Modeling Infinite Behaviour by Corules

open3openDavide Ancona; Francesco Dagnino; Elena ZuccaAncona, Davide; Dagnino, Francesco; Zucca, Elen

Sound Regular Corecursion in coFJ

The aim of the paper is to provide solid foundations for a programming paradigm natively supporting the creation and manipulation of cyclic data structures. To this end, we describe coFJ, a Java-like calculus where objects can be infinite and methods are equipped with a codefinition (an alternative body). We provide an abstract semantics of the calculus based on the framework of inference systems with corules. In coFJ with this semantics, FJ recursive methods on finite objects can be extended to infinite objects as well, and behave as desired by the programmer, by specifying a codefinition. We also describe an operational semantics which can be directly implemented in a programming language, and prove the soundness of such semantics with respect to the abstract one

A model-based opinion dynamics approach to tackle vaccine hesitancy

: Uncovering the mechanisms underlying the diffusion of vaccine hesitancy is crucial in fighting epidemic spreading. Toward this ambitious goal, we treat vaccine hesitancy as an opinion, whose diffusion in a social group can be shaped over time by the influence of personal beliefs, social pressure, and other exogenous actions, such as pro-vaccine campaigns. We propose a simple mathematical model that, calibrated on survey data, can predict the modification of the pre-existing individual willingness to be vaccinated and estimate the fraction of a population that is expected to adhere to an immunization program. This work paves the way for enabling tools from network control towards the simulation of different intervention plans and the design of more effective targeted pro-vaccine campaigns. Compared to traditional mass media alternatives, these model-based campaigns can exploit the structural properties of social networks to provide a potentially pivotal advantage in epidemic mitigation

Socioeconomic differentials in premature mortality in Rome: changes from 1990 to 2001

BACKGROUND: While socioeconomic inequalities in mortality have widened in many countries, evidence of social differentials is scarce in Southern Europe. We studied temporal changes in premature mortality across socioeconomic groups in Rome between 1990 and 2001. METHODS: We analysed all 126,511 death certificates of residents of Rome aged 0–74 years registered between 1990–2001. A 4-level census block index based on the 1991 census was used as an indicator of socioeconomic position (SEP). Using routine mortality data, standardised mortality rates (per 100,000 inhabitants) were calculated by SEP and gender for four time periods. Rate ratios were used to compare mortality by gender and age. RESULTS: Overall premature mortality decreased in both genders and in all socioeconomic groups; the change was greater in the highest socio-economic group. In both men and women, inequalities in mortality strengthened during the 1990s and appeared to stabilise at the end of the 20th century. However, for 60–74 year old women the gap continued to widen. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic inequalities in health in Rome are still present at the beginning of the 21(st )century. Strategies to monitor the impact of SEP on mortality over time in different populations should be implemented to direct health policies

A smart procedure for the femtosecond laser-based fabrication of a polymeric lab-on-a-chip for capturing tumor cell

Rapid prototyping methods for the design and fabrication of polymeric labs-on-a-chip are on the rise, as they allow high degrees of precision and flexibility. For example, a microfluidic platform may require an optimization phase in which it could be necessary to continuously modify the architecture and geometry; however, this is only possible if easy, controllable fabrication methods and low-cost materials are available. In this paper, we describe the realization process of a microfluidic tool, from the computer-aided design (CAD) to the proof-of-concept application as a capture device for circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The entire platform was realized in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), combining femtosecond (fs) laser and micromilling fabrication technologies. The multilayer device was assembled through a facile and low-cost solvent-assisted method. A serpentine microchannel was then directly biofunctionalized by immobilizing capture probes able to distinguish cancer from non-cancer cells without labeling. The low material costs, customizable methods, and biological application of the realized platform make it a suitable model for industrial exploitation and applications at the point of care. (19) (PDF) A smart procedure for the femtosecond laser-based fabrication of a polymeric lab-on-a-chip for capturing tumor cell. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347278450_A_smart_procedure_for_the_femtosecond_laser-based_fabrication_of_a_polymeric_lab-on-a-chip_for_capturing_tumor_cell [accessed Sep 17 2021]

Low temperature district heating networks for complete energy needs fulfillment

In order to reduce fossil fuels consumption and pollutant emissions, high contribution is given by district heating. In particular, the integration with renewable energy may lead to a significant increase in energy conversion efficiency and energy saving. Further benefits can be achieved with low temperature district heating, reducing the thermal dissipations through the network and promoting the exploitation of low enthalpy heat sources. The aim of the paper is the analysis of the potential related to the conversion of existing district heating networks, to increase the exploitation of renewable sources and eliminate pollutant emissions in the city areas. Further aim, in this context, is the optimization – from both energy production and operation management viewpoints – of a low temperature district heating network for the fulfillment of the connected users’ energy needs. To this respect, a traditional network with a fossil fuel driven thermal production plant has been considered and compared with a low temperature district heating scenario, including geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaic panels and absorption chillers. These scenarios have been analyzed and optimized with an in-house developed software, allowing to demonstrate the reduction of primary energy consumption and CO2 pollutant emissions achievable with low temperature networks. In addition, a preliminary economic evaluation has been carried out to compare the proposed solution with traditional district heating

Efficient District Heating in a Decarbonisation Perspective: A Case Study in Italy

The European and national regulations in the decarbonisation path towards 2050 promote district heating in achieving the goals of efficiency, energy sustainability, use of renewables, and reduction of fossil fuel use. Improved management and optimisation, use of RES, and waste heat/cold sources decrease the overall demand for primary energy, a condition that is further supported by building renovations and new construction of under (almost) zero energy buildings, with a foreseeable decrease in the temperature of domestic heating systems. Models for the simulation of efficient thermal networks were implemented and described in this paper, together with results from a real case study in Italy, i.e., University Campus of Parma. Activities include the creation and validation of calculation codes and specific models in the Modelica language (Dymola software), aimed at investigating stationary regimes and dynamic behaviour as well. An indirect heat exchange substation was coupled with a resistive-capacitive model, which describes the building behaviour and the thermal exchanges by the use of thermos-physical parameters. To optimise indoor comfort conditions and minimise consumption, dynamic simulations were carried out for different operating sets: modulating the supply temperature in the plant depending on external conditions (Scenario 4) decreases the supplied thermal energy (-2.34%) and heat losses (-8.91%), even if a lower temperature level results in higher electricity consumption for pumping (+12.96%), the total energy consumption is reduced by 1.41%. A simulation of the entire heating season was performed for the optimised scenario, combining benefits from turning off the supply in the case of no thermal demand (Scenario 3) and from the modulation of the supply temperature (Scenario 4), resulting in lower energy consumption (the thermal energy supplied by the power plant -3.54%, pumping +7.76%), operating costs (-2.40), and emissions (-3.02%). The energy balance ex-ante and ex-post deep renovation in a single user was then assessed, showing how lowering the network operating temperature at 55 degrees C decreases the supplied thermal energy (-22.38%) and heat losses (-22.11%) with a slightly higher pumping consumption (+3.28%), while maintaining good comfort conditions. These promising results are useful for evaluating the application of low-temperature operations to the existing district heating networks, especially for large interventions of building renovation, and confirm their potential contribution to the energy efficiency targets

Electrophysiological efficacy of temperature-controlled bipolar radiofrequency†

OBJECTIVE Clinical success of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation depends on persistent block of electrical conduction across the ablation lines. The fate of ablations performed with temperature-controlled bipolar radiofrequency (RF) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to validate the electrophysiological (EP) efficacy of these lesions, recording pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) after open chest ablation, in the human being. METHODS Ten consecutive mitral patients (mean age: 53 ± 12 years) with concomitant AF were treated with the Cobra Revolution (Estech, San Ramon, CA, USA) bipolar RF device were enrolled for EP assessment. During surgery, pairs of additional temporary wires were positioned on the right PVs (RPV) and on the roof of the left atrium (RLA), before ablation. Pacing thresholds (PTs) were assessed before, after a single encircling ablation and at chest's closure. EP study was repeated before discharge and at 3 weeks. RLA wires served as control. RESULTS Baseline PTs were 0.83 ± 0.81 mA (range 0.2-3 mA) from RPV and 1.13 ± 0.78 mA (range 0.3-3 mA) from RLA. PVI was reached in all patients acutely, and was maintained at 1 week. At 3 weeks, the PTs were 14.3 ± 4.3 mA from RPV (range 7-20 mA) and 3.1 ± 1.3 mA (range 1.5-7 mA) from RLA. All patients were discharged in sinus rhythm. CONCLUSIONS Cobra Revolution temperature-controlled bipolar RF provides complete PVI after a single ablation up to 1 week. This notwithstanding, only 30% of patients were completely isolated (exit block validation) at 3 week

A comparative study of covariance selection models for the inference of gene regulatory networks

Display Omitted Three different models for inferring gene networks from microarray data are proposed.The most sensitive approach is selected by an exhaustive simulation study.The method reveals a cross-talk between the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana.The method highlights 9 genes in HRAS signature regulated by the transcription factor RREB1. MotivationThe inference, or 'reverse-engineering', of gene regulatory networks from expression data and the description of the complex dependency structures among genes are open issues in modern molecular biology. ResultsIn this paper we compared three regularized methods of covariance selection for the inference of gene regulatory networks, developed to circumvent the problems raising when the number of observations n is smaller than the number of genes p. The examined approaches provided three alternative estimates of the inverse covariance matrix: (a) the 'PINV' method is based on the Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse, (b) the 'RCM' method performs correlation between regression residuals and (c) '?2C' method maximizes a properly regularized log-likelihood function. Our extensive simulation studies showed that ?2C outperformed the other two methods having the most predictive partial correlation estimates and the highest values of sensitivity to infer conditional dependencies between genes even when a few number of observations was available. The application of this method for inferring gene networks of the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana allowed to enlighten a negative partial correlation coefficient between the two hubs in the two isoprenoid pathways and, more importantly, provided an evidence of cross-talk between genes in the plastidial and the cytosolic pathways. When applied to gene expression data relative to a signature of HRAS oncogene in human cell cultures, the method revealed 9 genes (p-value<0.0005) directly interacting with HRAS, sharing the same Ras-responsive binding site for the transcription factor RREB1. This result suggests that the transcriptional activation of these genes is mediated by a common transcription factor downstream of Ras signaling. AvailabilitySoftware implementing the methods in the form of Matlab scripts are available at: http://users.ba.cnr.it/issia/iesina18/CovSelModelsCodes.zip