850 research outputs found
Investigation of peak shapes in the MIBETA experiment calibrations
In calorimetric neutrino mass experiments, where the shape of a beta decay
spectrum has to be precisely measured, the understanding of the detector
response function is a fundamental issue. In the MIBETA neutrino mass
experiment, the X-ray lines measured with external sources did not have
Gaussian shapes, but exhibited a pronounced shoulder towards lower energies. If
this shoulder were a general feature of the detector response function, it
would distort the beta decay spectrum and thus mimic a non-zero neutrino mass.
An investigation was performed to understand the origin of the shoulder and its
potential influence on the beta spectrum. First, the peaks were fitted with an
analytic function in order to determine quantitatively the amount of events
contributing to the shoulder, also depending on the energy of the calibration
X-rays. In a second step, Montecarlo simulations were performed to reproduce
the experimental spectrum and to understand the origin of its shape. We
conclude that at least part of the observed shoulder can be attributed to a
surface effect
On shape dependence of holographic entanglement entropy in AdS4/CFT3 with Lifshitz scaling and hyperscaling violation
We study the divergent terms and the finite term in the expansion of the holographic entanglement entropy as the ultraviolet cutoff vanishes for smooth spatial regions having arbitrary shape, when the gravitational background is a four dimensional asymptotically Lifshitz spacetime with hyperscaling violation, in a certain range of the hyperscaling parameter. Both static and time dependent backgrounds are considered. For the coefficients of the divergent terms and for the finite term, analytic expressions valid for any smooth entangling curve are obtained. The analytic results for the finite terms are checked through a numerical analysis focussed on disks and ellipses
A bolometric measurement of the antineutrino mass
High statistics calorimetric measurements of the beta spectrum of 187Re are
being performed with arrays of silver perrhenate crystals operated at low
temperature. After a modification of the experimental set-up, which allowed to
substantially reduce the background of spurious counts and therefore to
increase the sensitivity on the electron antineutrino mass, a new measurement
with 10 silver perrhenate microbolometers is running since July 2002. The
crystals have masses between 250 and 350 micrograms and their average FWHM
energy resolution, constantly monitored by means of fluorescence X-rays, is of
28.3 eV at the beta end-point. The Kurie plot collected during 4485 hours x mg
effective running time has an end-point energy of 2466.1 +/- 0.8{stat} +/- 1.5
{syst} eV, while the half lifetime of the decay is found to be 43.2 +/-
0.2{stat} +/- 0.1{syst} Gy. These values are the most precise obtained so far
for 187Re. From the fit of the Kurie plot we can deduce a value for the squared
electron antineutrino mass m(nu)^2 of 147 +/- 237{stat} +/- 90{syst} eV^2. The
corresponding 90% C.L. upper limit for m(nu) is 21.7 eV.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
The 4 K outer cryostat for the CUORE experiment: construction and quality control
The external shell of the CUORE cryostat is a large cryogen-free system
designed to host the dilution refrigerator and the bolometers of the CUORE
experiment in a low radioactivity environment. The three vessels that form the
outer shell were produced and delivered to the Gran Sasso underground
Laboratories in July 2012. In this paper, we describe the production techniques
and the validation tests done at the production site in 2012.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figures; to appear in NIM
Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and screen time among youths with Down syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic
Background: The COVID-19-related restrictions hampered habitual physical activity (PA), particularly affecting the more vulnerable, such as people with Down syndrome (DS). The study aimed to investigate changes in PA, sedentary behaviour (SB) and screen time (ST) of youths with DS, before, during and after the restrictions, also in relation to parental PA levels. Methods: A cross-sectional design with a retrospective assessment of variables for the before and during restrictions periods was adopted. Parents of youths with DS completed an online questionnaire. Sociodemographic aspects, weekly PA levels and youths' daily SB and ST were investigated, referring to three time-points: before the pandemic, during the restrictions and the restrictions-easing phase. Results: A total of 57 parents voluntarily participated in the study, proxy-reporting on their child (male = 41, female = 16, age = 21.4 ± 7.7 years). A repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance showed negative effects of restrictions (P < 0.05) on PA levels, SB and ST, independently from sociodemographic characteristics. In the restrictions-easing phase, PA levels did not return to before the pandemic values (P < 0.05). A positive correlation between parents and their child's PA was detected before the pandemic (r = 0.38; P < 0.01), no longer reported in the restrictions-easing phase. Conclusions: The findings showed the negative impact of restrictions on youths with DS lifestyle. Moreover, the importance of addressing the needs of the disabled community including the whole family is highlighted
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