Integration of on-board systems preliminary design discipline within a collaborative 3rd generation MDO framework

The integration of the on-board systems design discipline in a collaborative Multidisciplinary Design and Optimization (MDO) framework is presented in this paper. The collaborative MDO framework developed within the context of the EU funded H2020 AGILE project is selected as reference. The technologies developed or made available in the context of the AGILE project are employed for the integration within the MDO framework of ASTRID, an on-board systems design tool owned by Politecnico di Torino. The connection of the tool with a common namespace (i.e. CPACS) and its implementation within two Process Integration and Design Optimization (PIDO) environments are described. An application study is eventually presented, showing the benefits and the potentialities of the integration of the on-board systems design discipline within a collaborative MDO framework

Integration of on-board Systems preliminary design discipline within a collaborative 3rd Generation MDO framework

The integration of the on-board systems design discipline in a collaborative Multidisciplinary Design and Optimization (MDO) framework is presented in this paper. The collaborative MDO framework developed within the context of the EU funded H2020 AGILE project is selected as reference. The technologies developed or made available in the context of the AGILE project are employed for the integration within the MDO framework of ASTRID, an on-board Systems design tool owned by Politecnico di Torino. The connection of the tool with a common namespace (i.e. CPACS) and its implementation within two Process Integration and Design Optimization (PIDO) environments are described. An application study is eventually presented, showing the benefits and the potentialities of the integration of the on-board systems design discipline within a collaborative MDO framework

Plant diversity changes in a nature reserve: a probabilistic sampling method for quantitative assessments

Species pool conservation is critical for the stability of ecosystem processes. However, climate and land use changes will likely affect biodiversity, and managers of protected areas are under increasing pressure to monitor native species diversity changes by approaches that are scientifically sound and comparable over time. Here we describe a plant diversity monitoring system in use since 2002 in the “Montagna di Torricchio” Nature Reserve (LTER_EU_IT_033), a Central Apennines representative area of 317 ha, most of which is under strict protection. The aim of this paper was to assess changes in plant species richness over time and to deduce the patterns of species assemblage. The monitoring system was based on a probabilistic sampling design representative of the different physiognomic vegetation types occurring in the Reserve. A total of 34 plots (10×10m) were sampled in 2002, 2003 and 2015, and their species presence/absence and relative coverage were estimated. Repeated measure ANOVA was used to test for plot-level and ecosystem-based changes in species richness along the study period. Temporal nestedness and temporal turnover metrics were used to assess patterns of species’ compositional changes. The results showed significantly different levels of species richness depending on the year, with the lowest value in 2003, probably linked to extreme drought events. Forest systems were comparatively stable, demonstrating the capacity to buffer interannual climate variability. Regarding compositional changes along the entire period (2002–2015), we found random patterns of both temporal nestedness and turnover, indicating stability in species composition. However, we also showed the contemporary occurrence of species loss and species replacement processes, considering the dry year 2003, a finding which should be further explored through fine-scale studies to unravel mechanisms of community assembly under drought. The use of a probabilistic sampling design representative of the different physiognomic vegetation types proved to be advantageous in monitoring the Nature Reserve vegetation and collecting reliable quantitative information. This data, in turn, provides the basis for improvements in management practices and proposed adaptation measures

Innovations in physical and rehabilitation medicine

peer reviewedAu cours de la dernière décennie, la Médecine Physique et Réadaptation (MPR) est une spécialité médicale qui a fortement évolué dans les différents domaines qui la concernent : de la prise en charge des lombalgies et lombosciatalgies ou encore de l’ostéoporose de manière pluridisciplinaire, en passant par l’utilisation des nouvelles technologies en rééducation neuro-locomotrice et de la robotisation en rééducation, chez les patients amputés par exemple, le développement de la médecine à vocation régénérative et la prévention en traumatologie du sport et, enfin, les progrès des techniques d’électrophysiologie pour le diagnostic des neuropathies à petites fibres. Ces différentes avancées seront abordées dans cet article.Over the last decade, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) is a medical specialty that has evolved considerably in the various fields that concern it : from the management of low back pain and lumbosciatalgia or osteoporosis in a multidisciplinary manner, through the use of new technologies in neuro-locomotor rehabilitation and robotisation in amputee patients for example, the development of regenerative medicine and prevention in sports traumatology and, finally, the progress of electrophysiology techniques for the diagnosis of small-fibre neuropathies. These various advances will be discussed in this article