Optimal design of a carbon dioxide separation process with market uncertainty and waste reduction

The aim of this work is to optimize the conceptual design of an amine-based carbon dioxide (CO2) separation process for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). A systematic approach is applied to predict the economic profitability of the system while reducing the environmental impacts. Firstly, we model the process with UniSim and determine the governing degrees of freedom (DoF) through a sensitivity analysis. Then, we proceed with the formulation of the economic problem, where the employment of econometric models allows us to predict the highest dynamic economic potential (DEP). In the second part, we apply the Waste Reduction (WAR) algorithm to quantify the environmental risks of the studied process. This method is based on the minimization of the potential environmental indicator (PEI) by using the generalization of the Waste Reduction algorithm. Results show that the CO2 separation plant is promising in terms of economic revenues. However, the PEI value indicates that the higher the profitability, the larger the environmental risk. The optimal value of the DEP corresponds to 0.0274 kmol/h and 60 ◦C, with a plant capacity according to the mole flow rate of the produced acid gas. In addition, the highest environmental risk is observed at the upper bounds of the DoF.Fil: Gutierrez, Juan Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Erdmann, Eleonora. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Manca, Davide. Politecnico di Milano; Itali

An Adaptive Behaviour-Based Strategy for SARs interacting with Older Adults with MCI during a Serious Game Scenario

The monotonous nature of repetitive cognitive training may cause losing interest in it and dropping out by older adults. This study introduces an adaptive technique that enables a Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) to select the most appropriate actions to maintain the engagement level of older adults while they play the serious game in cognitive training. The goal is to develop an adaptation strategy for changing the robot's behaviour that uses reinforcement learning to encourage the user to remain engaged. A reinforcement learning algorithm was implemented to determine the most effective adaptation strategy for the robot's actions, encompassing verbal and nonverbal interactions. The simulation results demonstrate that the learning algorithm achieved convergence and offers promising evidence to validate the strategy's effectiveness

Wave propagation over posidonia oceanica: large scale experiments

Posidonia oceanica meadows are considered to be of high importance to the environmental conservation in the Mediterranean Sea, supporting a highly biodiverse habitat and protecting from coastal erosion. In the CIEM wave flume of LIM/UPC (Barcelona, Spain) large scale experiments have been conducted for measuring wave attenuation, transmission and energy dissipation over artificial P. oceanica in intermediate and shallow waters. The effects of submergence ratio hs/D (hs = height of seagrass, D = water depth) and seagrass density (number of stems per squared meter) on the above characteristics are investigated. Mean velocities above and within the simulated P. oceanica are measured and the wave induced flow within the seagrass, which influences processes such as nutrient uptake, waste removal and larval dispersion, is estimated. A meadow with a total length of 10.70 m was constructed using polypropylene artificial plants. Measurements of wave height at different locations along the meadow indicate attenuation of waves for three different submergence ratios (hs/D), two seagrass densities (stems/m2) and various wave conditions. Results are also analysed with regard to the wave induced flow within the field and the effects of hs/D and seagrass density on mean flow characteristics are investigated based on measurements of mean velocities taken within the meadow.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Nasal Spray Formulations Based on Combined Hyalurosomes and Glycerosomes Loading Zingiber officinalis Extract as Green and Natural Strategy for the Treatment of Rhinitis and Rhinosinusitis

A total green nanotechnological nasal spray has been manufactured and proposed as an alternative treatment of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis. It was obtained by combining the strengthening effect of liposomes on barrier function, the hydrating and lubricating properties of sodium hyaluronan and the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the extract of Zingiber officinalis. To this purpose, the extract was loaded in special phospholipid vesicles immobilized with hyaluronic acid (hyalurosomes), which were further enriched with glycerol in the water phase. Liposomes and glycerosomes were prepared as well and used as reference. Vesicles were oligolamellar and multicompartment, as confirmed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) observation, small in size (~140 nm) and negatively charged (~−23 mV). Spray characteristics were evaluated by using the Spraytec® and instant images, from which the plume angle was measured. The range of the droplet size distribution and the narrow spray angle obtained suggest a good nebulization and a possible local deposition in the nasal cavity. In vitro studies performed by using human keratinocytes confirmed the high biocompatibility of vesicles and their ability to effectively counteract oxidative damage on cells induced by hydrogen peroxide. The overall collected data suggest that our vesicles are suitable as nasal spray

From waste to health: sustainable exploitation of grape pomace seed extract to manufacture antioxidant, regenerative and prebiotic nanovesicles within circular economy

Pomace seed extract loaded vesicles were prepared as promising technological and green solution to exploit agri-food wastes and by-products, and develop high value-added products for human health. An antioxidant extract rich in bioactive compounds (epicatechins, catechin, gallic acid, quercetin and procynidins) was obtained from the seeds isolated from the pomace of Cannonau red grape cultivar. The extract was incorporated into phospholipid vesicles ad hoc formulated for intestinal delivery, by combining them, for the first time, whit a maltodextrin (Glucidex). Glucidex-transfersomes, glucidex-hyalurosomes and glucidex-hyalutransferomes were prepared, characterized and tested. Glucidex-liposomes were used as reference. All vesicles were small in size (~ 150 nm), homogeneously dispersed and negatively charged. Glucidex-transfersomes and especially glucidex-hyalutransfersomes disclosed an unexpected resistance to acidic pH and high ionic strength, as they maintained their physico-chemical properties (size and size distribution) after dilution at pH 1.2 simulating the harsh gastric conditions. Vesicles were highly biocompatible and able to counteract the oxidative damages induced in Caco-2 cells by using hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, they promoted the formation of Lactobacillus reuteri biofilm acting as prebiotic formulation. Overall results suggest the potential of glucidex-hyalutransfersomes as food supplements for the treatment of intestinal disorders

Complementary effect of Zingiber officinalis extract and citral in counteracting non allergic nasal congestion by simultaneous loading in ad hoc formulated phospholipid vesicles

5 figures, 4 tables.Natural nasal spray formulations were prepared by using Zingiber officinalis (Z. officinalis) extract and citral synergically loaded into specifically designed phospholipid vesicles. Phospholipid vesicles were selected according to their stabilizing effect on the nasal mucosal barrier, and their effectiveness was further potentiated by the co-loading of Z. officinalis extract as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, and citral as antibacterial molecule. Cryo-TEM images confirmed the formation of morphologically homogeneous and small vesicles, sized around 100 nm, negatively charged (−44 mV) and highly biocompatible (viability ≥100%) as detected by using epithelial cells. The analysis of size distribution of sprayed droplets, average velocity module and spray cone angle suggested a good aptitude of the vesicles to be nebulized and their effective deposition in the nasal cavity. Moreover, vesicles were effectively capable of inhibiting some nasal pathogenic bacteria (i.e. Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli) and to protect the epithelial cells against oxidative damage. The formulations are natural and safe, and all of them have shown promising technological and biological properties suggesting their possible application in the nasal cavity for the treatment of congestions and non-allergic rhinitis.The authors thank PON-RI 2014–2020 Research and Innovation Program, grant number DOT1304004, for the support. The authors thank for technical and human support provided by TEM measurements carried out in the SGIker Polymer Characterization (UPV/EHU/ ERDF, EU); the NanoBioCel Group of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain); the Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN) of Zaragoza (Spain); the Molecular Biology Service Lab of the University of Cagliari.Peer reviewe

The interplay among psychopathology, personal resources, context-related factors and real-life functioning in schizophrenia: stability in relationships after 4 years and differences in network structure between recovered and non-recovered patients

Improving real-life functioning is the main goal of the most advanced integrated treatment programs in people with schizophrenia. The Italian Network for Research on Psychoses previously explored, by using network analysis, the interplay among illness-related variables, personal resources, context-related factors and real-life functioning in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia. The same research network has now completed a 4-year follow-up of the original sample. In the present study, we used network analysis to test whether the pattern of relationships among all variables investigated at baseline was similar at follow-up. In addition, we compared the network structure of patients who were classified as recovered at follow-up versus those who did not recover. Six hundred eighteen subjects recruited at baseline could be assessed in the follow-up study. The network structure did not change significantly from baseline to follow-up, and the overall strength of the connections among variables increased slightly, but not significantly. Functional capacity and everyday life skills had a high betweenness and closeness in the network at follow-up, as they had at baseline, while psychopathological variables remained more peripheral. The network structure and connectivity of non-recovered patients were similar to those observed in the whole sample, but very different from those in recovered subjects, in which we found few connections only. These data strongly suggest that tightly coupled symptoms/dysfunctions tend to maintain each other's activation, contributing to poor outcome in schizophrenia. Early and integrated treatment plans, targeting variables with high centrality, might prevent the emergence of self-reinforcing networks of symptoms and dysfunctions in people with schizophrenia

The interplay among psychopathology, personal resources, context-related factors and real-life functioning in schizophrenia: stability in relationships after 4 years and differences in network structure between recovered and non-recovered patients

Improving real-life functioning is the main goal of the most advanced integrated treatment programs in people with schizophrenia. The Italian Network for Research on Psychoses previously explored, by using network analysis, the interplay among illness-related variables, personal resources, context-related factors and real-life functioning in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia. The same research network has now completed a 4-year follow-up of the original sample. In the present study, we used network analysis to test whether the pattern of relationships among all variables investigated at baseline was similar at follow-up. In addition, we compared the network structure of patients who were classified as recovered at follow-up versus those who did not recover. Six hundred eighteen subjects recruited at baseline could be assessed in the follow-up study. The network structure did not change significantly from baseline to follow-up, and the overall strength of the connections among variables increased slightly, but not significantly. Functional capacity and everyday life skills had a high betweenness and closeness in the network at follow-up, as they had at baseline, while psychopathological variables remained more peripheral. The network structure and connectivity of non-recovered patients were similar to those observed in the whole sample, but very different from those in recovered subjects, in which we found few connections only. These data strongly suggest that tightly coupled symptoms/dysfunctions tend to maintain each other's activation, contributing to poor outcome in schizophrenia. Early and integrated treatment plans, targeting variables with high centrality, might prevent the emergence of self-reinforcing networks of symptoms and dysfunctions in people with schizophrenia