Historical-Critical Knowledge and Restoration Projects in Architecture: the Case of St John the Baptist in Castelvecchio Calvisio (L’Aquila, Italy)

Every action carried out on a historical building should be based on appropriately informed assumptions, as much with respect to the specific architectural and construction features of the building as to its state of preservation. The case of the church of St John the Baptist illustrates how critical examination of the architecture can suggest (even in the absence of urgent problems) methods of intervention that promote the use of cultural heritage, and at the same time improve conditions for conservation of the building’s masonry and any artworks therein. Historical-critical study conducted on the basis of direct investigation of the church’s structures and its archives restores a historical image which, in many respects but not in all, is to be considered completed from a formal point of view. Having survived invasive (and destructive) interventions during the mid-twentieth century, and subsequent restoration in the late 1990s, the church has some unresolved formal, functional, and conservation issues, the reconciliation of which suggest a preliminary proposal to be drawn on the basis of targeted inspections

The combustion of metallic nanoparticles : iron and aluminum as possible candidates for metallic fuel in an internal combustion engine

LAUREA SPECIALISTICAThis work is focused on the combustion of metallic nano-particles under an air flow, with the aim of using them as potential fuels for Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs). This thesis is part of an European Project, called COMETNANO: it is an EU-funded, 3-years project, focusing on the evaluation of metallic nano-particles as fuel. It is an integrated approach studying the synthesis of metallic nano-particles, their controlled combustion under realistic conditions and the recycling of such spent fuels by renewable means. In particular, this work is focused on the investigation of different kinds of nano-particles in a cylinder chamber, in order to test their behavior during combustion under engine conditions: the approach is both quantitative (measurements of pressure and luminous intensity) and qualitative and supported by a video-optical system. Following this, data resulting from tests are post-processed to obtain important information on the way in which these particles burn. The nano-particles investigated are different in type and dimension: • Iron: 25 – 50 – 70 - 85 nm • Aluminum: 18 – 85 nm The tests show that iron gives better opportunities to reach the aim of this project. Moreover, in accordance with project aim, a study on NOx emissions was carried out: a set of tests on iron and aluminum under different operating conditions was performed and the exhausted gas analyzed. The results clearly show that NO’s concentration is the only one detected, although its value is very small. Finally, it has been presented an investigation on regenerated nano-particles; in fact, one of COMETNANO main goal was the possibility to re-use burnt nano-powders after a regeneration process. Consequently, after the realization of a suitable method for their production, their combustion behavior was tested and compared with the original particles

Modeling and simulation of space rovers' locomotion mechanisms in micro-gravity environments

LAUREA MAGISTRALERecentemente, lo studio dei piccoli corpi celesti, come gli asteroidi, ha acquisito crescente importanza per il loro valore scientifico, contribuendo all'astrobiologia e allo studio dell'evoluzione del Sistema Solare. In questo contesto, lo sviluppo di rover capaci di muoversi con precisione sulla superficie di tali corpi può massimizzare il ritorno scientifico delle missioni esplorative. Tuttavia, la locomozione di superficie in tali ambienti è sottoposta a sfide uniche. La bassa attrazione gravitazionale degli asteroidi, il loro stato di rapida rotazione e le incertezze del terreno rendono obsoleti i classici approcci di locomozione per rover. Nel corso degli anni, diversi meccanismi di locomozione in microgravità sono stati sviluppati per affrontare queste sfide. La prima parte di questa ricerca si concentra sullo studio e la valutazione qualitativa di tali tecnologie. Un'analisi funzionale viene sviluppata per caratterizzare oggettivamente il problema della locomozione in microgravità, decomponendolo e valutando le funzionalità dei meccanismi individuati. Successivamente, il lavoro si concentra sullo sviluppo di una nuova ed efficiente procedura di modellazione e simulazione per i meccanismi di locomozione in microgravità. Configurazioni ad attuatori interni vengono analizzate e modellate tramite sistemi multicorpo. Tali modelli sono implementati insieme a quelli per l'ambiente esterno, tra cui una superficie piana in microgravità e una rappresentazione geofisica dell'asteroide 101955 Bennu. Per testare i modelli sviluppati, vengono eseguite analisi di sensibilità sui principali parametri che definiscono la configurazione di ciascun meccanismo. Le configurazioni ottimali vengono selezionate e testate sul caso studio dell'asteroide, confrontando le diverse prestazioni ottenute. Inoltre, vengono studiati aspetti critici per la modellazione e la simulazione, come il modello della dinamica di contatto e la configurazione del solver utilizzato. L'ambiente di simulazione implementato consente efficienti valutazioni delle prestazioni e ottimizzazioni, ed è promettente riguardo la possibile implementazione di futuri algoritmi di controllo della locomozione.In recent years, the study of small celestial bodies, such as asteroids, has gained increasing importance due to their potential scientific value, contributing to astrobiology and the study of the Solar System’s evolution. In this context, developing rovers able to precisely move on the surface of such bodies can offer considerable advantages in maximizing the scientific return of exploration missions. However, surface locomotion on small bodies is subjected to unique challenges. Asteroids’ low gravitational pulls, fast rotational states and the uncertainties on the ground conditions make classic locomotion approaches unfeasible. Throughout the years, several micro-gravity locomotion concepts have been developed to tackle these challenges. The first part of the research focuses on studying and qualitatively evaluating these technologies. A functional analysis is conducted to objectively characterize the micro-gravity locomotion problem, breaking it down to its fundamentals and assessing the functionalities of the investigated mechanisms. Then, the work focuses on developing an efficient modeling and simulation framework for micro-gravity locomotion mechanisms. To this end, internal rovers’ actuators are analyzed and modeled in a MultiBody environment. Models for the external environment, including a flat micro-gravity surface and a simplified geophysical representation of asteroid 101955 Bennu, are implemented as well. To test the developed model, sensitivity analyses are performed on the main parameters defining the configuration of each of the modeled mechanisms. Then, the selected optimal configurations are simulated on the asteroid case study, also for a comparison of the different performances obtained by the actuators. Furthermore, critical aspects for modeling and simulation, such as the contact dynamics model and the solver set-up are investigated in this context. The implemented simulation and modeling framework allows for efficient performance assessments and optimizations, showing potential for future applications in micro-gravity locomotion control algorithms

Preserving a Legacy: The Dox Thrash House Project

This thesis seeks to highlight the legacy of artist Dox Thrash as singular and crucial to Philadelphia’s historical narrative. This legacy includes not only his artwork, but the impact he made on the community around him, as well as the physical structure of his home on Cecil B. Moore Avenue. By examining the great oeuvre of Thrash’s artwork, this thesis argues that it is in need of recognition beyond what it has already received: not only because of the merit of the work, but because of the rarity of his perspective. Thrash depicted African American life in America with dignity and intimacy as a Black man at a time when the only mainstream representations currently circulating were in the form of caricatures and other insensitive portrayals by white artists. His work acts as a keystone to contextualize the Black experience in Philadelphia during the Jazz Era, even though the connection to that time has been seemingly under attack in this city.Sharswood, the neighborhood where Dox Thrash lived, was once a center of Black life, but has been dismantled and degraded by the effects of redlining. The state of his derelict home is emblematic of this, as it currently is marked with a historical placard from the city but did not have any preservation done to the structure. That is until the Dox Thrash House Project, a group of passionate volunteers, began to fundraise and raise awareness to save Thrash’s home. The work being done by the Dox Thrash House Project inspired this thesis as they have fought to bring Thrash’s home back to life through preservation. This thesis tackles the contextualization of the treatment of Thrash’s legacy within the current landscape of both art history and preservation in Philadelphia.Art HistoryThis thesis contains supplemental material that was not uploaded due to copyright restrictions. If you need to access the material, please contact the author directly. Accompanied by 1 PDF file: MalandraMyers_temple_0225M_171/List-of-figures.pd

Feria artesanal de Plaza Italia : Un lugar conflictivo para el trabajo informal

Con el objetivo de analizar las características de la relación entre los vendedores ambulantes y los artesanos que comparten el espacio público dentro de la feria de Plaza Italia y sus consecuencias, en este trabajo se buscará analizar los discursos tanto de unos como de otros, determinar el rol de la municipalidad dentro de dicha relación y estudiar los reclamos y denuncias realizadas por los artesanos.Jornadas realizadas junto con el I Encuentro Latinoamericano de Metodología de las Ciencias Sociales.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Smart Distributed Energy Storage Controller (smartDESC)

While the storage properties and the anticipation potential of many classes of power system loads (such as thermal loads) can be exploited to mitigate renewable sources variability, the challenge to do so in an optimal and coherentmanner is significant. This is due to the sheer number and dynamic diversity of the loads that can be involved in any large-scale application. The smartDESC concept is a control architecture that was developed for this purpose. It builds on the more pervasive communication means currently available (such as Advanced Metering Infrastructures), as well as the mathematical tools of (i) aggregate load modeling, (ii) renewable energy forecasting, (iii) optimizationtheory, deterministic or stochastic, and (iv) some recent developments in control of large-scale systems based ongame theory, and so-called mean-field (MF) control theory, which allow a scalable yet optimal approach to thedecentralized control of large pools of loads. This paper presents the building blocks of the smartDESC architecture,together with an associated simulator and simulation results

A Framework for the Performance Analysis and Simulation of RF-Mesh Advanced Metering Infrastructures for Smart Grid Applications

RÉSUMÉ L’Infrastructure de Mesurage Avancée (IMA), conçue à l’origine pour lire à distance des compteurs intelligents, est actuellement considérée comme une composante essentielle dans le domaine des Smart Grid. Le but principal des IMAs est de connecter le grand nombre de compteurs intelligents installés chez les clients au le centre de contrôle de données de l’entreprise d’électricité et viceversa. Cette communication bidirectionnelle est une caractéristique recherchée par un grand nombre d’applications, qui visent à utiliser ces infrastructures comme support à la transmission de leurs données dans le réseau électrique, comme par exemple la gestion de la charge et la demande-réponse. Un grand nombre de technologies et de protocoles de communication sont actuellement utilisés dans les IMAs : parmi les solutions disponibles, le RF-Mesh est une des plus populaires, surtout grâce au bas coût pour l’installation et les équipements. Toutefois, le débit nominal des communications RF-Mesh est très bas, de l’ordre des dizaines de kbps, et la littérature qui traite leur performance est très limitée. Ceci pourrait en limiter l’utilisation pour des applications autres que la lecture à distance des compteurs intelligents. Ce travail de thèse vise à développer un système de modèles et outils pour évaluer la performance des réseaux RF-Mesh et encourager leur utilisation pour un grand nombre d’applications dans le domaine des Smart Grid. Le système d’évaluation de performance proposé est constitué (i) de modèles analytiques, pour calculer la probabilité de collision entre les paquets transmis, (ii) d’un simulateur de réseau, pour recréer le fonctionnement des réseaux RF-Mesh dans un environnement virtuel, (iii) d’un générateur de topologie, pour créer des cas réalistes en se basant sur des données géographiques et (iv) des méthodes pour l’analyse de la performance. Trois différents modèles analytiques ont été implémentés. Dans les deux premiers, une nouvelle formule analytique a été utilisée pour calculer la probabilité de collision entre paquets. La probabilité de collision est ensuite utilisée pour estimer le délai moyen de/vers chaque compteur intelligent dans l’IMA analysée. Par la suite, des indices de performance, basés sur le délai moyen, sont utilisés pour faire des analyses de performance : études de faisabilité pour les applications de Smart Grid, l’identification de noeuds critiques et d’éventuels goulots d’étranglement. Dans le troisième modèle analytique, la théorie de Markov-Modulated System est utilisée pour prendre en considération d’importants détails d’implémentation, comme la probabilité de retransmission et la taille des mémoires tampons des noeuds, qui n’avaient pas été inclus dans la modélisations précédente.----------ABSTRACT Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), originally conceived to replace the old Automated Meter Reading (AMR) infrastructures, have now become a key element in the Smart Grid context and might be used for applications other than remote meter reading. The main driver to their widespread installation is that they provide power utilities with a bidirectional connectivity with the smart meters. A wide variety of communication networks are currently proposed to support the implementation of AMIs, and, among them, the RF-Mesh technology seems to be very popular. The main reasons for its adoption are the proprietary infrastructure and the modest cost for the installation and the equipment. However, RF-Mesh systems are characterized by poor achievable data-rates in the order of 10 kbps, and their performance is not well studied in the literature. The lack of tools and methods for the performance evaluation might be a roadblock to their widespread adoption. This thesis aims at filling this gap and increase the knowledge of large-scale RF-Mesh systems to foster their use for a wide variety of applications. We propose a comprehensive framework for the performance evaluation of large-scale AMIs adopting the RF-Mesh technology. The framework includes (i) a geo-based topology generator that uses geographic data to produce realistic AMI cases, (ii) analytic models for the computation of packet collision probability and delay, (iii) a network simulator to recreate the behavior of large-scale RF-Mesh systems, and (iv) methods to evaluate the performance. Three different analytic models are included in the framework. The first two provide a novel analytic formulation of the packet collision probability in a mesh network with timeslotted ALOHA and the Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) protocol : the collision probability is then used to estimate the average delay in the network, and to define and evaluate performance indexes (e.g., critical nodes and survival function). In the third model, a complex Markov-Modulated System (MMS) is used to take into consideration important implementation details, such as the retransmission probability and the buffer size, that were not considered in the two previous models. This model also provides a more accurate computation of the packet collision probability. A Poisson distribution is used to represent the traffic coming from potential Smart Grid applications. The framework also includes an RFMesh network simulator, written in Java and Python. The tool provides additional enhanced features with respect to the analytic models, such as a dynamic routing protocol or different traffic distributions

PENERAPAN HUKUM PIDANA NARKOTIKA DI INDONESIA

Permasalahan kejahatan tindak pidana narkotika telah menjadi permasalahan bangsa dan bangsa-bangsa di dunia yang selalu dibicarakan. Di seluruh dunia permasalahan penyalahgunaan narkotika hampir semua menjadi permasalahan bangsa-bangsa. Penyalahgunaan narkotika tentunya dapat mengakibatkan kerusakan secara fisik, kesehatan mental, emosi dan sikap dalam masyarakat. Permasalahan penyalahgunaan narkotika telah mengancam masyarakat dan bangsa sehingga menjadi suatu kejahatan yang terorganisir dalam ringkup nasional maupun bagi dunia inernasional. Terkait Jurnal ilmiah ini, penulis menjelaskan permasalahan bagaimana penerapan hukum pidana mengenai pengaturan tindak pidana narkotika di Indonesia dan bagaimana sistem hukum pidana mengenai pengaturan tindak pidana narkotika di Indonesia. Metode penelitian dalam jurnal ilmiah ini dilakukan dengan pendekatan yuridis normatif yaitu dengan melakukan analisis terhadap permasalahan melalui pendekatan asas-asas hukum serta mengacu pada norma-norma hukum yang terdapat dalam peraturan perundang-undangan. Data yang digunakan dalam jurnal ilmiah ini adalah data sekunder

Synergies Between Federated Learning and O-RAN: Towards an Elastic Virtualized Architecture for Multiple Distributed Machine Learning Services

Federated learning (FL) is the most popular distributed machine learning technique. However, implementation of FL over modern wireless networks faces key challenges caused by (i) dynamics of the network conditions and (ii) the coexistence of multiple FL services/tasks and other network services in the system, which are not jointly considered in prior works. Motivated by these challenges, we introduce a generic FL paradigm over NextG networks, called dynamic multi-service FL (DMS-FL). We identify three unexplored design considerations in DMS-FL: (i) FL service operator accumulation, (ii) wireless resource fragmentation, and (iii) signal strength fluctuations. We take the first steps towards addressing these design considerations by proposing a novel distributed ML architecture called elastic virtualized FL (EV-FL). EV-FL unleashes the full potential of Open RAN (O-RAN) systems and introduces an elastic resource provisioning methodology to execute FL services. It further constitutes a multi-time-scale FL management system that introduces three dimensions into existing FL architectures: (i) virtualization, (ii) scalability, and (iii) elasticity. Through investigating EV-FL, we reveal a series of open research directions for future work. We finally simulate EV-FL to demonstrate its potential in saving wireless resources and increasing fairness among FL services.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure