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We provide sufficient conditions such that the time evolution of a mesoscopic tight-binding open system with a local Hartree–Fock non-linearity converges to a self-consistent non-equilibrium steady state, which is independent of the initial condition from the "small sample". We also show that the steady charge current intensities are given by Landauer–Büttiker-like formulas, and make the connection with the case of weakly self-interacting many-body systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The term "super responder" identifies a group of patients who exhibit a rapid and optimal response to biological treatment compared to the overall treated population. The primary objective of our study is to characterize this subgroup of patients to enable the early identification of those who will respond most effectively to the proposed treatment while also evaluating clinical efficacy. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 232 patients treated with guselkumab in monotherapy for at least 20 weeks between November 2018 and November 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: those who achieved complete clear skin (PASI = 0) during the first 20 weeks of treatment were defined as super responders (SRe) and non-super responders (nSRe) were the remaining patients. PASI was assessed at weeks 0, 4, and subsequently every eight weeks. Predictors of the SRe status were evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: The univariate analyses showed that patients with psoriatic arthritis at the baseline, bio-naïve patients, or those who had not received an interleukin (IL) 17 inhibitor as their last therapy before guselkumab administration were more likely to be super responders to the proposed treatment. Multivariate logistic analysis models suggested that the combination of psoriatic arthritis at the baseline and the bio-naïve condition was the strongest predictive model for the SRe status. At week 204, the main difference between the two groups concerned the achievement of PASI100, maintained by 86.8 of SRe compared to 62.8% of nSRe. Conclusions: The efficacy and safety of guselkumab are confirmed in our real-life experience. Identifying the SRe status will undoubtedly play a role in clinical practice and the therapeutic decision-making algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing products are typically assessed using a single accuracy estimate for the entire map, despite significant variations in accuracy across different map areas or classes. Estimating per-pixel uncertainty is a major challenge for enhancing the usability and potential of remote sensing products. This paper introduces the dataDriven open access tool, a novel statistical design-based approach that specifically addresses this issue by estimating per-pixel uncertainty through a bootstrap resampling procedure. Leveraging Sentinel-2 remote sensing data as auxiliary information, the capabilities of the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform, and the R programming language, dataDriven can be applied in any world region and variables of interest. In this study, the dataDriven tool was tested in the Rincine forest estate study area—eastern Tuscany, Italy—focusing on volume density as the variable of interest. The average volume density was 0.042, corresponding to 420 m3 per hectare. The estimated pixel errors ranged between 93 m3 and 979 m3 per hectare and were 285 m3 per hectare on average. The ability to produce error estimates for each pixel in the map is a novel aspect in the context of the current advances in remote sensing and forest monitoring and assessment. It constitutes a significant support in forest management applications and also a powerful communication tool since it informs users about areas where map estimates are unreliable, at the same time highlighting the areas where the information provided via the map is more trustworthy. In light of this, the dataDriven tool aims to support researchers and practitioners in the spatially exhaustive use of remote sensing-derived products and map validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microwave techniques used as a dual-purpose tool for: i) the elimination of moisture and ii) the moisture infiltration measurement in a monument's masonry. • Important pieces of cultural heritage architecture or art could be treated with non-destructive microwave techniques for moisture elimination and assessment. • Measurement of electrical permittivity for the extraction of volumetric water content in tuff bricks. • Electrical characterisation with a vector network analyser for measuring the phase shift of scattering parameters and calculating electrical permittivity. • A complete two-step methodology for controllable moisture elimination. In this paper, we present our experimental methodology, which was developed to assess and eliminate the excess moisture levels in the masonry of a Roman archeological monument, namely the Mensa Ponderaria of Tivoli, which is an important landmark dating back to the first century A.D. The need to keep interventions to a minimum were crucial factors for choosing microwave techniques as a non-destructive method for removal and moisture infiltration measurements in the walls. We used a microwave generator connected to a horn antenna to increase the temperature locally at the point of treatment and achieve the elimination of moisture. Additionally, to quantify the amount of eliminated water, we used a free space transmission measurement by two patch micro-strip fed antennas with a resonance at 2.62 GHz connected to a vector network analyser (VNA). S-parameters were measured at a frequency range 2–3 GHz. The phase shift method was used to extract the effective dielectric permittivity by the phase of the transmission S 21 parameter. In the final step, we derived the volumetric water content of the wall θ (%) based on the dielectric permittivity of the wall material (tuff). Measurements were performed at several points of the masonry, which were previously treated with microwaves or remained without treatment for comparison. We report an average of 139 gr in water extraction from the treated areas of the masonry with the mild treatment protocol we used, with the possibility of further increase with longer or higher-power drying cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metamaterial components and antennas are based on the general understanding that an artificial structure composed of adequately designed and manufactured elementary cells or arrays has unusual resonance and propagation properties. Metamaterials exhibit equivalent values of the dielectric constant and magnetic permeability that are both negative simultaneously, in contrast with ordinary materials. Single elements, periodic, or quasi-periodic configurations can be suitable for a metamaterial response. In this paper, equivalent circuits for microwave propagation and resonance are compared, deriving a lumped element modeling complementary to those already available in the literature, with a particular focus on planar resonating devices and calculating the effective value for the dielectric constant and the magnetic permeability directly from experimental findings using the impedance (Z-parameters) notation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Zinc (Zn) deficiency is widespread in citrus orchard around the world, which impairs plant growth and fruit yield. Zn fertilization is usually recommended in field orchards, and application strategies toward nutrient use efficiency are key for successful crop management. Methods: Field studies were carried out with sweet orange trees for four growing seasons, testing Zn (nitrate, sulfate or EDTA) applied either via fertigation or foliar spray compared to a control without Zn. Results: The Zn concentrations in the soil increased with nutrient supply by both application methods. Zn-EDTA via fertigation increased soil nutrient availability compared to the control. Likewise, Zn-nitrate via foliar application also increased soil Zn levels. Regarding the plant, Zn-EDTA via fertigation increased leaf nutrient levels only after the third year of fertilization, whereas Zn-nitrate via foliar spray increased leaf levels in the short term, up to 120 mg kg−1. To a lesser extent, Zn-EDTA or sulfate also increased leaf Zn compared to the control. Accumulated fruit yield was ~20% higher in trees with Zn-EDTA via fertigation and ~ 20% higher in trees with Zn-nitrate or sulfate via foliar application compared to the control, with these latter exerting greater responses. Trees supplied with Zn exhibited lower H2O2 and higher CAT activity compared to the control, which correlated with a fruit yield increase. Conclusion: In conclusion, Zn-EDTA via fertigation or nitrate or sulfate via foliar application improved the horticultural performance of trees, supporting the establishment of best nutrient management practices in fruit production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We propose a Suppression Head IMPulse (SHIMP) test method that provides for equipment only through the use of InfraRed Video-OculoScopy (IR-VOS) and allows horizontal and vertical semicircular canal function evaluation in bedside mode. We therefore named the test InfraRed clinical SHIMP (IR-cSHIMP). Methods: To check IR-cSHIMP diagnostic efficiency, we studied 22 normal subjects, 18 patients with unilateral, and 6 with bilateral deficient vestibulopathy. Each subject first underwent a vestibular examination and, only later, an IRc-SHIMP test. Results: When the IR-cSHIMP test was performed in the horizontal plane, all normal subjects showed anti-compensatory saccades. When the vertical semicircular canal function was evaluated, the same result was obtained in all normal subjects except three, which were considered false positives. In patients with vestibular deficits, the test performed in the horizontal and vertical planes were always pathological, with 100% agreement between clinical and instrumental tests. Conclusions: Our bedside method proved to be fast, simple, and effective in discriminating between healthy and pathological subjects. It required only the same skill as the better-known cHIT. For these reasons, we believe that the IR-cSHIMP should be part of daily clinical practice as a useful tool in the selection of patients to undergo more sophisticated investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1:100,000 subsurface geological map of the Torino metropolitan area covers ∼900 km2 in the westernmost Po Plain, an area of great relevance being crossed by the late Neogene to Quaternary 'Torino Hill Front' (THF), a tens of kilometers long, NW-verging buried and blind thrust. The map provides an updated representation of the bedrock geology below the late Early Pleistocene-Holocene Alpine-sourced fluvial blanket, relying on novel correlation of shallow water well and borehole logs. The map describes how the syn-depositional thrust-related folding pulses affected the early Piacenzian-early Middle Pleistocene tectono-stratigraphic evolution of this sector. Our results demonstrate that the deposition of the lower Piacenzian shallow marine succession and then of the Piacenzian to Calabrian alluvial record was controlled by the stepwise propagation of the THF, and suggest that this thrust was apparently sealed by the late Early Pleistocene unconformity. Gentle folding characterized the late Early Pleistocene-early Middle Pleistocene time interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leisure activities, including place‐based food experiences, have become central to defining urban identities and branding places. Mobile and affluent urbanites' search for authentic and cosmopolitan experiences is increasingly guided by corporate digital media such as apps and websites that direct them to previously ignored working‐class, ethnic and immigrant neighborhoods, which are being discursively and materially reconfigured to meet their needs, in turn causing the displacement of long‐time residents. We examine the relationship between food and gentrification through the lens of digital media, suggesting that they play an important role in shaping urban experiences and cities. Specifically, we investigate narratives produced by popular digital food media, not least websites and apps providing restaurant ratings and reviews, and their relationship to ongoing patterns of gentrification in Buenos Aires, Los Angeles and Paris. Using mixed methods that combine census data with 'hybrid fieldwork' in online and offline foodscapes, we identify some spatial patterns and key characteristics of food‐driven gentrification, highlighting the aestheticization of everyday life and its significance in encouraging and legitimizing planetary gentrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes assumptions and manifestations of the normatively adopted rules. The starting point is the presentation of the alternative of normativism vs. descriptivism, as it is understood by some contemporary theories of language, mind and cognition. In the next parts, the paper focuses on deontological aspects of processes of thinking and reasoning. In this context the social and cultural function of norms is stressed. Searle's emphasis on norms as a social 'glue' is linked with theories of the deontic introduction. Special attention is paid to considerations that J. Dolník devoted to the cohesive force of language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triangular resonators re-shaped into Sierpinski geometry and U-shaped resonators were designed, linking them with single-pole-double-through (SPDT) RF MEMS switches to provide frequency tuning for potential applications in the K-Band. Prototypes of band-stop narrowband filters working around 20 GHz and 26 GHz, interesting for RADAR and satellite communications, were studied in a coplanar waveguide (CPW) configuration, and the tuning was obtained by switching between two paths of the devices loaded with different resonators. As a result, dual-band operation or fine-tuning could be obtained depending on the choice of the resonator, acting as a building block. The studied filters belong to the more general group of devices inspired by a metamaterial design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triangular resonators re-shaped with Sierpinski geometry were designed, manufactured, and tested for potential applications in the K-Band. Prototypes of band-stop filters working around 20 GHz and 26 GHz, interesting for RADAR and satellite communications, were studied in a coplanar waveguide (CPW) configuration. Single and coupled structures were analyzed to give evidence for: (i) the tuning of the resonance frequency by increasing the internal complexity of the triangle and (ii) resonance enhancement when coupled structures are considered. The exploited devices were part of the more extended family of metamaterial-inspired structures, and they were studied for their heuristic approach to the prediction of the spectrum using experimental results supported by electromagnetic simulations. As a result, a Sierpinski resonator, not only fed into but also fully embedded into a CPW environment, had a frequency response that was not easily determined by classical theoretical approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the optimization of a high-throughput, compliant DNA extraction method that uses standard format 96-well plates and a commercial automated DNA purification system (ABI PRISM® 6100 Nucleic Acid PrepStation). The procedure was set up for maize and soybean, the most common GMO crops and the main ingredients of several foodstuffs, and compared with an EU-validated CTAB-based method. Optimization of the DNA extraction was achieved by applying self-prepared buffers (for DNA extraction, binding, and washing) on the PrepStation loaded with proprietary glass-fiber-coated purification plates. Quantification of extracted DNA was performed by real-time PCR using previously reported endogenous soybean lectin and maize starch synthase genes and a novel plant-specific universal TaqMan MGB probe that targets the 18S rRNA multiple copy gene. Using serial dilutions of both maize and soybean genomic DNAs, we show low PCR sensitivity and efficiency for the official TransPrep DNA extraction protocol compared to the CTAB-based one. On the other hand, using serial dilutions of a standard reference plasmid containing a 137 bp sequence cloned from the 18S rRNA plant-specific ribosomal gene, we demonstrate the high PCR sensitivity and efficiency of the optimized DNA extraction protocol setup with self-prepared buffers. The limits of detection and quantification of the 18S rDNA reiteration were consistent with the calculated values, supporting the suitability of the DNA extraction procedure for high-throughput analyses of large populations and small amounts of tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, metamaterial and microsystem concepts have been used to study resonating structures useful for narrowband microwave signal processing. U-shaped resonators and triangular Sierpinski structures have been designed, manufactured, and tested for possible applications in the K-Band, around 20 GHz and 26 GHz, for satellite communications. Results on the metamaterial nature of both configurations and on their electrical performance are discussed. The studied structures include the possible implementation by RF MEMS of the U-resonators. The outlined novelty is in obtaining a tunable narrow-band filter using an all-passive environment with switches embedded in the resonator. The advantages and drawbacks of this solution and the proposed optimization are discussed in detail. Triangular resonators with the Sierpinski geometry are also considered for the same frequencies. In this case, the possibility to tune the frequency of operation is demanded to increase the complexity of the internal geometry of the triangle by means of empty sub-triangles in the metal path. Examples of the expected performances for coupled triangular structures are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gait speed is an important biomechanical determinant of gait patterns, with joint kinematics being influenced by it. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of fully connected neural networks (FCNNs), with a potential application for exoskeleton control, in predicting gait trajectories at varying speeds (specifically, hip, knee, and ankle angles in the sagittal plane for both limbs). This study is based on a dataset from 22 healthy adults walking at 28 different speeds ranging from 0.5 to 1.85 m/s. Four FCNNs (a generalised-speed model, a low-speed model, a high-speed model, and a low-high-speed model) are evaluated to assess their predictive performance on gait speeds included in the training speed range and on speeds that have been excluded from it. The evaluation involves short-term (one-step-ahead) predictions and long-term (200-time-step) recursive predictions. The results show that the performance of the low- and high-speed models, measured using the mean absolute error (MAE), decreased by approximately 43.7% to 90.7% when tested on the excluded speeds. Meanwhile, when tested on the excluded medium speeds, the performance of the low-high-speed model improved by 2.8% for short-term predictions and 9.8% for long-term predictions. These findings suggest that FCNNs are capable of interpolating to speeds within the maximum and minimum training speed ranges, even if not explicitly trained on those speeds. However, their predictive performance decreases for gaits at speeds beyond or below the maximum and minimum training speed ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the relation between the localization of generalized Wannier bases and the topological properties of two-dimensional gapped quantum systems of independent electrons in a disordered background, including magnetic fields, as in the case of Chern insulators and quantum Hall systems. We prove that the existence of a well-localized generalized Wannier basis for the Fermi projection implies the vanishing of the Chern character, which is proportional to the Hall conductivity in the linear response regime. Moreover, we state a localization dichotomy conjecture for general non-periodic gapped quantum systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogeologic systems in the southern Cascade Range in California (USA) develop in volcanic rocks where morphology, stratigraphy, extensional structures, and attendant basin geometry play a central role in groundwater flow paths, groundwater/surface-water interactions, and spring discharge locations. High-volume springs (greater than 3 m3/s) flow from basin-filling (<800 ka) volcanic rocks in the Hat Creek and Fall River tributaries and contribute approximately half of the average annual flow of the Pit River, the largest tributary to Shasta Lake. A hydrogeologic conceptual framework is constructed for the Hat Creek basin combining new geologic mapping, water-well lithologic logs, a database of active faults, LiDAR mapping of faults and volcanic landforms, streamflow measurements and airborne thermal infrared remote sensing of stream temperature. These data are used to integrate the geologic structure and the volcanic and volcaniclastic stratigraphy to create a three-dimensional interpretation of the hydrogeology in the basin. Two large streamflow gains from focused groundwater discharge near Big Spring and north of Sugarloaf Peak result from geologic barriers that restrict lateral groundwater flow and force water into Hat Creek. The inferred groundwater-flow barriers divide the aquifer system into at least three leaky compartments. The two downstream compartments lose streamflow in the upstream reaches (immediately downstream of the groundwater-flow barriers) and gain in downstream reaches with the greatest inflows immediately upstream of the barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, spatially explicit representation of classification errors of land use/land cover (LULC) maps is approached from a design-based perspective. Since LULC maps are typically derived from non-probabilistic training samples, these maps, like the true LULC map, are fixed in a design-based scenario so that the error maps achieved by comparing the satellite-based and true maps are fixed. Based on a probabilistic sample of locations where the true or “reference” class is obtained (i.e., the “reference” class is considered the best representation of the true class), errors can be assessed at these sample locations by comparing the map classes to the reference classes. Then, the presence or absence of errors is interpolated across the entire survey area using the nearest neighbour technique. Under very common sampling schemes used to collect reference sample data, the interpolated error maps are design consistent. A simulation study confirms the design consistency of the interpolated error maps, which converge to the true error map as the reference sample size increases. The U.S. land cover map from the LCMAP program and the Italian forest/non forest map serve as case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We relate the structuring processes of drug trafficking in Porto Alegre and Córdoba, from 2000 to 2015, emphasizing the collectives that led their management (factions and clans). Although responding to the same organizing demand of emerging markets in the early 2000s, we argue that each group reflects a combination of elements that have prevailed locally, whose distinctions are being blurred by their adaptations to global drug market pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species range shifts and expansion are subjects of primary research interest in the context of climate warming and biological invasions. Few studies have focused on reexpansion of species that suffered severe declines. Here, we focused on population recovery of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in Italy, first detected in 2003 after a southward range contraction. We modeled the rate of range expansion and occupancy at the northern expanding front (central Italy), to gain insights into the progress of recovery and mechanisms of reexpansion. We performed a field survey in 2021, which redefined the northern limit of distribution further north, in close proximity to the Gran Sasso National Park. Then we analyzed a time series (1985–2021) of distances of northernmost occurrences from the center of the 1985 range. Using segmented regression, we were able to identify a prolonged stasis of the northern range edge and a simultaneous increase in occupancy from 0.151 to 0.4. A breakpoint was estimated in 2006, after which the range expanded northwards at an average rate of 5.48 km/year. From 2006 to 2021, the overall northward shift was about 80 km. Occupancy continued to increase until 2019 and abruptly declined in 2021. These patterns suggest that the reexpansion of the range can be limited by low occupancy at the expanding front. As occupancy increases, long‐distance dispersal increases and then range expands. The low occupancy at the current distribution limit of otters may reflect a higher anthropogenic pressure on northern habitats, which could slow down the reexpansion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mapping of a survey variable throughout a continuum or for finite populations of units is usually performed from a model-dependent perspective. Nevertheless, when a sample of locations/units is selected by a probabilistic sampling scheme, the complex task of modelling can be avoided by using the inverse distance weighting interpolator and deriving the properties of maps in a design-based perspective. Conditions ensuring consistency of maps can be derived mainly based on some obvious assumptions about the pattern of the survey variable throughout the study region as well from the feature of the sampling scheme adopted to select locations/units. Nevertheless, in a design-based setting the totals of the survey variable for a set of domains partitioning the study region are commonly estimated by traditional estimators such as the Horvitz–Thompson estimator in the case of finite populations or the Monte-Carlo estimator in the case of continuous populations or by related estimators exploiting the information of auxiliary variables. That necessarily gives rise to different total estimates with respect to those achieved from the resulting maps as the sum of the interpolated values within domains. To obtain non-discrepant results, a harmonization of maps is here suggested, in such a way that the resulting totals arising from maps coincide with those achieved by traditional estimation. The capacity of the harmonization procedure to maintain consistency is argued theoretically and checked by a simulation study performed on some real populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using recently developed tools from space-adiabatic perturbation theory, in particular the construction of a non-equilibrium almost-stationary state, we give a new proof that the Kubo formula for the Hall conductivity remains valid beyond the linear response regime. In particular, we prove that, in quantum Hall systems and Chern insulators, the transverse response current is quantized up to any order in the strength of the inducing electric field. The latter is introduced as a perturbation to a periodic, spectrally gapped equilibrium Hamiltonian by means of a linear potential; existing proofs of the exactness of Kubo formula rely instead on a time-dependent magnetic potential. The result applies to both continuum and discrete crystalline systems modelling the quantum (anomalous) Hall effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the following nonlinear parabolic equation (F (v)) x + (G (v)) τ = (D (v)) x x + ρ (v) , v ∈ [ α , β ] where F , G are generic C 1 -functions in [ α , β ] , D ∈ C 1 [ α , β ] ∩ C 2 (α , β) is positive inside (α , β) (possibly vanishing at the extreme points), and finally ρ is a monostable reaction term. We investigate the existence and the properties of travelling wave solutions for such an equation and provide their classification between classical and sharp solutions, together with an estimate of the minimal wave speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Pseudomonas represents the most common causative agents of meat spoilage. • Lactic acid bacteria exhibited a bioprotective activity against Pseudomonas in meat. • Inhibitory compounds included organic acids, bacteriocins, and carbon dioxide. • The use of lactic acid bacteria or their metabolites allowed shelf-life extension. Meat and meat products represent excellent sources of key nutrients for human health, such as protein, essential amino acids, B vitamins, and minerals. However, they are recognized as highly perishable foods since they represent an ideal substrate for the growth of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. Meat spoilage is a complex process that involves multiple microorganisms and a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic ecological factors. One of the most common causative agents of meat spoilage is represented by species of the genus Pseudomonas. To prevent the development of such undesired microorganisms, chemical preservatives are usually exploited by the meat industry. However, the growing consumers' concerns about potential health issues linked to the consumption of chemical preservatives has prompted the food industry to develop alternative strategies to prevent microbial spoilage in meat and meat products. Besides to the application of physical strategies, the interest towards the use of natural preservatives, such as bioprotective microorganisms (e.g., lactic acid bacteria) and their metabolites, has rapidly grown. When used in meat and meat-based products, lactic acid bacteria exhibited a bioprotective activity against spoilage and even foodborne pathogens, thanks to the production of different inhibitory compounds including organic acids, bacteriocins, carbon dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, N-diacetyl, and lactones. This bioprotective activity might justify the use of lactic acid bacteria or their metabolites as natural preservatives to extend the shelf-life of the products. However, the effectiveness of antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas in meat and meat products still needs to be investigated to understand the influence of the type of end product, the type of packaging, and the storage conditions (time and temperature). Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria must also be evaluated taking into consideration their ability to maintain the sensory features of fresh meat (whether whole or minced), without negatively affecting its sourness and acidity. Of note, the results herein discussed emphasize the challenges occurred in translating in vitro findings into practical applications due to the complex interactions between bacteria, antimicrobial compounds, and food matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the link between the physical properties of the Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) and the overall performance of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), it is essential to investigate the impact of compressive loading on the physical parameters of the component, focusing on its electrical properties. This paper's experimental results obtained in the team's previous research are classified and analysed using a posteriori Design of Experiment (DoE). It allows us to determine the influential parameters on the component behaviour. Two analytical models are developed through regression analysis, allowing for predicting the output variables as a function of the input ones. The results are evaluated with statistical tools. The first model predicts the electrical Contact Resistance (CR) variation of the GDL as a function of mechanical compression and component type. The analytical results show that cycling compression has a negligible effect due to the lower number of applied cycles. The Micro Porous Layer (MPL) presence increases the CR, while the polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) decreases it slightly. The GDL thickness is the most influential geometrical parameter. For this reason, a second analytical model is developed and predicts that CR is reduced primarily by increased mechanical compression and thicker GDLs. [Display omitted] • The modelling is based on electrical Contact Resistance (CR) experimental results. • Test results are classified to develop two models through a posteriori DoE approach. • The first model reflects the benefit of MPL and the slight drawback of PTFE on CR. • The 2nd model predicts that higher mechanical stress and thicker GDLs reduce CR. • The modelling approach can be used for PEMFC design and component selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines a new manuscript witness of Boethius' De consolatione philosophiae, recently acquired by the Biblioteca Vallicelliana. After a brief introduction to the author's work and to the corpus of Boethian manuscripts, the codex is outlined by analyzing its salient features -- particularly the subscription of the copyist, including a hypothesis of identification, and the presence of dating -- framing it as an example of pre-humanistic manuscript in the perspective of future in depth historical-philological and palaeographic insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a study of the novel The Inheritance of Loss (2006), by contemporary Indian-born writer Kiran Desai, by exploring some of the practices of colonialism and coloniality depicted in the novel. The Inheritance of Loss is a non-linear narrative, organized in fragments, that portrays the lives of Indian characters that belong to different generations and backgrounds. This paper aims at analyzing passages from the first decades of the 20th century that picture the British rule over India, some of the practices of colonialism introduced by the colonizers and the coloniality that permeates the Anglicized Indian character Jemubhai Patel in the novel. This paper emphasizes a fundamental strategy of colonialism used by the British rule in India which was the introduction of the English language and culture in that country. Homi Bhabha (1994), Gauri Viswanathan (1995), Elleke Boehmer (2005), Aníbal Quijano (2007), Walter D. Mignolo (2012), Robert J. C. Young (2015) are part of the theoretical framework that supports the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review some recent results from the mathematical theory of transport of charge and spin in gapped crystalline quantum systems. The emphasis will be on transport coefficients, such as conductivities and conductances. As for the former, those are computed as appropriate expectations of current operators in a non-equilibrium almost-stationary state (NEASS), which arises from the perturbation of an equilibrium state by an external electric field. While for charge transport the usual double-commutator Kubo formula is recovered (also beyond linear response), we obtain formulas for appropriately defined spin conductivities, which are still explicit but more involved. Certain "Kubo-like" terms in these formulas are also shown to agree with the corresponding contributions to the spin conductance. In addition to that, we employ similar techniques to show a new result, namely that even in systems with non-conserved spin, there is no generation of spin torque, that is, the spin torque operator has an expectation in the NEASS which vanishes faster than any power of the intensity of the perturbing field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider time-dependent perturbations which are relatively bounded with respect to the square root of an unperturbed Hamiltonian operator, and whose commutator with the latter is controlled by the full perturbed Hamiltonian. The perturbation is modulated by two auxiliary parameters, one regulates its intensity as a prefactor and the other one controls its time-scale via a regular function, whose derivative is compactly supported in a finite interval. We introduce a natural generalization of energy conservation in the case of time-dependent Hamiltonians: the boundedness of the two-parameter unitary propagator for the physical evolution with respect to the n/2-th power energy norm for all n ∈ Z . We provide bounds of the n/2-th power energy norms, uniformly in time and in the time-scale parameter, for the unitary propagators, generated by the time-dependent perturbed Hamiltonian and by the unperturbed Hamiltonian in the interaction picture. The physically interesting model of Landau-type Hamiltonians with an additional weak and time-slowly-varying electric potential of unit drop is included in this framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certes, jalousie et envie occupent le temps de l'enfance mais au-delà de ce temps, la jalousie et l'envie caractérisent l'être humain, probablement parce que, derrière ces deux états affectifs, se dissimule la question du désir. Distinct du besoin et de sa satisfaction physiologique, le désir est sans fin/faim et sa satisfaction n'est jamais totale. Allons même jusqu'à dire que le meilleur des désirs est celui qui n'a pas encore été satisfait. Aussi, l'envie est au cœur du fonctionnement psychique comme nous le propose Mélanie Klein ; qui fait remonter celle-ci à une étape de développement bien plus précoce que ne le fait Sigmund Freud. Pour ce dernier, l'envie s'inscrit essentiellement dans la question de la différence des sexes et se condense dans « l'envie du pénis ». Mais, dans la clinique quotidienne, jalousie et envie se révèlent de la façon la plus claire au travers de relations fraternelles, ce que nous avons essayé de développer non sans avoir auparavant rappelé les multiples mythes qui illustrent cette question. Jealousy and envy obviously occupy the time of childhood, but beyond this time, Jealousy and Envy characterize human beings, probably because behind these two emotional states lies the question of desire. Distinct from need and its physiological satisfaction, desire is endless/hungry and its satisfaction never total. Let us even go so far as to say that the best of desires is the one that has not yet been satisfied. Also, envy is at the heart of psychic functioning, as Mélanie Klein suggests, who traces it back to a much earlier stage of development than Sigmund Freud does. For the latter, envy is essentially part of the question of the difference between the sexes and condenses into "penis envy". But in the daily clinical practice, jealousy and envy are revealed in the clearest way through fraternal relations what we have tried to develop, not without having previously recalled the multiple myths which illustrate this question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Le décret de la réforme du 3e cycle inscrit la simulation comme méthode possible d'enseignement et d'évaluation du diplôme d'études specialisees de rhumatologie. L'objectif de notre travail était de réaliser un état des lieux national de l'utilisation de la simulation comme moyen de formation et d'évaluation en rhumatologie. Trente-quatre questionnaires ont été adressés aux chefs de service de rhumatologie de l'ensemble des centres hospitaliers universitaires français. Vingt réponses ont été obtenues (59 %). L'apprentissage par la simulation est utilisé, sous une forme ou sous une autre, par 13 répondeurs (65 %) pour les étudiants hospitaliers, par 10 répondeurs (50 %) pour les internes et par 6 répondeurs (30 %) en formation continue. Au total, 10/12 répondeurs ont recours à un centre de simulation. La simulation n'est pratiquement pas utilisée pour l'évaluation des étudiants hospitaliers et des internes. Les difficultés de financement pour l'acquisition du matériel et l'absence de disponibilité des enseignants en sont les principales raisons. Pour 8/12 répondeurs, la simulation est intéressante pour l'apprentissage des gestes techniques, et pour 2 d'entre eux pour la relation médecin-patient. Seul 1 répondeur manifeste son absence d'intérêt pour ce mode d'apprentissage. À ce jour, la simulation est peu utilisée en France pour la formation en rhumatologie des étudiants hospitaliers et des internes, et encore moins pour leur évaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human-nature connection is one of the main aspects determining supportive and comfortable office environments. In this context, the application of eye-tracking-equipped Virtual Reality (VR) devices to support an evaluation on the effect of greenery elements indoors on individuals' efficiency and engagement is limited. A new approach to investigate visual attention, distraction, cognitive load and performance in this field is carried out via a pilot-study comparing three virtual office layouts (Indoor Green, Outdoor Green and Non-Biophilic). 63 participants completed cognitive tasks and surveys while measuring gaze behaviour. Sense of presence, immersivity and cybersickness results supported the ecological validity of VR. Visual attention was positively influenced by the proximity of users to the greenery element, while visual distraction from tasks was negatively influenced by the dimension of the greenery. In the presence of greenery elements, lower cognitive loads and more efficient information searching, resulting in improved performance, were also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic migraine, popularly known as migraine, is a pain of strong intensity that directly interferes with the patient's day-to-day, making it impossible for him to perform his daily activities. Currently, the use of Botulinum Toxin in the treatment of Migraine is gaining popularity in the scientific and clinical neuro environment due to the highlight of the positive results. The crises of chronic migraine are of strong intensity and can appear daily lasting for months and years. Due to the great discomfort generated, carriers increasingly seek an effective treatment against the disease. There is possibility of receiving doses of Botulinum Toxin in the muscles of the neck and head, to relieving the chronic pain. It has been increasingly accepted by the carriers of the disease, with a view to reducing the frequency of crises and the level of pain in the months following implementation, as well as improving the quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate some foundational issues in the quantum theory of spin transport, in the general case when the unperturbed Hamiltonian operator H 0 does not commute with the spin operator in view of Rashba interactions, as in the typical models for the quantum spin Hall effect. A gapped periodic one-particle Hamiltonian H 0 is perturbed by adding a constant electric field of intensity ε ≪ 1 in the j-th direction, and the linear response in terms of a S-current in the i-th direction is computed, where S is a generalized spin operator. We derive a general formula for the spin conductivity that covers both the choice of the conventional and of the proper spin current operator. We investigate the independence of the spin conductivity from the choice of the fundamental cell (unit cell consistency), and we isolate a subclass of discrete periodic models where the conventional and the proper S-conductivity agree, thus showing that the controversy about the choice of the spin current operator is immaterial as far as models in this class are concerned. As a consequence of the general theory, we obtain that whenever the spin is (almost) conserved, the spin conductivity is (approximately) equal to the spin-Chern number. The method relies on the characterization of a non-equilibrium almost-stationary state (NEASS), which well approximates the physical state of the system (in the sense of space-adiabatic perturbation theory) and allows moreover to compute the response of the adiabatic S-current as the trace per unit volume of the S-current operator times the NEASS. This technique can be applied in a general framework, which includes both discrete and continuum models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium is the main extracellular ion and defines osmolality and the size of the extracellular volume; increased plasma sodium concentration results in an increase in osmolality, thirst V C TheAuthor(s)2021.PublishedbyOxfordUniversityPressonbehalfofERA-EDTA.Allrightsreserved. CONCLUSIONS In standard care, HD patients are often treated with a centrespecificfixed DNa concentration, potentially resulting indiffusive sodium changes for patients with plasma sodium concentrations below or above this level. Itshouldbenotedthattheflowsof the two concentrate pumps are coupled (when the bicarbonate pump decreases the number of rotations, the acid pump increases) and the sodium concentration in the dialysate is the result of the combination of the sodium concentration of both the acid and bicarbonate concentrates; i.e. when using a dialysate bicarbonate of 37mmol/L, and a DNa of 137mmol/L is expected, the acid concentrate will contribute 100mmol/L and thebicarbonateconcentrate37mmol/Lofsodium[11]. Does the relationship between measured and prescribed dialysate sodium matter in the nephrology community?. [Extracted from the article]

The paper focuses on six incunables, bound in two volumes, owned by the jurist Andrea Alciato (1492-1550), considering some hypotheses about how they have been acquired by the Vallicelliana Library of Rome. Besides taking a step further in the attempt to reconstruct the path of Alciato's Library, this study aims to describe the annotated incunables as complex objects, taking count of the cultural context in which they circulated and of their multiple nature witnessed by various textual forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to describe the methodological process of cultural adaptation of the Glamorgan Scale to Brazilian Portuguese. Method: a methodological study of translation and cultural adaptation of the Glamorgan Scale, following the six stages: initial translation, synthesis of translations, back-translation, committee of experts, pre-test, and submission of the adapted version to the author for approval. The committee of experts was composed of five physicians and, during evaluation, a semantic, idiomatic, cultural and conceptual analysis was carried out. The agreement and representativeness of the items were assessed using the Content Validity Index. A minimum value of 80% agreement was considered. Results: all stages of the translation and cross-cultural adaptation process were satisfactory. In the evaluation made by the committee of experts, all items obtained an agreement greater than 80% in the first evaluation round. The pre-test stage allowed for a critical overview of the instrument, where few modifications were suggested by the participants. Conclusion: the Glamorgan Scale was translated and culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. Future psychometric studies are necessary to validate the scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with applications of the concept of double articulation in studies of linguistic and non‐linguistic phenomena. It traces extensions, shifts and corrections effected by the transition from linguistics to semiotics. Particular attention is payed to possibilities and problems that have arisen in theoretical reflections of paintings and music. An example of such analyses is Lévi‐Strauss' study of artworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Este trabalho analisou as publicações na seção Fato ou Fake, localizada na página do G1. Para isso, foram criadas 9 categorias de análises: profilaxia e cura do coronavírus, vacina, xenofobia, vídeos verdadeiros no contexto falso, teoria de que o vírus foi previsto no passado, político, pânico, isolamento social e outros. A partir das análises, concluiu-se que 86 notícias foram encontradas em um período de 60 dias. Além disso, percebe-se que embora os recursos tecnológicos e a internet facilitam sobremaneira o acesso a todos os tipos de informação, a checagem desta é cada vez mais necessária. Essa situação reforça ainda mais a importância do jornalista e o papel do Gatekeeper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parent involvement in racial-ethnic socialization of transracial adoptees has been studied primarily via the parent perspective. The goal of this study was to explore the adoptee's perspective about how their parents' racial-ethnic socialization strategies impacted their own sense of racial and ethnic identity. Fourteen female Asian international transracial adoptees were interviewed and the data were analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR; Hill et al., 1997). The findings highlight the challenges of identity development for transracial adoptees. These results and discussion contribute to the existing literature and debate on this topic by prompting consideration of alterations to the adoption process and necessary work to be done by White adoptive parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subgenus Canthon (Pseudepilissus) Martínez, 1954 is revised. Four valid species are redescribed: Canthon (Pseudepilissus) muticus Harold, 1867 ; C. (P.) lunatus Schmidt, 1922 ; C. (P.) planus Lucas, 1857 and C. (P.) reichei Felsche, 1910. Three species assigned to other groups are transferred in the subgenus: C. (P.) quadratus Blanchard, 1843 [previously Canthon " incertae sedis" ]; C. (P.) edentulus Harold, 1868 [previously Canthon " incertae sedis" ] and C. (P.) seminulus Harold, 1867 comb. nov. [previously Vulcanocanthon ]. The genus Vulcanocanthon Pereira & Martínez, 1960 syn. nov. is synonymized with Canthon (Pseudepilissus). Three subspecies are raised to species level: C. (P.) tibialis Schmidt, 1922 stat. nov. [previously C. (P.) lunatus tibialis ]; C. (P.) granuliceps Felsche, 1910 stat. nov. [previously C. edentulus granuliceps ] and C. (P.) hendrichsi Halffter & Martínez, 1968 stat. nov. [previously C. (P.) muticus hendrichsi ]. C. (P.) honsi Balthasar, 1939 syn. nov. is synonymized with C. (P.) reichei Felsche, 1910. Four new species are described: Canthon (P.) arriagadai sp. nov. , Canthon (P.) bonaerensis sp. nov. , Canthon (P.) vidaurrei sp. nov. and Canthon (P.) ziggy sp. nov. , bringing the number of species in the subgenus to 14. Lectotypes are designated for six species C. (P.) muticus Harold, 1867 ; C. (P.) reichei Felsche, 1910 ; C. (P.) planus Lucas, 1857 ; C. (P.) seminulus Harold, 1867 ; C. (P.) granuliceps Felsche, 1910 and C. (P.) quadratus Blanchard, 1843. A detailed literature review, synonymies, description, illustration of key morphological characters, data on the studied material and geographic distribution are provided for each species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactococcus lactis is a lactic acid bacterium widely used as a starter culture in the manufacture of dairy products, especially a wide variety of cheeses. Improved industrial strains would help to manufacture better food products that can meet the industry's and consumer's demands with respect to e.g. quality, taste, texture and shelf life. Bacteriophage infection of L. lactis starter cultures represents one of the main causes of fermentation failure and consequent economic losses for the dairy industry. In this study, however, we aim at employing bacteriophages for beneficial purposes. We developed an experimental setup to assess whether phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer could be used to enhance the genetic characteristics of L. lactis strains in accordance with the European law regarding the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food industry. Although we could not show the transfer of chromosomal DNA we did successfully transduce two dissimilar plasmids from L. lactis strain MG1363 to one of its derivatives employing three different lactococcal bacteriophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise time-dependent measurements of the Z = 2 component in the cosmic radiation provide crucial information about the propagation of charged particles through the heliosphere. The PAMELA experiment, with its long flight duration (2006 June 15–2016 January 23) and the low energy threshold (80 MeV/n) is an ideal detector for cosmic-ray solar modulation studies. In this paper, the helium nuclei spectra measured by the PAMELA instrument from 2006 July to 2009 December over a Carrington rotation time basis are presented. A state-of-the-art three-dimensional model for cosmic-ray propagation inside the heliosphere was used to interpret the time-dependent measured fluxes. Proton-to-helium flux ratio time profiles at various rigidities are also presented in order to study any features that could result from the different masses and local interstellar spectra shapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The charging of the dielectric used for the actuation in microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices is one of the major failure sources for switches based on this technology. For this reason, a better understanding of such an effect is vital to improve the reliability for both ground and space applications. In this paper, the expected response of MEMS switches to unipolar and bipolar dc actuation voltages has been measured and modeled. Two configurations of MEMS switches, namely, an Ohmic series and a shunt capacitive one designed for microwave applications, have been studied as a test vehicle for charging effects related to the dc actuation pads. The recorded data have been interpreted mainly through the Poole–Frenkel effect due to charge injection when a high voltage is applied to the dielectric layer. Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) structures have been also considered as a complementary information for the response of the dielectric material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a circuit model to predict the microwave response of a shunt-connected capacitive microelectromechanical coplanar switch is proposed. The numerical values of the lumped elements composing the equivalent circuit are computed by means of a fully analytic approach. In particular, the contribution of resistive and inductive parasitic elements has been evaluated by using closed-form expressions. Configurations characterized by different technological solutions have been obtained and modeled. Simulations performed with the proposed approach correlate very well with actual measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a unified method to estimate current-voltage characteristics of insulators starting from ab initio electronic calculations of the properties of the dielectric material. The method consists of three stages: (1) computation of trap energy distributions for excess electrons by means of density functional theory, (2) computation of local electron mobilities from a multiple trapping electron transport model which includes trap filling effects and (3) macroscopic integration of the Poisson and current-field equations, using local electron mobility data from stage (2) to predict the currentvoltage characteristics for a material of a given width. The only input to this procedure is the chemical composition of the insulating material. We compare our model results with experimental studies of the current-voltage curve of cross-linked polyethylene. We present a unified method to estimate current-voltage characteristics of insulators starting from ab initio electronic calculations of the properties of the dielectric material. The method consists of three stages: (1) computation of trap energy distributions for excess electrons by means of density functional theory, (2) computation of local electron mobilities from a multiple trapping electron transport model which includes trap filling effects and (3) macroscopic integration of the Poisson and current-field equations, using local electron mobility data from stage (2) to predict the currentvoltage characteristics for a material of a given width. The only input to this procedure is the chemical composition of the insulating material. We compare our model results with experimental studies of the current-voltage curve of cross-linked polyethylene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]