253 research outputs found
Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Optimal Design and Real-time Control based on Artificial Intelligence
No full textL'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen
Immunotherapy approaches to treat adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia
No full textRecent developments in immunotherapy are improving treatment results of B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This advancement is promoted by new monoclonal antibodies such as inotuzumab ozogamicin, ofatumumab and blinatumomab, by rituximab, and by genetically engineered chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cells. These treatments, variously targeting CD22, CD20 and CD19 antigens, yield unprecedented high rates of hematologic and molecular remissions even when used in monotherapy and in chemo-resistant or post-transplantation relapsed patients. Beside the encouraging results in relapsed/refractory disease, these agents may open a totally new era in the frontline management of this illness, redefining treatment standards and options for different risk subsets and placing the achievement of a molecular remission at the forefront of treatment objectives. The ever increasing importance of modern immunotherapy in improving treatment design and therapeutic outcome is reviewed
Development and assessment of a random-forest model for real-time prediction of diesel engine-out particulate matter emissions
No full textThe containment of air pollution resulting from transportation sector is worldwide considered as one of the most important targets to be still achieved. The emissions of particulate matter (PM) assume a relevant role when Diesel engine-based vehicles are concerned. In the present paper, an innovative model for the prediction of engine-out emitted PM mass has been developed and assessed on two different Diesel engines. A semi-empirical approach is defined as reference model and initially validated through the ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008 procedure and its potentials of the being coupled to a predictive combustion model are demonstrated. Then, relying on the findings of the semi-empirical approach, a Random Forest (RF) algorithm has been thoroughly analysed and selected as a promising solution for real-time testing with on-line computed variables. Furthermore, an automatic feature selection and calibration procedure of the algorithm hyper-parameters has been developed. Very interesting performances were recorded as the reference model prediction accuracies were reproduced and comparable results were obtained when only ECU-measured variables were considered. The presented Random Forest model can be intended to be part of a pollution-oriented real-time powertrain control strategy that could on accurate and repeatable PM estimations
Indagine al SEM e caratterizzazione microanalitica di dipinti e materiali strutturali provenienti dal Castello delle Rocche di Finale Emilia
No full textAfter the earthquakes that have affected the Emilia-Romagna
region from May to June 2012, it was performed a diagnostic
testing for the characterization of the painting and
structural materials coming, respectively, from the noble
rooms and the external loggia of the Castello delle Rocche in
Finale Emilia (Italy), partially collapsed during the seismic
events, work aimed to a restoration of the castle
Developing, Validating and Using Internal Ratings: Methodologies and Case Studies
No full textWith a focus on practical applications of biophysical techniques, Biophysical Methods for Biotherapeutics helps formulation and analytical scientists in pharma and biotech better understand and use biophysical methods. Author Tapan K. Das links fundamental biophysics to the process of biopharmaceutical development using a chapter organization according to the steps of the drug development process. The text provides information to help organizations develop short- and long-term strategies for resource investment in biophysical research. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Secure document management and distribution in an open network environment
No full textThis paper analyzes the problem of secure document management and distribution in an open network environment. Reader and author authentication, document integrity, origin, and privacy are addressed by a public-key based solution which exploits a combination of the PEM format with SSL-enhanced FTP and HTTP servers and clients. The solution is being implemented as part of a project to provide network security to the Italian public administratio
Class III malocclusion and bilateral cross-bite in an adult patient treated with miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander and aligners
No full textABSTRACT
This case report describes the use of a miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander and aligners to correct bilateral cross-bite and crowding in an adult patient with a Class III skeletal pattern. A digitally designed surgical guide was three-dimensionally printed and used to accurately insert four miniscrews into the palate; these were employed to anchor a novel miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander appliance without any dental anchorage. Cone-beam computed tomograms before and after miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expander treatment demonstrated the orthopedic expansion of the maxilla without dental tipping. The patient was then fitted with aligners to correct crowding and malocclusion. This case report demonstrates the successful treatment of an adult patient with a narrow maxilla and bilateral cross-bite using a nonsurgical, conservative treatment.</jats:p
Investigation into the Potentials of a Dedicated Multi-Point Injection System for a production NG Single-Point Heavy-Duty Engine
No full textCNG is at present retaining a growing interest as a factual alternative to traditional fuels for SI engines, thanks to its high potentials in reducing the engine-out emissions. Increasing thrust into the exploitation of NG in the transport field is in fact produced by the even more stringent emission regulations that are being introduced into the worldwide scenario. The present paper aims at deeply investigating into the potentials of a heavy-duty engine running on CNG and equipped with two different injection systems, an advanced single point (SP) one and a prototype multi-point (MP) one. The considered 7.8-liter engine was designed and produced to implement a SP strategy and hence modified to run with a dedicated MP system. A thorough comparison of the engine equipped with the two injection systems has been carried out at steady state as well as at transient operations. Better performances in terms of cycle-to-cycle variability were proved for the MP system despite poorer mixture homogeneity. A 0D-1D model has also been built and validated on the experimental data set to be hence exploited for investigating into different strategies both for the SP and for the MP layout. An extensive simulation has been carried out on the effects of the injection phasing on the SP system performance. Finally, as far as the MP injection system is concerned, the innovative fire-skipping or cylinder deactivation has been considered, assessing for an overall decrease in the fuel consumption of 12% at part load operations
Treatment of dry eye: An analysis of the British Sjögren's Syndrome Association comparing substitute tear viscosity and subjective efficacy
No full textPurpose: This study aims to address the lack of independent subjective efficacy data on artificial tear substitutes in the treatment of dry eye due to the anecdotal association of 'thicker' products being more effective. Methods: This is an independent study of the subjective use and efficacy of topical treatments used by members of the British Sjögren's Syndrome Association (BSSA) related to product viscosity. 2000 members of the BSSA were sent a questionnaire regarding their physical condition and the use of artificial tear substitutes. Viscosity analysis was performed on the most popular preparations. Statistical comparison is made between subjective efficacies related to substitute tear viscosity. Results: 1088 patients responded giving information regarding their condition together with the subjective use and efficacy data of artificial tear substitutes. Visco-analysis was performed on the most popular preparations; these had more than 50 patients using them. In terms of subjective benefits related to viscosity for 'frequency' and 'duration' the data suggests a general trend toward viscous preparations being instilled less frequently and lasting longer; however this was not shown to be significantly correlated and some interesting comparisons are reported. Conclusions: The results confirm high levels of ocular lubricant use in the BSSA population. Our data investigates the often-anecdotal evidence that thicker preparations are more effective. However, we did not find this correlation to be statistically significant suggesting further study into factors related to subjective product efficacy. These results lay foundations for the development of future products in the treatment of severe dry eye. © 2011 British Contact Lens Association
A deep neural network based model for the prediction of hybrid electric vehicles carbon dioxide emissions
No full textHybrid electric vehicles (HEV) are nowadays proving to be one of the most promising technologies for the improvement of the fuel economy of several transportation segments. As far as the on-road category is concerned, a wise selection of the powertrain design is needed to exploit the best energetic performance achievable by a HEV. Amongst the methodologies developed for comparing different hybrid architectures, global optimizers have demonstrated the capability of leading to optimal design solutions at the expense of a relevant computational burden. In the present paper, an innovative deep neural networks-based model for the prediction of tank-to-wheel carbon dioxide emissions as estimated by a Dynamic Programming (DP) algorithm is presented. The model consists of a pipeline of neural networks aimed at catching the correlations lying between the design parameters of a HEV architecture and the main outcomes of the DP, namely powertrain feasibility and tail pipe CO2 emissions. Moreover, an automatic search tool (AST) has been developed for tuning the main hyper-parameters of the networks. Interesting results have been registered by applying the pipeline to three databases related to three different HEV parallel architectures. The capability of the pipeline has been proved through an extensive testing campaign made up by multiple experiments. Classification performances above 91% as well as average regression errors below 1% have been achieved during an extensive set of simulations. The presented model could hence be considered as an effective tool for supporting HEV design optimization phases
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