Amplitude phase-field crystal model for the hexagonal close-packed lattice

The phase field crystal model allows the study of materials on atomic length and diffusive time scales. It accounts for elastic and plastic deformation in crystal lattices, including several processes such as growth, dislocation dynamics, and microstructure evolution. The amplitude expansion of the phase field crystal model (APFC) describes the atomic density by a small set of Fourier modes with slowly-varying amplitudes characterizing lattice deformations. This approach allows for tackling large, three-dimensional systems. However, it has been used mostly for modeling basic lattice symmetries. In this work, we present a coarse-grained description of the hexagonal closed-packed (HCP) lattice that supports lattice deformation and defects. It builds on recent developments of the APFC model and introduces specific modeling aspects for this crystal structure. After illustrating the general modeling framework, we show that the proposed approach allows for simulating relatively large three-dimensional HCP systems hosting complex defect networks

Multiradio sensing systems for home area networking and building management

Many WSN systems use proprietary systems so interoperability between different devices and systems can be at best difficult with various protocols (standards based and non-standards based) used (ZigBee, EnOcean, MODBUS, KNEX, DALI, Powerline, etc.). This work describes the development of a novel low power consumption multiradio system incorporating 32-bit ARM-Cortex microcontroller and multiple radio interfaces - ZigBee/6LoWPAN/Bluetooth LE (Low Energy)/868MHz platform. The multiradio sensing system lends itself to interoperability and standardization between the different technologies which typically make up a heterogeneous network of sensors for both standards based and non-standards based systems. The configurability of the system enables energy savings, and increases the range between single points enabling the implementation of adaptive networking architectures of different configurations. The system described provides a future-proof wireless platform for Home Automation Networks with regards to the network heterogeneity in terms of hardware and protocols defined as being critical for use in the built environment. This system is the first to provide the capability to communicate in the 2.4GHz band as well as the 868MHz band as well as the feature of multiboot capability

Multiradio, multiboot capable sensing systems for home area networking

The development of Wireless Sensor Networking technology to deploy in smart home environments for a variety of applications such as Home Area Networking has been the focus of commercial and academic interest for the last decade. Developers of such systems have not adopted a common standard for communications in such schemes. Many Wireless Sensor Network systems use proprietary systems so interoperability between different devices and systems can be at best difficult with various protocols (standards based and non-standards based) used (ZigBee, EnOcean, MODBUS, KNX, DALI, Powerline, etc.). This work describes the development of a novel low power consumption multiradio system incorporating 32-bit ARM-Cortex microcontroller and multiple radio interfaces - ZigBee/6LoWPAN/Bluetooth LE/868MHz platform. The multiradio sensing system lends itself to interoperability and standardization between the different technologies, which typically make up a heterogeneous network of sensors for both standards based and non-standards based systems. The configurability of the system enables energy savings, and increases the range between single points enabling the implementation of adaptive networking architectures of different configurations. The system described provides a future-proof wireless platform for Home Automation Networks with regards to the network heterogeneity in terms of hardware and protocols defined as being critical for use in the built environment. This system is the first to provide the capability to communicate in the 2.4GHz band as well as the 868MHz band as well as the feature of multiboot capability. A description of the system operation and potential for power savings through the use of such a system is provided. Using such a multiradio, multiboot capable, system can not only allow interoperability across multiple radio platforms in a Home Area Network, but can also increase battery lifetime by 20 – 25% in standard sensing applications

Amplitude expansion of the phase-field crystal model for complex crystal structures

The phase-field crystal (PFC) model describes crystal lattices at diffusive timescales. Its amplitude expansion (APFC) can be applied to the investigation of relatively large systems under some approximations. However, crystal symmetries accessible within the APFC model are limited to basic ones, namely triangular and square in two dimensions, and body-centered cubic and face-centered cubic in three dimensions. In this work, we propose a general, amplitudes-based description of virtually any lattice symmetry. To fully exploit the advantages of this model, featuring slowly varying quantities in bulk and localized significant variations at dislocations and interfaces, we consider formulations suitable for real-space numerical methods supporting adaptive spatial discretization. We explore approaches originally proposed for the PFC model which allow for symmetries beyond basic ones through extended parametrizations. Moreover, we tackle the modeling of non-Bravais lattices by introducing an amplitude expansion for lattices with a basis and further generalizations. We study and discuss the stability of selected, prototypical lattice symmetries. As pivotal examples, we show that the proposed approach allows for a coarse-grained description of the kagome lattice, exotic square arrangements, and the diamond lattice, as bulk crystals and, importantly, hosting dislocations.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Innovative low power multiradio sensing and control device for non-intrusive occupancy monitoring

New tools and methodologies to reduce the gap between predicted and actual energy performances at the level of buildings and blocks of buildings are in continuous development in academic and industry organizations. The development of Wireless Sensor Networking (WSN) technology plays a core role in this field since their development enables the monitoring and control of application within the building environment. In this paper the development of a low power consumption multiradio and multisensing system to monitor building conditions and enable the interaction of occupants with devices through embedded actuators is described. The device (named NOD) incorporates a 32-bit ARM-Cortex microcontroller, a variety of sensors to monitor the ambient conditions – luminance, temperature, humidity, air quality - and multiple radio interfaces - WiFi/Bluetooth LE/868MHz. The NOD is intended to be used as a desktop device with a dedicated user interface. A description of the system and its features and functionalities is provided

The quality of low lactose milk is affected by the side proteolytic activity of the lactase used in the production process

Lactose intolerance syndrome can be efficiently tackled consuming low lactose products. Lactase is the key tool to manufacture low lactose milk (LLM): its addition during milk processing can be done in batch, i.e. before thermal treatment, or directly in pack after sterilization. In this paper data on sensory properties, Maillard Reaction products (MRPs) and free amino acids formation were obtained on six commercial Italian LLMs over six months storage. They showed that the side proteolytic activity of lactase caused the release of amino acids with a significant higher MRPs and off-flavors formation in four out of five samples produced by adding the enzyme in the pack after thermal treatment. We concluded that the in pack addition of lactase after milk sterilization can have negative sensorial and nutritional consequences mainly related to the enzyme side proteolytic activity especially for prolonged storage time

Occurrence and associative value of non-identifiable fingermarks

Fingermarks that have insufficient characteristics for identification often have discernible characteristics that could form the basis for lesser degrees of correspondence or probability of occurrence within a population. Currently, those latent prints that experts judge to be insufficient for identification are not used as associative evidence. How often do such prints occur and what is their potential value for association? The answers are important. We could be routinely setting aside a very important source of associative evidence, with high potential impact, in many cases; or such prints might be of very low utility, adding very little, or only very rarely contributing to cases in a meaningful way. The first step is to better understand the occurrence and range of associative value of these fingermarks. The project goal was to explore and test a theory that in large numbers of cases fingermarks of no value for identification purposes occur and are readily available, though not used, and yet have associative value that could provide useful information. Latent fingermarks were collected from nine state and local jurisdictions. Fingermarks included were those (1) collected in the course of investigations using existing jurisdictional procedures, (2) originally assessed by the laboratory as of no value for identification (NVID), (3) re-assessed by expert review as NVID, but with least three clear and reliable minutiae in relationship to one another, and (4) determined to show at least three auto-encoded minutiae. An expected associative value (ESLR) for each mark was measured, without reference to a putative source, based on modeling within-variability and between-variability of AFIS scores. This method incorporated (1) latest generation feature extraction, (2) a (minutiae-only) matcher, (3) a validated distortion model, and (4) NIST SD27 database calibration. Observed associative value distributions were determined for violent crimes, property crimes, and for existing objective measurements of latent print quality. 750 Non Identifiable Fingermarks (NIFMs) showed values of Log10 ESLR ranging from 1.05 to 10.88, with a mean value of 5.56 (s.d. 2.29), corresponding to an ESLR of approximately 380,000. It is clear that there are large numbers of cases where NIFMs occur that have high potential associative value as indicated by the ESLR. These NIFMs are readily available, but not used, yet have associative value that could provide useful information. These findings lead to the follow-on questions, “How useful would NIFM evidence be in actual practice?” and, “What developments or improvements are needed to maximize this contribution?

Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Determinants and Obstacles among Italian University Students

The awareness of citizens concerning the health risks caused by environmental pollution is growing, but studies on determinants of pro-environmental behaviors have rarely examined health-related aspects. In this study, we investigated these determinants using data from a large survey among Italian university students (15 Universities: 4778 filled questionnaires). Besides the health-related aspects, represented by environmental health risk perception and functional health literacy, we considered social and demographic characteristics (gender, area of residence, sources of information, trust in institutional and non-institutional subjects, and students' capacity of positive actions, indicated as internal locus of control). The attitudes towards pro-environmental behaviors were positive for more than 70% of students and positively related with health risk perception, internal locus of control, and health literacy. The correspondence between the positive attitudes towards pro-environmental behaviors and the real adoption of such behaviors was approximately 20% for most behaviors, except for the separate collection of waste (60%). Such a discrepancy can be attributable to external obstacles (i.e., lack of time, costs, lack of support). The health-related aspects were linked to the pro-environmental attitudes, but to a lesser extent to pro-environmental behaviors, owing to the complexity of their determinants. However, they should be taken in account in planning education interventions

The full-length prototype of the KLOE drift chamber

The main goal of the KLOE experiment is the study of CP violation in the K mesons system, with an accuracy of 10(-4) in the measurement of Re(epsilon'/epsilon). This task imposes strong constraints on the design and operation of the drift chamber, which must reconstruct the charged decays of low momentum K-L's and K-S's with high efficiency and high resolution, full-length prototype of the chamber has been built and tested on a 50 GeV/c beam. The analysis of the large sample of data has allowed a detailed study of the time to distance relations as a function of the track parameters and of the peculiar geometry of the drift cell, The detector performance, in terms of efficiency, spatial resolutions and dE/dx resolution, is illustrated and discussed