Trabajo cartonero en la ciudad de Santiago del Estero, una primera aproximación a través de CORESA.

El trabajo de recuperar residuos ha estado presente desde los inicios de las crisis económicas que ha atravesado Latinoamérica desde los años 50´. Muchas personas han encontrado la posibilidad de asegurar su subsistencia mediante la actividad de juntar material que es considerado reciclable por la industria para su posterior comercialización. En este trabajo, realizado en la ciudad de Santiago del Estero –en el primer Centro de Reciclaje de la provincia, sostenido por recuperadores urbanos- se indagó sobre aspectos relativos a la edad con la que los individuos de CORESA (Comunidad de Recuperadores de Santiago del Estero) iniciaron la actividad, tipo de actividad realizada dentro de la organización y otras interrogantes. Este trabajo tiene por objetivo realizar una primera caracterización de la población de las personas que trabajan en CORESA (Comunidad de Recuperadores de Santiago del Estero). Esta comunidad se encuentra en vías de transformarse en cooperativa y actualmente está formada por más de 300 familias de recuperadores, distribuidas entre la ciudad Santiago del Estero, Forres y Los Morales (localidades ubicadas al Sur y Norte de la ciudad respectivamente). En el artículo se trabajan las siguientes dimensiones: trabajadores, trabajo y experiencias subjetivas. Para el análisis de estas dimensiones se desarrollan teorías vinculadas a la precariedad laboral, trabajo informal de los recuperadores urbanos, trabajo cooperativo, finalmente se exponen algunas reflexiones vinculadas al trabajo de los recuperadores urbanos en Santiago del Estero.

Effect of Circuit Geometry on Steady Flow Performance of an Automotive Turbocharger Compressor

Downsizing and turbocharging are today considered an effective way to reduce CO2 emissions in automotive gasoline engines. To this aim, a deep knowledge of turbocharger behavior could be a key solution to improve the engine-turbocharger matching calculation. The influence of the intake system geometry on the surge line position is an important aspect to guide the project of the intake manifold, enlarging the compressor stable zone. This aspect has a considerable impact on engine performance, especially during transient operation. A wide experimental investigation was carried out at the turbocharger test facility of the University of Genoa on a small turbocharger compressor. Compressor characteristic curves measured considering an automotive intake circuit are compared with standard maps provided by turbocharger\u2019s manufacturer. This information allows the optimization of 1D model implementing more realistic maps of compressor. The influence of three different layouts has been investigated varying overall circuit volume and length, keeping values in a range compatible with passenger cars packaging constraints. In the paper, the main results of the experimental campaign are presented taking into account the influence of geometry variations on compressor map and surge line position

1D Simulation and Experimental Analysis of a Turbocharger Turbine for Automotive Engines Under Steady and Unsteady Flow Conditions

Abstract Turbocharging technique is more and more widely employed on compression ignition and spark ignition internal combustion engines, as well, to improve performance and reduce total displacement. Experimental studies, developed on dedicated test facilities, can supply a lot of information to optimize the engine-turbocharger matching, especially if tests can be extended to the typical engine operating conditions (unsteady flow). A specialized components test rig (particularly suited to study automotive turbochargers) has been operating since several years at the University of Genoa. The test facility allows to develop studies under steady or unsteady flow conditions both on single components and subassemblies of engine intake and exhaust circuit. In the paper the results of an experimental campaign developed on a turbocharger waste-gated turbine for gasoline engine application are presented. Preliminarily, the measurement of the turbine steady flow performance map is carried out. In a second step the same component is tested under unsteady flow conditions. Instantaneous inlet and outlet static pressure, mass flow rate and turbocharger rotational speed are measured, together with average inlet and outlet temperatures. A numerical procedure, recently developed at the University of Naples, is then utilized to predict the steady turbine performance map, following a 1D approach. The model geometrically schematizes the component basing on few linear and angular dimensions directly measured on the hardware. Then, the 1D steady flow equations are solved within the stationary and rotating channels constituting the device. All the main flow losses are properly taken into account in the model. The procedure is able to provide the sole "wheel-map" and the overall turbine map. After a tuning, the overall turbine map is compared with the experimental one, showing a very good agreement. Moreover, in order to improve the accuracy of a 1D engine simulation model, the classical map-based approach is suitably corrected with a sequence of pipes that schematizes each component of the device (inlet/outlet ducts, volute and wheel) included upstream and downstream the turbine to account for the wave propagation and accumulation phenomena inside the machine. In this case, the previously computed "wheel-map" is utilized. The turbine pipes dimensions, are automatically provided by the geometrical module of the proposed procedure to correctly reproduce the device volume and the flow path length

Experimental investigation on the vibrational and fluid dynamics behaviour of a turbocharger compressor in the transition to surge operation

High-speed dynamic centrifugal compressors are widely used both in the modern internal combustion engine design and in advanced pressurized cycles and innovative plant layouts as fuel cell systems. Surge strongly limits the stable operating region of centrifugal compressors in low mass flow rate conditions especially during fast transients. Therefore, it is of great importance to investigate transient system dynamic response of compressor surge evolution and early detection of incipient compressor surge. A specific experimental investigation on compressor surge was carried out at the University of Genoa turbocharger test facility and results are presented and analysed in this paper. The activity consists of steady state and transient measurements used to characterize and identify compressor behaviour in correspondence of surge inception conditions. The frequency and time frequency data analysis have been applied on inflow pressure, anemometric and vibrational signals to identify their contents and so to be able to classify compressor operation as stable or unstable. Synchronous averages performed in the time domain have been identified as a suitable algorithmic tool to detect incipient surge conditions. Anemometric signal analysis allowed to identify intermitting phenomena in deep surge conditions may be related to the rise of a rotation stall condition. The obtained results provide original diagnostic and predictive methods to be integrated in a monitoring system capable of preventing surge and extending compressor operating range, performance and reliability to allow the integration with the other plant components

Breeding performance in the Italian chicken breed Mericanel della Brianza

In Italy, 90 local avian breeds were described; the majority (61%) were classified as extinct and only 8.9% as still widely spread. Therefore, efforts for conservation of Italian avian breeds are urgently required. The aim of this study was to record the breeding performance of the Italian breed Mericanel della Brianza to multiply a small population, in order to develop a conservation programme. Fourteen females and eight males were available at the beginning of the reproductive season in 2009 and organised into eight families (1 male/1-2 females) kept in floor pens. Birds received a photoperiod of 14L:10D and were fed ad libitum. Breeding performance was recorded from March to June. Egg production and egg weight were recorded daily; eggs were set every two weeks and fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability were recorded. Mean egg production was 37% and mean egg weight was 34±3.49 g. High fertility values from 94% to 87% were recorded in the first three settings and the overall mean fertility value was 81.6%. Overall hatchability was only 49.6% owing to a high proportion of dead embryos. Embryo mortality occurred mainly between days 2 and 7 of incubation and during hatching. The highest hatchability values were recorded in settings 1 and 2, 69% and 60% respectively, and a large decrease was found in the subsequent settings. Marked variations in egg production, fertility, hatchability and embryo mortality were found among families. The present results represent the basic know ledge of reproductive parameters necessary to improve the reproductive efficiency of the breed within a conservation plan

Measuring calf circumference in frail hospitalized older adults and prediction of in-hospital complications and post-discharge mortality

BackgroundSarcopenia, characterized by muscle mass, strength, and performance decline, significantly impacts outcomes in older adults. This study aims to assess the predictive value of calf circumference (CC), in conjunction with SARC-F and hand grip, concerning in-hospital complications and post-discharge mortality among hospitalized frail older adults.MethodsA cohort of 158 hospitalized patients aged over 65 years underwent Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and sarcopenia screening, including CC measurement. Multivariable regression analyses, adjusted for confounders, were conducted to assess predictive associations.ResultsThe study cohort, comprising 53% males with a median age of 86 years, exhibited significant sarcopenia prevalence based on SARC-F (85% indicating sarcopenia), hand grip strength (probable sarcopenia in 77% of males and 72% of females), and CC (sarcopenia in 83%). Multivariate analysis, adjusting for age, sex, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), demonstrated associations of CC and SARC-F with in-hospital complications, while CC also showed a significant association with reduced risks of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.441, 95% CI 0.257 to 0.754, p = 0.003) and 90-day mortality (OR 0.714, 95% CI 0.516 to 0.988, p = 0.043).ConclusionThis study provides insights into the predictive accuracy of sarcopenia screening tools on mortality in real-world hospitalized older adults with frailty. Notably, CC emerges as a robust predictor of mortality outcomes. Further research is warranted to validate and elucidate the respective contributions of CC and frailty to mortality in vulnerable populations

Assigning single clinical features to their disease-locus in large deletions: the example of chromosome 1q23-25 deletion syndrome

Aim: Assigning a disease-locus within the shortest regions of overlap (SRO) shared by deleted/duplicated subjects presenting this disease is a robust mapping approach, although the presence of different malformation traits and their attendance only in a part of the affected subjects can hinder the interpretation. To overcome the problem of incomplete penetrance, we developed an algorithm that we applied to the deletion region 1q23.3-q25, which contains three SROs, each contributing to the abnormal phenotype without clearly distinguishing between the different malformations. We describe six new subjects, including a healthy father and his daughter, with 1q23.3-q25 deletion of different sizes. The aim of this study was to correlate specific abnormal traits to the haploinsufficiency of specific gene/putative regulatory elements. Methods: Merging cases with those in the literature, we considered four traits, namely intellectual disability (ID), microcephaly, short-hands/feet, and brachydactyly, and conceived a mathematical model to predict with what probability the haploinsufficiency of a specific portion of the deletion region is associated with one of the four malformations. Results: The haploinsufficiency of PBX1 is strongly associated with ID. DNM3 and LHX4 are confirmed as responsible for growth retardation, whereas ATPIB1 was identified as a new candidate gene for microcephaly, short-hands/feet, and brachydactyly. Conclusion: Although our model is hampered by long-term position effects of regulatory elements, synergistic cooperation of several genes, and incomplete clinical assessment, it can be useful for contiguous gene syndromes showing a complex pattern of clinical characteristics. Obviously, functional approaches are needed to warrant its reliability

Long-term monitoring of tropical moist forest extent (from 1990 to 2019): Description of the dataset

The need for accurate information on the state and evolution of tropical forest types at regional and continental scales is widely recognized, particularly to analyze the forest diversity and dynamics, to assess degradation and deforestation processes and to better manage these natural resources. Here we document the approach that was developed by JRC to map and monitor the extent of moist tropical forests and their changes (degradation, deforestation and regrowth) over the last three decades (1990-2020) at fine spatial resolution (30 m × 30 m). The approach is based on the analysis of each valid observation from the Landsat archive and allows to capture disturbances with a short-duration appearance on satellite imagery such as selective logging, fires, and severe weather events (hurricanes, dryness). This new approach allows characterizing the sequential dynamics of forest cover changes by providing transition stages from the initial observation period to the most recent year (2019 for this report). For the first time at the pantropical scale the occurrence and extent of forest degradation can be documented on an annual basis in addition to the monitoring of deforestation. After a short introduction (chapter 1), this technical report describes the study area (chapter 2), the input data (chapter 3), the method that has been developed (chapter 4), and the outcomes of this study (chapter 5). A discussion is also provided regarding the specificities and added value of the outcomes (chapter 6), and the known limitations and future expected improvements (chapter 7). This new pan-tropical scale deforestation and forest degradation monitoring system will contribute to the EU Observatory on deforestation, forest degradation, changes in the world’s forest cover, and associated drivers, which is an action being implemented in the framework of the Communication from the Commission to step up EU action to protect and restore the World’s forests (COM(2019) 352).JRC.D.1-Bio-econom