Lower genetic diversity in the limpet Patella caerulea on urban coastal structures compared to natural rocky habitats

Human-made structures are increasingly found in marine coastal habitats. The aim of the present study was to explore whether urban coastal structures can affect the genetic variation of hard-bottom species. We conducted a population genetic analysis on the limpet Patella caerulea sampled in both natural and artificial habitats along the Adriatic coast. Five microsatellite loci were used to test for differences in genetic diversity and structure among samples. Three microsatellite loci showed strong Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium likely linked with the presence of null alleles. Genetic diversity was significantly higher in natural habitat than in artificial habitat. A weak but significant differentiation over all limpet samples was observed, but not related to the type of habitat. While the exact causes of the differences in genetic diversity deserve further investigation, these results clearly point that the expansion of urban structures can lead to genetic diversity loss at regional scales

Oil Consumption in 4WD Farm Tractors Used in Forestry Operations

Farm tractors are still widely used in many forestry operations. Predicting fuel and lubricant costs is difficult because their consumption depends on a number of factors such as hours worked and operations performed. Fuel and lubricant consumption is important since it can have an impact at both the economic and environmental level. Many fuel models have been studied in the last decades, but few studies have focused on oil consumption. The ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) Standard suggested a model for predicting engine oil consumption of farm tractors of the 1980s, which are potentially different from modern tractor engines. In addition, the recent widespread application of semi- and full-power-shift and continuous variable transmissions and the high number of hydraulic applications increased the amount of lubrication oil for transmission and hydraulic systems. For these reasons, we analysed 133 4WD recent model farm tractors used in forest operations with the aim to study: Þ engine, transmission and hydraulic system oil capacities Þ engine oil change intervals as recommended by the manufacturers. A new equation for engine oil consumption, as a function of the rated engine power, was first used and statistically analysed. It was similar to the equation developed by other authors (with a mean difference of 28%, decreasing to 11% at the highest engine power), but well below the ASABE model (with an average engine oil consumption three times higher). Another equation of total oil consumption related to the rated engine power was then studied and compared with a recent study. The results showed an average difference of 18%, decreasing to 8% at the highest engine power. The differences, due to a different machine dataset (only 4WD farm tractors that can be used for forestry operations were analysed) are, however, minimal also in the engine oil consumption model if compared with the oldest ones: a new proposal is therefore necessary, with new and affordable models for correctly evaluating economic and environmental forestry operation costs when using farm tractors

6. Reading Wittgenstein Between the Texts

Sharing the “historicist challenge to analytic philosophy” (Glock) we investigate the philosophical production (and, to a lesser extent, some non-philosophical works as well) on Ludwig Wittgenstein from a distant reading perspective. First, we provide a description of the “Wittgensteinian field” by analyzing several data provided by the Philosopher’s Index, an electronic bibliographic database especially devoted to philosophy. Then we analyze these data by using statistical tools (such as for example topic modeling) and we interpret the results historically and sociologically, along the lines of Bourdieu on Heidegger, Lamont on Derrida, Gross on Rorty, and Collins on the whole philosophical tradition

Engineering of a CMC aeronautical muffler

This work explores the feasibility of adopting an LSI produced C/SiC composite to build an aeronautical Auxiliary Power Unit system muffler. The study first covers the experimental material characterization through tensile and compressive tests. The material properties are characterized also after exposing the samples to an oxidizing atmosphere, that is typical for the proposed application. The material response is characterized by significant non-linearities and a pseudo plastic response, which were numerically modeled using a Drucker-Prager model. The detailed design of the muffler is described and verified, for different loading conditions, using a Finite Element model. Finally, a full-scale prototype is produced and assembled, thus proving the technological feasibility of the design. The manufacturing phase required to study and understand the phenomena that were leading to defects in the proposed closed axial symmetric shape, and to implement suitable technological solutions in order to get an acceptable prototype

Le parlate tedesche della Valcanale

The aim of this article is to give a description of the sociolinguistic situation and of the Carinthian dialects of Valcanale, in the province of Udine. This small valley belonged to Austria until 1919 and was consequently annected to Italy as compensation for the First World War, which resulted in the modification of the languages traditionally spoken in the territory, especially due to Italianization. Nowadays, Valcanale represents the survival of the indigenous Slovenian community, the Germanic component dating back to the period of Bamberg and Austrian domination on the Friulians, who settled there before the valley’s passage to Italy. Later, the valley was finally given to the Italians in 1919, whose relocation to the area was encouraged by the Fascist regime

Economic Impact Assessment of Structural Health Monitoring Systems on Helicopter Blade Beginning of Life

Te economic impact of Structural Health Monitoring Systems based on optical fbre sensors is assessed in the development ofcomposite helicopter rotor blades. Hence, the focus of this analysis is on the helicopter’s Beginning Of Life stage. Two applicationsof the Structural Health Monitoring System are considered in the development of composite blades: curing cycle development andaccomplishment of laboratory and fight certifcation tests. Optical fbre sensors measure the temperature feld during the curingcycle and strain feld during the laboratory tests and allow load identifcation during the load survey activity. It was found thatStructural Health Monitoring Systems can potentially lead to economic benefts during the development of the blade provide thata reduction in the number of curing cycles and number of blades tested is achieved as a consequence of the improvement of thetemperature and strain feld quality. Moreover, an economic beneft could be achieved during the load survey activity, needed tocomplete the certifcation of the composite blade, avoiding the periodical maintenance of the applied strain gauges acquiring thestrains during the fight

Application of Artificial Neural Networks to a Model of a Helicopter Rotor Blade for Damage Identification in Realistic Load Conditions

Monitoring the integrity of aeronautical structures is fundamental for safety. Structural Health Monitoring Systems (SHMSs) perform real-time monitoring functions, but their performance must be carefully assessed. This is typically done by introducing artificial damages to the components; however, such a procedure requires the production and testing of a large number of structural elements. In this work, the damage detection performance of a strain-based SHMS was evaluated on a composite helicopter rotor blade root, exploiting a Finite Element (FE) model of the component. The SHMS monitored the bonding between the central core and the surrounding antitorsional layer. A damage detection algorithm was trained through FE analyses. The effects of the load’s variability and of the damage were decoupled by including a load recognition step in the algorithm, which was accomplished either with an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) or a calibration matrix. Anomaly detection, damage assessment, and localization were performed by using an ANN. The results showed a higher load identification and anomaly detection accuracy using an ANN for the load recognition, and the load set was recognized with a satisfactory accuracy, even in damaged blades. This case study was focused on a real-world subcomponent with complex geometrical features and realistic load conditions, which was not investigated in the literature and provided a promising approach to estimate the performance of a strain-based SHMS

Reading Wittgenstein Between the Texts

Sharing the “historicist challenge to analytic philosophy” (Glock 2006) we investigate the philosophical production (and, to a lesser extent, some non-philosophical works as well) on Ludwig Wittgenstein from a distant reading perspective. First, we provide a description of the “Wittgensteinian field” by analyzing several data provided by the Philosopher’s Index, an electronic bibliographic database especially devoted to philosophy. Then we analyze these data by using statistical tools (such as for example topic modeling) and we interpret the results historically and sociologically, along the lines of Bourdieu (1988) on Heidegger, Lamont (1992) on Derrida, Gross (2006) on Rorty, and Collins (1999) on the whole philosophical tradition