Multi-line Stokes inversion for prominence magnetic-field diagnostics

We present test results on the simultaneous inversion of the Stokes profiles of the He I lines at 587.6 nm (D_3) and 1083.0 nm in prominences (90-deg scattering). We created datasets of synthetic Stokes profiles for the case of quiescent prominences (B<200 G), assuming a conservative value of 10^-3 of the peak intensity for the polarimetric sensitivity of the simulated observations. In this work, we focus on the error analysis for the inference of the magnetic field vector, under the usual assumption that the prominence can be assimilated to a slab of finite optical thickness with uniform magnetic and thermodynamic properties. We find that the simultaneous inversion of the two lines significantly reduces the errors on the inference of the magnetic field vector, with respect to the case of single-line inversion. These results provide a solid justification for current and future instrumental efforts with multi-line capabilities for the observations of solar prominences and filaments.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

Evoluzione geomorfologica di un'area suburbana di Castronuovo S. Andrea (PZ) ed incidenza delle piogge su alcuni movimenti di massa

This work deals with the results obtained from geomorphological and hydrological investigation conducted in order to point out the complex geomorphological evolution related to a large part of the Castronuovo S. Andrea (Pz) territory, to identify the landslide typology of two different mass movements under investigation, as well as the influence caused by the rainfall. The landslide under study occurred on two opposite slopes of the low valley of torrent Mastro Ciardi, characterized by the same stratigraphic-structural, hydrogeological and geotechnical environment. The first slope e can be ascribed to a displacement of a first detachment, while the other one brat least 700io can be referred to a rimobilization phenomenon; both landslides, to a variable extent, have been influenced by tectonic joints following two different directions: NE - SW and WNW - ESE. As far as the last 40 years are concerned, the morphological evolution of the areas under study has been obtained resorting to analyses, even comparative, of aerial photos at different generation; the relationship between rainfall and landslide has been identified in an empirical way through special models

18F-FDGPET/CT: diabetes and hyperglycaemia

BACKGROUND: Some patients who undergo 18F-FDG PET/CT for neoplastic or benign disease are also affected by diabetes or hyperglycaemia. We propose different preparation procedures in patients (pts) with hyperglycaemia (acute, temporary or chronic) or diabetes (type 1 or 2) at the time of the 18F-FDG injection, in order to improve the diagnostic scheduling of 18F-FDG PET/CT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated a sample of 13,063 pts, examined in two different PET/CT centres, one with a stationary scanner (94.4%) and the other with a mobile device (5.6%). High blood sugar was present in 1,698 patients (13%) at the time of the 18F-FDG injection (hyperglycaemia was defined as fasting blood glucose > 11.1 mmol/l). We considered all 18F-FDG PET/CT tests performed over a period of 4 years (2006-2009). In the first 2 years (6,236 tests), scheduling was done directly by the administrative secretary. In the next two years, 6,827 pts underwent a preliminary visit to assess the test indications, medical history, and therapy as well as pre-test preparation. We evaluated different preparation protocols for hyperglycaemic or diabetic pts, especially those recommended in the guidelines of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) and Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM). RESULTS: In the four-year period, 713/13,063 patients (5.45%) were rescheduled; of these, 78.8% were rescheduled in the two years before the implementation of our preparation protocols and 21.2% in the next two years. Before the implementation of our preparation protocols, 562 patients (9%) presented occasional, acute or chronic hyperglycaemia (56.7%), or diabetes (43.3%), requiring postponement of the test to a later date. The test was not performed in 17 of 6,236 pts (0.27%) because of blood glucose levels above 11.1 mmol/l for several days, while in 16/6236 pts (0.26%) the 18F-FDG injection was performed despite high blood glucose levels, in view of the clinical urgency. After the implementation of the preparation protocols, 2.2% of pts were rescheduled because of occasional, acute or chronic hyperglycaemia (79%), or diabetes (21%); 0.1% of pts did not undergo the test because of chronic high blood glucose levels. Although the administration of insulin is recommended in the EANM and SNM guidelines, in our new preparation procedures experience it was not necessary, because we reduced the numbers of hyperglycaemic pts thanks to screening at the preliminary visit and a subsequent good preparation of the patient before scheduling. CONCLUSIONS: The application of our preparation protocols improves the on-time performance and diagnostic accuracy, and increases patients' compliance. Copyright © 2013 Via Medica

Maximizing team synergy in AI-related interdisciplinary groups: an interdisciplinary-by-design iterative methodology

In this paper, we propose a methodology to maximize the benefits of interdisciplinary cooperation in AI research groups. Firstly, we build the case for the importance of interdisciplinarity in research groups as the best means to tackle the social implications brought about by AI systems, against the backdrop of the EU Commission proposal for an Artificial Intelligence Act. As we are an interdisciplinary group, we address the multi-faceted implications of the mass-scale diffusion of AI-driven technologies. The result of our exercise lead us to postulate the necessity of a behavioural theory that standardizes the interaction process of interdisciplinary groups. In light of this, we conduct a review of the existing approaches to interdisciplinary research on AI appliances, leading to the development of methodologies like ethics-by-design and value-sensitive design, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. We then put forth an iterative process theory hinging on a narrative approach consisting of four phases: (i) definition of the hypothesis space, (ii) building-up of a common lexicon, (iii) scenario-building, (iv) interdisciplinary self-assessment. Finally, we identify the most relevant fields of application for such a methodology and discuss possible case studies

A Microchip Integrated Sensor for the Monitoring of High Concentration Photo-voltaic Solar Modules

Abstract A CMOS sensor fabricated in 0.35μm technology, specifically designed for the monitoring of High Concentration Photo-Voltaic (HCPV) modules, is presented. The microchip was designed to monitor temperature and illumination of each solar cell in a module. Temperature is measured by monitoring the base-emitter voltage of two coupled, diode connected, bipolar transistors, while the illumination sensor is an integrated p-n junction photodiode. A custom communication protocol is implemented in the chip to allow the sharing of a two-wire communication resource among the cells

2D non-LTE radiative modelling of He I spectral lines formed in solar prominences

The diagnosis of new high-resolution spectropolarimetric observations of solar prominences made in the visible and near-infrared mainly, requires a radiative modelling taking into account for both multi-dimensional geometry and complex atomic models. Hereafter we contribute to the improvement of the diagnosis based on the observation of He I multiplets, by considering 2D non-LTE unpolarized radiation transfer, and taking also into account the atomic fine structure of helium. It is an improvement and a direct application of the multi-grid Gauss-Seidel/SOR iterative scheme in 2D cartesian geometry developed by us. It allows us to compute realistic emergent intensity profiles for the He I 10830 A and D3 multiplets, which can be directly compared to the simultaneous and high-resolution observations made at THeMIS. A preliminary 2D multi-thread modelling is also discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figures, A&

EFFECTS OF RAW SOYBEAN SEEDS LOW IN ANTINUTRITIONAL FACTORS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS QUALITY AND NITROGEN EXCRETION OF HEAVY PIGS IN AN ORGANIC FARM

Forty eight pigs were reared in outdoor pens (1.2 ha of land surface) from 80 to 180 kg of live weight. Two isoenergetic (ME = 14.6 MJ/kg DM) and isonitrogenous (CP=17.0% DM) feeds were compared; the first feed contained 10% of toasted full-fat soybean of conventional cultivars (TS), in the second one the toasted soybean was replaced by raw full-fat soybean low in antinutritional factors (RS). The pigs were blocked in 4 groups of 12 animals each and fed ad libitum. At 0, 43, 106 days on trial pigs were weighted, back-fat thickness was measured and blood samples were collected. At slaughter, samples of ham cover fat were collected to evaluate their acidic profile. The effects of feeds on growth performance, slaughter parameters, metabolic profile and nitrogen excretion (Nex) were studied. Nex was computed as difference between consumption and retention. No significant effects were observed on growth performance, carcass quality and metabolic profile, but with RS plasma urea concentration significantly decreased with respect to TS (5.33 vs. 6.67 mmol/l; P<0.01), reflecting a lower N digestibility of RS. Results indicated that 10% of low antinutritional factors raw soybean can be used on heavy pigs without relevant effects on performance and carcass quality. N in manure averaged 22.8 kg/pig place/year (assuming 3 cycles/year). Caution should be taken in outdoor pig systems since the land is uncropped and the risks of pollution are high

Estimation of solar prominence magnetic fields based on the reconstructed 3D trajectories of prominence knots

We present an estimation of the lower limits of local magnetic fields in quiescent, activated, and active (surges) promineces, based on reconstructed 3-dimensional (3D) trajectories of individual prominence knots. The 3D trajectories, velocities, tangential and centripetal accelerations of the knots were reconstructed using observational data collected with a single ground-based telescope equipped with a Multi-channel Subtractive Double Pass imaging spectrograph. Lower limits of magnetic fields channeling observed plasma flows were estimated under assumption of the equipartition principle. Assuming approximate electron densities of the plasma n_e = 5*10^{11} cm^{-3} in surges and n_e = 5*10^{10} cm^{-3} in quiescent/activated prominences, we found that the magnetic fields channeling two observed surges range from 16 to 40 Gauss, while in quiescent and activated prominences they were less than 10 Gauss. Our results are consistent with previous detections of weak local magnetic fields in the solar prominences.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, 1 tabl

Silver metal nano-matrixes as high efficiency and versatile catalytic reactors for environmental remediation

Nano-porous metallic matrixes (NMMs) offer superior surface to volume ratios as well as enhanced optical, photonic, and electronic properties to bulk metallic materials. Such behaviours are correlated to the nano-scale inter-grain metal domains that favour the presence of electronic vacancies. In this work, continuous 3D NMMs were synthesized for the first time through a simple diffusion-reduction process whereby the aerogel matrix was functionalized with (3-Mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane. The surface energy of the silica monolith templates was tuned to improve the homogeneity of the reduction process while thiol functionalization facilitated the formation of a high density of seeding points for metal ions to reduce. The diameter of NMMs was between 2 and 1000&thinsp;nm, corresponding to a silver loading between 1.23 and 41.16 at.%. A rates of catalytic degradation kinetics of these NMMS which is three orders of magnitude higher than those of the non-functionalized silver-silica structures. Furthermore, the enhancement in mechanical stability at nanoscale which was evaluated by Atomic Force Microscopy force measurements, electronic density and chemical inertness was assessed and critically correlated to their catalytic potential. This strategy opens up new avenues for design of complex architectures of either single or multi-metal alloy NMMs with enhanced surface properties for various applications

Recent Advances in Chromospheric and Coronal Polarization Diagnostics

I review some recent advances in methods to diagnose polarized radiation with which we may hope to explore the magnetism of the solar chromosphere and corona. These methods are based on the remarkable signatures that the radiatively induced quantum coherences produce in the emergent spectral line polarization and on the joint action of the Hanle and Zeeman effects. Some applications to spicules, prominences, active region filaments, emerging flux regions and the quiet chromosphere are discussed.Comment: Review paper to appear in "Magnetic Coupling between the Interior and the Atmosphere of the Sun", eds. S. S. Hasan and R. J. Rutten, Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, Springer-Verlag, 200