Reduced-Order Modelling of the Bending of an Array of Torsional Micromirrors

Reduced-Order Modelling of the Bending of an Array of An array of micromirrors for beam steering optical switching has been designed in a thick polysilicon technology. A novel semi-analytical method to calculate the static characteristics of the micromirrors by taking into account the flexural deformation of the structure is presented. The results are compared with 3D coupled-field FEM simulation.Comment: Submitted on behalf of TIMA Editions (http://irevues.inist.fr/tima-editions

Non-Symmetrized Hyperspherical Harmonics Method for Non-Equal Mass Three-Body Systems

The non-symmetrized hyperspherical harmonics method for a three-body system, composed by two particles having equal masses, but different from the mass of the third particle, is reviewed and applied to the $^3$H, $^3$He nuclei and $^3_{\Lambda}$H hyper-nucleus, seen respectively as $nnp$, $ppn$ and $NN\Lambda$ three-body systems. The convergence of the method is first tested in order to estimate its accuracy. Then, the difference of binding energy between $^3$H and $^3$He due to the difference of the proton and the neutron masses is studied using several central spin-independent and spin-dependent potentials. Finally, the $^3_{\Lambda}$H hypernucleus binding energy is calculated using different $NN$ and $\Lambda N$ potential models. The results have been compared with those present in the literature, finding a very nice agreement.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure and 14 tables, version revisited according to referees suggestion

Letter to the editor concerning “Liver transplantation for metastatic wild-type gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the era of molecular targeted therapies: Report of a first case"

N

Which affects affect the use of new technologies? Italian adaptation of the Internet Motive Questionnaire for Adolescents (IMQ-A) and criterion validity with problematic use and body dissatisfaction

Given the negative role of problematic use of new technological devices (NTD) in behavioral and psychological domains, the aim of the study is the Italian adaptation and validation of the Internet Motive Questionnaire for Adolescents (IMQ-A) in order to understand the motivation for the use of NTD. A total of 769 students 10-19 aged (M = 13.22, SD = 1.56) completed the IMQ-A, the Collins Figures Rating Scale, and two measures regarding the problematic NTD use, focused on overuse during the night and during meals. The IMQ-A showed adequate internal consistency with regard to its four subscales: Coping (α = .84), Social (α = .80), Enhancement (α = .80), and Conformity (α = .68) motives. However, with regard to factorial structure, a threefactor model (excluding Conformity subscale) showed slightly better fit indices than the original model. Coping motive was correlated with problematic NTD use and succeeded in predicting higher scores in body dissatisfaction as evidence of criterion-related and external validity. The Italian adaptation of the IMQ-A can be useful in both research and clinical fields, in order to propose alternative strategies for coping to users and to improve emotion regulation facets

Design for six sigma (DFSS) applied to a new eco-motorbike

The primary purpose of this work is to organize, in the best possible way, the design of an ecological transport vehicle, using an advanced design methodology, namely design for six sigma (DFSS). The DFSS is indeed a design approach, able to implement, in a logical and integrated way, other advanced methodologies of systematic design, such as quality function deployment (QFD), TRIZ (in Russian, Teorija Resenija Izobretatel'skich Zadac), benchmarking, top-flop analysis and others, in order to propose design solutions oriented both to quality and innovation, for satisfying customers. The above described has been demonstrated through the application of DFSS to a case study in which the set up phase of an industrial project was completed, without having overlooked any aspect useful for obtaining a new attractive product. The case study concerns the application of DFSS to a new low-polluting motorcycle. At the end of the work, the designer obtained the achievement of the conceptual project

Thermal Noise-Boosting Effects in Hot-Wire-Based Micro Sensors

This article proposes an original approach aimed at modelling the noise density in sensors based on a single hot wire or pairs of thermally coupled wires. The model consists in an original combination of a previous electrothermal model of the wire with well-established assumptions on the thermal noise in conductors that carry moderate current densities. A simple method for estimating the model parameters with simple impedance spectroscopy is suggested. The predicted power spectral densities of the wire thermal noise differ from the result of previously presented analytical models, stimulating further experimental studies. The effects of the electrothermal feedback of both hot wires and hot-wire pairs on flicker noise is also intrinsically covered by the proposed approach

SDHA Germline Mutations in SDH-Deficient GISTs: A Current Update

Loss of function of the succinate dehydrogenase complex characterizes 20-40% of all KIT/PDGFRA-negative GIST. Approximately half of SDH-deficient GIST patients lack SDHx mutations and are caused by a hypermethylation of the SDHC promoter, which causes the repression of SDHC transcription and depletion of SDHC protein levels through a mechanism described as epimutation. The remaining 50% of SDH-deficient GISTs have mutations in one of the SDH subunits and SDHA mutations are the most common (30%), with consequent loss of SDHA and SDHB protein expression immunohistochemically. SDHB, SDHC, and SDHD mutations in GIST occur in only 20-30% of cases and most of these SDH mutations are germline. More recently, germline mutations in SDHA have also been described in several patients with loss of function of the SDH complex. SDHA-mutant patients usually carry two mutational events at the SDHA locus, either the loss of the wild type allele or a second somatic event in compound heterozygosis. This review provides an overview of all data in the literature regarding SDHA-mutated GIST, especially focusing on the prevalence of germline mutations in SDH-deficient GIST populations who harbor SDHA somatic mutations, and offers a view towards understanding the importance of genetic counselling for SDHA-variant carriers and relatives

Liquid biopsy in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a novel approach

The role of molecular analysis in the management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) remains indisputable. To date, tumor tissue extracted from specimens obtained by surgical or biopsy procedures has been the only source of the tumor DNA required for the molecular and genomic assessment of cancer. However, tumor tissue sampling has several clinical limitations: for example, the invasiveness of these procedures precludes repeated sampling. Thus, it is possible to obtain only a static molecular picture of the disease, a picture that lacks the inter- and intra-metastatic molecular heterogeneity that characterizes most GIST. In contrast, circulating tumor DNA obtained from a patient's bloodstream, known as liquid biopsy, can theoretically overcome the limitations of tissue biopsies and provide the same molecular and genomic information. GIST are recognized as a paradigm of molecular biology among solid tumors. Although few but promising data on liquid biopsy in GIST have been accumulated to date, these tumors may provide the optimal field for application of this challenging approac