• Open Access close
• IT close

We explore the way in which uncertain descriptions of aquifer heterogeneity and groundwater flow impact one's ability to assess the worth of collecting additional data. We do so on the basis of Maximum Likelihood Bayesian Model Averaging (MLBMA) by accounting jointly for uncertainties in geostatistical and flow model structures and parameter (hydraulic conductivity) as well as system state (hydraulic head) estimates, given uncertain measurements of one or both variables. Previous description of our approach was limited to geostatistical models based solely on hydraulic conductivity data. Here we implement the approach on a synthetic example of steady state flow in a two-dimensional random log hydraulic conductivity field with and without recharge by embedding an inverse stochastic moment solution of groundwater flow in MLBMA. A moment-equations-based geostatistical inversion method is utilized to circumvent the need for computationally expensive numerical Monte Carlo simulations. The approach is compatible with either deterministic or stochastic flow models and consistent with modern statistical methods of parameter estimation, admitting but not requiring prior information about the parameters. It allows but does not require approximating lead predictive statistical moments of system states by linearization while updating model posterior probabilities and parameter estimates on the basis of potential new data both before and after such data are actually collected.

non disponibile

// Sandra Cascio 1, 2 , Jacque L. Faylo 3 , Joshua C. Sciurba 1 , Jia Xue 1 , Sarangarajan Ranganathan 4 , Jason J. Lohmueller 1 , Pamela L. Beatty 1 and Olivera J. Finn 1 1 Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA 2 Fondazione Ri.Med, Palermo, 90133, Italy 3 Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA 4 Division of Pediatric Pathology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA Correspondence to: Sandra Cascio, email: sac131@pitt.edu Keywords: colitis-associated cancer; Mucin 1; altered glycosylation; EzH2; pro-inflammatory cytokines Received: June 14, 2017 Accepted: September 08, 2017 Published: October 27, 2017 ABSTRACT The abnormal hypoglycosylated form of the epithelial mucin MUC1 is over-expressed in chronic inflammation and on human adenocarcinomas, suggesting its potential role in inflammation-driven tumorigenesis. The presence of human MUC1 aggravates colonic inflammation and increases tumor initiation and progression in an in vivo AOM/DSS mouse model of colitis-associated cancer (CAC). High expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-6, were found in MUC1+ inflamed colon tissues. Exogenous TNF-α promoted the transcriptional activity of MUC1 as well as over-expression of its hypoglycosylated form in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). In turn, hypoglycosylated MUC1 in IECs associated with p65 and up-regulated the expression of NF-κB-target genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines. Intestinal chronic inflammation also increased the expression of histone methyltransferase Enhancer of Zeste protein-2 (EzH2) and its interaction with cytokine promoters. Consequently, EzH2 was a positive regulator of MUC1 and p65-mediated IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression, and this function was not dependent on its canonical histone H3K27 methyltransferase activity. Our findings provide a mechanistic basis for already known tumorigenic role of the hypoglycosylated MUC1 in CAC, involving a transcriptional positive feedback loop of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Abstract Aims Although the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) may cause an acute multiorgan syndrome (COVID-19), data are emerging on mid- and long-term sequelae of COVID-19 pneumonia. Since no study has hitherto investigated the role of both cardiac and pulmonary ultrasound techniques in detecting such sequelae, this study aimed at evaluating these simple diagnostic tools to appraise the cardiopulmonary involvement occurring after COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods and results Twenty-nine patients fully recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia were considered at our centre. On admission, all patients underwent 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) evaluation. Compression ultrasound (CUS) and lung ultrasound (LUS) were also performed. Finally, in each patient, pathological findings detected on LUS were correlated with the pulmonary involvement occurring after COVID-19 pneumonia as assessed on thoracic computed tomography (CT). Out of 29 patients (mean age 70 ± 10 years old; M 69%), prior cardiovascular and pulmonary comorbidities were recorded in 22 (76%). Twenty-seven patients (93%) were in sinus rhythm and two (7%) in atrial fibrillation. ECG repolarization abnormalities were extremely common (93%) and reflected the high prevalence of pericardial involvement on TTE (86%). Likewise, pleural abnormalities were frequently observed (66%). TTE signs of left and right ventricular dysfunction were reported in two patients only, but values of systolic pulmonary artery pressure were abnormal in 16 (55%) despite absence of prior comorbidities in 44% of them. Regarding LUS evaluation, most patients displayed abnormal values of diaphragmatic thickness and excursion (93%) which well correlated with the high prevalence (76%) of on pathological findings on CT scan. CUS ruled out deep vein thrombosis in all patients. Conclusions Data on cardiopulmonary sequelae after COVID-19 pneumonia are scarce. In our study, simple diagnostic tools (TTE and LUS) proved clinically useful for detection of cardiopulmonary involvement after COVID-19 pneumonia.

A survey of all crystal structures of rubrene materials in the Cambridge Structural Database is presented. Although the chemical substitution landscape is wide, hydrogen bonding functionalities are absent. Recognition motifs frequently found in crystals are the “slipped-cofacial” molecular pairing, and herringbone or purely translational 3-D propagation. Packing modes are classified in terms of structure determinants, cohesive energies of pairs of molecules in closer contact computed by the CLP atom-atom potential field. In these terms, crystal isomorphism with different chemical substitution is quantitatively assessed. Polymorphs are relatively few, perhaps due to poor solubilities that hamper crystallization screenings. True polymorphs are also identified by structure determinant patterns, and a new polymorph of the di-p-nitrophenyl derivative has been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Crystal morphologies of selected rubrenes have been predicted by Hartman's Periodic Bond Chain approach using PIXEL attachment energies; there is good agreement with experimental morphologies of crystals grown by sublimation. The good results obtained by CLP and PIXEL show promise for a computationally cheap access to lattice energies and morphology prediction. In general, from our overview it looks like sensitive spots in the driving forces for rubrene packing are the 4-substitution sites at the lateral rings, with substituents of moderate steric bulk. Peripheral substitution at the tetracene core seems to be less relevant. Our survey provides a structural background fostering new ideas on the synthesis and planning of physical properties of rubrenes.

<p class="Abstract"><span lang="EN-US">The quantum Hall effect is the basis for the realisation of the resistance and impedance units in the International System of units since 2019. This paper describes a cryogenic probe that allows to set graphene Hall devices in quantisation conditions in a helium bath (4.2 K) and magnetic fields up to 6 T, to perform precision measurements in the AC regime with impedance bridges. The probe has a full coaxial wiring, isolated from the probe structure, and holds the device in a TO-8 socket. First, characterization experiments are reported on a GaAs device, showing quantisation at 5.5 T. <span>In the AC regime, <em>multiple-series</em> connections will be employed to minimize the residual error, quantified by electrical modelling of the probe</span>.</span></p>

Il passaggio nell’uomo dalla stazione orizzontale a quella verticale ha richiesto un pavimento pelvico robusto e resistente, atto a sopportare il peso degli organi addominali e pelvici. Gli orifizi per il passaggio attraverso il diaframma pelvico di organi provvisti di muscolatura propria (retto, uretra, e vagina nella femmina), insieme all’invecchiamento fisiologico del connettivo che compone i legamenti ed i muscoli pelvi-perineali, comportano il cedimento delle aree sottoposte a maggior pressione come la regione pelvica. Il prolasso pelvico (definito in letteratura come prolasso urogenitale) è una patologia dell’età adulta del sesso femminile molto frequente, dato che il rischio di subire un intervento chirurgico per il trattamento di un disordine della statica e della dinamica della pelvi è di circa il 10% per una donna con una vita media di 80 anni2,5-6. Tale patologia, oggi più facilmente diagnosticabile grazie allo sviluppo di nuove tecnologie radiologiche dinamiche, si presenta prevalentemente nelle donne di età superiore ai 40 anni e con un’incidenza di circa il 30-40%7,12. La strategia chirurgica adottata è fondata sul principio del sostegno dei 3 compartimenti. Le attuali tecniche prevedono approcci per via trans-vaginale o per via trans-addominale, con o senza l’utilizzo di rinforzi protesici. L’autore riporta nel presente lavoro i risultati preliminari di un nuovo tipo di trattamento chirurgico per la correzione del prolasso tricompartimentale frutto della combinazione di due differenti tecniche, valutandone fattibilità e risultati a breve e medio termine.

Questo libro raccoglie l’esito di una call, lanciata nell’autunno del 2016, promossa da un gruppo di ricercatori del Dottorato in Paesaggi della Città Contemporanea. Politiche, tecniche e studi visuali, afferenti al Dipartimento di Architettura dell’Università Roma Tre. L’invito, rivolto a studiosi, progettisti, fotografi e artisti in diversi ambiti, è di indagare i caratteri delle molteplici manifestazioni con cui le compresenze – le forme di abitare la città e costruire gli spazi urbani che includono differenti e plurali intenzionalità, spontanee, predisposte o suggerite – si compiono nei luoghi delle città contemporanee e sollecitano l’incontro tra corpi, comportamenti, spazi, tempi e culture differenti. Il libro contiene i contributi selezionati, con una ricca varietà di casi e di riflessioni, rivolti sia a pratiche informali sia a progetti autoriali, a edifici e spazi aperti, esperienze didattiche, di ricerca teorica o applicata, in grado di offrire spunti di riflessione per rispondere ad alcune domande di cui proponiamo l’urgenza.