bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Being Immortal in Paris: Violence and Prophecy during the French Revolution
Authors: Ramón Solans Francisco Javier
Published: January 2018

This article uses the case of Catherine Théot and her prophetic activity in late eighteenth-century Paris to reflect on the relationship between event and prophecy in the era of the French Revolution. Despite appearing fixed and immobile, Théot's prophecies were constantly changing and evolving, giving rise to hybrid discourses influenced by various currents including both Jansenism and revolutionary discourses. The Théot affair thus provides an occasion to reflect on contemporary supernatural interpretations of the French Revolution. In this context, her prophecies can be read as a response to the emotional needs triggered by political instability, the fear of war and political violence, and religious changes. In conclusion, the article points to a religious discourse that existed on the margins of the dialectic between revolution and counterrevolution, but was nevertheless closely linked to it though the effects of the Revolutionary Wars and the Terror.
Never the Same Again: On Some Recent Interpretations of the French Revolution
Authors: Benigno Francesco
Published: January 2018

This essay is a discussion of three recent and important books on the French Revolution: Timothy Tackett's The Coming of the Terror in the French Revolution, Jonathan Israel's Revolutionary Ideas: An Intellectual History of the French Revolution from the Rights of Man to Robespierre, and Haim Burstin's Révolutionnaires. Pour une anthropologie politique de la Révolution française. All three volumes are characterized by a welcome return to general interpretations based on new theoretical approaches and consider the revolutionary process from multiple points of view: the first uses the historiographical current known as the “new history of emotions” to explain the contemporary obsession with conspiracies and thence the Terror; the second proposes a new approach based on the traditional history of ideas, considered capable of explaining the so-called “hard facts”; the third envisages the revolutionary experience from an anthropological perspective, constructing a typology in order to characterize it. Nevertheless, all three are united by a reluctance to analyze the political structure itself; in other words, to investigate the concrete workings of political institutions during the Revolution.
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is a critical transcription factor for IL-10-producing B cells in autoimmune disease
Authors: Meng Xianyi , Grötsch Bettina , Luo Yubin , Knaup Karl Xaver , Wiesener Michael Sean , Chen Xiao-Xiang , Jantsch Jonathan , Fillatreau Simon , Schett Georg , Bozec Aline
Published: January 2018

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are key elements for controlling immune cell metabolism and functions. While HIFs are known to be involved in T cells and macrophages activation, their functions in B lymphocytes are poorly defined. Here, we show that hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) contributes to IL-10 production by B cells. HIF-1α regulates IL-10 expression, and HIF-1α-dependent glycolysis facilitates CD1dhiCD5+ B cells expansion. Mice with B cell-specific deletion of Hif1a have reduced number of IL-10-producing B cells, which result in exacerbated collagen-induced arthritis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Wild-type CD1dhiCD5+ B cells, but not Hif1a-deficient CD1dhiCD5+ B cells, protect recipient mice from autoimmune disease, while the protective function of Hif1a-deficient CD1dhiCD5+ B cells is restored when their defective IL-10 expression is genetically corrected. Taken together, this study demonstrates the key function of the hypoxia-associated transcription factor HIF-1α in driving IL-10 expression in CD1dhiCD5+ B cells, and in controlling their protective activity in autoimmune disease.
Anisotropic sensor and memory device with a ferromagnetic tunnel barrier as the only magnetic element
Authors: Lόpez-Mir L. , Frontera C. , Aramberri H. , Bouzehouane K. , Cisneros-Fernández J. , Bozzo B. , Balcells L. , Martínez B.
Published: January 2018

Multiple spin functionalities are probed on Pt/La2Co0.8Mn1.2O6/Nb:SrTiO3, a device composed by a ferromagnetic insulating barrier sandwiched between non-magnetic electrodes. Uniquely, La2Co0.8Mn1.2O6 thin films present strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of magnetocrystalline origin, property of major interest for spintronics. The junction has an estimated spin-filtering efficiency of 99.7% and tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance (TAMR) values up to 30% at low temperatures. This remarkable angular dependence of the magnetoresistance is associated with the magnetic anisotropy whose origin lies in the large spin-orbit interaction of Co2+ which is additionally tuned by the strain of the crystal lattice. Furthermore, we found that the junction can operate as an electrically readable magnetic memory device. The findings of this work demonstrate that a single ferromagnetic insulating barrier with strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy is sufficient for realizing sensor and memory functionalities in a tunneling device based on TAMR.
A deep study of the protection of Lithium Cobalt Oxide with polymer surface modification at 4.5 V high voltage
Authors: Yang ZhiXiong , Li RenGui , Deng ZhengHua
Published: January 2018

Charging the cells above a conventional voltage of 4.2 V is a promising attempt to increase the energy density of Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO), however, the problem of crystal instability at high voltage that leading deterioration of cycle performance needs to be urgently resolved. In this work, as an effective and easy approach to improve the cycle performance and crystal stability of LCO cycling at 4.5 V high voltage, we demonstrate direct surface modification of a LCO cathode by poly [N,N-bis(2-cryano-ethyl)-acrylamide]. The results of SEM, TEM and XRD all indicate that the crystal structure of polymer coating LCO remains unchanged after cycling at 4.5 V high voltage for 60 times. Furthermore, the XPS study of valence of cobalt on the surface of LCO demonstrates that cobaltic ion of polymer coating LCO can be reduced to cobaltous ion after charging the cell. Thus, the activity of the crystal surface can be weakened, as a result, the stability is improved, leading to the performance improvement.
MiRNA-seq-based profiles of miRNAs in mulberry phloem sap provide insight into the pathogenic mechanisms of mulberry yellow dwarf disease
Authors: Gai Ying-Ping , Zhao Huai-Ning , Zhao Ya-Nan , Zhu Bing-Sen , Yuan Shuo-Shuo , Li Shuo , Guo Fang-Yue , Ji Xian-Ling
Published: January 2018

A wide range of miRNAs have been identified as phloem-mobile molecules that play important roles in coordinating plant development and physiology. Phytoplasmas are associated with hundreds of plant diseases, and the pathogenesis involved in the interactions between phytoplasmas and plants is still poorly understood. To analyse the molecular mechanisms of phytoplasma pathogenicity, the miRNAs profiles in mulberry phloem saps were examined in response to phytoplasma infection. A total of 86 conserved miRNAs and 19 novel miRNAs were identified, and 30 conserved miRNAs and 13 novel miRNAs were differentially expressed upon infection with phytoplasmas. The target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs are involved in diverse signalling pathways showing the complex interactions between mulberry and phytoplasma. Interestingly, we found that mul-miR482a-5p was up-regulated in the infected phloem saps, and grafting experiments showed that it can be transported from scions to rootstock. Based on the results, the complexity and roles of the miRNAs in phloem sap and the potential molecular mechanisms of their changes were discussed. It is likely that the phytoplasma-responsive miRNAs in the phloem sap modulate multiple pathways and work cooperatively in response to phytoplasma infection, and their expression changes may be responsible for some symptoms in the infected plants.
Ge12{Fe(CO)3}8(μ-I)4: a germanium–iron cluster with Ge4, Ge2 and Ge units
Authors: Wolf Silke , Klopper Wim , Feldmann Claus
Published: January 2018

The novel germanium–iron cluster Ge12{Fe(CO)3}8(μ-I)4is presented, which contains a Ge12Fe8 metal core with a central Ge4 rectangle, two Ge2 pairs, and four single Ge atoms. The cluster was made by ionic-liquid-mediated reaction of GeI4 and Fe2(CO)9. The cluster is one of the largest intermixed Ge–Fe clusters and exhibits three different partial charges on the Ge4, Ge2, and single Ge moieties.
Albusnodin: an acetylated lasso peptide fromStreptomyces albus
Authors: Zong Chuhan , Cheung-Lee Wai Ling , Elashal Hader E. , Raj Monika , Link A. James
Published: January 2018

Genome mining and heterologous expression has revealed a new lasso peptide, albusnodin, with an obligate acetyllysine post-translational modification.
Dechlorination of chlorobenzene on vanadium-based catalysts for low-temperature SCR
Authors: Wang Dong , Chen Jianjun , Peng Yue , Si Wenzhe , Li Xiansheng , Li Bing , Li Junhua
Published: January 2018

Chlorobenzene (CB) inhibits SCR activity of V-based catalysts at low temperature, though the adsorption amount is small.
Crystal nucleation and growth in a polymorphic system: Ostwald's rule,p-aminobenzoic acid and nucleation transition states
Authors: Black J. F. B. , Cardew P. T. , Cruz-Cabeza A. J. , Davey R. J. , Gilks S. E. , Sullivan R. A.
Published: January 2018

Water has a magic effect on the nucleation kinetics of an aminobenzoic acid – stacking interactions baffle Ostwald's rule and offer dual pathways.
Chemicals from lignin: an interplay of lignocellulose fractionation, depolymerisation, and upgrading
Authors: Schutyser W. , Renders T. , Van den Bosch S. , Koelewijn S.-F. , Beckham G. T. , Sels B. F.
Published: January 2018

This review explores the three interconnected stages that determine a successful lignin-to-chemicals valorisation chain: (i) lignocellulose fractionation, (ii) lignin depolymerisation, and (iii) upgrading.
Synthesis and application of a water-soluble phosphorescent iridium complex as turn-on sensing material for human serum albumin
Authors: Huang Chao , Ran Guoxia , Zhao Yuan , Wang Chan , Song Qijun
Published: January 2018

A “turn-on” phosphorescence probe responsive to human serum albumin was developed based on a novel water-soluble cyclometallated iridium complex.
Effect of composition on the structure of lithium- and manganese-rich transition metal oxides
Authors: Shukla Alpesh Khushalchand , Ramasse Quentin M. , Ophus Colin , Kepaptsoglou Despoina Maria , Hage Fredrik S. , Gammer Christoph , Bowling Charles , Gallegos Pedro Alejandro Hernández , Venkatachalam Subramanian
Published: January 2018

In this work, we establish a definitive structural model for lithium- and manganese-rich transition metal oxides and demonstrate the effect of composition on their bulk as well as the surface structure.
An inert 3D emulsification device for individual precipitation and concentration of amorphous drug nanoparticles
Authors: Lorenz T. , Bojko S. , Bunjes H. , Dietzel A.
Published: January 2018

Nanosizing increases the specific surface of drug particles, leading to faster dissolution inside the organism and improving the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. A novel approach for the preparation of drug nanoparticles in water using chemically inert microfluidic emulsification devices is presented.
Combined brain Fe, Cu, Zn and neurometabolite analysis – a new methodology for unraveling the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in appetite control
Authors: Ziomber Agata , Surowka Artur Dawid , Antkiewicz-Michaluk Lucyna , Romanska Irena , Wrobel Pawel , Szczerbowska-Boruchowska Magdalena
Published: January 2018

A new methodology for a combined Fe, Cu, Zn and neurometabolite analysis in the brain is reported.
A turn-on fluorescent BOPHY probe for Cu2+ ion detection
Authors: He Chunhua , Zhou Huipeng , Yang Na , Niu Niu , Hussain Ejaz , Li Yongxin , Yu Cong
Published: January 2018

A novel D–π–A type fluorine–boron compound BOPHY-PTZ was synthesized and employed as a “turn on” fluorescent probe for the sensitive detection of Cu2+ ions.
Novel application of amphiphilic block copolymers in Pickering emulsions and selective recognition of proteins
Authors: Xu Jiangfeng , Sun Yanhua , Chen Jian , Zhong Shian
Published: January 2018

An amphiphilic block copolymer stabilized Pickering high internal phase emulsions and was mildly exfoliated to improve imprinting efficiency.
An in-depth investigation on the C–I bond activation by rollover cycloplatinated(ii) complexes bearing monodentate phosphane ligands: kinetic and kinetic isotope effect
Authors: Shahsavari Hamid R. , Babadi Aghakhanpour Reza , Fereidoonnezhad Masood
Published: January 2018

The oxidative addition reaction of MeI reagent to some cycloplatinated(ii) complexes was performed and kinetically investigated.
Imidazolium-based ionic liquid functionalized reduced graphene oxide supported palladium as a reusable catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura reactions
Authors: Shi Xin , Cai Chun
Published: January 2018

Pd supported on ionic liquid functionalized RGO was fabricated as a catalyst and showed excellent performance for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions.
Molecular engineering of Ga-ketoiminates: synthesis, structure and evaluation as precursors for the additive-free spin-coated deposition of gallium oxide thin films
Authors: O’Donoghue Richard , Rahman Shafiqur , Mallick Bert , Winter Manuela , Rogalla Detlef , Becker Hans-Werner , Devi Anjana
Published: January 2018

New gallium ketoiminate precursors with high solubility, favourable hydrolysis and decomposition route enabling additive free processing of Ga2O3 thin films.
Axially substituted phosphorous(v) corrole with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: syntheses, X-ray structures, and photoinduced energy and electron transfer studies
Authors: Achary B. Shivaprasad , Ramya A. R. , Nanubolu Jagadeesh Babu , Seetharaman Sairaman , Lim Gary N. , Jang Youngwoo , D’Souza Francis , Giribabu Lingamallu
Published: January 2018

Excited state energy and electron transfer processes in naphthalene and pyrene appended phosphorous(v) corroles.
Highly antiproliferative neutral Ru(ii)-arene phosphine complexes
Authors: Chotard Florian , Dondaine Lucile , Balan Cédric , Bettaïeb Ali , Paul Catherine , Le Gendre Pierre , Bodio Ewen
Published: January 2018

The introduction of a benzoate ligand dramatically increases the ruthenium uptake in cells, leading to a low micromolar IC50.
Synthesis of a heterogeneous Cu(OAc)2-anchored SBA-15 catalyst and its application in the CuAAC reaction
Authors: Sun Nan , Yu Zhongqi , Yi Hong , Zhu Xiayue , Jin Liqun , Hu Baoxiang , Shen Zhenlu , Hu Xinquan
Published: January 2018

A dinuclear Cu(OAc)2-anchored SBA-15 silica was synthesized, confirmed and showed excellent catalytic activity for the azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction in water.
Rietveld structure refinement to optimize the correlation between cation disordering and magnetic features of CoFe2O4nanoparticles
Authors: Shams S. Fatemeh , Kashefi Mehrdad , Schmitz-Antoniak Carolin
Published: January 2018

The effects of synthesis parameters on the structural and magnetic features of CoFe2O4nanoparticles have been investigated and their mutual correlations optimized by using response surface methodology.
Synthetic and immunological studies on trimeric MUC1 immunodominant motif antigen-based anti-cancer vaccine candidates
Authors: Li Mingjing , Yu Fan , Yao Chao , Wang Peng George , Liu Yonghui , Zhao Wei
Published: January 2018

Therapeutic vaccines have been regarded as a very promising treatment modality against cancer.
Rose Bengal catalysed photo-induced selenylation of indoles, imidazoles and arenes: a metal free approach
Authors: Saba Sumbal , Rafique Jamal , Franco Marcelo S. , Schneider Alex R. , Espíndola Leandro , Silva Dagoberto O. , Braga Antonio L.
Published: January 2018

A photo-induced, metal-free strategy was used for the direct C(sp2)–H bond selenylation of indoles, imidazoles and arenes using Rose Bengal as a photocatalyst.
Amplification effect of circularly polarized luminescence induced from binaphthyl-based zinc(ii) chiral coordination polymers
Authors: Wang Yuxiang , Li Xiaojing , Yang Lan , Sun Wei-Yin , Zhu Chengjian , Cheng Yixiang
Published: January 2018

Chiral coordination polymers (R/S-P1) can exhibit stronger circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) compared with complex monomers.
PBTTT-C16 sol–gel transition by hierarchical colloidal bridging
Authors: Yi Han-Liou , Hua Chi-Chung
Published: January 2018

A versatile conjugated polymer, poly(2,5-bis(3-hexadecyllthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene) (pBTTT-C16, with Mw = 61 309 g mole−1), in a relatively good solvent (chlorobenzene, CB) medium is shown to produce gels through hierarchical colloidal bridging.
Multi‐vehicle formation in a controllable force field with non‐identical controller gains
Authors: Jain Anoop , Ghose Debasish , Menon Prathyush P.
Published: January 2018

In this brief, a non‐identical gain based control design scheme is proposed to stabilise balanced collective formation in multi‐vehicle systems, modelled with non‐holonomic unicycle dynamics. Balanced collective formation refers to a situation in which the vehicles' motion causes their positional centroid to become stationary. This study mainly focuses on achieving stable balanced collective formation about the prescribed location of the collective centroid along with desired orientations of the vehicles. It is assumed that the vehicles are moving in a force field which is controlled externally. The proposed control algorithm consists of two controls – one of the controls, pertaining to the external force field, is directly applied to the system, and assumes the same value for all the vehicles. While the other control, which operates with heterogeneous gains, provides the steering force to the vehicles and is derived using Lyapunov analysis. Theoretical findings are validated through numerical simulations.
Diagonal stability of a class of discrete‐time positive switched systems with delay
Authors: Aleksandrov Alexander , Mason Oliver
Published: January 2018

A class of discrete‐time non‐linear positive time‐delay switched systems with sector‐type non‐linearities is studied. Sufficient conditions for the existence of common and switched diagonal Lyapunov–Krasovskii (L–K) functionals for this system class are derived; these are expressed as feasibility conditions for systems of linear algebraic inequalities. Corresponding spectral conditions for the existence of common L–K functionals are also described. Furthermore, it is shown that the proposed approaches can be applied to discrete‐time models of digital filters and neural networks. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of theoretical results.
Efficient model based on genetic programming and spline functions to find modes of unconventional waveguides
Authors: Cunha Alexandre Ashade L. , Pacheco Marco Aurélio
Published: January 2018

The contribution of this work is twofold: the authors developed an accurate model to solve the vector wave equation of radially‐layered inhomogeneous waveguides based on spline function expansions and automated grid construction by genetic programming, and thenemployed this model to analyse the propagation of electromagnetic waves within oil wells. The developed model uses a spline expansion of the fields to convert the wave equation into a quadratic eigenvalue problem where eigenvectors represent the coefficients of the splines and eigenvalues represent the propagation constant of the eigenmode. The present study compared the proposed model using the classical winding number technique. The results obtained for the first eigenmodes of a typical oil well geometry were more accurate than those obtained by the winding number method. Moreover, the authors model could find a larger amount of eigenmodes for a fixed azimuthal parameter than the standard approach.
PVT compensated high selectivity low‐power balun LNA for MedRadio communication
Authors: KuppiReddy Vasudeva Reddy , Herolli Prashantha Kumar , Shojaei Baghini Maryam
Published: January 2018

A single‐to‐differential low‐noise amplifier (LNA) is proposed for low‐power medical devices in the frequency band of 401–406 MHz. The proposed LNA avoids the use of surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter and additional balun in RF receiver front‐end. The LNA comprises inductive degeneration common source (IDCS) technique (stage I) and a cascaded common source circuit (stage II). The stage‐II is stacked on top of stage‐I. The proposed balun LNA incorporates single to differential (SD) conversion for minimum gain and phase error. A compensation bias circuit is proposed to minimise variations in parameters of LNA against process corners, supply voltage and temperature (PVT). An upsurge balun LNA is designed in UMC 0.18‐µm CMOS technology, the DC power consumption is 290 µW under a supply voltage of 1 V and the minimum noise figure is 3 dB. The die area of LNA including buffers and bias circuit is 850 µm × 978 µm. The worst‐case post layout simulation results show a gain and phase error of 0.8 dB and 10°. The percentage variation of gain and NF against PVT is reduced by 55 and 48%. Furthermore, the balun LNA has out of band rejection at the roll‐off rate better than 70 dB/dec.
Three-dimensional simulations of the interaction between the nova ejecta, accretion disk, and companion star
Authors: Figueira Joana , José Jordi , García-Berro Enrique , Campbell Simon W. , García-Senz Domingo , Mohamed Shazrene
Published: January 2018

Context.Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions hosted by accreting white dwarfs in stellar binary systems. Material piles up on top of the white dwarf star under mildly degenerate conditions, driving a thermonuclear runaway. The energy released by the suite of nuclear processes operating at the envelope, mostly proton-capture reactions andβ+-decays, heats the material up to peak temperatures ranging from 100 to 400 MK. In these events, about 10−3–10−7M⊙, enriched in CNO and, sometimes, other intermediate-mass elements (e.g., Ne, Na, Mg, and Al) are ejected into the interstellar medium.

Aims.To date, most of the efforts undertaken in the modeling of classical nova outbursts have focused on the early stages of the explosion and ejection, ignoring the interaction of the ejecta, first with the accretion disk orbiting the white dwarf and ultimately with the secondary star.

Methods.A suite of 3D, smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations of the interaction between the nova ejecta, accretion disk, and stellar companion were performed to fill this gap; these simulations were aimed at testing the influence of the model parameters—that is, the mass and velocity of the ejecta, mass and the geometry of the accretion disk—on the dynamical and chemical properties of the system.

Results.We discuss the conditions that lead to the disruption of the accretion disk and to mass loss from the binary system. In addition, we discuss the likelihood of chemical contamination of the stellar secondary induced by the impact with the nova ejecta and its potential effect on the next nova cycle.
Nonradial and nonpolytropic astrophysical outflows
Authors: Chantry L. , Cayatte V. , Sauty C. , Vlahakis N. , Tsinganos K.
Published: January 2018

Context. High-resolution radio imaging of active galactic nuclei (AGN) has revealed that the jets of some sources present superluminal knots and transverse stratification. Recent observational projects, such as ALMA and γ-ray telescopes, such as HESS and HESS2 have provided new observational constraints on the central regions of rotating black holes in AGN, suggesting that there is an inner- or spine-jet surrounded by a disk wind. This relativistic spine-jet is likely to be composed of electron-positron pairs extracting energy from the black hole and will be explored by the future γ-ray telescope CTA.

Aims. In this article we present an extension to and generalization of relativistic jets in Kerr metric of the Newtonian meridional self-similar mechanism. We aim at modeling the inner spine-jet of AGN as a relativistic light outflow emerging from a spherical corona surrounding a Kerr black hole and its inner accretion disk.

Methods. The model is built by expanding the metric and the forces with colatitude to first order in the magnetic flux function. As a result of the expansion, all colatitudinal variations of the physical quantities are quantified by a unique parameter. Unlike previous models, effects of the light cylinder are not neglected.

Results. Solutions with high Lorentz factors are obtained and provide spine-jet models up to the polar axis. As in previous publications, we calculate the magnetic collimation efficiency parameter, which measures the variation of the available energy across the field lines. This collimation efficiency is an integral part of the model, generalizing the classical magnetic rotator efficiency criterion to Kerr metric. We study the variation of the magnetic efficiency and acceleration with the spin of the black hole and show their high sensitivity to this integral.

Conclusions. These new solutions model collimated or radial, relativistic or ultra-relativistic outflows in AGN or γ-ray bursts. In particular, we discuss the relevance of our solutions to modeling the M 87 spine-jet. We study the efficiency of the central black hole spin to collimate a spine-jet and show that the jet power is of the same order as that determined by numerical simulations.
L’agriculture au Sahara du sud-ouest algérien : entre développement agricole moderne et permanences de l’agriculture oasienne traditionnelle
Authors: Hadeid Mohamed , Bellal Sid Ahmed , Ghodbani Tarik , Dari Ouassini
Published: January 2018

L’agriculture oasienne reflète l’ingéniosité d’une société ayant pu vaincre un milieu hostile et défavorable au peuplement. En Algérie, cette agriculture traditionnelle a été bouleversée par l’introduction des emplois non-agricoles, qui ont perturbé la stratification sociale établie. Une nouvelle politique de mise en valeur agricole a été instaurée depuis 1983 afin de remplacer l’agriculture traditionnelle considérée comme peu rentable et ne pouvant faire face à de nouveaux problèmes (manque de main-d’oeuvre, déclin des systèmes hydrauliques à foggaras…) et de lancer les régions arides dans une phase de production céréalière en niant l’organisation sociale féodale antérieure. Depuis, l’intérêt de l’État pour cette agriculture moderne s’est manifesté essentiellement par différentes subventions. Tout cela s’est traduit par un recul accéléré de l’agriculture oasienne au profit de l’emploi dans les services et l’administration, ou dans les nouvelles exploitations créées dans les nouvelles zones de mise en valeur agricoles. Cependant, plus récemment, certaines transformations commencent à voir le jour dans des oasis auparavant en difficulté. Dans une période où l’emploi tertiaire est saturé et où les aides de l’État s’affaiblissent progressivement, les oasiens ont décidé de s’adapter en tentant de retourner au travail de la terre dans les palmeraies délaissées, tout en s’orientant vers des cultures rémunératrices. On observe ainsi non pas une concurrence de l’agriculture moderne avec l’agriculture oasienne, mais le développement d’une autre vision, fondée sur la recherche du profit, aussi bien dans l’agriculture saharienne considérée comme moderne que dans celle considérée comme traditionnelle.
Monitoring of PAHs in the natural protected areas in non-heating season using Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) needles
Authors: Borgulat Jacek , Staszewski Tomasz , Łukasik Włodzimierz
Published: January 2018

This paper presents the results of the screening investigation of the environmental burden of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the natural protected areas in non-heating season. Current year spruce needles were used as a bioacummulative indicator. The total exposure at 15 PAHs (2-6 rings) and carcinogenic potential of these compounds were taken as parameters describing the hazard level. Sampling, in a uniform way, was made in the Silesian Voivodeship landscape parks and the selected Polish national parks as well as in the reference sites with characteristic pattern of PAHs emission, namely in industrialized urban areas and near the expressway. The presence of PAHs, including carcinogenic ones, was shown in all the localities; their content in needles sampled in the natural protective areas was slightly diversified and ranged from 145 to 339 ng/g- (d. w.). Higher differences were observed for carcinogenic potential index (CP) which varied from 2.2 to 18.2. The analysis of PAHs profiles has shown that despite the seasonal lack of intensive emissions from domestic heating, in the majority of natural protective areas pyrogenic sources have also been identified. Profiles of PAHs found in Karkonoski and Ojcowski NPs suggest their petrogenic origin probably due to the intensive tourism (emissions from car engines) in those areas.
Preliminary analysis of variability in concentration of fine particulate matter - PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10 in area of Poznań city
Authors: Sówka Izabela , Chlebowska-Styś Anna , Mathews Barbara
Published: January 2018

It is commonly known, that suspended particulate matter pose a threat to human life and health, negatively influence the flora, climate and also materials. Especially dangerous is the presence of high concentration of particulate matter in the area of cities, where density of population is high. The research aimed at determining the variability of suspended particulate matter concentration (PM1.0, PM2.5 and PM10) in two different thermal seasons, in the area of Poznań city. As a part of carried out work we analyzed the variability of concentrations and also performed a preliminary analysis of their correlation. Measured concentrations of particulate matter were contained within following ranges: PM10 – 8.7-69.6 μg/m3, PM2.5 – 2.2-88.5 μg/m3, PM1.0 – 2.5-22.9 μg/m3 in the winter season and 1.0-42.8 μg/m3 (PM10), 1.2-40.3 μg/m3 (PM2.5) and 2.7-10.4 (PM1.0) in the summer season. Preliminary correlative analysis indicated interdependence between the temperature of air, the speed of wind and concentration of particulate matter in selected measurement points. The values of correlation coefficients between the air temperature, speed of wind and concentrations of particulate matter were respectively equal to: for PM10: -0.59 and -0.55 (Jana Pawła II Street), -0.53 and -0.53 (Szymanowskiego Street), for PM2.5: -0.60 and -0.53 (Jana Pawła II Street) and for PM1.0 -0.40 and -0.59 (Jana Pawła II Street).
Determination of biomass burning tracers in air samples by GC/MS
Authors: Janoszka Katarzyna
Published: January 2018

Levoglucosan (LG) as a main cellulose burning product at 300°C is a biomass burning tracer. LG characterize by relatively high molar mass and it is sorbed by particulate matter. In the study of air pollution monitoring LG is mainly analyzed in particulate matter, PM1 and PM2,5. The tracer create relatively high O-H…O bond and weaker C-H…O bond. Due to the hydrogen bond, LG dissolves very well in water. Analytical procedure of LG determination include: extraction, derivatization and analysis by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detector. In water samples levoglucosan is determined by liquid chromatography. The paper presents a methodology for particulate matter samples determination their analysis by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometry detector. Determination of LG content in particulate matter was performed according to an analytical method based on simultaneous pyridine extraction and derivatization using N,O-bis (trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide and trimethylchlorosilane mixture (BSTFA: TMCS, 99: 1).
The identification of Volatile Organic Compound’s emission sources in indoor air of living spaces, offices and laboratories
Authors: Kultys Beata
Published: January 2018

Indoor air quality is important because people spend most of their time in closed rooms. If volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present at elevated concentrations, they may cause a deterioration in human well-being or health. The identification of indoor emission sources is carried out by comparison indoor and outdoor air composition. The aim of the study was to determinate the concentration of VOCs in indoor air, where there was a risk of elevated levels due to the kind of work type carried out or the users complained about the symptoms of a sick building followed by an appropriate interpretation of the results to determine whether the source of the emission in the tested room occurs. The air from residential, office and laboratory was tested in this study. The identification of emission sources was based on comparison of indoor and outdoor VOCs concentration and their correlation coefficients. The concentration of VOCs in all the rooms were higher or at a similar level to that of the air sampled at the same time outside the building. Human activity, in particular repair works and experiments with organic solvents, has the greatest impact on deterioration of air quality.
Particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a selected athletic hall: ambient concentrations, origin and effects on human health
Authors: Kuskowska Karolina , Rogula-Kozłowska Wioletta , Rogula-Kopiec Patrycja
Published: January 2018

The paper presents the results of research on the concentration of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with total suspended particles (TSP) and their respirable fraction (PM4) in one of the Warsaw sports halls. Samples of dust were collected for 15 days simultaneously inside and outside (atmospheric air) of the sports hall. The obtained data allowed calculating diagnostic ratios indicating the origin of the PAHs and selected indicators of cumulative exposure to the PAH mixture. Both PM and PAH in the surveyed area were derived from the combustion of solid fuels; this involved pollution both in the atmospheric air and in the air inside the sports hall. It has been shown that the exposure of sports hall users to PAHs is significantly higher than the exposure resulting from concentrations recorded in the atmospheric air.
Use of metallurgical dust for removal chromium ions from aqueous solutions
Authors: Pająk Magdalena , Dzieniszewska Agnieszka , Kyzioł-Komosińska Joanna , Chrobok Michał
Published: January 2018

The aim of the study was to determine the potential for the application of dust from steel plant as an effective sorbent for removing Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in the form of simple and complex ions – Acid Blue 193 dye from aqueous solutions. Three isotherms models were used to interpret the experimental results namely: Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich. Estimated equations parameters allowed to determine the binding mechanism. Based on laboratory studies it was found that the dust was characterized by high sorption capacities for Cr ions and dye from the aqueous solution. The sorption capacity of the dust for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions depended on the degree of oxidation, pH of solution and kind of anion and changed in series: Cr(III)-Cl pH=5.0> Cr(III)-SO4 pH=5.0> Cr(III)-Cl pH=3.0> Cr(III)-SO4 pH=3.0> Cr(VI) pH=5.0> Cr(VI) pH=3.0. Dust was also characterized by a high maximum sorption capacity of dye at a range of 38.2 – 91.7 mg/g, depending on the dose of dust. Based on the study it was found that dust from a steel plant, containing iron oxides, can be used as low-cost and effective sorbent to remove pollutions containing chromium ions, especially from acidic wastewater.
Determination of PCDDs in spider webs: preliminary studies
Authors: Rybak Justyna , Rutkowski Radosław
Published: January 2018

The application of spider webs for determination of polichlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins (PCDDs) has been studied for the first time. The aim of the studies was to find out if spider webs are suitable for such examinations as it was proved in the previous research they are excellent indicators of air pollutants. Spiders are ubiquitous, thus collection of samples is easy and non-invasive. Studies were conducted within the city of Wrocław and surroundings, one of the biggest and at the same time heaviest polluted city in Poland. Five research sites have been chosen, where spider webs were collected after 60 days of continuous exposure time. Webs belonging to two genera Tegenaria sylvestris and Tegenaria ferruginea (family Agelenidae) have been chosen as they are large and very dense, thus they are very suitable for such examinations. Webs were found to retain dioxins probably mainly by external exposure. These promising results should be continued and expanded in the future research.
Energy and emission aspects of co-combustion solid recovered fuel with coal in a stoker boiler
Authors: Wasielewski Ryszard , Głód Krzysztof , Telenga-Kopyczyńska Jolanta
Published: January 2018

The results of industrial research on co-combustion of solid recovered fuel (SRF) with hard coal in a stoker boiler type WR-25 has been presented. The share of SRF in the fuel mixture was 10%. During the co-combustion of SRF, no technological disturbances or significant reduction in energy efficiency of the boiler were noted. Obtained SO2, NOx and CO emissions were comparable with coal combustion but dust emissions increased. During combustion of the coal mixture with a 10% share of SRF in the test boiler WR-25, the emission standards established for the combustion of the dedicated fuel were met. However, comparison of obtained emission results with the emission standards established for co-incineration of waste, revealed the exceedance of permissible levels of HCl, dust, heavy metals, dioxins and furans. Additionally, the residence time of flue gases in over 850°C conditions for the test boiler WR-25 was too short (1.3 seconds) in refer to the legislative requirements (2 seconds) for the thermal conversion of waste.
Smog episodes in the Lodz agglomeration in the years 2014-17
Authors: Wielgosiński Grzegorz , Czerwińska Justyna , Namiecińska Olga , Cichowicz Robert
Published: January 2018

In recent years, in the winter season we are alarmed about the poor air quality in Poland and significantly exceeded permissible concentrations of certain pollutants, especially PM10 and PM2.5, which are a result of so-called low emissions. The authors analyze smog episodes in the Lodz agglomeration by comparing the recorded values of selected pollutant concentrations at monitoring stations of the Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Lodz with the meteorological conditions prevailing at this time. The analysis covers data from the years 2014-2017.
The PADME Detector
Authors: Gianotti Paola
Published: January 2018

The PADME experiment, by using the positron beam of the Frascati laboratory, aims at searching for signals of a dark photon, A′ . It will evaluate the final state missing mass of the process e+ e- → A′ γ by knowing the beam energy and measuring the four-momentum of the ordinary recoil photon. The precise determination of this quantity, and the capability to reject background events, are the key points for the success of the experiment. In this paper a description of each component of the PADME detector is given.
GEM detector performance with innovative micro-TPC readout in high magnetic field
Authors: Garzia I. , Alexeev M. , Amoroso A. , Baldini Ferroli R. , Bertani M. , Bettoni D. , Bianchi F. , Calcaterra A. , Canale N. , Capodiferro M. , Cassariti V. , Cerioni S. , Chai J.Y. , Chiozzi S. , Cibinetto G. , Cossio F. , Cotta Ramusino A. , De Mori F. , Destefanis M. , Dong J. , Evangelisti F. , Evangelisti F. , Farinelli R. , Fava L. , Felici G. , Fioravanti E. , Gatta M. , Greco M. , Lavezzi L. , Leng C.Y. , Li H. , Maggiora M. , Malaguti R. , Marcello S. , Melchiorri M. , Mezzadri G. , Mignone M. , Morello G. , Pacetti S. , Patteri P. , Pellegrino J. , Pelosi A. , Rivetti A. , Rolo M. D. , Savrié M. , Scodeggio M. , Soldani E. , Sosio S. , Spataro S. , Tskhadadze E. , Verma S. , Wheadon R. , Yan L.
Published: January 2018

Gas detector development is one of the pillars of the research in fundamental physics. Since several years, a new concept of detectors, called Micro Pattern Gas Detector (MPGD), allowed to overcome several problems related to other types of commonly used detectors, like drift chamber and micro strips detectors, reducing the rate of discharges and providing better radiation tolerance. Among the most used MPGDs are the Gas Electron Multipliers (GEMs). Invented by Sauli in 1997, nowadays GEMs have become an important reality for particle detectors in high energy physics. Commonly deployed as fast timing detectors and triggers, their fast response, high rate capability and high radiation hardness make them also suitable as tracking detectors. The readout scheme is one of the most important features in tracking technology. Analog readout based on the calculation of the center of gravity technique allows to overcome the limit imposed by digital pads, whose spatial resolution is limited by the pitch dimensions. However, the presence of high external magnetic fields can distort the electronic cloud and affect the performance. The development of the micro-TPC reconstruction method brings GEM detectors into a new prospective, improving significantly the spatial resolutionin presence of high magnetic fields. This innovative technique allows to reconstruct the 3-dimensional particle position, as Time Projection Chamber, but within a drift gap of a few millimeters. In these report, the charge centroid and micro-TPC methods are described in details. We discuss the results of several test beams performed with planar chambers in magnetic field. These results are one of the first developments of micro-TPC technique for GEM detectors, which allows to reach unprecedented performance in a high magnetic field of 1 T.
Counting neutrons with a commercial S-CMOS camera
Authors: Patrick Van Esch , Paolo Mutti , Emilio Ruiz-Martinez , Estefania Abad Garcia , Marita Mosconi , Jon Ortega
Published: January 2018

It is possible to detect individual flashes from thermal neutron impacts in a ZnS scintillator using a CMOS camera looking at the scintillator screen, and off line image processing. Some preliminary results indicated that the efficiency of recognition could be improved by optimizing the light collection and the image processing. We will report on this ongoing work which is a result from the collaboration between ESS Bilbao and the ILL. The main progress to be reported is situated on the level of the on-line treatment of the imaging data. If this technology is to work on a genuine scientific instrument, it is necessary that all the processing happens on line, to avoid the accumulation of large amounts of image data to be analyzed off line. An FPGA-based real-time full-deca mode VME-compatible CameraLink board has been developed at the SCI of the ILL, which is able to manage the data flow from the camera and convert it in a reasonable “neutron impact” data flow like from a usual neutron counting detector. The main challenge of the endeavor is the optical light collection from the scintillator. While the light yield of a ZnS scintillator is a priori rather important, the amount of light collected with a photographic objective is small. Different scintillators and different light collection techniques have been experimented with and results will be shown for different setups improving upon the light recuperation on the camera sensor. Improvements on the algorithm side will also be presented. The algorithms have to be at the same time efficient in their recognition of neutron signals, in their rejection of noise signals (internal and external to the camera) but also have to be simple enough to be easily implemented in the FPGA. The path from the idea of detecting individual neutron impacts with a CMOS camera to a practical working instrument detector is challenging, and in this paper we will give an overview of the part of the road that has already been walked.
Study of Lamb Waves for Non-Destructive Testing Behind Screens
Authors: Kauffmann P. , Ploix M.-A. , Chaix J.-F. , Gueudré C. , Corneloup G. , Baqué F.
Published: January 2018

The inspection and control of sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFR) is a major issue for the nuclear industry. Ultrasonic solutions are under study because of the opacity of liquid sodium. In this paper, the use of leaky Lamb waves is considered for non-destructive testing (NDT) on parallel and immersed structures assimilated as plates. The first phase of our approach involved studying the propagation properties of leaky Lamb waves. Equations that model the propagation of Lamb waves in an immersed plate were solved numerically. The phase velocity can be experimentally measured using a two dimensional Fourier transform. The group velocity can be experimentally measured using a short-time Fourier transform technique. Attenuation of leaky Lamb waves is mostly due to the re-emission of energy into the surrounding fluid, and it can be measured by these two techniques.
Qualification and characterization of electronics of the fast neutron Hodoscope detectors using neutrons from CABRI core
Authors: Mirotta S. , Guillot J. , Chevalier V. , Biard B.
Published: January 2018

The study of Reactivity Initiated Accidents (RIA) is important to determine up to which limits nuclear fuels can withstand such accidents without clad failure. The CABRI International Program (CIP), conducted by IRSN under an OECD/NEA agreement, has been launched to perform representative RIA Integral Effect Tests (IET) on real irradiated fuel rods in prototypical Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) conditions. For this purpose, the CABRI experimental pulse reactor, operated by CEA in Cadarache, France, has been strongly renovated, and equipped with a pressurized water loop. The behavior of the test rod, located in that loop in the center of the driver core, is followed in real time during the power transients thanks to the hodoscope, a unique online fuel motion monitoring system, and one of the major distinctive features of CABRI. The hodoscope measures the fast neutrons emitted by the tested rod during the power pulse with a complete set of 153 Fission Chambers and 153 Proton Recoil Counters. During the CABRI facility renovation, the electronic chain of these detectors has been upgraded. In this paper, the performance of the new system is presented describing gain calibration methodology in order to get maximal Signal/Noise ratio for amplification modules, threshold tuning methodology for the discrimination modules (old and new ones), and linear detectors response limit versus different reactor powers for the whole electronic chain.
Nuclear instrumentation in VENUS-F
Authors: Wagemans J. , Borms L. , Kochetkov A. , Krása A. , Van Grieken C. , Vittiglio G.
Published: January 2018

VENUS-F is a fast zero power reactor with 30 wt% U fuel and Pb/Bi as a coolant simulator. Depending on the experimental configuration, various neutron spectra (fast, epithermal, and thermal islands) are present. This paper gives a review of the nuclear instrumentation that is applied for reactor control and in a large variety of physics experiments. Activation foils and fission chambers are used to measure spatial neutron flux profiles, spectrum indices, reactivity effects (with positive period and compensation method or the MSM method) and kinetic parameters (with the Rossi-alpha method). Fission chamber calibrations are performed in the standard irradiation fields of the BR1 reactor (prompt fission neutron spectrum and Maxwellian thermal neutron spectrum).