Search results for "edge"
showing 10 items of 3866 documents
Boundary-layer effects in wedges of piezoelectric laminates
2005
An approach to investigate boundary-layer effects in wedges of piezoelectric laminated structures is presented with the aim of ascertaining the electromechanical response characteristics. The wedge layer behavior is described in terms of generalized stress functions, which lead to a model consisting of a set of three coupled partial differential equations. The strength of the solution singularity is determined by solving the eigenvalue problem associated with the resolving system. The solution of the model is obtained by an eigenfunction expansion method coupled with a boundary collocation technique. Correspondingly, the singularity amplitude is assessed by introducing and calculating the g…
Identification of Distributed Systems with Logical Interaction Structure
2012
This paper focuses on the structure identification problem for a class of networked systems, where the interaction among components or agents is described through logical maps. In particular, agents are heterogeneous cooperating systems, i.e. they may have different individual dynamics and different interaction rules depending on input events. While we assume that the individual agents' dynamics are known, each agent has partial knowledge of the logical map encoding the interaction of another agent with its neighbors. Based on the so-called algebraic normal form for binary functions, we present a technique by which the network structure described by a logical function can be dynamically est…
Particle Physics in High School: A Diagnose Study
2016
Abstract The science learning process improves when the contents are connected to students' lives. Particle physics has had a great impact in our society in the last years and has changed the theoretical picture about matter fundamental dynamics. Thus, we think that academic contents about matter components and interactions should be updated. With this study we aim to characterize the level of knowledge of high school students about this topic. We built a test with questions about classical atomic models, particle physics, recent discoveries, social implications and students opinions about it. Contrary to our first suspicion, students' answers show a high variability. They have new physics …
Clutch size and egg volume in great tits (Parus major) increase under low intensity electromagnetic fields: a long-term field study.
2012
Exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can affect a wide range of biological processes, including reproduction, growth and development. Experiments aimed at investigating the biological effects of EMFs, focused on potential harmful effects on humans, have been mostly carried out in vitro or with animal models in laboratory conditions. By contrast, studies performed on wild animals are scarce. The effects of EMFs created by an electric power line on reproductive traits of a wild great tit (Parus major) population were explored by analysing data gathered during nine breeding seasons. EMF exposure significantly increased clutch size (7%) and egg volume (3%), implying a 10% increase in clutc…
Adaptive plasticity of blue tits(Parus caeruleus)and great tits(Parus major)breeding in natural and semi‐natural insular habitats
2004
The breeding performance and foraging of blue and great tits, and the abundance of arthropods living on the trees of an oak-wood and of a coniferous reafforestation were studied in Sicily, in order to: 1) compare breeding parameters in natural and semi-natural habitats within the same area; 2) estimate the degree of overlap in peak resource and peak demand of young tits, and the overlap of nestling diet of the two species in the two habitats. Both species had earlier laying dates, laid more eggs and raised more fledglings in the oakwood than in the reafforestation; they achieved the same fledging success within the same habitat type. These differences are probably due to the earlier and hig…
Post-fledging survival of individual great tits: the effect of hatching date and fledging mass
2002
Pre-breeeding survival is one of the major sources of individual variation in lifetime reproductive success. However, very little is known about the reasons for differences in survival among individuals during this important phase of the life cycle. Some studies, using local return rates as indices of survival, have shown a relationship between post-fledging survival and fledging date and mass in birds, most of them suggesting directional selection towards heavy masses and early fledging dates. Recent development of capture-recapture models allows the separate estimate of survival and recapture probabilities, as well as the inclusion of individual covariates into the modelling process. We u…
Modulation of Hedgehog target gene expression by the Fused serine-threonine kinase in wing imaginal discs
1998
0925-4773 doi: DOI: 10.1016/S0925-4773(98)00130-0; The Fused (Fu) serine–threonine kinase and the Suppressor of fused (Su(fu)) product are part of the Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway both in embryos and in imaginal discs. In wing imaginal discs, the Hh signal induces Cubitus interruptus (Ci) accumulation and activates patched (ptc) and decapentaplegic (dpp) expression along the anterior/posterior (A/P) boundary. In this paper, we have examined the role of the Fu and Su(fu) proteins in the regulation of Hh target gene expression in wing imaginal discs, by using different classes of fu alleles and an amorphic Su(fu) mutation. We show that, at the A/P boundary, Fu kinase activity is involved …
Granular cell tumor of stomach: a case report and review of literature.
2006
Granular cell tumor (GCT) was described for the first time by Abrikosoff in 1926. It is a relatively rare neoplasm that may occur at many sites, but most commonly in the skin or soft tissues. The occurrence of GCT in the gastrointestinal tract is rare, accounting approximately for 8% of all tumors, among which the most common site is the esophagus, whereas gastric localization is very rare. Gastric GCTs can be solitary or, more frequently, associated with other gastrointestinal localization. Although GCTs are usually clinically and histologically benign, some malignant cases have been reported. Histologically, these tumors consist of polygonal and fusiform cells disposed in compact "nests" …
Architecture domestique punique, hellénistique et romaine. Sauvegarde et mise en valeur / Architettura domestica punica, ellenistica e romana. Salvag…
2014
Finanziato dall’Unione Europea nell’ambito della cooperazione transfrontaliera Italie Tunisie 2007-2013, il Progetto APER (Architettura domestica punica, ellenistica e romana: salvaguardia e valorizzazione) ha unito istituzioni italiane e tunisine (il capofila Polo Didattico di Agrigento dell’Università di Palermo, con i partner Consorzio Universitario Provincia di Agrigento, Institut National du Patrimoine e Agence de Mise en Valeur du Patrimoine et de Promotion Culturelle e gli enti associati Parco della Valle dei Templi di Agrigento, Provincia Regionale di Agrigento, Centro Regionale per la Progettazione e il Restauro della Regione Siciliana, École Nationale d’Architecture et Urbanisme d…
Half-width plots, a simple tool to predict peak shape, reveal column kinetics and characterise chromatographic columns in liquid chromatography: Stat…
2013
Peak profiles in chromatography are characterised by their height, position, width and asymmetry; the two latter depend on the values of the left and right peak half-widths. Simple correlations have been found between the peak half-widths and the retention times. The representation of such correlations has been called half-width plots. For isocratic elution, the plots are parabolic, although often, the parabolas can be approximated to straight-lines. The plots can be obtained with the half-widths/retention time data for a set of solutes experiencing the same kinetics, eluted with a mobile phase at fixed or varying composition. When the analysed solutes experience different resistance to mas…