Multi-view data capture for dynamic object reconstruction using handheld augmented reality mobiles

We propose a system to capture nearly-synchronous frame streams from multiple and moving handheld mobiles that is suitable for dynamic object 3D reconstruction. Each mobile executes Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping on-board to estimate its pose, and uses a wireless communication channel to send or receive synchronisation triggers. Our system can harvest frames and mobile poses in real time using a decentralised triggering strategy and a data-relay architecture that can be deployed either at the Edge or in the Cloud. We show the effectiveness of our system by employing it for 3D skeleton and volumetric reconstructions. Our triggering strategy achieves equal performance to that of an NTP-based synchronisation approach, but offers higher flexibility, as it can be adjusted online based on application needs. We created a challenging new dataset, namely 4DM, that involves six handheld augmented reality mobiles recording an actor performing sports actions outdoors. We validate our system on 4DM, analyse its strengths and limitations, and compare its modules with alternative ones.Comment: Accepted in Journal of Real-Time Image Processin

The Effect of Interactions on the Conductance of Graphene Nanoribbons

We study the effects of the interaction between electrons and holes on the conductance G of quasi-one-dimensional graphene systems. We first consider as a benchmark the limit in which all interactions are negligible, recovering the predictions of the tight-binding approximation for the spectrum of the system, and the well-known result G=4 e^2/h for the lowest conductance quantum. Then we consider an exactly solvable field theoretical model in which the electro-magnetic interactions are effectively local. Finally, we use the effective field theory formalism to develop an exactly solvable model in which we also include the effect of non-local interactions. We find that such interactions turn the nominally metallic armchair graphene nanoribbon into a semi-conductor, while the short-range interactions lead to a correction to the G=4 e^2/h formula.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur

Città della Conciliazione, Grugliasco, Torino, Italy, 2005-2009

Pubblicazione del progetto Città Universitaria della Conciliazione a Grugliasco (TO) nel numero della rivista World Architecture dedicato ai progetti della Città di Torino

Città Universitaria della Conciliazione a Grugliasco (TO)

Pubblicazione e testo critico del progetto della Città Universitaria della Conciliazione contenuto nell'articolo di Davide Tommaso Ferrando," A welcoming space. Sustainability as conciliation between work and family life" nel numero della rivista World Architecture dedicato ai progetti della Città di Torino

Città Universitaria della Conciliazione a Grugliasco

Pubblicazione e commento critico del progetto della Città Universitaria della Conciliazione contenuto nell'editoriale di Zhang Li (vice-direttore) "Soft sustainability: the Torino approach" del numero della rivista World Architecture dedicato alla Città di Torino

On the thermodynamic path enabling a room-temperature, laser-assisted graphite to nanodiamond transformation

Nanodiamonds are the subject of active research for their potential applications in nano-magnetometry, quantum optics, bioimaging and water cleaning processes. Here, we present a novel thermodynamic model that describes a graphite-liquid-diamond route for the synthesis of nanodiamonds. Its robustness is proved via the production of nanodiamonds powders at room-temperature and standard atmospheric pressure by pulsed laser ablation of pyrolytic graphite in water. The aqueous environment provides a confinement mechanism that promotes diamond nucleation and growth, and a biologically compatible medium for suspension of nanodiamonds. Moreover, we introduce a facile physico-chemical method that does not require harsh chemical or temperature conditions to remove the graphitic byproducts of the laser ablation process. A full characterization of the nanodiamonds by electron and Raman spectroscopies is reported. Our model is also corroborated by comparison with experimental data from the literature

The short term debt vs. long term debt puzzle: a model for the optimal mix

This paper argues that the existing finance literature is inadequate with respect to its coverage of capital structure of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). In particular it is argued that the cost of equity (being both conceptually ill defined and empirically non quantifiable) is not applicable to the capital structure decisions for a large proportion of SMEs and the optimal capital structure depends only on the mix of short and long term debt. The paper then presents a model, developed by practitioners for optimising the debt mix and demonstrates its practical application using an Italian firm's debt structure as a case study