Dimer diffusion in a washboard potential

The transport of a dimer, consisting of two Brownian particles bounded by a harmonic potential, moving on a periodic substrate is investigated both numerically and analytically. The mobility and diffusion of the dimer center of mass present distinct properties when compared with those of a monomer under the same transport conditions. Both the average current and the diffusion coefficient are found to be complicated non-monotonic functions of the driving force. The influence of dimer equilibrium length, coupling strength and damping constant on the dimer transport properties are also examined in detail.Comment: Final revised version. 7 pages, 6 figure

Performance-based analysis of aerodrome weather forecasts

Weather forecasting is a critical aspect for optimizing aerodrome operations. It allows ensuring on-ground and en-route safe and efficient air traffic management. Being a continuous and mandatory operation for aerodrome systems, it routinely produces large amounts of data. This paper suggests a customized performance-based analysis of weather forecasts accuracy in line with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards. The analysis is instantiated into operational settings of a Euro-pean Weather Service Provider (WSP), and its implications for operations of an Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), by means of exemplary data intelligence reports including accuracy indicators. The analysis is meant to support decision makers in managing aerodrome weather forecasting gaining knowledge from past operations

The role of monoclonal antibodies in smoldering and newly diagnosed transplant-eligible multiple myeloma

The recent introduction of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), with several cellular targets, such as CD-38 (daratumumab and isatuximab) and SLAM F7 (elotuzumab), differently combined with other classes of agents, has significantly extended the outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in different phases of the disease. Initially used in advanced/refractory patients, different MoAbs combination have been introduced in the treatment of newly diagnosed transplant eligible patients (NDTEMM), showing a significant improvement in the depth of the response and in survival outcomes, without a significant price in terms of toxicity. In smoldering MM, MoAbs have been applied, either alone or in combination with other drugs, with the goal of delaying the progression to active MM and restoring the immune system. In this review, we will focus on the main results achieved so far and on the main on-going trials using MoAbs in SMM and NDTEMM

EOQ inventory model for perishable products under uncertainty

Perishable products require accurate inventory control models as their effect on operations management can be critical. This assumption is particularly relevant in highly uncertain and dynamic markets, as for the ones generated by the pandemic era. This paper presents an inventory control model for perishable items with a demand rate variable over time, and dependent on the inventory rate. The model also considers the potential for backlogging and lost sales. Imperfect product quality is included, and deterioration is modelled as a time-dependent variable. The framework envisages the possibility to define variables affected by uncertainty in terms of probability distribution functions, which are then jointly managed via a Monte Carlo simulation. This paper is intended to provide an analytical formulation to deal with uncertainty and time-dependent inventory functions to be used for a variety of perishable products. The formulation is designed to support decision-making for the identification of the optimal order quantity. A numerical example exemplifies the outcomes of the paper and provides a cost-based sensitivity analysis to understand the role of main parameters

Safety and Efficacy of Lenalidomide in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Lenalidomide is an oral immunomodulatory drug that has helped improve outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Combination lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Len+Dex) has been shown to increase response rates and prolong survival compared with dexamethasone alone in patients with relapsed or refractory MM (RRMM). Clinical benefit may be greatest when Len+Dex is given at first relapse, and continued treatment appears to provide greater depth of response and improved survival outcomes. The most common adverse events associated with Len+Dex are cytopenias, which are predictable and manageable. Len+Dex is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, which necessitates adequate prophylaxis. The risk of second primary malignancies does not appear to be increased in patients with RRMM treated with lenalidomide-based therapy. Here we review the safety and efficacy of Len+Dex in RRMM, and provide an overview of data from Spain on the use of Len+Dex in RRMM

A system-approach for recoverable spare parts management using the discreteweibull distribution

Optimal spare parts management strategies allow sustaining a system's availability, while ensuring timely and effective maintenance. Following a systemic perspective, this paper starts from the Multi-Echelon Technique for Recoverable Item Control (METRIC) to investigate the potential use of a Weibull distribution for modelling items' demand in case of failure. Adapting the analytic formulation of METRIC through a Discrete Weibull distribution, this study originally proposes a METRIC-based model (DW-METRIC) to be used for modelling the stochastic demand in multi-item systems, in order to ensure process sustainability. The DW-METRIC has been tested in a case study related to an industrial plant constituted by 98 items in a passive redundancy configuration. Comparing the results via a simulation model, the outcomes of the study allow defining applicability criteria for the DW-METRIC, in those settings where the DW-METRIC offers more accurate estimations than the traditional METRIC

Conversion of cytochrome c into a peroxidase: inhibitory mechanisms and implication for neurodegenerative diseases.

A further function of cytochrome c (cyt c), beyond respiration, is realized outside mitochondria in the apoptotic program. In the early events of apoptosis, the interaction of cyt c with a mitochondrion-specific phospholipid, cardiolipin (CL), brings about a conformational transition of the protein and acquirement of peroxidase activity. The hallmark of cyt c with peroxidase activity is its partial unfolding accompanied by loosening of the Fe sixth axial bond and an enhanced access of the heme catalytic site to small molecules like H2O2. To investigate the peroxidase activity of non-native cyt c, different forms of the protein were analyzed with the aim to correlate their structural features with the acquired enzymatic activity and apoptogenic properties (wt cyt c/CL complex and two single cyt c variants, H26Y and Y67H, free and bound to CL). The results suggest that cyt c may respond to different environments by changing its fold thus favouring the exertion of different biological functions in different pathophysiological cell conditions. Transitions among different conformations are regulated by endogenous molecules such as ATP and may be affected by synthetic molecules such as minocycline, thus suggesting a mechanism explaining its use as therapeutic agent impacting on disease-associated oxidative and apoptotic mechanisms

Monitor, anticipate, respond, and learn: developing and interpreting a multilayer social network of resilience abilities

Resilient performance is influenced by social interactions of several types, which may be analysed as layers of interwoven networks. The combination of these layers gives rise to a “network of networks”, also known as a multilayer network. This study presents an approach to develop and interpret multilayer networks in light of resilience engineering. Layers correspond to the four abilities of resilient systems: monitor, anticipate, respond, and learn. The proposal is applied in a 34-bed intensive care unit. To map relationships between actors in each layer, a questionnaire was devised and answered by 133 staff members, including doctors, nurses, nurse technicians, and allied health professionals. Two multilayer networks were developed: one considering that actors are 100% available and reliable (work-as-imagined) and another considering suboptimal availability and reliability (work-as-done). The multilayer networks were analysed through actor-centred (Katz centrality, degree deviation, and neighbourhood centrality) and layer-centred metrics (inter-layer correlation, and assortativity correlation). Strengths and weaknesses of social interactions at the ICU are discussed based on the adopted metrics

Basic kinetic wealth-exchange models: common features and open problems

We review the basic kinetic wealth-exchange models of Angle [J. Angle, Social Forces 65 (1986) 293; J. Math. Sociol. 26 (2002) 217], Bennati [E. Bennati, Rivista Internazionale di Scienze Economiche e Commerciali 35 (1988) 735], Chakraborti and Chakrabarti [A. Chakraborti, B. K. Chakrabarti, Eur. Phys. J. B 17 (2000) 167], and of Dragulescu and Yakovenko [A. Dragulescu, V. M. Yakovenko, Eur. Phys. J. B 17 (2000) 723]. Analytical fitting forms for the equilibrium wealth distributions are proposed. The influence of heterogeneity is investigated, the appearance of the fat tail in the wealth distribution and the relaxation to equilibrium are discussed. A unified reformulation of the models considered is suggested.Comment: Updated version; 9 pages, 5 figures, 2 table