Study to establish cost projections for production of Redox chemicals

A cost study of four proposed manufacturing processes for redox chemicals for the NASA REDOX Energy Storage System yielded favorable selling prices in the range $0.99 to$1.91/kg of chromic chloride, anhydrous basis, including ferrous chloride. The prices corresponded to specific energy storage costs from under $9 to$17/kWh. A refined and expanded cost analysis of the most favored process yielded a price estimate corresponding to a storage cost of $11/kWh. The findings supported the potential economic viability of the NASA REDOX system

Testicular histopathology, semen analysis and FSH, predictive value of sperm retrieval: supportive counseling in case of reoperation after testicular sperm extraction (TESE)

Background: To provide indicators for the likelihood of sperm retrieval in patients undergoing testicular sperm extraction is a major issue in the management of male infertility by TESE. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of different parameters, including testicular histopathology, on sperm retrieval in case of reoperation in patients undergoing testicular sperm extraction. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 486 patients who underwent sperm extraction for intracytoplasmic sperm injection and testicular biopsy. Histology was classified into: normal spermatogenesis; hypospermatogenesis (reduction in the number of normal spermatogenetic cells); maturation arrest (absence of the later stages of spermatogenesis); and Sertoli cell only (absence of germ cells). Semen analysis and serum FSH, LH and testosterone were measured. Results: Four hundred thirty patients had non obstructive azoospermia, 53 severe oligozoospermia and 3 necrozoospermia. There were 307 (63%) successful sperm retrieval. Higher testicular volume, lower levels of FSH, and better histological features were predictive for sperm retrieval. The same parameters and younger age were predictive factors for shorter time for sperm recovery. After multivariable analysis, younger age, better semen parameters, better histological features and lower values of FSH remained predictive for shorter time for sperm retrieval while better semen and histology remained predictive factors for successful sperm retrieval. The predictive capacity of a score obtained by summing the points assigned for selected predictors (1 point for Sertoli cell only, 0.33 points for azoospermia, 0.004 points for each FSH mIU/ml) gave an area under the ROC curve of 0.843. Conclusions: This model can help the practitioner with counseling infertile men by reliably predicting the chance of obtaining spermatozoa with testicular sperm extraction when a repeat attempt is planne

ARPES kink is a "smoking gun" for the theory of high-Tc superconductors: dominance of the electron-phonon interaction with forward scattering peak

The ARPES spectra in high-Tc superconductors show four distinctive features in the quasiparticle self-energy. All of them can be explained consistently by the theory in which the electron phonon interaction (EPI) with the forward scattering peak dominates over the Coulomb scattering. In particular, this theory explains why there is no shift of the nodal kink at 70 meV in the superconducting state, contrary to the clear shift of the anti-nodal singularity at 40 meV. The theory predicts a ``knee''-like structure of the imaginary part of the self-energy, which is phonon dominated for $\omega \approx \omega^{(70)}_{ph}$, and shows linear behavior for $\omega > \omega^{(70)}_{ph}$ - due to the Coulomb scattering. Recent ARPES spectra give that the EPI coupling constant is much larger than the Coulomb one. The dip-hump structure in the spectral function comes out naturally from the proposed theory.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

The Application of Barocaloric Solid-State Cooling in the Cold Food Chain for Carbon Footprint Reduction

In this paper, the application of solid-state cooling based on the barocaloric effect in the cold food supply chain is investigated. Barocaloric solid-state technology is applied to the final links of the cold food supply chain regarding the steps of retail and domestic conservation. In this context, effective barocaloric cooling entails the refrigeration of food at 5 °C (273 K) and as such is a promising cooling technology due to its energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. The categories of food involved in this investigation are meat and fresh food products like soft cheese, yogurt, and milk. The energy performance of the barocaloric system is analyzed and compared with a commercial vapor compression refrigerator of a similar size, both operating using R600a under the same working conditions. Based on the results of this comparison, it is concluded that barocaloric cooling is a favorable technology for application in the final links of the cold food supply chain if the system operates in an ABR cycle at frequencies between 1.25 and 1.50 Hz with a regenerator comprising acetoxy silicone rubber as the solid-state refrigerant and a 50%EG–50% water mixture as the heat transfer fluid flowing at an optimal velocity of 0.15 m s−1. Thus, an appropriate tradeoff between the temperature span, cooling power, and coefficient of performance is guaranteed. Under these conditions, the barocaloric system outperforms the domestic vapor compression cooler operating using R600a

On the Path Integral Representation for Spin Systems

We propose a classical constrained Hamiltonian theory for the spin. After the Dirac treatment we show that due to the existence of second class constraints the Dirac brackets of the proposed theory represent the commutation relations for the spin. We show that the corresponding partition function, obtained via the Fadeev-Senjanovic procedure, coincides with the one obtained using coherent states. We also evaluate this partition function for the case of a single spin in a magnetic field.Comment: To be published in J.Phys. A: Math. and Gen. Latex file, 12 page

Particle correlations at RHIC from parton coalescence dynamics -- first results

A new dynamical approach that combines covariant parton transport theory with hadronization channels via parton coalescence and fragmentation is applied to Au+Au at RHIC. Basic consequences of the simple coalescence formulas, such as elliptic flow scaling and enhanced proton/pion ratio, turn out to be rather sensitive to the spacetime aspects of coalescence dynamics.Comment: Contribution to Quark Matter 2004 (January 11-17, 2004, Oakland, CA). 4 pages, 2 EPS figs, IOP style fil

CoQ10 and vitamin A supplementation support voice rehabilitation. A double-blind, randomized, controlled, three-period cross-over pilot study

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of an adjuvant therapy (CoQ10 in its watersoluble form and vitamin A) in supporting voice rehabilitation in a large group of patients with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). Study Design: Twelve-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled, three-period crossover pilot study. The primary endpoint was the change in the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) over the 12-week study period. Secondary endpoints were the changes in the subcomponents of DSI, including MPT, F0-high, I-low, and jitter. Exploratory endpoints were the changes in the Shimmer and in Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Methods: Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to two counter-balanced arms. Group A (ADJ-PLA) patients were administered QTer 300 mg and Vit A acetate 500.000 Ul/g 1 mg twice daily for a 4-week intervention period, followed by a 4-week period of wash-out, and then were submitted to a last 4-week period of placebo. Patients in Group B (PLB-ADJ) were given the treatment period in reverse order. Both groups received a 45-min voice therapy in a group format once a day for 4 weeks during the first and the second active periods. The therapy was held during the wash-out period. Results: The analysis of main time effect indicated a trend toward recovery of vocal function regardless of group assignment. A significant time by group effect was found on DSI [F = 3.4 (2.5, 80.5), p = 0.03], F0-high [F = 4.5 (2.6, 82.9), p = 0.008] and Shimmer [F = 3.6 (1.5, 46.9), p = 0.048], under CoQ10 and Vit A treatment, with a small effect size. There was no significant time by group effect on the other study measures, namely MPT, I-low, VHI. Conclusions: A trend toward recovery of vocal function was observed in all the patients, likely due to voice rehabilitation. The improvement of DSI was greater under CoQ10 and Vitamin treatment, indicating a more pronounced improvement of vocal quality under adjuvant therapy. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Rome, Italy Rif. 3069/13.02.2014

Aortic coarctation in the elderly: how many errors lie behind an unexpected diagnosis?

A65-year-old woman was admitted to our department because of chest pain and untreated hypertension. She had been well until 6 years previously when a diagnosis of hypertension was made. She reported poor control of blood pressure associated with leg weakness in coincidence with tentatively aggressive anti-hypertensive therapy. Aclinical diagnosis of aortic coarctation was made [1], and a spiral TC study revealed a stenosis of the aorta 2 cm below the origin of the subclavia; a 2 cm aneurysm was present in the proximity of the stenosis (Fig. 1, white arrow) and epiaortic arteries were dilated