Designing a neutral elliptic inhomogeneity in the case of a general non-uniform loading

AbstractWe derive a general expression for an interface parameter which makes possible the design of a neutral elliptic inhomogeneity when the stress field in the surrounding matrix is a polynomial function of nth order and the composite is subjected to antiplane shear deformations

Aegiphila saltensis Legname

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/18924/thumbnail.jp

GRB Observed by IBIS/PICsIT in the MeV Energy Range

We present the preliminary results of a systematic search for GRB and other transients in the publicly available data for the IBIS/PICsIT (0.2-10 MeV) detector on board INTEGRAL. Lightcurves in 2-8 energy bands with time resolution from 1 to 62.5 ms have been collected and an analysis of spectral and temporal characteristics has been performed. This is the nucleus of a forthcoming first catalog of GRB observed by PICsIT.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Poster presented at COSPAR 2008. Advaces in Space Research, accepted for publicatio

From Geophysics to Microgeophysics for Engineering and Cultural Heritage

The methodologies of microgeophysics have been derived from the geophysical ones, for the sake of solving specific diagnostic and/or monitoring problems regarding civil engineering and cultural heritage studies. Generally, the investigations are carried out using different 2D and 3D tomographic approaches as well as different energy sources: sonic and ultrasonic waves, electromagnetic (inductive and impulsive) sources, electric potential fields, and infrared emission. Many efforts have been made to modify instruments and procedures in order to improve the resolution of the surveys as well as to significantly reduce the time of the measurements without any loss of information. This last point has been achieved by using multichannel systems. Finally, some applications are presented, and the results seem to be very promising and promote this new branch of geophysics. Therefore, these methodologies can be used even more to diagnose, monitor, and safeguard not only engineering buildings and/or large structures, but also ancient monuments and cultural artifacts, such as pottery, statues, and so forth

Correlazioni tra le velocit\ue0 ultrasoniche e le caratteristiche petrografiche in ceramiche archeologiche: un primo approccio metodologico

L\u2019analisi delle velocit\ue0 degli ultrasuoni permette di investigare i caratteri tessiturali e strutturali e di individuare la presenza di eventuali difetti localizzati all\u2019interno del campione. La loro diffusione negli studi archeometrici \ue8 legata alla non distruttivit\ue0 e alla possibilit\ue0 di fornire risultati accurati in tempo reale. In questo lavoro sono state effettuate numerose analisi petrografiche in sezione sottile e misure di velocit\ue0 di propagazione degli ultrasuoni su reperti ceramici di interesse archeologico. In particolare sono stati selezionati ed analizzati ceramiche preistoriche ed anfore da trasporto del V-IV sec. a.C., caratterizzati da differente granulometria, composizione e struttura. Da questo primo approccio \ue8 stato possibile evidenziare che il parametro petrografico che influenza maggiormente la velocit\ue0 degli ultrasuoni \ue8 la forma e la disposizione spaziale dei pori, e la dimensione media degli inclusi, mentre correlazioni poco significative si ottengono prendendo in considerazione la percentuale e il tipo di inerte presente nell\u2019impasto ceramico

Microfabrication below 10 nm

We describe a new electron beam lithography method for producing structures with lateral sizes smaller than the incident beam diameter. These patterns are transferred into GaAs/AlGaAs, InGaAs/GaAs and InGaAs/InP quantum well heterostructures using chemically assisted ion beam etching, thereby forming uniform arrays of pillars with lateral dimensions at or below 10 nm. To correlate the sizes of such structures with our exposure and development conditions, reflection electron microscopy observations are used

Effects of an intravaginal GnRH analogue administration on rabbit reproductive parameters and welfare

Abstract On commercial farms, rabbit does are subjected to a reproductive rhythm that does not account for their welfare or physiology, leading to reduced longevity and consequently high annual replacement. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends limited and infrequent use of hormone treatments, and suggests replacement with alternative methods that do not threaten animal welfare when possible. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether the GnRH analogue lecirelin acetate could be administered by inclusion in the seminal dose during insemination. Twenty 9-month-old does (Grigio del Monferrato, autochthonous Italian breed),each having two previous deliveries, were individually housed and divided into two groups at artificial insemination. The control group received 0.2 mL of intramuscular lecirelin (Dalmarelin, Fatro®, Italy) prior to insemination. The intravaginal group was inseminated with a seminal dose that included 0.3 mL Dalmarelin. The experiment was performed for six consecutive reproductive cycles at 42-day intervals, and included a total of 120 inseminations. Prior to each insemination, the heterospermic pooled semen samples were assessed for sperm motility and morphology. Each ejaculate was divided into two samples, with and without lecirelin addition. Compared to the control group, the does with intravaginal Dalmarelin administration showed equal or greater sexual receptivity, which resulted in a higher fertility rate over increasing cycles. The seminal dose volume was very low, possibly explaining the better results in the intravaginal group, which received a similar amount of hormone (0.3 mL/doe) as the control group (0.2 mL/doe). The negative performance of the control group may have also been due to anti-GnRH formation, and the more stressful method of ovulation induction. The number of live-born kits did not significantly differ between groups. Progressive motility was significantly positively correlated with motility characteristics, including VAP, VSL, ALH, BCF, STR, and LIN. Overall, our present findings supported that the incorporation of GnRH in a seminal dose could be used for ovulation induction in rabbit does. Further studies should identify the optimal dose of GnRH for intravaginal administration, taking into account that the intravaginal absorption capacity is about 10 times smaller than the intramuscular absorption capacity