Evaluation of the Mineral Element Profile of Wastes of Some Wine Grape (Vitis Vinifera L.) Varieties

In this study, the level of macro and micro elements of six wine grape cultivars were determined in seeds, bagasse (skin and pulp) and pomace (seed, skin and pulp) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy after microwave digestion (ICP-AES). The levels of macro and micro elements exhibited a genotype dependent alteration and affected by the part of the berry sampled. Potassium was the predominant macro element in bagasse and pomace, varying from 6.78 g/kg dry weight in pomace (Carignane) to 21.05 g/kg dry weight in bagasse (Cabernet Sauvignon). However, the level of calcium was higher than potassium in seeds and varied between 4.95 g/kg (Kalecik karası) and 6.73 g/kg (Carignane). Seeds were also richer than the bagasse and pomace related with phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfur. Among the micro elements, Fe had the highest amount in all parts of the berries. Its content ranged from 13.9 mg/kg dry weights in bagasse of Semillon to 24.8 mg/kg dry weight in seeds of Syrah. Iron, manganese, zinc and molybdenum in seeds; copper and boron in bagasse were higher amount than the other groups analyzed. The results of this study show that all parts of the grape berries are potentially rich sources of mineral elements. So, they could be used as a food supplement to improve the nutritive value of the human diet and for some engineering processes in food industry

MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS OF MUON PRODUCTION

Muon production requirements for a muon collider are presented. Production of muons from pion decay is studied. Lithium lenses and solenoids are considered for focussing pions from a target, and for matching the pions into a decay channel. Pion decay channels of alternating quadrupoles and long solenoids are compared. Monte Carlo simulations are presented for production of $\pi \rightarrow \mu$ by protons over a wide energy range, and criteria for choosing the best proton energy are discussed.Comment: Latex uses mu95.sty, 19 pages, 5 postscript figures. A postscript file can be seen at URL http://www.cap.bnl.gov/~cap/mumu/important.html Search for Publication

Exploring the precision of femtosecond laser-assisted descemetorhexis in Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty

Objective Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) remains a challenging technique. We compare the precision of femtosecond laser-assisted DMEK to manual DMEK. Methods and Analysis A manual descemetorhexis (DR) of 8 mm diameter was compared with a femtosecond laser-assisted DR of the same diameter (femto-DR) in 22 pseudophakic patients requiring DMEK. We used OCT images with a centred xy-diagram to measure the postoperative precision of the DR and the amount of endothelial denuded area. Endothelial cell loss (ECL) and best corrected visual acuity were measured 3 months after surgery. Results In the manual group, the median error of the DR was 7% (range 3%-16%) in the x-diameter and 8% (range 2%-17%) in the y-diameter. In the femto group, the median error in the respective x and y-diameters was 1% (range 0.4%-3%) and 1% (range 0.006%-2.5%), smaller than in the manual group (p=0.001). Endothelial denuded areas were larger in the manual group (11.6 mm(2), range 7.6-18 mm(2)) than in the femto group (2.5 mm(2), range 1.25.9 mm(2)) (p<0.001). The ECL was 21% (range 5%-78%) in the manual DR and 17% (range 6%-38%) in the femto-DR group (p=0.351). The median visual acuity increased from 0.4 logMAR (range 0.6-0.4 logMAR) in both groups to 0.1 logMAR (range 0.4-0 logMAR) in the manual group and to 0.1 logMAR (range 0.3-0 logMAR) in the femto group (p=0.461). Three rebubblings were required in the manual group, whereas the femto group required only one. Conclusion The higher precision of the femto-DR bears the potential to improve DMEK surgery

Muon Colliders

Muon Colliders have unique technical and physics advantages and disadvantages when compared with both hadron and electron machines. They should thus be regarded as complementary. Parameters are given of 4 TeV and 0.5 TeV high luminosity \mumu colliders, and of a 0.5 TeV lower luminosity demonstration machine. We discuss the various systems in such muon colliders, starting from the proton accelerator needed to generate the muons and proceeding through muon cooling, acceleration and storage in a collider ring. Problems of detector background are also discussed.Comment: 28 pages, with 12 postscript figures. To be published Proceedings of the 9th Advanced ICFA Beam Dynamics Workshop, AIP Pres

Antiproton Production in p+Ap+A Collisions at AGS Energies

Inclusive and semi-inclusive measurements are presented for antiproton ($\bar{p}$) production in proton-nucleus collisions at the AGS. The inclusive yields per event increase strongly with increasing beam energy and decrease slightly with increasing target mass. The $\bar{p}$ yield in 17.5 GeV/c p+Au collisions decreases with grey track multiplicity, $N_g$, for $N_g>0$, consistent with annihilation within the target nucleus. The relationship between $N_g$ and the number of scatterings of the proton in the nucleus is used to estimate the $\bar{p}$ annihilation cross section in the nuclear medium. The resulting cross section is at least a factor of five smaller than the free $\bar{p}-p$ annihilation cross section when assuming a small or negligible formation time. Only with a long formation time can the data be described with the free $\bar{p}-p$ annihilation cross section.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

The experimental program for high pressure gas filled radio frequency cavities for muon cooling channels

An intense beam of muons is needed to provide a luminosity on the order of 10(34) cm(-2)s(-1) for a multi-TeV collider. Because muons produced by colliding a multi-MW proton beam with a target made of carbon or mercury have a large phase space, significant six dimensional cooling is required. Through ionization cooling - the only cooling method that works within the lifetime of the muon - and emittance exchange, the desired emittances for a Higgs Factory or higher energy collider are attainable. A cooling channel utilizing gas filled radio frequency cavities has been designed to deliver the requisite cool muon beam. Technology development of these RF cavities has progressed from breakdown studies, through beam tests, to dielectric loaded and reentrant cavity designs. The results of these experiments are summarized

Observation of electron-antineutrino disappearance at Daya Bay

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment has measured a non-zero value for the neutrino mixing angle $\theta_{13}$ with a significance of 5.2 standard deviations. Antineutrinos from six 2.9 GW$_{\rm th}$ reactors were detected in six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (flux-weighted baseline 470 m and 576 m) and one far (1648 m) underground experimental halls. With a 43,000 ton-GW_{\rm th}-day livetime exposure in 55 days, 10416 (80376) electron antineutrino candidates were detected at the far hall (near halls). The ratio of the observed to expected number of antineutrinos at the far hall is $R=0.940\pm 0.011({\rm stat}) \pm 0.004({\rm syst})$. A rate-only analysis finds $\sin^22\theta_{13}=0.092\pm 0.016({\rm stat})\pm0.005({\rm syst})$ in a three-neutrino framework.Comment: 5 figures. Version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let