A comparative assessment of rheological laws for mud flows

Climate change has increased the frequency of prolonged and intense rainfall events. As a result, increasingly frequent slurry flows, channelised landslides that occur on mountain slopes, have manifested all over the world causing extensive damage. On 15-16 December 1999 the municipality of Cervinara was hit by several slurry flows and some authors simulated the events considering the mixture as an equivalent continuous fluid. These models have adopted depth-averaged approaches, in which both internal and basal flow resistance are described by the bottom shear stress. By investigating the various rheological models applied, the comparisons highlighted the differences in terms of shear stress values with the same flow depth and unit discharge width. Despite these differences, the models applied satisfactorily to simulating the same event. A further rheological law is introduced, derived from the characterization in the laboratory of a mud reconstituted from a soil sample taken at the Cervinara site, which models the slurry as a shear-thinning fluid. Whatever the flow depth and flow conditions, the low shear-thinning index values imply an almost constant shear stress. Future simulations of the full event could reveal the performance of this bottom-up approach in predicting the consequences of a field-scale landslide

Equivalence between Hypergraph Convexities

Let G be a connected graph on V. A subset X of V is all-paths convex (or ap -convex) if X contains each vertex on every path joining two vertices in X and is monophonically convex (or m-convex) if X contains each vertex on every chordless path joining two vertices in X. First of all, we prove that ap -convexity and m-convexity coincide in G if and only if G is a tree. Next, in order to generalize this result to a connected hypergraph H, in addition to the hypergraph versions of ap -convexity and m-convexity, we consider canonical convexity (or c-convexity) and simple-path convexity (or sp -convexity) for which it is well known that m-convexity is finer than both c-convexity and sp -convexity and sp -convexity is finer than ap -convexity. After proving sp -convexity is coarser than c-convexity, we characterize the hypergraphs in which each pair of the four convexities above is equivalent. As a result, we obtain a convexity-theoretic characterization of Berge-acyclic hypergraphs and of γ-acyclic hypergraphs

BIODEGRADATION OF ACRYLIC PAINTS: PROCESS MODELLING OF BIOCIDE EFFECT ON BIOMASS GROWTH AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

Abstract Acrylic paint, notwithstanding the attention paid during the production process, couldbe contaminated by bacteria. This is a consequence of microbiological residuals on the can, resulting in the alterationof paint characteristics. It is therefore necessary to provide an in-canpreservation of the paint by using a biocide.In this paper, the evolution of an in-can system, using a thermo-fluid dynamic model is presented; as a biocide, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, commercially known as MIT,was considered. The model was implemented on gPROMSsoftware and it was possible to determine the inhibitory concentration of the biocideinorder to guarantee both the protection of the can and the protection of thecover phase. To develop the model, kinetic parameters have been found by fitting available literature experimental data. As far as the thermodynamical parameters, theequilibrium between liquid and vapor phases was described bythe NRTLmodel (ASPEN Plus). The model has been validated through a comparison with experimental literature results using MIT alone and a mixture of biocides (MIT/BIT). The main results are that,at the maximum allowable concentration (100 ppm as imposed by law), the MIT biocide is able to protectthe paint for long periods, even when the temperature varies cyclically from 10 to 40°C

Acidification of protein-enriched rice starch doughs: effects on breadmaking

The impact of acid incorporation (acetic + lactic, 0.5 %) into rice starch-based doughs enriched with different proteins (egg albumin, calcium caseinate, pea and soy protein isolates) at different doses (0, 5 and 10 %) was investigated on dough proofing and thermal properties, and bread quality evaluated from physical and sensory measurements. Proteins from vegetable sources led to breads with lower-specific volume and harder crumb, effects being magnified with protein dose and reduced with acid addition. Incorporation of proteins from animal source resulted in different behaviours according to the protein type, dosage and acidification. Protein addition increased the dough pH and total titratable acidity and reduced the impact of acid addition on dough acidity. Albumin-added doughs had significantly higher temperature of gelatinization than most of the other supplemented doughs, while vegetable proteins led to significantly lower gelatinization enthalpy than the control dough. Acid addition affected dough proofing and significantly improved the volume and texture of protein-enriched breads without detriment of either odour or taste.The research was supported by the Spanish Institutions Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (Projects AGL2012-35088 and AGL2011-22669), and Comunidad de Castilla y León (Project VA252A12-2).Marina Villanueva thanks the Junta de Castilla y León doctorate grantPeer Reviewe

The Role of Chemokines in Mediating Graft Versus Host Disease: Opportunities for Novel Therapeutics

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is the current therapy of choice for several malignancies and severe autoimmune diseases. Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is the major complication associated with BMT. T lymphocytes and other leukocytes migrate into target organs during GVHD, become activated and mediate tissue damage. Chemokines are well known inducers of leukocyte trafficking and activation and contribute to the pathogenesis of GVHD. Here, we review the major animal models used to study GVHD and the role of chemokines in mediating tissue damage in these models. The role of these molecules in promoting potential beneficial effects of the graft, especially graft versus leukemia, is also discussed. Finally, the various pharmacological strategies to block the chemokine system or downstream signaling events in the context of GVHD are discussed

Genetic divergence in the cave cricket Troglophilus neglectus (Orthoptera Rhaphidophoridae): mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data.

In this study we used sequence polymorphisms at one mitochondrial and one nuclear gene (Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I and Internal Transcribed Spacer 1, respectively) to assess the degree of genetic divergence among 21 populations of the cave cricket Troglophilus neglectus (Orthoptera, Rhaphidophoridae), a species whose currently known range extends from the Balkan Peninsula to Southern Bavaria. Nineteen populations were sampled in Northern Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, while two populations came from Germany (Lower Saxony) and Czech Republic, thus well outside the species range. Molecular data revealed a high level of fragmentation, with most of the study populations bearing exclusive haplotypes, the sole exception being the German and Czech specimens, which carried haplotypes also occurring at Slovenian locations. Spatial distribution of genetic heterogeneity and pattern of genetic divergence argue in favor of a recent origin of the two Central European populations, possibly through man-mediated dispersal event(s). These populations being not considered, our data are in remarkable agreement with a previous study based on allozymes conducted on a subset of populations of the same species and, more generally, with what is known on the population genetics of peri-Mediterranean Rhaphidophorids

Antibiotic therapy in acute diarrhea associated with Shigella: what is the best option?

Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Centro Universitário Fundação e Instituto de Educação de Osasco Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Instituto de Pesquisa UnolabUNIFESP Departamento de PediatriaUNIFESP, Depto. de PediatriaSciEL

3D Reconstruction with Low Resolution, Small Baseline and High Radial Distortion Stereo Images

In this paper we analyze and compare approaches for 3D reconstruction from low-resolution (250x250), high radial distortion stereo images, which are acquired with small baseline (approximately 1mm). These images are acquired with the system NanEye Stereo manufactured by CMOSIS/AWAIBA. These stereo cameras have also small apertures, which means that high levels of illumination are required. The goal was to develop an approach yielding accurate reconstructions, with a low computational cost, i.e., avoiding non-linear numerical optimization algorithms. In particular we focused on the analysis and comparison of radial distortion models. To perform the analysis and comparison, we defined a baseline method based on available software and methods, such as the Bouguet toolbox [2] or the Computer Vision Toolbox from Matlab. The approaches tested were based on the use of the polynomial model of radial distortion, and on the application of the division model. The issue of the center of distortion was also addressed within the framework of the application of the division model. We concluded that the division model with a single radial distortion parameter has limitations

Genotype-phenotype correlation study in 364 osteogenesis imperfecta Italian patients

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic disorder of the connective tissue and 90% of cases are due to dominant mutations in COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes. To increase OI disease knowledge and contribute to patient follow-up management, a homogeneous Italian cohort of 364 subjects affected by OI types I-IV was evaluated. The study population was composed of 262 OI type I, 24 type II, 39 type III, and 39 type IV patients. Three hundred and nine subjects had a type I collagen affecting function mutations (230 in α1(I) and 79 in α2(I)); no disease-causing changes were noticed in 55 patients. Compared with previous genotype-phenotype OI correlation studies, additional observations arose: a new effect for α1- and α2-serine substitutions has been pointed out and heart defects, never considered before, resulted associated to quantitative mutations (P = 0.043). Moreover, some different findings emerged if compared with previous literature; especially, focusing the attention on the lethal form, no association with specific collagen regions was found and most of variants localized in the previously reported "lethal clusters" were causative of OI types I-IV. Some discrepancies have been highlighted also considering the "50-55 nucleotides rule," as well as the relationship between specific collagen I mutated region and the presence of dentinogenesis imperfecta and/or blue sclera. Despite difficulties still present in defining clear rules to predict the clinical outcome in OI patients, this study provides new pieces for completing the puzzle, also thanks to the inclusion of clinical signs never considered before and to the large number of OI Italian patients