Restructuring, flexibility, and the politics of workplace subjectivity: A worker inquiry in the South African car industry

African Studies Seminar series. Paper presented 1 June 199

The Link between the Compliance with Environmental Legislation on Separate Collection and the Municipal Solid Waste Costs

Promoting Agenda 2030 through Circular Economy transition requires improving waste system management and increasing separate collection. In Italy, municipal solid waste management is entrusted to the municipalities, most of which have not yet reached the minimum threshold of 65% for the separate collection imposed by the Environmental Code in 2012. This research aims to investigate the effect of compliance with environmental legislation by Italian municipalities on the total cost of municipal solid waste management, filling a shortage of literature studies on this issue. It also investigates the other significant factors affecting municipal solid waste costs, analysing a large dataset of 1914 municipalities. The study uses regression analysis on aggregate and regional samples and population-based subsamples to verify the existence of economies of scale or density. The results show that environmental compliance determines cost reduction in the northern regions, thanks to more efficient separate collection management and recycling activities in the downstream phases of the process. Instead, environmental compliance produces a cost increase in central regions due to the lack of waste recycling and composting infrastructure. Finally, in the conclusions, policy implications are drawn for the Italian case

Identification of a geometrically nonlinear micromorphic continuum via granular micromechanics

Describing the emerging macro-scale behavior by accounting for the micro-scale phenomena calls for microstructure-informed continuum models accounting properly for the deformation mechanisms identifiable at the micro-scale. Classical continuum theory, in contrast to the micromorphic continuum theory, is unable to take into account the effects of complex kinematics and distribution of elastic energy in internal deformation modes within the continuum material point. In this paper, we derive a geometrically nonlinear micromorphic continuum theory on the basis of granular mechanics, utilizing grain-scale deformation as the fundamental building block. The definition of objective kinematic descriptors for relative motion is followed by Piola’s ansatz for micro–macro-kinematic bridging and, finally, by a limit process leading to the identification of the continuum stiffness parameters in terms of few micro-scale constitutive quantities. A key aspect of the presented approach is the identification of relevant kinematic measures that describe the deformation of the continuum body and link it to the micro-scale deformation. The methodology, therefore, has the ability to reveal the connections between the micro-scale mechanisms that store elastic energy and lead to particular emergent behavior at the macro-scale

Equilibria determination of elastic articulated duoskelion beams in 2D via a Riks-type algorithm

The overall behavior of an articulated beam structure constituted by elements arranged according to a specific chirality is studied. The structure as a whole, due to its slenderness and geometry, is called duoskelion beam. The name duoskelion is a neologism which is inspired by the Greek word δύοσκέλιον (two-legged). A discrete model for shearable beams, formulated recently, is exploited to investigate its mechanics. A purposely designed numerical scheme, adapting the Riks rationale, is used to calculate large displacement and deformation equilibria of duoskelion beams. Aimed at computing the current step correction, the Riks arc-length method is modified and made more efficient by applying a specific orthogonality condition, defined via the stiffness matrix, to an adapted extrapolation step. The robustness of the resulting scheme and its capability to follow equilibrium branches allows, in principle, for the exploration of the whole set of local energy minima in the introduced space of configurations, by using suitably modulated perturbative external loads. The developed numerical tool can be used to understand the mechanics of duoskelion beams. It is proved that there exists a stable principal equilibrium branch in which only compression is observed for any compression load. Additional stable equilibrium branches are found in compression such that the clamped–clamped compressed beam assumes a characteristic S shape which, upon reaching a critical load, is significantly amplified. A mechanically relevant stable equilibrium is also found in extension, being observed the S-shaped configuration experimentally found in Misra et al. (2020)

Simulating the infrared sky with a Spritz

Current hydrodynamical and semi-empirical simulations of galaxy formation and evolution have difficulties in reproducing the number densities of IR-detected galaxies. Therefore, a versatile, phenomenological new simulation tool is necessary to reproduce current and predict future observations at IR wavelengths. In this work we generate simulated catalogues starting from the Herschel infrared luminosity functions of different galaxy populations, in order to consider in a consistent way different populations of galaxies and active galactic nuclei. We associated a spectral energy distribution and physical properties, such as stellar mass, star-formation-rate and AGN contribution, to each simulated galaxy using a broad set of empirical relations. We compare the resulting simulated galaxies, extracted up to z$=$10, with a broad set of observational relations. The Spectro-Photometric Realisations of Infrared-selected Targets at all-z (SPRITZ) simulation will allow us to obtain in a fully consistent way simulated observations for a broad set of current and future facilities with photometric capabilities as well as low-resolution IR spectroscopy, like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) or the Origin Space Telescope (OST). The derived simulated catalogue contains galaxies and active galactic nuclei that by construction reproduce the observed IR galaxy number density, but it is also in agreement with the observed number counts from UV to far-IR wavelengths, the observed stellar mass function, the star-formation-rate vs. stellar mass plane and the luminosity function from the radio to the X-ray. The proposed simulation is therefore ideal to make predictions for current and future facilities, in particular, but not limited to, those operating at IR wavelengths. The SPRITZ simulation will be publicly available.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A, 32 pages, 30 figure

Simulating the infrared sky with a S PRITZ

Aims. Current hydrodynamical and semi-empirical simulations of galaxy formation and evolution have difficulties in reproducing the number densities of infrared-detected galaxies. Therefore, a phenomenological simulation tool that is new and versatile is necessary to reproduce current and predict future observations at infrared (IR) wavelengths. Methods. In this work we generate simulated catalogues starting from the Herschel IR luminosity functions of different galaxy populations to consider different populations of galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGN) in a consistent way. We associated a spectral energy distribution and physical properties, such as stellar mass, star formation rate, and AGN contribution, with each simulated galaxy using a broad set of empirical relations. We compared the resulting simulated galaxies, extracted up to z = 10, with a broad set of observational relations. Results. Spectro-Photometric Realisations of IR-Selected Targets at all-z (SPRITZ) simulations allow us to obtain, in a fully consistent way, simulated observations for a broad set of current and future facilities with photometric capabilities as well as low-resolution IR spectroscopy, such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) or the Origin Space Telescope (OST). The derived simulated catalogue contains galaxies and AGN that by construction reproduce the observed IR galaxy number density, but this catalogue also agrees with the observed number counts from UV to far-IR wavelengths, the observed stellar mass function, the star formation rate versus stellar mass plane, and the luminosity function from the radio to X-ray wavelengths. The proposed simulation is therefore ideal to make predictions for current and future facilities, in particular, but not limited to, those operating at IR wavelengths

Capecitabine and Temozolomide (CAPTEM) in advanced neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs): a systematic review and pooled analysis

Background Retrospective studies and single center experiences suggest a role of capecitabine combined with temozolomide (CAPTEM) in neuroendocrine tumors (NENs). Methods We performed a systematic review to assess the efficacy and safety of CAPTEM in patients affected with NENs, with the aim to better clarify the role of this regimen in the therapeutic algorithm of NENs. Results A total of 42 articles and 1818 patients were included in our review. The overall disease control rate was 77% (range 43.5%-100%). The median progression free survival ranged from 4 to 38.5 months, while the median overall survival ranged from 8 to 103 months. Safety analysis showed an occurrence of G3-G4 toxicities in 16.4% of the entire population. The most common toxicities were hematological (27.2%), gastrointestinal (8.3%,) and cutaneous (3.2%). Conclusion This systematic review demonstrated that CAPTEM was an effective and relatively safe treatment for patients with advanced well-moderate differentiated NENs of gastroenteropancreatic, lung and unknown origin

THE "OLIVA ASCOLANA DEL PICENO DOP": PRODUCTION ASPECTS AND SELF-CONTROL PROGRAMS IN FACTORIES OF MARCHE REGION

The "Oliva Ascolana del Piceno" is a traditional product of the central part of Italy, which obtained the official designation of Denomination of Protected Origin (DOP) in 2006. This study analyzes the production aspects and the self-control programs in different tipologies of industries in Marche Region. The artisanal production is still used, but lately is growing up the industrial one. The industrial product shows an improvement of the healthy standards, but is not always able to ensure the preservation of the full taste and flavour. . The scrupulous respect of GMP and CCP in the handmade product can ensure, on the other hand, hight healthy standards and, at the same time, a better preservation of the organoleptic features

Evaluation of the Disk Diffusion Method Compared to the Microdilution Method in Susceptibility Testing of Anidulafungin against Filamentous Fungi

Susceptibility testing of anidulafungin (AFG) against 32 mold isolates showed an excellent correlation between disk diffusion (DD) and broth microdilution methods. Based on our data, a 2-microg disk of AFG and a 24-h reading time might represent the best parameters for AFG DD testing against filamentous fungi

Starch Synthesis in Ostreococcus tauri: The Starch-Binding Domains of Starch Synthase III-B Are Essential for Catalytic Activity

Starch is the major energy storage carbohydrate in photosynthetic eukaryotes. Several enzymes are involved in building highly organized semi-crystalline starch granules, including starch-synthase III (SSIII), which is widely conserved in photosynthetic organisms. This enzyme catalyzes the extension of the α-1,4 glucan chain and plays a regulatory role in the synthesis of starch. Interestingly, unlike most plants, the unicellular green alga Ostreococcus tauri has three SSIII isoforms. In the present study, we describe the structure and function of OsttaSSIII-B, which has a similar modular organization to SSIII in higher plants, comprising three putative starch-binding domains (SBDs) at the N-terminal region and a C-terminal catalytic domain (CD). Purified recombinant OsttaSSIII-B displayed a high affinity toward branched polysaccharides such as glycogen and amylopectin, and to ADP-glucose. Lower catalytic activity was detected for the CD lacking the associated SBDs, suggesting that they are necessary for enzyme function. Moreover, analysis of enzyme kinetic and polysaccharide-binding parameters of site-directed mutants with modified conserved aromatic amino acid residues W122, Y124, F138, Y147, W279, and W304, belonging to the SBDs, revealed their importance for polysaccharide binding and SS activity. Our results suggest that OT_ostta13g01200 encodes a functional SSIII comprising three SBD domains that are critical for enzyme function