Marche Polytechnic University

About: Marche Polytechnic University is a education organization based out in Ancona, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 5905 authors who have published 15769 publications receiving 382286 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitá Politecnica delle Marche & Universita Politecnica delle Marche.

The Variational Approach to Fracture Mechanics. A Practical Application to the French Panthéon in Paris

Abstract: Recently, Francfort and Marigo (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 46, 1319–1342, 1998) have proposed a novel approach to fracture mechanics based upon the global minimization of a Griffith-like functional, composed of a bulk and a surface energy term. Later on the same authors, together with Bourdin, introduced (in J. Mech. Phys. Solids 48, 797–826, 2000) a variational approximation (in the sense of Γ-convergence) of such functional, essentially for computational purposes. Here, we utilize this new variational approach to show how it might be altered to incorporate the idea of less brittle, “deviatoric-type fracture” and apply to materials such as confined stone. To do so, we modify the original formulation of Francfort and Marigo, in particular its approximation of Bourdin, Francfort and Marigo, to only allow for discontinuities in the deviatoric part of the strain. We apply such modified model to gain insight on the deterioration and cracking in the ashlar masonry work of the French Pantheon, which are so repetitious and particular to be a distinguishable symptom of ongoing damage. Numerical experiments are performed and the results compared to those obtained using the original Francfort-Marigo model and to actual crack patterns from the Pantheon. The modified formulation allows one to reproduce fracture paths surprisingly similar to that observed in situ, to sort out the possible causes of damage, and to confirm, with a quantitative analysis, the main structural deficiencies in the French monument. This practical example enhances the importance of this promising new theory based in the mathematical sciences.

Coeliac disease in children

Abstract: Although coeliac disease (CD) can present at any age, including the elderly, typical cases often manifest in early childhood. The clinical spectrum in children is wide and includes: (1) typical cases presenting early in life with signs of intestinal malabsorption (chronic diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal distention, etc); (2) atypical cases showing milder, often extra-intestinal, symptoms; (3) silent cases that are occasionally discovered because of serological screening; (4) potential/latent cases showing isolated positivity of coeliac serology at first testing and eventually the typical intestinal damage later in life. Many CD-associated problems, which were originally described mostly in adults, can indeed be observed in children or adolescents, e.g. reduced bone mineral density, neurological problems and associated autoimmune disorders. It is instrumental that both primary pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists have a high degree of awareness and embrace a 'liberal' use of serological CD tests in order to identify these cases in a timely fashion to prevent serious complications secondary to untreated CD.

CA-Repeat polymorphism in intron 1 of HSD11B2 : effects on gene expression and salt sensitivity.

Abstract: Mutations in the HSD11B2 gene encoding the kidney (11-HSD2) isozyme of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase cause apparent mineralocorticoid excess, a form of familial hypertension. Because the hypertension associated with AME is of the salt-sensitive type, it seemed possible that decreases in 11-HSD2 activity might be associated with salt sensitivity. To examine this, Italians with mild hypertension underwent a protocol consisting of a rapid intravenous saline infusion and subsequent furosemide diuresis. To determine whether there were genetic associations between HSD11B2 and salt sensitivity, 198 Italians were genotyped for a CA repeat polymorphism (11 alleles) in the first intron. Increased differences in mean arterial pressure between the sodium loaded and depleted states were correlated with shorter CA repeat length (R=0.214, P=0. 0025). The effect behaved as a recessive trait. This suggested that decreased HSD11B2 expression was associated with shorter CA repeat length. Furthermore, activity of renal 11-HSD2 as measured by an increase in the ratio of urinary-free cortisol/urinary-free cortisone was lower in 33 salt-sensitive subjects (urinary-free cortisol/urinary-free cortisone 0.89+/-0.04 [mean+/-SE]) compared with 34 salt-resistant subjects (0.71+/-0.04, P<0.001). However, when minigenes containing either 14 or 23 CA repeats were transfected into rabbit or human kidney cortical collecting duct cells, the construct with 14 repeats was instead expressed at levels 50% higher than those of the construct with 23 repeats, as determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We conclude that polymorphisms in HSD11B2 and decreased 11-HSD2 activity are associated with sensitivity to sodium loading, but a functional explanation for these associations remains to be elucidated.

The Home Bias and the Credit Crunch: A Regional Perspective

Abstract: Using detailed data on loan applications and decisions for a large sample of manufacturing firms in Italy during the recent financial crisis, we find that the credit crunch has been harsher in provinces with a large share of branches owned by distantly managed banks. Inconsistent with a flight to quality we do not find evidence that economically weaker firms suffered more during the crisis. In contrast, we find that financially healthier firms were affected more in functionally distant credit markets than in markets populated by less distant banks, consistent with a home bias on the part of nationwide banks.