sports facility safety plans a framework for evaluation of evacuation times

The objective of the work is to propose a model that can analyse the conformity of a stadium, sports field or other sports facility to Italian safety norms. The model serves in particular to analyse the adequacy of the facility 'safety plan' in terms of its definition of the stages, procedures and times for evacuation of the facility. The model is structured in modular form, beginning with an analysis of the conformity of the sports facility to the applicable norms. This first stage applies a series of purpose-developed checklists to describe the facility as defined by Ministerial Decrees 18/03/1996 and 06/06/2005. Following this, the facility is characterized in terms of its location, dimensions and structural type. The next stages are: i) the analysis and estimation of the evacuation times, on the basis of the information previously gathered on the facilities; ii) the evaluation of conformity with the safety plan for the particular facility, applying the results from the previous steps. The proposed framework can be used as an instrument in support of decision-making for improvement in the safety levels of the sports facility, through augmenting the effectiveness of procedures and equipment, while also considering the economic implications of the potential improvements

An Analytical Model for Optimizing the Combination of Energy Sources in a Single Power Transmission Network

The increasing amount of renewable energy currently being added to distribution networks presents new challenges and opportunities to system operators. This situation further complicates the operators' tasks in dealing with changing net loads and balancing. The current work provides an analytical model to assist systems operators in stabilizing power generation and lowering total costs, through optimization of choices in the combination of programmable fossil sources and nonprogrammable renewable sources. The study first examines the various programmable and renewable energy sources that appear broadly suitable and economically appealing for combination. Next we identify the most important factors determining the potential integration of the sources in the system. Based on this introductory information we then develop the model for the selection of the appropriate mix of sources to achieve stable production. In developing the model we define indicators to evaluate and select the best configurations of the sources included in a particular combination. Next we apply the model to a specific case study and finally reexamine the interdependencies among all the variables of the model, to provide a better understanding of its dynamics and results

Increasing project control and guidance efficiency through a time-frame simulation approach

Nowadays projects dynamicity and complexity make the control process highly critical. The existing planning and control techniques have frequently proved inadequacy to manage the present challenge. The paper proposes a simulative approach to managing with more efficiency projects life cycles. The appositely built simulation model is populated with both deterministic and stochastic elements: the formers come from the project plan; the stochastic elements have been introduced in order to consider the probabilistic nature of activities duration. In the planning phase the model generates a “baseline pencil” that gives a more confident estimation of the time to complete the project. During the execution phase the model is able to store the data related to the ongoing activities and updates in real-time the estimation of the project completion. Contemporary, it allows the calculation of specific performance indexes which permit to signal in real-time possible occurring “warnings” to users and suggest potential solutions

integrating capacity and logistics of large additive manufacturing networks

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Negotiating and Sharing Capacities of Large Additive Manufacturing Networks

This paper focuses on dynamics of productive and demanding nodes for Scattered Manufacturing Networks within 3D Printings contexts. The various nodes issue orders or sell production slots in order to achieve their own aims. An orchestrator coordinates the dynamics along the network according to principles of sustainability, equated shared resources and transparency by managing communication activities among nodes. In particular, suitable tradeoffs occur by a unique framework that, with the aim of optimizing the overall costs, suggests either logistics paths along the network or negotiation policies among nodes in order to reallocate resources. Numerical examples present the proposed approach. Keywords: Industry 4.0, Additive Manufacturing, Sharing Capacities, Operation Models, Optimization of networks JEL Codes:  C02; O21 and P4

Analytical Marketing with Collective Perception

Social networks, forums and blogs are widely considered as a valuable source of information for many applications and in different domains. Being able to extract, analyze and use the knowledge, opinions and sentiments the users share on the Web can become a competitive advantage for any company or organization. Specifically, information about the feelings and the opinions of the users of a Web community with respect to a product or a service can be useful for marketing.  In this context, the concept of collective perception is gaining momentum as a way to process, evaluate and quantify the perception and the sentiment that a community of users share about a given phenomenon. In this work, we propose an approach, based on Fuzzy Logic and Sentiment Analysis techniques, which allows to evaluate, also in a quantitative manner, the collective perception of a Web community with respect to a specific product or service. Keywords: Collective Perception; Analytical Marketing; Fuzzy Logic; Sentiment Analysis

An Analytical Model for Optimizing the Combination of Energy Sources in a Single Power Transmission Network

The increasing amount of renewable energy currently being added to distribution networks presents new challenges and opportunities to system operators. This situation further complicates the operators' tasks in dealing with changing net loads and balancing. The current work provides an analytical model to assist systems operators in stabilizing power generation and lowering total costs, through optimization of choices in the combination of programmable fossil sources and nonprogrammable renewable sources. The study first examines the various programmable and renewable energy sources that appear broadly suitable and economically appealing for combination. Next we identify the most important factors determining the potential integration of the sources in the system. Based on this introductory information we then develop the model for the selection of the appropriate mix of sources to achieve stable production. In developing the model we define indicators to evaluate and select the best configurations of the sources included in a particular combination. Next we apply the model to a specific case study and finally reexamine the interdependencies among all the variables of the model, to provide a better understanding of its dynamics and results. Variability in Energy Sources and Loads Electricity cannot be stored on a massive scale in an economical way; thus system operators must constantly balance power supply and demand to maintain overall stability and power quality. Serious mismatches could cause local power interruptions, blackouts, or breakdowns in the entire system. Conventional hydroelectricity and coal, oil, or gas thermal generation provide steady and predictable feeds to the energy grids, with precise scheduling of output. On the other hand, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power are typically variable, meaning that they provide intermittent output that cannot be completely and accurately predicted. The increasing application of renewable energy technologies to feed into power grids is a challenge to the system operators, who must then deal with more unpredictable net loads and more complex balancing Possible solutions include (1) energy storage (e.g., pumped hydroelectric and compressed air energy storage, chemical batteries, and active load management) [3]; (2) geographic diversification of installation sites; (3) combination of energy sources. The option of energy storage as the solution to programming still presents important technical and financial limits. Diversification of renewable sources and installations can indeed reduce overall variability; however it does not eliminate the intrinsic variability of the sources. Thus one of the current challenges for network managers is the question of how to combine various energy sources in a manner that best controls variability over the entire distribution system. Possibilities and Advantages of Combining Energy Sources To combine energy sources means to integrate two or more power plants drawing on different sources. The aim of ou

Evidence of glacial melt water input in the Western Ross Sea (Antarctica) water masses

Ice shelves are believed to control the glacial stability and the Antarctic Ice Sheet balance, thus their melting is a critical issue. One of the recognized drivers of the ice shelf melting is the intrusion of the warm Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) onto the Antarctic continental shelves. In the Ross Sea: CDW is a primary source of heat, salt, iron (Fe) and nutrients and plays a major role on the shelf biogeochemical processes; CDW intrudes onto the shelf preferably in the western sector, where the local glaciers are potentially exposed to this warm intrusion; CDW, besides contributing directly to the Fe input, may also have an indirect, but relevant role on the Fe bulk by enhancing the ice shelves melting and iceberg calving. The CELEBeR (CDW Effects on glaciaL mElting and on Bulk of Fe in the Western Ross Sea) project aims to investigate the role of the CDW in supplying Fe to the Ross Sea biological system both directly, as one of the main Fe sources, and indirectly by inducing the Fe-rich glacial melt water inputs in the western Ross Sea. Preliminary data on evidence of glacial melt water input in selected areas are here presented

L’ectopia tiroidea: problemi di diagnosi e terapia

Gli Autori analizzando la casistica di tireopatie operate in circa un ventennio (2.670) riportano i casi di ectopia tiroidea (22) giunti alla loro osservazione, discutendone le caratteristiche cliniche nonché l’approccio diagnostico e terapeutico. Talora asintomatica, talora emersa clinicamente solo a seguito di tiroidectomia, l’ectopia tiroidea può creare problemi sia di funzione sia, più frequentemente, locali da compressione che richiedono il trattamento chirurgico, sempre indicato a loro parere anche in forme asintomatiche. Seppur rara, infatti, non può essere trascurata l’ipotesi della degenerazione neoplastica, intercorsa in due casi nella loro esperienza

Double probe intraoperative neuromonitoring with a standardized method in thyroid surgery

AbstractIntroductionThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and the vagus nerve (VN) with a standardized approach in thyroid surgery.MethodsRetrospective study with an experimental group with which IONM was used, both with the RLN that the VN, and a control one, each consisting of 300 total thyroidectomies. Each patient underwent a pre-and post-operative videolaryngoscopy. The number of RLNs identified and the number of transient and permanent RNL injuries for each group were assessed, and then compared with χ2 tests. In the experimental group Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive Predictability, Negative Predictability and Accuracy of IONM were evaluated, depending on the number of true positive results, false negatives, true negatives and false positives obtained by comparing the results of IONM with the post-operative videolaryngoscopies.ResultsThe results obtained for the experimental group vs. the control group were: RLNs identified 595 (99.1%) vs. 552 (92%) -P Value <0.0001; Permanent RLNs injuries 4 (1.33%) vs. 5 (1.67%) -P Value 1; transient RLNs injuries 1 (0.33%) vs. 8 (2.67%) -P Value 0.044.The IONM system, for the RLN and VN showed respectively: Sensitivity 66.7% vs. 83.3%; specificity 97.6% vs. 99.5%; Positive Predictability 22.2% vs. 62.5%; Negative Predictability 99.6% vs. 99.3%; Accuracy 97.3% vs. 99.3%.ConclusionsOur study highlights that using IONM with a standardized method in thyroid surgery, improves the ability to identify the RLN and a reduction in the incidence rate of transient RLN injuries