Manuela Carini

LCDiXRay: a user-friendly program for powder diffraction indexing of columnar liquid crystals

The formulation of a standard computerized procedure for the indexing of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of columnar liquid crystals, with the determination of all structural information extracted from a properly indexed PXRD spectrum and the attribution of the columnar mesophase symmetry, is presented. In particular, the proposed program notably accelerates the identification of columnar mesophases together with the in situ determination of their structural parameters such as mesophase type, space group, cell parameters, cross-section area, intermolecular stacking distance between consecutive discoids and, in the case of ordered mesophases, the estimation of the number of molecules constituting each discoid.

Synthetic sustainability index (SSI) based on life cycle assessment approach of low impact development in the Mediterranean area

Abstract Climate change and the processes of urbanization alter the hydrologic and hydraulic regime of runoffs formation in urban areas. Low impact infrastructure development (LID) contributes to achieving conditions of invariance hydrological and hydraulics. The purpose of this work is to identify an index of synthetic sustainability (SSI) based on life cycle assessment (LCA). Such LCA evaluates design alternatives through the comparison of the different values of the SSI. The proposed methodology allows the evaluation of the SSI attributing to the individual layers of the LIDs different weights and taking into account both of the influence that each of them perform on invariance hydrologic and hydraulic both of the LCA normalized output. In this paper is showed a methodological implementation obtained by the analysis of a green roof and a permeable pavement. This green roof has been realized, on real scale, in the Urban Hydrology Experimental Park in University of Calabria (Italy).

Learning in the Smart City: A Virtual and Augmented Museum Devoted to Chaos Theory

This paper presents a virtual museum introducing the interactive VR and MEMS applications related to the learning of chaos and complexity theory. In this museum, the user can learn the history of the dynamical systems and how to build Chuas circuit, as well as realize artistic artifacts transforming attractors into sounds and music. This environment can be used in the city in order to create new ways of experiencing science, turning physical activities into virtual ones, an important step towards being able to have the museum in the smart city. Moreover, some applications have been developed to work on iPad and iPhone and can be used as a guide in the real exhibitions. A user-centred design strategy with 40 students has been carried out in order to implement the Virtual Museum of Chuas Attractors, aiming at widening the experience in the smart city and allowing a considerable public participation.

Sustainability criteria for the selection of water supply pipeline

Abstract The evolution of the materials used for drinking water pipelines has often introduced substantial innovations in the market, both in terms of improved static and hydraulic performance and cost. Over time, technical and cost-effective assessments to pipelines selection, related to the materials used, have been accompanied by environmental assessments in relation to the environmental impact of construction and management of drinking water system. The recent legislative and technical regulations have made the environmental cost assessment more complex, which is related to the life cycle of materials and infrastructures. This paper proposes an index, In Situ Sustainability Index (ISSI), which can be used for the pipelines materials choice for drinking water systems and which takes into account both technical and environmental aspects. This index considers the interaction between piping and laying soil, through the In Situ Elasticity Coefficient and the impacts of materials used for water system piping through Life Cycle Assessment. The ISSI index is a practical tool because it makes a simultaneous consideration of two essential aspects in the design (technical and environmental evaluations) through a rapid-use analytical structure.

Structural Characterization of Bitumen System by Prony-Like Method Applied to NMR and Rheological Relaxation Data

In order to characterize colloidal structures, T2-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and rheological relaxation times are used. NMR Car–Purcell sequence and mechanical stress relaxation experiments have been performed on a bitumen system at different temperatures. The rheological relaxation times spectra are fingerprints of the aggregates that constitute the system. These typical relaxation times have been obtained from an exponential fitting of the experimental data, based on a Prony-like method. The unknown parameters are estimated on the basis of a linear regression equation that uses altered signals obtained directly from the NMR and rheological measurements. This approach uses the derivative method in the frequency domain, yielding exact formula in terms of multiple integrals of the signal, when placed in the time domain. These integrals are explicitly solved by projecting signal on some set of orthogonal basis functions or, more in general, by using a polynomial that fits data in the least-squares sense. The method is able to deal with the case of nonuniform sampled signal.

SCIENAR Virtual Community: An Useful Tool to Promote the Synergies Among Artists and Scientists

This paper describes a Virtual Community (VC) developed within the framework of the European project SCIENAR (Scientific Scenarios and Art). The SCIENAR project explores the connections between Art and Science and the use of new media and Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) for the exploration and representation of these relationships in an innovative and productive way. The main objective of the Virtual Community described herein is to strengthen the role of the â??artistic-scientific

A quantum chemical analysis of Zn and Sb doping and co-doping in SnO2

This work presents a quantum chemical study of Zn and Sb doping and co-doping in SnO2 carried out by a DFT+U method. The analysis has been developed by introducing three different modifications in the otherwise pure SnO2 system. In the first place, an oxygen vacancy was introduced within the crystal. Following, such a system was doped (separately) by Zn or Sb impurities. Finally, the best energetic positions for both Zn and Sb atoms were simultaneously introduced within the lattice. Results of the simulations show that the confined charge that appeared due to the introduction of the oxygen vacancy interacts with the dopants atoms, being this interaction mostly responsible of the observed effects, i.e., EG shrinkage, F-centers formations, and magnetic momentum rise.