[en] Two main problems have to be solved in order to realise a km³ neutrino submarine detector: data flow and power. Both must be limited! Signals from the optical modules cannot be transferred to the shore unaltered. It is necessary to transfer a suitable compressed and codified representation from the optical module to a concentrator. An electronic system triggered by the signal holds analog samples taken at very high frequency (200 MHz). It then successively transforms them into digital code (10 MHz) and applies a first compression algorithm

[en] Ballasted track, while providing economical and practical advantages, is associated with high costs and material consumption due to frequent maintenance. More sustainable alternatives to conventional ballasted trackbeds should therefore aim at extending its durability, particularly considering ongoing increases in traffic speed and loads. In this regard, the authors have investigated a solution consisting of bitumen stabilised ballast (BSB), designed to be used for new trackbeds as well as in reinforcing existing ones. This study presents the idea behind the technology and then focuses on a specific part of its development: the optimisation of bitumen emulsion properties and dosage in relation to ballast field conditions. Results showed that overall bitumen stabilisation improved ballast resistance to permanent deformation by enhancing stiffness and damping properties. Scenarios with higher dosage of bitumen emulsion, higher viscosity, quicker setting behaviour, and harder base bitumen seem to represent the most desirable conditions to achieve enhanced in-field performance.

[en] We present the design and the test performed on ADeLinel, a Full-Custom Analog Memory for sparse data sampling. It has been designed as an array of switched capacitors. It is only one channel of 8 cells. The control part of the ADeLine chip is custom designed for the size reduction, high speed performance and low power dissipation. The memory has been integrated in double poly, double metal AMS 0.8 μm CMOS. It has 3.5 V input and output swings, a linearity within ± 6 mV in a 2 V range and 11 bits of resolution. (author)

[en] The interest in using bio-materials in pavement engineering has grown significantly over the last decades due to environmental concerns about the use of non-recoverable natural resources. In this paper, bio-materials are used together with Reclaimed Asphalt (RA) to restore some of the properties of the aged bitumen present in mixtures with high RA content. For this purpose, two bio-materials are studied and compared to conventional and polymer modified bitumens. Blends of these materials with RA bitumen were produced and studied to simulate a 50% RA mixture. The rejuvenating effect of the two bio-materials on RA has been assessed and compared with the effect of the conventional binders. Apparent Molecular Weight Distribution of the samples (obtained by the ?-method) and different rheological parameters were used for this purpose. Results revealed the power of bio-materials to rejuvenate RA bitumen, showing their capability to be used as fresh binders in high-RA content mixtures.

[en] The proper use of imaging equipment in radiological units is based on an appropriate knowledge of the physical characteristics of the X-ray beam used. The FLUXEN PROJECT is working on a portable apparatus which, together with dedicated software, is able to perform an exact spectral reconstruction of the radiation produced in diagnostic X-ray tubes. The apparatus characterizes the energy spectrum of radiological tubes and also provides a measurement of the emitted flux. The acquisition system is based on a commercial CZT detector (3x3x2 mm³), produced by AMPTEK, cooled by a Peltier cell, with a high efficiency in the diagnostic X-ray energy range and modified in the shaping electronics so as to obtain a faster response. The acquiring section lies on a NuDAQ I/O card with a sampling frequency of up to 20 MHz. The signal produced by the X-ray tube is wholly acquired and an off-line analysis is made so as to make possible an accurate recognition of pile-up events and a reconstruction of the emitted spectra. The reconstructed spectra of a General Electric Senographe DMR mammographic X-ray tube are shown

[en] A proposal for a new front-end architecture intended to capture signals in the optical module of an underwater neutrino telescope is described. It concentrates on the problem of power consumption, signal reconstruction, charge and time precision.

[en] Full text of publication follows. Aim: to retrospectively evaluate any factors that may limit the success rate of radioiodine therapy (RIT) in Graves' disease patients. Methods: 80 Graves' disease patients submitted for RIT in our department in a two years' period (2010-2011) were enrolled in the study. A fixed dose of 12 mCi (444 MBq) of ¹³¹I was administered to all patients after antithyroid drug administration, in order to achieve normal FT3 serum values. Thyroid function outcome were assessed 10-12 months after RIT. Patient's sex, age, evidence of ophthalmopathy, ultrasound measurement of the thyroid volume and ^99mTc thyroid uptake % prior to RIT were considered as potential interference factors for success. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: after RIT, 9 patients (11%) became euthyroid, 48 patients (61%) became hypothyroid and 23 (28%) remained hyperthyroid. No statistically significant association between treatment outcome and sex (p = 0.56), age (p=0.61) and ophthalmopathy (p = 0.72) was found. On the contrary, ^99mTc thyroid uptake % and thyroid volume were associated with success rate (thyroid uptake<14%, p<0.001, odds ratio 3.9 and thyroid volume <58 ml, p < 0.001, odds ratio 7.9). Conclusions: A radioiodine fixed dose of 12 mCi (444 MBq) for treatment of Graves' disease seems to be a practical and effective approach. However, this administration is not recommended for patients with large goiters and a high pre-RIT thyroid uptake, due to high failure rates observed in patients with thyroid volume more than 58 ml and thyroid uptake higher than 14%. (authors)

[en] The NEMO Collaboration aims to construct an underwater Cherenkov detector in the Mediterranean Sea, able to act as a neutrino telescope. One of the main tasks of this project, which implies difficult technological challenges, is the selection of an adequate marine site. In this framework the knowledge of light transmission properties in deep seawater is extremely important. The collaboration has measured optical properties in several marine sites near the Italian coasts, at depths >3000 m, using a setup based on a AC9, a commercial trasmissometer, manufactured by WETLabs. The results obtained for the two sites reported in this paper (Alicudi and Ustica), show that deep seawater optical properties are comparable to those of the clearest waters

[en] Several research works have been published on the slope stability in the northern Tuscany (central Italy) and particularly in the seismic areas of Garfagnana and Lunigiana (Lucca and Massa-Carrara districts), aimed at analysing the slope stability under static and dynamic conditions and mapping the landslide hazard. In addition, in situ and laboratory investigations are available for the study area, thanks to the activities undertaken by the Tuscany Seismic Survey. Based on such a huge information the co-seismic stability of few ideal slope profiles have been analysed by means of Limit equilibrium method LEM - (pseudo-static) and Newmark sliding block analysis (pseudo-dynamic). The analysis--results gave indications about the most appropriate seismic coefficient to be used in pseudo-static analysis after establishing allowable permanent displacement. Such indications are commented in the light of the Italian and European prescriptions for seismic stability analysis with pseudo-static approach. The stability conditions, obtained from the previous analyses, could be used to define microzonation criteria for the study area

[en] The design of the front-end electronics for the new tracker of the MAGNEX Focal Plane Detector (FPD) for the NUMEN project is presented. The front-end is based on the VMM chip, developed for ATLAS experiment at CERN. The architecture of the front-end (FE) electronics is designed to be modular and scalable to the final detector. The segmented anode board is designed in order to take advantage of the unique performances of the VMM chip, allowing a digital reconstruction of the track at high event rate. This anode board is connected to front-end by mean of Micro Coax Cable Assembly and does not make use of vacuum connectors. The front-end boards will be placed in air, facilitating in this way the heat dissipation and the connection to the read-out (RO) electronics. An innovative anode read-out strategy allows the reduction of the total number of channels to about 1400 and the measurement of the track at different depth in the detector with 750 µm spatial resolution. (paper)