Numerical method for hypersingular integrals of highly oscillatory functions on the positive semiaxis

This paper deals with a quadrature rule for the numerical evaluation of hypersingular integrals of highly oscillatory functions on the positive semiaxis. The rule is of product type and consists in approximating the density function f by a truncated interpolation process based on the zeros of generalized Laguerre polynomials and an additional point. We prove the stability and the convergence of the rule, giving error estimates for functions belonging to weighted Sobolev spaces equipped with uniform norm. We also show how the proposed rule can be used for the numerical solution of hypersingular integral equations. Numerical tests which confirm the theoretical estimates and comparisons with other existing quadrature rules are presented

GALNT2 as a novel modulator of adipogenesis and adipocyte insulin signaling

Background/objectives: A better understanding of adipose tissue biology is crucial to tackle insulin resistance and eventually coronary heart disease and diabetes, leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. GALNT2, a GalNAc-transferase, positively modulates insulin signaling in human liver cells by down-regulating ENPP1, an insulin signaling inhibitor. GALNT2 expression is increased in adipose tissue of obese as compared to that of non-obese individuals. Whether this association is secondary to a GALNT2-insulin sensitizing effect exerted also in adipocytes is unknown. We then investigated in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes the GALNT2 effect on adipogenesis, insulin signaling and expression levels of both Enpp1 and 72 adipogenesis-related genes. Methods: Stable over-expressing GALNT2 and GFP preadipocytes (T 0 ) were generated. Adipogenesis was induced with (R+) or without (R−) rosiglitazone and investigated after 15 days (T 15 ). Lipid accumulation (by Oil Red-O staining) and intracellular triglycerides (by fluorimetric assay) were measured. Lipid droplets (LD) measures were analyzed at confocal microscope. Gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR and insulin-induced insulin receptor (IR), IRS1, JNK and AKT phosphorylation by Western blot. Results: Lipid accumulation, triglycerides and LD measures progressively increased from T 0 to T 15 R- and furthermore to T 15 R+. Such increases were significantly higher in GALNT2 than in GFP cells so that, as compared to T 15 R+GFP, T 15 R- GALNT2 cells showed similar (intracellular lipid and triglycerides accumulation) or even higher (LD measures, p < 0.01) values. In GALNT2 preadipocytes, insulin-induced IR, IRS1 and AKT activation was higher than that in GFP cells. GALNT2 effect was totally abolished during adipocyte maturation and completely reversed at late stage maturation. Such GALNT2 effect trajectory was paralleled by coordinated changes in the expression of Enpp1 and adipocyte-maturation key genes. Conclusions: GALNT2 is a novel modulator of adipogenesis and related cellular phenotypes, thus becoming a potential target for tackling the obesity epidemics and its devastating sequelae

Determinants of health sector efficiency: evidence from a two-step analysis on 30 OECD countries

This study aims to assess the efficiency of expenditure on health in 30 OECD countries over the period 2005-2015 by regressing Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) output efficiency scores on discretionary and non-discretionary variables, with a two-stage DEA/Tobit and bootstrap procedure. We show that health inefficiency in OECD countries is related to per capita GDP, vaccine coverage and tobacco consumption, also controlling for geographical and institutional variables (i.e., bureaucratic red tape and weather temperature)

asociacion entre angioma cavernoso y glioma cerebral reporte de dos casos y revision de la literatura acerca de los llamados angiogliomas

La asociacion entre las malformaciones vasculares y los gliomas cerebrales es inusual. Mientras que la asociacion entre angioma cavernoso con lesiones gliomatosas es aun mas rara, es por esto considerado por algunos autores como una entidad patologica particular llamada angioglioma. Los autores reportan dos casos de asociacion de un angioma cavernoso con una ganglioglioma y un oligodendroglioma, respectivamente. Ademas se realizo una revision de la literatura sobre los llamados angiogliomas. En opinion de los autores, la entidad de los angiogliomas se presenta dentro de un espectro general de neoplasias angiomatosas, que incluyen tumores cerebrales, en su mayoria gliomas de bajo grado, asociados a su vez, con un componente vascular importante

MatLab Toolbox for the numerical solution of linear Volterra integral equations arising in metastatic tumor growth models

This paper introduces VIE Toolbox composed by fourteen MatLab functions used for the numerical resolution of Volterra Integral Equations (VIEs) of the second kind on infinite intervals. An application to metastatic tumor growth models is also considered, assuming five different tumor growth laws, e.g. exponential, power-law, Gompertz, generalized logistic and von Bertalanffy-West laws, for lung and breast tumors data

Thin walled pottery from Alife (Northern Campania, Italy)

The file attached is the published version of the article

Superselectors: Efficient Constructions and Applications

We introduce a new combinatorial structure: the superselector. We show that superselectors subsume several important combinatorial structures used in the past few years to solve problems in group testing, compressed sensing, multi-channel conflict resolution and data security. We prove close upper and lower bounds on the size of superselectors and we provide efficient algorithms for their constructions. Albeit our bounds are very general, when they are instantiated on the combinatorial structures that are particular cases of superselectors (e.g., (p,k,n)-selectors, (d,\ell)-list-disjunct matrices, MUT_k(r)-families, FUT(k, a)-families, etc.) they match the best known bounds in terms of size of the structures (the relevant parameter in the applications). For appropriate values of parameters, our results also provide the first efficient deterministic algorithms for the construction of such structures

High performance bilayer-graphene Terahertz detectors

We report bilayer-graphene field effect transistors operating as THz broadband photodetectors based on plasma-waves excitation. By employing wide-gate geometries or buried gate configurations, we achieve a responsivity $\sim 1.2V/W (1.3 mA/W)$ and a noise equivalent power $\sim 2\times 10^{-9} W/Hz^{-1/2}$ in the 0.29-0.38 THz range, in photovoltage and photocurrent mode. The potential of this technology for scalability to higher frequencies and the development of flexible devices makes our approach competitive for a future generation of THz detection systems

Chitin and Its Derivatives: Nanostructured Materials from Different Marine and Terrestrial Sources

Chitin is a very abundant polysaccharide that can be obtained from well-known marine sources (crustaceans), but also from terrestrial sources (mushrooms and insects). In the case where animal sources are considered, the material can be obtained by much abundant food or feeding waste. The extraction methodologies were not developed with similar technical readiness levels considering the different sources and the further conversion to chitin nanofibrils and chitosan is also under study, enabling the production of products differentiated for their macromolecular structures and morphology.Chitin nanofibrils from sea food sources were used in sanitary, cosmetic and packaging applications, where their anti-microbial properties and good biocompatibility were very useful. Chitin from mushrooms and sea food was used as starting material in possible coatings for cellulosic and bioplastic substrates. Currently chitin from insects (Hermetia Illucens) is also under study as well as the methodologies for extracting derivatives from it. Infrared analysis is an interesting technique to compare chitins, chitin nanofibrils and chitosan from different sources as well as electron microscopy for studying their morphology. The derivatives of chitin, such as chitosan and chitin nanofibrils, show anti-microbial properties. Hence, their use in several applications, ranging from packaging to sanitary and cosmetics, can conjugate high performance novel products with a reduced environmental concern. The comparison between chitin derivatives from different sources is very useful to address the biopolymers to specific applications, including the agricultural sector. While more and more applications for chitin derivatives will be developed, differences between them should be clarified and correlated to the sources, the methodologies of their production and their physical-chemical properties

A tool for mapping the evolution of a lava field through the Etna video-surveillance camera network

In active volcanic areas it is often difficult carry out direct surveys during an eruption, remote sensing techniques based on airborne/satellite platforms and ground-based sensors have remarkable monitoring potentialities in terms of safety and observation capability. In addition, the recent development of high resolution digital cameras, laser scanners and SAR instruments have improved the ability to obtain reliable measurements for modelling the evolution of effusive and explosive eruptions by following the rate of advancement of a lava flow or the dispersal of a volcanic plume. In order to collect data at an adequate level of accuracy and frequency it is not possible to exclusively rely on airborne or satellite methods and it is necessary to carry out measurements using also remote sensing instruments operating on the ground. Among the other techniques, the use of a simplified photogrammetric approach based a video-surveillance camera network represents a straightforward alternative for rapid mapping in active volcanic areas. Therefore a procedure for optimizing and extending the observational capability of the Etna NEtwork of Thermal and VIsible cameras (NETVIS) for systematically monitoring and quantifying surface sin-eruptive processes was implemented. The activity included also the extension of the permanent video-surveillance network by installing additional mobile stations. A dedicated tool for automatic processing of image datasets was developed and tested in both simulated and real scenarios to obtain a time series of digital orthophotos for tracking the evolution of a lava flow emplacement. The developed tool was tested by processing images acquired by the Etna_NETVIS sensors, in particular from Monte Cagliato thermal camera, during the 2011 paroxysmal episodes of the New South East Crater that poured lava flows in the Valle del Bove.PublishedRoma, Italia5V. Sorveglianza vulcanica ed emergenzeope