Micro-beam and pulsed laser beam techniques for the micro-fabrication of diamond surface and bulk structures

Micro-fabrication in diamond is involved in a wide set of emerging technologies, exploiting the exceptional characteristics of diamond for application in bio-physics, photonics, radiation detection. Micro ion-beam irradiation and pulsed laser irradiation are complementary techniques, which permit the implementation of complex geometries, by modification and functionalization of surface and/or bulk material, modifying the optical, electrical and mechanical characteristics of the material. In this article we summarize the work done in Florence (Italy) concerning ion beam and pulsed laser beam micro-fabrication in diamond.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Protein kinase inhibitors in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma: sorafenib

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Exploring the parameter space of texture 4 zero quark mass matrices

We have attempted to extend the parameter space of the elements of the texture 4 zero Hermitian quark mass matrices, to include the case of `weak hierarchy' amongst them along with the usually considered `strong hierarchy' case. This has been carried out by giving wide variation to the hierarchy defining parameters D_U and D_D, having implications for the structural features of the mass matrices. We find that not only the weakly hierarchical mass matrices are able to reproduce the strongly hierarchical mixing angles but also both the phases having their origin in the mass matrices have to be non zero to achieve compatibility of these matrices with recent quark mixing data. Further noting the difference between the exclusive and inclusive values of V_ub, we have carried out separate analyses corresponding to these.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, version accepted for publication in Journal Of Physics

Two-year observations of the Jupiter polar regions by JIRAM on board Juno

We observed the evolution of Jupiter's polar cyclonic structures over two years between February 2017 and February 2019, using polar observations by the Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper, JIRAM, on the Juno mission. Images and spectra were collected by the instrument in the 5‐μm wavelength range. The images were used to monitor the development of the cyclonic and anticyclonic structures at latitudes higher than 80° both in the northern and the southern hemispheres. Spectroscopic measurements were then used to monitor the abundances of the minor atmospheric constituents water vapor, ammonia, phosphine and germane in the polar regions, where the atmospheric optical depth is less than 1. Finally, we performed a comparative analysis with oceanic cyclones on Earth in an attempt to explain the spectral characteristics of the cyclonic structures we observe in Jupiter's polar atmosphere

GIADA performance during Rosetta mission scientific operations at comet 67P

The Grain Impact Analyser and Dust Accumulator (GIADA) instrument onboard Rosetta studied the dust environment of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko from 3.7 au inbound, through perihelion, to 3.8 au outbound, measuring the dust flow and the dynamic properties of individual particles. GIADA is composed of three subsystems: 1) Grain Detection System (GDS); 2) Impact Sensor (IS); and 3) Micro-Balances System (MBS). Monitoring the subsystems’ performance during operations is an important element for the correct calibration of scientific measurements. In this paper, we analyse the GIADA inflight calibration data obtained by internal calibration devices for the three subsystems during the period from 1 August 2014 to 31 October 2015. The calibration data testify a nominal behaviour of the instrument during these fifteen months of mission; the only exception is a minor loss of sensitivity for one of the two GDS receivers, attributed to dust contamination

Potential of the Oxidized Form of the Oleuropein Aglycon to Monitor the Oil Quality Evolution of Commercial Extra-Virgin Olive Oils

The quality of commercially available extra-virgin olive oils (VOOs) of different chemical compositions was evaluated as a function of storage (12 months), simulating market storage conditions, to find reliable and early markers of the virgin olive oil (VOOs) quality status in the market. By applying a D-optimal design using the Most Descriptive Compound (MDC) algorithm, 20 virgin olive oils were selected. The initial concentrations of oleic acid, hydrophilic phenols, and a-tocopherol in the 20 VOOs ranged from 58.2 to 80.5%, 186.7 to 1003.2 mg/kg, and 170.7-300.6 mg/kg, respectively. K-270, increment K, (E, E)-2.4-decadienal and (E)-2-decenal, and the oxidative form of the oleuropein aglycon (3,4-DHPEA-EA-OX) reflected the VOO quality status well, with 3,4-DHPEA-EA-OX being the most relevant and quick index for simple monitoring of the "extra-virgin" commercial shelf-life category. Its HPLC-DAD evaluation is easy because of the different wavelength absorbances of the oxidized and non-oxidized form (3,4-DHPEA-EA), respectively, at 347 and 278 nm

The dust-to-ices ratio in comets and Kuiper belt objects

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P hereinafter) is characterized by a dust transfer from the southern hemi-nucleus to the night-side northern dust deposits, which constrains the dust-to-ices mass ratio inside the nucleus to values a factor of 2 larger than that provided by the lost mass of gas and non-volatiles. This applies to all comets because the gas density in all night comae cannot prevent the dust fallback. Taking into account Grain Impact Analyser and Dust Accumulator (GIADA) data collected during the entire Rosetta mission, we update the average dust bulk density to ρD=785 +520/−115 $\rho {}{}_{\rm D} = 785_{-115}^{+520}$ kg m$^-3$ that, coupled to the 67P nucleus bulk density, confirms an average dust-to-ices mass ratio δ = 7.5 inside 67P. The improved dust densities are consistent with a mixture of (20 ± 8) per cent of ices, (4 ± 1) per cent of Fe sulphides, (22 ± 2) per cent of silicates and (54 ± 5) per cent of hydrocarbons, on average volume abundances. These values correspond to solar chemical abundances, as suggested by the elemental C/Fe ratio observed in 67P. The ice content in 67P matches that inferred in Kuiper belt objects, (20 ± 12) per cent on average volume abundance and suggests a water content in all trans-Neptunian objects lower than in CI chondrites. The 67P icy pebbles and the dust collected by GIADA have a microporosity of (49 ± 5) and (59 ± 8) per cent, respectively