82 research outputs found
Un metodo originale per la valutazione del danno di edifici di c.a. basato su dati sperimentali prodotti da monitoraggio sismico permanente
No full textStructural monitoring by the Italian Department of Civil Protection and the case of 2009 Abruzzo seismic sequence
No full textThis paper describes the accelerometric monitoring of buildings carried out by the Italian Department of Civil Protection (DPC) during the seismic aftershock sequence that hit Abruzzi (Italy) in 2009. This activity is illustrated in the framework of the whole DPC action in the field of seismic monitoring of civil structures. To this end a short description of the "Seismic Observatory of Structures", a permanent seismic monitoring network managed by DPC, is provided, and methods used for selecting, studying and modeling structures are presented. Particular attention is devoted to procedures and techniques used for data analysis and damage assessment. Finally, the case study of the town hall building of Pizzoli is shown to illustrate the results that can be obtained from measurement of the building response to aftershocks
Tecniche di valutazione della capacità prestazionale di edifici in cemento armato: applicazione agli edifici di Bonefro.
No full textI due edifici di Bonefro (CB) di proprietà IACP colpiti dal sisma del 31 ottobre 2002 rappresentano un caso di studio di notevole interesse per il settore dell’assessment sismico di edifici esistenti. Infatti i dati messi a disposizione dal Dipartimento della Protezione Civile Nazionale attraverso il progetto BOB-CODE comprendono significative informazioni sulle caratteristiche geometriche, meccaniche e costruttive dei due edifici nonché registrazioni sperimentali di vibrazione degli stessi. Allo stesso tempo è disponibile il quadro dei danni provocati dal terremoto. La particolare valenza per l’applicazione di tecniche di assessment nasce dalla disponibilità delle informazioni dette, ma anche dalla incompletezza delle stesse (livelli di conoscenza).
Obiettivo dello studio proposto è l’identificazione dell’assetto geometrico-costruttivo dell’edificio maggiormente danneggiato a quattro piani (Edificio 4P) a seguito delle due scosse principali verificatesi nel corso della sequenza sismica iniziata il 31 ottobre 2002, in-sieme con la caratterizzazione quantitativa delle scosse medesime in termini di accelerazione strutturale e PGA. L’obiettivo è perseguito con una serie di attività finalizzate: 1) alla redazione e aggiornamento di modelli in campo lineare e non lineare ed al loro utilizzo per le relative analisi, 2) alla interpretazione dei danni subiti dai due edifici, 3) all’analisi dei dati sperimentali
Consumer perception of attributes of organic food in Italy: A CUB model study
No full textOrganic food, consumers and their buying behaviour are well examined fields of research, although there is a lack of consistent findings on consumers' perception about organic food's quality, in terms of healthiness, safety, and environmental sustainability, and on determinants of perceived quality. This study investigates how consumers perceive the quality of organic food, in terms of environmental sustainability, safety, and healthiness. The study also analyses how and to what extent perceived quality of organic food is influenced by the presence of information related to quality on food products' labels and consumers' socio-demographic profile. A survey has been conducted on a convenience sample of Italian consumers, recruited through a snowball sampling technique. An approach based on a Combination of Uniform and shifted Binomial random variables, named CUB model, is adopted to analyse consumers' perceptions in terms of two latent components, feeling and uncertainty. The CUB model approach is suitable for analyses that involve consumers perception. The results suggest that consumers perceive safety of organic food better than healthiness and environmentally sustainable attributes. Findings also highlight that the presence of specific information on food's label contributes to perceive organic food as healthier, safe, and environmentally sustainable: the more the details on food labels, the higher the consumers' perception. Furthermore, consumers' socio-demographic profile plays a significant role: males and females have a different perception of organic food and younger consumers tend to be more prone to buy and consume organic product
Load control through smart-metering on distribution networks
No full textRecent developments of distribution systems take advantages of new technical issues and networks equipments such as: DG (Distributed Generation), Smart Grids, Smart Metering, etc.. The aim of the paper is to propose an approach for load/generation control in distribution grid based on the solution of an OPF (Optimal Power Flow). The OPF dispatch local generation (DG), power injected by feeders and assess the load that needs to be curtailed in emergency conditions (isolated system, lack of, transport capacity onto the feeders, etc.). The proposed approach investigates about the possibility for Distribution Companies to reduce customer load up to 50% using signals coming from smart meters. The analysis also considers compensation costs for customers' supply interruption based on the actual Italian regulation. © 2009 IEEE
Application of the improved area detector for continuous small angle X-ray scattering using synchrotron radiation
No full textContinuous small angle X-ray scattering experiments were performed on high molecular weight proteins, hemocyanins and transferrins, with the Frascati drift chamber area detector and the diffraction camera. The detector used the time structure of Adone synchrtron radiation for operating a faster data acquisition system with real time graphics for monitoring and interpreting scattering data. The diffraction camera with the relative angular resolution Δk k of 0.12 could measure a minimum scattering momentum kmin of 8 × 10-3 Å-1. Preliminary results obtained on lyophilized half-met hemocyanin and transferrins indicate formation of clusters. Small angle X-ray scattering data on the native hemocyanin is in agreement with the model (a hollow cylinder) derived from electron microscopy. © 1991
Innovative quality-based strategies for the agri-food sector
No full textThe article investigates technical and economic factors affecting the decision of horticultural and agri-food producers to adopt quality-based branding strategies. The focus of the study are quality schemes approved by the European Union: protected designation of origin (PDO) and protected geographic indication (PGI). Focus groups discussions and thematic analysis are performed. The inclusion criteria for focus group discussions ensure to have participants representative of the study area and of the major agri-food supply chains. A preliminary literature review allows for a set of semi-structured and open-ended questions for focus group discussions, and for interpretation and validation of themes and factors from data analysis. From our analyses emerges that, although the balance between costs and benefits of quality schemes is positive, the overall impression is that much of the price premium for products under quality schemes is eroded by higher production and processing costs. In addition, the financial support provided by regional policies in favor of quality schemes does not encourage the adoption of quality-based strategies
SAXS ON INVERTEBRATE DIOXYGEN CARRIERS
No full textSome preliminary SAXS measurements have been carried out on four different extracellular invertebrate dioxygen carriers. The validity of the procedure has been tested on arthropod hemocyanin: the radii of gyration deduced from SAXS spectra agree with those calculated from the dimensions of the structure determined by X-ray crystallography. The radii of gyration of Spirographis spallanzanii chlorocruorin agrees with values deduced from 3D structures obtained with Electron Microscopy. The radius of gyration and the radius of the cross section of Octopus vulgaris hemocyanin are compatible with a ring structure, as deduced from investigations made by Electron Microscopy
Functional SAXS study of haemocyanin dioxygen-carrier protein
No full textThe effects of conformational rearrangements on dioxygen binding to molluscan haemocyanins have been investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), The SAXS patterns of the oxygenated and deoxygenated forms of Octopus vulgaris haemocyanin are significantly different; whereas the patterns of the two forms of Rapana thomasiana haemocyanin are almost superimposable. A program has been developed, based on the differences in molecular dimensions, in order to simulate the effects observed in the investigation
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