Synchronisation effects on the behavioural performance and information dynamics of a simulated minimally cognitive robotic agent

Oscillatory activity is ubiquitous in nervous systems, with solid evidence that synchronisation mechanisms underpin cognitive processes. Nevertheless, its informational content and relationship with behaviour are still to be fully understood. In addition, cognitive systems cannot be properly appreciated without taking into account brain–body– environment interactions. In this paper, we developed a model based on the Kuramoto Model of coupled phase oscillators to explore the role of neural synchronisation in the performance of a simulated robotic agent in two different minimally cognitive tasks. We show that there is a statistically significant difference in performance and evolvability depending on the synchronisation regime of the network. In both tasks, a combination of information flow and dynamical analyses show that networks with a definite, but not too strong, propensity for synchronisation are more able to reconfigure, to organise themselves functionally and to adapt to different behavioural conditions. The results highlight the asymmetry of information flow and its behavioural correspondence. Importantly, it also shows that neural synchronisation dynamics, when suitably flexible and reconfigurable, can generate minimally cognitive embodied behaviour

Regeneration Section of CO2 Capture Plant by MEA Scrubbing with a Rate-Based Model

CO2 capture from exhaust gas of power plants, natural gas and refinery gas can be successfully achieved by chemical absorption with alkanolamines. CO2 capture from exhaust gas is often obtained by absorption with monoethanolamine (MEA) which is the most frequently used solvent for this purpose. Thermodynamics, kinetics and mass transfer influence the chemical absorption process. Acidic gases and amines are weak electrolytes, which partially dissociate in the aqueous phase: the high non-ideality of the liquid phase must be properly taken into account, by employing a γ/φ method. Kinetics and mass transfer can be described using two different approaches: the “equilibrium-based stage efficiency” model or the “rate-based” one. ASPEN Plus® uses the rate-based model, but the prediction of mass transfer coefficients is based on the film theory by Lewis and Whitman, while other theories can more conveniently be used, i.e. the Eddy Diffusivity theory. Since ASPEN Plus® simulator is suitable to be user customized, it has been chosen as framework for the model proposed in this work, that was validated by comparing simulation results with experimental data of a pilot plant for the purification of exhaust gas from power plant by means of MEA washing

Regeneration section of CO2 capture plant by MEA scrubbing with a rate-based model

CO2 capture from exhaust gas of power plants, natural gas and refinery gas can be successfully achieved by chemical absorption with alkanolamines. CO2 capture from exhaust gas is often obtained by absorption with monoethanolamine (MEA) which is the most frequently used solvent for this purpose. Our paper focuses on the regeneration section, where the amine solution is separated from the absorbed CO2 and recirculated to the absorber. Since regeneration is obtained in a stripper or a distillation column, it is the most energy demanding unit of the plant, so a careful modeling is required. Thermodynamics, kinetics and mass transfer influence the chemical absorption process. Acidic gases and amines are weak electrolytes, which partially dissociate in the aqueous phase: the high non-ideality of the liquid phase must be properly taken into account, by employing a γ/φ method. Kinetics and mass transfer can be described using two different approaches: the “equilibrium-based stage efficiency” model or the “rate-based” one. ASPEN Plus® uses the rate-based model, but the prediction of mass transfer coefficients is based on the film theory by Lewis and Whitman, while other theories can more conveniently be used, i.e. the Eddy Diffusivity theory. Since ASPEN Plus® simulator is suitable to be user customized, it has been chosen as framework for the model proposed in this work, that was validated by comparing simulation results with experimental data of a pilot plant for the purification of exhaust gas from power plant

Structure of cattle, sheep, goat and buffalo populations using single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes affecting lipid metabolism

n/

Design of the CO2 Removal Section for PSA Tail Gas Treatment in a Hydrogen Production Plant

CO2 capture, storage, and, recently, utilization (CCSU) is considered effective in achieving the target of 2°C established to reduce the gradual increase in global warming. In the literature, most of research has focused on the removal of carbon dioxide from power plants, particularly those fed with coal, which account for higher amounts of CO2 emissions if compared with those fed with natural gas. CCSU in other non-power sectors is still not fully considered, while its importance in mitigating the environmental impact of industrial activities is equivalent to that of power plants. In the field of hydrogen production, treatment of gaseous streams to remove carbon dioxide is performed for producing a stream of almost pure H2 starting from syngas and for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, so that CO2 removal units can be part of different sections of the plant. In this work, a state-of-the-art steam-methane-reforming (SMR) plant for the production of 100,000 Nm3/h of hydrogen has been considered. Hydrogen is produced from syngas by employing the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology, and the exiting tail gas is fed to the burners of the SMR unit, after removal of carbon dioxide. This work focuses on the design of the units for the treatment of the PSA tail gas by employing an aqueous solution of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). Simulations have been performed with the commercial process simulator ASPEN Plus®, customized by the GASP group of Politecnico di Milano for best representing both the thermodynamics of the system and the mass transfer with reaction. For the scheme composed of the absorber and the regenerator, several column configurations have been considered, and the optimal solution, which minimizes the energy requirements of the plant, has been selected

Molecular characterization of the NRAMP1 gene in buffalo

NRAMP1 (natural-resistance-associated macrophage protein) gene influences the initial phase of bacterial cellular infections, regulating macrophage activation. Recent literature on buffalo has attempted to associate the genotypes at the polymorphic microsatellite, that is located in the 3'-UTR of the gene, with either susceptibility to brucellosis or improved macrophage function. However, contradictory results were reported. In the present work, we have sequenced the whole coding region, as well as part of the introns and UTRs, of the NRAMP1 gene in 49 Mediterranean buffaloes, including both serologically positive and negative animals to Brucella abortus test. We have detected 12 mutations. Nineteen haplotypes were built from the detected variant alleles, so demonstrating the high variability of this gene in buffalo, but no significant differences in haplotype frequencies were found between serologically positive/negative animals