Perovskite-Based Mesostructures and Related Composites — Influence Exerted by Morphology and Interface

The present work seeks to report about the properties of lead-free NaNbO3 particles with different morphology (cubic-like and fiber-like particles) and their application in composites with poly(vinylidenefluoride) (PVDF) polymer. The composites are obtained using a range of varying volume fractions of NaNbO3 particles (30%, 40%, 50% and 60%). The best conditions for obtaining the NaNbO3 particles as well as the composites have been thoroughly studied. It was observed that the highest volume fraction of NaNbO3 particles undermined the flexibility of the composites. The transition percolation phenomenon, commonly known as percolation threshold, was calculated as a function of the dielectric constant and conductivity of the composite. The composites exhibit piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties and both are found to improve by anisotropy of the NaNbO3 particles

Surgical treatment for liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma: results of 228 patients.

Background/Aims: Liver metastases are a very common event. Multiple choices of therapies can be used. The aim of this paper is to analyze results and methods of a single institution series of 228 consecutive patients with colorectal. liver metastases. Methodology: 228 consecutive patients underwent hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases. From different periods intraoperative ultrasound, intraoperative histological examination, locoregional intra-arterial chemotherapy, and radiofrequency thermal ablation were introduced. Results: Operative mortality was 0.9%. Mean follow-up was 29.5 months. Overall survival was 16% and 9% at 5 and 10 years. 5-year survival was 23% and 6% for patients with single and multiple metastases respectively. For patients with extrahepatic metastatic single lesion 5-year survival was 15%. From the start of intraoperative ultrasound use, 5-year survival was 9% and 27% for patients with multiple and single metastases. Five-year survival for re-resected patients was 13%. Overall survival at 1 and 3 years was 90% and 58% in patients treated with HAI and systemic chemotherapy (disease-free 70% and 47%) and 94% and 12% in patients treated with systemic chemotherapy alone after radical resection (disease-free 53% and 0%). Conclusions: Aggressive approach, re-resections, intraoperative ultrasound staging, intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiofrequency thermal ablation are justified in multimodal therapeutic strategy of colorectal metastases and seem to improve patients' survival

Enter the MATRIX model: a Multi-Agent model for Transition Risks with application to energy shocks

The global energy crisis that began in fall 2021 and the subsequent spike in energy prices constitute a significant challenge for the world economy that risks undermining the postCOVID-19 recovery. In this paper, we develop and calibrate a new Multi-Agent model for Transition Risks (MATRIX) to analyze the role of energy in the functioning of a complex adaptive system and the economic and distributional effects of energy shocks. The economic system is populated by heterogeneous agents, i.e., households, firms and banks, which take optimal decision rules and interact in decentralized markets characterized by limited information. After calibrating the model on US quarterly macroeconomic data, we assess the economic and distributional impacts of different types of energy shocks, namely: (i) an exogenous increase in the price of fossil fuels (e.g., oil or gas); (ii) a decrease in energy firms' productivity; (iii) a reduction in the available quantity of fossil fuels. We find that the energy shocks entail similar effects at the aggregate level in terms of higher inflation and lower real GDP. Nevertheless, the distribution of gains and losses across sectors and agents varies significantly depending on the type of shock. Our findings suggest that policymakers should carefully consider the nature of energy shocks and the resulting distributional effects to design effective measures in response to energy crises.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Identifying a mutual attending frame: a pilot study of gaze interactions between therapist and couple.

Refering to systems theory, we identify a supraindividual property in interactions between therapist and couple. We use gaze directions to describe the partners' behaviors and label this property the "mutual attending frame." We propose a procedure to observe triadic interactions in a consultation setting and a method to measure mutual attending. The method is illustrated by the data analysis of two triads contrasted on measures of therapeutic alliance. We discuss the potential of this method for the description of the interactive aspects of the therapeutic alliance