a viable target for dark matter searches, and the LAr scintillation pulseshape discussed here is the basis of PSD. The observed pulseshape is a combination of LAr scintillation physics with detector effects. We present a model for the pulseshape of electromagnetic background events in the energy region of interest for dark matter searches. The model is composed of (a) LAr scintillation physics, including the so-called intermediate component, (b) the time response of the TPB wavelength shifter, including delayed TPB emission at O (ms) time-scales, and c) PMT response. TPB is the wavelength shifter of choice in most LAr detectors. We find that approximately 10% of the intensity of the wavelength-shifted light is in a long-lived state of TPB. This causes light from an event to spill into subsequent events to an extent not usually accounted for in the design and data analysis of LAr-based detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the authors present an original methodology aiming at the automation of the geometric inspection, starting from a high-density acquired surface. The concept of intrinsic nominal reference is herein introduced in order to evaluate geometric errors. Starting from these concepts, a new specification language, which is based on recognisable geometric entities, is defined. This work also proposes some surface differential properties, such as the intrinsic nominal references, from which new categories of form errors can be introduced. Well-defined rules are then necessary for the unambiguous identification of these intrinsic nominal references. These rules are an integral part of the tolerance specification. This new approach requires that a recognition process be performed on the acquired model so as to automatically identify the already-mentioned intrinsic nominal references. The assessable errors refer to recognisable geometric entities and their evaluation leaves the nominal reference specification aside since they can be intrinsically associated with a recognised geometric shape. Tolerance specification is defined based on the error categories which can be automatically evaluated and which are an integral part of the specification language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variation of luminescence and excitation spectra of titanium doped Al2O3 for the concentration of Ti ranging from 10 to 1000 ppm was investigated using synchrotron radiation. In the lightly doped Al2O3-Ti (<100 ppm) samples we identified several emission bands. These are the emission of the excitons localized at Ti (290 nm), the emission due to F+ centers (325 nm), the band around 420 nm traditionally attributed to F center emission, and the luminescence of Ti3+ ions at 720 nm. The emphasis in this study is on the clarification of the nature of the blue emission band in the samples with high concentration of Ti (≥100 ppm), where the luminescence and excitation spectra of the blue emission exhibit noticeable variability. This is explained by a model of the luminescence process of Ti4+-F centers that includes the photoionization of Ti3+, the subsequent capture of electrons at F+-centers, formation of excited F-centers and, finally, the emission of a blue photon. The quenching of the blue emission with increasing Ti concentration is interpreted in terms of competition between oxygen vacancies and Ti4+ centers in the capture of the electron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a statistical method for tolerances analysis and cost evaluation is presented. Statistical tolerances analysis is performed by assuming the Chase and Greenwood mean shift model, providing an original systematic approach to evaluate the mean shift factor. The proposed approach allows for the analysis of manufacturing costs for different confidence levels of the variables to be optimised. The interaction between customer requirements, design parameters and process variables, are taken into account by incorporating the process planning models and conceptual and embodiment design solutions. The cost analysis is performed by selecting the most appropriate driver for each component of the cost due tolerances. Cost driver parameters are evaluated over product life cycle, in different design domains (customer, design and process) and also include the customer satisfaction (quality loss). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for secondary features segmentation, performed on high-density tessellated geometric models, is proposed. Four types of secondary features are considered: fillets, rounds and grooves. Sharp edges are also recognised. The method is based on an algorithm that analyses the principal curvatures. The nodes, potentially attributable to a fillet of given geometry, are those with a certain value for the maximum principal curvature. Since the deterministic application of this simple working principle shows several problems, due to the uncertainties in the curvature estimation, a fuzzy approach is proposed. In order to segment the nodes of a tessellated model belonging to secondary features of a given radius, an appropriate set of membership functions is defined and evaluated based on some parameters, which affect the quality of the curvature estimation. A region-growing algorithm connects the nodes pertaining to a same secondary feature so that, for a given radius, one or more secondary features may be recognized. The method is applied and verified in some test cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing technologies produce objects which present a characteristic surface texture. This is an inevitable and systematic error and has a predictable shape feature which depends on certain process parameters. In order to reduce manufacturing costs and obtain the best results from the point of view of quality, it is essential to predict this error in advance and choose the process parameters which minimise it. For the purpose of measuring the surface quality, the index R (ISO 4287, 1997) is used in the related literature. In this paper, it is first demonstrated that the use of roughness parameters in FDM-manufactured surfaces is not adequate to quantify the surface error. The parameter P (ISO 4287) is proposed as a more appropriate index to evaluate the surface quality; it is investigated and critically analysed in comparison with the R index. A new original model to predict P for FDM-manufactured surfaces is presented. The model prediction is compared with experimental data and with the estimation performed by the models described in the literature, within the limits of their capability to predict P . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced control in Lambda (Λ) scheme of a solid state architecture of artificial atoms and quantized modes would allow the translation to the solid-state realm of a whole class of phenomena from quantum optics, thus exploiting new physics emerging in larger integrated quantum networks and for stronger couplings. However control solid-state devices has constraints coming from selection rules, due to symmetries which on the other hand yield protection from decoherence, and from design issues, for instance that coupling to microwave cavities is not directly switchable. We present two new schemes for the Λ-STIRAP control problem with the constraint of one or two classical driving fields being always-on. We show how these protocols are converted to apply to circuit-QED architectures. We finally illustrate an application to coherent spectroscopy of the so called ultrastrong atom-cavity coupling regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review covers direct searches for dark matter, and the role inorganic scintillators have to play in them. Particle dark matter may make up most of the matter in the universe. Direct searches for dark matter are progressing thanks to improvements in detector technology. The phase space predicted by various theories is vast. Noble-element based detectors, soon weighing one ton, seem best-placed to search for relatively heavy ( \gtrsim 20~\GeV) particles, and have already probed dark matter-nucleon cross sections as small as 7 \times 10^-46~\cm^2. A variety of other technologies, including cryogenic detectors, gaseous ones and CCDs, will cover lower masses (down to 1 GeV or less), where recent hints for a discovery have been seriously undermined. Background rejection is essential in this field. Inorganic scintillators have roles to play at cryogenic temperatures, where the scintillation signal can be coupled to a measurement of phonons, providing particle identification. Future experiments with highly radiopure and high light yield NaI(Tl) can contribute to direct investigation of the longstanding detection claim from DAMA/LIBRA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years the need for methodologies capable of performing an automated geometric inspection has increased. These methodologies often use 3D high-resolution optical digitisers to acquire points from the surface of the object to be inspected. It is expected that, in the near future, geometric inspection will be requiring more and more the use of these instruments. At present geometric inspection is not profiting from all the opportunities attainable by 3D high-resolution optical scanners or from the numerous tools which can be used for processing the point cloud acquired from the inspected product. For some years now, these authors have been working on a new methodology for automatic tolerance inspection working from a 3D model acquired by optical digitisers. In this paper all the information recognisable in a scanned object is organised into a new data structure, called Recognised Geometric Model ( RGM). The final aim is to define a representation of the inspected object for the automatic evaluation of the non-idealities pertaining to the form, orientation and location of the non-ideal features of the acquired object. The key concept of the proposed approach is the capability to recognise some intrinsic nominal properties of the acquired model. These properties are assumed as references to evaluate the non-idealities of the inspected object. With this approach the references of geometric inspection are searched for in the inspected object independently of a tolerance specification and of the availability of a 3D nominal representation. The high-level geometric information within RGM depends on the rules used for its identification. The capability to recognise specific categories of nominal references offers the possibility of introducing new tolerances to be specified. The proposed approach has been implemented in original software by means of which a specific test case has been analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new technique for symmetry line detection for asymmetric postures, which can not be investigated with the other methods presented in the literature, is proposed. It evaluates the symmetry line by means an adaptive process in which a first attempt is modified step by step until the solution converges to the best estimation. The method here proposed is validated by analysing four different asymmetric postures in which the spine lies far outside the sagittal plane, having as reference the cutaneous marking. Results are analysed and critically discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a setup we developed for the measurement of scintillation properties of crystals, from room temperature down to 3 K, under \alpha and \gamma particle irradiation which resolves lines from both types of excitations. This setup is described here and we report some results obtained with this setup on BGO (\ Bi4{\ {Ge}}3{\ {O}}12) and \ ZnWO4 crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We have recently shown that the adaptor protein p140Cap regulates tumor properties in terms of cell motility and growth. Here, by using the highly metastatic rat adenocarcinoma cell line MTLn3-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), we assess the role of p140Cap in metastasis formation. Orthotopic transplantation of MTLn3-EGFR cells over-expressing p140Cap in Rag2−/−γc−/− mice resulted in normal primary tumor growth compared with the controls. Strikingly, p140Cap over-expression causes an 80% inhibition in the number of lung metastases. p140Cap over-expressing cells display a 50% reduction in directional cell migration, an increased number and size of focal adhesions, and a strong impairment in the ability to invade in a 3D matrix. p140Cap over-expression affects EGFR signaling and tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin in response to EGF stimulation. Intriguingly, p140Cap associates with cortactin via interaction with its second proline-rich domain to the cortactin SH3 domain. The phosphomimetic cortactin tyrosine 421 mutant rescues migration and invasive properties in p140Cap over-expressing cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that p140Cap suppresses the invasive properties of highly metastatic breast carcinoma cells by inhibiting cortactin-dependent cell motility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adaptor protein p140Cap/SNIP is a novel Src-binding protein that regulates Src activation through C-terminal Src kinase (Csk). Here, by gain and loss of function approaches in breast and colon cancer cells, we report that p140Cap immobilizes E-cadherin at the cell membrane and inhibits EGFR and Erk1/2 signalling, blocking scatter and proliferation of cancer cells. p140Cap-dependent regulation of E-cadherin/EGFR cross-talk and cell motility is due to the inhibition of Src kinase. However, rescue of Src activity is not sufficient to restore Erk1/2 phosphorylation and proliferation. Indeed, p140Cap also impairs Erk1/2 phosphorylation by affecting Ras activity, downstream to the EGFR. In conclusion, p140Cap stabilizes adherens junctions and inhibits EGFR and Ras signalling through the dual control of both Src and Ras activities, thus affecting crucial cancer properties such as invasion and growth. Interestingly, p140Cap expression is lost in more aggressive human breast cancers, showing an inverse correlation with EGFR expression. Therefore, p140Cap mechanistically behaves as a tumour suppressor that inhibits signalling pathways leading to aggressive phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest results obtained by the EDELWEISS WIMP (weakly interacting massive particles) direct detection experiment using three heat-and-ionization 320-g germanium bolometers are given. Presently the most sensitive WIMP direct detection experiment for WIMP mass >30 GeV, EDELWEISS-I is testing a first region of SUSY models compatible with accelerator constraints. The status and main characteristics of EDELWEISS-II, involving in a first stage 28 germanium bolometers and able to accommodate up to 120 detectors, are briefly presented, together with neutron background estimates.© 2004 MAIK “Nauka / Interperiodica”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in solid scintillators down to liquid helium temperature and below has grown recently, fuelled by searches for exotic processes in particle physics. We describe a closed-cycle optical cryostat with a 2.8 K base temperature and a compact optical geometry for multiple photon counting. The large numerical aperture achieved, of the order of 0.79 from the optical center to each of the two windows and amounting to 40% of the total solid angle, allows a significant gain in the efficiency of photon collection. This and the relatively big sample size that can be used facilitate the study of scintillators under γ irradiation. These features should be an asset for multiple photon counting techniques at low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of the CRESST experiment at Gran Sasso using 262-g sapphire calorimeters with tungsten phase transition thermometers are presented. Calibration and analysis methods are described. Data taken in 2000 have been used to place limits on WIMP dark matter particles in the Galactic halo. The sapphire detectors are especially sensitive to low-mass WIMPs with spin-dependent interaction and improve on existing limits in this region.© 2003 MAIK “Nauka / Interperiodica”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-matter interaction, and the understanding of the fundamental physics behind, is the scenario of emerging quantum technologies. Solid state devices allow the exploration of new regimes where ultrastrong coupling strengths are comparable to subsystem energies, and new exotic phenomena like quantum phase transitions and ground-state entanglement occur. While experiments so far provided only spectroscopic evidence of ultrastrong coupling, we propose a new dynamical protocol for detecting virtual photon pairs in the dressed eigenstates. This is the fingerprint of the violated conservation of the number of excitations, which heralds the symmetry broken by ultrastrong coupling. We show that in flux-based superconducting architectures this photon production channel can be coherently amplified by Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage, providing a unique tool for an unambiguous dynamical detection of ultrastrong coupling in present day hardware. This protocol could be a benchmark for control of the dynamics of ultrastrong coupling architectures, in view of applications to quantum information and microwave quantum photonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SuperCDMS experiment in the Soudan Underground Laboratory searches for dark matter with a 9-kg array of cryogenic germanium detectors. Symmetric sensors on opposite sides measure both charge and phonons from each particle interaction, providing excellent discrimination between electron and nuclear recoils, and between surface and interior events. Surface event rejection capabilities were tested with two 210Pb sources producing ∼130 beta decays/hr. In ∼800 live hours, no events leaked into the 8-115 keV signal region, giving upper limit leakage fraction 1.7 × 10-5 at 90% C.L., corresponding to < 0.6 surface event background in the future 200-kg SuperCDMS SNOLAB experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost 1/3 of HIV-infected individuals enter health care late in the course of infection, worsening their prognosis and costs of care. According to the recent European consensus definitions, late presenters are persons presenting with CD4 counts <350/μL, and presenters with advanced HIV disease have CD4 < 200/μL or an AIDS-event. These latter, in particular, are at high risk of further opportunistic infections or death despite of HAART. We included all patients newly diagnosed with HIV infection at the Infectious Diseases Unit of Pescara from 2006 to present, registered for at least one day of observation. The duration of follow up was plotted for all enrolled patients up to 31/12/2011. Demographic, clinical, virological and immunological data, lines of therapy and outcome of HAART were collected for each patient. We included 140 consecutive patients, 18.6% in 2006, 17.9% in 2011; 76.4% were male, while the average age was 39.3±10.2y. AIDS diagnosis at presentation was for 39.7% (50% in 2006, 41.7% in 2011); 52.7% had advanced HIV disease (CD4 <200/μL, 53.8% in 2006, 70.8% in 2011), 67.2 % were late presenters (CD4 <350/μL, 73.1% in 2006, 79.2% in 2011). The average CD4 counts at enrollment were 313.8±294.1 in 2006, 361.3±263.1 in 2007, 281.8±295.5 in 2008, 238.4±201.6 in 2009, 394.1±183.9 in 2010, 225.7±245.2 in 2011. Eight per cent of patients were HCV coinfected. Heterosexual exposure occurred in 54% of patients, homosexual in 36%; drug addiction in 7.5%. Among enrollees, 71.4% were Italian, 18.6% from sub-Saharan Africa, 5.7% from South America and 4.2% from Eastern Europe. With a median follow up of 2.5 years, 105 patients (75%) were still being treated as of November 30th, 2011; among these 104 (99.1%) were in virological suppression. Among the 35 patients no longer followed, 15 (11.4%) died during the first 6 months of treatment, 20 (14.3%) were lost in the first 6 months of follow-up. All 15 deaths occurred in patients enrolled with CD4 <200/μL. After initiation of HAART only 1 patient (0.7%) switched for virological failure, 19 (13.6%) for toxicity or simplification. The proportion of late presenters at our center is high (67.2%) in the absence of appropriate local screening measures. Early mortality after diagnosis is similarly high, concentrated in patients with late presentation. Retention in care after 6 months and virological success of treated patients appear very promising, much more than recently reported in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the study Considering costs of antiretrovirals (ARVs) for HIV patients is increasingly needed. A simple and comprehensive tool weighing comorbidities and ARV-related toxicities could be useful to judge the appropriateness of use of more expensive drugs. We conceived a MultiFactorial Risk Score (MFRS) to evaluate the appropriateness of ARVs prescription relative to their costs. Methods HIV patients were consecutively enrolled in 2010-2011. We considered socio-demographic characteristics, HIV history, cardiovascular risk factors, low energy fractures, bone density. Psychological factors were assessed by BDI, DS14 and TAS-20. The MFRS was calculated as the sum of the following: age (<30y 1 point; 1 point increase every 5y, 10 for≥70); AIDS diagnosis (5); CD4 nadir (5 if <100; 1 point less every 100 CD4 increase); ART line (0 first, up to 5 for≥6 lines); lipodistrophy (5); HCV coinfection (7); education (1 degree, 2 secondary, 3 primary); alcohol (3) and drug abuse (5); working activity (3 if unemployed); hypertension (3); cholesterol≥200 mg/dl (3); diabetes (3); Framingham score (7 if>7%); creatinine (0 if <1 mg/dl, 1 if<1.2; 2 if<1.5>1.2, 5 if<2> 1.5, 7 if≥2); bone fractures (7); bone status at DEXA (0 normal, 3 osteopenic, 5 osteoporotic); cancer (5); depression (3 if BDI>17); other psychiatric illness (5). Annual costs of individual ART regimens were calculated. MFRS was correlated in univariate and multivariate models with all variables. All statistical analyses were carried out using Stata 10.1. Summary of results We enrolled 241 HIV patients, 74.3% males, aged 44.5±9.9y; 19 patients (7.8%) were untreated, 74.8% of treated had undetectable HIV RNA. Mean Nadir CD4 counts were 218±168, 38.5% of patients had an AIDS diagnosis. Mean individual ARV annual cost was 10,976±5,360. Mean MFRS was 28.5±13.9 (4-64). MFRS was significantly higher (p<0.001) in patients with older age, longer duration of HIV infection, lower CD4 nadirs, AIDS diagnosis, lipodistrophy, HCV, smoking, lower education, alcohol/drug abuse, hypertension, carotid plaques, higher Framingham score, diabetes, bone fractures or disorders, depression, alexithymia, and higher ARV costs. In multivariate models, ARV costs were significantly higher in patients with older age, previous AIDS diagnosis, lower CD4 nadir and higher MFRS. Conclusions MFRS may be a simple and reliable tool to match patients' complexity and ARV costs, deserving further validation on larger samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]