Evaluation of Reliability Indicators for WDNs with Demand-Driven and Pressure-Driven Models

Reliability of water distribution networks (WDNs) has received much attention in recent years due to progressive aging of infrastructures and climate change. Several reliability indicators, focusing on hydraulic aspects rather than water quality, have been proposed in literature. Reliability is generally assessed resorting to well established methods coupling hydraulic simulations and stochastic techniques that describe the WDNs hydraulic performance and component availability respectively. Two main algorithms are employed to simulate WDNs: the demand driven approach (DDA) that disregards the physical relationship between actual water demand and nodal pressure, and the pressure driven approach (PDA) that explicitly incorporates it. In this paper, we show how the choice of hydraulic solver may affect reliability indicators. We modify existing quantitative indicators at nodal and network level, and define novel indicators to consider water quality aspects. These indicators are evaluated for three example WDNs; discrepancies between results obtained with the two approaches depend on network size, feeding scheme and skeletonization. Results suggest to use with caution the DDA for reliability assessment at both local and global level.     

Absolute emission quantum yield determination of self-assembled mesoporous titania films grafted with a luminescent zinc complex

A luminescent zinc complex was successfully incorporated to mesostructured porous titania films through a grafting process. The resulting films show an intense blue-emission increasing with functionalization time. The emission quantum yield of these newly synthesized films was quantitatively and accurately determined by measurements carried by an integrating sphere.     

Electrochemically Induced Addition Reactions in the Absence of Solvent and Supporting Electrolyte

Solvent‐ and supporting electrolyte‐free electrolysis in a two‐compartment cell proved to be effective for the direct electroactivation of C H acid‐containing compounds vs. catalytic addition processes. Michael adducts (including quaternary carbon centres) and 2‐nitroalkanols were obtained in very good yields and selectivity on application of a catalytic amount of electricity under galvanostatic conditions.     

Stereochemical composition-properties relationships in isotactic polypropylenes obtained with different catalyst systems

The influence of stereochemical composition of the radial growth rate of spherulites, the nucleation density, the overall rate of crystallization and the thermal behaviour of fractions of iPP samples synthesized with different catalyst systems (low, high and very high yield) was investigated. The study used ¹³C n.m.r., differential scanning calorimetry (d.s.c.) and optical microscopy. The ¹³C n.m.r. analysis showed that due to the presence of catalytic sites with different stereoregulating capability the catalyst system produces polypropylene with different stereoregularity. It was found that the growth rate of spherulites and the overall rate of crystallization are strictly related to the stereochemical structure of the polypropylene. Moreover, for the low yield iPP, phenomena of secondary crystallization were observed by Avrami analysis of the overall kinetics. Values of the equilibrium melting temperature (T_m), energy of nucleation (Δø1) and surface free energy of folding (σe) of iPP lamellar crystals have been determined according to the kinetic theory of polymer crystallization. The values of such thermodynamic quantities as well as the thermal behaviour of various iPP are strongly dependent upon the amount and distribution of configurational irregularities existing along the chains and upon the molecular mass distribution.     

Dissociation of changes in metabolic rate and blood pressure with erythrocyte Na-K pump activity in older men after endurance training

We examined whether changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR) and blood pressure in older normotensive men in response to endurance training were associated with alterations in the Na-K pump activity of plasma-bathed erythrocytes. Eleven men performed cycling exercise three times a week for 8 weeks, and six other men served as controls. Measurements included: RMR by indirect calorimetry, supine blood pressure, body composition by underwater weighing, plasma and erythrocyte Na and K parameters using flame photometry and ouabain. Peak VO2 increased 12% (p < .001), RMR increased 10% (p < .01), mean blood pressure decreased 5% (p < .05), erythrocyte K increased 5% (p < .01), plasma K decreased 7% (p < .001), and plasma Na decreased by 4% (p < .001) in response to training. Erythrocyte Na and Na-K pump rate did not change, nor did the individual changes correlate with changes in RMR or mean blood pressure. Exercise training increases RMR and reduces blood pressure in older men, but these changes are dissociated with erythrocyte Na-K pump activity.     

Rheumatoid arthritis and hydroxyapatite-coated hip prostheses: five-year results. International ABG Study Group

Medium- and long-term results from cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) show a higher incidence of infection and aseptic loosening when compared to other diagnoses. Early results using uncemented prostheses are variable. Hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings are thought to improve early osseointegration in uncemented THA. In a prospective, international, multicenter clinical study, 32 RA patients who received 33 uncemented HA-coated prostheses were followed up for a minimum of 5 years. Medium-term clinical results are excellent. No infection or aseptic loosening has been recorded. Excellent osseointegration was observed radiographically. Bone remodeling was consistent with mainly proximal to midstem stress transfer. We conclude that uncemented, proximally HA-coated prostheses are a promising alternative to cemented prostheses for RA patients.     

Transparent InP Quantum Dot Light‐Emitting Diodes with ZrO2 Electron Transport Layer and Indium Zinc Oxide Top Electrode

Because of outstanding optical properties and non‐vacuum solution processability of colloidal quantum dot (QD) semiconductors, many researchers have developed various light emitting diodes (LEDs) using QD materials. Until now, the Cd‐based QD‐LEDs have shown excellent properties, but the eco‐friendly QD semiconductors have attracted many attentions due to the environmental regulation. And, since there are many issues about the reliability of conventional QD‐LEDs with organic charge transport layers, a stable charge transport layer in various conditions must be developed for this reason. This study proposes the organic/inorganic hybrid QD‐LEDs with Cd‐free InP QDs as light emitting layer and inorganic ZrO₂ nanoparticles as electron transport layer. The QD‐LED with bottom emission structure shows the luminescence of 530 cd m^?2 and the current efficiency of 1 cd/A. To realize the transparent QD‐LED display, the two‐step sputtering process of indium zinc oxide (IZO) top electrode is applied to the devices and this study could fabricate the transparent QD‐LED device with the transmittance of more than 74% for whole device array. And when the IZO top electrode with high work‐function is applied to top transparent anode, the device could maintain the current efficiency within the driving voltage range without well‐known roll‐off phenomenon in QD‐LED devices.     

Collagen Fibres Orientation in the Bone Matrix around Dental Implants: Does the Implant’s Thread Design Play a Role?

The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of different thread shapes of titanium dental implant on the bone collagen fibre orientation (BCFO) around loaded implants. Twenty titanium dental implants, divided for thread shapes in six groups (A–F) were analysed in the present study. All implants were immediately loaded and left in function for 6 months before retrieval. The parameters evaluated under scanning electron microscope were the thread width, thread depth, top radius of curvature, flank angle, and the inter-thread straight section. Two undecalcified histological sections were prepared from each implant. Birefringence analysis using circularly polarized light microscopy was used to quantitively measure BCFO. For groups A–F, respectively, transverse BCFO was 32.7%, 24.1%, 22.3%, 18.2%, 32.4%, and 21.2%, longitudinal BCFO was 28.2%, 14.5%, 44.9%, 33.1%, 37.7%, and 40.2%. The percentage differences between transverse and longitudinal orientation were 4.50% (A), 9.60% (B), −22.60% (C), −14.90% (D), −5.30% (E), and −19.00% (F). Following loading, the amount of transverse and longitudinal BCFO were significantly influenced by the thread shape. The greater flank angles and narrower inter-thread sections of the “V” shaped and “concave” shaped implant threads of groups A and B, respectively, promoted the predominance of transverse BCFO, compared to groups C-F (p < 0.05). A narrow inter-thread straight section promotes transverse BCFO, as do “V” shaped and “concave” shaped threads, which can thus be considered desirable design for implant threads.     

Crosstalk between β2- and α2-Adrenergic Receptors in the Regulation of B16F10 Melanoma Cell Proliferation

Adrenergic receptors (AR) belong to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily and regulate migration and proliferation in various cell types. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether β-AR stimulation affects the antiproliferative action of α2-AR agonists on B16F10 cells and, if so, to determine the relative contribution of β-AR subtypes. Using pharmacological approaches, evaluation of Ki-67 expression by flow cytometry and luciferase-based cAMP assay, we found that treatment with isoproterenol, a β-AR agonist, increased cAMP levels in B16F10 melanoma cells without affecting cell proliferation. Propranolol inhibited the cAMP response to isoproterenol. In addition, stimulation of α2-ARs with agonists such as clonidine, a well-known antihypertensive drug, decreased cancer cell proliferation. This effect on cell proliferation was suppressed by treatment with isoproterenol. In turn, the suppressive effects of isoproterenol were abolished by the treatment with either ICI 118,551, a β2-AR antagonist, or propranolol, suggesting that isoproterenol effects are mainly mediated by the β2-AR stimulation. We conclude that the crosstalk between the β2-AR and α2-AR signaling pathways regulates the proliferative activity of B16F10 cells and may therefore represent a therapeutic target for melanoma therapy.