Suppressing quasiparticle poisoning with a voltage-controlled filter

We study single-electron charging events in an Al/InAs nanowire hybrid system with deliberately introduced gapless regions. The occupancy of a Coulomb island is detected using a nearby radio-frequency quantum dot as a charge sensor. We demonstrate that a 1 micron gapped segment of the wire can be used to efficiently suppress single electron poisoning of the gapless region and therefore protect the parity of the island while maintaining good electrical contact with a normal lead. In the absence of protection by charging energy, the 1e switching rate can be reduced below 200 per second. In the same configuration, we observe strong quantum charge fluctuations due to exchange of electron pairs between the island and the lead. The magnetic field dependence of the poisoning rate yields a zero-field superconducting coherence length of ~ 90 nm

Multiple detection and spread of novel strains of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.177 (B.1.177.75) lineage that test negative by a commercially available nucleocapsid gene real-time RT-PCR

Several lineages of SARS-CoV-2 are currently circulating worldwide. During SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic activities performed in Abruzzo region (central Italy) several strains belonging to the B.1.177.75 lineage tested negative for the N gene but positive for the ORF1ab and S genes (+/+/- pattern) by the TaqPath COVID-19 CE-IVD RT-PCR Kit manufactured by Thermofisher. By sequencing, a unique mutation, synonymous 28948C > T, was found in the N-negative B.1.177.75 strains. Although we do not have any knowledge upon the nucleotide sequences of the primers and probe adopted by this kit, it is likely that N gene dropout only occurs when 28948C > T is coupled with 28932C > T, this latter present, in turn, in all B.1.177.75 sequences available on public databases. Furthermore, epidemiological analysis was also performed. The majority of the N-negative B.1.177.75 cases belonged to two clusters apparently unrelated to each other and both clusters involved young people. However, the phylogeny for sequences containing the +/+/- pattern strongly supports a genetic connection and one common source for both clusters. Though, genetic comparison suggests a connection rather than indicating the independent emergence of the same mutation in two apparently unrelated clusters. This study highlights once more the importance of sharing genomic data to link apparently unrelated epidemiological clusters and to, remarkably, update molecular tests

Caratteristiche dei dati accelerometrici registrati durante la sequenza sismica aquilana

I dati accelerometrici relativi alla sequenza sismica de L’Aquila, iniziata con l’evento del 6 Aprile alle ore 1.32 (MW 6.3), provengono dalla rete Rete Accelerometrica Nazionale (RAN), gestita dal Dipartimento della Protezione Civile (DPC) e da una rete temporanea installata il giorno dopo la scossa principale ad opera dell’Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV MI-PV). I dati del DPC sono scaricabili dalla banca dati accelerometrica italiana ITACA (http://itaca.mi.ingv.it), mentre quelli dell'INGV sono accessibili dal sito Internet http://accel.mi.ingv.it/statiche/ABRUZZO-2009/main.html. Il terremoto de L’Aquila è il terzo evento più forte che abbia prodotto registrazioni accelerometriche in Italia, dopo i terremoti dell’Irpinia (1980, MW 6.9) e del Friuli (1976, MW 6.4). Questo evento, insieme alle 12 repliche più forti (MW > 4.0) ha fornito un insieme di dati accelerometrici unico in Italia, in particolare per la presenza di un numero consistente di registrazioni in zona epicentrale ("campo vicino"). Il data set è composto da circa 300 accelerogrammi digitali (di cui 270 provenienti dalla RAN), con un ottimo rapporto segnale/rumore, registrati da circa 70 stazioni, installate in varie condizioni di sito, a distanze comprese fra 0 e 300 km. L'importanza di questo data set, non solo a livello nazionale, è legato al contributo significativo che fornisce nel colmare una lacuna nella distribuzione magnitudo-distanza dei dati strong motion italiani e mondiali, soprattutto per quanto riguarda gli eventi con meccanismo di faglia normale (Ameri et al.; 2009). I dati registrati in campo vicino provengono da un transetto composto da 6 stazioni installato dalla Protezione Civile nel 2001 nella Alta Valle dell’Aterno, con lo scopo di investigare la variabilità del moto sismico rispetto alle condizioni geologiche locali, dalla stazione AQK, installata in prossimità del centro urbano e da una stazione (AQU) appartenente alla rete broad band Mednet (http://mednet.rm.ingv.it/data.php), situata nel castello de L’Aquila. Queste stazioni distano meno di 5 km dall’epicentro dell’evento principale, ricadendo all’interno della proiezione superficiale del piano di rottura. A queste si aggiungono le registrazioni delle repliche, ottenute dalle stazioni della rete temporanea INGV, installata in area epicentrale. In questo lavoro si presenta un resoconto delle principali caratteristiche dello scuotimento del suolo verificatosi durante la sequenza sismica aquilana, attraverso l’analisi dei dati accelerometrici relativi alla scossa principale e alle due repliche più forti. Si discutono in particolare la dipendenza di diversi parametri strong motion dalla distanza, dall’azimuth e dalle condizioni di sito, e l'effetto delle caratteristiche del moto in campo vicino sulla risposta strutturalePublished57-684.1. Metodologie sismologiche per l'ingegneria sismicaN/A or not JCRreserve

m-MTDATA on Au(111): Spectroscopic Evidence of Molecule-Substrate Interactions

The starburst π-conjugated molecule based on triphenylamine (TPA) building blocks, 4,4′,4″-tris(N-3-ethylphenyl-N-phenylamino)triphenylamine (C57H48N4, m-MTDATA), is widely used in optoelectronic devices due to its electron-donating properties. The electronic structure of m-MTDATA adsorbed on an Au(111) surface was investigated by means of photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The results were further compared to gas-phase measurements and DFT calculations. Our results clearly indicate a significant molecule-substrate interaction that induces considerable modifications on the electronic structure of the adsorbate compared to the isolated molecule. The energy level alignment analysis shows that the HOMO-LUMO gap is filled by new interface states

Atomic contributions to the valence band photoelectron spectra of metal-free, iron and manganese phthalocyanines

The present work reports a photoelectron spectroscopy study of the low-energy region of the valence band of metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc) compared with those of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) and manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc). Density Functional Theory calculations have been used to resolve the atomic orbital composition of the valence spectra of all the phthalocyanines (Pcs) analyzed in this study. Moreover we show how the atomic character of the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) is reflected on the outermost valence band binding energy region. The intensity related to the C 2p contributions, resulting in the HOMO for H2Pc and FePc and in the HOMO-1 for MnPc as described by the theoretical predictions is in very good agreement with the experimental results. The DFT simulations, discerning the atomic contribution to the density of states, indicate how the central metal atom interacts with the C and N atoms of the molecule, giving rise to different partial and total density of states for these three different Pc molecules

2D-DIGE analysis of ovarian cancer cell responses to cytotoxic gold compounds

Cytotoxic gold compounds hold today great promise as new pharmacological agents for treatment of human ovarian carcinoma; yet, their mode of action is still largely unknown. To shed light on the underlying molecular mechanisms, we performed 2D-DIGE analysis to identify differential protein expression in a cisplatin-sensitive human ovarian cancer cell line (A2780/S) following treatment with two representative gold(III) complexes that are known to be potent antiproliferative agents, namely AuL12 and Au2Phen. Software analysis using DeCyder was performed and few differentially expressed protein spots were visualized between the three examined settings after 24h exposure to the cytotoxic compounds, implying that cellular damage at least during the early phases of exposure is quite limited and selective reflecting the attempts of the cell to repair damage and to survive the insult. The potential of novel proteomic methods to disclose mechanistic details of cytotoxic metallodrugs is herein further highlighted. Different patterns of proteomic changes were highlighted for the two metallodrugs with only a few perturbed protein spots in common. Using MALDI-TOF MS and ESI-Ion trap MS/MS, several differentially expressed proteins were identified. Two of these were validated by western blotting: Ubiquilin-1, responsible for inhibiting degradation of protein such as p53 and NAP1L1, a candidate marker identified in primary tumors. In conclusion, we performed a comprehensive analysis of proteins regulated by AuL12 and Au2Phen, providing a useful insight into their mechanisms of action

Design, Realization, and Characterization of Advanced Adhesives for Joining Ultra-Stable C/C Based Components

The aim of this work is to develop high-performance adhesives to join carbon fiber reinforced composites (C/C) for use in aerospace applications; in order to guarantee sound mechanical strength, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and ease of application on large components. Several different adhesive formulations, based on phenolic or cyanate-ester resins (charged with the maximum experimentally feasible amount of carbon-based fillers), are developed and tested. The measurements of the lap shear strength at room temperature of the C/C joined by means of one phenolic and one cyanate ester-based resin demonstrates that these formulations are the most suitable for the given application. A complete characterization, by means of viscosimetry, dilatometry, and thermal gravimetric analysis, coupled with gas analysis by means of mass spectroscopy, confirms that the phenolic-based formulation is the most promising joining material. A nano-indenter is used to obtain its Young modulus and hardness, both inside the joint and as a bulk cured adhesive

Termoreverzibilni mukoadhezivni in situ hidrogel za oftalmičku primjenu: dizajniranje i optimizacija koristeći kombinaciju polimera

The purpose of the study was to develop an optimized thermoreversible in situ gelling ophthalmic drug delivery system based on Pluronic F 127, containing moxifloxacin hydrochloride as a model drug. A 32 full factorial design was employed with two polymers Pluronic F 68 and Gelrite as independent variables used in combination with Pluronic F 127. Gelation temperature, gel strength, bioadhesion force, viscosity and in vitro drug release after 1 and 10 h were selected as dependent variables. Pluronic F 68 loading with Pluronic F 127 was found to have a significant effect on gelation temperature of the formulation and to be of importance for gel formation at temperatures 3336 ºC. Gelrite loading showed a positive effect on bioadhesion force and gel strength and was also found helpful in controling the release rate of the drug. The quadratic mathematical model developed is applicable to predicting formulations with desired gelation temperature, gel strength, bioadhesion force and drug release properties.Cilj rada bio je razvoj i optimizacija termoreverzibilnog sustava za isporuku lijekova koji gelira in situ. Sustav je napravljen na bazi Pluronic F 127, a sadrži moksifloksacin hidroklorid kao modelni lijek. U radu je primjenjeno 32 potpuno faktorijsko dizajniranje s dva polimera, Pluronic F 68 i Gelrite kao nezavisnim varijablama koji su kombinirani s Pluronic F 127. Kao zavisne varijable odabrane su temperatura geliranja, čvrstoća gela, jačina bioadhezije, viskoznost i in vitro oslobađanje lijeka nakon 1 i 10 h. Pronađeno je da Pluronic F 68 u kombinaciji s Pluronic F 127 ima značajan učinak na temperaturu geliranja u rasponu od 33 do 36 C. S druge strane, Gelrite ima povoljan učinak na jačinu bioadhezije, čvrstoću gela i oslobađanje lijeka. Razvijen je kvadratni matematički model pomoću kojeg se može predvidjeti temperatura geliranja, čvrstoća gela, jačina bioadhezije i oslobađanje ljekovite tvari

Baryon magnetic moments in the QCD string approach

Magnetic moments of baryons composed of light and strange quarks are computed for the first time through the only parameter of the model -- string tension $\sigma$. Resulting theoretical values differ from the experimental ones typically by about 10%.Comment: LaTeX, 13 pages; misprints are correcte