Inflectional loci of scrolls

Let $X\subset \mathbb P^N$ be a scroll over a smooth curve $C$ and let \L=\mathcal O_{\mathbb P^N}(1)|_X denote the hyperplane bundle. The special geometry of $X$ implies that some sheaves related to the principal part bundles of \L are locally free. The inflectional loci of $X$ can be expressed in terms of these sheaves, leading to explicit formulas for the cohomology classes of the loci. The formulas imply that the only uninflected scrolls are the balanced rational normal scrolls.Comment: 9 pages, improved version. Accepted in Mathematische Zeitschrif

Sensory quality of meat from lambs fed on different diets

The whole seed of sweet lupin var. Multitalia with a protein content higher than 35% and a low content in alkaloids constitutes a good protein source alternative to soybean meal, today deriving for more than 60% from OGM (Genetically Modified Organisms) cultivation. Moreover, the poor national production and the cost of feeds for animals forces the livestock compartment to utilize alternative biomasses the availability of which highly depends on from the environment and the season

The screen representation of vector coupling coefficients or Wigner 3j symbols: exact computation and illustration of the asymptotic behavior

The Wigner $3j$ symbols of the quantum angular momentum theory are related to the vector coupling or Clebsch-Gordan coefficients and to the Hahn and dual Hahn polynomials of the discrete orthogonal hyperspherical family, of use in discretization approximations. We point out the important role of the Regge symmetries for defining the screen where images of the coefficients are projected, and for discussing their asymptotic properties and semiclassical behavior. Recursion relationships are formulated as eigenvalue equations, and exploited both for computational purposes and for physical interpretations.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, presented at ICCSA 2014, 14th International Conference on Computational Science and Application

Development of engineering design tools to help reduce apple bruising

A large percentage of apples are wasted each year due to damage such as bruising. The apple journey from orchard to supermarket is very complex and apples are subjected to a variety of static and dynamic loads that could result in this damage occurring. The main aim of this work was to carry out numerical modelling to develop a design tool that can be used to optimise the design of harvesting and sorting equipment and packaging media to reduce the likelihood of apple bruise formation resulting from impact loads. An experimental study, along with analytical calculations, varying apple drop heights and counterface material properties, were used to provide data to validate the numerical modelling. Good correlation was seen between the models and experiments and this approach combined with previous work on static modelling should provide a comprehensive design tool for reducing the likelihood of apple bruising occurring

Role of polymeric coating on metallic foams to control the aeroacoustic noise reduction of airfoils with permeable trailing edges

Studies on porous trailing edges, manufactured with open-cell Ni-Cr-Al foams with sub-millimeter pore sizes, have shown encouraging results for the mitigation of turbulent boundary-layer trailing-edge noise. However, the achieved noise mitigation is typically dependent upon the pore geometry, which is fixed after manufacturing. In this study, a step to control the aeroacoustics effect of such porous trailing edges is taken, by applying a polymeric coating onto the internal foam structure. Using this method, the internal topology of the foam is maintained, but its permeability is significantly affected. This study opens a new possibility of aeroacoustic control, since the polymeric coatings are temperature responsive, and their thickness can be controlled inside the foam. Porous metallic foams with pore sizes of 580, 800, and 1200 μm are (internally) spray-coated with an elastomeric coating. The uncoated and coated foams are characterized in terms of reduced porosity, average coating thickness and air-flow resistance. Subsequently, the coated and uncoated foams are employed to construct tapered inserts installed at the trailing edge of an NACA 0018 airfoil. The noise mitigation performances of the coated metal foams are compared to those of uncoated metal foams with either similar pore size or permeability value, and both are compared to the solid trailing edge reference case. Results show that that the permeability of the foam can be easily altered by the application of an internal coating on the metallic foams. The noise reduction characteristics of the coated foams are similar to equivalent ones with metallic materials, provided that the coating material is rigid enough not to plastically deform under flow conditions

Effects of dietary supplementation with extruded linseed and oregano in autochthonous goat breeds on the fatty acid profile of milk and quality of Padraccio cheese

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of linseed and oregano supplementation to the diet of goats on fatty acid profile and sensory properties of Padraccio, a typical cheese produced during spring through summer in the Basilicata region (southern Italy). Extruded linseed and dried oregano inflorescences were integrated in the pelleted concentrate supplementation (500 g/head per day) in 21 grazing goats that were randomly assigned, 7 per group, to the following experimental treatments: concentrate, concentrate with addition of linseed, and concentrate with addition of linseed and oregano. Pooled milk from each group was used in cheesemaking. From a nutritional perspective, integration of extruded linseed in the goat diet improved the fatty acid profile of Padraccio cheese. Moreover, the cheese from this group evidenced the highest scoring on color, flavor, texture, and overall liking

Acute deep vein thrombosis in COVID 19 hospitalized patients. Risk factors and clinical outcomes

Nello studio vengono analizzati i fattori di rischio in pazienti con infezione da COVID 19 e trombosi venosa profond

Case Report: Unmasking Hypercalcemia in Patients With Neuroendocrine Neoplasms. Experience From Six Italian Referral Centers.

Background: Hypercalcemia is a common paraneoplastic syndrome which can occur in up to 10% of patients with advanced neoplasms. Paraneoplastic parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) represents the most frequent cause of this syndrome. In neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) paraneoplastic hypercalcemia is rare. Case series: The present series includes all patients with NENs and paraneoplastic hypercalcemia from four Italian centres: (I) A 40-year-old man was hospitalized for repeated episodes of falls, hyposthenia and drowsiness. Severe hypercalcemia was found. Metastatic pancreatic G2 NEN and PTHrP-related hypercalcemia were diagnosed. The patient started therapy with somatostatin analogs (SSA) and Denosumab. After disease progression peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) was started with an objective response associated with PTHrP reduction and normocalcemia. (II) A 45-year-old man was referred for pancreatic G2 NEN. SSA and subsequently everolimus were administered for metastases occurrence. Hypercalcemia occurred and PRRT and Denosumab were started for disease progression with the onset of bone metastases. Despite disease stability after four cycles of PRRT the patient's performance status worsened until death. (III) A 49-year-old woman was hospitalized for psychic slowdown, confusional state, sensory dullness. A severe hypercalcemia, associated with a pancreatic G1 NEN was diagnosed and treated with haemodialysis, bisphosphonates injections and continuous infusion of calcitonin. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D was high, PTHrP was undetectable. After surgery serum calcium levels and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were normalized. (IV) A 69-year-old man was hospitalized after the onset of shortness of breath and dyspnea, asthenia and weight loss. Computed Tomography (CT) and 68Ga DOTATOC Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-CT revealed a left pulmonary nodule. Hypercalcemia and markedly elevated PTHrP levels were detected. The histological examination revealed an atypical carcinoid. After surgery, calcium levels were normalized, PTHrP was significantly reduced with an improvement of general conditions. Conclusion: In our series, paraneoplastic PTHrP-related hypercalcemia occurred in pancreatic NEN and in one bronchial carcinoid representing the third case in the literature. Our case associated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D secretion represents the fourth case in the literature. PTHrP secretion should be considered in NENs' patients with hypercalcemia. Acute treatment should be focused on lowering calcium levels, and long-term control can be achieved by tumor cytoreduction inhibiting PTHrP release

Radiomics-Based Inter-Lesion Relation Network to Describe [18F]FMCH PET/CT Imaging Phenotypes in Prostate Cancer

Advanced image analysis, specifically radiomics, has been recognized as a potential source of biomarkers for cancers. However, there are challenges to its application in the clinic, such as proper description of diseases where multiple lesions coexist. In this study, we aimed to characterize the intra-tumor heterogeneity of metastatic prostate cancer using an innovative approach. This approach consisted of a transformation method to build a radiomic profile of lesions extracted from [18F]FMCH PET/CT images, a qualitative assessment of intra-tumor heterogeneity of patients, and a quantitative representation of the intra-tumor heterogeneity of patients in terms of the relationship between their lesions’ profiles. We found that metastatic prostate cancer patients had lesions with different radiomic profiles that exhibited intra-tumor radiomic heterogeneity and that the presence of many radiomic profiles within the same patient impacted the outcome

European wildcat populations are subdivided into five main biogeographic groups: consequences of Pleistocene climate changes or recent anthropogenic fragmentation?

Extant populations of the European wildcat are fragmented across the continent, the likely consequence of recent extirpations due to habitat loss and over-hunting. However, their underlying phylogeographic history has never been reconstructed. For testing the hypothesis that the European wildcat survived the Ice Age fragmented in Mediterranean refuges, we assayed the genetic variation at 31 microsatellites in 668 presumptive European wildcats sampled in 15 European countries. Moreover, to evaluate the extent of subspecies/population divergence and identify eventual wild × domestic cat hybrids, we genotyped 26 African wildcats from Sardinia and North Africa and 294 random-bred domestic cats. Results of multivariate analyses and Bayesian clustering confirmed that the European wild and the domestic cats (plus the African wildcats) belong to two well-differentiated clusters (average Ф ST = 0.159, r st = 0.392, P > 0.001; Analysis of molecular variance [AMOVA]). We identified from c. 5% to 10% cryptic hybrids in southern and central European populations. In contrast, wild-living cats in Hungary and Scotland showed deep signatures of genetic admixture and introgression with domestic cats. The European wildcats are subdivided into five main genetic clusters (average Ф ST = 0.103, r st = 0.143, P > 0.001; AMOVA) corresponding to five biogeographic groups, respectively, distributed in the Iberian Peninsula, central Europe, central Germany, Italian Peninsula and the island of Sicily, and in north-eastern Italy and northern Balkan regions (Dinaric Alps). Approximate Bayesian Computation simulations supported late Pleistocene-early Holocene population splittings (from c. 60 k to 10 k years ago), contemporary to the last Ice Age climatic changes. These results provide evidences for wildcat Mediterranean refuges in southwestern Europe, but the evolution history of eastern wildcat populations remains to be clarified. Historical genetic subdivisions suggest conservation strategies aimed at enhancing gene flow through the restoration of ecological corridors within each biogeographic units. Concomitantly, the risk of hybridization with free-ranging domestic cats along corridor edges should be carefully monitored