Manufacturing of PAV-ONE, a Permeator against Vacuum Mock-Up with Niobium Membrane

The Permeator Against Vacuum (PAV) is one of the proposed technologies for the Tritium Extraction System of the WCLL BB (Water-Cooled Lithium-Lead Breeding Blanket) of the EU DEMO reactor. In this paper, the manufacturing of the first PAV mock-up with a niobium membrane with a cylindrical configuration is presented. This work aimed to demonstrate the possibility of manufacturing a relevant-size PAV to be later tested in the TRIEX-II facility. The adopted prototypical solutions are described in detail, starting with the methodology developed to join the Nb tubes with a 10CrMo9-10 (A182 F22) plate. Dedicated manufacturing and welding procedures, based on vacuum brazing with a nickel-based brazing alloy, were developed to solve the problem. This new kind of brazing was first analyzed to check the morphology of the joint and then tested to check its capability to withstand the TRIEX-II operative conditions. In parallel, the compatibility with a lithium-lead environment was analyzed by exposing samples of niobium and 10CrMo9-10 (A335 P22) to a flow of the eutectic alloy at 500 °C up to 4000 h. Finally, the PAV mock-up was installed in the TRIEX-II facility

Role of OPRM1, clinical and anthropometric variants in neonatal pain reduction

An increased awareness on neonatal pain-associated complications has led to the development of pain scales adequate to assess the level of pain experienced by newborns such as the ABC score. A commonly used analgesic procedure is to administer a 33% oral dextrose solution to newborns prior to the painful intervention. Although this procedure is very successful, not in all subjects it reaches complete efficacy. A possible explanation for the different response to the treatment could be genetic variability. We have investigated the genetic variability of the OPRM1 gene in 1077 newborns in relation to non-pharmacologic pain relief treatment. We observed that the procedure was successful in 966 individuals and there was no association between the genotypes and the analgesic efficacy when comparing individuals that had an ABC score = 0 and ABC score >0. However, considering only the individuals with ABC score>0, we found that the homozygous carriers of the G allele of the missense variant SNP rs1799971 (A118G) showed an interesting association with higher ABC score. We also observed that individuals fed with formula milk were more likely to not respond to the analgesic treatment compared to those that had been breastfed

Deciphering past and present atmospheric metal pollution of urban environments: The role of black crusts formed on historical constructions

Construction materials affected by black crusts (BCs) can be subjected to restoration, demolition, recycling or even to their management as waste products. Therefore, the determination of their chemical features should be considered a crucial step before undertaking any action. In this work, we present the development of an analytical methodology useful to be implemented as a routine screening tool to detect recent and past atmospheric emissions of heavy metals, nowadays superficially deposited or even encapsulated in BCs. For its development, BCs together with the underneath original substrate/construction material were sampled from the historical construction Punta Begona Galleries (Getxo, Basque Country, North of Spain). In order to detect quickly and in a cost-effective way the stratification of the metallic deposits in the BCs over time (surface or external/recent and internal/past), thin sections were analyzed by elemental spectroscopic imaging techniques (SEM-EDS and mu-ED-XRF). In the external part of the BCs, iron particles were mainly identified, whereas in the inner areas (past deposition events) of the most exposed BCs to the atmosphere, lead accumulations together with zinc and copper were identified. Additional Raman imaging studies allowed to perform the molecular speciation study of lead, identifying mainly laurionite (PbClOH) together with hydrocerussite (Pb-3(CO3)(2)(OH)(2)). The presence of the mentioned lead chloride hydroxide confirms the role of the marine aerosol (chloride input) in the formation of the metallic compounds. These experimental evidences were used to assist the chemical equilibrium models developed to explain the reactivity pathway, which lead to the formation of the identified compounds. Through ICP-MS and lead isotopic ratio analysis, more than 3000 mg kg(-1) of lead were quantified in the BCs, probably coming from the old emissions conducted by the old power station close to the construction,. That lead content can be high enough to consider those crusts as a source of metallic contamination and a possible risk to the environment and human health

Mythe et objet chez Walter Benjamin

Cette thèse propose une analyse de la réflexion de Walter Benjamin sur le mythe à partir d'un point de vue très particulier : les objets. Cachés, oubliés, perdus, rêvés, les objets recèlent les traces du passé, mais aussi les craintes, les souhaits et les fantasmes qui ont hanté (et qui hantent) l'imaginaire collectif et individuel. S'appuyant sur ses premiers écrits, notamment Sur le langage en général et le langage humain et les fragments sur la perception, cette étude met en lumière le lien entre parole et chose sur lequel Benjamin fonde la possibilité d'une interaction entre les matériaux de l'imaginaire et l'inanimé. Réceptacle d'images et de symboles, les objets ne déclenchent pas seulement le processus du ressouvenir, mais ils sont aussi l'évocation d'une perception originelle - plus heureuse, dit Benjamin - du réel. Dans sa tentative de fonder une forme supérieure d'expérience, höherer Erfahrung, qui serait à même d'intégrer en elle le spirituel, le questionnement sur le mythe devient ainsi une étape incontournable. Matériaux fuyants, insaisissables, les symboles qui alimentent la mythologie collective dénoncent à la fois la richesse et le risque pour la connaissance de s'ouvrir à une dimension qui côtoie l'irrationnel. Enfin, ce travail tente de restituer à Benjamin la position qui légitimement lui revient au sein du débat qui s'engage dans l'entre deux-guerres sur le mythe dans l'espace franco-allemand. À travers une reconstruction des liens biographiques et théoriques qui unirent le philosophe berlinois aux membres du Collège de Sociologie, cette étude signale l'importance d'une relation fondamentale et jusqu'à présent presque inexplorée.This thesis presents an analyse of Walter Benjamin's reflection on myth from a very special point of view : things. Hidden, forgotten, lost, dreamed, objects contain traces of the past, but also fears, whishes and fantaisies that have haunted (and are haunting) collective and individual imagination. Based on his early writings, more particurarly "On langage in general and human langage" and the fragments of perception, this study brought out the connection between word and thing on wich Benjamin based the possibility of an interaction between the imagination and the inanimate's materials. Receptacles of images and symbols, objects don't trigger off only the process of recollection, but they also evoke an original perception of reality - happier, said Benjamin. The question of myth cannot be ignored, in his attempt to define a new form of experience, höherer Erfahrung, wich would be able to integrate the spiritual. Elusive elements, the symbols that flow into the collective mythology indicate the fullness as well as the danger for knowledge to open up to a dimension that borders the irrational. Finally, this work seeks to bring back Benjamin's work in his rightful position in the debate on the anthropological, psychological and sociological aspects of myth that appeared in the inter-war period between Germany and France. Through a reconstruction of biographical and theoretical links that united the members of Berlin philosopher College of Sociology, this study emphasizes the importance of this fondamental relationship and so far almost unexploredPARIS3-BU (751052102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Development and validation of a high-fidelity neonatal pneumothorax simulator

Neonatal pneumothorax is a clinical emergency procedure that -if not solved within minutes -can lead to major clinical complications, including death. For this reason, advanced management skills are required. High-fidelity simulation represents a valuable training tool for residents that allows to gain experience and confidence thus preserving patient safety. Nevertheless, systems now available on the market and literature prototypes provide poor anatomical and physiological features, thus limiting the realism of the simulation and the training. With the aim to overcome these limitations and allow the training of all aspects of the clinical procedure, an innovative highfidelity neonatal pneumothorax simulator was realized by exploiting two airtight pressurized chambers coupled together with self-sealing needle insertion areas. The simulator assessment phase was carried out involving both expert neonatologists and residents. Before and after the clinical procedure, surveys were used for collecting subjective evaluations. Finally, procedural time was recorded. Based on the obtained results, neonatologists considered the simulator a valid teaching and retraining tool. Moreover, thanks to a simple setting and the possibility to provide real-time feedback, the simulator proved to be a valid tool for training also in critical conditions of personal distancing, e.g., Covid-19 pandemic, which often requires remote operation