Search

The article provides information on the experience of individuals with urostomy, highlighting the physical, psychological, and social impact of urostomy creation. The qualitative literature review reveals main themes: daily life, body image, sexuality, and information/education/support.

The Raman spectroscopic characterization of the orthorhombic phase of Cs2RuO4 was carried out by means of group theory and quantum chemical analysis. Multiple models based on ruthenate (VI+) tetrahedra were tested, and characterization of all the active Raman modes was achieved. A comparison of Raman spectra of Cs2RuO4, Cs2MoO4, and Cs2WO4 was also performed. Raman laser heating induced a phase transition from an ordered to a disordered structure. The temperature-phase transition was calculated from the anti-Stokes/Stokes ratio and compared with the ones measured at macroscopic scale. The phase transition is connected with tilting and/or rotations of RuO4 tetrahedra, which lead to a disorder at the RuO4 sites. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laser heating technique is employed to study the melting behaviour of cerium dioxide, CeO2, a refractory compound with very high oxygen pressure. The strong tendency of cerium dioxide to reduce to hypostoichiometric compounds, even in the presence of trace amounts of oxygen, leads to discrepancies in the measured melting temperature depending on whether an oxidising, neutral or reducing atmosphere is used during the experiment. The purpose of this study is to measure the melting temperature of initially stoichiometric Ce O2 under different controlled atmospheres: reducing or oxidizing. A high pressure cell was used to limit the oxygen losses while measuring the melting behaviour of initially stoichiometric cerium dioxide samples. The results confirm a strong influence of the atmosphere on the melting temperature: when reducing conditions were simulated a melting temperature of (2675 ± 47) K was measured, in oxidizing conditions it was measured (2743 ± 33) K. The measured values are in line with existing literature data obtained under different conditions. Only under a high buffer gas pressure. He at 15 MPa the highest reported temperature of 3000 K was observed here, although with poor repeatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The presence of sulfur in radioactive waste to be incorporated in borosilicate glasses entails difficulties mainly due to the relatively low solubility of sulfates in the vitreous phase. In this work a study is presented on the effects of the ratio R =[Na2O]/[B2O3], the type of sulfate added and the addition of V2O5 on the incorporation of sulfates in borosilicate glasses. Glass samples were prepared at the laboratory scale (up to 50–100g) by melting oxide and sulfate powders under air in Pt/Au crucibles. XRF and ICP/AES chemical analysis, SEM/EDS, microprobe WDS and Raman spectroscopy were employed to characterize the fabricated samples. The main experimental results confirm that the incorporation of sulfates in borosilicate glasses is favored by the network depolymerization, which evolves with the ratio R. The addition of V2O5 seems to accelerate the kinetics of sulfur incorporation in the glass and, probably, increase the sulfate solubility by modifying the borate network and fostering the formation of voids of shape and size compatible with the sulfur coordination polyhedron in the glassy network. The kinetics of X2SO4 incorporation in the glass seems to be slower when X=Cs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Measures the melting point of uranium dioxide as a function of isostatic pressure in an autoclave filled with helium. Application on containerless laser surface-heating to measure the melting point by thermal arrest measurements during sample cooling; Analysis of pertinent topics and relevant issues; Implications on studies of thermophysics.

In this article we focus on female genital mutilation. We analyse this problem as one of the most important issues of multiculturalism, which is also coming to the attention of the public in Italy as a consequence of the growing number of immigrants from African countries. The fundamental problem is about the acceptability of this practice: can female genital mutilation be permitted and, if so, on what basis? We will try to cope with this as a genuine conflict between culture-relative values and universal values, such as human rights. Some attention will be drawn to Italian law. Finally, the impact on nurses of requests for genital mutilation will be described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reflect upon the meaning of freedom and autonomy in nursing behaviour, attempting to outline the contemporary situation of nursing in Italy, where the profession is achieving important results after a long period of submission and subordination. The way to real emancipation is not easy, but a statement of law on the one hand - abolishing constraints such as the Mansionario - and professional self-regulation on the other - the recent new Deontological Code - represent a real conquest in that direction. However, no statement of law or deontology can be sufficient without deeper reflection by the profession on itself and its tasks, potentiality, social importance and self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enthalpy increment data for the (Th,U)O 2 and (U,Pu)O 2 solid solutions are reviewed and complemented with new experimental data (400–1773 K) and many-body potential model simulations. The results of the review show that from room temperature up to about 2000 K the enthalpy data are in agreement with the additivity rule (Neumann-Kopp) in the whole composition range. Above 2000 K the effect of Oxygen Frenkel Pair (OFP) formation leads to an excess enthalpy (heat capacity) that is modeled using the enthalpy and entropy of OFP formation from the end-members. A good agreement with existing experimental work is observed, and a reasonable agreement with the results of the many-body potential model, which indicate the presence of the diffuse Bredig (superionic) transition that is not found in the experimental enthalpy increment data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed oxides of uranium and plutonium U 1-y Pu y O 2-x are currently studied as reference fuel for Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFRs). To predict the margin to fuel melting, an accurate description of both solidus and liquidus temperatures of these materials is crucial. In this work, after a critical review of the literature data, the parameters of the liquid phase of the CALPHAD models of the Pu–O and U–Pu–O systems are reassessed based on the model of Guéneau et al.. A good agreement between the calculated and selected experimental data is obtained. Using this model, the melting behaviour of U 1-y Pu y O 2±x oxides is then studied as a function of plutonium content and oxygen stoichiometry. The congruent melting for the mixed oxides is found to be shifted towards low O/M ratios compared to the end-members (UO 1.97 and PuO 1.95). The temperature of this congruent melting is nearly constant (3130–3140 K) along a ternary phase boundary from UO 1.98 to U 0.55 Pu 0.45 O 1.82 and then decreases with Pu content to a maximum of approximately 3040 K for PuO 1.95. This observation is explained by the stabilisation of the hypo-stoichiometric mixed oxides due to the increase of the configurational entropy at high temperatures by the formation of oxygen vacancies and related cation mixing. The influence of the atmosphere used in the laser heating melting experiments on the oxygen stoichiometry of the sample and its solidus and liquidus temperatures is investigated. The determination of this O/M ratio after laser melting tests using XANES is also reported. The simultaneous presence of U6+, U5+, U4+, Pu3+ and Pu4+ is observed, highlighting the occurrence of charge compensation mechanisms. The samples are highly oxidised in air whereas close to stoichiometry (O/M = 2.00) in argon. These results are in agreement with the computed solidification paths. This work illustrates the complex melting behaviour of the U 1-y Pu y O 2±x fuels and highlights the need for the CALPHAD method to accurately describe and predict the high-temperature transitions of the U–Pu–O system. • New CALPHAD models of the liquid phase of the Pu–O and U–Pu–O systems are developed. • Cationic distributions and O/M ratios of molten samples were determined by XANES. • A congruent-melting line is predicted for O/M < 2.00 with the stabilisation of the oxide. • The formation of oxygen vacancies and the reduction of plutonium stabilises the oxide. • The O/M ratio evolution is described during cooling from the melt to room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal properties of Np- and Am-MOX solid solution materials were investigated. Their linear thermal expansion, determined using high temperature X-ray diffraction from room temperature to 1973 K showed no significant difference between the Np and the Am doped MOX. The thermal conductivity of the Am-MOX is about 10% higher than that of Np-MOX. The melting temperatures of Np-MOX and Am-MOX, measured using a laser heating self crucible arrangement were 3020 ± 30 K and 3005 ± 30 K, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assure the safety of oxide-fuel based nuclear reactors, the knowledge of the atomic-scale properties of U1−yMyO2±x materials is essential. These compounds show complex chemical properties, originating from the fact that actinides and rare earths may occur with different oxidation states. In these mostly ionic materials, aliovalent cationic configurations can induce changes in the oxygen stoichiometry, with dramatic effects on the properties of the fuel. First studies on U1−yAmyO2±x indicated that these materials exhibit particularly complex electronic and local-structure configurations. Here we present an in-depth study of these compounds, over a wide compositional domain, by combining XRD, XAS and Raman spectroscopy. We provide evidences of the co-existence of four different cations (U4+, U5+, Am3+, Am4+) in U1−yMyO2±x compounds, which nevertheless maintain the fluorite structure. Indeed, we show that the cationic sublattice is basically unaffected by the extreme multi-valence states, whereas complex defects are present in the oxygen sublattice. Metal oxidation state in complex actinide oxides may have drastic effects on material properties. Here, the authors use a range of techniques to analyse U1−yAmyO2±x and find that while multiple cations are present the fluorite structure is maintained albeit with complex defects in the oxygen sublattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermoelastic effects on the behaviour of subsecond laser heating experiments on UO 2 to temperatures approaching 3000 K are explored using a thermoelastic model coupling heat transport and large deformation hyperelasticity, with consideration of thermoelastic effects. A series of steady state experiments at temperatures up to ∼2600 K are conducted and used to calibrate heat loss models. A series of subsecond transient laser flash melting experiments are then conducted and simulated. Simulation results reproduce the observations well without tuning of the transient model. The importance of considering thermoelastic effects in modelling the behaviour of solid materials with temperature and stress gradients typical of laser flash heating experimentation is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]