La gestione delle giacenze in una azienda di servizi. Il caso General Electric - PII Pipeline Solutions

Gli obiettivi del lavoro esposto nella tesi sono: •la definizione di strumenti in grado di determinare una previsione delle richieste future dei materiali a magazzino; •l’aumento degli scambi informativi all’interno del processo di erogazione del servizio nelle fasi che coinvolgono l’inventory. A causa della natura del business, non è stato possibile né applicare tecniche statistiche sui dati storici né implementare i sistemi di gestione del magazzino già presenti in letteratura tecnica. Quindi, sono stati costruiti due strumenti di previsione delle richieste, rispettivamente nel medio e nel breve termine, basati su informazioni legate alla pianificazione di progetti futuri, ottenendo un fondamento sicuro per la stima dei valori. L’aumento degli scambi informativi è stato ottenuto grazie ad analisi sul processo ed a studi e creazioni di documenti relativi agli articoli a stock. Ciò, insieme ai due strumenti di previsione creati, ha portato miglioramenti nell’efficienza del processo di erogazione del servizio e, in particolare, delle fasi relative alla gestione delle giacenze

Metodologia di analisi dei sistemi di smaltimento dei rifiuti: una applicazione pratica al caso della Garfagnana

Questa tesi, relativa ai sistemi di smaltimento di rifiuti, cerca di individuare una metodologia atta ad identificare in ogni territorio le migliori alternative di smaltimento basandosi sulle criticit&agrave locali ed il confronto tra le alternative individuate. Le criticit&agrave hanno a che fare con la morfologia e la geografia dell’area in questione, con la sua viabilit&agrave, la demografia, il sistema meteoclimatico e la normativa, infatti ciascuno di tali fattori &egrave determinante al fine di non scegliere metodi di smaltimento che non siano compatibili ambientalmente od economicamente col territorio, e di individuarne i migliori per poi porli a confronto tramite una serie di indicatori che permettono, in seguito ad una elaborazione matematica che porta alla formulazione di un indice, di individuare la scala di importanza e fattibilit&agrave delle opzioni individuate e poste a confronto. Una volta elaborato e descritto il metodo suddetto &egrave stato possibile applicarlo ad un caso specifico (la Garfagnana, in provincia di Lucca) dove si sono delineate ben cinque alternative. Per ciascuna alternativa sono stati calcolati gli indicatori ambientali ed economici scelti e classificati nel modello generale cos&igrave da poterli porre tra loro a confronto. L’elaborazione dell’indice, a partire dagli indicatori elaborati e calcolati in questa tesi, &egrave descritta ed applicata al caso specifico summenzionato nella tesi di Thomas Cappelletti &quot deazione ed utilizzo di un indice per il confronto di alternative di smaltimento dei rifiuti: il caso della Garfagnana &quot presente anch’essa su questo sito

Gamma-oryzanol, a main component of rice bran oil: <i>in vitro</i> studies of its antioxidant properties

Since investigations so far carried out provided an unclear picture of the mechanism of the antioxidant action of gamma-oryzanol, the aim of the present work has been the contribution to the elucidation of its the molecular mechanisms by using in vitro, previously well-characterized, experimental models (such as scavenging of DPPH° ROS scavenging, Fe and azocompound triggered lipoperoxidation) that allow us to study the reactions involved in the complex process of lipoperoxidation

The Oxidative state of LDL is the major determinant of anti/prooxidant effect of coffee on Cu²⁺ catalysed peroxidation

Antioxidants exert contrasting effect on low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation catalysed by metals, acting as pro-oxidants under select in vitro conditions. Through our study on the effect of coffee on LDL oxidation, we identified the parameters governing this phenomenon, contributing to the comprehension of its mechanism and discovering significant implications for correct alimentary recommendations. By measuring conjugated diene formation, we have analysed the quantitative and qualitative effects exerted by an extract of roasted coffee on LDL oxidation triggered by copper sulphate. When the relative effects of different coffee concentrations were plotted against the lag time (LT) of control LDL (C-LDL), the apparently random experimental data arranged in sensible patterns: by increasing the LT the antioxidant activity of coffee decreased progressively to become prooxidant. The critical LT, at which coffee switches from antioxidant to prooxidant, increased by increasing coffee concentration. Also the contrasting results obtained following a delayed addition of coffee to the assay, arranged in a simple pattern when referred to the LT of C-LDL: the prooxidant effect decreased to become antioxidant as the LT of C-LDL increased. The dependence of coffee effect on the LT of C-LDL was influenced by LDL but not by metal catalyst concentration. These novel findings point to the oxidative state of LDL as a major parameter controlling the anti/prooxidant effect of coffee and suggest the LT of C-LDL as a potent analytical tool to express experimental data when studying the action exerted by a compound on LDL oxidation

The Interaction of Hypotaurine and Other Sulfinates with Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species:A Survey of Reaction Mechanisms

Considerable strides have been made in understanding the oxidative mechanisms involved in the final steps of the cysteine pathway leading to taurine. The oxidation of sulfinates, hypotaurine and cysteine sulfinic acid, to the respective sulfonates, taurine and cysteic acid, has never been associated with any specific enzyme. Conversely, there is strong evidence that in vivo formation of taurine and cysteic acid is the result of sulfinate interaction with a variety of biologically relevant oxidants. In the last decade, many experiments have been performed to understand whether peroxynitrite, nitrogen dioxide and carbonate radical anion could be included in the biologically relevant reactive species capable of oxidizing sulfinates. Thanks to this work, it has been possible to highlight two possible reaction mechanisms (direct and indirect reaction) of sulfinates with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.The sulfinates oxidation, mediated by peroxynitrite, is an example of both reaction mechanisms: through a two-electron-direct-reaction with peroxynitrite or through a one-electron-indirect-transfer reaction. In the indirect mechanism, the peroxynitrite homolysis releases hydroxyl and nitrogen dioxide radical and in addition the degradation of short-lived adduct formed by peroxynitrite and CO2 can generate carbonate radical anion. The reaction of hypotaurine and cysteine sulfinic acid with peroxynitrite-derived radicals is accompanied by extensive oxygen uptake with the generation of transient intermediates, which can begin a reaction by an oxygen-dependent mechanism with the sulfonates, taurine, and cysteic acid as final products. Due to pulse radiolysis studies, it has been shown that transient sulfonyl radicals (RSO2(•)) have been produced during the oxidation of both sulfinates by one-electron transfer reaction.The purpose is to analyze all the aspects of the reactive mechanism in the sulfinic group oxidation of hypotaurine and cysteine sulfinic acid through the results obtained from our laboratory in recent years

Challenging MDR-TB clinical problems - The case for a new Global TB Consilium supporting the compassionate use of new anti-TB drugs.

MDR-TB is a growing challenge worldwide, and an obstacle to TB elimination. It is apparent that TB is being replaced by small but growing number of resistant cases with an anticipated 2 million cases of MDR-TB within the next two decades. One of the potential causes of MDR-TB is iatrogenic and we risk losing our new drugs through inexperience and repetition of basic errors of adding single active drugs to failing regimens. Discussion of MDR-TB cases with senior colleagues is not only best practice; it is now embedded in the WHO and many national and local guidelines.TB Consilia act as gatekeepers to the new drugs, monitor guideline adherence and mandate active drug safety monitoring. TB Consilia are also excellent educational tools.TB Consilia are now recommended by funding bodies, the WHO and manufacturers of drugs available for compassionate use in the hope that these drugs will be protected and will continue to be useful in the future. This article briefly discusses Consilia, their origin and evolution and gives some examples of how they operate. Keywords: TB, MDR-TB, TB Consilium, Prevention, New TB drugs, Compassionate use, Alderott