• Energy Research
• Aurora Universities Network close

A novel and sustainability-oriented approach to the design of large-aperture iron-dominated magnets is proposed, focusing on its application to charged particle momentum detection in high-energy experimental physics. As compared to classical design techniques, a broader number of goals and constraints is taken into account, considering jointly the detection performance, the minimization of both the electrical power and magnet size, and the electromagnetic efficiency. A case study is considered for the detector magnet of a specific experiment, where the optimal design is pursued with semi-analytical tools, duly introducing the main quantities’ scaling laws in analytical form and successively validating the results with 3D numerical tools. A solution at higher energy efficiency is obtained, as compared to a more traditional design point of view. The proposed methodology can be fruitfully employed also in the design of magnets with a reduced ecological footprint in a number of other industrial and medical applications.

Archivo adicional 2: Películas que muestran vistas de cuatro cámaras con cuatro componentes de flujo del ventrículo derecho (VD) utilizando el trazado de partículas en un sujeto normal de 29 años, un sujeto normal de 36 años, un sujeto normal de 49 años, un sujeto normal de 55 años y un sujeto normal de 64 años. Los círculos amarillos denotan los contornos del VR de las pilas de vistas de ejes cortos. Leyenda de color: verde (flujo directo de VD), amarillo (flujo de entrada retenido de VD), azul (flujo de eyección retardado de VD), rojo (volumen residual de VD). Fichier supplémentaire 2 : Films montrant des vues à quatre chambres avec quatre composantes de flux du ventricule droit (VR) en utilisant le traçage des particules chez un sujet normal de 29 ans, un sujet normal de 36 ans, un sujet normal de 49 ans, un sujet normal de 55 ans et un sujet normal de 64 ans. Les cercles jaunes indiquent les contours du VR à partir de piles de vues à axe court. Légende des couleurs : vert (flux direct du VR), jaune (flux entrant retenu du VR), bleu (flux d'éjection retardé du VR), rouge (volume résiduel du VR). ملف إضافي 2: أفلام تعرض مناظر من أربع غرف مع البطين الأيمن (RV) أربعة مكونات تدفق باستخدام تتبع الجسيمات في شخص طبيعي يبلغ من العمر 29 عامًا، وشخص طبيعي يبلغ من العمر 36 عامًا، وشخص طبيعي يبلغ من العمر 49 عامًا، وشخص طبيعي يبلغ من العمر 55 عامًا وشخص طبيعي يبلغ من العمر 64 عامًا. تشير الدوائر الصفراء إلى محيط البطين الأيمن من أكوام المناظر ذات المحور القصير. مفتاح الألوان: أخضر (تدفق مباشر للبطين الأيمن)، أصفر (تدفق داخلي محتجز للبطين الأيمن)، أزرق (تدفق طرد متأخر للبطين الأيمن)، أحمر (الحجم المتبقي للبطين الأيمن). Additional file 2: Movies showing four-chamber views with right ventricle (RV) four flow components using particle tracing in a 29-year-old normal subject, a 36-year-old normal subject, a 49-year-old normal subject, a 55-year-old normal subject and a 64-year-old normal subject. Yellow circles denote the RV contours from stacks of short axis views. Color legend: green (RV direct flow), yellow (RV retained inflow), blue (RV delayed ejection flow), red (RV residual volume).

Complexation of Zn(II) ions by cyclam cored dendrimers appended with four (G0), eight (G1) and 16 naphthyl chromophores (G2) at the periphery have been investigated in CH₃CN-CH₂Cl₂ 1 : 1 (v/v) solution by absorption and emission, ESI-mass and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The results obtained can be interpreted by the formation of complexes of 2 : 1 dendrimer to metal stoichiometry, at low metal ion concentration, and 1 : 1 complexes upon further addition of Zn(II) ions, for all the dendrimer generations. Upon addition of a molecular clip C²⁻ consisting of two anthracene sidewalls bridged by a benzene group with two sulfate substituents in the para positions, heteroleptic complexes of general formula [GnZnC] are formed. Interestingly, in these complexes, a very efficient quenching (practically 100%) of the dendrimer naphthyl luminescence and sensitization (ca. 90%) of the clip anthracene emission take place. The complex [G2ZnC] exhibits a very high molar absorption coefficient in the UV spectral region owing to the 16 naphthyl chromophores of the dendrimer and the two anthracene units of the clip (ε = 1.7 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 263 nm). Furthermore, the excitation energy absorbed by the naphthyl chromophores is efficiently funneled to the two anthracene units of the clip, which emits in the blue spectral region.

AbstractDetermining the MR compatibility of medical implants and devices is becoming increasingly relevant. In most cases, the heating of conductive implants due to radiefrequency (RF) excitation pulses is measured by fluoroptic temperature sensors in relevant tests for approval. Another common method to determine these heating effects is MR thermometry using the proton resonance frequency. This method gives good results in homogeneous phantoms. However in many cases, technical shortcomings such as susceptibility artifacts prohibit exact proton resonance frequency thermometry near medical implants. Therefore, this work aimed at developing a fast T1‐based method which allows controlled MR‐related heating of a medical implant while simultaneously quantifying the spatial and temporal temperature distribution. To this end, an inversion recovery snapshot Fast Low‐Angle Shot (FLASH) sequence was modified with additional off‐resonant heating pulses. With an accelerated imaging method and a sliding‐window technique, every 7.6 s a new temperature map could be generated with a spatial in‐plane resolution of 2 mm. The temperature deviation from calculated temperature values to reference fluoroptic probe was found to be smaller than 1 K. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

AbstractCompact 1H NMR and Raman spectrometers were used for real‐time process monitoring of alcoholic fermentation in a continuous flow reactor. Yeast cells catalyzing the sucrose conversion were immobilized in alginate beads floating in the reactor. The spectrometers proved to be robust and could be easily attached to the reaction apparatus. As environmentally friendly analysis methods, 1H NMR and Raman spectroscopy were selected to match the resource‐ and energy‐saving process. Analyses took only a few seconds to minutes compared to chromatographic procedures and were, therefore, suitable for real‐time control realized as a feedback loop. Both compact spectrometers were successfully implemented online. Raman spectroscopy allowed for faster spectral acquisition and higher quantitative precision, NMR yielded more resolved signals thus higher specificity. By using the software Matlab for automated data loading and processing, relevant parameters such as the ethanol, glycerol, and sugar content could be easily obtained. The subsequent multivariate data analysis using partial linear least‐squares regression type 2 enabled the quantitative monitoring of all reactants within a single model in real time.

Low-carbon energy transitions aim to stay within a carbon budget that limits potential climate change to 2 °C - or well below - through a substantial growth in renewable energy sources alongside improved energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage. Current scenarios tend to overlook their low net energy returns compared to the existing fossil fuel infrastructure. Correcting from gross to net energy, we show that a low-carbon transition would probably lead to a 24-31% decline in net energy per capita by 2050, which implies a strong reversal of the recent rising trends of 0.5% per annum. Unless vast end-use efficiency savings can be achieved in the coming decades, current lifestyles might be impaired. To maintain the present net energy returns, solar and wind renewable power sources should grow two to three times faster than in other proposals. We suggest a new indicator, 'energy return on carbon', to assist in maximizing the net energy from the remaining carbon budget.

Osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis) of the femoral head is a clinical disease due to a severe bone vascular alteration associated with intense pain and loss of joint function, with an incidence of 0.1% and unknown aetiology. Many classifications exist to describe it and in the final stages the patient will need a total hip arthroplasty. In the early stages, ESWT has given excellent responses. The Neapolitan school studied more than 600 patients who had very good results in I and II stages of Ficat and Arlet Classification, with an improve of outcomes in VAS and HSS scores. Moreover it has shown a complete restoration of the signal intensity of the femoral head in MRI.

Aniline (benzenamine) is a very important substance used in industry even though it is classified as very toxic. The need for a practical solution to remove it from the environment is still a current topic. Aniline adsorption from water solution was evaluated using low-cost, magnetically responsive adsorbents of different type (plant derived materials, microbial and algae biomass, carbon-based and inorganic materials). Magnetic modification, based on the deposition of magnetic iron oxide particles on material surface, enabled rapid adsorbent separation from the analyzed solutions. Carbon-based materials including activated charcoal and biochars exhibited the best adsorption properties. Biochar pyrolysis temperature substantially influenced its affinity for aniline adsorption. Maximum adsorption capacity for magnetically modified spruce biochar pyrolyzed at 1200 °C was 75.7 mg/g.