Experimental test on an RC beam equipped with embedded barometric pressure sensors for strains measurement

The current trend in structural health monitoring (SHM) is to install increasingly large numbers of distributed, heterogeneous types of sensors, for a timely and exhaustive detection of any possible damage scenario evolving in the system. These sensors should be low-cost, easy to install, robust and durable. Among others, strain remains one of the most straightforward measurands for monitoring the state of a structural element and for assessing its health condition. However, for application to reinforced concrete structures, currently available strain sensing devices, such as electric strain gauges or fibre optic sensors, do not fully satisfy the aforementioned requirements, generally proving difficult to install, fragile and expensive. In this paper, an innovative monitoring technology, called Smart Steel System (S3), is proposed that measures strains in reinforced concrete members, by incorporating commercial barometric pressure MEMS sensors in appropriate sealed cavities embedded in the reinforcing steel bars. The results of an experimental campaign are reported, in which a reinforced concrete beam, instrumented with both S3 devices and conventional electrical strain gauges, is subjected to increasing loading and unloading cycles until collapse. The tests show the superior robustness of the S3 system during construction and loading as well as its good sensing accuracy, demonstrating its potential for a massive use in SHM applications

The hidden costs of livestock environmental sustainability: The case of Podolian Cattle

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is currently one of the most widely used methods for assessing the environmental impacts and performance of livestock products. According to this procedure, intensification of animal production is generally advocated to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions compared with extensive grazing systems due to the use of selected breeds, with enhanced productivity, and the significant reductions in CH4 emissions consequent to the use of concentrates rather than forages. In addition, the impact of intensive systems on land use is much lower. However, free-ranging Podolian cattle show a number of positive environmental effects, such as increased climate stability, improved soil functionality, water quality and footprint and preservation from fires along with maintaining an economically active social community in otherwise unproductive, marginal areas. Other beneficial effects of extensive Podolian farming system include low competition with human nutrition and high level of animal health and welfare. An economic evaluation of these non-commodity outputs should be indirectly estimated by the avoided costs (e.g. reduced veterinary interventions and therapy treatments) or the lack of profits (e.g. direct payments for the enhancement of environmental performance) that would have incurred in their absence. These economic evaluations should be used in order to allocate them as further outputs to be included in the LCA in order to achieve a more accurate estimation of the impact of the Podolian farming system

Effect of two different source of forage on the organic matter digestibility in Mediterranean Italian Buffalo cows

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of two different source of forage (haysilage and hay) during the lactation on organic matter digestibility (OMD) in buffalo cows. Lactating buffaloes (n = 40) at 29.6 days in milk (DIM) were equally divided as function of previous milk yield into Group 1 (meadow hay, n = 20) and Group 2 [haysilage (Lolium multiflorum), n = 20]. The diets were isoenergetic [0.92 milk unit forage (MUF) on dry matter basis] and isoproteic (16.2 % crude protein on dry matter basis) and administred as total mixed ration (TMR). From all the buffaloes, for each group and in two sampling time (first sampling, DIM = 74.0 and second sampling, DIM = 129.0) the faeces were collected in order to evaluate the in vivo digestibility. Overall the trial, the subjects fed haysilage showed higher OMD than those fed hay (66.1 vs 45.7; P<0.01), moreover the in vivo digestibility was affected by the DIM, in particular in the group fed hay (40.6 vs 53.4; P<0.0001, respectively). This work underlines the importance of the administration of the haysilage (Lolium multiflorum) as source of high quality forage because it gives, overall the lactation, more nutritive principles compared with meadow hay

Deconstruction of the Corso Grosseto viaduct and setup of a testing site for full scale load tests

BRIDGE|50 is a research project recently launched in Italy in the context of the Torino-Ceres construction works jointly with Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, public authorities and private companies. The aim of the BRIDGE|50 research project is to investigate the residual structural performance of the Corso Grosseto 50-year-old prestressed concrete bridge through an experimental campaign. The dismantling and demolition procedures of Corso Grosseto viaduct are presented in this paper, including the setup of the field laboratory where several deck beams and pier caps will be tested up to collapse

Salinity from Space Unlocks Satellite-Based Assessment of Ocean Acidification

Approximately a quarter of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that we emit into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean. This oceanic uptake of CO2 leads to a change in marine carbonate chemistry resulting in a decrease of seawater pH and carbonate ion concentration, a process commonly called “Ocean Acidification”. Salinity data are key for assessing the marine carbonate system, and new space-based salinity measurements will enable the development of novel space-based ocean acidification assess- ment. Recent studies have highlighted the need to develop new in situ technology for monitoring ocean acidification, but the potential capabilities of space-based measurements remain largely untapped. Routine measurements from space can provide quasi-synoptic, reproducible data for investigating processes on global scales; they may also be the most efficient way to monitor the ocean surface. As the carbon cycle is dominantly controlled by the balance between the biological and solubility carbon pumps, innovative methods to exploit existing satellite sea surface temperature and ocean color, and new satellite sea surface salinity measurements, are needed and will enable frequent assessment of ocean acidification parameters over large spatial scales

Intended and Unintended Effects of E-cigarette Taxes on Youth Tobacco Use

Over the past decade, rising youth use of e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has prompted aggressive regulation by state and local governments. Between 2010 and 2019, ten states and two large counties adopted ENDS taxes. Applying a continuous treatment difference-in-differences approach to data from two large national datasets (Monitoring the Future and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System), this study explores the impact of ENDS taxes on youth tobacco use. We find that ENDS taxes reduce youth e-cigarette consumption, with estimated e-cigarette tax elasticities of -0.06 to -0.21. However, we estimate sizable positive cigarette cross-tax elasticities, suggesting economic substitution between cigarettes and e-cigarettes for youth. These substitution effects are particularly large for frequent cigarette smoking. We conclude that the unintended effects of ENDS taxation may more than fully offset any public health gains

The Grizzly, March 29, 1985

St. Joe\u27s to Offer MBA Program on Ursinus Campus • New Poli Sci Professor Hired • Main St. Renovations Scheduled • Co-ed Housing to Start Next Year in Reimert Complex • Community Opposes Vigilantes • Dining Committee Presents New Recipe Program • Car Stairs, S.P.E.C.T.E.R. Undefeated in College Bowl • Student Relates German Experience • Defending Champs Open Lax Season with Win • Baseball Squad Off to Sluggish Start • New Coach Readies Golfers for Tough Week • Senior Diver Finishes 19th in NCAA Championshipshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1137/thumbnail.jp

Unhealthy behaviours and disability in older adults: Three-City Dijon cohort study

To examine the individual and combined associations of unhealthy behaviours (low/intermediate physical activity, consuming fruit and vegetables less than once a day, current smoking/short term ex-smoking, never/former/heavy alcohol drinking), assessed at start of follow-up, with hazard of disability among older French adults and to assess the role of potential mediators, assessed repeatedly, of these associations