The Future of RICH Detectors through the Light of the LHCb RICH

The limitations in performance of the present RICH system in the LHCb experiment are given by the natural chromatic dispersion of the gaseous Cherenkov radiator, the aberrations of the optical system and the pixel size of the photon detectors. Moreover, the overall PID performance can be affected by high detector occupancy as the pattern recognition becomes more difficult with high particle multiplicities. This paper shows a way to improve performance by systematically addressing each of the previously mentioned limitations. These ideas are applied in the present and future upgrade phases of the LHCb experiment. Although applied to specific circumstances, they are used as a paradigm on what is achievable in the development and realisation of high precision RICH detectors

Intracellular targeting and functional analysis of single-chain Fv fragments in mammalian cells

In the past decade, intracellular antibodies have proven to be a useful tool in obtaining the phenotypic knock-out of selected gene function in different animal and plant systems. This strategy is based on the ectopic expression of recombinant forms of antibodies targeted towards different intracellular compartments, exploiting specific targeting signals to confer the new intracellular location. The functional basis of this technology is closely linked to the ability of intracellular antibodies to interact with their target antigens in vivo. This interaction allows either a direct neutralising effect or the dislodgement of the target protein from its normal intracellular location and, by this mechanism, the inactivation of its function. By using this approach, the function of several antigens has been inhibited in the cytoplasm, the nucleus, and the secretory compartments. In this article, we shall describe all the steps required for expressing single-chain Fv fragments in different subcellular compartments of mammalian cells and their subsequent use in knock-out experiments, starting from a cloned single-chain Fv fragment. This will include the analysis of the solubility properties of the new scFv fragment in transfected mammalian cells, the intracellular distribution of the antigen-antibody complex, and the resulting phenotype

Association of a homozygous GCK missense mutation with mild diabetes

Background: Homozygous inactivating GCK mutations have been repeatedly reported to cause severe hyperglycemia, presenting as permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (PNDM). Conversely, only two cases of GCK homozygous mutations causing mild hyperglycemia have been so far described. We here report a novel GCK mutation (c.1116G>C, p.E372D), in a family with one homozygous member showing mild hyperglycemia. Methods: GCK mutational screening was carried out by Sanger sequencing. Computational analyses to investigate pathogenicity and molecular dynamics (MD) were performed for GCK-E372D and for previously described homozygous mutations associated with mild (n = 2) or severe (n = 1) hyperglycemia, used as references. Results: Of four mildly hyperglycemic family-members, three were heterozygous and one, diagnosed in the adulthood, was homozygous for GCK-E372D. Two nondiabetic family members carried no mutations. Fasting glucose (p = 0.016) and HbA1c (p = 0.035) correlated with the number of mutated alleles (0–2). In-silico predicted pathogenicity was not correlated with the four mutations’ severity. At MD, GCK-E372D conferred protein structure flexibility intermediate between mild and severe GCK mutations. Conclusions: We present the third case of homozygous GCK mutations associated with mild hyperglycemia, rather than PNDM. Our in-silico analyses support previous evidences suggesting that protein stability plays a role in determining clinical severity of GCK mutations

Analysis and correction of the magnetic field effects in the Hybrid Photo-Detectors of the RICH2 Ring Imaging Cherenkov detector of LHCb

The Ring Imaging Cherenkov detectors of the LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN are equipped with Hybrid Photo-Detectors. These vacuum photo-detectors are affected by the stray magnetic field of the LHCb magnet, which degrades their imaging properties. This effect increases the error on the Cherenkov angle measurement and would reduce the particle identification capabilities of LHCb. A system has been developed for the RICH2 Ring Imaging Cherenkov detector to perform a detailed characterisation of the magnetic distortion effects. It is described, along with the methods implemented to correct for these effects, restoring the optimal resolution.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figure

Reply to comment by S. P. Ferguson and C. D. Rennie on “A mechanistic model linking insect (Hydropsychidae) silk nets to incipient sediment motion in gravel‐bedded streams”

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112221/1/jgrf20397.pd

Effects of Algal Diversity on the Production of Biomass in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Nutrient Environments: A Microcosm Experiment

BACKGROUND: One of the most common questions addressed by ecologists over the past decade has been--how does species richness impact the production of community biomass? Recent summaries of experiments have shown that species richness tends to enhance the production of biomass across a wide range of trophic groups and ecosystems; however, the biomass of diverse polycultures only rarely exceeds that of the single most productive species in a community (a phenomenon called 'transgressive overyielding'). Some have hypothesized that the lack of transgressive overyielding is because experiments have generally been performed in overly-simplified, homogeneous environments where species have little opportunity to express the niche differences that lead to 'complementary' use of resources that can enhance biomass production. We tested this hypothesis in a laboratory experiment where we manipulated the richness of freshwater algae in homogeneous and heterogeneous nutrient environments. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Experimental units were comprised of patches containing either homogeneous nutrient ratios (16:1 nitrogen to phosphorus (N:P) in all patches) or heterogeneous nutrient ratios (ranging from 4:1 to 64:1 N:P across patches). After allowing 6-10 generations of algal growth, we found that algal species richness had similar impacts on biomass production in both homo- and heterogeneous environments. Although four of the five algal species showed a strong response to nutrient heterogeneity, a single species dominated algal communities in both types of environments. As a result, a 'selection effect'--where diversity maximizes the chance that a competitively superior species will be included in, and dominate the biomass of a community--was the primary mechanism by which richness influenced biomass in both homo- and heterogeneous environments. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our study suggests that spatial heterogeneity, by itself, is not sufficient to generate strong effects of biodiversity on productivity. Rather, heterogeneity must be coupled with variation in the relative fitness of species across patches in order for spatial niche differentiation to generate complementary resource use

Upper limb vibration prototype with sports and rehabilitation applications : development, evaluation and preliminary study

Acknowledgment: This work was supported by the North East of Scotland Technology Seed Fund (NESTech) grant from Scottish Funding Council (SFC)Peer reviewedPublisher PD

RENEW-URBAN: COME ALBERI AL VENTO SOLARE

Il tema della riqualificazione del patrimonio edilizio residenziale esistente permette di affrontare alcune delle molteplici declinazioni del concetto di sostenibilità ambientale (riduzione delle risorse non rinnovabili e delle emissioni di CO2 in atmosfera) nei Paesi industrializzati, dove lo sviluppo di un economia orientata al profitto ha trasformato il costruito in un problema energetico planetario, rendendo impossibile una equilibrata convivenza fra uomo e natura. La volgarizzazione di modelli edilizi indifferenti ai luoghi ha causato il degrado del paesaggio urbano e il peggioramento delle condizioni di vita. L’evidente obsolescenza delle abitazioni realizzate dal dopoguerra in poi, responsabile di elevati consumi di energia, ha portato a progettare il recupero di un edificio a torre situato nel quartiere periferico San Paolo (Bari). L’innovativa proposta lo trasforma da elemento passivo ad elemento attivo per la produzione di energia elettrica e termica attraverso un up-grade architettonico determinante per il miglioramento di prestazioni estetiche, funzionali e spaziali. L’intervento di retrofit prevede l’installazione di un Kit Albero-Solare che, avvolgendo i fabbricati esistenti come una vera e propria “pelle solare”, introduce superfici ad hoc pensate per massimizzare la captazione di radiazione solare ed i benefici ambientali delle soluzioni proposte (muro verde, raccolta acqua meteoriche, sistemi di ombreggiamento etc.). Costituito da una serie integrata di sistemi solari attivi, sistemi passivi come serre solari o camminamenti esterni e sistemi di ventilazione, è indipendente dall’esposizione e dotato di flessibilità e replicabilità che lo rendono competitivo in termini di costi rispetto alle soluzioni più tradizionali. Gli elementi che lo compongono sono standardizzati, facili da assemblare grazie alla loro piccola dimensione e collaboranti ai fini del miglioramento delle caratteristiche strutturali dei manufatti. Grazie all’integrazione di tecnologie e materiali eco-compatibili e strumenti di calcolo all’avanguardia, la ricerca, finalizzata all'incremento dell'efficienza energetica dei contesti insediativi di margine, consente il pieno rispetto della normativa nazionale e regionale