Searching for cavities of various densities in the Earth's crust with a low-energy electron-antineutrino beta-beam

We propose searching for deep underground cavities of different densities in the Earth's crust using a long-baseline electron-antineutrino disappearance experiment, realized through a low-energy beta-beam with highly-enhanced luminosity. We focus on four cases: cavities with densities close to that of water, iron-banded formations, heavier mineral deposits, and regions of abnormal charge accumulation that have been posited to appear prior to the occurrence of an intense earthquake. The sensitivity to identify cavities attains confidence levels higher than $3\sigma$ and $5\sigma$ for exposures times of 3 months and 1.5 years, respectively, and cavity densities below 1 g cm$^{-3}$ or above 5 g cm$^{-3}$, with widths greater than 200 km. We reconstruct the cavity density, width, and position, assuming one of them known while keeping the other two free. We obtain large allowed regions that improve as the cavity density differs more from the Earth's mean density. Furthermore, we demonstrate that knowledge of the cavity density is important to obtain O(10%) error on the width. Finally, we introduce an observable to quantify the presence of a cavity by changing the orientation of the electron-antineutrino beam, with which we are able to identify the presence of a cavity at the $2\sigma$ to $5\sigma$ C.L.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures; matches published versio

Fibroma sinovial como causa atípica de síndrome de túnel del carpo: presentación de 2 casos clínicos

ResumenEl fibroma sinovial (FS) es una tumoración benigna que puede encontrarse en la mano, teniendo predilección por las vainas flexoras. Esta lesión puede comportarse como una lesión ocupante de espacio (LOE), la cual puede llegar a comprimir nervios, como en el túnel del carpo, provocando un síndrome del túnel del carpo (STC). Este hecho solo ha sido descrito en 9 ocasiones. Cuando el STC se presenta de manera unilateral debemos descartar una LOE, entre las cuales el FS debería ser considerado como diagnóstico diferencial, especialmente frente al tumor de células gigantes, del cual solo es diferenciable microscópicamente, por lo que la resección de la masa es imprescindible. Los 2 casos aquí descritos tuvieron diferentes presentaciones clínicas pero sin complicaciones tras la resección.AbstractThe fibroma of tendon sheath (FTS) is a benign tumour that can be found in the hand, being more likely in the flexor sheaths. This can behave like a space occupying lesion (SOL), which can compress nerves, such as carpal tunnel, causing a carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This has only been described on 9 occasions. When CTS is presented unilaterally, a SOL must be ruled out, including the FTS in a differential diagnosis, especially against the giant cell tumour. This is only distinguishable microscopically, thus resection of the mass is essential. The 2 cases described here had different clinical presentations, but with no complications after resection

Sequence variability in p27 gene of Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV) revealed by SSCP analysis

Citrus tristeza closterovirus (CTV), is a phloem-limited virus transmitted by aphids in a semipersistent manner. The genome of CTV is composed of a ssRNA with two capsid proteins: CP, covering about 95% of the particle length, and a diverged coat protein (dCP), present only in one end of the particle, forming a rattlesnake structure. dCP is the product of p27 gene for which it is also postulated a function in the transmissibility by aphid vectors. Hybridization analysis showed a p27 gene region, which exhibits different patterns with two probes derived from two biological distinct CTV isolates. In an attempt to screen whether that gene region differs in mild and severe strains, six CTV isolates belonging to different biogroups were compared for variations in their p27 gene by analysis of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). The p27 gene was reverse transcribed and amplified by PCR and thirty clones of each isolate were obtained. From each clone, two fragments of the gene were amplified by PCR: fragment (a), 459 bp long, and fragment (b), 281 bp long. Sequence variations in both gene fragments were studied by SSCP analysis. A variety of SSCP patterns was obtained from each isolate, being isolates belonging to the groups II-IV and III those with the higher and lower number of them. Moreover, SSCP analysis provided a rapid procedure to screen the genetic heterogeneity of the viral isolates reducing considerably the amount of nucleic acid sequenciation necessary to gain that knowledge.Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecula

Is keV ion induced pattern formation on Si(001) caused by metal impurities?

We present ion beam erosion experiments performed in ultra high vacuum using a differentially pumped ion source and taking care that the ion beam hits the Si(001) sample only. Under these conditions no ion beam patterns form on Si for angles below 45 degrees with respect to the global surface normal using 2 keV Kr ions and fluences of 2 x 10^22 ions/m^2. In fact, the ion beam induces a smoothening of preformed patterns. Simultaneous sputter deposition of stainless steel in this angular range creates a variety of patterns, similar to those previously ascribed to clean ion beam induced destabilization of the surface profile. Only for grazing incidence with incident angles between 60 degrees and 83 degrees pronounced ion beam patterns form. It appears that the angular dependent stability of Si(001) against pattern formation under clean ion beam erosion conditions is related to the angular dependence of the sputtering yield, and not primarily to a curvature dependent yield as invoked frequently in continuum theory models.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article published in Nanotechnology. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from i

Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus for Parkinson's Disease in a Patient with HIV Infection: Dual Clinical Benefit

As a result of the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can survive longer and are thus naturally prone to ageing-related degenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Managing PD and HIV in the same patient may be challenging, as HAART and levodopa interact and may cause intolerable side effects. Concerns about the increased risk of hardware infection in immunocompromised patients submitted to deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) still persist. We report a PD patient with HIV infection who suffered peak-dose dyskinesias and intolerable gastrointestinal side effects while on HAART, prompting its suspension. STN-DBS allowed complete postoperative levodopa withdrawal and HAART restart, without infectious complications after 12 months of follow-up. STN-DBS seems to be a safe procedure in selected patients with both medically refractory PD and HIV infection, and may result in clinical optimization of both conditions

Antifungal hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-lipid composite edible coatings and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to reduce postharvest decay and improve storability of ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranates

Pomegranate exhibits important postharvest quality losses that limit its storage potential, caused mainly by weight loss, chilling injury and fungal diseases. In this work, we evaluated the effect of novel hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) edible coatings (ECs) formulated with three different lipids (beeswax (BW), carnauba wax, and glycerol monostearate), as hydrophobic components, and two different GRAS salts (potassium bicarbonate (PBC) and sodium benzoate (SB)), as antifungal ingredients, to control weight loss and natural fungal decay of ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranates during storage at 20◦C. Afterwards, selected antifungal ECs and commercial modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) films were assayed alone or in combination to control natural decay and preserve fruit quality of pomegranates stored at 5◦C for 4 months plus 1 week at 20◦C. Results showed that ECs amended with SB reduced pomegranate latent infections caused by Botrytis cinerea and wound diseases caused by Penicillium spp. Moreover, MAP technologies were confirmed as an efficient mean to preserve freshness, prevent fruit shriveling and rind browning, and reduce fungal decay, thus extending storage life of pomegranates. The combination HPMC-BW-SB + MAP was the most promising treatment as it reduced weight loss and decay, without negatively affecting the fruit physicochemical and sensory quality

Recubrimientos comestibles antifúngicos para la preservación de fruta fresca en poscosecha

Las pérdidas de fruta fresca en poscosecha son causadas principalmente por pérdida de peso, alteraciones fisiológicas y podredumbres causadas por hongos filamentosos. Actualmente, estas pérdidas se reducen mediante conservación frigorífica y tratamientos poscosecha con fungicidas químicos convencionales y/o ceras sintéticas. Sin embargo, el uso continuado de tratamientos químicos conlleva importantes problemas como son la generación de residuos químicos y su presencia en la fruta, con los consiguientes riesgos para el consumidor, y la proliferación de cepas fúngicas patogénicas resistentes. Por tanto, deben implementarse comercialmente tratamientos alternativos sostenibles y seguros como parte de estrategias de control integrado no contaminante de enfermedades de poscosecha (CINCEP)

Postharvest Disease Control and Quality Maintenance of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables by Antifungal Edible Coatings

Weight loss, physiological disorders, and postharvest diseases are the main causes of economic losses of fresh fruits and vegetables after harvest. Synthetic waxes, commonly amended with chemical fungicides, are currently often applied before cold storage or commercialization to reduce these losses. However, the continuous use of such agrochemicals is arising important health and environmental issues due to the presence of chemical residues on/in the fruit