The detection of gravitational waves from core-collapse supernova (CCSN) explosions is a challenging task, yet to be achieved, in which it is key the connection between multiple messengers, including ...neutrinos and electromagnetic signals. In this work, we present a method for detecting these kind of signals based on machine learning techniques. We tested its robustness by injecting signals in the real noise data taken by the Advanced LIGO-Virgo network during the second observing run, O2. We trained a newly developed Mini-Inception Resnet neural network using time-frequency images corresponding to injections of simulated phenomenological signals, which mimic the waveforms obtained in 3D numerical simulations of CCSNe. With this algorithm we were able to identify signals from both our phenomenological template bank and from actual numerical 3D simulations of CCSNe. We computed the detection efficiency versus the source distance, obtaining that, for signal to noise ratio higher than 15, the detection efficiency is 70% at a false alarm rate lower than 5%. We notice also that, in the case of the O2 run, it would have been possible to detect signals emitted at 1 kpc of distance, while lowering down the efficiency to 60%, the event distance reaches values up to 14 kpc.
The intricate network of interactions observed in RNA three-dimensional structures is often described in terms of a multitude of geometrical properties, including helical parameters, base ...pairing/stacking, hydrogen bonding and backbone conformation. We show that a simple molecular representation consisting in one oriented bead per nucleotide can account for the fundamental structural properties of RNA. In this framework, canonical Watson-Crick, non-Watson-Crick base-pairing and base-stacking interactions can be unambiguously identified within a well-defined interaction shell. We validate this representation by performing two independent, complementary tests. First, we use it to construct a sequence-independent, knowledge-based scoring function for RNA structural prediction, which compares favorably to fully atomistic, state-of-the-art techniques. Second, we define a metric to measure deviation between RNA structures that directly reports on the differences in the base-base interaction network. The effectiveness of this metric is tested with respect to the ability to discriminate between structurally and kinetically distant RNA conformations, performing better compared to standard techniques. Taken together, our results suggest that this minimalist, nucleobase-centric representation captures the main interactions that are relevant for describing RNA structure and dynamics.
Objective: Contemporary and future outpatient long-term artificial pancreas (AP) studies need to cope with the well-known large intra- and interday glucose variability occurring in type 1 diabetic ...(T1D) subjects. Here, we propose an adaptive model predictive control (MPC) strategy to account for it and test it in silico. Methods: A run-to-run (R2R) approach adapts the subcutaneous basal insulin delivery during the night and the carbohydrate-to-insulin ratio (CR) during the day, based on some performance indices calculated from subcutaneous continuous glucose sensor data. In particular, R2R aims, first, to reduce the percentage of time in hypoglycemia and, secondarily, to improve the percentage of time in euglycemia and average glucose. In silico simulations are performed by using the University of Virginia/Padova T1D simulator enriched by incorporating three novel features: intra- and interday variability of insulin sensitivity, different distributions of CR at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and dawn phenomenon. Results: After about two months, using the R2R approach with a scenario characterized by a random ±30% variation of the nominal insulin sensitivity the time in range and the time in tight range are increased by 11.39% and 44.87%, respectively, and the time spent above 180 mg/dl is reduced by 48.74%. Conclusions : An adaptive MPC algorithm based on R2R shows in silico great potential to capture intra- and interday glucose variability by improving both overnight and postprandial glucose control without increasing hypoglycemia. Significance: Making an AP adaptive is key for long-term real-life outpatient studies. These good in silico results are very encouraging and worth testing in vivo.
•Xanthan and κ-carrageenan show gelling properties for alkaline hydrogels manufacture.•Hydrogel electrolytes show high ionic conductivities values in Al/air batteries.•κ-Carrageenan hydrogel delivers ...the highest energy density (33mWh/cm2).•Electrolyte morphology differences are evidenced by SEM analysis.
Xanthan and κ-carrageenan were used to prepare alkaline hydrogels to be used as electrolytes in aluminium air primary batteries. Two pasty gels were obtained starting from xanthan and KOH solutions (1M and 8M), while only the 8M KOH solution permitted the formation of a stable, elastic and gumminess hydrogel with κ-carrageenan. Discharge tests, performed on three Al/air cells assembled with Al anodes, electrolyte gels and Pt based cathodes, evidenced that all hydrogels exhibited appreciable properties of Al ion conductivities, according to the following performance order: xanthan with KOH 1M<xanthan with KOH 8M<κ-carrageenan KOH 8M.
Characterization measurements (XRD, Ionic conductivity by EIS, SEM-EDS) were effected on hydrogels and galvanic cells to explain the behaviour differences detected between the hydrogels.
Contaminated water with hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) is a serious environmental problem. This study aimed to evaluate the Cr(VI) removal by zero valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) reduction process and ...the impact of Cr(VI), nZVI and combined treatment with nZVI and Cr(VI) on tomato growth performance. To evaluate the Cr(VI) toxic effect on germination capability, seeds were exposed to increasing Cr(VI) concentrations up to 1000 mg L
. The inhibition of seed germination and the decrease of hypocotyl and root length started from Cr(VI) 5 mg L
. Under treatment with Cr(VI) + nZVI 5 mg L
, seed germination, hypocotyl and root length resulted significantly higher compared to Cr(VI) 5 mg L
treatment. The impact of only nZVI was investigated on chlorophyll and carotenoid in leaves; iron levels in leaves, roots, fruits and soil; carotenoid, fat-soluble vitamin and nicotianamine in mature fruits. A significant increase of leaf chlorophyll and carotenoids was observed after nZVI 5 mg L
treatment compared to controls. No significant variations were observed in carotenoids, fat-soluble vitamins and nicotianamine levels after treatment with nZVI 5 mg L
in mature fruits. For their ability to reduce Cr(VI) and to stimulate tomato growth, nZVI might to be considered as alternative for remediation purposes.
The effect of soil composition on the reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) by zero valent iron nanoparticles was studied. A model was proposed, to investigate both the effect of manganese oxide ...and the simultaneous effect of manganese dioxide and soil organic matter on the kinetic of Cr(VI) reduction. Fe(0) nanoparticles consumption by the reaction with dissolved oxygen, water and soluble Cr(VI) was taken into account. The model was validated through experimental tests performed on soil samples collected at an industrial polluted site, and on artificially contaminated samples from the same site, in the presence of selected amount of leonardite.
•FeSO4 and colloidal nZVI are compared in the immobilization of Cr(VI) in a contaminated industrial soil.•Colloidal nZVI resulted in a faster and more efficient Cr(VI) reduction with respect to ...FeSO4.•The effect of the reduction treatment on metal mobilization and bioavailability was assessed by sequential extractions.•The mechanisms and the factors affecting the process are discussed.
Iron sulphate (FeSO4) and colloidal nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) as reducing agents were compared, with the aim of assessing their effectiveness in hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) removal from a contaminated industrial soil. Experiments were performed on soil samples collected from an industrial site where a nickel contamination, caused by a long-term productive activity, was also verified. The influence of reducing agents amount with respect to chromium content and the effectiveness of deoxygenation of the slurry were discussed.
The soil was fully characterized before and after each test, and sequential extractions were performed to assess chemico-physical modifications and evaluate metals mobility induced by washing.
Results show that both the reducing agents successfully lowered the amount of Cr(VI) in the soil below the threshold allowed by Italian Environmental Regulation for industrial reuse. Cr(VI) reduction by colloidal nZVI proved to be faster and more effective: the civil reuse of soil Cr(VI)<2mg/kg was only achieved using colloidal nZVI within 60min adopting a nZVI/Cr(VI) molar ratio of 30. The reducing treatment resulted in an increase in the amount of chromium in the oxide–hydroxide fraction, thus confirming a mechanism of chromium-iron hydroxides precipitation.
In addition, a decrease of nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) content in soil was also observed when acidic conditions were established.
The Fallopian tube epithelium harbors the origin cells for the majority of high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSCs), the most lethal form of gynecologic malignancies. PAX8 belongs to the ...paired-box gene family of transcription factors and it is a marker of the FTE secretory cell lineage. Its role has been investigated in migration, invasion, proliferation, cell survival, stem cell maintenance, angiogenesis and tumor growth. In this review, we focus on the pro-tumorigenic role of PAX8 in ovarian cancer; in this context, PAX8 possibly continues to exert its transcriptional activity on its physiological targets but may also function on newly available targets after the tumorigenic hits. Acquiring new insights into the different PAX8 mechanism(s) of action in the tumor microenvironment could uncover new viable therapeutic targets and thus improve the current treatment regimen. Keywords: PAX8, ovarian cancer, transcription factor, Fallopian tube, STICs
The design, realization, and experimental characterization of a 400-element electronically reconfigurable transmitarray operating in the Ka-band is presented. It is based on linearly polarized ...unit-cells with 180° phase-shifting capability. Several sequential rotation schemes have been compared numerically to generate a circularly polarized beam over a broad frequency band, and a random distribution has been selected to mitigate spurious cross-polarized side-lobes when scanning the main beam. The 2-D electronic beam-steering capabilities of ±60° have been verified experimentally. The prototype, illuminated by a horn antenna as a focal source, exhibits a broadside gain of 20.8 dBi at 29.0 GHz and a 3-dB bandwidth of 14.6% with radiation efficiency of 58%. The axial ratio remains below 2 dB within this bandwidth. Next, a planar substrate integrated waveguide focal source array was designed in order to reduce the focal distance by about 50% and thereby significantly improve the antenna compactness, and similar radiation performance is demonstrated numerically and experimentally.
While gravitational waves have been detected from mergers of binary black holes and binary neutron stars, signals from core collapse supernovae, the most energetic explosions in the modern Universe, ...have not been detected yet. Here we present a new method to analyse the data of the LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA network to enhance the detection efficiency of this category of signals. The method takes advantage of a peculiarity of the gravitational wave signal emitted in the core collapse supernova and it is based on a classification procedure of the time-frequency images of the network data performed by a convolutional neural network trained to perform the task to recognize the signal. We validate the method using phenomenological waveforms injected in Gaussian noise whose spectral properties are those of the LIGO and Virgo advanced detectors and we conclude that this method can identify the signal better than the present algorithm devoted to select gravitational wave transient signal.
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