A Quick Simulation Technique for a Fluid Information Storage Problem

In this paper we present an application of Importance Sampling (IS) for quick simulation of buffer overflow probability in a statistical multiplexer loaded with a number of independent Markov modulated fluid sources. Runtime improvement is deducible from N_MCσ²(p) and N_ISσ²(p^*) that characterize the trade-offs between sample size and variance of the estimators of buffer overflow probability experienced in Monte Carlo (MC) and Importance Sampling simulations. By assuming that the same precision is achieved for the two kinds of simulations if σ²(p)=σ²(p*), an approximate closed form expression for the ratio N_IS/N_MC is derived, and it is minimized with respect to the load of the multiplexer. In the final part of the paper some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the benefits of IS in evaluating very low overflow probabilities.     

Filtering activity of Spongia officinalis var. adriatica (Schmidt) (Porifera, Demospongiae) on bacterioplankton: implications for bioremediation of polluted seawater

A study on the filtering activity has been carried out on reared specimens of the demosponge Spongia officinalis var. adriatica coming from an off-shore farm displaced off the Apulian coast (Ionian Sea). The experience was carried out under laboratory conditions, by using natural seawater collected from the sponge environment. The study demonstrates a high efficiency of the sponge in removing bacteria. Bacterial concentration significantly decreases in presence of the sponge, with a marked drop after 2 h from the start of the experience. The maximum clearance rate was 210 ml h(-1) g(-1) DW at 60 min. Retention efficiency reached the highest value of 61% at 120 min. The bacterial density removed by the S. officinalis filtering activity was 12.3 +/- 1.8 x 10(4) cells ml(-1) corresponding to a biomass of about 11.7 +/- 1.4 microg Cl(-1). The sponge fed preferentially large- and medium-size bacteria, whereas the small ones are fed after the removal of the largest size categories. The results obtained suggest that S. offcinalis is a suitable species for marine environmental bioremediation.     

2,3‐Disubstituted Benzo[b]thiophenes from Diarylalkynes via Electrophilic Addition‐Cyclization and Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling

Diarylalkynes are readily transformed in 3‐chlorobenzo[b]thiophenes in a two‐step electrophilic addition‐cyclization procedure that runs highly efficiently in solution or in the solid phase. The heteroaromatic carbon‐chlorine bond participates in palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura or Buchwald–Hartwig cross‐couplings to give, in a single step, 2,3‐disubstituted derivatives of pharmacological relevance .     

Dynamic response of the ITER tokamak during asymmetric VDEs

During the operational life of ITER, it is expected that a number of vertical displacement events (VDEs) will occur. A sub-class of these events, ‘slow’ asymmetric VDEs, is of particular interest from a structural point of view. This is because the forces generated during such events are both substantial and sufficiently long-lasting to significantly excite the structure. It is necessary to establish that the absolute and relative displacements of components, as well as internal and external forces, stay within acceptable limits during these events. Previous studies have investigated this problem using relatively simple models and non-rotating loads. A new, more detailed, 360-degree model was developed, and used to assess the effects of asymmetric VDEs. This paper presents the main results of this investigation. It is shown that the distance between the VV and the TFC at the inboard wall can decrease by as much as 19 mm at the equatorial plane, and that the vertical reaction force in the Vacuum Vessel supports can reach 15 MN.     

Human Aquaporin-4 and Molecular Modeling: Historical Perspective and View to the Future

Among the different aquaporins (AQPs), human aquaporin-4 (hAQP4) has attracted the greatest interest in recent years as a new promising therapeutic target. Such a membrane protein is, in fact, involved in a multiple sclerosis-like immunopathology called Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) and in several disorders resulting from imbalanced water homeostasis such as deafness and cerebral edema. The gap of knowledge in its functioning and dynamics at the atomistic level of detail has hindered the development of rational strategies for designing hAQP4 modulators. The application, lately, of molecular modeling has proved able to fill this gap providing a breeding ground to rationally address compounds targeting hAQP4. In this review, we give an overview of the important advances obtained in this field through the application of Molecular Dynamics (MD) and other complementary modeling techniques. The case studies presented herein are discussed with the aim of providing important clues for computational chemists and biophysicists interested in this field and looking for new challenges.     

A non-parametric segmentation methodology for oral videocapillaroscopic images

We aim to describe a new non-parametric methodology to support the clinician during the diagnostic process of oral videocapillaroscopy to evaluate peripheral microcirculation. Our methodology, mainly based on wavelet analysis and mathematical morphology to preprocess the images, segments them by minimizing the within-class luminosity variance of both capillaries and background. Experiments were carried out on a set of real microphotographs to validate this approach versus handmade segmentations provided by physicians. By using a leave-one-patient-out approach, we pointed out that our methodology is robust, according to precision–recall criteria (average precision and recall are equal to 0.924 and 0.923, respectively) and it acts as a physician in terms of the Jaccard index (mean and standard deviation equal to 0.858 and 0.064, respectively).     

Kernel methods in system identification,machine learning and function estimation: A survey

Most of the currently used techniques for linear system identification are based on classical estimation paradigms coming from mathematical statistics. In particular, maximum likelihood and prediction error methods represent the mainstream approaches to identification of linear dynamic systems, with a long history of theoretical and algorithmic contributions. Parallel to this, in the machine learning community alternative techniques have been developed. Until recently, there has been little contact between these two worlds. The first aim of this survey is to make accessible to the control community the key mathematical tools and concepts as well as the computational aspects underpinning these learning techniques. In particular, we focus on kernel-based regularization and its connections with reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces and Bayesian estimation of Gaussian processes. The second aim is to demonstrate that learning techniques tailored to the specific features of dynamic systems may outperform conventional parametric approaches for identification of stable linear systems.     

Synthesis and characterization of lanthanum bonded agar-carbomer hydrogel:a promising tool for biomedical research

Agar-Carbomer(branched poly(acrylic acid)) hydrogel,an injectable bio-resorbable scaffold with a controlled nanostructure specifically designed for neural cell housing,was developed together with a new protocol for building three dimensional biohybrid cell/hydrogel systems.In order to overcome classic structural analysis inconveniences due to the high water amount,which affects instruments results and reliability,agar-Carbomer hydrogels were synthesized by microwave-assisted block copolymerization together with La3+ salts.Propylene glycol,glycerol and buffered saline solution were used as cross-linking agents and solvent,respectively.Biomaterial properties were not affected by the presence of lanthanum,and were checked via swelling and rheological analysis.Moreover,the presence of La3+ within the polymeric network was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis,environmental scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy.The results showed that the rare earth presented uniform distribution in the hydrogel network due to the formation of chemical bonds after polymerization without being modified its luminescence emission spectrum that allowed hydrogel detection.These results made the obtained host-guest system a useful tool for analytical research studies concerning regenerative medical applications that could also be potentially taken up with in vivo experiments.