681 research outputs found
Composite 2HDM with singlets: a viable dark matter scenario
We study the non-minimal composite Higgs model with global symmetry SO(7) broken to SO(5) x SO(2). The model results in a composite Two-Higgs doublet model (2HDM) equipped with two extra singlets, the lightest of which can be a viable dark matter candidate. The model is able to reproduce the correct dark matter relic density both via the usual thermal freeze-out and through late time decay of the heavier singlet. In the case of thermal freeze-out, it is possible to evade current experimental constraints even with the minimum fine tuning allowed by electroweak precision tests
Research Notes : United States : A greenhouse method of screening soybeans for resistance to Fusarium wilt
Fusarium wilt of soybean (causal organism: Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. emend. Snyd. & Hans.) has become an increasingly severe disease in the breed-ing plots at Gainesville and may be an undiagnosed or misdiagnosed problem in soybean production fields. At Gainesville, severity of Fusarium wilt, or a complex which includes F. oxysporum, has reduced yields in some plots to near-ly zero
On Safety Enhancement in IIoT Scenarios through Heterogeneous Localization Techniques
In the field of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), strictly related to Industry 4.0, one of the main aspects to be carefully considered by the governing board of a manufacturing company is the safety level to be guaranteed to the workers inside production plants. This involves daily human activities, together with production machines to be used during the working hour (and periodically maintained), and mobile industrial vehicles moving around the production plant. To this end, a precise localization of both workers and vehicles is expedient to improve the safety level—avoiding that people move inside forbidden areas or perform dangerous actions—as well as allowing a more accurate control and reporting to national authorities in charge of verifying the compliance to safety regulations (e.g., aggregated data, not shared outside the company, used to fill injuries reports in case of official inspections), in the presence of accidents and anomalous events. In this paper, we present the design of IIoT-related localization mechanisms exploiting heterogeneous communication technologies, in turn analysing how the localization can cope with the adoption of wideband (e.g., Wi-Fi) and narrowband (e.g., Narrowband IoT, NB-IoT) communication protocols and discussing how these communication paradigms may impact existing and modern production plants
Atomic force microscopy techniques for nanomechanical characterization : a polymer case study
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a versatile tool to perform mechanical
characterization of surface samples at the nanoscale. In this work, we review
two of such methods, namely contact resonance AFM (CR-AFM) and torsional
harmonics AFM (TH-AFM). First, such techniques are illustrated and their
applicability on materials with elastic moduli in different ranges are discussed,
together with their main advantages and limitations. Then, a case
study is presented in which we report the mechanical characterization using
both CR-AFM and TH-AFM of polyaniline and polyaniniline doped with
nanodiamond particles tablets prepared by a pressing process. We determined
the indentation modulus values of their surfaces, which were found in fairly
good agreement, thus demonstrating the accuracy of the techniques. Finally,
the determined surface elastic moduli have been compared with the bulk ones
measured through standard indentation testing.
INTRODUCTION
In the field of nanotechnology, the development of
innovative and nondestructive characterization
techniques plays a crucial role. Indeed, the characterization
of nanostructured hybrid materials (e.g.,
thin films and nanocomposites) and devices requires
the capability of acquiring maps of the local mechanical
properties at the nanoscale. Nanoindentation
is the most common method for determining the
mechanical properties of thin films. However, its
applicability is strictly limited by the thickness of
the sample. Furthermore, its poor spatial resolution
does not allow the reconstruction of an accurate
distribution of the sample surface mechanical
properties. For this reason, alternative methods,
based on atomic force microscopy (AFM), have been
developed. By exploiting the high resolution of the
AFM, maps of the surface mechanical properties
(i.e., indentation modulus) can be achieved. Among
these techniques, AFM nanoindentation1 is the
simplest method used to evaluate the local mechanical
properties o
Applied Research of the hygrothermal behaviour of an internally insulated historicwall without vapour barrier: In situ measurements and dynamic simulations
The hygrothermal behaviour of an internally insulated historic wall is still hard to predict, mainly because the physical characteristics of the materials composing the historic wall are unknown. In this study, the hygrothermal assessment of an internally thermal insulated masonry wall of an historic palace located in Ferrara, in Italy, is shown. In situ non-destructive monitoring method is combined with a hygrothermal simulation tool, aiming to better analyse and discuss future refurbishment scenarios. In this context, the original U-value of the wall (not refurbished) is decreased from 1.44W/m2K to 0.26W/m2K (10 cm stone wool). Under the site specific conditions of this wall, not reached by the sun or rain, it was verified that even in the absence of vapour barrier, no frost damage is likely to occur and the condensation risk is very limited. Authors proposed further discussion based on simulation. The results showed that the introduction of a second gypsum board to the studied technology compensated such absence, while the reduction of the insulation material thickness provides a reduction of RH peaks in the interstitial area by 1%; this second solution proved to be more efficient, providing a 3% RH reduction and the avoidance of further thermal losses
[domestic Violence Against Children (first Part)].
The authors interviewed 76.2% of the pediatricians from the Pediatric Department-School of Medical Sciences-Campinas University-UNICAMP, to analyse the difficulties of this professional group in the evaluation of the domestic violence against children. From the group of professionals, 86.7% had already attended a situation involving child abuse; the therapeutic aspects were referred in 44.4% as most important, and in 46%, the difficulties in the diagnostic aspects were referred. They conclude that, despite the experiences with the theme, a lot more could be done and studied.71313-
GRADE Evidence to Decision (EtD) frameworks : A systematic and transparent approach to making well-informed healthcare choices. 1. Introduction
Funding: Work on this article has been partially funded by the European Commission FP7 Program (grant agreement 258583) as part of the DECIDE project. Sole responsibility lies with the authors; the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
The BovMAS Consortium: investigation of bovine chromosome 14 for quantitative trait loci affecting milk production and quality traits in the Italian Holstein Friesian breed
Many studies have demonstrated that quantitative trait loci (QTL) can be identified and mapped in commercial dairy cattle populations using genetic markers in daughter and granddaughter designs.The final objective of these studies is to identify genes or markers that can be used in breeding schemes via marker assisted selection (MAS)
- …