Merging process models and plant topology

The paper discusses the merging of first principles process models with plant topology derived in an automated way from a process drawing. The resulting structural models should make it easier for a range of methods from the literature to be applied to industrial-scale problems in process operation and design. © 2011 Zhejiang University

La Vegetazione marina bentonica nel Mediterraneo: 1.: sopralitorale e mesolitorale: proposte di aggiornamento

In questo primo contributo gli autori presentano un aggiornamento degli aggruppamenti vegetali marini del sopralitorale e del mesolitorale del Mediterraneo. Nel piano sopralitorale è stata riconosciuta la presenza di una sola associazione; nel piano mesolitorale di otto associazioni: tre nel sottopiano superiore e cinque nel sottopiano inferiore. A phytosociological revision of both supralittoral and midlittoral marine algal communities from the Mediterranean Sea, is presented. In all, nine associations can be recognized: one in the supralittoral zone; three in the upper and five in the lower midlittoral zone

Block Toeplitz determinants, constrained KP and Gelfand-Dickey hierarchies

We propose a method for computing any Gelfand-Dickey tau function living in Segal-Wilson Grassmannian as the asymptotics of block Toeplitz determinant associated to a certain class of symbols. Also truncated block Toeplitz determinants associated to the same symbols are shown to be tau function for rational reductions of KP. Connection with Riemann-Hilbert problems is investigated both from the point of view of integrable systems and block Toeplitz operator theory. Examples of applications to algebro-geometric solutions are given.Comment: 35 pages. Typos corrected, some changes in the introductio

PLEISTOCENE BATHYAL MOLLUSCAN ASSEMBLAGES FROM SOUTHERN ITALY

Four Pleistocene bathyal molluscan assemblages from southern Italy (Calabria and Messina area) were studied. One hundred and thirty-six species were recorded. Twenty-four were classified and described in detail and thirty-five were illustrated. The following new combinations are pro posed: Solariella marginulata (Philippi, 1844), Iphitus tenuisculptus (Seguenza, 1876), Benthomangelia tenuicostata (Seguenza, 1879), Chrysallida microscalaria (Seguenza, 1876), Ennucula corbuloides (Seguenza, 1877), Ennucula rotundata (Seguenza, 1877), Thestyleda cuspidata (Philippi, 1844), Katadesmia confusa (Seguenza, 1877), Austrotindaria pusio (Philippi, 1844), Austrotindaria salicensis (Seguenza, 1877). Comments concerning the taxonomy of Fissurisepta Seguenza, 1862, Solariella Wood, 1842, Ennucula Iredale, 1931, Thestyleda Iredale, 1929, Ledella Verrill & Bush, 1897, Yoldiella Verrill & Bush, 1897, Bathyspinula Filatova, 1958, Katadesmia Dall, 1908, Austrotindaria Fleming, 1948 and Cadulus Philippi, 1844 are included. The assemblages are dominated by nuculoids and fit the general compositional pattern of the deep-sea molluscan communities. A paleodepth of 500-600 m is inferred for two assemblages, whereas a greater depth, pro bably not exceeding 1,000 m, is suggested for the other two. Taxonomic affinities with northeast Atlantic and more generally with World Ocean deep-sea molluscan faunas are remarkable. The Plio-Quaternary evolution of the deep Mediterranean benthos is discussed.   &nbsp

Application of T6 Heat Treatment on the AlSi9Cu3 (Fe) Casting Alloy and the Effect of Copper Content

AlSi9Cu3 (Fe) foundry alloy is commonly used to produce components by High Pressure Die Casting (HPDC) for automotive and electrical industries. Mostly for cost reasons, the Cu content is held at the minimum of the compositional range foreseen by the standards. The strength of the metal is then quite low and therefore the components are used only in low or non-stressed applications. The experimental results of the present paper show that in the as cast temper, the percentage of Cu has little effect on strength. It is suggested that alternative alloys for HPDC with lower or no Cu content be adopted for non-stressed components. In the last 15 years, it has been demonstrated that Al-Si-Cu alloys for HPDC may successfully heat-treated by unconventional T6 without causing surface blistering or dimensional instability. Despite the new opportunities, there have been few industrial applications. Instead, the present authors believe possible new technological outcomes for unconventional T6, and have therefore experimented with the AlSi9Cu3 (Fe) alloy with different Cu contents. By using SEM-EDX microanalysis to get Cu composition maps in the alloy microstructure, a T6 heat treatment with lower solubilization temperature and shorter soaking time to avoiding blistering has been identified. Tensile test confirmed the effectiveness of unconventional T6 and showed a strong increase in the elastic limit of the material. The results also show that the best effect is obtained by increasing the Cu content as much as possible. It is therefore possible to produce components for highly stressed structural applications in T6 treated AlSi9Cu3 (Fe) alloy

Biological Systems Workbook: Data modelling and simulations at molecular level

Nowadays, there are huge quantities of data surrounding the different fields of biology derived from experiments and theoretical simulations, where results are often stored in biological databases that are growing at a vertiginous rate every year. Therefore, there is an increasing research interest in the application of mathematical and physical models able to produce reliable predictions and explanations to understand and rationalize that information. All these investigations are helping to overcome biological questions pushing forward in the solution of problems faced by our society. In this Biological Systems Workbook, we aim to introduce the basic pieces allowing life to take place, from the 3D structural point of view. We will start learning how to look at the 3D structure of molecules from studying small organic molecules used as drugs. Meanwhile, we will learn some methods that help us to generate models of these structures. Then we will move to more complex natural organic molecules as lipid or carbohydrates, learning how to estimate and reproduce their dynamics. Later, we will revise the structure of more complex macromolecules as proteins or DNA. Along this process, we will refer to different computational tools and databases that will help us to search, analyze and model the different molecular systems studied in this course

Estudio del desarrollo del BIM en conjunto con el blockchain en el sector de la construcción

A través del presente Trabajo Final de Máster se realizó una investigación de cómo se encuentra actualmente la implementación de dos nuevas tecnologías, el BIM y el Blockchain, en el sector de la construcción que, al trabajar conjuntamente, podrían traer grandes beneficios al sector. Por un lado, el BIM (Building Information Modeling) es una metodología de trabajo de manera colaborativa que trabaja transversalmente en todas las áreas de un proyecto de construcción (Arquitectura, Instalaciones y Estructura). El BIM empezó hacer popular en el año 2002 y se ha ido implementando a lo largo del tiempo especialmente en el Reino Unido y Europa. Por otro lado el Blockchain es una tecnología que nace a finales del 2008, justo después de la crisis financiera del sector inmobiliario, en donde una persona conocida bajo el pseudónimo Satoshi Nakamoto publica un documento llamado “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” en donde crea una criptomoneda llamada Bitcoin, cuyo funcionamiento es a través del Blockchain, que se puede definir como un libro de contabilidad digital que no es controlado por un servidor central, por lo tanto se caracteriza por tener una red descentralizada, compuesta por una gran cantidad de ordenadores, con la función de registrar en orden cronológico todas las transacciones e intercambio de información que se realicen en unos bloques. Luego de haber investigado de distintas fuentes, incluyendo entrevistas, se decidió separar el análisis en estos tres puntos: i) Cómo el Blockchain puede trabajar usando la metodología BIM trabajando en un Entorno Común de Datos descentralizado. ii) El uso de los smart contracts durante todo el ciclo de del proyecto, desde la etapa de diseño, hasta la etapa de mantenimiento. iii) El uso del Blockchain con el BIM para mejorar la cadena de suministro de los objetos y materiales usados en la construcción. Finalmente, una vez analizado estos tres puntos, se determinó que al trabajar con BIM y Blockchain, éstas traerían varias ventajas a sector, como, por ejemplo, el ahorro de tiempo y dinero mediante el uso de los smart contracts a la hora de finalizar un trabajo, por otro lado, en general se tendría una mejor trazabilidad y control de los elementos que involucran una obra, ya sea el personal, los materiales, equipos etc

LARGE MAMMAL REMAINS FROM THE LATE MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE DEPOSITS OF SICILY: NEW STRATIGRAPHIC EVIDENCE FROM THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE HYBLEAN PLATEAU (SOUTHEASTERN SICILY)

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Changing trends of ocular trauma in the time of COVID-19 pandemic

To reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), countries have promoted a range of unprecedented public health responses. These measures aim at reducing the final size of the epidemic as well as its peak in order to decrease the acute pressure on the health-care system [1]. In Italy, the government ordered people to stay home, restricting movements with the exception of work, urgent matters and health reasons. Furthermore, all commercial and productive activities, except those providing essential services, were obligated to remain closed [2]. Ocular trauma represents a serious public health problem and leading cause of visual impairment [3, 4]. The COVID-19 social distancing measures might have a significant impact on the risk of ocular trauma. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients presenting to an Italian ophthalmological emergency department (the Ophthalmology Unit of the S.Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital in Bologna) to identify all eye injuries. Data were analysed from 10th March 2020 (i.e. the day in which the quarantine measures were applied in our city) to 10th April 2020, and confronted with those of the same period of the previous year (from 10th March 2019 to 10th April 2019). In the 2019 study period, there were 354 eye injuries (15.6% of all patients presenting to the emergency department). In the 2020 study period, eye injuries decreased to 112 (19.9% of all patients). The characteristics of eye injuries in the two study periods are reported in Table 1. During quarantine, the proportion of children and adolescents with eye injuries decreased (from 14.7% to 8.0%, Fig. 1a), while the proportion of males increased (from 66.7% to 75.0%, Fig. 1b). Regarding the mechanisms of injury, the percentage of falls and sport injuries had the highest decrease (respectively, from 6.5% to 0.9% and from 5.9% to 2.7%), while injuries during home activities and injuries with plants had the highest increase (respectively, from 12.4% to 17.0% and from 8.5% to 10.7%, Fig. 1c). The percentage of minor injuries with low risk of vision loss increased (from 93.2% to 94.6%), while major injuries requiring monitoring decreased (from 6.8% to 5.4%, Fig. 1d). There was a striking 68.4% decrease in the number of eye injuries seen in our Unit during the last month. Behavioural changes during the quarantine could be associated with lower risk of trauma. The decreases of sport injuries and of injuries in children during school closure seem to support this hypothesis. However, the drop of patients seeking emergency care affected all injuries, including serious ones potentially associated with vision loss. We believe that some patients may intentionally avoid urgent care rather than risking coronavirus exposure at hospitals. Anecdotal reports suggest that this is also happening for life-threatening medical emergencies such as myocardial infarction and stroke [5, 6]. Since ocular trauma is a major cause of vision loss, the importance of not delaying or avoiding treatment should be stressed to all patients to prevent ocular morbidities