391 research outputs found
Lowering the background level and the energy threshold of Micromegas x-ray detectors for axion searches
Axion helioscopes search for solar axions by their conversion in x-rays in
the presence of high magnetic fields. The use of low background x-ray detectors
is an essential component contributing to the sensitivity of these searches. In
this work, we review the recent advances on Micromegas detectors used in the
CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) and proposed for the future International
Axion Observatory (IAXO). The actual setup in CAST has achieved background
levels below 10 keV cm s, a factor 100 lower than
the first generation of Micromegas detectors. This reduction is based on active
and passive shielding techniques, the selection of radiopure materials, offline
discrimination techniques and the high granularity of the readout. We describe
in detail the background model of the detector, based on its operation at CAST
site and at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC), as well as on Geant4
simulations. The best levels currently achieved at LSC are low than 10
keV cm s and show good prospects for the application of
this technology in IAXO. Finally, we present some ideas and results for
reducing the energy threshold of these detectors below 1 keV, using
high-transparent windows, autotrigger electronics and studying the cluster
shape at different energies. As a high flux of axion-like-particles is expected
in this energy range, a sub-keV threshold detector could enlarge the physics
case of axion helioscopes.Comment: Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Technology and
Instrumentation in Particle Physics (TIPP 2014
Immobilization of Proteins in Poly-Styrene-Divinylbenzene Matrices: Functional Properties and Applications
Supports based on poly-styrene-divinylbenzene (PSD) are commercially available since a long time ago. However, they are not commonly used as enzyme immobilization matrices. The main reason for this lies in the negative effect of the very hydrophobic surface on enzyme stability that produces the instantaneous enzyme inactivation in many instances. However, they have recently regained some impact in enzyme immobilization. They are easy to modify, and have been prepared with different modifiers. We will pay special attention to the coating of these supports with ionic liquids, which permits to have the ionic liquid phase anchored to the solid and modulate the enzyme properties without risk of losing these expensive and potentially toxic compounds. Thus, this review will present the covalent or physical immobilization of enzymes on PSD supports, submitted to different modifications. Moreover, lipases immobilized via interfacial activation on some naked PSD supports have shown some unexpected improvement in their catalytic properties, with uses in reactions like hydrolysis, esterification or transesterification.We gratefully recognize the support from the Spanish Government, CTQ2013-41507-R and CNPq (Brazil). The predoctoral fellowships for Ms. García-Galán (Spanish Government), Mr K. Hernandez (I3P-CSIC) and Mr dos Santos (CNPq, Brazil) are also recognized. ). Á. Berenguer-Murcia thanks the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion for a Ramon y Cajal fellowship (RyC-2009-03813)
Structure of HrcQ(B)-C, a conserved component of the bacterial type III secretion systems
Type III secretion systems enable plant and animal bacterial pathogens to deliver virulence proteins into the cytosol of eukaryotic host cells, causing a broad spectrum of diseases including bacteremia, septicemia, typhoid fever, and bubonic plague in mammals, and localized lesions, systemic wilting, and blights in plants. In
addition, type III secretion systems are also required for biogenesis of the bacterial flagellum. The HrcQ(B) protein, a component of the secretion apparatus of Pseudomonas syringae with homologues in all type III systems, has a variable N-terminal and a conserved C-terminal domain (HrcQ(B)-C). Here, we report the crystal structure
of HrcQ(B)-C and show that this domain retains the ability of the full-length protein to interact with other type III components. A 3D analysis of sequence conservation patterns reveals two clusters of residues potentially involved in protein–protein interactions. Based on the analogies between HrcQ(B) and its flagellum homologues,
we propose that HrcQ(B)-C participates in the formation of
a C-ring-like assembly
Towards a new generation axion helioscope
We study the feasibility of a new generation axion helioscope, the most
ambitious and promising detector of solar axions to date. We show that large
improvements in magnetic field volume, x-ray focusing optics and detector
backgrounds are possible beyond those achieved in the CERN Axion Solar
Telescope (CAST). For hadronic models, a sensitivity to the axion-photon
coupling of \gagamma\gtrsim {\rm few} \times 10^{-12} GeV is
conceivable, 1--1.5 orders of magnitude beyond the CAST sensitivity. If axions
also couple to electrons, the Sun produces a larger flux for the same value of
the Peccei-Quinn scale, allowing one to probe a broader class of models. Except
for the axion dark matter searches, this experiment will be the most sensitive
axion search ever, reaching or surpassing the stringent bounds from SN1987A and
possibly testing the axion interpretation of anomalous white-dwarf cooling that
predicts of a few meV. Beyond axions, this new instrument will probe
entirely unexplored ranges of parameters for a large variety of axion-like
particles (ALPs) and other novel excitations at the low-energy frontier of
elementary particle physics.Comment: 37 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in JCA
The International Axion Observatory (IAXO)
The International Axion Observatory (IAXO) is a new generation axion
helioscope aiming at a sensitivity to the axion-photon coupling of a few
10 GeV, i.e. 1 - 1.5 orders of magnitude beyond the one currently
achieved by CAST. The project relies on improvements in magnetic field volume
together with extensive use of x-ray focusing optics and low background
detectors, innovations already successfully tested in CAST. Additional physics
cases of IAXO could include the detection of electron-coupled axions invoked to
solve the white dwarfs anomaly, relic axions, and a large variety of more
generic axion-like particles (ALPs) and other novel excitations at the
low-energy frontier of elementary particle physics. This contribution is a
summary of our paper [1] to which we refer for further details.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. To appear in the proceedings of the 7th Patras
Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs, Mykonos, Greece, 201
Micromegas for dark matter searches: CAST/IAXO & TREX-DM experiments
The most compelling candidates for Dark Matter to day are WIMPs and axions. The applicability of gasesous Time Projection Chambers (TPCs) with Micromesh Gas Structures (Micromegas) to the search of these particles is explored within this work. Both particles would produce an extremely low rate at very low energies in particle detectors. Micromegas detectors can provide both low background rates and low energy threshold, due to the high granularity, radiopurity and uniformity of the readout. Small (few cm wide) Micromegas detectors are used to image the ax ion-induced x-ray signal expected in the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) experiment. We show the background levels obtained in CAST and the prospects to further reduce them to the values required by the Internation Axion Observatory (IAXO). We also present TREX-DM. a scaled-up version of the Micromegas used in axion research, but this time dedicated to the low-mass WIMP detection. TREX-DM is a high-pressure Micromegas-based TPC designed to host a few hundreds of grams of light nuclei (argon or neon) with energy thresholds potentially at the level of 100 eV. The detector is described in detail, as well as the results of the commissioning and characterization phase on surface. Besides, the background model of TREX-DM is presented, along with the anticipated sensitivity of this search, which could go beyond current experimental limits
Classification of Radiologically Isolated Syndrome and Clinically Isolated Syndrome with Machine-Learning Techniques
Background and purpose: The unanticipated detection by magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) in the brain of asymptomatic subjects of white matter lesions
suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been named radiologically isolated
syndrome (RIS). As the difference between early MS [i.e. clinically isolated
syndrome (CIS)] and RIS is the occurrence of a clinical event, it is logical to
improve detection of the subclinical form without interfering with MRI as there
are radiological diagnostic criteria for that. Our objective was to use
machine-learning classification methods to identify morphometric measures that
help to discriminate patients with RIS from those with CIS.
Methods: We used a multimodal 3-T MRI approach by combining MRI biomarkers
(cortical thickness, cortical and subcortical grey matter volume, and white
matter integrity) of a cohort of 17 patients with RIS and 17 patients with CIS
for single-subject level classification.
Results: The best proposed models to predict the diagnosis of CIS and RIS
were based on the Naive Bayes, Bagging and Multilayer Perceptron classifiers
using only three features: the left rostral middle frontal gyrus volume and the
fractional anisotropy values in the right amygdala and right lingual gyrus. The
Naive Bayes obtained the highest accuracy [overall classification, 0.765; area
under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC), 0.782].
Conclusions: A machine-learning approach applied to multimodal MRI data may
differentiate between the earliest clinical expressions of MS (CIS and RIS)
with an accuracy of 78%.
Keywords: Bagging; Multilayer Perceptron; Naive Bayes classifier; clinically
isolated syndrome; diffusion tensor imaging; machine-learning; magnetic
resonance imaging; multiple sclerosis; radiologically isolated syndrome.Comment: 24 pages, 2 table
CAST solar axion search with 3^He buffer gas: Closing the hot dark matter gap
The CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) has finished its search for solar
axions with 3^He buffer gas, covering the search range 0.64 eV < m_a <1.17 eV.
This closes the gap to the cosmological hot dark matter limit and actually
overlaps with it. From the absence of excess X-rays when the magnet was
pointing to the Sun we set a typical upper limit on the axion-photon coupling
of g_ag < 3.3 x 10^{-10} GeV^{-1} at 95% CL, with the exact value depending on
the pressure setting. Future direct solar axion searches will focus on
increasing the sensitivity to smaller values of g_a, for example by the
currently discussed next generation helioscope IAXO.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. Last version uploade
Herramienta de coordinación de titulaciones en la E.P.S. Linares
En este trabajo se presenta una plataforma de coordinación de actividades vinculadas con la docencia de todas las asignaturas de las titulaciones de grado y máster impartidas en el centro, organizadas por cursos y títulos, de manera que el profesorado de cada asignatura cuente, para la programación sus tareas (pruebas, entregas de prácticas o relaciones de problemas, visitas, conferencias, seminarios, etc.), de toda la información sobre el resto de asignaturas del título. En este sentido, la plataforma se nutre de la información que el profesorado, usuario principal de la misma, introduce en ella. Debe contener las actividades del trabajo y recursos utilizados: es decir, metodologías, técnicas y tecnología
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