New characterizations of Sobolev metric spaces

We provide new characterizations of Sobolev ad BV spaces in doubling and Poincar\ue9 metric spaces in the spirit of the Bourgain\u2013Brezis\u2013Mironescu and Nguyen limit formulas holding in domains of R^N

Concluding remarks, trends, and future research on new working spaces

This book provided a novel understanding of the socioeconomic and spatial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on NeWSps such as (i) coworking spaces and smart work centres; (ii) makerspaces and other technical spaces (fab labs, open workshops); (iii) other new working spaces (hackerspaces, living labs, and corporate labs); and (iv) cofee shops and public libraries that provide formal and informal spaces for working

Multimarginal Optimal Transport Maps for one dimensional Repulsive Costs

We study a multimarginal optimal transportation problem in one dimension. For a symmetric, repulsive cost function, we show that given a minimizing transport plan, its symmetrization is induced by a cyclical map, and that the symmetric optimal plan is unique. The class of costs that we consider includes, in particular, the Coulomb cost, whose optimal transport problem is strictly related to the strong interaction limit of Density Functional Theory. In this last setting, our result justifies some qualitative properties of the potentials observed in numerical experiments

Extended main sequence turnoff as a common feature of Milky Way open clusters

We present photometric analysis of twelve Galactic open clusters and show that the same multiple-population phenomenon observed in Magellanic Clouds (MCs) is present in nearby open clusters. Nearly all the clusters younger than $\sim$2.5 Gyr of both MCs exhibit extended main-sequence turnoffs (eMSTOs) and all the cluster younger than $\sim$700 Myr show broadened/split main sequences (MSs). High-resolution spectroscopy has revealed that these clusters host stars with a large spread in the observed projected rotations. In addition to rotation, internal age variation is indicated as a possible responsible for the eMSTOs, making these systems the possible young counterparts of globular clusters with multiple populations. Recent work has shown that the eMSTO+broadened MSs are not a peculiarity of MCs clusters. Similar photometric features have been discovered in a few Galactic open clusters, challenging the idea that the color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of these systems are similar to single isochrones and opening new windows to explore the eMSTO phenomenon. We exploit photometry+proper motions from Gaia DR2 to investigate the CMDs of open clusters younger than $\sim$1.5 Gyr. Our analysis suggests that: (i) twelve open clusters show eMSTOs and/or broadened MSs, that cannot be due neither to field contamination, nor binaries; (ii) split/broadened MSs are observed in clusters younger than $\sim$700 Myr, while older objects display only an eMSTO, similarly to MCs clusters; (iii) the eMSTO, if interpreted as a pure age spread, increases with age, following the relation observed in MCs clusters and demonstrating that rotation is the responsible for this phenomenon.Comment: 17 pages, 42 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJ (31/10/2018

Evidence of a non-conservative mass transfer for XTE J0929-314

Context. In 1998 the first accreting millisecond pulsar, SAX J1808.4-3658, was discovered and to date 18 systems showing coherent, high frequency (> 100 Hz) pulsations in low mass X-ray binaries are known. Since their discovery, this class of sources has shown interesting and sometimes puzzling behaviours. In particular, apart from a few exceptions, they are all transient with very long X-ray quiescent periods implying a quite low averaged mass accretion rate onto the neutron star. Among these sources, XTE J0929-314 has been detected in outburst just once in about 15 years of continuous monitoring of the X-ray sky. Aims. We aim to demonstrate that a conservative mass transfer in this system will result in an X-ray luminosity that is higher than the observed, long-term averaged X-ray luminosity. Methods. Under the hypothesis of a conservative mass transfer driven by gravitational radiation, as expected for this system given the short orbital period of about 43.6 min and the low mass of the companion implied by the mass function derived from timing techniques, we calculate the expected mass transfer rate in this system and predict the long-term averaged X-ray luminosity. This is compared with the averaged, over 15 years, X-ray flux observed from the system, and a lower limit of the distance to the source is inferred. Results. This distance is shown to be > 7.4 kpc in the direction of the Galactic anticentre, implying a large height, > 1.8 kpc, of the source with respect to the Galactic plane, placing the source in an empty region of the Galaxy. We suggest that the inferred value of the distance is unlikely. (abridged)Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A

Monopole Condensation and Color Confinement

New evidence is discussed of monopole condensation in the vacuum of SU(2) and SU(3) gauge theories. Monopoles defined by different abelian projections do condense in the transition to the confined phase and show the same behavior. For SU(2) critical indices are determined by finite size scaling analysis and the results agree with the 3d Ising Model, as expected.Comment: LATTICE98(confinement),3 pages,4 figure

The 15-minute city concept and new working spaces: A planning perspective from Oslo and Lisbon

In the last few years, chrono-urbanism has welcomed a novel perspective, namely, that of the 15-minute city concept, which has recently emerged in the present planning debate. During the current pandemic, this has coincided with a drive to highlight the importance of merging more activities in the neighbourhood to improve urban vitality and reduce daily commuting. In addition, increasing digitalization and knowledge-intensive activities have transformed the nature of work itself, thus affecting the choice of the workplace with new working spaces (NWS) emerging for collaborative and flexible work environments. Therefore, within this context, this study discusses recent chrono-urbanism approaches applied to urban planning and the role of NWS. The phenomenon is empirically examined in Oslo and Lisbon through a qualitative analysis of planning documents and a spatial analysis. The results show that most NWS are fairly accessible by public transport to users in both cities; although the NWS neighbourhoods in Lisbon have a greater diversity of functions compared to Oslo. However, in both cities, the distribution of NWS is non-uniform. This may limit residents’ choice to live and work (outside home) in the same neighbourhood. The study contributes to the current planning debate on new urban models for sustainable neighbourhoods.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Molecular dynamics simulations show how the FMRP Ile304Asn mutation destabilizes the KH2 domain structure and affects its function

Mutations or deletions of FMRP, involved in the regulation of mRNA metabolism in brain, lead to the Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most frequent form of inherited intellectual disability. A severe manifestation of the disease has been associated with the Ile304Asn mutation, located on the KH2 domain of the protein. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the possible molecular mechanism responsible for the drastic effect of this mutation in humans. Here, we performed a molecular dynamics simulation and show that the Ile304Asn mutation destabilizes the hydrophobic core producing a partial unfolding of two α-helices and a displacement of a third one. The affected regions show increased residue flexibility and motion. Molecular docking analysis revealed strongly reduced binding to a model single-stranded nucleic acid in agreement with known data that the two partially unfolded helices form the RNA-binding surface. The third helix, which we show here to be also affected, is involved in the PAK1 protein interaction. These two functional binding sites on the KH2 domain do not overlap spatially, and therefore, they can simultaneously bind their targets. Since the Ile304Asn mutation affects both binding sites, this may justify the severe clinical manifestation observed in the patient in which both mRNA metabolism activity and cytoskeleton remodeling would be affected