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[Display omitted] • Larvae of Hermetia illucens regularly develop on PVC-MPs-supplemented diet. • PVC-MPs are ingested by the larvae and reduced in their size. • Midgut morphology is not affected by PVC-MPs in the larval diet. • PVC-MPs in the larval diet do not affect microbial alpha- and beta-diversity. • PVC-MPs selectively affect the abundances of gut bacterial and fungal taxa. In a world with a population exceeding 8 billion people and continuing to grow, pollution from food and plastic waste is causing long-term issues in ecosystems. Potential solutions may be found by exploiting insect-based bioconversion. In this context, we investigated the impact of polyvinyl chloride microparticles (PVC-MPs) on the development of Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly; BSF) and its midgut bacterial and fungal microbiota. The impact of PVC-MPs was evaluated feeding BSF larvae with a PVC-MPs-supplemented diet. The larvae exposed to different PVC-MPs concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 10% and 20% w/w) developed into adults with no significant increase in pupal mortality. Faster development and smaller pupae were observed when 20% PVC-MPs was provided. The BSF larvae ingest PVC-MPs, resulting in a reduction in MPs size. Larvae exposed to PVC-MPs did not exhibit differences in gut morphology. Regarding the impact of PVC-MPs on the structure of both bacterial and fungal communities, the overall alpha- and beta-diversity did not exhibit significant changes. However, the presence of PVC-MPs significantly affected the relative abundances of Enterobacteriaceae and Paenibacillaceae among the bacteria and of Dipodascaceae and Plectospharellaceae among the fungi (including yeast and filamentous life forms), suggesting that PVC-MP contamination has a taxa-dependent impact. These results indicate that BSF larvae can tolerate PVC-MPs in their diet, supporting the potential use of these insects in organic waste management, even in the presence of high levels of PVC-MP contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) plays a significant role at the larval stage in the circular economy due to its ability to convert organic waste into valuable products for energy, food, feed, and agricultural applications. Many data are available on larval development and biomass generation, but basic research on this species is lacking and little is known about adult biology, in particular about the cues involved in sexual recognition. In the present study, using various instruments (stereomicroscope, scanning and transmission electron microscope, hyperspectral camera and spectrophotometer), wing ultrastructure of both sexes was analysed, reflectance and transmission spectra of the wings were measured and behavioural bioassays were carried out to measure male response to specific visual stimuli. The collected data showed the existence of sexual dimorphism in the wings of H. illucens due to iridescent structural colouration generated by a multilayer of melanin located in the dorsal lamina of the central part of the wing. Wing sexual dimorphism is particularly evident regarding the strong emission of blue light of female wings. Blue colour induces in males a strong motivation to mate. The obtained results can help to improve and optimize the breeding techniques of BSF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we study the numerical corroboration of a variational model governed by a fourth-order elliptic operator that describes the deformation of a linearly elastic flexural shell subjected not to cross a prescribed flat obstacle. The problem under consideration is modelled by means of a set of variational inequalities posed over a non-empty, closed and convex subset of a suitable Sobolev space and is known to admit a unique solution. Qualitative and quantitative numerical experiments corroborating the validity of the model and its asymptotic similarity with Koiter's model are also presented. This article is part of the theme issue 'Non-smooth variational problems with applications in mechanics'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to develop a dynamic model-based approach to separately quantify the exogenous and endogenous contributions to total plasma insulin concentration and to apply it to assess the effects of inhaled-insulin administration on endogenous insulin secretion during a meal test. A three-step dynamic in-silico modeling approach was developed to estimate the two insulin contributions of total plasma insulin in a group of 21 healthy subjects who underwent two equivalent standardized meal tests on separate days, one of which preceded by inhalation of a Technosphere® Insulin dose (22U or 20U). In the 30–120 min test interval, the calculated endogenous insulin component showed a divergence in the time course between the test with and without inhaled insulin. Moreover, the supra-basal area-under-the-curve of endogenous insulin in the test with inhaled insulin was significantly lower than that in the test without (2.1 ± 1.7 × 104 pmol·min/L vs 4.2 ± 1.8 × 104 pmol·min/L, p < 0.01). The percentage of exogenous insulin reaching the plasma, relative to the inhaled dose, was 42 ± 21%. The proposed in-silico approach separates exogenous and endogenous insulin contributions to total plasma insulin, provides individual bioavailability estimates, and can be used to assess the effect of inhaled insulin on endogenous insulin secretion during a meal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reducing a child's level of anxiety before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures allows for better behavioral outcomes. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate anxiolytic efficacy of Midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin oral formulation. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 100 medical charts of children who, between 1 February and 31 July 2022, underwent MRI under general anesthesia with or without premedication with midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin. Primary outcome was comparison of behavior to facemask positioning, while secondary endpoints were degree of drugs acceptance, anxiolytic effect evaluation, child's behavior on separation, and sevoflurane need. Results: Facemask positioning was accepted by 58% of the midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin group compared to 22% of children in the control group. The rate of acceptance was >90%. At the moment of separation from parent, none of the premedicated children needed to be restrained compared to 18% in the control group. A lower percentage of sevoflurane was needed for eye-closure at induction of anesthesia and for anesthesia maintenance. At emergence from anesthesia, 46% of children in the premedicated group compared to 66% of children in the control group showed transient agitation. Conclusions: Midazolam/γ-cyclodextrin showed a good profile of acceptance, satisfactory anxiolytic properties, and reduced need for anesthetics when administered to children before MRI under general anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we establish the convergence of a numerical scheme based, on the Finite Element Method, for a time-independent problem modelling the deformation of a linearly elastic elliptic membrane shell subjected to remaining confined in a half space. Instead of approximating the original variational inequalities governing this obstacle problem, we approximate the penalized version of the problem under consideration. A suitable coupling between the penalty parameter and the mesh size will then lead us to establish the convergence of the solution of the discrete penalized problem to the solution of the original variational inequalities. We also establish the convergence of the Brezis–Sibony scheme for the problem under consideration. Thanks to this iterative method, we can approximate the solution of the discrete penalized problem without having to resort to nonlinear optimization tools. Finally, we present numerical simulations validating our new theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intracranial pressure is implicated in many homeostatic processes in the brain and is a fundamental parameter in several diseases such as e.g. idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. The presence of a small but persistent pulsatile intracranial pulsatile transmantle pressure gradient (on the order of a few mmHg/m at peak) has recently been demonstrated in hydrocephalus subjects. A key question is whether pulsatile intracranial pressure and displacements can be induced by a small pressure gradient originating from the brain surface alone. In this study, we model the brain parenchyma as either a linearly elastic or a poroelastic medium, and impose a pulsatile pressure gradient acting between the ventricular and the pial surfaces but no additional external forces. Using this high-resolution physics-based model, we use in vivo pulsatile pressure gradients from subjects with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus to compute parenchyma displacement, volume change, fluid pressure, and fluid flux. The resulting displacement field is pulsatile and in qualitatively and quantitatively good agreement with the literature, both with elastic and poroelastic models. However, the pulsatile forces on the boundaries are not sufficient for pressure pulse propagation through the brain parenchyma. Our results suggest that pressure differences at the brain surface, originating e.g. from pulsating arteries surrounding the brain, are not alone sufficient to drive interstitial fluid flow within the brain parenchyma and that potential pressure gradients found within the parenchyma rather arise from a large portion of the blood vessel network, including smaller blood vessels within the brain parenchyma itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research investigates host preferences and larval development of the melon ladybird Chnootriba elaterii (Rossi) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), considering seven Cucurbitaceae plant species (Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita moschata, Lagenaria siceraria and Luffa aegyptiaca), to determine whether mother host preference is related with larval performance. The damaged area on plant leaves due to insect feeding in dual‐choice experiments was used to evaluate food preferences. Behavioural experiments in a Y‐tube olfactometer tested the role of olfaction in host‐plant selection. Parameters such as development duration and morphometric characters of emerged adults were evaluated to estimate larval performance. Adult females selected watermelon and melon as their favourite food while firmly refusing loofah and calabash. Insects preferred melon over watermelon, but the larval development on melon was slower; moreover, watermelon allowed larvae to develop faster than other tested plants, while loofah did not allow larval development. Larvae fed and developed on melon, pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber and calabash, without strong differences. These results only partially supported the preference‐performance hypothesis suggesting that it could be context dependent. Contrary to expectation, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) belonging to the host, only partially could guide adult females in the olfactometer. This result suggests that long‐distance olfactory stimuli alone cannot provide sufficient information for host‐plant selection in melon ladybirds. Considering the economic relevance of C. elaterii, the results of the present paper answer some basic questions about host‐plant selection for this pest insect, potentially useful to improve control strategies in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we corroborate the main theorems establishing the justification of Koiter's model, established by Ciarlet and his associates, for all the types of linearly elastic shells via a set of numerical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simulating the cardiac function requires the numerical solution of multi-physics and multi-scale mathematical models. This underscores the need for streamlined, accurate, and high-performance computational tools. Despite the dedicated endeavors of various research teams, comprehensive and user-friendly software programs for cardiac simulations, capable of accurately replicating both normal and pathological conditions, are still in the process of achieving full maturity within the scientific community. Results: This work introduces life x -ep, a publicly available software for numerical simulations of the electrophysiology activity of the cardiac muscle, under both normal and pathological conditions. life x -ep employs the monodomain equation to model the heart's electrical activity. It incorporates both phenomenological and second-generation ionic models. These models are discretized using the Finite Element method on tetrahedral or hexahedral meshes. Additionally, life x -ep integrates the generation of myocardial fibers based on Laplace–Dirichlet Rule-Based Methods, previously released in Africa et al., 2023, within life x -fiber. As an alternative, users can also choose to import myofibers from a file. This paper provides a concise overview of the mathematical models and numerical methods underlying life x -ep, along with comprehensive implementation details and instructions for users. life x -ep features exceptional parallel speedup, scaling efficiently when using up to thousands of cores, and its implementation has been verified against an established benchmark problem for computational electrophysiology. We showcase the key features of life x -ep through various idealized and realistic simulations conducted in both normal and pathological scenarios. Furthermore, the software offers a user-friendly and flexible interface, simplifying the setup of simulations using self-documenting parameter files. Conclusions: life x -ep provides easy access to cardiac electrophysiology simulations for a wide user community. It offers a computational tool that integrates models and accurate methods for simulating cardiac electrophysiology within a high-performance framework, while maintaining a user-friendly interface. life x -ep represents a valuable tool for conducting in silico patient-specific simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simulating the cardiac function requires the numerical solution of multi-physics and multi-scale mathematical models. This underscores the need for streamlined, accurate, and high-performance computational tools. Despite the dedicated endeavors of various research teams, comprehensive and user-friendly software programs for cardiac simulations, capable of accurately replicating both normal and pathological conditions, are still in the process of achieving full maturity within the scientific community. Results: This work introduces life x -ep, a publicly available software for numerical simulations of the electrophysiology activity of the cardiac muscle, under both normal and pathological conditions. life x -ep employs the monodomain equation to model the heart’s electrical activity. It incorporates both phenomenological and second-generation ionic models. These models are discretized using the Finite Element method on tetrahedral or hexahedral meshes. Additionally, life x -ep integrates the generation of myocardial fibers based on Laplace–Dirichlet Rule-Based Methods, previously released in Africa et al., 2023, within life x -fiber. As an alternative, users can also choose to import myofibers from a file. This paper provides a concise overview of the mathematical models and numerical methods underlying life x -ep, along with comprehensive implementation details and instructions for users. life x -ep features exceptional parallel speedup, scaling efficiently when using up to thousands of cores, and its implementation has been verified against an established benchmark problem for computational electrophysiology. We showcase the key features of life x -ep through various idealized and realistic simulations conducted in both normal and pathological scenarios. Furthermore, the software offers a user-friendly and flexible interface, simplifying the setup of simulations using self-documenting parameter files. Conclusions: life x -ep provides easy access to cardiac electrophysiology simulations for a wide user community. It offers a computational tool that integrates models and accurate methods for simulating cardiac electrophysiology within a high-performance framework, while maintaining a user-friendly interface. life x -ep represents a valuable tool for conducting in silico patient-specific simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reparixin, an anti‐inflammatory drug that inhibits interleukin 8 (IL‐8) activity, might be life‐saving for high‐risk in‐hospital patients without increasing the risk of infection according to a previous meta‐analysis. With the increasing availability of randomised data the aim of the current study is to update previous findings by including any randomised control trials (RCTs) investigating the impact of reparixin on survival of critically ill or transplant patients. Methods: A search strategy was developed to identify all RCTs involving reparixin in critically ill or transplant patients, with the exclusion of oncological patients. Two trained and independent authors conducted a thorough search of relevant databases. In addition, backward snowballing was employed. Language restrictions were not imposed. Results: Our analysis included a total of nine studies involving 733 patients: 437 received reparixin and 296 the comparator. The reparixin group had a significantly lower all‐cause mortality rate compared to the control group [15/437 (3.4%) vs. 19/294 (6.4%), odds ratio = 0.47 (95% confidence interval 0.23–0.96), p‐value for effect.04, I2 = 22%, number needed to treat = 33]. These findings had the same direction and magnitude of effect across COVID‐19 patients (n = 325) and non‐COVID‐19 patients (n = 408). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the rate of pneumonia, sepsis or non‐serious infections between the two groups. Conclusions: The findings of this meta‐analysis indicate that reparixin, an anti‐inflammatory drug, improved survival in critically ill or transplant patients (including both COVID‐19 and non‐COVID‐19 patients) without increasing the risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish are good bio-indicators of the health status of the aquatic environment and can be used as biomarkers to assess the aquatic behavior of environmental pollutants, the exposure of aquatic organisms, and the health risk for consumers. Goldfish are a significant bioindicator in the Lake Trasimeno aquatic system (Umbria, Italy). This study aimed to characterize the health status and the chemical and biotic contamination of Lake Trasimeno to define its anthropogenic and natural pressures and the risk associated with consuming its fishery products. 114 determinations were performed on Carassius auratus samples from 2018 to 2020, and the occurrence of brominated flame retardants, non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals, and microplastics was analytically investigated. Dietary exposure assessment, risk characterization, and benefit-risk evaluation were performed for schoolchildren from 3 to 10 years old. Flame-retardants registered high levels of non-detects (99% for polybrominated diphenyl ether and 76% for hexabromocyclododecanes), while polychlorinated biphenyls were found in all samples with a maximum level of 56.3 ng/g. Traces of at least one heavy metal were found in all samples, though always below the regulatory limit. Microplastics were found with a 75% frequency of fish ingesting at least one particle. Dietary exposure and risk characterization reveal negligible contributions to the reference values of all contaminants, except for mercury, which reached up to 25% of admissible daily intake. The benefit-risk assessment highlighted that the benefits of freshwater fish intake outweigh the associated risks. The examination of goldfish as indicator fish reveals the quality of Lake Trasimeno's aquatic environment and the safety of its products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: While people are familiar with the practice of declawing domestic cats, it is also performed on non-domesticated species, such as lions and tigers, to extend the period of safe human interaction for entertainment purposes. Although declawing (removing not only the claw itself, but also the bone from which it grows, whether in part or in whole) clearly affects the skeletal system, the impact on the musculature has not been studied. As the mass of an animal increases cubically as a product of its volume, while the areas of its paws only increase as a square, larger cats have higher foot pressures and, therefore, the surgery may have a greater effect on larger cats. In this study, we evaluate the forearms of clawed and declawed cats to investigate the effects of declawing on muscle architecture. We found that the deep muscles that flex the digits, which are the muscles most directly affected by declawing, are significantly lighter (~73%) and less powerful (46–66%) in animals that have been declawed, while other muscles do not make up for these reductions. Thus, declawing has a substantial effect on the muscular capabilities of cats, and because these deficiencies are not compensated for in larger cats, it probably has even more functionally devastating consequences for these species. While people are familiar with the practice of declawing domestic cats, "onychectomy", as it is also known, is also performed on non-domesticated species, including pantherines, to prolong their use for entertainment purposes. Although the surgery (the partial or complete removal of the distal phalanx) has clear osteological implications, its myological effects have never been studied. As the mass of an animal increases cubically as a product of its volume, while the areas of its paws only increase as a square, larger felids have higher foot pressures and, therefore, the surgery may have particularly substantial functional effects on larger cats. In this study, we evaluate the forearms of clawed and declawed non-domestic felid specimens that spanned the body size range of the whole family to evaluate the effects of onychectomy on muscle fiber architecture. We found that the deep digital flexors (the muscles most directly affected by onychectomy) of declawed felids are significantly lighter (~73%) and less powerful (46–66%) than those of non-declawed felids, while other muscles do not make up for these reductions. Thus, onychectomy has a substantial effect on the myological capabilities of cats, and because these deficiencies are not compensated for in biomechanically disadvantaged larger felids, it probably has even more functionally devastating consequences for these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we identify a set of two-dimensional variational inequalities governing the displacement of a linearly elastic flexural shell subjected to a confinement condition, expressing that all the points of the admissible deformed configurations remain in a given half-space. The action of friction is neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modeling the whole cardiac function involves the solution of several complex multi-physics and multi-scale models that are highly computationally demanding, which call for simpler yet accurate, high-performance computational tools. Despite the efforts made by several research groups, no software for whole-heart fully-coupled cardiac simulations in the scientific community has reached full maturity yet. Results: In this work we present life x -fiber, an innovative tool for the generation of myocardial fibers based on Laplace-Dirichlet Rule-Based Methods, which are the essential building blocks for modeling the electrophysiological, mechanical and electromechanical cardiac function, from single-chamber to whole-heart simulations. life x -fiber is the first publicly released module for cardiac simulations based on life x , an open-source, high-performance Finite Element solver for multi-physics, multi-scale and multi-domain problems developed in the framework of the iHEART project, which aims at making in silico experiments easily reproducible and accessible to a wide community of users, including those with a background in medicine or bio-engineering. Conclusions: The tool presented in this document is intended to provide the scientific community with a computational tool that incorporates general state of the art models and solvers for simulating the cardiac function within a high-performance framework that exposes a user- and developer-friendly interface. This report comes with an extensive technical and mathematical documentation to welcome new users to the core structure of life x -fiber and to provide them with a possible approach to include the generated cardiac fibers into more sophisticated computational pipelines. In the near future, more modules will be successively published either as pre-compiled binaries for x86-64 Linux systems or as open source software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a systematic study of the ionospheric electric field in the Auroral Oval (AO) region in the southern hemisphere. We exploit one year of electric field measurements taken by the Electric Field Detector (EFD) on board the Chinese Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite-01 (CSES-01), flying at around 500 km altitude in a sun-synchronous orbit. We exploit the high temporal resolution of the EFD to devise a new technique for the detection of CSES-01 crossing of the AO using electric field measurements only. This new technique combines a Median-Weighted Local Variance Measure with Fast Iterative Filtering to automatically isolate high levels of electromagnetic activity caused by, e.g., particle precipitation and Field Aligned Currents (FACs) at auroral latitudes. We validate this new method against other standard proxies, such as the single-FAC product from the Swarm mission and the auroral radiance emission measured by the Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager (SSUSI) units on board the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) constellation. Furthermore, we identify ∼3000 orbits (out of a dataset of ∼10,000) where CSES-01 crosses the AO boundary under conditions of high geomagnetic activity. This dataset represents the first step in the systematic study of the auroral electric field, with many potential applications to space weather, thanks to the large amount of continuous observations of the ionosphere by CSES-01 and the forthcoming CSES-02 mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of technology in the field of glycemic control has led to the widespread use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), which can be nowadays obtained from wearable devices equipped with a minimally invasive sensor, that is, transcutaneous needle type or implantable, and a transmitter that sends information to a receiver or smart device for data storage and display. This work aims to review the currently available software packages and tools for the analysis of CGM data. Based on the purposes of this work, 12 software packages have been identified from the literature, published until December 2021, namely: GlyCulator, EasyGV (Easy Glycemic Variability), CGM-GUIDE© (Continuous Glucose Monitoring Graphical User Interface for Diabetes Evaluation), GVAP (Glycemic Variability Analyzer Program), Tidepool, CGManalyzer, cgmanalysis, GLU, CGMStatsAnalyser, iglu, rGV, and cgmquantify. Comparison of available software packages and tools has been done in terms of main characteristics (i.e., publication year, presence of a graphical user interface, availability, open-source code, number of citations, programming language, supported devices, supported data format and organization of the data structure, documentation, presence of a toy example, video tutorial, data upload and download, measurement-units conversion), preprocessing procedures, data display options, and computed metrics; also, each of the computed metrics has been analyzed in terms of its adherence to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2017 international consensus on CGM data analysis and the ADA 2019 international consensus on time in range. Eventually, the agreement between metrics computed by different software and tools has been investigated. Based on such comparison, usability and complexity of data management, as well as the possibility to perform customized or patients-group analyses, have been discussed by highlighting limitations and strengths, also in relation to possible different user categories (i.e., patients, clinicians, researchers). The information provided could be useful to researchers interested in working in the diabetic research field as to clinicians and endocrinologists who need tools capable of handling CGM data effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to the analysis of a numerical scheme based on the Finite Element Method for approximating the solution of Koiter’s model for a linearly elastic elliptic membrane shell subjected to remaining confined in a prescribed half-space. First, we show that the solution of the obstacle problem under consideration is uniquely determined and satisfies a set of variational inequalities which are governed by a fourth order elliptic operator, and which are posed over a non-empty, closed, and convex subset of a suitable space. Second, we show that the solution of the obstacle problem under consideration can be approximated by means of the penalty method. Third, we show that the solution of the corresponding penalised problem is more regular up to the boundary. Fourth, we write down the mixed variational formulation corresponding to the penalised problem under consideration, and we show that the solution of the mixed variational formulation is more regular up to the boundary as well. In view of this result concerning the augmentation of the regularity of the solution of the mixed penalised problem, we are able to approximate the solution of the one such problem by means of a Finite Element scheme. Finally, we present numerical experiments corroborating the validity of the mathematical results we obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few decades, the efforts of the scientific community to search earthquake signatures in the atmospheric, ionospheric and magnetospheric media have grown rapidly. The increasing amount of good quality data from both ground stations and satellites has allowed for the detections of anomalies with high statistical significance such as ionospheric plasma density perturbations and/or atmospheric temperature and pressure changes. However, the identification of a causal link between the observed anomalies and their possible seismic trigger has so far been prevented by difficulties in the identification of confounders (such as solar and atmospheric activity) and the lack of a global analytical lithospheric–atmospheric–magnetospheric model able to explain (and possibly forecast) any anomalous signal. In order to overcome these problems, we have performed a multi-instrument analysis of a low-latitude seismic event by using high-quality data from both ground bases and satellites and preserving their statistical significance. An earthquake (Mw = 7.2) occurred in the Caribbean region on 14 August 2021 under both solar quiet and fair weather conditions, thus proving an optimal case study to reconstruct the link between the lithosphere, atmosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere. The good match between the observations and novel magnetospheric–ionospheric–lithospheric coupling (M.I.L.C.) modeling of the event confirmed that the fault break generated an atmospheric gravity wave that was able to mechanically perturb the ionospheric plasma density, in turn triggering a variation in the magnetospheric field line resonance frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a three-dimensional discrete model governing the deformation of a viral capsid, modelled as a regular icosahedron and subjected not to cross a given flat rigid surface on which it initially lies in correspondence of one vertex only. First, we set up the model in the form of a set of variational inequalities posed over a non-empty, closed and convex subset of a suitable space. Second, we show the existence and uniqueness of the solution for the proposed model. Third, we numerically test this model and we observe that the outputs of the numerical experiments comply with physics. Finally, we establish the existence of solutions for the corresponding time-dependent version of the obstacle problem under consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise progenitor system of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), whether it is a white dwarf (WD) close to the Chandrasekhar limit or substantially less massive, has been a matter of debate for decades. Recent research by our group on the accretion and simmering phases preceding the explosion of a massive WD has shown that the central density at thermal runaway lies in the range 3.6 − 6.3 × 109 g cm−3 for reasonable choices of accretion rate on to the WD and progenitor metallicity. In this work, we have computed one-dimensional simulations of the explosion of such WDs, with special emphasis on the chemical composition of the ejecta, which in all cases is extremely rich in neutronized isotopes of chromium (54Cr) and titanium (50Ti). We show that, in order to reconcile such a nucleosynthesis with the isotopic abundances of the Solar system, Chandrasekhar-mass WDs can account for at most 26 per cent of normal-luminosity SNe Ia, or at most 20 per cent of all SNe Ia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a discrete model governing the deformation of a convex regular polygon subjected not to cross a given flat rigid surface, on which it initially lies in correspondence of one point only. First, we set up the model in the form of a set of variational inequalities posed over a non-empty, closed and convex subset of a suitable Euclidean space. Second, we show the existence and uniqueness of the solution. The model provides a simplified illustration of processes involved in virus imaging by atomic force microscopy: adhesion to a surface, distributed strain, relaxation to a shape that balances adhesion and elastic forces. The analysis of numerical simulations results based on this model opens a new way of estimating the contact area and elastic parameters in virus contact mechanics studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1D 1H NMR spectroscopy has been widely used to monitor enzymatic activity by recording the evolution of the spectra of substrates and/or products, thanks to the linear response of NMR. For complex systems involving the coexistence of multiple compounds (substrate, final product and various intermediates), the identification and quantification can be a more arduous task. Here, we present a simple analytical method for the rapid characterization of reaction mixtures involving enzymatic complexes using Maximum Quantum (MaxQ) NMR, accelerated with the Non-Uniform Sampling (NUS) acquisition procedure. Specifically, this approach enables, in the first analytical step, the counting of the molecules present in the samples. We also show, using two different enzymatic systems, that the implementation of these pulse sequences implies precautions related to the short relaxation times due to the presence of metallo-enzymes or paramagnetic catalysts. Finally, the combination of MaxQ and diffusion experiments, which leads to a 3D chart, greatly improves the resolution and offers an extreme simplification of the spectra while giving valuable indications on the affinity of the enzymes to the different compounds present in the reaction mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we identify a set of two-dimensional variational inequalities that model the displacement of a linearly elastic elliptic membrane shell subjected to a confinement condition, expressing that all the points of the admissible deformed configurations remain in a given half-space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples were collected from a 20‐year‐old concrete suffering alkali‐silica reaction for examination using scanning electron microscopy. The concrete was also exposed to cycles of freezing and thawing in service. The old concrete was processed and used as recycled concrete aggregate in new concrete tested under lab conditions. The study shows that backscattered electron imaging, energy dispersive x‐ray analysis and x‐ray mapping are helpful tools to identify the presence of alkali‐silica reaction products. X‐ray mapping was found helpful to confirm the presence of reaction products in cases where the products or the cracking are not very clear in the collected image. The study shows the presence of ettringite in the air voids of the concrete. The formed ettringite is believed to have no direct effect on the expansion due to the alkali‐silica reaction as they form in an empty space without causing swelling pressure on the concrete. The effect of the ettringite formed in the air voids on the resistance to freezing/thawing was not confirmed in this study. Recycling the old affected concrete as aggregate in new concrete was found to cause significant expansion under lab conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study a model describing the displacement of a linearly elastic flexural shell subjected to given dynamic loads from the computational point of view. The model under consideration takes the form of a set of hyperbolic variational equations posed over the space of admissible linearised inextensional displacements, and a set of initial conditions. Since the original model is not suitable for the implementation of a finite element method, we conduct the experiments on the corresponding penalised model. It was recently shown that the solution to such a penalised model is a good approximation of the solution to the original model. Numerical tests are therefore conducted on the the penalised model; the approximation of the solution to the penalised model is obtained via Newmark's scheme, which is then implemented and tested for shells having the following middle surfaces: a portion of a cylinder and a portion of a cone. For the sake of completeness, we also present the results of the numerical tests related to a model describing the displacement of a linearly elastic elliptic membrane shell under the action of given dynamic loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we show that the solution of an obstacle problem for linearly elastic shallow shells enjoys higher differentiability properties in the interior of the domain where it is defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study conducted in the Sentina Regional Natural Reserve in the Central Adriatic Sea, Italy, to identify microplastics (MPs) and their associated microorganisms in sea sediments. The researchers optimized a protocol to isolate MPs from sandy sediments and performed metagenomic analysis to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the microbial communities. The study found that polypropylene microplastics were the most prevalent, followed by polyethylene, poly-methyl acrylate, and poly-vinyl chloride. The analysis also revealed specific metabolic pathways in MP-associated microorganisms, including antibiotic resistance. Additionally, bacteria that are promising for plastic degradation were found, as well as potential pathogens. The study concludes that MPs serve as a vehicle for potential pathogens and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the Central Adriatic Sea. [Extracted from the article]

Our first objective is to identify two-dimensional equations that model the displacement of a linearly elastic flexural shell subjected to the action of an external heat source. To this end, we embed the shell into a family of linearly elastic flexural shells, all sharing the same middle surface θ (ω ‾) , where ω is a domain in R 2 and θ : ω ‾ → E 3 is a smooth enough immersion and whose thickness 2 ε > 0 is considered as a "small" parameter approaching zero. We then identify, and justify by means of a rigorous asymptotic analysis as ε approaches zero, the corresponding "limit" two-dimensional variational problem. Our second objective is to identify and justify a set of two-dimensional equations that are meant to approximate the original three-dimensional model in the case where the shell under consideration is either an elliptic membrane shell or a flexural shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical behavior of a poroelastic medium permeated by multiple interacting fluid networks can be described by a system of time-dependent partial differential equations known as the multiple-network poroelasticity (MPET) equations or multiporosity/multipermeability systems. These equations generalize Biot's equations, which describe the mechanics of the one network case. The efficient numerical solution of the MPET equations is challenging, in part due to the complexity of the system and in part due to the presence of interacting parameter regimes. In this paper, we present a new strategy for efficiently and robustly solving the MPET equations numerically. In particular, we discuss an approach to formulating finite element methods and associated preconditioners for the MPET equations based on simultaneous diagonalization of the element matrices. We demonstrate the technique for the multicompartment Darcy equations, with large exchange variability, and the MPET equations for a nearly incompressible medium with large exchange variability. The approach is based on designing transformations of variables that simultaneously diagonalize (by congruence) the equations' key operators and subsequently constructing parameter-robust block diagonal preconditioners for the transformed system. The proposed approach is supported by theoretical considerations as well as by numerical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic insects represent a great portion of Arthropod diversity and the major fauna in inland waters. The sensory biology and neuroanatomy of these insects are, however, poorly investigated. This research aims to describe the antennal sensilla of nymphs of the stonefly Dinocras cephalotes using scanning electron microscopy and comparing them with the adult sensilla. Besides, central antennal pathways in nymphs and adults are investigated by neuron mass-tracing with tetramethylrhodamine, and their brain structures are visualized with an anti-synapsin antibody. No dramatic changes occur in the antennal sensilla during nymphal development, while antennal sensilla profoundly change from nymphs to adults when switching from an aquatic to an aerial lifestyle. However, similar brain structures are used in nymphs and adults to process diverging sensory information, perceived through different sensilla in water and air. These data provide valuable insights into the evolution of aquatic heterometabolous insects, maintaining a functional sensory system throughout development, including a distinct adaptation of the peripheral olfactory systems during the transition from detection of water-soluble chemicals to volatile compounds in the air. From a conservation biology perspective, the present data contribute to a better knowledge of the biology of stoneflies, which are very important bioindicators in rivers. [Display omitted] • Minor changes in antennal sensilla occur across different stages of aquatic nymphs. • Antennal sensilla differ between aquatic stonefly nymphs and terrestrial adults. • Stonefly nymphs and adults show a glomerular antennal lobe. • Brain morphology and antennal pathways are similar in stonefly nymphs and adults. • Same brain regions can process highly diverging information in water and air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Search image formation, a proximal mechanism to maintain genetic polymorphisms by negative frequency‐dependent selection, has rarely been tested under natural conditions. Females of many nonterritorial damselflies resemble either conspecific males or background vegetation. Mate‐searching males are assumed to form search images of the majority female type, sexually harassing it at rates higher than expected from its frequency, thus selectively favoring the less common morph. We tested this and how morph coloration and behavior influenced male perception and intersexual encounters by following marked Ischnura elegans and noting their reactions to conspecifics. Contrary to search image formation and associative learning hypotheses, although males encountered the minority, male‐like morph more often, sexual harassment and clutch size were similar for both morphs. Prior mating attempts or copula with morphs did not affect a male's subsequent reaction to them; males rarely attempted matings with immature females or males. Females mated early in the day, reducing the opportunity for males to learn their identity beforehand. Once encountered, the male‐like morph was more readily noticed by males than the alternative morph, which once noticed was more likely to receive mating attempts. Flexible behavior gave morphs considerable control over their apparency to males, influencing intersexual encounters. Results suggested a more subtle proximal mechanism than male learning maintains these color polymorphisms and call for inferences of learning to be validated by behavior of wild receivers and their signalers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant evidence of ionosphere disturbance in connection to intense seismic events have been detected since two decades. It is generally believed that the energy transfer can be due to Acoustic Gravity Waves (AGW) excited at ground level by the earthquakes. In spite of the statistical evidence of the detected perturbations, the coupling between lithosphere and atmosphere has not been so far properly explained by an accurate enough model. In this paper, for the first time, we show the result of an analytical-quantitative model that describes how the pressure and density disturbance is generated in the lower atmosphere by the ground motion associated to earthquakes. The direct comparison between observed and modelled vertical profiles of the atmospheric temperature shows the capability of the model to accurately reproduce, with an high statistical significance, the observed temperature fluctuations induced by strong earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uhle's ketone and its derivatives are highly versatile intermediates for the synthesis of a variety of 3,4-fused tricyclic indole frameworks, i.e. indole alkaloids of the ergot family, that are found in various bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, the development of a convenient preparative method for this structural motif as well as its opportune/useful derivatization have been the subject of longstanding interest in the fields of synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. Herein, we summarize recent and less recent methods for the preparation of Uhle's ketone and its derivatives as well as its main reactivity towards the synthesis of bioactive substances. Regarding the preparation, it can be roughly classified into two categories: (a) using 4-unfunctionalized and 4-functionalized indole derivatives as starting materials to construct a fused six-member ring, and (b) constructing the indole ring through intramolecular cycloaddition. Principally, the reactivity of the cyclic Uhle's ketone shown here is derived from the classical electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon or the acidity of the α-hydrogen and, though less intensively investigated, chemical reactions that induce ring expansion to form novel ring skeletons. 1 Introduction 2 Synthesis 2.1 Disconnection A: Cyclization Reaction of the Opportune 3,4-Disubstituted Indole 2.2 Disconnection B: Intramolecular Friedel–Crafts Cyclization 2.3 Disconnection B: Intramolecular Cyclization via Metal–Halogen Exchange 2.4 Disconnection C: Intramolecular Diels–Alder Furan Cycloaddition 2.5 Disconnection D: Intramolecular Dearomatizing [3 + 2] Annulation 3 Reactivity 3.1 Use of Uhle's Ketone for Lysergic Acid 3.2 Use of Uhle's Ketone for Rearranged Clavines 3.3 Use of Uhle's Ketone for Medicinal Chemistry 4 Conclusion and Outlook [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to contribute to the study of the 1970s dictatorships in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay by looking at one specific aspect of those regimes: exile. It considers exile in the UK, a host country on which research is limited, and claims that the fundamental political ideas that had inspired these exiles did not vanish but were variously reshaped, depending on changing political circumstances, how the exiles interacted with local forms of solidarity, and how they lived through the personal challenges that they experienced during exile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the August 25, 2018 geomagnetic storm, the new borne CSES-01 satellite and the Swarm A satellite detected a really large equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) in the post-midnight sector over western Africa. We investigated the features of this deep ionospheric plasma depletion using data from the Langmuir probes on-board CSES-01 and Swarm A satellites, and data from the high-precision magnetometer and the electric field detector instruments on-board CSES-01. Using also plasma and magnetic field data from THEMIS-E satellite we found that, during the passage of the magnetic cloud that drove the geomagnetic storm, an impulsive variation lasting about ten minutes characterized the solar wind (SW) pressure. The analysis of the delay time, between the occurrence of such impulsive variation and the detection of the plasma bubble, suggests a possible link between the SW pressure impulsive variation as identified by THEMIS-E and the generation of the EPB as detected by CSES-01 and Swarm A. We put forward the hypothesis that the SW pressure impulsive variation might have triggered an eastward prompt penetrating electric field that propagated from high to equatorial latitudes, overlapping in the nightside region to the zonal westward electric field, causing either a reduction or an inversion, at the base of the EPB triggering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a finite element analysis to approximate the solution of an obstacle problem for a static shallow shell confined in a half space is presented. To begin with, we establish, by relying on the properties of enriching operators, an estimate for the approximate bilinear form associated with the problem under consideration. Then, we conduct an error analysis and we prove the convergence of the proposed numerical scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postpartum uterine infection reduces fertility in dairy cattle; however, the mechanisms of uterine infection‐mediated infertility are unknown. Paradoxically, infection‐induced infertility persists after the resolution of disease. Oocytes are a finite resource, which are present at various stages of development during uterine infection. It is likely that oocyte development is influenced by uterine infection‐induced changes to the follicular microenvironment. To better understand the impact of infection on oocyte quality we employed global transcriptomics of oocytes collected from heifers after receiving intrauterine infusion of pathogenic Escherichia coli and Trueperella pyogenes. We hypothesized that the oocyte transcriptome would be altered in response to intrauterine infection. A total of 452 differentially expressed genes were identified in oocytes collected from heifers 4 days after bacteria infusion compared to vehicle infusion, while 539 differentially expressed genes were identified in oocytes collected from heifers 60 days after bacteria infusion. Only 42 genes were differentially expressed in bacteria‐infused heifers at both Day 4 and Day 60. Interferon, HMGB1, ILK, IL‐6, and TGF‐beta signaling pathways were downregulated in oocytes collected at Day 4 from bacteria‐infused heifers, while interferon, ILK, and IL‐6 signaling were upregulated in oocytes collected at Day 60 from bacteria‐infused heifers. These data suggest that bacterial infusion alters the oocyte transcriptome differently at Day 4 and Day 60, suggesting different follicle stages are susceptible to damage. Characterizing the long‐term impacts of uterine infection on the oocyte transcriptome aids in our understanding of how infection causes infertility in dairy cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 25 August 2018 the interplanetary counterpart of the 20 August 2018 coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth, giving rise to a strong G3 geomagnetic storm. We present a description of the whole sequence of events from the Sun to the ground as well as a detailed analysis of the observed effects on Earth's environment by using a multi-instrumental approach. We studied the ICME (interplanetary-CME) propagation in interplanetary space up to the analysis of its effects in the magnetosphere, ionosphere and at ground level. To accomplish this task, we used ground- and space-collected data, including data from CSES (China Seismo-Electric Satellite), launched on 11 February 2018. We found a direct connection between the ICME impact point on the magnetopause and the pattern of Earth's auroral electrojets. Using the Tsyganenko TS04 model prevision, we were able to correctly identify the principal magnetospheric current system activating during the different phases of the geomagnetic storm. Moreover, we analysed the space weather effects associated with the 25 August 2018 solar event in terms of the evaluation of geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) and identification of possible GPS (Global Positioning System) losses of lock. We found that, despite the strong geomagnetic storm, no loss of lock had been detected. On the contrary, the GIC hazard was found to be potentially more dangerous than other past, more powerful solar events, such as the 2015 St Patrick's Day geomagnetic storm, especially at latitudes higher than 60∘ in the European sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we define, a priori, a natural two-dimensional model for a time-dependent flexural shell. As expected, this model takes the form of a set of hyperbolic variational equations posed over the space of admissible linearized inextensional displacements, and a set of initial conditions. Using a classical argument, we prove that the model under consideration admits a unique strong solution. However, the latter strategy makes use of function spaces, which are not amenable for numerically approximating the solution. We thus provide an alternate formulation of the studied problem using a suitable penalty scheme, which is more suitable in the context of numerical approximations. For the sake of completeness, in the final part of the paper, we also provide an existence and uniqueness theorem for the case where the linearly elastic shell under consideration is an elliptic membrane shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we define, a priori, a natural two-dimensional Koiter's model of a 'general' linearly elastic shell subject to a confinement condition. As expected, this model takes the form of variational inequalities posed over a non-empty closed convex subset of the function space used for the 'unconstrained' Koiter's model. We then perform a rigorous asymptotic analysis as the thickness of the shell, considered a 'small' parameter, approaches zero, when the shell belongs to one of the three main classes of linearly elastic shells, namely elliptic membrane shells, generalized membrane shells and flexural shells. To illustrate the soundness of this model, we consider elliptic membrane shells to fix ideas. We then show that, in this case, the 'limit' model obtained in this fashion coincides with the two-dimensional 'limit' model obtained by means of another rigorous asymptotic analysis, but this time with the three-dimensional model of a 'general' linearly elastic shell subject to a confinement condition as a point of departure. In this fashion, our proposed Koiter's model of a linearly elastic shell subject to a confinement condition is fully justified in this case, even though it is not itself a 'limit' model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the evolutionary properties of AM CVn stars with massive white dwarf (WD) donors and accretors. As a representative of them we consider a binary initially composed by a 0.30 M⊙ He WD and a 1.02 M⊙ CO WD. We evaluate the time-dependent mass transfer rate from the donor and compute the evolution of the accretor, accounting for the effects of mass exchange on the evolution of orbital parameters. We model the thermal response of the accreting CO WD with the funs evolutionary code coupled to a full nuclear network, from H to Bi, including more than 700 isotopes linked by about 1000 nuclear processes. We find that accretors in these systems evolve through the stages of steady He-burning and mild and strong He-flashes and become at the end CO WDs capped by a massive (∼0.1 M⊙) He-rich buffer. During He-flashes (both mild and strong) the temperature in the He-shell increases above 3 × 108 K, so that the |$\mathrm {^{22} Ne}(\alpha ,n)\mathrm {^{25} Mg}\,$| reaction becomes efficient and n -rich isotopes can be produced. During the Roche lobe overflow episodes triggered by strong non-dynamical He-flashes matter enriched in α-elements and n -rich isotopes is ejected, polluting the interstellar medium. Our results strongly suggest that massive AM CVn systems with WD donors do not experience a final very strong dynamical He-flash driving an explosive event like SN.Ia. Though the ejected matter is highly enriched in heavy isotopes, the relative contribution of massive AM CVn systems to the Galactic chemical evolution is, most probably, negligible due to their expected paucity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Electron-capture on 7Be is the main production channel for 7Li in several astrophysical environments. Theoretical evaluations have to account for not only the nuclear interaction, but also the processes in the plasma in which 7Be ions and electrons interact. In recent decades several estimates were presented, pointing out that the theoretical uncertainty in the rate is in general of a few percent. Aims. In the framework of fundamental solar physics, we consider a recent evaluation for the 7Be+e− rate, which has not been used up to now, in the estimate of neutrino fluxes. Methods. We analyzed the effects of the new assumptions on standard solar models (SSMs) and compared the results obtained by adopting the revised 7Be+e− rate to those obtained by that reported in a widely used compilation of reaction rates (ADE11). Results. We found that new SSMs yield a maximum difference in the efficiency of the 7Be channel of about −4% with respect to what is obtained with the previously adopted rate. This fact affects the production of neutrinos from 8B, increasing the relative flux up to a maximum of 2.7%. Negligible variations are found for the physical and chemical properties of the computed solar models. Conclusions. The agreement with the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory measurements of the neutral current component of the 8B neutrino flux is improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present and analyze a new mixed finite element formulation of a general family of quasi-static multiple-network poroelasticity (MPET) equations. The MPET equations describe flow and deformation in an elastic porous medium that is permeated by multiple fluid networks of differing characteristics. As such, the MPET equations represent a generalization of Biot's equations, and numerical discretizations of the MPET equations face similar challenges. Here, we focus on the nearly incompressible case for which standard mixed finite element discretizations of the MPET equations perform poorly. Instead, we propose a new mixed finite element formulation based on introducing an additional total pressure variable. By presenting energy estimates for the continuous solutions and a priori error estimates for a family of compatible semidiscretizations, we show that this formulation is robust for nearly incompressible materials, small storage coefficients, and small or vanishing transfer between networks. These theoretical results are corroborated by numerical experiments. Our primary interest in the MPET equations stems from the use of these equations in modeling interactions between biological fluids and tissues in physiological settings. So, we additionally present physiologically realistic numerical results for blood and interstitial fluid flow interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial infection of the uterus causes clinical endometritis in 15 to 20% of postpartum dairy cows and reduces fertility, even after the resolution of disease. However, it is difficult to disentangle the mechanisms linking reduced fertility with endometritis because cows have multiple confounding postpartum conditions. The aim of the present experiment was to develop an in vivo model of clinical endometritis in Holstein heifers using pathogenic Escherichia coli and Trueperella pyogenes. Estrous cycles of heifers were synchronized using a 5-d Co-Synch protocol, and subsequently received exogenous progesterone to elevate circulating progesterone at the time of uterine infusion. Endometrial scarification was performed before uterine infusion of live pathogenic Escherichia coli and Trueperella pyogenes, or sterile vehicle. Effects of infusion were evaluated by measuring rectal temperature, plasma haptoglobin, hematology, grading pus in the vaginal mucus, quantifying 16S rRNA in vaginal mucus, and transrectal ultrasonography. Bacterial infusion increased the median vaginal mucus to grade 2 by d 3 postinfusion, and to grade 3 from d 4 to 6 postinfusion. Control heifers maintained a median vaginal mucus grade ≤1 from d 1 to 6. Transrectal ultrasound revealed the accumulation of echogenic fluid in the uterus of heifers following bacterial infusion, which was absent in control heifers. Total 16S rRNA in vaginal mucus was elevated in bacteria-infused heifers compared with control heifers at d 5. Rectal temperature was increased in bacteriainfused heifers. Plasma haptoglobin, general health, and appetite did not differ between groups. As indicated by increased vaginal mucus grade after bacterial infusion and absence of systemic signs of illness, this model successfully induced symptoms resembling clinical endometritis in virgin Holstein heifers. The model allows the isolation of effects of uterine disease on fertility from confounding factors that can occur during the postpartum period in dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this Note, we propose a natural two-dimensional model of "Koiter's type" for a general linearly elastic shell confined in a half space. This model is governed by a set of variational inequalities posed over a non-empty closed and convex subset of the function space used for modeling the corresponding "unconstrained" Koiter's model. To study the limit behavior of the proposed model as the thickness of the shell, regarded as a small parameter, approaches zero, we perform a rigorous asymptotic analysis, distinguishing the cases where the shell is either an elliptic membrane shell, a generalized membrane shell of the first kind, or a flexural shell. Moreover, in the case where the shell is an elliptic membrane shell, we show that the limit model obtained via the asymptotic analysis of our proposed two-dimensional Koiter's model coincides with the limit model obtained via a rigorous asymptotic analysis of the corresponding three-dimensional "constrained" model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract An assessment of potential carcinogenic and toxic health outcomes related to atmospheric emissions from the new-generation coal fired power plant of Torrevaldaliga Nord, in Central Italy, has been conducted. A chemical-transport model was applied on the reference year 2010 in the area of the plant, in order to calculate airborne concentrations of a set of 17 emitted pollutants of health concern. Inhalation cancer risks and hazard quotients, for each pollutant and for each target organ impacted via the inhalation pathway, were calculated and mapped on the study domain for the overall ambient concentrations and for the sole contribution of the plant to airborne concentrations, allowing to assess the relative contribution of the power plant to the risk from all sources. Cancer risks, cumulated on all pollutants, resulted around 5 × 10−5 for the concentrations from all sources and below 3 × 10−7 for the plant contribution, mainly targeting the respiratory system. On each part of the study domain, the plant contributed for less than 6% to the overall cancer risk. Hazard quotients from all sources, cumulated on all pollutants, reached values of 2.5 for the respiratory and 1.5 for the cardiovascular systems. Hazard quotients of non-carcinogenic risks from the plant, cumulated on all pollutants, resulted below 0.03 for the respiratory system and 0.02 for the cardiovascular system. On each part of the study domain, the plant contributed for less than 5% to the respiratory and cardiovascular risks. Both cancer risks and hazard quotients related to the plant are far below international thresholds for human health protection, while the values from all sources require consideration. The proposed method provides an instrument for prospective health risk assessment of large industrial sources, with some limitations presented and discussed. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Human health risk assessment of airborne emissions from a coal fired power in Italy • Multi-pollutant chemical-transport model simulation on year 2010 • Quantification of risks from the plant and from all sources, on impacted target organs • Cancer risk from the plant below 3 × 10−7, from all sources around 5 × 10−5 • Not-carcinogenic risks from the plant below 0.02, from all sources up to 2.5 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work applies the paradigm of the machine learning to the identification of type and position of short-and open-circuit defects along a three-dimensional daisy-chain signal channel in presence of through silicon vias. A suitable artificial neural network is designed, trained, and used for this task. This contribution discusses the advantages and limitations of this approach quantifying the differences among the real and estimated positions of the defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]