Applying rock mass classifications to carbonate rocks for engineering purposes with a new approach using the rock engineering system

Classical rock mass classification systems are not applicable to carbonate rocks, especially when these are affected by karst processes. Their applications to such settings could therefore result in outcomes not representative of the real stress–strain behavior. In this study, we propose a new classification of carbonate rock masses for engineering purposes, by adapting the rock engineering system (RES) method by Hudson for fractured and karstified rock masses, in order to highlight the problems of implementation of geomechanical models to carbonate rocks. This new approach allows a less rigid classification for carbonate rock masses, taking into account the local properties of the outcrops, the site conditions and the type of engineering work as well.     

The impact of related variety on the creative employment growth

Cultural and creative industries (CCIs) have recently become highly relevant with regard to creative economy research, as they are considered drivers of regional and urban innovation policies and economic growth. CCIs are a priority sector on the European agenda and represent an excellent opportunity to exit the current economic crisis. In the literature, the most discussed aspect of CCIs is their value creation ability, which is due to a high degree of diversity/variety, and their impact on innovation within the wider economy, which results from the activation of cross-fertilisation processes between different sectors. Evolutionary economic geography (EEG), adopting the recently established approach based on related variety, also emphasises the issues of diversity/variety as determinants of local and urban development and innovation. This interesting and complex theoretical framework has produced a considerable number of empirical studies, none of which has been specifically applied to the creative sector. With the present study, we intended to contribute to the debate on creative economy research and EEG by investigating the impact of variety in CCIs in Italy, following the related-variety approach and using a long-term employment perspective (1991–2011). The results indicated that related variety has an important effect on the growth of creative industries, characterised by high internal connections between different creative activities. Our outcomes also led us to reassess the view held by some, namely, that creative industries can actually make a strong impact on economic growth in the wider economy; this did not appear to emerge in the Italian context, according to the methodologies we used.     

Thermo-hydro-chemical couplings considered in safety assessment of shallow tunnels subjected to fire load

Fire loading of concrete tunnel linings is characterized by various physical, chemical, and mechanical processes, resulting in spalling of near-surface concrete layers and degradation of strength and stiffness of the remaining tunnel lining. In this paper, the governing transport processes taking place in concrete at elevated temperatures are considered within a recently published fire-safety assessment tool [Savov K, Lackner R, Mang HA. Stability assessment of shallow tunnels subjected to fire load. Fire Safety J 2005; 40: 745–763] for underground structures. In contrast to consideration of heat transport only [Savov et al.], a coupled thermo-hydro-chemical analysis, simulating the heat and mass transport in concrete under fire loading, is performed, giving access to more realistic temperature distributions as well as gas-pressure distributions within the tunnel lining. These data serve as input for the structural safety assessment tool considering, in addition to the temperature dependence of mechanical properties, the effect of the gas pressure on the strength properties of the heated lining concrete. The combination of the two analysis tools (coupled analysis of governing transport processes and structural safety assessment) is illustrated by the fire-safety assessment of a cross-section of the Lainzer tunnel (Austria) characterized by low overburden (shallow tunnel).     

Inorganic–organic hybrid materials with zirconium oxoclusters as protective coatings on aluminium alloys

Inorganic–organic hybrid materials are attracting a strong scientific interest mainly for their outstanding inherent mechanical and thermal properties, which can be traced back to the intimate coupling of both inorganic and organic components. By carefully choosing the experimental parameters used for their synthesis, chemically and thermally stable acrylate-based hybrid material embedding the zirconium oxocluster Zr₄O₄(OMc)₁₂, where OMcCH₂C(CH₃)C(O)O, can be deposited as UV-cured films on aluminium alloys.

In particular, the molar ratios between the oxocluster and the monomer, the polymerisation time, the amount of photo-initiator and the deposition conditions, by using an home-made spray-coating equipment, were optimised in order to obtain the best performing layers in terms of transparency and hardness to coat aluminium alloy (AA1050, AA6060 and AA2024) sheets. Furthermore, it was also evaluated whether the hybrid coatings behave as barrier to corrosion.

Several coated samples were prepared and characterised. Environmental scanning electronic microscopy (ESEM) and scratch test were used to investigate the morphology of the films and to evaluate their scratch resistance, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was performed in order to evaluate if the coatings actually protect the metallic substrate from corrosion.

In order to measure shear storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of the materials used for coatings, bulk samples were also obtained by UV-curing of the precursors solution. Dynamical mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) was performed in shear mode on cured disks of both the hybrid materials and pristine polymer for comparison. The values of T_g were read off as the temperatures of peak of loss modulus. The length and mass of all the samples were measured before and after the DMTA analysis, so that the shrinkage of the materials in that temperature range was exactly evaluated.     

Study on reuse of metal oxide-promoted sulphated zirconia in acylation reactions

A series of sulphated zirconia samples (SZ) promoted with Al₂O₃, Ga₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ were synthesized by co-precipitation at constant pH and aged under reflux conditions. Structural, surface and catalytic properties of the samples were investigated using N₂ adsorption/desorption, thermal analysis, in-situ FTIR spectroscopy, TPR–MS and EGA–MS measurements. The catalytic performance of promoted SZ in anisole acylation has been investigated. Promotion by either Fe₂O₃ or Ga₂O₃ was found to increase the catalytic activity (yield) after recycle of catalysts with respect un-promoted sample, whereas promotion by Al₂O₃ was observed to increase the conversion but not the yield. It is worth noting that all systems present high selectivity to the p-metoxyacetophenone product.     

Long-term experience with an automatic process control for nitrogen removal in membrane bioreactors

The alternating processes applied in membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment may be an attractive option to reduce the energy consumptions and optimize carbon and nitrogen removal. However, the knowledge of these systems is often based on empirical results so to discourage the plant operators for its adoption. This paper discusses and compares the empirical evidence coming from two different alternating membrane bioreactors, a demonstration and a full-scale one. The two plants treat two real municipal wastewaters, rather different for both C:N ratio and degree of biodegradability of the influent organics. Nine steady-state runs have been carried out in the demonstration plant, while a one whole year operation has been considered for the full-scale system. Combining the results of the two MBRs, it was found that the alternating process was able to adjust automatically and adequately the aeration of the biological reactor with a nitrogen loading rate in the range 0.05–0.18 kgN m⁻³ d⁻¹ and C:N mass ratios greater than 5–6. As a result, the use of the available carbon source, with concern to the total nitrogen removal, was as low as 0.1 kg of total nitrogen removed per kg of total influent COD. Effluent total nitrogen met the standard for reuse with specific energy consumptions in the range 85–109 gTN_removed per kWh_consumed. Considering the usual loading conditions of the municipal wastewater treatment plants in Italy, membrane bioreactors operating alternating processes may be implemented to increase the nitrogen treatment capacity of existing plants and achieve the standards for reuse.     

Oligophenylenevinylenes in Spatially Confined Nanochannels: Monitoring Intermolecular Interactions by UV/Vis and Raman Spectroscopy

Perhydrotriphenylene‐based channel‐forming inclusion compounds (ICs) and thin films made of polyphenylenevinylene (PPV)‐type oligomers with terminal alkoxy groups are investigated and compared in a combined experimental and theoretical approach. Interchromophore interactions and host‐guest interactions are elucidated by UV/Vis and Raman spectroscopy. The impact of the local environment of the chromophore on the optical and photophysical properties is discussed in light of quantum‐chemical calculations. In stark contrast to thin films where preferential side‐by‐side orientation leads to quenching of photoluminescence (PL) via non‐emissive traps, the ICs are found to be attractive materials for opto‐electronic applications: they offer high chromophore concentrations, but at the same time behave as quasi‐isolated entities of tightly packed, well‐oriented objects with high PL quantum yields and the possibility of color tuning.     

利用新型合成仪器解决系统级测试难题

当今世界电子元件及产品正在加速发展,在大多数商业应用中,从设计到生产的周期现已缩短为只有六个月。而且,设备的内容及拓朴结构已经从单一功能元件迁移到多功能元件,进而还会迁移到整个子系统和系统中,在迁移时通常采用单个组件方案的形式（例如,用于智能电话和iPhone之类的设备）。现在,对于多载波功率放大器（MCPA）和软件定义的无线电（SDR）而言,直接软件控制和设备配置已司空见惯。例如RFIC之类的设备只能在混合信号环境中及实时条件下操作和测试。     

Hydrodynamic transport parameters of wurtzite ZnO from analytic- and full-band Monte Carlo simulation

Analytic-band Monte Carlo simulation of electron transport in bulk wurtzite ZnO, validated against the results of a full-band code and available experimental data, is used to determine the main parameters required by drift-diffusion and hydrodynamic models. Steady-state drift velocity, carrier temperature, energy and momentum relaxation time, noise diffusivity, and electron thermal conductivity are calculated, and their dependence on temperature and electric field or average electron energy is approximated by means of a complete set of fitting models suitable for inclusion in commercial device simulation tools.