1,990 research outputs found
Analysis of heat kernel highlights the strongly modular and heat-preserving structure of proteins
In this paper, we study the structure and dynamical properties of protein
contact networks with respect to other biological networks, together with
simulated archetypal models acting as probes. We consider both classical
topological descriptors, such as the modularity and statistics of the shortest
paths, and different interpretations in terms of diffusion provided by the
discrete heat kernel, which is elaborated from the normalized graph Laplacians.
A principal component analysis shows high discrimination among the network
types, either by considering the topological and heat kernel based vector
characterizations. Furthermore, a canonical correlation analysis demonstrates
the strong agreement among those two characterizations, providing thus an
important justification in terms of interpretability for the heat kernel.
Finally, and most importantly, the focused analysis of the heat kernel provides
a way to yield insights on the fact that proteins have to satisfy specific
structural design constraints that the other considered networks do not need to
obey. Notably, the heat trace decay of an ensemble of varying-size proteins
denotes subdiffusion, a peculiar property of proteins
The Generational Change in Family Businesses: Comparative Analysis between Italy and Peru
The aim of this paper is to understand how family firms in Italy and Peru prepare for generational change, by comparing three companies from each of these countries. After a theoretical analysis, having examined and compared the literature to define the family business, the business family and the generational change, an empirical analysis has been made using a quantitative survey (STEP 2013-2014) and its model, which makes a revision of a set of constructs, to identify if there is transgenerational potential in the business families. From the comparison of the six companies it appears that, contrary to what was initially thought, there are no such relevant differences. They are only diverse approaches to different problems of the same phenomenon. It is concluded that the six companies have an adequate transgenerational potential and are ready for a successful generational change
Non-modulated pyramid wavefront sensor: Why, how and when to use it to sense and correct atmospheric turbulence
Context. The diffusion of adaptive optics systems in astronomical
instrumentation for large ground based telescopes is rapidly increasing and the
pyramid wavefront sensor is replacing the Shack-Hartmann as standard solution
for single conjugate adaptive optics systems. The pyramid wavefront sensor is
typically used with a tip/tilt modulation to increase the linearity range of
the sensor, but the non-modulated case is interesting because it maximizes the
sensor sensitivity. The latter case is generally avoided for the reduced
linearity range that prevents robust operation in the presence of atmospheric
turbulence.
Aims. We aim to solve part of the issues of the non-modulated pyramid
wavefront sensor by reducing the model error in the interaction matrix. We
linearize the sensor response in the working conditions without extending the
sensor linearity range.
Methods. We introduce a new calibration approach to model the response of
pyramid wave front sensor in partial correction, where the working conditions
in the presence of residual turbulence is considered.
Results. We show how in simulations, through the new calibration approach,
the pyramid wave front sensor without modulation can be used to sense and
correct atmospheric turbulence and when this case is preferable to the
modulated case.Comment: 12 pages with 18 figures; accepted for publication in A&
Maternal Left Ventricular Function in Uncomplicated Twin Pregnancies: A Speckle-Tracking Imaging Longitudinal Study
Objective: The knowledge of maternal cardiovascular hemodynamic adaptation in twin pregnancies is incomplete. We aimed to longitudinally investigate maternal left ventricular (LV) function in uncomplicated twin pregnancies. Methods: 30 healthy and uncomplicated twin pregnant women and 30 controls with normal singleton pregnancies were prospectively enrolled to undergo transthoracic echocardiography at 10–15 week’s gestation (w) (T1), 19–26 w (T2) and 30–38 w (T3). LV dimensions and volumes, as well as LV ejection fraction (LVEF), mass (LVM) and diastolic parameters (at transmitral pulsed wave Doppler and mitral annular plane tissue Doppler), were calculated. Speckle-tracking imaging was also applied to evaluate LV global longitudinal (GLS), radial and circumferential 2D strains. Results: During twin pregnancy, maternal LV dimensions, volumes and LVM had an increasing trend from T1 to T3, similar to singletons, while LVEF remained stable. There was LV remodeling/hypertrophy in 50% of women at T2 and T3 in both groups. Diastolic function had a worsening trend from T1 to T3 with no differences between twins and singletons, except for higher LV filling pressure (i.e., E/E′) at T2 in twins. Two-dimensional strains did not vary during gestation in either group, except for a linear trend to increase (i.e., worsen) GLS in singletons. Radial and circumferential 2D strains were impaired in about half of the women at each trimester, while GLS was altered in one-fourth/one-third of them in both groups. Conclusion: Maternal LV geometry, dimensions and function are significantly impaired during twin pregnancies, in particular in the second half of gestation, with no significant differences compared to singletons
Numerical control matrix rotation for the LINC-NIRVANA Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics system
LINC-NIRVANA will realize the interferometric imaging focal station of the
Large Binocular Telescope. A double Layer Oriented multi-conjugate adaptive
optics system assists the two arms of the interferometer, supplying high order
wave-front correction. In order to counterbalance the field rotation,
mechanical derotation for the two ground wave-front sensors, and optical
derotators for the mid-high layers sensors fix the positions of the focal
planes with respect to the pyramids aboard the wave-front sensors. The
derotation introduces pupil images rotation on the wavefront sensors: the
projection of the deformable mirrors on the sensor consequently change. The
proper adjustment of the control matrix will be applied in real-time through
numerical computation of the new matrix. In this paper we investigate the
temporal and computational aspects related to the pupils rotation, explicitly
computing the wave-front errors that may be generated.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, presented at SPIE Symposium "Astronomical
Telescopes and Instrumentation'' conference "Adaptive Optics Systems
II'',Sunday 27 June 2010, San Diego, California, US
Speckle statistics in adaptive optics images at visible wavelengths
Residual speckles in adaptive optics (AO) images represent a well-known
limitation on the achievement of the contrast needed for faint source
detection. Speckles in AO imagery can be the result of either residual
atmospheric aberrations, not corrected by the AO, or slowly evolving
aberrations induced by the optical system. We take advantage of the high
temporal cadence (1 ms) of the data acquired by the System for Coronagraphy
with High-order Adaptive Optics from R to K bands-VIS forerunner experiment at
the Large Binocular Telescope to characterize the AO residual speckles at
visible wavelengths. An accurate knowledge of the speckle pattern and its
dynamics is of paramount importance for the application of methods aimed at
their mitigation. By means of both an automatic identification software and
information theory, we study the main statistical properties of AO residuals
and their dynamics. We therefore provide a speckle characterization that can be
incorporated into numerical simulations to increase their realism and to
optimize the performances of both real-time and postprocessing techniques aimed
at the reduction of the speckle noise
MAVIS: system modelling and performance prediction
The MCAO Assisted Visible Imager and Spectrograph (MAVIS) Adaptive Optics
Module has very demanding goals to support science in the optical: providing
15% SR in V band on a large FoV of 30arcsec diameter in standard atmospheric
conditions at Paranal. It will be able to work in closed loop on up to three
natural guide stars down to H=19, providing a sky coverage larger than 50% in
the south galactic pole. Such goals and the exploration of a large MCAO system
parameters space have required a combination of analytical and end- to-end
simulations to assess performance, sky coverage and drive the design. In this
work we report baseline performance, statistical sky coverage and parameters
sensitivity analysis done in the phase-A instrument study.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, 7 tables. SPIE conference Astronomical
Telescopes and Instrumentation, 14 - 18 December 2020, digital foru
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