The search for extrasolar giant planets using integral field spectroscopy: Simulations

We present here simulations of extrasolar planets detections obtained using a combination of extreme adaptive optics and integral field spectroscopy. The simulation code, written for IDL, provides images and, in particular, spectra, taking into account realistic Speckle Noise, AO correction effects and specific instrumental features. A detailed study has been done for ESO VLT telescopes (8.2 m), within the Phase A of the CHEOPS project, but the code is particularly flexible and can be updated for larger telescope diameters (ELTs) in order to give a realistic estimate of the detection limits, for giant telescopes, in standard conditions of seeing.     

SPICES: spectro-polarimetric imaging and characterization of exoplanetary systems

SPICES (Spectro-Polarimetric Imaging and Characterization of Exoplanetary Systems) is a five-year M-class mission proposed to ESA Cosmic Vision. Its purpose is to image and characterize long-period extrasolar planets and circumstellar disks in the visible (450?C900 nm) at a spectral resolution of about 40 using both spectroscopy and polarimetry. By 2020/2022, present and near-term instruments will have found several tens of planets that SPICES will be able to observe and study in detail. Equipped with a 1.5 m telescope, SPICES can preferentially access exoplanets located at several AUs (0.5?C10?AU) from nearby stars (<25 pc) with masses ranging from a few Jupiter masses to Super Earths (??2 Earth radii, ??10 M_??) as well as circumstellar disks as faint as a few times the zodiacal light in the Solar System.     

Serviceability analysis of piled foundations supporting tall structures

Acta Geotechnica - Pile foundations supporting tall structures, such as wind turbines, chimneys, silos, elevated water tanks or bridge piers, are subjected during their life span to remarkably...     

A Bayesian vulnerability assessment tool for drinking water mains under extreme events

Drinking water security is a life safety issue as an adequate supply of safe water is essential for economic, social and sanitary reasons. Damage to any element of a water system, as well as corruption of resource quality, may have significant effects on the population it serves and on all other dependent resources and activities. As well as an analysis of the reliability of water distribution systems in ordinary conditions, it is also crucial to assess system vulnerability in the event of natural disasters and of malicious or accidental anthropogenic acts. The present work summarizes the initial results of research activities that are underway with the intention of developing a vulnerability assessment methodology for drinking water infrastructures subject to hazardous events. The main aim of the work was therefore to provide decision makers with an effective operational tool which could support them mainly to increase risk awareness and preparedness and, possibly, to ease emergency management. The proposed tool is based on Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN), a probabilistic methodology which has demonstrated outstanding potential to integrate a range of sources of knowledge, a great flexibility and the ability to handle in a mathematically sound way uncertainty due to data scarcity and/or limited knowledge of the system to be managed. The tool was implemented to analyze the vulnerability of two of the most important water supply systems in the Apulia region (southern Italy) which have been damaged in the past by natural hazards. As well as being useful for testing and improving the predictive capabilities of the methodology and for possibly modifying its structure and features, the case studies have also helped to underline its strengths and weaknesses. Particularly, the experiences carried out demonstrated how the use of BBN was consistent with the lack of data reliability, quality and accessibility which are typical of complex infrastructures, such as the water distribution networks. The potential applications and future developments of the proposed tool have been also discussed accordingly.     

Integration of local and scientific knowledge to support drought impact monitoring: some hints from an Italian case study

According to the Hyogo Framework for Action, increasing resilience to drought requires the development of a people-centered monitoring and early warning system, or in other words, a system capable of providing useful and understandable information to the community at risk. To achieve this objective, it is crucial to negotiate a credible and legitimate knowledge system, which should include both expert and local knowledge. Although several benefits can be obtained, the integration of local and scientific knowledge to support drought monitoring is still far from being the standard in drought monitoring and early warning. This is due to many reasons, that is, the reciprocal skepticism of local communities and decision makers, and the limits in the capacity to understand and assess the complex web of drought impacts. This work describes a methodology based on the sequential implementation of Cognitive Mapping and Bayesian Belief Networks to collect, structure and analyze stakeholders’ perceptions of drought impacts. The methodology was applied to analyze drought impacts at Lake Trasimeno (central Italy). A set of drought indicators was developed based on stakeholders’ perceptions. A validation phase was carried out comparing the perceived indicators of drought and the physical indicators (i.e., Standard Precipitation Index and the level of the lake). Some preliminary conclusions were drawn concerning the reliability of local knowledge to support drought monitoring and early warning.     

Minimum 1D Velocity Model from Local Earthquake Data in the Provence Region,South-Eastern France

We computed a one-dimensional (1D) velocity model and station corrections refering to the Provence region (South-eastern France) by inverting P-wave arrival times recorded on an eight-station local seismic network. Using this velocity model and the program HYPOELLIPSE (Lahr, 1989), we relocated a set of 108 local events. The quality comparison between previous earthquake locations and new relocated shows a good improvement.The obtained Minimum 1D velocity model can be used in a better-quality routine for earthquake location and represent a first step towards more detailed seismic studies in the Provence region.     

Environmental Hazard of Capable Faults: The Case of the Pernicana Fault (Mt. Etna,Sicily

When dealing with hazard, the concept of fault capability (the probability of significant surface displacement in the near future) is more useful than the generic and often misleading concept of fault activity. The example of the Pernicana fault, located in the north-eastern flank of the Mt. Etna volcano is used here to illustrate the damage which can be expected in an urbanised area from a capable fault, in this case characterized by 'aseismic creep along part of its length. Along this fault, buildings, roads and other essential lifelines are being affected by slow, left-lateral displacement. The Pernicana fault is only one of a set of structures in the area whose movement, either connected to seismicity or not, is producing severe damage. First identified at the end of the last century, this source of hazard is, nevertheless, still poorly considered by planners and technicians. In Italy fault creep is quite rare outside the Etna region, but fault capability associated with strong earthquakes is relatively frequent, based on historical and palaeoseismological data, and is a feature that should be taken into account for hazard reduction programs.     

The absolute magnitude of field metal-poor horizontal branch stars

Hipparcos satellite parallaxes for 22 metal-poor field horizontal branch stars with V ₀<9 are used to derive their absolute magnitude. The weighted mean value is M_V =+0.69±0.10 for an average metallicity of [Fe/H]=−1.41; a somewhat brighter average magnitude of M_V =+0.60±0.12 for an average metallicity of [Fe/H]=−1.51 is obtained by eliminating HD 17072, which might be on the first ascent of the giant branch rather than on the horizontal branch. The present values agree with the determinations based on proper motions and application of the Baade–Wesselink method to field RR Lyraes; they are 0.1–0.2 mag fainter than those based on calibration of cluster distances obtained by using local subdwarfs and on alternative distance calibrators for the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The possibility that there is a real difference between the luminosity of the horizontal branch for clusters and the field is briefly commented on.     

Biomass composition and methods for the determination of metabolic reserve polymers in phototrophic sulfur bacteria

To study nutrient fluxes within aquatic ecosystems, the synthesis of biomass and of various storage polymers has been analysed in samples from a meromictic alpine lake. Methods are described for the quantitative determination of whole cell biomass, glycogen, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and sulfur. Methods were adapted to conditions present in natural environments and tested with samples from blooms of Chromatiaceae and with corresponding laboratory cultures. Dried bacterioplankton-biomass has been analyzed for sulfur, glycogen and polyhydroxyalkanoates, and after complete oxidation for SO ₄ ^2- , NO ₃ ^- and HPO ₄ ^2- . The average elemental composition of biomass from phototrophic sulfur bacteria, depleted of sulfur and carbon storage compounds, was C₃₈₀H₅₈₀O₁₅₃N₆₇P₃S_2.5M, where M stands for the content of the remaining minor elements. C, H, O, N, P and S accounted for 86.7% of the total dry mass. Storage sulfur in natural populations was equivalent to 2.5% to 13.5% of the dry mass; its content varied by 80% within a diurnal cycle. Glycogen contents fluctuated by approximately 50%; they accounted for 7.5% to 15.2% of the dry cell mass. The total content of reserve materials per cell never exceeded 30% of the dry mass. PHA had not been found in appreciable amounts in cells harvested from the natural lake habitat. Under certain conditions in the laboratoryChromatium okenii could be induced, however, to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates. Sulfur, glycogen and PHA contents of 33, 26 and 11%, respectively, were achieved under laboratory-culture conditions. Cells with up to 60% of their dry mass consisting of reserve materials can be obtained under selected laboratory conditions.