Theocritus and the Bucolic Genre

One of the chapters written by M. Fantuzzi in M. Fantuzzi and R. Hunter, "Tradition and Innovation in Hellenistic poetry" Analysis of the the construction of the genre of "literary mime, and of its sub-genre bucolic poetry. Main emphasis on the idea of "Invention of a tradition" on behalf of Theocritus, and the dynamics between pastoral ideal of hesychia and pains of love both in Theocritus and in the post-Theocritean bucolic poet

Single and Double Photoionization and Photodissociation of Toluene by Soft X-rays in Circumstellar Environment

The formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their methyl derivatives occurs mainly in the dust shells of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. The bands at 3.3 and 3.4 $\mu$m, observed in infrared emission spectra of several objects, are attributed C-H vibrational modes in aromatic and aliphatic structures, respectively. In general, the feature at 3.3 $\mu$m is more intense than the 3.4 $\mu$m. Photoionization and photodissociation processes of toluene, the precursor of methylated PAHs, were studied using synchrotron radiation at soft X-ray energies around the carbon K edge with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Partial ion yields of a large number of ionic fragments were extracted from single and 2D-spectra, where electron-ion coincidences have revealed the doubly charged parent-molecule and several doubly charged fragments containing seven carbon atoms with considerable abundance. \textit{Ab initio} calculations based on density functional theory were performed to elucidate the chemical structure of these stable dicationic species. The survival of the dications subjected to hard inner shell ionization suggests that they could be observed in the interstellar medium, especially in regions where PAHs are detected. The ionization and destruction of toluene induced by X-rays were examined in the T Dra conditions, a carbon-rich AGB star. In this context, a minimum photodissociation radius and the half-life of toluene subjected to the incidence of the soft X-ray flux emitted from a companion white dwarf star were determined.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, accept for publication in Ap

UNIFIED MODELING OF CONTROL SOFTWARE AND PHYSICAL PLANTS

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Composite material identification as micropolar continua via an optimization approach

A strategy based on material homogenization and heuristic optimization for the structural identification of composite materials is proposed. The objective is the identification of the constitutive properties of a micropolar continuum model employed to describe the mechanical behaviour of a composite material made of rigid blocks and thin elastic interfaces. The micropolar theory (Cosserat) has been proved to be capable of properly accounting for the particles arrangements as well as their size and orientation. The constitutive parameters of the composite materials, characterized by different textures and dimensions of the rigid blocks, are identified through a homogenization procedure. Thus, the identification is repeated exploiting the static or modal response of the composite materials and using the Differential Evolution algorithm. The benchmark structures assumed as target are represented by discrete models implemented in ABAQUS where the blocks and the elastic interfaces are modelled by rigid bodies and elastic interfaces, respectively. The obtained results show that proposed strategies provide accurate results paving the way to the experimental validation and in field applications

Preface: Multiscale and multiphysics modeling of “complex” materials and engineering applications

none3noN.A.mixedTrovalusci P.; Fantuzzi N.; De Bellis M.L.Trovalusci P.; Fantuzzi N.; De Bellis M.L

Design of mechatronic systems through aspect and object-oriented modeling

Design of mechatronic systems involves the use of multiple disciplines, from mechanics to electronics and computer science. Different granularities of hybrid co-simulations with increasing details can be used during the design process. However, there is the need of modeling tools for effectively managing the necessary abstraction layers. This work proposes a combination of Aspect-Oriented and Object-Oriented modeling for reaching the goal. Moreover, it shows how the utilization of these tools can facilitate design-space exploration, segregation of domains of expertise and enhances co-design

Low-carbon fuels for aviation

The aviation industry is responsible for 2.1% of global CO2 emissions and represents 12% of CO2 emissions from all transport sources. Aviation is a particularly difficult sector to decarbonise because alternative fuels are relatively expensive, produce highly distributed greenhouse gas emissions in their production and combustion, and should preferably be compatible with existing aviation infrastructure. Emissions from aviation also include nitrogen oxides (NOx), water vapour, particulates, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and sulfur oxides (SOx). These have a 2-3 times greater climate change impact than CO2 alone. The non-CO2 emissions of alternative low-carbon aviation fuels can differ significantly from those of kerosene and have not been fully evaluated. Biofuels • Bio-jet fuels are currently the most technologically mature option for low-carbon aviation fuels because some of these feedstocks and processes are already deployed at scale for other uses. • Bio-jet fuels must be blended with kerosene to achieve certification and can then be used with existing aviation infrastructure. This blending proportionally decreases any potential CO2 emission saving. • Bio-jet fuels can be made from a range of feedstocks, which are restricted in the UK to waste materials. UK biofuel feedstock availability is sufficient for only a small proportion of UK aviation fuel demand (<20%). With blending, their contribution to CO2 emissions saving is much less (<<10%). • Life cycle assessment scenarios show very variable impacts on CO2 emissions for biofuel processes: only some deliver emissions savings compared to fossil fuel kerosene. Calculations for forest residues appear to show consistent savings in CO2 emissions compared to jet fuel, but these do not take account of the difference in timescale between emission and re-absorption, leading to a major underestimation of emissions. The diversion of agricultural and forestry waste to bio-jet fuel production will have detrimental effects, for example on soil quality. Power-to-Liquid fuels • PtL fuels must be blended with kerosene to achieve certification and can then be used with existing aviation infrastructure. This blending proportionally decreases any potential CO2 emission saving. • PtL fuels are currently not produced at scale. Significant technological development is required to reduce production costs and increase production scale. • Use of PtL fuels in aviation would require a very significant increase of UK low-carbon electricity generation and storage capacity to power production of green hydrogen and CO2 from direct air capture. • Life cycle assessment scenarios show that PtL fuels could have 3-10 times lower emissions impact than fossil fuel kerosene if renewable electricity and CO2 from direct air capture are used to produce the fuel. Hydrogen • Hydrogen cannot be used as a drop-in fuel for aircraft, and its use will require significant redesign of aviation infrastructure. • The greenhouse gas emissions impact of hydrogen depends on its mode of production. Currently, global hydrogen production is mostly from fossil fuel sources, with much less than 1% generated from low-carbon sources. • Increasing low-carbon hydrogen production via electrolysis (green hydrogen) will require the building of additional low-carbon electricity generation capacity. • Low-carbon hydrogen production via methane reforming with carbon capture and storage (blue hydrogen) should use natural gas obtained from producers with low emissions intensity. The goal of policy will be to promote whichever technologies achieve the desired sustainability targets. A molecular science and engineering approach combines an understanding of molecular behaviour with a problem-solving mindset derived from engineering. This approach is crucial to the development and the eventual deployment of the fuel technologies discussed in this paper

A shared pottery-making tradition? Early Roman Ware 1 from Cartagena and Elche (Spain)

The so-called Early Roman Ware 1, identified by P. Reynolds in the Alicante region, was widely distributed in the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The presence of this ware in Elche (Alicante) and Valencia opened the possibility that it was widely distributed across the region. Indeed, it has been considered as a possible regional product of the area of Valencia. In Cartagena (ancient Carthago Nova), where our study concentrated originally, ERW1 is relatively common in 2nd and 3rd century CE contexts and has been considered as a local product. The question here is whether the ERW1 detected in Cartagena is the same as known in the Elche and Valencia re- gions? Were they the product of the same workshop or production center and subsequently distributed across the region? Or do we have several production centers, sharing a technological tradition but operating in different areas? To explore this problem, we have initially characterized 29 samples from this Early Roman Ware 1 found in Cartagena (Murcia) and Elche (Alicante), using a combination of analytical techniques. WD-XRF was used for the chemical characterization, XRD for the mineralogical characterization, and, finally, optical microscopy of thin- sections was applied to investigate the petrographic features. The results of the petrographic characterization indicate the existence of a major petrographic fabric group sharing compositional features. Chemistry reveals a slightly more complex picture. One sample originates in an area of metamorphic geology, possibly in Cartagena, while the other samples, although their provenance is still unknown, most probably originated elsewhere, exploiting kaolinitic clay

Punic amphorae found at Corinth: provenance analysis and implications for the study of long-distance salt fish trade in the Classical period

The Punic Amphora Building (PAB) at Corinth, Greece, excavated in the late 1970s and dated to the mid-5th century BC, provided a remarkable archaeological context for the study of trade connections between Classical Corinth and the Punic West, based on the finding of hundreds of Punic amphorae and associated fish remains. The first studies indicated that these amphorae were mostly imported from the Straits of Gibraltar region, although the exact area/s of provenance remained undetermined. The recent macroscopic restudy of these amphorae suggested the existence of several fabrics, most probably associated with different production sites in southern Spain and/or northern Morocco. In order to verify this hypothesis, a provenance analysis of this material was performed. A total of 178 amphorae from Corinth's PAB were analysed through a combination of thin section petrography and elemental analysis by WD-XRF. Further information was obtained from the analysis of reference materials from production areas, including amphorae from known Punic kiln sites in the western Mediterranean and associated potential raw materials for ceramic production. The results indicated that Punic Gadir, present-day Cádiz, was the main supplier of salt fish which was packaged in amphorae and shipped to Corinth in the fifth century BC, although other Punic sites, especially those located on the coast of present-day Málaga province, also participated in these commercial interactions. The results of this research are of particular importance for the study of long-distance trade networks between the eastern and the western Mediterranean in the Classical period