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Discrete element modelling of clays requires defining the interaction energy between two particles. The Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek (DLVO) theory combining the effect of the van der Waals forces and the Coulombic forces due to the double layer of counterions provides a widely accepted framework to characterise the pair potential energy. Solutions of the Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation to quantify the Coulombic forces are only available for the case of infinitely extended and uniformly charged facing plates (1D conditions). However, these assumptions are not representative of a clay particle system. Particles should be represented by platelets of finite size and finite thickness, with different charges between the edge and the basal planes. This paper addresses the problem of deriving the Coulombic interaction forces for plates of finite size and thickness in 3D configuration by solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation numerically via the Finite Element Method (FEM). It is shown that 2D particles (plates of infinitesimal thickness) provide an adequate representation of Coulombic interaction as long as the particles are uniformly charged. The advantage of 2D particles is to reconcile numerical modelling with analytical solutions available in the literature. The use of 2D particles is questionable when considering different charges between basal planes and edges.

Nazareno Carullo,1 Maria Teresa Zicarelli,1 Alessandro Casarella,2 Ramona Nicotera,1 Alberto Castagna,2 Alessandra Urso,1 Pierangela Presta,1 Michele Andreucci,1 Emilio Russo,2 Davide Bolignano,1 Giuseppe Coppolino1 1Renal Unit, Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University, Catanzaro, Italy; 2Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University, Catanzaro, ItalyCorrespondence: Giuseppe CoppolinoRenal Unit, Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University, Viale Europa - Germaneto, Catanzaro, 88100, ItalyTel +39 09613697170Email gcoppolino@unicz.itAbstract: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most frequent single-gene disorder leading to renal failure. Current therapies are aimed to treat renal and extrarenal complications of ADPKD, but improved knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to the generation and growth of cysts has permitted the identification of new drug candidates for clinical trials. Among these, in this review, we will examine above all the role of metformin, hypothesized to be able to activate the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and potentially modulate some mechanisms implicated in the onset and the growth of the cysts.Keywords: cystogenesis, renal cells, metformin, chronic renal disease, renal tubule

The effect of temperature on mechanical behaviour of clay-based geomaterials is relevant in a number of geotechnical applications (e.g. low enthalpy geothermal systems and energy geostructures, nuclear waste disposal, and heating in rapid shear deformation). Mechanical response of (saturated) clays upon heating is not always intuitive as volume changes may occur due to both thermal expansion of clay constituents and temperature-induced changes of clay microstructure. This paper first revisits the macroscopic thermally-induced mechanical behaviour of saturated clays available in the literature via an advanced thermo-elastoplastic constitutive model and then elucidates the dependence on clay mineralogy of the two key parameters of the model (mechanical hardening and thermal softening respectively) by inspecting differences in clay inter-particle electro-chemical forces occurring in kaolinitic, illitic, and smectitic clays. The micromechanically-based interpretation of constitutive parameters can serve as a guidance for soil parameter selection in the design of energy geostructures.

Energy foundation technology is expected to make a significant contribution to the use of renewable energy. In this context, this paper presents the use of Finite Element simulation using PLAXIS software for modelling different benchmark applications in Geothermal Foundations. An implicit fully-coupled numerical scheme with global adaptive time stepping are implemented to ensure computational efficiency and stability. Firstly, a transient simulation of thermal response tests [1], often used to estimate the thermal conductivity of ground and thermal resistance of pile, is presented. In the second part, a Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical analysis is performed to simulate the behavior of a single heat pile subject to a thermal load cycle [2]. Several ingredients (constitutive behavior, interface finite elements etc.) are employed to simulate soil-structure interactions. The obtained solutions are validated against available simulation and experimental data to demonstrate the applicability of the simulator to energy foundation analysis and design.

Bioengineered materials represent an innovative option to support the regenerative processes of damaged tissues, with the final objective of creating a functional environment closely mimicking the native tissue. Among the different available biomaterials, hydrogels represent the solution of choice for tissue regeneration, thanks to the easy synthesis process and the highly tunable physical and mechanical properties. Moreover, hydrogels are biocompatible and biodegradable, able to integrate in biological environments and to support cellular interactions in order to restore damaged tissues' functionality. This review offers an overview of the current knowledge concerning hydrogel synthesis and characterization and of the recent achievements in their experimental use in supporting skin, bone, cartilage, and muscle regeneration. The currently available in vitro and in vivo results are of great interest, highlighting the need for carefully designed and controlled preclinical studies and clinical trials to support the transition of these innovative biomaterials from the bench to the bedside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Bimodal stimulation (BS), which combines the use of a cochlear implant (CI) in one ear and a hearing aid (HA) in the opposite ear, is an established strategy to treat hearing loss by exploiting the unique capabilities of each device. CIs stimulate the auditory nerve by bypassing damaged hair cells, while HAs amplify sounds by requiring a functional hearing residual. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of BS such as speech perception in noise. Methods: We examined clinical studies published from October 2020 to July 2024, following the PRISMA guidelines, focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of BS on speech perception in noise in adulthood. Results: BS in adult patients significantly improves speech perception in quiet and noisy environments, especially for those with increased residual hearing. Unilateral CIs and BS perform similarly in quiet conditions, but BS significantly improves speech discrimination in noisy environments if loudness between the two devices is appropriately balanced. Conclusions: Directional microphones and programming software are new technologies that succeed in reducing environmental noise and improving verbal perception outcomes, although their features in the literature are controversial. In addition, the individuals using BS may face temporal mismatches mainly due to differing device latencies, affecting sound localization. Compensating for these mismatches can enhance localization accuracy. However, modulated noise remains a significant obstacle to verbal perception in noise. Valuable assessment tools such as music tests provide further information on hearing performance and quality of life. More research is needed to define certain selection criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) represents a clinical picture that involves urgent management due to the important procession of symptoms accompanying the event, which can be positively or negatively influenced by therapeutic choices and intervention timing. This forces a differential diagnosis and therapeutic choices to be made in conditions that are not always favorable and often not in the specialist field. In this work, we will examine in detail the pharmacological therapeutic possibilities, correlating them to the differential and, as far as possible, to the etiological diagnosis. In particular, the pharmacological possibilities for the two main conditions we can face will be investigated, namely, vestibular neuritis and posterior circulation stroke.

The article is a book review of "Naming God: Addressing the Divine in Philosophy, Theology, and Scripture" by Janet Soskice. The book explores the treatment of divine names in Scripture and in key thinkers such as Philo, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and others. The author argues that naming God is not simply about delineating attributes, but rather about the existential response to a call from God. The book offers fresh readings of Scripture and a doxologically shaped philosophical theology, challenging readers to reconsider the relationship between language, calling, and the transcendent. [Extracted from the article]

Transfer reactions at the high-precision Q3D spectrometer at the University of Munich have shown that there are many low-lying excited K π = 0 + states in well-deformed nuclei. A recent study of 162 Dy shows eleven 0 + states below an energy of 3 MeV. While this nucleus is studied extensively, the lifetimes of the new states were not known. We report on lifetime measurements of the newly observed states in order to determine their properties and allow the characterization of these states. Level lifetimes of 0 + states in 162 Dy were measured by the ( n , n ′ γ ) reaction and the Doppler-shift attenuation method at the University of Kentucky. This work allow us to report the transition probabilities from six of the eleven 0 + states. We suggest that the first excited K π = 0 + excitation at 1400.2 keV in 162 Dy may be the β vibrational excitation and not the γ γ excitation indicated in the past or a shape coexistence minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common cause of male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that can reduce quality of life. Even if several drugs can be used in its treatment, the development of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) represents the most common cause of low adherence. In the present study, we evaluate both the efficacy and the safety of a new nutrient fixed combination of Pollen Extract plus Teupolioside, named Xipag®, in patients with LUTS. We conduct a pilot single center open label clinical study between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 in patients with BPH referred to general practitioner’s ambulatories. Male patients > 45 years, sexually active, with clinical symptoms of LUTS and with a diagnosis of HPB were enrolled and received one tablet/day of Xipag® (T0), for three months (T1: end of treatment). The IPSS and IIEF-5 questionnaires were carried out at T0 and T1 and represent the first end point, whereas the primary safety end point was considered the absence of ADR or of drug–drug interactions related to Xipag® administration. During the study period, 25 subjects aged 43 to 76 years (mean 62.7 ± 9) were enrolled and completed the study. The clinical evaluation in T1 documented that Xipag® induced a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.01) in symptoms, as documented by the IPSS questionnaire (range 22.7–88.9; mean 55.2 ± 23.6), without the development of ADRs. In conclusion, this is the first real-world study that showed the efficacy and the safety of Xipag® in the BPH patients with LUTS.