Reconstruction of vehicle dynamics from inertial and GNSS data

The increasingly massive collection of data from various types of sensors installed on vehicles allows the study and reconstruction of their dynamics in real time, as well as their archiving for subsequent analysis. This Thesis describes the design of a numerical algorithm and its implementation in a program that uses data from inertial and geo-positioning sensors, with applications in industrial contexts and automotive research. The result was made usable through the development of a Python add-on for the Blender graphics program, able to generate a three-dimensional view of the dynamics that can be used by experts and others. Throughout the Thesis, particular attention was paid to the complex nature of the data processed, introducing adequate systems for filtering, interpolation, integration and analysis, aimed at reducing errors and simultaneously optimizing performances

Multifunctional nanomaterials: theranostic nanoparticles and SMM-decorated surfaces

This Thesis reports the preparation of multifunctional materials, dealing with two different topics. The first part concerns the design, synthesis and characterization of multifunctional hybrid magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that combine superparamagnetic properties with biocompatibility and biological activity. They are designed to load, carry and release N-methylated drugs, exploiting the outstanding molecular recognition properties of tetraphoshonate cavitands towards N-methylammonium salts. In the second generation, new functionalities have been introduced for fluorescence detection and tumor cell targeting. The second part of the work deals with the synthesis of functionalized SMMs for grafting on surfaces. In particular, a peripherally decorated TbIII-bisphthalocyaninato SMM was synthesized and grafted on silicon wafer through the hydrosilylation protocol, leading to the formation of a robust covalently linked monolayer. The resulting Si-integrated SMM monolayer showed for the first time a surface enhancement of the magnetic bistability, rather than the commonly observed suppression of it

Deep Learning methods for Portfolio Optimization

Portfolio optimization is one of the most studied fields that have been researched with machine learning approaches because of its inherent demand for forecasting future market properties. In this thesis, it is shown how one can use deep neural networks with historical returns to do risk adjusted asset allocation. Unlike previous studies which set as target variable asset prices, the variable to predict here is represented by the best asset allocation strategy. Experiments performed on a time period of seven years show that temporal convolutional networks are superior to long short term memory networks and transformers. Compared to baseline benchmarks, the computed allocation has an average increase in the year revenue between 2% and 5%. Furthermore, results are compared against equally weighted, inverse volatility and risk parity methods, showing higher cumulative returns than the first method and equal if not higher in some cases than the latter methods

Redox Switchable Thianthrene Cavitands

A redox activated vase-to-kite conformational change is reported for a new resorcinarene-based cavitand appended with four quinoxaline-fused thianthrene units. In its neutral state, the thianthrene-containing cavitand was shown by 1H NMR to adopt a closed vase conformation. Upon oxidation the electrostatic repulsion among the thianthrene radical cations promotes a kite conformation in the thianthrene-containing cavitand. The addition of acid produced a shoulder feature below 300 nm in the cavitand’s UV-Vis spectrum that we have assigned to the vase-to-kite conformation change. UV-Vis spectroelectrochemical studies of the cavitand revealed a development of a similar shoulder peak consistent with the oxidation-induced vase-to-kite conformation change. To support that the shoulder peak is diagnostic for a vase-to-kite conformation change, a model molecule constituting a single quinoxaline wall of the cavitand was synthesized and studied. As expected UV-Vis spectroelectrochemical studies of the cavitand arm did not display a shoulder peak below 300 nm. The oxidation-induced vase-to-kite conformation is further confirmed by the distinctive upfield shift in 1H chemical shift of the methine signal. Key words: redox active, thianthrene, resorcinarene cavitands, electrochemical switching, conformation changeNational Science Foundation (U.S.). Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science (Award ECCS0939514)Singapore. Agency for Science, Technology and Research (Graduate Scholarship

The safeguard of audio collections: a computer science based approach to quality control--the case of the sound archive of the arena di verona

In the field of multimedia, very little attention is given to the activities involved in the preservation of audio documents. At the same time, more and more archives storing audio and video documents face the problem of obsolescing and degrading media, which could largely benefit from the instruments and the methodologies of research in multimedia. This paper presents the methodology and the results of the Italian project REVIVAL, aimed at the development of a hardware/software platform to support the active preservation of the audio collection of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, one of the finest in Europe for the operatic genre, with a special attention on protocols and tools for quality control. On the scientific side, the most significant objectives achieved by the project are (i) the setup of a working environment inside the archive, (ii) the knowledge transfer to the archival personnel, (iii) the realization of chemical analyses on magnetic tapes in collaboration with experts in the fields of materials science and chemistry, and (iv) the development of original open-source software tools. On the cultural side, the recovery, the safeguard, and the access to unique copies of unpublished live recordings of artists the calibre of Domingo and Pavarotti are of great musicological and economical value

Novel Multifunctional Magnetic Inorganic Composites: Synthesis and Characterization

We report the preparation of a series of new magnetic inorganic composites (MICs) with tuneable magnetic and mechanical properties. In the field of power inductive components and inductive heating, they could transfer energy with high robustness and excellent performances. Moreover, they may mitigate electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the LF and MF band. The MICs have been prepared using an alkaline or acidic activation process carried out in the presence of commercial magnetic micrometric particles made of anisotropic and isotropic Sr-ferrite. Three different matrices have been prepared, varying the type of activator, slag addition, water content, and aggregates

Novel Multifunctional Magnetic Inorganic Composites: Synthesis and Characterization

We report the preparation of a series of new magnetic inorganic composites (MICs) with tuneable magnetic and mechanical properties. In the field of power inductive components and inductive heating, they could transfer energy with high robustness and excellent performances. Moreover, they may mitigate electromagnetic interference (EMI) in the LF and MF band. The MICs have been prepared using an alkaline or acidic activation process carried out in the presence of commercial magnetic micrometric particles made of anisotropic and isotropic Sr-ferrite. Three different matrices have been prepared, varying the type of activator, slag addition, water content, and aggregates

Triptycene-Roofed Quinoxaline Cavitands for the Supramolecular Detection of BTEX in Air

Two novel triptycene quinoxaline cavitands (DiTriptyQxCav and MonoTriptyQxCav) have been designed, synthesized, and applied in the supramolecular detection of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) in air. The complexation properties of the two cavitands towards aromatics in the solid state are strengthened by the presence of the triptycene moieties at the upper rim of the tetraquinoxaline walls, promoting the confinement of the aromatic hydrocarbons within the cavity. The two cavitands were used as fiber coatings for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) BTEX monitoring in air. The best performances in terms of enrichment factors, selectivity, and LOD (limit of detection) values were obtained by using the DiTriptyQxCav coating. The corresponding SPME fiber was successfully tested under real urban monitoring conditions, outperforming the commercial divinylbenzene\u2013Carboxen\u2013polydimethylsiloxane (DVB\u2013CAR\u2013PDMS) fiber in BTEX adsorption

Prospecciones durante la campaña 2013 revelaron la ausencia de la roya naranja de la caña de azúcar en la Argentina

La roya naranja de la caña de azúcar, causada por el hongo Puccinia kuehnii E.J. Butler, afecta el follaje de la planta limitando su desarrollo y provocando pérdidas de rendimiento en cultivares susceptibles. En el año 2000, esta enfermedad afectó a la principal variedad cultivada en Australia, Q124, provocando disminuciones estimadas entre un 30% y 40% en el rendimiento cultural; esto resultó en la pérdida económica más importante en la historia de la industria azucarera de ese país (Ángel Sánchez et al., 2010; Díaz et al., 2010).Fil: Henriquez, Diego Daniel.Fil: Pérez Gémez, Sergio G.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Bertani, Romina Priscila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Funes, Claudia.Fil: Díaz, Edmundo Federico.Fil: Joya, Constanza María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: González, Victoria.Fil: Cuenya, María Inés. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ploper, Leonardo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Provincia de Tucuman. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estacion Exp.agroindustr. "obispo Colombres"(p). Seccion Fitopatologia; Argentin

Novel Correlations between Spectroscopic and Morphological Properties of Activated Carbons from Waste Coffee Grounds

Massive quantities of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are generated by users around the world. Different processes have been proposed for SCG valorization, including pyrolytic processes to achieve carbonaceous materials. Here, we report the preparation of activated carbons through pyrolytic processes carried out under different experimental conditions and in the presence of various porosity activators. Textural and chemical characterization of the obtained carbons have been achieved through Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), ESEM, 13C solid state NMR, XPS, XRD, thermogravimetric and spectroscopic determinations. The aim of the paper is to relate these data to the preparation method, evaluating the correlation between the spectroscopic data and the physical and textural properties, also in comparison with the corresponding data obtained for three commercial activated carbons used in industrial adsorption processes. Some correlations have been observed between the Raman and XPS data