3,940 research outputs found
Reflectance of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for Xenon Scintillation Light
Gaseous and liquid xenon particle detectors are being used in a number of
applications including dark matter search and neutrino-less double beta decay
experiments. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is often used in these detectors
both as electrical insulator and as a light reflector to improve the efficiency
of detection of scintillation photons. However, xenon emits in the vacuum
ultraviolet wavelength region (175 nm) where the reflecting properties of PTFE
are not sufficiently known.
In this work we report on measurements of PTFE reflectance, including its
angular distribution, for the xenon scintillation light. Various samples of
PTFE, manufactured by different processes (extruded, expanded, skived and
pressed) have been studied. The data were interpreted with a physical model
comprising both specular and diffuse reflections. The reflectance obtained for
these samples ranges from about 47% to 66% for VUV light. Fluoropolymers,
namely ETFE, FEP and PFA were also measured
A model of the reflection distribution in the vacuum ultra violet region
A reflection model with three components, a specular spike, a specular lobe
and a diffuse lobe is discussed. This model was successfully applied to
describe reflection of xenon scintillation light (175 nm) by PTFE and other
fluoropolymers and can be used for Monte Carlo simulation and analysis of
scintillation detectors. The measured data favors a Trowbridge-Reitz
distribution function of ellipsoidal micro-surfaces. The intensity of the
coherent reflection increases with increasing angle of incidence, as expected,
since the surface appears smoother at grazing angles. The total reflectance
obtained for PTFE is about 70% for VUV light at normal incidence in vacuum and
estimated to be up to 100% in contact with liquid xenon
Induced magnetic field used to detect the sigma phase of a 2205 duplex stainless steel
Sigma phases are formed due to heat treatments and/or welding processes during the solidification stage, and they are responsible for embrittlement of duplex stainless steels. Only a small amount of this phase promotes unfavorable mechanical properties and liability to corrosion. In this work, a new affordable approach to detect and follow-up the kinetics of the sigma phase transformation is evaluated. The measurements are based on an induced magnetic field generated through the interaction between an external magnetic field and themicrostructure under study. To validate this approach, the induced magnetic field values are compared with the values of the Charpy impact energy, and the sigma phase is assessed by optical microscopy. Moreover, surface fractures are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results from the 2205 duplex stainless steel used showthat there is a direct relation among the impact energy, fracture mechanism and induced magnetic field. The method proved to be able to follow up the embrittlement of the DSS successfully. Moreover, the results confirm that the presence of a sigma phase can be studied based on an induced magnetic field, even when in low amounts, and that a critical threshold value can be defined to monitor structures in service
Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of cis/trans-N-phenyl-1,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro-3, 1-benzoxazin-2-imines
The growing interest in the chemistry of unsaturated ring-fused 1,3-heterocycles, in this particular case 1,3-oxazines, arise in part from their versatile pharmacological applications. In the present article, the evaluation of the in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity of two cyclohexene-fused oxazines is discussed. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by trapping the ABTS and hydroxyl radicals as well as the inhibition of the enzyme acetyl-cholinesterase and hemolysis of erythrocytes by 2,2’-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH). The results suggest that both unsaturated 1,3-oxazines are auspicious sources of biologically active compounds with good antioxidant properties. In addition, a comprehensive analysis of the interaction between these heterocycles with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, as well as the measurements of redox potential, provided evidence for a mechanism of antioxidant activity that takes place through electron transfer (ET) processes.Fil: Firpo, Guadalupe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - CĂłrdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba. Universidad Nacional de CĂłrdoba. Facultad de Ciencias QuĂmicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - CĂłrdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba. Universidad Nacional de CĂłrdoba. Facultad de Ciencias QuĂmicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba; ArgentinaFil: Faillace, MartĂn Sebastián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - CĂłrdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba. Universidad Nacional de CĂłrdoba. Facultad de Ciencias QuĂmicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba; ArgentinaFil: de Brito, Maria Dos R. Mendes. Universidade Federal Do Piaui.; BrasilFil: Silva, Ana P. S. Correia Lima E.. Universidade Federal Do Piaui.; BrasilFil: Costa, Jessica Pereira. Universidade Federal Do Piaui.; BrasilFil: RodrĂguez, Marcela C.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - CĂłrdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba. Universidad Nacional de CĂłrdoba. Facultad de Ciencias QuĂmicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba; ArgentinaFil: ArgĂĽello, Gustavo Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - CĂłrdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba. Universidad Nacional de CĂłrdoba. Facultad de Ciencias QuĂmicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba; ArgentinaFil: Szakonyi, Zsolt. Institute Of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Albert Szent-györ; HungrĂaFil: FĂĽlöp, Ferenc. Institute Of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Albert Szent-györ; HungrĂaFil: Peláez, Walter JosĂ©. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - CĂłrdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba. Universidad Nacional de CĂłrdoba. Facultad de Ciencias QuĂmicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en FĂsico-quĂmica de CĂłrdoba; Argentin
The INTEGRAL Galactic bulge monitoring program: the first 1.5 years
The Galactic bulge region is a rich host of variable high-energy point
sources. Since 2005, February 17 we are monitoring the source activity in this
region about every three days with INTEGRAL. Thanks to the large field of view,
the imaging capabilities and the sensitivity at hard X-rays, we are able to
present for the first time a detailed homogeneous (hard) X-ray view of a sample
of 76 sources in the Galactic bulge region. We describe the successful
monitoring program and show the first results for a period of about one and a
half year. We focus on the short (hour), medium (month) and long-term (year)
variability in the 20-60 keV and 60-150 keV bands. When available, we discuss
the simultaneous observations in the 3-10 keV and 10-25 keV bands. Per
visibility season we detect 32/33 sources in the 20-60 keV band and 8/9 sources
in the 60-150 keV band. On average, we find per visibility season one active
bright (>~100 mCrab, 20-60 keV) black-hole candidate X-ray transient and three
active weaker (<~25 mCrab, 20-60 keV) neutron star X-ray transients. Most of
the time a clear anti-correlation can be seen between the soft and hard X-ray
emission in some of the X-ray bursters. Hard X-ray flares or outbursts in X-ray
bursters, which have a duration of the order of weeks, are accompanied by soft
X-ray drops. On the other hand, hard X-ray drops can be accompanied by soft
X-ray flares/outbursts. We found a number of new sources, IGR J17354-3255, IGR
17453-2853, IGR J17454-2703, IGR J17456-2901b, IGR J17536-2339, and IGR
J17541-2252. We report here on some of the high-energy properties of these
sources. The high-energy light curves of all the sources in the field of view,
and the high-energy images of the region, are made available through the WWW at
http://isdc.unige.ch/Science/BULGE/.Comment: 27 pages, 42 figures, accepted for publication in A&A. Abstract
abridged. Tables 3,4,6,7 appear at the end. Images have been compressed and
are reduced in quality; original PostScript images can be retrieved from
http://isdc.unige.ch/~kuulkers/bulge
Alcohol Intake and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Younger, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults
BACKGROUND: Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). This protective effect of alcohol, however, may be confined to middle-aged or older individuals. CHD Incidence is low in men younger than 40 and in women younger than 50 years and for this reason, study cohorts rarely have the power to investigate effects of alcohol on CHD risk in younger adults. This study examined whether the beneficial effect of alcohol on CHD depends on age. METHODS AND RESULTS: A pooled analysis of eight prospective studies from North America and Europe including 192,067 women and 74,919 men free of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancers at baseline. Average daily alcohol intake was assessed at baseline using a food frequency or diet history questionnaire. An inverse association between alcohol and risk of coronary heart disease was observed in all age groups: hazard ratios among moderately drinking men (5.0–29.9 g/day) aged 39–50, 50–59, and 60+ years were 0.58 (95% C.I. 0.36 to 0.93), 0.72 (95% C.I. 0.60–0.86), and 0.85 (95% C.I. 0.75 to 0.97) compared with abstainers. However, the analyses indicated a smaller incidence rate difference (IRD) between abstainers and moderate consumers in younger adults (IRD=45 per 100,000; 90% C.I. 8 to 84), than in middle-aged (IRD=64 per 100,000; 90% C.I. 24 to 102) and older adults (IRD=89 per 100,000; 90% C.I. 44 to 140). Similar results were observed in women. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol is also associated with a decreased risk of CHD in younger adults; however, the absolute risk was small compared with middle-aged and older adults
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