Building of tri-axial strain gauge based on FBG sensors

Since their invention, sensors based on optical fibers are powerful and versatile devices. Nowadays they play a fundamental role in many different fields, e.g., telecommunication, civil engineering, science research and more. Wide applications are related to the possibility of realize the so called Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG). A FBG is a fiber in which a Bragg grating is created: this is a periodic modulation of the refractive index of the fiber core, that acts like a band-rejection filter with respect to the light travelling into the fiber. This particular kind of structure allows to realize several optical devices like Fabry-P ́ erot or Circulator. High reflectivity FBG can be also used as mirrors at the ends of a doped fiber to create fiber laser. The grating period and, consequently, the reflected and transmitted wavelengths, depend on the temperature variation and fiber dilatation or contraction. Observing the wavelength shift it is possible to evaluate the temperature changes or the fiber elongation, this make the FBG a thermometer and a strain gauge. Moreover we can measure external perturbations converting them into fiber strain by a suitable system. So FBGs can be used in devices like flow-meter, magnetic/electric field meter etc. Relevant applications of FBGs can be found in geology and geophysics. Within these fields, in particular, there is a project that is planning to use them as strain sensors: MEDiterranean SUpersite Volcanoes (MED-SUV), an European project under the coordination of European Plate Observing System (EPOS). This project, together with FUTUREVOLC and MARsite, plans to enhance the current knowledge bout geohazards, in order to improve the scientific institutions capacity in preventing the damage on environment and population. MED-SUV is focused on the study of Italian volcanoes: CampiFlogei/Vesuvius and Etna. As a general framework, this thesis is involved in the MED-SUV project, which studies mount Etna. In collaboration with Marwan Technology, a spin-off company of the Department of Physics of Pisa niversity, we have realized a tri-axial strain gauge sensor and the interrogating system that controls it. The sensor is designed to measure the rock movements along the three Cartesian axes. This kind of measurement requires that the sensor is installed in hostile environment, on the slope of mount Etna. For these reasons, the project specifications for the building of sensor and interrogation system are: low cost, low energetic consumption and reduced dimension. In particular, the last parameter is due to the necessity of installing the sensor in the bottom of a 10 meter borehole, dug in the basalt rock. The interrogation system has been realized with the cooperation of the Osservatorio Vesuviano, whose researchers realized the ”GILDA datalogger”, expressly studied to work in hostile environment and that will be use as acquisition system. To interrogate the response of the FBGs, we have assembled an opto-electronic device based on a super luminescent diode, as light source, an Array Waveguide Grating (AWG) as wavelength discriminator, and six photodiodes, to convert light signal into voltage difference. Using energy-saving components, solar panels and battery this interrogation system is designed to work unattended for months. We successfully tested it the in laboratory, verifying that the sensor can measure strain with a sensitivity of the order of 0.5 [με ] and a dynamic range of 120 [με]

Regeneration of non-chimeric plants from DNA-free edited grapevine protoplasts

The application of New Breeding Techniques (NBTs) in Vitis vinifera is highly desirable to introduce valuable traits while preserving the genotype of the elite cultivars. However, a broad application of NBTs through standard DNA-based transformation is poorly accepted by public opinion and law regulations in Europe and other countries due to the stable integration of exogenous DNA, which leads to transgenic plants possibly affected by chimerism. A single-cell based approach, coupled with a DNA-free transfection of the CRISPR/Cas editing machinery, constitutes a powerful tool to overcome these problems and maintain the original genetic make-up in the whole organism. We here describe a successful single-cell based, DNA-free methodology to obtain edited grapevine plants, regenerated from protoplasts isolated from embryogenic callus of two table grapevine varieties (V. vinifera cv. Crimson seedless and Sugraone). The regenerated, non-chimeric plants were edited on the downy- and powdery-mildew susceptibility genes, VviDMR6 and VviMlo6 respectively, either as single or double mutant

Three-axial Fiber Bragg Grating Strain Sensor for Volcano Monitoring

Fiber optic and FBGs sensors have attained a large diffusion in the last years as cost-effective monitoring and diagnostic devices in civil engineering. However, in spite of their potential impact, these instruments have found very limited application in geophysics. In order to study earthquakes and volcanoes, the measurement of crustal deformation is of crucial importance. Stress and strain behaviour is among the best indicators of changes in the activity of volcanoes .. Deep bore-hole dilatometers and strainmeters have been employed for volcano monitoring. These instruments are very sensitive and reliable, but are not cost-effective and their installation requires a large effort. Fiber optic based devices offer low cost, small size, wide frequency band, easier deployment and even the possibility of creating a local network with several sensors linked in an array. We present the realization, installation and first results of a shallow-borehole (8,5 meters depth) three-axial Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) strain sensor prototype. This sensor has been developed in the framework of the MED-SUV project and installed on Etna volcano, in the facilities of the Serra La Nave astrophysical observatory. The installation siteis about 7 Km South-West of the summit craters, at an elevation of about 1740 m. The main goal of our work is the realization of a three-axial device having a high resolution and accuracy in static and dynamic strain measurements, with special attention to the trade-off among resolution, cost and power consumption. The sensor structure and its read-out system are innovative and offer practical advantages in comparison with traditional strain meters. Here we present data collected during the first five months of operation. In particular, the very clear signals recorded in the occurrence of the Central Italy seismic event of October 30th demonstrate the performances of our device.PublishedWien7TM. Sviluppo e Trasferimento Tecnologic

An underground Sagnac gyroscope with sub-prad/s rotation rate sensitivity: toward General Relativity tests on Earth

Measuring in a single location on Earth its angular rotation rate with respect to the celestial frame, with a sensitivity enabling access to the tiny Lense-Thirring effect is an extremely challenging task. GINGERINO is a large frame ring laser gyroscope, operating free running and unattended inside the underground laboratory of the Gran Sasso, Italy. The main geodetic signals, i.e., Annual and Chandler wobbles, daily polar motion and Length of the Day, are recovered from GINGERINO data using standard linear regression methods, demonstrating a sensitivity better than 1 prad/s, therefore close to the requirements for an Earth-based Lense-Thirring test.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Erratum to: Constraining theories of gravity by GINGER experiment

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Simultaneous editing of two DMR6 genes in grapevine results in reduced susceptibility to downy mildew

The reduction of pesticides’ treatments is of paramount importance for the sustainability of viticulture, and it can be achieved by a combination of strategies including the cultivation of vines (Vitis vinifera) that are resistant or tolerant to diseases such as downy mildew (DM). In many crops, the knock-out of Downy Mildew Resistant 6 (DMR6) proved successful in controlling DM-resistance, but the effect of mutations in DMR6 genes in not yet known in grapevine.Today, gene editing serves crop improvement with small and specific mutations while maintaining the genetic background of commercially important clones. Moreover, recent technological advances allowed to produce non-transgenic grapevine clones by regeneration of protoplasts edited with the CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein. This approach may revolutionize the production of new grapevine varieties and clones, but it requires knowledge on the targets, and on the impact of editing on plant phenotype and fitness in different cultivars. In this work we generated single and double knock-out mutants by editing DMR6 susceptibility (S) genes using CRISPR/Cas9, and showed that only the combined mutations in VviDMR6-1 and VviDMR6-2 are effective in reducing susceptibility to DM in two table-grape cultivars by increasing the levels of endogenous salicylic acid. Therefore, editing both genes may be necessary for effective DM control in real-world agricultural settings, which could potentially lead to unwanted phenotypes. Additional research, including trials conducted in experimental vineyards, is required to gain a deeper understanding of DMR6-based resistance

How future surgery will benefit from SARS-COV-2-related measures: a SPIGC survey conveying the perspective of Italian surgeons

COVID-19 negatively affected surgical activity, but the potential benefits resulting from adopted measures remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in surgical activity and potential benefit from COVID-19 measures in perspective of Italian surgeons on behalf of SPIGC. A nationwide online survey on surgical practice before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic was conducted in March-April 2022 (NCT:05323851). Effects of COVID-19 hospital-related measures on surgical patients' management and personal professional development across surgical specialties were explored. Data on demographics, pre-operative/peri-operative/post-operative management, and professional development were collected. Outcomes were matched with the corresponding volume. Four hundred and seventy-three respondents were included in final analysis across 14 surgical specialties. Since SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, application of telematic consultations (4.1% vs. 21.6%; p < 0.0001) and diagnostic evaluations (16.4% vs. 42.2%; p < 0.0001) increased. Elective surgical activities significantly reduced and surgeons opted more frequently for conservative management with a possible indication for elective (26.3% vs. 35.7%; p < 0.0001) or urgent (20.4% vs. 38.5%; p < 0.0001) surgery. All new COVID-related measures are perceived to be maintained in the future. Surgeons' personal education online increased from 12.6% (pre-COVID) to 86.6% (post-COVID; p < 0.0001). Online educational activities are considered a beneficial effect from COVID pandemic (56.4%). COVID-19 had a great impact on surgical specialties, with significant reduction of operation volume. However, some forced changes turned out to be benefits. Isolation measures pushed the use of telemedicine and telemetric devices for outpatient practice and favored communication for educational purposes and surgeon-patient/family communication. From the Italian surgeons' perspective, COVID-related measures will continue to influence future surgical clinical practice

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good