Radiation Hardness tests with neutron flux on different Silicon photomultiplier devices

Radiation hardness is an important requirement for solid state readout devices operating in high radiation environments common in particle physics experiments. The MEGII experiment, at PSI, Switzerland, investigates the forbidden decay $\mu^+ \to \mathrm{e}^+ \gamma$. Exploiting the most intense muon beam of the world. A significant flux of non-thermal neutrons (kinetic energy $E_k\geq 0.5 ~MeV$) is present in the experimental hall produced along the beamline and in the hall itself. We present the effects of neutron fluxes comparable to the MEGII expected doses on several Silicon PhotoMulitpliers (SiPMs). The tested models are: AdvanSiD ASD-NUV3S-P50 (used in MEGII experiment), AdvanSiD ASD-NUV3S-P40, AdvanSiD ASD-RGB3S-P40, Hamamatsu and Excelitas C30742-33-050-X. The neutron source is the thermal Sub-critical Multiplication complex (SM1) moderated with water, located at the University of Pavia (Italy). We report the change of SiPMs most important electric parameters: dark current, dark pulse frequency, gain, direct bias resistance, as a function of the integrated neutron fluency.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. Proceedings from Instrumentation for colliding Beam Physics (INSTR-17) 27-02-2017/03-03-2017 Novosibirsk (R

Karyology and cytotaxonomy of the genus Passiflora L. (Pasifloraseae).

The chromosomes of 31 species of Pas- siflora, distributed throughout the subgenera As- trophea, Calopathanthus, Distephana, Dysosmia, Passiflora, Plectostemma and Tacsonia were ana1- ysed. Three different karyotypes were observed: 2n = 12, 24, 36; 2n = 18, 72 and 2n = 20. The karyotype of these species was a1most always constituted of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes with variable karyotype symmetry. In the group with x = 6, represented by the subgenus Plectostemma, six diploid species with 2n = 12, one tetraploid with 2n = 24 (P. suberosa) and an intraspecific polyploid with 2n = 12, 36 (P. misera) were analysed. P. pentagona (subgenus Astrophea) may also be included in this karyolog- ical group since it presents 2n = 24 and may be of polyploid origin, with x = 6. The interphase nuclei in this group were areticulate, except those of P. morifolia and P. pentagona with semi-reticulate characteristics. Two small terminal heterochroma- tic blocks, positive for chromomycin A3, were identified in the largest chromosome pair of P. capsularis and P. rubra, species very closely related, while P. tricuspis displayed four chromo- somes with proximal blocks. In the group with x = 9, represented mainly by subgenus Passiflora, 20 species with 2n = 18 and one with 2n = 72 were studied. They presented chromosomes larger than those species with x = 6 and interphase nuclei of semi-reticulate type, except for P. mixta with areticulate nuclei. Four terminal CMA + block: were observed in P. edulis, six blocks in P. caerulel and P. racemosa, while five blocks were observed ir the single P. amethystina plant analysed. P. foetid\{ (subgenus Dysosmia), the only species witt 2n = 20, exhibited six chromosomes with CMA + blocks and interphase nuclei of the areticulate type The meiotic analysis of representatives of the three groups (P. foetida, P. suberosa, P. cincinnata and P. racemosa) always presented regular pairing and regular chromosome segregation, except in P.jilekil where a tetravalent was observed. The analysis of the chromosome variation within the genus and the family suggests that the base number of Passiflora may be xi = 6 or XI = 12, whereas X2 = 9 is only an important secondary base number

Reproductive parameters of "Nero di Parma" sows reared outdoor and indoor

AbstractThe swine genetic type "Nero di Parma" has been obtained after a preservation programme of a local breed suitable for outdoor rearing systems in Parma province. Actually, 480 females and 35 males are registered by Italian Swine Breeders Association and are reared in 28 herds of Parma province. The study involved the analysis of the reproductive performance of 120 sows from 19 boars, born between 1999 and 2005, during 211 parities from 2002 to 2006. For each parity, the boar, the age of the sow, the length of the farrowing interval, and the litter size (number of born alive, stillborn and weaned piglets) were recorded. Two rearing systems of the farrowing sows (from the final phase of gestation to the end of lactation) were considered: indoor (sows closed off in individual stalls or farrowing cages) and outdoor (sows in individual huts inside the paddocks, with straw bedding); dry sows in both systems had access on pasture with forage and concentrate integration. Data concerning sows performance we..

BAISO - ambiente, storia e paesaggio di un territorio appenninico

Questa pubblicazione intende fornire in modo facilmente comprensibile le informazioni essenziali riguardanti la storia naturale e le vicende umane che nel tempo hanno costruito l'assetto dell'attuale territorio comunale di Baiso (RE). Il volume comprende informazioni su Ambiente naturale, Vegetazione, Patrimonio faunistico, Vicende storiche, Patrimonio architettonico, Particolarit\ue0 del territorio e Nuove opportunit\ue0. Per quanto riguarda quest'ultima parte, sono presentati alla cittadinanza i risultati di uno studio congiunto sui percorsi minerari, in collaborazione con l'Universit\ue0 di Modena e Reggio Emilia e nell'ambito del Progetto Europeo MinLand

Copper transformation, speciation, and detoxification in anoxic and suboxic freshwater sediments

The complex chemistry of copper (Cu) in freshwater sediments at low concentrations is not well understood. We evaluated the transformation processes of Cu added to freshwater sediments under suboxic and anoxic conditions. Freshwater sediments from three sources in Michigan with different characteristics (Spring Creek, River Raisin, and Maple Lake) were spiked with 30 or 60 mg kg-1 Cu and incubated under a nitrogen atmosphere. After 28-d, each treatment subset was amended with organic matter (OM) to promote anoxic conditions and evaluate its effects on Cu speciation. OM addition triggered a shift from suboxic to anoxic conditions, and sequential extractions showed that Cu accordingly shifted from acid-soluble to oxidizable fractions. Extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy revealed that Cu sulfides dominated all anoxic samples except for Spring Creek 30 mg kgxfffd; 1, where Cu(I) was predominantly complexed to thiol groups of OM. Covellite and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) were the predominant Cu species in nearly all anoxic samples, as determined by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. Copper reduction also occurred under suboxic conditions: for two of three sediments, around 80% had been reduced to Cu(I), while the remaining 20% persisted as Cu(II) complexed to OM. However, in the third coarsest (i.e., Spring Creek), around 50% of the Cu had been reduced, forming Cu(I)-OM complexes, while the remainder was Cu(II)-OM complexes. Toxicity tests showed that survival of H. azteca and D. magna were significantly lower in suboxic treatments. Anoxic sediments triggered a near-complete transformation of Cu to sulfide minerals, reducing its toxicity

A randomized, controlled trial on the effectiveness of a proprietary marine lipo-peptide formula vs omega-3 on cytokines profile, anxiety, and pain symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia

Objective: The aim of the present study in an RCT manner (physicians and patients) a novel lipo-peptide marine compound, LD-1227, on physical-, emotional- and functional-related symptomatic complaints in fibromyalgia patients as well as inflammatory cytokines profile and gene expression while using omega-3 as a control group. Methods: The following questionnaire-based or clinical evaluation-based parameters were evaluated: widespread pain index [WPI] patient global impression of change, total tender points [TTP], fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, Beck depression inventory, fatigue severity ratings, cognitive symptom severity, symptom severity score [SSS] and weekly pain intensity ratings. Additional biochemical and gene expression analysis of cytokines (IL6, TNF-α, IL-1β, MCP-1, IL-8, IL-13, IL-1α, and GM-CSF) was performed as well. Data were analyzed with either a paired t-test or the Wilcoxon signed rank test depending on the parametric or non-parametric distribution. Results: Comparing the data from before and after treatment for Group B indicated a statistically significant reduction (p=0.05) in TTP, WPI score, and SSS score. These data suggest a positive effect of a 3-month treatment with the LD-1227 but not omega-3 treatment on Fibromyalgia pain and related anxiety/depressive symptoms. Inspections of HRV and Cytokines found a statistically significant improvement after LD1227 treatment. Unlike the group supplemented with omega-3, the treatment with LD-1227 brought about a decrease in WPI and weekly pain intensity symptoms for the majority of participants. The pre-and post-treatment data for Group B indicated a statistically significant reduction (p=0.05) in TPC, WPI, and SSS scores. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: These results provide the first indications that the LD-1227 treatment has a statistically significant effect on the recognized fibromyalgia diagnosis metrics of WPI, TTP, and SSS as well on inflammatory markers and parasympathetic balance

Passiflora fissurosa, uma nova espécie de Passifloraceae para o Amazonas, Brasil

Passiflora fissurosa M.A.D.Souza sp. nov., até o momento conhecida apenas da Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke, no Amazonas, Brasil, é descrita e ilustrada. Foi inserida no Subgênero Passiflora, Superseção Passiflora, Seção Laurifoliae e Série Laurifoliae, por apresentar folhas simples e inteiras, pecíolo biglandular, brácteas foliáceas, livres, maiores que 1 cm, pertencendo ao grupo de espécies com as duas séries externas da corona subiguais. Morfologicamente é semelhante a P. nitida, que difere pelo opérculo horizontal-encurvado com margem ereto-divergente, anel nectarífero presente, límen vertical e ovário glabro. A designação do epíteto deve-se à característica do ritidoma, suberoso e profundamente fissurado, característica somente encontrada em P. phellos, também pertencente à Série Laurifoliae, mas do grupo de espécies com a primeira série da corona menor que a segunda.Passiflora fissurosa M.A.D. Souza sp. nov., presently known only from the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve in Amazonian Brazil, is described and illustrated. P. fissurosa belongs in the subgenus Passiflora, Supersection Passiflora, Section Laurifoliae and Series Laurifoliae, with simple, entire leaves, a biglandular petiole, free foliaceous stipules larger than 1 cm, in the group of species with the outer two series of the corona sub-equal. Morphologically it resembles P. nitida, which differs by the horizontal curved with erect-divergent margin operculum, the presence of a nectariferous ring, vertical limen and glabrous ovary. The epithet is derived from the characteristic of the bark, which is corky and profoundly fissured, which is showed only by P. phellos of the Laurifoliae group which has the first series of the corona smaller than the second

Exercise stress echocardiography is superior to rest echocardiography in predicting left ventricular reverse remodelling and functional improvement after cardiac resynchronization therapy

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