1,354,100 research outputs found
Data-driven modelling and optimal management of district heating networks
No full textThis paper presents an optimization-based algorithm for the management of district heating networks, aiming to minimize their operational cost and maximize their efficiency. The method involves a mixed-integer formulation to properly control the operations of gas boilers and cogeneration systems at the central heating station. A novel modelling method for the district heating networks is also proposed, where temperature dynamics are directly learned from data through the identification of piece-wise affine models. The developed approach ensures that proper temperature levels are always provided to all users, meanwhile minimizing the network heat losses, and enabling cogeneration systems to optimally participate to the Day-Ahead Energy Market. The optimization system has been designed considering a real district heating network in the Milan area and first experiments on the real plant have been carried out. The economic evaluations are satisfactory, leading to significative energy saving and a consistent reduction of CO2 emissions and gas consumption
Conventional thermal annealing for a more efficient p-type doping of Al+ implanted 4H-SiC
No full textThe p-type doping of high purity semi-insulating 4H polytype silicon carbide (HPSI 4H-SiC) by aluminum ion (Al+) implantation has been studied in the range of 1 × 1019 to 8 × 10 20/cm3 (0.39 μm implanted thickness) and a conventional thermal annealing of 1950 °C/5 min. Implanted 4H-SiC layers of p-type conductivity and sheet resistance in the range of 1.6 × 104 to 8.9 ×102 Ω□, corresponding to a resistivity in the range of 4.7 × 10-1 to 2.7 × 10-2 Ω cm have been obtained. Hall carrier density and mobility data in the temperature range of 140-720 K feature the transition from a valence band to an intraband conduction for increasing implanted Al ion concentration from 1 × 10 19/cm3 to 4 × 1020/cm3. A 73% electrical activation, 31% compensation and 146 meV ionization level have been obtained using a best-fit solution of the neutrality equation to Hall carrier data for the lowest concentration.</p
Oncologic Outcome and Continence Recovery after Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy: 3 Years' Follow-Up in a "Second Generation Center"
No full textObjectiues: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in major centers guarantees oncologic and functional results equal to open procedures. In our institution this operation was introduced in 2001 after an adequate training in laparoscopic surgery. We report the oncologic and functional results after 3 years of experience.Methods: We considered our first 150 patients that had undergone transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. The following parameters were prospectively collected and analyzed: pathological findings, surgical margins, surgical time, blood loss, hospital stay, catheterization, complications, oncologic follow-up and continence.Results: Single positive surgical margins were observed in 26 patients (17.3%) and multiple positive margins in 15 patients (10%). The rates of positive margins in organ confined tumors (pT2a/b) were 11.3%. Preoperative PSA > 10 ng/ml (Chi-square p < 0.01), pathological stage > pT2 (Chi-square p < 0.001) and Gleason score > 6 (Chi-square p < 0.01) were significantly correlated with positive margins. Major complications occurred in 16 patients (10.7%). The total recurrence rate is 11.7%. The continence rate at 12 months is 91.7%. with 44.3% of patients completely continent at the moment of catheter removal.Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in now a well codified operation that, after an adequate training, could be learned and reproduced safely. Actually this is our first choice surgical approach in patients with localized prostate cancer. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Utilizzo del sistema informativo delle schede di dimissione ospedaliera per l’individuazione di possibili tumori di origine professionale.
No full textsistema informativo - schede di dimissione ospedaliera - possibili tumori di origine professional
Convolutional Neural Networks for Part Orientation in Additive Manufacturing
No full textThe industrial applications of additive manufacturing (AM) have seen noticeable growth in recent years, pushing the studies on the parameters affecting the aesthetic, functional, and structural characteristics of the produced component. A central role is attributed to the orientation of the geometry on the building platform and the resulting building direction, the choice of which usually relies on the expertise of the operator. This work aims to elaborate an algorithm able to predict autonomously the optimal positioning of the component through the innovative techniques of deep learning, employed for their ability to draw information from a set of examples and build complex models. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is developed that, starting from the tridimensional representation of an object, predicts the rotation angle pair that leads to the optimal printing configuration. Two approaches have been compared: the first one predicts the angles, represented as points on a unit circle, through a regression that minimizes the angular difference loss. The second one performs a classification over a set of discreet rotations. The algorithm is trained and validated on two different datasets; finally, the generalization capacity of the model is investigated, highlighting the limits linked to the choice of examples used during training
Female breast cancer in Lombardy, Italy (2002-2009): A case-control study on occupational risks.
No full textAbstract
BACKGROUND:
The role of occupational exposures in breast cancer development is still uncertain and, to our knowledge, no studies have been recently carried out in Italy to provide a comprehensive estimation of this possible risk.
METHODS:
Based on administrative data, a case-control study was carried out recruiting all incident cases of female breast cancer in the period 2002-2009, aged between 35 and 69 years, residing in Lombardy, Italy. Controls were randomly sampled from all women residing in Lombardy as of December 31, 2005. Occupational histories, including blue-collar status, were available from 1974 through record linkage with a social security pension database, and were obtained for 11,188 cases and 25,329 controls. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multiple unconditional logistic regression models, including terms for sectors of longest employment and for duration of employment. Multiple comparisons were accounted for according to the Benjamini-Hochberg method.
RESULTS:
The ORs for female breast cancer were modestly but significantly increased for employment in electrical manufacturing (OR 1.12, 90%CI 1.04-1.21), textile (OR 1.08, 90%CI 1.02-1.15), paper (OR 1.25, 90%CI 1.06-1.46) and rubber (OR 1.26, 90%CI 1.03-1.54) industries. Analysis by duration of employment within sectors showed significantly increased ORs for electrical manufacturing and rubber industries. After adjustment for multiple comparisons no estimates remained statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although with several limitations, our results point to a possible role of exposures in electrical manufacturing, textile, paper and rubber industries in the process leading to breast cancer. An in-dept study for the electrical manufacturing industry has been already planned. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
[Female breast cancer and occupational sectors : a preliminary study in the provinces of Lombardy, Italy]
No full textBACKGROUND:The role of occupational exposures in breast cancer development is still uncertain. A recent paper showed increased risks in some occupational sectors in Lombardy, Italy. We deepened this analysis at the level of single provinces of the same Italian region.
METHODS:
Based on administrative data, a case-control study was carried out recruiting all incident cases of female breast cancer in the period 2002-2009, aged between 35 and 69 years, residing in Lombardy, Italy. Controls were randomly sampled from all women residing in Lombardy as of December 31, 2005. Occupational histories, including blue collar status, were available from 1974 through record linkage with a social security pension database, and were obtained for 11188 cases and 25329 controls. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multiple unconditional logistic regression models. Analyses were performed also by single provinces of Lombardy, Italy. Multiple comparisons were accounted for according to the Benjamini-Hochberg method.
RESULTS:
The ORs for female breast cancer were modestly but significantly increased for employment in electrical manufacturing (OR 1.12, 90% CI 1.04-121), textile (OR 1.08, 90% CI 1.02-1.15), paper (OR 1.25, 90% CI 1.06-1.46) and rubber (OR 1.26, 90% CI 1.03-1.54) industries. Analysis by province showed significantly increased ORs for electrical manufacturing in the Milano province. After adjustment for multiple comparisons no estimates remained statistically significant, except OR for electrical manufacturing in the Milano province.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although with several limitations, our results point to a possible role of exposures in electrical manufacturing, textile, paper and rubber industries in the process leading to breast cancer. An in-dept study for the electrical manufacturing industry has been already planned in Milano province
[Female breast cancer and occupational sectors: a preliminary study in the provinces of Lombardy, Italy].
No full textBackground. The role of occupational exposures in
breast cancer development is still uncertain. A recent paper
showed increased risks in some occupational sectors in
Lombardy, Italy. We deepened this analysis at the level of singleprovinces of the same Italian region.
Methods. Based on administrative data, a case-control study was
carried out recruiting all incident cases of female breast cancer in the period 2002-2009, aged between 35 and 69 years, residing in Lombardy, Italy. Controls were randomly sampled from all women residing in Lombardy as of December 31, 2005.
Occupational histories, including blue collar status, were
available from 1974 through record linkage with a social security
pension database, and were obtained for 11188 cases and 25329 controls. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multiple
unconditional logistic regression models. Analyses were
performed also by single provinces of Lombardy, Italy.
Multiple comparisons were accounted for according to the
Benjamini-Hochberg method.
Results. The ORs for female breast cancer were modestly
but significantly increased for employment in electrical
manufacturing (OR 1.12, 90% CI 1.04-1.21), textile (OR 1.08,
90% CI 1.02-1.15), paper (OR 1.25, 90% CI 1.06-1.46) and rubber
(OR 1.26, 90% CI 1.03-1.54) industries. Analysis by province
showed significantly increased ORs for electrical manufacturing
in the Milano province. After adjustment for multiple
comparisons no estimates remained statistically significant,
except OR for electrical manufacturing in the Milano province.
Conclusions. Although with several limitations, our results point
to a possible role of exposures in electrical manufacturing,
textile, paper and rubber industries in the process leading to
breast cancer. An in-dept study for the electrical manufacturing industry has been already planned in Milano province
Female breast cancer in Lombardy, Italy (2002-2009) : a case-control study on occupational risks
No full textBACKGROUND:
The role of occupational exposures in breast cancer development is still uncertain and, to our knowledge, no studies have been recently carried out in Italy to provide a comprehensive estimation of this possible risk.
METHODS:
Based on administrative data, a case-control study was carried out recruiting all incident cases of female breast cancer in the period 2002-2009, aged between 35 and 69 years, residing in Lombardy, Italy. Controls were randomly sampled from all women residing in Lombardy as of December 31, 2005. Occupational histories, including blue-collar status, were available from 1974 through record linkage with a social security pension database, and were obtained for 11,188 cases and 25,329 controls. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multiple unconditional logistic regression models, including terms for sectors of longest employment and for duration of employment. Multiple comparisons were accounted for according to the Benjamini-Hochberg method.
RESULTS:
The ORs for female breast cancer were modestly but significantly increased for employment in electrical manufacturing (OR 1.12, 90%CI 1.04-1.21), textile (OR 1.08, 90%CI 1.02-1.15), paper (OR 1.25, 90%CI 1.06-1.46) and rubber (OR 1.26, 90%CI 1.03-1.54) industries. Analysis by duration of employment within sectors showed significantly increased ORs for electrical manufacturing and rubber industries. After adjustment for multiple comparisons no estimates remained statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although with several limitations, our results point to a possible role of exposures in electrical manufacturing, textile, paper and rubber industries in the process leading to breast cancer. An in-dept study for the electrical manufacturing industry has been already planned
[Study of lung cancer risk in the electroplating industry in Lombardy based on the OCCAM method].
No full textLa metodologia OCCAM consiste nello studio dei rischi professionali di tumore per area e comparto produttivo con
un disegno di tipo caso-controllo, utilizzando le informazioni degli archivi correnti per l’identificazione dei casi e
dei controlli e per l’attribuzione delle esposizioni. OCCAM assegna come esposizione a ciascun soggetto il codice di comparto produttivo dove abbia lavorato per la maggiore quantità di tempo. La categoria dei “non esposti” è costituita
dai lavoratori del terziario. Il comparto produttivo, a sua volta, è determinato dal codice di attività economica
ATECO attribuito da INPS a ciascuna azienda ove abbia lavorato il soggetto. In questo lavoro le aziende di lavorazione
galvanica della Lombardia sono state ricercate mediante la descrizione in chiaro della attività produttiva,
anch’essa presente negli archivi INPS, nell’intento di ottenere una maggiore sensibilità e specificità rispetto al settore
“trattamento metalli” previsto dal codice ATECO pure fornito da INPS. Sono stati considerati i casi incidenti di
tumore del polmone nel periodo 2001-2008 residenti in Lombardia identificati mediante le schede di dimissione
ospedaliera. Con questa riclassificazione il rischio di tumore del polmone negli addetti alla lavorazione galvanica è
passato nei maschi da 1.32 (90% CI 1,06-1,64, 67 casi), relativo a “trattamento metalli” a 2.03 (90% CI 1,33-
3,10, 18 casi) nelle industrie galvaniche e nelle femmine da 1.33 (90% CI 0.51-3.59, 10 casi) a 3.00 (90% CI
1,38-9,03, 4 casi). Il miglioramento della classificazione ha prodotto una stima superiore del rischio, anche se basata
su di un numero inferiore di casi. Pur trattandosi di rischi dovuti ad esposizioni del passato, la storia di alcuni
casi e l’avere osservato casi recenti di perforazione del setto nasale in lavoratori delle galvaniche indicano che, almeno
in alcune aziende, ancora oggi vi possano essere situazioni di rischio
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