Fujita modified exponent for scale invariant damped semilinear wave equations

The aim of this paper is to prove a blow-up result of the solution for a semilinear scale invariant damped wave equation under a suitable decay condition on radial initial data. The admissible range for the power of the nonlinear term depends both on the damping coefficient and on the pointwise decay order of the initial data. In addition, we give an upper bound estimate for the lifespan of the solution. It depends not only on the exponent of the nonlinear term and not only on the damping coefficient but also on the size of the decay rate of the initial data

Thermal effects in freeze-in neutrino dark matter production

We present a detailed study of the production of dark matter in the form of a sterile neutrino via freeze-in from decays of heavy right-handed neutrinos. Our treatment accounts for thermal effects in the effective couplings, generated via neutrino mixing, of the new heavy neutrinos with the Standard Model gauge and Higgs bosons and can be applied to several low-energy fermion seesaw scenarios featuring heavy neutrinos in thermal equilibrium with the primordial plasma. We find that the production of dark matter is not as suppressed as to what is found when considering only Standard Model gauge interactions. Our study shows that the freeze-in dark matter production could be efficient

Evaluation of virucidal activity of fabrics using feline coronavirus

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an enveloped RNA virus responsible for the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that represents a global health threat, causing an ongoing pandemic in many countries and territories. WHO recommendations emphasize the importance of all personal protective equipment (PPE) that can interrupt COVID-19 transmission. The textile industry and scientists are developing hygienic fabrics by the addition of or treatment with various antimicrobial and antiviral compounds. Methods for determining the antiviral activity of fabrics are reported in the International Standards Organization (ISO) 18184 (2019) guidelines. Three different fabric samples treated with silver derivate, copper derivative and a not treated cotton fabric used as control were examined and put in contact with a suspension of feline coronavirus (FCoV). After 2 h of incubation a significant decrease of viral titer, as high as 3.25 log10 Tissue Culture Infectious Dose (TCID)50/50 μl, in feline cells was observed in treated fabrics, with respect to not treated fabrics. In this study, we optimized laboratory methods to evaluate the virucidal activity of silver- and copper treated cotton- based fabrics against coronavirus, using FCoV suitable as a surrogate of SARS-CoV-2 but safe for laboratory technicians

Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Noninvasive Peripheral Stimulation for Neglect Syndrome Following Acquired Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE: Hemispatial neglect is a frequent condition usually following nondominant hemispheric brain injury. It strongly affects rehabilitation strategies and everyday life activities. It is associated with behavioral and cognitive disability with a strong impact on patient's life. METHODS: We reviewed the published literature on the use of noninvasive brain stimulation, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and of noninvasive peripheral muscle stimulation, as therapeutic strategies for rehabilitation of neglect after acquired brain injury, such as in stroke or in traumatic injuries. The studies were grouped as controlled or uncontrolled studies in each stimulation techniques. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were identified and 16 on rTMS, 10 on tDCS, and 8 on vibration. All studies were conducted in adult patients who suffered a stroke, except for one that was conducted in a patient suffering traumatic acquired brain injury and another that was conducted in a patient with brain tumor. In spite of significant variability in treatment protocols, patients' features and assessment of neglect, improvement was reported in almost all studies with no side-effects. CONCLUSIONS: Noninvasive brain stimulation and neuromuscular vibration are promising therapeutic neuromodulatory approaches for neglect. Further randomized-controlled studies are needed to corroborate their effectiveness as separate and combined techniques

Back analysis of the 2014 San Leo Landslide using combined terrestrial laser scanning and 3D distinct element modelling

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Springer Verlag via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00603-015-0763-5© 2015 Springer-Verlag Wien Landslides of the lateral spreading type, involving brittle geological units overlying ductile terrains, are a common occurrence in the sandstone and limestone plateaux of the northern Apennines of Italy. The edges of these plateaux are often the location of rapid landslide phenomena, such as rock slides, rock falls and topples. In this paper, we present a back analysis of a recent landslide (February 2014), involving the north-eastern sector of the San Leo rock slab (northern Apennines, Emilia-Romagna Region) which is a representative example of this type of phenomena. The aquifer hosted in the fractured slab, due to its relatively higher secondary permeability in comparison to the lower clayey units leads to the development of perennial and ephemeral springs at the contact between the two units. The related piping erosion phenomena, together with slope processes in the clay-shales have led to the progressive undermining of the slab, eventually predisposing large-scale landslides. Stability analyses were conducted coupling terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and distinct element methods (DEMs). TLS point clouds were analysed to determine the pre- and post-failure geometry, the extension of the detachment area and the joint network characteristics. The block dimensions in the landslide deposit were mapped and used to infer the spacing of the discontinuities for insertion into the numerical model. Three-dimensional distinct element simulations were conducted, with and without undermining of the rock slab. The analyses allowed an assessment of the role of the undermining, together with the presence of an almost vertical joint set, striking sub-parallel to the cliff orientation, on the development of the slope instability processes. Based on the TLS and on the numerical simulation results, an interpretation of the landslide mechanism is proposed

Seismic activity in the Pollino region (Basilicata-Calabria border)

The Pollino region and the whole Calabria-Lucania border are known for the absence of destructive (M>6) historical earthquakes. This lack of historical seismicity is noticeable in the analysis of Southern Apennines and Calabria earthquake history (Rovida et al., 2011). At the same time, paleoseismological studies found evidence for significant active faulting (Cinti et al., 1997; Michetti et al., 1997) pointing to the Pollino area as a seismic gap. Instrumental seismicity in the region is characterized by the occurrence of seismic sequences, one of the most significant in the last decades is the Mercure seismic sequence, Mw 5.6 in September 1998 (Brozzetti et al., 2008). For this reason, the sequence started in 2010 raised a big concern in the population and local authorities. INGV is following the evolution of the sequence since its beginning, in March 2010, increasing the seismic monitoring and planning several activities and projects. The area was proposed by INGV to DPC (Dipartimento di Protezione Civile nazionale) for inclusion in the projects to be carried out in the present INGV-DPC agreement. This project has just started and will try to provide better constraints to the active tectonics and fault identification of the region. In this paper we describe what INGV is doing to understand better the tectonics of the region using microseismicity, and try to offer some cue to the discussion about the seismogenic faults in the area.Published5-92T. Tettonica attivaN/A or not JCRope

Are anti-ganglioside antibodies detectable in serum from patients with critical illness myopathy and polyneuropathy?

Introduction: Critical illness myopathy (CIM) and polyneuropathy (CIP) are the most common cause of acquired weakness in intensive care units (ICU). However, its exact pathogenesis remains unclear. Abnormal excitability of muscle due to a sodium channelopathy is one of the mechanisms proposed. The aim of this study is to test for the presence of anti-ganglioside antibodies in serum from patients with CIM or both combined CIM/CIP, since there is evidence that they can cause reversible dysfunction of voltage-gated sodium channels.Methods: In a prospective way, we studied 35 patients admitted in ICU by weekly EMG. When positive spontaneous activity (PSA) was detected, a muscle biopsy was performed. Twenty patients met criteria of CIM; five of them also developed overlapping CIP. We did not detect any kind of abnormality in 10 patients during the follow up period. Sera were analyzed for the presence of anti-ganglioside antibodies (Ganglioside-profile 2 Euroline, Euroimmun). Results: Overall, positive reactivity against anti-GT1b was found in one patient with CIM, representing 2.8% (1/35) of the total sample.Conclusion: Reduced percentage of patients affected of CIM or CIM/CIP exhibits positive reactive against anti-ganglioside antibodies. Thus, it could be suggested they do not play a primary role in their pathogenesis. Key words: Critical illness myopathy, critical illness polineuropathy, difficult weaning, channelopathy, muscle fiber inexcitability, anti-ganglioside antibodies  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17268/rmt.2020.v15i01.0

Natural bovine coronavirus infection in a calf persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus: Viral shedding, immunological features and s gene variations

The evolution of a bovine coronavirus (BCoV) natural infection in a calf persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) was described. The infected calf developed intermittent nasal discharge, diarrhea and hyperthermia. The total number of leukocytes/mL and the absolute differential number of neutrophils and lymphocytes resulted within the normal range, but monocytes increased at T28 (time 28 post‐infection). Flow‐cytometry analysis evidenced that the CD8+ subpopulation increased at T7 and between T28 and T35. BCoV shedding in nasal discharges and feces was detected up to three weeks post infection and high antibody titers persisted up to T56. The RNA BCoV load increased until T14, contrary to what was observed in a previous study where the fecal excretion of BCoV was significantly lower in the co‐infected (BCoV/BVDV) calves than in the calves infected with BCoV only. We can suppose that BVDV may have modulated the BCoV infection exacerbating the long viral excretion, as well as favoring the onset of mutations in the genome of BCoV detected in fecal samples at T21. An extensive study was performed to verify if the selective pressure in the S gene could be a natural mode of variation of BCoV, providing data for the identification of new epidemic strains, genotypes or recombinant betacoronaviruses

U and Th content in the Central Apennines continental crust: a contribution to the determination of the geo-neutrinos flux at LNGS

The regional contribution to the geo-neutrino signal at Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) was determined based on a detailed geological, geochemical and geophysical study of the region. U and Th abundances of more than 50 samples representative of the main lithotypes belonging to the Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary cover were analyzed. Sedimentary rocks were grouped into four main "Reservoirs" based on similar paleogeographic conditions and mineralogy. Basement rocks do not outcrop in the area. Thus U and Th in the Upper and Lower Crust of Valsugana and Ivrea-Verbano areas were analyzed. Based on geological and geophysical properties, relative abundances of the various reservoirs were calculated and used to obtain the weighted U and Th abundances for each of the three geological layers (Sedimentary Cover, Upper and Lower Crust). Using the available seismic profile as well as the stratigraphic records from a number of exploration wells, a 3D modelling was developed over an area of 2^{\circ}x2^{\circ} down to the Moho depth, for a total volume of about 1.2x10^6 km^3. This model allowed us to determine the volume of the various geological layers and eventually integrate the Th and U contents of the whole crust beneath LNGS. On this base the local contribution to the geo-neutrino flux (S) was calculated and added to the contribution given by the rest of the world, yielding a Refined Reference Model prediction for the geo-neutrino signal in the Borexino detector at LNGS: S(U) = (28.7 \pm 3.9) TNU and S(Th) = (7.5 \pm 1.0) TNU. An excess over the total flux of about 4 TNU was previously obtained by Mantovani et al. (2004) who calculated, based on general worldwide assumptions, a signal of 40.5 TNU. The considerable thickness of the sedimentary rocks, almost predominantly represented by U- and Th- poor carbonatic rocks in the area near LNGS, is responsible for this difference.Comment: 45 pages, 5 figures, 12 tables; accepted for publication in GC

New physics searches with heavy-ion collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

This document summarises proposed searches for new physics accessible in the heavy-ion mode at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), both through hadronic and ultraperipheral γγ interactions, and that have a competitive or, even, unique discovery potential compared to standard proton-proton collision studies. Illustrative examples include searches for new particles - such as axion-like pseudoscalars, radions, magnetic monopoles, new long-lived particles, dark photons, and sexaquarks as dark matter candidates - as well as new interactions, such as nonlinear or non-commutative QED extensions. We argue that such interesting possibilities constitute a well-justified scientific motivation, complementing standard quark-gluon-plasma physics studies, to continue running with ions at the LHC after the Run-4, i.e. beyond 2030, including light and intermediate-mass ion species, accumulating nucleon-nucleon integrated luminosities in the accessible fb-1 range per month