26 research outputs found

    Influence of the geometry on the agglomeration of a polydisperse binary system of spherical particles

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    Within the context of the European Horizon 2020 project ACDC, we intend to develop a probabilistic chemical compiler, to aid the construction of three-dimensional agglomerations of artificial hierarchical cellular constructs. These programmable discrete units offer a wide variety of technical innovations, like a portable biochemical laboratory that e.g. produces macromolecular medicine on demand. For this purpose, we have to investigate the agglomeration process of droplets and vesicles under proposed constraints, like confinement. This paper focuses on the influence of the geometry of the initialization and of the container on the agglomeration

    Paths in a network of polydisperse spherical droplets

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    We simulate the movement and agglomeration of oil droplets in water under constraints, like confinement, using a simplified stochastic-hydrodynamic model. In the analysis of the network created by the droplets in the agglomeration, we focus on the paths between pairs of droplets and compare the computational results for various system sizes

    Percolation breakdown in binary and ternary monodisperse and polydisperse systems of spherical particles

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    We perform computer simulations of an agglomeration process for monodisperse and polydisperse systems of spherical particles in a cylindrical container, using a simplified stochastic-hydrodynamic model. We consider a ternary system with three particle types A, B, and C, in which only connections of the type can be forged, while any other connections with particles of the same type or with C-particles are forbidden, and for comparison a binary system with two particle types A and C, in which only connections of the type can be formed. We study the breakdown of the percolation in the agglomeration at the bottom of the cylinder with an increasing fraction of C-particles

    Kauffman Model with spatially separated ligation and cleavage reactions

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    One of the open questions regarding the origin of life is the problem how macromolecules could be created. One possible answer is the existence of autocatalytic sets in which some macromolecules mutually catalyze each other’s formation. This mechanism is theoretically described in the Kauffman model. We introduce and simulate an extension of the Kauffman model, in which ligation and cleavage reactions are spatially separated in different containers connected by diffusion, and provide computational results for instances with and without autocatalytic sets, focusing on the time evolution of the densities of the various molecules. Furthermore, we study the rich behavior of a randomly generated instance containing an autocatalytic metabolism, in which molecules are created by ligation processes and destroyed by cleavage processes and vice versa or generated and destroyed both by ligation processes

    mSep: investigating physiological and immune-metabolic biomarkers in septic and healthy pregnant women to predict feto-maternal immune health – a prospective observational cohort study protocol

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    Introduction: Maternal sepsis remains a leading cause of death in pregnancy. Physiological adaptations to pregnancy obscure early signs of sepsis and can result in delays in recognition and treatment. Identifying biomarkers that can reliably diagnose sepsis will reduce morbidity and mortality and antibiotic overuse. We have previously identified an immune-metabolic biomarker network comprising three pathways with a >99% accuracy for detecting bacterial neonatal sepsis. In this prospective study, we will describe physiological parameters and novel biomarkers in two cohorts—healthy pregnant women and pregnant women with suspected sepsis—with the aim of mapping pathophysiological drivers and evaluating predictive biomarkers for diagnosing maternal sepsis. Methods and analysis: Women aged over 18 with an ultrasound-confirmed pregnancy will be recruited to a pilot and two main study cohorts. The pilot will involve blood sample collection from 30 pregnant women undergoing an elective caesarean section. Cohort A will follow 100 healthy pregnant women throughout their pregnancy journey, with collection of blood samples from participants at routine time points in their pregnancy: week 12 ‘booking’, week 28 and during labour. Cohort B will follow 100 pregnant women who present with suspected sepsis in pregnancy or labour and will have at least two blood samples taken during their care pathway. Study blood samples will be collected during routine clinical blood sampling. Detailed medical history and physiological parameters at the time of blood sampling will be recorded, along with the results of routine biochemical tests, including C reactive protein, lactate and white blood cell count. In addition, study blood samples will be processed and analysed for transcriptomic, lipidomic and metabolomic analyses and both qualitative and functional immunophenotyping. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Wales Research Ethics Committee 2 (SPON1752-19, 30 October 2019). Trial registration number: NCT05023954

    Miglioramento delle performance dei cambi formato in ottica Lean Manufacturing: il caso Acqua Minerale San Benedetto S.p.A.

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    L'obiettivo di questo lavoro di tesi è quello di fornire alle aziende un valido supporto all'implementazione dei progetti di miglioramento delle performance dei cambi formato in ottica Lean Manufacturing. Il documento descrive un approccio per la realizzazione dei progetti di miglioramento dei cambi formato, non solo dal punto di vista teorico, ma avvalendosi anche di un caso studio "on the job" e ripercorrendo le principali tappe decisionali e le problematiche più rilevanti
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