The effects of warping on the postbuckling behaviour of thin-walled structures

A direct 1D model able to describe the mechanical behaviour of thin-walled beams is used to analyse the initial postbuckling of some sample frames. The model allows to take into account the boundary conditions on warping in a very simple way and proves to be a very efficient tool for the analysis of thin-walled frames. Making use of the FEM based COMSOL multiphysics software, numerical results for a number of L frames are obtained and shown.     

Big BU/CY is associated with a favorable long-term outcome in patients allotransplanted for chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase

Twenty-six adult patients, median age 36 years (range 21-53) with chronic myeloid leukemia in first chronic phase were allotransplanted between October 1989 and May 1995. The preparative regimen consisted of busulphan 16 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg (big BU/CY). Cyclosporin A and methotrexate were used for GVHD prophylaxis. Twenty-two donors were HLA-identical siblings and four donors were mismatched for one antigen of class I. The global incidence of acute GVHD was 50%, that of severe aGVHD (grades 3-4) was 11%; the global incidence of chronic GVHD was 30%. No patients developed veno-occlusive disease of the liver or interstitial pneumonia. Five patients died, one of relapse, four of transplant-related causes, mostly related to aGVHD; thus, the transplant-related mortality was 16%. Twenty-one patients are alive, in remission, with a median follow-up of 55 months (range 24-90); actuarial probability of survival is 78% (CI 64-96). Our study shows that this conditioning regimen is relatively easy to administer and seems to be as effective as, if not superior to, regimens containing TBI, in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase and the transplant-related mortality is not excessive even in older patients.     

Characterisation of different typical Italian breads by means of traditional,spectroscopic and image analyses

In this paper a complete characterisation of four typical durum wheat breads produced in Italy was performed, from the starting semolinas to the final product, also considering the intermediate dough. An evaluation of the quality of durum wheat re-milled semolinas was carried out by means of routine investigations, together with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) analyses, that were also applied to dough ready for baking and bread to monitor the variations that occur during processing. The experimental data obtained from routine and spectroscopic determinations were investigated using multivariate statistical analysis to evaluate the possibility of differentiating flours, doughs and breads according to their geographical origin. Computerised image analysis was applied to quantify the crumb grain features of different bread types, and to try to characterise each bread type through a set of crumb morphological and colour parameters.     

Rougher flotation of copper sulphide ore using biosolids and humic acids

In the quest of new, less hazardous, and more ambient-friendly froth flotation reagents, the use of biosolids or humic acids as both collector and frother for the concentration of copper sulphide ores was investigated. Rougher flotation tests were conducted in Denver cells on a laboratory scale, and metallurgical indicators such as copper recovery, copper concentrate grade, and concentration and enrichment ratios were compared with those obtained under similar conditions but using conventional collectors and frothers for the industrial flotation of copper sulphide ores. With a dosage of 10% (w/w) biosolids, copper recovery and grade were 26% and 0.81%, respectively. The copper recovery and grade obtained with 1.5% (w/w) salt of humic acids were 29.7% and 3.5%, respectively. A significantly higher copper recovery (65.1%) was obtained with conventional industrial collectors and frothers, but the grade was also low (3.1% Cu). With the same dosage of humic substances, humic acid show that the flotation rate constant was significantly higher (0.2 min⁻¹) than that obtained with the same dosage of biosolids (0.09 min⁻¹). These results indicate that humic acids have more affinity than biosolids for copper-containing mineral species, and also show that biosolids and humic acids could be used as both collector and frother in the sulphide mineral concentration process by froth flotation. Because the distribution of iron in the concentrate obtained with biosolids is highest, these materials seem to have more affinity for pyrite.     

Detection of Brettanomyces spp. in Red Wines Using Real-Time PCR

The question if the "Brett character" is a favorable wine attribute is one of the most controversial issues and it is currently addressed by many researches. Actually, the presence of Brettanomyces/Dekkera in wine during barrel aging is often associated to detrimental organoleptic characteristics depending on the release of volatile phenols (for example, 4-ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol); for that reason the possibility to rapidly detect the yeast at the early stage of wine production could allow preventive actions to reduce wine spoilage. In this work, 25 and 5 samples from conventional and organic vineyards, respectively, all suspected to be spoiled by Brettanomyces/Dekkera spp., were analyzed using both culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques. In particular, a DNA extraction protocol and a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to directly detect and quantify B. bruxellensis were optimized. Results showed that B. bruxellensis was present in 22 of 30 samples, ranging from 10 to 10(4) CFU/mL, lower values being found in organic wines (10 to 10(2) CFU/mL). Overall, qPCR was proved to be a useful and valuable wine control system, since 12 samples were recorded as positive for yeast presence when analyzed by qPCR and negative in case of plate count analyses. Practical Application: Brettanomyces cells were detected using a qPCR method, optimized in this study, which allows to obtain results quickly.     

Evaluation of the hydraulic and hydrodynamic parameters influencing photo-catalytic degradation of bio-persistent pollutants in a pilot plant

A kinetic study on the photo-catalytic degradation of bio-persistent micro-pollutants, as methyl red and methylene blue dyes, was carried out on an innovative unit by changing the hydraulic and hydrodynamic parameters of the system. The catalyst (TiO₂, anatase) was embedded into a cement matrix and deposited at the bottom of a channel to activate the UVB photo-degradation reactions. The influence of the catalyst dosage, substrate concentration c₀, and pH was evaluated on the degradation rates. The optimum catalytic dose was obtained at 0.79?g/cm³ while the best results were observed at 0.7?mg/L influent dye concentration. The pH of the solution influenced the sorption phenomena because the charge of the substrates functional groups as well as the charge of the catalyst surface were affected by this parameter. Different unit geometries, hydraulic loads (h_w) and gradients (i) affected speed and flow-rate (Q) of the liquid phase and, as a consequence, the irradiated retention times (Irt) of the substrates to the UV/TiO₂ system. Kinetics resulted faster at increasing flow-rates of the liquid flowing through the channel, constant the hydraulic load, whereas the increase in the hydraulic load did not improve the performances. Finally, degradation rates slightly decreased after the increase in the hydraulic gradient of the channel.     

Thermodynamic analysis of the reaction of barium chloride with water vapour from 1173 K to 1473 K

Equilibrium pressures of hydrogen chloride and water vapour over solid or liquid barium chloride have been measured between 1173 K and 1473 K. All other gases were excluded from the system. The corresponding equilibria were represented by the following reactions: BaCl₂(s) + H₂O(g) ? BaO(s) + 2 HCl(g), between 1173 K and 1235 K; BaCl₂(1) + H₂0(g) ? BaO(s) + 2 HCl(g), between 1235 K and 1473 K; $\text{3}\text{2}$ BaCl₂(1)(saturated with BaO) $\text{+ H}{}_2\text{O(g) ai}\text{1}\text{2}$ (BaCl₂ 2BaO)(s) + 2 HCl(g), between 1173 K and 1268 K; and $\text{4}\text{3}$ BaCl₂(1) (saturated with BaO) $\text{+ H}{}_2\text{O(g) ?}\text{1}\text{3}\text{(BaCl}{}_2\text{. 3BaO)(s) + 2 HCl(g)}$, between 1268 K and 1473 K. The equilibrium constants K_p fit satisfactorily a linear plot of In K_p versus reciprocal absolute temperature. Mean enthalpy and entropy values of the reactions studied in the temperature range investigated were obtained from the plot and compared to literature data and to the phase diagram of the barium chloride — barium oxide system. The reactions involved and the thermodynamics of reactivity of barium chloride with water are critically examined.     

Variability of reduced glutathione levels in Massese ewes and its effect on daily milk production

The variability of the erythrocyte concentration of the tripeptide glutathione was studied in four flocks of Massese sheep. A relationship was found between glutathione level and stage of lactation in which the second month showed the lowest content. Genotype at transferrin and haemoglobin loci was associated with glutathione levels. Homozygotes at the transferrin locus yielded higher levels, while the D allele at the same locus was associated with lower concentrations. Animals with haemoglobin AA showed higher contents of glutathione. Also, a negative correlation was found between daily milk production and glutathione level.     

Breadboard of a Fourier-transform spectrometer for the radiation explorer in the far infrared atmospheric mission

In preparation for a possible space mission, a breadboard version named REFIR-BB of the Radiation Explorer in the Far Infrared (REFIR) instrument has been built. The REFIR is a Fourier-transform spectrometer with a new optical layout operating in the spectral range 100-1100 cm(-1) with a resolution of 0.5 cm(-1), a 7-s acquisition time, and a signal-to-noise ratio of better than 100. Its mission is the spectral measurement in the far infrared of the Earth's outgoing emission, with particular attention to the long-wavelength spectral region, which is not covered by either current or planned space missions. This measurement is of great importance for deriving an accurate estimate of the radiation budget in both clear and cloudy conditions. The REFIR-BB permits the trade-off among all instrument parameters to be studied, the optical layout to be tested, and the data-acquisition strategy to be optimized. The breadboard could be used for high-altitude ground-based campaigns or could be flown for test flights on aircraft or balloon stratospheric platforms. The breadboard's design and the experimental results are described, with particular attention to the acquisition strategy and characterization of the interferometer. Tests were performed both in laboratory conditions and in vacuum. Notwithstanding a loss of efficiency above 700 cm(-1) caused by the poor performance of the photolithographic polarizers used as beam splitters, the results demonstrate the feasibility of using the spectrometer for space applications.