On the sum of random samples with bounded Pareto distribution

Heavy-tailed random samples, as well as their sum or average, are encountered in a number of signal pro-cessing applications in radar, communications, finance, and natural sciences. Modeling such data through the Pareto distribution is particularly attractive due to its simple analytical form, but may lead to infinite variance and/or mean, which is not physically plausible: in fact, samples are always bounded in practice, namely because of clipping during the signal acquisition or deliberate censoring or trimming (truncation) at the processing stage. Based on this motivation, the paper derives and analyzes the distribution of the sum of right-censored Pareto Type-II variables, which generalizes the conventional Pareto (Type-I) and Lomax distributions. The distribution of the sum of truncated Pareto is also obtained, and an analytical connection is drawn with the unbounded case. A numerical analysis illustrates the findings, providing insights on several aspects, including the intimate mixture structure of the obtained expressions. An il-lustrative application to the analysis of real radar data is also provided. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Drug design and synthesis of first in class PDZ1 targeting NHERF1 inhibitors as anticancer agents

Targeted approaches aiming at modulating NHERF1 activity, rather than its overall expression, would be preferred to preserve the normal functions of this versatile protein. We focused our attention on the NHERF1/PDZ1 domain that governs its membrane recruitment/displacement through a transient phosphorylation switch. We herein report the design and synthesis of novel NHERF1 PDZ1 domain inhibitors. These compounds have potential therapeutic value when used in combination with antagonists of β-catenin to augment apoptotic death of colorectal cancer cells refractory to currently available Wnt/β-catenin-targeted agents

When the Mind “Flies”: the Effects of Mind-Wandering on Driving

Mind wandering (MW) refers to a shift of attention away from a primary task toward internal information, such as memories, future thoughts, or fantasies. Several lines of research showed that MW has a costly influence on many cognitive processes, such as reading comprehension, sustained attention and working memory. The aim of the present study was to assess whether MW impairs, like secondary-task distraction, driver’s performance. Results showed that MW is indeed pervasive during daily driving, as indicated by the participants’ answers to an ad-hoc questionnaire assessing the source of inattentiveness during daily driving; furthermore, MW states detected during simulated driving were found to affect driving performance

Modeling of lattice structures energy absorption under impact loads

Lattice structures are promising design solutions for lightweight components in many industrial fields as aeronautics and space. The multifunctional design approach aims to combine in the same component several capabilities, including the ability to absorb impact energy with high efficiency. The additive manufacturing of metals is presently opening to innovative constructive approaches where static strength, lightweight and impact behavior must be considered together in design and simulation. This paper introduces the modeling results of the energy absorbed by different lattice cells topologies under impacts

Platinum(II)-Acyclovir Complexes: Synthesis, Antiviral and Antitumour Activity

A platinum(II) complex with the antiviral drug acyclovir was synthesized and its antiviral and anticancer properties were investigated in comparison to those of acyclovir and cisplatin. The platinum-acyclovir complex maintained the antiviral activity of the parent drug acyclovir, though showing a minor efficacy on a molar basis (ID50  =   7.85 and 1.02 μΜ for platinum-acyclovir and cisplatin, respectively). As anticancer agent, the platinum-acyclovir complex was markedly less potent than cisplatin on a mole-equivalent basis, but it was as effective as cisplatin when equitoxic dosages were administered in vivo to P388 leukaemia-bearing mice (%T/C = 209 and 211 for platinum-acyclovir and cisplatin, respectively). The platinum-acyclovir complex was also active against a cisplatin-resistant subline of the P388 leukaemia (%T/C = 140), thus suggesting a different mechanism of action. The DNA interaction properties (sequence specificity and interstrand cross-linking ability) of platinum-acyclovir were also investigated in comparison to those of cisplatin and [Pt(dien)Cl]+, an antitumour-inactive platinum-triamine compound. The results of this study point to a potential new drug endowed, at the same time, with antiviral and anticancer activity and characterized by DNA interaction properties different from those of cisplatin

Use of mixed study techniques in the evaluation of coastline dynamics - the “Porto Cesareo” MPA case of study

In recent decades, the much-discussed climate changes with the consequent variations in sea and weather conditions and the rise of the mean sea level are causing an indisputable set of negative actions on the entire coastal system mainly due to the increase of the erosive phenomenon along the shorelines. These critical scenarios have a major impact even on a local scale, and because of that, we decided to study a well knows tract of rocky/sandy mixed coast, in a highly anthropized area, even if located inside the “Porto Cesareo” Marine Protected Area (MPA) (Ionian Sea, Gulf of Taranto, Puglia Region, Italy). The high naturalistic and archaeological value of this area calls for a greater institutional effort in the study of erosional phenomena. Several historical documents from other studies point out that this coastal area is an ideal place for this kind of research. The effects of coastal erosion and anthropic pressures along this tract of coast require adequate efforts for a consistent and rapid evaluation of the coastal dynamics. The methodologies proposed in this work are based on mixed techniques from different fields of study, integrating recent aero photogrammetry surveys with drones, aerial images acquired by the Italian Military Geographic Institute (IGM), elaboration of paleoshorelines related by underwater archaeological markers and their dating, and finally on the elaboration of satellite products useful for the study of vast areas. The monitoring of coastal areas and the evaluation of shoreline dynamics are core topics in the implementation of managing actions of decision makers on a local, regional, national, and international scale, above all in places like the chosen one, inside an MPA. Remote sensing through the use of RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems or Drones) has proved to be very useful for identifying phenomena that act on a small spatial scale and in supporting and implementing protective measures according to the adaptive management approach, through multi-year surveys on habitats of conservation interest [18]. For the implementation of fine-scale monitoring actions, we have chosen products from the Sentinel satellite of the Copernicus constellation (European Space Agency - ESA). In this context, the use of satellite products provides a recurrent view of the ground, useful in the short and long-term monitoring of changes in wide coastal areas, and in particular, offers a coastline positioning evaluation in near real-time. Local monitoring actions performed in recent years have already shown an erosive trend in the past decades, and even, negative forecasts for the next decade, so further surveys with mixed methodologies could be crucial in the evaluation of the evolution of this particular coastal area by local authorities

Agricultural Insurance in the DOCG Area of Conegliano—Valdobbiadene: An Assessment of Policy Measures

Agricultural insurance stands prominant in the protection of crop products. In Italy, the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events has had an important impact on the crop insurance market’s dynamics by lowering insurance companies propensity to take on climate risks. In this context, the main aim of the study is to focus on an economic assessment of the demand for insurance in the Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin (DOCG) area of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, exploiting the economic effects of public contributions for the three main subjects involved in the market: winegrowers, public stakeholders, and insurance companies. The results showed that the more favorable conditions laid down in the Omnibus Regulation in favor of producers do not appear justified in the area investigated. As regards the goodness of public intervention, the overall positivity of the Indicator Efficiency Subsidies (IES) underlines the relative efficiency of the subsidized contribution. As for the insurance companies, the financial equilibrium appears precarious, closed between falling tariffs and increasing quotas in consideration of the feared climate change

ATLAS RPC Quality Assurance results at INFN Lecce

The main results of the quality assurance tests performed on the Resistive Plate Chamber used by the ATLAS experiment at LHC as muon trigger chambers are reported and discussed. Since July 2004, about 270 RPC units has been certified at INFN Lecce site and delivered to CERN, for being integrated in the final muon station of the ATLAS barrel region. We show the key RPC characteristics which qualify the performance of this detector technology as muon trigger chamber in the harsh LHC enviroments. These are dark current, chamber efficiency, noise rate, gas volume tomography, and gas leakage.Comment: Comments: 6 pages, 1 table, 9 figures Proceedings of XXV Physics in Collision-Prague, Czech Republic, 6-9 July 200

Inhibition of dengue virus replication by novel inhibitors of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and protease activities

Dengue virus (DENV) is the leading mosquito-transmitted viral infection in the world. With more than 390 million new infections annually, and up to 1 million clinical cases with severe disease manifestations, there continues to be a need to develop new antiviral agents against dengue infection. In addition, there is no approved anti-DENV agents for treating DENV-infected patients. In the present study, we identified new compounds with anti-DENV replication activity by targeting viral replication enzymes – NS5, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and NS3 protease, using cell-based reporter assay. Subsequently, we performed an enzyme-based assay to clarify the action of these compounds against DENV RdRp or NS3 protease activity. Moreover, these compounds exhibited anti-DENV activity in vivo in the ICR-suckling DENV-infected mouse model. Combination drug treatment exhibited a synergistic inhibition of DENV replication. These results describe novel prototypical small anti-DENV molecules for further development through compound modification and provide potential antivirals for treating DENV infection and DENV-related diseases

Left ventricular mass increase is associated with cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly independently of blood pressure

Aims Left ventricular (LV) mass increase is considered part of composite target organ damage in hypertension and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events. This study was designed to explore whether left ventricular mass index (LVMI) is associated with cognitive decline and dementia in elderly subjects, independently of blood pressure (BP) levels. Methods and results Four hundred subjects (mean age 79 ± 6 years) were studied. Left ventricular mass was measured echocardiographically in accordance with American Society of Echocardiography and normalized for body height to the 2.7 (LVMI). Global cognitive function was evaluated with the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) (maximum score 30). Dementia was defined as an MMSE score <21. Arterial stiffness was evaluated as carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity by Complior®. Prevalence of hypertension was 70% and diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 25%. No significant differences in traditional CV risk factors were observed across LVMI quartiles. Mini-mental state examination showed an inverse trend across LVMI quartiles (the higher the LVMI, the lower the MMSE, P for trend <0.05); systolic and diastolic BP levels were not different across LVMI quartiles. In multivariable logistic regression models, including age, sex, BP levels, and use of antihypertensive drugs as covariates, the highest LVMI was found to be independently associated with a two-fold higher likelihood of having dementia. The association persisted significant even after adjustment for arterial stiffness. Conclusion In elderly subjects, LVMI is associated with a progressive cognitive decline. This association is independent of BP levels and/or large artery stiffness