On Crossley's contribution to the development of graph based algorithms for the analysis of mechanisms and gear trains

This paper celebrates a particular branch of Crossley's early work dedicated to Mechanism Science, which deals with a rigorous introduction of Graph Theory to the study of some fundamental and intrinsic properties of kinematic chains and mechanisms. Although such idea gave its main outcome in Type and Number Synthesis (which has been much better and extensively described in another paper of the present special issue) some other intriguing side effects appeared, later in Mechanism Science, which yielded several results, and are still in the center of research and industrial world interest, such as, to name but a few, the automatic generation of the equations governing kinematic, static force and dynamic analysis of mechanisms and geared trains, the power flow analysis, the computation of the efficiency and, finally, the never fully explored structure-to-function mapping, which the present contribution points out to be still a challenge in the field

Searching for Very High Energy Emission from Pulsars Using the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory

There are currently over 160 known gamma-ray pulsars. While most of them are detected only from space, at least two are now seen also from the ground. MAGIC and VERITAS have measured the gamma ray pulsed emission of the Crab pulsar up to hundreds of GeV and more recently MAGIC has reported emission at $\sim2$ TeV. Furthermore, in the Southern Hemisphere, H.E.S.S. has detected the Vela pulsar above 30 GeV. In addition, non-pulsed TeV emission coincident with pulsars has been detected by many groups, including the Milagro Collaboration. These GeV-TeV observations open the possibility of searching for very-high-energy (VHE, > 100GeV) pulsations from gamma-rays pulsars in the HAWC field of view.Comment: Presented at the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands. See arXiv:1508.03327 for all HAWC contribution

Green next-generation excipients enriched in polyphenols from recovery of grape processing waste black bentonite: Influence of unconventional extraction solvents on antioxidant properties and composition

According to the UN Agenda 2030, several actions could be taken to act synergistically towards various areas of critical importance for both the humanity and the planet. Among them, the application of a circular economy model based on the valorisation of the wastes from the local resources could be a virtuous attitude. In this view, this work proposes a dual green approach for recovery of the waste black bentonite from the fining of organic white grape must. Indeed, this virtuous recovery idea is enhanced by the choice of both eco-friendly extraction method (maceration) and solvents. The latter were unconventional solvents selected among the pharmaceutic/cosmetic liquid hydrophilic excipients (waste-to-market approach) characterized by safety and high solvent power toward polyphenols. PEGs (200, 400, 600), Propylene Glycol and Glycerol were tested and the extracted compared by HPLC-DAD analyses as well as the Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH and Bradford assays. PEG200 emerged as the best one, leading to coloured extract containing great amount of polyphenols (3.123 ± 0.106 mg/g) and specifically Quercetin (60.778 ± 2.307 μg/mL), which confer it interesting scavenger properties, potentially making it directly useful in a wide range of fields from the pharmaceutic to the cosmetic ones

Nuclear data uncertainty quantification on PWR spent nuclear fuel as a function of burnup

Nuclear data uncertainty analysis on the spent nuclear fuel inventory was performed on the Takahama-3 NT3G23 assembly, where the sample SF95-4 was irradiated up to a burnup of approximately 36 GWd/ t according to the SFCOMPO benchmark. The cross-section covariance matrices stored in the ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3 and JENDL-4.0u evaluated nuclear data libraries were propagated with the stochastic sampling algorithms implemented in the SANDY code. A comparison of the concentration uncertainty differences obtained using data from the three libraries is reported. Similarities were found with the fuel composition uncertainty results obtained for the Calvert Cliffs MKP109 sample P SFCOMPO benchmark. Such a similarity was also found when comparing concentration uncertainties along the sample irradiation. Therefore, the main contributors to the concentration uncertainty of a number of nuclides were identified at different burnup levels in the two samples. To complement the similarity analysis, a correlation study of the concentration distributions predicted by the two models was performed. The reported results hint a dominance of the common uncertainty propagation mechanisms over the model differences in the determination of concentration uncertainty

Rethinking the social impacts of the arts

The paper presents a critical discussion of the current debate over the social impacts of the arts in the UK. It argues that the accepted understanding of the terms of the debate is rooted in a number of assumptions and beliefs that are rarely questioned. The paper goes on to present the interim findings of a three‐year research project, which aims to rethink the social impact of the arts, with a view to determining how these impacts might be better understood. The desirability of a historical approach is articulated, and a classification of the claims made within the Western intellectual tradition for what the arts “do” to people is presented and discussed

Effect of manure application timing on roots, canopy and must quality in Vitis vinifera 'Merlot': a case study in Italy, North-East

The maintenance and improvement of soil fertility are among the most important management practices in viticulture. The system efficiency fertilization (SEF) which is a new concept based on a maximum utilization of organic fertilizers (i.e., manure) has become very important, especially within the organic viticulture sector, since other fertilizers are not allowed. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different manure application timing on the root, shoot, and the grapevine yield, accumulation, and quality of biochemical compounds in the grape must since the timing effect was not previously investigated. The study was carried out on 'Merlot' variety organically cultivated, whose production aims at obtaining high-quality red wines. Three treatments were applied: NT (Non-Treated), T1 (Treated1- manure applied in late October) and T2 (Treated2 - manure applied in late February). After two study-years, the undertaken research has shown positive influences of soil manure application on the canopy features (T1), yield, and yield components (T2), along with a major accumulation of the primary metabolites (T2) (soluble solid, carbohydrates, chlorophyll). Yet, the secondary metabolites (polyphenols and anthocyanins) were promoted in the grape must at harvest time, especially when the manure was applied in late October (T2). Considering the benefits of manure application in the T2, after two study years, this timing is recommended in order to improve 'Merlot' grapes for high-quality red wine production

The vaccination registry of the local health company (ASL) Roma 4

Abstract Issue The regional vaccination of Lazio (AVR) and the ASL vaccination registries(AVA) that feed it, have had to adapt to the directions of national vaccination registry. The ASL Roma 4 added other implementations. Description of the Problem L'AVA must, first of all, allow easy search of subjects, defaulters and vaccination coverage for various filters but it can also facilitate the recording and analysis activity. Results The provision of barcodes allows the prompt search of subjects, the check of tax code and AIC codes of vaccines. The digital signature of the privacy and consent forms and anamnesis, taken from the "Guide to contraindications to vaccinations" directly available, allows the elimination of the paper. The possibility to go directly to AVR allows the registration of vaccinations made in other ASL. In addition, the AVA allows the compilation of the adverse event reporting form and vaccine management. The link with the portal on the ASL website allows users to download the vaccination certificate. Important is the possibility to send SMS before vaccination deadlines or appointments. The SMART-SMS allows sending videos or photos and manage a short link (http://tiny.cc/XXX) to an information page on ASL website, as well as user response SMS, that can also directly change appointments. Lessons The dematerialization of the forms leds to a greater compliance with the procedures, a more accurate anamnesis and the streamling of the vaccination session, the SMS bring greater compliance of users and an increase in vaccination coverage. The use of mobile analytics tools allows monitoring of vaccination campaigns. Key messages The dematerialization of the forms in the vaccination registry leds to a greater compliance with the procedures, a more accurate anamnesis and the streamling of the vaccination session. The ability to send SMS through the vaccination registry brings greater compliance of users and an increase in vaccination coverage

No measure for culture? Value in the new economy

This paper explores articulations of the value of investment in culture and the arts through a critical discourse analysis of policy documents, reports and academic commentary since 1997. It argues that in this period, discourses around the value of culture have moved from a focus on the direct economic contributions of the culture industries to their indirect economic benefits. These indirect benefits are discussed here under three main headings: creativity and innovation, employability, and social inclusion. These are in turn analysed in terms of three forms of capital: human, social and cultural. The paper concludes with an analysis of this discursive shift through the lens of autonomist Marxist concerns with the labour of social reproduction. It is our argument that, in contemporary policy discourses on culture and the arts, the government in the UK is increasingly concerned with the use of culture to form the social in the image of capital. As such, we must turn our attention beyond the walls of the factory in order to understand the contemporary capitalist production of value and resistance to it. </jats:p

On the Dependency of the Electromechanical Response of Rotary MEMS/NEMS on Their Embedded Flexure Hinges’ Geometry

This paper investigates how the electromechanical response of MEMS/NEMS devices changes when the geometrical characteristics of their embedded flexural hinges are modified. The research is dedicated particularly to MEMS/NEMS devices which are actuated by means of rotary comb-drives. The electromechanical behavior of a chosen rotary device is assessed by studying the rotation of the end effector, the motion of the comb-drive mobile fingers, the actuator’s maximum operating voltage, and the stress sustained by the flexure when the flexure’s shape, length, and width change. The results are compared with the behavior of a standard revolute joint. Outcomes demonstrate that a linear flexible beam cannot perfectly replace the revolute joint as it induces a translation that strongly facilitates the pull-in phenomenon and significantly increases the risk of ruptures of the comb-drives. On the other hand, results show how curved beams provide a motion that better resembles the revolute motion, preserving the structural integrity of the device and avoiding the pull-in phenomenon. Finally, results also show that the end effector motion approaches most precisely the revolute motion when a fine tuning of the beam’s length and width is performed