A Topology Optimization Method for Stochastic Lattice Structures

AbstractStochastic lattice structures are very powerful solutions for filling three-dimensional spaces using a generative algorithm. They are suitable for 3D printing and are well appropriate to structural optimization and mass distribution, allowing for high-performance and low-weight structures. The paper shows a method, developed in the Rhino-Grasshopper environment, to distribute lattice structures until a goal is achieved, e.g. the reduction of the weight, the harmonization of the stresses or the limitation of the strain. As case study, a cantilever beam made of Titan alloy, by means of SLS technology has been optimized. The results of the work show the potentiality of the methodology, with a very performing structure and low computational efforts

A Well-to-Wheel Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Between Full Electric and Traditional Petrol Engines in the European Context

AbstractAutomotive sector is crucial for the economic and social system. Conversely, it also plays an important role in the global emissions balance with strong consequences on the environment. Currently the Research world is engaged in the reduction of the emissions, especially in order to contrast the Climate Change and reduce toxicity on humans and the ecosystem. This study presents a comparative Life Cycle Assessment, Well-to-Wheel, between the most common technology used in the automotive sector, i.e. the traditional petrol Internal Combustion Engine and the full Battery Electric Vehicle. The different configurations have been analysed within 17 different impact categories in terms of climate change, human health, resourced depletion and ecosystems. The Well-to-Wheel approach allows to focus the attention on the use stage of the vehicle, considering the local effects due to the direct emissions in high density urban zones and it mitigates the dependence of usage hypotheses, different scenarios and intrinsic differences between the various models of cars in circulation

At the intersection of cultural and natural heritage: Distribution and conservation of the type localities of Italian endemic vascular plants

We conducted a GIS spatial analysis with the aim of providing the first quantitative large-scale overview of the distribution patterns of 1536 type localities (loci classici) of 1216 Italian endemic vascular plants and their relationship with a set of descriptive variables. Whereas some variables were used to model the presence-absence distribution patterns of the type localities for the whole set of endemics as well as for the subset of narrow endemics, others (e.g., presence inside or outside protected areas and Italian Important Plant Areas) were considered with the purpose of assessing potential assets or risks for conservation. The largest number of type localities was found within the Mediterranean biogeographic region (1134), followed by the Alpine region (306) and Continental region (96). A total of 670 locations are located on islands, whereas 866 are located on the Italian mainland (139 and 124 in the case of narrow endemics, respectively). A large number of type localities are located in mountainous areas and along the coastline, which can be seen as a potential risk for conservation. On the contrary, we detected a positive correlation with the distance from roads, which might be considered to be an asset. Importantly, 1030 type localities fall inside protected areas, whereas 506 localities fall outside protected areas, with 259 of these unprotected localities on islands. We propose considering the results of the analysis of the distribution of type localities of Italian endemics to be a strategic tool for conservation planning and resource management. Application of plant micro-reserves and integration of diverse legislation tools are suggested to strengthen efforts and increase conservation success

Il teatro antico di Mopsouestia: un progetto di ricerca e di valorizzazione

In 2009 and 2010 an archaeological survey of the area of the Roman theatre of the ancient city of Mopsouestia in Cilicia, corresponding to the modern village of Misis in south-eastern Turkey, was carried out as a collaboration among the University of Pisa, the National Research Council (CNR), and the Turkish municipality of Yüreğir (Adana). In 2020, a five-year research project was launched to investigate the remains of the ancient monument, with the first campaign scheduled for the autumn. The aim of this article is to summarize the results of the previous archaeological survey and to outline the methods and goals of the new research project

Measuring color techniques for forensic comparative analyses of geological evidence

In Forensic Geology, color examination of sediments and soils is one of the first analyses for exclusionary/comparative purposes. Forensic colorimetry deals with the examination of the color of physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Color of soils and sediments has always been considered an essential parameter and one of the most common and crucial visually physical property for characterizing, describing, and comparing these geological materials, since the first steps of forensic investigations. This parameter may be evaluated both qualitatively and quantitative. In forensic comparative analyses of sediments and soils, most of the colorimetric methods are nowadays computational. These computational instruments, provided of standards and standardized illumination conditions, may obtain very high-resolution and non-destructive quantitative data. When adapted to sedimentological applications for forensic purposes, photometric instrumentations are powerful tools due to their low purchase and maintenance costs. Moreover, some devises are also portable and easily used at the crime scene. Recent advances in the colorimetry research showed as also the simple use of digital devises, such as low-cost flatbed scanners, may be easily applied for the color examination of acquired color images of sediments and soils, if calibrated with standards, as reference charts or database. The results of a simulated forensic casework devoted to the comparative analysis of the color of soils, acquired by means low-cost flatbed scanner, confirmed previous results on this useful application

Environmental Impact Assessment of Different Manufacturing Technologies Oriented to Architectonic Recovery and Conservation of Cultural Heritage

Our cultural society has made remarkable advancements in creating digital models that depict the built environment, landscape, and reality. The advent of technologies such as terrestrial laser scanning and drone-based photogrammetry, coupled with sophisticated software capable of processing hundreds of photographs to generate point clouds, has elevated the significance of three-dimensional surveying in documentation and restoration. Point cloud processing and modeling software enable the creation of precise digital replicas of the investigated architecture, which can be scaled down and transformed into physically identical models. Through the export of STL files and the utilization of both subtractive and additive 3D printing technologies, tactile models resembling traditional manually crafted plastics can be obtained. An exemplary study focuses on the Gothic church of Santa Maria Alemanna in Messina, Italy, where laser scanner surveys and 3D prints using various technologies were applied to different parts of the building. The models were produced using a CNC milling machine and a 3D printer for fused deposition modeling. The sustainability of these production technologies was assessed through a Life Cycle Assessment, demonstrating the environmental advantages of additive manufacturing, including the use of materials with high recyclability and lower energy consumption. Additionally, the additive approach helps reduce processing waste

The technologies of Laser Scanning and Structured Blue Light Scanning applied to criminal investigation: Case studies

The use of non-destructive methods guaranteeing high standards of accuracy, speed, simplicity of use, and low costs may be crucial during judicial inspection aimed to reconstruct the spatial arrangement of crime scenes. Three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning and structured blue light scanning are two modern and advanced technologies widely used in many sectors of the sciences, included forensic sciences. Limiting itself to forensic applications, these technologies may be successfully used for acquiring point clouds in 3D space and reconstruct 3D virtual models of large-, medium-, and small-scale forensic scenarios. These two technologies were applied for reconstructing 3D virtual models from real crime scenes and geological evidence, respectively. Different investigative places and items were investigated and discussed. The research evidenced the advantages of using these modern techniques in order to assist investigators in: i) providing 3D virtual models for reconstructing even complex crime scenes occurred outdoor; ii) reconstructing of the dynamics of events, and iii) individuating possible interactions between the actors of the scene and the surrounding places

Evaluation of M1 and M2 macrophages in ovarian endometriomas from women affected by endometriosis at different stages of the disease

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease defined by the presence and growth of functional endometrial-like tissue, glands and stroma, outside the uterine cavity. Macrophages are broadly classified into pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages, and M2 macrophages, which have selective anti-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic activities and are able to induce immunotolerance and angiogenesis. Based on these elements, the aim of our study was to evaluate CD14+CD68+CD197+CD80+ M1 and CD14+CD68+CD163+CD206+ M2 macrophages in tissue samples from ovarian endometriomas of women affected by endometriosis at different stages of the disease. For each patient, we collected a biological sample of the cyst (ovarian endometriomas for cases and ovarian functional cyst for controls) during laparoscopy. We found that the number of both M1 and M2 macrophages was significantly higher in endometriosis group than controls, regardless of stage (p <.0001 for each stage versus controls). Moreover, our data analysis shows a trend in progressive decrease of M1 macrophages from stage I to stage IV; on the contrary, M2 macrophages show a specular trend compared to M1 macrophages, with a progressive increase from stage I to stage IV. This may contribute to the pro-inflammatory microenvironment in the early stages of the disease, and to the pro-fibrotic activity of the advanced stages

The application of 3D virtual models in the judicial inspection of indoor and outdoor crime scenes

The multidisciplinary approach has become an almost indispensable requirement in the examination of the scena criminis, especially in complex cases involving different professional profiles within the biomedical and forensic sciences. In recent times, innovative methods have been joined by the possibility of using three-dimensional laser scanners, capable of obtaining virtual reconstructions, very useful in analyzing outdoor or indoor crime scenes. In the present paper, three case studies regarding simulated indoor and outdoor crime scenes were analyzed, applying a virtual reconstruction based on a survey and acquisition of “point clouds” by using a laser scanner Leica BLK360, managed by means of the software Leica Cyclone. Victims were simulated by two hyper-realistic dummies produced by the Lifecast Body Simulation. The first crime scene regarded a suspect homicide case of a man found hanged to a metallic rod indoor, inside a room; the second crime scene regarded a homicide case of a woman, suspected to be victim of sexual assault, found indoor, on the floor of a corridor in a palace; the third scene regarded an outdoor place located in the hills of the Peloritani Mountains, simulating a crime scene where a homicide was committed. The advantages and disadvantages of virtual three-dimensional acquisitions in relation to forensic purposes were finally highlighted. The successful outcome of the scans proved the true-to-life reproducibility of virtual targets, with the possibility of easier interactions, the possibility to measure specific parameters, adequate simulations, and the essential “crystallization” of physical evidence. In the next future, it will be important improving the procedure in order to obtain protocols with high quality standards, able to ensure that the acquired data will be considered valid with evidentiary effect in judicial trials

Education and training activities in forensic and biomedical sciences: The laser scanner technology

The paper reports the results of training experiences in the field of education in forensic and biomedical sciences carried out during two editions of summer schools. Two simulated serious crimes, involving dummies used as victims, were prepared for practitioners in outdoor places. The scenes simulate a suspect murder case of homicide with staging and a corpse concealment with dismembered human remains found into a clandestine grave, respectively. During the simulations, laser scanning technology was applied to reproduce the outdoor crime scenes in order to verify the capacity of the innovative technique as advantageous tool during educational and forensic training. Judicial inspections conducted during the simulation provided preliminary physical evidence, in the fields of forensic medicine, forensic geology, and engineering, highlighting the importance of the multidisciplinary approach. These experiences, through the use of the laser scanner that allowed for the recreation of virtual environments in which practitioners were able to confront crime scenes, demonstrated how such an approach can be useful in education and training activities