Massless Dirac particles in the vacuum C-metric

We study the behavior of massless Dirac particles in the vacuum C-metric spacetime, representing the nonlinear superposition of the Schwarzschild black hole solution and the Rindler flat spacetime associated with uniformly accelerated observers. Under certain conditions, the C-metric can be considered as a unique laboratory to test the coupling between intrinsic properties of particles and fields with the background acceleration in the full (exact) strong-field regime.

Modelling the glycocalyx-endothelium-erythrocyte interaction in the microcirculation: a computational study

A novel, coarse-grained, single-framework 'Eulerian' model for blood flow in the microvascular circulation is presented and used to estimate the variations in flow properties that accrue from all of the following: (i) wall position variation, associated with the endothelial cells' (ECs) shape, (ii) glycocalyx layer (GL) effects and (iii) the particulate nature of blood. We stress that our new model is fully coupled and uses only a single Eulerian computational framework to recover complex effects, dispensing altogether with the need for, e.g. re-meshing and advected sets of Lagrangian points.

JETSPIN: A specific-purpose open-source software for simulations of nanofiber electrospinning

We present the open-source computer program JETSPIN, specifically designed to simulate the electro-spinning process of nanofibers. Its capabilities are shown with proper reference to the underlying model, as well as a description of the relevant input variables and associated test-case simulations. The various interactions included in the electrospinning model implemented in JETSPIN are discussed in detail. The code is designed to exploit different computational architectures, from single to parallel processor workstations.

On the influence of solid-liquid mass transfer in the modelling of drug release from stents

In this paper we present a model of drug release from a drug eluting-stent and the subsequent drug transport in the arterial wall. In order to study the complete process, a two-phase mathematical model describing the transport of a drug between two coupled media of different properties and dimensions is presented. A system of partial differential equations describes both the solid-liquid transfer (dissolution) and diffusion processes in the polymeric substrate as well as diffusion, convection and reaction in the tissue layer.

A 1D mechanistic model can predict duration of in-vivo drug release from drug-eluting stents

We present a general model of drug release from a drug delivery device and the subsequent transport in biological tissue. The model incorporates drug diffusion, dissolution and solubility in the polymer coating, coupled with diffusion, convection and reaction in the biological tissue. Each layer contains bound and free drug phases so that the resulting model is a coupled two-phase two-layer system of partial differential equations. One of the novelties is the generality of the model in each layer.

Nonlinear Langevin model for the early-stage dynamics of electrospinning jets

We present a nonlinear Langevin model to investigate the early-stage dynamics of electrified polymer jets in electrospinning experiments. In particular, we study the effects of air drag force on the uniaxial elongation of the charged jet, right after ejection from the nozzle. Numerical simulations show that the elongation of the jet filament close to the injection point is significantly affected by the nonlinear drag exerted by the surrounding air. These results provide useful insights for the optimal design of current and future electrospinning experiments.

Velocity Vector Field Optimization in Bioventing

Bioventing is a technology used to remove some kinds of pollutants from the subsoil and it is based on the capability of some bacteria species to biodegrade contaminants. The biochemical reaction requires, among other things, oxygen and, therefore, oxygen is inflated into the subsoil by wells. The mathematical model describes the movement of the different fluids which are present in the subsoil - air, water, pollutants, oxygen and so on - and the bacteria population dynamics.

Orbital effects due to gravitational induction

We study the motion of test particles in the metric of a localized and slowly rotating astronomical source, within the framework of linear gravitoelectromagnetism, grounded on a Post-Minkowskian approximation of general relativity. Special attention is paid to gravitational inductive effects due to time-varying gravitomagnetic fields. We show that, within the limits of the approximation mentioned above, there are cumulative effects on the orbit of the particles either for planetary sources or for binary systems. They turn out to be negligible.

METODOLOGIE E APPROCCIO MULTIDISCIPLINARE PER L'ANALISI DEL DEGRADO DEI BENI CULTURALI. I CASI DI STUDIO DI MONTE SANNACE E PALEOPOLIS

The conservation of wall paintings in archaeological sites can be difficult due to the severe damage caused by living organisms, which can degrade substrates as a result of their growth and metabolic activity. The purpose of this study was to provide information on the degradation processes affecting the artefacts of an archaeological site and to predict areas where conservation is most at risk and precarious. The study focussed on the archaeological site of Monte Sannace (Italy) and Paleopolis (Greece).