587 research outputs found
International Cooperation for Enhancing Nuclear Safety, Security, Safeguards and Non-proliferation
No full textThis open access book examines key aspects of international cooperation to enhance nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and nonproliferation, thereby assisting in development and maintenance of the verification regime and fostering progress toward a nuclear weapon-free world. Current challenges are discussed and attempts made to identify possible solutions and future improvements, considering scientific developments that have the potential to increase the effectiveness of implementation of international regimes, particularly in critical areas, technology foresight, and the ongoing evaluation of current capabilities
Multiband Multisine Excitation Signal for Online Impedance Spectroscopy of Battery Cells
No full textMultisine electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) represents a highly promising technique for the online characterization of battery functional states, offering the potential to monitor, in real-time, key degradation phenomena such as aging, internal resistance variation, and state of health (SoH) evolution. However, its widespread adoption in embedded systems is currently limited by the need to balance measurement accuracy with strict energy constraints and the requirement for short acquisition times. This work proposes a novel broadband EIS approach based on a multiband multisine excitation strategy in which the excitation signal spectrum is divided into multiple sub-bands that are sequentially explored. This enables the available energy to be concentrated on a limited portion of the spectrum at a time, thereby significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) without substantially increasing the total measurement time. The result is a more energy-efficient method that maintains high diagnostic precision. We further investigated the optimal design of these multiband multisine sequences, taking into account realistic constraints imposed by the sensing hardware such as limitations in excitation amplitude and noise level. The effectiveness of the proposed method was demonstrated within a comprehensive simulation framework implementing a complete impedance measurement system. Compared with conventional excitation techniques (i.e., the sine sweep and the classical single-band multisine methods), the proposed strategy is an optimal trade-off solution both in terms of energy efficiency and measurement time. Therefore, the technique is a valuable solution for real-time, embedded, and in situ battery diagnostics, with direct implications for the development of intelligent battery management systems (BMS), predictive maintenance, and enhanced safety in energy storage applications. © 2025 by the authors
Development of a numerical framework for the analysis of a multi-tone EIS measurement system
No full textThis paper describes an integrated co-simulation framework of circuital/behavioural/algorithmic type devoted to the design, simulation, and support to validation of a system of measurement based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for lithium-ion battery cells. The simulation framework comprises two main parts: a circuital simulator and a numerical environment. It allows the study of a generic system: in particular, it has been applied to analyze an EIS system as a whole without neglecting the effects of the hardware nonidealities on the software algorithm (through a direct connection between the circuital simulator and the numerical environment). A model is implemented inside the circuital simulator, replicating as accurately as possible an existing laboratory prototype devoted to EIS measurements. After the simulation of the prototype, the numerical environment executes an algorithmic elaboration to estimate impedance values for a lithium-ion battery. Throughout several simulations, it is possible to check the non-idealities of the prototype. The simulation framework identified and corrected a malfunction of the prototype available in the laboratory and thus permitted the implementation of a circuit with improved performance
Tau protein in cerebrospinal fluid: a new diagnostic and prognostic marker in Alzheimer disease?
No full textTau is the main protein of paired helical filaments. It can be detected and measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and for this reason it has been proposed as a possible in vivo marker of Alzheimer disease (AD). To evaluate the usefulness of CSF tau in the diagnosis of AD we measured it in patients with AD, frontal lobe dementia (FLD), vascular dementia (VD), and in healthy controls by means of a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Individuals with AD had significantly higher tau levels than FLD, VD, and controls. Individuals with late onset AD had significantly higher levels than those with early onset disease. In AD, CSF tau level did not correlate with age, duration, or severity of the disease, whereas a correlation with age was found in FLD and controls. In the nine AD patients in whom CSF tau measurement was repeated after 2 years, mean levels did not differ from baseline, although a worsening of cognitive performances occurred. The overlap among the different groups and the absence of any modification over time suggest that CSF tau measurement, more than in confirming or staging overt AD, might be useful in revealing the disease at its preclinical phase
Lyman break galaxies and the star formation rate of the Universe at z ~ 6
No full textWe determine the space density of UV-luminous starburst galaxies at z≈ 6 using deep HST ACS SDSS-i′ (F775W) and SDSS-z′ (F850LP) and VLT ISAAC J and Ks band imaging of the Chandra Deep Field South. We find eight galaxies and one star with (i′−z′) > 1.5 to a depth of z′AB= 25.6 (an 8σ detection in each of the 3 available ACS epochs). This corresponds to an unobscured star formation rate of ≈15 h−270 M⊙ yr−1 at z= 5.9, equivalent to L* for the Lyman-break population at z= 3–4 (ΩΛ= 0.7, ΩM= 0.3). We are sensitive to star-forming galaxies at 5.6 ≲z≲ 7.0 with an effective comoving volume of ≈1.8 × 105h−370 Mpc3 after accounting for incompleteness at the higher redshifts due to luminosity bias. This volume should encompass the primeval subgalactic-scale fragments of the progenitors of about a thousand L* galaxies at the current epoch. We determine a volume-averaged global star formation rate of (6.7 ± 2.7) × 10−4h70 M⊙ yr−1 Mpc−3 at z∼ 6 from rest-frame UV selected starbursts at the bright end of the luminosity function: this is a lower limit because of dust obscuration and galaxies below our sensitivity limit. This measurement shows that at z∼ 6 the star formation density at the bright end is a factor of ∼6 times less than that determined by Steidel et al. for a comparable sample of UV-selected galaxies at z= 3–4, and so extends our knowledge of the star formation history of the Universe to earlier times than previous work and into the epoch where reionization may have occurred
Risk of arterial thromboembolic events in patients with advanced colorectal cancer receiving bevacizumab
No full textBackground: Bevacizumab is an antiangiogenic mAb with efficacy against several cancers, but it is associated with risk of arterial thromboembolism (ATE). Further data are needed to determine the safety of bevacizumab. Patients and methods: We recorded grade 3, 4, or 5 ATE events and other data (including age, baseline cardiovascular risk factors, history of ATE, and aspirin use) from 471 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in the MAX (Mitomycin, Avastin, Xeloda) trial of capecitabine monotherapy versus capecitabine with bevacizumab with or without mitomycin C. Results: Bevacizumab-treated patients had 12 grade 3, 4, or 5 ATEs (3.8% incidence). ATEs occurred in 2.1% of patients >65 years, 5% of those with a history of ATE, and 5% of those with cardiac risk factors. Age, history of ATE, or vascular risk factors did not increase risk. Aspirin users had a higher incidence than nonusers (8.9% versus 2.7%) but had higher rates of vascular risk factors. Conclusions: Bevacizumab was associated with a modestly higher risk of ATE, but safety was not significantly worse in older patients or patients with a history of ATE or vascular risk factors. The effect of aspirin in preventing ATE in patients receiving bevacizumab could not be determined from this study.N. C. Tebbutt, F. Murphy, D. Zannino, K. Wilson, M. M. Cummins, E. Abdi, A. H. Strickland, R. M. Lowenthal, G. Marx, C. Karapetis, J. Shannon, D. Goldstein, S. S. Nayagam, R. Blum, L. Chantrill, R. J. Simes & T. J. Price on behalf of the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Grou
The star formation rate of the Universe atz≈ 6 from the Hubble ultra-Deep Field
No full textWe determine the abundance of i′-band dropouts in the recently released HST/ACS Hubble Ultra-Deep Field (UDF). Because the majority of these sources are likely to be z≈ 6 galaxies whose flux decrement between the F775W i′-band and F850LP z′-band arises from Lyman-α absorption, the number of detected candidates provides a valuable upper limit to the unextincted star formation rate at this redshift. We demonstrate that the increased depth of UDF enables us to reach an 8 σ limiting magnitude of z′AB= 28.5 (equivalent to 1.5 h−270 M⊙ yr−1 at z= 6.1, or 0.1 L⋆UV for the z≈ 3U-drop population), permitting us to address earlier ambiguities arising from the unobserved form of the luminosity function. We identify 54 galaxies (and only one star) at z′AB 1.3 over the deepest 11-arcmin2 portion of the UDF. The characteristic luminosity (L⋆) is consistent with values observed at z≈ 3. The faint end slope (α) is less well constrained, but is consistent with only modest evolution. The main change appears to be in the number density (Φ*). Specifically, and regardless of possible contamination from cool stars and lower-redshift sources, the UDF data support our previous result that the star formation rate at z≈ 6 was approximately six times less than at z≈ 3. This declining comoving star formation rate [0.005 h70 M⊙ yr−1 Mpc−3 at z≈ 6 at LUV > 0.1 L⋆ for a Salpeter initial mass function (IMF)] poses an interesting challenge for models which suggest that LUV > 0.1 L⋆ star-forming galaxies at z≃ 6 reionized the Universe. The short-fall in ionizing photons might be alleviated by galaxies fainter than our limit, or a radically different IMF. Alternatively, the bulk of reionization might have occurred at z≫ 6
Class of 1951 - February, Evening Section
No full textBailin, L. Block, E. E. Bourne, C. A. Carter, A. O. Chasin, M. Cohen, M. S. Davis, A. Deutsch, J. B. Easton, K. Fenner, M. L. Fintz, B. Gardner, H. R. Gold, M. Grossman, A. A. Grotas, I. Hillman, M. Huether, O. A. Hunter, E. J., Jr. Laird, J. R., Jr. Lewis, W. Lisante, N. J. Lowenstein, S. Lowenthal, C. I. Manos, M. Milana, J. P. Podolsky, J. Rosenzweig, I. Samitz, R. M. Schneider, J. Share, B. D. Shiffman, S. J. Sonenshine, W. Southall, R. A., Jr. Sparber, N. H. Spector, S. Stockman, W. Thau, M. Ulm, M. C.https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/bls_classphotos/1037/thumbnail.jp
Class of 1951 - February, Evening Section
No full textBailin, L. Block, E. E. Bourne, C. A. Carter, A. O. Chasin, M. Cohen, M. S. Davis, A. Deutsch, J. B. Easton, K. Fenner, M. L. Fintz, B. Gardner, H. R. Gold, M. Grossman, A. A. Grotas, I. Hillman, M. Huether, O. A. Hunter, E. J., Jr. Laird, J. R., Jr. Lewis, W. Lisante, N. J. Lowenstein, S. Lowenthal, C. I. Manos, M. Milana, J. P. Podolsky, J. Rosenzweig, I. Samitz, R. M. Schneider, J. Share, B. D. Shiffman, S. J. Sonenshine, W. Southall, R. A., Jr. Sparber, N. H. Spector, S. Stockman, W. Thau, M. Ulm, M. C.https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/bls_classphotos/1037/thumbnail.jp
Pooled analysis of recent studies on magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia
No full textBACKGROUND: Previous pooled analyses have reported an association between magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. We present a pooled analysis based on primary data from studies on residential magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia published after 2000. METHODS: Seven studies with a total of 10 865 cases and 12 853 controls were included. The main analysis focused on 24-h magnetic field measurements or calculated fields in residences. RESULTS: In the combined results, risk increased with increase in exposure, but the estimates were imprecise. The odds ratios for exposure categories of 0.1-0.2 mu T, 0.2-0.3 mu T and >= 0.3 mu T, compared with <0.1 mu T, were 1.07 (95% Cl 0.81-1.41), 1.16 (0.69-1.93) and 1.44 (0.88-2.36), respectively. Without the most influential study from Brazil, the odds ratios increased somewhat. An increasing trend was also suggested by a nonparametric analysis conducted using a generalised additive model. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are in line with previous pooled analyses showing an association between magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia. Overall, the association is weaker in the most recently conducted studies, but these studies are small and lack methodological improvements needed to resolve the apparent association. We conclude that recent studies on magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia do not alter the previous assessment that magnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic. British Journal of Cancer (2010) 103, 1128-1135. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605838 www.bjcancer.com (c) 2010 Cancer Research UKCHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA, a UK charityNIH NCI[CA016042]Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency[0390-041/2004 ANNEL
- …
