362 research outputs found
Neutrinos in cosmology after Planck data
The Early Universe represents an important environment to test the neutrino proprieties. Indeed Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN), baryogenesis, Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation, Large Scale Structure formation
(LSS) could be essentially influenced by the presence of neutrinos, in particular by their number and their mass. In recent years a renewed attention has been devoted to low-mass sterile neutrinos (m ∼ 1 eV), after intriguing but controversial hints coming from precision cosmological measurements and laboratory oscillation experiments. Given the doubtful situation, is necessary to study the physical conditions under which the sterile production occurs and to investigate the consequences on the cosmological observables
Metric-like Lagrangian Formulations for Higher-Spin Fields of Mixed Symmetry
We review the structure of local Lagrangians and field equations for free
bosonic and fermionic gauge fields of mixed symmetry in flat space. These are
first presented in a constrained setting extending the metric formulation of
linearized gravity, and then the (-)trace constraints on fields and
gauge parameters are eliminated via the introduction of auxiliary fields. We
also display the emergence of Weyl-like symmetries in particular classes of
models in low space-time dimensions.Comment: 136 pages, LaTeX. References added. Final version to appear in La
Rivista del Nuovo Cimento
Acylpeptide Hydrolase Inhibition as Targeted Strategy to Induce Proteasomal Down-Regulation
Acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH), one of the four members of the prolyl oligopeptidase class, catalyses the removal of N-acylated amino acids from acetylated peptides and it has been postulated to play a key role in protein degradation machinery. Disruption of protein turnover has been established as an effective strategy to down-regulate the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and as a promising approach in anticancer therapy
Transcription factor decoy molecules based on a peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-DNA chimera mimicking Sp1 binding sites
Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are DNA-mimicking molecules in which the sugar-phosphate backbone is replaced by a pseudopeptide backbone composed of N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine units. We determined whether double-stranded molecules based on PNAs and PNA-DNA-PNA (PDP) chimeras could be capable of stable interactions with nuclear proteins belonging to the Sp1 transcription factor family and, therefore, could act as decoy reagents able to inhibit molecular interactions between Sp1 and DNA. Since the structure of PNA/PNA hybrids is very different from that of the DNA/DNA double helix, they could theoretically alter the molecular structure of the double-stranded PNA-DNA-PNA chimeras, perturbing interactions with specific transcription factors. We found that PNA-based hybrids do not inhibit Sp1/DNA interactions. In contrast, hybrid molecules based on PNA-DNA-PNA chimeras are very effective decoy molecules, encouraging further experiments focused on the possible use of these molecules for the development of potential agents for a decoy approach in gene therapy. In this respect, the finding that PDP-based decoy molecules are more resistant than DNA/DNA hybrids to enzymatic degradation appears to be of great interest. Furthermore, their resistance can even be improved after complexation with cationic liposomes to which PDP/PDP chimeras are able to bind by virtue of their internal DNA structure
The Upgrade of the CMS RPC System during the First LHC Long Shutdown
The CMS muon system includes in both the barrel and endcap region Resistive
Plate Chambers (RPC). They mainly serve as trigger detectors and also improve
the reconstruction of muon parameters. Over the years, the instantaneous
luminosity of the Large Hadron Collider gradually increases. During the LHC
Phase 1 (~first 10 years of operation) an ultimate luminosity is expected above
its design value of 10^34/cm^2/s at 14 TeV. To prepare the machine and also the
experiments for this, two long shutdown periods are scheduled for 2013-2014 and
2018-2019. The CMS Collaboration is planning several detector upgrades during
these long shutdowns. In particular, the muon detection system should be able
to maintain a low-pT threshold for an efficient Level-1 Muon Trigger at high
particle rates. One of the measures to ensure this, is to extend the present
RPC system with the addition of a 4th layer in both endcap regions. During the
first long shutdown, these two new stations will be equipped in the region
|eta|<1.6 with 144 High Pressure Laminate (HPL) double-gap RPCs operating in
avalanche mode, with a similar design as the existing CMS endcap chambers.
Here, we present the upgrade plans for the CMS RPC system for the fist long
shutdown, including trigger simulation studies for the extended system, and
details on the new HPL production, the chamber assembly and the quality control
procedures.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, presented by M.Tytgat at the XI workshop on
Resistive Plate Chambers and Related Detectors (RPC2012), INFN - Laboratori
Nazionali di Frascati, February 5-10, 201
Gas Analysis and Monitoring Systems for the RPC Detector of CMS at LHC
The Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC) detector of the CMS experiment at the LHC
proton collider (CERN, Switzerland) will employ an online gas analysis and
monitoring system of the freon-based gas mixture used. We give an overview of
the CMS RPC gas system, describe the project parameters and first results on
gas-chromatograph analysis. Finally, we report on preliminary results for a set
of monitor RPC.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures. Presented by Stefano Bianco (Laboratori Nazionali
di Frascati dell'INFN) at the IEEE NSS, San Diego (USA), October 200
Construction and Performance of Large-Area Triple-GEM Prototypes for Future Upgrades of the CMS Forward Muon System
At present, part of the forward RPC muon system of the CMS detector at the
CERN LHC remains uninstrumented in the high-\eta region. An international
collaboration is investigating the possibility of covering the 1.6 < |\eta| <
2.4 region of the muon endcaps with large-area triple-GEM detectors. Given
their good spatial resolution, high rate capability, and radiation hardness,
these micro-pattern gas detectors are an appealing option for simultaneously
enhancing muon tracking and triggering capabilities in a future upgrade of the
CMS detector. A general overview of this feasibility study will be presented.
The design and construction of small (10\times10 cm2) and full-size trapezoidal
(1\times0.5 m2) triple-GEM prototypes will be described. During detector
assembly, different techniques for stretching the GEM foils were tested.
Results from measurements with x-rays and from test beam campaigns at the CERN
SPS will be shown for the small and large prototypes. Preliminary simulation
studies on the expected muon reconstruction and trigger performances of this
proposed upgraded muon system will be reported.Comment: 7 pages, 25 figures, submitted for publication in conference record
of the 2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Valencia, Spai
An overview of the design, construction and performance of large area triple-GEM prototypes for future upgrades of the CMS forward muon system
GEM detectors are used in high energy physics experiments given their good spatial resolution, high rate capability and radiation hardness. An international collaboration is investigating the possibility of covering the 1.6 < vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.4 region of the CMS muon endcaps with large-area triple-GEM detectors. The CMS high-eta area is actually not fully instrumented, only Cathode Strip Chamber (CSC) are installed. The vacant area presents an opportunity for a detector technology able to to cope with the harsh radiation environment; these micropattern gas detectors are an appealing option to simultaneously enhance muon tracking and triggering capabilities in a future upgrade of the CMS detector. A general overview of this feasibility study is presented. Design and construction of small (10cm x 10cm) and full-size trapezoidal (1m x 0.5m) triple-GEM prototypes is described. Results from measurements with x-rays and from test beam campaigns at the CERN SPS is shown for the small and large prototypes. Preliminary simulation studies on the expected muon reconstruction and trigger performances of this proposed upgraded muon system are reported
The potential monetary benefits of reclaiming hazardous waste sites in the Campania region: an economic evaluation
BACKGROUND: Evaluating the economic benefit of reducing negative health outcomes resulting from waste management is of pivotal importance for designing an effective waste policy that takes into account the health consequences for the populations exposed to environmental hazards. Despite the high level of Italian and international media interest in the problem of hazardous waste in Campania little has been done to reclaim the land and the waterways contaminated by hazardous waste. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to reduce the uncertainty about health damage due to waste exposure by providing for the first time a monetary valuation of health benefits arising from the reclamation of hazardous waste dumps in Campania. METHODS: First the criteria by which the landfills in the Campania region, in particular in the two provinces of Naples and Caserta, have been classified are described. Then, the annual cases of premature death and fatal cases of cancers attributable to waste exposure are quantified. Finally, the present value of the health benefits from the reclamation of polluted land is estimated for each of the health outcomes (premature mortality, fatal cancer and premature mortality adjusted for the cancer premium). Due to the uncertainty about the time frame of the benefits arising from reclamation, the latency of the effects of toxic waste on human health and the lack of context specific estimates of the Value of Preventing a Fatality (VPF), extensive sensitivity analyses are performed. RESULTS: There are estimated to be 848 cases of premature mortality and 403 cases of fatal cancer per year as a consequence of exposure to toxic waste. The present value of the benefit of reducing the number of waste associated deaths after adjusting for a cancer premium is euro11.6 billion. This value ranges from euro5.4 to euro20.0 billion assuming a time frame for benefits of 10 and 50 years respectively. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there is a strong economic argument for both reclaiming the land contaminated with hazardous waste in the two provinces of Naples and Caserta and increasing the control of the territory in order to avoid the creation of new illegal dump sites
The LBNO long-baseline oscillation sensitivities with two conventional neutrino beams at different baselines
The proposed Long Baseline Neutrino Observatory (LBNO) initially consists of
kton liquid double phase TPC complemented by a magnetised iron
calorimeter, to be installed at the Pyh\"asalmi mine, at a distance of 2300 km
from CERN. The conventional neutrino beam is produced by 400 GeV protons
accelerated at the SPS accelerator delivering 700 kW of power. The long
baseline provides a unique opportunity to study neutrino flavour oscillations
over their 1st and 2nd oscillation maxima exploring the behaviour, and
distinguishing effects arising from and matter. In this paper we
show how this comprehensive physics case can be further enhanced and
complemented if a neutrino beam produced at the Protvino IHEP accelerator
complex, at a distance of 1160 km, and with modest power of 450 kW is aimed
towards the same far detectors. We show that the coupling of two independent
sub-MW conventional neutrino and antineutrino beams at different baselines from
CERN and Protvino will allow to measure CP violation in the leptonic sector at
a confidence level of at least for 50\% of the true values of
with a 20 kton detector. With a far detector of 70 kton, the
combination allows a sensitivity for 75\% of the true values of
after 10 years of running. Running two independent neutrino
beams, each at a power below 1 MW, is more within today's state of the art than
the long-term operation of a new single high-energy multi-MW facility, which
has several technical challenges and will likely require a learning curve.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figure
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