Tyre forces estimation for off-road motorcycles Vasquez, F.; Lot, R.; Rustighi, E. ...
Mechanical systems and signal processing,
March 2021, 2021-03-00, 20210301, Letnik:
150
Journal Article
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•Tyre contact forces of an off-road motorcycle are estimated from kinematics.•Estimated contact forces vary consistently with track obstacles.•Estimator detects wheel detachments, whoops braking and ...riding variations.
Off-road motorcycles transit over significantly irregular terrains facilitated by their suspension system. The optimisation of their suspension is an open topic. On one hand, on-road motorcycles need to be extended to consider off-road peculiarities such as larger amplitude of motion and a standing rider, to provide optimisation predictions. On the other hand, an objective methodology to verify the predictions is needed since the current practice is to rely on the subjective perception of the rider. In this article, we addressed for the first time, the second problem by developing an estimator of contact forces based on inverse dynamics equations and kinematic measurements. First, in a virtual experiment, it was verified that the estimation is satisfactory. Subsequently, using data recorded at a motocross track, we showed that the estimated forces vary consistently with the obstacles in the track. This provides an objective and consistent indication of the performance of the motorcycle and hence can be used to verify optimisations.
Background: Ethics support services are growing in Europe to help doctors in dealing with ethical difficulties. Currently, insufficient attention has been focused on the experiences of doctors who ...have faced ethical difficulties in these countries to provide an evidence base for the development of these services. Methods: A survey instrument was adapted to explore the types of ethical dilemma faced by European doctors, how they ranked the difficulty of these dilemmas, their satisfaction with the resolution of a recent ethically difficult case and the types of help they would consider useful. The questionnaire was translated and given to general internists in Norway, Switzerland, Italy and the UK. Results: Survey respondents (n = 656, response rate 43%) ranged in age from 28 to 82 years, and averaged 25 years in practice. Only a minority (17.6%) reported having access to ethics consultation in individual cases. The ethical difficulties most often reported as being encountered were uncertain or impaired decision-making capacity (94.8%), disagreement among caregivers (81.2%) and limitation of treatment at the end of life (79.3%). The frequency of most ethical difficulties varied among countries, as did the type of issue considered most difficult. The types of help most often identified as potentially useful were professional reassurance about the decision being correct (47.5%), someone capable of providing specific advice (41.1%), help in weighing outcomes (36%) and clarification of the issues (35.9%). Few of the types of help expected to be useful varied among countries. Conclusion: Cultural differences may indeed influence how doctors perceive ethical difficulties. The type of help needed, however, did not vary markedly. The general structure of ethics support services would not have to be radically altered to suit cultural variations among the surveyed countries.
The theoretical E‐curve for the laminar flow of non‐Newtonian fluids in circular tubes may not be accurate for real tubular systems with diffusion, mechanical vibration, wall roughness, pipe ...fittings, curves, coils, or corrugated walls. Deviations from the idealized laminar flow reactor (LFR) cannot be well represented using the axial dispersion or the tanks‐in‐series models of residence time distribution (RTD). In this work, four RTD models derived from non‐ideal velocity profiles in segregated tube flow are proposed. They were used to represent the RTD of three tubular systems working with Newtonian and pseudoplastic fluids. Other RTD models were considered for comparison. The proposed models provided good adjustments, and it was possible to determine the active volumes. It is expected that these models can be useful for the analysis of LFR or for the evaluation of continuous thermal processing of viscous foods.
Residence time distribution models, based on non‐ideal segregated flow, are proposed to represent laminar flow in real systems with diffusion, mechanical vibration, wall roughness, pipe fittings, coils, or corrugated walls. Experimental validation in three tubular systems with different fluids is presented. These models can be useful for the analysis of laminar flow reactors or continuous thermal processing of viscous foods.
ABSTRACT Diuron is a widely used herbicide on pineapple cultivations. However, its application is recommended only for the implementation of the crop. The objective of this work was to evaluate the ...gas exchanges of four pineapple cultivars submitted to the application of the herbicide diuron at their reproductive stage. The experiment was conducted with the IAC Fantástico, Vitória, MD2 and Pérola pineapple cultivars using the active ingredient diuron at a dose of 7.5 mL L-1. Measurements of CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration, vapor pressure deficit and water use efficiency were carried out weekly, by the hour, on two plants per cultivar, over a 24 hour period. These determinations were carried out two days before the application of the herbicide and 8, 15, 22, 29 and 36 days after application of the herbicide. Measurement of photochemical efficiency was performed weekly on the same dates and all these determinations were made on the ‘D’ leaf. Measurements of gas exchange were performed with an infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) and of chlorophyll a fluorescence with a fluorometer. The application of diuron reduced the assimilation of CO2 in the pineapple varieties IAC Fantástico, Vitória, MD2 and Pérola, at their reproductive phase, in all CAM metabolism stages. Diuron promoted a temporary reduction of the stomatal conductance and a temporary increase in water use efficiency. The photochemical efficiency of the studied pineapple cultivars was negatively affected by the herbicide diuron, with the recovery of the initial values by cultivar IAC Fantástico.
RESUMO: O diuron é um herbicida amplamente utilizado na cultura do abacaxizeiro. No entanto, sua aplicação é recomendada apenas na implantação da cultura. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar as trocas gasosas de quatro cultivares de abacaxizeiros submetidos à aplicação do herbicida diuron na fase reprodutiva. O experimento foi realizado com os cultivares de abacaxizeiro IAC Fantástico, Vitória, MD2 e Pérola, utilizando o princípio ativo diuron na dose de 7,5 mL L-1. As medições da taxa de assimilação de CO2, condutância estomática, transpiração, déficit de pressão de vapor e eficiência do uso da água foram feitas semanalmente, a cada hora, em duas plantas por cultivar, num período de 24 horas. Essas determinações foram realizadas aos dois dias antes da aplicação do herbicida e aos 8, 15, 22, 29 e 36 dias após aplicação do herbicida. A medição da eficiência fotoquímica foi realizada semanalmente nas mesmas datas, e todas essas determinações foram feitas na folha ‘D’. As medições das trocas gasosas foram realizadas com medidor de gases no infravermelho (IRGA), e as da fluorescência da clorofila a, com fluorímetro. A aplicação do diuron reduziu a assimilação de CO2 nas variedades de abacaxizeiro IAC Fantástico, Vitória, MD2 e Pérola, na fase reprodutiva, em todas as fases do metabolismo CAM. O diuron promoveu redução transitória da condutância estomática e aumento transitório na eficiência do uso da água. A eficiência fotoquímica dos cultivares de abacaxizeiro estudados foi afetada negativamente pelo herbicida diuron, com recuperação dos valores iniciais pelo cultivar IAC Fantástico.
Associations between obesity-related polymorphisms and the metabolic syndrome in 485 young ( ≤ 45 Years) Asian Indian patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and 300 matched controls were ...assessed.
Genetic variants included the adiponectin 45T→G and 276G→T, LEPR K109R and Q223R, MC4R-associated C→T and FTO A→T polymorphisms.
The metabolic syndrome, as defined by NCEP ATP III and IDF criteria, was diagnosed in 61 and 60% of patients, respectively. No relationship was found between the obesity-associated polymorphisms and the metabolic syndrome, or between AMI patients and controls. The MC4R-associated TT genotype occurred more frequently in patients with lower triglyceride levels (p = 0.024), while the adiponectin 45 TT genotype occurred more commonly in patients with normal fasting glucose levels (p = 0.004). The LEPR Q223R TT genotype was associated with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (p = 0.003).
The metabolic syndrome occurs commonly in young Asian Indian patients with AMI. No relationship was found between any obesity-associated polymorphism and the metabolic syndrome. Particular genotypes may exert protective or disadvantageous effects on individual components of the metabolic syndrome.
Summary
The off‐label use of drugs is very common in cancer treatment for many reasons. This practice is challenging for pharmacists who practice in oncology, for bureaucratic and medico‐legal ...reasons and for reasons concerning ethics. Several Italian legislative Acts and Laws allow pharmacists to have a voice in the management of off‐label use of drugs in oncology and offer instruments to allow reasoning from an ethical perspective. The main aim of this paper was to identify the role of pharmacists within the ethical context in the off‐label use of drugs in oncology, taking into account the legislative framework and clinical oncology setting. We consider the existing norms to develop an ethical perspective, through the values underlying the Laws and Acts. From a hermeneutical perspective, we focus on the actual oncology setting to identify the ethical space. The off‐label use of drugs in Italy is currently regulated by Law 648/96, Law 94/98 and Decree Law on the therapeutic use of drugs under clinical investigation. From the oncology pharmacist’s perspective, the application of the Laws mentioned is often problematic. The disease itself brings forth many ethical issues. In particular, human experience is extremely important in oncology and cannot be separated from other considerations. When faced with the common choice of oncologists to use drugs off‐label the late stages of the disease or after many chemotherapy attempts, pharmacists have to take responsibility for the sick person. This usually involves collaboration with the physician, within a process oriented by the ‘circumstances of compromise in ethics’. The pharmacist practising in oncology should promote real collaboration especially with the physician for the benefit of the sick person. The pharmacist has to maintain his/her professional integrity, and orient it towards accurate evaluation of the so‐called ‘circumstances of compromise in ethics’.
On the non-linear behaviour of motorcycle shock absorbers Cossalter, V; Doria, A; Pegoraro, R ...
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part D, Journal of automobile engineering,
01/2010, Letnik:
224, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Abstract
Motorcycle shock absorbers exhibit a non-linear behaviour characterized by hysteresis in the force—velocity diagram. The presence of hysteresis is the main obstacle in the identification of ...parameters and the development of computationally efficient shock absorber models. Gas compression, oil compressibility, mechanical compliance of chambers, and oil inertia are the most important causes of hysteresis. This paper deals with experimental research carried out on a twin-tube shock absorber equipped with pressure gauges in the chambers. A physical model is developed to explain the behaviour of the shock absorber from the measured pressures. The relevance of the various non-linear phenomena is discussed. The friction, hydraulic, and compliance parameters are identified from the measurements. The mathematical model fitted with the identified parameters is able to predict with accuracy the force generated by the shock absorber.
It has been suggested that gene aberrations may contribute to vascular endothelial dysfunction of pre-eclampsia in Caucasian and Japanese women. This study was undertaken to examine the association ...between pre-eclampsia in Black Zulu speaking South African women and the Factor 5 Leiden mutation. 100 patients with pre-eclampsia comprised the study group. The control group comprised 110 normotensive pregnant women of the same population group. Genotyping was performed to detect the G or A allele at residue 506 of the Factor V gene, and the C or T allele at residue 455 of the thrombomodulin gene. Our findings demonstrate that these particularly genetic loci are of little use in disease association studies for pre-eclampsia in homogenous Zulu speaking Africans.
The SPES Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) facility at INFN-LNL is in the construction phase. It is based on the ISOL method with an UCx Direct Target able to sustain a power of 10 kW. The primary proton ...beam is delivered by a high current Cyclotron accelerator, with energy 35-70 MeV and a beam current of 0.2-0.5 mA. Neutron-rich radioactive ions will be produced by proton induced Uranium fission in the UCx target at an expected fission rate in the order of 10 super(13) fissions per second. The exotic isotopes will be re-accelerated by the ALPI superconducting LINAC at energies of 10A MeV and higher, for masses in the region A=130 amu at expected rate on the secondary target of 10 super(7) - 10 super(9) pps. The SPES project has the aim to provide high intensity and high-quality beams of neutron-rich nuclei as well as to develop an interdisciplinary research center based on the cyclotron proton beam.
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