Application of a smart dynamic scale for measuring live-fish biomass in aquaculture

— The need of measuring the fish biomass, either for in-land facilities or offshore cages, drove recently to develop a cheap dynamic scale (by MEGA Materials srl), based on a board of the Arduino family, suitable to measure live-fish weights. Via a Bluetooth transmitter and a specific app the communication with smartphones is allowed. The estimation of live-fish biomass is extremely relevant to precisely quantify the daily dose of feed to be supplied and to avoid a reduction of fish growth. We present the comparison between ‘static’ and ‘dynamic’ weight measures of seabream juveniles reared in tanks

Next Generation Molecular Diagnosis of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias: An Italian Cross-Sectional Study

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) refers to a group of genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative motor neuron disorders characterized by progressive age-dependent loss of corticospinal motor tract function, lower limb spasticity, and weakness. Recent clinical use of next generation sequencing (NGS) methodologies suggests that they facilitate the diagnostic approach to HSP, but the power of NGS as a first-tier diagnostic procedure is unclear. The larger-than-expected genetic heterogeneity-there are over 80 potential disease-associated genes-and frequent overlap with other clinical conditions affecting the motor system make a molecular diagnosis in HSP cumbersome and time consuming. In a single-center, cross-sectional study, spanning 4 years, 239 subjects with a clinical diagnosis of HSP underwent molecular screening of a large set of genes, using two different customized NGS panels. The latest version of our targeted sequencing panel (SpastiSure3.0) comprises 118 genes known to be associated with HSP. Using an in-house validated bioinformatics pipeline and several in silico tools to predict mutation pathogenicity, we obtained a positive diagnostic yield of 29% (70/239), whereas variants of unknown significance (VUS) were found in 86 patients (36%), and 83 cases remained unsolved. This study is among the largest screenings of consecutive HSP index cases enrolled in real-life clinical-diagnostic settings. Its results corroborate NGS as a modern, first-step procedure for molecular diagnosis of HSP. It also disclosed a significant number of new mutations in ultra-rare genes, expanding the clinical spectrum, and genetic landscape of HSP, at least in Italy

First narrow-band search for continuous gravitational waves from known pulsars in advanced detector data

Spinning neutron stars asymmetric with respect to their rotation axis are potential sources of continuous gravitational waves for ground-based interferometric detectors. In the case of known pulsars a fully coherent search, based on matched filtering, which uses the position and rotational parameters obtained from electromagnetic observations, can be carried out. Matched filtering maximizes the signalto- noise (SNR) ratio, but a large sensitivity loss is expected in case of even a very small mismatch between the assumed and the true signal parameters. For this reason, narrow-band analysis methods have been developed, allowing a fully coherent search for gravitational waves from known pulsars over a fraction of a hertz and several spin-down values. In this paper we describe a narrow-band search of 11 pulsars using data from Advanced LIGO’s first observing run. Although we have found several initial outliers, further studies show no significant evidence for the presence of a gravitational wave signal. Finally, we have placed upper limits on the signal strain amplitude lower than the spin-down limit for 5 of the 11 targets over the bands searched; in the case of J1813-1749 the spin-down limit has been beaten for the first time. For an additional 3 targets, the median upper limit across the search bands is below the spin-down limit. This is the most sensitive narrow-band search for continuous gravitational waves carried out so far

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ∼ 1.7 {{s}} with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of {40}-8+8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 {M}ȯ . An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ∼ 40 {{Mpc}}) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One-Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ∼10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ∼ 9 and ∼ 16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC 4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta.</p

Smart and cheap scale for estimating live-fish biomass in offshore aquaculture

At present, technological support may specifically contribute to develop and to improve the aquaculture production, and in particular the fish production in offshore pens. Estimating live-fish biomass is extremely relevant to optimize the whole growth cycle, therefore the availability of portable and reliable scale is very important. We present here the detail of a smart scale suitable to be used over a rolling and pitching ship either on lakes or seas

LA PARTECIPAZIONE (IM)-POSSIBILE? La democrazia e i suoi percorsi evolutivi.

Perché ancora un convegno su democrazia e partecipazione? In questo sfondo epocale di criticità della politica e nuove istanze dal basso, il compito che ci siamo proposti con questo secondo incontro di studi è quello di interrogare la realtà che ci circonda. In tale sforzo condiviso, si delinea una linea di continuità con il precedente Convegno, svoltosi sempre presso la Facoltà di Scienze Politiche dell’Università di Teramo il 25 novembre 2011, ma anche la ricerca di nuove chiavi di lettura sul tema della democrazia partecipativa. E non solo per descriverne i fenomeni e i nuovi processi in atto, ma soprattutto per sollevare domande coraggiose e penetranti su quali possano essere i nuovi strumenti (etici, logici, argomentativi, giuridici, sociologici, ecc.) per interpretare e governare i cambiamenti in atto, e per comprendere le contraddizioni tra il vecchio che persiste e il nuovo che emerge

Misure critiche. N.s. A.1, n.2(2002)

N.S. A.1, n.2(2002) : De Conti L., Bernardino Daniello: “Georgiche”. Breve saggio di analisi, P. 5 ; Ricci R., La risemantizzazione del viaggio dantesco nell’ “Orlando Furioso”: fra allusione e parodia, P. 35 ; Fimiani G., Prometeo e la rupe. Figurazioni mitologiche fra “Operette Morali” e “Dialoghi con Leucò”, P. 57 ; Di Pasqua S., La tentazione della parola. Forma e maniere della prosa in D’Annunzio, P. 65 ; Di Biase C., L’ “Inno alla Gioia”. La poesia di Margherita Guidacci, P. 101 ; Spalanca L., Un libertino stanco. “Don Giovanni involontario” di Vitaliano Brancati, P. 107 ; Esposito V., Profilo critico dell’ultimo Moriconi, P. 121 ; Fontanella L., Enrico Morovich e il surrealismo italiano. Questioni teoriche e metodologiche, P. 127 ; Lanza M. T., Incontro d’autori, P. 134 ; Martelli S., Voci femminili sulle vie dell’Oceano: “Umbertina” di Helen Barolini, P. 139 ; Di Lieto C., Giacomo Casanova e il gioco delle passioni, P. 151 ; Salsano R., I paesi di Campailla, P. 156 ; Montella L., Croce e Gentile a confronto, P. 163 ; Brillante P., recensione a, Alberto Granese, Sterminate eredità. La letteratura del Mezzogiorno d’Italia dal Cinquecento al Settecento, Salerno, Edisud 2002, P.167 ; Califano A., recensione a, Maria Rossi Gargano, Quando si alza il vento di terra, Angri, Centro Iniziative Culturali 2002, P. 170 ; D’Amato G., recensione a, Vincenzo Braca, Il “Processus Criminalis” e i “Pronostici”, introduzione e cura di Rosa Troiano, Cava de’ Tirreni, Avagliano 2002, P. 173 ; Di Biase C., recensione a, Kjell Espmark, Il Premio Nobel per la letteratura, Catania, la Cantinella, 2002, P. 177 ; Di Lieto C., recensione a, Matilde Serao, Dal vero A cura di Patricia Bianchi, Napoli, Libreria Dante e Descartes 2000, P. 179 ; Di Lieto C., recensione a, Maria Antonietta Grignani, La costanza della ragione. Soggetto, oggetto e testualità nella poesia italiana del Novecento, Novara, Interlinea Edizioni 2002, P. 182 ; Di Lieto C., recensione a, Silvana Lattmann, Da solstizio a equinozio. Diario amoroso, a cura di Maria Antonietta Grignani, Novara, Interlinea Edizioni 2001, P. 185 ; Di Lieto C., recensione a, Paola Daniela Giovanelli, “…i posteri sapranno che siamo stati amici”. Lettere di Roberto Bracco a Sabatino Lopez e Dario Niccodemi, Napoli, Centro Studi sul Teatro Napoletano Meridionale ed Europeo 2002, P. 187 ; Di Lieto C., recensione a, Carlo Felice Colucci, La parola perduta, Napoli, Alfredo Guida Editore 2001, P. 189 ; Di Lorenzo E., recensione a, Pompeo Garigliano, Pentimerone, a cura di Angelo Cardillo Napoli, Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane 2002, P. 191 ; Napoli A., recensione a, Claudio Damiani, Eroi, Roma, Fazi 2000, P. 134 ; Pellegrino L., recensione a, Paolo Giovannetti, La letteratura italiana moderna e contemporanea. Guida allo studio, Roma, Carocci 2001, P. 196 ; Pellizzari G., R. Bragantini, Vie del racconto. Dal “Decameron” al “Brancaleone”, Napoli, Liguori 2000, P. 198 ; Acanfora N., recensione a, Roberto Salsano, Intrighi e dissonanze. Sondaggi critici e percorsi di lettura in Bracco novelliere, Città di Castello, Edimond 2002, P. 205 ; Santoli C., recensione a, Angelo R. Pupino, D’Annunzio. Letteratura e vita, Roma, Salerno Editrice 2002, P. 207 ; Vitolo G., recensione a, Martin Maiden, Storia linguistica dell’italiano, Traduzione di Pietro Maturi, Bologna, Il Mulino 1998, P. 209 ; Vitolo G., recensione a, Michele Campanella, Il Dizionario del Dialetto e della Civiltà di Bojano, Bojano, Tipolito Matese Editrice 2002, P. 215 ; Cardillo A., recensione a, Gerardo Milani, Mario Pepe, Dizionario di Arte e Letteratura. Teoria. Movimenti. Generi. Tecniche. Materiali, Bologna, Zanichelli 2002, P. 219 ; Cardillo A., recensione a, Manuale dell’Italiano professionale. Teoria e didattica, a cura di Francesco Bruni, Tommaso Raso, Bologna, Zanichelli 2002, P. 219 ; Cardillo A., recensione a, Il quotidiano in classe. Come leggere il giornale a scuola, a cura dell’Osservatorio Permanente Giovani Editori, Milano, La Nuova Italia 2002, P. 220 ; Cardillo A., recensione a, Mario Pozzi, Enrico Mattioda, Introduzione alla letteratura italiana: Istituzioni, periodizzazioni, strumenti, Torino, Utet 2002, P. 220

Misure critiche. N.s. A.1, n.1(2002)

N.S. A.1, n.1(2002) : Napoli A., L’eco della caduta di Costantinopoli nel “Giardeno” di Marino Jonata, P. 5 ; Carducci N., Tra storia e utopia nei “Poemata Christiana” del Pascoli, P. 21 ; Del Gaiso G., La follia nella società e nella letteratura: il caso Pirandello, P. 41 ; Cardellicchio F., Constant Malva, scrittore proletario e minatore, P. 54 ; Villani P., La tecnica del giallo nel “Segreto di Luca”, P. 71 ; Lanza M. T., Belli e Pascal. Indizi e coincidenze, P. 99 ; Di Lieto C., La vita nuda: bestie, donne, maschere e fantasmi. Rassegna pirandelliana (1998-2001), P. 109 ; Vallone A., Bruno Maier nella letteratura triestina, P. 119 ; Montella L., Tra ‘fiction’ e vita reale, P. 122 ; Scognamiglio A., recensione a, Luigi Reina, Masuccio Salernitano, Letteratura e società del “Novellino”, nuova edizione, Salerno, Edisud 2000, P. 127 ; Scognamiglio A., recensione a, Luigi Montella, Baldassarre Pisani. I sonetti, Salerno, Edisud 1999, P. 130 ; Scognamiglio A., recensione a, Toni Iermano, La Scienza e la Vita. I manoscritti di Francesco De Sanctis presso la Biblioteca Provinciale “Scipione e Giulio Capone” di Avellino, Cava de’ Tirreni, Avagliano 2001, P. 132 ; Merletti M., recensione a, Natàlia Vacante, L’estremo realismo di Verga. Un percorso genetico bloccato presentazione di Vitilio Masiello, Bari, B. A. Graphis 2000, P. 134 ; Di Lieto C., recensione a, Renato Aymone, Il Bruco e la Bella. Saggi pascoliani, Cava de’ Tirreni, Avagliano 1999, P. 139 ; Zito M. L., recensione a, Valeria Giannantonio, L’universo dei sensi. Letteratura e artificio in D’Annunzio, Roma, Bulzoni 2001, P. 142 ; Paladini T., recensione a, Antonia Lezza, Pasquale Scialò, Viviani, l’autore, l’interprete, il cantastorie urbano, Napoli, Colonnese 2002, P. 145 ; D’Amato G., recensione a, Vittoriano Esposito, Ignazio Silone ovvero un ‘caso’ infinito, Pescina, Centro Studi Siloniani 2000, P. 146 ; Di Lieto C., recensione a, Maria Antonietta Grignani, Dislocazioni. Epifanie e metamorfosi in Montale, Lecce, Piero Manni 1998, P. 151 ; D’Amaro S., recensione a, Francesco Durante, Italoamericana, Milano, Mondadori 2001, P. 154 ; D’Amaro S., recensione a, Jo Pagano, Nozze d’oro, Cava de’ Tirreni, Avagliano 2001, P. 155 ; Ritrovato S., recensione a, Gigliola De Donato, Sergio D’Amaro Un torinese del Sud: Carlo Levi. Una biografia, Milano, Baldini & Castoldi 2001, P. 156 ; Di Palo D., recensione a, Rocco Scotellaro “L’uva puttanella” e “Contadini del Sud”, Bari, Laterza 2000, P. 159 ; D’Amaro S., recensione a, Giuseppe Favati, Aria, Ariel, Roma, Fermenti 2002, P. 162 ; D’Amaro S., recensione a, Giuseppe Favati, Ameleto, In Nome Dei Padri, Firenze, Polistampa 2001, P. 162 ; Villani P., recensione a, Sergio Campailla, Controcodice, Napoli, Edizioni scientifiche Italiane 2001, P. 163 ; Acanfora N., recensione a, Enzo Moscato, Trianòn, Napoli, Alfredo Guida 1999, P. 167 ; Di Lieto C., Fabio Dainotti, recensione a, La ringhiera, Bologna, Book 1998, P. 169 ; de Santis Marco I., recensione a, Domanico Di Palo, Avanti ma… (altrerime), Foggia, Bastogi 2001, P. 172 ; Montella L., recensione a, Domenico Vangone, Lyrica, Scafati, C.I.D.A.C 2001, P. 176 ; Bruni V., recensione a, Francesco Marroni, Silverdale, Imola, Edizioni della Battaglia 2000, P. 179 ; Ritrovato S., recensione a, Franco Buffoni, Theios, Novara, Interlinea 2001, P. 182 ; D’Amaro S., recensione a, Giulio Ricci, Rosedda. Costumi garganici, San Marco in Lamis, C.R.S.E.C., 2001, P. 184 ; Di Lieto C., recensione a, Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, Allium, Cava de’ Tirreni, Avagliano 2001, P. 187 ; Di Lieto C., recensione a, Luisa Stella, Le incurabili, Napoli, Cronopio 2001, P. 191