Multimedia summarization using social media content

In this work, we propose a novel multimedia summarization technique from Online Social Networks (OSNs). In particular, we model each Multimedia Social Network (MSN)—i.e. an OSN focusing on the management and sharing of multimedia information—using an hypergraph based approach and exploit influence analysis methodologies to determine the most important multimedia objects with respect to one or more topics of interest. Successively, we obtain from the list of candidate objects a multimedia summary using a summarization model together with an heuristics that aims to generate summaries with priority (with respect to some user keywords), continuity, variety and not receptiveness features. The performed experiments on Flickr shows the effectiveness of proposed approach.     

Meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the northern Adriatic Sea during the period June 1999-July 2002: influence on the mucilage phenomenon

Mucilage events (formation of very large organic aggregates and gelatinous surface layers) have been documented several times during the past two centuries in the northern Adriatic Sea (NA), while their frequency has significantly increased since 1988. In this work, meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the NA during the period June 1999-July 2002 are described and their relation to the outbreak and fate of the mucilage phenomenon was investigated. Salinity and temperature data were collected during approximately monthly cruises along three transects in the NA. Relevant meteorological situations (air temperature, rainfall, wind) were selected from large-scale ECMWF analyses and from the Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS; Emilia Romagna Meteorological Service), while sea conditions (waves) were analysed by means of the Wave Adriatic Model (WAM). Data for air temperature, rainfall, and wind from several meteorological stations in the region were used. Average seasonal cycles of sea temperature and salinity simulated with statistical models, based on historical data collected in the NA since 1972, were used to determine thermal and haline anomalies. The monthly anomaly variability of maximum and minimum air temperatures, rainfall amount and number of rainy days did not appear to be relevant for the mucilage phenomenon outbreak. In contrast, both vertical and horizontal thermohaline gradients in the region were more developed during late spring and summer of 2000 and particularly of 2002, when the mucilage events were of greatest extent in space and time, compared to 2001 (short-lived event) and 1999 (no event). These more pronounced gradients were due to a combination of several unusual conditions: sharp heating of the sea surface in May-June, domination of eastwards transport of freshened waters formed in the Po Delta area, and intrusion of very high salinity intermediate waters originating in the eastern Mediterranean. Moreover, in winter of both 2000 and 2002 very dense and cold water formed and remained in the bottom layer until spring, contributing to increase the stratification degree of the water column. The duration of the mucilage events and their spatial distribution in the region depend strongly on meteorological changes. Recurrent anticyclonic conditions, characterized by low wind and calm sea, favour extended events in time (up 2 months in 2002). In contrast, highly perturbed weather, particularly due to strong "bora" wind, can be determined in sharp decay of the event (e.g. in July 2000).     

Synthesis of scanning electron microscopy images by high performance computing for the metrology of advanced CMOS processes

Scanning electron microscopy is still the technique of choice for imaging and for in-line measurement of critical dimensions and overlay accuracy in most of the core technology processes. In particular, critical dimension microscopy provides information about design template matching and edge placement errors through links with design having proven beneficial effects on process yield and product reliability. In this paper, the use of high performance computing is demonstrated to simulate linescans and 2D secondary electron images to be used in optical proximity error correction strategies for nanometer scale technologies.     

Palmitoylethanolamide: A Nutritional Approach to Keep Neuroinflammation within Physiological Boundaries—A Systematic Review

Neuroinflammation is a physiological response aimed at maintaining the homodynamic balance and providing the body with the fundamental resource of adaptation to endogenous and exogenous stimuli. Although the response is initiated with protective purposes, the effect may be detrimental when not regulated. The physiological control of neuroinflammation is mainly achieved via regulatory mechanisms performed by particular cells of the immune system intimately associated with or within the nervous system and named “non-neuronal cells.” In particular, mast cells (within the central nervous system and in the periphery) and microglia (at spinal and supraspinal level) are involved in this control, through a close functional relationship between them and neurons (either centrally, spinal, or peripherally located). Accordingly, neuroinflammation becomes a worsening factor in many disorders whenever the non-neuronal cell supervision is inadequate. It has been shown that the regulation of non-neuronal cells—and therefore the control of neuroinflammation—depends on the local “on demand” synthesis of the endogenous lipid amide Palmitoylethanolamide and related endocannabinoids. When the balance between synthesis and degradation of this bioactive lipid mediator is disrupted in favor of reduced synthesis and/or increased degradation, the behavior of non-neuronal cells may not be appropriately regulated and neuroinflammation exceeds the physiological boundaries. In these conditions, it has been demonstrated that the increase of endogenous Palmitoylethanolamide—either by decreasing its degradation or exogenous administration—is able to keep neuroinflammation within its physiological limits. In this review the large number of studies on the benefits derived from oral administration of micronized and highly bioavailable forms of Palmitoylethanolamide is discussed, with special reference to neuroinflammatory disorders.     

Towards the development of a novel bioinspired functional material: Synthesis and characterization of hybrid TiO2/DHICA-melanin nanoparticles

A large number of recent literature data focus on modification/modulation of surface chemistry of inorganic materials in order to improve their functional properties. Melanins, a wide class of natural pigments, are recently emerging as a powerful organic component for developing bioinspired active material for a large number of applications from organoelectronics to bioactive compounds.Here we report the use of the approach referred as “chimie douce”, involving in situ formation of the hybrids through reactions of precursors under mild conditions, to prepare novel hybrid functional architectures based on eumelanin like 5,6 dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) polymer and TiO₂. Two synthesis procedures were carried out to get DHICA-melanin coated TiO₂ nanoparticles as well as mixed DHICA/TiO₂ hybrid nanostructures. Such systems were characterized through EPR, FT-IR and fluorescence spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and TEM microscopy in order to assess the effect of synthesis path as well as of DHICA content on structural, morphological and optical properties of TiO₂ nanostructures. In particular, EPR, FT-IR spectra and TGA analysis confirmed the presence of DHICA-melanin in these samples. TEM measurements indicated the formation of the nanoparticles having relatively narrow size distribution with average particle size of about 10 nm. DHICA-melanin does act as a morphological agent affecting morphology of hybrid nanostructures. XRD analysis proved that TiO₂ hybrid nanoparticles kept anatase structures for DHICA-melanin contents within the range of investigated compositions, i.e. up to 50% wt/wt.     

The Influence of Soil Stochastic Heterogeneity and Facility Dimensions on Stormwater Infiltration Facilities Performance

Water Resources Management - The progressive increase of impervious surfaces induced by urbanization altered significantly the natural hydrological cycle of urban catchments. To face the need of...     

Spray Measurements of an Upright Fire Sprinkler

Measurements were conducted to characterize the spray patterns of an upright fire sprinkler in the near and far field of the sprinkler. The spatial distribution of droplet size, velocity and number density in the spray was measured using a laser-based shadow-imaging system. The water volume flux distribution was measured by an array of pressure-transducer-equipped water collection tubes and containers. A large-scale traverse was constructed to move the laser optics and water collection tubes and containers to the designated measurement locations. An upright fire sprinkler with a K-factor of 162 lpm/bar^1/2, installed with its deflector 0.17 m below a flat horizontal ceiling, was characterized at two discharge pressures, i.e., 0.76 bar and 1.31 bar. In the near field at 0.76 m from the sprinkler, measurements were performed in a spherical coordinate at different azimuthal and elevation angles with respect to the sprinkler deflector. In the far field, the sprays were mapped out in a 110° circular sector at 3.05 m and 4.57 m below the ceiling. The shadow-imaging based water flux measurements were verified by the measurements obtained from water collection containers. Except for the pipe effect, the azimuthal distributions of the flow rate showed that the spray pattern was more influenced by the frame arms than by the deflector tines and slots. The gross droplet size distribution was expressed as a combination of a log-normal function and Rosin–Rammler function. The median droplet diameter was correlated as an empirical function of the sprinkler orifice diameter and operating pressure. The near-field distributions of the droplet size, velocity and flux can be used to prescribe the starting spray conditions for numerical simulations of spray transport. The far-field measurements are useful in evaluating the spray transport calculations.     

Experimental investigation on fire endurance of insulated concrete beams strengthened with near surface mounted FRP bar reinforcement

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are known to be susceptible to deterioration at elevated temperature. To evaluate the feasibility of achieving a fire-rated FRP system an investigation was undertaken to examine and document the performance of near surface mounted (NSM) FRP strengthened concrete beams under fire conditions. Twelve reinforced concrete beams were strengthened in flexure with NSM FRP bars and insulated with different insulation systems. The specimens were subsequently exposed to a standard fire while subjected to full service load. Tests results on fire indicated that insulated NSM FRP strengthened beams can achieve a fire endurance of at least 2 h. Moreover structural testing to failure at room temperature of the fire testes beams has shown that well insulated members are able to retain (part of) their original strengthened flexural capacity.     

WS2 Nanotubes: Electrical Conduction and Field Emission Under Electron Irradiation and Mechanical Stress

This study reports the electrical transport and the field emission properties of individual multi‐walled tungsten disulphide (WS₂) nanotubes (NTs) under electron beam irradiation and mechanical stress. Electron beam irradiation is used to reduce the nanotube‐electrode contact resistance by one‐order of magnitude. The field emission capability of single WS₂ NTs is investigated, and a field emission current density as high as 600 kA cm^?2 is attained with a turn‐on field of ≈ 100 V μm^?1 and field‐enhancement factor ≈ 50. Moreover, the electrical behavior of individual WS₂ NTs is studied under the application of longitudinal tensile stress. An exponential increase of the nanotube resistivity with tensile strain is demonstrated up to a recorded elongation of 12%, thereby making WS₂ NTs suitable for piezoresistive strain sensor applications.