Shock models governed by an inverse gamma mixed Poisson process

We study three classes of shock models governed by an inverse gamma mixed Poisson process (IGMP), namely a mixed Poisson process with an inverse gamma mixing distribution. In particular, we analyze (1) the extreme shock model, (2) the delta-shock model, and the (3) cumulative shock model. For the latter, we assume a constant and an exponentially distributed random threshold and consider different choices for the distribution of the amount of damage caused by a single shock. For all the treated cases, we obtain the survival function, together with the expected value and the variance of the failure time. Some properties of the inverse gamma mixed Poisson process are also disclosed

Control of Molecular Packing in Crystal and Electron Communication of Two Ferrocenyl Moieties across Chiral Isomannide or Isosorbide Bridge

Intramolecular electronic communication between electrochemically active groups connected by a bridging moiety can be modified through small changes in the spatial disposition of the redox active moieties and/or by the nature of the central core. In this study, chiral bio-based compounds, namely isomannide and isosorbide, were employed as cheap and easy-to-functionalize chiral scaffolds to bridge two ferrocenyl electroactive moieties. The crystal structures of both bis-ferrocenyl diester complexes were studied and they showed that the chirality of the bridge results in an open or tight helical crystal packing. The electron communication between the two electroactive units in the mixed valent monocations was also investigated using electrochemistry (cyclic voltammetry and differential pulsed voltammetry), and spectroelectrochemistry in the UV-Vis NIR. A computational study through time-dependent DFT was also employed to gain greater insight into the results obtained

On the Telegraph Process Driven by Geometric Counting Process with Poisson-Based Resetting

We investigate the effects of the resetting mechanism to the origin for a random motion on the real line characterized by two alternating velocities v1 and v2 . We assume that the sequences of random times concerning the motions along each velocity follow two independent geometric counting processes of intensity λ , and that the resetting times are Poissonian with rate ξ> 0 . Under these assumptions we obtain the probability laws of the modified telegraph process describing the position and the velocity of the running particle. Our approach is based on the Markov property of the resetting times and on the knowledge of the distribution of the intertimes between consecutive velocity changes. We obtain also the asymptotic distribution of the particle position when (i) λ tends to infinity, and (ii) the time goes to infinity. In the latter case the asymptotic distribution arises properly as an effect of the resetting mechanism. A quite different behavior is observed in the two cases when v2< 0 < v1 and 0 < v2< v1 . Furthermore, we focus on the determination of the moment-generating function and on the main moments of the process describing the particle position under reset. Finally, we analyse the mean-square distance between the process subject to resets and the same process in absence of resets. Quite surprisingly, the lowest mean-square distance can be found for ξ= 0 , for a positive ξ , or for ξ→ + ∞ depending on the choice of the other parameters

Renewable Resources for Enantiodiscrimination: Chiral Solvating Agents for NMR Spectroscopy from Isomannide and Isosorbide

A new family of chiral selectors was synthesized in a single synthetic step with yields up to 84% starting from isomannide and isosorbide. Mono- or disubstituted carbamate derivatives were obtained by reacting the isohexides with electron-donating arylisocyanate (3,5-dimethylphenyl- or 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl-) and electron-withdrawing arylisocyanate (3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl-) groups to test opposite electronic effects on enantiodifferentiation. Deeper chiral pockets and derivatives with more acidic protons were obtained by derivatization with 1-naphthylisocyanate and p-toluenesulfonylisocyanate, respectively. All compounds were tested as chiral solvating agents (CSAs) in H-1 NMR experiments with rac-N-3,5-dinitrobenzoylphenylglycine methyl ester in order to determine the influence of different structural features on the enantiodiscrimination capabilities. Some selected compounds were tested with other racemic analytes, still leading to enantiodiscrimination. The enantiodiscrimination conditions were then optimized for the best CSA/analyte couple. Finally, a 2D- and 1D-NMR study was performed employing the best performing CSA with the two enantiomers of the selected analyte, aiming to determine the enantiodiscrimination mechanism, the stoichiometry of interaction, and the complexation constant

Experimental testing of 3D printed polymeric heat exchangers

Unlike conventional manufacturing technologies, additive manufacturing and 3D printing empower engineers with much more design freedom. Heat exchangers with complex internal channels or lattice structures can be designed for layerwise manufacturing by maximizing the surface to volume ratio. Low-weight polymeric heat exchangers are employed in aviation and aerospace applications. For increasing the thermal performance of polymers, additives can be used such as graphene. In this study, a Grafylon filament is used for the production of a simple heat exchanger by 3D printing. The heat exchanger is composed of two external shells and an interior duct with a two-stage 45-degree bend. For watertight purposes, the duct is manufactured by selective laser sintering of polyamide powder. Two replicas of the shells are fabricated by 3D printing of Grafylon and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) respectively. The thermal performance of the two materials is experimentally tested and compared also to numerical simulations. The results of the study show that the Grafylon filament provides enhanced thermal performance to 3D printed heat exchangers of polymeric material

Multimodal imaging of Hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy: a case report

Background: To report the first Italian case of hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy complicated by macular neovascularization diagnosed through multimodal imaging. Case presentation: An 11-year-old boy was referred to our Institution for bilateral maculopathy of unknown origin. Multimodal imaging helps the diagnosis of Juvenile Macular Dystrophy with Hypotrichosis (HJMD). Fundus examination showed several alterations of the retinal pigment epithelium and circular pigmented area of chorioretinal atrophy. Structural spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed some backscattering phenomenon with several alterations of retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor layer in both eyes. Moreover, OCT showed hyperreflective lesion beneath the neuroepithelium in left eye. OCT angiography (OCT-A) revealed a pathologic neovascular network in choriocapillaris plexus, probably the result of a fibrovascular membrane. Multifocal electroretinograms (MfERGs) showed functional alterations in 12.22° of the central retina. In order to confirm the suspicion of HJMD, the child and both parents underwent genetic testing. Both parents resulted to be heterozygous healthy carriers of a single variation. Conclusion: Multimodal imaging, in particular OCT-A, is a useful aid, along to clinical findings and genetics, for the diagnosis of inherited retinal dystrophies

An approach to evaluate the wear of customized manufacturing fixtures through the analysis of 3D scan data

With the recent gain in popularity and adoption of additive manufacturing in various industrial sectors, quality assessments to determine the functionality of 3D printed parts are critical. This holds especially when the parts are subjected to wear as in the case of the production of customized fixtures. Some reinforced polymeric materials for additive manufacturing can be employed as a substitute for low-resistance metals like Aluminium. In this paper, a custom-made tribometer was used to simulate the wear of 3D printed fixtures of Alumide material for sheet metal inspection operations. Contact 3D scanning is used to monitor the condition of the fixture for increasing numbers of wear cycles. This study aims to calculate the wear volume of cylindrical pins starting from the surface points of 3D scan data. The methodology employs alpha shapes to obtain the progression of the volume and area of the worn zone. Experimental tests to evaluate the wear volume were carried out to compare the durability of Alumide to that of Aluminium, filling the gap of previous literature, which had focused exclusively on diametral wear. The findings indicate a better wear resistance for Alumide specimens and this work contributes to broadening the knowledge about the wear behaviour and the lifetime of 3D printed parts

A novel splicing variant of col2a1 in a fetus with achondrogenesis type ii: Interpretation of pathogenicity of in-frame deletions

Achondrogenesis type II (ACG2) is a lethal skeletal dysplasia caused by dominant pathogenic variants in COL2A1. Most of the variants found in patients with ACG2 affect the glycine residue included in the Gly-X-Y tripeptide repeat that characterizes the type II collagen helix. In this study, we reported a case of a novel splicing variant of COL2A1 in a fetus with ACG2. An NGS analysis of fetal DNA revealed a heterozygous variant c.1267-2_1269del located in intron 20/exon 21. The variant occurred de novo since it was not detected in DNA from the blood samples of parents. We generated an appropriate minigene construct to study the effect of the variant detected. The minigene expression resulted in the synthesis of a COL2A1 messenger RNA lacking exon 21, which generated a predicted in-frame deleted protein. Usually, in-frame deletion variants of COL2A1 cause a phenotype such as Kniest dysplasia, which is milder than ACG2. Therefore, we propose that the size and position of an in-frame deletion in COL2A1 may be relevant in determining the phenotype of skeletal dysplasia

Facing metal stress by multiple strategies: morphophysiological responses of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) grown in hydroponics

The contamination of environments by heavy metals has become an urgent issue causing undesirable accumulations and severe damages to agricultural crops, especially cadmium and lead which are among the most widespread and dangerous metal pollutants worldwide. The selection of proper species is a crucial step in many plant-based restoration approaches; therefore, the aim of the present work was to check for early morphophysiological responsive traits in three cultivars of Cynara cardunculus (Sardo, Siciliano, and Spagnolo), helping to select the best performing cultivar for phytoremediation. For all three tested cultivars, our results indicate that cardoon displays some morphophysiological traits to face Cd and Pb pollution, particularly at the root morphology level, element uptake ability, and photosynthetic pigment content. Other traits show instead a cultivar-specific behavior; in fact, stomata plasticity, photosynthetic pattern, and antioxidant power provide different responses, but only Spagnolo cv. achieves a successful strategy attaining a real resilience to metal stress. The capacity of Spagnolo plants to modify leaf structural and physiological traits under heavy metal contamination to maintain high photosynthetic efficiency should be considered an elective trait for its use in contaminated environments

A novel ABCC6 variant causative of pseudoxanthoma elasticum

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is an autosomal recessive heritable disorder caused by mutations in ABCC6. We describetwo siblings showing typical skin lesions and a clinical diagnosis of pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Genetic analysis ofABCC6 revealed a novel homozygous c.4041G > A variant located in the last position of exon 28 that compromises thesplicing donor site, resulting in a shorter messenger RNA. The deletion impairs the nucleotide-binding fold region,which is crucial for ABCC6 function