Linee guida per la programmazione remota e lo scarico dati di ricevitori GPS (Standard Trimble Navigation Limited - Serie 5000).

Nella fase di implementazione dell'hardware e del software per la materializzazione di stazioni GPS permanenti il problema della programmazione e scarico dati a distanza mediante modem da telefonia fissa, PSTN e ISDN o mediante modem da telefonia mobile, essenzialmente GSM /GPRS costituisce un problema di non facile soluzione. Anche laddove esista da parte delle aziende coinvolte nelle forniture un assistenza software che consenta di sviluppare dei prodotti personalizzati, alcune operazioni richieste vengono spesso eseguite dall'utenza con mezzi propri. Infatti, gli standard commerciali che vanno per la maggiore operano prevalentemente in ambiente Microsoft Windows e sono spesso privi della modularità e della flessibilità necessarie sia per adattarsi a problemi scientifici sia per la loro esecuzione in background in ambienti Unix (Linux, Solaris o HP-UX). In questo lavoro vengono analizzate le problematiche legate alla programmazione di ricevitori Trimble Navigation Limited modello 5700 CORS (Continuous Operating Reference Stations), in dotazione al Laboratorio di Geodesia e Telerilevamento dell'INGV-CNT, per un loro utilizzo nell’ambito di stazioni GPS permanenti. In particolare, è stato sviluppato un sistema automatico per il controllo a distanza, la programmazione e lo scarico dati di uno standard dei predetti ricevitori. Tutta la logistica della cascata hardware e dello strato software è stata sviluppata mediante strumenti da noi implementati; il risultato è sufficientemente stabile e può essere fattivamente utilizzato per il supporto alla realizzazione di stazioni permanenti GPS anche in siti dalla logistica scarsa come quelli situati in zone remote prive di linee telefoniche fisse e di alimentazione. Per il suddetto tipo di strumentazione infatti, non esiste in Italia una vera e propria assistenza Hardware e Software in grado di risolvere determinati problemi e, pertanto, in alcuni casi è stato necessario ricorrere sia al supporto tecnico dell'UNAVCO, il consorzio universitario Americano per il NAVSTAR GPS (http://www.unavco.org), sia alla nostra consolidata esperienza nel campo della strumentazione GPS. Il presente documento è rivolto ad un pubblico limitato costituito da quegli esperti del settore che siano interessati alla soluzione delle problematiche analizzate in questa sede

Data analysis of Permanent GPS networks in Italy and surrounding region: application of a distributed processing approach

We describe the procedures used to combine into a uniform velocity solution the observations of more than 80 continuous GPS stations operating in the central Mediterranean in the 1998-2004 time interval. We used a distributed processing approach, which makes efficient use of computer resources, while producing velocity estimates for all stations in one common reference frame, allowing for an effective merging of all the observations into a self-consistent network solution. We describe the CGPS data archiving and processing procedures, and provide main results in terms of position time-series and velocities for all stations that observed more than three years. We computed horizontal and vertical velocities accounting for the seasonal (annual and semi-annual) signals, and considering the off-sets in the coordinate time-series caused by station equipment changes. Weighted post-fit RMS of the north, east and vertical velocity components are in the range of 1.57-2.08 mm, 1.31-3.28 mm, and 3.60-7.24 mm, respectively, which are reduced by solving for seasonal signals in the velocity estimates. The annual and semi-annual signals in the height components, with amplitudes up to 4.8 mm, are much stronger than those in the horizontal components. The mean amplitudes of annual and semi-annual signals are within 0.18-0.47 mm, 0.23-0.52 mm and 0.55-1.92 mm in the north, east and vertical components, respectively

Seismic potential in the Italian Peninsula from integration and comparison of seismic and geodetic strain rates.

Seismological and geodetic data provide key information about the kinematics and active tectonics of plate margins. Focal solutions enable determining the directions in which the current tectonic stress acts when fault rupturing occurs; GPS measurements provide information on the crustal velocity field and on current interseismic strain rates. The comparison of the strain rates resulting from the two datasets provides further insight into how large an area is affected by aseismic deformation, which is a valuable indicator for seismic hazard mitigation and estimating the seismic potential. In this work, we investigate both seismic and geodetic strain rates and the combined field resulting from the joint inversion of the geodetic and seismic datasets, providing a picture of the overall deformation field and its variation during the last decades. In this way, we seek to give an overview of the seismic potential distribution across the Apennines and southern Italy, as a qualitative analysis of space-time variations in the released seismic strain rate, compared to the space-time distribution of the cumulated geodetic strain rate. The results show a variable distribution of the seismic efficiency over the peninsula. The Southern Apennines shows the greatest seismic potential, highlighting a significantly lower seismicity in the last two decades over an area affected by the highest total strain rates. The Messina Straits and eastern Sicily have a significant seismic potential, together with the Calabrian arc (from the Tindari-Letojanni and central Aeolian islands to the Mt. Pollino area), as a result of seismic gaps with respect to the combined strain rates in the investigated period. This long gap highlights the longer recurrence periods for the strongest earthquakes on this area. The central-northern Apennines and off-shore northern Sicily, show a lower seismic potential than central-southern Apennines, probably due to the more recent seismicity affecting these areas

Screen-Printed Biosensors for the Early Detection of Biomarkers Related to Alzheimer Disease: Preliminary Results

Abstract Alzheimer disease (AD), despite representing the most common type of dementia in elderly, is still lacking reliable methodologies for early diagnosis. A potential biomarker associated to AD development has been recently identified in the open isoform of p53, redox sensitive protein, currently quantified using a specific blood-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In order to overcome ELISA limitations (level of detection, standardization and reliability), this study aimed to realize a low cost highly sensitive portable point-of-care (PoC) testing system based on screen printed electrochemical sensors (SPES). The study specifically reported the design of the platform, including the sensing probe and the electronic circuit devoted to the conditioning of the electric signal. Preliminary results were obtained from circuit testing by using controlled concentrations of electrolytic solutions and from an initial calibration stage by using Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) measurements. Future works will address the quantification of unknown concentration of unfolded p53 in peripheral blood samples, thus to validate the here-presented low cost, easy to use and highly precise platform

Present-Day Surface Deformation in North-East Italy Using InSAR and GNSS Data

Geodetic data can detect and estimate deformation signals and rates due to natural and anthropogenic phenomena. In the present study, we focus on northeastern Italy, an area characterized by similar to 1.5-3 mm/yr of convergence rates due to the collision of Adria-Eurasia plates and active subsidence along the coasts. To define the rates and trends of tectonic and subsidence signals, we use a Multi-Temporal InSAR (MT-InSAR) approach called the Stanford Method for Persistent Scatterers (StaMPS), which is based on the detection of coherent and temporally stable pixels in a stack of single-master differential interferograms. We use Sentinel-1 SAR images along ascending and descending orbits spanning the 2015-2019 temporal interval as inputs for Persistent Scatterers InSAR (PSI) processing. We apply spatial-temporal filters and post-processing steps to reduce unrealistic results. Finally, we calibrate InSAR measurements using GNSS velocities derived from permanent stations available in the study area. Our results consist of mean ground velocity maps showing the displacement rates along the radar Line-Of-Sight for each satellite track, from which we estimate the east-west and vertical velocity components. Our results provide a detailed and original view of active vertical and horizontal displacement rates over the whole region, allowing the detection of spatial velocity gradients, which are particularly relevant to a better understanding of the seismogenic potential of the area. As regards the subsidence along the coasts, our measurements confirm the correlation between subsidence and the geological setting of the study area, with rates of similar to 2-4 mm/yr between the Venezia and Marano lagoons, and lower than 1 mm/yr near Grado

Magnetic localization system for short-range positioning: a ready-to-use design tool

Magnetic localization is used in many indoor positioning applications, such as industrial, medical, and IoT, for its benefits related to the absence of line of sight needs, multipath and fading, the low cost of transmitters and receivers, and the simple development of setups made of coils and magnetic sensors. In short-range applications, this technology could bring some advantages with respect to ultrasound, laser, or RF ones. Nevertheless, fixed both the desired accuracy and the energy constraints, the optimal design of a localization system based on magnetic measurement depends on several factors: the dimension, the number and the optimal positions of the anchors, the uncertainties due to the sensing elements, and the data acquisition systems (DAQs). To preliminary fix all these parameters, suitable simulation environments allow developers to save time and money in developing localization applications. Many magnetic field simulators are available, but it is rare to find those that, considering the uncertainty due to the receiver and DAQs, are able to provide optimal anchors scenario given a target accuracy. To address this problem, this article presents a simulation tool providing the user with design requirements for given target accuracy. The aim of this article is to perform the first steps in providing a ready-to-use specification framework that given the localization domain, the mobile sensors, the DAQ characteristics, and the target accuracy and helps the developer of indoor magnetic positioning systems. The actual validity of the simulation model has been tested on a real setup.Postprint (published version

Kinematics of the Central Mediterranean Plate Boundary, Internal Deformation of Sicily and Interseismic Strain Accumulation Across the Messina Straits

In this work we present a new velocity field, obtained by analyzing continuous GPS (CGPS) stations operating in the Mediterranean area (updated to September 2007)and epoch GPS (EGPS) stations in the 1991-2006 time span, particularly denser in the Iblean plateau and across the Messina Straits

A conceptual review of research on the pathological use of computers, video games, and the internet

Author name used in this manuscript: Timothy Sim2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

The interseismic velocity field of the Central Apennine from a dense GPS network

Since 1999 we have repeatedly surveyed the Central Apennines by means of a dense survey style geodetic network (CAGeoNet) consisting in 123 benchmarks distributed in an area of ~180 x 130 km extended from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Adriatic Sea with an average inter-site distance of 3-5 km. The network is located across the main seismogenic structures of the region, able to generate destructive earthquakes. Here we show the horizontal GPS velocity field of the CaGeoNet and the available continuous GPS (CGPS) stations in this region, that are estimated from their position time series in the time span 1999-2007. Data have been analyzed using Bernese and Gamit software and the two solutions have been rigorously combined to minimize software-dependent systematic errors. We analyze the strain rate field, which shows a region characterized by extension located along the axis of the Apennines chain, with values ranging from 2 to 66 10-9 yr-1 and a relative minimum of 20 10-9 yr-1 located in the L’Aquila basin area. Our velocity field represents an improved estimation of the ongoing elastic inter-seismic deformation of central Apennines in particular of the L’Aquila earthquake of April 6th, 2009 area

Sea level changes and vertical land movements in the Mediterranean from historical and geophysical data and modelling

The Mediterranean basin is a natural laboratory for the reconstruction of the sea level variations since paleo-historical times. During the Holocene, sea level variations in this region have been mainly determined by the response of the geoid and of the solid Earth to the melting of remote ice aggregates, which has produced spatially variable signals mostly governed by the effect of ocean loading. An analysis of past and recent sea level variations is possible from various indicators, which provide data on relative sea level and crustal vertical movements on different time scales.PublishedBurlington house, London3.3. Geodinamica e struttura dell'interno della Terraope