269 research outputs found
A Facile and Green Microwave-Assisted Strategy to Induce Surface Properties on Complex-Shape Polymeric 3D Printed Structures
Light- induced polymeric 3D printing is becoming a well-established fabrication method, showing manifold advantages such as control of the local chemistry of the manufactured devices. It can be considered a green technology, since the parts are produced when needed and with minimum amount of materials. In this work 3D printing is combined with another green technology, microwave-assisted reaction, to fabricate objects of complex geometry with controllable surface properties, exploiting the presence of remaining functional groups on the surface of 3D printed specimens. In this context, surface functionalization with different amines is studied, optimizing formulations, reaction times, and avoiding surface deterioration. Then, two different applications are investigated. MW-functionalized filter-type structures have been tested against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, showing high bactericidal activity on the surface along all areas of the complex-shaped structure. Second, a fluidic chip composed of three separated channels is 3D printed, filled with different amine-reactive dyes (dansyl and eosine derivatives), and made to react simultaneously. Complete and independent functionalization of the surface of the three channels is achieved only after 2 min of irradiation. This study demonstrates that light induced 3D printing and microwave-induced chemistry can be used together effectively, and used to produce functional devices
A Facile and Green Microwave-Assisted Strategy to Induce Surface Properties on Complex-Shape Polymeric 3D Printed Structures
Light- induced polymeric 3D printing is becoming a well-established fabrication method, showing manifold advantages such as control of the local chemistry of the manufactured devices. It can be considered a green technology, since the parts are produced when needed and with minimum amount of materials. In this work 3D printing is combined with another green technology, microwave-assisted reaction, to fabricate objects of complex geometry with controllable surface properties, exploiting the presence of remaining functional groups on the surface of 3D printed specimens. In this context, surface functionalization with different amines is studied, optimizing formulations, reaction times, and avoiding surface deterioration. Then, two different applications are investigated. MW-functionalized filter-type structures have been tested against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, showing high bactericidal activity on the surface along all areas of the complex-shaped structure. Second, a fluidic chip composed of three separated channels is 3D printed, filled with different amine-reactive dyes (dansyl and eosine derivatives), and made to react simultaneously. Complete and independent functionalization of the surface of the three channels is achieved only after 2 min of irradiation. This study demonstrates that light induced 3D printing and microwave-induced chemistry can be used together effectively, and used to produce functional devices
Two experiments for the price of one? -- The role of the second oscillation maximum in long baseline neutrino experiments
We investigate the quantitative impact that data from the second oscillation
maximum has on the performance of wide band beam neutrino oscillation
experiments. We present results for the physics sensitivities to standard three
flavor oscillation, as well as results for the sensitivity to non-standard
interactions. The quantitative study is performed using an experimental setup
similar to the Fermilab to DUSEL Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE). We
find that, with the single exception of sensitivity to the mass hierarchy, the
second maximum plays only a marginal role due to the experimental difficulties
to obtain a statistically significant and sufficiently background-free event
sample at low energies. This conclusion is valid for both water Cherenkov and
liquid argon detectors. Moreover, we confirm that non-standard neutrino
interactions are very hard to distinguish experimentally from standard
three-flavor effects and can lead to a considerable loss of sensitivity to
\theta_{13}, the mass hierarchy and CP violation.Comment: RevTex 4.1, 23 pages, 10 figures; v2: Typos corrected, very minor
clarifications; matches published version; v3: Fixed a typo in the first
equation in sec. III
Phenomenology of Quantum Gravity and its Possible Role in Neutrino Anomalies
New phenomenological models of Quantum Gravity have suggested that a
Lorentz-Invariant discrete spacetime structure may become manifest through a
nonstandard coupling of matter fields and spacetime curvature. On the other
hand, there is strong experimental evidence suggesting that neutrino
oscillations cannot be described by simply considering neutrinos as massive
particles. In this manuscript we motivate and construct one particular
phenomenological model of Quantum Gravity that could account for the so-called
neutrino anomalies.Comment: For the proceedings of "Relativity and Gravitation: 100 Years after
Einstein in Prague" (June 2012, Prague
MiniBooNE and LSND data: non-standard neutrino interactions in a (3+1) scheme versus (3+2) oscillations
The recently observed event excess in MiniBooNE anti-neutrino data is in
agreement with the LSND evidence for electron anti-neutrino appearance. We
propose an explanation of these data in terms of a (3+1) scheme with a sterile
neutrino including non-standard neutrino interactions (NSI) at neutrino
production and detection. The interference between oscillations and NSI
provides a source for CP violation which we use to reconcile different results
from neutrino and anti-neutrino data. Our best fit results imply NSI at the
level of a few percent relative to the standard weak interaction, in agreement
with current bounds. We compare the quality of the NSI fit to the one obtained
within the (3+1) and (3+2) pure oscillation frameworks. We also briefly comment
on using NSI (in an effective two-flavour framework) to address a possible
difference in neutrino and anti-neutrino results from the MINOS experiment.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, discussion improved, new appendix added,
conclusions unchange
Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay in the Presence of Light Sterile Neutrinos
We investigate the predictions for neutrinoless double beta ((\u3b2\u3b2)0\u3bd -) decay effective Majorana mass |\u3008m\u3009| in the 3 + 1 and 3 + 2 schemes with one and two additional sterile neutrinos with masses at the eV scale. The two schemes are suggested by the neutrino oscillation interpretation of the reactor neutrino and Gallium \u201canomalies\u201d and of the data of the LSND and MiniBooNE experiments. We analyse in detail the possibility of a complete or partial cancellation between the different terms in |\u3008m\u3009|, leading to a strong suppression of |\u3008m\u3009|. We determine the regions of the relevant parameter spaces where such a suppression can occure. This allows us to derive the conditions under which the effective Majorana mass satisfies |\u3008m\u3009| > 0.01 eV, which is the range planned to be exploited by the next generation of (\u3b2\u3b2)0\u3bd -experiments. \ua9 SISSA 2013
Minimal models with light sterile neutrinos
We study the constraints imposed by neutrino oscillation experiments on the
minimal extensions of the Standard Model (SM) with gauge singlet fermions
("right-handed neutrinos"), that can account for neutrino masses. We consider
the most general coupling to SM fields of the new fields, in particular those
that break lepton number and we do not assume any a priori hierarchy in the
mass parameters. We proceed to analyze these models starting from the lowest
level of complexity, defined by the number of extra fermionic degrees of
freedom. The simplest choice that has enough free parameters in principle (i.e.
two mass differences and two angles) to explain the confirmed solar and
atmospheric oscillations corresponds to . This minimal choice is shown
to be excluded by data. The next-to-minimal choice corresponds to . We
perform a systematic study of the full parameter space in the limit of
degenerate Majorana masses by requiring that at least two neutrino mass
differences correspond to those established by solar and atmospheric
oscillations. We identify several types of spectra that can fit long-baseline
reactor and accelerator neutrino oscillation data, but fail in explaining solar
and/or atmospheric data. The only two solutions that survive are the expected
seesaw and quasi-Dirac regions, for which we set lower and upper bounds
respectively on the Majorana mass scale. Solar data from neutral current
measurements provide essential information to constrain the quasi-Dirac region.
The possibility to accommodate the LSND/MiniBoone and reactor anomalies, and
the implications for neutrinoless double-beta decay and tritium beta decay are
briefly discussed.Comment: 32 pages, 15 figures. Misprints and a small error corrected,
references added. Conclusions unchange
Requirements for a New Detector at the South Pole Receiving an Accelerator Neutrino Beam
There are recent considerations to increase the photomultiplier density in
the IceCube detector array beyond that of DeepCore, which will lead to a lower
detection threshold and a huge fiducial mass for the neutrino detection. This
initiative is known as "Phased IceCube Next Generation Upgrade" (PINGU). We
discuss the possibility to send a neutrino beam from one of the major
accelerator laboratories in the Northern hemisphere to such a detector. Such an
experiment would be unique in the sense that it would be the only neutrino beam
where the baseline crosses the Earth's core. We study the detector requirements
for a beta beam, a neutrino factory beam, and a superbeam, where we consider
both the cases of small theta_13 and large theta_13, as suggested by the recent
T2K and Double Chooz results. We illustrate that a flavor-clean beta beam best
suits the requirements of such a detector, in particular, that PINGU may
replace a magic baseline detector for small values of theta_13 -- even in the
absence of any energy resolution capability. For large theta_13, however, a
single-baseline beta beam experiment cannot compete if it is constrained by the
CERN-SPS. For a neutrino factory, because of the missing charge identification
possibility in the detector, a very good energy resolution is required. If this
can be achieved, especially a low energy neutrino factory, which does not
suffer from the tau contamination, may be an interesting option for large
theta_13. For the superbeam, where we use the LBNE beam as a reference,
electron neutrino flavor identification and statistics are two of the main
limitations. Finally, we demonstrate that, at least in principle, neutrino
factory and superbeam can measure the density of the Earth's core to the
sub-percent level for sin^2 2theta_13 larger than 0.01.Comment: 34 pages, 15 figures. Minor changes and accepted in JHE
Pathogen- and Host-Directed Antileishmanial Effects Mediated by Polyhexanide (PHMB)
BACKGROUND:Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. CL causes enormous suffering in many countries worldwide. There is no licensed vaccine against CL, and the chemotherapy options show limited efficacy and high toxicity. Localization of the parasites inside host cells is a barrier to most standard chemo- and immune-based interventions. Hence, novel drugs, which are safe, effective and readily accessible to third-world countries and/or drug delivery technologies for effective CL treatments are desperately needed. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here we evaluated the antileishmanial properties and delivery potential of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB; polyhexanide), a widely used antimicrobial and wound antiseptic, in the Leishmania model. PHMB showed an inherent antileishmanial activity at submicromolar concentrations. Our data revealed that PHMB kills Leishmania major (L. major) via a dual mechanism involving disruption of membrane integrity and selective chromosome condensation and damage. PHMB's DNA binding and host cell entry properties were further exploited to improve the delivery and immunomodulatory activities of unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN). PHMB spontaneously bound CpG ODN, forming stable nanopolyplexes that enhanced uptake of CpG ODN, potentiated antimicrobial killing and reduced host cell toxicity of PHMB. CONCLUSIONS:Given its low cost and long history of safe topical use, PHMB holds promise as a drug for CL therapy and delivery vehicle for nucleic acid immunomodulators
- …