Weight filtration on the cohomology of complex analytic spaces

We extend Deligne's weight filtration to the integer cohomology of complex analytic spaces (endowed with an equivalence class of compactifications). In general, the weight filtration that we obtain is not part of a mixed Hodge structure. Our purely geometric proof is based on cubical descent for resolution of singularities and Poincar\'e-Verdier duality. Using similar techniques, we introduce the singularity filtration on the cohomology of compactificable analytic spaces. This is a new and natural analytic invariant which does not depend on the equivalence class of compactifications and is related to the weight filtration.Comment: examples added + minor correction

Future transitions for the bioeconomy towards sustainable development and a climate-neutral economy - Modelling needs to integrate all three aspects of sustainability

This report analyses the existing capacity and needs for bioeconomy modelling to integrate all three dimensions of sustainability (economic, social, environmental) and provides recommendations for developing new and improved models that are better suited to assist foresight activities and policy making related to the targeted transformation. There are already several models and recent extensions to support the analysis of key policy issues. Part of the recommendations therefore focus on extensions of the existing modelling capacity, to close identified gaps within currently existing economic structures and their adaptation to policy interventions. Another set of recommendations focuses on the application of so-called emerging modelling approaches, which can close gaps that cannot be addressed by extending existing models. These gaps concern changing economic structures on the supply side and behavioural patterns on the consumption side, which are required to be captured to understand the long-term dimensions of the targeted transformation. The capacity of emerging modelling approaches to analyse the effects of agents’ heterogeneity in decision making, fundamental pattern changes like the overcoming of lock-ins, as well as socio-economic and environment system interactions, makes them interesting for bioeconomy modelling.JRC.D.4 - Economics of Agricultur

A Two-Phase ASP Encoding for Solving Rehabilitation Scheduling

The rehabilitation scheduling process consists of planning rehabilitation physiotherapy sessions for patients, by assigning proper operators to them in a certain time slot of a given day, taking into account several requirements and optimizations, e.g., patient’s preferences and operator’s work balancing. Being able to efficiently solve such problem is of upmost importance, in particular after the COVID-19 pandemic that significantly increased rehabilitation’s needs. In this paper, we present a solution to rehabilitation scheduling based on Answer Set Programming (ASP), which proved to be an effective tool for solving practical scheduling problems. Results of experiments performed on both synthetic and real benchmarks, the latter provided by ICS Maugeri, show the effectiveness of our solution

Active Degassing of Deeply Sourced Fluids in Central Europe: New Evidences From a Geochemical Study in Serbia

We report on the results of an extensive geochemical survey of fluids released in the Vardar zone (central-western Serbia), a mega-suture zone at the boundary between Eurasia and Africa plates. Thirty-one bubbling gas samples are investigated for their chemical and isotopic compositions (He, C, Ar) and cluster into three distinct groups (CO2-dominated, N2-dominated, and CH4-dominated) based on the dominant gas species. The measured He isotope ratios range from 0.08 to 1.19 Ra (where Ra is the atmospheric ratio), and reveal for the first time the presence of a minor (<20%) but detectable regional mantle-derived component in Serbia. δ13C values range from −20.2‰ to −0.1‰ (versus PDB), with the more negative compositions observed in N2-dominated samples. The carbon-helium relationship indicates that these negative δ13C compositions could be due to isotopic fractionation processes during CO2 dissolution into groundwater. In contrast, CO2-rich samples reflect mixing between crustal and mantle-derived CO2. Our estimated mantle-derived He flux (9.0 × 109 atoms m−2 s−1) is up to 2 orders of magnitude higher than the typical fluxes in stable continental areas, suggesting a structural/tectonic setting favoring the migration of deep-mantle fluids through the crust

Degassing of deep fluids in the Pannonian basin and adjacent areas

The Pannonian Basin (PB), in Central-Eastern Europe, is a continental area characterized by widespread presence of natural resources, high heat fluxes and outgassing of deep-sourced fluids (i.e. mantle-magma and/or crustal-derived). Moreover, the region is interested by ascent of the asthenosphere and a thin lithosphere (≈75 km). Here, we review 40 years of geochemical studies on natural gas emissions in the PB system and nearby areas providing the first comprehensive geochemical characterization of gas manifestations for the Croatian segment of PB. We use stable isotope (δ13CCO2) geochemistry, noble gases data, and C[sbnd]He systematics to reconcile geochemical information with geophysical and geodynamic models at regional scale, and hence to characterize (i) the source/s of fluids outgassing at the surface and (ii) the main processes occurring during their storage in, and transit through, the crust. The chemical composition of the emitted fluids is very heterogeneous in the PB. We identify three distinct gas types (CO2-dominated, N2-dominated, and CH4-dominated) that are variably distributed in different sectors of PB. The He isotopic composition range from 0.07 to 6.32Ra (Ra is the air He isotopic signature), suggesting the coexistence of crustal and mantle components in the area. Furthermore, the same components also occur in the Croatian PB, where the He isotopic ratios range from 0.02 Ra to 2.21 Ra. The groundwater circulation in the PB implies an addition of atmospheric-derived noble gas component to the deep fluids (mantle vs crust-derived). The volumetric gas/water ratios (Vg/Vl) are highly variable (0.002 to 66) with the highest values in N2-dominated samples, and correlate with atmospheric-derived 20Ne concentration, pointing to shallow gas origin for these samples (relative to CO2 and CH4-dominated samples). The C[sbnd]He systematics, coupled with the δ13C of CO2, indicates extensive chemical and isotopic fractionation due to partial dissolution of gas in water in the shallow crustal layers and consequent CO2 trapping in deep aquifers and/or in precipitating carbonates. In addition, methanogenesis could work as an additional potential CO2 sink in the crust. The mantle-derived He flux, on a regional scale, is estimated at 1.7 × 1010 to 1.7 × 1012 atoms m−2 s−1, one order of magnitude greater than found by O'Nions and Oxburgh (1988), and similar to what found in other tectonically active regions. The mantle-related CO2 flux computed using CO2/3He ratios and the mantle He fluxes, range between 103 and 105 mol·km−2·year−1. Despite representing a rough estimation, these values are in the range of the CO2 fluxes in active and quiescent worldwide volcanic systems. We propose the transfer of mantle-derived volatiles to occurs through lithospheric faults in the PB and adjacent regions, although the presence of magmatic intrusions in crustal layers is an additional contributing factor

Wettability of soft PLGA surfaces predicted by experimentally augmented atomistic models

A challenging topic in surface engineering is predicting the wetting properties of soft interfaces with different liquids. However, a robust computational protocol suitable for predicting wettability with molecular precision is still lacking. In this article, we propose a workflow based on molecular dynamics simulations to predict the wettability of polymer surfaces and test it against the experimental contact angle of several polar and nonpolar liquids, namely water, formamide, toluene, and hexane. The specific case study addressed here focuses on a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) flat surface, but the proposed experimental-modeling protocol may have broader fields of application. The structural properties of PLGA slabs have been modeled on the surface roughness determined with microscopy measurements, while the computed surface tensions and contact angles were validated against standardized characterization tests, reaching a discrepancy of less than 3% in the case of water. Overall, this work represents the initial step toward an integrated multiscale framework for predicting the wettability of more complex soft interfaces, which will eventually take into account the effect of surface topology at higher scales and synergically be employed with experimental characterization techniques

Features of programmed cell death in intact Xenopus oocytes and early embryos revealed by near-infrared fluorescence and real-time monitoring.

Factors influencing apoptosis of vertebrate eggs and early embryos have been studied in cell-free systems and in intact embryos by analyzing individual apoptotic regulators or caspase activation in static samples. A novel method for monitoring caspase activity in living Xenopus oocytes and early embryos is described here. The approach, using microinjection of a near-infrared caspase substrate that emits fluorescence only after its proteolytic cleavage by active effector caspases, has enabled the elucidation of otherwise cryptic aspects of apoptotic regulation. In particular, we show that brief caspase activity (10 min) is sufficient to cause apoptotic death in this system. We illustrate a cytochrome c dose threshold in the oocyte, which is lowered by Smac, a protein that binds thereby neutralizing the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. We show that meiotic oocytes develop resistance to cytochrome c, and that the eventual death of oocytes arrested in meiosis is caspase-independent. Finally, data acquired through imaging caspase activity in the Xenopus embryo suggest that apoptosis in very early development is not cell-autonomous. These studies both validate this assay as a useful tool for apoptosis research and reveal subtleties in the cell death program during early development. Moreover, this method offers a potentially valuable screening modality for identifying novel apoptotic regulators

Hydrothermal pressure-temperature control on CO2 emissions and seismicity at Campi Flegrei (Italy)

Fluids supplied by stored magma at depth are causal factors of volcanic unrest, as they can cause pressurization/heating of hydrothermal systems. However, evidence for links between hydrothermal pressurization, CO2 emission and volcano seismicity have remained elusive. Here, we use recent (2010−2020) observations at Campi Flegrei caldera (CFc) to show hydrothermal pressure, gas emission and seismicity at CFc share common source areas and well-matching temporal evolutions. We interpret the recent escalation in seismicity and surface gas emissions as caused by pressure-temperature increase at the top of a vertically elongated (0.3–2 km deep) gas front. Using mass (steam) balance considerations, we show hydrothermal pressurization is causing energy transfer from the fluids to the host rocks, ultimately triggering low magnitude earthquakes within a seismogenetic volume containing the hydrothermal system. This mechanism is probably common to other worldwide calderas in similar hydrothermal activity state

AUSF Italy: the national organization of Italian students in Forestry

n/