Search results for "mixture"
showing 10 items of 1178 documents
A comparative analysis of the products of GROEL-1 gene fromChlamydia trachomatisserovar D and the HSP60 var1 transcript fromHomo sapienssuggests a po…
2009
Summary Chlamydia trachomatis serovar D produces large quantities of HSP60-1 during infections, which accumulate inside the host cell inducing autoimmunity. We compare the aminoacid sequences of the human HSP60 with the bacterial counterpart to better elucidate how CTHSP60 may simulate HSP60 from human origin during infection and may induce an autoimmune response. As a result of the comparison we suggest several possible epitopes of the CTHSP60, which may induce autoimmunity.
Taste heterogeneity and latent preferences in the choice behaviour of freight transport operators
2013
In this paper we show that individual attitudes of road carriers and their latent preferences toward specific freight service attributes do play a role in determining their mode choices. Specifically, we contribute to the empirical literature on freight agents' mode choice by exploring the role of the "perceived importance" of the most relevant service dimensions in determining the attractiveness of two alternatives to "all-road" transport: logistics terminals and road-sea intermodal services. This is carried out through a revealed/stated preference experiment and a mixture of logit framework. Our results support the hypothesis that operators' attitudes towards time, punctuality and risk of…
Interaction Mechanism of Humans in a Cyber-Physical Environment
2015
The research initiative “Industrie 4.0” (I4.0) of the high-tech strategy announced by the German government targets the deployment of a cyber-physical system (CPS) in production and logistics. Such CPS-based environments are characterized by an increasing number of heterogeneous intelligent autonomous and communicating artifacts tightly integrated with humans. Thus, the human’s role will become a composite factor (“man-in-the-mesh”) for this future CPS environment, playing more than just a simple role inside the control loop. This paper investigates the need of a robust communication between CPS and humans, which includes a clear semantic of the exchanged information. For this purpose, a me…
Grassland fire effect on soil organic carbon reservoirs in a semiarid environment
2013
Abstract. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of an experimental fire used for grassland management on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. The study was carried out on Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (Hh) grassland and Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Desf.) T. Durand & Schinz (Am) grasslands located in the north of Sicily. Soil samples were collected at 0–5 cm before and after the experimental fire, and SOC was measured. During the grassland fire, soil surface temperature was monitored. Biomass of both grasses was analysed in order to determine dry weight and its chemical composition. The results showed that SOC varied significantly with vegetation type, while it is not affecte…
Effects of Humic Substances and Soya Lecithin on the Aerobic Bioremediation of a Soil Historically Contaminated by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (…
2004
The high hydrophobicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) strongly reduces their bioavailability in aged contaminated soils, thus limiting their bioremediation. The biodegradation of PAHs in soils can be enhanced by employing surface-active agents. However, chemical surfactants are often recalcitrant and exert toxic effects in the amended soils. The effects of two biogenic materials as pollutant-mobilizing agents on the aerobic bioremediation of an aged-contaminated soil were investigated here. A soil historically contaminated by about 13 g kg(-1) of a large variety of PAHs, was amended with soya lecithin (SL) or humic substances (HS) at 1.5% w/w and incubated in aerobic solid-phas…
Polymer aging affects the bioavailability of microplastics-associated contaminants in sea urchin embryos
2022
Microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment undergo complex weathering factors that can affect their ability to interact with different coexisting environmental contaminants (termed here co-contaminants). In this study, the influence of artificially aging using UV on the sorption of a complex mixture of co-contaminants onto MPs was investigated in order to provide meaningful hypotheses on their individual and combined toxicities on sea urchin embryos. A mixture of artificially aged MPs (PS particles and PA microfibers) combined with 2,2′ ,4,4′ - tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), or Cd or Cu, both alone and in a mix, were used to expose embryos of Paracentrotus lividus. The effects of pol…
Analysis and assessment of trace element contamination in offshore sediments of the Augusta Bay (SE Sicily): A multivariate statistical approach base…
2014
Abstract An application of multivariate statistical methods is provided to identify anthropogenic contaminants and lithogenic elements in offshore sediments collected near the heavily industrialized Augusta Bay, Sicily. An exploratory statistical technique, based on canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and mixture density estimation approach, is used for distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic contributions of trace elements in the investigated sediments. Following the intensive industrialization of Augusta area, marine sediments reveal the severe impact of local anthropogenic activities for many elements (e.g. As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Sb), which are considered very dangerous for the en…
Mechanical and environmental performance comparisons of improved asphalt pavement wearing courses with high quality aggregates, steel slags, and poly…
2023
The use of waste materials in the construction of hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements is an important opportunity for environmental sustainability. When properly designed, the alternative mixtures may also guarantee excellent mechanical performance. In this study, the results of an experimental analysis carried out on dense-graded HMAs are presented. In particular, the performance of a "traditional" surface mixture with limestone aggregate (designed with neat bitumen or a polymer-modified bitumen within the typical acceptance requirements for intended use in wearing courses) was compared with two alternative mixtures. The research investigated a surface mixture including coarse basaltic aggrega…
Effect of the construction process on the performances of asphalt paving mixes with crumb rubber from scrap tires
2004
This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the use of CRM (Crumb Rubber Modifier) in bituminous mixtures for asphalt pavements, using a Dry Process. Employing experimental methods capable of ensuring that the mixtures obtained and the stress conditions that they undergo in pavements are representative, we clarify some aspects relating to the design and production of mixtures; we also show the effects of the bitumen-rubber interaction on mechanical performances (fatigue resistance and rutting). Among the various factors involved in manufacture, a particular investigation was carried out on the effects of asphalt content, mixing temperatures and mixture compaction. The experi…
ON THE BUBBLING DYNAMICS OF BINARY MIXTURES OF PARTICLES IN 2D GAS-SOLID FLUIDIZED BEDS
2011
The bubbling behaviour of fluidized beds has been thoroughly investigated in the last decades by means of several techniques, e.g. X-ray, Inductance, Resistance and Impedance based techniques, PIV. In recent years, Digital Image Analysis Techniques have shown their potential for accurate and cost effectively measurements. Most of the work related to bubble behaviour analysis deals with monodispersed particles, while almost all industrial equipment operates with mixtures of particles. Although considerable work has been done in the past with focus on the analysis of the mixing-segregation behaviour and predictions of fluid dynamics regime transitions, a lack of knowledge exists in the analys…