Water Distribution Networks Resilience Analysis: a Comparison between Graph Theory-Based Approaches and Global Resilience Analysis

Water Resources Management - The structure and connectivity of infrastructure systems such as water distribution networks (WDNs) affect their reliability, efficiency and resilience. Suitable...     

Assessment of poly(L-lactide) as an environmentally benign CO2 capture and storage adsorbent

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) in conjunction with an increasing use of renewables provides a clean pathway to sustainable development and climate change mitigation. In selecting a low temperature CCS adsorbent, parameters such as selectivity, regeneration energy, and economicity play a crucial role. Poly(L-lactide) (PLA) is one of the most promising materials in science and engineering, not only because it is a green polymer progressively replacing petrobased plastics, but also for its carbon dioxide (CO₂)-philic nature that makes it a suitable candidate for greenhouse gas capture and climate change mitigation. Literature data point to PLA as a valid CCS candidate, although no direct gaseous CO₂ adsorption investigation or with mild preparation/regenerative energy was reported. In the present experimental work, a deeper investigation of the adsorption/desorption properties of PLA in presence of gaseous CO₂ at room temperature was undertaken by means of a home-made Sievert-type apparatus. The effects of pressure (0–15 bar), morphology (commercial pellets, powder, and flakes), and regenerative energy (303 and 333 K) were investigated. PLA samples were also characterized by helium picnometry to obtain skeletal density and by XRD and SEM to obtain morphological and structural information. Results show that PLA represents a valid and ecological alternative among the materials for the capture of CO₂. The PLA absorption capacity reaches 16 wt% at 15 bar and 303 K, and is closely linked to the thermal treatment, morphology, and crystalline structure of the material.     

Virtual dives into the underwater archaeological treasures of South Italy

The paper presents a virtual diving system based on a virtual reality (VR) application for the exploitation of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. The virtual diving experience has been designed to entertain users, but its added pedagogical value is explicitly emphasized too. In fact, the ludic activities, consisting in the simulation of a real diving session from the point of view of a scuba diver, are following a storyline described by a virtual diving companion who guides users during the exploration of the underwater archaeological site. The virtual diving system provides general and historical-cultural contents, but also information about the flora and fauna of the specific submerged site to the users. The results collected through user studies demonstrate that the proposed VR system is able to provide a playful learning experience, with a high emotional impact, and it has been well appreciated by a large variety of audiences, even by younger and inexperienced users.     

Chronic BACE-1 Inhibitor Administration in TASTPM Mice (APP KM670/671NL and PSEN1 M146V Mutation): An EEG Study

Objective. In this exploratory study, we tested whether electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms may reflect the effects of a chronic administration (4 weeks) of an anti-amyloid β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme 1 inhibitor (BACE-1; ER-901356; Eisai Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) in TASTPM (double mutation in APP KM670/671NL and PSEN1 M146V) producing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) amyloid neuropathology as compared to wild type (WT) mice. Methods. Ongoing EEG rhythms were recorded from a bipolar frontoparietal and two monopolar frontomedial (prelimbic) and hippocampal channels in 11 WT Vehicle, 10 WT BACE-1, 10 TASTPM Vehicle, and 11 TASTPM BACE-1 mice (males; aged 8/9 months old at the beginning of treatment). Normalized EEG power (density) was compared between the first day (Day 0) and after 4 weeks (Week 4) of the BACE-1 inhibitor (10 mg/Kg) or vehicle administration in the 4 mouse groups. Frequency and magnitude of individual EEG delta and theta frequency peaks (IDF and ITF) were considered during animal conditions of behaviorally passive and active wakefulness. Cognitive status was not tested. Results. Compared with the WT group, the TASTPM group generally showed a significantly lower reactivity in frontoparietal ITF power during the active over the passive condition (p < 0.05). Notably, there was no other statistically significant effect (e.g., additional electrodes, recording time, and BACE-1 inhibitor). Conclusions. The above EEG biomarkers reflected differences between the WT and TASTPM groups, but no BACE-1 inhibitor effect. The results suggest an enhanced experimental design with the use of younger mice, longer drug administrations, an effective control drug, and neuropathological amyloid markers.     

Dual‐Cure Coatings: Spiroorthoesters as Volume‐Controlling Additives in Thiol–Ene Reactions

Most thiol–ene systems exhibit shrinkage during cross‐linking, potentially resulting in micro‐cracks and delamination. Oligocyclic monomers like spiroorthoesters (SOEs), on the contrary, show expansion during the ring‐opening polymerization. In this communication, a photocurable thiol–ene system composed of a trifunctional thiol, a bisfunctional allyl‐bisphenol A compound, and an SOE compound bearing one olefin function shows expansion in the range from ?3.07 to +1.70 vol% if the SOE content is increased from 0–30 wt%. Network formation can be accomplished under visible light if a radical as well as a cationic photoinitiator (dual‐cure mechanism) and a sensitizer are used. The elasticity of the cured resin increases upon the addition of the SOE; correspondingly, the glass‐transition temperature shows a (minor) decrease from 16 to 3 °C. A tailor‐made combination of the allyl‐bisphenol A compound (90 wt%) and the SOE (10 wt%) yields networks that are volume‐neutral during curing.     

Quantum energy-transport and drift-diffusion models for electron transport in graphene: an approach by the wigner function

Journal of Computational Electronics - The present work aims at formulating quantum energy-transport and drift-diffusion equations for charge transport in graphene from a quantum hydrodynamic model...