Bent crystal selection and assembling for the LAUE project

For the first time, with the Laue project, bent crystals are being used for focusing photons in the 80-300 keV energy range. The advantage is their high reflectivity and better Point Spread Function with respect to the mosaic flat crystals. Simulations have already shown their excellent focusing capability which makes them the best candidates for a Laue lens whose sensitivity is also driven by the size of the focused spot. Selected crystals are Germanium (perfect, (111)) and Gallium Arsenide (mosaic, (220)) with 40 m curvature radius to get a spherical lens with 20 m long focal length. A lens petal is being built. We report the measurement technique by which we are able to estimate the exact curvature of each tile within a few percent of uncertainty and their diffraction efficiency. We also discuss some results.Comment: 9 pages, 15 figures, SPIE conference vol. 8861 (2013

Zum überfälligen Paradigmenwechsel in der Fremdsprachendidaktik

In letzter Zeit beschäft igt sich die angewandte kognitive Linguistik verstärkt mit Metaphorisierungsprozessen bei der Sprachverarbeitung. Dabei rückt zunehmend auch der Bereich der Grammatikvermittlung im Fremdsprachenerwerb in den Blick. Motiviert ist diese Forschung von der Einsicht, dass strukturelle Verfahren der Grammatikvermittlung auch bei noch so guter methodischer Aufmachung wenig Nachhaltigkeit erreichen, konzeptuelle Ansätze dagegen viel besser modulieren, was im natürlichen Spracherwerb oft so viel problemloser und schneller verläuft. Der Beitrag zeigt exemplarisch auf, was an einem konzeptuell-funktionalen Ansatz der Grammatikdarstellung das Innovative und Effi ziente ist und wie dies in geeigneter Weise in Grammatikanimationen umgesetzt werden kann. Ergebnisse erster empirischer Studien zur Nachhaltigkeit des gewählten Ansatzes untermauern seine Wirksamkeit. Der Beitrag gibt Impulse für weitere Forschungsprojekte genauso wie für die konkrete Arbeit in Unterricht und Spracherwerb. Er kann darüber hinaus als Baustein eines (längst überfälligen) Paradigmenwechsels in der Fremdsprachendidaktik gesehen werden.Recentemente la linguistica cognitiva applicata ha rivolto grande attenzione ai processi di metaforizzazione nell’elaborazione linguistica. Parallelamente è stato dedicato maggior interesse anche all’ambito dell’insegnamento grammaticale nell’apprendimento delle lingue straniere. Alla base di questo campo di studi vi è la constatazione che i processi di trasmissione grammaticale di tipo strutturale – anche laddove siano supportati da ottima presentazione metodologica – ottengono risultati di scarsa effi cacia, mentre approcci concettuali si rivelano in grado di modulare assai meglio quanto nella naturale acquisizione linguistica avviene spesso in modo molto più semplice e veloce. Il saggio esemplifi ca l’innovatività e l’effi cacia di un approccio concettuale-funzionale nella rappresentazione grammaticale e mostra come ciò possa essere realizzato in modo adeguato tramite animazioni grammaticali. I risultati dei primi studi empirici sull’effi cacia dell’approccio scelto ne confermano la validità. Il saggio fornisce impulsi per ulteriori prospettive di ricerca e per l’applicazione concreta in ambito didattico e nell’acquisizione linguistica. Lo si può inoltre considerare un ulteriore tassello nella direzione di un – non più rimandabile – cambio di prospettiva nella didattica delle lingue straniere

High resolution spectroscopy to investigate impurities in YAB single crystals

The work explores the feasibility of high resolution (as fine as 0.02 cm-1) Fourier transform spectroscopy applied at 9 K in the 500-25000 cm-1 range to detect traces of unwanted impurities, mainly rare earths (RE3+) in crystals: the system chosen is YAl3(BO3)4 (YAB). Weak traces of RE3+ (Nd, Dy, Er, Tm, Yb), but also of Cr3+ and OH-, were successfully monitored by comparing the spectra of YAB samples under examination with those intentionally doped with a given ion. The analysis performed on a variety of samples shows how Cr3+, Nd3+, and Yb3+ are the most frequent unwanted dopants and can provide suggestions to the crystal growers about the performances of different crystal growth lines. According to a preliminary evaluation, the Er3+ traces detection limit is as low as 1-2x10-4 mol% in 1 cm thick samples. The advantages of the method, which is sample non-destructive, are discussed in comparison with those currently applied

ENHANCING DESIGN INNOVATION: EMBRACING THE 'OUT OF THE BOX' RESEARCH APPROACH IN PRODUCT DESIGN

The concept of "out of the box" research in the context of product design refers to a research approach that spans across different fields and sectors unrelated to the specific area of interest. Instead of limiting oneself to conventions and traditional approaches, the designer seeks to incorporate concepts and ideas from different disciplines or fields into their project. Metaphorically, the designer conducts research 'outside the box,' identifying design solutions to unrelated technical problems and 'bringing them inside the box,' adapting them to their own project. The benefits are evident: by exploring and importing ideas from diverse sectors, the possibility of developing innovative solutions that may not have been considered within the specific field of work opens up. It also stimulates the creativity and lateral thinking ability of designers. By encouraging open-mindedness and the exploration of new territories, a space for innovation and the generation of original ideas is created. This can lead to a more dynamic and stimulating design environment. This article presents how this approach was applied in a first-year design studio of a product design bachelor's degree and showcases a selection of the results

The role of design in dialysis innovation, sustainability, and patient quality of life

This article explores the redesign of the Wearable Artificial Kidney (WAK). The article aims to show how crucial a designer’s intervention can be even for medical purposes. It suggests how a renewed setting of the WAK’s components and the review of its usability can spark the transformation of a therapeutic method that has remained unchanged over many years, but is no longer sustainable, both in terms of resources and patients’ quality of life

A review of assessment methods for river hydromorphology

The work leading to this paper has received funding for the EU’s FP7 under Grant Agreement No. 282656 (REFORM

Voces actuales

El libro es el resultado de una convocatoria para la composición de repertorio coral nuevo, dirigida a docentes, graduados y alumnos de la Facultad de Bellas Artes. Reúne las obras seleccionadas de los siguientes autores: Oreste Chlopecki, Pablo M Calvetti, Daniel Soruco, Nicolás Fernández Arana, Luis Menacho, Emiliano Seminara, Martim Butcher, Adolfo De Boeck.Incluye partituras.Facultad de Bellas Arte

A biological tool to assess flow connectivity in reference temporary streams from the Mediterranean Basin

Many streams in the Mediterranean Basin have temporary flow regimes. While timing for seasonal drought is predictable, they undergo strong inter-annual variability in flow intensity. This high hydrological variability and associated ecological responses challenge the ecological status assessment of temporary streams, particularly when setting reference conditions. This study examined the effects of flow connectivity in aquatic macroinvertebrates from seven reference temporary streams across the Mediterranean Basin where hydrological variability and flow conditions are well studied. We tested for the effect of flow cessation on two streamflow indices and on community composition, and, by performing random forest and classification tree analyses we identified important biological predictors for classifying the aquatic state either as flowing or disconnected pools. Flow cessation was critical for one of the streamflow indices studied and for community composition. Macroinvertebrate families found to be important for classifying the aquatic state were Hydrophilidae, Simuliidae, Hydropsychidae, Planorbiidae, Heptageniidae and Gerridae. For biological traits, trait categories associated to feeding habits, food, locomotion and substrate relation were the most important and provided more accurate predictions compared to taxonomy. A combination of selected metrics and associated thresholds based on the most important biological predictors (i.e. Bio-AS Tool) were proposed in order to assess the aquatic state in reference temporary streams, especially in the absence of hydrological data. Although further development is needed, the tool can be of particular interest for monitoring, restoration, and conservation purposes, representing an important step towards an adequate management of temporary rivers not only in the Mediterranean Basin but also in other regions vulnerable to the effects of climate change