NERO: a code for evaluation of nonlinear resonances in 4D symplectic mappings

A code to evaluate the stability, the position and the width of nonlinear resonances in four-dimensional symplectic mappings is described. NERO is based on the computation of the resonant perturbative series through the use of Lie transformation implemented in the code ARES, and on the analysis of the resonant orbits of the interpolating Hamiltonian. The code is aimed at studying the nonlinear moti on of a charged particle moving in a circular accelerator under the influence of nonlinear forces

The antecedents and consequences of health literacy in an ecological perspective: Results from an experimental analysis

This study analyses the relationship between the antecedents and consequences of health literacy (HL) at the ecological level among the nations involved in the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU). The antecedents and consequences were investigated by means of proxy indicators. The HL was measured using the 47-item HLS-EU questionnaire (HLS-EUQ47) and the Newest Vital Sign (NVS). The two measures stood in significant correlation to the outcomes of the sub-discipline of the Euro Health Consumer Index (r = 0.790 for HLS-EUQ47; r = 0.789 for NVS). The HLS-EUQ47 also stood in correlation to the percentage of population with post-secondary education (r = 0.810), the reading performance for 15-year-old students (r = 0.905), the presence of a national screening program for breast (r = 0.732) or cervical cancer (r = 0.873). The NVS stood in correlation with the unemployment rate (r = −0.778), the Gross Domestic Product (r = 0.719), the Gini coefficient (r = −0.743), the rank of the Euro Patient Empowerment Index (r = −0.826), the expenditure on social protection (r = 0.814), the Consumer Empowerment Index (r = 0.898), the percentage of adults using the internet for seeking health information (r = 0.759), the prevalence of overweight individuals (r = −0.843), the health expenditure (r = 0.766), as well as the percentage of individuals using the internet for interacting with public authorities (r = 0.755). This study provides some preliminary considerations regarding alternative means by which to study HL and proposes new methods for experimentation. The methods and the results could offer a means by which the relationship between society and overall healthcare protection could be strengthened

3D electron diffraction in nano-geology: present and perspectives

When working on advanced research topics in geosciences, one must often deal with small yields and cryptocrystalline polyphasic samples. Conventional optical and X-ray crystallographic tools may not be sufficient for the proper characterization of these samples. The development of efficient probes able to investigate the nanoworld becomes therefore crucial for pushing forward our understanding about the geochemical and mineralogical processes that regulate Earth and extraterrestrial environments. In the last ten years, electron diffraction (ED) evolved from a qualitative method restricted to few dedicated TEM users, to a robust protocol for phase identification and abinitio structure determination [1]. Such change has been mostly propelled by the development of routines for 3D data collection. This methodology is in principle equivalent to single-crystal X-ray diffraction, but allows sampling crystals of few tens on nanometers. We will show here some examples of recent applications of ED in geosciences, namely how to achieve an easy and relatively fast characterization of minor and cryptocrystalline phases in natural and experimental samples. We were able identify and characterize modulated phases able to carry hydrogen at upper-mantle conditions, to follow aragonite growth from the first nucleation seeds [2] and to identify mineralogical phases and polytypes in non-equilibrated extraterrestrial samples and in impact rocks [3]

Toward Open Integrated Access and Backhaul with O-RAN

Millimeter wave (mmWave) communications has been recently standardized for use in the fifth generation (5G) of cellular networks, fulfilling the promise of multi-gigabit mobile throughput of current and future mobile radio network generations. In this context, the network densification required to overcome the difficult mmWave propagation will result in increased deployment costs. Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) has been proposed as an effective mean of reducing densification costs by deploying a wireless mesh network of base stations, where backhaul and access transmissions share the same radio technology. However, IAB requires sophisticated control mechanisms to operate efficiently and address the increased complexity. The Open Radio Access Network (RAN) paradigm represents the ideal enabler of RAN intelligent control, but its current specifications are not compatible with IAB. In this work, we discuss the challenges of integrating IAB into the Open RAN ecosystem, detailing the required architectural extensions that will enable dynamic control of 5G IAB networks. We implement the proposed integrated architecture into the first publiclyavailable Open-RAN-enabled experimental framework, which allows prototyping and testing Open-RAN-based solutions over end-to-end 5G IAB networks. Finally, we validate the framework with both ideal and realistic deployment scenarios exploiting the large-scale testing capabilities of publicly available experimental platforms

Total- and semi-bare noble metal nanoparticles@silica core@shell catalysts for hydrogen generation by formic acid decomposition

Catalysts are involved in a number of established and emerging chemical processes as well as in environmental remediation and energy conversion. Nanoparticles (NPs) can offer several advantages over some conventional catalysts, such as higher efficiency and selectivity. Nowadays, versatile and scalable nanocatalysts that combine activity and stability are still lacking. Here, we report a comprehensive investigation on the production and characterization of hybrid nano-architectures bringing a partial or total bare surface together with their catalytic efficiency evaluation on, as a proof-of-concept, the formic acid decomposition reaction. In this regard, formic acid (FA) is a convenient and safe hydrogen carrier with appealing features for mobile applications, fuel cells technologies, petrochemical processes and energetic applications. Thus, the design of robust catalysts for FA dehydrogenation is strongly demanded. Due to this, we produced and evaluated nano-architectures with various equilibrium between the size-increase of the active part and the barer catalytic surface. Overall, this work paves the way for the development of new approaches for green energy storage and safe delivery

Ultrastructural Characterization of the Lower Motor System in a Mouse Model of Krabbe Disease

Krabbe disease (KD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the lack of β- galactosylceramidase enzymatic activity and by widespread accumulation of the cytotoxic galactosyl-sphingosine in neuronal, myelinating and endothelial cells. Despite the wide use of Twitcher mice as experimental model for KD, the ultrastructure of this model is partial and mainly addressing peripheral nerves. More details are requested to elucidate the basis of the motor defects, which are the first to appear during KD onset. Here we use transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to focus on the alterations produced by KD in the lower motor system at postnatal day 15 (P15), a nearly asymptomatic stage, and in the juvenile P30 mouse. We find mild effects on motorneuron soma, severe ones on sciatic nerves and very severe effects on nerve terminals and neuromuscular junctions at P30, with peripheral damage being already detectable at P15. Finally, we find that the gastrocnemius muscle undergoes atrophy and structural changes that are independent of denervation at P15. Our data further characterize the ultrastructural analysis of the KD mouse model, and support recent theories of a dying-back mechanism for neuronal degeneration, which is independent of demyelination

Wodegongjieite, ideally KCa3(Al7Si9)O-32, a new sheet silicate isostructural with the feldspar polymorph kokchetavite, KAlSi3O8

Wodegongjieite occurs in the Cr-11 chromitite orebody of the Luobusa ophiolite in the Kangjinla district, Tibet, China. It is found in two inclusions in corundum: (1) as a partial overgrowth (holotype) up to 1.5 mu m thick around a spheroid 20 mu m across of wenjiite (Ti-10(Si,P,square)(7)), kangjinlaite (Ti-11(Si,P)(10)), zhiqinite (TiSi2) and badengzhuite (TiP), and (2) as pools up to 0.25 mu m wide filling interstices between wenjiite, jingsuiite (TiB2), osbornite-khamrabaevite (Ti[N,C]) and corundum. Energy dispersive analyses gave Al2O3 34.09, SiO2 49.11, K2O 2.56, CaO 11.71, SrO 2.53, total 100.0 wt.%, corresponding to K0.58Sr0.26Ca2.25Al7.20Si8.80O31.20, ideally KCa3(Al7Si9)O-32, for Si + Al = 16 cations.Single-crystal studies were carried out with three-dimensional electron diffraction providing data for an ab initio structure solution in the hexagonal space group P6/mcc (#192) with a = 10.2(2) angstrom, c = 14.9(3) angstrom, V = 1340(50) angstrom(3) and Z = 2. Density (calc.) = 2.694 g.cm(-3). The refinement, which assumes complete Si-Al disorder, gives average T1-O and T2-O bond lengths both as 1.65 angstrom. It was not practical to use unconstrained refinement for the occupancies of the large cation sites 6f and 2a. The ab initio model shows clearly that the two cation sites have different sizes and coordination. Consequently, we imposed the condition (1) that all the K occupies the 2a site as the average K-O bond length of 3.07 angstrom is close to the average K-O bond lengths reported in kokchetavite and (2) that all the Ca occupies the 6f site as the average Ca-O bond length of 2.60 angstrom (2.36 angstrom and 2.84 angstrom for Ca-O1 and Ca-O3, respectively) is reasonable for Ca-O. Assuming that all K and all Ca are located at the 2a site and 6f site, respectively, Sr occupancies of these sites could be refined. Thermal parameters are positive and in a reasonable range. The structure is a sheet silicate isostructural with the K-feldspar polymorph kokchetavite, with two crystallographically distinct sites for K, but not with the topologically identical anorthite polymorph dmisteinbergite (CaAl2Si2O8) with only a single site for Ca. Substitution of K by Ca at the 6f site is associated with marked rotation of the Si,Al tetrahedra and a collapse of the structure to accommodate the smaller Ca ion.The spheroid of intermetallic phases is believed to have formed from the interaction of mantle-derived CH4 + H-2 fluids with basaltic magmas at depths of similar to 30-100 km, resulting in precipitation of corundum that entrapped intermetallic melts. Associated immiscible silicate melt of granodioritic composition crystallised metastably to wodegongjieite instead of a mixture of anorthite and K-feldspar

Dolomite-IV : Candidate structure for a carbonate in the Earth's lower mantle

We report the crystal structure of dolomite-IV, a high-pressure polymorph of Fe-dolomite stabilized at 115 GPa and 2500 K. It is orthorhombic, space group Pnma, a =10.091(3), b = 8.090(7), c = 4.533(3) Å, V = 370.1(4) Å3 at 115.2 GPa and ambient temperature. The structure is based on the presence of threefold C3O9 carbonate rings, with carbon in tetrahedral coordination. The starting Fe-dolomite single crystal during compression up to 115 GPa transforms into dolomite-II (at 17 GPa) and dolomite-IIIb (at 36 GPa). The dolomite-IIIb, observed in this study, is rhombohedral, space group R3, a =11.956(3), c =13.626(5) Å, V =1686.9(5) Å3 at 39.4 GPa. It is different from a previously determined dolomite-III structure, but topologically similar. The density increase from dolomite-IIIb to dolomite IV is ca. 3%. The structure of dolomite-IV has not been predicted, but it presents similarities with the structural models proposed for the high-pressure polymorphs of magnesite, MgCO3. A ring-carbonate structure match with spectroscopic analysis of high-pressure forms of magnesite-siderite reported in the literature, and, therefore, is a likely candidate structure for a carbonate at the bottom of the Earth's mantle, at least for magnesitic and dolomitic compositions

Dolomite-IV : Candidate structure for a carbonate in the Earth's lower mantle

We report the crystal structure of dolomite-IV, a high-pressure polymorph of Fe-dolomite stabilized at 115 GPa and 2500 K. It is orthorhombic, space group Pnma, a =10.091(3), b = 8.090(7), c = 4.533(3) \uc5, V = 370.1(4) \uc53 at 115.2 GPa and ambient temperature. The structure is based on the presence of threefold C3O9 carbonate rings, with carbon in tetrahedral coordination. The starting Fe-dolomite single crystal during compression up to 115 GPa transforms into dolomite-II (at 17 GPa) and dolomite-IIIb (at 36 GPa). The dolomite-IIIb, observed in this study, is rhombohedral, space group R3, a =11.956(3), c =13.626(5) \uc5, V =1686.9(5) \uc53 at 39.4 GPa. It is different from a previously determined dolomite-III structure, but topologically similar. The density increase from dolomite-IIIb to dolomite IV is ca. 3%. The structure of dolomite-IV has not been predicted, but it presents similarities with the structural models proposed for the high-pressure polymorphs of magnesite, MgCO3. A ring-carbonate structure match with spectroscopic analysis of high-pressure forms of magnesite-siderite reported in the literature, and, therefore, is a likely candidate structure for a carbonate at the bottom of the Earth's mantle, at least for magnesitic and dolomitic compositions

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on elective surgical volume in Tuscany: effects on local planning and resource prioritization

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