University Of Genoa Research Articles

Memes and education: opportunities, approaches and perspectives

Abstract This article presents the results of an international research of using Internet-memes in education process. The writing team set out to explore the reasons and ways of using Internet memes in education in different language spaces – English, Italian, Russian and Chinese. To achieve this goal, a number of tasks were formulated, including: 1. to study the linguistic factor of the use of memes in the educational process, 2. to classify the ways of using memes depending on the purpose, 3. to analyze the content of memes in the liberal, ideological, as well as in the field of exact sciences. The first part of the research made by Alexander Malakhov (PFUR) reveals the basic concepts associated with Internet memes. The second one written by Olga Matys (PFUR) is about using memes in a sphere of Russian liberal education in journalism. The third part of the research made by Ludovico De Serio (University of Genoa) presents an analysis using memes during studying math. The last but not the least part of this article made by Xie Dongqiang (PFUR) and reveals the aspects of an ideological studying using memes. This research was carried out using such scientific methods as analysis, comparison, description. In the course of the study, the authors used the work of such researchers as Susan Blackmore, G. Bini, M. Montagnani, Anna Zagoruyko, Maria Efremova, etc. Also there was used the content of sources such as VK publics “Memology: from antiquity to the present day” and “30 seconds before my expultion”, GeoGebra, www.padlet.com, etc.

Signal Processing Techniques to Detect Centrifugal Compressors Instabilities in Large Volume Power Plants

Abstract This paper shows signal processing techniques applied to experimental data obtained from a T100 microturbine connected with different volume sizes. This experimental activity was conducted by means of the test rig developed at the University of Genoa for hybrid systems emulation. However, these results can be extended to all advanced cycles in which a microturbine is connected with additional external components which lead to an increase of the plant volume size. Since in this case a 100 kW microturbine was used, the volume was located between the heat recovery unit outlet and the combustor inlet like in the typical cases related to small size plants. A modular vessel was used to perform and to compare the tests with different volume sizes. The main results reported in this paper are related to rotating stall and surge operations. This analysis was carried out to extend the knowledge about these risk conditions: the systems equipped with large volume size connected to the machine present critical issues related to surge and stall prevention, especially during transient operations toward low mass flowrate working conditions. Investigations conducted on acoustic and vibrational measurements can provide interesting diagnostic and predictive solutions by means of suitable instability quantifiers which are extracted from microphone and accelerometer data signals. Hence, different possible tools for rotating stall and incipient surge identification were developed through the use of different signal processing techniques, such as wavelet analysis and higher order statistics analysis (HOSA) methods. Indeed, these advanced techniques are necessary to maximize all the information conveyed by acquired signals, particularly in those environments in which measured physical quantities are hidden by strong noise, including both broadband background one (i.e., typical random noise) but also uninteresting components associated with the signal of interest. For instance, in complex coupled physical systems like the one it is meant to be studied, which do not satisfy the hypothesis of linear and Gaussian processes inside them, it is reasonable to exploit these kinds of tools, instead of the classical fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique by itself, which is mainly adapt for linear systems periodic analysis. The proposed techniques led to the definition of a quantitative indicator, the sum of all autobispectrum components modulus in the subsynchronous range, which was proven to be reliable in predicting unstable operation. This can be used as an input for diagnostic systems for early surge detection. Furthermore, the presented methods will allow the definition of some new features complementary with the ones obtainable from conventional techniques, in order to improve control systems reliability and to avoid false positives.

Field Measurements of Soil Water Content at Shallow Depths for Landslide Monitoring

Monitoring changes in soil saturation is important for slope stability analyses. Soil moisture capacitive sensors have recently been developed; their response time is extremely fast, they require little maintenance, and they are relatively inexpensive. The use of low-cost sensors in landslide areas can allow the monitoring of large territories, but appropriate calibration is required. Installation in the field and the setting up of the monitoring network also require attention. In the ALCOTRA AD-VITAM project, the University of Genoa is involved in the development of a system, called LAMP, for the monitoring, analysis and forecasting of slides triggered by rainfalls. Multiple installations (along vertical alignments) of WaterScout sensors are placed in the nodes of the monitoring network. They provide real-time water content profiles in the shallow layers (typically in the upper meter) of a slope. With particular reference to these measurements, the present paper describes the reliability analysis of the instruments, the operations related to the sensor calibration and the installation phases for the monitoring networks. Finally, some of the data coming from a node, belonging to one of the five monitoring networks, are reported.

Test campaign and application of a small-scale ducted wind turbine with analysis of yaw angle influence

This paper aims to investigate the innovative design of a ducted horizontal-axis wind turbine and to compare its energy production with a traditional free turbine for energy harvesting, both at laboratory and on relevant environment scales.The ducted wind turbine was designed considering a convergent-divergent duct, with the turbine in the throat section, where the velocity is maximum. The first part of the present paper describes the test rig and the experimental activities at the University of Genoa (Italy) wind tunnel, aimed comparing between the ducted and the traditional wind turbine at laboratory scale, considering the same rotor and comparing the power production. The second part describes the pre-commercial prototype of the ducted turbine (1 m rotor diameter), installed in the harbor of Genoa and tested under real conditions. The two experimental campaigns have shown a power increase up to 2.5 from the same rotor, compared to the free turbine configuration. In both experimental campaigns, the influence of the angle between the wind direction and the duct was investigated to determine the maximum power output of the turbine, corresponding to a yaw angle of 20°. As a final step, a possible application of this kind of ducted wind turbines is presented, investigating the case study of highway tunnel illumination: in this case, the presence of a yaw angle allows for reducing the number of turbines for the same energy production.

Public university orientation for high-school students. A quasi-experimental assessment of the efficiency gains from nudging better career choices

We adopt a quasi-experimental approach to measure the causal effect, on first-year students in bachelor-level courses at the Department of Economics and Business Studies of the University of Genoa, Italy, of having been treated to a recently activated orientation program when they were high school seniors. Improvements are evaluated at the end of the first academic year in terms of grade point average (GPA), inactivity (failing to pass even a single exam) and number of successfully completed exams. Treatment effects on GPA are estimated both for the overall treatment group and for subsamples consisting of treated students with high and with low high school exit grades. After performing several sensitivity checks, a sizeable treatment effect is confirmed both in terms of inactivity and in terms of average GPA. No clear effect was found on the number of exams. Effects on GPA are considerably stronger on students with lower high school exit grades.

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

Public Speaking in EFL Postgraduate Courses in Italy: A Case Study with Students of Political Science, University of Genoa

The teaching of soft skills in EFL postgraduate courses is increasingly part of the Italian university curricula, albeit with some delay compared to foreign universities. Postgraduate English language courses need to focus on the use of language in foreseeable situations by creating opportunities to use the language in public contexts. Meetings, presentations, debates are the activities that young people will increasingly be called upon to engage in. Rather than solely on theoretical knowledge learned previously, these activities develop the practical use of language, in front of an audience, with a structured discourse and with some emphasis on the non-verbal elements of communication. Although these aspects may appear daunting to students, more often than not, they have been able to overcome their anxiety, not only in relation to the embarrassment of speaking a foreign language in public, but even to the mere act of speaking in public, which represents an obstacle in itself. In this study a case of Italian postgraduate students of Political Science was carried out and analysed.

Development of a Multiphysics Real-Time Simulator for Model-Based Design of a DC Shipboard Microgrid

Recent and strict regulations in the maritime sector regarding exhaust gas emissions has led to an evolution of shipboard systems with a progressive increase of complexity, from the early utilization of electric propulsion to the realization of an integrated shipboard power system organized as a microgrid. Therefore, novel approaches, such as the model-based design, start to be experimented by industries to obtain multiphysics models able to study the impact of different designing solutions. In this context, this paper illustrates in detail the development of a multiphysics simulation framework, able to mimic the behaviour of a DC electric ship equipped with electric propulsion, rotating generators and battery energy storage systems. The simulation platform has been realized within the retrofitting project of a Ro-Ro Pax vessel, to size components and to validate control strategies before the system commissioning. It has been implemented on the Opal-RT simulator, as the core component of the future research infrastructure of the University of Genoa, which will include power converters, storage systems, and a ship bridge simulator. The proposed model includes the propulsion plant, characterized by propellers and ship dynamics, and the entire shipboard power system. Each component has been detailed together with its own regulators, such as the automatic voltage regulator of synchronous generators, the torque control of permanent magnet synchronous motors and the current control loop of power converters. The paper illustrates also details concerning the practical deployment of the proposed models within the real-time simulator, in order to share the computational effort among the available processor cores.

Disease Modifying Therapies and COVID-19 Severity in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies are a major issue during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, and in anticipation of possible next waves. Methods: In a nationwide study we retrospectively collected data of persons with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) with suspected or confirmed Covid-19. We assessed the association of therapies for MS with Covid-19 by comparing their observed frequency with the one expected in non-pandemic conditions (expressing the association by Odds Ratios [OR]). We evaluated baseline characteristics and MS therapies associated to a severe Covid-19 course by multivariate logistic models. Findings: Of 784 PwMS with suspected (n=593) or confirmed (n=191) Covid-19 and a median follow-up of 84 days (range=30-135), 13 (1·66%) died: 11 of them were in a progressive MS phase, and 8 were without any therapy. Thirty-three (4·2%) were admitted to an Intensive Care Unit; 90 (11·5%) had a radiologically documented pneumonia; 88 (11·2%) were hospitalized. We found an excess of patients treated with Ocrelizumab (OR=1·84,95%CI=1·31-2·56, pInterpretation: This study showed an acceptable level of safety of therapies with a broad array of mechanisms of action. However, the study detected elements of risk and protection with respect to Covid-19 in MS. These will need to be considered in countries where the pandemic is persisting and in preparation for post-pandemic scenarios. Funding: Roche donated the web-Platform and funded a fellowship to the University of Genoa.Declaration of Interests: MP. Sormani reports grants from Roche, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Biogen, Merck, Roche, Sanofi, Novartis, Medday, Geneuro, Celgene, Mylan outside the submitted work. N. DeRossi received speaker honoraria from Biogen Idec, Genzyme, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis; received funding for participation in advisory board to Novartis, Biogen and Genzyme-Sanofi and for travel to scientific meetings from Biogen Idec, Teva, Sanofi-Genzyme, Roche, Almirall and Novartis. L. Moiola has received speaker’s honoraria from the following companies: Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, and TEVA. M. Radaelli received speaker honoraria from Biogen Idec, Sanofi-Genzyme ,Novartis and Merck Serono and funding for travel to scientific meetings from Biogen Idec, Sanofi-Genzyme, Novartis, Merck Serono, Teva and Roche. P. Immovilli reports personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Biogen, personal fees from Merck, outside the submitted work. M. Capobianco reports personal fees and non-financial support from Biogen, personal fees and non-financial support from Merck Serono, personal fees and non-financial support from Roche, personal fees and non-financial support from Novartis, personal fees and non-financial support from Sanofi, personal fees from Almirall, outside the submitted work. M. Trojano reports grants and personal fees from Biogen, grants and personal fees from Novartis, grants and personal fees from Roche, grants and personal fees from Merck, personal fees from Sanofi, personal fees from TEVA, from null, outside the submitted work. G. Comi reports personal fees from Novartis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Teva Italia Srl, Sanofi Genzyme, Genzyme Corporation, Genzyme Europe, Merck KGgA, Merck Serono SpA, Celgene Group, Biogen Idec, Biogen Italia Srl, F. Hoffman-La Roche, Roche SpA, Almirall SpA, Forward Pharma, Medday, Excemed, outside the submitted work. F. Patti reports grants from Biogen, grants from Merck, grants from FISM, grants from Onlus association, grants from University of Catania, personal fees from Almirall, personal fees from Bayer, personal fees from Biogen, personal fees from Merck, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Sanofi, personal fees from TEVA, outside the submitted work. M. Salvetti reports grants and personal fees from Biogen, grants and personal fees from Merck, grants and personal fees from Novartis, grants and personal fees from Roche, grants and personal fees from Sanofi, grants and personal fees from Teva, grants from Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, grants from Sapienza University of Rome, outside the submitted work. IS, LC, CC, PZ, GT, MAB have nothing to disclose.Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Regional Ethics Committee of Liguria (University of Genoa) (n 130/2020 – DB id 10433) and at a national level by Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA).

Digital Platform of D.I.R.A.A.S. (UNIGE)

This project studies photography as an instrument for artistic and historical teaching in relation to the didactic traditions of the Humanities at the University of Genoa. This research was initially based on an analysis of the corpus of glass diapositives and phototypes mostly owned by Giusta Nicco Fasola, Genoa’s first art history professor, and currently stored by D.I.R.A.A.S. (Dipartimento di Italianistica, Romanistica, Antichistica, arti e spettacolo). The corpus contextualizes Fasola's scientific and didactic interests in relation to her complex biography as a woman, professor, and political combatant in the Resistance in Fiesole and Florence. The central element of this analysis is the project for a prototype of a digital art history photo library, intended as a place of study and research and as a virtual communication platform. The overall goal of this work is to investigate the relationship between photography, history, and art critique.

A Building Energy Management System Based on an Equivalent Electric Circuit Model

In recent decades, many EU and national regulations have been issued in order to increase the energy efficiency in different sectors and, consequently, to reduce environmental pollution. In the building sector, energy efficiency interventions are usually based on the use of innovative insulated materials and on the installation of cogeneration and tri-generation units, as well as solar technologies. New and retrofitted buildings are more and more commonly being called “smart buildings”, since they are characterized by the installation of electric and thermal power generation units, energy storage systems, and flexible loads; the presence of such technologies determines the necessity of installing Building Energy Management Systems (BEMSs), which are used to optimally manage their operation. The present paper proposes a BEMS for a smart building, equipped with plants based on renewables (photovoltaics, solar thermal panels, and geothermal heat pump), where the heating and cooling demand are satisfied by a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System (HVAC) fed by a geothermal heat pump. The developed BEMS is composed of two different modules: an optimization tool used to optimally manage the HVAC plant, in order to guarantee a desired level of comfort inside rooms, and a simulation tool, based on an equivalent electric circuit model and used to evaluate the thermal dynamic behavior of the building. The paper describes the two modules and shows the main results of the validation phase that has been conducted on a real test-case represented by the Smart Energy Building (SEB) located at the Savona Campus of the University of Genoa, Italy.

Fingolimod and Dimethyl-Fumarate-Derived Lymphopenia is not Associated with Short-Term Treatment Response and Risk of Infections in a Real-Life MS Population.

The association between treatment-related lymphopenia in multiple sclerosis, drug efficacy and the risk of infections is not yet fully understood. The objective of this study was to assess whether lymphopenia is associated with short-term treatment response and infection rate in a real-life multiple sclerosis population treated with fingolimod and dimethyl-fumarate. We assessed the associations between baseline absolute lymphocyte count and the lymphocyte mean percentage decrease at 6 and 12months with treatment response and the occurrence of adverse events over 12months in the entire cohort of patients and in the two treatment groups separately. This is a retrospective observational real-world study of patients with multiple sclerosis treated with fingolimod and dimethyl-fumarate at the MS Center of the University of Genoa between 2011 and 2018. Patients with at least 12months of follow-up were eligible if [1] they had an Expanded Disability Status Scale assessment at baseline and 12months after treatment onset, [2] they had undergone brain magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and after 12months, and [3] absolute lymphocyte counts were available at baseline, 6 and 12months. Patients shifting from dimethyl-fumarate to fingolimod or vice versa were excluded from the analysis. In total, 137 and 75 patients treated with fingolimod and dimethyl-fumarate, respectively, were included in the analysis. At 12 months,fingolimod-treated patientswere more likely to experience grade II and grade IIIlymphopenia compared with dimethyl-fumarate patients (p<0.001,χ2=94) and hada higher lymphocytemean percentage decrease (p < 0.001, U = 540). A higher number of previous therapies and a lower baseline absolute lymphocyte count were predictors of lymphopenia at 6months (p = 0.047, odds ratio = 1.60 and p = 0.014, odds ratio = 1.1) and 12months (p = 0.003, odds ratio = 1.97 and p = 0.023, odds ratio = 1.1). In fingolimod-treated patients only, female sex and a higher Expanded Disability Status Scale score were predictors of lymphopenia at 12months (p = 0.006, odds ratio = 7.58 and p = 0.03, odds ratio = 1.56). Neither absolute lymphocyte count at 6 and 12 months nor the mean percentage decrease at 6 and 12 months predicted No Evidence of Disease Activity (NEDA-3) status at 1 year, the occurrence of relapses, disease activity on MRI or disability progression. Our findings suggest that peripheral blood lymphocyte changes are not associated with short-term treatment response and with the rate of infections during fingolimod and dimethyl-fumarate treatment in real-world patients. Higher treatment exposure and a lower baseline absolute lymphocyte count are risk factors for lymphopenia development during fingolimod and dimethyl-fumarate therapy.

Rainfall Fields Monitoring Based on Satellite Microwave Down-Links and Traditional Techniques in the City of Genoa

This article compares different rainfall observing techniques available in the City of Genoa (Italy): the Ligurian regional tipping-bucket rain gauge (TBRG) network and the Monte Settepani long-range weather radar (WR) operated by the Ligurian Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPAL) and Smart Rainfall System (SRS), a network of microwave sensors for satellite down-links developed by the University of Genoa and Artys Srl. SRS and WR are the two indirect monitoring systems considered in this analysis. The respective performance of the rainfall measurements was assessed by comparison with the reference observations made in situ by seven TBRG stations selected within the boundary of the City of Genoa. The analysis was performed by considering the main precipitation events that occurred between January 2017 and December 2018. The results show an agreement between the precision of the 10-min rainfall intensity (RI) measurements, quantified by the root mean square errors (RMSEs), made by the WR and the SRS system for the seven sites. Similar performance has been also observed when comparing the peak of RI and the total rain accumulation with the reference TBRG values for the selected precipitation events. An assessment of the WR and SRS accuracy in providing the 2-D RI fields was also performed by computing the map of the RMSE differences over the City of Genoa territory. It is shown that the SRS RI maps are generally associated with a lower level of RMSE with respect to the WR in the areas that are characterized by a higher density of sensors.

Teaching and training in substitutive approaches to animal testing: Commitment of the University of Genoa

The 21st century life science requires that scientists become aware of scientific and ethical issues of substitutive approaches to animal testing. For more than 20 years Dr Bassi Team at University of Genoa promotes several activities in Academia on the Replacement of Animal Testing: 2 days training course, lectures within teaching programs, work experience opportunities for graduated or graduating students, stages for Biology, Medicine and Surgery degrees and PhD courses on human in vitro model disease projects, This effort is now improved by Centro3R activities to increase the number of scientists aware of effective alternatives to classical in vivo approaches, and prevent needless suffering of animals.

Centro 3R: Organ and tissue sharing project

To optimize sharing of organs/tissues from animals humanely sacrificed for (scientific or research) projects approved by the Ministry of Health, by considering that functional - but not only functional - experiments often require using fresh tissues, the 3R Centre is establishing a pilot project involving the University of Genoa and the University of Pisa and their OPBA, enabling sharing fresh tissues through platforms on territorial basis (that might be connected on platform networks) allowing the researcher to use at best valuable biological resource. Implementation of the project would allow establishing protocols for organ/tissue sharing including fresh preparations, therefore meeting more requests than the frozen/fixed tissues. The project by allowing strict collaboration and exchange between researchers would complement the Ministry of Health platform for tissue sharing and would contribute to step forward on the effective reduction of animal use for experimental purpose.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Propensity towards HPV Vaccine of Young Adult Students in Italy.

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), representing the main cause of genital warts and cervical cancer. This cross-sectional study evaluated knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection, related diseases, and prevention and propensity towards HPV vaccine among undergraduate students. Methods: An online and written survey about HPV and its prevention, targeted to young adults of both genders, was addressed to students attending health sciences and other schools at Universities of Genoa and Bari. Results: The overall median knowledge and attitude scores were 56.3% (25–75 p = 40–68.8%) and four out of five (25–75 p = 4–5), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, attending a health sciences university, using social networks ≤2 h a day, a history of STI, having heard about HPV and HPV vaccine previously resulted as predictors of higher knowledge scores. Having heard about HPV previously also predicted a high attitude score, together with a perceived economic status as good. Having Italian and healthcare worker parents, being employed, and following a specific diet, instead, predicted lower attitude score. Conclusions: Poor knowledge and good attitudes were found among undergraduates about HPV. In order to increase HPV vaccine compliance and the counselling skills of future healthcare workers, the improvement of training on HPV is needed.

An All-Round Design-to-Simulation Approach of a New Z-Drive Escort Tug Class

AbstractAn industrial-academic collaboration between Rosetti Marino shipyard and University of Genoa presided over a deep theoretical and experimental insight into the maneuvering performances of a new escort tug family. The presented z-drive azimuthal stern drive class is characterized by high intact/damage stability margins, good maneuvering capability, and stable behavior during escort indirect assistance. The project addresses three main research areas: hydrodynamic design of the hull with escort capability, simulation of the escort capabilities in different operational scenario, and development of control logics that will allow autonomous or unmanned operations. The tug design concept is supported by a customized simulation tool that enables the evaluation of the free-sailing and towing maneuvering characteristics for Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tugs at high–speed (Escort) and low speed (Harbor Assistance) in a real-time environment. The paper describes the methodological approach adopted for the design and maneuvering characterization of such a class, across some preliminary results. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations and towing tank tests have been performed onto a prototype tug hull in order to assess the hull design and to infer simulation models able to describe the behavior of a family of vessels. In particular, the propulsion and maneuverability aspects in escort operations are deeply investigated.

Clean energy production by PEM fuel cells on tourist ships: A time-dependent analysis

This manuscript presents a clean energy solution for marine applications, investigating both the choice of the most promising production and storage technologies and, in a second step, the best operational management in order to satisfy a ship's energy demand. The case study subject of the analysis is a ferry, with a capacity up to 200 people, operating on the artificial lake of Itaipu hydroelectric plant (on the border between Brazil and Paraguay). In the framework of new international rules, aimed at clean and sustainable solutions, in particular in Emission Control Areas, PEM fuel cells are a promising technology for onboard power generation. In this paper a PEM fuel cell system is investigated in detail, analyzing the best operative strategy in terms of energy efficiency, CO2 emissions and costs, in comparison with the state-of-the-art solution for ships (fuel oil ICEs). The analysis is performed with two dedicated software tools, both developed at the University of Genoa: the first is a tool modeled to support the preliminary design and the choice of the most promising solutions for maritime applications; the second is a software program for thermo-economic analysis of energy systems in time-dependent conditions, aimed at determination of the best operative strategy, minimizing operative costs.The proposed approach has general validity thus it can also be applied to different kinds of ships, even considering different technologies for energy generation and storage.

A Short Introduction to the Proceedings of the Conference “The Reason of Passions: Emotion and Rationality in the Landscape of (Contemporary) Politics”

A short introduction to the proceedings of the conference “The Reason of Passions: Emotion and Rationality in the Landscape of (Contemporary) Politics”, held over two days at the University of Bergen in November 2019. The conference was organised as a joint effort by the Department of Philosophy of the University of Bergen (UiB), Norway, and the Department of Antiquity, Philosophy and History (DAFIST) of the University of Genoa, Italy.

Rebound Hammer Test: An Investigation into Its Reliability in Applications on Concrete Structures

The issue of concrete strength often arises in civil engineering practice, either due to quality control of new constructions or due to the assessment of existing structures. To this aim, one of the most widely spread techniques is the rebound hammer (Schmidt hammer) test, for which calibration is still related to the original Schmidt curve dating back to the early 50’s. In spite of the large amount of research work performed in the last decades, the uncertainties of the rebound test are still not clearly quantified and open to further insight. This paper presents and discusses a wide research campaign on laboratory specimens and on third‐party specimens delivered to the Laboratory for Building Materials of the University of Genoa, Italy, for standard quality controls. While it is well known that moisture content, surface finishing, and concrete maturity strongly affect the test result, the effect of the stress state has not yet been studied and is found in this research to be a further parameter affecting the test reliability. The final outcome of all the uncertainties is variability in estimated concrete strength as large as ±70%; additionally, some issues are discussed on the intrinsic uncertainty of this test. As already demonstrated by many authors, the results of this research also show that a universal calibration curve to be used for any concrete, in any condition, conceptually does not exist.