Visits to figurative art museums may lower blood pressure and stress

Background: The research aimed to assess, through physiological measurements such as blood pressure and heart rate, whether exposure to art museums and to different art styles (figurative vs. modern art) was able to enhance visitors’ well-being in terms of relaxing and stress reduction. Method: Participants (n = 77) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions, on the basis of the typology of the art style they were exposed to in the museum visit: (1) figurative art, (2) modern art and (3) museum office (as a control condition). Blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and after the visits. Results: Diastolic values of the participants were quite stable, as expected in people who do not suffer hypertension; we therefore considered only variations in systolic blood pressure. The majority of the participants exposed to figurative art significantly decreased systolic blood pressure compared to those exposed to modern art and museum office. No differences were found in the heart rate before and after the visit for the three groups. Conclusion: Findings suggest that museum visits can have health benefits, and figurative art may decrease systolic blood pressur

Generalizing WDN simulation models to variable tank levels

In water distribution network (WDN) steady-state modelling, tanks and reservoirs are modelled as nodes with known heads. As a result, the tank levels are upgraded after every steady-state simulation (snapshot) using external mass balance equations in extended period simulation (EPS). This approach can give rise to numerical instabilities, especially when tanks are in close proximity. In order to obtain a stable EPS model, an unsteady formulation of the WDN model has recently introduced. This work presents an extension of the steady-state WDN model, both for demand-driven and pressure-driven analyses, allowing the direct prediction of head variation of tank nodes with respect to an initial state. Head variations at those nodes are introduced as internal unknowns in the model, the variation of tank levels can be analyzed in the single steady-state simulation and EPS can be performed as a sequence of simulations without the need for external mass balances. The extension of mass balance at tank nodes allows the analysis of some technically relevant demand components. Furthermore, inlet and outlet head losses at tank nodes are introduced and large cross-sectional tank areas are allowed by the model and reservoirs become a special case of tanks. The solution algorithm is the generalized-global gradient algorithm (G-GGA), although the proposed WDN model generalization is universal

Optimal Design of District Metering Areas

Abstract The search for optimal segmentations aimed at defining district metering areas (DMAs) is a challenging and crucial issue in the analysis, planning and management of water distribution networks (WDNs). The need to select optimal segmentations relates to a number of important technical reasons. Today, the most relevant one is the leakage management by means of pressure-control zones. This contribution proposes a novel two-steps strategy for DMAs planning. The strategy is based on the segmentation design as first step, to achieve a scenario of optimal locations of "conceptual cuts"; during the second step, these are the candidate for the location of (closed) gate valves or flow measurement devices that gave rise to district monitoring areas (DMAs). The segmentation step is performed solving a multi-objective optimization problem (i.e. WDN-oriented modularity maximization versus the number of "conceptual cuts" minimization). The second step accomplishes the real DMAs design by solving a three-objective optimization, i.e. the minimization of the background leakages versus the unsupplied customers demand versus the flow observations. This means that the procedure will search for a set of scenarios having a number of closed gate valves installed at the "conceptual cuts" that do not decrease the WDN hydraulic capacity below that necessary for a sufficient service to customers, while contemporarily reducing the background leakages. A pressure-driven modelling approach is used to predict background leakage reduction and the unsupplied customers demand. The procedure is explained on a benchmark network from literature, the Apulian network

Data-mining approach to investigate sedimentation features in combined sewer overflows

Sedimentation is the most common and effectively practiced method of urban drainage control in terms of operating installations and duration of service. Assessing the percentage of suspended solids removed after a given detention time is essential for both design and management purposes. In previous experimental studies by some of the authors, the expression of iso-removal curves (i.e. representing the water depth where a given percentage of suspended solids is removed after a given detention time in a sedimentation column) has been demonstrated to depend on two parameters which describe particle settling velocity and flocculation factor. This study proposes an investigation of the influence of some hydrological and pollutant aggregate information of the sampled events on both parameters. The Multi-Objective (EPR-MOGA) and Multi-Case Strategy (MCS-EPR) variants of the Evolutionary Polynomial Regression (EPR) are originally used as data-mining strategies. Results are proved to be consistent with previous findings in the field and some indications are drawn for relevant practical applicability and future studies

Active Leakage Control with WDNetXL

Abstract Water losses in Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) are classified in background and burst outflows. Bursts are generally the natural evolution of background leakages, driven by external factors that entail major water outflows, generating changes of WDN hydraulic functioning, detectable as anomalies in monitored flow/pressure data. Active leakage control strategies aim at prompt detection, localization and repair of pipe burst, thus reducing possible damages to private/public properties, minimize unplanned works, and reduce volume of lost water. This contribution presents the novel Leakage Control module of the WDNetXL system, aimed at supporting various active leakage control actions ranging from the design of effective pressure sampling system up to prioritizing of possible failed pipes to survey

Relevance of hydraulic modelling in planning and operating real-time pressure control: case of oppegård municipality

Abstract Technical best practices recommend pressure control as an effective countermeasure to reduce leakages in water distribution networks (WDNs). Information and communication technologies allow driving pressure reducing valves (PRVs) in real-time based on pressure observed at remote control nodes (remote real-time control – RRTC), going beyond the limitations of classic PRV control (i.e. with target pressure node just downstream of the device). Nowadays, advanced hydraulic models are able to simulate both RRTC-PRVs and classic PRVs accounting for unreported and background leakages as diffused pressure-dependent outflows along pipes. This paper studies how such models are relevant to support pressure control strategies at both planning and operation stages on the real WDN of Oppegård (Norway). The advanced hydraulic model permits demonstration that RRTC-PRVs in place of existing classic PRVs might reduce unreported and background leakages by up to 40%. The same analysis unveils that advanced models provide reliable evaluation of leakage reduction efforts, overcoming the inconsistencies of lumped indexes like the Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI). Thereafter, the model allows comparison of three strategies for the real-time electric regulation of PRVs in some of the planned scenarios, thus supporting real-time operation of RRTC-PRVs

High CTLA-4 expression correlates with poor prognosis in thymoma patients

Thymomas, tumors that arise from epithelial cells of the thymus gland, are the most common neoplasms of the anterior mediastinum, with an incidence rate of approximately 2.5 per million/year. Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4 or CD152) exerts inhibitory activity on T cells, and since its oncogenic role in the progression of different types of tumors, it has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in cancer patients. In this study, we assessed the expression of CTLA-4 both at mRNA and protein levels in paraffin embedded-tissues from patients with thymomas. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between CTLA-4 expression and the clinical-pathologic characteristics and prognosis in patients with thymomas. Sixty-eight patients with median age corresponding to 62 years were included in this analysis. Thymomas were classified accordingly to the WHO and Masaoka-Koga for histochemical analysis and for prognostic significance. A statistical difference was found between CTLA-4 mRNA levels in human normal thymus compared with thymoma specimens. CTLA-4 expression was statistically found to progressively increase in A, B1, B2, AB and it was maximal in B3 thymomas. According to Masaoka-Koga pathological classification, CTLA-4 expression was lower in I, IIA and IIB, and higher in invasive III and IV stages. By confocal microscopy analysis we identified the expression of CTLA-4 both in tumor cells and in CD45+ tumor-infiltrating leukocytes, mainly in B3 and AB thymomas. Finally, CTLA-4 overexpression significantly correlates with reduced overall survival in thymoma patients and in atypical thymoma subgroup, suggesting that it represents a negative prognostic factor

Detecting Pipe Bursts In Water Distribution Networks Using EPR Modeling Paradigm

Sustainable management of water distribution networks requires the timely detection of water leakages from pipelines. This will reduce wastage of resource, decrease cost of treatment and pumping, cut third party damage and reduce green house gas emissions. Some recently developed methodologies permit real time detection of pipe burst events by analyzing signals from pressure and flow meters located in District Metered Areas. These procedures are conceptually based on: (i) data preparation (e.g. de-noising; reconstruction); (ii) predictions based on data-driven models; (iii) identification of anomalies in flow/pressure and raising alerts based on a mismatch between model predictions and signals from meters. The paper analyzes the potential of the Evolutionary Polynomial Regression modeling paradigm in this framework. The idea is to use the Multi-Case EPR Strategy to develop flow/pressure prediction models using values recorded over a number of past time windows that are treated as separate data-sets. This means to have the same mathematical structure of the prediction model although with different sets of parameters, each minimizing the error over a different past time window. This, in turn, results in a range of predictions, each obtained using a different set of parameters, to be used for detecting anomalies and raising alarms. This approach is expected to have the following strengths: (i) the number of past time steps to be used for prediction is selected automatically by EPR from a set provided by the analyst; (ii) the EPR multi-objective paradigm returns a set of models which can be compared in terms of both selected variables (i.e., past time steps) and error statistics, thus avoiding over-fitting to past data; (iii) the range of predictions reflect different past time windows based on prior knowledge of the WDN in terms of demand/pressure patters, instead of purely probabilistic assumptions. The methodology is tested on a real network

Reliability analysis of complex water distribution systems: the role of the network connectivity and tanks

A reliable water distribution network (WDN) can provide an adequate supply service to customers under both normal and abnormal working conditions. The WDN reliability analysis, therefore, is a keystone to improve the supply service efficiency. Strategies for reliability analysis are usually proved on small WDNs, which do not compare with large real complex systems in terms of number of water tanks, pressure reduction valves, variable speed pumps, controlled devices and possible alternative water supply schemes. The topological changes due to pipeline interruptions impact on emptying–filling of water tanks and network pressure status. This work proposes a two-level procedure for mechanical reliability assessment, suited for large real WDNs. It leverages a path/connectivity-based approach to set up reliability indicators for global-level analysis and local screening of the most critical scenarios. The employed advanced hydraulic model includes the automatic detection of topological changes and the robust modelling of water level in tanks using the generalized global gradient algorithm. The extended period simulation enables the reliability assessment of alternative water supply schemes and the sensitivity of tanks and controlled devices to single failure events. The procedure is demonstrated on a real complex network, being consistent with the ongoing digital transition in the WDN management sector.publishedVersio