131,491 research outputs found

    Ionizing radiation compatibility in the MITICA neutral beam prototype

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    This paper deals with an R&D activity in progress in support of the design of the ITER NBI prototype (MITICA), aimed at the identification of the most appropriate design solutions and installation guidelines to keep under control and minimize the effects of ionizing radiation on the electronic and passive components related to control, diagnostics, and electrical insulation located inside the MITICA vessel and its concrete biological shield. The method followed to approach the problem is based on three steps: estimation of expected radiation levels map, identification of electronic and passive components database for MITICA diagnostics and finally the assessment of the ionizing radiation compatibility for the identified components. The ultimate aim of this activity is the definition, on the basis of this assessment, of a list of preventive or mitigating actions (such as relocation, shielding or preventive maintenance) for the most high-risk components. (C) 2011 S. Peruzzo. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

    MeSH term explosion and author rank improve expert recommendations

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    Information overload is an often-cited phenomenon that reduces the productivity, efficiency and efficacy of scientists. One challenge for scientists is to find appropriate collaborators in their research. The literature describes various solutions to the problem of expertise location, but most current approaches do not appear to be very suitable for expert recommendations in biomedical research. In this study, we present the development and initial evaluation of a vector space model-based algorithm to calculate researcher similarity using four inputs: 1) MeSH terms of publications; 2) MeSH terms and author rank; 3) exploded MeSH terms; and 4) exploded MeSH terms and author rank. We developed and evaluated the algorithm using a data set of 17,525 authors and their 22,542 papers. On average, our algorithms correctly predicted 2.5 of the top 5/10 coauthors of individual scientists. Exploded MeSH and author rank outperformed all other algorithms in accuracy, followed closely by MeSH and author rank. Our results show that the accuracy of MeSH term-based matching can be enhanced with other metadata such as author rank

    Miocene andalusite leucogranite in Central-East Himalaya (Everest-Masang Kang area): low-pressure melting during heating.

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    The studied Miocene andalusite-bearing leucogranites intrude the upper part of the High Himalayan Crystallines (HHC) and the north Himalayan domes and outcrop in an area stretching from Mt. Everest to the Kula Khangri massif (Bhutan) towards the east. The leucogranites constitute both dykes as well as sills and parts of larger andalusite-free leucogranite plutons (e.g., Makalu). They represent mainly of two-mica muscovite+biotite± tourmaline±cordierite±andalusite±sillimanite±dumortierite) leucogranite, and tourmaline muscovite+tourmaline±biotite± andalusite±sillimanite±garnet± kyanite±spinel±corundum) leucogranites. Microstructures reveal several generations of andalusite (from residual/peritectic early magmatic to cotectic late magmatic), even in the same sample. The occurrence of residual and/or peritectic andalusite, together with inclusions of sillimanite+biotite in cordierite, indicates that melts formed by dehydration melting of biotite at T=660–700 °C during prograde heating at low-pressure conditions (Pbabout 400 MPa). According to current models, leucogranites are produced by dehydration melting of muscovite and/or biotite during exhumation of the HHC. In this case, micas are consumed in the sillimanite stability field. As a consequence, these models cannot explain the occurrence of residual and/or peritectic magmatic andalusite. Conditions for anatexis in the andalusite field may have been achieved by heat transfer within the exhuming (extruding) HHC, from structurally lower and hotter rocks towards upper and colder fertile lithologies

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Miocene andalusite leucogranite in central-east Himalaya (Everest–Masang Kang area): Low-pressure melting during heating

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    The studied Miocene andalusite-bearing leucogranites intrude the upper part of the High Himalayan Crystallines (HHC) and the north Himalayan domes and outcrop in an area stretching from Mt. Everest to the Kula Khangri massif (Bhutan) towards the east. The leucogranites constitute both dykes as well as sills and parts of larger andalusite-free leucogranite plutons (e.g., Makalu). They represent mainly of two-mica (muscovite + biotite ± tourmaline ± cordierite ± andalusite ± sillimanite ± dumortierite) leucogranite, and tourmaline (muscovite + tourmaline ± biotite ± andalusite ± sillimanite ± garnet ± kyanite ± spinel ± corundum) leucogranites. Microstructures reveal several generations of andalusite (from residual/peritectic early magmatic to cotectic late magmatic), even in the same sample. The occurrence of residual and/or peritectic andalusite, together with inclusions of sillimanite + biotite in cordierite, indicates that melts formed by dehydration melting of biotite at T = 660-700. °C during prograde heating at low-pressure conditions (P < about 400. MPa). According to current models, leucogranites are produced by dehydration melting of muscovite and/or biotite during exhumation of the HHC. In this case, micas are consumed in the sillimanite stability field. As a consequence, these models cannot explain the occurrence of residual and/or peritectic magmatic andalusite. Conditions for anatexis in the andalusite field may have been achieved by heat transfer within the exhuming (extruding) HHC, from structurally lower and hotter rocks towards upper and colder fertile lithologies

    Effects of environmental parameters and their interactions on the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 in North Italy under different social restrictions. A new approach based on multivariate analysis

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    In 2020 North Italy suffered the SARS-CoV-2-related pandemic with a high number of deaths and hospitalization. The effect of atmospheric parameters on the amount of hospital admissions (temperature, solar radiation, particulate matter, relative humidity and wind speed) is studied through about 8 months (May–December). Two periods are considered depending on different conditions: a) low incidence of COVID-19 and very few regulations concerning personal mobility and protection (“free/summer period”); b) increasing incidence of disease, social restrictions and use of personal protections (“confined/autumn period”). The “hospitalized people in medical area wards/100000 residents” was used as a reliable measure of COVID-19 spreading and load on the sanitary system. We developed a chemometric approach (multiple linear regression analysis) using the daily incidence of hospitalizations as a function of the single independent variables and of their products (interactions). Eight administrative domains were considered (altogether 26 million inhabitants) to account for relatively homogeneous territorial and social conditions. The obtained models very significantly match the daily variation of hospitalizations, during the two periods. Under the confined/autumn period, the effect of non-pharmacologic measures (social distances, personal protection, etc.) possibly attenuates the virus diffusion despite environmental factors. On the contrary, in the free/summer conditions the effects of atmospheric parameters are very significant through all the areas. Particulate matter matches the growth of hospitalizations in areas with low chronic particulate pollution. Fewer hospitalizations strongly correspond to higher temperature and solar radiation. Relative humidity plays the same role, but with a lesser extent. The interaction between solar radiation and high temperature is also highly significant and represents surprising evidence. The solar radiation alone and combined with high temperature exert an anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect, via both the direct inactivation of virions and the stimulation of vitamin D synthesis, improving immune system function

    "Closing the R&D Gap, Evaluating the Sources of R&D Spending"

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    Both spending and tax policies have been implemented in the United States with the goal of stimulating private sector research and development (R&D). Karier questions whether current R&D policy, especially the research and experimentation tax credit, can contribute to closing the gap between nondefense expenditures on R&D in the United States and such expenditures in other countries, such as Japan and Germany. He also explores possible changes to our current R&D policy to make it more effective.
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