818 research outputs found
Softening and instability of natural slopes in highly fissured plastic clay shales
International audienceSoftening is often considered to be the main cause of first-time slides in OC clay, but so far the mechanics of softening has not been satisfactorily explained. Bearing on laboratory data and field observations about landslides in tectonized highly plastic clay shales of Italian Apennines, the paper describes a process of soil weakening that could explain some failures of natural slopes
Hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein-enriched extracts obtained from olive oil wastes and by-products as active antioxidant ingredients for poly (Vinyl alcohol)-based films
Oxidative stability of food is one of the most important parameters affecting integrity and consequently nutritional properties of dietary constituents. Antioxidants are widely used to avoid deterioration during transformation, packaging, and storage of food. In this paper, novel poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based films were prepared by solvent casting method adding an hydroxytyrosol-enriched extract (HTyrE) or an oleuropein-enriched extract (OleE) in different percentages (5, 10 and 20% w/w) and a combination of both at 5% w/w. Both extracts were obtained from olive oil wastes and by-products using a sustainable process based on membrane technologies. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of each sample carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and nuclear resonance magnetic spectroscopy (NMR) proved that the main components were hydroxytyrosol (HTyr) and oleuropein (Ole), respectively, two well-known antioxidant bioactive compounds found in Olea europaea L. All novel formulations were characterized investigating their morphological, optical and antioxidant properties. The promising performances suggest a potential use in active food packaging to preserve oxidative-sensitive food products. Moreover, this research represents a valuable example of reuse and valorization of agro-industrial wastes and by-products according to the circular economy model
Weak charge form factor and radius of 208Pb through parity violation in electron scattering
We use distorted wave electron scattering calculations to extract the weak
charge form factor F_W(q), the weak charge radius R_W, and the point neutron
radius R_n, of 208Pb from the PREX parity violating asymmetry measurement. The
form factor is the Fourier transform of the weak charge density at the average
momentum transfer q=0.475 fm. We find F_W(q) =0.204 \pm 0.028 (exp) \pm
0.001 (model). We use the Helm model to infer the weak radius from F_W(q). We
find R_W= 5.826 \pm 0.181 (exp) \pm 0.027 (model) fm. Here the exp error
includes PREX statistical and systematic errors, while the model error
describes the uncertainty in R_W from uncertainties in the surface thickness
\sigma of the weak charge density. The weak radius is larger than the charge
radius, implying a "weak charge skin" where the surface region is relatively
enriched in weak charges compared to (electromagnetic) charges. We extract the
point neutron radius R_n=5.751 \pm 0.175 (exp) \pm 0.026 (model) \pm 0.005
(strange) fm$, from R_W. Here there is only a very small error (strange) from
possible strange quark contributions. We find R_n to be slightly smaller than
R_W because of the nucleon's size. Finally, we find a neutron skin thickness of
R_n-R_p=0.302\pm 0.175 (exp) \pm 0.026 (model) \pm 0.005 (strange) fm, where
R_p is the point proton radius.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, published in Phys Rev. C. Only one change in this
version: we have added one author, also to metadat
Performance of the Two Aerogel Cherenkov Detectors of the JLab Hall A Hadron Spectrometer
We report on the design and commissioning of two silica aerogel Cherenkov
detectors with different refractive indices. In particular, extraordinary
performance in terms of the number of detected photoelectrons was achieved
through an appropriate choice of PMT type and reflector, along with some design
considerations. After four years of operation, the number of detected
photoelectrons was found to be noticeably reduced in both detectors as a result
of contamination, yellowing, of the aerogel material. Along with the details of
the set-up, we illustrate the characteristics of the detectors during different
time periods and the probable causes of the contamination. In particular we
show that the replacement of the contaminated aerogel and parts of the
reflecting material has almost restored the initial performance of the
detectors.Comment: 18 pages, 9 Figures, 4 Tables, 44 Reference
A RICH detector for strangeness physics in Hall A at Jefferson Lab
The high-resolution hypernuclear spectroscopy experiment at Jefferson Lab, Hall A (E94-107), needs unambiguous kaon identification. Due to the huge pion and proton background, the standard Hall A hadron particle identification, based on a time of flight and two aerogel threshold Cherenkov detectors, is not sufficient. For this task a proximity focusing C6F14/CsI RICH has been built. Recently, after some improvements to the mechanical structure of its wire chamber and to its electronics rate capability, the RICH has been tested with cosmic rays. This paper represents a status report of the RICH detector
Investigation of the Exclusive 3He(e,e'pp)n Reaction
Cross sections for the 3He(e,e'pp)n reaction were measured over a wide range
of energy and three- momentum transfer. At a momentum transfer q=375 MeV/c,
data were taken at transferred energies omega ranging from 170 to 290 MeV. At
omega=220 MeV, measurements were performed at three q values (305, 375, and 445
MeV/c). The results are presented as a function of the neutron momentum in the
final-state, as a function of the energy and momentum transfer, and as a
function of the relative momentum of the two-proton system. The data at neutron
momenta below 100 MeV/c, obtained for two values of the momentum transfer at
omega=220 MeV, are well described by the results of continuum-Faddeev
calculations. These calculations indicate that the cross section in this domain
is dominated by direct two-proton emission induced by a one-body hadronic
current. Cross section distributions determined as a function of the relative
momentum of the two protons are fairly well reproduced by continuum-Faddeev
calculations based on various realistic nucleon-nucleon potential models. At
higher neutron momentum and at higher energy transfer, deviations between data
and calculations are observed that may be due to contributions of isobar
currents.Comment: 14 pages, 1 table, 17 figure
Dark matter search in a Beam-Dump eXperiment (BDX) at Jefferson Lab
MeV-GeV dark matter (DM) is theoretically well motivated but remarkably
unexplored. This Letter of Intent presents the MeV-GeV DM discovery potential
for a 1 m segmented plastic scintillator detector placed downstream of the
beam-dump at one of the high intensity JLab experimental Halls, receiving up to
10 electrons-on-target (EOT) in a one-year period. This experiment
(Beam-Dump eXperiment or BDX) is sensitive to DM-nucleon elastic scattering at
the level of a thousand counts per year, with very low threshold recoil
energies (1 MeV), and limited only by reducible cosmogenic backgrounds.
Sensitivity to DM-electron elastic scattering and/or inelastic DM would be
below 10 counts per year after requiring all electromagnetic showers in the
detector to exceed a few-hundred MeV, which dramatically reduces or altogether
eliminates all backgrounds. Detailed Monte Carlo simulations are in progress to
finalize the detector design and experimental set up. An existing 0.036 m
prototype based on the same technology will be used to validate simulations
with background rate estimates, driving the necessary RD towards an
optimized detector. The final detector design and experimental set up will be
presented in a full proposal to be submitted to the next JLab PAC. A fully
realized experiment would be sensitive to large regions of DM parameter space,
exceeding the discovery potential of existing and planned experiments by two
orders of magnitude in the MeV-GeV DM mass range.Comment: 28 pages, 17 figures, submitted to JLab PAC 4
Measurement of GEp/GMp in ep -> ep to Q2 = 5.6 GeV2
The ratio of the electric and magnetic form factors of the proton, GEp/GMp,
was measured at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) using
the recoil polarization technique. The ratio of the form factors is directly
proportional to the ratio of the transverse to longitudinal components of the
polarization of the recoil proton in the elastic
reaction. The new data presented in this article span the range 3.5 < Q2 < 5.6
GeV2 and are well described by a linear Q2 fit. Also, the ratio QF2p/F1p
reaches a constant value above Q2=2 GeV2.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures Added two names to the main author lis
Recoil Polarization Measurements for Neutral Pion Electroproduction at Q^2=1 (GeV/c)^2 Near the Delta Resonance
We measured angular distributions of differential cross section, beam
analyzing power, and recoil polarization for neutral pion electroproduction at
Q^2 = 1.0 (GeV/c)^2 in 10 bins of W across the Delta resonance. A total of 16
independent response functions were extracted, of which 12 were observed for
the first time. Comparisons with recent model calculations show that response
functions governed by real parts of interference products are determined
relatively well near 1.232 GeV, but variations among models is large for
response functions governed by imaginary parts and for both increases rapidly
with W. We performed a nearly model-independent multipole analysis that adjusts
complex multipoles with high partial waves constrained by baseline models.
Parabolic fits to the W dependence of the multipole analysis around the Delta
mass gives values for SMR = (-6.61 +/- 0.18)% and EMR = (-2.87 +/- 0.19)% that
are distinctly larger than those from Legendre analysis of the same data.
Similarly, the multipole analysis gives Re(S0+/M1+) = (+7.1 +/- 0.8)% at
W=1.232 GeV, consistent with recent models, while the traditional Legendre
analysis gives the opposite sign because its truncation errors are quite
severe. Finally, using a unitary isobar model (UIM), we find that excitation of
the Roper resonance is dominantly longitudinal with S1/2 = (0.05 +/- 0.01)
GeV^(-1/2) at Q^2=1. The ReS0+ and ReE0+ multipoles favor pseudovector coupling
over pseudoscalar coupling or a recently proposed mixed-coupling scheme, but
the UIM does not reproduce the imaginary parts of 0+ multipoles well.Comment: 60 pages, 54 figure
Polarization transfer in the d(epol,e' ppol)n reaction up to Q^2=1.61 (GeV/c)^2
The recoil proton polarization was measured in the d(epol,e' ppol)n reaction
in Hall A of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab). The
electron kinematics were centered on the quasielastic peak (x_{Bj}~1) and
included three values of the squared four-momentum transfer, Q^2=0.43, 1.00 and
1.61 (GeV/c)^2. For Q^2=0.43 and 1.61 (GeV/c)^2, the missing momentum, p_m, was
centered at zero while for Q^2=1.00 (GeV/c)^2 two values of p_m were chosen: 0
and 174 MeV/c. At low p_m, the Q^2 dependence of the longitudinal polarization,
P_z', is not well described by a state-of-the-art calculation. Further, at
higher p_m, a 3.5 sigma discrepancy was observed in the transverse
polarization, P_x'. Understanding the origin of these discrepancies is
important in order to confidently extract the neutron electric form factor from
the analogous d(epol,e' npol)p experiment.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; updated text, figures and table
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