The versatility in design of redox flow batteries makes them apt to efficiently store energy in large-scale applications at low cost. The discovery of inexpensive organic electroactive materials for ...use in aqueous flow battery electrolytes is highly attractive, but is thus far limited. Here we report on a flow battery using an aqueous electrolyte based on the sodium salt of flavin mononucleotide. Flavins are highly versatile electroactive molecules, which catalyse a multitude of redox reactions in biological systems. We use nicotinamide (vitamin B3) as a hydrotropic agent to enhance the water solubility of flavin mononucleotide. A redox flow battery using flavin mononucleotide negative and ferrocyanide positive electrolytes in strong base shows stable cycling performance, with over 99% capacity retention over the course of 100 cycles. We hypothesize that this is enabled due to the oxidized and reduced forms of FMN-Na being stabilized by resonance structures.
This work provides insight regarding the fundamental lithiation and delithiation mechanism of the popular lithium ion battery anode material, Li4Ti5O12 (LTO). Our results quantify the extent of ...reaction between Li4Ti5O12 and Li7Ti5O12 at the nanoscale, during the first cycle. Lithium titanate’s discharge (lithiation) and charge (delithiation) reactions are notoriously difficult to characterize due to the zero-strain transition occurring between the end members Li4Ti5O12 and Li7Ti5O12. Interestingly, however, the latter compound is electronically conductive, while the former is an insulator. We take advantage of this critical property difference by using conductive atomic force microscopy (c-AFM) to locally monitor the phase transition between the two structures at various states of charge. To do so, we perform ex situ characterization on electrochemically cycled LTO thin-films that are never exposed to air. We provide direct confirmation of the manner in which the reaction occurs, which proceeds via percolation channels within single grains. We complement scanning probe analyses with an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study that identifies and explains changes in the LTO surface structure and composition. In addition, we provide a computational analysis to describe the unique electronic differences between LTO and its lithiated form.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Recent measurements of preequilibrium neutron and proton transverse emission from (112,124)Sn+(112,124)Sn reactions at 50 MeV/A have been completed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron ...Laboratory. Free nucleon transverse emission ratios are compared to those of A=3 mirror nuclei. Comparisons are made to Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (BUU) transport calculations and conclusions concerning the density dependence of the asymmetry term of the nuclear equation of state at subnuclear densities are made. Comparison to BUU model predictions indicate a density dependence of the asymmetry energy that is closer to a form in which the asymmetry energy increases as the square root of the density for the density region studied. A coalescent-invariant analysis is introduced as a means of reducing suggested difficulties with cluster emission in total nucleon emission.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is an invasive psyllid introduced into the Mediterranean area, where it affects several species of Eucalyptus. Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek ...(Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a specialized parasitoid of this psyllid that was accidentally introduced into Italy in 2011. We developed a model of this host–parasitoid system that accounts for the influence of environmental conditions on the G. brimblecombei population dynamics and P. bliteus parasitism rates in the natural ecosystem. The Lotka–Volterra-based model predicts non-constant host growth and parasitoid mortality rates in association with variation in environmental conditions. The model was tested by analyzing sampling data collected in Naples in 2011 (before the parasitoid was present) and defining several environmental patterns, termed Temperature-Rain or T-R patterns, which correspond to the host growth rate. A mean value of the host growth rate was assigned to each T-R pattern, as well as a variation of the parasitoid mortality rate based on temperature thresholds. The proposed model was applied in simulation tests related to T-R patterns carried out with a data series sampled between June 2014 and July 2015 in five Italian sites located in Campania, Lazio, Sicily, and Sardinia regions. The simulation results showed that the proposed model provides an accurate approximation of population trends, although oscillation details may not be apparent. Results predict a 64% reduction in G. brimblecombei population density owing to P. bliteus parasitoid activity. Our results are discussed with respect to features of the host–parasitoid interaction that could be exploited in future biological control programs.
We report on first experimental observations of nuclear fermionic and bosonic components displaying different behaviours in the decay of hot Ca projectile-like sources produced in mid-peripheral ...collisions at sub-Fermi energies. The experimental setup, constituted by the coupling of the INDRA 4π detector array to the forward angle VAMOS magnetic spectrometer, allowed to reconstruct the mass, charge and excitation energy of the decaying hot projectile-like sources. By means of quantum-fluctuation analysis techniques, temperatures and local partial densities of bosons and fermions could be correlated to the excitation energy of the reconstructed system. The results are consistent with the production of dilute mixed systems of bosons and fermions, where bosons experience higher phase-space and energy density as compared to the surrounding fermionic gas. Our findings recall phenomena observed in the study of Bose condensates and Fermi gases in atomic traps despite the different scales.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
RadioLab is an Italian project, addressed to school-age people, and designed for the dissemination of scientific culture on the theme of environmental radioactivity, with particular regards to the ...importance of knowledge of radon gas exposure. The project is a nationwide initiative promoted by the National Institute of Nuclear Physics- INFN. First tool used by the project, and of immediate impact to assess the public awareness on radon, is the administration of the survey "do you know the radon gas?". In the survey, together with the knowledge of radon and of its sources, information on personal, cultural and territorial details regarding the interviewees are also taken. Reasonably, the survey invests not only young people, but also their relatives, school workers and, gradually, the public. The survey is administrated during exhibitions or outreach events devoted to schools, but also open to the public. The survey is in dual form: printed and online. The online mode clearly leads RadioLab project even outside the school environment. Based on the results of the survey, several statistical analyses have been performed and many conclusions are drawn about the knowledge of the population on the radon risk. The RadioLab benefit and the requirement to carry on the project goals, spreading awareness of environmental radioactivity from radon, emerge. The dataset involves all twenty Italian regions and consists of 28,612 entries covering the 5-year period 2018-2022.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Daratumumab (DARA) is a human IgG-K monoclonal antibody (MoAb) targeting CD38 that is approved alone or in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone or lenalidomide and dexamethasone for relapsed ...or refractory MM (RRMM) in patients previously exposed or double refractory to proteasome inhibitors (PI) and immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs). However, there are limited data on its clinical activity and tolerability in real-world patients. Therefore, in the present study, we aim to determine the efficacy and toxicity profile of daratumumab in a real-life setting. In this study, we report the experience of the multiple myeloma GIMEMA Lazio Group in 62 relapsed/refractory MM patients treated with daratumumab as monotherapy who had previously received at least two treatment lines including a PI and an IMiDs or had been double refractory. Patients received DARA 16 mg/kg intravenously weekly for 8 weeks, every 2 weeks for 16 weeks, and every 4 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The overall response rate to daratumumab was 46%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival reached 2.7 and 22.4 months, respectively. DARA was generally well tolerated; however, 2 patients interrupted their therapy due to adverse events. Present real-life experience confirms that DARA monotherapy is an effective strategy for heavily pre-treated and refractory patients with multiple myeloma, with a favorable safety profile.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Using symmetric 112Sn+112Sn, 124Sn+124Sn collisions as references, we probe isospin diffusion in peripheral asymmetric 112Sn+124Sn, 124Sn+112Sn systems at an incident energy of E/A=50 MeV. Isoscaling ...analyses imply that the quasiprojectile and quasitarget in these collisions do not achieve isospin equilibrium, permitting an assessment of isospin transport rates. We find that comparisons between isospin sensitive experimental and theoretical observables, using suitably chosen scaled ratios, permit investigation of the density dependence of the asymmetry term of the nuclear equation of state.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
The possible damaging effects on human health of inhaled radon and its decay products are of interest to workers and the public. In particular, radon in thermal environments often occurs in high ...concentrations. Therefore, investigations and remedial actions are important to reduce activity concentration values and associated risk. This work concerns the analysis of two surveys of radon gas activity concentration carried out in 2006/2007 and 2019/2020 at twenty thermal spas on the island of Ischia (Italy). Annual measurements were carried out in workplaces located in the basement and ground floor using passive CR-39 detectors. In the spas involved in both surveys, the effectiveness of the remedial actions, implemented by the owners, was assessed obtaining an average percentage reduction of 74%. Considerations were made about the annual effective dose, and the location of the spas taking into account the geological setting of the volcanic nature of the island.
•Indoor radon survey in twenty thermal spas in Ischia island.•Effectiveness of remedial action of 74% implementing ventilation rate.•Radon activity concentration and annual effective dose calculation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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