Analysis of Amphetamine and Congeners in Illicit Samples by Liquid Chromatography and Capillary Electrophoresis

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Searches for axioelectric effect of solar axions with BGO-scintillator and BGO-bolometer detectors

A search for axioelectric absorption of 5.5 MeV solar axions produced in the $p + d \rightarrow {^3\rm{He}}+\gamma~(5.5~ \rm{MeV})$ reaction has been performed with a BGO detectors. A model-independent limit on the product of axion-nucleon $g_{AN}^3$ and axion-electron $g_{Ae}$ coupling constants has been obtained: $| g_{Ae}\times g_{AN}^3|< 1.9\times 10^{-10}$ for 90\% C.L..Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings of the 10th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISP 29 June - 4 July 2014, CERN, Geneva, Switzerlan

Response of microchannel plates in ionization mode to single particles and electromagnetic showers

Hundreds of concurrent collisions per bunch crossing are expected at future hadron colliders. Precision timing calorimetry has been advocated as a way to mitigate the pileup effects and, thanks to their excellent time resolution, microchannel plates (MCPs) are good candidate detectors for this goal. We report on the response of MCPs, used as secondary emission detectors, to single relativistic particles and to electromagnetic showers. Several prototypes, with different geometries and characteristics, were exposed to particle beams at the INFN-LNF Beam Test Facility and at CERN. Their time resolution and efficiency are measured for single particles and as a function of the multiplicity of particles. Efficiencies between 50% and 90% to single relativistic particles are reached, and up to 100% in presence of a large number of particles. Time resolutions between 20ps and 30ps are obtained.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures. Paper submitted to NIM

The alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is involved in a direct inhibitory effect of nicotine on GnRH release : In vitro studies

The activation of nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChR) inhibits the reproductive axis; however, it is not clear whether nicotine may directly modulate the release of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Experiments carried out in GT1-1 immortalized GnRH neurons reveal the presence of a single class of high affinity \u3b14\u3b22 and \u3b17 nAchR subtypes. The exposure of GT1-1\ua0cells to nicotine does not modify the basal accumulation of GnRH. However, nicotine was found to modify GnRH pulsatility in perifusion experiments and inhibits, the release of GnRH induced by prostaglandin E1 or by K(+)-induced cell depolarization; these effects were reversed by D-tubocurarine and \u3b1-bungarotoxin. In conclusion, the results reported here indicate that: functional nAChRs are present on GT1-1\ua0cells, the activation of the \u3b1-bungarotoxin-sensitive subclass (\u3b17) produces an inhibitory effect on the release of GnRH and that the direct action of nicotine on GnRH neurons may be involved in reducing fertility of smokers

Test of the photon detection system for the LHCb RICH Upgrade in a charged particle beam

The LHCb detector will be upgraded to make more efficient use of the available luminosity at the LHC in Run III and extend its potential for discovery. The Ring Imaging Cherenkov detectors are key components of the LHCb detector for particle identification. In this paper we describe the setup and the results of tests in a charged particle beam, carried out to assess prototypes of the upgraded opto-electronic chain from the Multi-Anode PMT photosensor to the readout and data acquisition system.Comment: 25 pages, 22 figure

A large de novo 9p21.3 deletion in a girl affected by astrocytoma and multiple melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Association of melanoma, neural system tumors and germ line mutations at the 9p21 region in the CDKN2A, CDKN2B and CDKN2BAS genes has been reported in a small number of families worldwide and described as a discrete syndrome in melanoma families registered as a rare disease, the melanoma–astrocytoma syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: We here studied two young patients developing melanoma after radiotherapy for astrocytoma, both reporting lack of family history for melanoma or neural system tumors at genetic counselling. Patient A is a girl treated for anaplastic astrocytoma at 10 years and for multiple melanomas on the scalp associated to dysplastic nevi two years later. Her monozygotic twin sister carried dysplastic nevi and a slow growing, untreated cerebral lesion. Direct sequencing analysis showed no alterations in melanoma susceptibility genes including CDKN2A, CDK4, MC1R and MITF or in TP53. By microsatellite analysis, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and array comparative genomic hybridization a deletion including the CDKN2A, CDKN2B and CDKN2BAS gene cluster was detected in both twin sisters, encompassing a large region at 9p21.3 and occurring de novo after the loss of one paternal allele. Patient B is a boy of 7 years when treated for astrocytoma then developing melanoma associated to congenital nevi on the head 10 years later: sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification revealed a normal profile of the CDKN2A/CDKN2B/CDKN2BAS region. Array comparative genomic hybridization confirmed the absence of deletions at 9p21.3 and failed to reveal known pathogenic copy number variations. CONCLUSIONS: By comparison with the other germ line deletions at the CDKN2A, CDKN2B and CDKN2BAS gene cluster reported in melanoma susceptible families, the deletion detected in the two sisters is peculiar for its de novo origin and for its extension, as it represents the largest constitutive deletion at 9p21.3 region identified so far. In addition, the two studied cases add to other evidence indicating association of melanoma with exposure to ionizing radiation and with second neoplasm after childhood cancer. Melanoma should be considered in the monitoring of pigmented lesions in young cancer patients

The background in the neutrinoless double beta decay experiment GERDA

The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory (LNGS) of INFN is searching for neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge. The signature of the signal is a monoenergetic peak at 2039 keV, the Q-value of the decay, Q_bb. To avoid bias in the signal search, the present analysis does not consider all those events, that fall in a 40 keV wide region centered around Q_bb. The main parameters needed for the neutrinoless double beta decay analysis are described. A background model was developed to describe the observed energy spectrum. The model contains several contributions, that are expected on the basis of material screening or that are established by the observation of characteristic structures in the energy spectrum. The model predicts a flat energy spectrum for the blinding window around Q_bb with a background index ranging from 17.6 to 23.8*10^{-3} counts/(keV kg yr). A part of the data not considered before has been used to test if the predictions of the background model are consistent. The observed number of events in this energy region is consistent with the background model. The background at Q-bb is dominated by close sources, mainly due to 42K, 214Bi, 228Th, 60Co and alpha emitting isotopes from the 226Ra decay chain. The individual fractions depend on the assumed locations of the contaminants. It is shown, that after removal of the known gamma peaks, the energy spectrum can be fitted in an energy range of 200 kev around Q_bb with a constant background. This gives a background index consistent with the full model and uncertainties of the same size

First array of enriched Zn82^{82}Se bolometers to search for double beta decay

The R&D activity performed during the last years proved the potential of ZnSe scintillating bolometers to the search for neutrino-less double beta decay, motivating the realization of the first large-mass experiment based on this technology: CUPID-0. The isotopic enrichment in $^{82}$Se, the Zn$^{82}$Se crystals growth, as well as the light detectors production have been accomplished, and the experiment is now in construction at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (Italy). In this paper we present the results obtained testing the first three Zn$^{82}$Se crystals operated as scintillating bolometers, and we prove that their performance in terms of energy resolution, background rejection capability and intrinsic radio-purity complies with the requirements of CUPID-0

Seroprevalence of bovine leptospirosis in reproductive-age female bovines in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar a soroprevalência da leptospirose bovina em fêmeas em idade reprodutiva do Estado de São Paulo, estratificado em sete regiões produtoras. Foram utilizados o delineamento estatístico, as amostras sorológicas e as informações contidas nos questionários empregados no Programa Nacional de Controle e Erradicação da Brucelose e Tuberculose (PNCETB), instituído pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, considerando-se a utilização de fêmeas bovinas com idade '> OU =' a 24 meses (excluindo-se machos), diferentes tipos de produção, práticas de manejo, finalidades de reprodução, tamanho dos rebanhos e sistema de comercialização. Realizou-se a Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM) em 8.216 amostras sorológicas de animais provenientes de 1.021 propriedades. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, a infecção por Leptospira spp. ocorre em todo o Estado de São Paulo, com soroprevalência de 49,4% (IC 95% = 44,4%-54,4%) nas fêmeas bovinas em idade reprodutiva e em 718 (71,3%; IC 95% = 68,5%-74%) das propriedades analisadas. O sorovar Hardjo (46%) e sua associação com o sorovar Wolffi (21%) foram prevalentes entre o total de animais sororeagentes, seguidos pelos sorovares Shermani (8,9%), Autumnalis (4,4%) e Grippotyphosa (3,9%). Leptospira spp. está distribuída por todo estado e independe do tipo de exploração, manejo e das práticas de reprodução adotadas nos rebanhosThe objective of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of bovine leptopirosis in São Paulo State, stratified in seven cattle production regions. It was based on the statistic delineation, serological samples and responses to the survey employed in the National Program for Control and Eradication of Brucelosis and Tuberculosis established by Ministry of Agriculture (2001). From the herds selected, serological analysis was only conducted on the cows '> OU =' 24 months old (excluding the males). The study took into consideration the herd size, the type of productive exploration, the reproductive handling, bovine practices and the commercialization system. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was applied on 8,216 serum samples from 1,021 different farms. The results showed that leptospirose infection occurs all over the seven regions of São Paulo State with 49.4% (CI 95% = 44.4-54.4%) animal seroprevalence and in 718 (71.3%; CI 95% = 68.5-74.0%) of the herds analyzed. Hardjo (46%) was the prevalent serovar for all the animals examined, followed by the Hardjo/Wolffi association (21%), Shermani (8.9%), Autumnalis (4.4%) and Grippotyphosa (3.9%). Leptospira spp. is present in all regions of the State of São Paulo and its occurrence is independent of the handling conditions and reproductive practices adopted in the herd

CUPID-0: the first array of enriched scintillating bolometers for 0decay investigations

The CUPID-0 detector hosted at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Italy, is the first large array of enriched scintillating cryogenic detectors for the investigation of82Se neutrinoless double-beta decay (0). CUPID-0 aims at measuring a background index in the region of interest (RoI) for 0at the level of 10- 3 counts/(keV kg years), the lowest value ever measured using cryogenic detectors. CUPID-0 operates an array of Zn82Se scintillating bolometers coupled with bolometric light detectors, with a state of the art technology for background suppression and thorough protocols and procedures for the detector preparation and construction. In this paper, the different phases of the detector design and construction will be presented, from the material selection (for the absorber production) to the new and innovative detector structure. The successful construction of the detector lead to promising preliminary detector performance which is discussed here