The CUORE experiment, a ton-scale cryogenic bolometer array, recently began operation at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. The array represents a significant advancement in this ...technology, and in this work we apply it for the first time to a high-sensitivity search for a lepton-number-violating process: ^{130}Te neutrinoless double-beta decay. Examining a total TeO_{2} exposure of 86.3 kg yr, characterized by an effective energy resolution of (7.7±0.5) keV FWHM and a background in the region of interest of (0.014±0.002) counts/(keV kg yr), we find no evidence for neutrinoless double-beta decay. Including systematic uncertainties, we place a lower limit on the decay half-life of T_{1/2}^{0ν}(^{130}Te)>1.3×10^{25} yr (90% C.L.); the median statistical sensitivity of this search is 7.0×10^{24} yr. Combining this result with those of two earlier experiments, Cuoricino and CUORE-0, we find T_{1/2}^{0ν}(^{130}Te)>1.5×10^{25} yr (90% C.L.), which is the most stringent limit to date on this decay. Interpreting this result as a limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass, we find m_{ββ}<(110-520) meV, where the range reflects the nuclear matrix element estimates employed.
Purpose:
Between 55-65% of residents living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) experience dysphagia and are prescribed texture-modified diets by a speech-language pathologist (SLP). The aim ...of this study was to assess current adherence to prescribed texture modification for people with dysphagia; and explore barriers to implementation in a rural aged care setting.
Method:
Meal texture audits (N = 42) were completed with residents with dysphagia in a rural RACF who were prescribed texture-modified diets or fluids by a SLP. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with nursing and food preparation staff (N = 11) to identify barriers to implementation.
Result:
Mealtime texture audits identified that 54.8% (n = 23) of residents' food modification requirements were incorrectly documented in the manual entry database (kitchen form) and 64.3% (n = 27) of meal trays contained foods that did not meet residents' dysphagia management plans. Focus group data revealed seven main themes impacting on the ability of staff to implement prescribed texture-modified diets. Complicated processes and communication between nursing, food services and SLP staff were identified as major barriers. These were complicated further by time pressures experienced by staff as well as staffing issues, resourcing of the kitchen, accommodating individual dietary preferences and the variety/presentation of dietary options at the aged care facility.
Conclusion:
There was low adherence to SLP prescribed texture-modified diets and fluids in the participating rural RACF. This study identified major barriers to implementing SLP prescribed texture-modified diets including complicated processes, communication breakdowns, time pressures and limited staffing. Implementation of an online menu management system and regular dysphagia-specific training may address barriers to communication and complicated paper-based menu systems and should be a priority for health services to ensure adequate dysphagia management.
In this study, anode- and electrolyte-supported Ni-YSZ/YSZ/Pt solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are compared in terms of performance and carbon formation when operated on dry methane. Although ...anode-supported SOFCs are typically used in industry, electrolyte-supported cells may be required for certain laboratory experiments. Thermodynamic calculations were performed to calculate the equilibrium gas-phase composition. The measured open circuit voltages (OCV) in dry methane were 1.15
V and 0.92
V for anode- and electrolyte-supported cells, respectively. The difference in these OCV values reflects the different gas-phase compositions at the electrochemically active region of the two cell designs. The conduction layer in the anode-supported SOFC provides the catalytic sites to produce more hydrogen, which results in a higher OCV and a larger limiting current density. Over time, carbon is also produced and results in a higher degradation rate on the anode-supported cell. Carbon also forms on the electrolyte-supported cell but has less of a negative impact on the operation of the electrolyte-supported cell. Temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) studies indicate that the carbon formed in the conduction layer of an anode-supported cell is much more stable and difficult to remove than carbon formed on the functional layer.
The antibacterial activity and possible toxicity of graphene oxide and laser-irradiated graphene oxide (iGO) were investigated. Antibacterial activity was tested on Escherichia coli and shown to be ...higher for GO irradiated for at least three hours, which seems to be correlated to the resulting morphology of laser-treated GO and independent of the kind and amount of oxygen functionalities. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show a reduction of the GO flakes size after visible laser irradiation, preserving considerable oxygen content and degree of hydrophilicity. SEM images of the bacteria after the exposure to the iGO flakes confirm membrane damage after interaction with the laser-modified morphology of GO. In addition, a fish embryo toxicity test on zebrafish displayed that neither mortality nor sublethal effects were caused by the different iGO solutions, even when the concentration was increased up to four times higher than the one effective in reducing the bacteria survival. The antibacterial properties and the absence of toxicity make the visible laser irradiation of GO a promising option for water purification applications.
We propose a ground-breaking approach by an upside-down vision of the Au/TiO2 nano-system in order to obtain an enhanced photocatalytic response. The system was synthesized by wrapping Au ...nanoparticles (∼8 nm mean diameter) with a thin layer of TiO2 (∼4 nm thick). The novel idea of embedding Au nanoparticles with titanium dioxide takes advantage of the presence of metal nanoparticles, in terms of electron trapping, without losing any of the TiO2 exposed surface, so as to favor the photocatalytic performance of titanium dioxide. A complete structural characterization was made by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The remarkable photocatalytic performance together with the stability of the nano-system was demonstrated by degradation of the methylene blue dye in water. The non-toxicity of the nano-system was established by testing the effect of the material on the reproductive cycle of Mytilus galloprovincialis in an aquatic environment. The originally synthesized material was also compared to conventional TiO2 with Au nanoparticles on top. The latter system showed a dispersion of Au nanoparticles in the liquid environment, due to their instability in the aqueous solution that clearly represents an environmental contamination issue. Thus, the results show that nanometric TiO2 wrapping of Au nanoparticles has great potential in eco-friendly water/wastewater purification.
Anodic titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes were found to be highly active photocatalysts which can be used as templates for further modification in order to tailor their photocatalytic activity for a ...specific application. These photocatalysts possess a high surface area despite being supported, making them suitable candidates for water treatment as no post process recovery is required.
In this work, three different electrolyte compositions together with different process parameters were used to synthesise nanotube arrays having different morphologies. The mechanical and chemical stability together with their photocatalytic activity was studied following a twelve-week aging regimen. The nanotubular surfaces were exposed to flowing greywater under UV-VIS irradiation to simulate daylight. The mechanical and phase stability of the materials were found to be excellent with no degradation and change in crystalline structure being observed. The different morphologies provided different levels of resistance towards fouling with the nanotubes synthesised in the organic electrolyte being the most resistant surface. This resistance to fouling also resulted in the photocatalytic activity being sustained despite the forceful aging conditions. Overall, all the nanotube morphologies were stable making anodizing a suitable synthetic strategy to produce surfaces for real-life applications.
•Anodic nanotubes have been found to be extremely resistant to aging and deactivation following a 12-week aging.•High photocatalytic activities were retained despite the fouling of the surfaces.•Sustained antibacterial activities at the end of the aging experiment.•The inter-tube spaces act as catchment areas where debris can accumulate.•Nanotube layers obtained by anodic oxidation show promise for long term use in greywater treatment reactors.
The effect of the nanoparticles on the marine organisms, depends on their size, chemical composition, surface structure, solubility and shape. In order to take advantage from their activity, ...preserving the surrounding environment from a possible pollution, we are trying to trap the nanoparticles into new nanomaterials. The nanomaterials tested were synthesized proposing a ground-breaking approach by an upside-down vision of the Au/TiO2 nano-system to avoid the release of nanoparticles. The system was synthesized by wrapping Au nanoparticles with a thin layer of TiO2. The non-toxicity of the nano-system was established by testing the effect of the material on zebrafish larvae. Danio rerio o zebrafish was considered an excellent model for the environmental biomonitoring of aquatic environments and the Zebrafish Embryo Toxicity Test (ZFET) is considered an alternative method of animal test. For this reason zebrafish larvae were exposed to different concentrations of nanoparticles of TiO2 and Au and new nanomaterials. As biomarkers of exposure, we evaluated the expression of metallothioneins by immunohistochemistry analysis and western blotting analysis also. The results obtained by toxicity test showed that neither mortality as well as sublethal effects were induced by the different nanomaterials and nanoparticles tested. Only zebrafish larvae exposed to free Au nanoparticles showed a different response to anti-MT antibody. In fact, the immunolocalization analysis highlighted an increase of the metallothioneins synthesis.
Carbon deposition is an issue when operating solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) on fuels other than hydrogen, and so a variety of strategies have been used to prevent carbon accumulation on the anodes. In ...this paper, we describe a bilayer anode that contains a functional layer consisting of Ni/YSZ and a conduction layer consisting of Cu/YSZ. The anode‐supported button cells were fabricated using a uni‐axially pressing technique to produce the anode, followed by impregnation with Cu. The cells were tested at 1,023 K in dry CH4 and their performance compared to that of a typical Ni/YSZ anode. The Cu does not catalyze the cracking of methane and as such less carbon deposits in the conduction layer resulting in anode stability for over 100 h. The limitation with using Cu in the anode is the temperature of operation.
PDF
