A Feasibility Study on the Use of a Structured Light Depth-Camera for Three-Dimensional Body Measurements of Dairy Cows in Free-Stall Barns

Frequent checks on livestock\u2019s body growth can help reducing problems related to cow infertility or other welfare implications, and recognizing health\u2019s anomalies. In the last ten years, optical methods have been proposed to extract information on various parameters while avoiding direct contact with animals\u2019 body, generally causes stress. This research aims to evaluate a new monitoring system, which is suitable to frequently check calves and cow\u2019s growth through a three-dimensional analysis of their bodies\u2019 portions. The innovative system is based on multiple acquisitions from a low cost Structured Light Depth-Camera (Microsoft Kinect\u2122 v1). The metrological performance of the instrument is proved through an uncertainty analysis and a proper calibration procedure. The paper reports application of the depth camera for extraction of different body parameters. Expanded uncertainty ranging between 3 and 15 mm is reported in the case of ten repeated measurements. Coef\ufb01cients of determination R2> 0.84 and deviations lower than 6% from manual measurements where in general detected in the case of head size, hips distance, withers to tail length, chest girth, hips, and withers height. Conversely, lower performances where recognized in the case of animal depth (R2 = 0.74) and back slope (R2 = 0.12)

A new species of Anthemis sect. Hiorthia (Asteraceae) from SE Sicily

A new species of Anthemis sect. Hiorthia (Asteraceae) is described from Sicily. This taxon, named A. pignattiorum, is confined to a restricted area of the Hyblaean territory (SE Sicily), in the Natural Reserve of Cava Grande (Cassibile, Siracuse), where it takes shelter on carbonate rocky habitat and participates, with other Sicilian endemic taxa, to the composition of a termophilous chasmophytic community (Putorio calabricae–Micromerietum microphyllae)

Studio della biodiversità mediante marcatori molecolari di popolazioni naturali e di ecotipi orticoli della regione Campania

2012 - 2013Il progetto di ricerca oggetto della mia tesi di dottorato intitolata "Studio della Biodiversità Mediante Marcatori molecolari di popolazioni naturali e di ecotipi Orticoli della Regione Campania" è stato focalizzato sulla biodiversità genetica ed epigenetica. In particolare, gli obiettivi di ricerca sono stati: i) lo studio della diversità genetica in popolazioni naturali di pioppo (Popolus alba L.) diffuso in Sardegna (Italia), attraverso analisi “whole genome”; ii) l'analisi dello stato di metilazione del DNA in risposta a diverse condizioni ambientali (meteorologici, pedologici, latitudine, longitudine, altitudine, inquinamento, etc.); iii) l’estrazione del DNA da prodotti orticoli (ecotipi unici) tipici della regione Campania (Sud Italia) finalizzato allo studio della biodiversità genetica attraverso marcatori molecolari codominanti (Simple Sequence Repeat) e all’istituzione di una banca del germoplasma ad hoc. L'ultimo obiettivo del mio progetto di ricerca è stato parte del progetto AGRIGENET finanziato dalla regione Campania. Durante progetto di dottorato sono stati raccolti 108 campioni di foglie di pioppo bianco in tutta la regione Sardegna. Per ogni singolo albero sono state annotate le coordinate geografiche e, grazie alle immagini delle foglie poste su carta millimetrata acquisite in loco, sono state conservate le caratteristiche dendrometriche e morfologiche. Da tutti i campioni raccolti è stato estratto il DNA, verificando la qualità e la quantità ottenuta mediante corsa elettroforetica su gel di agarosio e/o spettrofotometro UV. Sui campioni di pioppo bianco sono stati condotte analisi molecolari quali AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) e MSAP (metilazione Sensitive Amplification polimorfismo). Il risultato ha confermato la limitata biodiversità genetica del pioppo bianco in Sardegna, e ha altresì evidenziato che lo stato di metilazione del DNA varia anche per lo stesso clone cresciuto in condizioni ambientali diverse modificando la biodiversità epigenetica. Il secondo aspetto del progetto di dottorato ha riguardato alcuni ecotipi orticoli della regione Campania, in particolare: mais (6 ecotipo); scarola (1 ecotipo); zucchine (2 ecotipo); aglio (2 ecotipo); cipolla (4 ecotipo). Per la caratterizzazione molecolare e lo studio della biodiversità sono state coltivate circa 10 piante per ogni ecotipo, e, allo stesso tempo, è stata condotta una ricerca bibliografica per ottenere i primer adatti all’amplificazione dei loci SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat). I risultati ottenuti hanno suggerito un caso di sinonimia per l’aglio “Schiacciato” e “Tondo di Torella”, mentre per gli altri ecotipi è stata evidenziata un’enorme biodiversità genetica dovuta al tipo di riproduzione da seme non controllata operata dagli agricoltori, che non ha permesso l’associazione tra profilo molecolare ed ecotipo. [a cura dell'autore]XII n.s

Antibiotic resistance spread potential in urban wastewater effluents disinfected by UV/H2O2 process

Urban wastewater treatment plants (UWTPs) are among the main hotspots of antibiotic resistance (AR) spread into the environment and the role of conventional and new disinfection processes as possible barrier to minimise the risk for AR transfer is presently under investigation. Accordingly, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of an advanced oxidation process (AOP) (specifically UV/H2O2) on AR transfer potential. UV/H2O2 disinfection experiments were carried out on real wastewater samples to evaluate the: i) inactivation of total coliforms, Escherichia coli and antibiotic resistant E. coli as well as ii) possible removal of target antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) (namely, blaTEM, qnrS and tetW). In particular, DNA was extracted from both antibiotic resistant E. coli bacterial cells (intracellular DNA), grown on selective culture media, and the whole water suspension (total DNA) collected at different treatment times. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was performed to detect the absence/presence of the selected ARGs. Real Time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify the investigated ARGs in terms of copiesmL(-1). In spite of the bacterial inactivation and a decrease of ARGs in intracellular DNA after 60min treatment, UV/H2O2 process was not effective in ARGs removal from water suspension (total DNA). Particularly, an increase up to 3.7×10(3)copiesmL(-1) (p>0.05) of blaTEM gene was observed in total DNA after 240min treatment, while no difference (p>0.05) was found for qnrS gene between the initial (5.1×10(4)copiesmL(-1)) and the final sample (4.3×10(4)copiesmL(-1)). On the base of the achieved results, the investigated disinfection process may not be effective in minimising AR spread potential into the environment. The death of bacterial cells, which results in DNA release in the treated water, may pose a risk for AR transfer to other bacteria present in the receiving water body

Life Cycle Environmental Assessment of Energy Valorization of the Residual Agro-Food Industry

This study assesses the potential environmental impacts related to the energy valorization of agro-food industry waste thought the Life Cycle Assessment methodology (ISO 14040). The system examined consists of a real anaerobic digester coupled with a combined anaerobic digester and heat and power plant (AD-CHP) operating in Sicily. The analysis accounts for all the impacts occurring from the delivery of the biomass to the AD-CHP plant up to the electricity generation in the CHP. The main outcomes of the study include the eco-profile of the energy system providing electricity and the assessment of the contribution of each life cycle phase aimed at identifying the potential improvement area. The obtained results highlight that the direct emissions associated with the biogas combustion process in the CHP account for 66% of the impact on climate change, and feedstock transport contributes 64% to the impact on mineral, fossil fuels, and renewable depletion. The contribution to the impacts caused by the electricity consumption is relevant in many of the environmental categories examined. It ranges from a minimum of about 22% for climate change up to 82% for freshwater ecotoxicity. Then actions aimed at reducing electricity consumption can significantly improve the environmental performances of the energy system examined

Genetic diversity in Sicilian populations of Quercus ilex (Fagaceae)

Recent studies on the genetic structure of the Italian populations of Quercus ilex demonstrated their high diversity, particularly in the Sicilian metapopulation. In order to check if the holm oak stands in the mountains of NW Sicily could have some relationship with Q. ilex subsp. bal- lota (distributed in Spain and NW Africa), 26 specimens from the Sicilian most distinctive Q. ilex populations have been compared with some representative populations of the Italian Peninsula, North Africa and Spain, by means of the ISSR technique. Even if the results are too preliminary to confirm or reject the initial hypothesis, they confirmed an high level of genetic variability, well distributed among the analyzed specimens. In particular, the metapopulations from the Sicilian mountains (Quacella, Vallone Canna) revealed some genetic affinity with those of the Moroccan mountains (Marrakech/Oukaimeden and Ifrane). These populations, on their turn, resulted to be quite distant from the sample from SE-Spain (Sierra de Javalambre). Moreover, a certain genetic distance has been detected from the comparison of the mountain populations of Sicily with those of coastal sites of this Island (Scopello, Castellammare) and Capri (Villa Jovis)

Evaluation of Small Vase and Y-trellis Orchard Systems for Peach and Nectarine Production in Mediterranean Regions

Two peach planting systems, Small Vase (SV) and Y-trellis (Y), were evaluated and compared in the Mediterranean settings of Southern Italy. The two orchards were located next to each other on relatively uniform soil and terrain, and the observations included two peach (Rich May and Summer Rich) and two nectarine (Big Bang and Nectaross) cultivars. In the SV system, trees were spaced at 4.5 x 2.5 m (888 trees/ha), whereas in the Y system, trees were spaced at 5.5 x 2 m (909 trees/ha) and no roof gap was left between rows. Yield per tree, fruit size grade, unit price of sold peaches for each size grade, materials and labor for cultural management and associated costs, fixed costs at planting, and grower's profit were quantified during the first six years from planting. Fixed costs at planting were twice as much in the Y system, and no significant yield was recorded in the first two years in any of the two systems. Regardless of cultivar, the Y system reported 20% higher yields, 31% greater amount of management labor, and 10% lower labor efficiency (kg fruits/hr) than the SV system. Fruit unit value (euro/kg) was similar in the two systems. Profit varied greatly depending on the cultivar, and only 'Nectaross' generated a greater profit in the Y than the SV system. For this cultivar, the pay-back period (years needed to pay off the additional investment of establishing a Y trellis by its additional profit) was 2.5 years, indicating an advantage of the Y system over the SV by the 4th year. The yield gap between the two systems tended to decrease after the 5th year. The latter trend, along with the high initial investment and management costs in the Y system, suggests better performance and more sustainable productions in the SV than in the Y system

Experimental calibration and validation of a simulation model for fault detection of HVAC systems and application to a case study

Automated fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) could provide a cornerstone for predictive maintenance of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems based on the development of simulation models able to accurately compare the faulty operation with respect to nominal conditions. In this paper, several experiments have been carried out for assessing the performance of the HVAC unit (nominal cooling/heating capacity of 5.0/5.0 kW) controlling the thermo-hygrometric comfort inside a 4.0 × 4.0 × 3.6 m test room at the Department of Architecture and Industrial Design of the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (Italy); then, a detailed dynamic simulation model has been developed and validated by contrasting the predictions with the measured data. The model has also been used to analyze the dynamic variations of key parameters associated to faulty operation in comparison to normal performance, in order to identify simplified rules for detection of any non-optimal states of HVAC devices. Finally, the simulated performance of the HVAC unit has also been investigated while serving a typical Italian building office with and without the occurrence of typical faults with the main aim of assessing the impact of the faults on thermo-hygrometric comfort conditions as well as electric energy consumption

Design di edifici a energia netta zero alla luce della Direttiva Europea 2010/31/CE (EPBD recast) sulla prestazione energetica nell'edilizia [GU europea del 18 giugno 2010 (L 153)]

Il presente lavoro descrive dettagliatamente gli studi e le attività svolte in seno al progetto di ricerca “Design di edifici a energia netta zero alla luce della direttiva europea 2010/31/CE (EPBD Recast) sulla prestazione energetica nell’edilizia GU Europea del 18 giugno 2010 (L153)”. L’attività di approfondimento sull’edificio oggetto di studio, la Leaf House, è stata svolta nell’ambito dei diversi filoni di ricerca di seguito elencati: 1. Analisi dei dati dell’edificio esistente, 2. Redesign dell’edificio esistente, 3. Embodied energy dell’edificio esistente. 4. Partecipazione a gruppi di lavoro internazionali in seno alla task 40 dell’IEA. Gli indicatori sviluppati nel corso dei lavori della Task 40 sono stati applicati al caso studio Leaf House, dimostrandone l’efficacia nell’identificare e descrivere il problema del mismatch. L’approfondimento nell’ambito del redesign dell’edificio ha permesso di stimare dei consistenti risparmi di energia elettrica qualora le soluzioni impiantistiche e tecnologiche venissero implementate. L’analisi LCA ha consentito di stimare l’embodied Energy del sistema edificio-impianto. Saranno presentati nel seguito i risultati di ogni filone di ricerca e le attività svolte e in corso di svolgimento nell’ambito della collaborazione con la task 40 dell’IEA