Strategic planning optimisation of "Napoli Est" water distribution system

The District Meter Areas (DMA) design is an innovative methodology of water networks management, based on the pressure patterns control and on the water flows monitoring, in order to reduce water losses and to optimize the water systems management. A District Meter Area is an area supplied from few water inputs, into which discharges can be easily measured to determine leaks. So, the DMA design represents an alternative to the traditional approach based on heavy looped distribution network. In the present paper the DMA design of the “Napoli Est” water distribution system (approximately 65.000÷70.000 customers), performed with the support of the Water Agency ARIN S.p.A., is discussed. After analysis of authorized consumption, by means of a monitoring campaign of water flows over the area, the system water balance was performed, showing significant water losses, as a consequence of high pressure patterns. This situation was confirmed by the high number of maintenance operations performed in the area during the year 2005. In order to characterize the piezometric heads on the network, ARIN S.p.A. supplied to the installation of six pressure transducers in the most vulnerable areas. The water level in the supply reservoir was also measured in order to estimate its influence on the network pressure heads. Hydraulic simulations were carried out with the EPANET software version 2.0 applied to a network layout resulted from the system “skeletonization”, achieved by eliminating out of order pipes, integrating pipelines of same diameter and roughness, replacing dead-end branches and small networks supplied by a single junction with an equivalent discharge. After the skeletonizated network was calibrated, several hypothesis of designing and implementing DMA to reduce physical losses were performed, providing adequate operating pressure of the system. Many numerical simulations were performed to guarantee adequate head pressure especially for peak hours demand, break of transmission mains and fire hydrant service. A chlorine residuals analysis was also effected, by simulating the transport and decay of chlorine through the network. District Meter Areas, therefore, were designed, and the corresponding hydraulic and water quality investigations and simulations were carried out. Six District Meter Areas were planned, assembling 14 intercepting valves and 9 pressure reducing valves to prevent the downstream pressure head from exceeding the set value, achieving a remarkable water saving, approximately equal to 34% of the physical losses, corresponding to 16% of system input volume

Distribution of chirality in the quantum walk: Markov process and entanglement

The asymptotic behavior of the quantum walk on the line is investigated focusing on the probability distribution of chirality independently of position. The long-time limit of this distribution is shown to exist and to depend on the initial conditions, and it also determines the asymptotic value of the entanglement between the coin and the position. It is shown that for given asymptotic values of both the entanglement and the chirality distribution it is possible to find the corresponding initial conditions within a particular class of spatially extended Gaussian distributions. Moreover it is shown that the entanglement also measures the degree of Markovian randomness of the distribution of chirality.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, It was accepted in Physcial Review

Métodos para evaluar interacciones entre cuerpos de agua en un humedal y aplicación en dos casos de estudio

La comprensión de la dinámica de ecosistemas dependientes del recurso hídrico subterráneo, como pueden llegar a serlo algunos humedales, parte del conocimiento del sistema hidrológico. Para alcanzar esta meta se aplica una serie de métodos y procedimientos de análisis que comprenden la caracterización hi-drogeológica, la delimitación del área de captura de agua hacia el humedal, el monitoreo piezométrico, la rea-lización de balances de masas. La modelación numérica, los análisis hidrogeoquímicos y los métodos isotópi-cos permiten refinar y validar los modelos conceptuales. En el marco del proyecto Hydrochemical and isotopic techniques for assessment hidrological proccesses on wetlands, promovido entre los años 2006 y 2011 por la Agencia Internacional de Energía Atómica (IAEA), Colombia y Argentina compartieron conoci-miento y experiencias para entender la dinámica de los humedales Ciénaga Colombia y La Salada. En este texto se resumen aspectos metodológicos y los resultados de los dos casos de estudio considerados.The Understanding of ecosystem dynamics, for example the wetlands, depends of the knowledge of the hydrologic system. Many techniques can be used in order to obtain a good conceptual mod-el of the wetlands and its catchment area: hydrogeology, numerical modeling, hydrogeochemestry, and iso-tope hydrology. researchers of Argentina and Colombia studied -According with the project: ―Hydrochemical and isotopic techniques for assessment hidrological proccesses on wetlands‖ (IAEA, 2006 to 2011)- two wet-lands hydrogeology dependent: La salada Pond and Cienaga Colombia Weltand. These projects used method-ologies similar and they obtained validated hydrological models

Microstability analysis of pellet fuelled discharges in MAST

Reactor grade plasmas are likely to be fuelled by pellet injection. This technique transiently perturbs the profiles, driving the density profile hollow and flattening the edge temperature profile. After the pellet perturbation, the density and temperature profiles relax towards their quasi-steady-state shape. Microinstabilities influence plasma confinement and will play a role in determining the evolution of the profiles in pellet fuelled plasmas. In this paper we present the microstability analysis of pellet fuelled H-mode MAST plasmas. Taking advantage of the unique capabilities of the MAST Thomson scattering system and the possibility of synchronizing the eight lasers with the pellet injection, we were able to measure the evolution of the post-pellet electron density and temperature profiles with high temporal and spatial resolution. These profiles, together with ion temperature profiles measured using a charge exchange diagnostic, were used to produce equilibria suitable for microstability analysis of the equilibrium changes induced by pellet injection. This analysis, carried out using the local gyrokinetic code GS2, reveals that the microstability properties are extremely sensitive to the rapid and large transient excursions of the density and temperature profiles, which also change collisionality and beta e significantly in the region most strongly affected by the pellet ablation.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article submitted for publication in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from i

Connecting global priorities: biodiversity and human health: a state of knowledge review.

Healthy communities rely on well-functioning ecosystems. They provide clean air, fresh water, medicines and food security. They also limit disease and stabilize the climate. But biodiversity loss is happening at unprecedented rates, impacting human health worldwide.The report, Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health, focuses on the complex and multi-faceted connections between biodiversity and human health, and how the loss of biodiversity and corresponding ecosystem services may negatively influence health. One of the first integrative reviews of its kind, the report brings together knowledge from several scientific disciplines, including public health, conservation, agriculture, epidemiology and development. The book is a joint publication of the Convention on Biological Diversity and World Health Organization. Danny Hunter, Senior Scientist, Bioversity International is one of the Lead Coordinating Authors of the book and co-lead author on two chapters:Chapter 5: Agricultural biodiversity and food security Chapter 6: Biodiversity and nutritio

HDAC-inhibitor (S)-8 disrupts HDAC6-PP1 complex prompting A375 melanoma cell growth arrest and apoptosis.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are agents capable of inducing growth arrest and apoptosis in different tumour cell types. Previously, we reported a series of novel HDACi obtained by hybridizing SAHA or oxamflatin with 1,4-benzodiazepines. Some of these hybrids proved effective against haematological and solid cancer cells and, above all, compound (S)-8 has emerged for its activities in various biological systems. Here, we describe the effectiveness of (S)-8 against highly metastatic human A375 melanoma cells by using normal PIG1 melanocytes as control. (S)-8 prompted: acetylation of histones H3/H4 and α-tubulin; G(0)/G(1) and G(2)/M cell cycle arrest by rising p21 and hypophos-phorylated RB levels; apoptosis involving the cleavage of PARP and caspase 9, BAD protein augmentation and cytochrome c release; decrease in cell motility, invasiveness and pro-angiogenic potential as shown by results of wound-healing assay, down-regulation of MMP-2 and VEGF-A/VEGF-R2, besides TIMP-1/TIMP-2 up-regulation; and also intracellular accumulation of melanin and neutral lipids. The pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk, but not the antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine, contrasted these events. Mechanistically, (S)-8 allows the disruption of cytoplasmic HDAC6-protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) complex in A375 cells thus releasing the active PP1 that dephosphorylates AKT and blocks its downstream pro-survival signalling. This view is consistent with results obtained by: inhibiting PP1 with Calyculin A; using PPP1R2-transfected cells with impaired PP1 activity; monitoring drug-induced HDAC6-PP1 complex re-shuffling; and, abrogating HDAC6 expression with specific siRNA. Altogether, (S)-8 proved very effective against melanoma A375 cells, but not normal melanocytes, and safe to normal mice thus offering attractive clinical prospects for treating this aggressive malignancy

Cervical Laminoplasty with Polypropylene Mesh: Our Experience

Cervical laminoplasty was made to reduce the complications of the simple laminectomy. The main indication is degenerative cervical myelopathy with posterior compression to two or more levels. To simplify this procedure with more effectiveness, we conceived a cervical laminoplastica with polypropylene mesh, generally used in abdominoplasty, to provide more resistance during mechanisms of flexion-extension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 35 patients (27 males, 8 females) with degenerative cervical myelopathy who underwent surgical tretament at our institution between 2010 and 2015. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The main duration of surgery was about 90 minutes without intra or post-operative complications. Clinical and radiological follow-up was done at 1, 3 and 6 months, with cervical dynamic Rx and cervical RM at 1one year. There were no complications and 70% of the patients experienced a stable clinical improvement, while in 30% of patients stabilization of clinical deficits. The duration of the superior clinical to one year and the age gt of 70 years the more meaningful negative prognostic indicators have appeared. CONCLUSIONS: A clinical history more than one year and the age elder than 70 years appear the main negative prognostic factors. The advantage of the laminoplasty is a smaller anatomical damage of the posterior elements without cervical instability, and use of polypropylene mesh provides more resistance during flexion-extension

The role of antioxidant therapy in the treatment of male infertility: An overview

In recent years, many studies have focused on the effect of oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants on the male eproductive system. Under physiological conditions, sperm produces small amounts of ROS, which are needed for fertilisation, acrosome reaction and capacitation. However, if an increased production of ROS is not associated with a similar increase in scavenging systems, peroxidative damage of the sperm plasma membrane and loss of DNA integrity typically occur, which leads to cell death and reduced fertility. Furthermore, since there is no linear correlation between sperm quality and pregnancy rates, an improvement in semen parameters should not be the sole outcome considered in studies of antioxidant therapies. A definitive conclusion regarding the benefit of these therapies is difficult to obtain, as most of the previous studies lacked control groups, considered different antioxidants in different combinations and doses, or did not evaluate pregnancy rates in previously infertile couples. Even if beneficial effects were reported in a few cases of male infertility, more multicentre, double-blind studies performed with the same criteria are necessary for an increased understanding of the effects of various antioxidants on fertility. Asian Journal of Andrology (2011) 13, 690-697; doi:10.1038/aja.2010.183; published online 20 June 201

From Manaus to Maputo: Toward a Public Health and Biodiversity Framework

The linkages between human health, biodiversity, ecosystems, and the life-supporting services that they provide are varied and complex. The traditional neglect of this nexus by policy-makers perpetuates threats posed to ecosystems with potentially critical impacts on global health. The Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Health Organization recently co-convened two regional workshops on these intricate but vital linkages. From discussions held with policy-makers and experts in the biodiversity and health sectors, spanning some 50 countries in Africa and the Americas, we derive a broad framework for the development of national and regional public health and biodiversity strategies relevant to strategic planning processes in the emerging post-2015 development context