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14. Towards strategic agenda for European nuclear education, training, and knowledge managementLeon Cizelj, Csilla Pesznyák, Jörg Starflinger, Gabriel Lazaro Pavel, Franck Wastin, Eirini Michailidou, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The key elements of the EU-wide strategic agenda for nuclear education, training, and knowledge management are proposed in this paper. They were developed partly within the ENEN+ and ENEN# projects, to support and consolidate the efforts of the nuclear stakeholders to attract, develop, and retain new talents. The paper considers the projections of needs developed by the European Human Resources Observatory-Nuclear (EHRO-N). It builds on the existing national nuclear education strategies in the EU and beyond and more than two decades of experience with the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN). The paper outlines and substantiates the most important actions and risks related to human resources, which need to be managed successfully for the EU to contribute to the tripling of the nuclear power generation capacity on the planet by 2050 (as announced in COP28) and to retain its leading role in the nuclear power and non-power applications. The sheer complexity of this challenge calls for high-level strategic support, coordination, and partnership between all nuclear stakeholders, especially those involved in the decision-making. The present situation calls for urgent strategic actions with long-term sustainability.
Keywords: nuclear education, training, knowledge management, strategic agenda
Published in DiRROS: 11.04.2025; Views: 15; Downloads: 5
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15. Fast Fourier transform approach to strain gradient crystal plasticity : regularization of strain localization and size effectAmirhossein Lame Jouybari, Samir El Shawish, Leon Cizelj, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The Strain Gradient Crystal Plasticity (SGCP), based on cumulative shear strain, is developed to regularize and simulate the size effect behavior of polycrystalline aggregates, specifically in the formation of localization bands in terms of slip and kink bands, influenced by strain softening during the initial stages of plastic deformation. In this respect, the thermodynamically consistent derivation of the SGCP equations is presented, establishing their connection to the kinematics of classical crystal plasticity (CCP) framework. The governing balance equations are solved using the fixed-point algorithm of the fast Fourier transform (FFT)-homogenization method, involving explicit coupling between the classical and SGCP balance equations. To address this problem, a strong 21-voxel finite difference scheme is established. This scheme is considered to solve the higher order balance equation inherent to SGCP. Additionally, three types of interface conditions are implemented to explore the impact of grain boundaries on the transmission of localization bands. These conditions yield consistent intragranular/transgranular localization patterns in the MicroFree and MicroContinuity cases, while in the MicroHard condition all localization bands are intragranular with stress concentrations appearing at the grain boundaries. Analytical solutions corresponding to different material behaviors are developed and compared with numerical results to validate the numerical implementation of the FFT fixed-point algorithm. It is observed that both the macroscopic behavior and microscopic variables in CCP framework are highly influenced by grid resolutions (non-objective), leading to numerical instabilities arising from the material softening and subsequent formation of localization bands, both in single crystals and polycrystalline aggregates. Remarkably, the developed SGCP model provides results that are independent of grid resolutions (objective) and effectively regularizes the material behavior on local scale. Moreover, the non-local parameter of the model is capable of controlling the localization band widths. Finally, the proposed SGCP model, together with employed MicroHard condition on grain boundaries, is demonstrated to qualitatively reproduce main microstructural features of irradiated polycrystalline materials.
Keywords: strain localization A, strain gradient crystal plasticity B, polycrystalline material B, FFT-homogenization method C
Published in DiRROS: 11.04.2025; Views: 9; Downloads: 7
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16. Feeding habits of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Gulf of Trieste (Adriatic Sea)Borut Mavrič, Danijel Ivajnšič, Davor Lučić, Alenka Malej, Lovrenc Lipej, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The diet of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Gulf of Trieste was examined during its peak occurrence in the summer and early-autumn months (July to October) from 2017 to 2019, through the analysis of stomach contents. Altogether 506 specimens were individually caught for the analysis. A total of 3215 prey items were isolated and identified. Copepods emerged as the primary prey (relative abundance 66.7%), followed by cladocerans (7.7%), and bivalve larvae (6%). Notably, specimens of M. leidyi constituted a significant portion of the diet (5.4.%), providing further evidence of cannibalism within this species. Copepods were also the most commonly occurring prey items in the diet of M. leidyi. Most of them were represented by calanoid and cyclopoid nauplii (48.2%), followed by a harpacticoid M. norvegica (28.3%), and calanoids (26.8%). Other frequently occurring taxa were bivalve larvae (19.3%), M. leidyi (18.7%), and cladoceran Penilia avirostris (16.1%). The rate of cannibalism peaked in July, coinciding with a period of limited food availability. Additionally, the study revealed that fish eggs and larvae were infrequently found in the stomachs of M. leidyi. However, the presence of massive aggregations of M. leidyi may impact microzooplankton populations in late summer or autumn, potentially leading to competition with small pelagic fish.
Keywords: bioinvasion, cannibalism, comb jelly, competition, diet, Mediterranean Sea
Published in DiRROS: 10.04.2025; Views: 36; Downloads: 10
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17. Functionalization of FeCoNiCu medium entropy alloy via nitridation and anodic oxidation for enhanced oxygen evolution and glycerol oxidationLuka Suhadolnik, Milutin Smiljanić, Marjan Bele, Mejrema Nuhanović, Matjaž Finšgar, Nik Maselj, Daniela Neumüller, Lidija D. Rafailović, Nejc Hodnik, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Medium entropy alloys (MEAs) have emerged as a promising class of materials for electro-catalysis due to their tunableproperties and exceptional catalytic performance. This study successfully functionalized a bulk FeCoNiCu alloy using a combined anodic oxidation (AO) and nitridation (NT) approach to produce a highly porous, thin-film catalyst. The hierarchical structure formed during the surface treatments enhances the material's specific surface area and alters the oxidation states of the constituent metals, creating abundant active sites. The electrocatalytic performance of themodified bulk FeCoNiCu electrode was evalu-ated for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) in an alkaline electrolyte. Remarkably, the AO-NT-treated catalyst exhibited superior activity for OER, surpassing commercial IrOx benchmarks with lower overpotential requirements. For GOR, the FeCoNiCu electrode demonstrated excellent performance by significantly reducing energy input compared to OER, highlighting its potential as a dual-purpose catalyst for alkaline water splitting. Post-reaction product analysis via NMR confirmed the formation of value-added chemicals, with formic acid identified as the main product. These results underline the feasibility of surface-modified MEAs for sustainable energy and chemical production applications, offering a cost-effective alternative to noble metal-based catalysts.
Keywords: medium entropy alloy, surface modification, electrocatalysis, oxygen evolution reaction, glycerol oxidation
Published in DiRROS: 10.04.2025; Views: 42; Downloads: 26
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18. Elucidating the mechanisms of microbubble formation in intracardiac pulsed field ablationSamo Mahnič-Kalamiza, Damijan Miklavčič, Peter Lombergar, Blaž Mikuž, Lars M. Mattison, Daniel C. Sigg, Bor Kos, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Delivery of electrical energy for sensing or therapeutic purposes often involves electrochemical phenomena at the electrode-electrolyte solution interface. Release of gaseous bubbles that accompanies delivery of pulsed electric fields to tissues in applications such as electrochemotherapy of tumours and irreversible electroporation or pulsed field ablation in cardiac electrophysiology needs to be understood and characterized. We present an in vitro study using pulsed field delivery into saline, employing multiple different treatment protocols, two electrode geometries (pair of needles and a modified RF catheter), and two imaging systems to elucidate the complex relationship between the electrical treatment protocol, temperature changes at and around the electrodes, and gas release due to pulse delivery. Our primary objective was to identify the key parameters responsible for bubble formation and to highlight the importance of the treatment parameters and their interplay – ranging from the temperature to appropriate choice of electrode geometry, and, most importantly, to the choice of the treatment protocol. We found that bubbles originating from electrochemical reactions are more prevalent in monophasic pulsing protocols, whereas in high frequency biphasic pulsing protocols the bubbles are mainly caused by boiling of the medium. Degassing of liquid due to lower solubility of gasses at elevated temperatures does seems to play a role, though a minor one. We also observed that bubbles caused by boiling collapse very rapidly, whereas electrochemically produced bubbles or those produced through degassing appear to have longer lifetimes. Therefore, the treatment protocols most suited to minimizing gas release are biphasic trains of short (μs) pulses with a significant inter-pulse delay (i.e. low duty cycle) to prevent excessive heating. Moreover, electrodes must be designed to avoid high local current densities. Our findings have broad implications extending from lab-on-achip cell electroporation devices to intracorporeal pulsed field applications in the cardiovascular system, particularly pulsed field ablation procedures.
Keywords: pulsed field ablation, gas release, electrochemistry, Joule heating, water phase transition
Published in DiRROS: 10.04.2025; Views: 22; Downloads: 13
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19. New records of rarely reported species in the Mediterranean Sea (March 2025)José Carlos Báez, Okan Akyol, Ernesto Azzurro, Pietro Battaglia, Ángel Belmonte-Gallegos, Georgios Christidis, Lovrenc Lipej, Borut Mavrič, Domen Trkov, Leon Lojze Zamuda, 2025, review article Abstract: This collective study presents information on fifteen (15) species recorded across five countries (Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, and Türkiye) and four (4) ecoregions, ranging from the Alboran Sea to the Aegean Sea. The recorded species belong to three phyla: Mollusca (3 species), Arthropoda (3 species), and Chordata (9 species). Among mollusks, Martadoris mediterranea is reported for the first time in the Aegean Sea at two different locations, while Opisthoteuthis calypso and Octopoteuthis sicula are newly recorded in the western Mediterranean. Regarding arthropods, Ocypode cursor is reported from the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily, Pachygrapsus transversus is recorded for the first time in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and Cancer pagurus in the Sea of Marmara. Among chordates, Lobotes surinamensis and Zu cristatus are newly recorded in the Alboran Sea, while Callionymus fasciatus and Sym-phodus doderleini are reported from Slovenian coastal waters. Tripterygion delaisi and Gymnothorax unicolor are documented for the first time in the waters of the Sea of Marmara and Crete, respectively. Additionally, new records of rarely reported fish species include Arctozenus risso, Chromogobius zebratus, and Epinephelus aeneus in Turkish, Spanish, and Italian waters, respectively.
Keywords: Mediterranean Sea, rare species, fish
Published in DiRROS: 10.04.2025; Views: 30; Downloads: 15
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20. Comparison of powder-bed fusion, directed-energy deposition and hybrid additive manufacturing of Ti6Al4V components: microstructure, corrosion and mechanical propertiesAleksandra Kocijan, Simon Malej, 2025, original scientific article Keywords: additive manufacturing, Ti6Al4V, microstructure, corrosion, mechanical properties
Published in DiRROS: 10.04.2025; Views: 45; Downloads: 17
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