Fermion masses in a model for spontaneous parity breaking

In this paper we discuss a left-right symmetric model for elementary particles and their connection with the mass spectrum of elementary fermions. The model is based on the group $SU(2)_L\otimes SU(2)_R\otimes U(1)$. New mirror fermions and a minimal set of Higgs particles that breaks the symmetry down to $U(1)_{em}$ are proposed. The model can accommodate a consistent pattern for charged and neutral fermion masses as well as neutrino oscillations. An important consequence of the model is that the connection between the left and right sectors can be done by the neutral vector gauge bosons Z and a new heavy Z'.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. Accepted in Eur. Phys. J.

Constraints on a scale-dependent bias from galaxy clustering

We forecast the future constraints on scale-dependent parametrizations of galaxy bias and their impact on the estimate of cosmological parameters from the power spectrum of galaxies measured in a spectroscopic redshift survey. For the latter we assume a wide survey at relatively large redshifts, similar to the planned Euclid survey, as baseline for future experiments. To assess the impact of the bias we perform a Fisher matrix analysis and we adopt two different parametrizations of scale-dependent bias. The fiducial models for galaxy bias are calibrated using a mock catalogs of H$\alpha$ emitting galaxies mimicking the expected properties of the objects that will be targeted by the Euclid survey. In our analysis we have obtained two main results. First of all, allowing for a scale-dependent bias does not significantly increase the errors on the other cosmological parameters apart from the rms amplitude of density fluctuations, $\sigma_{8}$, and the growth index $\gamma$, whose uncertainties increase by a factor up to two, depending on the bias model adopted. Second, we find that the accuracy in the linear bias parameter $b_{0}$ can be estimated to within 1-2\% at various redshifts regardless of the fiducial model. The non-linear bias parameters have significantly large errors that depend on the model adopted. Despite of this, in the more realistic scenarios departures from the simple linear bias prescription can be detected with a $\sim2\,\sigma$ significance at each redshift explored. Finally, we use the Fisher Matrix formalism to assess the impact of assuming an incorrect bias model and found that the systematic errors induced on the cosmological parameters are similar or even larger than the statistical ones.Comment: new section added; conclusions unchanged; accepted for publication in PR

Net electricity and heat generated by reusing Mediterranean agro-industrial by-products

The necessity to investigate suitable alternatives to conventional fossil fuels has increased interest in several renewable energy resources, especially in biomasses that are widely available and make it possible to reach environmental and socio-economic improvements. Among solutions for bioenergy production, anaerobic digestion technology allows biogas production by reusing agricultural residues and agro-industrial by-products. By considering the basic concepts of the Biogasdoneright® method, the objective of this study was to estimate the theoretical potential net electricity and heat production from anaerobic digestion of citrus pulp and olive pomace highly available worldwide. A model was developed and applied in a study area of the Mediterranean basin, where the biogas sector is still very limited despite the importance of both agricultural and agro-industrial activities, especially with regard to citrus and olive cultivation processing. Firstly, the application of a geographical information system (GIS) software tool allowed the estimation of the biogas potentially produced from citrus pulp and olive pomace re-use. Then, the development of a technical assessment demonstrated that 15.9 GWh electricity and 88,000 GJ heat per year could be generated from these by-products, satisfying approximate 17% of the electricity demand of the agricultural sector of the study area (90.2 GWh y −1 ). The achieved results could be relevant with regard to the intervention priorities established by the European Union related to the planning activities supported by the European Structural and Investment Funds within the Smart Specialisation Strategy

Sustainable Promotion of Traditional Rural Buildings as Built Heritage Attractions: A Heritage Interpretation Methodology Applied in South Italy

The study describes the methodology implemented to include a rural cultural heritage attraction within an existing tourist route, i.e., the Sicilian Roads of Wine (“Strade del vino”). The aim was to promote a traditional rural building (TRB) as a tourist attraction and diversify rural tourism offerings. By promoting TRB and wine and food, the rural tourism sector offers a significant opportunity to achieve sustainable socio-economic development in rural areas, rural diversification, and landscape preservation. The inclusion of the TRB within the visitor route is based on a detailed heritage analysis approach as an operative process which could enable the comprehension and collective use of the cultural sites. The valorization of a traditional rural building with wine cellars and oil mills, located within the Chiaramonte Gulfi (RG) boundary, will be described. The objective is to make an architectural heritage building made with local materials and following the traditional Sicilian building techniques accessible to tourists. Special attention is paid to restore the building by respecting its identity and relevant building regulations and focusing on a complete, sustainable approach regarding social, environmental, and economic factors

Avaliacao da qualidade bacteriologica das aguas de cisternas: estudo de caso no municipio de Petrolina-PE.

A disponibilidade de agua de qualidade e condicao indispensavel para a propria vida. A problematica da falta de agua no semi-arido nordestino, caracterizada principalmente pela irregularidade das chuvas e pela ma qualidade das aguas disponiveis, reflete altos indices de doencas de veiculacao hidrica. O uso de cisternas que captam agua dos telhados para armazena-la durante os meses sem precipitacao, pode minimizar a carencia hidrica, mas propiciar o problema da qualidade da agua, pela nao utilizacao adequada da mesma, expondo-a a riscos de contaminacao. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a qualidade bacteriologica da agua de cisternas da comunidade de Volta do Riacho localizada no municipio de Petrolina-PE e enfocar medidas de protecao da contaminacao por agentes patogenicos associados a doencas veiculadas pela agua. Os resultados obtidos indicaram contaminacao de origem fecal em todas as cisternas avaliadas e tambem a ausencia de medidas de prevencao de contaminacao, principalmente o uso da desinfeccao da agua pelo cloro

Considerações sobre controle e vigilância da qualidade de água de cisternas e seus tratamentos.

No Brasil, principalmente no Semi-Árido, a utilização de cisternas para armazenar água para consumo humano tem sido implementada por meio de programas de cunhos municipal, estadual, federal e, principalmente, por organizações não governamentais, as quais podem ser utilizadas não apenas para captar e armazenar água de chuva, como, também, para armazenar água transportada por carros-pipa. Em ambos os casos, a qualidade da água pode ser afetada por diversos fatores, tornando-se irrelevante garantir a qualidade da água consumida, seja ela oriunda de precipitações e/ou de carros-pipa, pois os riscos à saúde pública existem quer por ausência de abastecimento quer por fornecimento inadequado. Neste sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho é abordar algumas considerações sobre controle e vigilância da qualidade de água de cisterna, os requisitos e padrões de qualidade da água de cisterna para consumo humano, de acordo com a Portaria 1.469/00 do Ministério da Saúde, bem como uma abordar sobre o tratamento da água de cisternas para consumo humano

Seismic Analysis of Traditional Stone Rural Buildings: Case study of a one-storey building

Specific features of traditional rural buildings can influence the assessment of their seismic behaviour. When a change in intended use of traditional rural buildings is necessary, restoration work must comply with specific seismic norms and should preserve their original features. In this paper, a model for the seismic safety verification of masonry walls for inplane actions was applied to investigate the structural behaviour of one-storey stone-masonry traditional rural buildings, in relation to standards application and possible retrofitting interventions. The results showed that pier-panel collapse mechanisms and the simulation method of masonry spandrel behaviour are of importance and affect the need to provide for strengthening interventions