Single-file escape of colloidal particles from microfluidic channels

Single-file diffusion is a ubiquitous physical process exploited by living and synthetic systems to exchange molecules with their environment. It is paramount quantifying the escape time needed for single files of particles to exit from constraining synthetic channels and biological pores. This quantity depends on complex cooperative effects, whose predominance can only be established through a strict comparison between theory and experiments. By using colloidal particles, optical manipulation, microfluidics, digital microscopy and theoretical analysis we uncover the self-similar character of the escape process and provide closed-formula evaluations of the escape time. We find that the escape time scales inversely with the diffusion coefficient of the last particle to leave the channel. Importantly, we find that at the investigated {\bf microscale}, bias forces as tiny as $10^{-15}\;{\rm N}$ determine the magnitude of the escape time by drastically reducing interparticle collisions. Our findings provide crucial guidelines to optimize the design of micro- and nano-devices for a variety of applications including drug delivery, particle filtering and transport in geometrical constrictions.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Simple and reliable eco-extraction of bioactive compounds from dark chocolate by Deep Eutectic Solvents. A sustainable study

The green solvents and eco-extraction methods are gaining increasing interest in chemical analysis for bioactive compounds in food matrices. Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) developed as a greener and more sustainable alternative to organic solvents, owing to their non-toxic, highly stable, and biodegradation-friendly nature. DES application for polyphenols and antioxidant compounds extraction in dark chocolate samples has been evaluated in an integrated study for sustainability assessment, based on multivariate analysis and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. A green extraction method based on DES was proposed testing different HBA:HBD pairs (ChCl:Fru, ChCl:Teg, Bet:Fru, and Bet:Teg). DES Bet:Fru resulted in the highest extraction yield in terms of both total polyphenols (0.34–3.37 g GAE/100 g) and flavonoids (1.13–8.32 g RUT/100 g), P < 0.05. Furthermore, the environmental performances of green and conventional solvents (MeOH:H2O, H2O, and MeOH) were evaluated by applying a comparative LCA (c-LCA). The c-LCA study highlighted that conventional extraction for polyphenols in dark chocolate was 60% more impactful than DES. DES pairs analysed quantitatively lowest impacted than conventional methods, considering the macro-categories Human Health (9.99 × 10–8 ÷ 1.54 × 10–7 DALYs), Ecosystem (2.29 × 10–10 ÷ 3.57 × 10–10 species.yr), and Resources (6.57 × 10–3 ÷ 8.96 × 10–3 USD2013)

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Updated Review of the Literature and State of the Art

Abstract Purpose of Review Gastrointestinal endoscopy includes a wide range of procedures that has dramatically evolved over the past decades. Robotic endoscopy and artificial intelligence are expanding the horizons of traditional techniques and will play a key role in clinical practice in the near future. Understanding the main available devices and procedures is a key unmet need. This review aims to assess the current and future applications of the most recently developed endoscopy robots. Recent Findings Even though a few devices have gained approval for clinical application, the majority of robotic and artificial intelligence systems are yet to become an integral part of the current endoscopic instrumentarium. Some of the innovative endoscopic devices and artificial intelligence systems are dedicated to complex procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection, whereas others aim to improve diagnostic techniques such as colonoscopy. Summary A review on flexible endoscopic robotics and artificial intelligence systems is presented here, showing the m3ost recently approved and experimental devices and artificial intelligence systems for diagnosis and robotic endoscopy

Dirac Equation-Based Formulation for the Quantum Conductivity in 2D-Nanomaterials

bstract: Starting from the four component-Dirac equation for free, ballistic electrons with finite mass, driven by a constant d.c. field, we derive a basic model of scalar quantum conductivity, capable of yielding simple analytic forms, also in the presence of magnetic and polarization effects. The classical Drude conductivity is recovered as a limit case. A quantum-mechanical evaluation is provided for parabolic and linear dispersion, as in graphene, recovering currently used expressions as particular cases. Numerical values are compared with the ones from the literature in the case of graphene under d.c. applied field

NuSTAR discovery of a luminosity dependent cyclotron line energy in Vela X-1

We present NuSTAR observations of Vela X-1, a persistent, yet highly variable, neutron star high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB). Two observations were taken at similar orbital phases but separated by nearly a year. They show very different 3–79 keV flux levels as well as strong variability during each observation, covering almost one order of magnitude in flux. These observations allow, for the first time ever, investigations on kilo-second time-scales of how the centroid energies of cyclotron resonant scattering features (CRSFs) depend on flux for a persistent HMXB. We find that the line energy of the harmonic CRSF is correlated with flux, as expected in the sub-critical accretion regime. We argue that Vela X-1 has a very narrow accretion column with a radius of around 0.4 km that sustains a Coulomb interaction dominated shock at the observed luminosities of L_x ~ 3 × 10^36 erg s^−1. Besides the prominent harmonic line at 55 keV the fundamental line around 25 keV is clearly detected. We find that the strengths of the two CRSFs are anti-correlated, which we explain by photon spawning. This anti-correlation is a possible explanation for the debate about the existence of the fundamental line. The ratio of the line energies is variable with time and deviates significantly from 2.0, also a possible consequence of photon spawning, which changes the shape of the line. During the second observation, Vela X-1 showed a short off-state in which the power-law softened and a cut-off was no longer measurable. It is likely that the source switched to a different accretion regime at these low mass accretion rates, explaining the drastic change in spectral shape

Personalizing Cancer Pain Therapy: Insights from the Rational Use of Analgesics (RUA) Group

Introduction: A previous Delphi survey from the Rational Use of Analgesics (RUA) project involving Italian palliative care specialists revealed some discrepancies between current guidelines and clinical practice with a lack of consensus on items regarding the use of strong opioids in treating cancer pain. Those results represented the basis for a new Delphi study addressing a better approach to pain treatment in patients with cancer. Methods: The study consisted of a two-round multidisciplinary Delphi study. Specialists rated their agreement with a set of 17 statements using a 5-point Likert scale (0 = totally disagree and 4 = totally agree). Consensus on a statement was achieved if the median consensus score (MCS) (expressed as value at which at least 50% of participants agreed) was at least 4 and the interquartile range (IQR) was 3–4. Results: This survey included input from 186 palliative care specialists representing all Italian territory. Consensus was reached on seven statements. More than 70% of participants agreed with the use of low dose of strong opioids in moderate pain treatment and valued transdermal route as an effective option when the oral route is not available. There was strong consensus on the importance of knowing opioid pharmacokinetics for therapy personalization and on identifying immediate-release opioids as key for tailoring therapy to patients’ needs. Limited agreement was reached on items regarding breakthrough pain and the management of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction. Conclusion: These findings may assist clinicians in applying clinical evidence to routine care settings and call for a reappraisal of current pain treatment recommendations with the final aim of optimizing the clinical use of strong opioids in patients with cancer

Public Service Mutuals. La creazione di mutue di servizi pubblici per coniugare esternalizzazioni e partecipazione dei lavoratori\u201d

Il paper presenta un tentativo di mutualizzazione dei servizi pubblici nel Regno Unito. Grazie a diversi programmi (Right to Request, Right to Provide, Social Work Practice Programme, Mutuals Support Programme) i governi inglesi pi\uf9 recenti hanno cercato di esternalizzare non pi\uf9 i singoli servizi ma interi staff di lavoratori, favorendo la costituzione di \u201cpublic service mutuals\u201d. In questa accezione, le mutue sono organizzazioni che hanno lasciato l\u2019amministrazione pubblica, tramite un processo di spin out, continuando a gestire ed erogare servizi sociali con finalit\ue0 di pubblica utilit\ue0 attraverso una modalit\ue0 di gestione partecipativa, in quanto la propriet\ue0 dell\u2019impresa \ue8 in mano ai lavoratori. Dopo aver ricostruito l\u2019origine di questa politica, il paper illustra la struttura complessa del progetto: in esso si intrecciano societ\ue0 di consulenza, associazioni, organizzazioni ombrello, fondi dedicati, personale pubblico e commissioner. L\u2019ultima parte del contributo riepiloga i punti di forza ed i limiti del modello con particolare attenzione all\u2019ecosistema di competenze che rende il progetto esportabile anche in altri contesti

La territorializzazione delle politiche per la famiglia. Un caso di studio: il \u201cTrentino Territorio Amico della Famiglia\u201d,

Gli ultimi anni hanno visto crescere l\u201fimportanza dei territori in ogni settore di attivit\ue0: il protagonismo delle regioni, la nuova centralit\ue0 degli attori di societ\ue0 civile, la predisposizione di nuovi strumenti per governare sono solo alcune delle spinte alla territorializzazione nel campo delle politiche per la famiglia. Uno degli esperimenti pi\uf9 interessanti in questa direzione \ue8 sicuramente il tentativo della Provincia Autonoma di Trento di creare un territorio amico della famiglia. Il presente rapporto di ricerca focalizza l\u201fattenzione sul disegno complessivo del progetto trentino e su una sua particolare verticalizzazione, il Distretto Famiglia