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Un secolo di storia della Värtagasverket di Stoccolma. Origine, sviluppo e trasformazione
No full textVärtagasverket, built from the end of the 19th century in an area north of Stockholm, ensured the Swedish capital's gas supply with its production facilities until the second half of the 20th century. The gradual decommissioning of the factories has been followed since the new millennium by a major urban redevelopment project that has involved both the former industrial area and a larger portion in order to create a new residential district and an infrastructural pole to serve the port authority with the new cruise ship dock
Use of Alternative Alkali-Activated Mortars for Textile Reinforced Mortar Systems
Get PDFThe need for repair and strengthening existing buildings has become fundamental in the construction sector. At the same time, the efforts to reduce global CO2 emissions are leading to the development of building materials with low environmental impact, such as those based on alkali-activated mortars (AAMs). When compared to traditional mortars, AAMs allow to reduce CO2 emissions in a range from 30% to 80%. Recent studies have demonstrated the possibility of using AAMs as alternative matrices for structural strengthening systems, such as Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM). This study evaluates the possibility of using different formulations of AAMs, based on metakaolin or fly ash, for TRM applications. The newly developed TRMs are compared in terms of physical and mechanical performances with two commercially available TRMs, based on lime or cementitious mortars. A bidirectional basalt fabric was used as internal reinforcement. The effectiveness of these new systems, also referred to as Textile Reinforced Alkali-Activated Mortars (TRAAMs), has been evaluated through direct tensile tests on prismatic coupons and shear bond tests on clay brick substrates. Experimental results showed that AAMs can be very promising as sustainable alternative to traditional mortars for TRM systems
PMEL as a candidate gene for coat color differentiation in Sibu yaks: Genetic and functional insights
Get PDFCoat color represents a key phenotypic trait in Sibu yak, exhibiting distinct black and brown phenotypes. To elucidate the genetic basis of the brown phenotype, genome-wide association studies and multi-omics analyses were integrated to identify loci and molecular pathways involved in pigmentation. In total, 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome (chr) 5 displayed genome-wide significance (P-adjust<4.47×10–9), with the lead variant (chr5: g.47487664 A>G, Padjust=2.38×10–10) located within an intron of PMEL. Expression analysis revealed markedly reduced PMEL transcription in fibroblasts from brown individuals. Functional multi-omics analyses of PMEL overexpression demonstrated significant alteration of the expression of 1 088 genes, 444 proteins, and 57 metabolites. Enrichment analyses indicated significant involvement of melanogenesis-related signaling cascades, including cAMP (e.g., ADCY7, EDNRA, and epinephrine), PI3K-Akt (e.g., FGF5, PIK3CG, and FGF7), and MAPK (e.g., MAP2K6, FGFR3, and ERBB4) pathways. These findings indicate that the intronic PMEL variant modulates gene expression and pigmentation through coordinated regulation of these pathways, thereby contributing to the phenotypic divergence of Sibu yak coat color. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying Sibu yak pigmentation and identifies PMEL as a key candidate gene governing coat color differentiation in Sibu yak
Combined X-ray and neutron tomography for simultaneous assessment of in silico mechanical response and in vitro biological behavior of graded scaffolds: a preliminary study
Get PDFThis study presents a pioneering approach combining X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) and Neutron Computed Tomography (NCT) to simultaneously assess the biomechanical and biological behavior of bone scaffolds fabricated by additive manufacturing. XCT was employed to model post-fabrication scaffold geometry, enabling precise finite element (FE) predictions on how each defect type, such as strut densification, lack of fusion and porosity, impacts the overall mechanical performance of the scaffold. Defect-inclusive models were successfully validated against experimental data. NCT was instead concomitantly used to assess short-term changes in the behavior of MG-63 human osteoblast-like cells under different culture conditions. Quantitative analysis of NCT scans of our samples showed that neutrons, thanks to their sensitivity to organic material, are able to discriminate between different compositions of the organic material itself. This research not only provides a comprehensive framework for preclinical characterization of scaffolds, but also paves the way for more efficient evaluation of implantable devices, ultimately reducing the reliance on animal models in biomaterials researc
Establishment and phenotypic characterization of genetically diverse core collections of Lupinus albus
Get PDFBackground: Lupinus albus is a food grain legume recognized for its high levels of seed protein (30–40%) and oil (6–13%), and its adaptability to different climatic and soil conditions. The availability of well-characterized, genetically and phenotypically diverse germplasm will facilitate the development of next-generation L. albus cultivars, encourage biodiversity conservation, and promote the sustainable utilization of this species. Results: We evaluated more than 2000 L. albus accessions based on 35 agro-morphological traits and passport data to establish Intelligent Collections. The Reference-CORE (R-CORE), covering global diversity, exemplified the genotypic variation among accessions differing in biological status (cultivars, breeding/research materials, landraces, and wild relatives). The Training-CORE (T-CORE), a subset of 300 R-CORE accessions, represents the diversity of the entire collection. Principal component analysis showed that the L. albus R-CORE encompasses four phenotypic groups (A1, A2, A3, and B), and that groups A3 and B can be characterized by the main phenotypic traits of pod shattering and seed ornamentation, respectively. The coefficient of total genetic variation differed across morphological traits, phenotypic groups, geographic regions, and according to biological status. Conclusions: The core collections established in this study will facilitate agricultural research by providing the broad phenotypic data needed for crop improvement programs and by shedding light on the undiscovered biodiversity of L. albus genetic resources. Understanding the variation found in such resources will allow us to develop sustainable tools and technologies that address global challenges such as the provision of healthy and sustainable diets for all and the mitigation of climate change
Low-Calorie, High-Protein Ketogenic Diet Versus Low-Calorie, Low-Sodium, and High-Potassium Mediterranean Diet in Overweight Patients and Patients with Obesity with High-Normal Blood Pressure or Grade I Hypertension: The Keto-Salt Pilot Study
Get PDFBackground and Objective: Dietary interventions are the first-line treatment for overweight individuals (OW) and individuals with obesity (OB) with high-normal blood pressure (BP) or grade I hypertension, especially when at low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk (CVR). However, current guidelines do not specify the most effective dietary approach for optimising cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes in this population. This study aimed to compare the effects of a low-calorie, high-protein ketogenic diet (KD) vs. a low-calorie, low-sodium, and high-potassium Mediterranean diet (MD) on BP profiles assessed via ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), as well as on anthropometric measures, metabolic biomarkers, and body composition evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Methods: This prospective observational bicentric pilot study included 26 non-diabetic adult outpatients with central OW status or OB status (body mass index, BMI > 27 kg/m2) and high-normal BP (≥130/85 mmHg) or grade I hypertension (140–160/90–100 mmHg), based on office BP measurements. All participants had low-to-moderate CVR according to the second version of the systemic coronary risk estimation (SCORE2) and were selected and categorized as either KD (n = 15) or MD (n = 11). Comprehensive blood analysis, BIA, and ABPM were conducted at baseline and after three months. Results: At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the groups. Following three months of dietary intervention, both groups exhibited substantial reductions in body weight (KD: 98.6 ± 13.0 to 87.3 ± 13.4 kg; MD: 93.8 ± 17.7 to 86.1 ± 19.3 kg, p < 0.001) and waist circumference. Mean 24 h systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) significantly declined in both groups (24 h mean SBP decreased from 125.0 ± 11.3 to 116.1 ± 8.5 mmHg (p = 0.003) and 24 h mean DBP decreased from 79.0 ± 8.4 to 73.7 ± 6.4 mmHg (p < 0.001)). Fat-free mass (FFM) increased, whereas fat mass (FM), blood lipid levels, and insulin concentrations decreased significantly. The ΔFM/ΔFFM correlates with ABP improvements. However, no significant between-group differences were detected at follow-up. Conclusions: The KD and the MD mediated weight loss and body composition changes, effectively improving bio-anthropometric and cardiovascular parameters in individuals with OW status or OB status and high BP. Although more extensive studies are warranted to elucidate potential long-term differences, our findings suggest the manner in which these two different popular dietary approaches may equally confer metabolic and cardiovascular benefits, emphasising the importance of weight and FM loss
Redistribution through inflation: A multi-sector approach to income dynamics
Get PDFThis paper examines how inflation affects income redistribution within the economy – considering household heterogeneity in terms of income sources, debt levels and consumption preferences – by employing an agent-based stock-flow consistent (AB-SFC) macroeconomic model. In particular, we investigate the consequences of an increase in firms’ intermediate costs on income inequality and key macroeconomic and financial variables. Four channels through which an increase in price affects functional and inter-personal distribution are explored: (i) the inflation inequality channel, (ii) the profit–wage channel, (iii) the macroeconomic activity channel, and (iv) the indebtedness channel. Rising inflation dampens overall economic performance, resulting in increased unemployment, higher prices, and higher income inequality. Our analysis also indicates that rising household debt, driven by the indebtedness channel and resulting from efforts to maintain consumption, poses risks to financial stability. Furthermore, we find that, in the context of market concentration, the markup of systemically significant sectors serves as a primary conduit for redistribution in response to inflationary pressures. This ultimately influences the extent of unemployment, the persistence of inflationary trends, and the magnitude of redistribution
Artificial Intelligence Within Food Processing Industry with the Scope of Enhancing Workplace Safety: A Literature Review
No full textThe pursuit of efficiency and productivity in the food processing industry often requires advanced machinery, complex procedures, and various potential hazards, highlighting the critical importance of workplace safety. Accidents and injuries not only can compromise the quality of products and the well-being of consumers, but it may also jeopardize the safety of workers. Within this framework, the utilization of artificial intelligence emerges as a promising solution to mitigate workplace hazards and create a safer environment for human operators. This research paper aims at providing a literature review in the present topic: how Artificial Intelligence can reduce workplace hazards in the food processing industry. Initially, the methodology employed for this literature review is outlined. Subsequently, an exhaustive examination is presented to generate bibliometric maps and tables that succinctly outline the principal scientific patterns within this subject matter, utilizing the assistance of the VosViewer software, which is also introduced
Compressive behavior of brick masonry columns confined with steel composites embedded in the mortar joint: experimental analysis and comparison with FRCM technique
No full textMasonry columns in historic structures often exhibit reduced load-bearing capacity and vulnerability to seismic actions due to their brittle behaviour and limited tensile strength. Enhancing their structural performance while preserving architectural authenticity is a pressing challenge in the field of structural engineering and conservation. This study presents an experimental investigation into a novel strengthening approach involving the integration of pre-tensioned steel micro-cords within the horizontal mortar joints of brick masonry columns. The mechanical response under compressive loading is analysed for both circular and rectangular column cross-sections. The effectiveness of this technique is evaluated in comparison with Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) jacketing, a more widely adopted confinement system. The experimental findings reveal that the embedded micro-cord system significantly enhances compressive strength, yielding an average increase of approximately 87%, outperforming the FRCM solution, which achieved a strength gain of around 45%. Additionally, the proposed method offers the advantage of being minimally invasive and visually unobtrusive, making it particularly suitable for heritage buildings where preserving original aesthetics is crucial. This research highlights the potential of mortar joint-based reinforcement as an efficient alternative to traditional jacketing systems, paving the way for further development of non-invasive strengthening methods for masonry structure
Personalized Task Reassignment in Industry 5.0: A MILP-Based Solution Approach
Get PDFIndustry 5.0 involves a transformation towards human-centric and green-aware industrial ecosystems. Sustainable, safe and efficient allocation of process activities to workers is crucial in this context, as excessive workloads can bring detrimental effects on them, potentially causing long-term harm and reducing overall productivity. This paper addresses the problem of reassigning activities to workers, balancing between efficiency and sustainability through a flexible and periodic negotiation process, in which workers can refuse assigned activities if these exceed a sustainable stress level, which is monitored through wearable devices. We model it through Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) with a hierarchical objective function, aimed at first maximizing the number of assignments and then minimizing the cost due to reassignments, levels of stress and possible overtimes. As experiments show, the solution time of our MILP model makes dynamic negotiation feasible in realistic settings