Neutrino oscillation studies with laser-driven beam dump facilities

A new mechanism is suggested for efficient proton acceleration in the GeV energy range; applications to non-conventional high intensity proton drivers and, hence, to low-energy (10-200 MeV) neutrino sources are discussed. In particular we investigate possible uses to explore subdominant $\bar{\nu}_\mu \to \bar{\nu}_e$ oscillations at the atmospheric scale and their CP conjugate. We emphasize the opportunity to develop these facilities in conjunction with projects for inertial confined nuclear fusion and neutron spallation sources.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figures, minor changes, version to appear in Nucl.Instrum.Meth.

A Beta Beam complex based on the machine upgrades for the LHC

The Beta Beam CERN design is based on the present LHC injection complex and its physics reach is mainly limited by the maximum rigidity of the SPS. In fact, some of the scenarios for the machine upgrades of the LHC, particularly the construction of a fast cycling 1 TeV injector (``Super-SPS''), are very synergic with the construction of a higher $\gamma$ Beta Beam. At the energies that can be reached by this machine, we demonstrate that dense calorimeters can already be used for the detection of $\nu$ at the far location. Even at moderate masses (40 kton) as the ones imposed by the use of existing underground halls at Gran Sasso, the CP reach is very large for any value of $\theta_{13}$ that would provide evidence of $\nu_e$ appearance at T2K or NO$\nu$A ($\theta_{13}\geq 3^\circ$). Exploitation of matter effects at the CERN to Gran Sasso distance provides sensitivity to the neutrino mass hierarchy in significant areas of the $\theta_{13}-\delta$ plane

Effects of citric acid and fibronectin and laminin application in treating periodontitis

. To determine the effect on new connective tissue attachment of citric acid conditioning and fibronectin-laminin application in treating naturally occurring periodontitis, all 4 quadrants in each of 2 Beagle dogs were used. Each quadrant included: P 2 , P 3 , P 4 , and M 1 teeth. 2 treatment modalities were employed and comparatively analyzed for differences in histological healing respponses at 120 days after surgery. The treatments were: (1) surgery (mucoperiosteal flaps) plus citric acid; (2) surgery plus citric acid followed by fibronectin-laminin application. After scaling and root planing, coronal and root surface reference notches were placed for histometric measurements. Following each of the randomly assigned treatments, flaps were sutured. After sacrifice, tissue blocks of treated areas were decalcified and serially cut, obtaining bucco-lingual and mesiodistal sections. Using a Filar micrometer. 5 distances were masured on the buccal aspect: (1) from root surface notch to alveolar bone crest; (2) from root surface notch to coronal extent of the cementum; (3) from root surface notch to apical extent of the junctional epithelium; 84) from free gingival margin to apical extent of junctional epithelium; (5) from the coronal notch to the alveolar bone crest. Results showed no differences among the 5 measurements between the 2 treatments tested. On mesiodistal sections, surface area determinations were made in the furcations, evaluating the space occupied by new connective tissue, with or without bone, or by epithelium. For this, images were digitized using a Zeiss IBAS Image analysis system with a 4mB of array processor memory coupled to a Newvicon TV camera and a microcomputer. Significant differences were found, with increased values for both regenerative connective tissue and bone when surgery plus citric acid was followed by fibronectin-laminin application. Often, these tissues filled completely furcation areas above root surface reference notches.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73686/1/j.1600-051X.1987.tb01543.x.pd

The Stock Genetic Structure of Two Sparidae Species, Diplodus vulgaris and Lithognathus mormyrus, in the Mediterranean Sea.

Polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of allozymes was used to investigate the intraspecies genetic variation and the genetic stock structure of Diplodus vulgaris and Lithognathus mormyrus captured from eight localities in the Mediterranean Sea. Twenty-two and 20 putative enzyme-coding loci were examined, respectively, in D. vulgaris and L. mormyrus. Polymorphic loci at the 95% level were used to assess the allozyme variability in D. vulgaris (AAT-2, EST-1, GLDH, PEPB-2, PGI-2, PGM, SDH) and L. mormyrus (AAT-2, EST-1, GLDH, MDH-2, PGI-2, PGM). The proportion of polymorphic loci in both species ranged from 0.31 (D. vulgaris) to 0.30 (L. mormyrus), and the observed and expected mean heterozygosity varied between 0.082 and 0.093 (D. vulgaris) and between 0.069 and 0.072 (L. mormyrus). The mean value of observed heterozygosity in D. vulgaris showed a deficit of heterozygosites, thereby indicating a Wahlund effect in the samples examined. Significant genetic differentiation (mean value of θ = 0.013, p < 0.005) was found in D. vulgaris indicating an intraspecific genetic substructure among the samples examined, whereas the mean value of θ = 0.001, p > 0.05 found in L. mormyrus showed a high degree of genetic homogeneity. The results showed the presence of distinct subpopulations of D. vulgaris among the sampled sites, and suggested that analysis of allozymes may provide important information on the genetic stock structure of these two sparids to ensure sustainable management of these species

An electromagnetic shashlik calorimeter with longitudinal segmentation

A novel technique for longitudinal segmentation of shashlik calorimeters has been tested in the CERN West Area beam facility. A 25 tower very fine samplings e.m. calorimeter has been built with vacuum photodiodes inserted in the first 8 radiation lengths to sample the initial development of the shower. Results concerning energy resolution, impact point reconstruction and electron/pion separation are reported.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figure

Controlling the Lithium Intercalation Voltage in the Li(Mn1–xNix)2O4 Spinel via Tuning of the Ni Concentration: a Density Functional Theory Study

LiMn2O4 spinel is a promising cathode material for secondary lithium-ion batteries. Despite showing a high average voltage of lithium intercalation, the material is structurally unstable, undergoing lowering of the crystal symmetry due to Jahn-Teller distortion of the six-fold Mn3+ cations. Although Ni has been proposed as a suitable substitutional dopant to improve the structural stability of LiMn2O4, and enhance the average lithium intercalation voltage,&nbsp; the thermodynamics of the Ni incorporation and its effect on the electrochemical properties of this spinel material are not yet known. In this work, we&nbsp; have employed density functional theory calculations with a Hubbard Hamiltonian (DFT+U) to investigate the thermodynamics of cation mixing in the&nbsp; Li(Mn1–xNix)2O4 solid solution. Our results suggest LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 is the most stable composition from room temperature up to at least 1000 K, in&nbsp; agreement with experiments. We also found that the configurational entropy is much lower than the maximum entropy at 1000 K, indicating that higher&nbsp; temperatures are required to reach a fully disordered solid solution. A maximum average lithium intercalation voltage of 4.8 eV was calculated for the&nbsp; LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 composition, which is very close to the experimental value. The temperature was found to have a negligible effect on the Li intercalation&nbsp; voltage of the most stable composition. The findings reported here support the application of LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 as a suitable cathode material for lithium-&nbsp; ion batteries, with a highly stable voltage of intercalation under a wide range of temperatures.&nbsp

Criminological and Medico-legal Aspects in Homicidal and Suicidal Sharp Force Fatalities

The interpretation of sharp force fatality dynamics may be difficult in some cases, but a contribution to analysis of the phenomenon may be provided by case studies. Therefore, the purpose of our study is focused on identifying, in observed sharp force fatalities, reliable parameters that can differentiate a homicidal and suicidal manner of death, with particular reference to criminological parameters. Data derived from sharp force fatality cases in Padua and Venice from 1997 to 2019, anonymized and collected in Excel, included personal, circumstantial, clinical, and psychopathological\u2013criminological data, as well as crime scene investigation, necroscopic, and toxicological data. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Possible predictors of homicide were analyzed by logistic regression. Six parameters (bloodstains distant from the body, clothing lacerations, hesitation/defense wounds, number of injuries, and potential motives) were significantly different in the two groups (p\ua0<\ua00.05). An independent statistical association between potential motives explaining the crime (p\ua0<\ua00.001; OR 27.533) and homicide on multiple logistic regression analysis was highlighted. The absence of clothing lacerations was inversely related to homicide (p\ua0=\ua00.002, OR 0.092). To the best of our knowledge, this is one of very few Italian studies concerning the differential diagnosis between homicidal and suicidal sharp force fatalities. The dynamics of the event is established in most cases by the integrated evaluation of data from crime scene investigation and the autopsy. Nevertheless, in an atypical scenario, a psychopathological\u2013criminological analysis may provide essential elements, and particular attention should be given to the identification of potential explanatory motives

Nanocarbon surfaces for biomedicine

The distinctive physicochemical, mechanical and electrical properties of carbon nanostructures are currently gaining the interest of researchers working in bioengineering and biomedical fields. Carbon nanotubes, carbon dendrimers, graphenic platelets and nanodiamonds are deeply studied aiming at their application in several areas of biology and medicine. Here we provide a summary of the carbon nanomaterials prepared in our labs and of the fabrication techniques used to produce several biomedical utilities, from scaffolds for tissue growth to cargos for drug delivery and to biosensors