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Publications
Publications (43)
A cost-effective immunosensor for the detection and isolation of dental pulp stemcells (DPSCs) based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) has been developed. The recognition mechanism relies on anti-CD34 antibodies, DPSC-specificmonoclonal antibodies that are anchored on the surface of the quartz crystals. Due to its high specificity, real time d...
In this work is presented a microbalance for single microparticle sensing
based on resonating AFM cantilever. The variation of the resonator
eigenfrequency is related to the particle mass positioned at the free apex of
the cantilever. An all-digital phase locked loop (PLL) control system is
developed to detect the variations in cantilever eigenfreq...
Flow cytometry is to date the only commercially viable technique for sex preselection of mammalian spermatozoa, measuring the different DNA content in X- and Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa. Here we present experimental evidence of a measurable difference between bovine spermatozoa bearing X- and Y-chromosomes based on their buoyant mass. Single c...
Method and corresponding apparatus for characterizing animal spermatozoa, intended to distinguish and separate spermatozoa carrying the Y chromosome from those carrying the X chromosome, said method being based on the known phenotype differences between the two types of spermatozoa and said apparatus being based on the use of microcantilevers, comp...
Abstract— The laboratory analyses of cosmic dust analogues—that in the context of this paper include interstellar, circumstellar as well as cometary dust—have a critical role in the study of circumstellar and cometary dust. The morphological, structural and chemical characterization of these analogues are critical for comparisons of their infrared...
We report combined micro-infrared, micro-Raman, and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analyses of particles collected by the Stardust spacecraft during its flyby of comet 81P/Wild 2 on 2 January 2004 and successfully returned back to Earth on 15 January 2006. We present mid-infrared (IR) spectra of six of these particles. The CH2/...
The DUSTER (Dust in the Upper Stratosphere Tracking Experiment and
Retrieval) project is aimed at uncontaminated collection and retrieval
of stratospheric solid aerosol particles, in the submicron/micron range.
The approach implies: 1) in-situ particles collection; 2) sample
recovering; and 3) laboratory analyses, without sample manipulation
among...
The DUSTER (Dust in the Upper Stratosphere Tracking Experiment and Retrieval) project is aimed at uncontaminated collection and retrieval of stratospheric solid aerosol particles, in the submicron/micron range. The approach implies: 1) in-situ particles collection; 2) sample recovering; and 3) laboratory analyses, without sample manipulation among...
Laboratory characterization of Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) collected in the lower stratosphere represents a concrete analysis of cosmic dust properties which played a fundamental role in the origin and evolution of Solar System. The IDPs were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) analyses and by InfraRed (IR)...
The Stardust spacecraft collected thousands of particles from comet 81P/Wild 2 and returned them to Earth for laboratory study.
The preliminary examination of these samples shows that the nonvolatile portion of the comet is an unequilibrated assortment
of materials that have both presolar and solar system origin. The comet contains an abundance of...
Organics found in comet 81P/Wild 2 samples show a heterogeneous and unequilibrated distribution in abundance and composition.
Some organics are similar, but not identical, to those in interplanetary dust particles and carbonaceous meteorites. A class
of aromatic-poor organic material is also present. The organics are rich in oxygen and nitrogen com...
Infrared spectra of material captured from comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust spacecraft reveal indigenous aliphatic hydrocarbons similar to those in interplanetary dust particles thought to be derived from comets, but with longer chain lengths than those observed in the diffuse interstellar medium. Similarly, the Stardust samples contain abundant am...
In preparation for the Stardust sample analyses, we performed combined
micro-IR/micro-Raman measurements on five Interplanetary Dust Particles
(IDPs) that were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron
Microscope analyses. We demonstrate the synergy between these techniques
to detect Fe-oxides and the degree of ordering in amorphous carbons...
The Stardust spacecraft collected thousands of particles from comet 81P/Wild 2 and returned them to Earth for laboratory study. The preliminary examination of these samples shows that the nonvolatile portion of the comet is an unequilibrated assortment of materials that have both presolar and solar system origin. The comet contains an abundance of...
Results from the preliminary examination of Stardust samples obtained using various spectroscopic methods will be presented.
Among the main directions identified for future Martian exploration, the study of the properties of dust dispersed in the atmosphere, its cycle and the impact on climate are considered of primary relevance. Dust storms, dust devils and the dust “cycle” have been identified and studied by past remote and in situ experiments, but little quantitative...
The knowledge of Martian airborne dust properties and about mechanisms of dust settling/raising to/from the surface are important to determine climate and surface evolution on Mars. Water is an important tracer of climatic changes on long time-scales and is strictly related to the presence of life forms. The study in situ of dust and water vapour p...
The study of cosmic dust and its evolution from molecular clouds, through protoplanetary disks to planets, is one of the outstanding challenges of contemporary astronomy. Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) represent the fossil pre-solar dust that provides a unique access to the materials and processes occurred during Solar System formation and ev...
It is of paramount importance to detect traces of life on Mars surface. Organic molecules are highly polar and if present on Mars require to be extracted from the dust sample, separated, concentrated, processed and analysed by an appropriate apparatus. PRE-ADAMO (PRebiotic Experiment - Activity of Dust And bioMolecules Observation) is a multi-steps...
Aerosol dust suspended in the atmosphere thermally influences the behaviour of the lower atmosphere by absorbing solar radiation and by increasing the thermal inertia. Main dust parameters influencing the atmosphere heating are size distribution, albedo, single scattering phase function, imaginary part of the index of refraction. Moreover, atmosphe...
The study of Solar System bodies by remote and in situ measurements
provides information about geological, chemical and physical properties
of materials present in different space environments. Processes (e.g.,
thermal annealing, UV irradiation, ion bombardment, gas-solid
interaction) contribute with different efficiencies to determine the
characte...
Abstract— It has now been about a decade since the first demonstrations that hypervelocity particles could be captured, partially intact, in aerogel collectors. But the initial promise of a bonanza of partially-intact extraterrestrial particles, collected in space, has yet to materialize. One of the difficulties that investigators have encountered...
The Cosmic Physics Laboratory (CPL) work is focused to study materials present in various space environments (comets, asteroids, planets, interstellar medium). The study is performed on dusty materials which are selected among natural rocks and minerals that, properly treated and/or processed, are able to simulate extraterrestrial materials. An acc...
An important step in the characterisation of cosmic analogues is represented by the study and comparison of morphological, chemical and spectroscopical properties of “crystalline” and “amorphous” materials. In order to achieve this aim we have determined the mass extinction coefficient in the infrared region, between 2.5 and 200 µm, of Fayalite (Fe...
Cosmic dust is important in many space environments, from interstellar and circumstellar media to comets and planet surfaces and atmospheres. Laboratory analyses are used to interpret observations and to validate theoretical models on a quantitative basis. A new generation of "laboratory astrophysics" is nowadays devoted to systematic experiments u...
In 2006 the Nasa Stardust spacecraft will return to Earth dust particles collected from the comet Wild 2, being the first sample returning mission from a cometary target. In addition, the spacecraft will bring back samples of interstellar dust, according to the recent dust streaming detected by the Ulysses spacecraft into our solar system. These ma...
The problem of space debris in Earth orbit received a great interest since the last few years. The recent impulse on the activities in space has produced a considerable increase of knowledge on the debris population in the circum-terrestrial environment and a new one is expected in the next years. Hypervelocity impacts of artificial objects, sub-mi...
One of the most important aspects of Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) research is the understanding of the asteroidal vs cometary origin of these small solid particles populating the solar system. The possibility of disentangle between the different species of IDPs is related to the knowledge of a complex set of their characteristics. In the la...
Particulate environment around Earth represents a potential risk to orbiting spacecraft. In this environment velocity of impacts between a small solid particle, of both natural and man-made origin, and the external structure of a spacecraft is in the hypervelocity range. Depending on the size of the particle, the hazard to a spacecraft ranges from...
This presenation will provide an overview of the efforts and results produced by the Organics Preliminary Examination Team during their studies of the samples returned from comet Wild 2 by the Stardust spacecraft.
