Prediction of debonding strength of tensile steel/CFRP joints using fracture mechanics and stress based criteria

In this paper, the debonding strength of axially loaded double shear lap specimens between steel plates and carbon fibre reinforced plastic plates is investigated from the analytical, numerical and experimental point of view. Two steel plates were joined together by two carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) plates and epoxy adhesive in order to realize double shear lap specimens of different length. Failure of the steel-adhesive interface was identified as the dominant failure mode and fracture mechanics and stress based approach are presented in order to estimate the relevant failure load. A good agreement between the analytical-numerical results and experimental data is achieved.     

Quantitative Plasma Proteomics to Identify Candidate Biomarkers of Relapse in Pediatric/Adolescent Hodgkin Lymphoma

Classical pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is a rare malignancy. Therapeutic regimens for its management may be optimized by establishing treatment response early on. The aim of this study was to identify plasma protein biomarkers enabling the prediction of relapse in pediatric/adolescent HL patients treated under the pediatric EuroNet-PHL-C2 trial. We used untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomics at the time of diagnosis—before any therapy—as semiquantitative method to profile plasma proteins specifically associated with relapse in 42 children with nodular sclerosing HL. In both the exploratory and the validation cohorts, six proteins (apolipoprotein E, C4b-binding protein α chain, clusterin, fibrinogen γ chain, prothrombin, and vitronectin) were more abundant in the plasma of patients whose HL relapsed (|fold change| ≥ 1.2, p < 0.05, Student’s t-test). Predicting protein function with the Gene Ontology classification model, the proteins were included in four biological processes (p < 0.01). Using immunoblotting and Luminex assays, we validated two of these candidate biomarkers—C4b-binding protein α chain and clusterin—linked to innate immune response function (GO:0045087). This study identified C4b-binding protein α chain and clusterin as candidate early plasma biomarkers of HL relapse, and important for the purpose of shedding light on the molecular scenario associated with immune response in patients treated under the EuroNet-PHL-C2 trial.     

A single pass algorithm for clustering evolving data streams based on swarm intelligence

Existing density-based data stream clustering algorithms use a two-phase scheme approach consisting of an online phase, in which raw data is processed to gather summary statistics, and an offline phase that generates the clusters by using the summary data. In this article we propose a data stream clustering method based on a multi-agent system that uses a decentralized bottom-up self-organizing strategy to group similar data points. Data points are associated with agents and deployed onto a 2D space, to work simultaneously by applying a heuristic strategy based on a bio-inspired model, known as flocking model. Agents move onto the space for a fixed time and, when they encounter other agents into a predefined visibility range, they can decide to form a flock if they are similar. Flocks can join to form swarms of similar groups. This strategy allows to merge the two phases of density-based approaches and thus to avoid the computing demanding offline cluster computation, since a swarm represents a cluster. Experimental results show that the bio-inspired approach can obtain very good results on real and synthetic data sets.     

Real time identification of discrete event systems using Petri nets

The paper defines the identification problem for Discrete Event Systems (DES) as the problem of inferring a Petri Net () model using the observation of the events and the available output vectors, that correspond to the markings of the measurable places. Two cases are studied considering different levels of the system knowledge. In the first case the place and transition sets are assumed known. Hence, an integer linear programming problem is defined in order to determine a modelling the DES. In the second case the transition and place sets are assumed unknown and only an upper bound of the number of places is given. Hence, the identification problem is solved by an identification algorithm that observes in real time the occurred events and the corresponding output vectors. The integer linear programming problem is defined at each observation so that the can be recursively identified. Some results and examples characterize the identified systems and show the flexibility and simplicity of the proposed technique. Moreover, an application to the synthesis of supervisory control of systems via monitor places is proposed.     

Maximizing Convergence Speed for Second Order Consensus in Leaderless Multi-Agent Systems

The paper deals with the consensus problem in a leaderless network of agents that have to reach a common velocity while forming a uniformly spaced string.Moreover,the final common velocity(reference velocity)is determined by the agents in a distributed and leaderless way.Then,the consensus protocol parameters are optimized for networks characterized by a communication topology described by a class of directed graphs having a directed spanning tree,in order to maximize the convergence rate and avoid oscillations.The advantages of the optimized consensus protocol are enlightened by some simulation results and comparison with a protocol proposed in the related literature.The presented protocol can be applied to coordinate agents such as mobile robots,automated guided vehicles(AGVs)and autonomous vehicles that have to move with the same velocity and a common inter-space gap.     

A computational study of several relocation methods for k-means algorithms

The core of a k-means algorithm is the reallocation phase. A variety of schemes have been suggested for moving entities from one cluster to another and each of them may give a different clustering even though the data set is the same. The present paper describes shortcomings and relative merits of 17 relocation methods in connection with randomly generated data sets.     

Nickel(III) and Copper(III) Complexes with 13- and 14-membered Tetra-aza Macrocycles. Ring-size and Medium Effects on the MIII/MII Redox Couple Potentials

The one-electron oxidation of the Ni^II and Cu^II complexes with 13- and 14-membered macrocycles 1 and 2 to produce authentic Ni^III and Cu^III species has been electrochemically investigated and the E_1/2 values associated to the reversible M^III/M^II redox couple have been determined by means of the Differential Pulse Voltammetry technique. The 13-membered ring favours the attainment of the Cu^III state, whereas the 14-membered ring favours the formation of the Ni^III complex. This opposite behaviour is satisfactorily interpreted in terms of size of the metal ions and aperture of the macrocyclic cave. Moreover the effect of the concentration of the inert electrolyte (NaClO₄, 0.1–7.0 M) on the E_1/2(M^III/M^II) values has been investigated: the increase of the NaClO₄ concentration favours the formation of the Cu^III complexes and disfavours the formation of the Ni^III species. This behaviour is ascribed to the destabilization of Ni^III and Cu^II complexes induced by perchlorate ion through the formation of hydrogen bonds with water molecules axially coordinated to the metal ions.     

Oxidation of ethyl alcohol in trickle bed reactors: Analysis of the conversion rate

The interpretation of results of a chemical reaction carried out in a trickle bed reactor is not immediate when the key reactants are volatile; in fact some authors state that the overall conversion rate increases at very low liquid flow rates, i.e. when the catalyst is unevenly wetted. In these conditions, the reactants may penetrate inside the catalyst pellets directly through the “dry” zones; therefore the mass transfer resistance is diminished and the conversion rate can be increased. To investigate this phenomenon tests on the catalytic oxidation of ethyl alcohol dissolved in water were performed at different operating conditions in a trickle bed reactor. An interpretation of the results was tried by using two different models based on partially wetted particles. This approach considers both the cases in which “dry” zones are active or not for mass transfer and mass transfer rates are affected or not by the chemical reaction.