Dark Universe and distribution of Matter as Quantum Imprinting: the Quantum Origin of Universe

In this paper we analyze the Dark Matter problem and the distribution of matter through two different approaches, which are linked by the possibility that the solution of these astronomical puzzles should be sought in the quantum imprinting of the Universe. The first approach is based on a cosmological model formulated and developed in the last ten years by the first and third authors of this paper; the so-called Archaic Universe. The second approach was formulated by Rosen in 1933 by considering the Friedmann-Einstein equations as a simple one-dimensional dynamical system reducing the cosmological equations in terms of a Schroedinger equation. As an example, the quantum memory in cosmological dynamics could explain the apparently periodic structures of the Universe while Archaic Universe shows how the quantum phase concernts not only an ancient era of the Universe, but quantum facets permeating the entire Universe today.Comment: 18 page

A general theorem on the divergence of vortex beams

The propagation and divergence properties of beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) play a crucial role in many applications. Here we present a general study on the divergence of optical beams with OAM. We show that the mean absolute value of the OAM imposes a lower bound on the value of the beam divergence. We discuss our results for two different definitions of the divergence, the so called rms or encircled-energy. The bound on the rms divergence can be expressed as a generalized uncertainty principle, with applications in long-range communication, microscopy and 2D quantum systems.Comment: RevTex, published versio

A dual isotopic approach using radioactive phosphorus and the isotopic composition of oxygen associated to phosphorus to understand plant reaction to a change in P nutrition

Abstract Background Changing the phosphorus (P) nutrition leads to changes in plant metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate how these changes are reflected in the distribution of 33P and the isotopic composition of oxygen associated to P (δ18OP) in different plant parts of soybean (Glycine max cv. Toliman). Two P pools were extracted sequentially with 0.3 M trichloroacetic acid (TCA P) and 10 M nitric acid (HNO3; residual P). Results The δ18OP of TCA P in the old leaves of the − P plants (23.8‰) significantly decreased compared to the + P plants (27.4‰). The 33P data point to an enhanced mobilisation of P from residual P in the old leaves of the − P plants compared to the + P plants. Conclusions Omitting P for 10 days lead to a translocation of P from source to sink organs in soybeans. This was accompanied by a significant lowering of the δ18OP of TCA P in the source organs due to the enzymatic hydrolysis of organic P. Combining 33P and δ18OP can provide useful insights in plant responses to P omission at an early stage

QuantEYE: The Quantum Optics Instrument for OWL

QuantEYE is designed to be the highest time-resolution instrument on ESO:s planned Overwhelmingly Large Telescope, devised to explore astrophysical variability on microsecond and nanosecond scales, down to the quantum-optical limit. Expected phenomena include instabilities of photon-gas bubbles in accretion flows, p-mode oscillations in neutron stars, and quantum-optical photon bunching in time. Precise timescales are both variable and unknown, and studies must be of photon-stream statistics, e.g., their power spectra or autocorrelations. Such functions increase with the square of the intensity, implying an enormously increased sensitivity at the largest telescopes. QuantEYE covers the optical, and its design involves an array of photon-counting avalanche-diode detectors, each viewing one segment of the OWL entrance pupil. QuantEYE will work already with a partially filled OWL main mirror, and also without [full] adaptive optics.Comment: 7 pages; Proceedings from meeting 'Instrumentation for Extremely Large Telescopes', held at Ringberg Castle, July 2005 (T.Herbst, ed.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drives Expansion of Low-Density Neutrophils Equipped With Regulatory Activities

In human tuberculosis (TB) neutrophils represent the most commonly infected phagocyte but their role in protection and pathology is highly contradictory. Moreover, a subset of low-density neutrophils (LDNs) has been identified in TB, but their functions remain unclear. Here, we have analyzed total neutrophils and their low-density and normal-density (NDNs) subsets in patients with active TB disease, in terms of frequency, phenotype, functional features, and gene expression signature. Full-blood counts from Healthy Donors (H.D.), Latent TB infected, active TB, and cured TB patients were performed. Frequency, phenotype, burst activity, and suppressor T cell activity of the two different subsets were assessed by flow cytometry while NETosis and phagocytosis were evaluated by confocal microscopy. Expression analysis was performed by using the semi-quantitative RT-PCR array technology. Elevated numbers of total neutrophils and a high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio distinguished patients with active TB from all the other groups. PBMCs of patients with active TB disease contained elevated percentages of LDNs compared with those of H.D., with an increased expression of CD66b, CD33, CD15, and CD16 compared to NDNs. Transcriptomic analysis of LDNs and NDNs purified from the peripheral blood of TB patients identified 12 genes differentially expressed: CCL5, CCR5, CD4, IL10, LYZ, and STAT4 were upregulated, while CXCL8, IFNAR1, NFKB1A, STAT1, TICAM1, and TNF were downregulated in LDNs, as compared to NDNs. Differently than NDNs, LDNs failed to phagocyte live Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) bacilli, to make oxidative burst and NETosis, but caused significant suppression of antigen-specific and polyclonal T cell proliferation which was partially mediated by IL-10. These insights add a little dowel of knowledge in understanding the pathogenesis of human TB

Overcoming the Rayleigh Criterion Limit with Optical Vortices

We experimentally and numerically tested the separability of two independent equally-luminous monochromatic and white light sources at the diffraction limit, using Optical Vortices (OV), related to the Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) of light. The diffraction pattern of one of the two sources crosses a phase modifying device (fork-hologram) on its center generating the Laguerre-Gaussian (L-G) transform of an Airy disk. The second source, crossing the fork-hologram in positions different from the optical center, acquires different OAM values and generates non-symmetric L-G patterns. We formulated a criterion, based on the asymmetric intensity distribution of the superposed L-G patterns so created, to resolve the two sources at angular distances much below the Rayleigh criterion. Analogous experiments carried out in white light allow angular resolutions which are still one order of magnitude below the Rayleigh criterion. The use OVs might offer new applications for stellar separation in future space experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Fibre Reinforced Geopolymers as Inorganic Strengthening Composites for Masonry Structures

The study presents an assessment of externally bonded Fibre-Reinforced GeoPolymers (FRGPs) as strengthening material for masonry structures. Thanks to their tailored chemical and mechanical characteristics, geopolymer matrices can fulfil the restoration criteria for Built Heritage (BH) with the benefit of heat-resistant performances better than those of organic and inorganic matrices used in Externally Bonded Fibre Reinforced Polymers (EB-FRP) and Fabric-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) materials, respectively. This work is built on the outcomes of a previous investigation that proved the suitability of the developed geopolymer matrix for applications on clay bricks, revealing a good adhesion to masonry substrates and to embedded reinforcements. The behaviour of three FRGPs, including either a bi-directional basalt mesh, a bi-directional carbon mesh or a unidirectional Ultra High Strength Steel (UHSS) fabric, was explored by means of local tests on masonry sub-assemblages made of soft-mud clay bricks and hydraulic lime mortar. In overall, 9 single-lap shear tests on single bricks with a bonded length of 200 mm and 9 three-point bending tests on 2-brick slices, connected by a mortar joint and reinforced at the bottom face, were carried out. Lastly, the behaviour in alkaline environments of each reinforcement was investigated through tensile tests on coupons immersed for 28 days in alkaline solutions simulating the conditions of the geopolimeric matrices. Results confirmed the interesting potential of FRGPs for strengthening masonry elements, highlighting a good performance of steel and carbon reinforcements. On the other hand, precautions should be taken with basalt meshes that, as expected, were more sensitive to alkaline environment