3D Simulation Methodology for n-Butanol Combustion in an optical accessible research GDI Engine

Abstract The strict political regulations in terms of engine tailpipe emissions and reduction of fossil fuel dependency are pushing forward the study of alternative fuels; these fuels must be suitable for currently available engines, in order to allow quick and inexpensive replacement. The alternative fuel chosen for this analysis is n-Butanol; being its key physico-chemical properties similar to those of commercial Gasoline, it does not require relevant changes in engine design and operation and therefore it is suitable for currently produced units. The paper describes the modeling and characterization of spark-ignited combustion of n-Butanol in comparison with that of conventional Gasoline. The comparison is made by means of 3D CFD simulations and experimental tests, carried out on a single-cylinder optically accessible engine characterized by a flat and transparent piston. The engine is equipped with direct injection and makes use of a current production engine head. The operating conditions used in the experiments are reproduced in the CFD simulations, in order to validate the CFD model and to provide additional insight to the experimental observations. The numerical simulation outcomes replicate with a good accuracy the experimental test results and they help to better understand the behavior of the alternative fuel during the combustion process. The adopted modelling methodology can therefore be used for further investigations such as exploration of different engine operations through virtual DOE of both operating and functional parameter variations

Banks, Firms, and Jobs

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Debris Survey in Coastal Areas: Long-Term Monitoring Programme to Study Spatial and Temporal Accumulation of the Dynamics of Beached Marine Litter

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are becoming increasingly accessible tools with widespread use as environmental monitoring systems. They can be used for anthropogenic marine debris survey, a recently growing research field. In fact, while the increasing efforts for offshore investigations lead to a considerable collection of data on this type of pollution in the open sea, there is still little knowledge of the materials deposited along the coasts and the mechanism that leads to their accumulation pattern. UAVs can be effective in bridging this gap by increasing the amount of data acquired to study coastal deposits, while also limiting the anthropogenic impact in protected areas. In this study, UAVs have been used to acquire geo-referenced RGB images in a selected zone of a protected marine area (the Migliarino, Massacciuccoli, and San Rossore park near Pisa, Italy), during a long-term (ten months) monitoring programme. A post processing system based on visual interpretation of the images allows the localization and identification of the anthropogenic marine debris within the scanned area, and the estimation of their spatial and temporal distribution in different zones of the beach. These results provide an opportunity to investigate the dynamics of accumulation over time, suggesting that our approach might be appropriate for monitoring and collecting such data in isolated, and especially in protected, areas with significant benefits for different types of stakeholders

Banks, Firms, and Jobs

We analyze the heterogeneous employment effects of financial shocks using a rich data set of job contracts, matched with the universe of firms and their lending banks in one Italian region. To isolate the effect of the financial shock, we construct a firm-specific time-varying measure of credit supply. The preferred estimate indicates that the average elasticity of employment to a credit supply shock is 0.36⁠. Adjustment affects both the extensive and the intensive margins and is concentrated among workers with temporary contracts. We also examine the heterogeneous effects of the credit crunch by education, age, gender and nationality

Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) Reliability and Proposal of Its Use in Sports

Introduction: The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a functional movement assessment method to observe movement restrictions in individuals with known musculoskeletal disorders, although it has also been used to evaluate healthy athletes of different sports. Aim: The present paper aimed to evaluate the applicability of SFMA in a clinical setting and to verify whether a student can correctly perform it. Methods: An introductory and explanatory email was sent to the subjects, containing the instructions needed to produce a video with SFMA evaluation movements. SFMA methodology was then used to analyze the received videos. The results between interobserver and intraobserver agreement were compared to the literature, considered the gold standard methods. Results: Twenty-eight subjects (17.71 ± 1.96 years aged) were rated. The functional non-painful scenario (FN) has been assigned more frequently by all raters. The student's intra-rater reliability proved to be moderate (Kappa coefficient 0.49). Results for inter-rater reliability showed that the reliability degree between the senior physiotherapist and student before and after their educational path is good (Kappa coefficient 0.60 and 0.62, respectively). Conclusions: The results of this study showed SFMA intra-rater reliability to be moderate, while inter-rater reliability can be considered good. These characteristics make it a valuable tool for sport's needs, even when used by students