Lepton Mixing from Delta (3 n^2) and Delta (6 n^2) and CP

We perform a detailed study of lepton mixing patterns arising from a scenario with three Majorana neutrinos in which a discrete flavor group Gf=Delta (3 n^2) or Gf=Delta(6 n^2) and a CP symmetry are broken to residual symmetries Ge=Z3 and Gnu=Z2 x CP in the charged lepton and neutrino sectors, respectively. While we consider all possible Z3 and Z2 generating elements, we focus on a certain set of CP transformations. The resulting lepton mixing depends on group theoretical indices and one continuous parameter. In order to study the mixing patterns comprehensively for all admitted Ge and Gnu, it is sufficient to discuss only three types of combinations. One of them requires as flavor group Delta (6 n^2). Two types of combinations lead to mixing patterns with a trimaximal column, while the third one allows for a much richer structure. For the first type of combinations the Dirac as well as one Majorana phase are trivial, whereas the other two ones predict in general all CP phases to be non-trivial and also non-maximal. Already for small values of the index n of the group, n <= 11, experimental data on lepton mixing can be accommodated well for particular choices of the parameters of the theory. We also comment on the relation of the used CP transformations to the automorphisms of Delta (3 n^2) and Delta (6 n^2).Comment: 60 pages, 12 tables and 10 figures. v2: typos corrected, references updated, some minor improvement of the text, matches version accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics

Two-zero Majorana textures in the light of the Planck results

The recent results of the Planck experiment put a stringent constraint on the sum of the light neutrino masses, m1+m2+m3 < 0.23 eV (95 % CL). On the other hand, two-zero Majorana mass matrix textures predict strong correlations among the atmospheric angle and the sum of the masses. We use the Planck result to show that, for the normal hierarchy case, the texture with vanishing (2,2) and (3,3) elements is ruled out at a high confidence level; in addition, we emphasize that a future measurement of the octant of the atmospheric mixing angle (or the one sigma determination of it based on recent fit to neutrino data) will put severe constraint on the possible structure of the Majorana mass matrix. The implication of the above mentioned correlations for neutrinoless double beta-decay are also discussed, for both normal and inverted orderings.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Infinite compressibility states in the Hierarchical Reference Theory of fluids. II. Numerical evidence

Continuing our investigation into the Hierarchical Reference Theory of fluids for thermodynamic states of infinite isothermal compressibility kappa[T] we now turn to the available numerical evidence to elucidate the character of the partial differential equation: Of the three scenarios identified previously, only the assumption of the equations turning stiff when building up the divergence of kappa[T] allows for a satisfactory interpretation of the data. In addition to the asymptotic regime where the arguments of part I (cond-mat/0308467) directly apply, a similar mechanism is identified that gives rise to transient stiffness at intermediate cutoff for low enough temperature. Heuristic arguments point to a connection between the form of the Fourier transform of the perturbational part of the interaction potential and the cutoff where finite difference approximations of the differential equation cease to be applicable, and they highlight the rather special standing of the hard-core Yukawa potential as regards the severity of the computational difficulties.Comment: J. Stat. Phys., in press. Minor changes to match published versio

Integrated Analysis and Tools for Land Subsidence Surveying and Monitoring: a Semi-Quantitative Approach

This paper presents an integrated approach for land subsidence monitoring using measures coming from different sensors. Eni S.p.A., the main Italian oil and gas company, constantly surveys the land with all the state of the art and innovative techniques, and a method able to integrate the results is an important and actual topic. Nowadays the world is a multi-sensor platform, and measure integration is strictly necessary. Combining the different data sources should be done in a clever way, taking advantages from the best performances of each technique. An integrated analysis allows the interpretation of simultaneous temporal series of data, coming from different sources, and try to separate subsidence contributions. With this purpose Exelis VIS in collaboration with Eni S.p.A. customize PISAV (Permanent Interferometric Scatterometer Analysis and Visualization), an ENVI extension able to capitalize on and combine all the different data collected in the surveys. In this article are presented some significant examples to show the potential of this tool in oil and gas activity: a hydrocarbon storage field where the comparison between SAR and production volumes emphasise a correlation between the two measures in few steps; and a hydrocarbon production field with the Satellite Survey Unit (S.S.U.), where SAR, CGPS, piezometers and assestimeters measure in the same area at the same time, giving the opportunity to analyse data contextually. In the integrated analysis performed with PISAV not always a mathematical rigorous study is possible, and a semi-quantitative approach is the only method for results interpretation. As a result, in the first test case strong correlation between injected hydrocarbon volume and vertical displacement were highlighted; in the second one the integrated analysis has different advantages in monitoring the land subsidence: permits a first qualitative "differentiation" of the natural and anthropic component of subsidence, and also gives more reliability and coverage to each measurement, taking advantages from the strong points of each technique

RNA IN DNA: FROM STRUCTURE TO GENOME INSTABILITY

The presence of RNA in the genome of living cells is one of the emerging topics of the last two decades and has been implicated in many biological processes. I focused my attention on ribonucleotides (rNMPs) embedded into DNA during genome duplication, as a threat to its integrity. In fact, rNMPs have been classified as the most frequent non-canonical nucleotides introduced during genome duplication by DNA polymerases. Such high incorporation frequency has been related to a physiological role in mismatch repair, but it can be easily turned into a source of genomic instability if rNMPs are not removed from DNA. This task is performed by RNase H activities that enable error-free repair of embedded single and multiple ribonucleotides. I first approached the issue of ribonucleotides incorporation into DNA from a physical point of view. Utilizing Atomic Force Microscopy I studied how ribonucleotides intrusions impact on DNA structure. The results obtained provided new insights on the structural changes imposed by ribonucleotides persistence into DNA. The other part of my Ph.D. project concerned the study of rNMPs incorporation in vivo, using the budding yeast S. cerevisiae as a model organism. The second aim was to unravel the function of the Translesion Synthesis polymerase \u3b7 (Pol \u3b7) when the genome contains residual ribonucleotides and when deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs) pools are depleted. We found that DNA polymerase \u3b7 is responsible for the cell lethality observed when dNTPs are scarce and RNase H activities are defective. Therefore, I explored and characterized this unexpected toxic activity. We propose a model where Pol \u3b7 supports cell survival in low dNTPs conditions by promoting DNA replication using ribonucleotides. While this activity is normally beneficial to wild type cells, it is highly toxic to cells defective for RNase H activities

Creative Communities. People inventing sustainable ways of living.

The book is about social innovation as a driver for sustainable technological and production innovation. Resulted from the European Research EMUDE (Emerging User Demands for Sustainable Solutions), is a collection of a cases and essays Adopting a design perspective, it presents several case studies and their providers, the creative communities, where individuals and communities use existing resources in a creative, original way to bring about system innovation. The cases presented whether intentionally or by coincidence they propose solutions in which individual interests converge with those of society and the environment, creating conditions for a more satisfying use of resources. Because this restores meaning and value to everyday activities they look promising as a transition towards sustainability. The book has been among those opening the international debate around social innovation and design: in particular it created the basis for a first structured reflection around service innovation inspired by and fostering social innovation