Somatic variability in wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) in different areas of Central Italy

A survey of wild boar shot during two consecutive years (hunting seasons 2002-2004) was carried out in order to evaluate which somatic measurements are most significant in identifying and discriminating among different morphotypes in central Italy. Biometric data from 688 wild boars was collected in three different areas of central Italy, two in Viterbo and one in the Province of Rieti. The following somatic measurements were individually recorded for each specimen: head-body length, height at withers, hind-foot length, ear length, ear-snout distance and ear-shoulder distance. Body weight was registered, and age was estimated from tooth eruption and wear. The animals were divided into three age classes; young (aged less then 12 months), sub-adults (aged between 12 and 36 months), and adults (36 months and older). After a preliminary ANOVA procedure, which did not give satisfactory results, a statistical analysis was performed using a canonical discriminant procedure, given an a priori classification (geographical area) and several quantitative variables (somatic measurements and weight). The separation between areas was estimated calculating the squared distance of Mahalanobis. The data referring to all 688 specimens was subjected to factor analysis. The results of the canonical discriminant analysis highlight the existence of two distinct groups within all three age classes. There is a statistically significant difference between the southern- Maremma (SM) vs the Apennine (A) and sub-Apennine (SA) areas, for young (P<0.0001), sub-adults (P<0.001) and adults (P<0.001). The difference between the A and SA areas was significant only for sub-adults (P<0.05). The first canonical variable account for 92.5, 92.7 and 89.9% of the total variance for the three age classes respectively, but this is unequally correlated with the original variables suggesting that the separation between the two areas is due to differences in conformation rather than in body size. On the basis of the discriminant analysis large part of the animals were correctly categorised in the sampling areas. As regards the factor analysis results for the adult group, the first three common factors are able to explain 78, 92, and 64% of the covariance for the data of the SM, A and SA groups respectively. These results suggest that, for the SM group, a differentiation among morphotypes may be possible on the basis of a few somatic measurements. These results confirm the need for biochemical and genetic studies to identify if the different morphotypes refer to the autochthonous wild boar strain

Role of contrast harmonic-endoscopic ultrasound in pancreatic cystic lesions

none4noIncidental pancreatic cysts (PCs) are frequently encountered in the general population often in asymptomatic patients who undergo imaging tests to investigate unrelated conditions. The detection of a PC poses a significant clinical dilemma, as the differential diagnosis is quite broad ranging from benign to malignant conditions. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has been reported to be an accurate tool in the differential diagnosis; however, its sensitivity is suboptimal and false negative results do occur. Contrast harmonic EUS (CH-EUS) was demonstrated to be a useful tool to investigate pancreatic solid lesions to differentiate between benign and malignant ones. In the setting of PCs, CH-EUS could help identify areas of malignant growth inside the cystic cavities. Several studies have reported promising results showing malignant areas in PCs as hyperenhanced lesions. Confirmation of malignancy can then be obtained by FNA, which should be precisely targeted according to the findings of the contrast harmonic study.openSerrani, Marta; Lisotti, Andrea; Caletti, Giancarlo; Fusaroli, PietroSerrani, Marta; Lisotti, Andrea; Caletti, Giancarlo; Fusaroli, Pietr

Further development of feedback control of cavity flow using experimental based reduced order model

In our recent work we presented preliminary results for subsonic cavity flow control using a reduced-order model based feedback control derived from experimental measurements. The model was developed using the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition of PIV images in conjunction with the Galerkin projection of the Navier-Stokes equations onto the resulting spatial eigenfunctions. A linear-quadratic optimal controller was designed to reduce cavity flow resonance by controlling the time coefficient and tested in the experiments. The stochastic estimation method was used for real-time estimation of the corresponding time coefficients from 4 dynamic surface pressure measurements. The results obtained showed that the controller was capable of reducing the cavity flow resonance at the design Mach 0.3 flow, as well as at other flows with slightly different Mach number. In the present work we present several improvements made to the method. The reduced order model was derived from a larger set of PIV measurements and we used 6 sensors for the stochastic estimation of the instantaneous time coefficients. The reduced order model so obtained shows a better convergence of the time coefficients. This combined with the 6-sensor estimation improves the control performance while using a scaling factor closer to the theoretically expected value. The controller also performed better in off design flow conditions

Molecular and functional characterization of human bone marrow adipocytes

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Impact of agricultural management on salts accumulation in dryland soils of central Tunisia

Drylands represent about one-third of the global land and mainly occur in Africa and Asia. Because of the arid conditions, dryland soils are characterized by salt accumulation. Although salt-affected soils are unsuitable for agriculture, some arid lands have been cultivated for a long time. However, especially in the last decades, because of the increasingly warmer climatic conditions and human migration toward favorable environments, a progressive abandonment and degradation of drylands has occurred. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the effects of cultivation on saline soils to develop appropriate soil management techniques to ensure their fertility. This work aims to evaluate the evolution of salinization from currently cultivated soils to soils that have been abandoned for different lengths of time in arid areas of central Tunisia. Morphological and physicochemical properties of the studied soils indicated that the cultivation, through irrigation and the presence of soil cover, reduced salt accumulation in the upper soil horizons. Salt leaching towards deeper horizons and depressed evaporation, which reduced capillary rising, maintained electrical conductivity within tolerable values for most crops. Conversely, the abandonment of previously cultivated fields compromised soil fertility, threatening soil conservation and stabilization of agricultural production in the medium to long term

Final Project Assignment for Topic Highlights: Adaptive Control (May 2017)

Description and synopsis of the final design project for the cours

Mach, flight-path angle and yaw angle commands

This Simulink file contains the commands for Mach, FPA and Yaw to be provided to the reference models. Note that the step command for Mach must be initialized at 0 when used in the linear model and to the initial trim value mach0 when used with the nonlinear model. These command signals must be given as input to the second-order reference models

Nonlinear 6DOF aircraft model

Contains the .xls Simulink model of the 6DOF vehicle dynamics, and .mat files for the model parameters and initial conditions corresponding to the trim point at Mach 1 and 25,000 ft altitude

Simulink model for direct/indirect MRAC examples

This Simulink file is the companion of the initialization and documentation script "init_one_dim_MRAC.m" The .slx file contains the implementation of direct and indirect MRACs for the same plant model. The updates law are endowed with leakage terms with dead-zone modificatio