207 research outputs found
Bessel beam propagation: Energy localization and velocity
The propagation of a Bessel beam (or Bessel-X wave) is analyzed on the basis
of a vectorial treatment. The electric and magnetic fields are obtained by
considering a realistic situation able to generate that kind of scalar field.
Specifically, we analyze the field due to a ring-shaped aperture over a
metallic screen on which a linearly polarized plane wave impinges. On this
basis, and in the far field approximation, we can obtain information about the
propagation of energy flux and the velocity of the energy.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
An ASP-based Solution to the Chemotherapy Treatment Scheduling problem
The problem of scheduling chemotherapy treatments in oncology clinics is a complex problem, given that the solution has to satisfy (as much as possible) several requirements such as the cyclic nature of chemotherapy treatment plans, maintaining a constant number of patients, and the availability of resources, for example, treatment time, nurses, and drugs. At the same time, realizing a satisfying schedule is of upmost importance for obtaining the best health outcomes. In this paper we first consider a specific instance of the problem which is employed in the San Martino Hospital in Genova, Italy, and present a solution to the problem based on Answer Set Programming (ASP). Then, we enrich the problem and the related ASP encoding considering further features often employed in other hospitals, desirable also in S. Martino, and/or considered in related papers. Results of an experimental analysis, conducted on the real data provided by the San Martino Hospital, show that ASP is an effective solving methodology also for this important scheduling problem
GIANO-TNG spectroscopy of red supergiants in the young star cluster RSGC2
The inner disk of the Galaxy has a number of young star clusters dominated by
red supergiants that are heavily obscured by dust extinction and observable
only at infrared wavelengths. These clusters are important tracers of the
recent star formation and chemical enrichment history in the inner Galaxy.
During the technical commissioning and as a first science verification of the
GIANO spectrograph at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, we secured
high-resolution (R~50,000) near-infrared spectra of three red supergiants in
the young Scutum cluster RSGC2. Taking advantage of the full YJHK spectral
coverage of GIANO in a single exposure, we were able to identify several tens
of atomic and molecular lines suitable for chemical abundance determinations.
By means of spectral synthesis and line equivalent width measurements, we
obtained abundances of Fe and other iron-peak elements such as V, Cr, Ni, of
alpha (O, Mg, Si, Ca and Ti) and other light elements (C, N, Na, Al, K, Sc),
and of some s-process elements (Y, Sr). We found iron abundances between half
and one third solar and solar-scaled [X/Fe] abundance patterns of iron-peak,
alpha and most of the light elements, consistent with a thin-disk chemistry. We
found a depletion of [C/Fe] and enhancement of [N/Fe], consistent with CN
burning, and low 12C/13C abundance ratios (between 9 and 11), requiring
extra-mixing processes in the stellar interiors during the post-main sequence
evolution. Finally, we found a slight [Sr/Fe] enhancement and a slight [Y/Fe]
depletion (by a factor of <=2), with respect to solar.Comment: Paper accepted on A&
ALS-related FUS mutations alter axon growth in motoneurons and affect HuD/ELAVL4 and FMRP activity
Mutations in the RNA-binding protein (RBP) FUS have been genetically associated with the motoneuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Using both human induced pluripotent stem cells and mouse models, we found that FUS-ALS causative mutations affect the activity of two relevant RBPs with important roles in neuronal RNA metabolism: HuD/ELAVL4 and FMRP. Mechanistically, mutant FUS leads to upregulation of HuD protein levels through competition with FMRP for HuD mRNA 3’UTR binding. In turn, increased HuD levels overly stabilize the transcript levels of its targets, NRN1 and GAP43. As a consequence, mutant FUS motoneurons show increased axon branching and growth upon injury, which could be rescued by dampening NRN1 levels. Since similar phenotypes have been previously described in SOD1 and TDP-43 mutant models, increased axonal growth and branching might represent broad early events in the pathogenesis of ALS
Actinic imaging of native and programmed defects on a full-field mask
We describe the imaging and characterization of native defects on a full field extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask, using several reticle and wafer inspection modes. Mask defect images recorded with the SEMA TECH Berkeley Actinic Inspection Tool (AIT), an EUV-wavelength (13.4 nm) actinic microscope, are compared with mask and printed-wafer images collected with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and deep ultraviolet (DUV) inspection tools. We observed that defects that appear to be opaque in the SEM can be highly transparent to EUV light, and inversely, defects that are mostly transparent to the SEM can be highly opaque to EUV. The nature and composition of these defects, whether they appear on the top surface, within the multilayer coating, or on the substrate as buried bumps or pits, influences both their significance when printed, and their detectability with the available techniques. Actinic inspection quantitatively predicts the characteristics of printed defect images in ways that may not be possible with non-EUV techniques. As a quantitative example, we investigate the main structural characteristics of a buried pit defect based on EUV through-focus imaging
Carbon contamination topography analysis of EUV masks
The impact of carbon contamination on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) masks is significant due to throughput loss and potential effects on imaging performance. Current carbon contamination research primarily focuses on the lifetime of the multilayer surfaces, determined by reflectivity loss and reduced throughput in EUV exposure tools. However, contamination on patterned EUV masks can cause additional effects on absorbing features and the printed images, as well as impacting the efficiency of cleaning process. In this work, several different techniques were used to determine possible contamination topography. Lithographic simulations were also performed and the results compared with the experimental data
EUV-multilayers on grating-like topographies
In this study, multilayer morphology near the key anomalies in grating-like structures, namely sharp step-edges and steep walls, are examined. Different deposition schemes are employed. Based on cross section TEM analysis an explanatory model describing the morphology of the successive layers is developed. A further insight into the periodicity and the general performance of the multilayer is obtained by EUV microscopy. The main distortions in multilayer structure and hence EUV performance are found to be restricted to a region within a few hundred nanometers from the anomalies, which is very small compared to the proposed grating period (50-100 {micro}m). These multilayer coated blazed gratings can thus be considered a viable option for spectral purity enhancement of EUV light sources
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Using aberration test patterns to optimize the performance of EUV aerial imaging microscopes
The SEMATECH Berkeley Actinic Inspection Tool (AIT) is a prototype EUV-wavelength zoneplate microscope that provides high quality aerial image measurements of EUV reticles. To simplify and improve the alignment procedure we have created and tested arrays of aberration-sensitive patterns on EUV reticles and we have compared their images collected with the AIT to the expected shapes obtained by simulating the theoretical wavefront of the system. We obtained a consistent measure of coma and astigmatism in the center of the field of view using two different patterns, revealing a misalignment condition in the optics
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