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A terracotta Dancing Horse sculpture dating to the Tang Dynasty (China) and owned by the Cincinnati Art Museum (US) is the topic of the present investigation. Besides its intrinsic artistic and historical values, the peculiarity of this horse concerns its conservation history; it shows extensive breakage signs and restoration and above all, the presence of an odd tassel on the frontal part of the head. Nine tassels are present on the two sides of the body, which is very common for these kinds of sculptures. Here, a scientific survey of this masterpiece is proposed aimed at looking into its conservation history, shedding light into the condition of the body and the tassels and the presence of residual conservation products applied during its troubled history. A comparative molecular, chemical and mineralogical study of the tassels is carried out focused on the identification of original and non-original materials, eventually added during restoration works. The multi-analytical protocol has been optimized for achieving as much information as possible from the available samples, a few mg of powders. X-ray powder diffraction and Raman Spectroscopy techniques have been followed by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy and Ionic Chromatography, using the same small aliquot of powders. Scientific investigations highlighted that the odd tassel on the head and other two tassels on the body are not original, but replaced or added in subsequent time. Their composition includes both organic (polyester resin and/or phthalate) and inorganic compounds (sulphates and carbonates). Further data on original terracotta composition, decay substances and applied conservation products, provided new knowledge on past restoration treatments and cultural value. Importantly, the outcomes achieved with X-ray powder diffraction to identify the tassels authenticity were matched by Raman Spectroscopy, a technique that can be also used in situ with portable instruments, paving the way to non-invasive in situ authenticity studies as future perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A terracotta Dancing Horse sculpture dating to the Tang Dynasty (China) and owned by the Cincinnati Art Museum (US) is the topic of the present investigation. Besides its intrinsic artistic and historical values, the peculiarity of this horse concerns its conservation history; it shows extensive breakage signs and restoration and above all, the presence of an odd tassel on the frontal part of the head. Nine tassels are present on the two sides of the body, which is very common for these kinds of sculptures. Here, a scientific survey of this masterpiece is proposed aimed at looking into its conservation history, shedding light into the condition of the body and the tassels and the presence of residual conservation products applied during its troubled history. A comparative molecular, chemical and mineralogical study of the tassels is carried out focused on the identification of original and non-original materials, eventually added during restoration works. The multi-analytical protocol has been optimized for achieving as much information as possible from the available samples, a few mg of powders. X-ray powder diffraction and Raman Spectroscopy techniques have been followed by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy and Ionic Chromatography, using the same small aliquot of powders. Scientific investigations highlighted that the odd tassel on the head and other two tassels on the body are not original, but replaced or added in subsequent time. Their composition includes both organic (polyester resin and/or phthalate) and inorganic compounds (sulphates and carbonates). Further data on original terracotta composition, decay substances and applied conservation products, provided new knowledge on past restoration treatments and cultural value. Importantly, the outcomes achieved with X-ray powder diffraction to identify the tassels authenticity were matched by Raman Spectroscopy, a technique that can be also used in situ with portable instruments, paving the way to non-invasive in situ authenticity studies as future perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we construct a family of ternary interpolatory Hermite subdivision schemes of order 1 with small support and H C 2 -smoothness. Indeed, leaving the binary domain, it is possible to derive interpolatory Hermite subdivision schemes with higher regularity than the existing binary examples. The family of schemes we construct is a two-parameter family whose H C 2 -smoothness is guaranteed whenever the parameters are chosen from a certain polygonal region. The construction of this new family is inspired by the geometric insight into the ternary interpolatory scalar three-point subdivision scheme by Hassan and Dodgson. The smoothness of our new family of Hermite schemes is proven by means of joint spectral radius techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Since lymphadenectomy is crucial in midgut neuroendocrine tumor (NET) surgery, we adopted laparoscopic CME right hemicolectomy (LRH-CME) for the treatment of right colon and terminal ileum NETs. In this report, we present a series of nine cases of terminal midgut NETs (TM-NETs) treated by LRH-CME with a video demonstrating oncological principles and the surgical technique. Methods: From September 2014 to November 2019, nine patients affected by TM-NETs underwent LRH-CME at the Unit of General and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Verona Hospital Trust, ENETS Center of Excellence. Clinicopathological data, post-operative and oncological outcomes were prospectively collected and analyzed. Results: Tumors were in ileocecal valve or terminal ileum (5 cases), right colon (3 cases), and appendix (one case). Surgery had a curative intent (R0 resection) in 7 cases. Surgical debulking was required in 2 metastatic cases. Mean surgical time was 212 + 41 min and blood loss 47 + 24 mL. No postoperative mortality was observed. Post-operative course was uneventful in all except one case (Clavien-Dindo III). Median number of harvested lymph nodes was 21 (range, 11–31) and eight out of 9 patients were node positive (median 3, range 0–6). At a median follow-up of 18 months (range, 6–50), none of the patients suffered from mesenteric locoregional recurrence and all R0 resected patients were disease-free. Conclusions: Terminal midgut NETs represent an optimal indication for LRH-CME which increases the chance of complete resection and allows optimal lymphadenectomy. In expert hands, laparoscopic approach should be favored in consideration of good short-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new analysis modality in Raman microscopy, Micro-Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (micro-SORS) to explore the subsurface of materials in non-destructive and non-invasive way has been developed recently at ICVBC – CNR. Micro-SORS facilitates the investigation of the chemical composition of subsurface, micrometre-scale-thick diffusely scattering layers at depths more than an order of magnitude larger than those accessible with the depth resolving power of conventional confocal Raman microscopy, avoiding need to resort to cross sectional analysis or sampling. In the state of the art paragraph an overall overview of research carried out at CNR-ICVBC in the last five years concerning the development, optimization and application of micro-SORS to Cultural Heritage materials is provided. Additionally, we present new data achieved from the application of micro-SORS to illustrative micro-samples obtained from mediaeval polychrome sculptures of the Parma baptistery and Ferrara cathedral, highlighting further its potential in Cultural Heritage sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudo-splines are a rich family of functions that allows the user to meet various demands for balancing polynomial reproduction (i.e., approximation power), regularity and support size. Such a family includes, as special members, B-spline functions, universally known for their usefulness in different fields of application. When replacing polynomial reproduction by exponential polynomial reproduction, a new family of functions is obtained. This new family is here constructed and called the family of exponential pseudo-splines. It is the nonstationary counterpart of (polynomial) pseudo-splines and includes exponential B-splines as a special subclass. In this work we provide a computational strategy for deriving the explicit expression of the Laurent polynomial sequence that identifies the family of exponential pseudo-spline nonstationary subdivision schemes. For this family we study its symmetry properties and perform its convergence and regularity analysis. Finally, we also show that the family of primal exponential pseudo-splines fills in the gap between exponential B-splines and interpolatory cardinal functions. This extends the analogous property of primal pseudo-spline stationary subdivision schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study compares and contrasts conventional confocal Raman microscopy/spectroscopy (CRM) with a recently developed micrometer scale defocusing spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (micro-SORS), a method providing a new analytical capability for investigating non-destructively the chemical composition of subsurface, micrometer-scale-thick diffusely scattering layers at depths beyond the reach of CRM. Because of close similarities between the two techniques and comparable embodiment of the instrumentations, but radically different interpretations of data, it is crucially important to recognise which type of method is pertinent to a specific measurement. The distinction comes principally from the nature of sample, whether turbid (micro-SORS measurement) or transparent (CRM measurement) on the spatial scale of the axial (z-)scan of the measurement. Which type of sample one deals with may not always be easily recognisable with micro-scale thick layers, and the study therefore also presents a simple method for suggesting whether CRM or micro-SORS methodology applies. This test relies on an axial (z-)scan performed through the sample in both the positive and negative directions from the normal, imaged sample surface position using conventional CRM instrument. The absence or presence of symmetry or asymmetry of the intensity profiles of measured Raman signals around the imaged sample surface position as a function of sample axial displacement then suggests which interpretation could apply. The study paves a way for the development of micro-SORS as a widely applicable analytical tool deployable on conventional Raman microscopes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews a very recent field of noninvasive analysis of turbid media using micro-scale Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy – micro-SORS. The technique combines conventional SORS with microscopy concepts and represents a new imaging modality in Raman microscopy. Micro-SORS facilitates analytical capability for investigating non-destructively the chemical composition of subsurface, micrometer-scale-thick diffusely scattering layers at depths more than an order of magnitude larger than those accessible with the depth resolving power of conventional confocal Raman microscopy. Potential application areas include nondestructive subsurface analysis of painted layers in cultural heritage, characterization of stratified polymer systems, analysis of layered biological samples or forensic analysis. The article discusses the basic principles of the technique, its variants and outlines emerging applications in this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews a very recent field of noninvasive analysis of turbid media using micro-scale Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy – micro-SORS. The technique combines conventional SORS with microscopy concepts and represents a new imaging modality in Raman microscopy. Micro-SORS facilitates analytical capability for investigating non-destructively the chemical composition of subsurface, micrometer-scale-thick diffusely scattering layers at depths more than an order of magnitude larger than those accessible with the depth resolving power of conventional confocal Raman microscopy. Potential application areas include nondestructive subsurface analysis of painted layers in cultural heritage, characterization of stratified polymer systems, analysis of layered biological samples or forensic analysis. The article discusses the basic principles of the technique, its variants and outlines emerging applications in this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare several basic embodiments of a recently proposed and demonstrated micrometer-scale Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (micro-SORS). Micro-SORS is a recently introduced analytical method for noninvasive characterisation of the chemical composition of subsurface, micrometre-scale-thick diffusely scattering layers at depths beyond the reach of conventional confocal Raman microscopy. The technique is applicable, for example, in nondestructive subsurface analysis of highly scattering stratified matrices such as painted layers in cultural heritage or in noninvasive analysis of stratified polymer systems or biological samples. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we analysed two defocusing variants of micro-SORS and a variant involving a full separation of illumination and collection zones on the sample surface. Both the penetration depth into the sample and relative enhancement of sublayer Raman signals were studied as a function of layer thickness and type of technique and their parameters. The model predicts that the most effective method by far is the variant with fully spatially separated illumination and collection zones. On the other hand, the defocusing micro-SORS, where both the laser and Raman collection zones are defocussed and overlapped, yielded the lowest performance although its key benefit lies in its simplicity as the concept can be practiced on existing conventional Raman microscopes without any modifications. A basic experimental verification of the theoretical findings contrasting two extreme modalities, the fully separated micro-SORS variant with the defocusing one, is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new equivalence notion between non-stationary subdivision schemes, termed asymptotic similarity, which is weaker than asymptotic equivalence, is introduced and studied. It is known that asymptotic equivalence between a non-stationary subdivision scheme and a convergent stationary scheme guarantees the convergence of the non-stationary scheme. We show that for non-stationary schemes reproducing constants, the condition of asymptotic equivalence can be relaxed to asymptotic similarity. This result applies to a wide class of non-stationary schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a unified approach to the theory of multimodal laser cavities including a variable amount of structural disorder. A general mean-field theory is studied for waves in media with variable nonlinearity and randomness. Phase diagrams are reported in terms of optical power, degree of disorder, and degree of nonlinearity, tuning between closed and open cavity scenarios. In the thermodynamic limit of infinitely many modes, the theory predicts four distinct regimes: a continuous wave behavior for low power, a standard mode-locking laser regime for high power and weak disorder, a random laser for high pumped power and large disorder, and a novel intermediate regime of phase locking occurring in the presence of disorder but below the lasing threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erectile dysfunction is a common condition in men with cardiovascular disease, probably as a result of shared factors that impair hemodynamic mechanisms in the penile and ischemic vasculature. Sildenafil citrate, an orally active, selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), has demonstrated excellent efficacy and safety profiles in men with erectile dysfunction of various etiologies. Sildenafil administration is contraindicated in patients who are taking nitrates or nitric oxide donors. This retrospective subanalysis of data from double-blind, placebo-controlled studies assessed the efficacy (9 studies) and safety (11 studies) of sildenafil in patients with erectile dysfunction and ischemic heart disease who were not taking nitrates. Of 3,672 patients randomized to receive sildenafil (5-200 mg) or placebo for 4-24 weeks in 11 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, 357 (10%) reported a history (past or present) of ischemic heart disease and were not taking nitrates. Efficacy was assessed using end-of-treatment responses to Question 3 (ability to achieve an erection) and Question 4 (ability to maintain an erection) of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), scores for the 5 domains of male sexual function assessed by the IIEF (erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction), and responses to a global efficacy question ("Did the treatment improve your erections?"). The responses to the 2 IIEF questions were graded on a scale of 1 (almost never or never) to 5 (almost always or always), with a score of 0 indicating no attempt at sexual intercourse. At the end of treatment, the mean scores for Question 3 and Question 4 of the IIEF for patients with erectile dysfunction and ischemic heart disease were significantly higher for the sildenafil group than for the placebo group (p <0.0001). Mean end-of-treatment scores for the IIEF domains also demonstrated significant increases for sildenafil-treated patients compared with those receiving placebo (p <0.05). At the end of treatment, improved erections were reported by 70% of patients who received sildenafil and by 20% of those in the placebo group p <0.0001). For the sildenafil group, the incidences of the most common adverse events (headache 25%, flushing 14%, and dyspepsia 12%) for patients with ischemic heart disease were similar to those in patients without this concomitant illness (21%, 15%, and 10%, respectively). Moreover, the overall incidence of cardiovascular adverse events other than flushing was comparable in patients with and without ischemic heart disease for both treatment groups. Since there is a degree of cardiac risk associated with sexual activity, clinicians should consider the patient's cardiovascular status before initiating any treatment for erectile dysfunction. Physicians should be aware that patients with underlying cardiovascular disease could be adversely affected by the vasodilator effects of sildenafil, especially in combination with sexual activity. The results of the present subanalysis indicate that oral sildenafil significantly improves erectile function and is well tolerated in patients with erectile dysfunction and ischemic heart disease who are not taking nitrate therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray fluorescence technique plays an important role in nondestructive analysis nowadays. The development of equipment, including portable ones, enables a wide assortment of possibilities for analysis of stable elements, even in trace concentrations. Nevertheless, despite of the advantages, one important drawback is radiation self-attenuation in the sample being measured, which needs to be considered in the calculation for the proper determination of elemental concentration. The mass attenuation coefficient can be determined by transmission measurement, but, in this case, the sample must be in slab shape geometry and demands two different setups and measurements. The Rayleigh to Compton scattering ratio, determined from the X-ray fluorescence spectrum, provides a link to the mass attenuation coefficient by means of a polynomial type equation. This work presents a way to construct a Rayleigh to Compton scattering ratio versus mass attenuation coefficient curve by using the MCNP5 Monte Carlo computer code. The comparison between the calculated and literature values of the mass attenuation coefficient for some known samples showed to be within 15%. This calculation procedure is available on-line at www.macx.net.br. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an electrically tunable graphene-based metamaterial that shows a large nonlinear optical response at THz frequencies. The responsible nonlinearity comes from the intraband current, which we are able to calculate analytically. We demonstrate that the proposed metamaterial supports stable 2D spatial solitary waves. Our theoretical approach is not restricted to graphene, but can be applied to all materials exhibiting a conical dispersion supporting massless Dirac fermions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the influence of dynamic and geometrical soil parameters on the propagation of ground vibrations induced by external loads. The proposed approach is based on a three-dimensional model, focusing on realistic excitation sources like impulse loads and moving railway vehicles. For the latter, a complete vehicle/track model is developed. The simulation is performed in time domain, offering an interesting approach, compared with classic cyclic analyses. The ground is modelled initially as an elastic homogeneous half-space and additionally as a layered half-space. First, the effect of homogeneous soil properties on ground vibration is analysed. Soil stratification is then taken into account, using various configurations. Analysis reveals that as receiver distance increases ground wave reflection in a layered ground plays an important role in the reduction of ground surface motion. This effect is magnified when the phase velocity wavelength becomes large compared with the depth of the surface layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels in newly diagnosed drug-naive patients with non-affective psychosis, testing the hypotheses that in such patients serum CRP levels would be higher than in healthy controls and related to more severe psychopathology, suicide risk and alexithymia. CRP levels of 30 adult patients and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were evaluated. Patients were tested with the Scale of Suicide Ideation (SSI), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Scale for the Assessment of Positive and Negative Symptoms (SAPS and SANS) and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). Higher suicide risk patients showed higher CRP levels than lower suicide risk patients and healthy controls. Moreover, such patients showed higher SAPS, SANS and CDSS scores than lower suicide risk patients. In linear regression model, CRP was significantly associated with higher SSI and TAS-20 scores. The results of the present study support the notion that CRP, suicide risk and alexithymia are strictly linked in newly diagnosed, drug-naive patients with non-affective psychosis, independently of depressive symptoms or general psychopathology. Limitations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on the characterization of the oxalate films observed on the surfaces of several ancient monuments. They consist mostly of calcium oxalate in the common forms, namely whewellite (CaC2O4 • H2O) and weddellite (CaC2O4 • (2 + x) H2O), which chemically differ only by the number of water molecules contained in the crystalline unit cell. In order to ascertain the controversial origin of the calcium oxalate films, the settlement of their mineralogical composition and stratigraphy is essential. Because of the lack of analytical techniques able to discriminate, with an acceptable resolution, between whewellite and weddellite in cross-sections, in the literature, very little attention has been paid to these data. μ-Raman mapping allowed for the first time, to unequivocally identify the phases which occur in the calcium oxalate films and to obtain direct information, at high spatial resolution, on their distribution with respect to the material surface. μ-Raman mapping carried out on polished cross-sections of samples belonging to the façade of the Cathedral of Trento showed, for a yet unknown reason, either a random distribution of the two phases or a higher content of weddellite in the external portions of the calcium oxalate films. Meaningful differences in the mineralogical composition have been highlighted between areas of the monument sheltered from rainfall and those exposed to rainfall. A multivariate approach using principal components analysis has been used to analyze the huge number of spectra in the Raman maps. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown that optomechanical forces can cause nonlinear self-channeling of light in a planar dual-slab waveguide. A system of two parallel silica nanowebs, spaced ∼100 nm and supported inside a fiber capillary, is studied theoretically and an iterative scheme developed to analyze its nonlinear optomechanical properties. Steady-state field distributions and mechanical deformation profiles are obtained, demonstrating that self-channeling is possible in realistic structures at launched powers as low as a few mW. The differential optical nonlinearity of the self-channeled mode can be as much as 10 X 106 times higher than the corresponding electronic Kerr nonlinearity. It is also intrinsically broadband, does not utilize resonant effects, can be viewed as a consequence of the extreme nonlocality of the mechanical response, and in fact is a notable example of a so-called accessible soliton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial ischemia can occur without overt symptoms. In fact, asymptomatic (or silent) ST-segment depression during ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring occurs more often than symptomatic ST-segment depression in patients with coronary artery disease. Initial studies documented that silent ischemia provided independent prediction of adverse outcomes in patients with known and unknown coronary artery disease. The ACIP (Asymptomatic Cardiac Ischemia Pilot Study) enrolled patients in the 1990s and found that revascularization was better than medical therapy in reducing silent ischemic episodes and possibly cardiovascular (CV) events. However, the more recent COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) trial found similar CV event rates between patients treated with optimal medical therapy alone and those treated with optimal medical therapy plus percutaneous revascularization. Therefore, in the current era, medical therapy appears to be as effective as revascularization in suppressing symptomatic ischemia and preventing CV events. COURAGE was not designed to evaluate changes in the frequency of silent ischemia. Therefore, silent ischemia may persist despite current-era treatment and might still identify patients with increased risk of CV events. Also, silent ischemia is likely to occur frequently in heart transplant patients with denervated hearts and coronary allograft vasculopathy, and future study aimed at improving the management of silent ischemia in this population is warranted. Additionally, future research is warranted to study the effect of newer medical therapies such as ranolazine or selected use of revascularization (for example, guided by fractional flow reserve) in those patients with persistent silent ischemia despite optimal current-era medical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The statistical properties of the phases of several modes nonlinearly coupled in a random system are investigated by means of a Hamiltonian model with disordered couplings. The regime in which the modes have a stationary distribution of their energies and in which the phases are coupled is studied for arbitrary degrees of randomness and energy. The complexity versus temperature and strength of nonlinearity is calculated. A phase diagram is derived in terms of the stored energy and amount of disorder. Implications in random lasing, nonlinear wave propagation, and finite-temperature Bose-Einstein condensation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Everyone supports the use of oxygen therapy to treat hypoxia secondary to acute myocardial infarction. However, the literature is confusing on the subject of supplemental oxygenation of patients with normal oxygen saturation and uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction, despite the fact that controlled randomized human studies have failed to support the need for supplemental oxygen in the uncomplicated patient. Both normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen must be recognized as a vasoactive substance and thus be considered a drug to which the patient may have an adverse response, particularly in patients whose oxygen saturation is 95% or greater, for example, coronary vasoconstriction. The level of evidence for the use of normobaric oxygenation in uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction patients who were not hypoxemic is based on expert opinion, case studies and 'standard of care'. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has not been shown to be beneficial in human studies. Most studies of the use of supplemental oxygen in humans with acute myocardial infarction were performed prior to modern aggressive medical therapy and current thrombolytic or percutaneous coronary intervention therapy. Perhaps a randomized clinical trial in patients with normal oxygen saturations and modern therapy will shed some light on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the etymology of schizophrenia, the genetic component seems to play an essential role. Studies have shown more than 130 genes of susceptibility for schizophrenia: the majority of these studies, however, has yet to be confirmed- they are searching for more definition on the relevant functions of the genetic variation of schizophrenia. Recent studies suggest that a cluster of candidate genes in the interconnected network pathways are implicated in transmission of the glutamate the plasticity of the synapses, in oxidative stress, myelination and the profitability of oligodendrocytes. Previous neuropathological studies on schizophrenia did not identify specific neurodegenerative characteristics of this disease. Scientific evidence suggests that the physiopathology of schizophrenia involves alterations of the intracellular transmission pathway, those which are associated with reduced cerebral volume in some structures of white and gray matter. In particular, in schizophrenia, a reduction of medium cerebral volume has been observed, as has a reduction of the cortical regional volumes with reference to the frontal, temporal, and parietal areas of the brain - this is all in addition to a reduction of the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdaIa, thalamus, and the cerebellum. The cytoarchitectonic alterations in schizophrenia may be an expression of the pathology's processing, as are axonal damage and loss, reduction of myelination, and loss of neuropil. These all contribute to the reduction of the volume of the cerebral parenchima, and the corresponding augmentation of the cerebral spinal fluid. The inheritance of schizophrenia may appear high/elevated, but not a certain eventuality. In analysis of subtype specifics. However, this statistics remains significant in all studies. The role of the environmental factors in the development of schizophrenia is highlighted by studies which have been conducted on monozygotic patients affected by schizophrenia. While their genetic code is 100% similar, that is to say, entirely identical, one of the pair can be diagnosed as schizophrenic, while the other of the monozygotic pair has the 50% of the possibility not to contract schizophrenia. It is well known that genetic and environmental factors influence multiple aspects of human behavior, they can increase the susceptibility towards a mental disturbance. The reciprocal effects of these factors are placed in two distinct and diverse categories: gene environment interaction, which expresses the terminal genetic variations of susceptibility to environmental risk, and environmental gene correlations, where the genetic variability can increase or reduce the likelihood of the exposure to environmental determinant risk, includes early, stressful events of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract omitted due to copyright. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Following the general idea of smoothing through convolution, we discuss schemes for smoothing hat functions on the three-directional and the four-directional mesh. The smoothing masks–which in the four-directional case are matrix masks–have the same support as the refinement mask for the hat functions. Several smoothing schemes are presented, and in some cases the smoothness properties of the smoothed functions are analysed. In particular, the results for the four-directional case follow new and original lines of research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Photons propagate in photonic crystals in the same way as electrons propagate in solids. The periodical refractive index induces forbidden frequency bands, which nurture a variety of novel integrated devices and several fundamental studies ranging from threshold-less lasers to quantum computing. However, these investigations have to face the unavoidable disorder of real-world structures: if on one hand it largely hampers experiments, on the other hand it opens the possibility to study three-dimensional (3D) photon strong localization. We report on 3D+1 Maxwell–Bloch simulations of light dynamics in inverted opals exhibiting a complete photonic bandgap. We show that the disorder-induced localized states strongly alter the photonic crystal’s response to femtosecond optical pulses, drastically reducing the diffusion constant and trapping light. We find that an optimal amount of randomness favours the strongest localization; correspondingly, self-starting laser processes are mediated by Anderson states that prevail over spatially extended Bloch modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: FT-IR microimaging was performed on colon tissues with the aim to characterize spectral ‘markers’ to distinguish healthy from pathological tissues. Evidences of spectral peculiarities were mainly found in the finger print region even in the presence of a low grade adenocarcinoma. The occurrence of inflammation and necrotic states can also be demonstrated. Through statistical analysis as well as custom map procedures it was possible to reconstruct the topological distribution of different biochemical states and to verify results from the histopathological analysis. Preliminary results from FT-NIR analysis are in substantial agreement with those in the mid infrared region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The biochemistry of healthy and tumour cell cultures, inoculated tissues and oral cavity tissues have been studied by FT-IR Microscopy with the aim to relate spectral patterns with microbiological and histopathological findings. ‘Supervised’ and ‘unsupervised’ procedures of data handling afforded a satisfactory degree of accordance between spectroscopic and the other two techniques. In particular, changes in frequency and intensity of proteins, connective and nucleic acids vibrational modes as well as the visualization of biochemical single wave number or band ratio images, allowed an evaluation of the pathological changes. The spectroscopic patterns of inoculated tissues resulted quite similar to human tissues; differences of both types of sections with cellular lines could be explained by the influence of the environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report on a recent model introduced to describe the behaviour of light in a nonlinear active random medium, i.e. a random laser. The emitted radiation is described by a disordered mean-field Hamiltonian for the phases of the complex amplitudes of the electromagnetic field modes. Using the replica trick the thermodynamics can be exactly solved. A replica-symmetry breaking phase transition is predicted, corresponding to mode-locking processes in random lasers. The expected random laser phase diagram varying the pumping rate is reported, together with some perspectives opened by the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 3-Hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl pyrrolidin-2-ones, easily prepared from the Baylis–Hillman adduct 1-ethyl-4-methyl-2-hydroxy-3-methylenebutanedioate, are useful intermediates in the synthesis of bioactive compounds. In order to understand the mechanism involved in this reaction, vibrational and Montecarlo molecular mechanics conformational analysis on 1-ethyl-4-methyl-2-hydroxy-3-methylenebutanedioate were carried out, confirming the existence of a low energy intramolecular H-bonded five-member ring. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dynamic responses of photonic crystal microcavities in nonlinear media are analyzed via both a finite-difference code and coupled-mode theory in the time domain. Optical frequency generation in both second- and third-order nonlinear materials is demonstrated based on the transient evolution of cavity modes. Terahertz waves can be generated in quadratically nonlinear crystals by optical rectification, whereas state generation inside the band gap can be linked to a Rabi-like splitting in cubic media. An all-optical ultra-fast wavelength shifter is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of polymerization in order to achieve an adequate clinical composite filling. Photopolymerization of new micro matrix restorative resin composite, Esthet-x, shade A3, from Dentsply Corp., was performed with plasma xenon, halogen and light emitting diode (LED) lamps. The degree of conversion (DC) of the resins was determined by means of middle, near infrared and Raman spectroscopy in transmittance and in DRIFT modes. The resin conversion was influenced by the nature of the light source, the distance from the irradiated surface, the exposure time and the depth from the surface. High DC values were obtained with all lamps but they resulted almost constant with the depth only in the LED unit. Micro-hardness and differential thermal analysis were in satisfactory agreement with DC data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, the solvent effect on some trichloroacetimidates was studied by FT-IR spectroscopy together with conformational and chemometric analysis. As confirmed also by conformational analysis, no intramolecular H-bond was detected; in fact no low energy conformers with intramolecular hydrogen bonding were found with significant populations. Among the various functional groups, the C=O bond results the best diagnostic vibrational mode for the analysis of solute–solvent interactions; a prevailing bulk dielectric effect of the solvent operates on the νC=O stretching mode at higher frequencies (unperturbed band), while solute–solvent intermolecular interactions are responsible for the position and the intensity of the band at lower frequencies. An isosbestic point was found, claiming for an equilibrium between free and bonded conformations of comparable energy. Among all solvent parameters, only the Acceptor Number shows a linear correlation with the νCO stretching modes. From the conformational analysis, all the compounds show two kinds of conformers of similar energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Changes in the biochemistry of oral cavity tissues have been studied by FT-IR microscopy. Various aspects of squamous cell carcinomas of cheek mucosa, of tongue, of gingiva, and of the floor of the mouth have been analyzed through FT-IR imaging with the aim to relate spectral patterns with histopathological results. In particular, changes in frequency and intensity of proteins, connective and nucleic acids vibrational modes as well as the visualization of biochemical single wavenumber or band ratio images allowed a quali- and quantitative evaluation of the changes in the proliferating activity from displastic to neoplastic states. ‘Supervised’ and ‘unsupervised’ procedures of data handling afforded a satisfactory degree of accordance between spectroscopic and histological findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we discuss a strategy for reducing the computational cost of a re-parameterisation procedure to be used in algebraic numerical grid generation. The re-parameterisation phase is based on a tensor product transformation following given directions. The free parameters in the tensor product are set by solving the discretization of an elliptic differential system of small size, via an iterative scheme, thus generating a grid conforming to the boundary of a prescribed domain with orthogonal inner grid cells and with almost constant aspect ratio. The bases involved in the tensor product are refinable, i.e., they can be written as linear combination of dilate of translates of their-self. This property allows us to use few iterations of the corresponding subdivision algorithm to produce a good parameter distribution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We investigate four wave mixing in photonic crystal wire microresonators realized in an isotropic medium. One-dimensional optical parametric oscillators are numerically analyzed by solving Maxwell’s equations in all dimensions and including material dispersion as well as nonlinear polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given a mixed algebraic method based on a transfinite Hermite-type interpolant scheme and on a B-spline tensor product method (see [C. Conti, R. Morandi, D. Scaramelli, An automatic control point choice in algebraic numerical grid generation, in: J. Levesly, I.J. Anderson, J.C. Mason (Eds.), Proceedings of Algorithms for Approximation IV, 2002, pp. 2–8] and references quoted therein), in this paper the choice of the B-spline knots and of the control points used in the tensor product is discussed. Both choices are performed by taking into account a discrete “uniformity” property. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We make a careful study about the nonrelativistic reduction of one-meson-exchange models for the nonmesonic weak hypernuclear decay. Starting from a widely accepted effective coupling Hamiltonian involving the exchange of the complete pseudoscalar and vector meson octets (π, η, K, ρ, ω, K&ast;), the strangeness-changing weak ΛN→NN transition potential is derived, including two effects that have been systematically omitted in the literature, or, at best, only partly considered. These are the kinematical effects due to the difference between the lambda and nucleon masses, and the first-order nonlocality corrections, i.e., those involving up to first-order differential operators. Our analysis clearly shows that the main kinematical effect on the local contributions is the reduction of the effective pion mass. The kinematical effect on the nonlocal contributions is more complicated, since it activates several new terms that would otherwise remain dormant. Numerical results for 12ΛC and 5ΛHe are presented and they show that the combined kinematical plus nonlocal corrections have an appreciable influence on the partial decay rates. However, this is somewhat diminished in the main decay observables: the total nonmesonic rate, Γnm, the neutron-to-proton branching ratio, Γn/Γp, and the asymmetry parameter, aΛ. The latter two still cannot be reconciled with the available experimental data. The existing theoretical predictions for the sign of aΛ in 5ΛHe are confirmed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The infrared study of the solvent effect on 2-methylen-3-phenyl-3-aminocarbonyl compounds, precursors of γ-hydroxy-β-amino acids, is reported. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding between NH and ester carbonyl group is present in apolar solvents, while in polar or/and protic solvents specific solute–solvent interactions are pre-dominant. In mixtures of chloroform and cyclohexane, various equilibria are present; the composition of the solute–solvent different complexes differs as the mol% of the solvent system changes. Conformational analysis confirms the infrared findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) microscopy FT-IR and micro-hardness determinations have been used to study defects in polyethylene acetabular cups for hip prosthesis. The morphology of polymer chains and the distribution of crystalline zones can cause anomalous wear, granulomatosis and, consequently, the failure of the implant. The results have been corroborated by applying a structural analysis by means of the finite element method (FEM). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nasal vestibule squamous cell carcinoma (NVSCC) is an exceedingly rare malignancy, often misclassified due to its anatomical location and lack of a standardized definition. This review aims to consolidate current evidence on NVSCC, focusing on epidemiology, risk factors, classification, clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and prognostic factors. The NV anatomy is delineated, emphasizing the need for a clear definition to avoid misclassification. Risk factors include smoking, sunlight exposure, and debated associations with chalk exposure or viral factors. Clinical presentation includes symptoms like nasal obstruction, pain, burning, and bleeding, often misdiagnosed as inflammatory conditions. NVSCC exhibits distinct local spread patterns along cartilaginous surfaces, with the facial and submandibular lymph nodes at higher metastatic risk. Current classifications lack consensus, hindering comparison of outcomes. Treatment varies, with surgery or radiotherapy for early-stage tumors and multimodality approaches for advanced cases. The choice between surgery and radiotherapy is debated, with potential advantages and drawbacks for each. Radiotherapy, especially with Interventional RadioTherapy (IRT, previously known as brachytherapy), is gaining prominence, showing promising outcomes in terms of local control and cosmetic results. Prophylactic neck treatment remains controversial, with indications based on tumor characteristics. Prognostic factors include T classification, tumor size, surgical margins, nodal involvement, and histological features. Long-term survival rates range widely, emphasizing the need for further studies to refine management strategies for this rare malignancy. In conclusion, NVSCC poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, warranting multidisciplinary approaches and continued research efforts to optimize patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immunoperoxidase method for involucrin detection was applied to the study of the maturation of epithelial lesions of the oral mucosa that included specimens of leukoplakia, lichen planus, verrucous carcinoma, carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. Areas of orthokeratinized, parakeratinized, and non-keratinized normal mucosa were also studied. Normal orthokeratinized epithelia showed intracytoplasmic or pericellular staining in the suprabasal epithelial layers in a pattern similar to that of the normal epidermis. Parakeratinized and non-keratinized epithelia were less stained. Intense staining was observed in leukoplakia, whereas the staining of lichen planus was less intense but exhibited a more homogeneous pericellular staining pattern than leukoplakia. Verrucous carcinoma was markedly and very irregularly stained. Carcinomas in situ and invasive carcinoma exhibited a slightly positive and patchy reaction. The distribution patterns of involucrin in the lesions correlated wery well with the degree of epithelial differentiation. In addition, irregular patchy distribution correlated with the degree of atypia, and was especially evident in carcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]