Electrothermal PSpice Modeling and Simulation of Power Modules

Integrated power electronics modules (IPEMs) represent an innovative typology of power electronics assemblies able to guarantee several advantages such as increasing of power density, better management of the thermal flows, and a significant reduction of the package sizes. Their characteristics make them suitable for applications like motor drives or power conditioning. IPEM usage in emerging fields like hybrid automotive traction and electric generation from renewable energy sources is continuously increasing. In this paper, we describe the implementation of a devised flow to generate the layer-based electrothermal PSpice model of an IPEM and the simulation flow of the model. The proposed modeling methodology allows reducing an electrothermal multidomain problem to an electrical single one. The general PSpice-like nature of the proposed model makes it suitable for a wide range of simulation frameworks where the integration of heterogeneous multiphysics models could be a difficult task. The outlining of both electrical and thermal PSpice layers is discussed, and the implementation into the final model, by the assistance of custom electronic-design-automation flow, is presented. Moreover, we describe the validation procedure of the proposed approach, and the results are compared with the ones obtained by a commercial finite-element-based package used as a benchmark. Two simulation approaches related to specific conversion systems, and related issues, are presented and discussed

Atomistic insights into ultrafast SiGe nanoprocessing

Controlling ultrafast material transformations with atomic precision is essential for future nanotechnology. Pulsed laser annealing (LA), inducing extremely rapid and localized phase transitions, is a powerful way to achieve this, but it requires careful optimization together with the appropriate system design. We present a multiscale LA computational framework able to simulate atom-by-atom the highly out-of-equilibrium kinetics of a material as it interacts with the laser, including effects of structural disorder. By seamlessly coupling a macroscale continuum solver to a nanoscale super-lattice Kinetic Monte Carlo code, this method overcomes the limits of state-of-the-art continuum-based tools. We exploit it to investigate nontrivial changes in composition, morphology and quality of laser-annealed SiGe alloys. Validations against experiments and phase-field simulations, as well as advanced applications to strained, defected, nanostructured and confined SiGe are presented, highlighting the importance of a multiscale atomistic-continuum approach. Current applicability and potential generalization routes are finally discussed

Isaac de l'Étoile. — Sermons. Texte et introd. crit. par Anselme Hoste, o.s.B. ; introd., trad. et notes p. [feu] Gaston Salet, s.J. Tome I

Raciti Gaetano. Isaac de l'Étoile. — Sermons. Texte et introd. crit. par Anselme Hoste, o.s.B. ; introd., trad. et notes p. [feu] Gaston Salet, s.J. Tome I. In: Cahiers de civilisation médiévale, 11e année (n°42), Avril-juin 1968. pp. 234-238

Isaac de l'Étoile. — Sermons. Texte et introd. crit. par Anselme Hoste, o.s.B. ; introd., trad. et notes p. [feu] Gaston Salet, s.J. Tome I

Raciti Gaetano. Isaac de l'Étoile. — Sermons. Texte et introd. crit. par Anselme Hoste, o.s.B. ; introd., trad. et notes p. [feu] Gaston Salet, s.J. Tome I. In: Cahiers de civilisation médiévale, 11e année (n°42), Avril-juin 1968. pp. 234-238

Multiscale modeling of ultrafast melting phenomena

Ultraviolet Nanosecond Laser Annealing (LA) is a powerful tool for both fundamental investigations of ultrafast, nonequilibrium phase-change phenomena and technological applications (e.g., the processing of 3D sequentially integrated nano-electronic devices) where strongly confined heating and melting is desirable. Optimizing the LA process along with the experimental design is challenging, especially when involving complex 3D-nanostructured systems with various shapes and phases. To this purpose, it is essential to model critical nanoscale physical LA-induced phenomena, such as shape changes or formation and evolution of point and extended defects. To date, LA simulators are based on continuum models, which cannot fully capture the microscopic kinetics of a solid-liquid interface. In this work a fully atomistic LA simulation methodology is presented, based on the parallel coupling of a continuum, finite elements, μm-scale electromagnetic-thermal solver with a super-lattice Kinetic Monte Carlo atomistic model for melting. Benchmarks against phase-field models and experimental data validate the approach. LA of a Si(001) surface is studied varying laser fluence and pulse shape, assuming both homogeneous and inhomogeneous nucleation, revealing how liquid Si nuclei generate, deform and coalesce during irradiation. The proposed methodology is applicable to any system where the atom kinetics is determined by a strongly space-and time-dependent field, such as temperature or strain

Engaging users in tracking their water usage behavior

WATERNOMICS is an EU funded project that aims to raise awareness about efficient water management using ICT to provide users with insightful and actionable information. A crucial problem faced in our pilot settings was to enable personalized tracking of water consumption in a non-enforcing and invasive way. This paper presents two scenarios of such a system using storyboards that describe them in a university building setup, trying to encourage students to become more water aware. The paper continues to present the findings from the user tests conducted in the experiments in two pilot sites and concluded by presenting the changes in the design of the final application for the public space environment

KCTD1: A novel modulator of adipogenesis through the interaction with the transcription factor AP2α

Adipogenesis has an important role in regulating energy balance, tissue homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes have been widely used as an in vitro model for studying adipocyte differentiation. We here show that KCTD1, a member of the potassium channel containing tetramerization domain proteins, plays an active role in adipogenesis. In particular, we show KCTD1 expression 3T3-L1 cells increases upon adipogenesis induction. Treatment of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with Kctd1-specific siRNA inhibited the differentiation, as indicated by reduction of expression of the specific adipogenic markers C/ebpa, Ppar gamma 2, Glut4, and Adiponectin. Moreover, we also show that the protein physically interacts with the transcription factor AP2 alpha, a known inhibitor of adipogenesis, both in vitro and in cells. Interestingly, our data indicate that KCTD1 promotes adipogenesis through the interaction with AP2 alpha a and by removing it from the nucleus. Collectively, these findings disclose a novel role for KCTD1 and pave the way for novel strategies aimed at modulating adipogenesis

Proportion of patients needing an implantable cardioverter defibrillator on the basis of current guidelines: impact on healthcare resources in Italy and the USA. Data from the ALPHA study registry.

14nonenonePedretti RF, Curnis A, Massa R, Morandi F, Tritto M, Manca L, Occhetta E, Molon G, De Ferrari GM, Sarzi Braga S, Raciti G, Klersy C, Salerno-Uriarte JA; ALPHA Study Group InvestigatorsPedretti, Rf; Curnis, Antonio; Massa, R; Morandi, F; Tritto, M; Manca, L; Occhetta, E; Molon, G; De Ferrari, Gm; Sarzi Braga, S; Raciti, G; Klersy, C; Salerno Uriarte, Ja; ALPHA Study Group, Investigator

Interacting with dementia: the MARIO approach

MARIO is a companion robot that aims to help people with dementia (PWD) to battle isolation and loneliness by enabling them to stay socially active by providing a number of applications focused on hobbies (music, movies, etc), staying engaged with communities (reading headlines, reading local twitter feeds etc.) and staying connected with family and friends (telephoning them, reading their news from twitter, etc.). This paper presents the results from the initial trials of MARIO interacting with PWD involving a limited set of applications. It confirms some of the challenges hypothesized at the outset of the study and provides guidelines for future development work

MARIO Project: experimentation in the hospital setting

In the EU funded MARIO project, specific technological tools are adopted for the patient with dementia (PWD). At this stage of the project, the experimentation phase is under way, and the first two trials were completed as shown below: the first trial was performed in November 2016, and second trial was performed in April 2017. The current implemented and assessed applications (apps) are My Music app, My News app, My Games app, My Calendar app, My Family and Friends app, and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) app. The aim of the present study was to provide a preliminary analysis of the acceptability and efficacy of MARIO companion robot on clinical, cognitive, neuropsychiatric, affective and social aspects, resilience capacity, quality of life in PWD, and burden level of the caregivers. Thirteen patients [5 patients (M = 3; F = 2) in first trial, and 8 patients (M = 6; F = 2) in second trial] were screened for eligibility and all were included. At admission and at discharge, the following tests were administered: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Hachinski Ischemic Scale (HIS), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS-21), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Social Dysfunction Rating Scale (SDRS), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QOL-AD), Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), Tinetti Balance Assessment (TBA), and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) was carried out. A questionnaire based on the Al-mere Acceptance model was used to evaluate the acceptance of the MARIO robot. During the first trial, My Music, My Games and My News apps were used. At discharge, no significant improvement was shown through the above questionnaires. During the second trial, My Music, My Games, My News, My Calendar, My Family and Friends, and CGA apps were used. At discharge, significant improvements were observed in the following parameters: NPI (p = 0.027), GDS-15 (p = 0.042), and BRS (p = 0.041), CBI (p = 0.046). Instead, the number of medications is increased at discharge (p = 0.038). The mean of hospitalization days is 5.6 ± 3.9 (range = 3–13 days). The Almere Model Questionnaire suggested, a higher acceptance level was shown in first and second trial