Determinazione semplificata delle curve caratteristiche di un compressore centrifugo

Scopo di questa tesi è lo sviluppo di un codice nell'ambiente per il calcolo numerico Matlab atto a simulare il comportamento di un compressore centrifugo. Tale compressore centrifugo è stato studiato per l'utilizzo in un gruppo turbogas per la produzione di energia elettrica. Con l’utilizzo di alcune semplificazioni, è stata tracciata la mappa di tale compressore in intervalli di portata e salti di pressione il più possibile distanti dal funzionamento con condizioni di progetto.

Determinazione delle tensioni residue in componenti metallici sottili mediante "incremental hole drilling"

La vita di un aeromobile è un elemento importante sia per quanto riguarda la sicurezza del payload, che da un punto di vista economico, a causa delle spese di manutenzione/rinnovamento della flotta che una compagnia aerea deve affrontare. Gli elementi costitutivi di un aeromobile sono soggetti a diverse tipologie di carichi, alcuni dei quali ciclici come la pressurizzazione/depressurizzazione della fusoliera; tali carichi, nel lungo periodo, possono provocare la nascita e la propagazione di eventuali cricche, le quali possono portare alla rottura del componente stesso causando gravi incidenti. Il legame tra tensioni residue e nascita/crescita delle cricche ha portato allo sviluppo di tecniche per contrastare questo fenomeno, come il processo del LSP. Per la misura delle tensioni residue esistono già normative di riferimento, le quali però non trattano componenti metallici di piccolo spessore mentre i pannelli di fusoliera rientrano in questa categoria. Scopo di questa tesi è quello di studiare una variante della tecnica HD adatta a valutare le tensioni residue in componenti metallici di piccolo spessore e confrontare i risultati con quelli ottenuti con la tecnica XRD. L’idea di partenza è l’implementazione di un supporto posteriore in resina che simuli la presenza di uno spessore maggiore.

A new multimodality technique accurately maps the primary lymphatic landing sites of the bladder

Pathoanatomic studies have failed to map accurately the primary lymphatic landing sites of the urinary bladder.

Feasibility of texture analysis for the assessment of biochemical changes in meniscal tissue on T1 maps calculated from delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage data: comparison with conventional relaxation time measurements

To (1) establish the feasibility of texture analysis for the in vivo assessment of biochemical changes in meniscal tissue on delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC), and (2) compare textural with conventional T1 relaxation time measurements calculated from dGEMRIC data ("T1(Gd) relaxation times").

A residue close to ?1 loop F disrupts modulation of GABAA receptors by benzodiazepines while their binding is maintained

Benzodiazepines act at the major isoforms of GABA type A receptors where they potentiate the current evoked by the agonist GABA. The underlying mechanism of this potentiation is poorly understood, but hypothesized to be related to the mechanism that links agonist binding to channel opening in these ligand activated ion channels. The loop F of the ?(1) and the ?(2) subunit have been implicated in channel gating, and loop F of the ?(2) subunit in the modulation by benzodiazepines. We have identified the conservative point mutation Y168F located N-terminally of loop F in the ?(1) subunit that fails to affect agonist properties. Interestingly, it disrupts modulation by benzodiazepines, but leaves high affinity binding to the benzodiazepine binding site intact. Modulation by barbiturates and neurosteroids is also unaffected. Residue ?(1) Y168 is not located either near the binding pockets for GABA, or for benzodiazepines, or close to the loop F of the ?(2) subunit. Our results support the fact, that broader regions of ligand gated receptors are conformationally affected by the binding of benzodiazepines. We infer that also broader regions could contribute to signaling from GABA agonist binding to channel opening.

Curve Decomposition for Large Deflection Analysis of Fixed-Guided Beams With Application to Statically Balanced Compliant Mechanisms

Statically balanced compliant mechanisms require no holding force throughout their range of motion while maintaining the advantages of compliant mechanisms. In this paper, a postbuckled fixed-guided beam is proposed to provide the negative stiffness to balance the positive stiffness of a compliant mechanism. To that end, a curve decomposition modeling method is presented to simplify the large deflection analysis. The modeling method facilitates parametric design insight and elucidates key points on the force-deflection curve. Experimental results validate the analysis. Furthermore, static balancing with fixed-guided beams is demonstrated for a rectilinear proof-of-concept prototype.

Mutagenesis and computer modeling studies of a GPCR conserved residue W5.43(194) in ligand recognition and signal transduction for CB2 receptor

W5.43(194), a conserved tryptophan residue among G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and cannabinoid receptors (CB), was examined in the present report for its significance in CB2 receptor ligand binding and adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity. Computer modeling postulates that this site in CB2 may be involved in the affinity of WIN55212-2 and SR144528 through aromatic contacts. In the present study, we reported that a CB2 receptor mutant, W5.43(194)Y, which had a tyrosine (Y) substitution for tryptophan (W), retained the binding affinity for CB agonist CP55940, but reduced binding affinity for CB2 agonist WIN55212-2 and inverse agonist SR144528 by 8-fold and 5-fold, respectively; the CB2 W5.43(194)F and W5.43(194)A mutations significantly affect the binding activities of CP55940, WIN55212-2 and SR144528. Furthermore, we found that agonist-mediated inhibition of the forskolin-induced cAMP production was dramatically diminished in the CB2 mutant W5.43(194)Y, whereas W5.43(194)F and W5.43(194)A mutants resulted in complete elimination of downstream signaling, suggesting that W5.43(194) was essential for the full activation of CB2. These results indicate that both aromatic interaction and hydrogen bonding are involved in ligand binding for the residue W5.43(194), and the mutations of this tryptophan site may affect the conformation of the ligand binding pocket and therefore control the active conformation of the wild type CB2 receptor. W5.43(194)Y/F/A mutations also displayed noticeable enhancement of the constitutive activation probably attributed to the receptor conformational changes resulted from the mutations.