Some Loci of Rational Cubic Fourfolds

In this paper we investigate the divisor $\mathcal C_{14}$ inside the moduli space of smooth cubic hypersurfaces in $\mathbb P^5$, whose generic element is a smooth cubic containing a smooth quartic scroll. Using the fact that all degenerations of quartic scrolls in $\mathbb P^5$ contained in a smooth cubic hypersurface are surfaces with one apparent double point, we conclude that every cubic hypersurface belonging to $\mathcal C_{14}$ is rational. As an application of our results and of the construction of some explicit examples contained in the Appendix, we also prove that the Pfaffian locus is not open in $\mathcal C_{14}$.Comment: 24 pages. Final, rewritten and expanded version with some new results, to appear on Math. Annale

Close range mini Uavs photogrammetry for architecture survey

The survey of historical façades contains several bottlenecks, mainly related to the geometrical structure, the decorative framework, the presence of natural or artificial obstacles, the environment limitations. Urban context presents additional restrictions, binding by ground acquisition activity and leading to building data loss. The integration of TLS and close-range photogrammetry allows to go over such stuff, not overcoming the shadows effect due to the ground point of view. In the last year the massive use of UAVs in survey activity has permitted to enlarge survey capabilities, reaching a deeper knowledge in the architecture analysis. In the meanwhile, several behaviour rules have been introduced in different countries, regulating the UAVs use in different field, strongly restricting their application in urban areas. Recently very small and light platforms have been presented, which can partially overcome these rules restrictions, opening to very interesting future scenarios. This article presents the application of one of these very small RPAS (less than 300 g), equipped with a low-cost camera, in a close range photogrammetric survey of an historical building façade in Bologna (Italy). The suggested analysis tries to point out the system accuracy and details acquisition capacity. The final aim of the paper is to validate the application of this new platform in an architectonic survey pipeline, widening the future application of close-range photogrammetry in the architecture acquisition process

Integrated Reverse Modeling Techniques for the Survey of Complex Shapes in Industrial Design

This chapter proposal deals with three-dimensional survey methods applied to the geometrical acquisition of Industrial Design products. 3D acquisition techniques are defined by well-know procedures that nowadays are applied in a lot of fields, from Mechanics to Aerospace, from Robotics to Cultural Heritage. In the last years the impressive technology evolution used for developing hardware and software allowed to reach excellence peaks in the 3D instruments application. At the same time a lot of experiments and researches were leaded in order to reach a well structured pipeline of reverse modeling process, supporting the process from the real object to its digital mould. In the last decade 3D acquisition and modeling techniques tried to support Industrial Design production, but their role in every single process is not yet systematically codified for some bottlenecks present in the design process and in product knowledge, that will be discussed in the chapter in relation with the state of the art of the current technology. In addition the level of geometrical complexity of any specific product often highlight limitations in the use of a single 3D laser scanner technology, which can’t reach good results with all the typologies of Industrial Design products. These factors are critically framed, outlining the definition of object complexity towards the suited choice of survey methods and technologies for every condition. The actual limits of 3D acquisition systems will be identified and compared to integrate ones (i.e. systems composed by different complementary instruments are used together) applied in different fields, from Car Design to Product Restyling, from Nautical Analysis to Design in Cultural Heritage. The aim of the contribution is to demonstrate the intrinsic limits of a single 3D instrument application and the necessity to apply multi-resolution system or sensor fusion to solve the larger part of the problems in the 3D acquisition of complex shapes

INTERTEXTUAL AND BOUNDARY-CROSSING MONSTROSITY IN WILLIAM BURROUGHS’ NAKED LUNCH

The new orientations set by the late 50s American writers have marked new features and peculiarities in the definition of what can be considered as “monstrous”. It would appear that such writers realized how enigmatic monstrosity is, since it is a “fluid” and “slippery” entity and it hides everywhere. Among the different forms of monstrosity that criticism has pinpointed and defined up-to-date, my paper means to analyze the subtle relationships between inner and outer monstrosity in W. Burroughs’ The Naked Lunch (1959). Such inner/outer relationships will be discussed through the consideration of the intertextual and topological characteristics of monstrosity in the novel. Not only do I intend to emphasize the monstrous entity represented by drugs in the book, but I also mean to locate the role of spatial and linguistic elements in the postmodern definition of monstrosity. I will focus on the connections between the protagonists’ changing personalities and the borders they cross, as an inverse Dantesque journey into the underworld. The crossing process of Interzone, as well as the “camouflaging” course of changing personalities, will be revisited by taking into account Derrida’s theories about anarchy and deconstructionism, as well as his concept of the “impossible possibility” of the events, which will analyze the visceral meanings of the “cutup” images in the book. As to the boundary-crossing process, the paper means to interpret, by using Lotman’s spatial theories, the crossing of the different spaces as deconstructing and reassembling moments of further meanings in the narrative architecture of the book itself

“Self-Translation And ‘Intratextual’ Expansion In Nabokov’s Autobiographical Texts: A Model For Brodsky’s Memoirs”

Nabokov’s “triangulation” between Europe and America was characterized by different stages. The aim of this paper is to analyse the elements that led to the writing and re-writing of Nabokov’s memoirs. Starting from the concepts of displacement and misplacement in Brodsky’s most prominent essays, my work will carry out a comparative analysis of the most significant phrases and expressions in Nabokov’s final account of his life, Speak Memory (1966), and in Drugie berega (Other Shores), 1954, the Russian version of Nabokov’s first autobiography. It will point out that the former represents a further revision and, thus, an intratextual expansion of the latter, owing to a process of cultural and linguistic enrichment. I will then focus on the features of Speak Memory from a semiotic angle. The autobiography mingles elements of the Russian world with the ones of the American context, and using the European setting as a transitional space inbetween. Furthermore, the paper will employ Steiner’s theories on bilingual people’s neurological mechanisms, as well as Moro’s recent theories on cognitive neurosciences, to analyse the process which encouraged Nabokov not to relinquish his mother tongue. It will highlight the different “boundaries of Babel” in the work from a neurolinguistic perspective, as borders separating different cognitive areas, thus “forging” Nabokov’s autobiography as a unique output built on different cultural texts and contexts

INTERTEXTUAL AND BOUNDARY-CROSSING MONSTROSITY IN WILLIAM BURROUGHS’ NAKED LUNCH

The new orientations set by the late 50s American writers have marked new features and peculiarities in the definition of what can be considered as “monstrous”. It would appear that such writers realized how enigmatic monstrosity is, since it is a “fluid” and “slippery” entity and it hides everywhere. Among the different forms of monstrosity that criticism has pinpointed and defined up-to-date, my paper means to analyze the subtle relationships between inner and outer monstrosity in W. Burroughs’ The Naked Lunch (1959). Such inner/outer relationships will be discussed through the consideration of the intertextual and topological characteristics of monstrosity in the novel. Not only do I intend to emphasize the monstrous entity represented by drugs in the book, but I also mean to locate the role of spatial and linguistic elements in the postmodern definition of monstrosity. I will focus on the connections between the protagonists’ changing personalities and the borders they cross, as an inverse Dantesque journey into the underworld. The crossing process of Interzone, as well as the “camouflaging” course of changing personalities, will be revisited by taking into account Derrida’s theories about anarchy and deconstructionism, as well as his concept of the “impossible possibility” of the events, which will analyze the visceral meanings of the “cutup” images in the book. As to the boundary-crossing process, the paper means to interpret, by using Lotman’s spatial theories, the crossing of the different spaces as deconstructing and reassembling moments of further meanings in the narrative architecture of the book itself

Team Teaching a Credit Class

The library instruction program at Indiana University-South Bend (IUSB) is much like programs at most other universities. The freshman study skills class and the freshman writing class have required library components in which the librarians introduce the basics of academic library research. Upper level and graduate classes have instruction only upon the request of the individual instructors. While we occasionally have the luxury of seeing a class two times in a semester, the majority of instruction is "one-shot." We also offer occasional workshops open to any student, and our reference-byappointment allows more in-depth instruction for an individual. While assessment of our instruction program shows that students do benefit from our efforts, students often ask how they could learn more. For quite some time we had considered offering a credit course, but we had not been able to free up one individual's time to develop and teach it, and none of the librarians wanted to take on all of the additional work alone. After much discussion, we eventually decided to team teach the course using all of the instruction librarians (who are also most of our reference librarians). In the spring of 1996, we began teaching a one credit-hour course called "Library Resources and Skills" offered through the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS). This article describes the process we used in planning, teaching, and revising the course since its inception

@ Your Library: Public Relations and More at Indiana Libraries

Not so many years ago, public relations in libraries often consisted of no more than an occasional program or a few flyers and newsletters describing library services. These activities principally took place in public libraries. Academic libraries might host an event, but the focus was primarily on fundraising, not on marketing their services. Neither did school nor special librarians feel the need to promote the library to their constituencies. Those were the days when librarians took for granted that everyone knew and understood the value of what we had to offer. We were the source for information; people needed us; and we didn’t need to get involved with the perceived “messiness” of public relations

Quantitative risk assessment on a hydrogen refuelling station

The Directive 2014/94/UE (DAFI, Alternative Fuel Initiative Directive) on the deployment of alternative fuels (i.e. hydrogen) infrastructures has been recently transposed into national law in Italy. Consequently, the technical regulation on fire prevention for H2fuelling stations has been updated, in order to consider the current maximum delivery pressure (700 bar) of gaseous hydrogen for road vehicles. This technical regulation establishes the prescriptive safety distance from a piece of equipment. In the case of a new station, an assessment of the frequency of the event and its potential consequences is necessary. This is to understand which risk can reasonably be mitigated by a safety distance or whether additional mitigation or prevention measures should be taken. This paper presents the quantitative risk assessment (QRA) study on a hydrogen station planned to be installed, study which aims at determining the safety distances. Such study utilizes the Sandia-developed QRA tool, Hydrogen Risk Analysis Model (HyRAM), to calculate risk values when developing risk-equivalent plans. HyRAM combines reduced order deterministic models that characterize hydrogen release and flame behavior with probabilistic risk models to quantify risk values. Thanks to HyRAM tool it is possible to estimate physical effects and consequences on people and structures and plants, related to risk scenarios, by means of a damage model library. Use of risk assessment may allow station owners and designers to flexibly define station-specific mitigations, with the purpose of achieving equal or better levels of safety with respect to prescriptive recommendation levels, as suggested by ISO19880-1 (2018)