Search results for " key"
showing 10 items of 409 documents
A Maximizing Hydraulic Radius (MHR) method for defining cross-section limits in rills and ephemeral gullies
2021
Abstract In this paper, a new method for determining the cross-section limits in rills and ephemeral gullies is proposed. This method is based on the estimate of the actual depth ha of each cross-section, which is the particular depth distinguishing the channel from the hillslope areas. The analysis showed that the actual depth corresponds to a particular bank slope sta occurring for the maximum value of the hydraulic radius R. The method was applied using a volumetric approach for calculating the hydraulic radius as the ratio between the volume of the whole investigated channel and its boundary lateral surface. The value of the bank slope st was derived by the DEM of the whole channel late…
The mechanisms for maintenance of verbal information in working memory
2011
Working memory is a system that allows to maintain information, while performing a concurrent processing. The subvocal rehearsal (Baddeley, 1986) and the attentional refreshing (Barrouillet et al., 2007) are two mechanisms identified as playing a role in maintenance of verbal information within working memory. However, the exact nature of the interplay of these two mechanisms was little studied and remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of our work was first to investigate the interplay of rehearsal and refreshing. In several experiments performed with young adults, the use of rehearsal and refreshing were respectively manipulated through articulatory suppression and attentional demand of …
Delaying surgery for patients with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection
2020
With at least 28 elective million operations delayed during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients who will require surgery after a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection is likely to increase rapidly1. Operating on patients with an active perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection is now known to carry a very high pulmonary complication and mortality rate2. Urgent information is needed to guide whether postponing surgery in patients with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to a clinical benefit, and the optimal length of delay.
Central Serotonin2C Receptor: From Physiology to Pathology
2006
Since the 1950s, when serotonin (5-HT) was discovered in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), an enormous amount of experimental evidence has revealed the pivotal role of this biogenic amine in a number of cognitive and behavioural functions. Although 5-HT is synthesized by a small group of neurons within the raphe nuclei of the brain stem, almost all parts of the CNS receive serotonergic projections. Furthermore, the importance of 5-HT modulation and the fine-tuning of its action is underlined by the large number of 5-HT binding sites found in the CNS. Hitherto, up to 15 different 5-HT receptors subtypes have been identified. This review was undertaken to summarize the work that has…
A Set of Key Performance Indicators for Solar Heating and Cooling Systems
2017
The application of solar heating and cooling systems for building air-conditioning actually shows a significant potential of exploitation, particularly in sunny regions. The choice whether or not to apply such technologies in different climates should be based on the assessment of their energy/environmental, economic and social sustainability, as well as their technical characteristics as reliability, durability and energy efficiency. To support researchers and decision-makers in the selection of the best solar air-conditioning solution in a specific geographic and energy context, the paper proposes a set of technical, economic, energy/environmental and social key performance indicators. Th…
The genus Bolbelasmus in the western and southern regions of the Mediterranean Basin (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae)
2016
The Bolbelasmus Boucomont, 1911 species of the western and southern regions of the Mediterranean Basin (Northern Africa, Iberian Peninsula and France) are revised. The following three new species are described: Bolbelasmus brancoi Hillert & Král sp. nov. and Bolbelasmus howdeni Hillert & Král sp. nov., both from Spain and Gibraltar, and Bolbelasmus nikolajevi Hillert, Arnone, Král & Massa sp. nov. from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. Bolbelasmus vaulogeri (Abeille de Perrin, 1898) stat. restit. is removed from synonymy with B. bocchus (Erichson, 1841) and reinstated as a separate species. Bolbelasmus romanorum Arnone & Massa, 2010 is considered a junior subjective synonym of B. vaulogeri. Lectoty…
The Middle Eastern Genus Ocnerosthenus Massa, 1995 (Insecta Orthoptera: Pamphagidae).
2007
The study of types and other specimens coming from the Middle East and original descriptions allowed us to propose the following conclusions. Five species belong to this genus inhabiting montane areas of Lebanon, Syria and Israel, O. verrucosus (Brunner, 1882), O. brunnerianus (Saussure, 1887), O. simulans (Bolivar, 1911), O. kneuckeri (Krauss, 1909) and O. lividipes (Fishelson, 1985). O. brunnerianus is distributed over the North-West of Syria. Distribution of O. simulans covers the mountains of Central-North Lebanon, O. kneuckeri lives on the mountains of Central-South Lebanon and O. lividipes on Mt. Hermon. Type locality of O. verrucosus is Syria and it seems impossible to locate it more…
A hierarchical framework for the measurement of maintenance efficacy and efficiency using performance indicators
2014
Maintenance plays an important role in achieving the organizational goals so that the measurement of its effectiveness and efficiency has become an essential element of industrial strategy. In literature several Maintenance Key Performance Indicators (MKPIs) are proposed but none structured approach is suggested to select the best set of MKPIs able to synthetically describe a specific maintenance context. The paper proposes a structured methodology for the maintenance performance measurement by means of MKPIs. Firstly, a multi-level hierarchical framework able to synthesize the most meaningful perspectives affecting the performance of the maintenance process is designed. Successively, some …
Structured methodology for selection of maintenance key performance indicators: Application to an oil refinery plant
2017
The novel contribution of the work is the proposal of a structured multi-step methodology that may support the Decision Maker (DM) in the measurement of maintenance performance by means of Maintenance Key Performance Indicators (MKPIs). To this aim, a multi-level hierarchical framework able to synthesize the most meaningful aspects affecting the maintenance results is designed. Then, MKPIs are selected from the literature, assigned to the hierarchical framework and ranked by an Analytic Hierarchy Process-based approach with incomplete comparison matrices. A mathematical model is finally formulated to select the optimal set of MKPIs. The methodology is implemented in an oil refinery plant an…
A Structured Methodology for the Safety Key Performance Indicator Prioritization: A Case Study
2021
Nowadays, companies have become more and more attentive to the management and evaluation of activities, processes and actions related to the safety in workplaces. This attention stems from both the need to comply with law requirements and to improve the productivity of the company by ensuring the reduction of occupational injuries and diseases. Accordingly, performance evaluation is a fundamental step also theorized by the most important guidelines on Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMSs). With this recognition, the present paper provides a methodology to prioritize Safety Key Performance Indicators (SKPIs) starting from an initial set selected from the literature. Refe…