Reduced-Order Modelling of the Bending of an Array of Torsional Micromirrors

Reduced-Order Modelling of the Bending of an Array of An array of micromirrors for beam steering optical switching has been designed in a thick polysilicon technology. A novel semi-analytical method to calculate the static characteristics of the micromirrors by taking into account the flexural deformation of the structure is presented. The results are compared with 3D coupled-field FEM simulation.Comment: Submitted on behalf of TIMA Editions (http://irevues.inist.fr/tima-editions

Which affects affect the use of new technologies? Italian adaptation of the Internet Motive Questionnaire for Adolescents (IMQ-A) and criterion validity with problematic use and body dissatisfaction

Given the negative role of problematic use of new technological devices (NTD) in behavioral and psychological domains, the aim of the study is the Italian adaptation and validation of the Internet Motive Questionnaire for Adolescents (IMQ-A) in order to understand the motivation for the use of NTD. A total of 769 students 10-19 aged (M = 13.22, SD = 1.56) completed the IMQ-A, the Collins Figures Rating Scale, and two measures regarding the problematic NTD use, focused on overuse during the night and during meals. The IMQ-A showed adequate internal consistency with regard to its four subscales: Coping (α = .84), Social (α = .80), Enhancement (α = .80), and Conformity (α = .68) motives. However, with regard to factorial structure, a threefactor model (excluding Conformity subscale) showed slightly better fit indices than the original model. Coping motive was correlated with problematic NTD use and succeeded in predicting higher scores in body dissatisfaction as evidence of criterion-related and external validity. The Italian adaptation of the IMQ-A can be useful in both research and clinical fields, in order to propose alternative strategies for coping to users and to improve emotion regulation facets

Extinction and paleoecology of the Late Pleistocene cave bear from northeastern Italy: radiocarbon and stable isotope evidence

We present here the chronometric, isotopic and taphonomic evidence of cave bear from three Palaeolithic sites in north-eastern Italy: Paina, Trene and Buso doppio del Broion (Berici Hills - Vicenza). Two direct radiocarbon dates yielded an age around 24 ka BP, which make these remains the latest known representatives of the species in Europe and confirmed that demise of cave bear falls during the LGM. The carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of bone collagen do not show any marked ecological change since 33 ka BP, suggesting an essential vegetarian diet. Several bear bones preserved traces of human modification such as cut marks, which en-ables a reconstruction of the main steps of butchering process

Isotope analysis in central heavy ion collisions at intermediate energies

Symmetry energy is a key quantity in the study of the equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter. Heavy ion collisions at low and intermediate energies, performed at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro and Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, can be used to extract information on the symmetry energy coefficient Csym, which is currently poorly known but relevant both for astrophysics and for structure of exotic nuclei.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure. Proceedings of 7th International Conference on Radioactive Nuclear Beams (RNB7), to be published in The European Physical Journal

Logstics in the banking industry

Logistics in the banking industry is generally an overlooked entity, which causes its effects not to be maximized. Bankers and customers usually take banking logistics for granted and do not realize the power of its usefulness. To be implemented correctly, logistics needs to be recognized as a separate function of banking that ties all of the other functions together, as it does in other industries. ... Although the processes in the supply chain and service response logistics areas are already in place and functional, many do not recognize the importance of logistics in banking. However, before the new technologies are fully implemented and relied upon, the banks had better wake up to the logistics concept or be lost in the new systems. The ability to make greater profit than ever before is present, but the ability to lose everything due to an antiquated method of thinking is just as possible

Halyomorpha halys in Italy: first results of field monitoring in fruit orchards

The invasive pest Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) was detected for the first time in Italy in September 2012 in Modena province (Northern Italy) during an insect collection for educational purposes. A survey performed in 2013 allowed to detect its presence in Emilia Romagna, Lombardy and Piedmont regions. In 2014, in the provinces of Modena, Reggio Emilia and Bologna a periodical active field monitoring was performed using tree beating, sweep-net and visual observations in selected orchards and vineyards, recording numbers of BMSB adults and nymphs, and of other Heteroptera. Besides, fruit injury and crop loss were recorded at harvest. Partial results from field data obtained between April and July 2014 are presented, indicating that BMSB is already becoming an important pest of fruit orchards and that special attention should be deserved to monitor its spread all over the region and the whole Italian country

Imatinib dose escalation versus sunitinib as a second line treatment in KIT exon 11 mutated GIST: a retrospective analysis

We retrospectively reviewed data from 123 patients (KIT exon 11 mutated) who received sunitinib or dose-escalated imatinib as second line.All patients progressed on imatinib (400 mg/die) and received a second line treatment with imatinib (800 mg/die) or sunitinib (50 mg/die 4 weeks on/2 off or 37.5 mg/day). Deletion versus other KIT 11 mutation was recorded, correlated with clinical benefits.64% received imatinib, 36% sunitinib. KIT exon 11 mutation was available in 94 patients. With a median follow-up of 61 months, median time to progression (TTP) in patients receiving sunitinib and imatinib was 10 (95% CI 9.7-10.9) and 5 months (95% CI 3.6-6.7) respectively (P = 0.012). No difference was found in overall survival (OS) (P = 0.883). In imatinib arm, KIT exon 11 deletions was associated with a shorter TTP (7 vs 17 months; P = 0.02), with a trend in OS (54 vs 71 months P = 0.063). No difference was found in patients treated with sunitinib (P = 0.370).A second line with sunitinib was associated with an improved TTP in KIT exon 11 mutated patients progressing on imatinib 400 mg/die. Deletions in exon 11 seemed to be correlated with worse outcome in patients receiving imatinib-based second line