Calibrations, Validations, and Checks of a Dual 23 nm and 10 nm Diffusion Charger-Based Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS).

The upcoming Euro 7 vehicle exhaust emissions regulation includes particle number (PN) limits for all vehicles, not only those with direct fuel injection. It also sets the lower detection particle size of the PN methodology to 10 nm from 23 nm. Recently, a commercial diffusion charger-based PEMS added the possibility of switching the lower size between 23 nm and 10 nm.

Excitation function and yield for the Rh(d,2n)Pd nuclear reaction: Optimization of the production of palladium-103.

Deuteron-induced nuclear reactions for the generation of Pd were investigated using the stacked-foil activation technique on rhodium targets at deuteron energies up to E=33MeV. The excitation functions of the reactions Rh(d,xn)Pd, Rh(d,x)Rh and Rh(d,2p)Ru have been measured, and the Thick-Target Yield for Pd has been calculated.

The JRC Nanomaterials Repository: A unique facility providing representative test materials for nanoEHS research.

The European Commission has established a Nanomaterials Repository that hosts industrially manufactured nanomaterials that are distributed world-wide for safety testing of nanomaterials. In a first instance these materials were tested in the OECD Testing Programme. They have then also been tested in several EU funded research projects.

Be-recoil radiolabelling of industrially manufactured silica nanoparticles.

Radiolabelling of industrially manufactured nanoparticles is useful for nanoparticle dosimetry in biodistribution or cellular uptake studies for hazard and risk assessment. Ideally for such purposes, any chemical processing post production should be avoided as it may change the physico-chemical characteristics of the industrially manufactured species. In many cases, proton irradiation of nanoparticles allows radiolabelling by transmutation of a tiny fraction of their constituent atoms into radionuclides.

The ceramic-on-metal coupling in total hip replacements for young patients: a review study.

In the last two decades the performance of total hip replacements (THR) has constantly improved, thanks largely to advances in the field of material science and technology. Although contemporary devices are clinically very reliable, some problems still need to be addressed: the wear of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene components, the release of metal ions from metal-on-metal joints, the toughness of the ceramic cups and the possibility of squeaking for ceramic-on-ceramic couplings. All these drawbacks become particularly relevant in case of THR for young and active patients, when the life expectancy of the orthopedic device is very high and the possibility of mechanical shocks is not negligible.