Proton induced Deuteron Breakup reaction studies at COSY

The present thesis is dedicated to the study of the pd Breakup re¬action. The study is part of a project, realized at the COSY storage ring, finalized to map pd breakup spin observables in a kinematical region where measurements are limited although strongly necessary to fix important constraints for investigating the role of the three-nucleon forces via the Chiral Perturbation Theory. In the first part of the work, I developed an analysis chain to determine whether a detection system based on Silicon Tracking Telescope, origi¬nally conceived to identify pd elastic events, was capable to identify the products of the pd Breakup reaction. This feasibility study has been successfully applied to an existing data sample taken at the COSY ring in February 2008, with a vertically polarized proton beam of 49.3 MeV kinetic energy impinging on a Deuterium cluster target. In a following phase, the identified pd Breakup events have been employed to tune an algorithm to measure the analysing power in pd Breakup reaction using the neutron asymmetries. This observable represents one of the probes to constrain Chiral Perturbation Theory. The analysis of the available data sample has allowed to outline the experimental condi¬tions required for an exhaustive investigation of the spin observables in pd breakup reaction. On the other side, the low statistics and the not optimal working conditions of the detection system made not possible to finalize the result on the existing data sample. At present the de¬veloped analysis is being exploited on a new sample of data acquired during 2011 beam-time. In parallel, I carried out a study of a new apparatus devoted to the pd Breakup investigation. In particular double spin asymmetries in pd Breakup offer a rich laboratory where to test Chiral Perturbation Theory. For accessing these observables, an experiment where both the proton beam and the deuterium target are polarized would be required. In addition a detection system providing a large aziniuthal and longitudinal phase-space coverage would be needed. For this reason, I implemented the analysis software, developed in the first stage of my work, for the characterization and the optimization of this dedicated detection system on the basis of Monte Carlo gen¬erated data. The results of the analysis served as a guidance for the detector design and have been included in a proposal[l| submitted and successfully reviewed from the PAC of COSY

INFN ScienzaPerTutti: 20 years of science for society

A groundbreaking and ambitious project took shape within the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nuclare (INFN) community 20 years ago. The driving aim was the intent to popularize physics, and all this started through a web portal. Since then, the general public and, in particular, students and teachers have been engaged with cutting edge topics of modern research in particle and nuclear physics, astroparticle, theoretical and applied physics. During the 20 years from its birth, the ScienzaPerTutti project evolved in many different directions, becoming a reference point in the Italian landscape, with an average of 3000 contacts every day on the web pages and thousands of followers on the facebook profile. The project encompasses a variety of multimedia products like didactic units, research materials, infographics, interviews, book reviews, and, more recently, podcasts. A particular feature of many of these activities is a constant call to action to directly involve the audience, providing a continuous challenge for the ScienzaPerTutti editorial board to improve contents and devise new approaches. This contribution focuses on some of these activities, even if it does not provide an exhaustive description of all the programmes and opportunities that are offered to our public for lack of space. Finally, we provide an outlook on new activities

Has COVID-19 Delayed the Diagnosis and Worsened the Presentation of Type 1 Diabetes in Children?

Objective: To evaluate whether the diagnosis of pediatric type 1 diabetes or its acute complications changed during the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Italy. Research design and methods: This was a cross-sectional, Web-based survey of all Italian pediatric diabetes centers to collect diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and COVID-19 data in patients presenting with new-onset or established type 1 diabetes between 20 February and 14 April in 2019 and 2020. Results: Fifty-three of 68 centers (77.9%) responded. There was a 23% reduction in new diabetes cases in 2020 compared with 2019. Among those newly diagnosed patient who presented in a state of DKA, the proportion with severe DKA was 44.3% in 2020 vs. 36.1% in 2019 (P = 0.03). There were no differences in acute complications. Eight patients with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 had laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic might have altered diabetes presentation and DKA severity. Preparing for any "second wave" requires strategies to educate and reassure parents about timely emergency department attendance for non-COVID-19 symptoms

Proton induced Deuteron Breakup reaction studies at COSY

The present thesis is dedicated to the study of the pd Breakup re¬action. The study is part of a project, realized at the COSY storage ring, finalized to map pd breakup spin observables in a kinematical region where measurements are limited although strongly necessary to fix important constraints for investigating the role of the three-nucleon forces via the Chiral Perturbation Theory. In the first part of the work, I developed an analysis chain to determine whether a detection system based on Silicon Tracking Telescope, origi¬nally conceived to identify pd elastic events, was capable to identify the products of the pd Breakup reaction. This feasibility study has been successfully applied to an existing data sample taken at the COSY ring in February 2008, with a vertically polarized proton beam of 49.3 MeV kinetic energy impinging on a Deuterium cluster target. In a following phase, the identified pd Breakup events have been employed to tune an algorithm to measure the analysing power in pd Breakup reaction using the neutron asymmetries. This observable represents one of the probes to constrain Chiral Perturbation Theory. The analysis of the available data sample has allowed to outline the experimental condi¬tions required for an exhaustive investigation of the spin observables in pd breakup reaction. On the other side, the low statistics and the not optimal working conditions of the detection system made not possible to finalize the result on the existing data sample. At present the de¬veloped analysis is being exploited on a new sample of data acquired during 2011 beam-time. In parallel, I carried out a study of a new apparatus devoted to the pd Breakup investigation. In particular double spin asymmetries in pd Breakup offer a rich laboratory where to test Chiral Perturbation Theory. For accessing these observables, an experiment where both the proton beam and the deuterium target are polarized would be required. In addition a detection system providing a large aziniuthal and longitudinal phase-space coverage would be needed. For this reason, I implemented the analysis software, developed in the first stage of my work, for the characterization and the optimization of this dedicated detection system on the basis of Monte Carlo gen¬erated data. The results of the analysis served as a guidance for the detector design and have been included in a proposal[l| submitted and successfully reviewed from the PAC of COSY

Pietro Torquato Tasso (1765-1842), the inventor: stories of watches and various instruments between science and everyday life

In this contribution the life and the works of Pietro Torquato Tasso (1765-1842) are presented. He was an artisan, watchmaker, mechanic, armourer and inventor whose memory has been lost. According to recent archival researches, P. Torquato Tasso built masterly works for the University, for the city of Ferrara and for many famous Italian and foreign people. During the last years of the 18th century he designed and built two tower pendulum clocks, one for the Tower of the Estle Castle and one for the University, that worked until the end of the 19th century. Some of his works are presently hosted by the “Historical physics instruments collection”, section of the “University museum system” and will be presented during this contribution to unveil a piece of unknown story of the city and of the University of Ferrara

Tesori ritrovati: Strumenti storici per Farmacia, Chimica, Botanica della Collezione Instrumentaria delle Scienze Fisiche dell’Università di Ferrara

The collection of historical physics instruments (Collezione Instrumentaria delle Scienze Fisiche) comprehends scientific instruments which are the remaining of the Ferrara University Physics Cabinet (1782-1950 ca.). On the whole the instruments may be seen as documents which envisage the development of the experimental sciences and testify the history of Ferrara University. The article, after a short introduction, describes some instruments of the Collection pertaining not only to Physics but also to Botanic, Chemistry, Pharmacy and analyses the causes and significance of their presence in the modern Collezione Instrumentaria delle Scienze Fisiche

Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment of the New Zealand Telecommunication Infrastructure

Nowadays the telecommunication systems’ performance has a substantial impact on our lifestyle. Their operationality becomes even more substantial in a post-disaster scenario when these services are used in civil protection and emergency plans, as well as for the restoration of all the other critical infrastructure. Despite the relevance of loss of functionality of telecommunication networks on seismic resilience, studies on their performance assessment are few in the literature. The telecommunication system is a distributed network made up of several components (i.e. ducts, utility holes, cabinets, major and local exchanges). Given that these networks cover a large geographical area, they can be easily subjected to the effects of a seismic event, either the ground shaking itself, or co-seismic events such as liquefaction and landslides. In this paper, an analysis of the data collected after the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (CES) and the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake in New Zealand is conducted. Analysing these data, information gaps are critically identified regarding physical and functional failures of the telecommunication components, the timeline of repair/reconstruction activities and service recovery, geotechnical tests and land planning maps. Indeed, if these missing data were presented, they could aid the assessment of the seismic resilience. Thus, practical improvements in the post-disaster collection from both a network and organisational viewpoints are proposed through consultation of national and international researchers and highly experienced asset managers from Chorus. Finally, an outline of future studies which could guide towards a more resilient seismic performance of the telecommunication network is presented

Nestin expression in adult and developing human kidney

Nestin is considered a marker of neurogenic and myogenic precursor cells. Its arrangement is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), which is expressed in murine podocytes. We investigated nestin expression in human adult and fetal kidney as well as CDK5 presence in adult human podocytes. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that adult glomeruli display nestin immunoreactivity in vimentin-expressing cells with the podocyte morphology and not in cells bearing the endothelial marker CD31. Glomerular nestin-positive cells were CDK5 immunoreactive as well. Western blotting of the intermediate filament-enriched cytoskeletal fraction and coimmunoprecipitation of nestin with anti-CDK5 antibodies confirmed these results. Nestin was also detected in developing glomeruli within immature podocytes and a few other cells. Confocal microscopy of experiments conducted with antibodies against nestin and endothelial markers demonstrated that endothelial cells belonging to capillaries invading the lower cleft of S-shaped bodies and the immature glomeruli were nestin immunoreactive. Similar experiments carried out with antibodies raised against nestin and alpha-smooth muscle actin showed that the first mesangial cells that populate the developing glomeruli expressed nestin. In conclusion, nestin is expressed in the human kidney from the first steps of glomerulogenesis within podocytes, mesangial, and endothelial cells. This expression, restricted to podocytes in mature glomeruli, appears associated with CDK

Experiences In Inspyre: International School On Modern Physics And Research

Over the past nine years, the Frascati National Laboratory, INFN - National Institute for Nuclear Physics, has organized the International School on Modern Physics and Research INSPYRE, addressed to High School students (attending the last two years) and dedicated to the hottest topics in modern and contemporary physics, real challenges for a new generation of scientists. The school lasts one week and it takes place at the Frascati National Laboratory. Since the first edition in 2011, the project has always grown up gathering High School students from all over the world sharing passion for science and technology. The school includes lectures on modern physics, its applications in society and experimental sessions. Students have the opportunity to be involved in a series of hands-on activities related to modern physics realized in team together with the INFN researchers. Moreover students visit the main experiments and accelerating facilities at Frascati National Laboratory, learning about the main frontier research fields, cutting edge technologies and the connection between science and society. The integration of classrooms and laboratory-based activity is the winning formula to deepen each research field through a positive and inclusive model for learning science. This is an experience of out-of-school learning in which students experience the work environment typical of an international collaboration, they have to share their knowledge, compare ideas, help each other and communicate results, being overall very useful for career orientatio