EXAFS and SAXS Investigation of Frozen Metal-Containing Reverse Micelles Dispersed in n-Heptane

DEBYE FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF SYNCHROTRON XRD DATA: STACKING FAULTS AND MICROSTRAINS IN SPHERICAL PALLADIUM CRYSTALLITES

Nanostructured gold catalysts for low temperature CO oxidation

Calibration of advanced Virgo and reconstruction of the gravitational wave signal h(t) during the observing run O2

In August 2017, Advanced Virgo joined Advanced LIGO for the end of the O2 run, leading to the first gravitational waves detections with the three-detector network. This paper describes the Advanced Virgo calibration and the gravitational wave strain h(t) reconstruction during O2. The methods are the same as the ones developed for the initial Virgo detector and have already been described in previous publications, this paper summarizes the differences and emphasis is put on estimating systematic uncertainties. Three versions of the h(t) signal have been computed for the Virgo O2 run, an online version and two post-run reprocessed versions with improved detector calibration and reconstruction…

An EPR method applied to the recognition of radiation quality.

Phenol compounds as new materials for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance dosimetry in clinical photon and electron beams,

In the last decades several research laboratories have shown an increasing interest aimed at extending the applicability of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) dosimetry to radiotherapy with different types of radiation beams. EPR is a spectroscopic method for investigating the structure and dynamics of such paramagnetic species. Free radicals are known to be produced when a compound is irradiated with ionizing radiations. The concentration of radiation-induced free radicals is proportional to the energy released inside in the medium and this allows for dosimetric measurements through EPR technique. The use of alanine as a dosimetric material gave the possibility to apply EPR spectroscopy…

Study of the ESR signal of ammonium tartrate dosimeters exposed to various radiation beams.

Size-controlled magnetic nanoparticles in surfactant-rich thin films: a combined EXAFS, SAXS, AFM and MFM study

Comparison of EPR response of pure alanine and alanine with gadolinium dosimeters exposed to TRIGA Mainz reactor

The development of Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT) for cancer treatments has stimulated the research for beam characterization in order to optimize the therapy procedures. The NCT has found to be promising for treatments of tumours which hardly can be treated with other techniques, such as gliomas. Alongside with the improvements of this technique, the development of procedures for the beam characterization arouses great interest in order to optimize the therapy protocol by reliably determining the various (neutronic and photonic) components of the mixed beam usually employed for therapy. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) dosimetry for electron and photon beams with alanine has attracted …

The gadolinium as a powerful additive for enhancing the neutron sensitivity of ESR dosimeters.

Correction: Circulating insulin-like growth factor-1: A new clue in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration [Aging (Albany NY), 10 (2018) (4241-4247)] DOI:10.18632/aging.101727

circulating insulin like

Effect of conditioned media from osteo- and adipo-differentiating mesenchymal stem cells on triple negative MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells

It is know that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) actively secretemultiple biologically-active factors during their process of differentiation which gives rise to a variey of cytotypes including bone and fatcells. It is also acknowledged that the chemokines secreted throughoutMSC differentiation may play an important role in the development and growth of tumor cells, although literature data appear somewhat indeterminate due to the contradictory evidence often found.

Caratterizzazione dosimetrica della facility a neutroni termici del reattore TRIGA di Pavia: studio della dose da fotoni mediante rivelatori ESR di alanina

The optimization of the procedures of Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT) for cancer treatments involves research for beam characterization. One major issue for this therapy is the reliable dosimetric determination of the various (neutronic and photonic) components of the employed beam. In particular, the precise and accurate measurements of the gamma photon component is fundamental for evaluating the risks to healthy tissues hit by the mixed field. Among solid state dosimeters the alanine detectors read by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) technique present several advantages such as: tissue equivalence for photon and electron beams, linearity of its dose-response over a wide range, high sta…

Determinazione della componente gamma nella colone termica del reattore TRIGA di Pavia tramite Dosimetri ESR di alanina

Negli ultimi anni il crescente interesse verso la radioterapia a cattura neutronica (internazionalmente nota come Neutron Capture Therapy - NCT) per il trattamento di neoplasie ha stimolato diverse attività di ricerca finalizzate alla caratterizzazione del fascio utilizzato e all'ottimizzazione delle procedure radioterapiche. Tra i vari sistemi dosimetrici trovano largo impiego i rivelatori a stato solido ESR (Risonanza di Spin Elettronico) a base di alanina che presentano diversi vantaggi come la tessuto equivalenza, la linearità della risposta in un ampio intervallo di dose, l'elevata stabilità dei radicali liberi radioindotti, la non distruttività della lettura del dosimetro e il basso c…

Dopant-matrix interaction in solid oxide electrolytes and electrodes

Materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are extensively investigated aiming at achieving better performances and device durability in view of the hopefully next implementation of hydrogen technology for the production of energy. This contribution deals with the structural aspects of the interaction of dopants with the solid matrix, either for electrodes or electrolytes. The report concerns materials that are likely fit for implementation, such as ceria-based electrolytes and mixed-oxide electrodes. However, in view of the importance of achieving a deeper insight in the mechanism of solid-state O2- conduction, results about Bi2O3 compounds are also reported. Finally, the host matrix-dopa…

Search for intermediate mass black hole binaries in the first and second observing runs of the Advanced LIGO and Virgo network

Gravitational wave astronomy has been firmly established with the detection of gravitational waves from the merger of ten stellar mass binary black holes and a neutron star binary. This paper reports on the all-sky search for gravitational waves from intermediate mass black hole binaries in the first and second observing runs of the Advanced LIGO and Virgo network. The search uses three independent algorithms: two based on matched filtering of the data with waveform templates of gravitational wave signals from compact binaries, and a third, model-independent algorithm that employs no signal model for the incoming signal. No intermediate mass black hole binary event was detected in this sear…

Calcolo dei livelli di dose gamma e dei livelli di radon dovuta ai materiali da costruzione

La radioattività delle famiglie di radionuclidi naturali contenuti nei materiali da costruzione è responsabile in una certa misura dell'equivalente di dose riferibile al fondo naturale delle radiazioni. Tale radioattività contribuisce a due fattori di dose: la dose gamma esterna e la dose alfa interna legata all'introduzione e all'accumulo del radon nonché ad un contributo dovuto all’inalazione di polveri nelle quali le concentrazioni dei capostipiti naturali sono alte. I materiali da costruzione sono la sorgente principale del rateo di dose gamma nelle abitazioni. Tutti gli edifici in pietra contengono nuclei radioattivi come 226Ra, 232Th e 40K. É noto che i livelli di radon sono legati al…

“Preferential oxidation (PROX) of CO in the presence of H2 over gold catalysts: support effect”

“Supported gold catalysrts for methane combustion: effect of support and preparation method”,

Analisi dei vetri di orologi tramite risonanza paramagnetica elettronica (EPR) e termoluminescenza (TL) per dosimetria retrospettiva

Negli ultimi anni è cresciuto il rischio di esposizioni radiologiche non controllate della popolazione, sia a causa di incidenti associati ad applicazioni industriali e mediche delle radiazioni ionizzanti sia in seguito ad incidenti legati all’abbandono o alla dismissione di sorgenti ma anche ad un uso criminale di materiale radioattivo [1–3]. Gli effetti biologici prodotti dalle radiazioni ionizzanti dipendono fortemente dalla quantità di energia impartita per unità di massa (dose assorbita) [4]. Pertanto, nell’ambito di un incidente radiologico, disporre di procedure di ricostruzione della dose assorbita da un individuo può contribuire oltre che ad identificare i membri della popolazione …

GW190412: Observation of a binary-black-hole coalescence with asymmetric masses

LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration: et al.

Mesoscopic self-organisation of magnetic Cobalt-based nanofibers and nanoclusters in surfactant matrix

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES SUPPORTED ON CERIA

Visual and Hearing Impairment Are Associated With Delirium in Hospitalized Patients: Results of a Multisite Prevalence Study

Objective: Sensory deficits are important risk factors for delirium but have been investigated in single-center studies and single clinical settings. This multicenter study aims to evaluate the association between hearing and visual impairment or bi-sensory impairment (visual and hearing impairment) and delirium. Design: Cross-sectional study nested in the 2017 "Delirium Day" project. Setting and participants: Patients 65 years and older admitted to acute hospital medical wards, emergency departments, rehabilitation wards, nursing homes, and hospices in Italy. Methods: Delirium was assessed with the 4AT (a short tool for delirium assessment) and sensory deficits with a clinical evaluation. …

Nuovi composti fenolici per la dosimetria a risonanza di spin elettronico (ESR) in campo misto neutroni-gamma

Search for Gravitational Waves Associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected by Fermi and Swift during the LIGO-Virgo Run O3a

Abbott, R., et al. (LIGO and VIRGO Collaboration)

Electronic modifications in (Ba,La)(Fe,Zn,Y)O3−δ unveiled by oxygen K-edge X-ray Raman scattering

Oxides with mixed protonic-electronic conductivity are relevant as oxygen electrodes for protonic ceramic fuel cells and electrolyzers. We investigate the modification of the electronic structure of (Ba,La)(Fe,Zn,Y)O3−δ when iron is partially replaced by Zn2+ or Y3+ and when it changes between 3+ and 4+ formal oxidation states. With a combination of X-ray Raman scattering (O K-edge) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (Fe, Zn, and Y K-edges) and the corresponding simulations reproducing the spectroscopic data, we quantitatively analyze the degree of covalency of the Fe-O bonds in reduced (Fe mainly 3+) and oxidized (Fe mainly 4+) materials. The simulations employ two semi-empirical par…

Dosimetry to Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) using organic compounds (alanine and ammonium tartrate) for mixed neutron-gamma fields

Alongside with the development of Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT) and the use of thermal neutrons for radiotherapeutic purposes, many efforts have been devoted to the characterization of the beam in order to optimize therapy procedures. Reliable dose measurements should be able to determine the various (neutrons and photonic) components of the mixed beam usually employed for therapy. This paper studies the effect of additives such as Boric and Gadolinium nuclei on the sensitivity of neutron organic (alanine and ammonium tartrate) dosimeters analyzed through Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) technique. These dosimeters were exposed to a mixed (neutron-gamma) field mainly composed of thermal neutro…

Vascular risk factors in glaucoma: The results of a national survey

Background The role of vascular risk factors in glaucoma is still being debated. To assess the importance of vascular risk factors in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), data from the medical history of 2,879 POAG patients and 973 age-matched controls were collected and analyzed. Methods Design: observational survey. Setting: 35 Italian academic centers. Study population: POAG patients and age-matched controls. In order to reduce bias consecutive patients were included. Observation procedures: data concerning vascular risk factors were collected for all patients with a detailed questionnaire. A complete ophthalmological examination with assessment of intraocular pressure (IOP)…

Structural characterization of frozen n-heptane solutions of metal-containing reverse micelles

The microstructure of temperature-quenched solutions of reverse micelles formed by sodium, cobalt, ytterbium, and cobalt/ytterbium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate in n-heptane has been investigated by SAXS and EXAFS. Some changes in the X-ray absorption spectra with respect to the same systems at room temperature have been observed. The analysis of the SAXS spectra leads to the hypothesis that at 77 K the closed spherical structure of reverse micelles is retained and that during the temperature quench they undergo a clustering process involving the transition from a quite random dispersion to the formation of more or less large clusters of strongly packed reverse micelles. This behavior is …

Caratterizzazione del campo misto neutroni-gamma nella colonna termica del reattore TRIGA di Pavia tramite attivazione neutronica e rivelatori ad alanina

structural organization of the internal core of metal containing reverse micelles

Children with special health care needs attending emergency department in Italy: analysis of 3479 cases

Abstract Background Although children with special health care needs (CSHCN) represent a minority of the population, they go through more hospitalizations, more admissions to the Emergency Department (ED), and receive a major number of medical prescriptions, in comparison to general pediatric population. Objectives of the study were to determine the reasons for admission to the ED in Italian CSHCN, and to describe the association between patient’s demographic data, clinical history, and health services requirements. Methods Ad hoc web site was created to collect retrospective data of 3479 visits of CSHCN to the ED in 58 Italian Hospitals. Results Seventy-two percent of patients admitted to …

Phenol compounds for EPR dosimetry in radiation therapy

Search for Gravitational-wave Signals Associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts during the Second Observing Run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo

We present the results of targeted searches for gravitational-wave transients associated with gamma-ray bursts during the second observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo, which took place from 2016 November to 2017 August. We have analyzed 98 gamma-ray bursts using an unmodeled search method that searches for generic transient gravitational waves and 42 with a modeled search method that targets compact-binary mergers as progenitors of short gamma-ray bursts. Both methods clearly detect the previously reported binary merger signal GW170817, with p-values of <9.38 10-6 (modeled) and 3.1 10-4 (unmodeled). We do not find any significant evidence for gravitational-wave signals associate…

A Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor Search for Electromagnetic Signals Coincident with Gravitational-wave Candidates in Advanced LIGO's First Observing Run

We present a search for prompt gamma-ray counterparts to compact binary coalescence gravitational wave (GW) candidates from Advanced LIGO's first observing run (O1). As demonstrated by the multimessenger observations of GW170817/GRB 170817A, electromagnetic and GW observations provide complementary information about the astrophysical source and, in the case of weaker candidates, may strengthen the case for an astrophysical origin. Here we investigate low-significance GW candidates from the O1 compact-binary coalescence searches using the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM), leveraging its all-sky and broad energy coverage. Candidates are ranked and compared to background to measure signific…

Dry lecithin reversed micelles as biomebrane models: interaction with vitamin E

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy: evidence of Strong Metal Support Interaction (SMSI) in Pt ceria-zirconia catalysts

Uso della spettroscopia ESR per la caratterizzazione di composti fenolici irradiati con fasci clinici di fotoni ed elettroni

In the last decades several research laboratories have shown an increasing interest aimed at extending the applicability of Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) dosimetry to radiotherapy with different types of radiation beams. ESR is a spectroscopic method for investigating the structure and dynamics of such paramagnetic species. Free radicals are known to be produced when a compound is irradiated with ionizing radiations. The concentration of radiation-induced free radicals is proportional to the energy released inside in the medium and this allows for dosimetric measurements through ESR technique which able to quantitatively determine the radical concentration. The use of alanine as a dosimetri…

Search for GW signals associated with GRBs

We present the results of targeted searches for gravitational-wave transients associated with gamma-ray bursts during the second observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo, which took place from 2016 November to 2017 August. We have analyzed 98 gamma-ray bursts using an unmodeled search method that searches for generic transient gravitational waves and 42 with a modeled search method that targets compact-binary mergers as progenitors of short gamma-ray bursts. Both methods clearly detect the previously reported binary merger signal GW170817, with p-values of <9.38x10^-6^ (modeled) and 3.1x10^-4^ (unmodeled). We do not find any significant evidence for gravitational-wave signals assoc…