Geometric rigidity for incompatible fields in the multi-well case and an application to strain-gradient plasticity

We derive a quantitative rigidity estimate for a multiwell problem in nonlinear elasticity with dislocations. Precisely, we show that the L 1 ∗ -distance of a possibly incompatible strain field β from a single well is controlled in terms of the L 1 ∗ -distance from a finite set of wells, of curl β , and of div β . As a consequence, we derive a strain-gradient plasticity model as Γ -limit of a nonlinear finite dislocation model, containing a singular perturbation term accounting for the divergence of the strain field. This can also be seen as a generalization of the result of Alicandro et al. (2018) to the case of incompatible vector fields

14C dating in forensics: The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) and the identification of skeletal remains of missing persons

The Centre of Applied Physics, Dating, and Diagnostics (CEDAD) at the University of Salento collaborates with the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) to analyze skeletal remains of individuals who went missing during the 1963–64 inter-communal conflict and the 1974 events. Supported by the United Nations, the CMP aims to locate, identify, and return the remains to families, a process complicated by poor preservation of skeletal remains, complex burial contexts, and limited contextual information. Radiocarbon dating is a key part of the CMP's analysis procedures, helping establish whether remains fall within the CMP mandate and providing details such as the individual's year of birth. This paper reviews the application of radiocarbon dating of bone samples, addressing challenges like dietary offsets and carbon turnover models while demonstrating its significance in refining identification processes. Case studies highlight its utility in both relevant and unrelated contexts to the CMP's mission, emphasizing its broader contributions to historical and forensic investigations

Individual and community catalysts for Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) development

This review examines factors catalyzing citizens' participation in Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), crucial for sustainable energy transitions. We analyze the interplay of individual and community elements promoting involvement in these collective projects. Individual drivers include pro-environmental values, economic incentives, desire for energy autonomy, and technical knowledge. Community factors encompass social cohesion, local identity, effective leadership, inclusive governance, and supportive policies. The synergy between these factors drives REC development. Challenges remain in ensuring accessibility, sustaining participation, and scaling successful models. Further research is needed on participation dynamics over time, cross-cultural comparisons, innovative financing, and digital technologies' role. Understanding and enhancing these catalyzing factors can unlock the potential of community-driven energy solutions to address climate change while promoting sustainable and equitable energy future

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue sampling: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Technical and Technology Review

: This Technical and Technology Review from the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) represents an update of the previous document on the technical aspects of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided sampling in gastroenterology, including the available types of needle, technical aspects of tissue sampling, new devices, and specimen handling and processing. Among the most important new recommendations are:ESGE recommends end-cutting fine-needle biopsy (FNB) needles over reverse-bevel FNB or fine-needle aspiration (FNA) needles for tissue sampling of solid pancreatic lesions; FNA may still have a role when rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) is available.ESGE recommends EUS-FNB or mucosal incision-assisted biopsy (MIAB) equally for tissue sampling of subepithelial lesions ≥20 mm in size. MIAB could represent the first choice for smaller lesions (<20 mm) if proper expertise is available.ESGE does not recommend the use of antibiotic prophylaxis before EUS-guided tissue sampling of solid masses and EUS-FNA of pancreatic cystic lesions

La friche nostrana

L'autore riflette sull'importanza dei luoghi incolti per l'ambiente e la biodiversità, specialmente nel contesto climatico attuale, nel quale la Terra risponde con violenza all'inquinamento e allo sfruttamento indiscriminato delle risorse causati dall'azione degli uomini

Local regularity of very weak ss-harmonic functions via fractional difference quotients

The aim of this paper is to give a new proof that any very weak s-harmonic function u in the unit ball B is smooth. As a first step, we improve the local summability properties of u. Then, we exploit a suitable version of the difference quotient method tailored to get rid of the singularity of the integral kernel and gain Sobolev regularity and local linear estimates of the H s loc norm of u. Finally, by applying more standard methods, such as elliptic regularity and Schauder estimates, we reach the real analyticity of u. Up to the authors’ knowledge, the difference quotient techniques are new

Synthesis and annealing effects on microstructure and optical properties of wide-bandgap polycrystalline ferro-pseudobrookite FeTi2O5 sol-gel layers

Wide bandgap (WBG) and high thermal stability pseudobrookite compounds, Fe1+xTi2−xO5 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), are promising materials for photocatalysis, high-temperature thermoelectric applications, green production of hydrogen by water splitting, fabrication of power electronics, and optoelectronic devices. Here, we report on WBG, polycrystalline, ferropseudobrookite, FeTi2O5, coatings, stable at high temperature, prepared by an optimized sol-gel route on fused silica and silicon substrates. The chemical composition, the amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation, and the influence of the annealing temperature and atmosphere (air and argon) on the formation and evolution of the crystalline phases were investigated in detail by combining thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry analysis with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The experimental results clearly show that orthorhombic FeTi2O5 single phase develops in the interval 500–560 °C (crystalline domain size about 16 nm at 560 °C). The coatings remain in a single FeTi2O5 phase up to a temperature of about 590 °C. At higher temperatures, a rutile-TiO2 secondary phase is formed, both in an oxidizing and inert atmosphere, while the ferropseudobrookite phase remains unchanged. The results suggest that the secondary phase arises from the presence of superficial Ti-O- dangling bonds that at temperatures above 590 °C begin to arrange themselves to form polycrystalline rutile-TiO2 (crystalline domain size ≈8 nm at 620 °C). The results also show that the average energy required to break the Ti-O-Ti molecular bonds of the FeTi2O5 phase increases with temperature, improving its thermal stability. Optical absorption spectroscopy measurements carried out on coatings heated at 560 °C, yield an optical bandgap of about 2.25 eV, a refractive index of about 1.84 at 550 nm, and a weak UVC positive band, peaked at about 5.9 eV, on transmittance that disappears when the samples are annealed at 750 °C