Vector bundles on fano 3-folds without intermediate cohomology

A well known result of G. Horrocks [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 14, 689-713 (1964; Zbl 0126.16801)] says that a vector bundle on a projective space has no intermediate cohomology if and only if it decomposes as a direct sum of line bundles. It is also known that only on projective spaces and quadrics there is, up to a twist by a line bundle, a finite number of indecomposable vector bundles with no intermediate cohomology [see R.-O. Buchweitz, G.-M. Greuel and F.-O. Schreyer, Invent. Math. 88, 165-182 (1987; Zbl 0617.14034) and also H. Kn¨orrer, Invent. Math. 88, 153-164 (1987; Zbl 0617.14033)]. In the paper under review the authors deal with vector bundles without intermediate cohomology on some Fano 3-folds with second Betti number b2 = 1. The Fano 3-folds they consider are smooth cubics in P4, smooth complete intersection of type (2, 2) in P5 and smooth 3-dimensional linear sections of G(1, 4) P9. A complete classification of rank two vector bundles without intermediate cohomology on such 3-folds is given. In fact the authors prove that, up to a twist, there are only three indecomposable vector bundles without intermediate cohomology. Vector bundles of rank greater than two are also considered. Under an additional technical condition, the authors characterize the possible Chern classes of such vector bundles without intermediate cohomology

Borexino : geo-neutrino measurement at Gran Sasso, Italy

Geo-neutrinos, electron anti-neutrinos produced in beta-decays of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes in the Earth, are a unique direct probe of our planet's interior. After a brief introduction of the geo-neutrinos' properties and of the main aims of their study, we discuss the features of a detector which has recently provided breakthrough achievements in the field, Borexino, a massive, calorimetric liquid scintillator detector installed at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory. With its unprecedented radiopurity levels achieved in the core of the detection medium, it is the only experiment in operation able to study in real time solar neutrino interactions in the challenging sub-MeV energy region. Its superior technical properties allowed Borexino also to provide a clean detection of terrestrial neutrinos. Therefore, the description of the characteristics of the detected geo-neutrino signal and of the corresponding geological implications are the main core of the discussion contained in this work

Phase separation micro molding

The research described in this thesis concerns the development of a new microfabrication method, Phase Separation Micro Molding (PSμM). While microfabrication is still best known from semiconductor industry, where it is used to integrate electrical components on a chip, the scope has immensely expanded towards technologies including integrated optics, biomedical technology and microfluidics

Superhydrophobic Surfaces Having Two-Fold Adjustable Roughness Prepared in a Single Step

A fast and reliable method is reported for fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces. The method combines microstructure replication with polymer phase inversion and can be applied to a wide variety of polymers. This method provides a surface that contains roughness on two independently controllable levels, i.e., the microstructure level and the level of porosity stemming from the phase inversion. Both levels were optimized separately, resulting in water contact angles up to 16

One-step fabrication of porous micropatterned scaffolds to control cell behavior

This paper reports a one-step method to fabricate highly porous micropatterned 2-D scaffold sheets. The scaffold sheets have high glucose diffusion, indicating that the porosity and pore morphology of the scaffolds are viable with respect to nutrient transport, and a micropattern for cell alignment. HUVEC culturing proved that the scaffold sheets are suitable for cell culturing. More extensive culturing experiments with mouse myoblasts, C2C12, and mouse osteoblasts, MC3T3, showed that tissue organization can be controlled; the micropattern design affects the extent of cell alignment and tissue formation. Cells are favorably settled in the micropattern and even at higher confluence levels, when the cells start to overgrow the ridges of the micropattern, these cells align themselves in the direction of the micropattern. Preliminary multi-layer stacking experiments indicate that the 2-D scaffold sheets are very promising as basis for building 3-D scaffolds

Hollow protein microparticles formed through cross-linking by an Au3+ initiated redox reaction

Hollow microparticles (MPs) are of great relevance in the materials industry for a wide range of applications, such as catalysis, coatings, and delivery of theranostics. Here, we report the formation of hollow MPs through the assembly of lipoproteins in CaCO3 templates. Proteins interact in the pores of CaCO3 templates through attractive hydrophobic forces and form dense edges of hollow MPs. To further cross-link the proteins, Au3+ was added to initiate a redox reaction, where proteins were oxidized forming inter- and intramolecular covalent bonds, while Au3+ was reduced and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were formed. The obtained protein-based hollow MPs have a diameter of 6 μm and the AuNPs are embedded on their surface. Through this research, we suggest a new route to design biobased Au-protein hollow MPs in simple steps, which can allow new possibilities for carrying functional molecules and bioimaging

Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2006, Featuring Colorectal Cancer Trends and Impact of Interventions (Risk Factors, Screening, and Treatment) to Reduce Future Rates

BACKGROUND. The American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) collaborate annually to provide updated information regarding cancer occurrence and trends in the United States. This year’s report includes trends in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and death rates and highlights the use of microsimulation modeling as a tool for interpreting past trends and projecting future trends to assist in cancer control planning and policy decisions. METHODS. Information regarding invasive cancers was obtained from the NCI, CDC, and NAACCR; and information on deaths was obtained from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. Annual percentage changes in the age-standardized incidence and death rates (based on the year 2000 US population standard) for all cancers combined and for the top 15 cancers were estimated by joinpoint analysis of long-term trends (1975-2006) and for short-term fixed-interval trends (1997-2006). All statistical tests were 2-sided. RESULTS. Both incidence and death rates from all cancers combined significantly declined (P \u3c .05) in the most recent time period for men and women overall and for most racial and ethnic populations. These decreases were driven largely by declines in both incidence and death rates for the 3 most common cancers in men (ie, lung and prostate cancers and CRC) and for 2 of the 3 leading cancers in women (ie, breast cancer and CRC). The long-term trends for lung cancer mortality in women had smaller and smaller increases until 2003, when there was a change to a non-significant decline. Microsimulation modeling demonstrates that declines in CRC death rates are consistent with a relatively large contribution from screening and with a smaller but demonstrable impact of risk factor reductions and improved treatments. These declines are projected to continue if risk factor modification, screening, and treatment remain at current rates, but they could be accelerated further with favorable trends in risk factors and higher utilization of screening and optimal treatment

Large area photonic crystal slabs for visible light with waveguiding defect structures: Fabrication with focused ion beam assisted laser interference lithography

Extended photonic crystal slabs with light-guiding defects have been created by a combination of laser interference lithography (LIL) and local focused ion beam (FIB) assisted deposition. Large area, highly uniform photonic crystal slabs for visible light are thus made possible. The Figure shows a freestanding Si3N4-air photonic crystal with a light- guiding defect line running along the center of the slab (total length = 1 mm)