Novel Inverse-Scattering Methods in Banach Spaces

The scientific community is presently strongly interested in the research of new microwave imaging methods, in order to develop reliable, safe, portable, and cost-effective tools for the non-invasive/non-destructive diagnostic in many fields (such as medicine, civil and industrial engineering, \u2026). In this framework, microwave imaging techniques addressing the full three-dimensional nature of the inspected bodies are still very challenging, since they need to cope with significant computational complexity. Moreover, non-linearity and ill-posedness issues, which usually affects the related inverse scattering problems, need to be faced, too. Another promising topic is the development of phaseless methods, in which only the amplitude of the electric field is assumed to be measurable. This leads to a significant complexity reduction and lower cost for the experimental apparatuses, but the missing information on the phase of the electric field samples exacerbates the ill-posedness problems. In the present Thesis, a novel inexact-Newton inversion algorithm is proposed, in which the iteratively linearized problems are solved in a regularized sense by using a truncated Landweber or a conjugate gradient method developed in the framework of the l^p Banach spaces. This is an improvement that allows to generalize the classic framework of the l^2 Hilbert spaces in which the inexact-Newton approaches are usually defined. The applicability of the proposed imaging method in both the 3D full-vector and 2D phaseless scenarios at microwave frequencies is assessed in this Thesis, and an extensive validation of the proposed imaging method against both synthetic and experimental data is presented, highlighting the advantages over the inexact-Newton scheme developed in the classic framework of the l^2 Hilbert spaces

Charity translated as Social Entreprenuership

Fr. Afiliano Fajardo, CM (AKA: Fr. Nonong) exemplify Vincent de Paul in its innovation toward poverty reduction. This reflection shares the social entrepreneurship and social development approach of the Vincentian Center for Social Responsibility (VCSR) at Adamson University in Manila, Philippines

Antibacterial Efficacy of Two Commercially Available Bacteriophage Formulations, Staphylococcal Bacteriophage and PYO Bacteriophage, Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Prevention and Eradication of Biofilm Formation and Control of a Systemic Infection of Galleria mellonella Larvae

Sessile bacteria growing on surfaces are more resistant to standard antibiotics than their planktonic counterpart. Due to their antimicrobial properties, bacteriophages have re-emerged as a promising approach to treat bacterial biofilm-associated infections. Here, we evaluated the ability of two commercially available phage formulations, Staphylococcal bacteriophage (containing the monophage Sb-1) and PYO bacteriophage (a polyphage), in preventing and eradicating an in vitro biofilm of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by isothermal microcalorimetry and high-resolution confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Moreover, to assess the potential in vivo efficacy of both phage preparations, a Galleria mellonella model of MRSA systemic infection was used. Microcalorimetry measurement showed that 107 PFU/ml (the highest tested titer) of both phage formulations were able to inhibit planktonic growth in a concentration-dependent manner. However, MRSA biofilm was eradicated only by co-incubation of 5-7 days with the highest phage titers, respectively. In the experiments of biofilm prevention, isothermal microcalorimetry revealed that the heat production was completely abolished in the presence of sub-inhibitory titers (104 PFU/ml) of phages. These data were also confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Both phage formulations increased the survival of G. mellonella larvae preventing or treating MRSA infection compared to untreated control. In conclusion, tested phage formulations are promising for preventing device colonization and killing biofilm bacteria attached on a surface. Novel strategies for direct coating and release of phages from material should be investigated

Cross-Cultural Vincentian Leadership: The Challenge of Developing Culturally Intelligent Leaders

As the Hay-Vincentian Leadership Project (HLP) becomes international in scope, Vincentian values must be applied in and sometimes adapted to cross-cultural contexts. The concepts of cultural diversity, cultural competence, and cultural intelligence are explained in general and against a Vincentian background. Qualities that make leaders effective in cross-cultural situations are explored. Vincent de Paul set an example for such success in the preparation he mandated for those going on foreign missions and in the sensitivity he showed in his own work with people from other cultures. Culture’s relationship to leadership is examined using the work of the anthropologist Edward Hall and other scholars. The methods by which the HLP assists and assesses cross-cultural Vincentian leadership development are described. The leadership model arising from the HLP’s research is outlined and diagrammed. Specifically Vincentian cross-cultural competencies are identified, as are the different intelligences needed for successful Vincentian leadership. The importance of spiritual intelligence is emphasized

Hospitality Ethos with Justice and Dignity: Catholic, Vincentian, and Jesuit Perspectives on Global Migration

Marco Tavanti examines the causes, consequences, and problems of global migration, and particularly forced migration, as human rights issues. We owe caritas, “human-divine love,” to migrants and must therefore treat them with a hospitality founded on justice and dignity. In the Abrahamic religions, hospitality is “generosity and graciousness” extended to friends and potentially dangerous strangers alike as a “service to God and humanity.” Such hospitality is “based on the needs of the guest, not the benefit of the host.” Hospitality was central to early Christianity and remains an imperative for today’s Church. Social justice’s role in hospitality is explored, especially as exemplified in the Jesuit tradition. The Jesuit Refugee Service operates on the principle of accompaniment, seeing the world from refugees’ perspective. Respect for dignity is the cornerstone of hospitality in the Vincentian tradition. This entails collaborating with poor persons to meet their needs and establishing reciprocal relationships with them, an essential aspect of charity. Charity as an extension of justice is discussed. The United Nations’ guidelines for policies on migration are included in this article. Also included are the U.S. and Mexican Episcopal Conferences’ principles for migration policy that protect the rights of migrants and host countries

Sustainable Solutions for Human Security and Anti-Corruption: Integrating Theories and Practices

Corruption is a real issue affecting the understanding and practices promoting human security. This article introduces the frameworks of sustainable human security in relation to anticorruption. Human security is explored in its historical evolution and the more recent expansion of its frameworks, including the sustainability and systemic elements. The notion of sustainable human security is examined in relation to corruption and anti-corruption, as expressed in the current challenges and opportunities on sustainable development and human international development

Computational insight on the interaction of common blood proteins with gold nanoparticles

Protein interactions with engineered gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the consequent formation of the protein corona are very relevant and poorly understood biological phenomena. The nanoparticle coverage affects protein binding modalities, and the adsorbed protein sites influence interactions with other macromolecules and cells. Here, we studied four common blood proteins, i.e., hemoglobin, serum albumin, α1-antiproteinase, and complement C3, interacting with AuNPs covered by hydrophobic 11-mercapto-1-undecanesulfonate (MUS). We use Molecular Dynamics and the Martini coarse−grained model to gain quantitative insight into the kinetics of the interaction, the physico-chemical characteristics of the binding site, and the nanoparticle adsorption capacity. Results show that proteins bind to MUS−capped AuNPs through strong hydrophobic interactions and that they adapt to the AuNP surfaces to maximize the contact surface, but no dramatic change in the secondary structure of the proteins is observed. We suggest a new method to calculate the maximum adsorption capacity of capped AuNPs based on the effective surface covered by each protein, which better represents the realistic behavior of these systems

What Would Vincent Study Abroad? Option for the Poor and Systemic Change for the Development of Socially Responsible Leaders

The effectiveness of the DePaul University School of Public Service Chiapas Program is evaluated according to “Vincentian values of experiential learning, systemic change, and the option for the poor.” Including students’ own words, the article summarizes what participants learn as they work directly with poor persons, their leaders, indigenous organizations, local NGOs, and Mexican academic institutions in Chiapas. As Marco Tavanti and Heather Evans write, the program’s goal “is not only to increase knowledge and skills but to challenge and transform cultural attitudes, learn from context, and engage in professional collaboration and dialogues for social change.” The value of system thinking is explained. The program puts the Vincentian approach to systemic change into practice. The connections that students make between conditions in Chiapas and those in Chicago are described, as are projects students have initiated on their return. Tavanti and Evans argue that all study abroad programs should transform participants into global citizens who have a profound awareness of poverty and a commitment to social justice

Management Education for Sustainable Development: Integrating Ecology and Community Values in Social Impact Practicums

This study explores a management education model to help integrate sustainable development ideas into university curricula and programs. This pedagogical model emphasizes a community-based approach along with other proven methods for university-community collaborations and course-based social impact analysis. The Laudato Si’ encyclical’s notion of integral ecology, along with the need to create community-benefit academic programs, inspired the establishment of a partnership between the University of San Francisco’s Master of Nonprofit Administration program and the Foundation for Sustainability Development. This partnership experience expanded into development practicum courses and solidified into strategies for integrating experiential learning and organizational development through community-based analysis. The graduate level pedagogical models discussed here are relevant to other academic institutions and programs who would like to educate students with a community-centered approach