Theia: an advanced optical neutrino detector Askins, M.; Bagdasarian, Z.; Barros, N. ...
The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields,
05/2020, Letnik:
80, Številka:
5
Journal Article
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New developments in liquid scintillators, high-efficiency, fast photon detectors, and chromatic photon sorting have opened up the possibility for building a large-scale detector that can discriminate ...between Cherenkov and scintillation signals. Such a detector could reconstruct particle direction and species using Cherenkov light while also having the excellent energy resolution and low threshold of a scintillator detector. Situated deep underground, and utilizing new techniques in computing and reconstruction, this detector could achieve unprecedented levels of background rejection, enabling a rich physics program spanning topics in nuclear, high-energy, and astrophysics, and across a dynamic range from hundreds of keV to many GeV. The scientific program would include observations of low- and high-energy solar neutrinos, determination of neutrino mass ordering and measurement of the neutrino CP-violating phase
δ
, observations of diffuse supernova neutrinos and neutrinos from a supernova burst, sensitive searches for nucleon decay and, ultimately, a search for neutrinoless double beta decay, with sensitivity reaching the normal ordering regime of neutrino mass phase space. This paper describes
Theia
, a detector design that incorporates these new technologies in a practical and affordable way to accomplish the science goals described above.
This study tested the relationship between trait anxiety, cognitive appraisal, and athletes’ burnout proposing two hypotheses: (a) there is a direct relationship between athletes’ trait anxiety and ...cognitive appraisal and burnout, and (b) cognitive appraisal mediates the relationship between trait anxiety and burnout, and this mediation occurs despite the competitive level and sport records of athletes. The study included 673 young athletes and provided measures of trait anxiety, cognitive appraisal, and burnout. Structural equation modeling indicated that cognitive appraisal mediates the relationship between trait anxiety and burnout, confirming hypothesis 2, and this model provided better fit than the direct model of hypothesis 1. However, the mediation also indicated that the direct relationship between trait anxiety and burnout should be considered. The mediating model was invariant according to competitive levels and sport records. In conclusion, cognitive appraisal is an important variable in explaining athletes’ burnout.
•The dynamics of heterotrophs and nitrifiers in different MBBRs was followed.•Influent COD was the main factor determining the overall bacterial diversity.•Distinct ammonium profile in continuous and ...batch regime selected for specific AOB.•Different dominant NOB were observed depending on the availability of external COD.•Maximum specific ammonium oxidation rate was related to the fraction of nitrifiers.
In this study, the impact of COD/N ratio and feeding regime on the dynamics of heterotrophs and nitrifiers in moving-bed biofilm reactors was addressed. Based on DGGE analysis of 16S rRNA genes, the influent COD was found to be the main factor determining the overall bacterial diversity. The amoA-gene-based analysis suggested that the dynamic behavior of the substrate in continuous and pulse-feeding reactors influenced the selection of specific ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) strains. Furthermore, AOB diversity was directly related to the applied COD/N ratio and ammonium–nitrogen load. Maximum specific ammonium oxidation rates observed under non-substrate-limiting conditions were observed to be proportional to the fraction of nitrifiers within the bacterial community. FISH analysis revealed that Nitrosomonas genus dominated the AOB community in all reactors. Moreover, Nitrospira was found to be the only nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in the fully autotrophic system, whereas Nitrobacter represented the dominant NOB genus in the organic carbon-fed reactors.
In the absence of any other conclusive forensic evidence, DNA profiling is the method of choice for body identification. This study focuses on the case of a carbonized corpse whose complete autosomal ...short tandem repeat (STR) profile could not lead to direct identification by the investigators. To assist in the progress of investigation, we endeavoured to determine the biogeographical origin and eye colour of the deceased individual. Along with Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA analyses, we applied a next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach to the study of ancestry informative markers (AIMs) using the HID-Ion AmpliSeq™ Ancestry Panel launched by Thermo Fisher Scientific. This work gave us the opportunity to test this new technology in a real forensic case. Although this study highlights the benefits of such a combined approach, as it markedly improves the specificity of the biogeographical profile, it also underlines the need for the accurate characterization of a larger collection of reference populations and the necessity of caution in data interpretation.
In the search for understanding and improving the luminescence of optical materials based on Ir(III) complexes, three Ir(C∧N)2(dnbp)+ (dnbp = 4,4′-dinonyl-2,2′-bipyridine) emitters were immobilized ...in MCM-41 mesoporous nanoparticles. By taking advantage of the amphiphilic nature of Ir(C∧N)2(dnbp)+, the complexes were mixed with an appropriate surfactant and the resulting micelles served as templates for the synthesis of mesoporous silica host materials in a one-step sol–gel route. The MCM-encapsulated Ir(C∧N)2(dnbp)+ complexes present intense emissions with prominent rigidochromic spectral changes that are substantially less affected by O2 as compared to methanolic solutions, with a thousand-fold decrease in quenching rate constants. These photophysical results points to a possible suitability of Ir(III)-complex–MCM-41 host–guest systems for possible future optoelectronic devices, rigidity optical sensors, or biological markers in different colors.
Given the critical role of maternal care in the neurodevelopment of offspring, this study aimed to investigate the effects of the psychedelic substance 25 H-NBOMe on maternal behavior in lactating ...rats and its subsequent impact on the social and neurodevelopmental behavior of the offspring. We administered two different dosages of 25 H-NBOMe (0.3 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg; i,p,) to lactating rats and observed changes in maternal behaviors, such as nest-building and pup retrieval, and in offspring behaviors, including social play. Behavioral assessments were complemented by physiological measurements to rule out general health or nutritional decline. 25 H-NBOMe significantly disrupted maternal behaviors, including nest-building and pup retrieval, without affecting the weight of dams or offspring. Offspring of exposed dams exhibited reduced social play behavior. Higher doses led to more pronounced disruptions, while lower doses, despite not visibly affecting maternal behavior, still impacted offspring behavior, suggesting potential direct effects of 25 H-NBOMe. The study highlights the potential risks associated with the use of 25 H-NBOMe during lactation, emphasizing its detrimental impact on maternal care and offspring development. These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological effects of psychedelic substances during critical developmental periods and underscore the importance of avoiding their use.
Purpose
To evaluate the effects of sepsis on brain microvasculature leukocyte rolling and adherence, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, cytokine and chemokine concentrations, and behavioral screening 6, ...12, and 24 h after sepsis induction.
Methods
C57BL/6 mice or Wistar rats underwent cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) or sham operation. At 6, 12, and 24 h after sepsis induction, intravital microscopy was performed in the mice brain microvasculature to evaluate leukocyte rolling and adherence. Animals were killed and had the brain removed to determine MPO activity and the levels of cytokines and chemokines. A behavioral screening was also performed in a separate cohort of animals. Blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability and cytokines and chemokines were determined in different brain regions in Wistar rats.
Results
There was a decrease in circulating leukocyte levels at 6, 12, and 24 h, an increase in rolling and adhesion of leukocytes in the brain microvasculature, followed by an increase in brain MPO activity. In addition, there was an increase in both brain cytokines and chemokines at different times. There was a decrease in the neuropsychiatric state muscle tone and strength only at 6 h, and a decrease in the autonomous function at 6 and 12 h. The pattern of brain cytokines and chemokines, and BBB permeability between the analyzed regions seemed to be similar with minor differences.
Conclusions
During sepsis the brain’s production of cytokines and chemokines is an early event and it seemed to participate both in central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction and BBB permeability alterations, reinforcing the role of brain inflammatory response in the acute CNS dysfunction associated with sepsis.
Biofilm-forming ability has been increasingly recognized as an important virulence factor in
Staphylococci, facilitating their persistence in the host, evading its defences and allowing bacterial ...survival at high antimicrobial concentrations.
Staphylococcus aureus remains a major pathogen of chronic mastitis, but in the last years
Staphylococcus epidermidis has emerged as a relevant mastitis pathogen. The present work aimed at the evaluation of the biofilm-forming ability of
Staphylococci field isolates from bovine subclinical mastitis and at the development of a fluorescent
in situ hybridisation (FISH) protocol that would allow the direct observation of biofilm formation in milk samples.
The analysis of phenotypic expression in Congo Red Agar (CRA) and by FISH, showed that 37.5% of the
S. aureus isolates produced biofilm, while by optical density measurement only 18.75% isolates revealed this phenotype. The results showed a fair agreement according to the kappa coefficient test (kappa
=
0.259). Regarding
S. epidermidis mastitis isolates, 37.5% revealed the ability to produce biofilm, but only four isolates were positive by all methods. This agreement was moderate (kappa
=
0.467). The application of FISH to artificially contaminated milk samples allowed the direct observation of biofilm production by 37.5% isolates, showing total agreement with the CRA results. This method better mimics the
in vivo conditions, especially in terms of the presence of calcium and iron, which in high concentrations, respectively, are known to inhibit or induce biofilm production.
Using 5326 days of atmospheric neutrino data, a search for atmospheric tau neutrino appearance has been performed in the Super-Kamiokande experiment. Super-Kamiokande measures the tau normalization ...to be 1.47±0.32 under the assumption of normal neutrino hierarchy, relative to the expectation of unity with neutrino oscillation. The result excludes the hypothesis of no-tau appearance with a significance level of 4.6σ. The inclusive charged-current tau neutrino cross section averaged by the tau neutrino flux at Super-Kamiokande is measured to be (0.94±0.20)×10−38 cm2. The measurement is consistent with the Standard Model prediction, agreeing to within 1.5σ.
Maternal immune activation (MIA) caused by exposure to pathogens or inflammation during critical periods of gestation increased susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, in ...the offspring. In the present work, we aimed to provide characterization of the long-term consequences on anxiety-like behavior and cardiovascular stress response of MIA in the offspring. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of MIA by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in adult male offspring. In our study, the animals were subjected to a range of behavioral and physiological tests, including the elevated plus maze, social interaction, cat odor response, open field behavior, contextual fear conditioning, and cardiovascular responses during restraint stress. In the offspring of MIA, our study unveiled distinct anxious behaviors. This was evident by fewer entries into the open arms of the maze, diminished anti-thigmotaxis in the open field, and a decrease in social interaction time. Moreover, these rats showed heightened sensitivity to cat odor, exhibited prolonged freezing during fear conditioning, and presented elevated 22 Hz ultrasonic vocalizations. Notably, during restraint stress, these animals manifested an augmented blood pressure response, and this was associated with an increase in c-fos expression in the locus coeruleus compared to the control group. These findings collectively underline the extensive behavioral and physiological alterations stemming from MIA. This study deepens our understanding of the significance of maternal health in predisposing offspring to neurobehavioral deficits and psychiatric disorders.
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