Neutrino propagation in matter using the wave packet approach

We study the oscillations and conversions of relativistic neutrinos propagating in matter of variable density using the wave packet formalism. We show how the oscillation and coherence lengths are modified in comparison with the case of oscillations in vacuum. Secondly, we demonstrate how the equation of motion for two neutrino flavors can be formally solved for almost arbitrary density profile. We calculate finally how the use of wave packets alters the nonadiabatic level crossing probabilities. For the most common physical environments the corrections due to the width of the wave packet do not lead to observable effects.Comment: 21 pages, LATEX, no figure

PLA-Based Nanocomposites Reinforced with CNC for Food Packaging Applications: From Synthesis to Biodegradation

The costs of biobased and biodegradable polymers are generally still much higher than that of their traditional polymer counterparts Frequently used in the food packaging field. Although PLA is currently used in the market in several packaging applications,its potential to substitute petrochemical-based polymers has not yet been realized in full perspective. The reinforcing effect of CNC has a large potential inenhancing the crystallinity of PLA that could result in higher tortuosity of the transport path improving the typically low barrier properties of PLA. However, the high polarity of CNC surface should be reduced for the industrial melt processing of PLA?nanocellulose-based materials. The surface functionalization by means of the use of a surfactant is an easy way to improve the dispersion of CNC into PLA matrix.The well dispersion of cellulosic nanoparticles achieved during nanocomposite processing has a large potential in improving the mechanical performance. Additionally, the CNC presence also accelerates the degradation rate of the PLA-based nanocomposites.These bionanocomposites are promising candidates for sustainable post-use waste treatments, such as composting, when short biodegradation times are required like the case of food packaging.Fil: Arrieta, M. P.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Peltzer, Mercedes Ana. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Área Ingeniería en Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: López, J.. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Instituto de Tecnología de Materiales; EspañaFil: Peponi, L.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; Españ

Modelling environmental adjustments of production technologies: A literature review: Externalities and environmental studies

This chapter theoretically discusses existing methodologies to model environmental adjustments of technologies. We elaborate on the limitations of treating pollution as an input or weakly disposable output, as commonly occurs in the literature. Moreover, we discuss the drawbacks of models that rely on the materials balance principle. We advocate the use of multi-equation modelling, which explicitly models the subprocesses of the production technology. Applied to the context of pollution, such an approach separately models the conventional technology, on the one hand, and the pollution-generating technology, on the other. Finally, we discuss abatement options as well as the possibility of adjusting for good environmental outputs (e.g. carbon sinks).</p