724 research outputs found
Composition ot Glvceride Esters of Lauric Acid bV FTIR Band Shape Analysis
Synthesis of glyceride esters of a fatty acid produces a mixture of isomers that are difficult to separate and analyze, requiring high temperature GC in most cases particularly for long-chain esters. In this paper, we present a fast estimation of the composition of the glyceride esters of lauric acid and glycerol (monolaurin, dilaurin, and trilaurin) by FTIR band shape analysis. The method uses the fact that the carbonyl stretching regions of the pure glycerides have differentband shapes, which implies any composite band of a mixture of glycerides may be resolved into the component peaks due to each glyceride. The carbonyl band region was fitted with five component peaks using a commercial peak-fitting program. The peak at 1745 cm-1 is characteristic of trilaurin whereas the peaks at 1740 cm-1 and 1731 cm-1 provide a unique height ratio for mono- and dilaurin. Calibration curves were prepared and a system of two equations may be solved to obtain the composition of mono-, di-, and trilaurin. This method was tested with known mixtures of the glycerides yielding estimates within ± 10 % composition units
Massively parallel single-molecule manipulation using centrifugal force
Precise manipulation of single molecules has already led to remarkable
insights in physics, chemistry, biology and medicine. However, widespread
adoption of single-molecule techniques has been impeded by equipment cost and
the laborious nature of making measurements one molecule at a time. We have
solved these issues with a new approach: massively parallel single-molecule
force measurements using centrifugal force. This approach is realized in a
novel instrument that we call the Centrifuge Force Microscope (CFM), in which
objects in an orbiting sample are subjected to a calibration-free,
macroscopically uniform force-field while their micro-to-nanoscopic motions are
observed. We demonstrate high-throughput single-molecule force spectroscopy
with this technique by performing thousands of rupture experiments in parallel,
characterizing force-dependent unbinding kinetics of an antibody-antigen pair
in minutes rather than days. Additionally, we verify the force accuracy of the
instrument by measuring the well-established DNA overstretching transition at
66 3 pN. With significant benefits in efficiency, cost, simplicity, and
versatility, "single-molecule centrifugation" has the potential to
revolutionize single-molecule experimentation, and open access to a wider range
of researchers and experimental systems.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Coherency in Neutrino-Nucleus Elastic Scattering
Neutrino-nucleus elastic scattering provides a unique laboratory to study the
quantum mechanical coherency effects in electroweak interactions, towards which
several experimental programs are being actively pursued. We report results of
our quantitative studies on the transitions towards decoherency. A parameter
() is identified to describe the degree of coherency, and its
variations with incoming neutrino energy, detector threshold and target nucleus
are studied. The ranges of which can be probed with realistic neutrino
experiments are derived, indicating complementarity between projects with
different sources and targets. Uncertainties in nuclear physics and in
would constrain sensitivities in probing physics beyond the standard model. The
maximum neutrino energies corresponding to >0.95 are derived.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables. V2 -- Published Versio
Prospects of cold dark matter searches with an ultra-low-energy germanium detector
The report describes the research program on the development of
ultra-low-energy germanium detectors, with emphasis on WIMP dark matter
searches. A threshold of 100 eV is achieved with a 20 g detector array,
providing a unique probe to the low-mas WIMP. Present data at a surface
laboratory is expected to give rise to comparable sensitivities with the
existing limits at the WIMP-mass range. The projected
parameter space to be probed with a full-scale, kilogram mass-range experiment
is presented. Such a detector would also allow the studies of neutrino-nucleus
coherent scattering and neutrino magnetic moments.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of TAUP-2007 Conferenc
Constraints on millicharged particles with low threshold germanium detectors at Kuo-Sheng Reactor Neutrino Laboratory
Relativistic millicharged particles () have been proposed in various
extensions to the Standard Model of particle physics. We consider the scenarios
where they are produced at nuclear reactor core and via interactions of
cosmic-rays with the earth's atmosphere. Millicharged particles could also be
candidates for dark matter, and become relativistic through acceleration by
supernova explosion shock waves. The atomic ionization cross section of
with matter are derived with the equivalent photon approximation.
Smoking-gun signatures with significant enhancement in the differential cross
section are identified. New limits on the mass and charge of are
derived, using data taken with a point-contact germanium detector with 500g
mass functioning at an energy threshold of 300~eV at the Kuo-Sheng Reactor
Neutrino Laboratory.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Production and Decay of the Ge73-m Metastable State in a Low-Background Germanium Detector
The metastable states decay with a very characteristic signature
which allow them to be tagged event-by-event. Studies were performed using data
taken with a high-purity germanium detector in a low-background laboratory near
a nuclear power reactor core where \nuebar-flux was . The measured average and equilibrium production rates of
were and ,
respectively. The production channels were studied and identified. By studying
the difference in the production of between the reactor ON and OFF
spectra, the limiting sensitivities at the range of for the cross-sections of neutrino-induced nuclear
transitions were derived. The dominant background are due to -decays of
cosmic-ray induced Ga. The prospects of enhancing the sensitivities at
underground locations are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure
Measurement of Neutrino-Electron Scattering Cross-Section with a CsI(Tl) Scintillating Crystal Array at the Kuo-Sheng Nuclear Power Reactor
The elastic scattering cross-section was measured with
a CsI(Tl) scintillating crystal array having a total mass of 187kg. The
detector was exposed to an average reactor flux of
at the Kuo-Sheng Nuclear Power
Station. The experimental design, conceptual merits, detector hardware, data
analysis and background understanding of the experiment are presented. Using
29882/7369 kg-days of Reactor ON/OFF data, the Standard Model(SM) electroweak
interaction was probed at the squared 4-momentum transfer range of . The ratio of experimental to SM cross-sections
of was measured. Constraints on
the electroweak parameters were placed, corresponding to a weak
mixing angle measurement of \s2tw = 0.251 \pm 0.031({\it stat}) \pm
0.024({\it sys}) . Destructive interference in the SM \nuebar -e process was
verified. Bounds on anomalous neutrino electromagnetic properties were placed:
neutrino magnetic moment at \mu_{\nuebar}< 2.2 \times 10^{-10} \mu_{\rm B}
and the neutrino charge radius at -2.1 \times 10^{-32} ~{\rm cm^{2}} <
\nuchrad < 3.3 \times 10^{-32} ~{\rm cm^{2}}, both at 90% confidence level.Comment: 18 Figures, 7 Tables; published version as V2 with minor revision
from V
Neutrino-electron scattering in noncommutative space
Neutral particles can couple with the gauge field in the adjoint
representation at the tree level if the space-time coordinates are
noncommutative (NC). Considering neutrino-photon coupling in the NC QED
framework, we obtain the differential cross section of neutrino-electron
scattering. Similar to the magnetic moment effect, one of the NC terms is
proportional to , where is the electron recoil energy.
Therefore, this scattering provides a chance to achieve a stringent bound on
the NC scale in low energy by improving the sensitivity to the smaller electron
recoil energy.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure
The Large Enriched Germanium Experiment for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay (LEGEND)
The observation of neutrinoless double-beta decay (0)
would show that lepton number is violated, reveal that neutrinos are Majorana
particles, and provide information on neutrino mass. A discovery-capable
experiment covering the inverted ordering region, with effective Majorana
neutrino masses of 15 - 50 meV, will require a tonne-scale experiment with
excellent energy resolution and extremely low backgrounds, at the level of
0.1 count /(FWHMtyr) in the region of the signal. The
current generation Ge experiments GERDA and the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR
utilizing high purity Germanium detectors with an intrinsic energy resolution
of 0.12%, have achieved the lowest backgrounds by over an order of magnitude in
the 0 signal region of all 0
experiments. Building on this success, the LEGEND collaboration has been formed
to pursue a tonne-scale Ge experiment. The collaboration aims to develop
a phased 0 experimental program with discovery potential
at a half-life approaching or at years, using existing resources as
appropriate to expedite physics results.Comment: Proceedings of the MEDEX'17 meeting (Prague, May 29 - June 2, 2017
Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London
- …