Analytical representation of architectural built heritage. A Sketch-to-Bim approach

HBIM methodology is increasingly used for the management of all aspects of architectural heritage, from survey and analysis to conservation, management and restoration issues. Application of HBIM are the so-called Scan-to-BIM processes in which the artifact is surveyed with digital techniques of laser scanning and photogrammetry. These techniques result in point clouds, the basis of the subsequent process of informative and geometric modelling of the artifact. The resulting "smart models" are composed of parametric objects rich in information that can be easily updated at any time. The proposed methodology aims at integrating a study of architectural orders, whose results become preparatory to the subsequent phases of survey and modeling, to the classic Scan-to-BIM workflows. In particular, in the modeling these results have allowed a more targeted choice of techniques used. The method has been applied to the atrium of the former Jesuit College of Santa Croce in Cagliari, which today hosts one of the seats of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of the University of Cagliari; in particular, the atrium of the east body of the former Jesuit College, designed by the Piedmontese architect Antonio Felice De Vincenti, has been modelled

URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR THE UPCYCLING OF URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE RESIDUAL POCKETS: 3D CITY MODELLING FROM OPEN DATA AND LOW-COST RAPID MAPPING TOOLS

This paper deals with the 3D City Modelling specific procedure developed as a tool to support strategies for urban regeneration, within the framework of the B-ROAD research project.The B-ROAD research project, whose acronym stands for Below the Road, is developing urban design strategies for upcycling urban infrastructure residual pockets.The B-ROAD’s methodology is conceived as research by design as it is carried out by creating pilot scenarios, disclosing the latent and still unexpressed potential of these wasted areas and displaying their potential transformations, to turn them into precious resources for the contemporary city.The 3D City Modelling of the study area has proved to be essential and strategic yet often complex and critical as most of the spatial and architectural features of B-ROAD spaces, as well as their potential, cannot be detected nor represented through the traditional means of representation of urbanised land, as aerial survey-based representations, or GIS. Likewise, traditional, or even cutting-edge, survey techniques that can be used to acquire missing data are often costly and time-consuming, thus making it hardly impossible to achieve the purpose of extensive and deep knowledge of such a vast area. Thus, 3D City Modelling aimed at examining spaces and providing a final representation of pilot scenarios has been a crucial stage requiring a specific in-depth study.</p

Inclined Surface Locomotion Strategies for Spherical Tensegrity Robots

This paper presents a new teleoperated spherical tensegrity robot capable of performing locomotion on steep inclined surfaces. With a novel control scheme centered around the simultaneous actuation of multiple cables, the robot demonstrates robust climbing on inclined surfaces in hardware experiments and speeds significantly faster than previous spherical tensegrity models. This robot is an improvement over other iterations in the TT-series and the first tensegrity to achieve reliable locomotion on inclined surfaces of up to 24\degree. We analyze locomotion in simulation and hardware under single and multi-cable actuation, and introduce two novel multi-cable actuation policies, suited for steep incline climbing and speed, respectively. We propose compelling justifications for the increased dynamic ability of the robot and motivate development of optimization algorithms able to take advantage of the robot's increased control authority.Comment: 6 pages, 11 figures, IROS 201

Expression of junctional adhesion molecule-A prevents spontaneous and random motility.

Junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) is a cell-surface glycoprotein that localizes to intercellular junctions and associates with intracellular proteins via PSD95-Dlg-ZO1-binding residues. To define the functional consequences of JAM-A expression, we have produced endothelial cells from JAM-A-deficient mice. We report here that the absence of JAM-A enhanced spontaneous and random motility. In turn, the enhanced motility of JAM-A-negative cells was abrogated either on transfection of exogenous JAM-A or on treatment with inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). In addition, in JAM-A-positive cells, motility was enhanced on inactivation of protein kinase Cζ (PKCζ), which is an inhibitor of GSK-3β. Although these findings suggested that JAM-A might inhibit GSK-3β, we found that expression per se of JAM-A did not change the levels of inactive GSK-3β. Thus, JAM-A expression may regulate effectors of motility that are also downstream of the PKCζ/GSK-3β axis. In support of this view, we found that JAM-A absence increased the number of actin-containing protrusions, reduced the stability of microtubules and impaired the formation of focal adhesions. Notably, all the functional consequences of JAM-A absence were reversed either on treatment with GSK-3β inhibitors or on transfection of full-length JAM-A, but not on transfection of a JAM-A deletion mutant devoid of the PSD95-Dlg-ZO1-binding residues. Thus, by regulating cytoskeletal and adhesive structures, JAM-A expression prevents cell motility, probably in a PSD95-Dlg-ZO1-dependent manner

Molecular and Biological Analysis on Ommastrephes caroli Findings in the Central Western Mediterranean Sea (Sardinian Waters) Including First Age Investigation Using Eye Lenses and Beaks

Molecular identifications based on two mitochondrial markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I -COI- and 16S ribosomal RNA gene -16S-) have been implemented to confirm the morphological identification of eight specimens collected in the Central western Mediterranean. Molecular data show they belonged to a recently resurrected species of the genus Ommastrephes, i.e., O. caroli, known to be distributed in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Despite this, molecular analyses of COI sequences evidenced the presence of potential genetic differentiation between Mediterranean and Atlantic samples, highlighting the need for further studies, with more individuals to investigate the connectivity between individuals living in the two areas. Furthermore, morphological, biometric and reproductive features here reported, could be useful in evaluating possible distinctive biological features between the Mediterranean and Atlantic individuals. Female mature size was larger than the male. The relationships obtained between the beak measurements and body sizes (DML; TW) were better described by a power model. Asynchronous oocytes development with relatively small oocytes (0.05–1.10 mm) and a protracted intermittent spawning with active feeding were observed. This study also reported for the specie O. caroli the first data on the potential fecundity estimated (840061 oocytes), the oviducal load (90000 ripe oocytes) as well as the number of seminal receptacles and the size and morphology of the spermatangia found in the buccal mass of all mated females. Even if on a low sample size, beaks and eye lenses were used for the first time in O. caroli for age estimation. The statistically significant relationship found between increments counted in eye lenses and beaks highlighted the reliability of the lenses to estimate age in O. caroli, even if further studies will be needed for its validation. Assuming a daily increment for both structures, a mean life span of about 12–13 months was estimated for both sexes, which is consistent with the sexual maturity condition observed in all the samples and the semelparity known for cephalopods coleoids

Irrigated rice sowing periods based on simulated grain yield.

This study aimed to establish the sowing periods with lower climatic risk for irrigated rice cultivation in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, using the grain yield simulated by the SimulArroz which is an eco-physiological model based in processes that also simulates the development and the growth of the crop. The simulated grain yields were normalized for each of the four groups of cultivars, referenced as Relative Yield (YRel), considering the values of Reference Yield (YRef). The YRef considered was equal to the 80 percentile for the cultivars of groups 1 and 2 (Very short and Short cycle, respectively), and to the 90 percentile, for the cultivars of groups 3 and 4 (Medium and Long cycle, respectively). A successful year was when the YRel value was equal to or greater than 60% of YRef. These years were used to classify the climatic risk levels of 20% (80% success), 30% (70% success) and 40% (60% success). The preferential sowing periods for the four cultivar groups, at three levels of climatic risk, were established for all counties of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The results indicated that the beginning of sowing occurs, depending on the group of cultivars, on September 1st or September 11th. On the other hand, the final sowing date varies with the group of cultivars and the level of risk involved, being December 20th the last sowing date for group 1 (Very short cycle). It is concluded that the SimulArroz model is appropriate to define the sowing periods of irrigated rice in Rio Grande do Sul considering grain yield, cycle of the cultivars and level of climatic risk