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The formation of porous crystalline structures of a series of Zr-MOFs comprising two coligands (dimethyl-terphenylene and diphenylanthracene dicarboxylates, TP and DPA, respectively) with varying ratios offered the opportunity to investigate systematically the modulation of the accessible pore volumes. These MOF structures exhibit large octahedral cavities of common diameter, while the tetrahedral cavity sizes vary in the series and are gradually reduced with increasing anthracene-based ligand. At low loadings, xenon atoms concentrate in the most energetically favorable corners of the tetrahedral cavities. The application of multiple investigation techniques, such as synchrotron-radiation X-ray diffraction of Xe-loaded crystalline powders, Xe adsorption isotherms, and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations, allows for determining gas location and interaction energy with the pore walls. The remarkable Xe adsorption energy of 25.4 kJ/mol at low coverage was obtained for the more effective confinement-sites of homoligand Zr-DPA. Additionally, hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR chemical shifts, collected at very low Xe partial pressure (2% Xe dilution), increased from 78.5 to 94.0 ppm, with increasing DPA ligand content. GCMC sorption simulations of the gas mixture with the same composition as that used for the hyperpolarized NMR experiments show remarkable Xe capture and 99% Xe located in the tetrahedral corners.

Background: In our study, we aimed to test the efficacy and safety of Trans-Perineal Laser Ablation of the prostate (TPLA®) in the surgical treatment of high-risk Benign Prostatic Obstruction (BPO) patients. Methods: We defined a high-risk BPO patient as an elderly man affected by severe comorbidities, among which coagulation issues due to pre-existent medications or diseases. From October 2020 to June 2022, we prospectively enrolled high-risk patients affected by a moderate to severe and/or complicated BPO condition. The analysis of the efficacy of the Trans-Perineal Laser Ablation was defined as the primary endpoint of the study. Secondary endpoints were post-operative surgical complications and patient-reported quality of life. Results: Globally, 40 consecutive patients were enrolled. Median (IQR) age was 80 (72.5–84) years. Median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 6 (5–7). Median prostate volume was 38 (30.5–73) cc. In all cases, a TPLA® procedure was performed under local anesthesia, and patients being discharged within the same day of the procedure. A progressive reduction of median prostate volumes was reported at 3 and 6 months post-operatively, compared to baseline [38 (30.5–73) vs 35 (26–49) vs 34 (28–49) cc, p< 0.001]. Median International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) improved accordingly [25 (19–30) vs 10.5 (7.5–13) vs 8 (6–11.5), p< 0.001]. A permanent bladder catheter was successfully removed in 13 out of 23 (56.5%) cases. Within 90 days from surgery, 19 (47.5%) patients experienced at least one surgical complication. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, complications were classified as grade I in 16 (40%) cases, grade II in 9 (22.5%), and grade III in 1 (2.5%). We did not observe any grade IV or V complications. Conclusions: The Trans-Perineal Laser Ablation of the Prostate is a feasible, safe, and effective Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique, when offered to elderly, high-risk patients affected by severe Benign Prostatic Obstruction.

The High-Luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) foresees the replacement of magnets around the interaction points of the ATLAS and CMS experiments. One of these is the recombination dipole MBRD (Main Bending Recombination Dipole), or D2. It consists of a cosine-theta magnet, double aperture with same polarity, wound with a Nb-Ti Rutherford cable, featuring a central field of 4.5 T, a magnetic length of 7.78 m and a 105 mm bore (diameter). In this paper we present the test results of the full-length prototype with a special focus on the mechanical measurements. The prototype has been instrumented with tens of strain gauges to monitor the mechanical behaviour and to allow for a comparison to the finite elements model of the magnet, to achieve a firm interpretation of the collected data in view of the series construction. In this contribution, the most important collected data will be shown, and compared with simulations results, giving a precise description of the mechanical performances of the prototype, with an outlook to the construction of the series magnets.

The High-Luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) (Todesco et al., 2021) foresees the replacement of the magnets around the interaction points of the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN. One of the new magnets is the separation-recombination dipole, also called Main Bending Recombination Dipole (MBRD)(Caiffi et al., 2021), (Levi et al., 2022) in the D2 cryomagnet assembly. It consists of a cosine-theta, double aperture with same polarity, winded with a Nb-Ti Rutherford cable, with a central field of 4.5 T and a magnetic length of 7.78 m, which generates an integrated magnetic field of 35 Tm, inside of a bore 105 mm in diameter. The magnet is a collaborative effort with a design and production follow up by INFN Genova, production by ASG Superconductors, cold mass assembly and test by CERN. One 1.6 m short model and a full-scale prototype have been fully tested, while four series magnets and 2 spares are currently being built. To cope with a stored energy of 2.2 MJ in the single layer magnet, the quench heater technology has been optimized and dimensioned to limit the hot spot temperature to 300 K. This paper will describe the design choices for the tested protection scheme and the results obtained by the test, including failure case studies. The data will be compared to the STEAM-LEDET (Ravaioli et al., 2016) simulations and used to further validate the modeling parameters. With the obtained results from the tests and from modeling, the protection scheme has been validated and will be applied in the series magnet production.

The Main Bending Recombination Dipole (MBRD), or D2, is one of the magnets foreseen by the High-Luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). D2 features a double aperture, Nb-Ti, cos $\theta$ dipole, with a central field of 4.5 T for a length of 7.78 m, hence with an integrated magnetic field of 35 T$\cdot$ m, in a 105 mm bore. The project includes the fabrication of a 1.6 m long model, a full-length prototype and six series magnets, two of which are spare. Till now, the short model and the prototype have been successfully constructed and tested in 2020 and 2023, while the series magnets are presently under manufacturing and the warm magnetic measurements of the first built magnet were performed at the end of July 2023. This contribution will report the final field quality analysis of the prototype and the preliminary one of the series magnets, including results of the first measurements at room temperature (RT), a comparison with the ROXIE simulations and the expected field quality at operating conditions.

Since 1978, when the CELLO magnet was manufactured, superconducting detector magnets have been wound using NbTi based, Aluminum stabilized conductors. However, other choices are possible and Magnesium Diboride (MgB2) could be an attractive alternative. Magnets wound with MgB2 can be operated at relatively high temperature (10 to 20 K), therefore increasing the cryogenics efficiency. Efficiency is not the only advantage in using MgB2 instead of NbTi: higher operating temperature and higher temperature margin lead to higher enthalpy margin, which means very stable magnets. In addition, MgB2 is much cheaper respect to High Temperature Superconductors. The cost comparison between Al stabilized NbTi magnets and MgB2 magnets must be made considering the entire fabrication process.

As part of the high-luminosity upgrade of CERN LHC accelerator project, the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) in Genoa, Italy, has developed the MBRD separation-recombination dipole, also known as D2, whose function is to bring beams into collision before and after the interaction regions of the CMS and ATLAS experiments. It is a NbTi cos-theta double aperture dipole that generates a 4.5 T field in a 105 mm aperture, with a magnetic length of 7.78 m, and has the specific feature that the magnetic field in the two apertures is oriented in the same direction. The agreements between INFN and CERN, signed in 2016 and 2020, called for the construction of a short model, 1.6 m long, a prototype of final size, and the six series magnets, four of which are to be installed in the tunnel and two spare. After an international tender, the construction of all magnets was awarded to ASG Superconductors. The short model was successfully tested at CERN in a vertical cryostat in August 2020, reaching nominal current after three quenches in the second thermal cycle, validating most of the mechanical, thermal, and electrical design and providing important insights into the improvements that were implemented in the prototype. Testing of the D2 cold mass prototype was performed in October 2022. Its performance was found to be extremely good, with no quenches below nominal current even in the first thermal cycle and showing excellent operating margin in terms of current, ramp rate, and temperature. Although the series magnets were designed to be identical to the prototype, some modifications and tuning improvements, including a small cross-sectional refinement, were implemented and assessed with the construction of the first magnet in the series. This contribution reports all the activities that, based on the short model and prototype experience, led us to the construction of the first series magnet.

The access to the offshore wind resource in the deep sea requires the development of innovative solutions which reduce the cost of energy. Novel technologies propose the hybrid combination of wind and wave energy to improve the synergy between these technologies sharing costs, such as mooring and electrical connexion. This work proposes a novel hybrid wind and wave energy system integrating a floating offshore wind turbine with three-point absorbers wave energy converters (WECs). The WECs are an integral part of the floating structure and contribute significantly to the hydrostatic and dynamic stability of the system. Their geometry is optimised considering a cylindrical, semi-cylindrical and spherical shape for the Pantelleria case study. The cylindrical shape with the largest radius and the lowest height is the optimal solution in terms of reducing structural costs and maximising the performance of the WECs. The in-house hydrostatic stability tool and the time domain model MOST are used to optimise the WECs, with a combined meta-heuristic genetic algorithm with the Kriging surrogate model and a local Nelder–Mead optimization in the final simulations. The power of the WECs is estimated with both linear and variable motor flow hydraulic PTOs to obtain a more realistic electrical power generation. Generally, the hybrid device proved to be more competitive than the floating wind turbine alone, with a LCOE reduction up to 11%. Performance of the hybrid device can be further improved when more energetic sites are considered, as the energy generated by the WECs is higher.

Mineralization by MgO is an attractive potential strategy for direct air capture (DAC) of CO2due to its tendency to form carbonate phases upon exposure to water and CO2. Hydration of MgO during this process is typically assumed to not be rate limiting, even at ambient temperatures. However, surface passivation by hydrated phases likely reduces the CO2capture capacity. Here, we examine the initial hydration reactions that occur on MgO(100) surfaces to determine whether they could potentially impact CO2uptake. We first used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to explore changes in reaction layers in water (pH = 6 and 12) and MgO-saturated solution (pH = 11) and found the reaction layers on MgO are heterogeneous and nonuniform. To determine how relative humidity (R.H.) affects reactivity, we reacted samples at room temperature in nominally dry N2(∼11–12% R.H.) for up to 12 h, in humid (>95% R.H.) N2for 5, 10, and 15 min, and in air at 33 and 75% R.H. for 8 days. X-ray reflectivity and electron microscopy analysis of the samples reveal that hydrated phases form rapidly upon exposure to humid air, but the growth of the hydrated reaction layer slows after its initial formation. Reaction layer thickness is strongly correlated with R.H., with denser reaction layers forming in 75% R.H. compared with 33% R.H. or nominally dry N2. The reaction layers are likely amorphous or poorly crystalline based on grazing incidence X-ray diffraction measurements. After exposure to 75% R.H. in air for 8 days, the reaction layer increases in density as compared to the sample reacted in humid N2for 5–15 min. This may represent an initial step toward the crystallization of the reaction layer. Overall, high R.H. favors the formation of a hydrated, disordered layer on MgO. Based on our results, DAC in a location with a higher R.H. will be favorable, but growth may slow significantly from initial rates even on short timescales, presumably due to surface passivation.

The reduction of Green House Gases (GHGs) emissions has been the top priority of the European Union (EU) in recent times. The increase in use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) to combat climate change is viable only with the use of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) to power them. Since the Paris Agreement in 2015, the integration of RESs into the charging infrastructure has increased in the EU. The increasing market share of EVs in various categories has called for immediate changes in the EV charging infrastructure and in the operation of charging hubs. This paper aims to present an Energy Management System (EMS) to efficiently manage an EV charging hub fed by RESs, reducing the daily costs of operation and GHG emissions. The mathematical model of the EMS is developed in Matlab as a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model. The MILP-based EMS is applied to the real-world case of an innovative EV charging hub located in the Ligurian region of Italy and the results of the optimization are reported.

This paper proposes a mixed-integer linear programming optimization model used to define an energy management system tailored for nanogrids in buildings, integrating renewable energy sources, battery energy storage systems and task-executing autonomous mobile robots. Focused on a nanogrid to be realised at the Savona Campus of the University of Genoa, the energy management system optimizes power flows and robot task scheduling in order to minimize the operating costs, the curtailment of the photovoltaic source and the number of unperformed tasks. Its novelty lies in combining energy and task planning constraints, offering significant potential for sustainable building energy management.

The integration of distributed energy resources in the power grid supposes a great challenge, considering the expected growing in the electric mobility and the renewable generation. Therefore, to support the successful deployment of these resources, energy management according to the expected behaviors of the elements of power grids is required. In this sense, the probabilistic forecasting methods are gaining acceptance, as they provide richer information than deterministic methods thanks to the consideration of expected probabilities. One of their problems is that the application of metrics for choosing the best models is not simple, depending on the objective of the type of probabilistic prediction that must be performed. In this paper, diverse types of forecasting are performed, and two possible approaches for selecting interval forecasting models are compared in a case study centered on the Smart Polygeneration Microgrid (SPM) located on the Savona Campus of University of Genova (Italy). The results show that, for the machine learning models that were tested, it is better to obtain a model for each of the different types of forecasting that are required (quantiles, and the prediction intervals) to have better-quality predictions. The average improvement on the quality of the tested prediction intervals for the three forecasted variables were a 27.40%, 7.39%, and 28.65% in their Winkler score respectively.

The increase of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in low-voltage distribution networks (LVDN) requires accurate phase topology information of single-phase users. However, this information is not always available or, when it is, is often unreliable. Although there are methods in the literature for the automatic phase topology identification in LVDN, the influence of DERs on their performance has not been widely studied. In this paper, an evaluation of the influence of DERs in phase topology identification is presented. Five DER penetration scenarios (0%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 40%) over a LVDN with 459 users were used. A total of three state-of-the-art methods from the literature were tested. All of them showed an accuracy decrease when DER penetration increases. However, the one proposed by the authors showed the smallest decrease (from 100% without DER to 95.87% with 40% DER penetration) compared to the others, which showed a greater influence (from 99.76% to 89.81% and from 97.77% to 52.67% respectively).

Gosling, Rentfrow, and Swann (2003) developed the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) to meet the need of very short measures of the Big Five for time-limited contexts or large survey questionnaires. In this paper we show the inadequacy of the Italian version downloadable from Gosling’s website and we report the results of four studies in which the psychometric properties of a revised version (I-TIPI-R) were investigated in student and general population samples. This new version showed adequate factor structure, test-retest reliability, self-observer agreement and convergent and discriminant validity with the Big Five Inventory (BFI). Moreover, I-TIPI-R and BFI scores did not differ in their correlations with measures of affect, self-esteem, optimism, emotion regulation, and social desirability. Overall, the results suggest that the I-TIPI-R can be considered a valid and reliable alternative to the BFI for the assessment of basic personality traits when very short measures are needed.

BackgroundThe periprocedural antithrombotic regimen might affect the risk-benefit profile of emergent carotid artery stenting (eCAS) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to tandem lesions, especially after intravenous thrombolysis. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of antithrombotics following eCAS.MethodsWe followed PRISMA guidelines and searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus from January 1, 2004 to November 30, 2022 for studies evaluating eCAS in tandem occlusion. The primary endpoint was 90-day good functional outcome. Secondary outcomes were symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, in-stent thrombosis, delayed stent thrombosis, and successful recanalization. Meta-analysis of proportions and meta-analysis of odds ratios were implemented.Results34 studies with 1658 patients were included. We found that the use of no antiplatelets (noAPT), single antiplatelet (SAPT), dual antiplatelets (DAPT), or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI) yielded similar rates of good functional outcomes, with a marginal benefit of GPI over SAPT (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.35, Pheterogeneity=0.31). Sensitivity analysis and meta-regression excluded a significant impact of intravenous thrombolysis and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS). We observed no increase in symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) with DAPT or GPI compared with noAPT or SAPT. We also found similar rates of delayed stent thrombosis across groups, with acute in-stent thrombosis showing marginal, non-significant benefits from GPI and DAPT over SAPT and noAPT.ConclusionsIn AIS due to tandem occlusion, the periprocedural antithrombotic regimen of eCAS seems to have a marginal effect on good functional outcome. Overall, high intensity antithrombotic therapy may provide a marginal benefit on good functional outcome and carotid stent patency without a significant increase in risk of sICH.

We use the QCD sum rules for the three-point correlation functions to compute the strong coupling constants of the meson vertices J/ψDs∗Ds∗. Using the QCD sum rules, we obtain the form factor of the vertex, the coupling constant, and the cut off parameter. Uncertainties are included. The results obtained for the coupling constants are gJ/ψDs∗Ds∗=7.47−0.71+1.04..

The quest for advancing science and technology continues with the Future Circular Collider (FCC), which requires 16 T bending dipoles to be installed along its 100 km tunnel to achieve a center-of-mass energy of 100 TeV, in its hadron-hadron version. The promising Nb$_{3}$Sn technology for superconducting magnets presents a potential solution for large-scale production. In line with this, the European strategy for particle physics has urged for increased efforts in High Field Magnet R&D, specifically in constructing demonstrators for Nb$_{3}$Sn technology. To address this call, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) and CERN entered into an agreement to build a 1.5 m long cos-theta dipole in Nb$_{3}$Sn, called Falcon Dipole (The Future Accelerator post-LHC Cos-theta Optimized Nb$_{3}$Sn Dipole). The project aims to consolidate the fabrication process for Nb$_{3}$Sn superconducting dipoles in the 12–14 T range, engaging industry partners in the initial stages of the R&D phase. This article provides a recall of the magnet design features and highlights the progress made in the development activities. Critical processes like the reaction treatment and the impregnation are discussed, with an emphasis on the test outcomes and the challenges faced. By taking these into account, plans for the production of the coils for the final configuration can be effectively formulated.

The Future Circular Collider in hadron-hadron configuration (FCC-hh) is one of the main options for the post-LHC era of particle accelerator. The project led by CERN aims to build a 100 km-long collider with 100 TeV of center-of-mass energy, using bending dipoles able to achieve a bore field $>$14 T. The Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) and CERN are collaborating to construct a Nb$_{3}$Sn cos-theta dipole model, to increase the R&D efforts for high-field superconducting magnets technology, according to the updated European Strategy for Particle Physics. Here we give an update on the intense design activity, and we report the results of the first winding trials performed with a dummy conductor, to experimentally validate the magnet design and start the iterative process to optimize the manufacturing method. The results of the first winding tests are shown in the paper, focusing on the impact of the coiling procedure on the mechanical behavior of the unreacted Nb$_{3}$Sn Rutherford cable.

As part of the research project called FCC-hh led by CERN, which aims to study the possibility of building a new 100 TeV center of mass energy particle collider along an 80-100 km circumference tunnel, there are many collaborations underway to test different designs for the main bending dipole of the collider. One of these collaborations involves INFN, the Italian Institute of Nuclear Physics, which has been working on the cos $\theta$ design until 2019 as part of the European EuroCirCol project. This study consisted of a conceptual design of a 16 T, double-aperture, four-layer dipole made of Nb$_{3}$ Sn. Considering the challenge that such a cutting-edge magnet represents, this conceptual design resulted in a 5-year agreement between INFN and CERN in order to study and build a 1.5 m long, single aperture, cos $\theta$, Nb$_{3}$ Sn dipole with a target magnetic field of 12 T. This project is called the Future Accelerator post-LHC Cos $\theta$ Optimized Nb$_{3}$ Sn Dipole (or FalconD for short). In this paper we present the mechanical analysis of this project after some major cross-sectional upgrades that have impacted the design by easing the assembly phase. One of the most challenging aspects of this design is its mechanical structure that must handle the intense magnetic forces generated by such a high magnetic field. The mechanical structure is based on the “bladder & key” (B&K) concept and it has never been adopted before in a cos$\theta$ dipole, so it needs to be validated. This contribution presents the 2D FEM of the FalconD, showing the mechanical behavior of the magnet during each construction step.

Understanding the sorption behavior of ions at the mineral–water interface is important to determine the fate of elements in the environment. Here, we used barite to understand metal and organic molecule interactions with ionic crystals as organic molecules are used to remove scale that can form during oil recovery in sulfate-rich settings. The sorption behavior of strontium (Sr) on the (001) surface in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was measured using in situ specular X-ray reflectivity (XR) and resonant anomalous X-ray reflectivity (RAXR). Based on the XR results, the presence of EDTA disrupts the barite surface structure, particularly that of the top two monolayers. A maximum of 0.7 (±0.2) EDTA molecules per surface unit cell are adsorbed, though the exact amount cannot be distinguished from that of other adsorbed species, such as Ba2+and H2O. Based on the RAXR results, the presence of EDTA inhibits Sr incorporation into the barite surface and binds with Sr in solution to limit the amount of Sr2+in solution. The Sr-EDTA2–complex then binds with barium ions at the barite surface, presumably in a bi-nuclear, bi-dentate state. Desorption of the Sr was also measured in the presence of EDTA. The desorption experiments show that ∼75% of the sorbed strontium was removed following extended reactions with EDTA and deionized water. There were minimal changes in the surface structure following desorption measurements implying that changes following Sr sorption in the presence of EDTA may be irreversible.

Objectives: With increased bicycle use during the COVID-19 pandemic and growing availability of bicycle-sharing programs in Montreal, we hypothesize helmet use has decreased. The aim of this study was to evaluate helmet use and proper fit among Montreal cyclists during the pandemic relative to historical data. Methods: Nine observers collected data on bike type, gender, helmet use, and ethnicity using the iHelmet© app at 18 locations across the island of Montreal from June to September 2021. Proper helmet wear was assessed at one busy location. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with helmet wear and results were compared to a historical study. Results: Of the 2200 cyclists observed, 1109 (50.4%) wore a helmet. Males (OR = 0.78, 95%CI = 0.65–0.95), young adults (OR = 0.65, 95%CI = 0.51–0.84), visible minorities (OR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.28–0.53), and bike-share users (OR = 0.21, 95%CI = 0.15–0.28) were less likely to be wearing a helmet, whereas children (OR = 3.92, 95%CI = 2.17–7.08) and cyclists using racing bicycles (OR = 3.84, 95%CI = 2.62–5.62) were more likely to be wearing a helmet. The majority (139/213; 65.3%) of assessed cyclists wore properly fitting helmets. Children had the lowest odds of having a properly fitted helmet (OR = 0.13, 95%CI = 0.04–0.41). Compared to 2011, helmet use during the pandemic increased significantly (1109/2200 (50.4%) vs. 2192/4789 (45.8%); p= 0.032). Conclusion: Helmet use among Montreal cyclists was associated with age, gender, ethnicity, and type of bicycle. Children were least likely to have a properly fitted helmet. The recent increase in popularity of cycling and expansion of bicycle-sharing programs reinforce the need for bicycle helmet awareness initiatives, legislation, and funding prioritization.

BackgroundThe benefit, safety, and time intervals of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with in-hospital stroke (IHS) are unclear. We sought to evaluate the outcomes and treatment times for IHS patients compared with out-of-hospital stroke (OHS) patients receiving MT.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Italian Registry of Endovascular Treatment in Acute Stroke (IRETAS) between 2015 and 2019. We compared the functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores) at 3 months, recanalization rates, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) after MT. Time intervals from stroke onset-to-imaging, onset-to-groin, and onset-to-end MT were recorded for both groups, as were door-to-imaging and door-to-groin for OHS. A multivariate analysis was performed.ResultsOf 5619 patients, 406 (7.2%) had IHS. At 3 months, IHS patients had a lower rate of mRS 0–2 (39% vs 48%, P<0.001) and higher mortality (30.1% vs 19.6%, P<0.001). Recanalization rates and sICH were similar. Time intervals (min, median (IQR)) from stroke onset-to-imaging, onset-to-groin, and onset-to-end MT were favorable for IHS (60 (34–106) vs 123 (89–188.5); 150 (105–220) vs 220 (168–294); 227 (164–303) vs 293 (230–370); all P<0.001), whereas OHS had lower door-to-imaging and door-to-groin times compared with stroke onset-to-imaging and onset-to-groin for IHS (29 (20–44) vs 60 (34–106), P<0.001; 113 (84–151) vs 150 (105–220); P<0.001). After adjustment, IHS was associated with higher mortality (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.35, P<0.001) and a shift towards worse functional outcomes in the ordinal analysis (aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.66, P=0.015).ConclusionDespite favorable time intervals for MT, IHS patients had worse functional outcomes than OHS patients. Delays in IHS management were detected.

Natural and anthropogenic gas radionuclides such as radon, xenon, hydrogen and krypton isotopes must be monitored to be managed as pathogenic agents, radioactive diagnostic agents or nuclear activity indicators. State-of-the-art detectors based on liquid scintillators suffer from laborious preparation and limited solubility for gases, which affect the accuracy of the measurements. The actual challenge is to find solid scintillating materials simultaneously capable of concentrating radioactive gases and efficiently producing visible light revealed with high sensitivity. The high porosity, combined with the use of scintillating building blocks in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), offers the possibility to satisfy these requisites. We demonstrate the capability of a hafnium-based MOF incorporating dicarboxy-9,10-diphenylanthracene as a scintillating conjugated ligand to detect gas radionuclides. Metal–organic frameworks show fast scintillation, a fluorescence yield of ∼40%, and accessible porosity suitable for hosting noble gas atoms and ions. Adsorption and detection of 85Kr, 222Rn and 3H radionuclides are explored through a newly developed device that is based on a time coincidence technique. Metal–organic framework crystalline powder demonstrated an improved sensitivity, showing a linear response down to a radioactivity value below 1 kBq m−3for 85Kr, which outperforms commercial devices. These results support the possible use of scintillating porous MOFs to fabricate sensitive detectors of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides.

The interactions of heavy metals with minerals influence the mobility and bioavailability of toxic elements in natural aqueous environments. The sorption of heavy metals on covalently bonded minerals is generally well described by surface complexation models (SCMs). However, understanding sorption on sparingly soluble minerals is challenging because of the dynamically evolving chemistry of sorbent surfaces. The interpretation can be even more complicated when multiple metal ions compete for sorption. In the present study, we observed synergistically enhanced uptake of lead and selenate on the barite (001) surface through two sorption mechanisms: lattice incorporation that dominates at lower coverages and two-dimensional monolayer growth that dominates at higher coverages. We also observed a systematic increase in the sorption affinity with increasing co-sorbed ion coverages, different from the assumption of invariant binding constants for individual adsorption processes in classical SCMs. Computational simulations showed thermodynamically favorable co-incorporation of lead and selenate by simultaneously substituting for barium and sulfate in neighboring sites, resulting in the formation of molecular clusters that locally match the net dimension of the substrate lattice. These results emphasize the importance of ion–ion interactions at mineral–water interfaces that control the fate and transport of contaminants in the environment.

Sicily ranks as the third-largest region in Italy for olive growing and olive oil production, holding the second position nationally regarding the number of active olive oil mills. This pioneering study integrates spatial and economic analyses to examine the geographical distribution of olive oil mills in Sicily and their relationship with the localization of olive groves. Using Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), we conducted an advanced analysis of spatial patterns of olive oil mills, considering travel time on the road network. The adopted methodology addresses issues related to overestimation based on straight-line assumptions and the neglect of travel speed. Unlike traditional Euclidean distance approaches, our methodology provides a detailed understanding of the spatial relationships between olive oil mills and olive groves, revealing distinct patterns linked to elevation and proximity to olive groves. By linking profitability indicators with spatial clusters, we identify different thresholds of economic sustainability. Consequently, these findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the olive oil industry, suggesting more environmentally sustainable practices. Policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders can leverage this knowledge to make informed decisions that foster the long-term sustainability of the olive oil sector.

In his 1905 paper on relativity theory, Albert Einstein acknowledged the importance of what we call below “first-order relativity” (in V / c ). Our aim with this paper is first to revisit the origin of “first-order relativity” which began with Fresnel’s problem regarding Arago’s prism experiment. Then, we emphasize the historical importance of the 1895 Lorentz Transformations, based on the explanation they provide of the impossibility of detecting the Earth’s motion through the ether, as well as their acceptance by the scientific community, and their “relativistic” interpretation given in 1900 by Henri Poincare. Finally, we show that a better understanding of these transformations and of their physical consequences (especially length contraction) allows us to bring retrospectively a new look to Einstein’s 1911-1912 introduction of a spatially flat metric.

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are a rapidly developing technology, but still, need to gain economic competitiveness to obtain market acceptance. The reduction of the structural cost of the floating platform represents one of the main targets to reach an optimal design in the initial design process. This paper proposes an efficient optimisation tool that could be applied to any floating wind turbine to optimise the main geometry design parameters. In this study, the OC3 spar buoy concept is considered as an example, where the stability and dynamic performance of the device are verified using hydrostatic and time-domain computations. The numerical simulations are solved using an in-house MATLAB code that uses Salome-Meca to create the mesh and obtain hydrostatic and dynamic properties of the platform, Nemoh to calculate the hydrodynamic coefficients and an aero-hydro-servo Simscape model for the time-domain simulation. The main geometry design parameters of the buoy are optimised using a genetic algorithm in combination with the Kriging surrogate model to minimise the buoy’s structural cost while ensuring the spar’s performance. The optimal design reduces the cost by two to three times the worst configuration of the design space and there is also a 25% cost reduction between the most and the least restrictive optimal cases. The optimal design results demonstrate the hydrostatic constraints’ significance over the dynamic ones as they mostly influence the feasible design area. However, the results of this work could only be specific to the design case considered, and careful consideration should be given to other types of geometries. The optimisation approach presented is particularly important as it is flexible and can be adapted to other platforms.

The performance of offshore floating wind turbines (OFWTs) is affected by the movement along the 6 Degrees of Freedom (DOFs), which is caused by the combined influence of wind and waves. Particularly, interesting is the pitching motion, which can lead to significant changes in aerodynamic and net generated power. This paper analyzes the influence of pitching motion on the net generated power, considering for the first time in literature the OFWT control systems (blade pitch and generator controller). An in-house model based on the Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory is used, in which sinusoidal pitch movements characterized by different values of amplitude, frequency and offset are imposed. In this way, it is possible to evaluate the influence of these three parameters on the extracted power at different values of wind speed. Results identify in the pitch amplitude and frequency the most significant variables for variations in OFWT power output, and that the influence of pitch oscillation on the average extracted power considerably varies at different wind conditions.

Compared to onshore wind power, floating offshore wind power is a promising renewable energy source due to higher wind speeds and larger suitable available areas. However, costs are still too high compared to onshore wind power. In general, the economic viability of offshore wind technology decreases with greater water depth and distance from shore. Floating wind platforms are more competitive compared to fixed offshore structures above a certain water depth, but there is still great variety and no clear design convergence. Therefore, optimisation of the floating support structure in the preliminary phase of the design process is still of great importance, often up to personal experience and sensibility. It is fundamental that a suitable optimisation approach is chosen to obtain meaningful results at early development stages. This review provides a comparative overview of the methods, numerical tools and optimisation approaches that can be used with respect to the conceptual design of the support structure for Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) attempting to detail the limitations preventing the convergence to an optimal floating support structure. This work is intended to be as a reference for any researcher and developer that would like to optimise the support platform for FOWT.