Stochastic response determination of U-OWC energy harvesters: a statistical linearization solution treatment accounting for intermittent wave excitation

Nonlinear Dynamics - A novel statistical linearization technique is developed for determining approximately the response statistics and the power output of U-Oscillating Water Column (U-OWC) energy...     

Zinc Interactions with a Soluble Mutated Rat Amylin to Mimic Whole Human Amylin: An Experimental and Simulation Approach to Understand Stoichiometry,Speciation and Coordination of the Metal Complexes

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is a hormone co-secreted with insulin and zinc from pancreatic β-cells. To overcome the low solubility of human IAPP, we characterized zinc complexes species formed with 1) a mutated form of rat-IAPP(1–37; R18 H) able to mimic the human IAPP, 2) the r-IAPP(1–37) and the IAPP(1–8) fragment. Stoichiometry, speciation and coordination features of zinc(II) complexes were unveiled by ESI-MS, potentiometry and NMR measurements combined with DFT and free-energy simulations. Mononuclear species start to form around pH 6; Zn²⁺ binds both His18 and N-amino terminus in rat-IAPP(1–37; R18 H). The in silico study allows us to assess not only a structured turn compact domain in r-IAPP(1–37) and r-IAPP(1–37; R18 H) featured by a different free energy barrier for the transition from the compact to elongated conformation upon the coordination of Zn²⁺, but also to bring into light a coordination shell further stabilized by noncovalent interactions.     

A note on commutator subgroups in groups of large cardinality

Monatshefte für Mathematik - If G is an uncountable group of regular cardinality $$aleph $$, we shall denote by $${mathfrak {L}L}_aleph (G)$$ the set of all subgroups of G of cardinality...     

Bounds in Total Variation Distance for Discrete-time Processes on the Sequence Space

Potential Analysis - Let $mathbb {P}$ and $widetilde {mathbb {P}}$ be the laws of two discrete-time stochastic processes defined on the sequence space $S^{mathbb N}$, where S is a finite set of...     

Gaussian Random Measures Generated by Berry’s Nodal Sets

Journal of Statistical Physics - We consider vectors of random variables, obtained by restricting the length of the nodal set of Berry’s random wave model to a finite collection of (possibly...     

The Effect of Temperature and Magnetic Field on the Precipitation of Insoluble Salts of Alkaline Earth Metals

Journal of Solution Chemistry - A study of the effects induced by a weak magnetic field of about 0.4 T on the precipitation of insoluble alkaline earth carbonates is reported. Optical...     

An Overview on Truffle Aroma and Main Volatile Compounds

Truffles are underground edible fungi that grow symbiotically with plant roots. They have been globally considered as one of the most expensive foods because of their rarity, unique aroma, and high nutritional value as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, hepatoprotective, anti-mutagenic, antituberculoid immunomodulatory, antitumor, antimicrobial, and aphrodisiac. The unique flavor and fragrance of truffles is one of the main reasons to get worldwide attraction as a food product. So, the aim of this review was to summarize the relevant literature with particular attention to the active aroma components as well as the various sample preparation and analytical techniques used to identify them. The major analytical methods used for the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in truffles are gas chromatography (GC), proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), and electronic nose sensing (EN). In addition, factors influencing truffle aroma are also highlighted. For this reason, this review can be considered a good reference for research concerning aroma profiles of different species of truffles to deepen the knowledge about a complex odor of various truffles.     

In memory of Professor Raffaele Casciaro

Meccanica - It is with profound sadness that we share the news that Prof. Raffaele Casciaro passed away on 27 July 2020. He is buried in his beloved Rossano, a small city in southeast Italy, where...