Convex Neighbourhoods and Complete Finsler Spaces

In this paper, it is shown that a large set of connections on a suitable sub-bundle of the tangent bundle of a Finsler Manifold can be used to study all the properties of convex neighbourhoods with respect to the Finsler Metric, which are needed to see that any Complete Finsler Space is Geodesically Connected.Comment: 17 page

Soft Gloves: A Review on Recent Developments in Actuation, Sensing, Control and Applications

Interest in soft gloves, both robotic and haptic, has enormously grown over the past decade, due to their inherent compliance, which makes them particularly suitable for direct interaction with the human hand. Robotic soft gloves have been developed for hand rehabilitation, for ADLs assistance, or sometimes for both. Haptic soft gloves may be applied in virtual reality (VR) applications or to give sensory feedback in combination with prostheses or to control robots. This paper presents an updated review of the state of the art of soft gloves, with a particular focus on actuation, sensing, and control, combined with a detailed analysis of the devices according to their application field. The review is organized on two levels: a prospective review allows the highlighting of the main trends in soft gloves development and applications, and an analytical review performs an in-depth analysis of the technical solutions developed and implemented in the revised scientific research. Additional minor evaluations integrate the analysis, such as a synthetic investigation of the main results in the clinical studies and trials referred in literature which involve soft gloves

Spillover and diffraction sidelobe contamination in a double-shielded experiment for mapping Galactic synchrotron emission

We have analyzed observations from a radioastronomical experiment to survey the sky at decimetric wavelengths along with feed pattern measurements in order to account for the level of ground contamination entering the sidelobes. A major asset of the experiment is the use of a wire mesh fence around the rim-halo shielded antenna with the purpose of levelling out and reducing this source of stray radiation for zenith-centered 1-rpm circular scans. We investigate the shielding performance of the experiment by means of a geometric diffraction model in order to predict the level of the spillover and diffraction sidelobes in the direction of the ground. Using 408 MHz and 1465 MHz feed measurements, the model shows how a weakly-diffracting and unshielded antenna configuration becomes strongly-diffracting and double-shielded as far-field diffraction effects give way to near-field ones. Due to the asymmetric response of the feeds, the orientation of their radiation fields with respect to the secondary must be known a priori before comparing model predictions with observational data. By adjusting the attenuation coefficient of the wire mesh the model is able to reproduce the amount of differential ground pick-up observed during test measurements at 1465 MHz.Comment: 14 pages, 17 eps + 1 gif figures and 4 Tables. Accepted for publication in A&AS. Fig.7 available at full resolution from http://www.das.inpe.br/~tello/publications.ht

Topological Friction and Relaxation Dynamics of Spatially Confined Catenated Polymers

We study catenated ring polymers confined inside channels and slits with Langevin dynamics simulations and address how the contour position and size of the interlocked or physically linked region evolve with time. We show that the catenation constraints generate a drag, or topological friction, that couples the contour motion of the interlocked regions. Notably, the coupling strength decreases as the interlocking is made tighter, but also shorter, by confinement. Though the coupling strength differs for channel and slit confinement, the data outline a single universal curve when plotted against the size of the linked region. Finally, we study how the relaxation kinetics changes after one of the rings is cut open and conclude that considering interlocked circular polymers is key for isolating the manifestations of topological friction. The results ought to be relevant for linked biomolecules in experimental or biological confining conditions

The Transformative Potential of Lipid Nanoparticle-Protein Corona for Next-Generation Vaccines and Therapeutics

The integration of the lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-protein corona as a pioneering approach for the development of vaccines against the present and future SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern marks a significant shift in the field. This concept holds great promise, offering a universal platform that can be adaptable to combat future pandemics caused by unknown viruses. Understanding the complex interactions among the protein corona, LNPs, and receptors is crucial for harnessing its potential. This knowledge will allow optimal vaccine formulations and improve their effectiveness. Safety assessments are essential to ensure suitability for human use, compliance with regulatory standards, and rigorous quality control in manufacturing. This transformative workflow requires collaborative efforts, expanding our foundational knowledge and translating advancements from the laboratory to clinical reality. The LNP-protein corona approach represents a paradigmatic shift with far-reaching implications. Its principles and insights can be leveraged beyond specific applications against SARS-CoV-2, enabling a universal platform for addressing viral threats, cancer, and genetic diseases

Theoretical model for the superconducting and magnetically ordered borocarbides

We present a theory of superconductivity in presence of a general magnetic structure in a form suitable for the description of complex magnetic phases encountered in borocarbides. The theory, complemented with some details of the band structure and with the magnetic phase diagram, may explain the nearly reentrant behaviour and the anisotropy of the upper critical field of HoNi2B2C. The onset of the helical magnetic order depresses superconductivity via the reduction of the interaction between phonons and electrons caused by the formation of magnetic Bloch states. At mean field level, no additional suppression of superconductivity is introduced by the incommensurability of the helical phase.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures. Published version, one important reference adde

Perfil sócio-econômico dos alunos da creche Irmã Anísia Rocha da cidade de Sobral, CE no ano de 2005.

O estudo é parte do projeto "Manipulação de constituintes e prospecção de propriedades funcionais do leite de cabra" financiado pelo Macroprograma 2 da Embrapa e, liderado pela Embrapa Caprinos, que teve objetivo geral: Conhecer o efeito de estratégias nutricionais para manipulação do perfil de caseínas e de ácidos graxos do leite de cabra e seus impactos sobre a saúde humana na prospecção de propriedades funcionais. Além de conhecer melhor o aluno, trata-se de gerar subsídios para melhorar a qualidade do ensino e prestação de serviços pela Creche Irmã Anísia Rocha.bitstream/CNPC/20815/1/cot84.pd

Novel Bifunctional Compounds Targeting Nicotine and Dopamine Receptor Subtypes: Synthesis and Pharmacological Investigation

Future therapies for diseases associated with altered dopaminergic signaling, including Parkinson\u2019s disease, schizophrenia and drug addiction or drug dependence, may be substantially built on the existence of intramembrane receptor-receptor interactions within receptor mosaics where it is believed that the D2 receptor may operate as the \u201chub receptor\u201d [1]. In particular, it has been proposed that striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission could be under the control of receptor heteromers containing D2 autoreceptors and non-alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine heteroreceptors [2]. In an attempt to investigate the biochemical and functional interactions between dopaminergic autoreceptors and nAChRs containing the beta2 subunit, we designed and prepared a group of potential bifunctional derivatives incorporating a D2/D3 agonist moiety and a nicotinic alpha4beta2 antagonist fragment, linked by polymethylene spacers of different length. The new compounds have been biologically characterized for their affinity/specificity/functional profile at the target nACh and D2 receptor subtypes. The synthesis of the designed derivatives and the results of their pharmacological investigation will be presented and discussed. [1] K.Fuxe, D.Marcellino, A.Rivera, Z.Diaz-Cabiale, M.Filip, B.Gago, D.C.S.Roberts, U.Langel, S.Genedani, L.Ferraro, A.de la Calle, J.Narvaez, S.Tanganelli, A.Woods, L.F.Agnati, Brain Res.Rev., 58, 2008, 415-452. [2] D.Quarta, F.Ciruela, K.Patkar, J.Borycz, M.Solinas, C.Lluis, R.Franco, R.A.Wise, S.R.Goldberg, B.T.Hope, A.Woods, S.Ferr\ue9, Neuropsychopharmacol., 32, 2007, 35-42

Embedded Payload Solutions in UAVs for Medium and Small Package Delivery

Investigations about the feasibility of delivery systems with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones have been recently expanded, owing to the exponential demand for goods to be delivered in the recent years, which has been further increased by the COVID-19 pandemic. UAV delivery can provide new contactless delivery strategies, in addition to applications for medical items, such as blood, medicines, or vaccines. The safe delivery of goods is paramount for such applications, which is facilitated if the payload is embedded in the main drone body. In this paper, we investigate payload solutions for medium and small package delivery (up to 5 kg) with a medium-sized UAV (maximum takeoff of less than 25 kg), focusing on (i) embedded solutions (packaging hosted in the drone fuselage), (ii) compatibility with transportation of medical items, and (iii) user-oriented design (usability and safety). We evaluate the design process for possible payload solutions, from an analysis of the package design (material selection, shape definition, and product industrialization) to package integration with the drone fuselage (possible solutions and comparison of quick-release systems). We present a prototype for an industrialized package, a right prism with an octagonal section made of high-performance double-wall cardboard, and introduce a set of concepts for a quick-release system, which are compared with a set of six functional parameters (mass, realization, accessibility, locking, protection, and resistance). Further analyses are already ongoing, with the aim of integrating monitoring and control capabilities into the package design to assess the condition of the delivered goods during transportation