Effect of Geometrical Imperfections on the Response of Dry-Joint Masonry Arches to Support Settlements

This paper aims to investigate the effects of geometrical imperfections on the response of a scaled dry-joint arch to the vertical displacement of one support. The arch behaviour was analysed in the large displacement regime using both physical and numerical modelling. The experimental tests were performed on 1:10 small-scale models made of bicomponent composite blocks with dry joints. In order to evaluate the geometrical accuracy of the blocks, two different sets of voussoirs were produced. The numerical simulations were carried out using a finite element (FE) micro-modelling approach, where the arch was modelled as an assembly of very stiff voussoirs connected by nonlinear interfaces. Particular attention was paid to the interface stiffness, which was set so as to tune the numerical model with the experimental evidence. Experimental and numerical results were then compared in terms of collapse mechanism, hinge configuration and ultimate displacement capacity. The imperfections of the physical models were found to significantly affect the arch response

Ab initio instanton rate theory made efficient using Gaussian process regression

Ab initio instanton rate theory is a computational method for rigorously including tunnelling effects into calculations of chemical reaction rates based on a potential-energy surface computed on the fly from electronic-structure theory. This approach is necessary to extend conventional transition-state theory into the deep-tunnelling regime, but is also more computationally expensive as it requires many more ab initio calculations. We propose an approach which uses Gaussian process regression to fit the potential-energy surface locally around the dominant tunnelling pathway. The method can be converged to give the same result as from an on-the-fly ab initio instanton calculation but requires far fewer electronic-structure calculations. This makes it a practical approach for obtaining accurate rate constants based on high-level electronic-structure methods. We show fast convergence to reproduce benchmark H + CH4 results and evaluate new low-temperature rates of H + C2H6 in full dimensionality at a UCCSD(T)-F12b/cc-pVTZ-F12 level.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures; submitted to Faraday Discussion: Quantum effects in small molecular system

Slow-Moving Landslide Damage Assessment of Historic Masonry Churches: Some Case-Studies in Italy

This paper presents a contribution for the damage assessment of historic masonry churches exposed to slow-moving landslides. In particular, the authors identified four global damage mechanisms, which are presented here by means of the critical damage assessment of four case studies located in the Liguria region (Italy) in areas affected by slow-moving landslides. For each church, a correlation between the damage patterns observed on-site and the ground movements induced by landslide phenomena was sought by means of visual inspections and crack interpretation. As a result, each damage mechanism was associated to a different pattern of ground movements produced by slow-moving landslides

Gene Flow in Medicago Through Somatic Hybridization

The objective of this research was the characterization at both molecular and phenotypic level of three somatic hybrid plants obtained by electrofusion of protoplasts of Medicago sativa with those of M.coerulea, M.falcata and M.arborea, three Medicago species in a different relation with alfalfa. Different kinds of rearrangements including the amplification of new spacer-length variants were detected at rDNA loci in the somatic hybrids. Analysis of field performances confirmed the suitability of these plants for breeding purposes

The importance of the period immediately preceding anthesis for grain weight determination in wheat

Although individual grain weight is an important source of variation for grain yield, there is still poor understanding of the causes determining final grain weight. Almost all studies conducted for understanding the determinants of grain weight have been focused on the post-anthesis period. However, there is important evidence that pre-anthesis conditions could also modify final grain weight. Three experiments including different sowing dates, genotypes and temperature regimes between booting and anthesis, were carried out in Argentina and Mexico to analyse the effect of temperature and associated traits during the pre- and post-anthesis periods on grain weight under field conditions. In these experiments final grain weight could not be explained by average or maximum temperature during the post-anthesis period. However, average temperature between booting and anthesis was closely related to the observed grain weight differences, probably as a consequence of the effects of this factor on carpel growth. Differences in grain weight between genotypes and grain position were successfully explained by differences in carpel weight at anthesis. These results suggest that our knowledge to determine grain weight could improve if the immediately pre-anthesis period conditions were taken into account.Fil: Calderini, Daniel Fernando. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Savin, Roxana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Abeledo, Leonor Gabriela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Reynolds, M. P.. Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo; MéxicoFil: Slafer, Gustavo Ariel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Producción Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario; Argentin

CYP72A67 catalyses a key oxidative step in Medicago truncatula hemolytic saponin biosynthesis

In the Medicago genus, triterpenic saponins are bioactive secondary metabolites constitutively synthesized in the aerial and subterranean parts of plants via the isoprenoid pathway. Exploitation of saponins as pharmaceutics, agrochemicals and in the food and cosmetic industries has raised interest in identifying the enzymes involved in their synthesis. We have identified a cytochrome P450 (CYP72A67) involved in hemolytic sapogenin biosynthesis by a reverse genetic TILLING approach in a Medicago truncatula ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenized collection. Genetic and biochemical analyses, mutant complementation, and expression of the gene in a microsome yeast system showed that CYP72A67 is responsible for hydroxylation at the C-2 position downstreamof oleanolic acid synthesis. The affinity of CYP72A67 for substrates with different substitutions at multiple carbon positions was investigated in the same in vitro yeast system, and in relation to two other CYP450s (CYP72A68) responsible for the production of medicagenic acid, the main sapogenin in M. truncatula leaves and roots. Full sib mutant and wild-type plants were compared for their sapogenin profile, expression patterns of the genes involved in sapogenin synthesis, and response to inoculation with Sinorhizobium meliloti. The results obtained allowed us to revise the hemolytic sapogenin pathway in M. truncatula and contribute to highlighting the tissue specificities (leaves/roots) of sapogenin synthesis

Publication and patent analysis of European researchers in the field of production technology and manufacturing systems

This paper develops a structured comparison among a sample of European researchers in the field of Production Technology and Manufacturing Systems, on the basis of scientific publications and patents. Researchers are evaluated and compared by a variegated set of indicators concerning (1) the output of individual researchers and (2) that of groups of researchers from the same country. While not claiming to be exhaustive, the results of this preliminary study provide a rough indication of the publishing and patenting activity of researchers in the field of interest, identifying (dis)similarities between different countries. Of particular interest is a proposal for aggregating analysis results by means of maps based on publication and patent indicators. A large amount of empirical data are presented and discusse

Characterization of prevalence and genetic subtypes of Blastocystis sp. in wild and domestic Suidae of central Italy aided by amplicon NGS

Blastocystis spp. is a common single-celled intestinal symbiont, comprising several genetic subtypes (ST) and trans- missible by animal-to-animal, human-to-human, animal-to-human and, possibly, human-to-animal routes. This work was designed to explore the presence of Blastocystis in sympatric domestic and wild suids and their ability to carry zoonotic STs, in a condition of widespread opportunity to come in contact with the microorganism through their shared water and food resources, and other carriers. We sampled 42 and 37 stool samples from wild boars and domestic pigs, respectively. STs were first identified by PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Sequences represented in double-band PCR products or in Sanger chromatograms displaying multiple peaks, were resolved by next generation sequencing (NGS). Twenty-six (61.9%) wild boar and 26 (70.2%) pig samples were PCR-positive, respectively. ST3, ST5 and ST15 were found in 3.8%, 38.4% and 80.8% of the positive wild boars and 11.5%, 88.5%, 11.5% of the positive pigs, respectively. ST1 was found only in pigs (3.8%). STs 5 and 15 were common in both groups of animals, but in reversed proportions, suggesting preferential colonization. We found significantly different ST distributions among wild boars and domestic pigs. This might indicate that lifestyle differences between the two populations influence their risk for contracting certain subtypes, or that ST5 and ST15 can colonize preferentially wild or domestic animals. Based on the STs described here, wild boars and domestic pigs can act as reservoirs with zoonotic potential. The ability of suids to carry zoonotic STs appears to be higher when using NGS than Sanger sequencing, and resolution of complex sequencing profiles is imperative before excluding the presence of STs of human concern

SuperB: a linear high-luminosity B Factory

This paper is based on the outcome of the activity that has taken place during the recent workshop on "SuperB in Italy" held in Frascati on November 11-12, 2005. The workshop was opened by a theoretical introduction of Marco Ciuchini and was structured in two working groups. One focused on the machine and the other on the detector and experimental issues. The present status on CP is mainly based on the results achieved by BaBar and Belle. Estabilishment of the indirect CP violation in B sector in 2001 and of the direct CP violation in 2004 thanks to the success of PEP-II and KEKB e+e- asymmetric B Factories operating at the center of mass energy corresponding to the mass of the Y(4s). With the two B Factories taking data, the Unitarity Triangle is now beginning to be overconstrained by improving the measurements of the sides and now also of the angles alpha, and gamma. We are also in presence of the very intriguing results about the measurements of sin(2 beta) in the time dependent analysis of decay channels via penguin loops, where b --> s sbar s and b --> s dbar d. Tau physics, in particular LFV search, as well as charm and ISR physics are important parts of the scientific program of a SuperB Factory. The physics case together with possible scenarios for the high luminosity SuperB Factory based on the concepts of the Linear Collider and the related experimental issues are discussed.Comment: 22 pages, 22 figures, INFN Roadmap Repor