National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development

Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) offers a powerful route for the fabrication of high-quality YBCO films with exceptional crystallographic alignment. In this study, the influence of film thickness on the corresponding electrical properties was investigated, with a particular emphasis on their correlation with microstructural features. Transport measurements indicate that the critical current density (Jc) shows a progressive decline as the film thickness increases, a phenomenon that can be directly related to the microstructural characteristics observed. These findings provide valuable insight into the inherent challenges associated with growing thick films and may guide future strategies for optimizing their properties in high-field applications. Furthermore, understanding these mechanisms is crucial for advancing the design and performance of high-temperature superconducting magnets and other electronic devices that require thick, high-performance films.

The Central Solenoid (CS) plays a crucial role in plasma current drive and control in tokamak devices such as the Divertor Tokamak Test (DTT) facility, currently under development in Frascati, Italy. High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS), and in particular REBCO tapes, are gaining increasing interest for central solenoid applications due to their superior performance in high-field regimes, offering larger operational margins compared to conventional Low-Temperature Superconductors (LTS). This work presents the design and analysis of an HTS-based pancake-wound CS for the DTT tokamak, using a SECAS or VIPER-type REBCO conductor. A parametric study was developed to get a configuration to maximize the magnetic flux swing while ensuring compliance with mechanical fatigue constraints. The design was validated through finite element electromagnetic and mechanical analyses, and it is compared to a previous layer-wound LTS CS configuration.

The clinical evaluation of motor impairment in Parkinson’s disease is commonly based on the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III, which relies on visual assessment and is therefore subject to inter-rater variability. Existing technology-based solutions often require wearable sensors or lack structural alignment with the item-based architecture of the clinical examination. This study presents a fully automated and contactless framework designed to quantitatively describe motor performance in tasks explicitly aligned with MDS-UPDRS Part III. The system integrates stereo vision, deep learning-based pose estimation, and acoustic analysis to derive continuous, standardized quantitative descriptors. Objective Motor Item Indices were defined for 17 of the 18 motor items, excluding rigidity, which cannot be inferred from vision-based measurements. The framework was evaluated in a cohort of healthy subjects to establish an internal reference baseline for feature normalization and index construction. Within this cohort, descriptors exhibited coherent multivariate organization and internally consistent distributions, supporting methodological feasibility at this baseline definition stage. This work represents a methodological and baseline definition phase. Clinical validation in Parkinsonian populations, correlation with neurologist-rated scores, and longitudinal assessment remain necessary to determine diagnostic, severity-related, or early-stage applicability.

Agriculture today faces a complex set of challenges, with agricultural lands threatened in two aspects: the impact of climate change and the environmental and social consequences of current agricultural practices. To address this urgent need for more sustainable and resilient food production systems, AgroServ was established as a collaborative project designed to support transdisciplinary solutions. AgroServ brings together researchers, cutting-edge research facilities, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and the farming community into a collaborative ecosystem to accelerate agroecological research and innovation, and knowledge exchange.With 73 partners across more than 20 countries, AgroServ provides 143 research services distributed within 12 RIs that address areas ranging from molecular processes to ecosystems and social sciences, designed to advance sustainable agriculture practices. Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe program (grant agreement No. 101058020), AgroServ has been operating from 2022 to 2027, creating a unique ecosystem that enables cross-sector collaboration through the excellence-based selection of transdisciplinary research projects combining several research services. These services are open to a global agroecology community, including researchers, industry representatives, advisors, innovators, and farmers’ organisations, both within and outside Europe.To date, AgroServ has successfully launched and completed four Transnational and Virtual Access (TA/VA) calls, with two more calls planned in 2026. Initial findings indicate a balanced mix of early-career and established researchers (57.9% and 42.1%, respectively) among the principal applicants. In addition, data from applications across the 49 selected projects from the first three calls reflected a diverse range of institutions, including universities (64%), applied research centres (26%), industry (9%) and government (2%). The geographical reach of the proposals was also broad, with submissions from across the EU, associated countries, and some non-EU participants, including several low- and mid-income countries.Beyond its operational period, AgroServ aims to leave a lasting legacy for the global agroecology community. The networks, research services, and insights developed during the project are designed to continue supporting sustainable agriculture. By connecting researchers, policymakers, industry, and farmers, AgroServ envisions a future where knowledge flows seamlessly across borders, accelerating the adoption of resilient, environmentally sound food systems and empowering agricultural communities for years to come.

Abstract Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been identified as a major source of groundwater contamination worldwide. However, assessing the potential exploitation of a contaminated phreatic aquifer has been somewhat limited in the past, especially because integrated monitoring activities are required to elucidate the dynamics of vadose zone processes and their interactions with the atmosphere. The present paper presents and discusses the findings of a pilot study carried out in a contaminated site, where poplar trees were cultivated for phytoremediation purposes, to evaluate the efficacy of two irrigation systems in reducing VOC concentrations in groundwater exiting an irrigation well. The dynamics of unsaturated zone processes within a 1.0-m-deep soil profile were monitored by measuring soil-water contents and matric heads. Geophysical techniques provided high-resolution 2D and 3D time-lapse images of subsurface soil electrical resistivity, extending down to a depth of 10 m below ground. The monitoring of VOC concentrations in the aquifer and outgoing nozzle waters, as well as in the air above the study area, proved to be of the utmost importance. Vegetation responses during the experimental period were obtained indirectly through the use of an electronic dendrometer. The integrated monitoring activities presented in this study have demonstrated how valuable information can be obtained today at affordable costs, providing a comprehensive perspective of the complex contamination processes in an agroecosystem. The use of these datasets has been exemplified by their implementation in simulating the transport processes in soil associated with two growing seasons of maize irrigated with a drip system fed by groundwater contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE). This simulation was performed using the Hydrus-1D model.

Runaway electron (RE) interaction with plasma-facing components (PFCs) has been documented to lead to deep volumetric melting and thermal shock driven material explosions followed by extensive wall cratering. This work reports a post-mortem FTU investigation that covers the primary localized RE-induced damage directly caused by beams striking poloidal or toroidal molybdenum (Mo)-based limiters and the subsequent secondary non-localized RE-induced damage inflicted on nearby limiter tiles by the mechanical impact of fast up to ∼ 1 km/s solid debris violently ejected during the direct RE-PFC interaction. Early indications on the resilience of tin liquid limiters to RE incidence are also presented. • Post-mortem study of localized and non-localized aspects of RE-induced PFC-damage in FTU. • Morphological and mechanical analysis of primary damage on poloidal and toroidal limiters of FTU. • Morphological analysis of secondary damage to nearby PFCs due to the impact of fast solid dust. • Preliminary observation that the tin liquid limiter is not severely damaged by RE incidence. • Despite the severity of RE-induced PFC damage, there was no significant effect on FTU operation.

Abstract Decentralised energy allows communities to become self-sufficient, economically viable, and less reliant on fossil fuels. This study examines the factors that enable and hinder sustainable energy practices, especially among vulnerable groups. Ten narrative interviews were conducted in a neighbourhood in Trondheim, Norway, that is affected by energy vulnerability. Through the lens of social capital theory, this research aims to identify the main barriers and drivers influencing the adoption of sustainable energy practices (with community energy projects as one possible pathway), particularly among vulnerable groups. The interviews revealed several key factors, including a sense of belonging to the community, access to social and financial resources, knowledge and awareness about sustainable behaviour and environmental issues, practical communication tools, awareness of national policies, trust in project leaders, transparency in project plans, and institutional structure. These factors serve as barriers and drivers for changing energy consumption behaviours. The findings highlight the significance of economic and environmental awareness, trust-building, and transparent governance in fostering community engagement. Enhancing participation through inclusive communication methods, such as community meetings and digital tools, can empower citizens to collectively address energy challenges. A holistic approach, integrating financial, political, educational, and social measures, is recommended to reduce energy vulnerability and facilitate the transition to more sustainable and equitable community energy projects.