10,982 research outputs found
Intersection of art, science and architecture: stochastic architecture compositions of eventualist theory
No full textThe paper illustrates the first application in a real architectural context of samples of Stochastic Tiles, based on paintings by Sergio Lombardo, an Italian artist, a leading figure of the Roman avant-garde in the sixties who is still active today. In the eighties he elaborated the innovative aesthetic theory of Eventualism .
Stochastic Architectural Composition is an experimental research activity, carried on by the author, that deals with complexity and random processes in architecture, according to the methods and procedures developed by Lombardo, as well as to the new ideas of creativity and the artwork delineated by the Eventualist theory. Some experimental projects and built architectures, designed by the author, are also presented in the article
Saturation of the 5q31-q33 candidate region for coeliac disease
No full textThe first genome wide screening performed on Italian affected sib-pair families (Greco et al. 1998) gave evidence for linkage with coeliac disease in the 5q region. This finding was replicated in a second independent dataset (Greco et al. 2001). Overall, pooling both samples, the highest MLS value (2.92) was found for the most centromeric marker tested, D5S640. In the present study, the 5q31-q33 region was saturated with 12 new markers around D5S640, in order to verify whether there would be a shift of the MLS position. This study allowed us to support our previous finding of linkage for the region 5q31-q33, with the most significant MLS value at D5S2014, very close to the marker D5S640. No evidence for interaction between this risk factor and the one in the HLA region was found. Furthermore, many different groups have independently obtained analogous results for this region, confirming the presence of a susceptibility locus in the region 5q31-q33. This region contains several interesting candidate genes for coeliac disease
Republican amphorae in the Auvergne central France
No full textThis thesis studies Republican amphoraefrom late Iron age (c. 200-1 BC) sites from the Auvergne (central France). The morphology, dating and contents of Greco-Italic, Dressel 1 and Lamboglia 2 amphorae, and the morphology of Republican amphoraefrom Mediterranean shipwrecks are reviewed. The morphology of 28 Republican amphorae assemblages from
the Auvergne are described in detail and compared with 44 assemblages from Western Europe. A detailed programme of fabric analysis,using thin-sectioning, of 408 rim sherds,has created96 fabric groups,many of which have been assigned to specific kilns. The distribution of Republican
amphorae in the Auvergne and for the whole of France is studied and discussed. The role of amphorae in socio-economic change,the accessto amphorae, the deposition of amphorae and the importation of other Mediterranean imports (Campanian wares,mortaria andpate claires) in the Auvergne is addressed. Assemblages of Republican amphorae stamps from the Auvergne and the rest of Franceare compared by analysing the types of stamps,their placement, stamping rates and their place of origin. The Republican wine trade to the Auvergne started during the second century BC when small numbers of Greco-Italic amphoraewere imported and the large-scale importation of Dressel I amphorae occurred after c.150/140BC. A high proportion of the amphoraecame from the Etrurian kilns of Albinia and Cosa. Republican amphoraewere widely distributed in the Auvergne during the second century BC with 203 findspots and are found in large numbersat several sites
Favorable Survival of In-Hospital Compared with Out-of-Hospital Refractory Cardiac Arrest Patients Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: An Italian Tertiary Care Center Experience
No full textObjective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support has been suggested to improve survival in patients with refractory in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA, OHCA). Aim of the present study was to report our experience on the use of ECMO in adult patients with refractory IHCA and OHCA. We have further examined outcome differences between IHCA and OHCA and factors accounting for such differences.
Methods: Forty-two patients (31 males) with refractory cardiac arrest, 24 IHCA and 18 OHCA, were enrolled in this single centre, retrospective, observational study, from January 2006 to December 2010.
Results: There was significant difference in the time of no-flow (duration of untreated cardiac arrest) between the OHCA and IHCA patients (p<0.001). The time of low flow (duration of CPR prior to ECMO) was also significantly longer in the OHCA group compared with the IHCA one (77 mins vs 55 mins, p<0.001). ECMO implantation was successful in 38 (90%) of the 42 patients. ECMO support was positioned: 3 times (8%) in the operating room, 6 (16%) in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit, 21 (55%) in the emergency department, 5 (13%) in the catheterization laboratory and 3 (8%) in general ward. A total of 14 IHCA (58%) and 3 OHCA (16%) patients were weaned from ECMO (p<0.05). 11 IHCA (46%) and 1 OHCA (5% p<0.05) were discharged from intensive care unit (ICU). Among IHCA patients, 10 were alive at 6 months, 9 of whom (38%) with good neurological outcome. Among OHCA patients weaned from ECMO, one was alive at six months with good neurological outcome (5%, p<0.05 vs IHCA).
Conclusions: ECMO support should be considered as a resuscitation alternative in selected patients. More specifically, patients with witnessed IHCA have more benefits from ECMO treatment compared to those who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Formula
Author Disclosures: L. Avalli: None. G. Greco: None. F. Sangalli: None. L. Galbiati: None. M. Trabucchi: None. F. Formica: None. C. Costa: None. G. Ristagno: None. R. Fumagalli: None
Favorable Survival of In-Hospital Compared with Out-of-Hospital Refractory Cardiac Arrest Patients Treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: An Italian Tertiary Care Center Experience
No full textObjective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support has been suggested to improve survival in patients with refractory in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA, OHCA). Aim of the present study was to report our experience on the use of ECMO in adult patients with refractory IHCA and OHCA. We have further examined outcome differences between IHCA and OHCA and factors accounting for such differences.
Methods: Forty-two patients (31 males) with refractory cardiac arrest, 24 IHCA and 18 OHCA, were enrolled in this single centre, retrospective, observational study, from January 2006 to December 2010.
Results: There was significant difference in the time of no-flow (duration of untreated cardiac arrest) between the OHCA and IHCA patients (p<0.001). The time of low flow (duration of CPR prior to ECMO) was also significantly longer in the OHCA group compared with the IHCA one (77 mins vs 55 mins, p<0.001). ECMO implantation was successful in 38 (90%) of the 42 patients. ECMO support was positioned: 3 times (8%) in the operating room, 6 (16%) in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit, 21 (55%) in the emergency department, 5 (13%) in the catheterization laboratory and 3 (8%) in general ward. A total of 14 IHCA (58%) and 3 OHCA (16%) patients were weaned from ECMO (p<0.05). 11 IHCA (46%) and 1 OHCA (5% p<0.05) were discharged from intensive care unit (ICU). Among IHCA patients, 10 were alive at 6 months, 9 of whom (38%) with good neurological outcome. Among OHCA patients weaned from ECMO, one was alive at six months with good neurological outcome (5%, p<0.05 vs IHCA).
Conclusions: ECMO support should be considered as a resuscitation alternative in selected patients. More specifically, patients with witnessed IHCA have more benefits from ECMO treatment compared to those who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Formula
Author Disclosures: L. Avalli: None. G. Greco: None. F. Sangalli: None. L. Galbiati: None. M. Trabucchi: None. F. Formica: None. C. Costa: None. G. Ristagno: None. R. Fumagalli: None
Priors on precision parameters of IGRMF models
No full textWhen intrinsic Gaussian random Markov field (IGRMF) priors are assumed for random effects of a latent Gaussian model, a notable issue concerns prior elicitation for the precision hyperparameters. In fact, the structure of the precision
matrix could lead to the undesired feature that the same prior for different precisions imply different marginal priors for the random effects. The work is aimed at investigating this problem following a rigorous mathematical procedure, in order to
propose a new strategy and compare it to a widespread solution based on matrix scaling. Finally, an application of the proposed method to a real data problem is presented
Shear-band formation in a non-Newtonian fluid model with a constitutive instability
No full textWe examine the behaviour in shear of a viscoelastic fluid model (Johnson-Segalman fluid plus a Newtonian contribution) which exhibits a constitutive instability with respect to shear banding. Because there is a range of stress values at which shear bands can coexist, it is not clear which value of the stress is attained at a given, nominal shear rate, nor whether a selection of some particular value for the stress throughout the unstable range of shear rates exists or not. In this paper, at least for the specific fluid considered, we show that (i) a phase-separated flow actually occurs, and (ii) a selection mechanism for the stress in the shear-banded regime does exist. To obtain these clear-cut results, we used the Couette concentric cylinder geometry, where a ‘seed’ for the phase separation is automatically provided by the curvature: the portion of the material which is near to the inner (moving) cylinder is more strongly sheared than any other portion, and can induce the formation of a high shear rate band. At steady state, the existence of a selection mechanism for the stress implies that the ‘volume fraction’ of the high shear rate phase (not its shear rate) increases by increasing the velocity of the moving cylinder. These and other features of our computed solutions resemble experimental observations. We conclude the paper by showing how a simple variational reasoning can help in locating the selected stress
Refrigeration plant exergetic analysis varying the compressor capacity
No full textThe paper presents an exergetic analysis of a vapour compressor refrigeration plant when the refrigeration capacity is controlled by varying the compressor speed. The aim is performance evaluation of both the whole plant and its individual components. The analysis of the exergy flow destroyed in each device of the plant varying the compressor speed has been carried out in order to determine the relative irreversibility of the plant components. The vapour compression plant is subjected to a commercially available cold store. The compressor working with R22, R407C and R507 and designed for a revolution speed corresponding to 50 Hz supply current frequency, has been used varying the frequency in the range 30–50 Hz. In this range, the most suitable working fluids proposed as substitutes of R22, as R407C (R32/R125/R134a 23/25/52% in mass), R507 (R125/R143A 50/50% in mass) and R417A (R125/R134a/R600 46.6/50/3.4% in mass), have been tested. The variable-speed compressor is fitted with a pulse-width modulated source inverter (PWM) predominantly used in medium power applications due to its relatively low cost and high efficiency. The
basic difference between variable speed refrigeration and conventional refrigeration systems is in the control of the system capacity at part-load conditions. The conventional refrigeration systems are characterized by compressor on/off cycles arising from by the thermostatic control. On the contrary when the inverter is used the capacity of the refrigeration system is matched to the load regulating the compressor motor speed. When the control of the compressor capacity is obtained by varying its speed there is an energy saving with respect to the thermostatic control. The best results of the exergetic analysis have been obtained using R22 followed by the non-azeotropic mixture designed as R407C that confirms, among the fluid candidates R22 substitution a better performance, shown also at the compressor nominal speed
New analytical model for the hoop contribution to the shear capacity of circular reinforced concrete columns
No full textThe paper is concerned with the analytical description of a resistance mechanism, not considered in previous models, by which the hoops contribute to the shear capacity of RC columns with circular cross sections. The difference from previous approaches consists in observing that, because of deformation, the hoops change their original shape and, as a consequence, their slope does not match anymore the original one in the neighborhood of a crack. The model involves two parameters only, namely the crack inclination and the hoop strain in the neighborhood of a crack. A closed-form analytical formulation to correlate the average value of the crack width and the hoop strain is also provided. Results obtained using the proposed model have been compared with experimental data, and a satisfactory agreement is found
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