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Froth flotation is the leading process for the selective separation of minerals and the beneficiation of ores. The principle of the method depends on the different wettability properties of the minerals, specifically on the hydrophobicity of the surfaces, which is either inherent or imparted to the minerals through reagents. Despite their widespread and long-standing use, they are considered highly hazardous and toxic and their decomposition poses a potential risk in terms of safety, health, and environmental impact. A new viable alternative, that promotes sustainable development, is the production and utilization of organosolv lignin nanoparticles. This study examines the environmental benefits of producing of lignin nanoparticles from birch wood as and partially replacing xanthate collectors with lignin nanoparticles for the treatment of 1 tonne of mined ore, subjected to flotation. In order to quantify the environmental impact, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted for an Au flotation circuit. The analysis demonstrated that the introduction of organosolv lignin into the flotation process along with the reduction of sodium isopropyl xanthate (SIPX) resulted in the decrease of the environmental footprint and in particular the reduction of climate change and fossil fuel depletion by 16.79% and 3.8%, respectively.

This paper investigates leaf morphology variation of the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) within and between two natural contrasting populations of significant latitudinal difference (Kassandreia, Chalkidiki and Ancient Olympia, Peloponnese). This study employed 11 leaf size and shape parameters, recorded by image processing and analyzing software. The results showed that in the measurements of central tendency (parameter means) the northern population of Kassandreia presented the highest values, while in contrast the highest values in the measurements of spread were found in the southern population of Ancient Olympia. Moreover, statistically significant differences between populations were detected in leaf size, but not in leaf shape parameters. Results are discussed in the context of their value in studying quantitative population differentiation and laying the basis of more advanced studies.

An investigation of the influence of the isospin (N/Z ratio) on the thermometric characteristics, in the reactions 78Kr+40Ca and 86Kr+48Ca at 10 AMeV is presented. The experiment was performed at the INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud in Catania by using the beams delivered by the Superconductive Cyclotron and the 4π multidetector CHIMERA. The isospin effects on the decay modes of the two produced composite systems and on the competition between statistical and dynamical break-up of the projectile have been studied. The thermal evaporation from both compound nucleus (CN) and Quasi-Projectile Like Fragment (PLF) has been investigated by extracting the temperature with two different thermometric methods, namely the slope thermometer, with the alpha particles as probe, and the double isotope yields ratio thermometer. The results of the analysis suggest the influence of the N/Z ratio on the system (CN or PLF) temperature, regardless of the nature of the method used for its determination.

In this contribution the connection between the Dipolar degree of freedom excited in Heavy Ion Collisions through pre-equilibrium dipolar modes and the Isospin-equilibration processes is discussed. The connection leads to the definition of a new observable the so called “dipolar signal”, able to describe the equilibration process in the momentum space related to the final fragmentation produced by the HIC. Preliminary results on this observable measured on the system 48Ca +27 Al at 40 MeV/nucleon and corresponding to different degrees of dissipation/centrality are presented. The beam was accelerated through the Superconductor Cyclotron at the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud di Catania (Italy) and fragments were detected and identified with the 4π multi-detector CHIMERA.

The textile industry is a very resource-intensive sector, considerably contributing to environmental deterioration via substantial use of water, electricity, and chemicals. With the global transition towards sustainable practices, the notion of a circular economy has become more significant, focusing on prolonging product lifespans, reducing waste, and facilitating material recovery. An effective method for achieving circularity in the textile sector is Design for Disassembly (DfD), which facilitates the straightforward deconstruction of items for recycling or reuse. This study examines the use of Design for Disassembly (DfD) in textile production, emphasizing methods that enable the straightforward separation of fibers, trimmings, and fasteners, hence improving garment recyclability. Data was gathered via a comprehensive examination of textile product designs, production methodologies, and recycling methods throughout the sector. Findings demonstrate that the use of DfD may substantially decrease waste and enhance material recovery rates. Nonetheless, obstacles like redesign expenses, customer awareness, and compatibility with existing production techniques persist. This study presents a detailed technique for incorporating Design for Disassembly (DfD) into textile manufacturing and examines its possible effects on the circular economy. The results substantiate the assertion that the implementation of DfD may be a crucial advancement toward attaining sustainability in the textile sector.

The physics of clusters in heavy neutron-rich ions is a topic of constant interest in the worldwide scientific community. In recent times, many interesting phenomena have been investigated especially thanks to the development of new radioactive beam production facilities. One example is the clustering of α particles in neutron-rich isotopes of self-conjugated nuclei, such as 10Be or 16C, exhibiting even very large nuclear deformations. At Laboratori Nazionali del Sud of INFN, a study was carried out on the topic of α clustering, employing the CHIMERA and FARCOS detectors. Radioactive ions of interest, such as 10Be, 13B and 16C, were produced in a cocktail beam through the In-Flight fragmentation technique by the FRIBs@LNS facility. Particularly important for this study was the employment of four FARCOS detectors, offering high angular and energetic resolutions. Several calibration and analysis techniques have been exploited and developed in this experiment for the analysis of the data collected by FARCOS. Finally, some preliminary results on the analysis of 10Be and 16C spectroscopy will be shown, in relation to some results already collected in the literature.

The high level of forest intervention and the decrease in biodiversity as a result of logging are incentives to implement forest certification schemes. Despite the advances in the results of the impact of forest certification on biodiversity, there are few studies on species with specific habits, such as cavity-nesting birds. The objective of this study is to compare the impact of forest certification and conventional logging on the richness, availability (density) and dominance of potentially suitable cavity trees for secondary cavity-nesting birds in the subtropical forests of northwestern Argentina. Seven sites were selected: three control sites which were not logged for at least 40 years, one site under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, and three sites with conventional logging. The results suggest that logged forests under FSC-certification may guarantee a diversity, availability (density) and dominance of potentially suitable cavity trees for secondary cavity-nesting birds, as well as certain characteristics (such as DBH > 40 cm), similar to unlogged forests for this group of birds. Therefore, we suggest that the forests of northwestern Argentina should be managed by a scheme under forest certification so that the high levels of cavity tree species are maintained.

We describe the search of the Efimov state in 12C performed by analysing a large set of 3-α particles coincidence data measured at the LNS laboratories with the CHIMERA detector. The data are compatible with the presence of an Efimov state at the excitation energy of 7.485 MeV, with an excitation probability smaller than 0.3% of the population probability of the Hoyle state. The Efimov state gamma decay probability should be around 30%, much larger than the one of the Hoyle state. The population of this level is compatible with the Suda limit for the 3-α reaction rate in stars because its population should be possible only through direct 3-α reaction. More investigations improving the detector angular resolution are needed to confirm these preliminary observations.

In the current realities, there are practices where companies use various tools and systems to plan and manage the quality of products and processes. Many of these tools and systems are disconnected from data/product information management systems to varying degrees, depending on the level of workflow automation. The disadvantage of disparate quality management tools is that repetitive issues that occur across multiple systems can make it difficult to investigate root causes by isolating related data items without being able to understand the relationships between them. The conventional method also provides energy loss in production due to extra power consumption. Redundant work to identify and fix quality issues can be done across multiple tools without an automated way to communicate what you've learned to other teams. This leads to inconsistent and incomplete solutions to problems that hinder rather than improve product and process quality. Thanks to the recent development of new technologies, many IT tools have become available on the market, among them product lifecycle management (PLM) systems, which are very popular among companies that allow them to create and support complex industrial products, including aeronautical equipment. The article provides an end-to-end solution on a platform like this, which aims to link quality to product design, sustainable development in the field of energy-effective production. This approach provides multidisciplinary teams and the broader supply chain with powerful closed-loop capabilities to identify and manage risks, improve quality, meet customer requirements, and ensure compliance with environmental health, safety, and information management requirements.

The article is devoted to the design of RAM blocks as part of microprocessor systems and methods for ensuring fault tolerance. The structural diagram of RAM and the process of the influence of heavy charged particles (HCP) on a memory integrated circuit (IC) are considered. Particular attention is paid to the influence of the biopolar effect on the fault tolerance of IC elements, as well as to emerging multibit events. The article analyzes the various phases of RAM operation and the reactions of memory circuit elements to the occurrence of failures caused by the impact of environment in digital devices used in environmental engineering.

Radioactive Ion Beams (RIBs) of large intensity (106 pps or higher) are at the frontier in nuclear physics. We designed a novel detection system for RIBs diagnostics and tagging based on Silicon Carbide detectors and on custom frontend electronics ready to be coupled with a Real Data Management Unit. The full detection system is designed to measure the spatial distribution of the beam intensity and trajectory with sufficient spatial resolution (of the order of 1-2 mm). In addition, the detection system has to determine the RIB composition that can be obtained from the joint measurement of the energy loss (>E) of the ions passing through the sensors and the time of flight between two sensors or with respect to a given reference signal as the RadioFrequency signal of a Cyclotron. In this paper we present the full design of the proposed system together with the results of the first experimental qualification of the first mini-prototype. The paper also shows the steps towards the final detection system, housed in a DN160 spherical cross and able to cover an active area of 30 mm × 60 mm.

We present the design, fabrication, simulation and initial characterisation of tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) optical waveguides and micro-ring resonators for the purpose of supercontinuum and frequency comb generation. Spectral broadening results are presented for linear Ta2O5 waveguides for a range of central pump wavelengths between 900 nm and 1500 nm. These results are used as the basis for the dispersion engineering and development of Ta2O5 micro-ring resonators. The losses for sputtered and TEOS PECVD deposited SiO2 top cladded waveguides are characterised using a Fabry-Pérot loss measurement set-up. A solver based on the Lugiato-Lefever equation is presented and used to simulate the expected emission from the Ta2O5 micro-ring resonators. Promising initial experimental results show critical coupling and a Q-factor of 3.7×104.

In the study of archaeological ceramics, it is important to have compositional data to identify their origin and source. The fabric also provides useful information on the production technology, especially with regard to the firing steps. The work presented here is connected to this field and focuses on the main parameters related to the terracotta artefacts preparation. Thus, one can consider the effects in terracotta characteristics of different raw materials and firing parameters, in particular for pottery of Caltagirone, which is one of most important centres of pottery production in Italy, active since the Neolithic. To this end, terracotta samples have been reproduced in a laboratory setting according to the ancient procedure of Caltagirone manufacture, starting from clay and degreaser extraction in local historical sites. The analysis was conducted using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometer for elemental characterization of sand degreaser and of clays during each step of the realization process and in different firing conditions. SEM-ED techniques were also employed to verify the method and results for some of the samples after firing process. Framing the technological context of manufacture production, known in the specific case, it is also possible to identify potential outcomes and limits in the study of potsherds using pXRF technology, in applying the methodology to historic artefacts.

Thalia Petropoulou,1 Antonia Kapoula,2 Aikaterini Mastoraki,3 Aikaterini Politi,2 Eleni Spanidou-Karvouni,2 Ioannis Psychogios,1 Ioannis Vassiliou,1 Nikolaos Arkadopoulos3 12nd Department of Surgery, 2Department of Pathology, Aretaieion University Hospital, 34th Department of Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Chaidari, Athens, Greece Introduction: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is the gold standard for surgical staging of the axilla in breast cancer (BC). Frozen section (FS) remains the most popular means of intraoperative SLN diagnosis. Imprint cytology (IC) has also been suggested as a less expensive and equally accurate alternative to FS. The aim of our study was to perform a direct comparison between IC and FS on the same SLNs of BC cases operated in a single center by the same surgical team.Materials and methods: Into this prospective study we enrolled 60 consecutive patients with histologically proven T1–T3 BC and clinically negative axilla. Sentinel nodes were detected using a standard protocol. The SLN(s) was always assessed by IC as well as FS analysis and immunohistochemistry. Nevertheless, all intraoperative decisions were based on FS analysis.Results: During the study period 60 patients with invasive BC were registered, with 80 SLNs harvested. Mean number of SLN(s) identified for each patient was 1.33. The sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 100%, respectively, for IC, and 80% and 100% for FS. Relevant positive/negative predictive values were 100%/98% for IC and 100%/96.15%, respectively, for FS. Overall accuracy was 98% for IC and 97% for FS. Therefore, statistically significant difference between the two methods in the detection of positive nodes was not elucidated (p=1.000).Conclusions: IC appeared to be marginally more sensitive than FS in detecting SLN metastatic activity. Overall accuracy was 98.75%. With regard to the primary lesion characteristics, we conclude that initial lesion size and lymphovascular invasion play a pivotal role in metastatic involvement of the SLN with the dimensions of metastasis bearing no correlation with tumor size. Therefore, IC appears to be a sensitive and accurate method for the intraoperative assessment of SLN in BC patients, but further studies are required to confirm this interesting data. Keywords: breast cancer, sentinel lymph node biopsy, frozen section, imprint cytology

Iodocyclization of 2-allylphenols is a suitable method to access furans and dihydrofurans with adequate yields. Several methodologies to iodocyclization are reported in the literature; however, since some data about the conditions are conflicting, a more systematic approach is needed to define the best conditions. In this work, we performed a full 22 factorial design to study the influence of solvent (water or EtOH:water (1:9) mixture) and the addition of NaHCO3 in iodine-promoted cyclization of 2-allylphenols. The results have shown water as the best solvent to be employed in the cyclization of liquid 2-allylphenols, and the presence of NaHCO3 leads to lower yields. Several examples of 2-iodomethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans preparations are reported using the optimized conditions; however, high yields are only observed when liquid 2-allylphenols were used.

Objectively, there is discrimination in relation to investments in inventions and research activities, since the risk is higher, the inhibition of funds is longer, and the investment analysis of innovative projects is longer and more laborious. Consequently, in order to enhance innovation in the construction industry, it is necessary to develop specific instruments for state stimulation. One of these tools is a priority form of government funding for projects with a high level of use of innovations in architectural and design solutions. The development of a methodology for assessing the level of novelty and progressiveness of design solutions will make it possible to make their justified selection for priority government funding

The complexity of a project as a system is characterized by the variety of elements and the number of possible initial and future states. It is possible to give an accurate mathematical description of a complex system based on the study of entropy. The entropy of states is defined as a measure of the diversity of the set of possible options. A construction project that includes a large number of heterogeneous innovative components belongs to the group of complex projects. The problem of control is to reduce its diversity by reducing the set of all states to a subset of states that satisfy the goals of control. Consequently, the essential characteristics of the innovativeness of a construction project should be studied in relation to the sphere of occurrence of the effect from the application of innovations. It seems logical to consider the effects of the introduction of innovations throughout the life cycle of an investment and construction project, which can be presented as an integral production and economic system.

BACKGROUND: After approval for clinical use in 2017 early investigations of ultra-high-field abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have demonstrated the feasibility as well as diagnostic capabilities of liver, kidney, and prostate MRI at 7-Tesla. However, the elevation of the field strength to 7-Tesla not only brought advantages to abdominal MRI but also presented considerable challenges and drawbacks, primarily stemming from heightened artifacts and limitations in Specific Absorption Rate, etc. Furthermore, evidence in the literature is relatively scarce concerning human studies in comparison to phantom/animal studies which necessitates an investigation into the evidence so far in humans and summarizing all relevant evidence. AIM: To offer a comprehensive overview of current literature on clinical abdominal 7T MRI that emphasizes current trends, details relevant challenges, and provides a concise set of potential solutions. METHODS: This systematic review adheres to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A PubMed search, utilizing Medical Subject Headings terms such as 7-Tesla and organ-specific terms, was conducted for articles published between January 1, 1985, and July 25, 2023. Eligibility criteria included studies exploring 7T MRI for imaging human abdominal organs, encompassing various study types (in-vivo/ex-vivo, method development, reviews/meta-analyses). Exclusion criteria involved animal studies and those lacking extractable data. Study selection involved initial identification via title/abstract, followed by a full-text review by two researchers, with discrepancies resolved through discussion. Data extraction covered publication details, study design, population, sample size, 7T MRI protocol, image characteristics, endpoints, and conclusions. RESULTS: The systematic review included a total of 21 studies. The distribution of clinical 7T abdominal imaging studies revealed a predominant focus on the prostate (n = 8), followed by the kidney (n = 6) and the hepatobiliary system (n = 5). Studies on these organs, and in the pancreas, demonstrated clear advantages at 7T. However, small bowel studies showed no significant improvements compared to traditional MRI at 1.5T. The majority of studies evaluated originated from Germany (n = 10), followed by the Netherlands (n = 5), the United States (n = 5), Austria (n = 2), the United Kingdom (n = 1), and Italy (n = 1). CONCLUSION: Further increase of abdominal clinical MRI field strength to 7T demonstrated high imaging potential, yet also limitations mainly due to the inhomogeneous radiofrequency (RF) excitation field relative to lower field strengths. Hence, further optimization of dedicated RF coil elements and pulse sequences are expected to better optimize clinical imaging at high magnetic field strength.

For over a century, early researchers sought to study biological organisms in a laboratory setting, leading to the generation of both in vitro and in vivo model systems. Patient-derived models of cancer (PDMCs) have more recently come to the forefront of preclinical cancer models and are even finding their way into clinical practice as part of functional precision medicine programs. The PDMC Consortium, supported by the Division of Cancer Biology in the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, seeks to understand the biological principles that govern the various PDMC behaviors, particularly in response to perturbagens, such as cancer therapeutics. Based on collective experience from the consortium groups, we provide insight regarding PDMCs established both in vitro and in vivo, with a focus on practical matters related to developing and maintaining key cancer models through a series of vignettes. Although every model has the potential to offer valuable insights, the choice of the right model should be guided by the research question. However, recognizing the inherent constraints in each model is crucial. Our objective here is to delineate the strengths and limitations of each model as established by individual vignettes. Further advances in PDMCs and the development of novel model systems will enable us to better understand human biology and improve the study of human pathology in the lab.