Simulation of the Propagation of Tsunamis in Coastal Regions by a Two-Dimensional Non-Hydrostatic Shallow Water Solver

Due to the enormous damages and losses of human lives in the inundated regions, the simulation of the propagation of tsunamis in coastal areas has received an increasing interest of the researchers. We present a 2D depth-integrated, non- hydrostatic shallow waters solver to simulate the propagation of tsunamis, solitary waves and surges in coastal regions. We write the governing continuity and momentum equations in conservative form and discretize the domain with unstructured triangular Generalized Delaunay meshes. We apply a fractional- time-step procedure, where two problems (steps) are consecutively solved. In the first and in the second step, we hypothesize a hydrostatic and a non-hydrostatic distribution of the pressure, respectively. Several literature models, which solve the same set of equations, are based on a fractional-time-step procedure. In the hydrostatic step of these literature solvers, the flow field does not satisfy the depth-integrated continuity equation, since the momentum equations are solved independently of the continuity equation. In both steps of the proposed numerical scheme, the computed flow field satisfies the depth-integrated continuity equation discretized in each computational cell. This is obtained by solving together the governing equations, according to the different numerical procedures adopted in the steps of the algorithm. Wet/dry problems are implicitly embedded in the proposed numerical solver. We present several model applications where analytical or measured reference solutions are available. The computational effort required by the proposed procedure is investigated

"Leues libelli". Su alcuni aspetti della poetica dei generi minori da Stazio a Plinio il Giovane

After the Augustan age, new critical perspectives are exerted on the relationship between light and epic poetry. While composing his epos, Statius is dubious about publishing the Siluae. He ends up with labelling his lighter poetry as remissio and praelusio, as an ideal prologue to the Thebaid; nevertheless the Musa tenuis (now embracing either nugae or some kinds of carmina docta as epithalamia and epyllia), approached in the past by a canon of oustanding poets, has proved to be able to achieve glory per se. Martial and Pliny develop further oppositions, the latter matching, on some occasions, Statius’ view of light poetry: their remarks on and exploitation of the motif of dulcedo is a particularly notable point of contact between the two

A Cross-national Study of personality traits’ effects on Business Students’ Ethical Decisions: Quantitative research on the ethical impact of cross-cultural and personality differences

International business literature, during these decades, has been increasingly focusing on the ethical side of doing business and on the results that derive from it. As a result, numerous studies and frameworks on ethical behavior have been produced, even embedding relationships with personality traits and characteristics of specific national cultures. However, very few studies have been conducted to evaluate the interactions between personality traits, ethical behavior, and cultural dimensions, even less with quantitative analysis on a cross-national sample. This thesis tests the effects of three personality traits (agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience), measured according to the character test provided by the Big Five Identity model (BFI-10), on ethical behavior in hypothetical business scenarios. These effects will also be moderated, subsequently, by national variables retrieved from the GLOBE study (assertiveness, humane and performance orientation, and institutional collectivism), a cross-national study including 62 different national societies. The data collection was conducted at the means of a questionnaire administered through an online survey, and the statistical sample includes more than 100 responses from business students from 15 different countries. The quantitative statistical analysis is developed through Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM), and a total of 6 regression models were computed to find statistical relationships between all the variables – dependent, independent, control, and moderating. The results of the thesis demonstrate various and valuable relationships between ethical behavior and personality traits, with the addition of significant moderation by the national GLOBE cultural dimensions. Furthermore, conscientiousness and agreeableness are found to be positively related to ethical behavior, while openness to experience is slightly negatively related. In conclusion, the thesis analyzes the findings and provides implications and suggestions for related future research

Comparative analyses between the zero-inertia and fully dynamic models of the shallow water equations for unsteady overland flow propagation

The shallow water equations are a mathematical tool widely applied for the simulation of flow routing in rivers and floodplains, as well as for flood inundation mapping. The interest of many researchers has been focused on the study of simplified forms of the original set of equations. One of the most commonly applied simplifications consists in neglecting the inertial terms. The effects of such a choice on the outputs of the simulations of flooding events are controversial and are an important topic of debate. In the present paper, two numerical models recently proposed for the solution of the complete and zero-inertia forms of the shallow water equations, are applied to several unsteady flow routing scenarios. We simulate synthetic and laboratory scenarios of unsteady flow routing, starting from very simple geometries and gradually moving towards complex topographies. Unlike the studies of the range of validity of the zero-inertia model, based on a small perturbation of the linearized flow model, in unsteady flow propagation over irregular topographies, it is more difficult to specify criteria for the applicability of the simplified set of equations. Analyzing the role of the terms in the momentum equations, we try to understand the effect of neglecting the inertial terms in the zero-inertia formulation. We also analyze the computational costs

Idiopathic Acquired Leukonychia in a 34-Year-Old Patient

We present a rare case of a 34-year-old patient with persistent, progressive, acquired leukonychia totalis and partialis. Idiopathic acquired leukonychia is a rare chromatic disorder of the nail not associated with other abnormalities and discernible etiology. Our case report did not link the inheritance of leukonychia with diverse clinical syndromes. To our knowledge, only five cases of idiopathic, acquired, true total leukonychia were found in literature. This case was the sixth patient with asymptomatic idiopathic, white fingernails, and toenails without a hereditary cause

Catalytic heterogeneous route for the synthesis of dimethyl isosorbide using dimethyl carbonate as methylating agent

In this contribution a heterogeneous catalytic route is envisaged by using as catalyst MgAlOx mixed oxides derived from hydrotalcite thermally treated (Mg/Al molar ratio of 3). The complete conversion of isosorbide is accomplished within the first hour but the DMI is not observed until 7 hours of reaction and its yield increases up to 100% after 24 hours of time on stream. The reutilization of the catalyst has shown a decline in DMI yield up to 52% after 4 runs even though the isosorbida conversion was of 100%.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

One-Pot Preparation of Dimethyl Isosorbide from d-Sorbitol via Dimethyl Carbonate Chemistry

Direct synthesis of dimethyl isosorbide (DMI) from d-sorbitol via dimethyl carbonate (DMC) chemistry is herein first reported. High yield of DMI was achieved using the nitrogen superbase 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) as catalyst and performing the reaction in a stainless steel autoclave by increasing the temperature from 90 to 200°C. In this procedure, DMC features its full capacity acting in the different steps of the process as carboxymethylating, leaving-group (cyclization), and methylating agent; DMC is also employed as the reaction media

A Rare Presentation of Mycosis Fungoides Mimicking Psoriasis Vulgaris

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is an uncommon primary cutaneous lymphoma with a wide spectrum of clinicopathological manifestations. Diagnosis can be difficult in its early stages given the considerable overlap with more common benign dermatoses. We report an unusual case of MF in a 52-year-old male presenting with psoriasiform plaques on the palms and the soles who rapidly developed additional lesions on the scalp, limps and trunk. Punch biopsy of the face was obtained for routine histology and immunohistochemical stains. Chest X-ray, total body computed tomography scanning and excisional biopsy of the inguinal lymph node were performed. Review of the face biopsy revealed a diffuse dermal infiltrate containing a high number of atypical lymphocytes showing a CD3+, CD4+, CD45RO+, CD8–, CD20– immunophenotype and epidermotropism. Findings were consistent with tumor stage MF (stage IIB, T3 N1 M0). We report a rare presentation of MF mimicking psoriasis vulgaris