Vicia incisa (Fabaceae). Taxonomical and chorological notes

The classification of the Vicia sativa aggregate is unsatisfactory. Concerning the taxonomic value and choice of rank of some of these taxa, there are disagreements among botanists. Vicia incisa, which was originally described at species level, was mostly treated at subspecies rank of V. sativa. However, chemical and molecular data pointed out that this taxon, not only should be treated at species rank, but it should be removed from the group of V. sativa, being more related to V. barbazitae, V. grandiflora, and V. sepium. Based on morphometric measurements and cultivation tests, as well as nomenclatural investigations, the present research was carried out with the main aim to define the better taxonomic rank for the studied taxon. The results obtained support the published molecular data concerning both the recognition of the studied taxon at species level and the morphological similarity among V. incisa, V. barbazitae, V. grandiflora and V. sepium

Study on determining stability domains for nonlinear dynamical systems Final report 1 May 1966 - 1 Feb. 1967

Numerical procedure for determining stability domains in nonlinear dynamical system

Isotropic properties of the photonic band gap in quasicrystals with low-index contrast

We report on the formation and development of the photonic band gap in two-dimensional 8-, 10- and 12-fold symmetry quasicrystalline lattices of low index contrast. Finite size structures made of dielectric cylindrical rods were studied and measured in the microwave region, and their properties compared with a conventional hexagonal crystal. Band gap characteristics were investigated by changing the direction of propagation of the incident beam inside the crystal. Various angles of incidence from 0 \degree to 30\degree were used in order to investigate the isotropic nature of the band gap. The arbitrarily high rotational symmetry of aperiodically ordered structures could be practically exploited to manufacture isotropic band gap materials, which are perfectly suitable for hosting waveguides or cavities.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, submitted to PR

Study on determining stability domains for nonlinear dynamical systems, II Quarterly progress report, 1 Aug. - 31 Oct. 1966

Stability domain determination for nonlinear dynamical syste

Rediscovering the scientific and didactic value of minor herbarium collections: the seeds and fruits collection by Gustavo Bonaventura

Seeds and fruits collections are very important from a systematic point of view and represent useful references in several disciplines and research fields. The Herbarium of Sapienza University of Rome (RO) hosts a Spermoteque/Carpoteque, which was organized by Gustavo Bonaventura (1902-1976). The purpose of this paper is to describe the heritage of Bonaventura's collection. It consists of 42 wooden boxes, globally hosting 3411 glass tubes containing seeds, fruits, and other materials. The collection was first of all catalogued; then, analysis were conducted regarding taxonomic composition, temporal and geographic coverage, institutions of provenience, collectors, content, and preservation status. The specimens refer to 2740 taxa, belonging to 890 genera and 135 families. Many genera of agricultural interest are present, each one with different cultivars. The collection spans across 130 years (1843-1975) and hosts specimens coming from all over the world. Materials were provided by several herbaria, botanical gardens and agrarian institutes, and by 50 collectors. The Bonaventura's collection is still a useful reference collection, testifying biodiversity over times and thus being useful for diachronic studies; moreover, it documents the interests of collectors and the past network activity between institutions

Experimental Methods for Measuring Optical Rotatory Dispersion:Survey and Outlook

The measurement of optical rotation (OR) and optical rotatory dispersion has been finding renewed interest for some years, because of advancement in computational methods and in the performance of new experiments. Here, we shortly review the traditional and most-used experimental methods. We define and discuss the two main types of approaches in measuring OR: the intensity method and the optical null method. We report on some new results obtained by redesigning experiments based on the first approach, by adapting nonsophisticated hardware to current circular dichroism instrumentation

Dipole and rotational strengths for overtone transitions of a C2-symmetry HCCH molecular fragment using Van Vleck perturbation theory

Contact transformation theory up to second order is employed to treat CH-stretching overtone transitions and to calculate dipole and rotational strengths. A general Hamiltonian describing two interacting CH-stretching oscillators is considered, and the Darling–Dennison resonance is appropriately taken into account. The two CH bonds are supposed to be dissymmetrically disposed, so as to represent a chiral HCCH fragment, endowed with C2 symmetry. Analytical expressions of transition moments and dipole and rotational strengths are given in the hypothesis of general electric and magnetic dipole moments with quadratic dependence on coordinates and momenta. Dipole and rotational strengths are then calculated together with frequencies for the fundamental and first three overtone regions in the simplifying hypothesis of the valence optical approach on the coupled-oscillator framework. Simplified analytical expressions thereof in the relevant parameters are presented

PROSPECTIVE UPON MULTI-SOURCE URBAN SCALE DATA FOR 3D DOCUMENTATION AND MONITORING OF URBAN LEGACIES

Abstract. The investigation on the built urban heritage and its current transformations can progressively benefit from the use of geospatial data related to urban environment. This is even more interesting when urban design studies of historical and stratified cities meet the contribution of 4D geospatial data within the urban morphology researches, aiming at quickly and accurately identifying and then measuring with a spatial relationship, both localized transformation (volumes demolitions, addition, etc…) and wide-scale substantial modification resulting from urban zones of diversification spaces that incorporates urban legacies. In this domain, the comparison and analysis of multi-source and multi-scale information belonging to Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) organized by Municipality and Region Administration (mainly, orthoimages and DSM and digital mapping) are a crucial support for multi-temporal spatial analysis, especially if compared with new DSMs related to past urban situations. The latter can be generated by new solution of digital image-matching techniques applicable to the available historical aerial images. The goal is to investigate the amount of available data and their effectiveness, to later test different experimental tools and methods for quick detection, localization and quantification of morphological macro-transformation at urban scale. At the same time, it has been examined the opportunity to made available, with up-and-coming Mobile Mapping Systems (MMS) based on image- and range-based techniques, a rapid and effective approach of data gathering, updating and sharing at validated urban scales. The presented research, carried out in the framework of the FULL@Polito research lab, applies to urban legacies and their regeneration, and is conducted on a key redevelopment area in northern Torino, the Parco Dora, that was occupied by steel industries actively working up to 1992. The long-standing steel structures of the Ferriere FIAT lot have been refurbished and incorporated in the new urban park, generating a contemporary space with a new evolving urban fabric, and being integrated in the new updated geo-spatial databases as well.</p

A Vibrational Circular Dichroism Approach To The Determination Of The Absolute Configuration Of Flexible And Transparent Molecules: Fluorenone Ketals Of 1,N-Diols

The infrared absorption (IR) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra for five ketal molecules, three of which obtained from 1,2-diols and two from 1,3-diols, were recorded in the mid-IR region. The spectra have been satisfactorily reproduced by DFT calculations, even with not too large wavefunction basis sets, especially due to the low number of conformers to be considered. The mobility of some moieties provides a recognizable signature. A characteristic couplet of VCD bands attributed to normal modes involving the methine and a phenyl ring bonded to the stereogenic carbon atom is evidenced for two ketals of the series as a signature of the absolute configuration; due comparison with existing literature is made. A relation is discussed of the present VCD data with the literature VCD data of simple alcohols and diols

Experimental and ab-initio calculated vcd spectra of the first OH-stretching overtone of (1R)-(-) and (1S)-(+)-endo-borneol

The near infrared (NIR) absorption and NIR-vibrational circular dichroism (NIR-VCD) spectra of dilute solutions of the two enantiomers of endo-borneol have been measured in the first OH-stretching overtone region (1600–1300 nm). By density functional theory (DFT) we calculate mechanical parameters, i.e. the harmonic mechanical frequency and the anharmonicity constant for the OH stretching, and anharmonic electrical parameters; i.e. the dependence on OH-bond length of atomic polar tensors and atomic axial tensors. We evaluate transition integrals for the calculations of rotational and dipole strengths by Morse anharmonic wavefunctions depending on mechanical harmonic frequencies and mechanical anharmonicity parameters that are calculated ab initio. Experimental and calculated spectra compare quite well and this fact allows us to associate differently signed NIR-VCD features with different conformational states of the OH-bond. Absorption features for the fundamental and for the second overtone of the OH stretching are also compared with experiment