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This paper discusses some numerical analyses performed with a generalized three-dimensional Hoek & Brown (HB) model which strength criterion has been considered to simulate the mechanical behavior of rocks in brittle conditions. For this purpose, this constitutive framework has been enhanced with hyperbolic softening and non-linear dilation, thus enabling to investigate failure modes in the form of dilating shear bands. To restore the objectivity of the numerical solution during the development of localized strain, a viscous regularization technique has been employed to simulate localization phenomena in two different initial boundary value problems, both computed by using the finite element software PLAXIS 2D: (i) a biaxial test, and (ii) a tunnel excavation problem simulated through a deconfinement process. While the former has been considered to test the effect of the viscous parameter in governing the structural behavior of the rock sample, the latter has been selected to model the shear bands propagation during the process of a tunnel excavation in which the rocks mass has been characterized by different mechanical properties. The computed solutions have been compared with existing formulations based on the framework of HB strength criteria, thus enabling to further validate the implementation of the proposed constitutive equations.

Chondrosarcoma is a malignant tumor that arises from cartilaginous tissue and is radioresistant and chemoresistant to conventional treatments. The preferred treatment consists of surgical resection, which might cause severe disabilities for the patient; in addition, this procedure might be impossible for inoperable locations, such as the skull base. Carbon ion irradiation (hadron therapy) has been proposed as an alternative treatment, primarily due to its greater biological effectiveness and improved ballistic properties compared with conventional radiotherapy with X-rays. The goal of this study was to characterize the genetic mutations of a grade III chondrosarcoma cell line (CH2879) and examine the cellular responses to conventional radiotherapy (X-rays) and hadron therapy (proton and carbon ions) in the presence of the PARP inhibitor Olaparib. To better understand PARP inhibition, we first analyzed the formation of poly-ADP ribose chains by western blot; we observed an increase in its signal after irradiation, which disappeared on addition of the PARP inhibitor. PARPi enhanced ratio of approximately 1.3, 1.8, and 1.5 following irradiation of cells with X-rays, protons, and C-ions, respectively, as detected by clonogenic assay. The decrease in cell survival was confirmed by proliferation assay. The radiosensitivity of CH2879 cells was associated with mutations in homologous recombination repair genes, such as RAD50, SMARCA2 and NBN. This study demonstrates the capacity of the PARP inhibitor Olaparib to radiosensitize mutated chondrosarcoma cells to conventional photon irradiation, proton and carbon ion irradiation.

The history of prisons is full of pains and contradictions in every historic period. Detention should be seen as a moment of transformation of an offender in a rehabilitated subject. To do this, we need adequate structures, which are able to support individuals by offering them the opportunity, "which in civil life did not have or have not been able to exploit", therefore, prisons where the prisoners do not spend their time lounging due to the absence of any activity, not a structure without services such as the library, recreation centre, etc. as well as not a dilapidated structure and hygienically deficient. A reintegration process has to take into account the place of the reintegration. In Italy the psychological and physical conditions, in which the prisoners and in general the users are forced to live, are beyond endurance. This condition of inefficiency characterizes the most of prison buildings and has inevitable negative effects on the economic administration. The aim of the manuscript is to analyse the physic and psychological elements, which influence the global comfort inside the prisons in order to identify economic and logistical solutions. The proposed methodology started with the singling out of critical points through questionnaires and surveys on the indoor condition. Then we will analyse a set of possible economic solutions both through possible legislative changes and through small intervention on the buildings.

The deep geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in deep saline aquifers is considered a promising countermeasure to the greenhouse effect. CO2 at supercritical conditions is injected in saline aquifer at depths larger than 800 m. The CO2-rich phase is lighter than brine and moves upward; therefore a capping geological seal (the caprock) is necessary for a safe storage. Preserving the integrity of the caprock is of paramount importance. The integrity can be compromised by pressure-induced new fractures or pressure-reactivated existing faults. These features may represent leakage paths to the biosphere. At a preliminary stage, the feasibility of a (unstructured) saline aquifer can be assessed by means of a risk analysis (RA). Given a simple geometrical scheme of the aquifer, the RA for the CO2 geological storage consists of the combination of a semi-analytical solution of the CO2 transport and criteria for the onset of fracturing and reactivation of existing faults. The parameters of the failure criteria are assumed conforming to specific Probability Density Functions (PDFs). The results from RA are synthesized in the probability of caprock failure and probability of fault reactivation. The results of an application example are illustrated herein.

Aim of this paper is to define a new statistical framework to identify central modules in Gaussian Graphical Models (GGMs) estimated by gene expression data measured on a sample of patients with negative molecular response to imatinib. A central module is defined as a module of a GGM which contains genes that are defined differentially expressed.