A design methodology for an innovative racing mini motorcycle frame

Sports equipment design is a young and evolving engineering discipline focused on the best simultaneous optimization of user and product as a system. In motorsports, in particular, the final performance during a race depends on many parameters related to the vehicle, circuit, weather, and tyres and the personal feelings of every single driver. Top teams in high-tech categories can invest huge amounts of money in developing simulators, but such economic commitment is not sustainable for all those teams that operate in minor but very popular categories, such as karts or mini-motorcycles. In these fields, the most common design approach is trial and error on physical prototypes. Such an approach leads to high costs, long optimization times, poor innovation, and inefficient management of the design knowledge. The present paper proposes a driver centred methodology for the design of an innovative mini racing motorcycle frame. It consists of two main phases: the drivers’ feelings translation into engineering requirements and constraints, and the exploration of the design solution space. Expected effects of the application of the proposed methodology are an overall increase in the degree of innovation, time compression, and cost reduction during the development process, with a significant impact on the competitiveness of small racing teams in minor categories

Nonequilibrium Langevin Approach to Quantum Optics in Semiconductor Microcavities

Recently the possibility of generating nonclassical polariton states by means of parametric scattering has been demonstrated. Excitonic polaritons propagate in a complex interacting environment and contain real electronic excitations subject to scattering events and noise affecting quantum coherence and entanglement. Here we present a general theoretical framework for the realistic investigation of polariton quantum correlations in the presence of coherent and incoherent interaction processes. The proposed theoretical approach is based on the {\em nonequilibrium quantum Langevin approach for open systems} applied to interacting-electron complexes described within the dynamics controlled truncation scheme. It provides an easy recipe to calculate multi-time correlation functions which are key-quantities in quantum optics. As a first application, we analyze the build-up of polariton parametric emission in semiconductor microcavities including the influence of noise originating from phonon induced scattering.Comment: some corrections in the presentation mad

Radiography of a normal fault system by 64,000 high-precision earthquake locations: The 2009 L’Aquila (central Italy) case study

We studied the anatomy of the fault system where the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake (MW 6.1) nucleated by means of ~64 k high-precision earthquake locations spanning 1 year. Data were analyzed by combining an automatic picking procedure for P and S waves, together with cross-correlation and double-difference location methods reaching a completeness magnitude for the catalogue equal to 0.7 including 425 clusters of similar earthquakes. The fault system is composed by two major faults: the high-angle L’Aquila fault and the listric Campotosto fault, both located in the first 10 km of the upper crust. We detect an extraordinary degree of detail in the anatomy of the single fault segments resembling the degree of complexity observed by field geologists on fault outcrops. We observe multiple antithetic and synthetic fault segments tens of meters long in both the hanging wall and footwall along with bends and cross fault intersections along the main fault and fault splays. The width of the L’Aquila fault zone varies along strike from 0.3 km where the fault exhibits the simplest geometry and experienced peaks in the slip distribution, up to 1.5 km at the fault tips with an increase in the geometrical complexity. These characteristics, similar to damage zone properties of natural faults, underline the key role of aftershocks in fault growth and co-seismic rupture propagation processes. Additionally, we interpret the persistent nucleation of similar events at the seismicity cutoff depth as the presence of a rheological (i.e., creeping) discontinuity explaining how normal faults detach at depth

Microlensing and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Are microlensing searches likely to discover planets that harbor life? Given our present state of knowledge, this is a difficult question to answer. We therefore begin by asking a more narrowly focused question: are conditions on planets discovered via microlensing likely to be similar to those we experience on Earth? In this paper I link the microlensing observations to the well-known "Goldilocks Problem" (conditions on the Earth-like planets need to be "just right"), to find that Earth-like planets discovered via microlensing are likely to be orbiting stars more luminous than the sun. This means that light from the planetary system's central star may contribute a significant fraction of the baseline flux relative to the star that is lensed. Such blending of light from the lens with light from the lensed source can, in principle, limit our ability to detect these events. This turns out not to be a significant problem, however. A second consequence of blending is the opportunity to determine the spectral type of the lensed spectral type of the lensed star. This circumstance, plus the possibility that finite-source-size effects are important, implies that some meaningful follow-up observations are likely to be possible for a subset Earth-like planets discovered via microlensing. In addition, calculations indicate that reasonable requirements on the planet's density and surface gravity imply that the mass of Earth-like planets is likely to be within a factor of $\sim 15$ of an Earth mass.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures. To be published in the Astrophysical Journa

Bio-phenols determination in olive oils: Recent mass spectrometry approaches

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is largely used in Mediterranean diet, and it is also worldwide apprised not only for its organoleptic properties but also for its healthy effects mainly attributed to the presence of several naturally occurring phenolic and polyphenolic compounds (bio-phenols). These compounds are characterized by the presence of multiple phenolic groups in more or less complex structures. Their content is fundamental in defining the healthy qualities of EVOO and consequently the analytical methods for their characterization and quantification are of current interest. Traditionally their determination has been conducted using a colorimetric assay based on the reaction of Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) reagent with the functional hydroxy groups of phenolic compounds. Identification and quantification of the bio-phenols in olive oils requires certainly more performing analytical methods. Chromatographic separation is now commonly achieved by HPLC, coupled with spectrometric devices as UV, FID, and MS. This last approach constitutes an actual cutting-edge application for bio-phenol determination in complex matrices as olive oils, mostly on the light of the development of mass analyzers and the achievement of high resolution and accurate mass measurement in more affordable instrument configurations. After a short survey of some rugged techniques used for bio-phenols determination, in this review have been described the most recent mass spectrometry-based methods, adopted for the analysis of the bio-phenols in EVOOs. In particular, the sample handling and the results of HPLC coupled with low- and high-resolution MS and MS/MS analyzers, of ion mobility mass spectrometry and ambient mass spectrometry have been reported and discussed

Rockfall threatening cumae archeological site fruition (Phlegraean fields park—naples)

Natural hazards threaten many archaeological sites in the world; therefore, susceptibility analysis is essential to reduce their impacts and support site fruition by visitors. In this paper, rockfall susceptibility analysis of the western slope of the Cumae Mount in the Cumae Archaeological Site (Phlegraean Fields, Naples), already affected by rockfall events, is described as support to a management plan for fruition and site conservation. Being the first Greek settlement in southern Italy, the site has great historical importance and offers unique historical elements such as the Cumaean Sibyl’s Cave. The analysis began with a 3D modeling of the slope through digital terrestrial photogrammetry, which forms a basis for a geomechanical analysis. Digital discontinuity measurements and cluster analysis provide data for kinematic analysis, which pointed out the planar, wedge and toppling failure potential. Subsequently, a propagation-based susceptibility analysis was completed into a GIS environment: it shows that most of the western sector of the site is susceptible to rockfall, including the access course, a segment of the Cumana Railroad and its local station. The work highlights the need for specific mitigation measures to increase visitor safety and the efficacy of filed-based digital reconstruction to support susceptibility analysis in rockfall prone areas

Radiography of a normal fault system by 64,000 high-precision earthquake locations: The 2009 L'Aquila (central Italy) case study

We studied the anatomy of the fault system where the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake (M_W 6.1) nucleated by means of ~64 k high-precision earthquake locations spanning 1 year. Data were analyzed by combining an automatic picking procedure for P and S waves, together with cross-correlation and double-difference location methods reaching a completeness magnitude for the catalogue equal to 0.7 including 425 clusters of similar earthquakes. The fault system is composed by two major faults: the high-angle L'Aquila fault and the listric Campotosto fault, both located in the first 10 km of the upper crust. We detect an extraordinary degree of detail in the anatomy of the single fault segments resembling the degree of complexity observed by field geologists on fault outcrops. We observe multiple antithetic and synthetic fault segments tens of meters long in both the hanging wall and footwall along with bends and cross fault intersections along the main fault and fault splays. The width of the L'Aquila fault zone varies along strike from 0.3 km where the fault exhibits the simplest geometry and experienced peaks in the slip distribution, up to 1.5 km at the fault tips with an increase in the geometrical complexity. These characteristics, similar to damage zone properties of natural faults, underline the key role of aftershocks in fault growth and co-seismic rupture propagation processes. Additionally, we interpret the persistent nucleation of similar events at the seismicity cutoff depth as the presence of a rheological (i.e., creeping) discontinuity explaining how normal faults detach at depth

Test of candidate light distributors for the muon (g−-2) laser calibration system

The new muon (g-2) experiment E989 at Fermilab will be equipped with a laser calibration system for all the 1296 channels of the calorimeters. An integrating sphere and an alternative system based on an engineered diffuser have been considered as possible light distributors for the experiment. We present here a detailed comparison of the two based on temporal response, spatial uniformity, transmittance and time stability.Comment: accepted to Nucl.Instrum.Meth.

Pain associated with COVID-19 vaccination is unrelated to skin biopsy abnormalities

Previous clinical observations raised the possibility that COVID-19 vaccination might trigger a small-fibre neuropathy.Objectives:In this uncontrolled observational study, we aimed to identify small fibre damage in patients complaining of generalized sensory symptoms and pain after COVID-19 vaccination.Methods:We collected clinical data, including a questionnaire for assessing autonomic symptoms (Composite Autonomic Symptom Score-31), and investigated quantitative sensory testing (QST) and skin biopsy in 15 prospectively enrolled patients with generalized sensory symptoms and pain after COVID-19 vaccination. Nine patients complaining of orthostatic intolerance also underwent cardiovascular autonomic tests.Results:We found that all patients experienced widespread pain, and most of them (11 of 15) had a fibromyalgia syndrome. All patients had normal skin biopsy findings, and in the 9 patients with orthostatic intolerance, cardiovascular autonomic tests showed normal findings. Nevertheless, 5 patients had cold and warm detection abnormalities at the QST investigation.Conclusions:In our study, most patients complaining of generalized sensory symptoms and pain after COVID-19 vaccination had clinical and diagnostic test findings compatible with a fibromyalgia syndrome. Although the abnormal QST findings we found in 5 patients might be compatible with a small-fibre neuropathy, they should be cautiously interpreted given the psychophysical characteristics of this diagnostic test. Further larger controlled studies are needed to define precisely the association between small fibre damage and COVID-19 vaccination