Integrated modifying zinc-containing additive for construction silicate compositions

Sodium silicate binders are a promising binder base for obtaining effective granular thermal insulation materials. Increasing water resistance, first of all, will expand the scope of their application in construction. At the same time, the features of the modification of sodium silicate binders by compounds of polyvalent metals have not been fully studied, the interaction with which leads to the formation of hardly soluble silicates. The purpose of this work was to develop a modifying complex based on a zinc-containing compound - zinc acetate to increase the water resistance and thermal characteristics of the porous granular material. The proposed modifying additive is a complex consisting of zinc acetate and an organic alcohol solvent. It is shown that the properties of porous granular material can be controlled by changing the composition of the zinc acetate solvent. Qualitative and quantitative dependences of the properties of porous granules (strength, water resistance, density, thermal conductivity) on the type of zinc-containing solution and its content in the compositions have been obtained. The concept of the mechanism of formation of sparingly soluble complexes during the modification of sodium silicate binders with zinc-containing aqueous-alcoholic solutions has been developed. X-ray phase analysis showed that the sodium silicate system modified with an aqueous alcohol solution of zinc acetate, in contrast to an aqueous solution of zinc acetate, is completely in an amorphous state. We believe that compounds of the Zn2SiO4H2O, ZnSiO3 type are in the amorphous state. The obtained research results made it possible to determine the rational composition of granular heat-insulating material with increased operational and functional characteristics (ρ = 200-280 kg / m3, λ = 0.052-0.063 W / (m °C), R = 1.3-1.8 MPa, Kr = 0.89-0.92, W = 16- 18 %)

Liquid Argon Instrumentation and Monitoring in LEGEND-200

LEGEND is the next-generation experiment searching for the neutrinoless double beta decay in $^{76}$Ge. The first stage, LEGEND-200, takes over the cryogenic infrastructure of GERDA at LNGS: an instrumented water tank surrounding a 64 m$^{3}$ liquid argon cryostat. Around 200 kg of Ge detectors will be deployed in the cryostat, with the liquid argon acting as cooling medium, high-purity passive shielding and secondary detection medium. For the latter purpose, a liquid argon instrumentation is developed, based on the system used in GERDA Phase II. Wavelength shifting fibers coated with TPB are arranged in two concentric barrels. Both ends are read out by SiPM arrays. A wavelength shifting reflector surrounds the array in order to enhance the light collection far from the array. The LLAMA is installed in the cryostat to permanently monitor the optical parameters and to provide in-situ inputs for modeling purposes. The design of all parts of the LEGEND-200 LAr instrumentation is presented. An overview of the geometry, operation principle, and off-line data analysis of the LLAMA is shown

Risk factors for systemic reactions in typical cold urticaria: Results from the COLD‐CE study

Background: Cold urticaria (ColdU), that is, the occurrence of wheals or angioedema in response to cold exposure, is classified into typical and atypical forms. The diagnosis of typical ColdU relies on whealing in response to local cold stimulation testing (CST). It can also manifest with cold-induced anaphylaxis (ColdA). We aimed to determine risk factors for ColdA in typical ColdU. Methods: An international, cross-sectional study COLD-CE was carried out at 32 urticaria centers of reference and excellence (UCAREs). Detailed history was taken and CST with an ice cube and/or TempTest® performed. ColdA was defined as an acute cold-induced involvement of the skin and/or visible mucosal tissue and at least one of: cardiovascular manifestations, difficulty breathing, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Results: Of 551 ColdU patients, 75% (n = 412) had a positive CST and ColdA occurred in 37% (n = 151) of the latter. Cold-induced generalized wheals, angioedema, acral swelling, oropharyngeal/laryngeal symptoms, and itch of earlobes were identified as signs/symptoms of severe disease. ColdA was most commonly provoked by complete cold water immersion and ColdA caused by cold air was more common in countries with a warmer climate. Ten percent (n = 40) of typical ColdU patients had a concomitant chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). They had a lower frequency of ColdA than those without CSU (4% vs. 39%, p = .003). We identified the following risk factors for cardiovascular manifestations: previous systemic reaction to a Hymenoptera sting, angioedema, oropharyngeal/laryngeal symptoms, and itchy earlobes. Conclusion: ColdA is common in typical ColdU. High-risk patients require education about their condition and how to use an adrenaline autoinjector

Effect of U(VI) aqueous speciation on the binding of uranium by the cell surface of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, a natural yeast isolate from bentonites

This study presents the effect of aqueous uranium speciation (U-hydroxides and U-hydroxo-carbonates) on the interaction of this radionuclide with the cells of the yeast Rhodotorula mucigilanosa BII-R8. This strain was isolated from Spanish bentonites considered as reference materials for the engineered barrier components of the future deep geological repository of radioactive waste. X-ray absorption and infrared spectroscopy showed that the aqueous uranium speciation has no effect on the uranium binding process by this yeast strain. The cells bind mobile uranium species (U-hydroxides and U-hydroxo-carbonates) from solution via a time-dependent process initiated by the adsorption of uranium species to carboxyl groups. This leads to the subsequent involvement of organic phosphate groups forming uranium complexes with a local coordination similar to that of the uranyl mineral phase meta-autunite. Scanning transmission electron microscopy with high angle annular dark field analysis showed uranium accumulations at the cell surface associated with phosphorus containing ligands. Moreover, the effect of uranium mobile species on the cell viability and metabolic activity was examined by means of flow cytometry techniques, revealing that the cell metabolism is more affected by higher concentrations of uranium than the cell viability. The results obtained in this work provide new insights on the interaction of uranium with bentonite natural yeast from genus Rhodotorula under deep geological repository relevant conditions

Modeling of GERDA Phase II data

The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory (LNGS) of INFN is searching for neutrinoless double-beta ($0\nu\beta\beta$) decay of $^{76}$Ge. The technological challenge of GERDA is to operate in a "background-free" regime in the region of interest (ROI) after analysis cuts for the full 100$\,$kg$\cdot$yr target exposure of the experiment. A careful modeling and decomposition of the full-range energy spectrum is essential to predict the shape and composition of events in the ROI around $Q_{\beta\beta}$ for the $0\nu\beta\beta$ search, to extract a precise measurement of the half-life of the double-beta decay mode with neutrinos ($2\nu\beta\beta$) and in order to identify the location of residual impurities. The latter will permit future experiments to build strategies in order to further lower the background and achieve even better sensitivities. In this article the background decomposition prior to analysis cuts is presented for GERDA Phase II. The background model fit yields a flat spectrum in the ROI with a background index (BI) of $16.04^{+0.78}_{-0.85} \cdot 10^{-3}\,$cts/(kg$\cdot$keV$\cdot$yr) for the enriched BEGe data set and $14.68^{+0.47}_{-0.52} \cdot 10^{-3}\,$cts/(kg$\cdot$keV$\cdot$yr) for the enriched coaxial data set. These values are similar to the one of Gerda Phase I despite a much larger number of detectors and hence radioactive hardware components

Modeling of GERDA Phase II data

The GERmanium Detector Array (Gerda) experiment at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory (LNGS) of INFN is searching for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay of 76Ge. The technological challenge of Gerda is to operate in a “background-free” regime in the region of interest (ROI) after analysis cuts for the full 100 kg·yr target exposure of the experiment. A careful modeling and decomposition of the full-range energy spectrum is essential to predict the shape and composition of events in the ROI around Qββ for the 0νββ search, to extract a precise measurement of the half-life of the double-beta decay mode with neutrinos (2νββ) and in order to identify the location of residual impurities. The latter will permit future experiments to build strategies in order to further lower the background and achieve even better sensitivities. In this article the background decomposition prior to analysis cuts is presented for Gerda Phase II. The background model fit yields a flat spectrum in the ROI with a background index (BI) of 16.04+0.78−0.85⋅10−3 cts/(keV·kg·yr) for the enriched BEGe data set and 14.68+0.47−0.52⋅10−3 cts/(keV·kg·yr) for the enriched coaxial data set. These values are similar to the one of Phase I despite a much larger number of detectors and hence radioactive hardware components

Don't erase

Aquesta exposició del Postgrau en Il·lustració creativa i tècniques de comunicació visual d’EINA és una mostra condensada de l’odissea personal que 26 il·lustradors hem fet durant un any. Us ensenyem fins a on hem arribat sota la consigna de “No esborrar”, d’abraçar l’error i perdre-li la por, de trobar la nostra manera única i intransferible d’il·lustrar. No hi ha camí ràpid per convertir-se en il·lustrador o il·lustradora d’èxit, igualment no hi ha una única manera d’il·lustrar. Cadascun de nosaltres ho fem i ho seguirem fent a la nostra manera, però el que està clar és que per il·lustrar bé necessites fer-ho sense por, amb confiança i seguretat en els encerts i també en els errors perquè això és el que fa que una obra ens emocioni.Esta exposición del Postgrado en Ilustración creativa y técnicas de comunicación visual de EINA es una muestra condensada de la odisea personal que 26 ilustradores hemos hecho durante un año. Os enseñamos hasta donde hemos llegado bajo la consigna de “No borrar”, de abrazar el error y perderle el miedo, de encontrar nuestra manera única e intransferible de ilustrar. No existe el camino rápido para convertirse en ilustrador o ilustradora de éxito, al igual que no hay una única forma de ilustrar, cada uno de nosotros lo hace y lo seguirá haciendo a su manera, pero lo que está claro es que para ilustrar bien necesitas hacerlo sin miedo, con confianza y seguridad en tus aciertos y también en tus errores porque eso es lo que hace que una obra nos emocione.This exhibition of the Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Illustration and Visual Communication Techniques of EINA is a condensed sample of the personal odyssey that 26 illustrators have made in the past year. In it we show you, the public, how far we have come under the slogan of “Don’t Erase”, of embracing error and facing our fears, of finding our unique and non-transferable way of illustrating. There is no quick way to become a successful illustrator, just as there is no single way to illustrate, each one of us will continue to work his or her own way, but what is clear is that to illustrate well you need to do it without fear, with confidence in both your achievements and failures because that is what helps create emotional, moving work