Influence of different types of superplasticizers on one-part alkali- activated slag mortars

This paper presents an experimental study carried out to investigate the influence of different types of superplasticizers on the fresh and hardened properties of one-part alkali-activated slag mortars. Three different admixtures were added to the mixes at the level of 1.3% by binder mass. In particular, sulphonated polymer-based, polycarboxylates-based and lignosulfonates-based high-range water reducers were used. In addition, a hardening accelerator was added to the mixes up to 1.0% respect to binder mass. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (according to EN 15167-1) as precursor and sodium metasilicate pentahydrate: potassium hydroxide : sodium carbonate = 7:3:1 in powder form as activator were used to produce different mortars with the dosage of activator between 2% and 16 % vs binder mass. The water was adjusted in order to attain the same workability at the end of the mixing procedure, equal to 160 mm ± 10 mm by means of a flow table. The specimens were cured in climatic chamber at 20°C and R.H. 60%. The effectiveness of the admixtures has been investigated in terms of percentage of water reduction, workability loss over time and compressive strength. The experimental data show that all superplasticizers provides a reduction in mixing water. The admixtures are influenced by the presence of the activator. In fact, the water reduction, at the same initial workability, is maximum in mortars manufactured without activators. However, the ability of water reducers is not influenced by the activator/precursor. Moreover, results indicated that as consequence of superplasticizer addition, the pot-life of reference mortars manufactured without superplasticizer (60 minutes) is extended up to 160 minutes. The addition of high-range water reducers does not delay the development of 1-day compressive strength. On the other hand, it causes a little reduction of mechanical properties at 7 and 28 days respect to the reference mortars, regardless of superplasticizers employed. Finally, the use of hardening accelerator admixture does not determine a reduction in workability loss over time while no improving was detected on the mechanical strength at early and long ages

Analisi fluidodinamica di un kayak K1 da competizione

Il presente lavoro di tesi è la prima attività svolta presso il Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Meccanica, Nucleare e della Produzione (DIMNP) dell’Università di Pisa finalizzata allo studio della fluidodinamica di un kayak da competizione. In particolare, è stato creato un modello numerico di uno scafo reale per calcoli di Fluidodinamica Computazionale finalizzati alla stima dell’energia da esso dissipata nella generazione delle onde (“Wave Making Resistance”, WMR) in condizioni stazionarie. Un qualsiasi scafo, avanzando sulla superficie libera di un qualsiasi bacino d’acqua, sposta con un processo continuo certa quantità d’acqua, generando onde. L’energia dissipata per avanzare è data dalla risultante delle azioni viscose agenti sulla superficie bagnata dello scafo, e dell’energia accumulata dalle onde che si staccano dallo scafo. Oggetto degli studi fluidodinamici è la previsione della resistenza all’avanzamento per poter ottimizzare la forma degli scafi al fine di minimizzare questa energia. Questa attività è stata svolta adottando un processo di “Reverse Engineering”: uno scafo reale è stato sottoposto un processo di scansione ottica, per ottenere un descrizione numerica dello superficie esterna dello scafo. Tale discretizzazione numerica è stata la base per lo sviluppo del modello tridimensionale per calcoli fluidodinamici

The Return of the Shakespearian Jester. Postmemory and the Modes of Remembrance in Howard Jacobson’s Kalooki Nights (2006)

The tight matrix of death and laughter at the heart of Howard Jacobson’s Kalooki Nights (2006) is firmly rooted in the carnivalesque modes and tragic form of Hamlet. There is, I will argue, a striking affinity between Jacobson’s post-memorial novel and the Shakespearian tragedy: the return of the Ghost, with its demand for revenge and remembrance, may be read as an embodiment ante litteram of the anachronistic movement of postmemory. In overt contrast with the etiquette of tragedy, Yorick’s skull re-emerges from the earth of the graveyard and, a fool in the midst of a tragic tale, ‘carnivalizes’ Shakespeare’s play; similarly, all sorts of carnivalesque imageries envelop the post-memorial themes and tales of Kalooki Nights. Moreover, the return of the Shakespearian jester, amplified in Hamlet through jesting, puns and wordplays, mirrors the way in which the past re-emerges, carnivalized, from the rich and ambivalent textual soil of Jacobson’s novel

Computer assisted synthesis and in-vitro cytotoxic evaluation of new pyrazole-fused isoquinolinoquinones derivatives as PI3K receptor antagonist with promising antitumoral activity

The importance of pyrazole and isoquinoline-5,8-dione scaffolds in medical chemistry is underlined by the high number of drugs currently on trading that contains these active ingredients. Due to their cytotoxic capability, the interest of medicinal chemists in these heterocyclic rings has grown exponentially especially, for cancer therapy. In this project, the first synthesis of pyrazole-fused isoquinoline-5,8-diones has been developed. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition followed by oxidative aromatization, established by our research group, has been employed. Screening of reaction conditions and characterization studies about the regioselectivity have been successfully performed. A remote control of regioselectivity, to achieve the two possible regioisomers has been accomplished. Through Molecular Docking studies, Structure-Activity relationship of differently substituted scaffolds containing our central core proved that a family of PI3K inhibitors have been discovered. Finally, in order to verify the promising antitumor activity, a first test of cell viability in vitro on T98G cell line of a solid brain tumor, the Glioblastoma Multiforme, showed cytotoxic inhibition comparable to currently trade anticancer drugs

Pedagogiczna nadzieja między obecnością i obietnicą

What specific imprint does Christianity give to the philosophical elaboration of personalism? Initially, we introduce a reflective reread on Christian personalist thought in ongoing pedagogical discourse, in particular through the paradigmatic concept of hope. Returning to the traditional concept of ‘person’ and to its philosophical-ontological legacy, this essay discusses the dynamic of the teacher-student educational relationship. In this context, this paper attempts to show that the educator manifests his being a person of hope through his educative presence and respect for the promise.Co można uznać za oryginalny wkład chrześcijaństwa w rozwój personalizmu na gruncie filozofii? Na wstępie niniejszego artykułu zaprezentowano, przede wszystkim poprzez odniesienie do paradygmatycznej idei nadziei, refleksyjne odczytanie chrześcijańskiej myśli personalistycznej w kontekście bieżącego dyskursu pedagogicznego. Wracając do tradycyjnej koncepcji osoby, jak i filozoficzno-ontologicznej spuścizny tegoż pojęcia, niniejszy esej poświęcony jest omówieniu dynamiki relacji wychowawczej zachodzącej między nauczycielem i wychowankiem. W tym właśnie ujęciu podjęta zostaje próba wykazania, że wychowawca przedstawia się jako osoba nadziei poprzez swoją wychowawczą obecność i szacunek dla obietnicy

A Voltage Calibration Chain for Meters Used in Measurements of EV Inductive Power Charging

The inductive charging of electric vehicles requires specific measurement and calibration systems. In fact, the measurement of power on board involves DC signals, which are superimposed to a significant AC ripple up to or over 150 kHz, depending on the type of charging system. A calibration method that makes use of a phantom power, based on two independent but synchronized circuits, is considered, simulating the charging voltage and current. This paper describes in detail a solution in the realization of the voltage calibration chain, based on the use of a DC voltage calibrator, an injector and a voltage divider.Comment: 2 pages, Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements (CPEM 2018), Paris

Matrix Product Belief Propagation for reweighted stochastic dynamics over graphs

Stochastic processes on graphs can describe a great variety of phenomena ranging from neural activity to epidemic spreading. While many existing methods can accurately describe typical realizations of such processes, computing properties of extremely rare events is a hard task. Particularly so in the case of recurrent models, in which variables may return to a previously visited state. Here, we build on the matrix product cavity method, extending it fundamentally in two directions: first, we show how it can be applied to Markov processes biased by arbitrary reweighting factors that concentrate most of the probability mass on rare events. Second, we introduce an efficient scheme to reduce the computational cost of a single node update from exponential to polynomial in the node degree. Two applications are considered: inference of infection probabilities from sparse observations within the SIRS epidemic model, and the computation of both typical observables and large deviations of several kinetic Ising models.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, appendi

Valdo Fusi Square

Pubblicazione del progetto per la piazza/giardino e il parcheggio Valdo Fusi a Torino

Éditorial: Mesure des performances et évaluation des systèmes éducatifs – présupposés et contextes

Loin d’être un effet de mode médiatique, les études comparatives internationales d’évaluation et de performances des systèmes éducatifs (Third International Mathematics dans Science Study (TIMSS), le Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) ou l’Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALL)) se sont imposées tant au niveau national qu’international. Les longues discussions sur le positionnement des systèmes éducatifs, sur le niveau de compétences des systèmes éducatifs locaux ou nationaux, sur les particularités des « modèles » très ou peu performants représentent une évolution significative des systèmes éducatifs et de la politique de l’éducation même. Dans les pays et les systèmes politiques où l’implantation du système éducatif, institutionnelle et relativement aux contenus, était traitée au plan des réalités locales – alors que le fédéralisme était considéré comme une constante incontournable, comme c’était le cas aux Etats-Unis et en Suisse aussi –, la standardisation ou l’unité, voir l’uniformisation de l’enseignement est désormais un programme-cadre universellement accepté. (DIPF/Orig.