A PLS PATH MODEL TO INVESTIGATE THE RELATIONS BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

The paper studies the relations between types of institutions on different components of human development. A role of aggregate demand in determining the material components of human development is assumed. We thus divide institutions into those that create demand and those that are determined by the whole process of development. Similarly we divide human development in its three traditional components (economic development, health, knowledge). Both human development and institutions are assumed as multidimensional constructs; all the main components of these constructs are defined as latent variables, and the relations between them as structural relations. A Partial Least Squares (PLS) path model is developed: it is the aggregation (and simultaneous estimation) of an outer model relating observed or manifest variables to their own latent variable and of a structural model (inner model) relating some endogenous latent variable to other latent variables. From the goodness of fit point of view, our results seem to validate our theoretical assumptions.Structural Equations Models, Institutions, Human Development

Distributed energy production in a polycentric scenario: policy reforms and community management

Any discussion of distributed energy systems inevitably centres on how they compare with the large energy systems, i.e. the traditional centralised model of energy production, and on the viability of local energy systems as alternatives in terms of efficiency and sustainability. At present, the debate on local energy systems and distributed energy production hinges mainly on questions of technology and engineering; at most, some reflections on economy are thrown in. What we believe is essential is to cast the net wider and include other dimensions. In particular, we also need to consider in greater depth the organisational and institutional issues involved \u2013 until now, less considered and discussed. In this perspective, the main question addressed by the present article is if and how new forms of local organisations can provide the crucial catalyst for a new polycentric distributed energy scenario. Copyright \ua9 2018 Informa UK Limite

Fatigue analysis of adhesive joints with laser treated substrates

Abstract Recent literature works focused on the analysis of laser irradiation on the strength of adhesive joints under quasi-static loading conditions. It has been demonstrated that laser surface preparation allows to remove impurity and weak boundary layers from the mating substrates and, depending on the energy density, it is also able to modify surface morphology promoting mechanical interlocking. In previous works, the authors assessed the effect of Yb-fiber laser ablation over the quasi-static strength and toughness, of aluminum and stainless steel adhesively bonded joints. The experimental results demonstrated the ability of laser irradiation to improve the mechanical properties of the joints. The aim of this work is to extend the scope of previous investigations to fatigue loading. Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) samples with laser treated aluminum substrates have been bonded with a two component epoxy adhesive. For comparison standard degreasing and grit blasting have been also deployed for samples preparation. The results have been compared in terms of cycles to failure and the fracture surfaces have been analyzed by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in order to investigate the mechanism of failure

Controlled surface initiated polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide from polycaprolactone substrates for regulating cell attachment and detachment

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) substrates were modified with thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brushes to direct and control cellular attachment and detachment. Prior to brush growth, the surface of PCL was activated by a diamine to allow for initiator coupling. Infrared spectra taken before and after cell culturing demonstrated the covalently attached nature of the PNIPAM brushes. PCL is a biocompatible polymer and to prove that the modifications described above did not change this characteristic property, a cell attachment/detachment study was carried out. The modified substrates showed a lower cell attachment when compared to PCL alone and to PCL films modified with the initiator. The possibility to detach the cells in the form of a sheet was proved using PNIPAM-modified PCL films by lowering the temperature to 25 °C. No relevant detachment was shown by the unmodified or by the initiator modified surfaces. This confirmed that the detachment was temperature dependent and not connected to other factors such as polymer swelling. These functionalized polymeric films can find applications as smart cell culture systems in regenerative medicine applications

Artifact-based calibration and performance verification of the MScMS-II

Large scale measuring systems, i.e. measuring systems characterized by a measurement volume from some meters up to some hundreds of meters, are gaining importance in industry to check large parts or track the position of automated vehicles. In contrast with classical monolithic measuring systems, modern large scale measuring systems are constituted by constellations of sensors able to track the position of objects by triangulation or trilateration. This new design allows a greater system flexibility, scalability, and portability, together with a general reduction of costs. The MScMS-II is a large scale measuring system based on infrared triangulation. It has been designed to guarantee the maximum flexibility and reconfigurability, so every set-up procedure has been reduced as much as possible, so that its deployment and calibration requires a short time. However, its accuracy could benefit of a more complete volumetric calibration through the definition of a model of the volumetric error to be compensated. This work continues the one proposed at the CAT2012 conference [1]. An artifact has been developed which is constituted by a series of infrared reflective spheres, thus being well visible by the MScMS-II system. It has been calibrated with a ~1 µm uncertainty. It carries two series of balls. A pair of spheres with a reciprocal distance equal to 800 mm can be used for system calibration. A series of couples of balls with reciprocal distances equal to 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mm respectively can be adopted for performance verification similarly to what is suggested in the ISO 10360 series of standards for CMMs. Experimental results are proposed for the calibration and performance verification procedure of the MScMS-II system

A case of acute aortic dissection type b associated with cushing's syndrome

We report a case of a 63-year-old man, with a previous history of hypertension and glucose intolerance associated troncular obesity that was emergently admitted to our Institution for evaluation of a severe, constant posterior chest pain which radiated anteriorly and dyspnoea with a suspected diagnosis of acute aortic dissection. A CT scan of thorax and abdomen demonstrated a dissection starting just below left succlavian artery and extending downward to the left renal artery, involving the celiac tripod and superior mesenteric artery. The dissection was classified as Stanford B, De Bakey III. Moreover, CT scan of abdomen revealed incidentally a left adrenal tumor of 25 mm of diameter. An emergent prosthetic graft was placed just below the origin of the left succlavian artery up-to the diaphragmatic hiatus. Furthermore, a diagnostic evaluation of the mass revealed an increase of cortisol production, and a diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome was done and the patient underwent an adrenalectomy via laparotomic approach. We report an association of acute aortic dissection of acute aortic dissection type B associated to Cushing's syndrome. Cushing's syndrome; Adrenocortical adenoma; Aortic dissection type B