Accurate near-threshold model for ultracold KRb dimers from interisotope Feshbach spectroscopy

We investigate magnetic Feshbach resonances in two different ultracold K-Rb mixtures. Information on the K(39)-Rb(87) isotopic pair is combined with novel and pre-existing observations of resonance patterns for K(40)-Rb(87). Interisotope resonance spectroscopy improves significantly our near-threshold model for scattering and bound-state calculations. Our analysis determines the number of bound states in singlet/triplet potentials and establishes precisely near threshold parameters for all K-Rb pairs of interest for experiments with both atoms and molecules. In addition, the model verifies the validity of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation at the present level of accuracy.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Comparative Environmental Benefits of Lightweight Design in the Automotive Sector: The Case Study of Recycled Magnesium Against Cfrp and Steel

A LCA feasibility study was undertaken to determine the environmental impact of an Eco-magnesium process route by recycled chips to manufacture panel for the automotive sector to be compared with comparative scenarios, a non-recycled carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and a baseline steel-made component scenario. The objective of this LCA study was to assess the actual benefits of a lightweight solution considering the whole life cycle, including the dirty-phase (i.e. the “cradle-to-exit gate” stage) that impacts differently for the different materials. For this reason the analysis has regarded the net “cradle-to-grave” scenario. Different automotive floor pans were then compared considering the rate of fuel consumption during vehicle operation - i.e. the fuel-mass correlation factor - and the different material substitution factors allowed by the different materials selected

Control of the interaction in a Fermi-Bose mixture

We control the interspecies interaction in a two-species atomic quantum mixture by tuning the magnetic field at a Feshbach resonance. The mixture is composed by fermionic 40K and bosonic 87Rb. We observe effects of the large attractive and repulsive interaction energy across the resonance, such as collapse or a reduced spatial overlap of the mixture, and we accurately locate the resonance position and width. Understanding and controlling instabilities in this mixture opens the way to a variety of applications, including formation of heteronuclear molecular quantum gases.Comment: 5 Page

Heavy Superheated Droplet Detectors as a Probe of Spin-independent WIMP Dark Matter Existence

At present, application of Superheated Droplet Detectors (SDDs) in WIMP dark matter searches has been limited to the spin-dependent sector, owing to the general use of fluorinated refrigerants which have high spin sensitivity. Given their recent demonstration of a significant constraint capability with relatively small exposures and the relative economy of the technique, we consider the potential impact of heavy versions of such devices on the spin-independent sector. Limits obtainable from a $\mathrm{CF_{3}I}$-loaded SDD are estimated on the basis of the radiopurity levels and backgrounds already achieved by the SIMPLE and PICASSO experiments. With 34 kgd exposure, equivalent to the current CDMS, such a device may already probe to below 10$^{-6}$ pb in the spin-independent cross section.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted Phys. Rev.

It’s time to be ashamed! Reactions to the breaking of a long-lasting self-censorship on ingroup war crimes

This study explores the reactions of Italian university students to information about colonial crimes perpetrated by the Italian Army during the invasion of Ethiopia (1935-36), events that are still self-censored in intergenerational narratives. Participants reported their emotions about the Italian colonial past and their knowledge of this historical period was examined. Then they read a parrhesic (i.e., straightforward) or, alternatively, an evasive narrative of crimes committed in Ethiopia in 1935-36 and, once again, reported related emotions. A week later, they evaluated the crimes’ seriousness, reported for the third time their emotions about Italy’s colonial past, and declared their moral shame, social shame, and guilt for colonial crimes. Finally, they expressed their support for reparative actions. As expected, the vast majority of participants knew little about past misdeeds. Participants presented with a parrhesic narrative were more able to acknowledge older generations’ responsibilities and to distance themselves morally from them. Moral and social shame, outrage, and a reduced sense of pride, rather than guilt or anger, predicted support for reparations. The limitations of the present study, and future research perspectives, are discussed

An international prospective general population-based study of respiratory work disability

Background: Previous cross-sectional studies have shown that job change due to breathing problems at the workplace (respiratory work disability) is common among adults of working age. That research indicated that occupational exposure to gases, dust and fumes was associated with job change due to breathing problems, although causal inferences have been tempered by the cross-sectional nature of previously available data. There is a need for general population-based prospective studies to assess the incidence of respiratory work disability and to delineate better the roles of potential predictors of respiratory work disability.Methods: A prospective general population cohort study was performed in 25 centres in 11 European countries and one centre in the USA. A longitudinal analysis was undertaken of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey including all participants employed at any point since the baseline survey, 6659 subjects randomly sampled and 779 subjects comprising all subjects reporting physician-diagnosed asthma. The main outcome measure was new-onset respiratory work disability, defined as a reported job change during follow-up attributed to breathing problems. Exposure to dusts (biological or mineral), gases or fumes during follow-up was recorded using a job-exposure matrix. Cox proportional hazard regression modelling was used to analyse such exposure as a predictor of time until job change due to breathing problems.Results: The incidence rate of respiratory work disability was 1.2/1000 person-years of observation in the random sample (95% CI 1.0 to 1.5) and 5.7/1000 person-years in the asthma cohort (95% CI 4.1 to 7.8). In the random population sample, as well as in the asthma cohort, high occupational exposure to biological dust, mineral dust or gases or fumes predicted increased risk of respiratory work disability. In the random sample, sex was not associated with increased risk of work disability while, in the asthma cohort, female sex was associated with an increased disability risk (hazard ratio 2.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 5.9).Conclusions: Respiratory work disability is common overall. It is associated with workplace exposures that could be controlled through preventive measures

Danneggiamento per pitting di acciai bonificati, cementati e nitrurati

La comprensione dei meccanismi di danneggiamento che portano al manifestarsi dell’usura per faticaè di fondamentale importanza per l’ottimizzazione dei materiali e dei trattamenti termici.Il presente lavoro ha previsto l’esecuzione di prove di rotazione disco su disco (rolling disc-on-disc test).Questo metodo si basa sulla rotazione simultanea di una coppia di dischi sagomati in modo da simulareil contatto tra superfici sferiche. Le prove sono state eseguite su tre differenti tipi di acciaio:• UNI EN 42CrMo4 bonificato; • UNI EN 18NiCrMo5 cementato; • UNI EN 42CrMo4 nitruratoLo scopo del presente lavoro è quello di identificare i meccanismi di danneggiamento coinvoltinella fase di innesco del fenomeno di usura per fatica e durante la sua evoluzione.A tal proposito sui campioni ottenuti dalle prove di rotazione disco su disco sono state condotte numerose analisifrattografiche sia ad occhio nudo, che mediante l’utilizzo del microscopio elettronico a scansione (SEM).Sono stati identificati differenti meccanismi di danneggiamento a seconda del tipo di acciaio:• UNI EN 42CrMo4 bonificato: pitting dovuto a cricche originate negli strati superficialifortemente incruditi. • UNI EN 18NiCrMo5 cementato: pitting originato dagli ossidi depositati a bordo granodurante la fase di carburazione. • UNI EN 42CrMo4 nitrurato: pitting dovuto a cricche che siinnescano e propagano all’interno della coltre bianca

Topological transitions of the generalized Pancharatnam-Berry phase

Distinctfrom the dynamicalphase,in a cyclicevolution,a system’sstate may acquire an additionalcomponent,a.k.a.geometricphase.Recently, it has beendemonstrated that geometricphasescan be inducedby a sequenceof generalizedmeasurementsimplementedon a singlequbit.Furthermore, it has beenpredictedthat thesegeometricphasesmay exhibita topologicaltransitionas a functionof the measurementstrength.We demon-strate and studythis transitionexperimentallyby usingan opticalplatformwhere the qubitis representedbythe polarization of lightand the weak measurementis performedby meansof couplingwiththe spatial degreeof freedom.Our protocolcan be interpretedin termsof environment-inducedgeometricphases,whosevaluesare topologicallydeterminedby the environment-system couplingstrength.Our resultsshow that the two limitsof geometricphaseinducedby sequencesof eitherweak or projective measurementsare topologicallydistinct

Milk Metabolomics Reveals Potential Biomarkers for Early Prediction of Pregnancy in Buffaloes Having Undergone Artificial Insemination.

This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffaloes subjected to artificial insemination (AI). The study was carried out on 10 pregnant and 10 non-pregnant buffaloes that were synchronized by Ovsynch-Timed Artificial Insemination Program and have undergone the first AI. Furthermore, milk samples were individually collected ten days before AI (the start of the synchronization treatment), on the day of AI, day 7 and 18 after AI, and were analyzed by LC–MS. Statistical analysis was carried out by using Mass Profile Professional (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA). Metabolomic analysis revealed the presence of several metabolites differentially expressed between pregnant and non-pregnant buffaloes. Among these, a total of five metabolites were identified by comparison with an online database and a standard compound as acetylcarnitine (3-Acetoxy-4-(trimethylammonio)butanoate), argininesuccinic acid hydrate, 5’-O-{[3-({4-[(3aminopropyl)amino]butyl}amino)propyl]carbamoyl}-2’deoxyadenosine, N-(1-Hydroxy-2-hexadecanyl)pentadecanamide, and N-[2,3Bis(dodecyloxy)propyl]-L-lysinamide). Interestingly, acetylcarnitine was dominant in milk samples collected from non-pregnant buffaloes. The results obtained from milk metabolic profile and hierarchical clustering analysis revealed significant differences between pregnant and non-pregnant buffaloes, as well as in the metabolite expression. Overall, the findings indicate the potential of milk metabolomics as a powerful tool to identify biomarkers of early pregnancy in buffalo undergoing AI