The ICARUS T600 Liquid Argon Purification System

Abstract The ICARUS detector is a liquid argon time projection chamber with unique features that make it an ideal device to be used for several particle physics applications. After years of R&D activities, the ICARUS Collaboration proposed the construction of the T600 in strict partnership with industry to guarantee the necessary and viable scaling-up of the technology from prototypal dimensions to sized plants in order to study neutrino oscillations and matter stability in an effective way. The T600 represents the largest LAr detector (760 t LAr mass) ever realized. It was installed and successfully operated for 3 years inside the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory from May 2010 to June 2013. One of the most important issues for the success of the detector technology is the liquid argon purity. Purity requirements become stronger and stronger with the increase of the detector dimensions: for a plant of the ICARUS T600 size it is necessary to keep the residual electronegative impurity content to a level of the order of 0.1 parts per billion or better all over the argon volume during the whole detector run, thus allowing the ionization tracks, created by interacting particles inside LAr, to be transported with only slight attenuation along the drift path. In this paper we present the ICARUS T600 purification plant installed at Gran Sasso Laboratory and describe in details the solutions adopted for the LAr re-circulation and purification systems that permitted to reach impressive results in terms of LAr purity thus representing a milestone for any project involving LAr and developments at higher LAr mass scale

Pharmacological rescue of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in a mouse model of X-linked intellectual disability

Oligophrenin-1 (OPHN1) is a Rho GTPase activating protein whose mutations cause X-linked intellectual disability (XLID). How loss of function of Ophnl affects neuronal development is only partly understood. Here we have exploited adult hippocampal neurogenesis to dissect the steps of neuronal differentiation that are affected by Ophn1 deletion. We found that mice lacking Ophnl display a reduction in the number of newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus. A significant fraction of the Ophn1-deficient newly generated neurons failed to extend an axon towards CM, and showed an altered density of dendritic protrusions. Since Ophnl-deficient mice display overactivation of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) and protein kinase A (PICA) signaling, we administered a clinically approved ROCK/PICA inhibitor (fasudil) to correct the neurogenesis defects. While administration of fasudil was not effective in rescuing axon formation, the same treatment completely restored spine density to control levels, and enhanced the long-term survival of adult-born neurons in mice lacking Ophn1. These results identify specific neurodevelopmental steps that are impacted by Ophn1 deletion, and indicate that they may be at least partially corrected by pharmacological treatment. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc

Fibre tip sensor with embedded FBG-LPG for temperature and refractive index determination by means of the simple measurement of the FBG characteristics

A novel optical fibre sensing system based on a hybrid long period grating (LPG) and Bragg grating (FBG) configuration is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. The hybrid configuration, which uses the difference in temperature and refractive index (RI) different response of a Bragg grating and a long period grating, makes it possible to discriminate simultaneously the temperature and the refractive index of different aqueous solutions. RI (1.33 RIU-1.40 RIU) and temperature (21°C-28°C) working ranges have been experimentally determined. Experimental results show that the maximum accuracy in the refractive index measurement (0.004 RIU) with temperature compensation has been achieved within the working ranges

Detection of the VUV liquid argon scintillation light by means of glass-window photomultiplier tubes

Abstract The experimental results coming from an intense R&D study about the possibility of detecting the light produced by the liquid argon scintillation certify the use of glass-window photomultiplier tubes. The devices, working in cryogenic liquid, are made sensitive to the VUV photons by means of a wavelength shifter coating. This is a useful detection method to provide an effective way for the absolute time measurement and trigger of ionizing events occurring in Time Projection Chambers

Workplace Bullying and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptomology: The Influence of Role Conflict and the Moderating Effects of Neuroticism and Managerial Competencies

Research has explored numerous consequences of workplace bullying, including a recent link to the exhibition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology. Role conflict as a workplace stressor may contribute to instances of bullying from a passive perspective, which may lead to PTSD symptomology in victims. What remains less explored is if role conflict has a direct relationship to PTSD symptomology and how personality traits such as neuroticism and workplace factors such as managerial competencies may moderate the stress brought on by role conflict. Hence the present study seeks to examine this gap in the literature. This study utilizes a between-subjects, cross-sectional design with 159 participants, 39.6% male and 60.4% female. Most participants (60%) were Italian workers of a large social cooperative organization. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the measurement model was valid and had an adequate model fit. Results from two separate moderated mediation analyses found a positive, full mediation between the independent variable of role conflict, the mediator of exposure to bullying, and the dependent variable of PTSD symptomology. Furthermore, in this study, neuroticism strengthened the indirect effect while managerial competencies weakened it. The results highlight the importance of training competent managers and providing resources for more vulnerable employees to moderate employee work stress and its negative outcomes

Serum or Plasma (and Which Plasma), That Is the Question

Blood derivatives are the biofluids of choice formetabolomic clinical studies since blood can be collected with lowinvasiveness and is rich in biological information. However, the choiceof the blood collection tubes has an undeniable impact on the plasmaand serum metabolic content. Here, we compared the metabolomicand lipoprotein profiles of blood samples collected at the same timeand place from six healthy volunteers but using different collectiontubes (each enrolled volunteer provided multiple blood samples at adistance of a few weeks/months): citrate plasma, EDTA plasma, andserum tubes. All samples were analyzed via nuclear magnetic resonancespectroscopy. Several metabolites showed statistically significantalterations among the three blood matrices, and also metabolites'correlations were shown to be affected. The effects of blood collectiontubes on the lipoproteins'profiles are relevant too, but less marked. Overcoming the issue associated with different blood collectiontubes is pivotal to scale metabolomics and lipoprotein analysis at the level of epidemiological studies based on samples frommulticenter cohorts. We propose a statistical solution, based on regression, that is shown to be efficient in reducing the alterationsinduced by the different collection tubes for both the metabolomic and lipoprotein profile

Unravelling work drive: A comparison between workaholism and overcommitment

Workaholism and overcommitment are often used as interchangeable constructs describing an individual’s over-involvement toward their own job. Employees with high levels in both constructs are characterized by an excessive effort and attachment to their job, with the incapability to detach from it and negative consequences in terms of poor health and job burnout. However, few studies have simultaneously measured both constructs, and their relationships are still not clear. In this study, we try to disentangle workaholism and overcommitment by comparing them with theoretically related contextual and personal antecedents, as well as their health consequences. We conducted a nonprobability mixed mode research design on 133 employees from different organizations in Italy using both self-and other-reported measures. To test our hypothesis that workaholism and overcommitment are related yet different constructs, we used partial correlations and regression analyses. The results confirm that these two constructs are related to each other, but also outline that overcommitment (and not workaholism) is uniquely related to job burnout, so that overcommitment rather than workaholism could represent the true negative aspect of work drive. Additionally, workaholism is more related to conscientiousness than overcommitment, while overcommitment shows a stronger relationship with neuroticism than workaholism. The theoretical implications are discussed

Imaging of mandibular fractures: a pictorial review

Mandibular fractures are among the most common maxillofacial fractures observed in emergency rooms and are mainly caused by road accidents. The clinical features of mandibular fractures include malocclusion and loss of mandibular function. Panoramic radiography is usually limited to isolated lesions, whereas computed tomography is the tool of choice for all other facial traumatic events. No reference standard classification system for the different types of mandibular fractures is defined. Therapeutic options include a conservative approach or surgical treatment based on the anatomic area and the severity of fracture. The main purpose of this pictorial review is to illustrate a practical description of the pathophysiology of mandibular fractures and describe both the imaging techniques to recognise them and the therapeutic indications