Negative thermal expansion

Materials with a negative thermal expansion coefficient contract when heated and expand when cooled. This paper reviews mechanisms of how this unusual property can be achieved at the molecular and macroscopic level. Some applications of this unusual property are also discussed.peer-reviewe

Capturing Multivariate Spatial Dependence: Model, Estimate and then Predict

Physical processes rarely occur in isolation, rather they influence and interact with one another. Thus, there is great benefit in modeling potential dependence between both spatial locations and different processes. It is the interaction between these two dependencies that is the focus of Genton and Kleiber's paper under discussion. We see the problem of ensuring that any multivariate spatial covariance matrix is nonnegative definite as important, but we also see it as a means to an end. That "end" is solving the scientific problem of predicting a multivariate field. [arXiv:1507.08017].Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/15-STS517 in the Statistical Science (http://www.imstat.org/sts/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Photopyroelectric Investigation of the trans–cis Isomerization Effect on the Nematic- Isotropic Phase Transition of a Liquid Crystalline Azobenzene

Photopyroelectric calorimetry has been applied to the study of the effects of different concentration of photo-induced cis isomeric molecules on the characteristics of the nematic – isotropic phase transition in p,p’-diheptylazobenzene (7AB) samples. The investigations could be carried out by monitoring the behavior of the thermal diffusivity over the phase transition before and during the sample irradiation with UV light of varying intensity. Among other, it is shown that the monitoring of the time dependence of the thermal diffusivity at fixed sample temperature enabled the comparative study of the dynamics of the trans–cis and cis–trans isomeric transitions. It was shown that the increasing cis isomers concentration caused an increase in the fraction of material undergoing the phase transitions and increased the cis–trans conversion rate. Finally, polarization microscopy observations of the sample texture, which could be carried out together with the calorimetric evaluations proved useful for a more comprehensive analysis of the obtained results

A system with adjustable positive or negative thermal expansion

We analyse the anisotropic thermal expansion properties of a two-dimensional structurally rigid construct made from rods of different materials connected together through hinges to form triangular units. In particular, we show that this system may be made to exhibit negative thermal expansion coefficients along certain directions or thermal expansion coefficients that are even more positive than any of the component materials. The end product is a multifunctional system with tunable thermal properties that can be tailor-made for particular practical applications.peer-reviewe

Constitutive expression of Yes-associated protein (Yap) in adult skeletal muscle fibres induces muscle atrophy and myopathy

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Thermographic and reflectographic imaging investigations on Baroque paintings preserved at the Chigi Palace in Ariccia

In this work, two different mid-infrared imaging techniques operating in the 3-5 μm spectral range are applied to the study of three paintings on canvas, dating back to the XVII century, preserved at the Chigi Palace in Ariccia (Italy). A combined approach based on the use of pulsed thermography and mid-infrared reflectography is proposed for the analysis of the 'Primavera' by Filippo Lauri and Mario Nuzzi, the 'Ritratto di Mario Nuzzi che dipinge un vaso di fiori' by Giovanni Maria Morandi and Mario Nuzzi and the 'Ebbrezza di Noee' by Andrea Sacchi. The aim is to show how the integrated use of these techniques enables a depth-resolved investigation of the entire layered structure of the paintings, from the surface up to the canvas support. The complementarity of the presented results allows an evaluation of the conservative status of the support and the detection of graphical and pictorial features hidden beneath the surface layer, such as pentimenti, as these features are important for the historical and artistic characterisation of the artefact

Effects of diabetes family history and exercise training on the expression of adiponectin and leptin and their receptors

The daughters of patients with diabetes have reduced insulin sensitivity index (ISI) scores compared with women with no family history of diabetes, but their ISI increase more in response to exercise training(1). The present study aimed to determine whether differences between these groups in exercise-induced changes in circulating adiponectin and leptin concentrations and expression of their genes and receptors in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), could explain differences in the exercise-induced changes in ISI between women with and without a family history of diabetes

E-heritage : the future for integrated applications in cultural heritage

A number of factors are combining to change the structure and contents of documentation of cultural heritage: 1) the exponential growth in data generated by imaging techniques makes it possible for a site or an artifact to be recorded at a resolution of over 16 megapixels and at a density of several hundred million cloud points; 2) high-resolution imaging is becoming more affordable and/or available; 3) the economics and legal constraints of conservation practice are gradually pushing towards more stringent documentation standards; 4) improved communications infrastructure and mobile computing facilities are changing the way that data is recorded, processed, stored and – inevitably - used; 5) increasingly available computerized expert systems will be integrated into the very systems that conservators and documentation specialists carry around with them or access on a daily basis; 6) the advent of web-based systems will afford super-computer processing power and large-system database handling to the documentation specialist and the conservator in the field and permit greater flexibility for teleworking; 7) Computerised Project-based Management techniques will gradually spread from the realm of large institutions to SME’s and individual practitioners making digital image processing in architecture and archaeology more akin to the exchange of engineering drawings in automobile design industry. 8) The availability of cheap local or distributed processing power means that most of the above advantages will be present in both developed and developing countries. This paper explores. e-heritage as an integrated project which aims at providing a seamless yet structurally and inherently up-gradeable technological platform for all activities within cultural heritage conservation and management.peer-reviewe

Disturbed Sleep Connects Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Somatization: A Network Analysis Approach

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and physical health problems, particularly somatic symptom disorder, are highly comorbid. Studies have only examined this co‐occurrence at the disorder level rather than assessing the associations between specific symptoms. Using network analysis to identify symptoms that act as bridges between these disorders may allow for the development of interventions to specifically target this comorbidity. We examined the association between somatization and PTSD symptoms via network analysis. This included 349 trauma‐exposed individuals recruited through the National Centre for Mental Health PTSD cohort who completed the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale for DSM‐5 and the Patient Health Questionnaire–15. A total of 215 (61.6%) individuals met the DSM‐5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD. An exploratory graph analysis identified four clusters of densely connected symptoms within the overall network: PTSD, chronic pain, gastrointestinal issues, and more general somatic complaints. Sleep difficulties played a key role in bridging PTSD and somatic symptoms. Our network analysis demonstrates the distinct nature of PTSD and somatization symptoms, with this association connected by disturbed sleep

Towards the probabilistic analysis of small bowel capsule endoscopy features to predict severity of duodenal histology in patients with villous atrophy

Small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) can be complementary to histological assessment of celiac disease (CD) and serology negative villous atrophy (SNVA). Determining the severity of disease on SBCE using statistical machine learning methods can be useful in the follow up of patients. SBCE can play an additional role in differentiating between CD and SNVA. De-identified SBCEs of patients with CD and SNVA were included. Probabilistic analysis of features on SBCE were used to predict severity of duodenal histology and to distinguish between CD and SNVA. Patients with higher Marsh scores were more likely to have a positive SBCE and a continuous distribution of macroscopic features of disease than those with lower Marsh scores. The same pattern was also true for patients with CD when compared to patients with SNVA. The validation accuracy when predicting the severity of Marsh scores and when distinguishing between CD and SNVA was 69.1% in both cases. When the proportions of each SBCE class group within the dataset were included in the classification model, to distinguish between the two pathologies, the validation accuracy increased to 75.3%. The findings of this work suggest that by using features of CD and SNVA on SBCE, predictions can be made of the type of pathology and the severity of disease