Large Decrease of Fluctuations for Supercooled Water in Hydrophobic Nanoconfinement

Using Monte Carlo simulations we study a coarse­grained model of a water layer confined in a fixed disordered matrix of hydrophobic nanoparticles at different particle concentrations c. For c = 0 we find a 1st order liquid­liquid phase transition (LLPT) ending in one critical point at low pressure P. For c > 0 our simulations are consistent with a LLPT line ending in two critical points at low and high pressure. For c = 25% at high P and low temperature T we find a dramatic decrease of compressibility, thermal expansion coefficient, and specific heat. Surprisingly, the effect is present also for c as low as 2.4%. We conclude that even a small presence of nanoscopic hydrophobes can drastically suppress thermodynamic fluctuations, making the detection of the LLPT more difficult

Large Decrease of Fluctuations for Supercooled Water in Hydrophobic Nanoconfinement

Using Monte Carlo simulations we study a coarse­grained model of a water layer confined in a fixed disordered matrix of hydrophobic nanoparticles at different particle concentrations c. For c = 0 we find a 1st order liquid­liquid phase transition (LLPT) ending in one critical point at low pressure P. For c > 0 our simulations are consistent with a LLPT line ending in two critical points at low and high pressure. For c = 25% at high P and low temperature T we find a dramatic decrease of compressibility, thermal expansion coefficient, and specific heat. Surprisingly, the effect is present also for c as low as 2.4%. We conclude that even a small presence of nanoscopic hydrophobes can drastically suppress thermodynamic fluctuations, making the detection of the LLPT more difficult

The value of the teaching quality innovation projects in the universities. The case of Quid Sapienza

[EN] The research presents the results of a survey conducted in Sapienza, University of Rome, aimed at studying the use of Innovative Didactics methods among teachers trained in the context of a teaching quality innovation project (QUID). The goal is to understand the usefulness of teacher training to disseminate innovative practices and the effectiveness of the most advanced student-centered teaching and learning methods centered on the use of technology, also by comparing the results with other similar studies reported in literature. The study highlights the value of the QUID project as a tool for raising awareness and disseminating innovative practices. In fact the training of teachers is more effective to promote their awareness of adopting ID methods to promote involvement and better performance of the students. Conversely the pandemic period has not positively influenced the progress process in the use of innovative teaching practices, but only in the use of technologies.Mazza, B.; Valentini, E.; Sofia, C. (2023). The value of the teaching quality innovation projects in the universities. The case of Quid Sapienza. En 9th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'23). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 909-917. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd23.2023.1630490991

Overlap distributions for quantum quenches in the anisotropic Heisenberg chain

The dynamics after a quantum quench is determined by the weights of the initial state in the eigenspectrum of the final Hamiltonian, i.e., by the distribution of overlaps in the energy spectrum. We present an analysis of such overlap distributions for quenches of the anisotropy parameter in the one-dimensional anisotropic spin-1/2 Heisenberg model (XXZ chain). We provide an overview of the form of the overlap distribution for quenches from various initial anisotropies to various final ones, using numerical exact diagonalization. We show that if the system is prepared in the antiferromagnetic N\'eel state (infinite anisotropy) and released into a non-interacting setup (zero anisotropy, XX point) only a small fraction of the final eigenstates gives contributions to the post-quench dynamics, and that these eigenstates have identical overlap magnitudes. We derive expressions for the overlaps, and present the selection rules that determine the final eigenstates having nonzero overlap. We use these results to derive concise expressions for time-dependent quantities (Loschmidt echo, longitudinal and transverse correlators) after the quench. We use perturbative analyses to understand the overlap distribution for quenches from infinite to small nonzero anisotropies, and for quenches from large to zero anisotropy.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure

Examination of sharp force trauma of the Winchester Site remains

The present research examined remains found from the Winchester Site in Winchester, MA that have evidence for postmortem alteration. The author compared the assemblages from Point San Jose (Hart et al. 2019; Willey et al. 2018), Holden Chapel (Hodge 2013; Hodge et al. 2017), Medical College of Georgia (Blakley 1997; McFarlin and Wineski 1997; Terrell and McFarlin 1997), Milwaukee County Institutional Grounds (Dougherty and Sullivan 2017), Newcastle Infirmary (Chamberlain 2016), and Blockley Almshouse (Crist et al. 2017; Hynes 2005) regarding patterns in bone modification and their potential causes. The sawn assemblage consists of 1365 adult remains, 67 juvenile remains, and 13 nonhuman remains. The human adult sawn Winchester Site sample is composed of 19.7% cranial remains and 80.3% postcranial remains. The postmortem alterations found on the remains from the Winchester Site lack pathological changes surrounding them. Eight of the 17 (47.0%) nearly complete crania exhibit evidence for craniotomy. Postmortem trephinations are seen in three crania. Repetition of surgical procedure training is seen through the 349 transverse complete kerfs located on the postcranial remains. There are 125 sternal segments and 133 rib segments with evidence of sharp force trauma, potentially from thoracotomy. The postmortem alteration within the faunal assemblage can be attributed to butchery on the elements from cow, sheep, and unidentified mammal, and dissection on the elements from the dog and red fox. Implements utilized on the skeletal remains were a flat-bladed saw with 18 teeth per inch (TPI) and a trephine. The remains from the Winchester Site exhibit experimentation with kerf locations, most likely originating from surgical training practices

Splenic vein leiomyosarcoma: case report and review of the literature

Context Primary venous leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare disease, most commonly affecting the retroperitoneal veins and in particular the inferior vena cava. Five-year survival rate ranges between 33% and 68%. Case Report Complete surgical resection represents the only potentially curative treatment, occasionally achieving long-term survival. LMS of the splenic vein is extremely rare, with only three cases reported in the literature. Conclusion We report a case of primary venous LMS arising from the splenic vein and we briefly review the relevant literature.Image: Intraoperative snapshot

L’efficacia dell’educazione terapeutica come strumento riabilitativo per il paziente con dolore cronico muscoloscheletrico di natura non maligna: revisione della letteratura

Pain is the most powerful motivating force that guides treatment-seeking behaviors in patients. This applies especially to those who are suffering from chronic pain, whose treatment is a difficult challenge for health professionals. Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of Therapeutic Education in the treatment of pain and disability, and the effects on the psycological outcomes in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The analysed educational intervention namely “Pain Neurophysiology Education”, is a promising tool according to results of the neuroscientific investigation in pain pathophysiology, during the last two decades. Methods. Literature search was conducted on PubMed, Pedro and Cochrane Library. All experimental studies including reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomized clinical trials, and evaluating the effect of Pain Neurophysiology Education (PNE) on pain, disability, anxiety, and stress in chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders, (e.g. fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome) were considered for inclusion. Additional limitations: studies publishedin English or French within the last 10 years, adult patients (18-65 years). No limitations were set on specific outcome measures of pain, disability, anxiety, and stress. Data were extracted using the participants’ interventions, comparisons, and outcomes (PICO) approach. Methodological quality was assessed following actual scientific literature guidelines: the “Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine Levels of Evidence” to assess the level of evidence, the CASP to assess methodological quality properly. Results. This review includes 8 studies RCTs and 2 Systematic Reviews, involving 951 subjects totally. Most studies were of good quality (at least 7 out of 10), with no studies rated as poor or fair. Heterogeneity across the studies with respect to participants, evaluated interventions, and outcome measures used, allowed just a narrative synthesis of results based on effect size. Conclusions. Despite the few studies and some methodological critiques, there is compelling evidence that rehabilitative intervention that includes the Therapeutic Education, in particular PNE, can have a positive effect on pain, disability, catastrophization, and physical function. The PNE effectiveness may be due to the shift of the focus from tissue damage to central processing of nociception, with the aim to increase the patient’s awareness of the no-correlation between nociception and pain. Therefore it could be conceived as an intervention that can decrease both the alertness and, as a consequence, the patient’s perception of pain

New Frontiers in the Cultivation of Edible Fungi: The Application of Biostimulants Enhances the Nutritional Characteristics of Pleurotus eryngii (DC.) Quél

Fungi, particularly Pleurotus eryngii, emerges as a promising solution for sustainable non-animal protein production, requiring less land and growing on waste materials. In connection with population growth, sustainable solutions must be found to increase yield and product quality without resorting to the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers. Several biobased products are currently on the market; one of the most interesting is wood distillate (WD), derived from the pyrolysis process of the woody material. WD is rich in biologically active substances such as polyphenols, alcohols, acids, and esters, and its use is authorized in organic agriculture. The study investigates the use of WD in cultivating P. eryngii. We tested different concentrations of WD: 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%, and 1% WD on the growth of P. eryngii. Although WD did not significantly affect the yield (fresh weight), it led to a substantial increase in total soluble protein content and antioxidant compounds, such as phenols and vitamin C, and a reduction in glycogen content, especially at 0.2% WD. The results highlight the potential of biostimulants in mushroom cultivation, providing the ground for further research to improve the nutritional properties of cultivated mushrooms through wood distillate

Electrophysiological assessment of plant status outside a Faraday cage using supervised machine learning

Living organisms have evolved complex signaling networks to drive appropriate physiological processes in response to changing environmental conditions. Amongst them, electric signals are a universal method to rapidly transmit information. In animals, bioelectrical activity measurements in the heart or the brain provide information about health status. In plants, practical measurements of bioelectrical activity are in their infancy and transposition of technology used in human medicine could therefore, by analogy provide insight about the physiological status of plants. This paper reports on the development and testing of an innovative electrophysiological sensor that can be used in greenhouse production conditions, without a Faraday cage, enabling real-time electric signal measurements. The bioelectrical activity is modified in response to water stress conditions or to nycthemeral rhythm. Furthermore, the automatic classification of plant status using supervised machine learning allows detection of these physiological modifications. This sensor represents an efficient alternative agronomic tool at the service of producers for decision support or for taking preventive measures before initial visual symptoms of plant stress appear