Constraints on lightly ionizing particles from CDMSlite

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAMThe Cryogenic Dark Matter Search low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) achieved efficient detection of very small recoil energies in its germanium target, resulting in sensitivity to lightly ionizing particles (LIPs) in a previously unexplored region of charge, mass, and velocity parameter space. We report first direct-detection limits calculated using the optimum interval method on the vertical intensity of cosmogenically produced LIPs with an electric charge smaller than e / (3 × 105), as well as the strongest limits for charge ≤ e / 160, with a minimum vertical intensity of 1.36 × 10−7 cm−2 s−1 sr−1 at charge e /160. These results apply over a wide range of LIP masses (5 MeV / c2 to 100 TeV / c2) and cover a wide range of βγ values (0.1–106), thus excluding nonrelativistic LIPs with βγ as small as 0.1 for the first tim

Light dark matter search with a high-resolution athermal phonon detector operated above ground

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAMWe present limits on spin-independent dark matter-nucleon interactions using a 10.6 g Si athermal phonon detector with a baseline energy resolution of σE = 3.86 +- 0.04 (stat)+0.19−0.00 (syst) eV. This exclusion analysis sets the most stringent dark matter-nucleon scattering cross-section limits achieved by a cryogenic detector for dark matter particle masses from 93 to 140 MeV / c2, with a raw exposure of 9.9 g d acquired at an above-ground facility. This work illustrates the scientific potential of detectors with athermal phonon sensors with eV-scale energy resolution for future dark matter searche

Economic domination, moderating role of public spirit and determinants of income tax evasion among Palestinian SMEs

This study investigates the determinants of income tax evasion among Palestinian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Previous studies regarding the determinants of income tax evasion among SMEs are limited and results are somewhat inconsistent. The factors that determine SMEs tax evasion have not been sufficiently examined especially in the Palestinian context. This study extends Fischer model that is built on the integration of both Economic and Socio-Psychological theories by incorporating the Social Dominance Theory. It contributes to existing literature by investigating the direct effect of economic domination and incorporating the moderating effect of public spirit. Therefore, this study hypothesises seven (7) factors affecting tax evasion, as well as six (6) hypotheses on the moderating effects of public spirit. The study employs questionnaire survey of 500 owners-managers of SMEs listed in the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture operating in West Bank, of which 184 responses (37%) are usable for analysis. The Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. The results show that probability of detection, tax penalty, tax fairness, peer influence, tax rate, and economic domination have a significant direct relationship with tax evasion. The findings also ascertained the considerable moderating effect of public spirit on the relationship between probability of detection, tax penalty, and tax fairness on income tax evasion. The findings of the present study provide important insights into the tax authority, policy makers, and future researchers in understanding the tax evasion of SMEs. In order to curtail tax evasion in Palestine, tax authority should widen its audit, imposes more tax penalties, and publicise the information about detecting tax evaders to serve as warning to potential evaders. The current tax rate structure would be fairer if SMEs are given a lower tax rate to eliminate the perception of unfair tax burden

Integrating Information Technologies Into Business Functions: A Taxonomy of Integration Strategies

The objective of this paper is to establish a taxonomy of integration strategies that will assist information technology managers in integrating information technologies into business functions and strategies. Such integration is becoming even more of a reality now because of several factors: increased capabilities of inter-networking, availability of development tools that permit multi-platform interfaces, and the evolution of distributed databases. The paper provides a scheme for defining integration that identifies three dimensions: scope, object, and organization. Objectives of integration are classified into gaining competitive advantage, achieving more effective and efficient operations, and improving customer relations. The taxonomy of integration strategies is presented based on the following layers of platforms: information technologies, network, data base, application development, and organization strategies. An integration project may include one or more dimension, achieve one or more objectives, and span over one or more platforms. Without proper planning and implementation, integration projects may fail causing the loss of technology and financial resources

Removal of imidacloprid from polluted water using adsorption and membrane separation technologies

In this work, the stability of imidacloprid in fresh water and sludge was studied. The results revealed that the pesticide is unstable in both media. In freshwater, it underwent hydrolysis whereas a degradation to several metabolites has been observed in sludge. The rate constants for the hydrolysis and degradation at 25°C were 0.0.0067 and 0.0.0099 d–1, respectively. Monitoring the degradation of imidacloprid in sludge by high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) revealed that five metabolites have emerged during the study. These metabolites include imidacloprid urea, imidacloprid-guanidine, 6-hydroxynicotinic acid, an olefin, and 5-hydroxy, 1-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-2-(nitroimino)-imidazolidin-5-ol. The efficiency of Al-Quds University Wastewater Treatment Plant towards the removal of imidacloprid indicates that the ultrafiltration-hollow fiber unit was insufficient, whereas the ultrafiltration-spiral wound, activated carbon, and reverse osmosis units were efficient for complete removal of the pesticide. Adsorption experiments of imidacloprid using either activated charcoal or micelle-clay complex were found to fit Langmuir isotherms better than Freundlich isotherm. The data demonstrate a higher Langmuir Qmax value for the activated charcoal (126.6 mg g–1) when compared to the micelle-clay complex (11.76 mg g–1). Filtration column experiments, conducted with mixed micelle-clay complex and sand (using a ratio of 1/50 by mass) at a flow rate of 2 mL min–1 and influent concentration of 50 mg L–1, revealed that a sufficient removal of imidacloprid was achieved in the first fraction of 100 mL elution. These findings indicate that the adsorption technology using the micelle-clay complex provides efficient removal of imidacloprid in continuous flow mode

Radonove kćeri u okolišu kao pokazatelji biokemijskih promjena u mozgu bolesnika s Alzheimerovom i Parkinsonovom bolesti i u pušača

This paper presents an investigation of the retention of environmental radon daughters, 210Po (alpha particle emitting radio-nuclide) and 210Bi (beta particle emitting radio-nuclide), in lipid and protein fractions of the cortical grey and subcortical white matter from the frontal and temporal brain lobes of patients who had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, of cigarette smokers, and of control subjects. 210Po and 210Bi radioactivity increased tenfold in the cortical grey and subcortical white protein fraction in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and smokers, and tenfold in the cortical grey and subcortical white lipid fraction in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Free radicals generated by radon daughters may add to the severity of the radio-chemical injury to the brain astrocytes. The pathognomonic distribution of radon daughters to lipids in patients with Parkinson’s disease and to proteins in patients with Alzheimer’s disease was attributed to high chlorine affinity of radon daughters. The changes in the membrane protein pores, channels, and gates in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and in the lipid bilayer in patients with Parkinson’s disease are at the core of what the authors think are two systemic brain diseases.Odredili smo radioaktivnost radonovih kćeri, 210Po (alfa čestice) i 210Bi (beta-čestice) u lipidima i proteinima iz sive mase korteksa i bijele supkortikalne supstancije iz frontalnog i temporalnog režnja mozga osoba oboljelih od Alzheimerove ili Parkinsonove bolesti, pušača i nepušača bez kliničkih znakova neurološke bolesti. Ustanovili smo da je radioaktivnost 210Pb i 210Bi bila deset puta veća selektivno u proteinima sive i bijele moždane supstancije osoba oboljelih od Alzheimerove bolesti i u pušača. Za razliku od toga, radioaktivnost radonovih kćeri bila je selektivno deset puta veća u lipidima sive i bijele supstancije mozga osoba oboljelih od Parkinsonove bolesti. Alfa čestice visoke energije predstavile su se kao neizbježni čimbenik rizika iz prirodnog okoliša za čovjekov mozak koji zajedno s popratnim stvaranjem slobodnih radikala mogu dovesti do minimalne lokalne udružene radiokemijske ozljede moždanih stanica, najvjerojatnije astrocita. Rezultati pokazuju da patognomonična distribucija afiniteta radonovih kćeri za lipide u bolesnika s Parkinsonovom bolesti i za proteine u bolesnika s Alzheimerovom bolesti odražava povećanu prisutnost lokalno raspoloživih klornih iona za koje se radonove kćeri selektivno vežu. Mislimo da promjene u sastavu proteinskih pora, kanala i vrata ugrađenih u staničnu membranu u bolesnika s Alzheimerovom bolesti, kao i promjene propusnosti dvoslojnoga lipidnog sloja te iste membrane leže u biti tih dviju teških sistemskih bolesti čovjekova mozga

Screening of Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents for Physical CO2Absorption by Soft-SAFT Using Key Performance Indicators

RC2-2019-007 PID2019108014RB-C21 SFRH/BD/130965/2017 UID/QUI/50006/2019The efficient screening of solvents for CO2 capture requires a reliable and robust equation of state to characterize and compare their thermophysical behavior for the desired application. In this work, the potentiality of 14 ionic liquids (ILs) and 7 deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for CO2 capture was examined using soft-SAFT as a modeling tool for the screening of these solvents based on key process indicators, namely, cyclic working capacity, enthalpy of desorption, and CO2 diffusion coefficient. Once the models were assessed versus experimental data, soft-SAFT was used as a predictive tool to calculate the thermophysical properties needed for evaluating their performance. Results demonstrate that under the same operating conditions, ILs have a far superior performance than DESs primarily in terms of amount of CO2 captured, being at least two-folds more than that captured using DESs. The screening tool revealed that among all the examined solvents and conditions, [C4 py][NTf2] is the most promising solvent for physical CO2 capture. The collection of the acquired results confirms the reliability of the soft-SAFT EoS as an attractive and valuable screening tool for CO2 capture and process modeling.publishersversionpublishe

HIGH ACCURATE POINTWISE (GEO-)REFERENCING OF A K-TLS BASED MULTI-SENSOR-SYSTEM

In recent years, the requirements in the industrial production, e.g., ships or planes, have been increased. In addition to high accuracy requirements with a standard deviation of 1 mm, an efficient 3D object capturing is required. In terms of efficiency, kinematic laser scanning (k-TLS) has been proven its worth in recent years. It can be seen as an alternative to the well established static terrestrial laser scanning (s-TLS). However, current k-TLS based multi-sensor-systems (MSS) are not able to fulfil the high accuracy requirements. Thus, a new k-TLS based MSS and suitable processing algorithms have to be developed. In this contribution a new k-TLS based MSS will be presented. The main focus will lie on the (geo-)referencing process. Due to the high accuracy requirements, a novel procedure of external (geo-)referencing is used here. Hereby, a mobile platform, which is equipped with a profile laser scanner, will be tracked by a laser tracker. Due to the fact that the measurement frequency of the laser scanner is significantly higher than the measurement frequency of the laser tracker a direct point wise (geo-)referencing is not possible. To enable this a Kalman filter model is set up and implemented. In the prediction step each point is shifted according to the determined velocity of the platform. Because of the nonlinear motion of the platform an iterative extended Kalman filter (iEKF) is used here. Furthermore, test measurements of a panel with the k-TLS based MSS and with s-TLS were carried out. To compare the results, the 3D distances with the M3C2-algorithm between the s-TLS 3D point cloud and the k-TLS 3D point cloud are estimated. It can be noted, that the usage of a system model for the (geo-)referencing is essential. The results show that the mentioned high accuracy requirements have been achieved

Case Report: Insulin hypersensitivity in youth with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Immediate type I, type III, and delayed type IV hypersensitivity reactions to insulin are rare, but potentially serious complications of exogenous insulin administration required for the treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS: We present four cases of insulin hypersensitivity reactions occurring in youth with T1D and a literature review of this topic. RESULTS: Insulin hypersensitivity reactions included types I, III, and IV with presentations ranging from localized urticaria, erythematous nodules, and eczematous plaques to anaphylaxis with respiratory distress. Reactions occurred in youth with newly diagnosed T1D and in those with long-standing T1D who were using both injection and insulin pump therapy. Multidisciplinary care involving pediatric endocrinology and allergy/immunology utilizing trials of many adjunct therapies yielded minimal improvement. Despite the use of various treatments, including antihistamines, topical therapies, immunosuppressant medications, desensitization trials, and intravenous immune globulin, cutaneous reactions, elevated hemoglobin A1c levels, and negative effects on quality of life remain persistent challenges. One patient became one of the youngest pancreas transplant recipients in the world at age 12 years due to uncontrollable symptoms and intolerable adverse effects of attempted therapies. CONCLUSION: Although rare, insulin hypersensitivity reactions negatively affect glycemic control and quality of life. These cases demonstrate the varying severity and presentation of insulin hypersensitivity reactions along with the limited success of various treatment approaches. Given the life-sustaining nature of insulin therapy, further studies are needed to better understand the underlying pathophysiology of insulin hypersensitivity and to develop targeted treatment approaches