High-energy neutrinos from FR0 radio-galaxies?

The sources responsible for the emission of high-energy ($\gtrsim$ 100 TeV) neutrinos detected by IceCube are still unknown. Among the possible candidates, active galactic nuclei with relativistic jets are often examined, since the outflowing plasma seems to offer the ideal environment to accelerate the required parent high-energy cosmic rays. The non-detection of single point sources or -- almost equivalently -- the absence, in the IceCube events, of multiplets originating from the same sky position, constrains the cosmic density and the neutrino output of these sources, pointing to a numerous population of faint sources. Here we explore the possibility that FR0 radiogalaxies, the population of compact sources recently identified in large radio and optical surveys and representing the bulk of radio-loud AGN population, can represent suitable candidates for neutrino emission. Modeling the spectral energy distribution of a FR0 radiogalaxy recently associated to a $\gamma$-ray source detected by the Large Area Telescope onboard Fermi, we derive the physical parameters of its jet, in particular the power carried by it. We consider the possible mechanisms of neutrino production, concluding that $p\gamma$ reactions in the jet between protons and ambient radiation is too inefficient to sustain the required output. We propose an alternative scenario, in which protons, accelerated in the jet, escape from it and diffuse in the host galaxy, producing neutrinos as a result of $pp$ scattering with the interstellar gas, in strict analogy with the processes taking place in star-forming galaxies.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

EeV Astrophysical neutrinos from FSRQs?

Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars (FSRQ) are the most powerful blazars in the gamma-ray band. Although they are supposed to be good candidates in producing high energy neutrinos, no secure detection of FSRQs has been obtained up to now, except for a possible case of PKS B1424-418. In this work, we compute the expected flux of high energy neutrinos from FSRQs using standard assumptions for the properties of the radiation fields filling the regions surrounding the central supermassive black hole. We obtain as a result that high energy neutrinos are naturally expected from FSRQs in the sub-EeV-EeV energy range and not at PeV energies. This justifies the non-observation of neutrinos from FSRQs with the present technology, since only neutrinos below 10 PeV have been observed. We found that for a non-negligible range of the parameters the cumulative flux from FSRQs is comparable to or even exceeds the expected cosmogenic neutrino flux. This result is intriguing and highlights the importance to disentangle these point-source emissions from the diffuse cosmogenic background.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Measurement of transfer of colostral passive immunity in dairy calves

The administration of high quality colostrum reduces preweaning morbidity, mortality and, therefore, economic losses related to replacement animals. It also stimulates and improves calf growth, increasing milk production and longevity of the future dairy cows. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of breed and parity of the dam on colostrum quality, and of breed and gender of the calf, and time from calf birth to the administration of the first colostrum meal on the transfer of passive immunity to the calf by the field test of the Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) on calf serum. A further objective was to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the field FPT test through a second laboratory phase improving the turbidity evaluation. The amount of IgG fed to calves (IgG concentration multiplied by the volume of colostrum administered) was influenced by dam parity as significant differences (P < 0.05) were detected between first- and fourth-parity cows, and between second- and fourth-parity cows. The administration of good quality colostrum (IgG > 50 mg/ml) between 5 and 9 h of life was able to reduce the risk of FPT more effectively than the administration performed within the first 4 h of life. However, further studies on larger sample size is needed to confirm the present findings. The spectrophotometric measurements confirmed the results obtained by the field turbidity test at 14% sodium sulphite dilution. It would be interesting in future to expand the dataset and validate the spectrophometric method

Friction by Shear Deformations in Multilayer Graphene

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Black soldier fly as a New chitin source: Extraction, purification and molecular/structural characterization

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) represents a potential chitin source that has not been fully explored in terms of characterization, extraction, and purification. In this study, different chemical and enzymatic protocols with or without pre-treatment (ultrasonication and mechanochemical milling) for chitin extraction were tested. Chitin was then accurately quantified and characterized from a molecular and structural point of view by UPLC-MS, XRD, and ESEM, and compared with chitin from shrimp shells. BSF chitin was more recalcitrant than shrimp chitin during extraction and purification, due to the strong binding of chitin to proteins. Indeed, the purity of shrimp chitin was 88.3g/100g of extract, while BSF chitin purity was 47.6–79.9g/100g. Furthermore, the chitin-bound proteins had a defined amino acid composition; their binding was also confirmed by structural characterization. Therefore, the efficiency of each step of the extraction process needs to be critically evaluated to adapt the methods used for crustaceans to insect biomass

Effects of different levels of dietary biotin on the performance and bone structure of broilers

We evaluated the effects of different levels of biotin on broilers performances and bone growth. Biotin was added at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 μg/Kg to a corn and soybean diet for yellow skin broiler production during the whole production cycle. Biotin at dosages of 200, 300, 400 μg/Kg increased growth rate, and, regardless of dosage, feed conversion rate in the second and third period of growth. Femur and tibiotarsus volume was slightly reduced while the bone mineral content of the same bones showed an increase as a result of biotin supplementation. Any particular dose-response effect was recorded with regard to plasma mineral content and ALP activity

Defects drive the tribocharging strength of PTFE: An ab-initio study

If polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon, is put into contact and rubbed against another material, almost surely it will be more effective than its counterpart in collecting negative charges. This simple, basic property is captured by the so called triboelectric series, where PTFE ranks extremely high, and that qualitatively orders materials in terms of their ability to electrostatically charge upon contact and rubbing. However, while classifying materials, the series does not provide an explanation of their triboelectric strength, besides a loose correlation with the workfunction. Indeed, despite being an extremely familiar process, known from centuries, tribocharging is still elusive and not fully understood. In this work we employ density functional theory to look for the origin of PTFE tribocharging strength. We study how charge transfers when pristine or defective PTFE is put in contact with different clean and oxidized metals. Our results show the important role played by defects in enhancing charge transfer. Interestingly and unexpectedly our results show that negatively charged chains are more stable than neutral ones, if slightly bent. Indeed deformations can be easily promoted in polymers as PTFE, especially in tribological contacts. These results suggest that, in designing materials in view of their triboelectric properties, the characteristics of their defects could be a performance determining factor

Field cancerization therapy with ingenol mebutate contributes to restoring skin-metabolism to normal-state in patients with actinic keratosis: a metabolomic analysis

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a skin premalignant lesion, which progresses into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) if left untreated. Ingenol mebutate gel is approved for local treatment of non-hyperkeratotic, non-hypertrophic AK; it also has the potential to act as a field cancerization therapy to prevent the progression of AK to SCC. To gain better insights into the mechanisms of ingenol mebutate beyond the mere clinical assessment, we investigated, for the first time, the metabolome of skin tissues from patients with AK, before and after ingenol mebutate treatment, with high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The metabolomic profiles were compared with those of tissues from healthy volunteers. Overall, we identified a number of metabolites, the homeostasis of which became altered during the process of tumorigenesis from healthy skin to AK, and was restored, at least partially, by ingenol mebutate therapy. These metabolites may help to attain a better understanding of keratinocyte metabolism and to unmask the metabolic pathways related to cell proliferation. These results provide helpful information to identify biomarkers with prognostic and therapeutic significance in AK, and suggest that field cancerization therapy with ingenol mebutate may contribute to restore skin metabolism to a normal state in patients with AK

40. The gas-phase ammoxidation of n-hexane to unsaturated C6 dinitriles, intermediates for hexamethylenediamine synthesis

This paper reports about an investigation on the catalytic gas-phase ammoxidation of n-hexane aimed at the production of 1,6-C6 dinitriles, precursors for the synthesis of hexamethylenediamine. Catalysts tested were those also active and selective in the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile: rutile-type V/Sb and Sn/V/Nb/Sb mixed oxides. Several N-containing compounds formed; however, the selectivity to cyano-containing aliphatic linear C6 compounds was low, due to the relevant contribution of side reactions such as combustion, cracking and formation of heavy compounds.INGLES