Feasibility study for the remediation of groundwater contaminated by organolead compounds

The aim of this research was to assess the effectiveness of chemical oxidation, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) and adsorption on granular activated carbon (GAC) for the ex situ remediation of a groundwater contaminated by organolead compounds, including tetraethyl lead (TEL), triethyl lead (TREL) and diethyl lead (DEL). The groundwater of concern was collected from the site of a former tetraalkyllead producing company in Trento (Italy), and showed an average total organic lead (TOL) content about 95.1 microg/L (TEL 0.5 microg/L, TREL 86.4 microg/L, DEL 8.3 microg/L). The main target of the study was to find out which method was more effective in reducing the pollutant content. For this purpose, several laboratory tests were performed, including chemical oxidation tests with different reactants (hydrogen peroxide, modified Fenton's reagent, potassium permanganate, activated potassium persulfate, oxygen and combinations of potassium permanganate and modified Fenton's reagent), AOPs with ozone, UV radiation and hydrogen peroxide and filtration on granular activated carbon. A combination of chemical and physical treatments was also tested, with GAC filtration followed by chemical oxidation. According to the results achieved, the treatments which showed the best remediation performances were: chemical oxidation with modified Fenton's reagent, AOPs with hydrogen peroxide and ozone (perozone), AOPs with hydrogen peroxide and UV radiation, and the combined treatment with activated carbon filtration followed by chemical oxidation with perozone. All these treatments showed a 90% TOL removal, with excellent removals of both TEL and TREL, and final DEL concentrations below 5 microg/L.     

Third party presence during criminal forensic evaluations: Psychologists' opinions, attitudes, and practices.

If you are a psychologist who conducts forensic evaluations, how would you respond to an attorney's or family member's request to be present or to videotape the evaluation? Your answer may be impacted by legal, professional, ethical, and practical issues as addressed in legal and mental health publications. However, there is a dearth of empirical attention, and even the opinions and practices of psychologists in this arena are unclear. The present article addresses the need for empirical data on third party presence by surveying forensic clinicians' perspectives on the topic. A total of 160 forensic practitioners (41% response rate) provided information on their attitudes and practices pertaining to third parties in an evaluation. Overall, most clinicians believe third party presence can negatively impact an evaluation, yet most have conducted examinations under such conditions. The article concludes with speculation as to the impact of third party presence, a call for research and professional standards, and specific guidelines for psychologists who may struggle with these complex issues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The adjacency graph of a real algebraic surface

The paper deals with the question of recognizing the mutual positions of the connected components of a non-singular real projective surface S in the real projective 3-space. We present an algorithm that answers this question through the computation of the adjacency graph of the surface; it also allows to decide whether each connected component is contractible or not. The algorithm, combined with a previous one returning as an output the topology of the surface, computes a set of data invariant up to ambient-homeomorphism which, though not sufficient to determine the pair , give information about the nature of the surface as an embedded object. This research was partially performed with the contribution of M.I.U.R. and of Eurocontract HPRN-CT-2001-00271     

A feedforward–feedback glucose control strategy for type 1 diabetes mellitus

As the “artificial pancreas” becomes closer to reality, automated insulin delivery based on real-time glucose measurements becomes feasible for people with diabetes. This paper is concerned with the development of novel feedforward–feedback control strategies for real-time glucose control and type 1 diabetes. Improved post-meal responses can be achieved by a pre-prandial snack or bolus, or by reducing the glucose setpoint prior to the meal. Several feedforward–feedback control strategies provide attractive alternatives to the standard meal insulin bolus and are evaluated in simulations using a physiological model.     

Defaults as restrictions on classical Hilbert-style proofs

Since the earliest formalisation of default logic by Reiter many contributions to this appealing approach to nonmonotonic reasoning have been given. The different formalisations are here presented in a general framework that gathers the basic notions, concepts and constructions underlying default logic. Our view is to interpret defaults as special rules that impose a restriction on the juxtaposition of monotonic Hubert-style proofs of a given logicL. We propose to describe default logic as a logic where the juxtaposition of default proofs is subordinate to a restriction condition . Hence a default logic is a pair (L, ) where properties of the logic , like compactness, can be interpreted through the restriction condition . Different default systems are then given a common characterization through a specific condition on the logicL. We also prove cumulativity for any default logic (L, ) by slightly modifying the notion of default proof. We extend, in fact, the language ofL in a way close to that followed by Brewka in the formulation of his cumulative default system. Finally we show the existence of infinitely many intermediary default logics, depending on and called linear logics, which lie between Reiter's and ukaszewicz' versions of default logic.Work carried out in the framework of the agreement between Italian PT Administration and FUBLaforia, Université Paris VI Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 Place Jussieu,Tour 46, 75252 Paris, France     

Diffusion-relaxation coupling in polymers which show two-stage sorption phenomena

The diffusion behaviour of swollen polymer films in interval sorption experiments cannot be explained satisfactorily by the available models for diffusion into polymeric materials, and compels us to accept that the state of the swollen polymer should be characterized not only by the state variables such as temperature and pressure but also by a ‘degree of swelling’. The concept of activity parameter as an internal state variable is introduced as an yardstick for the degree of swelling and the rate of evolution of this has been related directly to the concept of relaxation time. Assuming a simple empirical constitutive rate equation for the physical process involved, asymptotic as well as the complete solution of the proposed mathematical model are developed and the results agree well with the available experimental data on two-stage sorption.     

Umbelliferone aminoalkyl derivatives as inhibitors of oxidosqualene cyclases from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae,Tripanosoma cruzi</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pneumocystis carinii</Emphasis>

A series of umbelliferone aminoalkyl derivatives, previously studied as inhibitors of squalene-hopene cyclase, were tested as inhibitors of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) and OSC from Trypanosoma cruzi and Pneumocystis carinii expressed in yeast. Enzymes from these pathogens were included in this study to provide a preliminary screening for antiparasitic activity. Tests were carried out both on cell homogenates incubated with radiolabeled oxidosqualene and on spheroplasts incubated with radiolabeled acetate. Derivatives bearing a methylallylamino group were the most effective on all of the three enzymes. The P. carinii enzyme was the most susceptible to the action of the inhibitors, with IC₅₀ values for almost all of them ranging from 0.1 to 1μM. The T. cruzi enzyme was appreciably inhibited (IC₅₀ 4–5 μM) only by derivatives bearing a methylallylaminoalkyl flexible chain. Results identify a particularly promising new family of OSC inhibitors, for the development of novel antiparasitic agents.     

A Cartesian Cable-Suspended Robot for improving end-users' mobility in an urban environment

In the near future, the flexibility and safety of robotic systems will allow them to interact directly with a patient without the need for an operator which will, at most, have to switch a system on or off. In this new scenario, end-users will have more chance of attaining enhanced independence and comfort in their daily life, even in outdoor activities, by using a simple and safe technology. In this paper we propose Cable System for Improving Mobility (CaSIMo), which has been developed with the aim of improving the mobility of end-users in an urban environment as regards traversing architectural barriers like canals or roads, when classical solutions such as bridges cannot be adopted. The cable system has been developed for large-scale handling (or aiding transfer) for applications in urban, civil and naval environments. The main issue of the system proposed, which belongs to the class of Cartesian Cable-Suspended Robots (CCSR), is that it can provide translational motion of the suspended end-effector, and may thus be considered well suited to a number of applications including that proposed herein. In this paper we focus our attention on a spatial version designed to improve the mobility of end-users in an urban environment. In particular, modeling for kinetostatic and dynamic analyses are proposed and discussed. The proposed system does not require structures of large dimensions, and its environmental impact can thus be greatly reduced with regard to other analogous devices. Moreover, it has a low-cost design if compared to other systems such as bridges, and can be installed and removed relatively easily. A laboratory prototype of the planar version has been built for experimental tests. Dynamic simulations of the large-scale spatial version have been reported to show the engineering significance of the proposed design in both nominal operation and critical conditions, i.e. in the case of a cable breaking.