Interpretation and inference with maximal referential terms

Several authors proposed to import in Natural Language (NL) semantics the ideas lying behind the well-known Skolem theorem, defined in First Order Logic. In these proposals, logical forms include referential (functional) terms, inserted as argument of Generalized Quantifiers. The referential terms have to be maximized with respect to the model where formulae are evaluated, in order to provide the proper truth conditions. This article presents two recent proposals belonging to this approach, i.e. Steedman (2007) [60] and Robaldo (2009) [50], and compares their way to incorporate the maximality requirement. The comparison highlights that the latter provides a more adequate and flexible management of the model theoretic interpretation of the formulae and the inferences that may be carried out starting from them.     

Phase constitution and glass formation in an Au-based alloy

Studies on the phase constitution of annealed master ingots of the Au₄₉Ag_5.5Pd_2.3Cu_26.9Si_16.3 alloy suggest that it is a quinary eutectic and revealed which phases solidify from the melt. The alloy has been amorphized in ribbon form. Ribbon crystallization has been studied in isothermal and continuous heating modes. From such experiments data on the mechanism and kinetics of crystallization have been obtained. Time–temperature–transformation and Continuous Heating Transformations plots for crystallization have been derived from thermal data.     

A microwave interferometer with imaging capability for remote measurements of building displacements

In this paper the authors report some experimental activities carried out in Italy during the last few years, aimed at verifying the effectiveness of the use of coherent radar imaging to retrieve information on buildings deformations. Maps of differential phase obtained by means of a microwave interferometer with imaging capabilities are presented. Images were obtained by a synthetic-aperture interferometric radar making use of continuous-wave step-frequency waveform. The deformation maps and the measurement of some mechanical parameters—as the oscillating frequency and the amplitude of the vibrating modes of the observed structures—were performed remotely with sub-millimetre accuracy.

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Résumé Dans cet article, les auteurs rapportent l'analyse de quelques activités expérimentales effectuées en Italie au cours de ces dernières années, pour vérifier l'efficacité de l'utilisation d'images radar cohérentes pour mesurer les déformations de batiments. On va présenter des cartes de la phase différentielle obtenues à l'aide d'un interféromètre à micro-ondes avec des capacités d'imagerie. Des images sont obtenues à partir d'un radar interférométrique à ouverture synthétique et à onde continue (forme d'onde: step-frequency). La mesure des paramètres mécaniques comme fréquence d'oscillation et la phase des modes vibrants des structures observées ont été expérimentées à distance avec une exactitude supérieure au millimètre.

     

Landslide monitoring by ground-based radar interferometry: A field test in Valdarno (Italy)

A ground-based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) was installed to monitor a landslide in Valdarno (Italy). The aim was to field-test an innovative remote sensing instrument able to provide distributed information over sliding slopes with a rate of several images a day. Radar images and interferometric displacement maps projected on the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the test site are reported.     

Advanced Processing Techniques for Step-Frequency Continuous-Wave Penetrating Radar: The Case Study of “Palazzo Vecchio” Walls (Firenze,Italy)

This article deals with different processing techniques applied to data gathered by a novel step-frequency penetrating radar in a measurement survey of the walls of the historical room “Salone dei 500” in Palazzo Vecchio (Firenze, Italy). The aim of the investigation was to detect discontinuities in the masonry walls, possibly corresponding to a cavity containing fragments of the lost fresco of the Battle of Anghiari by Leonardo da Vinci. Data have been processed by means of two different techniques. The first one is a time domain analysis compensating for dielectric losses inside the medium, and the second one is based on a one-dimensional inverse scattering approach. Even if based on different principles, both techniques reveal the presence of a discontinuity in the eastern wall of the room at a depth between 10 and 20 cm, whereas no discontinuity traces are observed in the other walls.     

Lachancea thermotolerans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in simultaneous and sequential co-fermentation: A strategy to enhance acidity and improve the overall quality of wine

In the last few years there is an increasing interest on the use of mixed fermentation of Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces wine yeasts for inoculation of wine fermentations to enhance the quality and improve complexity of wines. In the present work Lachancea (Kluyveromyces) thermotolerans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated in simultaneous and sequential fermentation with the aim to enhance acidity and improve the quality of wine.     

The Social Life of Wireless Urban Spaces: Internet Use,Social Networks,and the Public Realm

This study explores the role of urban public spaces for democratic and social engagement. It examines the impact of wireless Internet use on urban public spaces, Internet users, and others who inhabit these spaces. Through observations of 7 parks, plazas, and markets in 4 North American cities, and surveys of wireless Internet users in those sites, we explore how this new technology is related to processes of social interaction, privatism, and democratic engagement. Findings reveal that Internet use within public spaces affords interactions with existing acquaintances that are more diverse than those associated with mobile phone use. However, the level of colocated social diversity to which Internet users are exposed is less than that of most users of these spaces. Yet, online activities in public spaces do contribute to broader participation in the public sphere. Internet connectivity within public spaces may contribute to higher overall levels of democratic and social engagement than what is afforded by exposure within similar spaces free of Internet connectivity.     

Investigations on the 4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid motif part 5: modulation of the physicochemical profile of a set of potent and selective cannabinoid-2 receptor ligands through a bioisosteric approach

Three heterocyclic systems were selected as potential bioisosteres of the amide linker for a series of 1,6-disubstituted-4-quinolone-3-carboxamides, which are potent and selective CB2 ligands that exhibit poor water solubility, with the aim of improving their physicochemical profile and also of clarifying properties of importance for amide bond mimicry. Among the newly synthesized compounds, a 1,2,3-triazole derivative (1-(adamantan-1-yl)-4-[6-(furan-2-yl)-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-1-pentylquinolin-3-yl]-1H-1,2,3-triazole) emerged as the most promising in terms of both physicochemical and pharmacodynamic properties. When assayed in vitro, this derivative exhibited inverse agonist activity, whereas, in the formalin test in mice, it produced analgesic effects antagonized by a well-established inverse agonist. Metabolic studies allowed the identification of a side chain hydroxylated derivative as its only metabolite, which, in its racemic form, still showed appreciable CB2 selectivity, but was 150-fold less potent than the parent compound.     

Non-contact intrawall penetrating radar for heritage survey: the search of the ‘Battle of Anghiari’ by Leonardo da Vinci

In this paper a high-frequency large-bandwidth synthetic aperture penetrating radar intended for the inspection of masonry walls, and its application to intrawall investigation of an important Heritage structure in Florence, Italy, are described. The radar system has been conceived and designed for non-contact operation, in particular for allowing walls covered by paintings to be inspected avoiding damages to the surface artworks. The radar signal was a Continuous-Wave Step-Frequency (CW-SF) waveform, sampling a 4 GHz bandwidth at 10 GHz center frequency, thus providing relatively high resolution images of the investigated structures. Cross-range resolution is provided by applying a synthetic aperture approach, obtained by mechanically moving the radar antenna along a 2 m length aperture. In order to assess the radar performances and its detection capability, laboratory tests on masonry facilities were preliminarily performed. Finally, an extensive measurement campaign was carried out on a famous 16th century structure: the ‘Hall of 500’, in Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), in Florence (Italy). This investigation was aimed at finding evidence of possible discontinuities in the masonry walls, where fragments of the famous fresco the ‘Battle of Anghiari’ by Leonardo da Vinci could be hidden.     

Permanent scatterers analysis for atmospheric correction in ground-based SAR interferometry

Ground-based synthetic aperture radar (GB-SAR) interferometry has already been recognized as a powerful tool, complementary or alternative to spaceborne SAR interferometry, for terrain monitoring, and for detecting structural changes in buildings. It has been noted that, in spite of the very short range, compared with the satellite configuration, in GB-SAR measurement the disturbances due to atmospheric effects cannot be neglected either. The analysis of the interferometric phases of very coherent points, called permanent scatterers (PSs), allows the evaluation of the atmospheric disturbance and the possibility of removing it. In this paper, the PS analysis is carried out both on a test site facility and on a real campaign (Citrin Valley, Italy) that provided data with a temporal baseline of about ten months.