First and second order semi-Markov chains for wind speed modeling

The increasing interest in renewable energy, particularly in wind, has given rise to the necessity of accurate models for the generation of good synthetic wind speed data. Markov chains are often used with this purpose but better models are needed to reproduce the statistical properties of wind speed data. We downloaded a database, freely available from the web, in which are included wind speed data taken from L.S.I. -Lastem station (Italy) and sampled every 10 minutes. With the aim of reproducing the statistical properties of this data we propose the use of three semi-Markov models. We generate synthetic time series for wind speed by means of Monte Carlo simulations. The time lagged autocorrelation is then used to compare statistical properties of the proposed models with those of real data and also with a synthetic time series generated though a simple Markov chain.Comment: accepted for publication on Physica

Methodology for a regional cartography for the application of the bioclimatic strategies of the Givoni Charter

The aim of the research is the feasibility of a methodology to map a specific territory, implementing the bioclimatic strategies necessary to achieve comfort, according to the Givoni diagram, as a very useful tool for building design.The methodology used is developed in four phases: I, obtaining the climatic information; II, analysis of climatological data; III, selection of stations and monthly data, application of Givoni letter and start of the mapping process; IV, establishment of zoning, and mapping, on a monthly basis. As a result of the application of the methodology, a set of maps is obtained that indicate the appropriate bioclimatic strategies for each territory, on a monthly basis, in order to achieve comfort in the buildings. The methodology has been validated in a specific territory in Spain, used as a case study. The original contribution of the research is said methodology that allows to elaborate the cartography for a territory, that becomes a powerful tool for the bioclimatic design, and that is capable of being applied to any territory.Se plantea como objetivo de la investigación expuesta la viabilidad de una metodología para cartografiar un territorio concreto, implementando las estrategias bioclimáticas necesarias para alcanzar el confort, según el diagrama de Givoni; herramienta muy útil para el diseño de edificios. Tal metodología se desarrolla en cuatro fases: I, obtención de la información climática; II, análisis de los datos climatológicos; III, selección de estaciones y datos mensuales, aplicación de la carta de Givoni e inicio del proceso de cartografiado; IV, establecimiento de la zonificación, y elaboración de mapas, con carácter mensual. Como resultado del trabajo, se obtiene un conjunto de mapas que indican las estrategias bioclimáticas adecuadas a cada territorio, en periodicidad mensual, para alcanzar el confort en los edificios. La metodología fue validada en un territorio concreto en España, utilizado como caso de estudio. En definitiva, la aportación original de la investigación es precisamente el desarrollo de la mencionada metodología, que permite elaborar una cartografía para un territorio determinado -mapa que convierte en una potente herramienta para el diseño bioclimático- y que, además, es susceptible de ser aplicada a cualquier territorio

Beginnings and endings. Post-Bologna teaching transformations. The case of the School of Architecture at the University of Alcalá (UAH)

El presente artículo tiene dos objetivos. Por un lado, presentar los resultados del proyecto de innovación docente “Transformaciones docentes en los ciclos inicial y final de la carrera de arquitectura en el nuevo contexto disciplinar, social y tecnológico” (Universidad de Alcalá, 2017-18), orientado a evaluar los impactos o respuestas dadas en el ciclo inicial y final de la carrera en la Escuela de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Alcalá, ante dos fenómenos que han condicionado la docencia de la arquitectura en las últimas dos décadas: las reformas a la estructura y los métodos de la educación superior europea resumidas en la Declaración de Bolonia (1999), y un escenario disciplinar marcado por complejas transformaciones sociales y profesionales. Y, por otro, comparar los resultados obtenidos con la situación actual de las Escuelas de Arquitectura en Chile. Como síntesis del trabajo, se constata que en el ciclo inicial surge la configuración de un nuevo sujeto estudiante, con características especiales que exigen repensar la didáctica en el aula; y, en el ciclo final, se observa que la instauración del Máster Habilitante ha obligado a modificar la estructura y docencia del cierre de la formación al acortar tiempos y promover una integración de saberes en el proyecto confrontada con la concepción parcelada del grado. Comparado con el caso chileno, se advierten una serie de paralelismos, pero también diferencias significativas debido, principalmente, a la política universitaria de ambos países. Asimismo, se evidencia que los ambiciosos y oportunos objetivos planteados por los acuerdos de Bolonia no terminan de dar los frutos esperados.The following article has two objectives. The first is to present the results of the innovation in teaching project entitled “Teacher transformations in the initial and final cycles of the architecture major in the new disciplinary, social and technological context” (University of Alcalá, 2017- 2018). The impact or responses given in the initial and final cycles of the major at the University of Alcalá’s School of Architecture were evaluated in light of two phenomena that have conditioned the teaching of architecture in the last two decades: the organizational and methodological reforms to European higher education summarized in the Declaration of Bologna (1999), and a professional context marked by complex social and professional transformations. The second objective is to compare these results with the current situation of architecture schools in Chile. In summary, the results of this research confirm that in the initial cycle a new student profile has arisen with special characteristics that require the rethinking of teaching approaches in the classroom. Meanwhile, in the final cycle it was observed that the implementation of the license-granting master ́s degree required to practice architecture has made it necessary to modify the structure and teaching in the last stage of the educational process with shortened periods of study and by fostering the integration of knowledge in the final project when faced with the fragmented understanding achieved with the degree. In comparison with the case in Chile, there are a number of similarities, but also significant differences mainly due to the university policies of both countries. Likewise, it is clear that the ambitious and opportune objectives established by the Bologna Process do not produce the expected results in the end.O artigo tem dois objetivos. Por um lado, apresentar os resultados do projeto de inovação docente “Transformações docentes nos ciclos inicial e final do curso de arquitetura no novo contexto disciplinar, social e tecnológico” (Universidad de Alcalá, 2017-18) orientado a avaliar os impactos ou respostas dadas nos ciclos inicial e final do curso na Escuela de Arquitectura da Universidad de Alcalá ante dois fenômenos que se esteve (e esta) condicionando a docência de arquitetura nas últimas duas décadas: as reformas de estrutura e método da educação superior europeia resumida na Declaración de Bolonia (1999) e, um cenário disciplinar marcado por complexas transformações sociais e profissionais. Por outro lado, comparar estes resultados com a situação atual das Escolas de Arquitetura do Chile. Em síntese, os resultados da pesquisa realizada mostram que no ciclo inicial se observa a configuração de um novo sujeito estudante, com características especiais que obrigam a repensar a didática em classe e, no ciclo final a instauração do Máster Habilitante obrigou a modificou a estrutura de docência ao final da formação ao diminuir os prazos e promover uma integração de saberes em projeto confrontada com a concepção segmentada da graduação. Comparado com o caso chileno, se observam: por um lado, uma série de paralelismos, mas também diferenças significativas em função, principalmente, da política universitária de ambos países e, por outro, que os ambiciosos e oportunos objetivos propostos pelos acordos de Bolonha não acabam tendo os resultados esperados

NMR-Metabolic Methodology in the Study of GM Foods

The 1H-NMR methodology used in the study of genetically modified (GM) foods is discussed. Transgenic lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv "Luxor") over-expressing the ArabidopsisKNAT1 gene is presented as a case study. Twenty-two water-soluble metabolites (amino acids, organic acids, sugars) present in leaves of conventional and GM lettuce were monitored by NMR and quantified at two developmental stages. The NMR spectra did not reveal any difference in metabolite composition between the GM lettuce and the wild type counterpart. Statistical analyses of metabolite variables highlighted metabolism variation as a function of leaf development as well as the transgene. A main effect of the transgene was in altering sugar metabolism

Monitoring extreme meteo-marine events in the Mediterranean area using the microseism (Medicane Apollo case study)

Microseism is the continuous background seismic signal caused by the interaction between the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the solid Earth. Several studies have dealt with the relationship between microseisms and the tropical cyclones, but none focused on the small-scale tropical cyclones that occur in the Mediterranean Sea, called Medicanes. In this work, we analysed the Medicane Apollo which impacted the eastern part of Sicily during the period 25 October–5 November 2021 causing heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts and violent sea waves. We investigated the microseism accompanying this extreme Mediterranean weather event, and its relationship with the sea state retrieved from hindcast maps and wave buoys. The spectral and amplitude analyses showed the space–time variation of the microseism amplitude. In addition, we tracked the position of Apollo during the time using two different methods: (i) a grid search method; (ii) an array analysis. We obtained a good match between the real position of Apollo and the location constraint by both methods. This work shows that it is possible to extract information on Medicanes from microseisms for both research and monitoring purposes.peer-reviewe

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 14

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. materia

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 14

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. material

Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 6

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations and status changes to the Italian administrative regions for taxa in the genera Alchemilla, Arundo, Bupleurum, Clematis, Clinopodium, Cota, Crassula, Cytisus, Euphorbia, Hieracium, Isoëtes, Lamium, Leontodon, Linaria, Lychnis, Middendorfia, Ophrys, Philadelphus, Pinus, Sagina, Sedum, Taeniatherum, Tofieldia, Triticum, Veronica, and Vicia. Nomenclature and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as supplementary material

Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 6

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations and status changes to the Italian administrative regions for taxa in the genera Alchemilla, Arundo, Bupleurum, Clematis, Clinopodium, Cota, Crassula, Cytisus, Euphorbia, Hieracium, Isoëtes, Lamium, Leontodon, Linaria, Lychnis, Middendorfia, Ophrys, Philadelphus, Pinus, Sagina, Sedum, Taeniatherum, Tofieldia, Triticum, Veronica, and Vicia. Nomenclature and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as supplementary material

Serum Albumin Is Inversely Associated With Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cirrhosis

We analyzed whether serum albumin is independently associated with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in liver cirrhosis (LC) and if a biologic plausibility exists. This study was divided into three parts. In part 1 (retrospective analysis), 753 consecutive patients with LC with ultrasound-detected PVT were retrospectively analyzed. In part 2, 112 patients with LC and 56 matched controls were entered in the cross-sectional study. In part 3, 5 patients with cirrhosis were entered in the in vivo study and 4 healthy subjects (HSs) were entered in the in vitro study to explore if albumin may affect platelet activation by modulating oxidative stress. In the 753 patients with LC, the prevalence of PVT was 16.7%; logistic analysis showed that only age (odds ratio [OR], 1.024; P = 0.012) and serum albumin (OR, -0.422; P = 0.0001) significantly predicted patients with PVT. Analyzing the 112 patients with LC and controls, soluble clusters of differentiation (CD)40-ligand (P = 0.0238), soluble Nox2-derived peptide (sNox2-dp; P < 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (P = 0.0078) were higher in patients with LC. In LC, albumin was correlated with sCD4OL (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient [r(s)], -0.33; P < 0.001), sNox2-dp (r(s), -0.57; P < 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (r(s), -0.48; P < 0.0001) levels. The in vivo study showed a progressive decrease in platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and urinary 8-iso prostaglandin F2 alpha-III formation 2 hours and 3 days after albumin infusion. Finally, platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and isoprostane formation significantly decreased in platelets from HSs incubated with scalar concentrations of albumin. Conclusion: Low serum albumin in LC is associated with PVT, suggesting that albumin could be a modulator of the hemostatic system through interference with mechanisms regulating platelet activation