Air recovery assessment on high-pressure pneumatic systems

A computational simulation and experimental work of the fluid flow through the pneumatic circuit used in a stretch blow moulding machine is presented in this paper. The computer code is built around a zero-dimensional thermodynamic model for the air blowing and recycling containers together with a non-linear time-variant deterministic model for the pneumatic three stations single acting valve manifold, which, in turn, is linked to a quasi-one-dimensional unsteady flow model for the interconnecting pipes. The flow through the pipes accounts for viscous friction, heat transfer, cross-sectional area variation, and entropy variation. Two different solving methods are applied: the method of characteristics and the Harten-Lax-Van Leer (HLL) Riemann first-order scheme. The numerical model allows prediction of the air blowing process and, more significantly, permits determination of the recycling rate at each operating cycle. A simplified experimental set-up of the industrial process was designed, and the pressure and temperature were adequately monitored. Predictions of the blowing process for various configurations proved to be in good agreement with the measured results. In addition, a novel design of a valve manifold intended for the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottle manufacturing industry is also presented.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Environmental volumetric criterion for green spaces calculus

Los espacios verdes y, en general, la vegetación utilizada para protección, son valorados, medidos y calculados por el área destinada a esa función más que por los elementos vegetales relacionados. Esto significa una simplificación excesiva que no aporta los criterios de cuantificación necesarios tanto para preservar el patrimonio natural existente como para elaborar proyectos de mejoramiento ambiental. En este trabajo se propone un concepto nuevo para la valoración de los elementos vegetales atendiendo a su influencia como mejoradores ambientales. Se determinan dos índices de valoración: el Índice de Vegetación Ambientalmente Activa por unidad de área utilizada y el Índice Ambiental Urbanístico. Ambos permiten cuantificar la importancia urbanística y ambiental de la vegetación. También se introduce un nuevo concepto en el cálculo de la necesidad de espacios verdes en proyectos urbanísticos y en áreas de amortiguación industriales, basado en el volumen vegetativo que debe existir en áreas que normalmente se destinan a espacios verdes.The green spaces and, in general, the protective vegetation, are valuated, measured and calculated by the area designated to that function, rather than by the related vegetal elements. This means that an excessive simplification is used, which does not apport cuantitative valoration criteria. These criteria is presently needed both in preserving natural patrimony, and in projecting tasks in environment improvement engineering. In this work, a new valoration concept for the vegetal elements is proposed, based on their influence as environment improvers. Valoration indexes are defined: such as the Environmentally Active Vegetation Index by utilized area unit, and the Urban Environment Index. These indexes allow for the quantitative evaluation of the urbanistic and environmental value of the vegetation. A new concept to calculate the need of green areas both in urbanistic and in industrial protection areas is also proposed. The concept is based on the vegetation volume needs in the areas usually designated for green spaces.Fil: Codina, Ramón A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción VegetalFil: Barón, Jorge. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Capacitación Especial y Desarrollo de Ingeniería Asistida por Computador

Notes sobre metges de la Clínica Mèdica B de l'Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, dirigida pel professor Màxim Soriano (1943-1973)

Es fa una recensió d’una trentena de metges que van ser membres de la Clínica Mèdica B, que dirigí el doctor Màxim Soriano, sigui a les sales o als dispensaris. Són els doctors: Alcántara, Anglés, Argilés, Bonastre, Casanovas, Cavallé, Codina Altés, Escarpenter, Ferrer, Gispert, Juncadella, Loran, Manchon, Mansilla, Martí, Martínez Brotons, Nogués, Olmos, Padrós, Périz, Permanyer, Piera González, Piera Robert, Sancho, Segarra, Taverna i Vives

Is the ‘Visual Fields Easy’ Application a Useful Tool to Identify Visual Field Defects in Patients Who Have Suffered a Stroke?

Aims: To determine the level of agreement between the visual Fields easy application (VFE) for iPad and a standard clinical test for assessing peripheral vision in stroke survivors. Study Design: This was a prospective cross-sectional study comparing the VFE application to the Humphrey Field Analyser (HFA) SITA Fast c30-2 program in identifying and diagnosing visual field defects post-stroke. Place and Duration of Study: The ophthalmic department at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Data collection was undertaken between January 2016 and August 2016. Methodology: A total of 50 participants with a diagnosis of stroke and a suspected visual problem were recruited to the study. Normative data was collected from 50 participants with no history of stroke or visual loss. Analysis comprised of comparing the extent of the visual field loss detected by both the VFE and HFA, and clinically assessing the results for normality. Results: Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated that with more severe visual field loss, the agreement between both modalities was found to decrease. There was a higher proportion of false negatives with the VFE compared to the HVF. The bias towards detecting more missed test locations with the VFE application compared to the HFA was 6% for the normal participants and 2% for the stroke participants. The limits of agreement between the two modalities were large; 20% and 40% for the normal and stroke participants respectively. The sensitivity of the VFE application to determine an abnormal visual field in comparison to HFA was 88% and specificity was 76% in the stroke cohort based upon a clinical impression of its findings. The majority of stroke participants (88%) found the VFE test more comfortable to perform. Conclusion: As a screening tool, the VFE application is quick and easy to administer, preferred by patients and has good sensitivity and specificity for detecting the presence of an abnormal visual field when compared to HFA. In patients with extensive visual field loss, the VFE may overestimate visual field reduction

Solids refuses in rural areas

Se propone un método práctico para valorar la calidad y el deterioro ambiental en áreas rurales, bajo la diagnóstico de la situación ambiental de áreas que no posean disposición organizada de residuos sólidos. Dicho diagnóstico estará orientado hacia: la mejora paisajística, la mejora sanitaria del entorno humano rural la protección ecológica de áreas rurales en base a dos parámetros cuantitativos para la evaluación de proyectos: el índice de deterioro ambiental (IDA) y el índice de valor zonal (IVZ). Ambos se calculan asignando puntaje a dos series de indicadores 1. Indicadores de deterioro ambiental. presencia de residuos sólidos; humo y olores, vectores; riesgos de incendio y de contaminante acuífera y deterioro del paisaje. 2. Indicadores de valor zonal: cercanía a núcleos urbanos, visibilidad y valor del paisaje. Se aplican indices de ponderación a cada indicador, según su peso relativo e influencia sobre la vulnerabilidad de la zona. De la suma algebraica de ambos indicadores resulta el indice adimensional de calidad ambiental. ICA =IVZ -IDA.It propose apractic metodology for ambiental deterioration and ambiental quality valoration in rural areas, under the influence of solids refuses. The objective is to provide a complementary tool for the diagnostic of ambiental situation in areas without organized disposition of solids refuses. This diagnostic is orientated to landscape improvement sanitary improvement of human environment in rural areas ecology protection of rural areas, to provide comparation parameters of areas in project evaluation. It is based in an inquiry with the quantitative valoration of two parameters: ambiental deterioration index (ADI) and zonal value index (ZVI), through the asignation of values to two series of Ambiental Indicators: 1. Ambiental deterioration indicators: presence of solids refuses, smoke and odor, vectors, fire hazards, aquifers contamination risks, landscape deterioration. 2. Zonal value indicators: urbans centers proximity, visibility, landscape value. Each Indicator is ponderated through an index according to his relative weigth and influence over the vulnerability of the area. The ambiental quality index (AQI) of the zone under study is obtainable through algebraic sum: AQI = ZVI-ADI.Fil: Codina, Ramón A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Agropecuari

Sensory evaluation of environmental impact : wine and oil industries

El objetivo de este trabajo fue probar y poner a punto un método para la valoración del impacto sobre el ambiente, generado por las industrias vitivinícolas y aceiteras. Sus efluentes líquidos se evaluaron sensorialmente durante dos años, en momentos y horarios clave de producción. Se practicaron pruebas de valoración de intensidad -mediante escalas de intervalo- y de ordenamiento, tanto para atributos: olor, color, turbidez y sedimento de efluentes líquidos, como para impactos: visual, olfativo y auditivo. Se caracterizaron las variables en cada tipo de establecimiento y por etapa considerada. Se elaboró una cartilla de color de efluentes líquidos mediante comparación con la escala Munsell. Se obtuvieron perfiles sensoriales de cada punto de muestreo. Las pruebas de ordenamiento (nivel de significancia = 0,05) arrojaron diferencias significativas para las variables y puntos de muestreo en estudio. Las pruebas de comparación múltiple indicaron los puntos de muestreo que debían mantenerse.This work was done in order to prove and to complete a methodology of valuation of the impact produced by wine and oil industries. Sensorial evaluations of liquid effluents and working environment were made at key moments and schedules of production, during two years. It was practiced intensity valuation test by means of interval scales and ordering test for smell, color, turbidity and liquid effuents sediment and visual, olfactory and auditory impacts of environment. The variables were characterized on each type of establishment and by considered stage. A liquid effluents color scale was made by means of comparison with Munsell scale. Sensory profiles of each point of sampling were obtained. Ordering test, for a level of significance of 0,05, giving significant differences for the variables and points of sampling. Multiple comparison test indicated the sampling points that should be maintained.Fil: Cánovas, Laura. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Biomatemática y FisicoquímicaFil: Herrera, María C.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Biomatemática y FisicoquímicaFil: Codina, Ramón A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Agropecuari

FIC/FEM formulation with matrix stabilizing terms for incompressible flows at low and high Reynolds numbers

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00466-006-0060-yWe present a general formulation for incompressible fluid flow analysis using the finite element method. The necessary stabilization for dealing with convective effects and the incompressibility condition are introduced via the Finite Calculus method using a matrix form of the stabilization parameters. This allows to model a wide range of fluid flow problems for low and high Reynolds numbers flows without introducing a turbulence model. Examples of application to the analysis of incompressible flows with moderate and large Reynolds numbers are presented.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

One year follow-up of a randomized trial with a dilemma-focused intervention for depression: Exploring an alternative to problem-oriented strategies

© 2018 Feixas et al.Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is aimed to counteract cognitions and behaviours that are considered as dysfunctional. The aim of the study is to test whether the inclusion of a non-counteractive approach (dilemma-focused intervention, DFI) in combination with CBT group therapy will yield better short- and long-term outcomes than an intervention conducted entirely using CBT.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Sustainable landscape in arid zones : useful ornamental xeric species

Se analiza el valor económico, ecológico y paisajístico de especies vegetales, pertenecientes a la flora espontánea de Mendoza (Argentina), resistentes a la sequía y que pueden alcanzar porte arbóreo. Su empleo ahorra agua de riego en espacios verdes ornamentales y de protección ambiental. Se sugiere medidas de conservación de las especies espontáneas más útiles paisajísticamente, así como normas generales sobre métodos de plantación y mantenimiento. Se recomiendan especies leñosas espontáneas de la provincia, de bajo requerimiento hídrico, utilizables paisajísticamente.This paper analyzes the economic, ecological and landscape value of drought resistant species from the spontaneous flora of Mendoza (Argentina). Some of such species could reach tree size and its use might save the irrigation water used for ornamental and environmental protection areas. Actions to protect the most useful spontaneous species, as well as general rules for plantation and maintenance are suggested. Spontaneous wooden species of low water requirements, to use in different landscape objectives, are recommended.Fil: Codina, Ramón A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción AgropecuariaFil: Manzano, Enrique R.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción AgropecuariaFil: Carrieri, Sergio A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción AgropecuariaFil: Fioretti, Sonia B.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Agropecuari

The Remarkable Be Star HD110432

HD110432 has gained considerable attention because it is a hard, variable X-ray source similar to gamma Cas. From time-serial echelle data obtained over two weeks during 2005 January and February, we find several remarkable characteristics in the star's optical spectrum. The line profiles show rapid variations on some nights which can be most likely be attributed to irregularly occurring and short-lived migrating subfeatures. Such features have only been observed to date in gamma Cas and AB Dor, two stars for which it is believed magnetic fields force circumstellar clouds to corotate over the stellar surface. The star's optical spectrum also exhibits a number of mainly FeII and HeI emission features with profiles typical of an optically thin disk viewed edge-on. Using spectral synthesis techniques, we find that its temperature is 9800K +/-300K, that its projected area is a remarkably large 100 stellar areas, and its emitting volume resides at a distance of 1 AU from the star. We also find that the star's absorption profiles extend to +/-1000 km/s, a fact which we cannot explain. Otherwise, HD110432 and gamma Cas share similarly peculiar X-ray and optical characteristics such as high X-ray temperature, erratic X-ray variability on timescales of a few hours, optical emission lines, and submigrating features in optical line profiles. Because of these similarities, we suggest that this star is a new member of a select class of "gamma Cas analogs."Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures, accepted by ApJ (3/20/06