Analisi energetica al variare dello state of charge di propulsori ibridi e plug-in operanti nel ciclo WLTP con propulsore termico a punto fisso stechiometrico

Il presente lavoro propone la stesura di un codice in ambiente MATLAB per l'analisi energetica di powertrain ibridi operanti nel ciclo WLTP con il particolare funzionamento del motore termico benzina a punto fisso stechiometrico. Nello specifico, il codice prende dei dati in input tramite un'interfaccia grafica ed avvia una simulazione, i cui risultati principali corrispondono ad emissioni di anidride carbonica per chilometro percorso ed ai chilometri percorsi con un litro di carburante. Queste sono le due grandezze che questo lavoro si prefigge di ottimizzare, dalle quali proviene la scelta del particolare funzionamento del motore termico. Sono state implementate due differenti strategie di controllo, una generale ed una più particolare. La simulazione con la strategia generale è stata applicata a tre differenti scenari reali, con le caratteristiche tecniche di tre veicoli realmente esistenti che vengono inserite nell'interfaccia grafica. I risultati provenienti da queste simulazioni sono stati poi analizzati e discussi nel dettaglio, anche con l'ausilio di grafici a supporto della spiegazione. La strategia di controllo particolare non è stata applicata a scenari reali ma ha portato alla definizione di una ipotetica architettura di powertrain ibrido, alla quale la sopracitata strategia si adatta al meglio. Dopo aver proposto miglioramenti e possibili ulteriori sviluppi di questo lavoro, sono state tratte le conclusioni generali, allargando il tutto al contesto più ampio in cui si va ad inserire.

L'expédition de la France au Liban sous Napoléon III (1860-1861)

L’Empire ottoman, au XIXe siècle, s’affaiblit sans cesse et paraît destiné à s'effondrer. Il est l’objet de convoitises et de rivalités entre les puissances européennes. Sous sa suzeraineté, la Syrie et, avec elle, la région du Mont-Liban, est une zone clé sur le plan stratégique puisqu'elle domine l’accès aux voies menant à l’Inde et à l’Asie méridionale et orientale. La France et l'Angleterre tentent toutes deux de s'y imposer par communautés locales interposées : la première à travers les Maronites, la seconde à l'aide des Druzes. Au printemps 1860, des troubles éclatent entre les deux communautés, entraînant le massacre de milliers de chrétiens. Les puissances européennes, poussées par le gouvernement de Napoléon III, s'entendent pour intervenir au moyen d'une commission d'enquête et l'envoi de troupes. Cette expédition a pour mission officielle d’aider l’Empire ottoman à rétablir l’ordre et à protéger les chrétiens. Le présent mémoire démontre que la France impériale entretenait des visées politiques et économiques à l'égard de la Syrie et du Liban. L'historiographie n'avait jusqu'à présent pas analysé en profondeur les véritables mobiles français dans cette expédition. Les ambitions politiques et économiques ont été beaucoup plus déterminantes dans la décision française de mettre en branle l'expédition que le devoir « humanitaire » de protection des chrétiens ou la satisfaction de son opinion publique. Loin de se laisser abattre par la catastrophe que représentent les massacres qui menace la survie de sa clientèle et donc de son influence en Syrie, Paris, et particulièrement son ministre des Affaires étrangères E. Thouvenel, a réussi à tourner la situation à son avantage. Se servant habilement du désir d'ingérence des autres puissances et de son rôle de protectrice des chrétiens, la France est parvenue à acculer au pied du mur l'Angleterre, qui s'opposait à l'intervention, et à justifier celle-ci sur des principes éloignés de ses objectifs réels. Les troubles ont finalement constitué pour elle une occasion d'augmenter l'autonomie de la Montagne par rapport au pouvoir central et la puissance économique et politique de sa clientèle à travers la révision du statut administratif de la région. Ce faisant, elle a renforcé son influence dans l'Est méditerranéen et fait un pas de plus vers une domination française en Syrie.

Selection of new glass-forming compositions in Al-La system using a combination of topological instability and thermodynamic criteria

A combination of an extension of the topological instability ""lambda criterion"" and a thermodynamic criterion were applied to the Al-La system, indicating the best range of compositions for glass formation. Alloy compositions in this range were prepared by melt-spinning and casting in an arc-melting furnace with a wedge-section copper mold. The GFA of these samples was evaluated by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the gamma* parameter of compositions with high GFA is higher, corresponding to a range in which the lambda parameter is greater than 0.1, which are compositions far from Al solid solution. A new alloy was identified with the best GFA reported so far for this system, showing a maximum thickness of 286 mu m in a wedge-section copper mold. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantitative x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of Al/AlOx bilayers

An x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of Nb/Al wedge bilayers, oxidized by both plasma and natural oxidation, is reported. The main goal is to show that the oxidation state¿i.e., O:(oxidize)Al ratio¿, structure and thickness of the surface oxide layer, as well as the thickness of the metallic Al leftover, as functions of the oxidation procedure, can be quantitatively evaluated from the XPS spectra. This is relevant to the detailed characterization of the insulating barriers in (magnetic) tunnel junctions

Influence of the Al content on the phase transformations in Cu-Al-Ag alloys

The influence of the Al content on the phase transformations in Cu-Al-Ag alloys was studied by classical differential thermal analysis (DTA), optical microscopy (OM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The results indicated that the increase in the Al content and the presence of Ag decrease the rate of the b1 phase decomposition reaction and contribute for the raise of this transition temperature, thus decreasing the stability range of the perlitic phase resulted from the b1 decomposition reaction.

An analysis of Ibn al-'Arabi's al-Insan al-Kamil, the Perfect Individual, with a brief comparison to the thought of Sir Muhammad Iqbal

This thesis analyzes four philosophical questions surrounding Ibn al-'Arabi's concept of the al-iman al-kamil, the Perfect Individual. The Introduction provides a definition of Sufism, and it situates Ibn al-'Arabi's thought within the broader context of the philosophy of perfection. Chapter One discusses the transformative knowledge of the Perfect Individual. It analyzes the relationship between reason, revelation, and intuition, and the different roles they play within Islam, Islamic philosophy, and Sufism. Chapter Two discusses the ontological and metaphysical importance of the Perfect Individual, exploring the importance of perfection within existence by looking at the relationship the Perfect Individual has with God and the world, the eternal and non-eternal. In Chapter Three the physical manifestations of the Perfect Individual and their relationship to the Prophet Muhammad are analyzed. It explores the Perfect Individual's roles as Prophet, Saint, and Seal. The final chapter compares Ibn al-'Arabi's Perfect Individual to Sir Muhammad Iqbal's in order to analyze the different ways perfect action can be conceptualized. It analyzes the relationship between freedom and action.

Between the headlines of the Israeli - Arabic conflict: the coverage of CNN and Al Jazeera

The purpose of this article is to analyze the coverage made by CNN and Al Jazeera (in Arabic) to operation Caste Lead and the Goldstone Report during 2008 and 2009. This investigation is based in the theory of Qualitative Analysis of Content, by Wildemuth and Zhang. The methodology follows up with the one proposed by the authors in the main theory, complementing it with the Gamson and Modigliani´s Framing theory. The methodology mention above display the different in the coverage development, determined by the geopolitical influences; being CNN more influenced by a Western pro USA and pro Israeli speech, while Al Jazeera is more prone to support the Palestinian cause, this is the thesis of this article. During the development of the investigation, the thesis was demonstrated to be only partially accurate as CNN was not completely supportive to the Israeli arguments during the coverage, but Al Jazeera did have preferential speech for the Palestinian cause.

Description of Enterococcus canis sp nov from dogs and reclassification of Enterococcus porcinus Teixeira et al. 2001 as a junior synonym of Enterococcus villorum Vancanneyt et al. 2001

Strains from anal swabs and chronic otitis externa in dogs were shown to be phylogenetically related to the Enterococcus faecium species group. They shared a number of phenotypic characteristics with these species, but they could be easily differentiated by biochemical reactions. In addition, the canine strains were unusual in their nearly complete failure to grow on sodium azide-containing enterococci-selective media and in their Voges-Proskauer reactions (usually negative). By using 16S rRNA sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridization of representative strains, as well as tDNA interspacer gene PCR and SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins, the group of canine strains was shown to constitute a novel enterococcal species. The name Enterococcus canis sp. nov. is proposed for this species, with LMG 12316(T) (= CCUG 46666(T)) as the type strain. Concurrently, the taxonomic situation and nomenclatural position of Enterococcus porcinus were investigated. As no phenotypic or genotypic differences were found between this species and Enterococcus villorum, the name E. porcinus is considered to be a junior synonym of E. villorum.

The death of Osama bin Laden - the end of Al-Qaeda's Pan-Islamic ambition?

This paper evaluates the implications of Osama bin Ladin’s death for the future of al-Qaeda’s global jihad. It critically examines the debate as to the make-up of the group and identifies bin Ladin’s primary role as chief ideologue advocating a defensive jihad to liberate the umma. The rationale and appeal of bin Ladin’s message and Muslims’ reaction to both his statements and al-Qaeda’s increasing use of sectarian violence are assessed in the context of Pan-Islam as political ideology. The paper concludes that while the ideal of Islamic unity and the sentiment of Muslim solidarity are unlikely to vanish, al-Qaeda’s violent jihad has not only failed to achieve these goals but has worked against it, thereby confining it to the political margins.

Here come the Salafis: the framing of Al-Qaeda's ideology within terrorism research

The purpose of the paper is to analyse different narratives about al Qaeda (AQ) in Terrorism Studies, and to demonstrate the methodological and empirical problems associated with them. It demonstrates that AQ as it emerges within Terrorism Studies is more of an artefact of preconceived notions about fundamentalist ideology than the result of rigid empirical research.

Effects of acid sulphate on DOC release in mineral soils: the influence of SO42−retention and Al release

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in acid-sensitive upland waters is dominated by allochthonous inputs from organic-rich soils, yet inter-site variability in soil DOC release to changes in acidity has received scant attention in spite of the reported differences between locations in surface water DOC trends over the last few decades. In a previous paper, we demonstrated that pH-related retention of DOC in O horizon soils was influenced by acid-base status, particularly the exchangeable Al content. In the present paper, we investigate the effect of sulphate additions (0–437 μeq l−1) on DOC release in the mineral B horizon soils from the same locations. Dissolved organic carbon release decreased with declining pH in all soils, although the shape of the pH-DOC relationships differed between locations, reflecting the multiple factors controlling DOC mobility. The release of DOC decreased by 32–91% in the treatment with the largest acid input (437 μeq l−1), with the greatest decreases occurring in soils with very small % base saturation (BS, <3%) and/or large capacity for sulphate (SO42−) retention (up to 35% of added SO42−). The greatest DOC release occurred in the soil with the largest initial base status (12% BS). These results support our earlier conclusions that differences in acid-base status between soils alter the sensitivity of DOC release to similar sulphur deposition declines. However,superimposed on this is the capacity of mineral soils to sorb DOC and SO42−, and more work is needed to determine the fate of sorbed DOC under conditions of increasing pH and decreasing SO42−.

Response to comment on “The response of vegetation on the Andean flank in western Amazonia to Pleistocene climate change” – M.L. Cárdenas et al., Science 331, 1055 (25 February 2011)”.

Puyasena et al. question our interpretation of climate-driven vegetation change on the Andean flank in western Amazonia during the middle Pleistocene and suggest that the use of Podocarpus spp. as a proxy of past climate change should be reassessed. We defend our assertion that vegetation change at the Erazo study site was predominantly driven by climate change due to concomitant changes recorded by multiple taxa in the fossil record.

Kinetics of Ag-rich precipitates formation in Cu-Al-Ag alloys

The kinetics of Ag-rich precipitates formation in the Cu-2 wt.% Al alloy with additions of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 wt.% Ag was studied using microhardness changes with temperature and time, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The results indicated that an increase in the Ag content decreases the activation energy for Ag-rich precipitates formation, and that it is possible to estimate the values of the diffusion and nucleation activation energies for the Ag precipitates. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of the Al content on the phase transformations in Cu-Al-Ag alloys

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Theoretical study of MgO(001) surfaces: Pure, doped with Fe, Ca, and Al, and with and without adsorbed water

Ab initio calculations of large cluster models have been performed in order to study water adsorption at the five-fold coordinated adsorption site on pure Mg(001) and MgO(001) surfaces doped with Fe, Ca, and Al. The geometric parameters of the adsorbed water molecule have been optimized preparatory to analysis of binding energies, charge transfer, preferential sites of interaction, and bonding distances. We have used Mulliken population analysis methods in order to analyze charge distributions and the direction of charge transfer. We have also investigated energy gaps, HOMO energies, and SCF orbital energies as well as the acid-base properties of our cluster model. Numerical results are compared, where possible, with experiment and interpreted in the framework of various analytical models. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.