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Fusion for Energy (F4E), the European Domestic Agency for ITER, is responsible for a significant share of the overall procurement of internal components inside the vacuum vessel, the largest ones being as follows: (1) 48% of the ITER blanket first wall (FW), (2) the divertor cassette bodies and (3) the divertor inner vertical target. Procurement strategies have been implemented by the In-Vessel Project Team at F4E aiming at mitigating technical and commercial risks for the procurement of these ITER internal components, promoting as far as possible competition among industrial partners. These procurement strategies have been supported by extensive research and development (R&D) work programmes, implemented over more than 15 years in Europe, to develop various fabrication technologies especially for plasma facing components. They include in particular the manufacture and testing of small-scale mock-ups, medium-scale mock-ups and full-scale prototypes of blanket FW panels and divertor inner vertical targets. In these R&D work programmes, significant efforts have been devoted to the development of reliable armour-to-heat sink materials joining techniques. More recently, full-scale prototypes of the divertor cassette body have also been fabricated. This paper presents the procurement strategies implemented by F4E for the supply of the European contribution to the procurement of the above ITER internal components, together with the main outcome of the R&D work programmes and the state of progress of the respective qualification programmes.

The engineering of advanced materials capable of mimicking the cellular micro-environment while providing cells with physicochemical cues is central for cell culture applications. In this regard, paper meets key requirements in terms of biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, porosity, mechanical strength, ease of physicochemical modifications, cost, and ease of large-scale production, to be used as a scaffold material for biomedical applications. Most notably, paper has demonstrated the potential to become an attractive alternative to conventional biomaterials for creating two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic cell culture models that mimic the features of in vivo tissue environments for improving our understanding of cell behavior (e.g. growth, cell migration, proliferation, differentiation and tumor metastasis) in their natural state. On the other hand, integration of plasmonic nanomaterials (e.g. gold nanoparticles) within the fibrous structure of paper opens the possibility to generate multifunctional scaffolds equipped with biosensing tools for monitoring different cell cues through physicochemical signals. Among different plasmonic based detection techniques, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy emerged as a highly specific and sensitive optical tool for its extraordinary sensitivity and the ability for multidimensional and accurate molecular identification. Thus, paper-based plasmonic substrates in combination with SERS optical detection represent a powerful future platform for monitoring cell cues during cell culture processes. To this end, in this review, we will describe the different methods for fabricating hybrid paper-plasmonic nanoparticle substrates and their use in combination with SERS spectroscopy for biosensing and, more specifically, in cell culture applications., Graphical abstract Image 1

Fusion for Energy (F4E), the European Domestic Agency for ITER, is responsible for the procurement of the divertor inner vertical target (IVT) and the cassette body (CB). Both IVT and CB have been supported by extensive Research and Development (R&D) work programmes, implemented over more than 15 years in Europe, to validate design, develop various fabrication technologies, assess thermo-mechanical and thermohydraulics performances and RH installation and maintainability. This paper presents the work performed and the technical challenges associated to the fabrication of the CB prototypes, the results of the prototype qualification as well as the lessons learned.

High and uniform near fields are localized at the eight similar sharp corners of cubic gold nanoparticles. Moreover, by introducing concavity in the particle lateral planes, such field intensities can be further increased and tuned in the near infrared region without altering the overall size of the nanoparticles. Herein, we perform a thorough investigation of the morphological, crystallographic and plasmonic properties of concave gold nanocubes (GNCs) in the sub-70 nm size range, for their potential application as highly efficient SERS substrates in size-limiting cases. Theoretical calculations indicate that the highest increment of the near-field is located at the eight sharp tips and, interestingly, a medium near-field increment is also activated over the volume next to the concave surface. Remarkably, the plasmonic response of the concave cubic morphology showed great sensitivity to the concavity degree. Experimental SERS analysis nicely matches the outcome of the theoretical model, confirming that medium-sized concave GNCs (35 nm side length) possess the highest SERS activity upon excitation with a 633 nm laser, whereas larger 61 nm side concave GNCs dominate the optical response at 785 nm. Due to their size-intensity trade off, we envision that such small concave gold nanocubes can provide a highly active and efficient SERS platform for size-limiting applications, especially when near infrared excitations are required.

This paper reveals the safety strategy and approach developed and followed in the design of the two EU TBS describing its objectives, components and implementation. Addressing the safety in the early stage of the conceptual design of nuclear facilities is a well recognized international practice and industrial project-level requirement for the successful completion of the licensing process within expected project cost and schedule. The impact of the early development of the safety approach, its implementation and monitoring in the design of nuclear device like the TBS is not limited to the safety assessment and licensing activities only. Safety approach plays indispensible role in reducing the overall project risk. It infiltrates the entire design process through the unavoidable interfaces between the design features and its safety level. In reality the entire process of the TBS development, design, technological demonstration and implementation is affected by the project team safety culture.

The determination of the radioactive inventory and of the contact dose rates in the different ITER Test Blanket Modules systems is carried out, both for Helium-Cooled Lithium–Lead (HCLL) concept and the Helium-Cooled Pebble-Bed (HCPB) concept. The evaluations have been carried out by means of the MICROSHIELD code, starting from the data on the neutron-induced radioactivity in the blanket materials, already available for both the blanket modules. The possible sources of radioactive material in all the systems have been individuated and their contributes estimated.

Among the test blanket modules (TBMs) to be tested in the successive ITER phases, European design activities have focused on the electromagnetic (EM) TBM to be tested in ITER first phase (H-H), and on the integral (IN) TBM to be tested in the full duty D-T phase. The scope of the present contribution is to report activities performed on the helium cooled lithium lead (HCLL) TBM, in its EM version for the H-H phase. This phase is characterized for the TBM by relevant D-T phase magnetic field, surface heat flux and disruption induced loads, and the lack of nuclear volumetric heating. On one hand, H-H phase gives the opportunity of experiments and use of instrumentation which will not be possible in the irradiated environment of D-T phase. On the other hand, H-H phase specificity is a temperature level in the breeder zone much lower than that in the D-T phase. Main EU objectives assigned to TBM testing in H-H phase for design validation and for the build-up of a reliability database can be fulfilled at this temperature level, which is not the case for the scientific experimental program (MHD, corrosion and tritium permeation). Hence, partial heating of the TBM is foreseen. A technical solution for an electrically heated configuration of the breeder zone has been investigated. Finite element (FE) analyses were performed to assess the thermal behaviour of the TBM for the non-heated and heated cases.

Europe has developed two reference tritium breeder blankets concepts that will be tested in ITER under the form of Test Blanket Modules: (i) the Helium-Cooled Lithium–Lead which uses the liquid Pb–15.7Li as both breeder and neutron multiplier, (ii) the Helium-Cooled Pebble-Bed with lithiated ceramic pebbles as breeder and beryllium pebbles as neutron multiplier. An extensive development program has been carried-out over the last decade combining experimental and numerical simulations aimed at identifying and quantifying physical phenomena occurring in breeder blankets and at optimizing their design and technologies accordingly. On this basis, sound guidelines for the design and technological choices of Test Blanket Modules can be derived. In addition, regulatory and ITER project requirements, which prefigure the future DEMO blanket ones, are now integrated in the development and qualification program of the Test Blanket Modules. Their scope and implication are analyzed.

In order to develop cement extrusion technology, it is absolutely necessary to perform an adequate rheological characterization of cement-based formulations, by the use of non-traditional testing methods specifically developed for this purpose. Current rheological methods proposed for fresh concrete, mortars and pastes are applicable to highly flowable mixes, but it is not possible to use them for the characterization of dense, cohesive and very dry compositions (such as the cement mixes used for extrusion). Furthermore, the technological development of the extrusion process is quite complex, due to the chemio-rheological behaviour of the cement-based materials to be used. This paper describes the most promising test methods currently adopted for the rheological characterization of cement-based compositions to be used in the extrusion process. Some examples of experimental results will also be reported.

Advanced composites and the fundamental understanding of their behaviour is a rapidly expanding branch within the field of civil engineering materials. In particular, fiber-reinforced cement-based materials have had a great evolution in these years, so that they are more and more utilized in the building sector. Besides, large efforts have been made to develop high-performance cements and concretes showing further performance improvements. High-performance fiber-reinforced cement composites include, for example, materials such as SIFCON (Slurry Infiltrated Fiber CONcrete), fiber-reinforced DSP (Densified with Small Particles), and fiber-reinforced MDF (Macro-Defect-Free) cements. Developments of these materials were possible due to: (a) the introduction of new reinforcement systems; (b) the development of high-performance cement-based matrices, which present greatly improved microstructural properties in terms of strength and durability; (c) the development of adequate processing techniques (including controlling chemical reactions) which allow us to obtain composite materials with surprising toughness properties. After a brief description of high-performance cement-based matrices and relative composites, two different examples among the above-cited products will be deeply presented.

In questo lavoro viene descritta la caratterizzazione reologica di paste a base cementizia estrudibili, eseguita utilizzando un reometro a capillare specificamente progettato e realizzato presso i laboratori CTG-Italcementi. I dati ottenuti sono stati utilizzati per ricavare le curve di flusso e per predire il comportamento in fase di estrusione

The present work addresses the photocatalytic properties of two commercial titanias for application in concrete technology. A microsized, m-TiO2 (average particle size 153.7 nm ± 48.1 nm) and a nanosized, n-TiO2 (average particle size 18.4 nm ± 5.0 nm) have been tested. Cement paste samples (CEMI 52.5 cement, w/c=0.4) containing both photocatalysts have been evaluated based on Rhodamine B (RhB) discolouration under U.V. light, a standard test for self-cleaning cementitious materials. Experimental data are discussed in relation to photocatalyst properties (e.g.: particle size), dye adsorption and degradation characteristics. The influence of the chemical environment on photocatalyst performance and its impact on applications in construction concrete are also discussed.

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of asthma and related respiratory symptoms in a sample of the Siena pediatric population that engages in sport.The subjects were 460 young athletes, age 7-14 years, enrolled in 23 sporting clubs in 10 municipalities of Siena Province. Subjects and their parents answered a questionnaire on life style and the children underwent basal spirometric tests at their respective training centers.A total of 352 questionnaires (76.6%) were returned; 80% of responders performed the spirometric test. The lifetime prevalences of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were found to be 17.33%, 22.16% and 11.08%, respectively. About 33.2% of subjects had also experienced symptoms compatible with exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) during sport and 4.2% of them had had to stop activity at least once.The results suggest that EIB is a major phenomenon in our province and that this disorder interferes with, or even limits, physical activity of young athletes.

SUMMARY: Morphometry and spectroscopy were performed in 3 patients with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). The brain stem and cerebellum were atrophic and satisfied criteria for olivopontocerebellar atrophy in 2 patients. However, the vermis was relatively spared and the basis pontis maintained its oval shape. The only spectroscopic abnormality was a decrease of the pontine N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratio in 1 patient. Atrophy and metabolic changes in FXTAS differ to some extent from those of olivopontocerebellar atrophy.

Of the 10,730 neonates born in the period 1978-1997 and examined for cryptorchidism (C) at birth, 1387 were pre-term (gestational age37 wk), and 9343 were full-term. At birth, a total of 737 neonates (6.9%) were cryptorchid, 487 had bilateral C and 250 unilateral C. The C rate of pre-terms was 10 times higher than that of the full-terms (30.1 and 3.4%, respectively). Comparing the two studied decades, a significant decrease of C rate was found in the second decade in full-term neonates. The rates of C at birth were significantly elevated for low birth weight, babies born from mothers with an age20 or35 yr, newborns from mothers with A Rh positive and B Rh positive blood group. Of the 737 cryptorchid newborns at birth, 613 (83%) were re-examined after 12 months from the expected date of delivery, and those born in the period 1988-1997 were also re-evaluated at 6 months of life. Late spontaneous descent occurred in 464 cases (75.7%), while 149 (24.3%) were still cryptorchid. The incidence of C at 12 months from the expected date of delivery, after survival curve calculation, in term and pre-term infants, was 1.53 and 7.31%, respectively, in the period 1978-1987, and 1.22 and 3.13% respectively, in the 2nd decade (1988-1997). In the groups also examined at 6 months of life, spontaneous descent occurred almost completely within the first 6 months of life in term infants, but not in pre-terms. No evidence of seasonal cyclicity was found. Medical and/or surgical treatment was generally started within 2-4 yr of age earlier in the second decade of the study. In conclusion, the main risk factor for C at birth and at 12 months of life seems to be pre-term birth and low birth weight. If this is associated itself to a higher risk of infertility too, it remains to be defined.

To try to better define the cytologic diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in a cervical screening protocol.Smears from 187 patients with cytologic diagnoses of ASCUS and histologic or two years' cytologic/colposcopic follow-up were reviewed. When an ASCUS diagnosis was confirmed, it was done strictly on the basis of the morphologic criteria recommended by the Regione Emilia Romagna Screening Protocol in 1997, trying also to subclassify ASCUS into favor reactive or favor neoplasia.Seventy ASCUS cases were negative (37.4%). Three cases (1.6%) were low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and seven (3.8%) were high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. One hundred seven ASCUS cases (57.2%) were confirmed. Among the 70 negative cases, 36 (51.4%) had reactive changes on biopsy, 30 (42.9%) koilocytosis, 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 1) and one CIN not otherwise specified (5.7% total).Reclassification of ASCUS cases using tighter criteria reduced them to a rate of 57.2% but missed 30 patients with histologic diagnoses of koilocytosis and 4 with histologic diagnoses of CIN.

The present study documents that adrenomedullin (AM), a vasoactive peptide originally identified in pheochromocytoma tissue and present in the testis, in vitro affects the function of testicular peritubular myoid cells (TPMC), a contractile cell type located in the seminiferous tubule wall. AM stimulated cAMP production by cultured TPMC taken from 16-day-old rats, and this effect was completely inhibited by the AM antagonist AM-(22-52) and partially by the CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) antagonist CGRP-(8-37). Studies on TPMC contractile activity documented that AM inhibits TPMC contraction induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1) and that its effect is antagonized by AM-(22-52). Neutralizing AM produced by TPMC with the addition of anti-AM antibody induced a significant increase of ET-1-induced contraction. When exposed to the protein kinase A inhibitor H-89, AM inhibitory activity on ET-1-induced TPMC contraction was suppressed, whereas the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N:(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl esther did not modify AM activity. In conclusion, our study indicates that AM stimulates cAMP production and inhibits the contraction induced by ET-1 in TPMC in vitro, and that AM produced by TPMC has an autocrine effect. We propose that AM may have a role in the control of seminiferous tubule contraction.

Adrenal myelolipoma is an uncommon benign tumor usually discovered by chance in patients with hypertension, obesity, atherosclerosis, cancer or endocrine disorders. The association with adrenal endocrine dysfunctions appears to be the most frequent. Myelolipoma has been found in patients affected by Cushing's syndrome, hyperaldosteronism, Addison's disease, virilization. We report herein a case of association, based on clinical and radiological signs, between myelolipoma and adrenal adenoma in a patient with Conn's disease. The myelolipoma was localized in the opposite adrenal gland to that of adenoma, at difference with the other cases described.

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a recently cloned vasorelaxing peptide that belongs to the calcitonin gene-related peptide family. AM inhibits the contraction of several types of smooth muscle cells and is present in the testis as well as in many other organs. The authors investigated whether testicular peritubular myoid cells (PMC) possess specific receptors for AM. Binding of AM to PMC was saturable in a time-dependent manner and 125I-AM binding was effectively displaced by cold AM. The study documents that testicular peritubular myoid cells are a target for adrenomedullin and suggests a role for this peptide in the paracrine regulation of the testis.

The electrical conductivity and the dielectric constant of cement mixes have been studied in the initial stages of setting to correlate the time evolution of the electrical parameters with the chemical and microstructural modifications. The formulations, based on a mix of Portland cement and microsilica, were fluidified with various amounts of an acrylic polyelectrolite and had a w/c ratio of 0.24. Measurements were carried out at ambient temperature for times of up to 40 h, in the frequency interval 30 Hz–200 kHz. The conductivity showed a marked decrease correlated with the loss of connectivity of the macroscopic porosity (depercolation). The time to the drop of conductivity depended linearly on the concentration of superplasticizer whose retarding effect was clearly evidenced. A dielectric amplification phenomenon was observed which vanished after the porosity depercolated. The temperature profiles of mixtures with different concentrations of the superplasticizer were drawn and a simple model was developed to compute the specific thermal power as a function of time. A substantial coincidence was found, on the time axis, between depercolation and maximum rate of setting. Vicat tests were also carried out.

The aim of this investigation was to study the pattern of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in men with mild and moderate hypertension. LH pulsatility was evaluated for 8 h in 14 male patients, subdivided into 2 groups; group A, consisting of 8 patients, whose systolic blood pressure ranged between 180 and 160 mm Hg and whose diastolic blood pressure was between 115 and 105 mm Hg; and group B, 6 patients whose systolic blood pressure ranged between 220 and 180 mm Hg and whose diastolic blood pressure was between 104 and 95 mm Hg. Seven healthy males were evaluated as controls (group C). The major changes of LH pulsatility in group A included an increased peak width, increased peak amplitude, and increased peak area. In group B the changes followed the same pattern as in group A, but were more pronounced. The number of LH peaks was reduced, the peak width was increased, and both peak amplitude and peak area were increased as compared to the control group. The pattern of LH pulsatility is altered in essential hypertension and the main feature is represented by the prolonged duration of LH peaks and their greater amplitude. The altered pattern of LH secretion is likely to reflect a primary hypothalamic derangement with the gonadotropin releasing hormone (Gn-RH) secreting neurons remaining synchronized for longer times and secreting larger Gn-RH masses than in normal subjects. Since the nuclei of the brain stem (A1-A6) involved in the control of Gn-RH secretion respond to blood pressure changes, the altered activity of monoaminergic neurons may be the link between hypertension and changes of LH pulsatility.

The distribution of T-lymphocyte subsets was assessed using monoclonal antibodies in 20 symptom-free patients with haemophilia. In 15 patients, the T-cell subsets appear substantially balanced with only a moderate reduction in the proportion and absolute number of OKT4 positive cells. In the remaining 5, all with a reversed OKT4/OKT8 ratio, the proportion and absolute number of OKT4 positive cells was significantly reduced (p less than 0.0002) while the absolute number of OKT8 positive cells was normal or reduced although the proportion of these cells appeared increased. Functional studies, testing the proliferative response to PHA and PWM, were normal in all cases including those with immunological abnormalities. These results suggest that a proportion of patients with classic haemophilia show some immunological abnormalities similar to those observed in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and that regular evaluation of several immunological parameters is warranted in these patients.

The effects of radiotherapy on subset lymphocyte populations of 15 neoplastic patients were studied. The initial impairment of lymphocyte functions, was restored after eighteen months to 78% of initial values. The numerical equilibrium of T and B subpopulations was completely reinstated.

We examined and evaluated the immunologic status of 15 patients suffering from neoplastic, not ematologic, diseases, who underwent external beam radiation therapy. We determined the total lymphocyte count, the percentage of E and EAC rosettes, surface membrane immunoglobulins, the lymphocyte reactivity to PWM and PHA, and T-lymphocyte subpopulations by means of monoclonal antibodies (OKT3-OKT4-OKT8). Besides we evaluated the percentage of LEU7 and OKM1 cells and lymphocytes response to MLR. Blastogenesis tests (PHA and MLR), after 18 months, were performed with and without monocytes. We found out that the amount of T and B lymphocyte subpopulations, which was extremely variable during and after radiotherapy, gradually returned to initial value. After 30 months, the functional impairment seems to be almost completely recovered. At 18 months from the beginning of radiation treatment, the mixed lymphocyte reaction was normal. The presence of monocytes doesn't change either MLR or PHA responses. LEU7+ cells are normal, while OKM1+ cells increased.

The determination of the radioactive inventory and of the contact dose rates in the different ITER Test Blanket Modules systems is carried out, both for Helium-Cooled Lithium-Lead (HCLL) concept and the Helium-Cooled Pebble-Bed (HCPB) concept. The evaluations have been carried out by means of the MICROSHIELD code, starting from the data on the neutron-induced radioactivity in the blanket materials, completely available for both the blanket modules. The possible sources of radioactive material in all the systems have been individuated and their contributes estimated. In general, for both HCLL and HCPB systems, radioactivity inventory and contact dose rates turn out to be quite moderate. No particular radioactive safety concern should arise for the examined components