Search results for: L. C. S. Mazza

Authors: Daniela Zalazar-Garcia, Erick Torres, German Mazza

Abstract:

Slow pyrolysis of a pellet of pistachio waste was studied using a lab-scale stainless-steel reactor. Experiments were conducted at different heating rates (5, 10, and 15 K/min). A 3-E (environmental, exergetic, and energetic) analysis for the processing of 20 kg/h of bio-waste was carried out. Experimental results showed that biochar and gas yields decreased with an increase in the heating rate (43 to 36 % and 28 to 24 %, respectively), while the bio-oil yield increased (29 to 40 %). Finally, from the 3-E analysis and the experimental results, it can be suggested that an increase in the heating rate resulted in a higher pyrolysis exergetic efficiency (70 %) due to an increase of the bio-oil yield with high-energy content.

Keywords: 3E assessment, bio-waste pellet, life cycle assessment, slow pyrolysis

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Authors: J. P. Reges, L. C. S. Mazza, E. J. Braga, J. A. Bessa, A. R. Alexandria

Abstract:

This paper proposes the development of control and automation of irrigation system located sunflower harvest in the Teaching Unit, Research and Extension (UEPE), the Apodi Plateau in Limoeiro do Norte. The sunflower extraction, which in turn serves to get the produced oil from its seeds, animal feed, and is widely used in human food. Its nutritional potential is quite high what makes of foods produced from vegetal, very rich and healthy. The focus of research is to make the autonomous irrigation system sunflower crop from programmable logic control energized with alternative energy sources, solar photovoltaics. The application of automated irrigation system becomes interesting when it provides convenience and implements new forms of managements of the implementation of irrigated cropping systems. The intended use of automated addition to irrigation quality and consequently brings enormous improvement for production of small samples. Addition to applying the necessary and sufficient features of water management in irrigation systems, the system (PLC + actuators + Renewable Energy) will enable to manage the quantitative water required for each crop, and at the same time, insert the use of sources alternative energy. The entry of the automated collection will bring a new format, and in previous years, used the process of irrigation water wastage base and being the whole manual irrigation process.

Keywords: automation, control, sunflower, irrigation, programming, renewable energy

Procedia PDF Downloads 386

Authors: Andreas Aceranti, Sergio Romanò, Simonetta Vernocchi, Silvia Arnaboldi, Emilio Mazza

Abstract:

As a result of the Sars-Cov2 pandemic, the incidence of thymism disorders has significantly increased and, often, patients are reluctant to want to take drugs aimed at stabilizing mood. In order to provide an alternative approach to drug therapies, we have prepared a study in order to evaluate the possibility of improving the quality of life of these subjects through osteopathic treatment. Patients were divided into visceral and fascial manual treatment with the aim of increasing serotonin levels and stimulating the vagus nerve through validated techniques. The results were evaluated through the administration of targeted questionnaires in order to assess quality of life, mood, sleep and intestinal functioning. At a first endpoint we found, in patients undergoing fascial treatment, an increase in quality of life and sleep: in fact, they report a decrease in the number of nocturnal awakenings; a reduction in falling asleep times and greater rest upon waking. In contrast, patients undergoing visceral treatment, as well as those included in the control group, did not show significant improvements. Patients in the fascial group have, in fact, reported an improvement in thymism and subjective quality of life with a generalized improvement in function. Although the study is still ongoing, based on the results of the first endpoint we can hypothesize that fascial stimulation of the vagus nerve with manual and osteopathic techniques may be a valid alternative to pharmacological treatments in mood and sleep disorders.

Keywords: ostheopathy, insomnia, noctural awakening, thymism

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Authors: Christobel Gondwe, Yongtao Lu, Claudia Mazzà, Xinshan Li

Abstract:

Skeletal muscle plays an important role in the human body system and function by generating voluntary forces and facilitating body motion. However, The mechanical properties and behaviour of skeletal muscle are still not comprehensively known yet. As such, various robust engineering techniques have been applied to better elucidate the mechanical behaviour of skeletal muscle. It is considered that muscle mechanics are highly governed by the architecture of the fibre orientations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different fibre orientations on the mechanical behaviour of skeletal muscle.In this study, a continuum mechanics approach–finite element (FE) analysis was applied to the left bicep femoris long head to determine the contractile mechanism of the muscle using Hill’s three-element model. The geometry of the muscle was segmented from the magnetic resonance images. The muscle was modelled as a quasi-incompressible hyperelastic (Mooney-Rivlin) material. Two types of fibre orientations were implemented: one with the idealised fibre arrangement, i.e. parallel single-direction fibres going from the muscle origin to insertion sites, and the other with curved fibre arrangement which is aligned with the muscle shape.The second fibre arrangement was implemented through the finite element method; non-uniform rational B-spline (FEM-NURBs) technique by means of user material (UMAT) subroutines. The stress-strain behaviour of the muscle was investigated under idealised exercise conditions, and will be further analysed under physiological conditions. The results of the two different FE models have been outputted and qualitatively compared.

Keywords: FEM-NURBS, finite element analysis, Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic, muscle architecture

Procedia PDF Downloads 463