Engineering muscle networks in 3D gelatin methacryloyl hydrogels: influence of mechanical stiffness and geometrical confinement

In this work, the influence of mechanical stiffness and geometrical confinement on the 3D culture of myoblast-laden gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) photo-crosslinkable hydrogels was evaluated in terms of in vitro myogenesis. We formulated a set of cell-laden GelMA hydrogels with a compressive modulus in the range 1÷17 kPa, obtained by varying GelMA concentration and degree of cross-linking. C2C12 myoblasts were chosen as the cell model, to investigate the supportiveness of different GelMA hydrogels on myotube formation up to 2 weeks. Results showed that the hydrogels with a stiffness in the range 1÷3 kPa provided enhanced support to C2C12 differentiation in terms of myotube number, rate of formation and space distribution. Finally, we studied the influence of geometrical confinement on myotube orientation by confining cells within thin hydrogel slabs having different cross-sections: i) 2000×2000 m, ii) 1000×1000 m and iii) 500×500 m. The obtained results showed that by reducing the cross-section—i.e., by increasing the level of confinement—myotubes were more likely restrained and formed aligned myostructures that better mimicked the native morphology of skeletal muscle

A Comparison between Multiple-Input Multiple-Output and Multiple-Input Single-Output Radar Configurations for Through-the-Wall Imaging Applications

The performances of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar, employing 16 equivalent antennas, and multiple-input single-output (MISO) radar, employing 10 antennas, for through-the-wall imaging applications are analyzed. In particular, imaging algorithms based on the Fourier transform (FT) and the multiple signal classification (MUSIC) available in the literature are compared with the FT-MUSIC hybrid algorithm recently developed by the authors. Three different investigations have been performed. The first, performed analytically, refers to a scenario in which a point scatterer is placed in free space, and the second, addressed numerically using the CST full-wave software, refers to a scenario in which two targets are present, while the last was executed in a real scenario where a metal panel is placed behind a tuff wall. All the algorithms and radar configurations were found to be suitable for accurately reconstructing the position of the investigated target. In particular, applying the FT technique, the MISO configuration has a lower cross-range half-power beamwidths (HPBW) than the MIMO one, while the range HPBW is the same for the two radar configurations. Despite the different number of elements present in the two radar configurations, similar range and cross-range HPBW are obtained for both configurations when MUSIC and FT-MUSIC techniques are employed. The field of view for FT and FT-MUSIC is about 45°, while it is less than 15° for the MUSIC algorithm. The HPBWs obtained with the experimental setup are very close to those obtained in the analytical study. Finally, the proposed experimental MISO radar acquires the data in half the time required by the MIMO one. The numerical results, confirmed by the experimental measurements, seem to indicate in the FT-MUSIC technique the one that provides the best performance for the considered radar configurations

In utroque iure: i Tribunali ecclesiastici e l’esimente ex art. 598 c.p.

SOMMARIO: 1. Introduzione - 2. La giurisdizione dei tribunali ecclesiastici. - 3. L’analogia. – 4. L’esercizio d’un diritto

Il delicato bilanciamento costituzionale fra libertà di parola e tutela del sentimento religioso: profili comparati

SOMMARIO: 1. Premessa - 2. Il quadro costituzionale in Pakistan - 3. La tutela del sentimento religioso nel codice penale pakistano - 4. Il quadro costituzionale tedesco - 5. La tutela del sentimento religioso nel codice penale tedesco - 6. Conclusioni.The delicate constitutional Balance between Freedom of Speech and the Protection of religious Sentiment: comparative ProfilesABSTRACT: The article focuses on the issue of freedom of speech and freedom of religion from the point of view of two countries with specific legislation in place (Pakistan and Germany). In particular, we will examine the two Constitutions and the two Criminal Law, which proved to have very different ways of expressing their sensitivity and a great attention to the religious sentiment of the population

Dopo la rivoluzione francese, non il diluvio, ma il contratto congreganista

Relazione destinata agli Atti del convegno “La Chiesa e l’Europa”, 28-29 ottobre 2005, organizzato dalla cattedra di diritto ecclesiastico della Facoltà di Giurisprudenza (Prof. Leziroli) Università di Ferrara

"Morgen, Morgen! Nur nicht heute!" Il lavoro dei religiosi secondo la legislazione tedesca

SOMMARIO: Introduzione - 1. Indicazione ad alcune questioni che si possono porre relative ad aspetti tributari o di previdenza sociale - 2. Nessun legame di  lavoro con i contratti di servizio - 2.1. Requisiti per l'Istituto - 3. Natura giuridica del  Gestellungsvertrag - 3.1. Terminologia - 3.2. Gestellungsvertrag: costruzione illegale  o contratto sui generis? - 4. Cambiamenti della giurisprudenza - 41. Giurisprudenza del  Reichsfinanzhof - 4.2. Giurisprudenza del  Bundesfinanzhof - 4.3. La prassi dell’autorità finanziaria - 5. Aspetti prettamente giuridici dei Gestellungsverträge - 5.1. Questioni giuridiche generali sulla costituzione aziendale relativa all’attività dei professi in un istituto estraneo all’Ordine

Dwarf spheroidal satellites of M31: I. Variable stars and stellar populations in Andromeda XIX

We present B,V time-series photometry of Andromeda XIX (And XIX), the most extended (half-light radius of 6.2') of Andromeda's dwarf spheroidal companions, that we observed with the Large Binocular Cameras at the Large Binocular Telescope. We surveyed a 23'x 23' area centered on And XIX and present the deepest color magnitude diagram (CMD) ever obtained for this galaxy, reaching, at V~26.3 mag, about one magnitude below the horizontal branch (HB). The CMD shows a prominent and slightly widened red giant branch, along with a predominantly red HB, which, however, extends to the blue to significantly populate the classical instability strip. We have identified 39 pulsating variable stars, of which 31 are of RR Lyrae type and 8 are Anomalous Cepheids (ACs). Twelve of the RR Lyrae variables and 3 of the ACs are located within And XIX's half light radius. The average period of the fundamental mode RR Lyrae stars ( = 0.62 d, \sigma= 0.03 d) and the period-amplitude diagram qualify And XIX as an Oosterhoff-Intermediate system. From the average luminosity of the RR Lyrae stars ( = 25.34 mag, \sigma= 0.10 mag) we determine a distance modulus of (m-M)$_0$=$24.52\pm0.23$ mag in a scale where the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is $18.5\pm0.1$ mag. The ACs follow a well defined Period-Wesenheit (PW) relation that appears to be in very good agreement with the PW relationship defined by the ACs in the LMC.Comment: accepted for publication in Ap

Transverse strength of railway tracks : Part 3. Multiple scenarios test field

© Gruppo Italiano Frattura 2014. This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt and build upon this work, for commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/In the present paper the design and construction choices of a test field for the ballast lateral resistance measurement, in order to produce data useful for the development of a numerical model able to simulate the service critical conditions of a continuous welded rail track, are described. Some construction details described herein allow to better understand the methodological approach followed in the design of experiments, the tests management philosophy as well as of the accuracy achieved in their implementation.Peer reviewe