Search results for "TPR"

Quantifying Mean Shape and Variability of Footprints Using Mean Sets

2005

This paper1 presents an application of several definitions of a mean set for use in footwear design. For a given size, footprint pressure images corresponding to different individuals constitute our raw data. Appropriate footwear design needs to have knowledge of some kind of typical footprint. Former methods based on contour relevant points are highly sensitive to contour noise; moreover, they lack repeatability because of the need for the intervention of human designers. The method proposed in this paper is based on using mean sets on the thresholded images of the pressure footprints. Three definitions are used, two of them from Vorob’ev and Baddeley-Molchanov and one morphological mean p…

The role of chemical cues in the host finding behaviour of Trissolcus basalis from a Conservation Biological Control perspective

In assessing successful biological control programs by parasitoids, the knowledge of important traits, such as the host finding capability, i.e. the ability to find host and food resources, play the key role. Moreover, parasitoids in their natural environment parasitoids deal with a variable mixtures of natural cues. Some chemical cues are used by the wasps to locate their hosts, some ones drive wasps to feeding resources. The parasitoid response to these cues can fluctuate according to biotic factors and abiotic condition. This dissertation focus in details on the role of two important tools, such as selective flowering plants as food resources to add within a crop area and the traces left…

The behavioral responses of the egg parasitoid Ooencyrtus telenomicida to semiochemicals from first and second trophic level

2009

In this study the responses of females of the egg parasitoid Ooencyrtus telenomicida (Vassiliev) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) to volatile and contact chemicals from its host Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and from host plant Solanum lycopersicum L. were investigated in a Y-tube olfactometer and in open arena. Our results in the Y-tube olfactometer tests showed that: (1) female wasps were attracted to volatiles from adult host virgin male and to volatiles from a host mated female, showing a clear preference for the volatiles emitted from the former; volatiles from host virgin females did not attract O. telenomicida females; (2) only volatiles produced by host-damaged plant com…

Rolling resistance and traffic delay impact on a road pavement life cycle carbon footprint analysis

2017

The application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to road pavements has been continuously evolving and improving over the last years, however there are several limitations and uncertainties in the introduction of some components in the framework, such as road pavement rolling resistance—in terms of pavement surface properties—and traffic delay during maintenance activities. This paper analyses the influence of methodological assumptions and the model used to estimate the increased emissions for traffic delay and road pavement rolling resistance on the results of an LCA. The Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions related to these two phases of a pavement LCA will be calculated for a UK case study, us…

PALERMO COAST TO COAST. DALLA CATASTROFE ALLA RIGENERAZIONE URBANA

2020

Il presente saggio descrive le trasformazioni della costa di Palermo intese come paradigma dei suoi processi di mutazione fisica, sociale ed antropologica del ‘900. Processi che hanno visto trasformarsi, in un tempo molto ridotto, grandi porzioni della città e della sua geografia e che hanno richiesto la elaborazione di nuove categorie critiche in grado di interpretarne il presente e i suoi possibili indirizzi futuri. L’estensione geografica, il carattere intensivo, la compressione temporale e la dinamica brutale di tali trasformazioni può consentirci di paragonare le stesse agli effetti che i territori possono subire a seguito di eventi o catastrofi naturali. Esse sono state, tuttavia, gli…

Environmental assessment of a new building envelope material derived from urban agriculture wastes : the case of the tomato plants stems

2023

Abstract Purpose Decarbonizing cities is one of today’s biggest challenges. In this regard, particular attention has been paid on improving the environmental performance of buildings. In this framework, this work consists in assessing the environmental impact of an innovative building envelope component derived from urban agriculture (UA) wastes. In fact, rooftop UA seems to be a possible solution to the rising food demand due to increasing urban demographic growth. Consequently, rooftop UA wastes need to be treated in sustainable ways. Methods This study aims to determine the carbon footprint and embodied energy of a new infill wall material, derived from UA wastes produced by a building r…

Assessing the Ecological Footprint of an Urban Transportation System

2003

The ecological footprint methodology is here applied to the urban transport system of the Italian town of Palermo (Sicily). By only using the current running fleet, a synthetic indicator represented by the "equivalent bio-productive" land, corresponding to the actual transport configuration, will be built up. This indicator can be usefully adopted for ranking various options in the urban context referring, for example, to different arrangements of the transportation demand between private and public means. This could allow local administrations to environmentally hierarchizing alternative plans concerning the urban transportation

Combining Membrane and Zero Brine Technologies in Waste Acid Treatment for a Circular Economy in the Hot-Dip Galvanizing Industry: A Life Cycle Persp…

2023

AbstractAn innovative approach of combining membrane and zero brine technologies for a joint treatment of industrial liquid waste is investigated regarding its environmental impacts compared to the existing liquid waste treatment. The object of investigation is the generation of waste acid solution by a hot dip galvanizing plant in Sicily, Italy. The waste acid solution contains hydrochloric acid, iron and zinc, which makes it a hazardous waste according to EU classifications. Environmental impacts are studied for two scenarios in the Tecnozinco hot-dip galvanizing plant in Sicily, Italy: (i) the current process of pickling with linear disposal of waste acid and (ii) the pickling combined w…

Adaptive Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Control of Non-Linear Processes

2011

The main objective of this study is to provide a valid and effective approach for the design and development of an adaptive type-2 fuzzy controller (AT2FLC), based on the analysis of the nonlinear process dynamics and the use of an ANFIS technique for the optimization of the controller. The performance of the obtained AT2FLC, characterized by a few number of rules, is higher than the performance of a traditional type-2 fuzzy controller with a larger rule base. The proposed controller is particurarly suitable for the control of processes characterized by uncertainty and time varying parameters.

Dense Solid-Liquid Suspensions in Top-Covered Unbaffled Stirred Vessels

2011

In the present work solids suspension is investigated in an unbaffled tank stirred by a Rushton turbine and provided with a top-cover in order to avoid the formation of the well known central vortex. The data obtained are compared with those pertaining baffled stirred tanks via comparison with the well known Zwietering’s correlation. The dependence of Njs on particle concentration is found to be similar to that well established for baffled vessels, while, as a difference from the latter, Njs is found to decrease when liquid viscosity increases. Results also show that Njs is substantially independent of particle size, a feature that may advice the adoption of unbaffled tanks when large heavy…