Search results for "modelling"
showing 10 items of 1353 documents
Experimental Investigation for Local Tank Inflow Model
2014
In the present paper the effect of private roof tanks and of the float valve characteristics on apparent losses due to water meter errors was investigated via an experimental study. The tests were carried out at the Environmental Hydraulic Laboratory of the University of Enna (Italy), on a high-density polyethylene (HDPE 100 PN16) looped distribution network. The experimental results showed that network pressure plays an important role in the characterisation of the floating ball valve emitter law, but the tank operating condition is the most relevant aspect to be considered mainly for water meter error evaluation. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
An experimental and constitutive investigation on the chemo-mechanical behaviour of a clay
2013
Engineering issues for which the understanding of the chemo-mechanical behaviour of soils is relevant include wellbore stability problems, the salinification of groundwater, and nuclear waste storage. However, despite the vast number of situations in which couplings between chemistry and mechanics occur, the available constitutive models rely on limited experimental evidence. This paper presents the results of an experimental programme on the chemo-mechanical behaviour of a non-swelling illite. The osmotic suction is controlled through the ion concentration of sodium chloride in the pore water. Stress paths include mechanical loading at a constant osmotic suction, and an increasing osmotic …
Simulation of surface energy fluxes and meteorological variables using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS): Evaluating the impact of land…
2018
Atmospheric mesoscale numerical models are commonly used not only for research and air quality studies, but also for other related applications, such as short-term weather forecasting for atmospheric, hydrological, agricultural and ecological modelling. A key element to produce faithful simulations is the proper representation of the soil parameters used in the initialization of the corresponding mesoscale numerical model. The Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) is used in the current study. The model code has been updated in order to permit the model to be initialized using a heterogeneous soil moisture and temperature distribution derived from land surface models. Particularly, RA…
Impairing the largest and most productive forest on our planet: how do human activities impact phytoplankton?
2012
This article summarizes the outcomes of the 16th Workshop of the International Association for Phytoplankton Taxonomy and Ecology. Four major issues dealing with the impact exerted by human activities on phytoplankton were addressed in the articles of this special volume: climate change and its impacts on phytoplankton, the role of land use in shaping composition and diversity of phytoplankton, the importance of autecological studies to fully understand how phytoplankton is impacted by stressors and the role of ecological classification to evaluate community changes due to the different impacts. Case studies from different types of aquatic environments (rivers, deep and shallow lakes, reser…
Improving transferability strategies for debris flow susceptibility assessment: Application to the Saponara and Itala catchments (Messina, Italy)
2017
Abstract Debris flows can be described as rapid gravity-induced mass movements controlled by topography that are usually triggered as a consequence of storm rainfalls. One of the problems when dealing with debris flow recognition is that the eroded surface is usually very shallow and it can be masked by vegetation or fast weathering as early as one-two years after a landslide has occurred. For this reason, even areas that are highly susceptible to debris flow might suffer of a lack of reliable landslide inventories. However, these inventories are necessary for susceptibility assessment. Model transferability, which is based on calibrating a susceptibility model in a training area in order t…
FROM SCAN-TO-BIM TO HERITAGE BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING FOR AN ANCIENT ARAB-NORMAN CHURCH
2022
Abstract. One of the most significant issues in Cultural Heritage is the management of ancient buildings to monitor their state of conservation or to plan actions in their maintenance; this issue can be now approached thanks to the use of the Scan-to-BIM process. This method allows the creation of parametric models into a BIM environment, which are capable of enhancing the geometrical representation of building elements and integrating different types of data.This paper shows the results of the research activities carried out by the Department of Engineering at University of Palermo (Italy) on applying the Scan-to-BIM approach to the survey and the modelling of an ancient Arab-Norman church…
Integrated surveying techniques in cultural heritage documentation
2007
This paper is focused on integration between laser scanning data, CAD modelling and photogrammetric data collected during the survey of one façade of the monument called “Quattro Canti” in the historic centre of Palermo. The investigation has been directed to the production of a 3D photorealistic model of the monument. The “Quattro Canti” monument is formed by four cylindrical façades facing the square where the older streets of Palermo intersect; each façade has a symbolic reference to one of the seasons and is divided in four levels. The façade called “Canto dell’Autunno” has been surveyed both with laser scanning and with photogrammetric techniques. Laser scanning data have been collecte…
Rock decay phenomena and collapse processes in the “Latomiae del Paradiso” in Syracuse (Sicily)
2014
The Latomiae (origin: Greek latomia, from laas, las stone plus –tomia tomy ) del Paradiso in Syracuse are Magna Graecia rock quarries, located in the coastal areas of Southern Italy and internationally renowned for their impressive environment. The few historical technical records do not help clarify the events that led to their current configuration since a series of instability phenomena occurred due to decay processes over time. Through a geotechnical back-analysis, this work highlights the failure phenomena, which may have led to the current configuration of the easterly side of the Latomiae del Paradiso. The back-analysis process was carried out by means of numerical modelling, support…
Sacubitril/valsartan reduces indications for arrhythmic primary prevention in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: insights from DISCOVER-AR…
2021
Abstract Aims This sub-study deriving from a multicentre Italian register [Deformation Imaging by Strain in Chronic Heart Failure Over Sacubitril-Valsartan: A Multicenter Echocardiographic Registry (DISCOVER)-ARNI] investigated whether sacubitril/valsartan in addition to optimal medical therapy (OMT) could reduce the rate of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) indications for primary prevention in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) according to European guidelines indications, and its potential predictors. Methods and results In this observational study, consecutive patients with HFrEF eligible for sacubitril/valsartan from 13 Italian centres were included. Lack o…
Leptin and the OB-receptor as anti-obesity target: recent in silico advances in the comprehension of the protein-protein interaction and rational dru…
2014
The OB-receptor or leptin receptor (LR) is crucial for energy homeostasis and regulation of food uptake. Leptin is a 16 kDa hormone that is mainly secreted by fat cells into the bloodstream. Under normal circumstances, circulating leptin levels are proportionate to the fat body mass. Sensing of elevated leptin levels by the hypothalamic neuro-circuitry activates a negative feedback loop resulting in reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure. Decreased leptin concentrations lead to opposite effects. Therefore, rational design of leptin agonists/antagonists could be an appealing challenge in the battle against obesity. The Leptin/LR interactions have been studied in several works b…