Polytechnic University of Turin

About: Polytechnic University of Turin is a education organization based out in Turin, Piemonte, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Finite element method & Nonlinear system. The organization has 11553 authors who have published 41395 publications receiving 789320 citations. The organization is also known as: POLITO & Politecnico di Torino.

Long-term monitoring of soil management effects on runoff and soil erosion in sloping vineyards in Alto Monferrato (North–West Italy)

Abstract: Long-term runoff and soil erosion data have been collected from differently managed field-scale vineyard plots within the “Tenuta Cannona Experimental Vine and Wine Center of Regione Piemonte”, located in the Alto Monferrato vine production area (NW Italy) The primary intent of the program was to evaluate the effects of agricultural management practices on the hydrologic, soil erosion, nutrient transport and soil compaction processes in vineyards Field runoff data have been collected for every event since the year 2000 until now Sediment and nutrient concentrations in water have been also monitored Regarding soil properties and initial conditions, surveys have been carried out to investigate spatial and temporal variability of soil bulk density, soil saturated conductivity, soil water content, and penetration resistance The Cannona Data Base (CDB) includes data for more than 300 runoff events and over 90 soil loss events; moreover, periodic measurements for soil physical characteristics are included for the three plots Runoff and sediment yield showed high annual and seasonal variability and were strongly affected by the adoption of different soil management in the vineyard inter-rows, especially after some years of observation Grass cover reduced runoff by at least 37%, in comparison with management by tillage, and average annual sediment yield ranged from 18 Mg ha −1 year −1 to 207 Mg ha −1 year −1 , respectively for the “grass covered” and the “reduced tillage” vineyards Furthermore, results showed the effect of the adopted soil management on soil properties The Cannona Data base (CDB) can be accessed via a website ( http://sustagtocnrit/indexphp/cannona-db ) supported by the IMAMOTER-CNR

Modeling of surface myoelectric signals. II. Model-based signal interpretation

Abstract: For pt. I see ibid., vol. 46, no. 7, p. 810-20 (1999). Experimental electromyogram (EMG) data from the human biceps brachii were simulated using the model described in pt. I of this work. A multichannel linear electrode array, spanning the length of the biceps, was used to detect monopolar and bipolar signals, from which double differential signals were computed, during either voluntary or electrically elicited isometric contractions. For relatively low-level voluntary contractions (10%-30% of maximum force) individual firings of three to four-different motor units were identified and their waveforms were closely approximated by the model. Motor unit parameters such as depth, size, fiber orientation and length, location of innervation and tendonous zones, propagation velocity, and source width were estimated using the model. Two applications of the model are described. The first analyzes the effects of electrode rotation with respect to the muscle fiber direction and shows the possibility of conduction velocity (CV) over- and under-estimation. The second focuses on the myoelectric manifestations of fatigue during a sustained electrically elicited contraction and the interrelationship between muscle fiber CV, spectral and amplitude variables, and the length of the depolarization zone. It is concluded that a) surface EMG detection using an electrode array, when combined with a model of signal propagation, provides a useful method for understanding the physiological and anatomical determinants of EMG waveform characteristics and b) the model provides a way for the interpretation of fatigue plots.

Coexistence mechanisms for interference mitigation in the 2.4-GHz ISM band

Abstract: Wireless technologies sharing the same frequency band and operating in the same environment often interfere with each other, causing severe decrease in performance. We propose two coexistence mechanisms based on traffic scheduling techniques that mitigate interference between different wireless systems operating in the 2.4-GHz industrial, medical, and scientific band. In particular, we consider IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs) and Bluetooth (BT) voice and data nodes, showing that the proposed algorithms can work when the two systems are able to exchange information as well as when they operate independently of one another. Results indicate that the proposed algorithms remarkably mitigate the interference between the IEEE 802.11 and BT technologies at the expense of a small additional delay in the data transfer. It is also shown that the impact of the interference generated by microwave ovens on the IEEE 802.11 WLANs performance can be significantly reduced through the mechanisms presented.

Electrical stimulation for neuromuscular testing and training: state-of-the art and unresolved issues.

Abstract: Contrary to other widespread forms of electrical stimulation, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and functional electrical stimulation (FES), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is generally delivered to the muscle in static conditions (without functional movement occurring) and at sufficiently high current intensities to evoke visible muscle contractions (beyond motor threshold). NMES has received increasing attention in the last few years, because it has the potential to serve as: