Degenerate parabolic models for sand slides

Abstract The morphodynamic evolution of the shape of dunes and piles of granular material is largely dictated by avalanching phenomena, acting when the local slope gets steeper than a critical repose angle. A class of degenerate parabolic models are proposed closing a mass balance equation with several viscoplastic constitutive laws to describe the motion of the sliding layer. Comparison among them is carried out by means of computational simulations putting in evidence the features that depend on the closure constitutive assumption and the robust aspects of the models. The versatility of the model is shown applying it to the movement of sand in presence of walls, open ends, columns, doors, and in complicated geometries

Efekty wstępnego wytrawiania ubytków klasy V wypełnionych materiałami kompozytowymi na bazie siloranów i metakrylanów

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Wind-blown particulate transport: A review of computational fluid dynamics models

The transport of particulate by wind constitutes a relevant phenomenon in environmental sciences and civil engineering, because erosion, transport and deposition of particulate can cause serious problems to human infrastructures. From a mathematical point of view, modeling procedure for this phenomenon requires handling the interaction between different constituents, the transfer of a constituent from the air to the ground and viceversa, and consequently the ground-surface interaction and evolution. Several approaches have been proposed in the literature, according to the specific particulate or application. We here review these contributions focusing in particular on the behavior of sand and snow, which almost share the same mathematical modeling issues, and point out existing links and analogies with wind driven rain. The final aim is then to classify and analyze the different mathematical and computational models in order to facilitate a comparison among them. A first classification of the proposed models can be done distinguishing whether the dispersed phase is treated using a continuous or a particle-based approach, a second one on the basis of the type of equations solved to obtain particulate density and velocity, a third one on the basis of the interaction model between the suspended particles and the transporting fluid

The use of basalt aggregates in the production of concrete for the prefabrication industry: environmental impact assessment, interpretation and improvement

This study aims at environmentally assessing the most significant input and output flows related to the production of concrete using basalt aggregates. For this purpose, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was applied according to the ISO 14040:2006 and 14044:2006. All data used were collected on site based on observations during site visits, review of documents and interviews with technical personnel and management. They were processed by using SimaPro 7.3.3, accessing the Ecoinvent v.2.2 database and using the Impact 2002þ method. The LCIA results show that the most impacting phase is the production of the basalt aggregates, with “Human Health” being the most affected damage category because of the emissions to air, of 2.7 kg of particulates (grain size <2.5 mm). In addition to this, the concrete production causes, mainly, the emission, in air, of 465 kg of Carbon Dioxide and the consumption of 37.37 kg of crude oil, per cubic metre of concrete, affecting, the damage categories “Climate Change” and “Resources” also. Regarding “Ecosystem Quality”, the occurred damage is due to the emission to air, of 29.6 g of Aluminium and of 251 mg of Zinc into the soil per cubic metre of concrete. Based on the obtained results, the increase of the amount of water used for particulates removal during the basalt extraction phase was assessed. Furthermore, the alternative use of limestone aggregates was assessed from both technical and environmental perspectives. The analysis developed highlighted a total damage decrease of 67%

Erratum to "Ecotoxicological impact of pharmaceuticals found in treated wastewaters: study of carbamazepine, clofibric acid, and diclofenac": [Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 55 (2003) 359–370]

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Recycled-PET fibre based panels for building thermal insulation : environmental impact and improvement potential assessment for a greener production

A screening of Life Cycle Assessment for the evaluation of the damage arising from the production of 1 kg of recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (RPET) fibre-based panel for building heat insulation was carried out according to the ISO 14040:2006 and 14044:2006. All data used were collected on site based on observations during site visits, review of documents and interviews with technical personnel and management. These data were processed by using SimaPro 7.3.3, accessing the Ecoinvent v.2.2 database and using the Impact 2002+ method. The study showed damage to be equal to 0.000299 points mostly due to the: 1) PET thermo-bonding fibre supply fromChina bymeans of a freight-equipped intercontinental aircraft; 2) production of bottle-grade granulate PET; 3) mediumvoltage electricity consumption during the manufacturing of RPET fibre panel. Itwas also highlighted that there were environmental benefits due to recycling through mainly avoiding significant emissions and reduced resource consumption. An improvement assessment was carried out to find solutions aimed at reducing the damage coming from the most impacting phases. Furthermore, the environmental impacts due to the production of the analysed RPET fibre-based panelwere compared to other materials with the same insulating function, such as polystyrene foam, rockwool and cork slab. Finally, the environmental benefits of the recycling of PE

Cationic porphyrins are reversible proteasome inhibitors

The aim of this study is to verify if watersoluble porphyrins can be used as proteasome inhibitors. We have found that cationic porphyrins inhibit proteasome peptidase activities much more effectively than the corresponding anionic derivatives. The relevance of electrostatics in driving porphyin&#8722;proteasome interactions has been confirmed by the observation that the inhibitory efficiency of the cationic macrocycles decreases with the number of positive substituents. We have also investigated various metalloporphyrins, which differ due to the different propension of the central metal ion toward axial coordination. Our experimental results indicate that the naked cationic porphyrins are the most active in reversibly inhibiting the three main protease activities of the proteasome in the micromolar range. A spectroscopic characterization of porphyrin&#8722;proteasome interactions by UV&#8722;vis spectra parallels the results of inhibition assays: the higher the inhibitory effect the stronger the spectroscopic variations are. To interpret the action of porphyrins at a molecular level, we have performed calculations evidencing that cationic porphyrins may hinder the access to the canonical proteolytic site on the proteasome &#946;5 subunit. In particular, an inspection of the top-scoring docking modes shows that the tetracationic porphyrin blocks the catalytic pocket, close to the N termini of the &#946;5 proteasome subunit, more efficiently than its anionic counterpart. Proteasome inhibition activity of porphyrins unites their known anticancer properties making them suitable as a scaffold for the design of novel multitargeted molecules

Quality of life in carotid atherosclerosis: The role of co-morbid mood disorders

Introduction/Objective: To study in severe carotid atherosclerosis (CA): The frequency of mood disorders (MD); the impairment of quality of life (QoL); the role of co-morbid MD in such impairment. Methods: Case-control study. Cases: consecutive in-patients with CA (stenosis ≥ 50%). Controls: subjects with no diagnosis of CA randomized from a database of a community survey. Psychiatric diagnosis according to DSM-IV made by clinicians and semi-structured interview, QoL measured by the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results: This is the first study on comorbidity on CA disease and MD in which psychiatric diagnoses are conducted by clinicians according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (17.4% vs 2.72%, P <0.0001) but not Bipolar Disorders (BD) (4.3% vs 0.5%, P = 0.99) was higher in cases (N=46) than in controls (N= 184). SF-12 scores in cases were lower than in controls (30.56±8.12 vs 36.81±6:40; p <0.001) with QoL comparable to serious chronic diseases of the central nervous system. The burden of a concomitant MDD or BD amplifies QoL impairment. Conclusion: Comorbid MD aggravates the impairment of QoL in CA. Unlike autoimmune diseases or degenerative diseases of the Central Nervous System, CA shows a strong risk of MDD than BD

Foamy polystyrene trays for fresh-meat packaging: Life-cycle inventory data collection and environmental impact assessment

Abstract: ood packaging systems are designed to perform series of functions mainly aimed at containing and protecting foods during their shelf-lives. However, to perform those functions a package causes environmental impacts that affect food supply chains and that come from its life-cycle phases. Therefore, package design should be done based upon not only the issues of cost, food shelf-life and safety, as well as practicality, but also of environ- mental sustainability. For this purpose, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be applied in the packaging fi eld with the aim of highlighting environmental hotspots and improvement potentials, thus enabling more eco-friendly prod- ucts. In this context, an LCA of foamy polystyrene (PS) trays used for fresh meat packaging was performed here. The study highlighted that the highest environmental impacts come from PS-granule production and electricity consumption. In this regard, the authors underscored that there are no margins for improvement in the produc- tion of the granules and in the transport of the material inputs involved as well as of the trays to users. On the contrary, changing the energy source into a renewable one (by installing, for instance, a wind power plant) would enable a 14% damage reduction. In this way, the authors documented that alternative ways can be found for global environmental improvement of the system analysed and so for enhanced environmental sustainability of food packaging systems