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Racetrack logic
No full textA building block for computing in memory systems is introduced. Based on the previously introduced racetrack memory proposed by IBM, a racetrack memory is used not only to store data but also to perform bitwise majority-based computations by coupling the memory with inputs provided by controllable magnets. This solution is defined as racetrack logic. Micromagnetic simulations are used to confirm that the proposed solution is technically viable
New achievements concerning temperature effects on mud rheology and hydraulic performance while drilling
No full textSi studia l'influenza della temperatura sul comportamento reologico dei fanghi di perforazione petrolifer
Gli edifici del Movimento Moderno. Caratteristiche costruttive e compositive
No full textIl contributo si sofferma sulla descrizione delle patologie ricorrenti nell'architettura del Movimento Moderno dopo una breve disamina dei caratteri ricorrenti a livello di caratteri costruttivi e distributivi.In particolare vengono approfonditi tra materiali paradigmatici di questa stagione di pensiero: l'intonaco Terranova, il Vetrocemento e i Mosaici vitrei. Di questi magisteri costruttivi che caratterizzano gran parte degli involucri moderni viene riportata la composizione, la tipologie di posa e la prova del tempo ovvero i fenomeni di degrado e la relativa cura
The Impact of Regulation on Utilities' Investments: A Survey and New Evidence from the Energy Industry
No full textOver the last 30 years, regulated sectors have undergone deep reforms in their institutional configuration, tools and goals. This paper reviews the impact of this evolution on energy firms' investments. First, we survey the existing evidence on the effects of the presence of independent regulatory agencies on utilities' investment rates in Europe in the MENA countries, and in Latin America, focussing on the role of de facto independence and the institutional framework. Second, we discuss the impact of incentive- versus rate-of-return regulation on firms' incentives to invest and the interaction with firm private/public ownership. In this regard, we provide new econometric evidence of the recent developments of regulation, using a sample of European energy utilities tracked from 1997 to 2013. Our results confirm previous findings that investment is higher under incentive regulation than under rate of return regulation. However, differently from the earlier results, we find that investments seem to be driven more by the weighted average cost of capital than by the X-factor. The paper concludes reviewing recent evidence on service quality regulation on firm investment specifically on the impact of reward/penalty schemes on capital and operational expenditures
L'abitare fragile: criteri di metaprogettazione e soluzioni tecniche per un campo di accoglienza
No full textIl contributo illustra i criteri da seguire nella progettazione di campi di accoglienza in caso di emergenza abitativa e le soluzioni tecniche di sistemi abitativi di permanenza temporane
Measuring the blood cells by means of an image segmentation
No full textThe analysis of the blood cells is used for evidencing several diseases in humans and animals. Usually, the analysis is performed manually by means of an optical microscope. However, some approaches, based on an automatic image processing, exist for evidencing and counting the blood cells in the given specimens. Measurements of the cell morphology are possible too. Here we show a method which uses a processing based on an image segmentation obtained by thresholding. After the segmentation, the area of the cells is easily evaluated. Their perimeters are measured using a rose of directions
(CON)TATTO. Image and Mental Imagery in Childhood Visual Impairment
No full textMental imagery is a familiar aspect of most individuals' mental lives, considered as an experience which occurs in the absence of actual stirrings for relevant perceptions. The primary importance of mental imagery has been demonstrated in several domains: learning and memory, reasoning and problem solving, inventive or creative thought and rehab. The project primarily refers to the analysis of infant visual impairment for a first scientific and social approach, with specific references to significant figures who have worked on these issues for years. Research is enriched by the contribution of educators working with children with these diseases. Thus, the proposal of a freehand illustrated tactile book, originally conceived for sighted and then reworked for blind and visually impaired, through the humanization of fantastic creatures designed to facilitate imaginative faculties, allowing the child to project his to an inanimate model
Techno-economical analysis based on a parametric computational evaluation for decision process on envelope technologies and configurations evaluation for decision process of envelope technologies and configurations
No full textEnergy saving is crucial for existing buildings which is present a huge potential ofimprovement by a strong energy retrofitting. Often, the existing envelope components are not adequately insulated and deep refur bishment is required to comply current regulations to improve energy efficiency and address Nearly Zero Energy Building ( NZEB) goals. The strategies to enhance buildings energy performance involve heating and cooling demands strongly dependent by envelope quality (i.e. insulation, thermal mass, internal gain storage capacity and solar heat gains exploitation). Commonly, the suggested main retrofit interventions on envelope are glazed surfaces replacement, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) reduction and thermal transmittance ( U value) improvement by additional insulation layers or even components replacement. However, it is worthy to note that the resulting thickness of the external envelope and the payback time of the interventions are important supports for decision-making. The environmental issue related to C02 emissions during the operational phase of the building is encompassed into the standard energy certifica tion of the asset and the conversion factors to define fuels' impacts are available and updated. However, the calculation excludes the environmental impact due to energy used for materials' production and few officiai information sources provide accredited values, e.g. the Environmental Product Declaration (EPC). Going towards a Zero Energy Building, which reduces its environmental impact during the run ning phase, embodied energy claims an increasing weight. Thus, materials and components with low embodied energy should be favoured and endorsed. For this reason, the most influential rating systems worldwide available for building sustainability assessment (e.g. LEED, BREEAM, etc.) updated their check lists including criteria related to reduced energy for extraction, production and materials transportation on the field . The technological optioneering of envelope solutions to achieve both energy effic ien cy and eco nomie affordability is inevitably based on and supported by mult icriteria assessment frameworks. These frameworks should include energy, environmental and economie parameters to define the technolog ical suitability in different climate conditions identifying accurate optimization points, e.g. thickness of the insulation layer or heat storage capacity, considering energy saving and management costs in the !ife cycle. When actual optimization processes are required, computational parametric tools sup port to ease the options' performance comparison and to compute different combinations. Nowadays some tools are available into the main authoring software on the energy simulation market. Although different tools could be adopted, the need of transparency and custom workflows is crucial. In the present research, a specific multi-criteria methodological approach enables to outline a synoptic dia gram for each considered climate to compare the envelope technological solutions by aggregating LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) and LCC (Life Cycle Cost) factors. For LCA, Embodied Energy (EE) of the envelope materials and Primary Energy (EP) used during the running phase have been considered. For LCC Invest ment Cost (C) of the materials to enhance a baseline performance and related operational costs of the building based on Net Present Value (NPV) and Discounted Payback Period (DPP) have been adopted. The present study focuses as first on the construction coherency of different technologies used to define the external envelope of a test room, able to manage the energy flows resulting from different exter nal condit ions. Subsequently the definition of the technological basket , a parametric analysis based on reducing thermal losses and increase solar gains has been performed defining the most suitable technolo gies and façade configuration in three representative climate conditions at national level by calculating heating and cooling demand and related primary energy
