Towards a Context Knowledge Taxonomy. Combined Methodologies to Improve a Fast-Search Concept Extraction for an Ontology Population

Context in Architectural Design can be defined-related-comparable to hypothesis and boundary conditions in mathematics. An eco-system that influences it by means of natural and artificial events, space and time dimension. The research has the aim to analyze the critical issues related to Context by providing a contribution to the study of interactions between Context Knowledge and Architectural Design and how it can be used to improve the performance of the buildings and reducing design mistakes. The research focusing on formal ontologies, has developed a model that enables a semantic approach to design application programs, to manage information, to answer design questions and to have a clear relation between the formal representation of the context domain and its meanings. This context model provides an advancement on the state of the art in simplified design assumptions, in term of ontology ambiguity and complexity reduction, by using algorithms to extract and optimize branches of the graph. The extraction does not limit the number of relations, that can be extended and improve context taxonomy coherency and accuracy

Studies on Natural Raman Optical Activity

Abstract Not Provided

Comparison of Peak Skin Dose Calculated by Patient Radiation Dose Monitoring and Tracking Systems versus Solid-State Detector Measurements

This study aims to compare the Peak Skin Dose (PSD) that patients obtain from fluoroscopy procedures. The study will show the differences between the PSD measured and calculated from a solid-state detector and the values the unit is displaying. Also, the study will compare PSD measurements from Patient Radiation Dose Monitoring and Tracking Systems (PRDMT). Numerous parameters need to be obtained to depict the PSD that a patient is receiving accurately. The PSD is crucial in assessing the potential biological effects of radiation. The formalization used to derive the calculated PSD in this study has been established by Jones, A. K., & Pasciak, A. S. et al. All values were obtained through solid-state detector measurements. Measurements were acquired from various radiation generating equipment manufacturers and numerous Patient Radiation Dose Monitoring and Tracking Systems (PRDMT). The PRDMTs that data was obtained from were Imalogix, PEMNET, Radiometrics, and Dosewise. Parameters collected throughout the study were kept consistent for accurate PSD calculations. Overall, of the units collected, the average PSD obtained from solid-state detector measurements was 1,175 milligray (mGy). Also, the calculated mean PSD from the displayed Air Kerma Rates (AKR) was 1,428 mGy. The results indicate an average 39.4 percent difference between the measured PSD and the PRDMT. Finally, results displayed a 23.1 percent difference between the displayed Air Kerma Rates (AKR) PSD versus the PRDMT

Asymmetric CuH-catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Alleneamides with Carbonyl Electrophiles and the Mechanistic Investigation into the Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-couplings of Electron-Deficient Systems

Most natural products and other biologically active small molecules contain multiple stereogenic heteroatoms throughout their carbon scaffold. As a result, methods to install these multi-heteroatom functionalities efficiently are highly desirable. Reductive coupling reactions have been studied extensively, and reductive allylation has been a key method for generating chiral secondary and tertiary allylic alcohols. This work focuses on utilizing naturally abundant and inexpensive Cu for the asymmetric reductive coupling of alleneamides with carbonyl electrophiles to access highly functionalized multi-heteroatom scaffolds that are difficult to produce via traditional methods. Described herein are methods for these asymmetric reductive coupling reactions. Chapter 1 describes the development of CuH-catalyzed methods for the regio- and diastereoselective reductive coupling of N-based allenes and carbonyl electrophiles. The method reported was the first disclosed to access the novel linear product in the reaction with ketones, as well as directly access both the traditional branched product and the novel linear product from the same system by simply tuning the ligand. Initial projects utilized stereocontrol by a chiral auxiliary, whereas subsequent projects focused on the development of chiral-ligand controlled methods utilizing an achiral alleneamide. Chapter 2 describes the branched- and enantioselective borylative Cu-catalyzed reductive coupling of an achiral alleneamide with aldehyde electrophiles utilizing B2(pin)2 as the reductant. The intermediate of these reactions contains a boronate handle that allows for further derivatization and access to a wide array of dissonant 1,2-aminoalcohol motif-containing products based solely on the workup. This work is high-yielding with high diastereo- and enantiocontrol. The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction is a highly utilized method for generating biaryl molecules in both industrial and academic settings. Traditional boronic acid homocoupling side product generation in these systems is due to O2 intrusion during the reaction. However, during attempts to couple two electron-deficient fragments under anaerobic conditions, the boronic acid homo-coupling and aryl halide dehalogenation side products were both observed in similarly high yields. Chapter 3 describes the discovery and development of a novel anaerobic mechanism for the generation of aryl boronic acid homo-coupling product in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction of electron-deficient systems. The discovery, mechanistic investigation, and scope of the optimized reaction are discussed

structural and seismic monitoring of the cardarelli hospital in campobasso

Abstract Recent earthquakes occurred in Italy and throughout the world have once again emphasized the critical role of health facilities for post-earthquake emergency management. Due to earthquake, several hospitals (L'Aquila 2009, Amatrice 2016) have lost their functionality because of damage to structural as well as non-structural members, equipment and installations. The primary role of hospitals after hazardous events requires the development of specific analysis and monitoring strategies aimed at quickly assessing their health conditions. Turning a hospital into a "Smart Health Facility" (SHF) allows remote assessment of the structural health; moreover, it can effectively support the mitigation of administrative and organizational vulnerability by acting on preparedness of the medical staff and supporting management and maintenance of structural as well as non-structural subsystems over time. Continuous monitoring of health and performance of hospitals can support the formulation of disaster mitigation plans and the definition of investment priorities to ensure the overall safety. In the present paper, some results of an on-going monitoring project for the main hospital in Campobasso (Southern Italy) are presented, focusing the attention on the response of the structure in operational conditions and after seismic events. Moreover, the results of experimental as well as operational modal analysis tests on a drug dispenser are discussed in order to assess their applicative perspectives for qualification of medical equipment in view of their seismic vulnerability assessment as non-structural elements

Il parto distocico nella cavalla

Incidenza,trattamento ed esito del parto distocico nella cavalla, osservati durante sei anni di studio presso un allevamento di cavalli da trotto in provincia di Pisa

Use of a Zwitterionic Surfactant to Improve the Biofunctional Properties of Wool Dyed with an Onion (Allium cepa L.) Skin Extract

To improve the loadability and antioxidant properties of wool impregnated with onion skin extract, the introduction of SB3-14 surfactant in the dyeing process was evaluated. A preliminary investigation on the surfactant–quercetin interaction indicated that the optimal conditions for dye solubility, stability, and surfactant affinity require double-distilled water (pH = 5.5) as a medium and SB3-14 in a concentration above the c.m.c. (2.5 × 10−3 M). The absorption profile of textiles showed the flavonoid absorption band (390 nm) and a bathochromic feature (510 nm), suggesting flavonoid aggregates. The higher absorbance for the sample dyed with SB3-14 indicated greater dye uptake, which was further confirmed by HPLC analysis. The Folin–Ciocalteu method was applied to evaluate the total phenol content (TPC) released from the treated wool, while the assays FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, and ORAC were applied to evaluate the corresponding total antioxidant activity (TAC). Higher TPCs (about 20%) and TACs (5–55%) were measured with SB3-14, highlighting textiles with improved biofunctional properties. Spectrophotometric analyses were also performed with an artificial sweat. The potential cytotoxic effect of SB3-14 in both monomeric and aggregated forms, cell viability, and induction of apoptosis were evaluated in RAW 264.7 cells. These analyses revealed that SB3-14 is safe at concentrations below the c.m.c