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La 1.5 Ba 0.5 CoMnO 6 is a re-entrant cluster glass material exhibiting a robust negative exchange bias (EB) effect even after being cooled from an unmagnetized state down to low temperature in zero magnetic field. Here we thoroughly investigate this phenomena by performing magnetization as a function of applied field [ M ( H )] measurements at several different temperatures and maximum applied magnetic fields ( H m ). The spontaneous EB (SEB) effect is observed below 20 K, and shows a maximum value for H m = 75 kOe. The effect is greatly enhanced when the M ( H ) curves are measured after the system is cooled in the presence of a magnetic field. The asymmetry of the M ( H ) curves here investigated can be well described by a recently proposed model based on the unconventional relaxation of the SG-like moments during the hysteresis cycle.

The experimental fusion reactor ITER will feature two (or three) heating neutral beam injectors (NBI) capable of delivering 33(or 50) MW of power into the plasma. A NBI consists of a plasma source for production of negative ions (extracted negative ion current up to 329 A/m 2 in H and 285 A/m 2 in D) then accelerated up to 1 MeV for one hour. The negative ion beam is neutralized, and the residual ions are electrostatically removed before injection. The beamline was designed for a beam divergence between 3 and 7 mrad. The ion source in ITER NBIs relies on RF-driven, Inductively-Coupled Plasmas (ICP), based on the prototypes developed at IPP Garching; RF-driven negative-ion beam sources have never been employed in fusion devices up to now. The recent results of SPIDER, the full size ITER NBI ion source operating at NBTF in Consorzio RFX, Padova, measure a beamlet divergence minimum of 12mrad and highlighted beam spatial non-uniformity. SPIDER results confirmed the experimental divergence found in smaller prototype sources, which is larger compared to filament-arc ion sources. Although prototype experiments have shown that the extracted current requirement can be achieved with minor design improvements, the beamlet divergence is expected to marginally achieve the design value of 7 mrad, which in multi-grid long accelerators results in unexpected heat loads over the accelerator grids. A contributor to the beam divergence is the energy/temperature of the extracted negative ions, so it is believed that plasma differences between the two source types play a role. Research is focused on the plasma parameters in the ion source. One RF driver, identical to the ones used in SPIDER, installed in a relatively small-scale experimental set-up, inherently more flexible than large devices, is starting operations devoted to the investigation of the properties of RF-generated plasmas, so as to contribute to the assessment of negative ion precursors, and of their relationship with the plasma parameters, particularly when enhancing plasma confinement. The scientific questions, that have arisen from the preliminary results of SPIDER, guided the design of the test stand, which are described in this contribution, together with the diagnostic systems and related simulation tools. The test stand, which shares with the larger experiment all the geometrical features and constraints, will allow technological developments and optimized engineering solutions related to the ICP design for the ITER NBIs.

In this paper, a critical look at current European regional policies is taken. First, the motivation for such policies is taken is examined, that is, the large income disparities across the regions of the EU15. Second, the various instruments adopted are illustrated and their underpinnings in established economic theories are discussed. Next available data is examined, searching for 3 kinds of evidence: 1. if disparities are either growing or decreasing, 2. which are the major factors explaining such disparities and, in particular, if they are the factors predicted by the economic models adopted by the Commission to justify current policies, and 3. If there are clear signs that EU policies, as opposed to other social and economic factors, are actually reducing such disparities. The conclusion is that regional and structural policies serve mostly a redistributional purpose, motivated by the nature of the political equilibria upon which the EU is built. They have little relationship with fostering economic growth.

UNAFLOW (UNsteady Aerodynamics for Floating Wind) is a joint EU-IRPWIND founded experiment on wind turbine rotor unsteady aerodynamics. It brings together four different academic contributors: Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), DTU Wind Energy, University of Stuttgart (USTUTT) and Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi) sharing knowledge both in numerical modelling and in experimental tests design, allowing direct numerical and experimental comparison. The experimental tests carried out for UNAFLOW are of the same type of the ones carried out during the ongoing EU H2020 project LIFES50+ [1], regarding both the unsteady behaviour of the 2d blade section and the entire turbine rotor, although with improved setup and wider test matrix. The project partners are already currently jointly collaborating in the AVATAR project [2], developing and validating numerical models of different accuracy level. The numerical models used in the UNALFOW project range from engineering tool (eg. BEM) to high fidelity CFD methods. Numerical simulations are used both in the design of experiment phase and in the results analysis allowing for an in depth understanding of the experimental findings through advanced modelling approach. The UNAFLOW project, together with a new understanding of the unsteady behaviour of the turbine rotor aerodynamics, will provide also an open database to be shared among the scientific community for future analysis and new models validation.

The ITER Neutral Beam Test Facility (NBTF), called PRIMA (Padova Research on ITER Megavolt Accelerator), is hosted in Padova, Italy and includes two experiments: MITICA, the full-scale prototype of the ITER heating neutral beam injector, and SPIDER, the full-size radio frequency negative-ions source. The NBTF realization and the exploitation of SPIDER and MITICA have been recognized as necessary to make the future operation of the ITER heating neutral beam injectors efficient and reliable, fundamental to the achievement of thermonuclear-relevant plasma parameters in ITER. This paper reports on design and R&D carried out to construct PRIMA, SPIDER and MITICA, and highlights the huge progress made in just a few years, from the signature of the agreement for the NBTF realization in 2011, up to now-when the buildings and relevant infrastructures have been completed, SPIDER is entering the integrated commissioning phase and the procurements of several MITICA components are at a well advanced stage.

Taspoglutide is a long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist developed for treatment of type 2 diabetes. The efficacy and safety of once-weekly taspoglutide was compared with twice-daily exenatide. Overweight adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes on metformin ± a thiazolidinedione were randomized to subcutaneous taspoglutide 10 mg weekly (n = 399), taspoglutide 20 mg weekly (n = 398), or exenatide 10 µg twice daily (n = 392) in an open-label, multicenter trial. The primary end point was change in HbA(1c) after 24 weeks. Mean baseline HbA(1c) was 8.1%. Both doses of taspoglutide reduced HbA(1c) significantly more than exenatide (taspoglutide 10 mg: -1.24% [SE 0.09], difference -0.26, 95% CI -0.37 to -0.15, P < 0.0001; taspoglutide 20 mg: -1.31% [0.08], difference -0.33, -0.44 to -0.22, P < 0.0001; exenatide: -0.98% [0.08]). Both taspoglutide doses reduced fasting plasma glucose significantly more than exenatide. Taspoglutide reduced body weight (taspoglutide 10 mg, -1.6 kg; taspoglutide 20 mg, -2.3 kg) as did exenatide (-2.3 kg), which was greater than with taspoglutide 10 mg (P < 0.05). HbA(1c) and weight effects were maintained after 52 weeks. More adverse events with taspoglutide 10 and 20 mg than exenatide developed over time (nausea in 53, 59, and 35% and vomiting in 33, 37, and 16%, respectively). Allergic and injection-site reactions were more common with taspoglutide. Discontinuations were greater with taspoglutide. Antitaspoglutide antibodies were detected in 49% of patients. Once-weekly taspoglutide demonstrated greater glycemic control than twice-daily exenatide with comparable weight loss, but with unacceptable levels of nausea/vomiting, injection-site reactions, and systemic allergic reactions.

'Intellectual property' - patents and copyrights - have become controversial. We witness teenagers being sued for 'pirating' music - and we observe AIDS patients in Africa dying due to lack of ability to pay for drugs that are high priced to satisfy patent holders. Are patents and copyrights essential to thriving creation and innovation - do we need them so that we all may enjoy fine music and good health? Across time and space the resounding answer is: No. So-called intellectual property is in fact an 'intellectual monopoly' that hinders rather than helps the competitive free market regime that has delivered wealth and innovation to our doorsteps. This book has broad coverage of both copyrights and patents and is designed for a general audience, focusing on simple examples. The authors conclude that the only sensible policy to follow is to eliminate the patents and copyright systems as they currently exist.

Human exposure to nano- and microplastics (NMPs) has raised major societal concerns, yet no framework to assess the risks of NMPs for human health exists. A substantial proportion of plastic produced worldwide is not properly disposed and persists in the environment for decades while degrading. Plastic degradation generates a size continuum of fragments, including nano- and microplastic particles, with numerous associated environmental pollutants and plastic additives, and microbial communities colonising their surfaces. The ubiquitous presence of NMPs, their availability for uptake by organisms and their potential to act as vectors for toxicants and pathogens render risk assessment a priority on the political agenda at the global level. We provide a new, fully integrated risk assessment framework tailored to the specificities of NMPs, enabling an assessment of current and future human health risks from NMPs. The framework consists of four novel paradigms to the traditional risk assessment methodology. These paradigms deal with techniques in NMP analysis, gaps in empirical data, theoretical and modelling approaches and stakeholder engagement. Within the proposed framework, we propose how we can use research experiences gained so far to carry out the different steps of the assessment process, and we define priorities for further research.

When credit markets to finance investment in human capital are missing, the competitive equilibrium allocation is inefficient. When generations overlap, this failure can be mitigated by properly designed social arrangements. We show that public financing of education and public pensions can be designed to implement an intergenerational transfer scheme supporting the complete market allocation. Neither the public financing of education nor the pension scheme we consider resemble standard ones. In our mechanism, via the public education system, the young borrow from the middle aged to invest in human capital. They pay back the debt via a social security tax, the proceedings of which finance pension payments. When the complete market allocation is achieved, the rate of return implicit in this borrowing-lending scheme should equal the market rate of return.

Two modifications are introduced into the standard real-business-cycle model: habit preferences and a two-sector technology with limited intersectoral factor mobility. The model is consistent with the observed mean risk-free rate, equity premium, and Sharpe ratio on equity. In addition, its business-cycle implications represent a substantial improvement over the standard model. It accounts for persistence in output, comovement of employment across different sectors over the business cycle, the evidence of \"excess sensitivity\" of consumption growth to output growth, and the \"inverted leading-indicator property of interest rates, \" that interest rates are negatively correlated with future output.