Mode Confinement in Photonic Quasi-Crystal Point-Defect Cavities for Particle Accelerators

In this Letter, we present a study of the confinement properties of point-defect resonators in finite-size photonic-bandgap structures composed of aperiodic arrangements of dielectric rods, with special emphasis on their use for the design of cavities for particle accelerators. Specifically, for representative geometries, we study the properties of the fundamental mode (as a function of the filling fraction, structure size, and losses) via 2-D and 3-D full-wave numerical simulations, as well as microwave measurements at room temperature. Results indicate that, for reduced-size structures, aperiodic geometries exhibit superior confinement properties by comparison with periodic ones.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Applied Physics Letter

La incorporación de la sociología de las ciencias en la formación docente : una deuda pendiente

Si lo que se pretende es mejorar la enseñanza aprendizaje de las ciencias en los contextos escolares es importante comenzar por reflexionar acerca de la formación que reciben los futuros docentes en las materias curriculares. Este análisis no sólo requiere considerar los contenidos disciplinares sino también aspectos epistemológicos y sociológicos. Sin embargo estos últimos ha sido menos tenidos en cuenta siendo que, a partir de mediados del siglo XX, la sociología de las ciencias conforma una disciplina con un amplio desarrollo. Así es que los futuros maestros pueden reconocer autores y corrientes psicológicas y epistemológicas que inciden en la curricula, sin embargo difícilmente sepan que es el “ethos mertoniano”, el programa fuerte o los aportes de Latour. En ese trabajo reseñaremos algunos conceptos estructurantes de la sociología de las ciencias

Elaboración de estándares para evaluar una competencia : un ejemplo aplicado a la interpretación de las fórmulas químicas

La evaluación por competencias es entendida como la capacidad de realización situada y afectada por el contexto en el que se desenvuelve el sujeto. Este enfoque requiere modificar concepciones y prácticas muy arraigadas. Al cursar Química, una competencia que los alumnos deben alcanzar se refiere al aprendizaje y la comprensión del lenguaje de la Química. En este dominio, una fórmula química emplea para su escritura dos sistemas de símbolos, el alfabeto y los números arábigos, pero siguiendo reglas diferentes al del uso en la vida cotidiana (comunicación verbal y matemática). En este trabajo nos proponemos reconocer algunos de los significados que las fórmulas tienen para los alumnos que inician el cursado de la asignatura, esto nos permitirá identificar estándares que ayudarán a definir en que nivel de competencia respecto del lenguaje químico se encuentran los alumnos

Hybrid photonic-bandgap accelerating cavities

In a recent investigation, we studied two-dimensional point-defected photonic bandgap cavities composed of dielectric rods arranged according to various representative periodic and aperiodic lattices, with special emphasis on possible applications to particle acceleration (along the longitudinal axis). In this paper, we present a new study aimed at highlighting the possible advantages of using hybrid structures based on the above dielectric configurations, but featuring metallic rods in the outermost regions, for the design of extremely-high quality factor, bandgap-based, accelerating resonators. In this framework, we consider diverse configurations, with different (periodic and aperiodic) lattice geometries, sizes, and dielectric/metal fractions. Moreover, we also explore possible improvements attainable via the use of superconducting plates to confine the electromagnetic field in the longitudinal direction. Results from our comparative studies, based on numerical full-wave simulations backed by experimental validations (at room and cryogenic temperatures) in the microwave region, identify the candidate parametric configurations capable of yielding the highest quality factor.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables. One figure and one reference added; minor changes in the tex

Comment: Superconducting transition in Nb nanowires fabricated using focused ion beam

In a recent paper Tettamanzi et al (2009 Nanotechnology \bf{20} 465302) describe the fabrication of superconducting Nb nanowires using a focused ion beam. They interpret their conductivity data in the framework of thermal and quantum phase slips below $T_c$. In the following we will argue that their analysis is inappropriate and incomplete, leading to contradictory results. Instead, we propose an interpretation of the data within a SN proximity model.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure accepted in Nanotechnolog

De novo mitochondrial DNA alteration in child with complex neurilogical compromission.

neuromuscular human diseases have been associated with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variations, causing defects of oxidative phosphorylation. These dysfunctions affect preferentially tissues with high energy demands and give arise to several degenerative disorders such as optic neuropathy, cerebellar ataxia, movement disorders, dementia, muscle weakness and deafness. The extremely heterogeneous clinical phenotype is due to the involved tissue, to specific mtDNA mutations and their heteroplasmic level, but also to nuclear DNA alterations, environmental and epigenetic factors. In this study we investigated a child affected by a complex neurological disease whose clinical features were suggestive of a mitochondrial involvement. Methods: mtDNA from proband, her healthy relatives (grandmother, mother and two sisters) and 80 controls were collected and studied by sequencing. The enzymatic activity of specific respiratory chain complex was tested on lymphocytes by spectrophotometric assay. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to predict the pathogenicity of the detected variants. Results: In all subjects we detected 11 known polymorphisms, whereas 1 novel heteroplasmic variant in complex I [ND5:12514G>A (E60K)] was present only in the proband and in her grandmother and absent in controls. The bioinformatics predicted the novel variant to be deleterious. Further, spectrophotometric assay of complex I activity was lower both in the proband and in her relatives than in the controls. Conclusions: We report a novel mtDNA variant detected in a patient affected by a complex neurological disease. The reduction of complex I respiratory chain activity associated to this variant suggests it could exert a pathogenic role in the disease

Development of a biosensor for copper detection in aqueous solutions using an Anemonia sulcata recombinant GFP

Fluorescent proteins from marine organisms represent potential candidates for biosensor development. In this paper, we described the isolation of a native green fluorescent protein from Anemonia sulcata and the cloning and purification of its equivalent as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the spectroscopic behaviours of the native and recombinant GFPs were investigated as a function of Cu2+, Cd2+, Pb 2+ and Ni2+ concentration. Our results suggest the high selectivity of both proteins at copper than the other metals and, for the recombinant protein, a great sensitivity at a very low concentration (0.1-1 μM). Moreover, starting from these data, using the combination of molecular biology techniques and optical setup, we developed a device for the detection of Cu2+ in water solutions. The quenching effect detected with the device showed that the relative attenuation of the signal (0.46±0.02 AU) was slightly larger than the data measured by fluorescence spectra (0.65±0.03 AU). The good sensitivity in the span of two orders of the magnitude of Cu2+ concentration, the fact that the instrument is made up of low-cost and sturdy parts and the selective quenching of rAsGFP to copper ions make this setup suited as a low cost, on-the-field, copper ion-specific biosensor. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media

Esperimento pilota mirato all’analisi dell’effetto della stimolazione immunitaria su A. viridis, finalizzato alla produzione di composti biologicamente attivi

L’esperimento mira a valutare l’eventuale attività antibatterica di peptidi prodotti da individui di Anemonia viridis in seguito a stimolazione immunitaria e quindi alla realizzazione di un protocollo riproducibile e ottimizzato per la produzione di tali composti