Improved understanding of self-sustained, sub-micrometric multi-composition surface Constantan wires interacting with H2 at high temperatures: experimental evidence of Anomalous Heat Effects

This article is an extension of what presented by our team at 17th International Conference on Cold Fusion, ICCF-17, in Daejon, Korea, in 2012 [1]. It documents the improvements on Constantan-related experiments, started in 2011, in order to study the feasibility of new Nickel based alloys that are able to absorb proper amounts of Hydrogen (H2) and/or Deuterium (D2) and that have, in principle, some possibility to generate anomalous thermal effects at temperatures >100°C. The interest in Ni comes in part because there is the possibility to use also H2 instead of expensive D2. Moreover, cross-comparison of results using H2 instead of D2 can be made and could help the understanding of the phenomena involved (atomic, nuclear, super-chemical origin?) due to the use of such isotopes. Keywords: calorimeter, LENR, Nickel based alloys, sub-micrometric surface

Further progress/developments, on surface/bulk treated Constantan wires, for anomalous heat generation by H2/D2 interaction

In the framework of those studies aimed to analyze anomalous effects (thermal and/or nuclear) due to the interaction among some specific materials (pure and/or alloys) and H2 (or D2), we focused, since 2011, on a specific alloy called Constantan (Cu55-Ni44-Mn1). We selected such material using our own considerations and intuitions and because, according to a scientific paper [1], it has the largest energy value for dissociation of H2 to 2H, i.e. about 3eV. Among others B. Ahern suggested that Ni-Cu-H can be used for heat generation. We improved the preparation procedure of such wire from simple thermal treatments (up to May 2012 [2])to more sophisticated ones, with more tight control of the multilayered (400-700) surface structures. Some of the results were presented at ICCF17, Aug. 2012 [3]. After [3], several groups asked to make their own experiments using such kind of wires ([phi]=200[mu]m, l=100cm) to cross-check (and possibly improve) our results. Some of such Researchers (group of M. Fleischmann Memorial Project; U. Mastromatteo) made public their (positive) results since Dec. 14, 2012 at Ministry of Aeronautics in Rome, Italy. In short, using an (home-made) apparatus integrated with an acquisition system (type PXi) by National Instruments, we made, since September 2012, not mentioning qualitative reconfirmation of previous results, further and unexpected progress and discoveries: a) We developed a new kind of procedure of measurement (about anomalous excess heat) under dynamic vacuum, to avoid the effect of different thermal conductivity, inside the gas cell, due to type of gas and pressure variation: the wire didn't lose, macroscopically, H even at T=600[degrees]C. b) We developed a new, very simple, type of surface coating (2 layers) that is nano-diamandoidslike; c) We observed, at least 2 times, the phenomenon of water splitting due to catalytic effect of surface treated Constantan. Such phenomenon is larger in comparison with what expected just by thermal splitting (wires temperature of about 300-500[degrees]C); d) We observed a very large variation (about a factor 100) of Resistive Thermal Coefficient (RTC) of the wire used (400 layers) as the amount of H (related to the macroscopic value of resistive ratio R/Ro, normalize to empty wire Ro) increased. As example, with "treated" virgin wire (w/o H2) the RTC was about 5*10-6 and increased to6*10-4 when the R/Ro reduced to 0.68; temperature range 20-300[degrees]C. The RTC is larger with D in respect to H. Experiments are in progress also at 77K. e) Overall results are affected by previous operating conditions

Can New Ultrasound Imaging Techniques Improve Breast Lesion Characterization? Prospective Comparison between Ultrasound BI-RADS and Semi-Automatic Software “SmartBreast”, Strain Elastography, and Shear Wave Elastography

Background: Ultrasound plays a crucial role in early diagnosis of breast cancer. The aim of this research is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of BI-RADS classification in comparison with new semi-automatic software Resona R9, Mindray, “SmartBreast” and strain elastography (SE), point shear wave (pSWE), and 2D shear wave (2D SWE) Elastography for breast lesion differentiation. Methods: Ninety-two breast nodules classified according to BI-RADS lexicon by an expert radiologist were evaluated by a second investigator with B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler, “SmartBreast”, and elastography. Histopathology was considered the gold standard. Results: The agreement between software and investigator was excellent in the identification of the posterior features of breast masses (Cohen’s k = 0.94), good for shape and vascular signal (Cohen’s k, respectively, of 0.6 and 0.65), poor for orientation, margins, and echo pattern (Cohen’s k, respectively, of 0.28, 0.33 and 0.48), moderate for dimensions (Lin’s correlation coefficient of 0.90, p = 0.07). SE showed a greater area under curve (AUC) than pSWE and 2D SWE (0.84, 0.64, and 0.61, respectively), with a greater specificity and a comparable sensitivity to pSWE (respectively, of 0.86 and 0.55, 0.81 and 0.84). Conclusions: SE improved the diagnostic performance of BI-RADS classification more than pSWE and 2D SWE; “SmartBreast” showed good agreement only for shape and vascularization but not for the other ultrasound features of breast lesions

Breast cancer "tailored follow-up" in Italian oncology units: a web-based survey

urpose: Breast cancer follow-up procedures after primary treatment are still a controversial issue. Aim of this study was to investigate, through a web-based survey, surveillance methodologies selected by Italian oncologists in everyday clinical practice. Methods: Referents of Italian medical oncology units were invited to participate to the study via e-mail through the SurveyMonkey website. Participants were asked how, in their institution, exams of disease staging and follow-up are planned in asymptomatic women and if surveillance continues beyond the 5th year. Results: Between February and May 2013, 125 out of 233 (53.6%) invited referents of Italian medical oncology units agreed to participate in the survey. Ninety-seven (77.6%) referents state that modalities of breast cancer follow-up are planned according to the risk of disease progression at diagnosis and only 12 (9.6%) oncology units apply the minimal follow-up procedures according to international guidelines. Minimal follow-up is never applied in high risk asymptomatic women. Ninety-eight (78.4%) oncology units continue follow-up in all patients beyond 5 years. Conclusions: Our survey shows that 90.4% of participating Italian oncology units declare they do not apply the minimal breast cancer follow-up procedures after primary treatment in asymptomatic women, as suggested by national and international guidelines. Interestingly, about 80.0% of interviewed referents performs the so called "tailored follow-up", high intensity for high risk, low intensity for low risk patients. There is an urgent need of randomized clinical trials able to determine the effectiveness of risk-based follow-up modalities, their ideal frequency and persistence in time

L’attività di prevenzione in un impianto nucleare

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