Polyphase folding at upper structural levels in the Borbera valley (Northern Apennines, Italy): implications for the tectonic evolution of the linkage area between Alps and Apennines

The Borbera Valley (northwestern Italy) is located in a complex geological area where the linkage between Alps and Apennines occurs. In this area the Antola Unit (Late Cretaceous–Palaeocene) is unconformably overlain by the Upper Eocene–Miocene succession of the Tertiary Piedmont Basin. The structural analysis indicates the occurrence of a folding phase of Late Oligocene–Early Miocene age, characterised by recumbent F2 folds. These folds are superposed onto D1 structures related to an early folding phase of Middle Eocene, affecting only the Antola Unit. The occurrence of map-scale D2 folding phase structures that affect the Tertiary Piedmont Basin succession suggests that the linkage area between Alps and Apennines was reactivated during the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene

Cartilage canals in newborn dogs : histochemical and immunohistochemical findings

Cartilage canals (CCs) are microscopic structures involved in secondary ossification centers (SOCs) development. The features of CCs were investigated in the humeral and femoral proximal epiphyses of small-sized newborn dogs (from premature to 28 days after birth) with histochemical and immunohistochemical approaches. Masson's Trichrome revealed a ring-shaped area around CCs, which changes in colour from green (immature collagen) to red (mature collagen) as ossification progresses; perichondrium staining always matched the ring colour. Safranin-O was always negative. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed immunopositivity for both collagen type I and V around the CCs; collagen type II was negative. CCs count showed a tendency to be higher in the humerus than in the femur. This work enlightened for the first time changes in composition of CCs surrounding matrix during SOCs development in dogs, paving the way to further investigations

A novel polyurethane-based sorbent material for oil spills management

The performances of FoamFlex200 (TEST-1 SB S.r.l.), an innovative material based on flexible polyurethane foam, have been tested through laboratory and tank tests for the purpose of oil removal in case of oil spill and water treatment. The possibility of reusing this material after regeneration via manual squeezing or by means of a suitable equipment was also evaluated. By way of comparison, the same experimental tests were conducted using polypropylene (PP) flakes, the material currently most used to cope with spill accidents. To better understand the hydrophobic oleophilic properties of the new material, and its application performance, it was tested with oils having different chemical and physical properties, in particular kerosene, diesel, and crude oil. From the laboratory tests, the capacity of FoamFlex200 to retain oil was found to be directly proportional to the viscosity of the latter. Sorption values detected range from 23.2 ± 1.4 g/g for crude oil and 18.8 ± 1.2 g/g for diesel to 8.8 ± 0.6 g/g for kerosene, confirming the potential of the innovative material compared to the PP. Cyclical use/regeneration tests were also performed, showing a high reusability of the material (up to 200 times according to the manufacturer's declaration), with only a slight sorbent capacity decrease in cycles after the first one. Finally, some considerations based on the sorption capacities found were drawn, suggesting the adoption of the new material as also economically preferable, with relevant savings per kg of hydrocarbon treated ranging from 20% to 40% up to a maximum of 94% in the limit of 200 uses. In addition to these savings, the possibility of recovering sorbed oils represents another important advantage, both in economic and environmental terms

Foliated cataclasites at the base of the Antola unit (italy):structural features and geological implications

The Antola unit is a huge and wide nappe belonging to the Liguride of the Northern Apennines (Italy), deformed at high structural levels during the Eocene tectonic events related to closure of the Ligure-Piemontese oceanic basin and the subsequent continental collision. In this paper the structural study of foliated cataclasites recognized at the base of the Antola unit is provided. The foliated cataclasites display a well-developed S foliation and less abundant R shears, showing a top-to-the-northwest sense of shear. This supports a northwestward 'alpine' vergence of the Antola unit during the early stage of its emplacement during the Eocene

Applications of Genetic Algorithms in Mission Design

Genetic algorithms (GAs) have been showed to match the requirements of optimization problems in mission design. The paper presents the approach pursued at Universita' di Roma "La Sapienza" in order to solve, by means of GAs, two different kinds of problems typical to Astrodynamics. First, the design of a constellation devoted to zonal coverage on a non-continuous time basis has been faced. GAs-specific unneeded request of the derivatives of the cost function is especially advantageous in this problem, faced as a discrete optimization one. Second, the application of GAs to identify optimal solutions to transfer between different altitudes, circular to eccentric terrestrial orbits and to the orbit acquisition since the release from the launcher in parking orbit has been carried on. The possibility to provide an efficient tool for the low-thrust techniques, requiring a detailed and therefore computation expensive analysis is the reason to prefer GAs in the latter case. While all these applications, primarily intended to test the validity of the approach, are aimed to keep as simple as possible the technique, several issues and findings deemed to be of general validity when using GAs are highlighted. More important, GAs confirm once more the interest they recently received in literature as far as it concerns Astrodynamics applications

Tectonic framework of the Northern Ligurian Apennine, Italy

A structural sketch of the northern Ligurian Apennine is proposed. This area is characterized by the superposition of the Antola unit over a stack of tectonic units belonging to the Internal Liguride domain, ie part of the western Tethys oceanic basin. These units, referred to as the Portello, Vermallo, Due Ponti and Gottero units, are characterized by stratigraphic sequences made up of turbiditic and mass gravity deposits of Late Cretaceous-Palaeocene age. The deformation history of the tectonic units outcropping in the northern Ligurian Apennine includes at least three phases of pre-Oligocene folding developed during the closure of the western Tethys and the related continental collision