Integrating Circularity in the Sustainability Assessment of Asphalt Mixtures

Rising concerns about the impacts that the road engineering industry is imposing to the environment have redirected national road authorities to firmly re-consider the sustainability implications of their operations. Lately, though, sustainability has established a forceful correlation with the Circular Economy and its principles. The road engineering industry, therefore, is moving towards more circular approaches. However, this is occurring without the assessment of the potential impacts of such a transition. For this reason, in this study, a composite indicator, namely, Environmental Sustainability and Circularity indicator (ESCi), for investigating the potential effects that increased circularity could have at the environmental sustainability of asphalt mixtures is developed. It can be utilized as a decision-making support tool from stakeholders involved in both asphalt mixture production and road pavement management. In addition, in this study, four asphalt mixtures with different percentages of Reclaimed Asphalt (RA) were assessed in terms of their “cradle-to-gate” environmental impacts and circularity, by means of Life Cycle Assessment, and Material Circularity Index, respectively. Their fatigue and permanent deformation performances play a key role in the assessment and distinctive results obtained for the asphalt mixtures with increasing RA% and thus, significant environmental benefits and increased circularity are observed after specific RA% threshold

Le vibrazioni in campo ferroviario: analisi f.e.m. dell’interazione convoglio-sovrastruttura-terreno

This paper describes the formulation and application of a finite element method model that simulates the generation and propagation of train-induced vibrations into track-ground system. The F.E.M. model accounts for the interaction between ground, railway, shape of cross-section and train speed. The aim of this research is the evaluation of the influence of each factor on vibrational phenomena

Correlated disorder in myelinated axons orientational geometry and structure

While the ultrastructure of the myelin has been considered to be a quasi-crystalline stable system, nowadays its multiscale complex dynamics appears to play a key role for its functionality, degeneration and repair processes following neurological diseases and trauma. In this work, we have investigated the axons interactions associated to the nerve functionality, measuring the spatial distribution of the orientational fluctuations of axons in a Xenopus Laevis sciatic nerve. At this aim, we have used Scanning micro X-ray Diffraction (SmXRD), a non-invasive already applied to other heterogeneous systems presenting complex geometries from microscale to nanoscale. We have found that the orientational spatial fluctuations of fresh axons show a correlated disorder described by Levy flight distribution. Thus, we have studied how this correlated disorder evolves during the degeneration of the nerve. Our results show that the spatial distribution of axons orientational fluctuations in unfresh, aged nerve loose the correlated disorder assuming a randomly disordered behaviour. This work allows a deeper understanding of nerve states and paves the way to study other materials and biomaterials with the same technique to detect and to characterize their states and supramolecular structure, associated with dynamic structural changes at the nanoscale and mesoscale.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Neįgalūs žmonės, savarankiškas apsisprendimas ir išimtinai asmeninio pobūdžio veiksmai

The evolution of medical, social and economic sciences and, more generally, the way of thinking has profoundly changed the relationship between Society and people with disabilities: these persons, from the recipients of social protection and care, have become an active part of Society. Therefore, this publication analyzes the basis and limits of the powers of persons with disabilities in the context of ethical, political, religious and legal values.Medicinos, socialinių ir ekonominių mokslų raida, apskritai pati mąstysena iš esmės pakeitė visuomenės ir žmonių, turinčių negalią, santykius. Socialinės paramos išlaikomi asmenys tapo aktyvia visuomenės dalimi. Atsižvelgiant į tai, šioje publikacijoje etinių, politinių, religinių ir teisinių vertybių kontekste analizuojama problematika, susijusi su neįgaliųjų teisių įgyvendinimo pagrindais ir ribomis

Digital evaluation of occlusal forces: comparison between healthy subjects and TMD patients

ABSTRACT Aim: Continuous technological innovation has provided the clinicians to access to a computerized device that can analyse the different characteristics of occlusal contacts. The purpose of this research was to use this device to study the occlusal forces comparing healthy subjects and TMD patients. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted by following specific criteria to select participants, the sample was divided into two homogeneous groups: control group (CG) comprising healthy subjects, and dysfunctional group (DG) comprising TMD patients. The occlusal force analysis was performed using the computerized system T-Scan III V 5.20 T. The data were analysed with statistical methods. Results: The most significant differences emerged between the groups in the average occlusal load distribution and in the location of the centre of occlusal forces (COF). In particular, compared with the CG and the functional standard, reductions in the molar field forces on the second and first molars of 27% and 6.9%, respectively, were observed in the DG. The COF was located in the most forward position in TMD patients compared with healthy subjects. Conclusions: Although the differences in the distribution of the occlusal forces and the location of the occlusal centre of gravity were significant, the relationship between occlusal contacts and TMD remains to be fully clarified. Further research is needed to investigate whether studying occlusal force distributions in both healthy subjects and TMD patients

Geometrical and functional criteria as a methodological approach to implement a new cycle path in an existing Urban Road Network: A Case study in Rome

Most road accidents occur in urban areas and notably at urban intersections, where cyclists and motorcyclists are the most vulnerable. In the last few years, cycling mobility has been growing; therefore, bike infrastructures should be designed to encourage this type of mobility and reduce motorized and/or private transport. The paper presents a study to implement a new cycle path in the existing cycle and road network in Rome, Italy. The geometric design of the new path complies with Italian standards regarding the technical characteristics of bicycle paths, while the Highway Capacity Manual has been considered for the traffic analysis. In particular, a before-after approach has been adopted to examine and compare the traffic flow at more complex and congested intersections where the cycle path will pass. Trams, buses, cars, bikes and pedestrians were the traffic components considered in each analysis. The software package PTV VISSIM 8 allowed the simulations of traffic flows at traffic-light intersections; an original linear process has been proposed to model dynamic intelligent traffic controls, which are not admitted by the software used. The traffic analysis allowed the identification of the best option for each of the five examined intersections. Particularly, the maximum queue length value and the total number of passed vehicles have been considered in order to optimize the transport planning process. The results of this study highlight the importance of providing engineered solutions when a cycle path is implemented in a complex road network, in order to avoid negative impacts on the citizens and maximize the expected advantages

Indagine sperimentale sui segnali sonori all’interno dei rotabili per la diagnosi dello stato dell’armamento ferroviario

The maintenance of track provides an relatively frequent operations. A good maintenance-planning allows to reduce the interference between rail traffic and maintenance operations. It is necessary so to use a monitoring system of track conditions. In this paper is showed an indirect monitoring system that correlates track conditions and typical spectrum of in-cab noise. The first results of experimental survey are reported

Studio di conglomerati bituminosi con granulato di gomma proveniente da pneumatici dismessi

La ricerca di conglomerati bituminosi di elevate prestazioni sovente si associa allo studio delle implicazioni ambientali che la produzione, la posa in opera e l’esercizio di tali materiali comportano. Un aspetto assai importante, in tal senso, è l’opportunità che alcune modalità produttive offrono in termini di un ridotto consumo di inerti e del contestuale impiego di materiali destinati a discarica che, invece, vengono inseriti in processi di riciclaggio. È questo il caso della gomma proveniente dal riciclaggio industriale di pneumatici dismessi che, negli Stati Uniti ed in Canada, è divenuta una fonte sostanziosa per la realizzazione di conglomerati bituminosi. La presente ricerca, dopo una preliminare e sintetica descrizione del granulato di gomma e delle sue proprietà chimico-fisiche, si propone di evidenziare sperimentalmente il comportamento meccanico di conglomerati bituminosi per strati di base confezionati in laboratorio con l’aggiunta di questo componente, mediante i noti processi Dry e Wet, elaborati e combinati secondo opportuni criteri metodologici. In particolare l’indagine verte su prove inserite nell’attuale normativa italiana, con l’obiettivo di pervenire ad un quadro rappresentativo dell’influenza del granulato sulle caratteristiche meccaniche analizzate

Effects of training fatigue on performance

Training exposes athletes to various types of load, often beyond their tolerance threshold. This, without adequate recovery, leads to the accumulation of fatigue. Fatigue can negatively affect the athlete's performance capabilities in terms of force production and motor control. Coaches should have knowledge of the effects of fatigue in order to better plan training avoiding phenomena that qualitatively and quantitatively limit performance or the occurrence of injuries. The aim of the work is to clarify the effects of exercise-induced fatigue, differentiating between central fatigue and peripheral fatigue, in order to provide correct information to develop specific post-exercise and post-workout recovery strategies. The study was carried out through the recognition, by PRISMA method, in the scientific literature of the theories and practices validated and disseminated in the world of sport to optimize training plans. The study reveals a differentiation on the origin of fatigue: in fact, we speak of central fatigue and peripheral fatigue. Both have different effects on the muscle response to training. For this reason, it must be considered differently in the management of loads, in terms of intensity, volume, frequency and density, in order to optimize the programming for reaching the peak performance, without overtraining. The data have been utilized by personal trainer to plan for every type of athlete to reach a better individual performance