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A multi-partner project to determine the thermodynamic temperatures of a selected set of high-temperature fixed points based on metal-carbon eutectics is underway as a working group activity within the Comité International des Poids et Mesures. The investigation focuses on four fixed-point types, namely, the three metal-carbon eutectic points of Re-C $$(2474\,^{\circ }\hbox {C})$$ , Pt-C $$(1738\,^{\circ }\hbox {C})$$ , and Co-C $$(1324\,^{\circ }\hbox {C})$$ , and the Cu point $$(1084.62\,^{\circ }\hbox {C})$$ . This paper describes the construction, pre-evaluation, and screening stage of the cells prior to their thermodynamic temperature determinations. The construction of the HTFP cells was undertaken by nine national metrology institutes (NMIs) according to instructions laid out in a pre-agreed protocol that ensures production of best quality cells. Four NMIs conducted the evaluation, each for a certain fixed-point type, and screened out cells that did not meet pre-determined selection criteria while assuring sufficient variety in the sources of the cells in the final selected sets. In autumn 2012, the selected cells were successfully passed on to the final stage of the project, the thermodynamic temperature measurement, and assignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiometric techniques for temperature measurements are indispensable in industrial applications, particularly when the use of contact thermometers is hard or impossible to realize. The principles and realizations of some new and extended radiometric techniques for measuring the emissivity and temperature of an object are presented. Using the described techniques, the emissivity and temperature of an Inconel 600 sample at high temperatures in laboratory conditions were determined. The validation of the temperature measurement of the same sample in a simulated industrial condition is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zoeal development of the brachyuran crab, Palicus caronii, comprises two zoeal stages and the morphology is described and illustrated in detail. The zoeae were collected in plankton samples from the Southern Ligurian Sea (Western Mediterranean). Although the morphology of the larval stages of this species was unknown, a combination of characters allowed the zoeae to initially be assigned to the Palicidae, based on the previous unique known first zoeal description of one species of this family. Later, the identification of the larvae as Palicus caronii was confirmed through molecular analysis. The morphological features of the zoeae that characterize the Palicidae and separate them from the Crossotonotidae are confirmed. Also, the larval development comprising only two zoeal stages observed in Palicus caronii, the peculiar and uncommon carapace surface setation, and the presence of anterodorsal and posterodorsal sensory dorsal organs suggest that these characters could be common to the Palicoidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Rare earth elements (REEs) are central in several critical technologies; their use is constantly increasing as is their release into the environment. For this reason, it is important to investigate REE concentrations in different matrices to evaluate human exposure and environmental risk of these emerging contaminants. REEs were measured by ICP-MS in matrices of terrestrial (plant feed, fruit, honey, wildlife livers) and marine origin (seaweeds, zooplankton, bivalves, fish) collected from Northwestern Italy. Highest REE concentrations were measured at low trophic levels, both in terrestrial and marine environments, such as plants (ΣREE 1.8 mg kg−1) and seaweed (ΣREE 12 mg kg−1), the major source of exposure and transfer of REEs to food webs. REE concentrations were several orders of magnitude lower in fruit, honey, and livers from terrestrial wildlife, suggesting a negligible risk of exposure by these matrices. Marine biota, such as bivalves (ΣREE 0.16 mg kg−1) and fish (ΣREE 0.21 mg kg−1) may constitute a pathway for human or animal dietary exposure. The study confirmed that REEs have low potential for biomagnification, but instead are subject to trophic dilution. However, given the numerous sources of dietary introduction of REEs, they should be monitored for a possible harmful cumulative effect. Owing to the scarcity of data regarding REEs worldwide, our results contribute to assessment of the occurrence of these emerging contaminants. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Rare earth elements are emerging as contaminants worldwide. • REEs were detected by ICP-MS in terrestrial and marine matrices from NW Italy. • Plant and seaweed are major sources of exposure. • Marine samples showed higher ΣREE levels than terrestrial samples. • REEs were detectable in all sample types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Treatment-naïve patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are characterized by diffuse abnormalities of resting-state cortical electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms (Babiloni et al., 2012a). Here, we tested the hypothesis that these EEG rhythms vary as a function of the systemic immune activity and antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV patients. Methods Resting-state eyes-closed EEG data were recorded in 68 ART-HIV patients (mini mental state evaluation (MMSE) of 27.5 ± 0.3 SEM), in 60 treatment-naïve HIV subjects (MMSE of 27.5 ± 0.4 SEM) and in 75 age-matched cognitively normal subjects (MMSE of 29.3 ± 0.1 SEM). Based on the CD4 lymphocytes’ count, we divided ART-HIV subjects into two subgroups: those with CD4 > 500 cells/μl (ART-HIV+) and those with CD4 < 500 cells/μl (ART-HIV−). EEG rhythms of interest were delta (2–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha 1 (8–10.5 Hz), alpha 2 (10.5–12 Hz), beta 1 (13–20 Hz), and beta 2 (20–30 Hz). Cortical EEG sources were estimated by LORETA software. Results Widespread theta, alpha, and beta sources were lower in ART-HIV subjects than in control subjects. Furthermore, occipital and temporal alpha 1 sources were lower in treatment-naïve HIV than in ART-HIV subjects. Moreover, the opposite was true for widespread pathological delta sources. Finally, parietal, occipital, and temporal alpha 1 sources were lower in ART-HIV− than in ART-HIV+ subjects. Conclusions In ART-HIV subjects, cortical sources of resting-state alpha rhythms are related to systemic immune activity and cART. Significance This EEG procedure may produce biomarkers of treatment response in patients’ brain compartments for longitudinal clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that cortical sources of resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms show peculiar frequency/spatial features in naïve human subjects with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared to healthy control subjects. Methods: Resting-state eyes-closed EEG data were recorded in 18 naïve HIV subjects (15 males; mean age 39years±2.0 standard error of mean, SEM) and in 18 age-matched cognitively normal subjects (15 males; 38.7years±2.2 SEM). EEG rhythms of interest were delta (2–4Hz), theta (4–8Hz), alpha1 (8–10Hz), alpha2 (10–12Hz), beta1 (13–20Hz) and beta2 (20–30Hz). Cortical EEG sources were estimated by normalised, low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Results: Mini Mental State Evaluation (MMSE) score was lower in HIV (26.5±0.7 SEM) than in healthy (29.2±0.5 SEM) subjects (p <0.05). Central and parietal delta sources showed higher amplitude in the HIV than in control subjects. Furthermore, topographically widespread, cortical sources of resting-state alpha rhythms were lower in amplitude in HIV subjects than in control subjects. Conclusions: The present results suggest that topography and frequency of the cortical sources of resting-state EEG rhythms can distinguish groups of HIV and control subjects. Significance: These results encourage future studies in an enlarged cohort of HIV subjects to test the hypothesis that the present methodological approach provides clinically useful information for an early detection of the effect of HIV infection on brain and cognitive functions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]