472 research outputs found
A new modular control board for pulse-jet cleaning of dust collector filter bags
No full textThis work presents a timing system modular control board to be used for pulse-jet cleaning of dust collector filter bags or pneumatic conveying systems. Many systems of this kind are already available on the market but only some of them have the ability to operate in full range alternating current power supplies. The presented versatile and innovative control board can control the electro valves, either the ones operating with alternating current and those in direct current (since they are both used in the industrial plants). For the same reason, the designed prototype system can be powered with different voltages, widening the number of potential industrial applications. The electronic board has as main advantage the ability to fully automate the cleaning cycle. It can drive many electro valves simultaneously since it is possible to connect more control boards together if needed. It also allows the user to separate the control section of the system from the section dedicated to the actuation of the electro valves. The electro valves can be controlled from a PC terminal via ethernet. The work describes the adopted solutions and the steps made for the design of the entire prototypal modular board, with particular focus on the innovative timing system
ADVANCED GEOMATICS AND CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR PRESERVING 20th CENTURY ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
No full textThis paper discusses the relationship between advanced geomatics and Conservation Management Plan (CMP), by deepening the case of a CMP dedicated to the conservation of the 20th century architectural heritage. A number of issues have already been discussed on how the advanced survey techniques contribute to the conservation field for the last decades (e.g. Laser Scanner, HDR, GIS, intelligence vs. abundance, B.I.M, VT/IM etc.). The authors analyse pros and cons of each technique with respect to the main purposes of a CMP: 1.knowledge, 2.value assessment, 3.data sharing and dissemination of results, 4.support for conservation and restoration activities, 5.support for the planned conservation of buildings / facility management over time. With respect to the research on the CMP for the National Art Schools of Havana, the conclusions focus on the need to share results to non-specialist stakeholders, and on the possibility to combine different scales of analysis and a plurality of buildings with various levels of interest and conservation needs
A nanoparticle-L-aspartate oxidase system for D-aspartate production
No full textL-Aspartate oxidase (LASPO) performs the stereospecific oxidative deamination of L-aspartic acid to oxalacetate, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide [1]. LASPO from the thermophilic microorganism Solfolobus tokodaii (StLASPO) possesses very distinctive features that makes it very attractive for biotechnological applications: in particular, it can be used for the production of D-aspartate from a racemic mixture of D,L-aspartate, a molecule employed in the pharmaceutical industry, for parenteral nutrition, as food additive and in sweetener manufacturing [2]. Here, we present the StLASPO conjugation on iron oxide nanoparticles (NP-LASPO) using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide and hydroxysuccinimide as cross-linking agents. This system presents a better pH and thermal stability than the free enzyme. Indeed, it was used for five times reaching the full L-aspartate conversion with an easy recovery after every cycle. The NP-LASPO system yielded a productivity in terms of L-aspartate conversion that is comparable to the one obtained with the free enzyme or with the enzyme immobilized on classical chromatographic supports. These results indicate that the NP-LASPO system has promising industrial applications [3].
This work is supported by Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie. I. A. is a student of the “Biotechnology, Biosciences and Surgical Technology” PhD course at Università degli studi dell’Insubria.
References:
1. Tedeschi G et al., L-aspartate oxidase from Escherichia coli, European Journal of Biochemistry 1996; 239(2): 427-433.
2. Pollegioni L et al., L-Amino acid oxidase as biocatalyst: A dream too far?, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 2013; 97 (21): 9323–9341.
3. Armenia I et al., L-aspartate oxidase magnetic nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and L-aspartate bioconversion, RSC Advances 2017; 7 (34): 21136-21143
On the Use of a 77 GHz Automotive Radar as a Microwave Rain Gauge
No full textThe European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) defines the frequency band of 77 GHz (W-band) as the one dedicated to automatic cruise control long-range radars. A car can be thought as a moving integrated weather sensor since it can provide meteorological information exploiting the sensors installed on board. This work presents the preliminary analysis of how a 77 GHz mini radar can be used as a short range microwave rain gauge. After the discussion of the Mie scattering formulation applied to a microwave rain gauge working in the W-band, the proposal of a new Z-R equation to be used for correct rain estimation is given. Atmospheric attenuation and absorption are estimated taking into account the ITU-T recommendations. Functional requirements in adapting automatic cruise control long-range radar to a microwave rain gauge are analyzed. The technical specifications are determined in order to meet the functional requirements
Factors Associated with Clinical Decisions and Pressure Ulcer Development in Long Term Care Residents
No full textWith the growing number of elderly long-term care residents in the United States, pressure ulcers (PU) represent a significant healthcare problem. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) reported in 2001 that the incidence rates of PU in long-term care residents ranged from 2.2% to 23.9% and the prevalence from 2.3% to 28%. Multiple risk factors for the development of PU have been suggested, and can be divided into extrinsic factors and intrinsic factors. The aims of this study were to: (1) conduct a focused literature review of intrinsic and extrinsic factors related to PU development in elderly long-term care residents; (2) conduct a secondary analysis of demographic and clinical data from Randomized Clinical Trial on Preventing Pressure Ulcers with Seat Cushions (RCT-SC), to identify risk factors associated with acquiring/not acquiring a PU in elderly long-term care residents. Three different methods were used to analyze the data: (a) stepwise logistic regression, (b) odds ratios, and (c) Exhaustive Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID); and generate a decision-making tree for the prescription of wheelchairs and seat cushions by rehabilitation practitioners for elderly long-term care wheelchair users. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the rehabilitation team decisions were also established. As a result of this study it was concluded that:(a) the focused literature review provided useful information about intrinsic, extrinsic and combinations of these risk factors in PU acquisition,(b) the stepwise logistic regression, odds ratios, and CHAID analyses confirmed known risk factors and added new risk factors that predict PU development,(c) the decision-making tree can be a starting point for rehabilitation practitioners that are new to the field of seating and mobility, and (d) the decision making tree showed that the use of a pressure mapping system is a good tool if used in combination with clinical judgment
The influence of D-chiro-inositol and D-myo-inositol in pregnant women with glucose intolerance
No full textGIS OR BIM? A COMPARISON APPLIED TO THE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN OF A 20th CENTURY ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
No full textThis paper discusses the impact of the advanced systems of architectural survey and modelling to the research on the Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for architectural heritage, particularly when such a tool is applied to the 20th century architectural heritage. The authors focus on a comparison between the Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology and the Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The Conservation Management Plan for the National Art Schools of Havana in Cuba is used as case study. Given the plurality of buildings and various levels of interest in such a context, conservation and management needs, the need to share the results with non-specialized stakeholders, the need to combine different scales of analysis and different typologies of materials, the results point out the advantages of a GIS platform. The conclusions open to further possibilities of integrating GIS and BIM to the specific task of effectively conserving and managing the 20th century architectural heritage
Fatigue Assessment of Nickel–Titanium Peripheral Stents: Comparison of Multi-Axial Fatigue Models
No full textPeripheral Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) stents exploit super-elasticity to treat femoropopliteal artery atherosclerosis. The stent is subject to cyclic loads, which may lead to fatigue fracture and treatment failure. The complexity of the loading conditions and device geometry, coupled with the nonlinear material behavior, may induce multi-axial and non-proportional deformation. Finite element analysis can assess the fatigue risk, by comparing the device state of stress with the material fatigue limit. The most suitable fatigue model is not fully understood for NiTi devices, due to its complex thermo-mechanical behavior. This paper assesses the fatigue behavior of NiTi stents through computational models and experimental validation. Four different strain-based models are considered: the von Mises criterion and three critical plane models (Fatemi-Socie, Brown-Miller, and Smith-Watson-Topper models). Two stents, made of the same material with different cell geometries are manufactured, and their fatigue behavior is experimentally characterized. The comparison between experimental and numerical results highlights an overestimation of the failure risk by the von Mises criterion. On the contrary, the selected critical plane models, even if based on different damage mechanisms, give a better fatigue life estimation. Further investigations on crack propagation mechanisms of NiTi stents are required to properly select the most reliable fatigue model
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