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In the Space and in the Time. Representing Architectural Ideas by Digital Animation
No full textSince the late Nineties, digital architectural animation emerged as one of the main methods for representing design ideas. The ‘spectacle of architecture' created by digital representation of space and time, arose as one of the most effective media for the prefiguration of architectural design. The great complexity of architectural video's production quickly led to the birth of new professionals and creative companies specialized in modelling, rendering, animation, graphics, montage, editing and post production. The author investigates on the methods, techniques and languages of the fourth-dimensional representation of architecture, almost unexplored area of research thus far, by relating them with the architects' personal poetics. To support observations, discoveries and theses, this paper provides analysis and critics of several case studies and traces an ideal interpretative path, considering both to the changing technologies and the emerging specific languages
Flexible work practices and the firm's need for external orientation: An empirical study of SMEs
No full textThe real construction of a dream, from Celebration to New Urbanism. Determinism in the reproduction of a community in the ethical shapes of urban fantasies
No full textMany new towns in the USA are built according to precepts based on the nostalgic utopia of the American small town of the Thirties, in allusive reference to its social and communi-tarian contents. That archetypal models and the myth of an ideal past leave no chance for claims of originality, at ease in the confirmation of the symbolic dominance in which the memory, declined on the side of nostalgia, has both an operational role and an aesthetic function: who decides to live there realise the foundational myth of the society in which neo-traditionalism is experienced as emancipation: as a variant of the Borges cartographer, they cover the ground with the map of what they desire it to be. Contextualism and historicism are the theoretical basis of the hypocrisy of this rhetorical stylistic pluralism passed off for freedom, where overly refined use of historicism is pro-posed as a reaction to the Modern compositional language that conceived the language it-self as an incomplete and inadequate form of representation of reality. On the contrary, to be confident that a design language is clear, stable and unique can lead to an ethical form of representation that includes social and communitarian results. If, as Baudrillard noted, Disneyland masks the absence of a level of reality, these new towns are a gamble even greater because in this game of simulacra, in addition to mask the ab-sence, and without the need, of a real basis, it endangers the life itself of what is been imi-tated. Therefore, the will to revive a sort of Gemeinschaft's socio-spatial relations, in critical opposition of the Gesellschaft, as described by Tönnies, is both social and aesthetic: it is confident in the deterministic ability of these urban fantasies to allow, or define, also the so-cial relations and the forms of its community
Role of surface finishing on the in vitro biological properties of a silicon nitride-titanium nitride (Si3N4-TiN) composite
No full textSilicon nitride (Si3N4) has been introduced clinically as an orthopedic biomaterial for interbody fusion devices and in joint replacements. However, the production of complex shapes through conventional mechanical machining is difficult and expensive and limits interesting applications. Thus, several electrically conductive reinforcements to the Si3N4 matrix, like TiN, have been proposed, generating composites suitable to be wrought by electrical discharge machining (EDM). In this study, Si3N4-TiN with high strength, low density, and good electric conductivity wrought by EDM was studied. The role of surface finishing was investigated comparing the interface generated during the EDM process to that resulting from further polishing. The different topographical features were assessed by electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and profilometry. Surface wettability was also determined based on the measurement of the OCA of water and diiodomethane. The biological responses induced in MC3T3 cells, a widely diffused osteoblast model, were correlated with the surface pattern. The unpolished samples could promote better cell viability, with a more relevant effect on the cytoskeleton arrangement as highlighted by numerous cytoplasmic extensions and filopodia-like structures and the high number of focal adhesions, while MC3T3 cells grown on polished Si3N4-TiN specimens displayed a flat morphology. In addition, the unpolished Si3N4-TiN increased osteocalcin production and calcium deposition. Taken together, these data support the biocompatibility and in vitro osteogenic properties of the electroconductive Si3N4-TiN investigated. Further in vivo studies are required to explore the possible use of bone implants directly obtained by EDM
A dynamical systems framework for crop models: Toward optimal fertilization and irrigation strategies under climatic variability
No full textCrop models are widely used for the modeling and prediction of crop yields, as decision support tools, and to develop research questions. Though typically constructed as a set of dynamical equations, crop models are not often analyzed from a specifically dynamical systems point of view, despite its potential to elucidate the roles of feedbacks and internal and external forcings on system stability and the optimization of control protocols (e.g., irrigation and fertilization). Here we develop a minimal dynamical system, based in part on the widely known AquaCrop model, consisting of a set of ordinary differential equations (ODE's) describing the evolution of canopy cover, soil moisture, and soil nitrogen. These state variables are coupled through canopy growth and senescence, the evapotranspiration and percolation of soil moisture, and the uptake and leaching of soil nitrogen. The system is driven by random hydroclimatic forcing. Important crop model responses, such as biomass and yield, are calculated, and optimal yield and profitability under differing climate scenarios, irrigation strategies, and fertilization strategies are examined within the developed framework. The results highlight the need to maintain the system at or above resource limitation thresholds to achieve optimality and the role of system variability in determining management strategies
A static analysis of three-dimensional sandwich beam structures by hierarchical finite elements modelling
No full textA static analysis of three-dimensional sandwich beam structures using one-dimensional modelling approach is presented within this paper. A family of several one-dimensional beam elements is obtained by hierarchically expanding the displacements over the cross-section and letting the expansion order a free parameter. The finite element approximation order over the beam axis is also a formulation free parameter (linear, quadratic and cubic elements are considered). The principle of virtual displacements is used to obtain the problem weak form and derive the beam stiffness matrix and equivalent load vectors in a nuclear, generic form. Displacements and stresses are presented for different load and constraint configurations. Results are validated towards three-dimensional finite element solutions and experimental results. Sandwich beams present a three-dimensional stress state and higher-order models are necessary for an accurate description. Numerical investigations show that fairly good results with reduced computational costs can be obtained by the proposed finite element formulation
ZnO tetrapods-based humidity sensors
No full textZnO tetrapods were synthesized by an "environmentally green" microwave evaporation of Zn powder in air atmosphere, without any use of organic solvents or precursors. The tetrapods were characterized by X-ray diffractometry and Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy. The ZnO powder was then deposited onto a commercial alumina substrate with interdigitated platinum electrodes and the sensitivity towards humidity was investigated at room temperature. Results showed a significant response from 30% relative humidity values and that the sensors were insensitive to N2O and methane
Modelling and experimental studies on a proportional valve using an innovative dynamic flow-rate measurement in fluid power systems
No full textA numerical model of a servoactuator and of a four-port proportional direction control valve has been developed. Mechanical and hydraulic elements have been simulated in the LMS Amesim environment. The complete model has been validated on the basis of the experimental time histories of the actuator velocity and of the flow-rate controlled by the proportional valve. The validation data have been acquired on a fluid power system used to test electro-hydraulic servovalves according to ISO 10770-1 standard. The measurement of the instantaneous flow-rate through the valve has been performed with an innovative high-dynamics flowmeter, recently developed for high-pressure liquid flows. Furthermore, the model predicted static characteristic of the proportional valve has been compared with a corresponding experimentally derived curve and an analysis of the cause-and-effect relationships has been carried out for the valve static performance. Measured data on valve leakages have also been presented in order to complete the steadystate characterization of the tested valve. The developed model of the hydraulic system has been then applied to realize the Bode diagram of the proportional valve, which is expressed in terms of instantaneous flow-rate as a function of the sinusoidal driving command, as well as the Bode diagram of the subsystem made up of the proportional valve and of the linear actuator. The latter Bode graph is plotted in terms of piston velocity as a function of the sinusoidal driving command provided to the valve. The comparison between the two Bode diagrams has confirmed the accuracy of the ISO procedure, which is based on the assumption of negligible delay introduced by the dynamic response of the servoactuator and by the oil compressibility. A reliable and cost-saving methodology, which uses the innovative flowmeter instead of the low inertia servo-actuator, is proposed as an alternative to the ISO standard for testing the dynamic response of proportional valves
From SMEs networks towards collaborative management
No full textThe main problem of small companies in a global market is to be recognized by potential customers and provide them the products at a competitive price. Their small size, in terms of design and production capacity, puts them in crisis (about 30% of small Italian enterprises have disappeared or have been greatly reduced, since 2007). Hence micro and small enterprises are forced to come together in a "enterprises network", to conclude a "network contract" and to evaluate the advantages to be collaborative members of a network. This paper discusses the problem of analyzing the types of Small Mid Enterprises (SMEs) networks that have been be established in some European countries, the evolution in time of their organization, and the contractual arrangements to establish them. A discussion of some performance indicators will show how a collaborative management can improve the SME networks strength, thus giving them a competitive advantage