447 research outputs found
Optimising the efficiency of olive harvesting considering operator safety
No full textMechanical-assisted harvesting of olives, which is carried out using hand-held harvesting units that detach the drupes through vibration supplied by electric motor or combustion engines, is a widespread method used in southern Italy. Such machines are able to harvest more than 80% of the overall quantity of olives available per tree in 5–10 min, but their performance is influenced by several factors related to the mechanical characteristics of the device and to the features of the trees. Here the problem of optimising harvesting efficiency whilst minimising the health risks to the operators is investigated, with the aim of demonstrating that it is possible to determine an optimum harvesting time which is a compromise between the harvesting efficiency and the operator safety. The quantity of harvested olives and the vibration dose received by the operator was measured simultaneously in specifically designed field tests. Vibration levels were determined by means of the SHAVE (safe hand arm vibration exposure) system, employed as a dosimeter capable of measuring the vibration level transmitted to the hand-arm system, applying the specified frequency weighting, processing the three axes of vibration data, and computing the vibration dose continuously for 8 h. By relating the time spent by the operator using the portable shaker (h), the quantity of harvested olives (kg h −1 ) and the level of exposure to vibrations (m s −2 ), an efficient management strategy for the team of operators was obtained that complied with the safety requirements for the workers involved
Sustainable, Battery-Free Wireless Sensor Node with LoRaWAN Connectivity in ABP and OTAA Activation Modes
No full textIn the Internet of Things (IoT) era, the demand for sustainable and autonomous wireless sensor nodes has surged, driven by the need for efficient environmental monitoring and management. This paper presents the design and implementation of a sustainable, energy-autonomous, and battery-free wireless sensor node leveraging LoRaWAN connectivity. The proposed node operates seamlessly in Activation By Personalization (ABP) and Over-The-Air Activation (OTAA) modes, ensuring robust and flexible network integration. Powered by energy harvesting techniques, specifically solar cells, the sensor node eliminates dependency on traditional batteries, enhancing sustainability and reducing maintenance costs. Comprehensive experimental evaluations demonstrate the node's capability to maintain reliable communication and data transmission over long distances while effectively managing energy resources
Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of new 1-R-3-(2-Piridyl)-4-nitroso-5 carboxiethyl-1H-Pyrazoles
No full textSYNTHESIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF NEW 1-R-3-(2-PIRIDYL)- 4-NITROSO- 5-CARBOXIETHYL-1H-PYRAZOLES.
Stefania Aielloa , Carmelo Massimo Maidab, Fabio Venturellab, Diego Planetac
Marco Giammancod, M.Milicib
a Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Molecolari e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Palermo
bDipartimento di Scienze per la Promozione della Salute G. D’ Alessandro, Università degli Studi di Palermo
cDipartimento dei Sistemi Agro-Abientali,Università degli Studi di Palermo
d Dipartimednto di Studi Giuridici, Economici, Biomedici e Psicosociopedagogici delle Scienze Motorie e Sportive, Università degli Studi di Palermo
Corresponding author: Stefania Aiello, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Molecolari e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy; tel:+39.091 23896802; email: [email protected]
In recent years, epidemiological studies confirm the significant impact on human health by infections caused by pathogenic fungi. In fact, although the Candida genus is commensal and a constituent of the normal gut flora, it is responsible for opportunistic infections and can become pathogenic secondary to predisposing factors related to the host, like a comprimised immune system (AIDS, anti-cancer therapy, transplants), excessive prophylaxis with antimicrobial agents, and use of invasive catheters. Large-scale surveillance for fungal infections has demonstrated an increasing incidence of drug-resistant fungal pathogens. As a matter of fact, a significant number of fungi species (especially Candida glabrata and Candida krusei) exhibited primary resistance to Fluconazole or were less susceptible to Amphotericin B.
Furthermore, as a consequence of the toxicity of the currently used polyene antifungal drugs, which leads to interrupt the therapy, and the emergence of Candida species resistance to azole-based agents, there is an urgent need for developing alternative drug therapies.
In our previous study we have disclosed the synthesis and antifungal activity of a series of 4-nitrosopyrazoles that mainly displayed in vitro potent antifungal activity at no cytotoxic concentrations and that some of these compounds were 4 times more potent than Amphotericine B and Fluconazole respectively against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida Krusei [1-4]
As part of our Structure Activity Relationships studies, we were interested in learning the influence of the steric and electronic effects of the substituent in position 5 of the 4-nitrosopyrazoles which had already showed powerful antimycotic activity.
Therefore, we synthetized title compounds and evaluated their antimycotic activity (fig1).
NNNCOOC2H5ONR
R: a=H, b= CH3, c=C2H5
Fig 1. Synthetized compounds
The 5-carboxiethylester group has made the antimycotic actity dramatically decay, confirming the necessity, for a good antimicotic activity, of derivatives in which the position 5 is free or substituted with little groups as a methyl shown the best antifungal activity.
[1] E. Aiello, S. Aiello, F. Mingoia, A. Bacchi, G. Pelizzi, C. Musiu, M. G. Setzu, A. Pani, P. La Colla and M. E. Marongiu. Synthesis and Antimicrobial activity of New 3-(1-R -3-methyl-4-nitroso-1H-5-pyrazolyl)-5-methylisoxazole derivatives, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 2000, 8, 2719-2728
[2] Stefania Aiello; Enrico Aiello, Marica Orioli, Marina Carini, 3-(1-R-3-methyl-4-nitroso-1H-5-pyrazolyl)-5-methylisoxazoles: a new class of antifungal compounds. In vitro metabolism by rat liver:LC and LC-MS studies. Convegno Nazionale, Sorrento 18-22 Settembre 2002.
[3] S. Aiello, E. Aiello and M. Milici: “Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of new 3(5)-methyl-5(3)-(2-thiophenyl) and -(2-quinolyl)-1H-1-R-4-nitrosopyrazoles.Part V”. Polish-Austrian-German-Hungarian-Italian Joint Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry, Krakow, October 15-18, 2003
[4] Stefania Aiello, Antonio Macchiarulo, Maria Milici and Enrico Aiello, Sintesi e studi QSAR di nuovi derivati 3(5)-(2-X)-1R-1H-4-nitrosopirazoli: una classe di composti con potente attività antifungina in vitro. Parte VI XVII Convegno Nazionale della Divisione di Chimica Farmaceutica della SCI, Pisa 6-10 settembre 2004
Urocythereis ilariae Aiello & Barra & Parisi 2016, sp. nov.
No full textUrocythereis ilariae sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 607A810F-773C-4F8F-91E7-D2EB5223CB7D Figs 2B; 3 G–H; 4G–H; 5G–H; 6G–H; 14; 18A–J; 19A–C, E–J Urocythereis favosa (Roemer) n. ssp. Bassiouni, 1965: pl. 40, figs 8–9. Urocythereis favosa (Roemer) subsp. – Wouters 1973: 385, pl. 2, fig. 7. Urocythereis sp. – Bonaduce, Ciampo & Masoli 1976: 46, pl. 22, fig. 9. ? Urocythereis sp. – Athersuch 1977: pl. 17, fig. 2. Urocythereis aff. U. favosa (Roemer) – Arbulla, Pugliese & Russo 2001: fig. 3t. ? Urocythereis sp.1 – Barra 1997: 82, pl. 4, fig. 6. Urocythereis sp.1 – Aiello et al. 2006: tables 3, 10. — Aiello, Barra & Parisi 2013: fig. 1d. Diagnosis A large reticulate species of Urocythereis, subrectangular in lateral view, inflated-ovate in dorsal view. Reticulum with large polygonal-rounded, frequently coalescing, large fossae separated by broad muri. In the anteroventral area the muri form distinct riblets running parallel to the margin. Etymology In honour of our friend and collegue Ilaria Mazzini, in recognition of her important contribution to ostracodology. Type material (4 carapaces, 43 valves: 29 adults and 14 juveniles) Holotype IONIAN SEA: ABMC 2014 /03 Paratypes IONIAN SEA: ABMC2 014/026–036, ABMC 2014/038, ABMC 2014/042, ABMC 2014/044, ABMC 2014/046–049, ABMC 2014/063–064, ABMC 2014/069, ABMC 2014/072–073, ABMC 2014/080, ABMC 2014/097–103, ABMC 2014/120–135. Stratum typicum Recent. Locus typicus La Strea Bay (Porto Cesareo Lagoon), Southern Italy, Ionian Sea, sampling station E4, 17°54'25" N, 40°15'59" E, depth 1.5 m bsl. Description Measurements (holotype): LV: L = 0.85 mm, H = 0.44 mm (Fig. 18A). Large (L = 0.85–0.90 mm) species of Urocythereis, characterized by large fossae and strongly developed muri, subrectangular in lateral view, inflated-ovate in dorsal view. Valves strongly calcified and thick. Dorsal margin gently, unevenly convex, ventral margin weakly sinuous; anterior end broadly rounded, denticulate in the lower part; upper part of the posterior margin concave, lower part of the posterior margin convex, variably denticulate, forming short blunt caudal process located below mid-height. Maximum height at anterior cardinal angle, greatest length below mid-height. Surface of valves coarsely reticulate. Fossae, showing subrounded or irregular shape, coalesce, especially in marginal areas, forming both multiple anastomized elongated fossae and deep sulci parallel to margin. The corresponding muri tend to form a system of concentric riblets. Marginal rim starts from anterior part of dorsal margin, behind eye tubercle (Fig. 19C), and ends in posteroventral angle. Second riblet, constantly well developed, runs parallel to margin of valve except posterior end. This ocular riblet is connected with eye tubercle and rises above dorsal margin. Marginal rim and second riblet not connected. Third riblet, irregularly developed, delimits anteriorly the reticulum stricto sensu from subocular area to posterior part of ventral area and is connected with second riblet anteriorly, at mid height, through single radial murus; in the ventral area second and third riblets converge and, in lateral view, they seem apparently to be connected, but ventral view (Fig. 19A) shows they remain separate. The fossae between second and third riblet mainly anastomized. Fourth riblet fully part of reticulum, and shows a rather regular parallel trend only in anterocentral area. Surface of central area irregularly reticulate with subrounded/polygonal fossae with a low degree of anastomosis. Conversely, fossae located in proximity of caudal process coalesce following a longitudinal trend. Rare specimens show celation, never fully developed. Muri smooth, not papillate (Fig. 19E). Hinge holamphidont (sensu Scott 1961): in left valve posterior hinge socket elongate and curved; anterior element formed by ovate-rounded (or elongate) tooth and elongate socket; median bar smooth; its posterior thickening forms, in some cases, barely defined toothlet; right valve hinge complementary, with faintly crenulate teeth (Figs 18 I–J; 19G–J). Inner lamella, marginal pore canals and muscle scar pattern (Fig. 19F) characteristic of genus (details in Athersuch 1977). Distribution The species occurs in the Recent of the Mediterranean: Gulf of Naples (Bassiouni 1965), Sardinia (Arbulla et al. 2001), South Adriatic Sea (Bonaduce et al. 1976) and possibly Libya (see section Remarks); it has previously been recorded in fossil associations from the Tyrrhenian (upper Pleistocene) of Tunisia only (Wouters 1973). Distribution data are summarized in Fig. 14. Remarks U. ilariae sp. nov. has previously been assigned to U. favosa (Bassiouni 1965; Wouters 1973), type species of the genus Urocythereis (neotype figured by Athersuch 1977). The reticulation of U. favosa differs from that of U. ilariae sp. nov. in the different style of fossal anastomosis. This is mostly evident, for example, in the anterodorsal zone, where the continuous depressed area formed by the fossal pattern C1-C2/B1-B4 is present in U. ilariae sp. nov. and absent in the Pliocene species. The shell characters of U. exedata, described by Uliczny (1969) as a subspecies of U. favosa (SEM micrographs in Mostafawi & Matzke-Karasz 2006), show a close resemblance to those of U. ilariae sp. nov., especially in the structure of the ocular riblet, homologous to Bradleya ’s “ocular ridge” (Benson 1972). The Pliocene species probably represents an ancestor of the living form. The two species differ in some reticulum features. In the anteroventral area of U. ilariae sp. nov. the third and the fourth riblets are connected ventrally and anteriorly; consequently they delimit the merged C fossae, forming an anteroventral furrow enclosed by muri. Conversely, in U. exedata the anteroventral area is characterized by a segment of the third riblet encircled by an elongated ring made up of B and C anastomized fossae, anteriorly and ventrally connected. In the anterodorsal area of U. ilariae sp. nov., the third concentric riblet is more or less developed in different specimens (Figs 2B; 18D, F), while in U. exedata in the anterodorsal area the fossae of the B group coalesce with C and D fossae, the muri follow a radial trend and consequently the third concentric riblet is virtually absent. The assignment of the North-African form, figured by Athersuch (1977) as Urocythereis sp. and by Barra (1997) as Urocythereis sp. 1, to U. ilariae sp. nov. needs further investigation. At the current state of knowledge we are inclined to interpret the morphological differences between the central Mediterranean species and the Lybian deme as the beginning of an allopatric speciation. Urocythereis margaritifera (G.W. Müller, 1894) Figs 2A; 3 A–F; 4A–F; 5A–F; 6A–F; 16A–K; 17A–J; 19D Cythere oblonga Brady, 1866: 353, pl. 59, figs 5a–d (non C. oblonga M’Coy, 1844). Cythereis margaritifera G.W. Müller, 1894: 368, pl. 32, figs 26, 29, 32, 35–37. Cythereis (Auris) distinguenda Neviani, 1928: 105 (synonymy only) (non p. 105 description and pl. 2, figs 91–93). Urocythereis margaritifera alba Uliczny, 1969: 65, pl. 15, fig. 9. Urocythereis sp. Athersuch, 1977: pl. 17, fig. 5. Urocythereis sp. 2 Barra, 1997: 82-83, pl. 4, fig.8. Urocythereis sp. 3 Barra, 1997: 83, pl. 4, fig. 11. Hemicythere (Urocythereis) margaritifera – Ruggieri 1953: 94, pl. 6, fig. 1. Urocythereis britannica Athersuch – Kubanc 1995: 32–33, pl. 8, figs 4a–b. Urocythereis crenulosa (Terquem) – Mostafawi & Matzke-Karasz 2006: pl. 6, fig. 9 (non pl. 8, fig. 1; non Cythere crenulosa Terquem, 1878). Urocythereis distinguenda – Athersuch 1977: 257, 259, pl. 7, figs 1–6; pl. 8, figs 1–6; pl. 9, figs 1–5; pl. 12, figs 5–6; figs 3c–d. — Athersuch 1979: fig. 2.19. — Aiello et al. 2006: tabs. 3, 7, 10. — Aiello, Barra & Parisi 2013: fig. 1b. Urocythereis favosa (Roemer) – Barbeito-Gonzalez 1971: 279, pl. 13, figs 1b, 3b, 4b, 6b, pl. 46, figs 24- 27 (non pl. 13, figs 2b, 5b, pl. 46, figs 28–29). — Doruk 1974: pl. 38, fig. 3, pl. 40, figs 1–3 (non pl. 34, figs 1-2, pl. 38, figs 1-2). — Puri 1974: pl. 13, fig. 3. — Tunoglu 1999: pl. 7, fig. 1. Urocythereis aff. U. favosa – Bonaduce, Ciampo & Masoli 1976: 45, pl. 22, fig. 8 (sic fig. 7). ? Urocythereis favosa – Triantaphyllou, Tsourou, Koukousioura & Dermitzakis 2005: pl. 3, fig 11. Urocythereis margaritifera – Athersuch 1977: 260, 262, pl. 12, figs 1–4; pl. 13, figs 1–6; pl. 14, figs 1–5; figs 3e–f. — Tsapralis 1981: 100, pl. 1, fig. 1. — Lachenal 1989: 175–176, pl. 3, fig. 14. — Kubanç 1995: 31–32, pl. 8, figs 3a–c. — Aiello et al. 2006: tabs. 3, 5. — Perçin-Paçal & Balkis 2012: pl. 2, fig. 3. — Aiello, Barra & Parisi 2013: fig. 1a. ? Urocythereis margaritifera – Aranki 1987: 72, pl. 19, figs 5–7. — Stancheva 1989: pl. 2, fig. 9. — Şafak, Avşar & Meriç 1999: pl. 3, fig. 12. Urocythereis cf. U. margaritifera – Arbulla, Pugliese & Russo 2001: fig. 3s. Urocythereis ? margaritifera – Aiello, Barra & Parisi 2013: fig. 1c. Urocythereis margaritifera alba – Breman 1976: 63-64, pl. 9, fig. 124. — Aiello, Barra, De Pippo & Donadio 2012: pl. 2, fig. 8. ? Urocythereis margaritifera alba – Uffenorde 1972: 79, pl. 8, fig. 9. Urocythereis margaritifera margaritifera – Uliczny 1969: 65, pl. 15, fig. 8. ? Urocythereis margaritifera margaritifera – Sissingh 1972: 128, pl. 10, fig. 8. Urocythereis seminulum (Seguenza) – Şafak, Avşar & Meriç 1999: pl. 3, fig. 11. Urocythereis sp. – Mostafawi, 1994: 107, pl. 7, fig. 6. Distribution The species is widely distributed in the infralittoral waters of the Eastern Mediterranean (Brady 1866; Barbeito-Gonzalez 1971; Doruk 1974; Athersuch 1977, 1979; Kubanç 1995; Tunoglu 1999; Perçin- Paçal & Balkis 2012), the Tyrrhenian Sea (G.W. Müller 1894; Puri 1974) and the southern Mediterranean (Athersuch 1977; Lachenal 1989; Barra 1997). Recordings from the Black Sea are uncertain: the specimen figured by Stancheva (1989) is a young instar, and Schornikov (1969) reported Müller’s original drawings. The species is present in the southern part of the Adriatic Sea; the findings in the central and northern Adriatic are doubtful (Uffenorde 1972; Bonaduce et al. 1976; Breman 1976). Fossil specimens have been reported from the Upper Pleistocene–Holocene of the Gulf of Gabès (Lachenal 1989), the Pleistocene of Southern Italy (Ruggieri 1953; Aiello et al. 2012), Zakynthos (Tsapralis 1981), the Northern Peloponnesus (Mostafawi 1994) and, possibly, Rhodes (Sissingh 1972) and from the Pliocene of Cephalonia (Uliczny 1969). Distribution data are summarized in Fig. 14. The presence of the species in Miocene sediments (Şafak et al. 1999) has to be confirmed by further studies. Remarks The analysis of the shell features of the Urocythereis population in the La Strea Bay and comparisons with the literature have convinced us that U. margaritifera and U. distinguenda (= U. oblonga) are two morphotypes of the same species. In particular, we consider the latter “species” as the celated variation of the former. Celation is not expressed homogeneously on the valves in all the specimens; consequently, also “transitional” shells show different morphs. The original illustration by Müller (1894: pl. 32, fig. 26) shows anteroventral fossae horizontally merged; the lectotype reported by Athersuch (1977: pl. 13, fig. 2) and the Libyan specimen figured by Barra (1997, as U. sp. 2) shows the same feature. Presently, we do not regard this character as diagnostic, due to the observed variability. Athersuch (1977) figured some appendages, including the right copulatory appendage, of U. distinguenda and the left copulatory appendage of U. margaritifera. Regarding the discrimination of the two species, the author stated that in U. margaritifera the ductus ejaculatorius is short and is contained within the area of the appendage, whereas in U. distinguenda the duct is much longer and passes beyond the ventral margin. Examination of Athersuch’s illustrations (figs 4.d; 5.i) and a comparison with Müller’s drawing of the male copulatory appendage of Cythereis margaritifera (pl. 32, fig. 32) show that only very subtle differences are present and they represent, in our opinion, intraspecific variations. The maximum mesh size is reached in the subspecies Urocythereis margaritifera alba Uliczny, 1969. This form, in which celation is not developed, does not occur in the La Strea Bay. In some specimens the SEM micrographs revealed a feeble trace of the muri underlying the secondary calcification, as shown in Fig. 15. The comparison of this hidden reticulation with the specimens figured by Uliczny (1969), Breman (1976) and Aiello et al. (2012) suggests that U. m. alba is a non-celate morphotype of U. margaritifera. The North Adriatic form figured by Uffenorde (1972) (very similar to the Pliocene specimen figured by Şafak et al. 1999 as U. margaritifera) shows some tiny differences in the reticulation pattern and the assignment to U. margaritifera is queried. The Libyan form figured by Athersuch (1977: pl. 17, fig. 5) as U. sp. and by Barra (1997) as U. sp. 3 fits the U. margaritifera morph c (Fig. 17E) well. The left valve, figured by Aranki (1987) from the western Mediterranean shallow waters, shows some minor differences in the reniform outline and in some details of the reticulum. The relationships between Mediterranean and Atlantic forms (i.e., between U. margaritifera and U. britannica, frequently reported as U. oblonga) need further investigations. Ruggieri (1953) hypothesized that U. favosa and U. margaritifera might be conspecific, the latter species representing a subspecies of the former. In spite of the similarity of the two forms, some features of the reticulum seem to allow a separation of the two species. In U. favosa (neotype figured in Athersuch 1977) the fossae B3 and B4 are merged, as well as C3 and C4; in U. margaritifera they are distinct; in U. favosa the fossae D2-D1 and α4 coalesce while in U. margaritifera they are distinct. In the caudal group the fossa Cg 4 in U. margaritifera is separate, whereas in U. favosa the arrangement of the fossae is similar to that in U. ilariae sp. nov. In the La Strea Bay, and possibly in the Recent of the Mediterranean, U. favosa s.s. is not recorded and we prefer to retain them as separate species. Some Urocythereis spp. from the Pliocene of Rhodes have been described by Terquem (1878) and figured by Mostafawi (1989). They are distinct from U. margaritifera in some characters of the reticulum. By contrast, the specimen from Cephalonia figured by Mostafawi & Matzke-Karasz (2006) as U. crenulosa fits well with some specimens of U. margaritifera from Porto Cesareo. The Atlantic forms reported as U. britannica and (erroneously) as U. oblonga (e.g., Guillaume et al. 1985; Ruiz et al. 2006) show a high variability and a complex affinity with U. margaritifera and U. favosa and they have not been considered in the present study.Published as part of Aiello, Giuseppe, Barra, Diana & Parisi, Roberta, 2016, Intra- and interspecific shell variability of the genus Urocythereis Ruggieri, 1950 (Ostracoda: Hemicytheridae) in the La Strea Bay (Ionian Sea, Italy), pp. 1-35 in European Journal of Taxonomy 193 on pages 18-23, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2016.193, http://zenodo.org/record/383779
"The ‘other’ Europeans: the semiotic imperative of style in Euro Visions by Magnum Photos"
No full textIn this article, the author examines Euro Visions, the exhibition created by Magnum Photos to portray the new countries that joined the European Union in 2004 and 2007. She begins by observing that this project's deviations from the world-leading agency's trademark humanist style of photography were discursively ascribed to Euro Visions photographers' authorial style. In this regard, she identifies two key semiotic resources - typing and juxtaposition - that were mobilized as markers of individual style. She then argues that both typing and juxtaposition should instead be seen as generic semiotic resources rooted in corporate styles of visual communication, which contribute to othering the 'new' Europeans. She also argues that in Euro Visions, the notion of 'distinctive' authorial style was deployed as symbolic currency for a global(ist) market that rewards cultural production and, broadly, aestheticization. She finally posits that, in projects like Euro Visions, what is mostly (generic) design may get passed off as (specific) representation, and that this aestheticization of styles and identities may be mystified as the substantial honouring of difference and diversity
Rimozione del pesticida oxadixyl da una soluzione acquosa
No full textIl micelio di Phomopsis helianthi, un Ascomicete, è stato trattato con NaOH all'ebollizione ottenendo una frazione insolubile essenzialmente composta da chitosano e glucani. Il materiale ottenuto è stato valutato come agente per la rimozione di pesticidi da una soluzione acquosa. Il pesticida usato nella presente sperimentazione è l'oxadixyl, il quale ha una solubilità in acqua pari a 3.4 g/L. L'efficienza della biomassa è stata provata usando 20, 40 ed 80 mg di materiale fino ad una concentrazione di 3 mM. La biomassa risulta in grado di recuperare fino a 6 mg di oxadixyl per grammo di materiale assorbente. l risultati sperimentali mostrano un'ottima correlazione nell'ambito del modello delle isoterme di Langmuir
Worker safety in agriculture 4.0: A new approach for mapping operator’s vibration risk through Machine Learning activity recognition
No full textWhile being a fundamental driver of competitiveness in agroindustry, technological innovation has also introduced new critical elements related, for example, to the sustainability of the production processes as well as to the safety of workers. In such regard, the advent of the 4th industrial revolution (Agriculture 4.0) based on digitalization, is an unprecedented opportunity of rethinking the role of innovation in a new human-centric perspective. In particular, the establishment of an interconnected work environment and the augmentation of the operator’s physical, sensorial, and cognitive capabilities, are two technologies which can be effectively employed for substantially improving the ergonomics and safety conditions on the workplace. This paper approaches such topic referring to the vibration risk, which is a well-known cause of work-related pathologies, and proposes an original methodology for mapping the risk exposure of the operators to the activities performed. A miniaturized wearable device is employed to collect vibration data, and the signals obtained are segmented in time windows and processed in order to extract the significant features. Finally, a machine learning classifier has been developed to recognize the worker’s activity and to evaluate the related exposure to vibration risks. To validate the methodology proposed, an experimental analysis in real operating conditions has been finally carried out by monitoring the activities performed by a team of workers during harvesting operations. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility and the effectiveness of the methodology proposed
Comparison Between Existing Accident Models and Surrogate Safety Assessment Models (SSAM) on Unconventional Roundabouts, with Focused Applications of the latter to some Real Study Cases
No full textThis article has been divided into two main parts. The first and most substantial part describes the comparison
between the expected number of accidents calculated through analytical models and the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model
(SSAM) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
regarding unconventional roundabouts. The novelty of this comparison lies precisely in the fact that the three roundabouts analysed fall into the category of so-called Unconventional Roundabouts, i.e., arrangements with
"roundabout circulation", which do not fall within the types listed in the Italian Guidelines. In any case, apart from this latest innovation coupled with the small size of the sample observed, the present work can be considered an exploratory study with a view to further development. Returning to talk about roundabouts, it is possible to state that among the various types of accidents that may occur, those of the rear-end collision type occur more frequently, for which it was decided to use the formulas of the accident models relating to this type of conflict. In particular, the conflict type "Approach" for the Maycock & Hall model and the conflict type "Rear end" for the Arndt & Troutbeck model were taken into consideration. In addition to the application of analytical models, possible points of conflict (of the same category, i.e., "Rear end") were evaluated using dynamic simulation models. In particular, the dynamic simulation software AimsunTM was used as a means to obtain the necessary inputs for the evaluation of the surrogate
safety carried out through SSAM, a software application that reads the trajectory files generated by the simulation
programs. The second part of the article instead focuses on the application of SSAM to two real case studies for which, thanks to the results obtained, it was possible to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. At the end of this work, both the conclusions on the comparison made and on the application of SSAM to real cases have been inserted
Luigi Taddeo della Marra e la sua raccolta di libri
No full textSi raccolgono in volume otto contributi di sette autrici, uno dei quali scritto a più mani, incentrati su specifici nuclei librari e documentari, raccolti e conservati in vari luoghi d'Italia (dal Trentino Alto Adige alla Liguria, dalla Campania alla Sicilia), in alcuni casi andati dispersi e ricostruiti virtualmente. Le autrici affrontano questioni legate ai temi del movimento, degli acquisti, delle donazioni, della dispersione, della manifattura e della conservazione di manoscritti e libri antichi a stampa, anche in tempi a noi abbastanza vicini
Ritratto del poeta, Alessandro Lami
No full textAlessandro Lami is the author of a text surely known by those who deal with Lombard art history of the sixteenth century (his Discorso intorno alla scoltura e pittura, published in Cremona, Cristoforo Draconi, 1584, which is actually the praise of the painter Bernardino Campi, excluded by Giorgio Vasari’s Vite). But he is also a poet, the author, in his youth, of a long poem about the most illustrious Cremonese of all times (Sogno non meno piacevole che morale, Cremona, Draconi, 1572) and, in his late age, of a collection of Rime spirituali (Pavia, per gli heredi di Girolamo Bartoli, 1598). His biographical outlines (e.g. dates of birth and death) as well as the main facts of his life, have always been unknown to scholars. To establish some fundamental turning points in his life (thanks both to unpublished archival documentation and to ancient and modern sources) may be useful to better understand his effective role in the career of Bernardino Campi, one of the most important painters in Milan in the mid-16th century.Alessandro Lami è autore di un testo ben noto a chi si occupa di storia dell’arte lombarda del Cinquecento (il Discorso intorno alla scoltura e pittura, pubblicato a Cremona, per i tipi di Cristoforo Draconi, nel 1584, che è in realtà l’elogio del pittore Bernardino Campi, escluso dalle Vite di Giorgio Vasari), ma è anche un poeta, autore, in gioventù, di un lungo elogio dei cremonesi illustri in ottava rima (Sogno non meno piacevole che morale, Cremona, Draconi, 1572) e, in tarda età, di una raccolta di Rime spirituali (Pavia, per gli heredi di Girolamo Bartoli, 1598). I suoi contorni biografici, così come i principali fatti della sua vita, sono da sempre ignoti agli studiosi, come dimostra l’oscillazione degli estremi anagrafici nella letteratura specialistica. Stabilire alcuni punti fondamentali della sua vita, sulla scorta di documentazione d’archivio inedita e di un confronto con le fonti antiche e moderne, sarà utile anche per comprendere il suo ruolo effettivo nel percorso di Bernardino Campi, uno dei pittori più importanti nella Milano della metà del XVI secolo
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