New Silver(I) Coordination Polymer with Fe4 Single-Molecule Magnets as Long Spacer

In continuation of our work on supramolecular architectures of single-molecule magnets (SMMs) as a promising strategy in developing their magnetic performance, in this paper we report the synthesis and single crystal X-ray structure of the centered triangular tetrairon(III) SMM, [Fe4(PhpPy)2(dpm)6], Fe4 (Hdpm = dipivaloylmethane, H3PhpPy = 2-(hydroxymethyl)- 2-(4-(pyridine-4-yl)phenyl)propane-1,3-diol), and its assembly in the coordination polymer {[Fe4(PhpPy)2(dpm)6Ag](ClO4)}n, Fe4Ag, upon reaction with silver(I) perchlorate. Thanks to the presence of the pyridyl rings on the two tripodal ligands, Fe4 behaves as divergent ditopic linker, and due to the Fe4:AgClO4 1:1 ratio, Fe4Ag probably possesses a linear arrangement in which silver(I) ions are linearly coordinated by two nitrogen atoms, forming 1D chains whose positive charge is balanced by the perchlorate anions. The stabilization of such a polymeric structure can be ascribed to the long distance between the two donor nitrogen atoms (23.4 \uc5) and their donor power. Fe4Ag shows slow relaxation of the magnetization which follows a thermally activated process with Ueff/kB = 11.17(18) K, t0 = 2.24(17) 107 s in zero field, and Ueff/kB = 14.49(5) K, t0 = 3.88(8) 107 s in 1-kOe applied field, in line with what reported for tetrairon(III) SMMs acting as building blocks in polymeric structures

Application of strontium isotopic analysis to the promotion of the Vignola sweet cherry PGI

The perceived quality of a food commodity may critically depend on the food origin, when regional traditions about the same food production are well-known [1]. This is certainly the case of Vignola Sweet Cherry, which is covered by the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). The development of a territoriality model for Vignola Sweet Cherry PGI by means of analytical indicators hence represent a very intriguing task, useful for the promotion of the product itself. In the framework of the pilot project “Ciliegia-UNIMORE2014”, we have assessed the effectiveness of the isotope ratio 87Sr/86Sr as direct traceability indicator, since this indicator have already provided excellent results in similar studies. [2]. Thanks to the collaboration of single producers and to the Association of sweet cherry, plum and typical fruit of Vignola, we have monitored the 87Sr/86Sr ratio in soils, branches and sweet cherry fruits of 3 producing fields, as well as in 100 fruit samples belonging to 20 different cultivars and coming from ten municipalities of the region of production. For a more complete characterization of the cherries, the concentration of 10 metals (major and trace constituents) and the polyphenols content have been determined

Investment and financing perspectives for a solar photovoltaic project

In this work we illustrate a simple logical framework serving the purpose of measuring value creation in a real-life solar photovoltaic project, funded with a lease contract, a loan contract and internal financing (i.e., withdrawal from liquid assets). We use the projected accounting data to compute the value created. We assess the project from both an investment perspective (operating assets and liquid assets) and a financing perspective (debt and equity). Furthermore, focusing on value creation for equityholders, we calculate the expected contribution on shareholders’ wealth increase of operating and financing activity. In particular, we highlight the role of the distribution policy in financial modeling by describing the strict logical connections between estimated data and financial decisions

Can Clinical and Surgical Parameters Be Combined to Predict How Long It Will Take a Tibia Fracture to Heal? A Prospective Multicentre Observational Study: The FRACTING Study

Background. Healing of tibia fractures occurs over a wide time range of months, with a number of risk factors contributing to prolonged healing. In this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we investigated the capability of FRACTING (tibia FRACTure prediction healING days) score, calculated soon after tibia fracture treatment, to predict healing time. Methods. The study included 363 patients. Information on patient health, fracture morphology, and surgical treatment adopted were combined to calculate the FRACTING score. Fractures were considered healed when the patient was able to fully weight-bear without pain. Results. 319 fractures (88%) healed within 12 months from treatment. Forty-four fractures healed after 12 months or underwent a second surgery. FRACTING score positively correlated with days to healing: r = 0.63 (p < 0.0001). Average score value was 7.3 \ub1 2.5; ROC analysis showed strong reliability of the score in separating patients healing before versus after 6 months: AUC = 0.823. Conclusions. This study shows that the FRACTING score can be employed both to predict months needed for fracture healing and to identify immediately after treatment patients at risk of prolonged healing. In patients with high score values, new pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments to enhance osteogenesis could be tested selectively, which may finally result in reduced disability time and health cost savings

Smart-Meter Installation Scheduling in the Context of Water Distribution

In this work, we propose a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) formulation to model a Smart-Meter Installation Scheduling Problem (SMISP) in the context of water distribution. The model has been used to solve a real case study from a multi-utility company operating in the Italian market. Specifically, in compliance with the European and the Italian regulations on metering, a distribution company is obligated to periodically control meters and substitute them in case they have reached their lifespan. In the examined case study, the multi-utility company has opted for a massive substitution plan in order to install innovative “walk-by smart-meters” in place of traditional mechanical meters. The MILP formulation aims at integrating both the operational and the financial perspective of the SMISP. In particular, the objective function has been carefully defined in order to maximize the Net Present Value (NPV) of the massive substitution plan, including the operational savings produced by using the walk-by smart-meters, the additional incomes originating from the gradual charge of substitution costs on customers’ invoices as considered by the Italian Authority, the depreciation of walk-by smart-meters, the investment costs, and the impact of income taxes on the objective function. The final goal of the proposed formulation is to define a scheduling for the massive substitution plan that satisfies a number of operational constraints and produces the maximum NPV

RP-HPLC and Chemometrics for wheat flour protein characterization in an industrial bread-making process monitoring context

In the baking industry, a difficult task is to keep the quality perceived by the consumer as constant as possible, given the inner variability of flour, e.g. due to different wheat mixtures, harvesting time, etc. Here, we evaluated the influence of flour batches properties on bread quality, considering an industrial bread making process. In particular, flour composition in terms of protein fractions (gliadins, glutenins) has been determined by means of RP-HPLC, to assess the inter- and intra-batch variability of flour mixtures deliveries at a baking plant. Multivariate data analysis allowed evaluation of correlation between flour protein composition and technological properties. A great variability within different deliveries of a same flour batch emerged, as well as a considerable seasonal variability. Correlation models among protein sub-fractions, technological properties and bread quality are difficult to establish; however, the role of the protein profile on flour behaviour in bread making could be highlighted

Impiego di HR-NMR per la caratterizzazione di lambruschi DOC dell'Emilia

I vini conosciuti come Lambruschi provengono da un gruppo di vitigni presenti da secoli nel territorio dell' Emilia e profondamente radicati nella tradizione contadina locale. Storicamente, le zone di produzione si trovano nelle province di Modena e Reggio Emilia. La produzione e la commercializzazione di tutti questi vini D.O.C. è regolamentata da specifici disciplinari di produzione. Lo scopo della presente ricerca è stato quello di mettere a punto un metodo per l’analisi e la caratterizzazione di vini Lambruschi DOC dell’Emilia utilizzando la Risonanza Magnetica Nucleare ad alta risoluzione (HR-NMR) mono e bidimensionale. Gli spettri ottenuti dopo ottimizzazione delle sequenze di acquisizione NMR sono stati poi impiegati per la costruzione di modelli chemiometrici mediante tecniche statistiche multivariate, in grado di discriminare tra loro le diverse tipologie di Lambrusco. Questo lavoro va considerato come studio pilota volto allo scopo di valutare l’efficacia della HR-NMR nel fornire informazioni di fingerprint molecolare dei prodotti considerati di qualità tale da poter essere utilizzate a scopo chemiometrico e classificatorio. Per fare tutto ciò si è dovuto innanzitutto individuare, selezionare e ottimizzare le sequenze migliori nell’estrarre informazioni dai campioni queste sequenze sono quindi state sfruttate per affrontare un problema relativamente semplice come la classificazione varietale dei Lambruschi, con l’obiettivo finale di applicarle in un prossimo futuro alla risoluzione di problemi legati all’origine geografica dei prodotti. Tutto questo ha permesso di individuare ed ottimizzare le metodiche analitiche e le sequenze NMR necessarie e di valutare le tecniche chemiometriche più opportune ed efficaci da applicare al tipo di spettri che si ottengono dal vino. I risultati migliori sono stati ottenuti utilizzando 1H-NMR accoppiata con analisi statistiche supervisionate come l’analisi discriminante (GDA). L’approccio seguito ha fornito buoni risultati, sia in termini di qualità del segnale NMR ottenuto che delle tecniche chemiometriche applicate, e permette di affermare che le metodiche approntate sono in grado di estrarre informazioni di qualità dagli spettri registrati tali da essere con ogni probabilità sfruttabili anche per procedere ad una futura costruzione di modelli atti alla discriminazione geografica dei prodotti enologici