Conjugate two-dimensional electric potential maps

Two dimensional electric potential maps based on voltage detection in conducting paper are common practice in many physics courses in college. Most frequently, students work on `capacitor-like' geometries with current flowing between two opposite electrodes. A `topographical' investigation across the embedding medium (map of equipotential curves) allows to reassure a number of physical properties. This paper focuses on some less common configurations that bear pedagogical interest. We analyze `open-geometries' with electrodes in the form of long strips with slits. They provide a natural groundwork to bring the student to complex variable methods. Aided by this, we show that shaping the conducting paper board one may analyze finite size effects, as well as some meaningful discontinuities in the measured potential. The concept of conjugate electric potentials is exploited. Equipotentials and electric field lines acquire interchangeable roles and may be obtained in complementary `dual' experiments. A feasible theoretical analysis based on introductory complex variables and standardized numerics gives a remarkable quantification of the experimental results.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure

Successful Pre- and Posttransplant Sofosbuvir-Based Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Treatment in Persons Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

This retrospective study reports the data of sofosbuvir-based anti-hepatitis C virus treatment in 24 candidates and 24 recipients of liver transplantation coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus. Sustained virologic response was cumulatively 85% (90% and 100% in those treated with optimal schedules pre- and posttransplant, respectively).This retrospective study reports the data of sofosbuvir-based anti-hepatitis C virus treatment in 24 candidates and 24 recipients of liver transplantation coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus. Sustained virologic response was cumulatively 85% (90% and 100% in those treated with optimal schedules pre- and posttransplant, respectively)

Breast lesion detection through MammoWave device: microwave images’ parameters

MammoWave is a microwave imaging device for breast lesions detection, which operates using two (azimuthally rotating) antennas without any matching liquid. Images, subsequently obtained by resorting to Huygens Principle, are intensity maps, representing the homogeneity of tissues’ dielectric properties. In the paper: “Breast lesion detection through MammoWave device: empirical detection capability assessment of microwave images’ parameters”, we propose to generate, for each breast, a set of conductivity weighted microwave images by using different values of conductivity in the Huygens Principle imaging algorithm. Next, microwave images’ parameters, i.e. features, are introduced to quantify the non-homogenous behaviour of the image. This data set contains such features. We empirically verify on 103 breasts that a selection of these features may allow distinction between breasts with no radiological finding (NF ) and breasts with radiological findings (WF), i.e. with lesions which may be benign or malign. Statistical significance was set at p <0.05. We obtained single features Area Under the receiver operating characteristic Curves (AUCs) spanning from 0.65 to 0.69. In addition, an empirical rule-of-thumb allowing breast assessment is introduced using a binary score S operating on an appropriate combination of features. Performances of such rule-of-thumb are evaluated empirically, obtaining a sensitivity of 74%, which increases to 84% when considering dense breasts only

Imbalance of Neutrophils and Lymphocyte Counts Can Be Predictive of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Occurrence in Hepatitis C-related Cirrhosis Treated With Direct-acting Antivirals

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Reduction of Nitrates in waste water through the valorization of rice straw: LIFE LIBERNITRATE Project

An improved and more sustainable waste management system is required for successful development of technologies based on renewable sources. Rice straw is submitted to controlled combustion reactions and the produced ashes are chemically treated to produce silica. After a chemical activation step, the activated silica shows potential as an adsorbent agent and will be used to remove the excess of nitrates in groundwater and wells in the area of Alginet (Valencia, Spain), selected as a vulnerable zone within the Nitrates Directive. The demonstration activity aims to have a local impact on municipalities of 200 inhabitants or fewer, decreasing from current nitrate concentrations close to 50 mg/L, to a target of 25 mg/L. In a successive step, the methodology will be transferred to other municipalities with similar nitrate problems (Piemonte, Italy) and replicated to remove different pollutants such as manure (the Netherlands) and waste waters from the textile industry (Italy)

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation with preliminary validation of GCOS-24 for use in Spain

The aim in this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Genetic Counseling Outcome Scale (GCOS-24) for use in Spain and to carry out a preliminary psychometric validation in a sample of Spanish patients. With oversight by an expert panel, forward and backward translations were conducted to create the draft Spanish GCOS-24. Fourteen patients were recruited from a clinical genetics service in Madrid, Spain to participate in cognitive interviews designed to explore readability and interpretability of the draft. Following qualitative analysis of interview transcripts, a final version of the Spanish GCOS-24 was agreed with the expert panel. No significant cross-cultural differences were identified. The Spanish GCOS-24 was then completed prior to and 2-4 weeks after genetic counseling by 59 patients attending the service, and data were analysed using analysis of variance. Preliminary psychometric validation of the Spanish GCOS-24 showed significantly higher GCOS-24 scores after genetic counseling (p<0.0001), with good internal consistency (α=0.84) and sensitivity to change over time, with a medium-to-large size effect (Cohen ́s d=0.70). This compares well with the original English language GCOS-24. Findings demonstrate that the Spanish GCOS-24 has potential for use in evaluating clinical genetics services in Spain, but would benefit from assessment of test-retest reliability as well as structural and construct validity

Energy efficiency embedded service lifecycle: Towards an energy efficient cloud computing architecture

The paper argues the need to provide novel methods and tools to support software developers aiming to optimise energy efficiency and minimise the carbon footprint resulting from designing, developing, deploying and running software in Clouds, while maintaining other quality aspects of software to adequate and agreed levels. A cloud architecture to support energy efficiency at service construction, deployment, and operation is discussed, as well as its implementation and evaluation plans.Postprint (published version

Daclatasvir-based regimens in HCV cirrhosis: experience from the Italian early access program

We reported the efficacy and safety data for daclatasvir (DCV)-based all-oral antiviral therapy in patients treated in the Italian compassionate-use program. 275 patients were included (202 male-73.5%, mean age: 57.4 years, 62 HIV-coinfected, 94 with recurrence of hepatitis C post-OLT). Forty-nine patients (17.8%) had Child-Pugh B, Genotype(G) distribution was: G1a:72 patients (26.2%), G1b:137 (49.8%); G3:40 (14.5%) and G4:26 (9.5%). Patients received DCV with sofosbuvir(SOF) (n\u2009=\u2009221, 129 with ribavirin(RBV) or with simeprevir (SMV) or asunaprevir (ASU) (n\u2009=\u200954, 19 with RBV) for up to 24 weeks. Logistic regression was used to identify baseline characteristics associated with sustained virological response at week 12 post-treatment (SVR12). Liver function changes between baseline and follow up were assessed in 228 patients. 240 patients achieved SVR12 (87.3%), post transplant and HIV co-infected patients were equally distributed among SVR and no SVR (35% vs 34.3%; p\u2009=\u20090.56 and 24.2% vs 11.4%, p\u2009=\u20090.13, respectively). SVR rate was significantly higher with the combination DCV\u2009+\u2009SOF compared with DCV\u2009+\u2009SIM or ASU (93.2% vs 63.0%, p\u2009<\u20090.0001). Bilirubin value (OR: 0.69, CI95%: 0.54-0.87, p\u2009=\u20090.002) and regimen containing SOF (OR: 9.99, CI95%: 4.09-24.40; p\u2009<\u20090.001) were independently related with SVR. Mean albumin and bilirubin values significantly improved between baseline and follow-up week 12. DCV-based antiviral therapy was well tolerated and resulted in a high SVR when combined with SOF either in pre-transplant and in OLT patients and in "difficult to treat" HCV genotypes. Regimens containing DCV in combination with NS3 protease inhibitors obtained suboptimal results

Genetic determinants in a critical domain of ns5a correlate with hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients infected with hcv genotype 1b

HCV is an important cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV NS5A domain‐1 interacts with cellular proteins inducing pro‐oncogenic pathways. Thus, we explore genetic variations in NS5A domain‐1 and their association with HCC, by analyzing 188 NS5A sequences from HCV genotype‐1b infected DAA‐naïve cirrhotic patients: 34 with HCC and 154 without HCC. Specific NS5A mutations significantly correlate with HCC: S3T (8.8% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.01), T122M (8.8% vs. 0.0%, p &lt; 0.001), M133I (20.6% vs. 3.9%, p &lt; 0.001), and Q181E (11.8% vs. 0.6%, p &lt; 0.001). By multivariable analysis, the presence of &gt;1 of them independently correlates with HCC (OR (95%CI): 21.8 (5.7–82.3); p &lt; 0.001). Focusing on HCC‐group, the presence of these mutations correlates with higher viremia (median (IQR): 5.7 (5.4–6.2) log IU/mL vs. 5.3 (4.4–5.6) log IU/mL, p = 0.02) and lower ALT (35 (30–71) vs. 83 (48–108) U/L, p = 0.004), suggesting a role in enhancing viral fitness without affecting necroinflammation. Notably, these mutations reside in NS5A regions known to interact with cellular proteins crucial for cell‐cycle regulation (p53, p85‐PIK3, and β‐ catenin), and introduce additional phosphorylation sites, a phenomenon known to ameliorate NS5A interaction with cellular proteins. Overall, these results provide a focus for further investigations on molecular bases of HCV‐mediated oncogenesis. The role of these NS5A domain‐1 mutations in triggering pro‐oncogenic stimuli that can persist also despite achievement of sustained virological response deserves further investigation