We report constraints on sub-GeV dark matter particles interacting with electrons from the first underground operation of DAMIC-M detectors. The search is performed with an integrated exposure of ...85.23 g days, and exploits the subelectron charge resolution and low level of dark current of DAMIC-M charge-coupled devices (CCDs). Dark-matter-induced ionization signals above the detector dark current are searched for in CCD pixels with charge up to 7e^{-}. With this dataset we place limits on dark matter particles of mass between 0.53 and 1000 MeV/c^{2}, excluding unexplored regions of parameter space in the mass ranges 1.6,1000 MeV/c^{2} and 1.5,15.1 MeV/c^{2} for ultralight and heavy mediator interactions, respectively.
Stem cells have the capacity to ensure the renewal of tissues and organs. They could be used in the future for a wide range of therapeutic purposes and are preserved at liquid nitrogen temperature to ...prevent any chemical or biological activity up to several decades before their use. We show that the cryogenized cells accumulate damages coming from natural radiations, potentially inducing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Such DNA damage in stem cells could lead to either mortality of the cells upon thawing or a mutation diminishing the therapeutic potential of the treatment. Many studies show how stem cells react to different levels of radiation; the effect of terrestrial cosmic rays being key, it is thus also important to investigate the effect of the natural radiation on the cryopreserved stem cell behavior over time. Our study showed that the cryostored stem cells totally shielded from cosmic rays had less DSBs upon long-term storage. This could have important implications on the long-term cryostorage strategy and quality control of different cell banks.
The integrin-binding protein osteopontin is strongly associated with tumour development, yet is an abundant dietary component as a constituent of human and bovine milk. Therefore, we tested the ...effect of orally administered osteopontin (o-OPN) on the development of subcutaneous tumours in mice.
Bovine milk osteopontin was administered in drinking water to tumour-bearing immune-competent mice. Tumour growth, proliferation, necrosis, apoptosis and blood vessel size and number were measured. Expression of the α₉ integrin was determined.
o-OPN suppressed tumour growth, increased the extent of necrosis, and induced formation of abnormally large blood vessels. Anti-OPN reactivity detected in the plasma of OPN-null mice fed OPN suggested that tumour-blocking peptides were absorbed during digestion, but the o-OPN effect was likely distinct from that of an RGD peptide. Expression of the α₉ integrin was detected on both tumour cells and blood vessels. Potential active peptides from the α₉ binding site of OPN were identified by mass spectrometry following in vitro digestion, and injection of these peptides suppressed tumour growth.
These results suggest that peptides derived from o-OPN are absorbed and interfere with tumour growth and normal vessel development. o-OPN-derived peptides that target the α₉ integrin are likely involved.
Dark matter (DM) particles with sufficiently large cross sections may scatter as they travel through Earth's bulk. The corresponding changes in the DM flux give rise to a characteristic daily ...modulation signal in detectors sensitive to DM-electron interactions. Here, we report results obtained from the first underground operation of the DAMIC-M prototype detector searching for such a signal from DM with MeV-scale mass. A model-independent analysis finds no modulation in the rate of 1 e^{-} events with sidereal period, where a DM signal would appear. We then use these data to place exclusion limits on DM in the mass range 0.53,2.7 MeV/c^{2} interacting with electrons via a dark photon mediator. Taking advantage of the time-dependent signal we improve by ∼2 orders of magnitude on our previous limit obtained from the total rate of 1 e^{-} events, using the same dataset. This daily modulation search represents the current strongest limit on DM-electron scattering via ultralight mediators for DM masses around 1 MeV/c^{2}.
Investigation of double beta decay processes (β+EC, EC/EC) of 58Ni was performed at the Modane underground laboratory (LSM, France, 4800 m w.e.). A sample of natural nickel, containing ∼68% of 58Ni ...and a mass of ∼21.7 kg, was measured using ultra low-background HPGe detector Obelix (sensitive volume of 600 cm3) during ∼143.8 days. New experimental limits on 2νβ+EC decay of 58Ni to the ground 0+ and (math), 811 keV excited state of 58Fe, and 2νEC/EC decay of 58Ni to (math), 811 keV and (maht), 1 675 keV excited states of 58Fe were obtained in this measurement. There are -T1/2(β+EC, 0+ → 0+) > 1.7 × 1022 y; (math), (math), (math). For resonant neutrino-less radiative EC/EC decay with energy of 1 918.3 keV a new experimental limit of T1/2 (0νEC/EC - res, 1918KeV) > 4.1 ×1022 y was also obtained. All limits are at 90 % CL.
Radon is one of the main potential sources of background radiation for any rare event experiments like neutrinoless double beta decay or dark matter experiments. The Radon Trapping Facility (RTF) ...installed in 2004 at the Modane Underground Laboratory (LSM) has been running for nine years providing radon-purified air at a level of 10 mBq m−3 for several experiments. The radon suppression principle is based on a radon physical adsorption using cooled compressed air at −55 °C pumped through a column filled with the K48 activated charcoal. After disassembling of the RTF, the 2.6 m high charcoal column has been divided into several layers in order to study with different techniques the dynamic adsorption coefficient (the K-factor) as a function of the depth and the radon spatial trapping profile by measuring the 210Pb activity. It has been demonstrated that after almost a decade of running, the K-factor of the activated charcoal remains constant except for the first few cm of the column. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the mass activity of 210Pb as a function of the depth of the charcoal column exhibits an exponential decay profile. The radon mean retention time τR of (47.6 1.2) days and the radon mean free path of (28.9 0.4) cm have been derived and found to be consistent at 1 with the ones obtained from the K-factor study, i.e. from a total independent measurement. The radon suppression factor of the RTF of 6790 − 1720 + 2370 has been also estimated with a value consistent at 2 with the suppression factor measured during the RTF operation. Thus, this study has proven the capacity of the RTF to purify the LSM air from radon by more than three orders of magnitude during nine years of operation.
The radioactivity levels in the air of the radionuclides released by the Fukushima accident were measured at the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane, in the South-East of France, during the period 25 ...March–18 April 2011. Air-filters from the ventilation system exposed for one or two days were measured using low-background gamma-ray spectrometry. In this paper we present the activity concentrations obtained for the radionuclides 131I, 132Te, 134Cs, 137Cs, 95Nb, 95Zr, 106Ru, 140Ba/La and 103Ru. The activity concentration of 131I was of the order of 100 μBq/m3, more than 100 times higher than the activities of other fission products. The highest activities of 131I were measured as a first peak on 30 March and a second peak on 3–4 April. The activity concentrations of 134Cs and 137Cs varied from 5 to 30 μBq/m3. The highest activity concentration recorded for Cs corresponded to the same period as for 131I, with a peak on 2–3 April. The results of the radioactivity concentration levels in grass and mushrooms exposed to the air in the Modane region were also measured. Activity concentrations of 131I of about 100 mBq/m2 were found in grass.
► Air activity concentration following Fukushima accident were measured in Modane, France. ► 131I level in the air was of the order 100 μBq/m3 and 134Cs and 137Cs levels were between 5 and 30 μBq/m3. ► The highest 131I, 134Cs and 137Cs levels were on 30 March and 2–4 April 2011. ► Peak activity levels explained by meteorological conditions and consistent with simulation models.
Radioactive pollutants are naturally present in microelectronic device materials and can be an issue for the reliability of devices. The main concern is alpha emitters that produce high-energy ...particles (a few MeV) that ionize the semiconductor and then trigger soft errors. The question is to know what kinds of radionuclides are present in the device, their location in the device and the abundance of each species. In this paper we describe tools that are required to address the issue of radioactive pollutants in electronic devices.
Searching for the β+EC and EC/EC Decays of 74Se Rukhadze, N. I.; Barabash, A. S.; Brudanin, V. B. ...
Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Physics,
08/2020, Letnik:
84, Številka:
8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Double beta decay (β
+
EC, EC/EC) of
74
Se was investigated at the Modane underground laboratory (LSM, France; 4800 m of water equivalent) using the OBELIX ultralow-background HPGe detector with a ...sensitive volume of 600 cm
3
and a sample of natural selenium with a mass of 1.6 kg containing ~0.89% (~14.24 g) of
74
Se. The new experimental limits for β
+
EC and EC/EC decays of
74
Se to ground 0
+
and excited
596 keV, and
1204 keV states of
74
Ge, were obtained from experimental data accumulated over 135 days.
Low background germanium planar detector for gamma-ray spectrometry Loaiza, P.; Chassaing, C.; Hubert, Ph ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
04/2011, Letnik:
634, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
A new ultra-low background planar germanium spectrometer has been developed. The planar geometry improves the sensitivity and energy resolution below 600
keV. The integral background counting rate in ...the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (4800
m water equivalent) in the energy range from 20 to 1500
keV for the planar Ge (mass=800
g) is 140
count/day. After 40 days of statistics, the background counting rates for all expected single lines are below 0.5
count/day with the exception of
210Pb(46-keV line) which was measured to be (1.76±0.25)
count/day. Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to explain the origin of the remaining background and to calculate the detection efficiencies. Sensitivities around 1
mBq/kg are obtained within few days of statistics for
226Ra and
228Th. The main achievement is the high sensitivities for
210Pb (46-keV line) and
238U (
234Th: 63 and 93
keV lines). For an aluminium sample (mass=1
kg) the limits obtained in 15 days are
210
Pb
<
9
mBq
/
kg
and
238
U
<
3
mBq
/
kg
.
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