Dimensionamento e affidabilità delle strutture in vetro

Nessun materiale meglio del vetro descrive la tendenza dell'architettura contemporanea. L'avanzamento delle conoscenze e della tecnologia ha permesso infatti negli ultimi anni di far uscire il vetro dal ristretto ambito in cui era relegato nell'edilizia tradizionale per assegnargli funzioni portanti sempre più fondamentali, con il pregio di rendere la costruzione più trasparente, più leggera, più "meravigliosa" agli occhi del visitatore. Al giorno d'oggi, però, al diffondersi dell'impiego del vetro non corrisponde un adeguato metodo di dimensionamento delle strutture, ma si ricorre a trattazioni approssimative, non condivise da buona parte degli addetti ai lavori, se non addirittura tenute gelosamente nascoste. Il presente lavoro di tesi si propone di esporre lo stato attuale delle conoscenze e di esaminarle con spirito critico, al fine di poter individuare un metodo soddisfacente le esigenze della costruzione in vetro

Applications of the OCATA optical layer digital twin

Tesi amb menció de Doctorat Internacional(English) Optical transport networks (OTNs) are a core infrastructure and key-enabler of today’s hyper-connected society as most of the Internet data traffic is transferred over optical fibers. Traffic demand is experiencing rest-less growth as Internet-services are reaching increasing audience and capacity-hungry applications are arising (e.g., industry 4.0). In view of this, constant innovation is required in OTNs to accommodate the requested capacity while minimizing the cost. In this scenario, digital twins (DTs) – intended as a combination of models self-adjusting with their physical counterpart and of algorithms acting on the network for specific applications – are being proposed as a solution for: 1) maximizing the transport capacity by reducing the network margins; 2) pave the way towards optical network automation. The main objective of this PhD Thesis is to improve network operation based on the use of DTs algorithms and models for failure management, lightpath provisioning and optical amplifier control. To achieve this goal, different machine learning (ML) algorithms were investigated and the capabilities of the OCATA DT were extended. This main goal is achieved by the following three specific goals: 1. Applications of Optical Layer DT During Network Operation. The OCATA capabilities are extended for quality of transmission (QoT) estimation and failure management. Tailor-made features are extracted from IQ constellation samples, which show correlations with QoT metrics and with failures-induced signal degradations. Next, specific ML-based models and algorithms for QoT estimation, soft-failure detection, identification and severity estimation are proposed. Results from both simulation and experiments show noticeable accuracy on the estimation of QoT and on the prediction of failures affecting the transmitter, optical filters and amplifiers. Furthermore, this approach was confirmed also for detecting and identifying spectrum anomalies. 2. Applications of Optical Layer DT for Lightpath Provisioning. OCATA capabilities are extended for modulation formats besides 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and for digital subcarrier multiplexing signals (DSCM). Firstly, an algorithm for lightpath provisioning is proposed and evaluated based on simulations. Secondly, I experimentally evaluate its accuracy to predict the impact of optical filtering penalties. The simulations show an overall high accuracy for different signal formats and demonstrate their viability for lightpath provisioning. Moreover, the models showed the most advantageous trade-off between accuracy and execution time when compared with other existing methods. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of implementing such models to perform quality of transmission estimation for DSCM signals. 3. Application of Optical Layer DT for Amplifier Control. DT models were designed to assist a network controller in performing informed decisions when re-configuring dynamically optical amplifiers under varying channel loadings. Experimental characterization processes were performed on pluggable EDFAs. Then, ML models based on deep learning (DL) and ensemble methods were compared in terms of accuracy and computation speed. After time-consuming hyper parameter optimization (HPO) procedures, DL models showed to achieve both the best performance on the training data set and the best generalizability on unknown dataset. Furthermore, it was shown that substantial generalization error reduction can be achieved employing transfer learning (TL) techniques.(Català) Les xarxes òptiques dels operadors són una infraestructura central i un element clau de la societat hiperconnectada actual, ja que la major part del trànsit de dades d'Internet es transfereix a través de xarxes de fibra òptica. El volum de trànsit de dades està experimentant un creixement incessant a mesura que els serveis d'Internet aconsegueixen una demanda cada vegada major i sorgeixen aplicacions que requereixen molta capacitat (per exemple, les aplicacions d'indústria 4.0). En vista d'això, es requereix una innovació constant en les xarxes òptiques per a acomodar la capacitat sol·licitada i minimitzar els costos. En aquest escenari, els bessons digitals (DT, de l'anglès Digital Twin) – pensats com una combinació de models que s'ajusten automàticament amb el seu corresponent sistema físic i actuen sobre aquest per a aplicacions específiques – s'estan proposant com una solució per a: 1) maximitzar la capacitat de transport en reduir els marges de la xarxa; 2) aplanar el camí cap a l'automatització de la xarxa òptica. L'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi doctoral és millorar l'operació de la xarxa basant-se en l'ús d'algorismes i models de DT per a la gestió de fallades, l'establiment de connexions òptiques i el control d'amplificadors òptics. Per a aconseguir aquest objectiu, es van investigar diferents algorismes d'aprenentatge automàtic (ML) i es van ampliar les capacitats del DT de capa òptica anomenat OCATA. Aquest objectiu principal s'aconsegueix mitjançant els següents tres objectius específics: 1. Aplicacions de DT de capa òptica durant l'operació de la xarxa: les capacitats d'OCATA es van estendre per a estimar la qualitat de transmissió (QoT) i per a la gestió eficient de fallades. Es proposen característiques específiques dels símbols de constel·lacions òptiques, que mostren correlacions amb mètriques de QoT i amb degradacions de senyal induïdes per fallades. A continuació, es proposen models i algorismes específics basats en ML per a l'estimació de la QoT, la detecció de fallades, la identificació i l'estimació de la seva severitat. Els resultats tant de la simulació com dels experiments mostren una precisió notable en l'estimació de la QoT i en la predicció de fallades que afecten el transmissor, els filtres òptics i els amplificadors. A més, aquest enfocament també es va validar per a detectar i identificar anomalies de l'espectre òptic. 2. Aplicacions de DT de capa òptica per a l'establiment de connexions òptiques. Les capacitats d'OCATA s'amplien per a formats de modulació a més de la modulació 16QAM i per a senyals de multiplexació de subportadora digital (DSCM). En primer lloc, es proposa i avalua un algorisme per a l'establiment de connexions òptiques basat en simulacions que demostren la viabilitat d'aquest enfocament. A més, els models van mostrar l'equilibri més avantatjós entre precisió i temps d'execució en comparació amb altres mètodes existents. En segon lloc, s'avalua experimentalment la seva precisió per a estimar l'impacte de les penalitzacions induïdes pel filtrat òptic en senyals DSCM. 3. Aplicació de DT de capa òptica per al control d'amplificadors: nous models del DT es van dissenyar per a ajudar un controlador de xarxa a prendre decisions sobre la reconfiguració d'amplificadors òptics de manera dinàmica sota càrregues de canals variables. Es van realitzar processos de caracterització experimental en mòduls EDFA. Es van comparar models basats en dades, basats en mètodes d'aprenentatge profund (DL) i mètodes composts, en termes de precisió i velocitat de càlcul per a modelar aquests amplificadors. Després d'exhaustives optimitzacions dels hiper-paràmetres, els models de DL aconseguir tant el millor rendiment en les dades d'entrenament com la millor generalització en dades desconegudes. A més, es va demostrar que es pot aconseguir una reducció substancial de l'error de generalització emprant tècniques d'aprenentatge per transferència.(Español) Las redes ópticas de los operadores son una infraestructura central y un elemento clave de la sociedad hiperconectada actual, ya que la mayor parte del tráfico de datos de Internet se transfiere a través de redes de fibra óptica. El volumen de tráfico de datos está experimentando un crecimiento incesante a medida que los servicios de Internet alcanzan una demanda cada vez mayor y surgen aplicaciones que requieren mucha capacidad (por ejemplo, las aplicaciones de industria 4.0). En vista de ello, se requiere una innovación constante en las redes ópticas para acomodar la capacidad solicitada y minimizar los costes. En este escenario, los gemelos digitales (DT, del inglés Digital Twin) – pensados como una combinación de modelos que se ajustan automáticamente con su correspondiente sistema físico y actúan sobre éste para aplicaciones específicas – se están proponiendo como una solución para: 1) maximizar la capacidad de transporte al reducir los márgenes de la red; 2) allanar el camino hacia la automatización de la red óptica. El objetivo principal de esta tesis doctoral es mejorar la operación de la red basándose en el uso de algoritmos y modelos de DT para la gestión de fallos, el establecimiento de conexiones ópticas y el control de amplificadores ópticos. Para lograr este objetivo, se investigaron diferentes algoritmos de aprendizaje automático (ML) y se ampliaron las capacidades del DT de capa óptica llamado OCATA. Este objetivo principal se logra mediante los siguientes tres objetivos específicos: 1. Aplicaciones de DT de capa óptica durante la operación de la red: las capacidades de OCATA se extendieron para estimar la calidad de transmisión (QoT) y para la gestión eficiente de fallos. Se proponen características específicas de los símbolos de constelaciones ópticas, que muestran correlaciones con métricas de QoT y con degradaciones de señal inducidas por fallos. A continuación, se proponen modelos y algoritmos específicos basados en ML para la estimación de la QoT, la detección de fallos, la identificación y la estimación de su severidad. Los resultados tanto de la simulación como de los experimentos muestran una precisión notable en la estimación de la QoT y en la predicción de fallos que afectan al transmisor, los filtros ópticos y los amplificadores. Además, este enfoque también se validó para detectar e identificar anomalías del espectro óptico. 2. Aplicaciones de DT de capa óptica para el establecimiento de conexiones ópticas. Las capacidades de OCATA se amplían para formatos de modulación además de la modulación 16QAM y para señales de multiplexación de subportadora digital (DSCM). En primer lugar, se propone y evalúa un algoritmo para el establecimiento de conexiones ópticas basado en simulaciones que demuestran la viabilidad de este enfoque. Además, los modelos mostraron el equilibrio más ventajoso entre precisión y tiempo de ejecución en comparación con otros métodos existentes. En segundo lugar, se evalúa experimentalmente su precisión para estimar el impacto de las penalizaciones inducidas por el filtrado óptico en señales DSCM. 3. Aplicación de DT de capa óptica para el control de amplificadores: nuevos modelos del DT se diseñaron para ayudar a un controlador de red a tomar decisiones acerca de la reconfiguración de amplificadores ópticos de forma dinámica bajo cargas de canales variables. Se realizaron procesos de caracterización experimental en módulos EDFA. Se compararon modelos basados en datos, basados en métodos de aprendizaje profundo (DL) y métodos compuestos, en términos de precisión y velocidad de cálculo para modelar estos amplificadores. Tras exhaustivas optimizaciones de los hiper-parámetros, los modelos de DL lograr tanto el mejor rendimiento en los datos de entrenamiento como la mejor generalización en datos desconocidos. Además, se demostró que se puede lograr una reducción sustancial del error de generalización empleando técnicas de aprendizaje por transferencia.DOCTORAT EN ARQUITECTURA DE COMPUTADORS (Pla 2012

Small fiber neuropathy: expanding diagnosis with unsettled etiology

Purpose of review Small fiber neuropathies (SFN) are a heterogeneous group of disorders affecting the thinly myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C-fibers. The clinical picture is dominated by neuropathic pain, often accompanied by autonomic symptoms of variable severity. The underlying causes encompass metabolic conditions like diabetes mellitus, immuno-mediated disorders, infection, exposure to toxins, and gain-of-function variants in the genes encoding the Nav1.7, Nav1.8, and Nav1.9 sodium channel subunits, though the list of associated diseases continues to grow. Recently, increased attention has focused on immune-mediated forms, which led to the identification of potentially treatable subgroups. These discoveries have advanced our understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms. Recent findings Recent studies have broadened the spectrum of underlying conditions associated with SFN, including immune-mediated forms and links to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccines. Studies on genetic variants linked to unique clinical presentations have also yielded new insights. Furthermore, emerging perspectives highlighted disorders involving small fiber pathology that lacks typical clinical features of neuropathic pain, challenging traditional diagnostic criteria. Summary Deepening our understanding of the causes underlying SFN advances the identification of potential therapeutic targets. The clinical presentation of SFN can vary significantly and may not consistently correlate with specific underlying conditions. Therefore, a systematic investigation of possible causes through a structured diagnostic assessment is critical to unveil additional contributing factors

Minimally Invasive Carpal Tunnel Release: A Technical Note and a 20-Year Retrospective Series

IntroductionThe surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been enriched, during the last years, by different minimally invasive techniques to decompress the median nerve at the wrist as the endoscopic approaches or modified open technique. However, controversy remains about their safety and complication rate. We present the results of our minimally-invasive technique to median nerve release at the wrist. We will discuss the instrumental preoperative assessment, surgical steps, post-operative management, and complications.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed clinical and neurophysiological data of all patients admitted at our institution between January 2001 and December 2020 for CTS surgery. The technique, performed under local anesthesia, is based on a single, small, linear transverse incision proximal to the wrist fold. After unsharpened dissection of subcutaneous tissues, a grooved guide is inserted in a slightly medial direction towards the fourth finger; this strategy prevents possible damages of nerve branches that could originate at this level. A second small incision over the guide's tip allows a wide corridor in the context of the ligament. The carpalotome is then inserted into the guide; the two minor wounds are closed with 5-0 prolene sutures. The final result is a wide release of the nerve.ResultsA total of 1568 operations on 1371 patients were performed using the described technique at our institution. The patients' cohort showed a higher prevalence of women (68%), with a mean age of 56.4 years (range 24-88 years). Paresthesia and numbness of the first three fingers were the most frequent signs and symptoms. All patients were submitted to a preoperative electrophysiological evaluation, which revealed the typical signs of CTS in most patients. The US evaluation of the median nerve at the wrist was a more recent introduction, dating from 2018. In 47 patients, despite an electromyography (EMG) not showing marked neurophysiological signs of severe CTS, the ultrasonographic evaluation was strongly consistent with the clinical diagnosis. In such patients, carpal tunnel release determined the resolution of symptoms. In 99.8% of total cases, we obtained a complete symptoms remission, with the disappearance of acroparesthesia and numbness.ConclusionThe use of this technique has become widespread at our institution due to fewer local complications, a very low rate of recurrence, faster functional recovery, and reduced surgical time if compared to traditional open surgery and to endoscopic release too

Cosa succede dopo la copula? La competizione spermatica raccontata dai pesci di Trinidad

Una delle forze che più sorprendentemente alimentano l’evoluzione è la selezione sessuale. Questa appare negli animali nella sua massima complessità: la selezione avviene in un contesto in cui due o più individui, spesso maschi e femmine, interagiscono, cooperano e lottano. Ma fra questi solo alcuni, alla fine, sono in grado di lasciare discendenti. Queste interazioni possono avvenire in momenti diversi del rapporto che si instaura fra individui e uno degli spartiacque temporali più importanti è la copula. Mentre la selezione che avviene prima della copula favorisce alcuni individui piuttosto che altri, quella che avviene fra copula e fecondazione delle uova agisce invece per lo più sui gameti. Si parla in questo caso di selezione sessuale postcopulatoria. Due processi distinti entrano in gioco a questo punto: la competizione spermatica (quando gli spermi di individui differenti competono per fecondare le stesse uova) e la scelta criptica femminile (quando le femmine sono in grado di favorire alcuni spermi a scapito di altri). Nel capitolo viene descritta la competizione spermatica, spiegando quali adattamenti ha promosso e in che modo può influenzare i processi evolutivi. Verrannopresentate le ultime ricerche in questo ambito con particolare attenzione a quanto scopertoin una classe di pesci tropicali, i Poecilidi

Applications of digital twin for autonomous zero-touch optical networking [Invited]

Huge efforts have been paid lastly to study the application of Machine Learning techniques to optical transport networks. Applications include Quality of Transmission (QoT) estimation, failure and anomaly detection, and network automation, just to mention a few. In this regard, the development of Optical Layer Digital Twins able to accurately model the optical layer, reproduce scenarios, and generate expected signals are of paramount importance. In this paper, we introduce two applications of Optical Layer Digital Twins namely, misconfiguration detection and QoT estimation. Illustrative results show the accuracy and usefulness of the proposed applications.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community through the MSCA MENTOR (G.A. 956713) and the HORIZON SEASON (G.A. 101096120) projects, the AEI through the IBON (PID2020-114135RB-I00) project, and by the ICREA institution.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

CÍRCULOS MATEMÁTICOS

Este trabalho apresenta a iniciativa de organizar um projeto de ensino referente aosCírculos Matemáticos com o objetivo de desenvolver as competências matemáticasdos estudantes, em especial, o raciocínio lógico e estratégias de resolução deproblemas. Os encontros foram realizados quinzenalmente em horário extraclasse,nos quais foram abordados diferentes tópicos de Matemática,não necessariamentepresentes nas ementas do Ensino Médio. Considera-se que os encontros foram deextrema importância por constituírem espaços informais de aprendizagem, nos quaisos estudantes puderam discutir, trocar ideias e avançar na construção de conceitosmatemáticos por meio de uma metodologia focada na resolução de problemas

A CONEXÃO ENTRE A QUÍMICA E A MATEMÁTICA NA FABRICAÇÃO DO SABÃO THE CONECTION BETWEEN THE CHEMESTRY AND THE MATHEMATICS IN THE SOAP’S MANUFACTURING

Este projeto teve como objetivo estabelecer uma conexão entre a Química e a M atemática, estudando conceitos de área e volume a partir da fabricação de sabão com óleo de cozinha usado. Para perpassar tais disciplinas foram realizadas leituras sobre os temas propostos, coleta de óleo na instituição e p rodução de sabão. Paralelamente foram confeccionados sólidos geométricos para acondicionar o sabão produzido e cálcul os que relacionassem a área superficial e o volume, na obtenção de um sólido que apresentasse o menor consumo de material para embalar o sabão produzido

Diagnostic criteria for small fibre neuropathy in clinical practice and research

The diagnostic criteria for small fibre neuropathy are not established, influencing the approach to patients in clinical practice, their access to disease-modifying and symptomatic treatments, the use of healthcare resources, and the design of clinical trials. To address these issues, we performed a reappraisal study of 150 patients with sensory neuropathy and a prospective and follow-up validation study of 352 new subjects with suspected sensory neuropathy. Small fibre neuropathy diagnostic criteria were based on deep clinical phenotyping, quantitative sensory testing (QST) and intraepidermal nerve fibre density (IENFD). Small fibre neuropathy was ruled out in 5 of 150 patients (3.3%) of the reappraisal study. Small fibre neuropathy was diagnosed at baseline of the validation study in 149 of 352 patients (42.4%) based on the combination between two clinical signs and abnormal QST and IENFD (69.1%), abnormal QST alone (5.4%), or abnormal IENFD alone (20.1%). Eight patients (5.4%) had abnormal QST and IENFD but no clinical signs. Further, 38 patients complained of sensory symptoms but showed no clinical signs. Of those, 34 (89.4%) had normal QST and IENFD, 4 (10.5%) had abnormal QST and normal IENFD, and none had abnormal IENFD alone. At 18-month follow-up, 19 of them (56%) reported the complete recovery of symptoms and showed normal clinical, QST and IENFD findings. None of those with one single abnormal test (QST or IENFD) developed clinical signs or showed abnormal findings on the other test. Conversely, all eight patients with abnormal QST and IENFD at baseline developed clinical signs at follow-up. The combination of clinical signs and abnormal QST and/or IENFD findings can more reliably lead to the diagnosis of small fibre neuropathy than the combination of abnormal QST and IENFD findings in the absence of clinical signs. Sensory symptoms alone should not be considered a reliable screening feature. Our findings demonstrate that the combined clinical, functional and structural approach to the diagnosis of small fibre neuropathy is reliable and relevant both for clinical practice and clinical trial design