Enhanced fast digital integrator for magnetic measurements

An enhanced Fast Digital Integrator (eFDI) was prototyped to satisfy the new requirements arising from current on-field exploitation of the previous Fast Digital Integrator in magnetic measurements for particle accelerators at CERN. In particular, the prototype achieves improved performance in terms of offset (5 ppm on 10 V fullscale), self-calibration accuracy (1 ppm of residual error), and data throughput (100 MB/s), by simultaneously preserving high-level signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SINAD 105 dB at 10 Hz). In this paper, initially, the specifications, the design solutions, and the main features of the eFDI are illustrated. Then, the experimental results of the metrological characterization are compared with the CERN state-of-the-art integrator FDI performance in order to highlight the achieved improvements

Comparison between active stress field and tectonic structures in Northern Italy, Lombardy Region

The aim of this work is to understand the complex pattern of active stress field orientations revealed by borehole breakout analysis with respect to the tectonic structures in a wide region of Northern Italy. The area is located in the central-western part of the Po Plain between the south verging Southern Alps structures and the north verging buried folds and thrusts of the Monferrato and Emilia arcs. Little information concerning the active stress field is available because of the low seismicity level and the thick layer of sediments that covers the entire zone. A detailed borehole breakout analysis has been performed in 36 wells with depths ranging from 2.2 to 7.3 km, whose data have been supplied by Eni. Breakout analysis determined the minimum and maximum horizontal stress directions (Shmin and SHmax). The results show a very complex pattern, pointing out that the stress field is not uniform. In this area the regional stress field seems not «strong» enough, compared to the local one, so most of the wells detect only the local field. This work contributes to clarify the various Shmin orientations observed in this area, pointing out at wide scale, a general compression in NNE-SSW direction in this complex region

Effective action in spherical domains

The effective action on an orbifolded sphere is computed for minimally coupled scalar fields. The results are presented in terms of derivatives of Barnes zeta-functions and it is shown how these may be evaluated. Numerical values are shown. An analytical, heat-kernel derivation of the Ces\`aro-Fedorov formula for the number of symmetry planes of a regular solid is also presented.Comment: 18 pages, Plain TeX (Mailer oddities possibly corrected.

An Air-well sparging minifermenter system for high-throughput protein production.

BackgroundOver the last few years High-Throughput Protein Production (HTPP) has played a crucial role for functional proteomics. High-quality, high yield and fast recombinant protein production are critical for new HTPP technologies. Escherichia coli is usually the expression system of choice in protein production thanks to its fast growth, ease of handling and high yields of protein produced. Even though shake-flask cultures are widely used, there is an increasing need for easy to handle, lab scale, high throughput systems.ResultsIn this article we described a novel minifermenter system suitable for HTPP. The Air-Well minifermenter system is made by a homogeneous air sparging device that includes an air diffusion system, and a stainless steel 96 needle plate integrated with a 96 deep well plate where cultures take place. This system provides aeration to achieve higher optical density growth compared to classical shaking growth without the decrease in pH value and bacterial viability. Moreover the yield of recombinant protein is up to 3-fold higher with a considerable improvement in the amount of full length proteins.ConclusionsHigh throughput production of hundreds of proteins in parallel can be obtained sparging air in a continuous and controlled manner. The system used is modular and can be easily modified and scaled up to meet the demands for HTPP

Impact of Phosphatic Nutrition on Growth Parameters and Artemisinin Production in Artemisia annua Plants Inoculated or Not with Funneliformis mosseae

Artemisia annua L. is a medicinal plant appreciated for the production of artemisinin, a molecule used for malaria treatment. However, the natural concentration of artemisinin in planta is low. Plant nutrition, in particular phosphorus, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can affect both plant biomass and secondary metabolite production. In this work, A. annua plants were inoculated or not with the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae BEG12 and cultivated for 2 months in controlled conditions at three different phosphatic (P) concentrations (32, 96, and 288 µM). Plant growth parameters, leaf photosynthetic pigment concentrations, artemisinin production, and mineral uptake were evaluated. The different P levels significantly affected the plant shoot growth, AM fungal colonization, and mineral acquisition. High P levels negatively influenced mycorrhizal colonization. The artemisinin concentration was inversely correlated to the P level in the substrate. The fungus mainly affected root growth and nutrient uptake and significantly lowered leaf artemisinin concentration. In conclusion, P nutrition can influence plant biomass production and the lowest phosphate level led to the highest artemisinin concentration, irrespective of the plant mineral uptake. Plant responses to AM fungi can be modulated by cost–benefit ratios of the mutualistic exchange between the partners and soil nutrient availability