Accessing new physics with an undoped, cryogenic CsI CEvNS detector for COHERENT at the SNS

We consider the potential for a 10-kg undoped cryogenic CsI detector operating at the Spallation Neutron Source to measure coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering and its sensitivity to discover new physics beyond the standard model. Through a combination of increased event rate, lower threshold, and good timing resolution, such a detector would significantly improve on past measurements. We considered tests of several beyond-the-standard-model scenarios such as neutrino non-standard interactions and accelerator-produced dark matter. This detector's performance was also studied for relevant questions in nuclear physics and neutrino astronomy, namely the weak charge distribution of CsI nuclei and detection of neutrinos from a core-collapse supernova

Targeting poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity for cancer therapy

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation is a ubiquitous protein modification found in mammalian cells that modulates many cellular responses, including DNA repair. The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family catalyze the formation and addition onto proteins of negatively charged ADP-ribose polymers synthesized from NAD+. The absence of PARP-1 and PARP-2, both of which are activated by DNA damage, results in hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation and alkylating agents. PARP inhibitors that compete with NAD+ at the enzyme’s activity site are effective chemo- and radiopotentiation agents and, in BRCA-deficient tumors, can be used as single-agent therapies acting through the principle of synthetic lethality. Through extensive drug-development programs, third-generation inhibitors have now entered clinical trials and are showing great promise. However, both PARP-1 and PARP-2 are not only involved in DNA repair but also in transcription regulation, chromatin modification, and cellular homeostasis. The impact on these processes of PARP inhibition on long-term therapeutic responses needs to be investigated

Influence of COVID-19 on Male Fertility

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may lead to the significant changes of spermogramme.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on sperm parameters in fertile men.Methods: A total of 30 males were selected and divided into two groups: (1) 1) Patients who were not infected with Covid-19, a total of 10 patients. (2) Patients who were infected with COVID-19. Semen and nasal swab samples were gathered from all subjects. COVID-19 was detected via RT-PCR.  Semen analysis, DNA fragmentation, and sperm bacteriology were assessed.Results: Results demonstrated that sperm concentration, motility, sperm viability, and DNA fragmentation were significantly reduced in males with virus infection. In comparison with the control group, (P < 0.05). Data indicated that the semen volume was not significantly correlated with COVID-19, and there was a significantly negative correlation between sperm concentration, sperm total motility, sperm vitality, sperm normal forms. Sperm DNA fragmentation index had a significant and positive correlation with COVID-19 (P < 0.05). In addition, reproductive hormones significantly reduced in fertile males with COVID-19 infection (P < 0.05).Conclusions: COVID-19 infection has a negative influence on sperm parameters in males

Preparation of Aluminum–Molybdenum Alloy Thin Film Oxide and Study of Molecular CO + NO Conversion on Its Surface

Adsorption and interaction of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) molecules on the surface of bare Al-Mo(110) system and on that obtained by its in situ oxidation have been studied in ultra-high vacuum (base pressure: ca. 10−8 Pa) by means of Auger and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AES, XPS), low energy electron diffraction (LEED), reflection–absorption infrared and thermal desorption spectroscopy (RAIRS, TDS), and by the work function measurements. In order to achieve the Al-Mo(110) alloy the thin aluminum film of a few monolayers thick was in situ deposited onto the Mo(110) crystal and then annealed at 800 K. As a result of Al atoms diffusion into the Mo(110) subsurface region and the chemical reaction, the surface alloy of a hexagonal atomic symmetry corresponding to Al2Mo alloy is formed. The feature of thus formed surface alloy regarding molecular adsorption is that, unlike the bare Mo(110) and Al(111) substrates, on which both CO and NO dissociate, adsorption on the alloy surface is non-dissociative. Moreover, adsorption of carbon monoxide dramatically changes the state of pre-adsorbed NO molecules, displacing them to higher-coordinated adsorption sites and simultaneously tilting their molecular axis closer to the surface plane. After annealing of this coadsorbed system up to 320 K the (CO + NO → CO2 + N) reaction takes place resulting in carbon dioxide desorption into the gas phase and nitriding of the substrate. Such an enhancement of catalytic activity of Mo(110) upon alloying with Al is attributed to surface reconstruction resulting in appearance of new adsorption/reaction centers at the Al/Mo interface (steric effect), as well as to the Mo d-band filling upon alloying (electronic effect). Catalytic activity mounts further when the Al-Mo(110) is in situ oxidized. The obtained Al-Mo(110)-O ternary system is a prototype of a metal/oxide model catalysts featuring the metal oxides and the metal/oxide perimeter interfaces as a the most active reaction sites. As such, this type of low-cost metal alloy oxide models precious metal containing catalysts and can be viewed as a potential substitute to them

Enhancing the Catalytic Activity of Mo(110) Surface via Its Alloying with Submonolayer to Multilayer Boron Films and Oxidation of the Alloy: A Case of (CO + O₂) to CO₂ Conversion

In-situ formation of boron thin films on the Mo(110) surface, as well as the formation of the molybdenum boride and its oxide and the trends of carbon monoxide catalytic oxidation on the substrates formed, have been studied in an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) by a set of surface-sensitive characterization techniques: Auger and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AES, XPS), low-energy ion scattering (LEIS), reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and work function measurements using the Anderson method. The boron deposited at Mo(110) via electron-beam deposition at a substrate temperature of 300 K grows as a 2D layer, at least in submonolayer coverage. Such a film is bound to the Mo(110) via polarized chemisorption bonds, dramatically changing the charge density at the substrate surface manifested by the Mo(110) surface plasmon damping. Upon annealing of the B-Mo(110) system, the boron diffuses into the Mo(110) bulk following a two-mode regime: (1) quite easy dissolution, starting at a temperature of about 450 K with an activation energy of 0.4 eV; and (2) formation of molybdenum boride at a temperature higher than 700 K with M-B interatomic bonding energy of 3.8 eV. The feature of the formed molybdenum boride is that there is quite notable carbon monoxide oxidation activity on its surface. A further dramatic increase of such an activity is achieved when the molybdenum boride is oxidized. The latter is attributed to more activated states of molecular orbitals of coadsorbed carbon monoxide and oxygen due to their enhanced interaction with both boron and oxygen species for MoxByOz ternary compound, compared to only boron for the Mox’By’ double alloy