An algebraic formulation of inverse problems in MP dynamics

Metabolic P (MP) grammars are a particular class of multiset rewriting grammars introduced in the MP theory for modelling metabolic processes. In this paper, a new algebraic formulation of inverse problems, based on MP grammars and Kronecker product, is given, for further motivating the correctness of the LGSS (Log-Gain Stoichiometric Stepwise) algorithm, introduced in 2010s for solving inverse problems in the MP framework. At the end of the paper, a section is included that introduces the problem of multicollinearity, which could arise during the execution of LGSS, and that defines an algorithm, based on a hierarchical clustering technique, that solves it in a suitable way.     

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Proximal and remote sensing measurements were used to calculate different vegetation indices that were applied as predictors of gross primary production (GPP), total ecosystem respiration (TER), net ecosystem production (NEP) and leaf area index (LAI). Reflectance data and carbon fluxes were collected during the 2005 growing season at a mountain grassland site in the Italian Alps. Significant relationships were found between GPP, TER, NEP, LAI and the most commonly used spectral vegetation indices, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Green‐NDVI. Saturation of the spectral indices was evident in the estimation of both biophysical and ecophysiological parameters. Among the different indices, Green‐NDVI was less affected by saturation on both a spatial and a temporal basis. Therefore, the use of an additional green‐band sensor for spectral measurements at eddy covariance grassland sites is recommended. Concerning the bandwidth for the calculation of the indices, the highest predictive capacities among the sensor simulations included in the analysis were those of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the high‐resolution hyperspectral instrument Hyperion, indicating the advantage of narrow bands for the prediction of plant parameters. Further analyses are, however, required to investigate the relationships between NEP, GPP and vegetation indices retrieved from satellite platforms, using the bands available on MODIS and Hyperion sensors.     

Performance comparison between partial oxidation and methane steam reforming processes for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) micro combined heat and power (CHP) system

The aim of this research work is to describe in qualitative and quantitative form the performance of a micro Combined Heat and Power system for residential application based on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell fueled by natural gas with two different types of pre-reforming systems, namely Steam Reforming and Partial Oxidation and recirculation of anode and cathode gas.The comparative analysis among the different configurations will lead us to conclude that maximum efficiency is achieved when cathode and anode gas recirculation are used along with steam methane reforming. Further Steam Methane Reforming process produces a higher electrical system efficiency compared to Partial oxidation reforming process.Efficiency is affected when running the system in part load mode mainly due to heat loss, additional natural gas supplied to the burner to satisfy the required heat demand inside the system, and ejector efficiency drop in the recirculation system. Due to high temperature of operation heat loss strongly affects the system efficiency especially at part load operation.     

Arginine dihydrolase pathway in Lactobacillus plantarum from orange.

Lactobacillus plantarum N8 and N4 strains isolated from orange degraded L-arginine to citrulline, ornithine and ammonia. Citrulline and ornithine were consumed. Lactobacillus plantarum N4 utilized arginine and ornithine to a higher extent than Lactobacillus plantarum N8. Urea was not detected during arginine degradation, indicating that the amino acid degradation was carried out only by the arginine dihydrolase pathway. Citrulline increased the growth of the two strains, arginine only increased the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum N4. Ornithine did not modify the growth of the strains studied. With different behavior, Lactobacillus plantarum N8 and N4 strains were able to derive energy and ammonia from arginine or citrulline catabolism. This is interesting for microorganisms developing in a stressful environment.     

Hyperazeotropic ethanol salted-out by extractive distillation. Theoretical evaluation and experimental check

A distillation process for the production of hyperazeotropic ethanol from a dilute wine obtained from the fermentation of biomass has been studied. This process utilizes the coupling of a soft preconcentration stage and of a dehydration stage based on the salting-out effect produced by calcium chloride on the ethanol in an aqueous solution, with the disappearance of the azeotrope. The salt is employed in a close cycle, due to the presence of a regeneration stage, therefore no consumption of calcium chloride is noticed.

The distillation process utilizes one column consisting of two sections operating at different pressures in order to reach an efficient heat recovery.

In this paper, a simplified flow-sheet of the process and the principal operating conditions of the distillation column are illustrated. When compared with other processes, conventional or under development, this one is characterized by the promising reduction of the specific energy requirement.

The operating conditions chosen for the distillation with salt have been experimentally checked using a laboratory column running continuously with calcium chloride as salting-out agent. Moreover, the experiments confirmed the reliability of the mathematical model of the process. Further experiments are in progress with the aim of utilizing a mixture of salts which can be fed from the bottom of the dehydration section back to the fermentor, so that the salt regeneration stage can be reduced.     

Detection and monitoring of algal blooms using SeaWiFS imagery

Abstract

The study presented here is a part of an attempt to improve the operational algorithm used at the Centre de Météorologie Spatiale (CMS) to calculate Sea Surface Temperature (SST) from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data. The errors produced by SST retrieval algorithms are analysed through two experiments: an examination of the errors calculated on a validation file and an analysis of the temperatures of oceanic cloud-free areas seen under two distinct satellite zenith angles (θ) for consecutive night-time orbits. This Letter presents the part of the study dedicated to the effect of large viewing angles on the retrieval of SST. Correction terms are proposed and compared, on the same set of data, to split window algorithms using θ dependent coefficients     

Automatic end-of-line tuning for a motion inverter in agricultural tractors

End-of-line tuning is a crucial step for any mass-produced system endowed with automatic controllers. As a matter of fact, due to components tolerances and spreads in the production line, the controller tuning performed on a prototype system is never optimal on the final product. In many industrial applications, though, the end-of-line tuning is performed by human testers, and this does not always guarantee an objective assessment of the closed-loop system quality. This paper proposes a systematic way to design an automatic tuning procedure for a motion-inverter controller in agricultural tractors, which allows to significantly reduce the costs of end-of-line tuning and to obtain a homogeneous manoeuvre quality in all vehicles. The proposed automatic tuning system adapts the controller parameters governing the open-loop phase of the manoeuvre until a predefined manoeuvre quality is achieved. The parameters adaptation phase is guided by an on-line objective assessment of the manoeuvre quality from measured data, which allows to automatically classify the performed manoeuvre with respect to its quality attributes. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is assessed on a prototype vehicle.     

Assessment of bioenergy potential in Sicily: A GIS-based support methodology

A Geographical Information System (GIS) supported methodology has been developed in order to assess the technical and economic potential of biomass exploitation for energy production in Sicily. The methodology was based on the use of agricultural, economic, climatic, and infrastructural data in a GIS. Data about land use, transportation facilities, urban cartography, regional territorial planning, terrain digital model, lithology, climatic types, and civil and industrial users have been stored in the GIS to define potential areas for gathering the residues coming from the pruning of olive groves, vineyards, and other agricultural crops, and to assess biomass available for energy cultivation. Further, it was possible to assess the potential of biodiesel production, supposing the cultivation of rapeseed in arable crop areas. For the biomass used for direct combustion purposes, the economic availability has been assessed assuming a price of the biomass and comparing it with other fuels. This assessment has shown the strong competitiveness of firewood in comparison with traditional fossil fuels when the collection system is implemented in an efficient way. Moreover, the economic potential of biodiesel was assessed considering the on-going financial regime for fuel. At the same time, the study has shown a significant competitiveness of the finished biomass (pellets), and good potential for a long-term development of this market. An important result was the determination of biofuel production potential in Sicily. An outcome of the study was to show the opportunities stemming from the harmonisation of Energy Policy with the Waste Management System and Rural Development Plan.     

Photocatalytic Inactivation of Legionella Pneumophila and an Aerobic Bacteria Consortium in Water over TiO2/SiO2 Fibres in a Continuous Reactor

A continuous photoreactor, working in a total recycle mode and irradiated by a low-pressure Hg lamp, has been used to study the bactericidal effect of a photocatalyst, formed by TiO₂ embedded in SiO₂ fibres, on Legionella pneumophila and a consortium of common gram-negative aerobic bacteria: (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Pseudomona sp. and Proteus sp.) in water. The kinetic modeling of the inactivation process, carried out with the measured values of viable bacteria concentration at the outlet of photoreactor, evidenced that for each pass inside the photoreactor the ratio between the outlet and inlet cell concentrations was of order of 0.01 for the inactivation of L. pneumophila. For the other aerobic bacteria, which are usually taken as reference in photocatalytic bacteria inactivation studies, this ratio was of order of 0.3 for the first hour of illumination, while upon prolonged irradiation (up to 9 h) this ratio increased to 0.7. Several factors inducing this latter decrease of efficiency are possible, as e.g. competition for photocatalytic attack between microorganisms and organic compounds released by damaged bacteria or photoinduced alteration of a small fraction of still viable bacteria making them less interactive with the photocatalyst. The inactivation mechanism normally proposed for common bacteria involves an initial attack of the photogenerated radicals to the outer membrane; the consequent membrane dispersion allows the radicals to damage the cytoplasmic membrane. The higher lethality of the photocatalytic method observed towards Legionella: (in comparison to the other aerobic bacteria) is explained considering that the radicals attack the Legionella secretion system, which is adapted for high virulence and would become activated for and through adhesion to the TiO₂ surface. This attack would then be able to inactivate L. pneumophila without dispersing the outer membrane. Apart from this, the water flow through the catalyst fibres can facilitate the bacteria transport towards the anatase surface, and additionally the generated shear stress may help adhesion, at least for some bacteria as E. coli, contributing further to improve the photokilling efficiency; both factors may contribute to the efficiency of this photoreactor configuration.