Product integration rules by the constrained mock-Chebyshev least squares operator

In this paper we consider the problem of the approximation of definite integrals on finite intervals for integrand functions showing some kind of "pathological" behavior, e.g. "nearly" singular functions, highly oscillating functions, weakly singular functions, etc. In particular, we introduce and study a product rule based on equally spaced nodes and on the constrained mock-Chebyshev least squares operator. Like other polynomial or rational approximation methods, this operator was recently introduced in order to defeat the Runge phenomenon that occurs when using polynomial interpolation on large sets of equally spaced points. Unlike methods based on piecewise approximation functions, mainly used in the case of equally spaced nodes, our product rule offers a high efficiency, with performances slightly lower than those of global methods based on orthogonal polynomials in the same spaces of functions. We study the convergence of the product rule and provide error estimates in subspaces of continuous functions. We test the effectiveness of the formula by means of several examples, which confirm the theoretical estimates

La scheda elettronica per la misura del tempo di volo dell'esperimento spaziale AMS

In this thesis is illustrated the construction and calibration of the Time of Flight multihit pipeline TDC (SFET) boards of the AMS01 space borne magnetic spectrometer

First Results on the Removal of Emerging Micropollutants from Municipal Centrate by Microalgae

The results of a first campaign of sampling and analyses of emerging micropollutants in the influent (municipal centrate) and effluent of a pilot MBP raceway are reported. The algal population was chiefly made of Chlorella spp. and the pilot worked satisfactorily for the removal of nitrogen. 14 emerging micropollutants were analysed. Average removal efficiencies exceeding 80 % were observed for diclofenac, lamotrigine, ketoprofene, clarithromycin. For such compounds the variability of removal efficiency was also reduced, with respect to the other tested molecules, and was particularly low for diclofenac and lamotrigine. Removal efficiencies over 50 % were measured for azithromycin, metoprolol and irbesartan but with strong variability. Lower removal efficiencies were observed for amisulpride and 5-methylbenzotriazole, while for the remaining compounds the concentrations in the effluent were higher than in the influent

Removal of metallic elements from real wastewater using zebra mussel bio-filtration process

The metallic element pollution is a serious environmental problem but still unsolved since these contaminants are released mainly by human activity, reaching all the environmental compartments. Traditional wastewater treatment plants are very efficient in removing metallic elements only when their concentration is in the order of mg/L, but are not able to remove them until \u3bcg/L, as it would be needed to cope with the water quality standards in low flow receptors. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the potential removal of some recalcitrant metallic elements to the classical treatments, by the natural process of bio-filtration performed by the invasive zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). For this purpose we built a pilot-plant at the Milano-Nosedo wastewater treatment plant, where we placed about 40,000 D. polymorpha specimens appointed to the wastewater bio-filtration. The metallic element removal due to zebra mussel activity was evaluated in the treated wastewater with a plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Data obtained in these experiments showed an encouraging metallic element removal due to D. polymorpha activity; in particular, the total abatement (100%) of Cr after one day of bio-filtration exposure is remarkable. Therefore, this study encourages further research related with the use of bivalves as a new tool for the wastewater depuration process; in this regard, the contaminated mollusks used in the bio-filtration could be incinerated or stored in special landfills, as is also the case of traditional sewage sludge

EH Performance of an Hybrid Energy Harvester for Autonomous Nodes

This paper reports the Energy Harvesting (EH) performance of a hybrid energy harvester able to collect energy form different energy sources: thermal, solar and electromagnetic. The main block of the system is the quarter-wavelength patch antenna, operating in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency band 2.4-2.5 GHz. The antenna has been designed and optimized to support a Thermo-Electric Generator (TEG) and a Solar Cell on its top. Moreover, a rectifier has been designed to work with the antenna and a DC-DC converter has been used to manage the TEG output voltage

LCA of Zero Valent Iron Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Algal Biomass for Polishing Treated Effluents

Research data produced within the CARIPLO IMAP and Perform Water 2030 projects were processed using the SimaPro software to carry out the Life Cycle Assessment according to ISO 14040-44 of an innovative process of treated effluents' polishing. The study aims to evaluate the integration of a microalgae culture as a side-stream process into the baseline layout of a wastewater treatment plant to remove nitrogen from the supernatant of sludge centrifugation from an environmental perspective. In particular, the investigated system focuses on using the algal biomass produced as an organic matrix for encapsulating zero-valent iron nanoparticles to be used for the final refinement of the effluent. Zero-valent iron (ZVI) is a reactive metal and an effective reducing agent. It can be used to remove organic and inorganic pollutants (e.g., chlorinated organics, pharmaceuticals, metals, textile dyestuffs). The encapsulation of ZVI by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) in a carbonaceous matrix allows for overcoming the problems related to its lack of stability, easy aggregation, and difficulty in separating the ZVI nanoparticles from the treated solution. The case study refers to Bresso wastewater treatment plant (Milan province, Northern Italy). The environmental performances of the study were assessed following the Life Cycle Impact Assessment methods IMPACT 2002+. According to the results, the new process integration does not affect the environmental performance of the WWTP, still implying a significant improvement in the removal of metals and micropollutants. In fact, due to the ability of ZVI nanoparticles to remove organic and inorganic pollutants, the outflowing load will be significantly reduced, which will improve the environmental performance of the entire Bresso wastewater treatment plant

Desarrollo de un visualizador de señales de radar

El presente trabajo consiste en el desarrollo de un sistema de visualización de información para interfaces de sistemas de radar. El mismo es un sistema de software flexible y portable, que permite ser empleado en radares de diferentes tecnologías y capaz de adaptarse eficientemente a las necesidades específicas de cada dominio de aplicación. El sistema permite también implementar algoritmos de procesamiento de información y reconocimiento automático de objetivos.I Workshop de Arquitecturas, Redes y Sistemas Operativos (WARSO)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Desarrollo de un visualizador de señales de radar

El presente trabajo consiste en el desarrollo de un sistema de visualización de información para interfaces de sistemas de radar. El mismo es un sistema de software flexible y portable, que permite ser empleado en radares de diferentes tecnologías y capaz de adaptarse eficientemente a las necesidades específicas de cada dominio de aplicación. El sistema permite también implementar algoritmos de procesamiento de información y reconocimiento automático de objetivos.I Workshop de Arquitecturas, Redes y Sistemas Operativos (WARSO)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Improving radar visualization system

This work develops a system to visualize the information for radar systems interfaces. It is a flexible, portable software system that allows to be used for radars that have different technologies and that is able to be adapted to the specific needs of each aplication domain in an eficient way. Replacing the visualization and processing units on existing radar platforms by this new system, a practical and inexpensive improvement is achieved.Facultad de Informátic

Low-Noise Ku-Band Receiver Frontend with Switchable SIW Filters for Cubesat Applications

This paper proposes a low-noise receiver frontend for nanosatellite and Cubesat platforms. The frontend is composed by a Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) and two Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) filters, providing a frequency reconfigurability to the system. The two filters operate in the 13 and in the 14 GHz uplink bands, and are selected by means of a pair of solid-state SPDT switches. As a results, 15.5 dB gain with 2.4 dB noise figure for the 13 GHz configuration and 17.8 dB gain with 2.3 dB noise figure for the 14 GHz configuration are obtained. This work is important since demonstrates a low-cost solution for satellite radio apparatuses based on commercial components on a standard PCB