Lyndon Array Construction during Burrows-Wheeler Inversion

In this paper we present an algorithm to compute the Lyndon array of a string $T$ of length $n$ as a byproduct of the inversion of the Burrows-Wheeler transform of $T$. Our algorithm runs in linear time using only a stack in addition to the data structures used for Burrows-Wheeler inversion. We compare our algorithm with two other linear-time algorithms for Lyndon array construction and show that computing the Burrows-Wheeler transform and then constructing the Lyndon array is competitive compared to the known approaches. We also propose a new balanced parenthesis representation for the Lyndon array that uses $2n+o(n)$ bits of space and supports constant time access. This representation can be built in linear time using $O(n)$ words of space, or in $O(n\log n/\log\log n)$ time using asymptotically the same space as $T$

Comet Machholz (C/2004 Q2): morphological structures in the inner coma and rotation parameters

Extensive observations of comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) were carried out between August 2004 and May 2005. The images obtained were used to investigate the comet's inner coma features at resolutions between 350 and 1500 km/pixel. A photometric analysis of the dust outflowing from the comet's nucleus and the study of the motion of the morphological structures in the inner coma indicated that the rotation period of the nucleus was most likely around 0.74 days. A thorough investigation of the inner coma morphology allowed us to observe two main active sources on the comet's nucleus, at a latitude of +85{\deg} \pm 5{\deg} and +45{\deg} \pm 5{\deg}, respectively. Further sources have been observed, but their activity ran out quite rapidly over time; the most relevant was at latcom. = 25{\deg} \pm 5{\deg}. Graphic simulations of the geometrical conditions of observation of the inner coma were compared with the images and used to determine a pole orientation at RA=95{\deg} \pm 5{\deg}, Dec=+35{\deg} \pm 5{\deg}. The comet's spin axis was lying nearly on the plane of the sky during the first decade of December 2004.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures, 3 table

ApoE-deficient mice and fenritinide: a structural study of the skin

Fenretinide, a synthetic retinoid derivative first investigated for cancer prevention and treatment, has been shown to ameliorate glucose tolerance and the plasma lipid profile, and to reduce body fat mass. Since these effects, together with its ability to inhibit ceramide synthesis, have suggested that fenretinide may display anti-atherosclerotic effects, the purpose of our work was to evaluate the effect of fenretinide on accumulation of lipids on the skin of a dyslipidemic mouse model that spontaneously develops atherosclerosis. To this aim, 9-weeks-old apoE-knockout (EKO) female mice were fed for 12 weeks with a Western diet, without (control) or with (0.1% w/w) fenretinide. At sacrifice, skin biopsies were excised from the thoracic region, dissected in smaller fragments and processed for structural morphology analysis on both paraffin and semithin sections. As a reference, wild-type (WT) mice were likewise treated. Morphological analysis did not show any significant difference between the skin of treated and untreated WT mice. In both the experimental groups, indeed, the epidermis appeared build-up of ordinated overlapped layers of cells and in the dermis there were no signs of alteration. The presence of foam cells was detected only in EKO mice treated and untreated. Other morphological alterations were also visible, although shared almost equally in EKO-Ctrl and EKO-Fen animals. Our data suggest that fenretinide slightly interferes with lipid accumulation in the skin of EKO mice

Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov exhibits a structure similar to native Solar System comets

We processed images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to investigate any morphological features in the inner coma suggestive of a peculiar activity on the nucleus of the interstellar comet 2I/Borisov. The coma shows an evident elongation, in the position angle (PA) ~0-180d direction, which appears related to the presence of a jet originating from a single active source on the nucleus. A counterpart of this jet directed towards PA ~10d was detected through analysis of the changes of the inner coma morphology on HST images taken in different dates and processed with different filters. These findings indicate that the nucleus is probably rotating with a spin axis projected near the plane of the sky and oriented at PA ~100d-280d, and that the active source is lying in a near-equatorial position. Subsequent observations of HST allowed us to determine the direction of the spin axis at RA=17h20m+/-15d and Dec = -35d+\-10d.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures (low resolution). Full-resolution figures and bonus material at this url https://web.oapd.inaf.it/bedin/files/PAPERs_eMATERIALs/BORISOV_comet/ Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters on 2020 April 1st (not a joke ;

Constitutive expression of E- and P-selectin cognate ligands in human endothelial cells.

On human endothelial cells from umbilical cord (HUVEC) are present, in addition to E- and P-selectins, their cognate ligands. Differently from selectins, the ligand expression is constitutive and not modulated by interleukin-1beta. Such ligands appear to be different from the ones present in promyelocytic cells in order to promote cell adhesion to immobilized selectins. The expression of selectin-ligands on HUVEC cells suggest that selectins can participate in endothelial signalling besides their role as adhesion molecules for circulating blood cells. However, despite their role in chemotaxis, selectins do not contribute to HUVEC tube formation in Matrigel

Integrating Human-Centred Design Approach into Sustainable-Oriented 3D Printing Systems

Modern 3D printing systems have become pervasive and widely used both in professional and in informal contexts, including sustainable-oriented ones. However, the risk to create very effective but non-sustainable solutions is very high since 3D printing systems could potentially increase the environmental emergencies and the unsustainable growth. In the transition process toward sustainable ways of production and consumption, the so-called human factor still plays an important role in the achievement of sustainable-oriented actions; it drives the adoption of proper lifestyles that directly and indirectly influence the ways through which such technologies are used. Therefore, future Sustainable 3D Printing Systems should integrate the humans in the systems’ development. This study presents two important results: (a) it presents a set of interdisciplinary ‘Sustainable 3D Printing Systems’, which compose a promising sustainable-oriented scenario useful to support the transition processes toward sustainable designs and productions, and (b) it proposes a new strategy for the integration of human-centred aspects into Sustainable 3D Printing Systems, by combining insights from human-centred design approach