Riemannian geometry of Hartogs domains

Let D_F = \{(z_0, z) \in {\C}^{n} | |z_0|^2 < b, \|z\|^2 < F(|z_0|^2) \} be a strongly pseudoconvex Hartogs domain endowed with the \K metric $g_F$ associated to the \K form $\omega_F = -\frac{i}{2} \partial \bar{\partial} \log (F(|z_0|^2) - \|z\|^2)$. This paper contains several results on the Riemannian geometry of these domains. In the first one we prove that if $D_F$ admits a non special geodesic (see definition below) through the origin whose trace is a straight line then $D_F$ is holomorphically isometric to an open subset of the complex hyperbolic space. In the second theorem we prove that all the geodesics through the origin of $D_F$ do not self-intersect, we find necessary and sufficient conditions on $F$ for $D_F$ to be geodesically complete and we prove that $D_F$ is locally irreducible as a Riemannian manifold. Finally, we compare the Bergman metric $g_B$ and the metric $g_F$ in a bounded Hartogs domain and we prove that if $g_B$ is a multiple of $g_F$, namely $g_B=\lambda g_F$, for some $\lambda\in \R^+$, then $D_F$ is holomorphically isometric to an open subset of the complex hyperbolic space.Comment: to appear in International Journal of Mathematic

Early warning system for the prevention and control of unauthorized accesses to air navigation services infrastructures

Early warning systems are fundamental instruments for the management of critical situations since they are able to signal in advance any anomaly with respect to ordinary situations. The purpose of this paper is to present an early warning system, based on artificial neural networks, for the prevention and control of unauthorized accesses to the air navigation services infrastructure in Italy

Using a Transdisciplinary Interpretive Lens to Broaden Reflections on Alleviating Poverty and Promoting Decent Work

This article aims to broaden current reflections on definitions of decent work and poverty using a transdisciplinary interpretive lens comprising philosophical, juridical, economic, sociological, and psychological understandings. We (the authors) undertook an adapted systematic qualitative review to gather data on different perspectives on decent work and poverty. The article summarizes and compares reflections on the two constructs and proposes an enhancement of the current definition of decent work. The aim is to facilitate the identification and development of new research and intervention projects that can be implemented to promote fair and sustainable economic development, the provision of decent work, and the reduction of poverty globally. We believe that challenges should be dealt with pro-actively rather than reactively and that intervening at the level of primary prevention should lie at the heart of any strategy to promote decent work and alleviate poverty. Radical intervention is needed to ensure that future generations not only survive but develop, grow, and express themselves meaningfully through decent wor

High Frequency Model of PV Systems for the Evaluation of Ground Currents

A high frequency model of a photovoltaic (PV) plant is developed and analysed to investigate the common mode (CM) currents circulating through the ground connections of the plant. The modelling method is based on the measurement of the impedance frequency response of photovoltaic module and on a high frequency representation of the power conversion unit. An overall lumped parameters circuit model is obtained and then implemented in PSpice. The CM leakage currents are evaluated by simulation

Seismic analysis and risk mitigation of existing constructions

Following a thorough and lengthy procedure, we would like to thank all contributors for their highest calibre papers, which comprise the Special Issue on \u201cSeismic analysis and risk mitigation of existing constructions\u201d of the Open Construction and Building Technology Journal. The topic of the Special Issue encompasses a large number of issues spanning the design of special interventions for the reduction of the effects of earthquakes on civil structures and infrastructures, to the structural identification and assessment issues. The field of seismic engineering is continuously looking for new strategies and methods, which empower the designers and make them able to obtain more accurate response predictions. Researchers are involved in this process and are called to successfully encounter new challenges emerging from the increasing need for the assessment of existing constructions, especially when assuming strategic roles. As is also reflected by the papers presented in the Special Issue, the continuous advances of the research in this field moves across two basic directions. On the one hand, there is the direction of the robustness and the reliability of the recent nonlinear seismic assessment methods (static, dynamic, incremental dynamic). Several approaches can be followed to predict the response of structures to strong ground motions; however the results coming from each of them are in some cases conflicting and not always amenable to easy interpretation. On the other hand, the reliability of structural models still remains a major task of structural engineering and of seismic engineering in particular. Mathematical models have to reproduce the physics of structures and its evolution during complex damaging processes. Global and local models tend to reflect this by minimizing the loss of information. In the Special Issue, we are proud to present state-of-the-art research findings described in detail in 9 papers authored by 27 researchers of different universities in Italy, California (USA), Greece and United Kingdom. The papers deal with the seismic analysis and risk mitigation aiming to address different purposes by proposing numerical, analytical approaches and experimental tests

Assessing radiative transfer models trained by numerical weather forecasts using sun-tracking radiometric measurements for satellite link characterization up to W band

Radio communications, and in particular Earth-to-satellite links, are worldwide used for delivering digital services. The bandwidth demand of such services is increasing accordingly to the advent of more advanced applications (e.g., multimedia services, deep-space explorations, etc.) thus pushing the scientific community toward the investigation of channel carriers at higher frequencies. When using carrier frequencies above X band, the main drawback is how to tackle the impact of tropospheric processes (i.e., rain, cloud, water vapor). This work assesses the joint use of weather forecast models, radiative transfer models and Sun-tracking radiometric measurements to explore their potential benefits in predicting path attenuation and sky noise temperature for slant paths at frequencies between K and W band, thus paving the way to the optimization of satellite link-budgets

Territorial Capital and the Great Recession: a Nuts-3 Analysis for Central and Southern Italy

The analyses on the effects of the actual crisis have been mainly concentrated on a national and international dimension, leaving aside the differential effects of the crisis on regions and sub-regional areas. Notwithstanding the international character of the Great Recession, it has to be stressed that the different structural features of regions and urban areas might influence the economic and social impact of the crisis. They also might have an important effect on the resilience and recover chance. In the present paper, we focus on territorial capital, a concept that takes into account of the different features of goods and services in terms of their degree of appropriability and rivalry and, also, of their material-immaterial content. The aim is to identify the strategic territorial elements which help in the evaluation of the absorption capacity of the recession at regional and sub-regional levels. For that purpose, we use a wide dataset for Central and Southern Italian provinces in order to measure the empirical relations between the territorial capital and the change in the provincial performance. The intent is to measure how the territorial capital endowment might have determined different reactions on a sub-regional scale and, conversely, how the crisis might influence the territorial capital in different areas. If, on one hand, we expect that the “soft” dimensions of the territorial capital (relations among firms, cooperation networks, public-private partnership, territorial governance, innovation linkages, and so on) have some relevance in shaping the growth process of less developed and peripheral areas, the role of these dimensions in the reaction to crisis is still to be debated. The paper examines the relation between territorial capital and performance at NUTS-3 (provincial) level. during the period 1999-2011 and on the basis of exports and employment dynamics

Treatment of high strength industrial wastewater with membrane bioreactors for water reuse: Effect of pre-treatment with aerobic granular sludge on system performance and fouling tendency

In this study, the treatment of citrus wastewater with membrane bioreactors (MBRs) under different configurations was investigated for water reuse. In particular, one MBR and one aerobic granular sludge MBR (AGS+MBR) bench scale plants were operated for 60 days. The experimental campaign was divided into two periods. In Phase I, a conventional hollow fiber MBR was employed for the treatment of the raw high strength wastewater, whereas in Phase II a combination of in-series reactors (AGS plus MBR) was adopted for the treatment of the high strength citrus wastewater The results demonstrated that both plant configurations enabled very high COD removal, with average values close to 99%. Respirometric batch tests revealed a considerable high metabolic activity of the biomass in both plant configurations, with higher values in the AGS+MBR. It was speculated that the MBR reactor enriched in active biomass deriving from the erosion of the external granule layers in the upstream reactor. In terms of fouling tendency, higher resistance to filtration was observed in the AGS+MBR plant, also characterized by higher irremovable resistance increase compared to the MBR plant that might severely affect the membrane service life

Image analysis with the computer vision system and the consumer test in evaluating the appearance of Lucanian dry sausage

The object of the investigation was the Lucanian dry sausage appearance, meant as color and visible fat ratio. The study was carried out on dry sausages produced in 10 different salami factories and seasoned for 18 days on av- erage. We studied the effect of the raw material origin (5 producers used meat bought from the market and other 5 producers used meat from pigs bred in their farms) and of the salami factories or brands on meat color, fat color and visible fat ratio in dry sausages. The sausages slices were photographed and the images were analysed with the computer vision system to measure the changes in the colorimetric characteristics L*, a*, b*, hue and chroma and in the visible fat area ratio. The last parameter was assessed on the slice surface using image binarization. A consumer test was conducted to determine the relationship between the perception of visible fat on the sausage slice surface and acceptability and preference of this product. The consumers were asked to look carefully at the 6 sausages slices in a photo, minding the presence of fat, and to identify (a) the slices they considered unacceptable for consumption and (b) the slice they preferred. The results show that the color of the sausage lean part varies in relation to the raw material employed and to the producer or brand (P b 0.001). Besides, the sausage meat color is not uniform in some salami factories (P b 0.05–0.001). In all salami factories the sausages show a high unifor- mity in fat color. The visible fat ratio of the sausages slices is higher (P b 0.001) in the product from salami facto- ries without pig-breeding farm. The fat percentage is highly variable (P b 0.001) among the sausages of each salami factory. On the whole, the product the consumers consider acceptable and is inclined to eat has a low fat percentage (P b 0.001). Our consumers (about 70%) prefer slices which are leaner (P b 0.001). Women, in particular, show a higher preference for the leanest (P b 0.001)