Analisi e ottimizzazione delle prestazioni e dell'affidabilità di una macchina per il packaging di prodotti igienico-sanitari

L’oggetto di studio di questo lavoro, svolto presso l’azienda Vire Automation del gruppo Bucci Industries di Faenza, è una macchina per il packaging di prodotti igienico-sanitari, più precisamente pannolini baby. Dopo una prima indagine di mercato svolta con l’aiuto dei commerciali dell’azienda, si sono ipotizzate una serie di soluzioni tecniche per migliorare il funzionamento e le prestazioni della macchina. Tramite uno strumento detto Casa della qualità si sono evidenziate le soluzioni tecniche che risultano più apprezzate dal mercato e per questo posseggono una maggior priorità di realizzazione. Si è intervenuti su di un gruppo funzionale per lo spostamento orizzontale del prodotto che agisce superiormente rispetto al pianale di processo e sul trasporto pioli che invece agisce per ostacolo tra cilindri di acciaio ed i prodotti. In particolare per il primo si è realizzato un apposito studio delle grandezze cinematiche in gioco e, dopo una progettazione 3D, si sono stimate le coppie motrici richieste dal nuovo asse che è risultato vantaggioso rispetto al precedente. Per il secondo invece, vista l’esigenza di ottenere un gruppo rifasatore che permettesse alla macchina di funzionare correttamente nonostante i ritardi di arrivo dei prodotti dalla linea di produzione, si è realizzata una nuova gestione logica del gruppo per sopperire alla peggior condizione di funzionamento verificabile e si è riprogettato il gruppo per dotarlo delle nuove necessarie caratteristiche.

Quantitative evaluation of cellular uptake and trafficking of plain and polyethylene glycol-coated gold nanoparticles

This study addresses the cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking of 15-nm gold nanoparticles (NPs), either plain (i.e., stabilized with citrate) or coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), exposed to human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) at the air-liquid interface for 1, 4, and 24 h. Quantitative analysis by stereology on transmission electron microscopy images reveals a significant, nonrandom intracellular distribution for both NP types. No particles are observed in the nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, or golgi. The cytosol is not a preferred cellular compartment for both NP types, although significantly more PEG-coated than citrate-stabilized NPs are present there. The preferred particle localizations are vesicles of different sizes (<150, 150-1000, >1000 nm). This is observed for both NP types and indicates a predominant uptake by endocytosis. Subsequent inhibition of caveolin- and clathrin-mediated endocytosis by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD) results in a significant reduction of intracellular NPs. The inhibition, however, is more pronounced for PEG-coated than citrate-stabilized NPs. The latter are mostly found in larger vesicles; therefore, they are potentially taken up by macropinocytosis, which is not inhibited by MbetaCD. With prolonged exposure times, both NPs are preferentially localized in larger-sized intracellular vesicles such as lysosomes, thus indicating intracellular particle trafficking. This quantitative evaluation reveals that NP surface coatings modulate endocytotic uptake pathways and cellular NP trafficking. Other nonendocytotic entry mechanisms are found to be involved as well, as indicated by localization of a minority of PEG-coated NPs in the cytosol.

"Drug mules" as a radiological challenge: Sensitivity and specificity in identifying internal cocaine in body packers, body pushers and body stuffers by computed tomography, plain radiography and Lodox

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of computed tomography (CT), digital radiography (DR) and low-dose linear slit digital radiography (LSDR, Lodox(®)) in the detection of internal cocaine containers. METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained. The study collectively consisted of 83 patients (76 males, 7 females, 16-45 years) suspected of having incorporated cocaine drug containers. All underwent radiological imaging; a total of 135 exams were performed: nCT=35, nDR=70, nLSDR=30. An overall calculation of all "drug mules" and a specific evaluation of body packers, pushers and stuffers were performed. The gold standard was stool examination in a dedicated holding cell equipped with a drug toilet. RESULTS: There were 54 drug mules identified in this study. CT of all drug carriers showed the highest diagnostic accuracy 97.1%, sensitivity 100% and specificity 94.1%. DR in all cases was 71.4% accurate, 58.3% sensitive and 85.3% specific. LSDR of all patients with internal cocaine was 60% accurate, 57.9% sensitive and 63.4% specific. CONCLUSIONS: CT was the most accurate test studied. Therefore, the detection of internal cocaine drug packs should be performed by CT, rather than by conventional X-ray, in order to apply the most sensitive exam in the medico-legal investigation of suspected drug carriers. Nevertheless, the higher radiation applied by CT than by DR or LSDR needs to be considered. Future studies should include evaluation of low dose CT protocols in order to address germane issues and to reduce dosage.

Assessing Commonality and Differentiation for Packaging-Family Planning with Application to Medication Labels

This thesis presents a metric for assessing the commonality and differentiation of packaging-family planning with application to medical labels along with supporting background research and findings. Consumable products such as medications rely on the package or label to represent the contents. Package confusion has been widely recognized as a major problem for both over-the-counter and pharmacy-dispensed medications with potentially lethal consequences. It is critical to identify a medication as a member of a product family and differentiate its contributing elements based on visual features on the package or label to avoid consumer confusion and reduce dispensing errors. Indices that indicate degrees of commonality and differentiation of features in consumer products such as batteries, light bulbs, handles, etc for platforms have been shown to benefit development of engineered product families [6]. It is possible to take a similar approach for visual features in packaging such as typography, shape/form, imagery and color to benefit packaging-family development. This thesis establishes a commonality differentiation index for prominence of visual features on over-the-counter and pharmacy-dispensed medications based on occurrence, size, and location of features. It provides a quantitative measure to assist package designers in evaluating alternatives to satisfy strategic goals and improve safety. The index is demonstrated with several medications that have been identified by the Institute for Safe Medication Practice as commonly confused.

Dielectric map of the Martian northern hemisphere and the nature of plain filling materials

[1] A number of observations suggest that an extended ocean once covered a significant part of the Martian northern hemisphere. By probing the physical properties of the subsurface to unprecedented depth, the MARSIS/Mars Express provides new geophysical evidences for the former existence of a Late Hesperian ocean. The Vastitas Borealis formation, located inside a putative shoreline of the ancient ocean, has a low dielectric constant compared with that of typical volcanic materials. We show that the measured value is only consistent with low-density sedimentary deposits, massive deposits of ground-ice, or a combination of the two. In contrast, radar observations indicate a distribution of shallow ground ice in equilibrium with the atmosphere in the south polar region. We conclude that the northern plains are filled with remnants of a late Hesperian ocean, fed by water and sediments from the outflow channels about 3 Gy ago.

Accounting for warping and differential drying shrinkage mechanisms in the design of jointed plain concrete payments

When a concrete slab experiences differential volume change due to temperature, moisture, and shrinkage gradients, it deforms. The stresses induced by these differential volume changes can reduce the pavement’s fatigue life. Differential volume change is quantified by the equivalent temperature difference required to deform a comparable flat slab to the same shape as the actual slab. This thesis presents models to predict the equivalent temperature difference due to moisture warping and differential drying shrinkage. Moisture warping occurs because a portion of drying shrinkage is reversible, while differential drying shrinkage is due to the irreversible portion of drying shrinkage. The amount of reversible shrinkage was investigated for concretes made with different types of aggregate, including lightweight and recycled. Another source of differential volume change is built-in curl, which is caused by temperature gradients at the time of paving. This thesis also presents a comparison of methods used to quantify built-in curl.

Spatial Ecology of the Great Basin Rattlesnake on the Snake River Plain

Dr. Charles Peterson, Herpetologist and Professor of Biological Sciences at Idaho State University. Curator of Ichthyology and Herpetology at the Idaho Museum of Natural History.

The Effects of Low Dose Irradiation and Storage Time on Aroma of Fresh Beef Patties in Anaerobic Packaging

The effects of electron beam irradiation, anaerobic packaging, and storage times on the aroma of raw ground beef patties were investigated. Patties were coarse ground at three days postmortem, and then fine ground and packaged at three, six, and nine days postmortem. Patties were irradiated immediately after packaging, or three days after packaging at 2 kGy, and then stored at 2.5 °C ñ1.5 °C for four days. Non-irradiated controls were held under similar conditions. After four days of storage for each postmortem time (three, six, and nine days), sensory aroma evaluations were performed on all samples. Irradiated and non-irradiated patties with the shortest postmortem storage times had the most desirable aroma scores. Controls had significantly (p £ .05) more desirable aroma scores than irradiated patties.