The A(Kstop−,π±Σ∓)A′A(K^-_{stop},\pi^\pm\Sigma^\mp)A' reaction on p-shell nuclei

This letter is concerned with the study of the $K^-_{stop}A\rightarrow \pi^\pm\Sigma^\mp A'$ reaction in p-shell nuclei, i.e., $^{6,7}Li$, $^9Be$, $^{13}C$ and $^{16}O$. The $\pi^\pm\Sigma^\mp / K^-_{stop}$ emission rates are reported as a function of $A$. These rates are discussed in comparison with previous findings. The ratio $\pi^-\Sigma^+/\pi^+\Sigma^-$ in p-shell nuclei is found to depart largely from that on hydrogen, which provides support for large in-medium effects possibly generated by the sub-threshold $\Lambda(1405)$. The continuum momentum spectra of prompt pions and free sigmas are also discussed as well as the $\pi^\pm\Sigma^\mp$ missing mass behavior and the link with the reaction mechanism. The apparatus used for the investigation is the FINUDA spectrometer operating at the DA$\Phi$NE $\phi$-factory (LNF-INFN, Italy).Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Lett.

The relevance of point defects in studying silica-based materials from bulk to nanosystems

The macroscopic properties of silica can be modified by the presence of local microscopic modifications at the scale of the basic molecular units (point defects). Such defects can be generated during the production of glass, devices, or by the environments where the latter have to operate, impacting on the devices’ performance. For these reasons, the identification of defects, their generation processes, and the knowledge of their electrical and optical features are relevant for microelectronics and optoelectronics. The aim of this manuscript is to report some examples of how defects can be generated, how they can impact device performance, and how a defect species or a physical phenomenon that is a disadvantage in some fields can be used as an advantage in others

29Si Hyperfine Structure of the E'_\alpha Center in Amorphous Silicon Dioxide

We report a study by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) on the E'_\alpha point defect in amorphous silicon dioxide (a-SiO2). Our experiments were performed on gamma-ray irradiated oxygen-deficient materials and pointed out that the 29Si hyperfine structure of the E'_alpha consists in a pair of lines split by 49 mT. On the basis of the experimental results a microscopic model is proposed for the E'_alpha center, consisting in a hole trapped in an oxygen vacancy with the unpaired electron sp3 orbital pointing away from the vacancy in a back-projected configuration and interacting with an extra oxygen atom of the a-SiO2 matrix.Comment: 4 page

Root Weevils

NYS IPM Type: Fruits IPM Fact SheetThere are more than 20 species of root weevils that attack strawberry in the United States. In New York, the three major species are the black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius), the strawberry root weevil, 0. ovatus L., and the rough strawberry weevil, 0. rugostriatus Goeze. Root weevils are also pests of raspberries and rhododendrons

Observations on Cryoglobulin Testing: I. The Association of Cryoglobulins Containing Rheumatoid Factors with Manifestation of Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis

Objective.To investigate the results of mixed cryoglobulin tests performed on patients with and without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, to determine whether type II cryoglobulins containing rheumatoid factor (Type II-RF) were associated with cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.Methods.The cryoglobulin test protocol differed from the routine protocol. In addition to determination of both cryoglobulin concentration and immunoglobulin composition, the presence or absence of RF concentrated in the cryoglobulins was determined.Results.A qualitative and quantitative association of Type II-RF cryoglobulins with cryoglobulinemic vasculitis was present among HCV-infected patients.Conclusion.Detection and quantification of Type II-RF may enhance clinical monitoring of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis in HCV-infected patients

Coulomb corrections to low energy antiproton annihilation cross sections on protons and nuclei

We calculate, in a systematic way, the enhancement effect on antiproton-proton and antiproton-nucleus annihilation cross sections at low energy due to the initial state electrostatic interaction between the projectile and the target nucleus. This calculation is aimed at future comparisons between antineutron and antiproton annihilation rates on different targets, for the extraction of pure isospin channels.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures (latex format

Structural relaxation of E' gamma centers in amorphous silica

We report experimental evidence of the existence of two variants of the E' gamma centers induced in silica by gamma rays at room temperature. The two variants are distinguishable by the fine features of their line shapes in paramagnetic resonance spectra. These features suggest that the two E' gamma differ for their topology. We find a thermally induced interconversion between the centers with an activation energy of about 34 meV. Hints are also found for the existence of a structural configuration of minimum energy and of a metastable state.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Folic acid-functionalized graphene oxide nanosheets via plasma etching as a platform to combine NIR anticancer phototherapy and targeted drug delivery

PEGylated graphene oxide (GO) has shown potential as NIR converting agent to produce local heat useful in breast cancer therapy, since its suitable photothermal conversion, high stability in physiological fluids, biocompatibility and huge specific surface. GO is an appealing nanomaterial for potential clinical applications combining drug delivery and photothermal therapy in a single nano-device capable of specifically targeting breast cancer cells. However, native GO sheets have large dimensions (0.5-5 mu m) such that tumor accumulation after a systemic administration is usually precluded. Herein, we report a step-by-step synthesis of folic acid-functionalized PEGylated GO, henceforth named GO-PEG-Fol, with small size and narrow size distribution (similar to 30 +/- 5 nm), and the ability of efficiently converting NIR light into heat. GO-PEG-Fol consists of a nano-GO sheet, obtained by fragmentation of GO by means of non-equilibrium plasma etching, fully functionalized with folic acid-terminated PEG(2000) chains through amidic coupling and azide-alkyne click cycloaddition, which we showed as active targeting agents to selectively recognize breast cancer cells such as MCF7 and MDA-MB-231. The GO-PEG-Fol incorporated a high amount of doxorubicin hydrochloride (Doxo) (> 33%) and behaves as NIR-light-activated heater capable of triggering sudden Doxo delivery inside cancer cells and localized hyperthermia, thus provoking efficient breast cancer death. The cytotoxic effect was found to be selective for breast cancer cells, being the IC50 up to 12 times lower than that observed for healthy fibroblasts. This work established plasma etching as a cost-effective strategy to get functionalized nano-GO with a smart combination of properties such as small size, good photothermal efficiency and targeted cytotoxic effect, which make it a promising candidate as photothermal agent for the treatment of breast cancer