Resistive plate chambers for time-of-flight measurements

The applications of Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) have recently been extended by the development of counters with time resolution below 100 ps sigma for minimum ionising particles. Applications to HEP experiments have already taken place and many further applications are under study. In this work we address the operating principles of such counters along with some present challenges, with emphasis on counter aging.Comment: Presented at "PSD6 - 6th International Conference on Position Sensitive Detectors", 9-13 September 2002, Leicester, UK. Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods

Tratamento de água oleosa por eletrofloculação

A técnica de eletrofloculação foi utilizada empregando-se eletrodos de alumínio para separar o óleo da água oleosa sintética contendo uma concentração média de 200 ppm de óleo cru. Para avaliar a sua viabilidade, foram determinados os percentuais de remoção de demanda química de oxigênio (DQO) e óleos e graxas totais (TOG), a concentração de sólidos totais, voláteis e fixos, a condutividade elétrica, o pH, a acidez e a alcalinidade total das amostras do efluente oleoso ao longo do tratamento. Estimou-se, também, o custo energético e operacional para o desenvolvimento da técnica. Neste trabalho construiu-se um reator eletrolítico, de bancada, com capacidade de 4 litros. Em seu interior, eletrodos de alumínio em arranjo paralelo foram conectados a uma placa alternadora de polaridade e a uma fonte de corrente contínua. Testes preliminares foram realizados para definir a melhor relação área do eletrodo por volume de efluente quanto à remoção de DQO. A partir destes testes, fixou-se o maior eletrodo (13,0 X 6,5 X 0,2 cm) por ter apresentado a melhor condição (cerca de 90%). Nos resultados foram verificados: aumento do pH; a condutividade elétrica e a concentração de sólidos apresentaram valores próximos durante o tratamento; a média percentual de remoção de TOG foi de 96%, enquanto que a de DQO foi de 81%. No fim da eletrólise, o efluente resultante ficou qualitativamente transparente. A análise estatística para condutividade elétrica e concentração de sólidos totais mostrou que estas dependem significativamente da concentração de eletrólito no meio (NaCl). Para a DQO e o TOG, somente a distância entre os eletrodos foi o fator significativo. Já a variação de pH inicial não apresentou significância em relação as variáveis analisadas. Quanto ao custo energético, a técnica de eletrofloculação apresentou, em média R$0,32/m3, um consumo do eletrodo de 0,60 g.e um custo operacional R$ 3,41/m3. Frente aos resultados, constatou-se que é possível utilizar a técnica de eletrofloculação no tratamento de água oleosa devido aos valores técnico-econômico satisfatórios, comparados com a literatura

Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT): Standard of Care for Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) has been used in the treatment of highly active multiple sclerosis (MS) for over two decades. It has been demonstrated to be highly efficacious in relapsing–remitting (RR) MS patients failing to respond to disease-modifying drugs (DMDs). AHSCT guarantees higher rates of no evidence of disease activity (NEDA) than those achieved with any other DMDs, but it is also associated with greater short-term risks which have limited its use. In the 2019 updated EBMT and ASBMT guidelines, which review the clinical evidence of AHSCT in MS, AHSCT indication for highly active RRMS has changed from “clinical option” to “standard of care”. On this basis, AHSCT must be proposed on equal footing with second-line DMDs to patients with highly active RRMS, instead of being considered as a last resort after failure of all available treatments. The decision-making process requires a close collaboration between transplant hematologists and neurologists and a full discussion of risk–benefit of AHSCT and alternative treatments. In this context, we propose a standardized protocol for decision-making and informed consent process

a 3d platform for energy data visualization of building assets

With an exemplary role, the improvement of energy efficiency in public buildings is in the forefront of the European policies for smart and sustainable growth. However, very often the sector is characterized by large and old constructions that may also be marked by historical and cultural value and whose energy consumption is hard to be reduced, due to specific constraints. In order to operate in this field, the definition of a solid knowledge framework on the built environment appears to be the only viable starting point. Therefore, the analysis of the delicate balance between conservation and transformation should be investigated with a multi-scalar approach able to move from the city to the building elements. For this reason, it is extremely important to provide tools for monitoring and analysing the energy behaviour of the public building stocks to those actors that are involved in their management. The research here presented proposes a workflow to implement a web platform based on a three-dimensional GIS (Geographic Information System) interoperable with BIM (Building Information Modeling) and able to store, handle and display information on building assets and their energy consumption. With the aim of defining a repeatable model, the process starts from easily retrievable data on the built environment and uses standard data models and classification systems. The three-dimensional model is built in a semi-automated way from the combination of the two-dimensional GIS cartography of the municipality and from the point cloud resulting from a LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) national survey campaign. The set of thermal properties and energy data can be retrieved from the energy performance certificate of the buildings. In order to test and validate the process, an application on the building stock owned by the University of Pavia (Italy) is presented. Nine complexes distribute inside the historical centre of the city and heterogeneously dated from the X to the XX century are considered. After the definition of the model and its representation inside the web environment, an example of use is displayed with reference to a comparative energy analysis of different buildings

Preferência de Bemisia tabaci, biótipo B (Hemiptera: aleyrodidae) a genótipos de soja.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a preferência de B. tabaci a 18 genótipos de soja com chance de escolha, em condições de casa de vegetação. Os genótipos avaliados foram: BRI 04-01668, BRI 04-01685, BRI 04-02770, BRI 04-02855, BRI 04-02935, BRI 04-02983, BRS 7860RR, BRS Barreira, BRS Gisele RR, BRS Juliana, BRS Valiosa RR, BRSGO 7960, BRSGO 8060, CD219, CD 215, Emgopa 302RR, IAC 17 e IAC 19. Os materiais com menores infestações de ovos e ninfas foram: BRI 04-01668, BRI 04-01685, BRI 04-02770 e IAC 17 (padrão de resistência) e os mais infestados foram BRS Juliana RR e Emgopa 302RR Os genótipos BRS 7860RR e BRSGO 8060 apresentaram o mesmo perfil de não preferência que IAC19 (padrão de resistência)

C60-based hot-electron magnetic tunnel transistor

A C 60-based magnetic tunnel transistor is presented. The device is based on the collection of spin-filtered hot-electrons at a metal/C 60 interface, and it allows an accurate measurement of the energy level alignment at such interface. A 89% change in the collected current under the application of a magnetic field demonstrates that these devices can be used as sensitive magnetic field sensors compatible with soft electronics.Fil: Gobbi, M.. No especifíca;Fil: Bedoya Pinto, A.. No especifíca;Fil: Golmar, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Llopis, R.. No especifíca;Fil: Casanova, F.. No especifíca;Fil: Hueso, L. E.. No especifíca

Human articular chondrocytes immortalized by HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes: Maintenance of differentiated phenotype under defined culture conditions

AbstractObjective To establish an immortalized normal human articular chondrocyte line which could be useful for a better understanding of cell molecular mechanisms relevant for the development of new therapeutic approaches in rheumatic diseases.Design Chondrocytes from human adult articular healthy cartilage were transfected in primary culture with a plasmid containing two human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV-16) early function genes: E6 and E7, using the highly efficient cationic liposome-mediated (lipofection) procedure. The transfection was verified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of E7 mRNA and by immunofluorence localization of the E7 protein in the cell cytoplasm. The established chondrocyte cell line was examined in monolayer and in two culture conditions that were described to re-induce differentiated characteristics: culturing in a serum-free defined medium supplemented with an insulin-containing serum substitute and seeding on a hyaluronan-based non-woven structured biomaterial. The expression of markers characteristic of cartilage was shown in the mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistological staining and Western blotting analysis were performed to evaluate type II collagen synthesis. Proteoglycans deposition was detected by Alcian Blue staining. A Field Emission In Lens Scanning Microscopy was used to look at the morphology of the immortalized cells at very high magnification.Results Normal human articular chondrocytes were efficiently transfected leading to the establishment of an immortalized cell line as confirmed by HPV-16 E7 mRNA and protein detection. These cells were able to re-express type II collagen both at mRNA and protein levels under the two defined cultured conditions we used, still maintaining type I collagen expression. Collagen IX mRNA was present only in early primary culture while collagen type X and aggrecan transcripts were always detected. Alcian Blue staining showed a proteoglycan-rich matrix production. The ultrastructural analysis of the immortalized cells revealed that their morphology strictly resembled that of normal chondrocytes.Conclusions The cell line that we obtained may be a useful tool for increasing our knowledge of the genetic and biochemical events involved in the processes of cartilage growth and differentiation. Moreover, it appears to be a suitable model for pharmacological and toxicological studies related to rheumatic diseases relevant to humans

C60/NiFe combination as a promising platform for molecular spintronics

Spintronics based on ferromagnetic metals and organic semiconductors has attracted great interest in recent years. Molecular-based spintronic devices, such as magnetic tunnel junctions, have been demonstrated with performances competing with those of conventional inorganic devices. Still, there is huge margin for improvement, as many details about the injection of spin-polarized electrons into the molecular layer remain not completely understood. In order to achieve better understanding and control of the physical mechanisms, it is necessary to explore various combinations of ferromagnetic metals and organic semiconductors. In this letter, we study the properties of the combination between the ferromagnetic metal NiFe (commonly known as Permalloy or Py) and the molecular system C60. We produced C60/Py bilayers and characterized them structurally, electrically and magnetically. The C 60 films grow smoothly on both Py and SiO2 substrates, and we estimate that a 5-nm-thick C60 film covers completely the surface underneath without leaving pinholes and can be therefore used in a vertical device, as confirmed by electrical characterization. Furthermore, the C 60 film is robust against the deposition of the top metal electrode, being the intermixing layer of only 1-2 nm at the C60/Py interface. Finally, we show that the magnetic properties of Py are not affected by the deposition sequence, and that a 5-nm-thick Py layer on top of a C60 layer keeps its magnetic properties intact. These results show that the combination between Py and C60 provides a robust template platform for the development of molecular spintronics, and can be used later on for more sophisticated investigations, such as the role of the interfaces in the spin injection.Fil: Gobbi, M.. No especifíca;Fil: Pascual, A.. No especifíca;Fil: Golmar, Federico. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Llopis, R.. No especifíca;Fil: Vavassori, P.. No especifíca;Fil: Casanova, F.. No especifíca;Fil: Hueso, L. E.. No especifíca