145 research outputs found
Detection of low-velocity impact-induced delaminations in composite laminates using Auto-Regressive models
In this paper, the detection of delaminations in carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic (CFRP) laminate plates induced by low-velocity impacts (LVI) is investigated by means of Auto-Regressive (AR) models obtained from the time histories of the acquired responses of the composite specimens. A couple of piezoelectric patches for actuation and sensing purposes are employed. The proposed structural health monitoring (SHM) routine begins with the selection of the suitable locations of the piezoelectric transducers via the numerical analysis of the curvature mode shapes of the CFRP plates. The normalized data recorded for the undamaged plate configuration are then analyzed to obtain the most suitable AR model using five techniques based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), the Akaike Final Prediction Error (FPE), the Partial Autocorrelation Function (PAF), the Root Mean Squared (RMS) of the AR residuals for different order p, and the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD). Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) is then applied on the AR model parameters to enhance the performance of the proposed delamination identification routine. Results show the effectiveness of the developed procedure when a reduced number of sensors is available
Merger of compact stars in the two-families scenario
We analyse the phenomenological implications of the two-families scenario on
the merger of compact stars. That scenario is based on the coexistence of both
hadronic stars and strange quark stars. After discussing the classification of
the possible mergers, we turn to detailed numerical simulations of the merger
of two hadronic stars, i.e., "first family" stars in which delta resonances and
hyperons are present, and we show results for the threshold mass of such
binaries, for the mass dynamically ejected and the mass of the disk surrounding
the post-merger object. We compare these results with those obtained within the
one-family scenario and we conclude that relevant signatures of the
two-families scenario can be suggested, in particular: the possibility of a
rapid collapse to a black hole for masses even smaller than the ones associated
to GW170817; during the first milliseconds, oscillations of the postmerger
remnant at frequencies higher than the ones obtained in the one-family
scenario; a large value of the mass dynamically ejected and a small mass of the
disk, for binaries of low total mass. Finally, based on a population synthesis
analysis, we present estimates of the number of mergers for: two hadronic
stars; hadronic star - strange quark star; two strange quark stars. We show
that for unequal mass systems and intermediate values of the total mass, the
merger of a hadronic star and a strange quark star is very likely (GW170817 has
a possible interpretation into this category of mergers). On the other hand,
mergers of two strange quark stars are strongly suppressed.Comment: 18 pages, 16 figure
Convective Excitation of Inertial Modes in Binary Neutron Star Mergers
We present the first very long-term simulations (extending up to ~140 ms
after merger) of binary neutron star mergers with piecewise polytropic
equations of state and in full general relativity. Our simulations reveal that
at a time of 30-50 ms after merger, parts of the star become convectively
unstable, which triggers the excitation of inertial modes. The excited inertial
modes are sustained up to several tens of milliseconds and are potentially
observable by the planned third-generation gravitational-wave detectors at
frequencies of a few kilohertz. Since inertial modes depend on the rotation
rate of the star and they are triggered by a convective instability in the
postmerger remnant, their detection in gravitational waves will provide a
unique opportunity to probe the rotational and thermal state of the merger
remnant. In addition, our findings have implications for the long-term
evolution and stability of binary neutron star remnantsComment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Deep HST-WFPC2 photometry of NGC 288. II. The Main Sequence Luminosity Function
The Main Sequence Luminosity Function (LF) of the Galactic globular cluster
NGC 288 has been obtained using deep WFPC2 photometry. We have employed a new
method to correct for completeness and fully account for bin-to-bin migration
due to blending and/or observational scatter. The effect of the presence of
binary systems in the final LF is quantified and is found to be negligible.
There is a strong indication of the mass segregation of unevolved single stars
and clear signs of a depletion of low mass stars in NGC 288 with respect to
other clusters. The results are in good agreement with the prediction of
theoretical models of the dynamical evolution of NGC 288 that take into account
the extreme orbital properties of this cluster.Comment: 16 pages, 6 .ps figures. Low resolution version of fig. 1; full
resolution figure soon available at http://www.bo.astro.it/bap/BAPhome.html
l. Latex. emulateapj5.sty macro included. Accepted for publication by The
Astronomical Journa
Long-lived nonthermal electron distribution in aluminum excited by femtosecond extreme ultraviolet radiation
We report a time-resolved study of the relaxation dynamics of Al films excited by ultrashort intense free-electron
laser (FEL) extreme ultraviolet pulses. The system response was measured through a pump-probe detection
scheme, in which an intense FEL pulse tuned around the Al L2,3 edge (72.5 eV) acted as the pump, while a
time-delayed ultrafast pulse probed the near-infrared (NIR) reflectivity of the Al film. Remarkably, following the
intense FEL excitation, the reflectivity of the film exhibited no detectable variation for hundreds of femtoseconds.
Following this latency time, sizable reflectivity changes were observed. Exploiting recent theoretical calculations
of the EUV-excited electron dynamics [N. Medvedev et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 165003 (2011)], the delayed
NIR-reflectivity evolution is interpreted invoking the formation of very-long-living nonthermal hot electron
distributions in Al after exposure to EUV pulses. Our data represent the first evidence in the time domain
of such an intriguing behavior
A Sterescopic System to Measure Water Waves in Laboratories
A new system for estimating the synthetic parameters of sea states during physical investigations has been implemented. The technique proposed herein is based on stereographic analysis of digital images acquired with optical sensors. A series of ad hoc floating markers has been made and properly moored to the bottom of a large wave tank to estimate the synthetic parameters of generated waves. The implemented acquisition system and the proposed algorithm provide automatic recognition of all markers by a pair of optical sensors that synchronously captures their instantaneous location and tracks their movements over time. After transformation from the image to the real-world coordinates, water surface elevation time series have been obtained. Several experimental tests have been carried out to assess the feasibility and reliability of the proposed approach. The estimated wave synthetic parameters have been then compared with those obtained by employing standard resistive probes. The deviation were found to be equal to ~6% for the significant wave height and 1% for peak, mean, and significant wave periods
Intracerebral administration of Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18 modifies the course of mouse scrapie
BACKGROUND: Prion diseases are characterised by a neurodegenerative pattern in which the function of immune system remains still elusive. In the present study, we evaluate if an exogenous treatment with Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18, able to activate microglia, is able to affect scrapie pathogenesis. RESULTS: Cytokines injected intracranially, induced a strong inflammatory response characterised by TNF-α production and microglia activation. Two groups of mice were injected intracerebrally with high dose of ME7 strain of scrapie containing IL-12 and IL-18 or sterile saline. Cytokines-treated mice showed a more pronounced accumulation of PrP(Sc )in brain tissues at 90 days post-inoculation and a shorter mean survival times than untreated mice. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that intracerebral administration of IL-12 and IL-18 can modulate scrapie pathogenesis possibly through a microglia-mediated pattern
Reconstruction and functional analysis of altered molecular pathways in human atherosclerotic arteries
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Atherosclerosis affects aorta, coronary, carotid, and iliac arteries most frequently than any other body vessel. There may be common molecular pathways sustaining this process. Plaque presence and diffusion is revealed by circulating factors that can mediate systemic reaction leading to plaque rupture and thrombosis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used DNA microarrays and meta-analysis to study how the presence of calcified plaque modifies human coronary and carotid gene expression. We identified a series of potential human atherogenic genes that are integrated in functional networks involved in atherosclerosis. Caveolae and JAK/STAT pathways, and S100A9/S100A8 interacting proteins are certainly involved in the development of vascular disease. We found that the system of caveolae is directly connected with genes that respond to hormone receptors, and indirectly with the apoptosis pathway.</p> <p>Cytokines, chemokines and growth factors released in the blood flux were investigated in parallel. High levels of RANTES, IL-1ra, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-17, PDGF-BB, VEGF and IFN-gamma were found in plasma of atherosclerotic patients and might also be integrated in the molecular networks underlying atherosclerotic modifications of these vessels.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The pattern of cytokine and S100A9/S100A8 up-regulation characterizes atherosclerosis as a proinflammatory disorder. Activation of the JAK/STAT pathway is confirmed by the up-regulation of IL-6, STAT1, ISGF3G and IL10RA genes in coronary and carotid plaques. The functional network constructed in our research is an evidence of the central role of STAT protein and the caveolae system to contribute to preserve the plaque. Moreover, Cav-1 is involved in SMC differentiation and dyslipidemia confirming the importance of lipid homeostasis in the atherosclerotic phenotype.</p
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