Search results for "26"

Modelling flow and heat transfer in spacer-filled membrane distillation channels using open source CFD code

2013

Abstract A good understanding of the details of hydrodynamic and heat transport conditions and their impact on temperature polarisation and pressure drops is essential for optimum design of membrane distillation (MD) modules. To this end, the present work reports on initial progress in the development of a tool for 3D simulation of spacer-filled MD channels based on the open source CFD code library OpenFOAM. The paper discusses a number of modelling and implementation aspects including model geometry and computational domain, choice of boundary conditions, and discretisation schemes. The results pertaining to the effect of three different spacer types on the fluid dynamics and heat transfer…

Friction and Heat Transfer in Membrane Distillation Channels: An Experimental Study on Conventional and Novel Spacers

2022

The results of an experimental investigation on pressure drop and heat transfer in spacer-filled plane channels, which are representative of Membrane Distillation units, are presented and discussed. Local and mean heat transfer coefficients were obtained by using Thermochromic Liquid Crystals and Digital Image Processing. The performances of a novel spacer geometry, consisting of spheres that are connected by cylindrical rods, and are hereafter named spheres spacers, were compared with those of more conventional woven and overlapped spacers at equal values of the Reynolds number Re (in the range ~150 to ~2500), the pitch-to-channel height ratio, the flow attack angle and the thermal boundar…

Inconsistencies in the pozzolanic strength activity index (SAI) for silica fume according to EN and ASTM

2014

Published version of an article in the journal: Materials and Structures. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0457-6 Open Access New supplementary cementitious materials claimed to possess pozzolan properties emerge frequently. This development is driven both by economic and environmental pressures. Properties of new materials are compared with those of materials already well known, such as silica fume. Several test methods are standardized for making such comparisons, regulated by both European (EN) and American (ASTM) standards. Standardization indicates that procedures are secured to make comparisons valid and informative. In this article the sensit…

ALS-RELATED FUS PROTEIN IS MISLOCALIZED TO CYTOPLASM AND RECRUITED INTO STRESS GRANULES IN FIBROBLASTS OF ASYMPTOMATIC FUS P525L MUTATION CARRIERS

Symptoms onset in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) occur when over 70% of motor neurons is already lost, suggesting a relatively long pre-symptomatic phase. The description of several genes linked to ALS (e.g., SOD1, FUS, TARDP, C9orf72) has now allowed identification of pre-symptomatic carriers. These pre-symptomatic (or even preclinical) carriers can be followed up with the aim to identify the very early clinical disease-related changes or a valuable biomarker. These efforts seem at present the best approach for the implementation of an early symptomatic therapy or for the disease prevention. In this work, we studied the expression of FUS protein in cultured skin fibroblasts from pre-s…

Effects of a home-based, exergaming intervention on physical function and pain after total knee replacement in older adults : a randomised controlled…

2023

ObjectivesTo investigate the effects of 4 months of customised, home-based exergaming on physical function and pain after total knee replacement (TKR) compared with standard exercise protocol.MethodsIn this non-blinded randomised controlled trial, 52 individuals aged 60–75 years undergoing TKR were randomised into an exergaming (intervention group, IG) or a standard exercising group (control group, CG). Primary outcomes were physical function and pain measured before and after (2 months and 4 months) surgery using the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Secondary outcomes included measures of the Visual Analogue Scale, 10m walking, short physical performance battery, iso…

Genetic Factors as Promising Biomarkers of Sporadic Ascending Aortic Aneurysm

2014

Thoracic aorta shows various changes with advancing age and a progressive deterioration in structure and function. As a result, vascular remodeling (VR) and medial degeneration (MD) occur. VR and MD are typical entities of sporadic thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), actually considered a common and serious health risk and a pathology by unclear mechanisms. Increased activity of the coagulation system, inflammation, activation of extracellular matrix remodeling and endothelial dysfunction pathways have been recently evidenced to have a key role in its onset. Thus, polymorphisms of the coagulation system [fibrinogen (rs1800790); Factor II ( rs1799963); Factor V (rs6025); Factor VII (rs121964926)…

H.264 QoS and Application Performance with Different Streaming Protocols

2015

Streaming techniques, including the selected streaming protocol, have an effect on the streaming quality. In this study, the performance of three different streaming protocols in a disturbed communication channel is evaluated with a modified version of the FFPlay player. A H.264 encoded video is used as a test sequence. The number of displayed image frames, the frame rate and playout duration are used as objective metrics for QoS. The metrics brings out differences of streaming protocols in our test environment. They are measured at the application level and have a connection to the user experience. peerReviewed

Functional inequalities for generalized inverse trigonometric and hyperbolic functions

2014

Various miscellaneous functional inequalities are deduced for the so-called generalized inverse trigonometric and hyperbolic functions. For instance, functional inequalities for sums, difference and quotient of generalized inverse trigonometric and hyperbolic functions are given, as well as some Gr\"unbaum inequalities with the aid of the classical Bernoulli inequality. Moreover, by means of certain already derived bounds, bilateral bounding inequalities are obtained for the generalized hypergeometric ${}_3F_2$ Clausen function.

Il sistema di copertura del Teatro Politeama di Palermo

2012

In the project of the Politeama’s Theater in Palermo, the Architect Almeyda summarizes, in an expressive and model balance, the technological component and geometrical/spatial shape, providing optimal solutions to a structural and functional problems. Thanks to its typological approach, thanks to its technological aspects and, specifically, thanks to its size and its style, the work offers us some interesting reflections about the technical choices carried out for the construction. The Author, basing on some original Almeyda’s drawings, deepens the geometric and compositional system of the roof. The daring and complex construction carried out in iron and glass, modern and progressive in for…

The role of circulating and exosomal miRNAs as biomarkers of drug-resistant epilepsy

Epilepsy is estimated to affect about 65 million individuals worldwide, with up to 30 percent of drug-resistant patients who do not have remission despite appropriate therapy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Therefore, it is important to distinguish drug-resistant epilepsy early in the course of disease to start a specific therapeutical approach as soon as possible. Recently circulating miRNAs have been proposed as promising biomarkers for different neurodegenerative disorders, including epilepsy. MiRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNA that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. The regulatory mechanisms controlling translation of mRNA transcripts represents to date a…