Indagine statistica su acquisti e vendite dei principali prodotti alimentari locali nei Siti di Interesse Nazionale (SIN)

L’indagine nasce dalla collaborazione tra l’Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia (IZS Sicilia) e l’Istituto per lo Studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in Ambiente Marino del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IAS-CNR) nell’ambito del progetto CISAS (Centro Internazionale di Studi Avanzati su Ambiente, Ecosistema e Salute Umana). In CISAS sono state svolte attività indirizzate alla valutazione del rischio sanitario per le popolazioni residenti nelle aree dei Siti di Interesse Nazionale (SIN) di Augusta-Melilli-Priolo (SIN 1), di Milazzo (SIN 2) e di Crotone (SIN 3) caratterizzati da un forte degrado ambientale e da fenomeni di impatto umano di varia origine, sostanzialmente causati dallo sviluppo di importanti attività industriali (Giosuè et al., 2020). In questo scenario, considerati anche i risultati emersi da diversi rapporti sia italiani che Europei (ISMEA, 2019), i quali evidenziano una crescita di vendite dei prodotti di origine locale (certificati con marchi quali ad es. DOP, IGP, ecc..), spesso a km zero, si è ritenuto di fondamentale importanza indagare sul mercato dei prodotti di origine vegetale e animale provenienti dai tre SIN e destinati al mercato locale. Inoltre, tenendo in considerazione che negli ultimi anni la Grande Distribuzione Organizzata (GDO) ha avviato processi di acquisto e vendita di prodotti locali, prevedendo dei disciplinari di produzione, spesso particolarmente rigidi nel garantire la sicurezza alimentare, l’IZS Sicilia ha ritenuto di notevole importanza realizzare un’indagine esplorativa sui flussi di vendita e acquisti di prodotti freschi locali proprio nell’ambito della GDO, al fine di reperire informazioni più puntuali per implementare le valutazioni sul rischio delle popolazioni residenti nel SIN o nelle aree limitrofe. L’indagine è stata condotta attraverso interviste ai responsabili commerciali delle principali insegne della GDO, identificati su base campionaria nei SIN di Augusta Melilli Priolo, di Milazzo e di Crotone

First attempt to quantify microplastics in Mediterranean Sabellaria spinulosa (Annelida, Polychaeta) bioconstructions

This work focuses on the arenaceous reefs by the polychaete Sabellaria spinulosa and addresses microplastics pollution. The main aim is to assess microplastics amount in a bioconstruction located in the Adriatic coast of Italy (Mediterranean Sea) through a comparative approach: sea-floor sediment and bioconstruction samples were analysed to quantify microplastics absolute abundance in both substrates. A total of 431 MPs were found in the investigated substrates: respectively 85 % fibers and 15 % fragments. Multivariate analysis indicates that MPs within bioconstruction occur in higher abundances and with different morphologies than in sediment samples. The analysis of bioconstruction polished sections allowed for observation of MPs agglutinated in their original position: higher concentration is reported in inter-tube areas. Results suggest that physical characteristics of MPs could play a key-role in bioconstruction inclusion processes and raise questions on effective role of sabellariid bioconstructions as a trap for this pollutant in the littoral environment

Stochastic resonance effect on the vibratory signals of stink bugs

In this work we investigate the role of the environmental noise in the sexual communication between individuals of the Sicilian green stink bug Nezara Viridula. Our goal is to analyze the spectral features of several types of songs emitted by these insects and to find the amplitude threshold value. Below this value the signal is so weak that no neuronal activation occurs in Nezara Viridula. The presence of activation is revealed by performing directionality tests and observing the behavioral response of the insect in localizing the source of vibratory signals. Afterwards experiments are performed by using a sub-threshold signal added to a white Gaussian noise. The response of the test insect is examined for different level of noise intensity. A behavior corresponding to neuronal activation is observed when a suitable level of white noise is added to the sub-threshold signal. Our experimental measurements show the constructive interplay between the calling songs and the external-added noise. For sub-threshold signals of the calling sequence the response is subject to a non dynamical stochastic resonance phenomenon

Risonanza stocastica non dinamica in una popolazione di Nezara Viridula (L.)

In questo lavoro viene studiato l’effetto del rumore sul comportamento, durante il periodo di accoppiamento, di individui di Nezara viridula (L.). Analizzando la risposta di insetti maschi a segnali sotto soglia, prodotti da individui di sesso femminile, si osserva, in presenza di una sorgente esterna di rumore bianco Gaussiano, un’attivazione “comportamentale”, con un andamento non monotono in funzione dell’intensit`a di rumore, chiara indicazione della presenza di risonanza stocastica non dinamica. Lo studio `e ripetuto utilizzando una sorgente di rumore colorato. Infine, i risultati sperimentali vengono riprodotti attraverso un modello a soglia “morbida”, in cui la funzione di cross-correlazione tra segnale di ingresso e segnale di uscita mostra un massimo per valori dell’intensit`a di rumore molto vicini a quelli per cui si osserva la risonanza stocastica

Environmental noise and nonlinear relaxation in biological systems

We investigate the role of the environmental noise in three biological systems: (i) an ecosystem described by a Verhulst model with a multiplicative Lévy noise; (ii) polymer translocation, and (ii) individuals of Nezara viridula. Specifically the transient dynamics of the Verhulst model perturbed by arbitrary non-Gaussian white noise is investigated as a first biological system. For Cauchy stable noise, exact results for the probability distribution of the population density and nonlinear relaxation are derived. We find a transition induced by the multiplicative Lévy noise, from a trimodal probability distribution to a bimodal probability distribution in asymptotics, and a nonmonotonic behavior of the nonlinear relaxation time as a function of the Cauchy stable noise intensity. (ii) The noise driven translocation of short polymers in crowded solutions is analyzed as a second biological system. The polymer dynamics is simulated in a two-dimensional domain by numerically solving the Langevin equations of motion with a Gaussian uncorrelated and correlated noise source, and an oscillating electric field. We find a nonmonotonic behaviour of the mean first passage time and the most probable translocation time, of the polymer centre of inertia, as a function of the polymer length at low noise intensity: Moreover the mean first translocation time of the polymer centre of inertia shows a resonant activation behavior. Finally we report on experiments on the response of Nezara viridula individuals to sub-threshold signals plus noise in their mating behavior. We analyzed the insect response by directionality tests and different noise intensity levels performed on a group of male individuals. The percentage of insects which react to the sub-threshold signal, shows a non-monotonic behavior, characterized by the presence of a maximum, for increasing levels of the noise intensity. This is the signature of the non-dynamical stochastic resonance phenomenon. By using a "soft" threshold model we find that the maximum of the output cross correlation occurs in the same range of noise intensity values for which the activating behavioral has a maximum

Validation of a Commercial Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)-Based Kit for the Detection of Salmonella spp. According to ISO 16140:2016

The traditional cultural method (PCR and Real-Time PCR) for Salmonella spp. detection and identification is laborious and time-consuming. A qualitative LAMP method detecting Salmonella spp. was validated in compliance with ISO 16140:2016. The results show a relative accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 100% in comparison with the reference method ISO 6579-1:2017; the LOD50 was set as 0.4 CFU/g. Additionally, a field study was carried out comparing the LAMP kit, a commercially available Real-Time PCR kit (FoodProof Salmonella, Biotecon Diagnostics), and the reference cultural method. The Salmonella spp. LAMP kit was suitable for reliable detection of Salmonella spp., simplifying and reducing the extent and the steps of the analytical process. A total of 105 samples of raw poultry meat were screened for the presence of Salmonella spp. according to three methods: the LAMP kit Salmonella spp. (Enbiotech), the Real-Time PCR kit FoodProof Salmonella (Biotecon), and the reference cultural method. Using these three methods, only one sample out of the 105 (0.95%) tested was positive for Salmonella spp. This sample was further investigated using the reference method described in ISO 6579-3:2014, in order to characterise the Salmonella strain. Following this further biochemical identification and serological typing, the isolate was characterised as Salmonella Infantis

Pre-assembly and dimensional inspection at factory of JT-60SA Cryostat Vessel Body Cylindrical Section

tThe superconducting tokamak JT-60SA is currently being assembled at the QST laboratories in Naka(Japan). Within the European contribution in the framework of the Broder Approach, Spain is responsiblefor providing JT-60SA cryostat. It is a stainless steel vacuum vessel which encloses the tokamak providingthe vacuum environment. Due to functional purposes, the cryostat was divided into three large assem-blies: the Cryostat Base, the Cryostat Vessel Body Cylindrical Section and the Top Lid. The second is anenvelope made from SS304 that will be assembled by mechanical connection between the individualsectors. As part of the manufacturing process, dimensional inspections are carried out by laser tracker tocheck the tolerances of the pieces. Due to the high mechanical flexibility of the sectors, the way to sup-port the pieces resulted very critical for the inspections as it was predicted by FEA carried out. The papersummarizes the measurement procedure for the dimensional inspections as well as the pre-assemblyprocedure of the whole component

Metrology techniques for the verification of the alignment of the EU gyrotron prototype for ITER

The EU gyrotron for the ITER Electron Cyclotron (EC) heating system has been developed in coordinated efforts of the EGYC Consortium, Thales ED (TED) and Fusion for Energy (F4E) and under the supervision of ITER Organization Central Team. After the successful verification of the design of the 1MW, 170 GHz hollow cylindrical cavity gyrotron operating at the nominal TE32,9 mode with a short pulse gyrotron prototype at KIT, an industrial CW gyrotron prototype was manufactured by TED and tested at ~0.8 MW output power and 180 s pulse duration, which is the limit of the HV power supply currently available at KIT. The experiments are being continued at SPC in 2018 to extend further the pulse duration, taking advantage of the existing CW full-power capabilities of the gyrotron test facility recently upgraded for the FALCON project. The gyrotron cavity interaction is very sensitive to the alignment of the internal mechanical parts of the gyrotron tube with the magnetic field generated by the superconducting magnet within a typical range of 0.2 – 0.5 mm. The control of the tolerances and deformations becomes therefore critical to achieving the target performances. With the EU gyrotron prototype it was possible to adjust the alignment of the gyrotron tube with respect to the magnetic field axis during the installation and commissioning phase. The actual shift and tilt movements were verified using advanced metrology methods such as photogrammetry. In this paper, the alignment control techniques and procedures will be discussed also in view of enhancing the reproducibility of gyrotron performance during series production

Current Center Line Integration in the Manufacturing Process of the ITER Toroidal Field Coils

The first ITER & x0027;s European Toroidal Field Coil (TFC) is going to be assembled in 2019. The TFC is composed mainly by the superconducting Winding Pack (WP - manufactured in Europe), and the Coil Cases (TFCC - manufactured in Japan), which provide structural integrity to the magnet and offer interface connections with the rest of the machine. Dimensional measurements and other manufacturing data are taken during the WP manufacture and are used to reconstruct the Current Centre Line (CCL), which is defined as the barycentre of the as-built conductors inside the WP. The CCL is useful to characterize the magnetic field generated by the magnet, and its monitoring and control can minimize the Error Field during ITER operation. Fusion For Energy (F4E) developed a method to calculate the CCL using manufacturing data. Since the CCL represents how different the WP is manufactured from its nominal conductor layout, this deviation can be corrected where there is need of a more controlled magnetic field shape, namely in the straight inboard area of the D-shaped tokamak. That is why each WP position inside its respective TFCCs is optimized, compensating the deviations detected and maintaining an allowable gap between components for the subsequent welding and resin filling operation. This paper presents the strategy followed by F4E to calculate the CCL and optimize the WP position inside the TFCC, by means of extensive CAD and CAE modelling activity. It explains also the data management process developed and followed to ensure configuration control of all the data inputs and outputs, coming from different sources and formats, and details the successful insertion operation on the first ever ITER TFC coil manufactured in Europe, and how in the future the updated CCL coil position will be used to define the final TFC machining, after the welding and gap filling operations