99 research outputs found
Direct and Indirect Haptic Aiding for Curve Negotiation
No full textHaptic technology has become a viable way to support operators in vehicular control. This paper investigates two different design philosophies for continuous haptic feedback to support drivers with curve negotiation. The first system, 'direct haptic assistance', is designed to yield best results when the driver gives way to the guidance forces on the steering wheel. The second, 'indirect haptic assistance', is designed to yield best results when the driver counter-acts the forces. The two designs were compared in a driving simulator experiment in which 27 subjects participated. Results show that both systems are helpful in case of low visibility, where the driver lacks sufficient preview of the curves. With normal visibility no improvements on performance were found, for either system. Further experiments are required to investigate the difference between the two approaches
The impact of market orientation on university spin-off business performance
No full textExtant literature on the antecedents of university spin-off (USO) business performance has developed with the aim of highlighting those drivers that could foster the performance of such firms, focusing on a variety of factors. Less interest has been devoted to the market orientation–performance relationship, despite the positive link frequently found in the marketing literature. The aim of the present paper is therefore to fill this gap and investigate the relationship between market orientation (MO) and USO performance using the Netval database of Italian research spin-offs. To measure MO, we adopted an ad hoc questionnaire, and after testing its validity with a factor analysis, we performed a regression model. The results show that MO, particularly some of its components (customer intelligence generation, intelligence dissemination, integration and inter-functional coordination), has an impact on business performance. This contribution presents some valuable research implications useful for academics, but professionals from new high-tech ventures and technology transfer offices may also benefit from this knowledge.Une importante bibliographie sur les antécédents de la performance des spin-off universitaires a déjà été développée, dans le but de mettre en évidence les éléments qui pourraient favoriser la performance de ces entreprises, et en mettant l'accent sur divers facteurs. Malgré le lien positif qui est généralement observé dans la littérature marketing, la relation entre l'Orientation Marché (OM) et la performance a été moins approfondie. L'objectif de cet article est donc de combler cette lacune en examinant la relation entre l'orientation marché et les performances des SOU (Spin-Off Universitaires) de la base de données Netval, dédiée aux spin-off de la recherche italienne. Afin de mesurer l’OM, nous avons adopté un questionnaire ad hoc et, après avoir testé sa validité avec une analyse factorielle, nous avons réalisé un modèle de régression. Les résultats montrent que l’OM a effectivement un impact sur la performance de l'entreprise, en particulier sur certaines de ses dimensions (production de renseignements sur les clients, diffusion de renseignements, intégration et coordination inter-fonctionnelle). Cette étude présente des perspectives de recherche utiles pour les universitaires, mais aussi pour les professionnels des nouvelles entreprises haute technologie et les bureaux de transfert de technologie, qui pourraient bénéficier de ces connaissances
Market Orientation, Performance and Innovation in Research Based Spin Offs
No full textThe present paper tries to advance knowledge on the relationship between Market Orientation (MO) and business performance in the specific context of Research Based Spin Offs (RBSOs). Marketing literature have already examined the concept of Market Orientation, highlighting the effect of MO on business performance, generally showing a positive link. Most of the studies are focused on larger firms, while less attention has been given to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and even less have been devoted to new high tech ventures. The aim of the present paper is therefore to fill such gap in the literature, examining MO and its effects on business performance in Research Based Spin Offs. A review of the extant literature is used to explore the conceptual frameworks already developed by scholars and discuss their appropriateness in the context of new tech ventures originated by Universities’ laboratories and/or public research centres. An ad hoc framework is therefore adopted for validation on a sample of Italian RBSOs. The results show that MO has indeed an impact on business performance, in particular, some of its components, and provide knowledge regarding the activities undertaken by RBSOs in the area of MO. This contribution presents some valuable research implications, useful for researchers and academics, but also professionals from new high tech ventures and technology transfer offices may use this knowledge to plan and design market-focussed actions and support activities that will lead to improved business performance
Realization and tests of EV drives with driving comfort optimization
No full textThe problem of the optimisation of AC motor control for EV is considered. Preliminary tests and the realisation of an EV prototype with a new motor drive have been realised aiming at the performances optimisation on urban cycles. Special quantitative parameters have been introduced and evaluated, in good agreement with the drivers sensations, and tested in comparison with the performance of two traditional cars and a commercial E
Solid-Phase Extraction and HPLC determination of fluoroquinolones in surface waters
No full textAn investigation on filtration procedures and SPE sorbents used for the determination of traces of the most common veterinary fluoroquinolones (FQs), marbofloxacin (MAR) and enrofloxacin (ENR) used as antibacterial agents in cattle and swine farms in the province of Pavia (Italy), was performed in natural waters. The composition and the sorbent used in the SPE strongly influence the correct recovery,both in terms of total and issolved FQs concentration. An accurate comparison among different filters and SPE sorbents showed that a full determination of analytes was possible on nylon filters followed by anionic (WAX) and hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) resins as SPE. Quantitative analysis was done by chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD). Fluoroquinolones recovery was between 90 and 116% with RSD not greater than 10% (sample volume 250 mL). The developed method allowed to determine both dissolved and NOM-absorbed fractions of FQs, therefore a full determination of the analytes was possible. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were, respectively, 0.7 and 2.2 ng/L for ENR and 2 and 6 ng/L for MAR. The kinetics of degradation under solar light was explored
Analytical Determination and Electrochemical Characterization ofthe Oxazolidinone Antibiotic Linezolid
No full textLinezolid belongs to a class of antibiotics known as oxazolidinones. It is receiving great attention due to its activity
toward multidrugs resistant bacteria, and simple and cheap methods for the analysis of this compound in pharmaceutical
preparations are required. In this work, the electrochemistry of the antibiotic linezolid was investigated and
a differential pulse voltammetric method based on the oxidation of the oxazolidinonic compound at a glassy carbon
electrode has been developed and optimized for its determination; LOD of 50 mgL1 and a linearity up to
200 mgL1 were reported. The electrochemical process was studied by using different electrochemical techniques
and confirmed by HPLC-MS/MS
Analysis of Environmental Contamination by Metals Using Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Hair as a Biomonitor: An Appraisal
No full textThis study assessed environmental metal and metalloids (TE) levels using hair of Apodemus
sylvaticus as a non-lethal biomonitor. TE decreased as follows: Zn > Al > Fe > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Mn
> Cd > Se > As > Hg; TE widely distributed in soils as Zn, Al, Fe, and Cu, are more abundant than
those of ecotoxicological interest, such as Cd, Se, As and Hg. Cd, Pb, Cu, and Cr concentrations are
highly variable, while Zn, Fe, and Mn are less variable. TE in hair are below the threshold levels in
soil and decrease the same way in both sexes. Concentrations in soil and hair are significantly related,
and their level can be modulated both by homeostatic control of essential metals and absorbance
from the soil by keratin. Slight differences in Ni and Cr can be related to the differing behaviour of
males and females during reproduction. A scarce tendency toward mercury bioaccumulation has
been observed in both sex and age classes; from an ecological point of view, these data suggest that
the species is a primary consumer, feeding more on the leaves and seeds than on small invertebrates
Optimum dataset size and search space for minimum zone roundness evaluation by genetic algorithm
No full textRoundness is one of the most common features in machining. The minimum zone tolerance (MZT) approach provides the minimum roundness error, i.e. the minimum distance between the two concentric reference circles containing the acquired profile; more accurate form error estimation results in less false part rejections. MZT is still an open problem and is approached here by a Genetic Algorithm. Only few authors have addressed the definition of the search space center and size and its relationship with the dataset size, which greatly influence the inspection time for the profile measurement and the convergence speed of the roundness estimation algorithm for a given target accuracy. Experimental tests on certified roundness profiles, using the profile centroid as the search space center, have shown that the search space size is related to the number of dataset points and an optimum exists, which provides a computation time reduction up to an order of magnitude
Optimization of Converters Thermal Design: Cost vs. Performance Comparison of Extruded and bonded Fins Heatsinks
No full textPhotoarylation/Alkylation of Bromo-Naphthols
No full textThe photochemistry of 6-bromo-2-naphthols has been studied in acetonitrile, aqueous acetonitrile, and isopropyl alcohol in the absence and in the presence of triethylamine by product distribution analysis, laser flash photolysis (LFP), fluorescence, phosphorescence, electrochemical measurements, and DFT calculations. Hydrobromic acid loss in the presence of Et3N occurs from the triplet state of 6-bromo-2-naphthol, generating an electrophilic carbene intermediate, which has been successfully trapped by oxygen, allyltrimethylsilane, 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene, pyrrole, acrylonitrile, 1,4-dimethoxybenzene, and also pyridine.
The generation and the reactivity of a triplet carbene intermediate has been supported by LFP, with the
detection of 2,6-naphthoquinone-O-oxide (530-650 nm) in the presence of O2. The electrophilic diradical character of the carbene has been supported by DFT calculations, using the B3LYP, PBE0, and MPWB1K functionals, with the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set and PCM solvation model
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