6,572 research outputs found
Angle-dependence of the Hall effect in HgBa2CaCu2O6 thin films
Superconducting compounds of the family Hg-Ba-Ca-Cu-O have been the subject
of intense study since the current record-holder for the highest critical
temperature of a superconductor belongs to this class of materials. Thin films
of the compound with two adjacent copper-oxide layers and a critical
temperature of about 120 K were prepared by a two-step process that consists of
the pulsed-laser deposition of precursor films and the subsequent annealing in
mercury-vapor atmosphere. Like some other high-temperature superconductors,
Hg-Ba-Ca-Cu-O exhibits a specific anomaly of the Hall effect, a double-sign
change of the Hall coefficient close to the superconducting transition. We have
investigated this phenomenon by measurements of the Hall effect at different
angles between the magnetic field direction and the crystallographic c-axis.
The results concerning the upper part of the transition, where the first sign
change occurs, are discussed in terms of the renormalized fluctuation model for
the Hall conductivity, adapted through the field rescaling procedure in order
to take into account the arbitrary orientation of the magnetic field.Comment: to be published in Phys. Rev.
First results of the ROSEBUD Dark Matter experiment
Rare Objects SEarch with Bolometers UndergrounD) is an experiment which
attempts to detect low mass Weak Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) through
their elastic scattering off Al and O nuclei. It consists of three small
sapphire bolometers (of a total mass of 100 g) with NTD-Ge sensors in a
dilution refrigerator operating at 20 mK in the Canfranc Underground
Laboratory. We report in this paper the results of several runs (of about 10
days each) with successively improved energy thresholds, and the progressive
background reduction obtained by improvement of the radiopurity of the
components and subsequent modifications in the experimental assembly, including
the addition of old lead shields. Mid-term plans and perspectives of the
experiment are also presented.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Astroparticle Physic
Performance of a Tungsten-Cerium Fluoride Sampling Calorimeter in High-Energy Electron Beam Tests
A prototype for a sampling calorimeter made out of cerium fluoride crystals
interleaved with tungsten plates, and read out by wavelength-shifting fibres,
has been exposed to beams of electrons with energies between 20 and 150 GeV,
produced by the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron accelerator complex. The
performance of the prototype is presented and compared to that of a Geant4
simulation of the apparatus. Particular emphasis is given to the response
uniformity across the channel front face, and to the prototype's energy
resolution.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, Submitted to NIM
neuroimaging changes in menkes disease part 2
SUMMARY: This is the second part of a retrospective and review MR imaging study aiming to define the frequency rate, timing, imaging features, and evolution of gray matter changes in Menkes disease, a rare multisystem X-linked disorder of copper metabolism characterized by early, severe, and progressive neurologic involvement. According to our analysis, neurodegenerative changes and focal basal ganglia lesions already appear in the early phases of the disease. Subdural collections are less common than generally thought; however, their presence remains important because they might challenge the differential diagnosis with child abuse and might precipitate the clinical deterioration. Anecdotal findings in our large sample seem to provide interesting clues about the protean mechanisms of brain injury in this rare disease and further highlight the broad spectrum of MR imaging findings that might be expected while imaging a child with the suspicion of or a known diagnosis of Menkes disease
Ratio of Hadronic Decay Rates of J\psi and \psi(2S) and the \rho\pi Puzzle
The so-called \rho\pi puzzle of J\psi and \psi(2S) decays is examined using
the experimental data available to date. Two different approaches were taken to
estimate the ratio of J\psi and \psi(2S) hadronic decay rates. While one of the
estimates could not yield the exact ratio of \psi(2S) to J\psi inclusive
hadronic decay rates, the other, based on a computation of the inclusive ggg
decay rate for
\psi(2S) (J\psi) by subtracting other decay rates from the total decay rate,
differs by two standard deviations from the naive prediction of perturbative
QCD, even though its central value is nearly twice as large as what was naively
expected. A comparison between this ratio, upon making corrections for specific
exclusive two-body decay modes, and the corresponding experimental data
confirms the puzzles in
J\psi and \psi(2S) decays. We find from our analysis that the exclusively
reconstructed hadronic decays of the \psi(2S) account for only a small fraction
of its total decays, and a ratio exceeding the above estimate should be
expected to occur for a considerable number of the remaining decay channels. We
also show that the recent new results from the BES experiment provide crucial
tests of various theoretical models proposed to explain the puzzle.Comment: 8 pages, no figure, 4 table
Post-transplant recurrence of steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome in children: the Italian experience
Background: Steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is a frequent cause of end stage renal disease in children and post-transplant disease recurrence is a major cause of graft loss. Methods: We identified all children with SRNS who underwent renal transplantation in Italy, between 2005 and 2017. Data were retrospectively collected for the presence of a causative gene mutation, sex, histology, duration of pre-transplant dialysis, age at onset and transplant, HLA matching, recurrence, therapy for recurrence, and graft survival. Results: 101 patients underwent a first and 22 a second renal transplant. After a median follow-up of 58.5 months, the disease recurred on the first renal transplant in 53.3% of patients with a non-genetic and none with a genetic SRNS. Age at transplant > 9 years and the presence of at least one HLA-AB match were independent risk factors for recurrence. Duration of dialysis was longer in children with relapse, but did not reach statistical significance. Overall, 24% of patients lost the first graft, with recurrence representing the commonest cause. Among 22 patients who underwent a second transplant, 5 suffered of SRNS recurrence. SRNS relapsed in 5/9 (55%) patients with disease recurrence in their first transplant and 2 of them lost the second graft. Conclusions: Absence of a causative mutation represents the major risk factor for post-transplant recurrence in children with SRNS, while transplant can be curative in genetic SRNS. A prolonged time spent on dialysis before transplantation has no protective effect on the risk of relapse and should not be encouraged. Retransplantation represents a second chance after graft loss for recurrence
Has VZV epidemiology changed in Italy? Results of a seroprevalence study
The aim of the study was to evaluate if and how varicella prevalence has changed in Italy. In particular a seroprevalence study was performed, comparing it to similar surveys conducted in pre-immunization era. During 2013â2014, sera obtained from blood samples taken for diagnostic purposes or routine investigations were collected in collaboration with at least one laboratory/center for each region, following the approval of the Ethics Committee. Data were stratified by sex and age. All samples were processed in a national reference laboratory by an immunoassay with high sensitivity and specificity. Statutory notifications, national hospital discharge database and mortality data related to VZV infection were analyzed as well. A total of 3707 sera were collected and tested. In the studied period both incidence and hospitalization rates decreased and about 5 deaths per year have been registered. The seroprevalence decreased in the first year of life in subjects passively protected by their mother, followed by an increase in the following age classes. The overall antibody prevalence was 84%. The comparison with surveys conducted with the same methodology in 1996â1997 and 2003â2004 showed significant differences in age groups 1â19 y. The study confirms that in Italy VZV infection typically occurs in children. The impact of varicella on Italian population is changing. The comparison between studies performed in different periods shows a significant increase of seropositivity in age class 1â4 years, expression of vaccine interventions already adopted in some regions
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