System for monitoring the presence of neutrals in a stream of ions Patent

System for monitoring presence of neutrals in streams of ions - ion engine contro

Making materials for packaging circularity

Circular packaging materials are becoming increasingly relevant to ensure sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for citizens and future generations. This work aims to present a glimpse of the current state of research by analysing fifty relevant case studies of packaging materials on the market or under development (for food, disposables, cosmetics, luxury, electronics, healthcare, etc.). The conducted analysis and clustering activity pointed out prominent development trends for incoming years. The study is supported by three multidisciplinary laboratory experiences of the Making Materials1 research team of Politecnico di Milano, in which end-of-life packaging can be considered no longer a waste to dispose of but a new resource for subsequent production. The collaboration between all the stakeholders in the process is crucial to make this closed cycle work and be efficient

Utilizzo di nitrati come inibitori di corrosione per le armature nel calcestruzzo

Corrosion inhibitors have been long considered as an effective preventative technique to slow down the onset and/or propagation of corrosion phenomena in reinforced concrete. Several substances have been evaluated as possible candidates, and great interest has been dedicated to nitrite ion. When investigating how these substances slow down corrosion related processes – chlorides diffusion, critical chloride threshold, CO2 penetration and corrosion propagation –interactions between inhibitor and concrete are also vital. Recently, nitrate based compounds have been proposed as corrosion inhibitors, as they present lower cost than nitrites and are already used in concrete as set accelerators. Some studies have shown that nitrates inhibiting mechanism is similar to that of nitrites. This work proposes the evaluation of a nitrate based substance as possible corrosion inhibitor in concrete, and compares its performance with a nitrite based inhibitor

Development and evaluation of a methodology to integrate technical and sensorial properties in materials selection.

In the materials selection process, the use of different tools, languages and perspectives frequently causes disagreement between engineers and industrial designers. The aim of the paper is to define an integrated method for materials selection that provides industrial designers with measurable data to support and explain aesthetic decisions on materials. A new method for materials selection consisting of multiple tools structured in a two-step framework is presented. The method is tested through a case study of professional kitchen appliances where metal components are replaced with polymers. The first step involved the application of an established technique to identify polymeric bulk solutions, based on their technical properties. The second step employed a sensory analysis test to choose suitable finishes. Thirty-seven individuals performed the test: the subjects highlighted their main perceptions of metal and metal-look polymer finishes. The research demonstrates that the proposed method is suitable for the evaluation of both technical and sensorial properties of materials. In particular, Mapping test represents a rapid, low cost and effective tool to help industrial designers justify Colour Materials and Finish (CMF) choices with quantifiable information

Barrier, converting, and tray-forming properties of paperboard packaging materials coated with waterborne dispersions

In this work, different food-contact experimental and commercial aqueous polymeric dispersions were applied to paperboard via rod coating technology to achieve <5% non-cellulosic content. Barrier (water, moisture and grease), mechanical (tensile and bending) and converting (heat-sealing and creasing) properties were analysed before tray formation trials on pilot-scale equipment. Dispersion-coated samples were compared against polyethylene terephthalate (PET) extrusion-coated paperboard, the principal industrial material used for food trays. Results show that, within the investigated properties, waterborne dispersions can achieve similar barrier properties compared with PET, yet at lower dry coat grammage (12 g/m(2) vs. 40 g/m(2 )of PET-coated paperboard). Additionally, the investigated coatings heat-sealed at temperatures as low as 80-90(degrees)C, almost 100(degrees)C less than PET; however, lower seal forces could be achieved (15-20 N/(25 mm) vs. 23 N/(25 mm) of PET-coated paperboard). Paperboard delamination occurred at the highest seal forces. Dispersion-coated trays were obtained at 4.5-5.0% blank moisture content. Formed trays at industrial processing parameters showed critical coating damage during converting due to tensile stresses. This work shows that milder processing conditions allow a reduction in coat defects

DESIGNING BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS: AN EDUCATIONAL ROADMAP IN THE DESIGN OF UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES

The increased emphasis on the environments contributing to people's well-being has prompted a more profound contemplation within university settings. Prioritising both physical and mental well-being has compelled universities to take decisive actions to ensure the welfare of students and all staff members. The Laboratorio di Sintesi Finale (LSF) of section I1 is explicitly predicated on this premise. This course, the final design laboratory of Politecnico di Milano's three-year Interior Design degree program, gives the 57 enrolled students the chance to work on a project that will serve as the focus of their thesis. Students are expected to design spaces on Politecnico's three campuses in Milan to maximise the user experience of events and services. The intention is to engage students in working on permanent or temporary locations, as well as dedicated and interstitial spaces, both indoor and outdoor. The faculty team is multidisciplinary and includes professors and specialists from architecture, interior design, product design, and materials expertise due to the diversity and scope of the work. Giving students the assistance they require to effectively present their research and projects is crucial. Consequently, the LSF aims to give students practical tools for analysing design problems in the larger framework of cultural, social, and technological changes (discoveries, new lifestyles, and new technological scenarios). Students have to develop an interior design project that narrates and represents their ideation process using a range of methodologies and digital and non-digital media. During the research phase, the students must design printed layouts, videos and presentations to represent their project; at the same time, they collect case studies on preset boards that summarise the analysed projects and artefacts. The expected results are an in-depth representation of the research analysis and a description of the concept phase. The final documents must include technical and analytical aspects, mainly in hard copy, and emotional and conceptual elements, represented through videos. The case studies have been explored in depth in several course steps and are a reference throughout the design phase. The rules provided for the layout and organisation of the material make it possible to obtain coherent papers in proportions and format for the final exam. Upon completing the course, students have comprehensively understood interior design, material selection, and practical guidance on crafting and editing a thesis. This has equipped them with a method for effectively representing and communicating their projects

Unusual clear cell variant of epithelioid mesothelioma

Clear cell mesothelioma is an extremely rare neoplasm of the pleura, which can easily be mistaken for a metastasis of clear cell carcinoma to the pleura. We report here the histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural aspects of a new case of clear cell pleural mesothelioma in a 52-year-old man with no known asbestos exposure. He was admitted to the hospital for recurrent pleural effusion, which was negative for neoplastic cells at the cytologic examination. A partial decortication of the right pleura was performed. The morphologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features reported for this case are consistent with the diagnosis of clear cell mesothelioma. The differential diagnosis and immunohistochemical features in comparison with other clear cell neoplasms are discussed

Tuning of anodic oxidation parameters for the production of nanostructured TiO2 films

Titanium dioxide is the most common among titanium oxides and minerals. It can be either synthesized bychemical routes or generated by anodic oxidation of titanium. The latter way allows to tune oxide properties bymodulating process parameters, and it has gained much attention thanks to the wide variety of thicknesses,morphologies, structures and compositions of the oxide produced. The peculiar engineered properties ofanodized titanium find applications in biomedical industry, automotive field, architecture and design, as well asin photovoltaic cells and in photocatalytic purification devices.This article provides an overview of anodic oxidation treatments currently applied to form nanostructured oxidelayers on titanium, paying special attention to their applications

Leptospirosis emergentes en bovinos y caprinos

Prácticamente no existen reportes de enfermedad por Leptospira biflexa (saprófita). De L. interrogans se conocen más de 260 serovares. Todos los serovares que afectan a los mamíferos deben considerarse zoonóticos para el hombre. En el marco del Programa de Incentivos – UNLP, el proyecto de investigación exploratoria en ejecución tiene como objetivo sentar las bases para estudiar esta zoonosis que no ha sido investigada en profundidad en determinadas zonas de la provincia de San Luis y de Buenos Aires.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria