A non-circular Eshelby inclusion near a non-parabolic inhomogeneity admitting internal uniform stresses

With the aid of conformal mapping and analytic continuation, we prove that within the framework of anti-plane elasticity, a non-parabolic open elastic inhomogeneity can still admit an internal uniform stress field despite the presence of a nearby non-circular Eshelby inclusion undergoing uniform anti-plane eigenstrains when the surrounding elastic matrix is subjected to uniform remote stresses. The non-circular inclusion can take the form of a Booth’s lemniscate inclusion, a generalized Booth’s lemniscate inclusion or a cardioid inclusion. Our analysis indicates that the uniform stress field within the non-parabolic inhomogeneity is independent of the specific open shape of the inhomogeneity and is also unaffected by the existence of the nearby non-circular inclusion. On the other hand, the non-parabolic shape of the inhomogeneity is caused solely by the presence of the non-circular inclusion.

Practical application of synthetic head models in real ballistic cases

In shooting crimes, ballistics tests are often recommended in order to reproduce the wound characteristics of the involved persons. For this purpose, several “simulants” can be used. However, despite the efforts in the research of “surrogates” in the field of forensic ballistic, the development of synthetic models needs still to be improved through a validation process based on specific real caseworks. This study has been triggered by the findings observed during the autopsy performed on two victims killed in the same shooting incident, with similar wounding characteristics; namely two retained head shots with ricochet against the interior wall of the skull; both projectiles have been recovered during the autopsies after migration in the brain parenchyma. The thickness of the different tissues and structures along the bullets trajectories as well as the incident angles between the bullets paths and the skull walls have been measured and reproduced during the assemblage of the synthetic head models. Two different types of models (“open shape” and “spherical”) have been assembled using leather, polyurethane and gelatine to simulate respectively skin, bone and soft tissues. Six shots have been performed in total. The results of the models have been compared to the findings of post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) and the autopsy findings.Out of the six shots, two perforated the models and four were retained. When the projectile was retained, the use of both models allowed reproducing the wounds characteristics observed on both victims in terms of penetration and ricochet behaviour. However, the projectiles recovered from the models showed less deformation than the bullets collected during the autopsies. The “open shape” model allowed a better controlling on the shooting parameters than the “spherical” model. Finally, the difference in bullet deformation could be caused by the choice of the bone simulant, which might under-represent either the strength or the density of the human bone. In our opinion, it would be worth to develop a new, more representative material for ballistic which simulates the human bone.

An "achtformige" bronze lamp from Ptuj/Poetovio

This research highlights a recent discovery, at Poetovio, among a huge number of standard imported Roman oil lamps, of an open-shape copper-alloy lamp to be used with tallow (type Loeschcke XXV). This form, together with its clay counterpart (type Loeschcke XI), is typical of the northern Roman limes provinces where its production and usage was almost exclusive. To understand the uniqueness of this find so far south, the authors have mapped all the known parallels made of different metals. They also present a short introduction to the very eclectic clay variant, which is marginal almost everywhere except for Trier, where it constitutes by far the most common type, quantitatively speaking, of Roman lamps found in situ.

An "achtformige" bronze lamp from Ptuj/Poetovio

This research highlights an open-shape copper-alloy lamp to be used with tallow (type Loeschcke XXV), recently discovered at Poetovio, among a huge number of standard imported Roman oil lamps. This form, together with its clay counterpart (type Loeschcke XI), are typical of the northern Roman limes provinces, where they were produced and used almost exclusively. Finding such a lamp so far south merits note, hence the discussion of the distribution of known parallels, made of different metals, as well as a brief consideration of a very eclectic clay variant, which is marginal almost everywhere except at Trier, where it constitutes by far the most numerous type of Roman lamps found in situ.

Discovery of holoenzyme-disrupting chemicals as substrate-selective CK2 inhibitors

CK2 is a constitutively active protein kinase overexpressed in numerous malignancies. Interaction between CK2α and CK2β subunits is essential for substrate selectivity. The CK2α/CK2β interface has been previously targeted by peptides to achieve functional effects; however, no small molecules modulators were identified due to pocket flexibility and open shape. Here we generated numerous plausible conformations of the interface using the fumigation modeling protocol, and virtually screened a compound library to discover compound 1 that suppressed CK2α/CK2β interaction in vitro and inhibited CK2 in a substrate-selective manner. Orthogonal SPR, crystallography, and NMR experiments demonstrated that 4 and 6, improved analogs of 1, bind to CK2α as predicted. Both inhibitors alter CK2 activity in cells through inhibition of CK2 holoenzyme formation. Treatment with 6 suppressed MDA-MB231 triple negative breast cancer cell growth and induced apoptosis. Altogether, our findings exemplify an innovative computational-experimental approach and identify novel non-peptidic inhibitors of CK2 subunit interface disclosing substrate-selective functional effects.

The Effect of Operating Lamps on the Protected Area of a Unidirectional Down Flow (UDF) System

Background: Operating lamps are often seen as the most disruptive factors within the protective area in the operating theater (OT). The effect of the operation lamps (with different shapes) should be demonstrated in an OT by trial, since research on the effects of the lamps is still limited. Objectives: The main aim of this study was to determine the effects of a skirt, different lamps, and the position of the lamp on the protected area. Methods: The concentration of airborne particles was measured under different circumstances, in order to determine the size and quality of the protected area. This entrainment/segregation test is based on the deliberate and controlled emission of particles outside the zone that is protected. Findings and Conclusions: The degree of protection (DP) at the center of the protected area was higher for the case with the skirt. This skirt stimulates more down flow and prevents the early entry of particles into the protected area. It can also be concluded that Lamp Y, due to its open shape, has the most positive effect on the DP at the center. It has also been shown that the position of the lamp has an effect on the protected area.

Open Shape Morphing Honeycombs Through Kirigami

This work presents an “open” and deployable honeycomb configuration created using kirigami-inspired cutting and folding techniques. The open honeycomb differs from traditional “closed” honeycomb by its reduced density and its increased flexibility. The exploitation of these characteristics for multifunctional applications is the focus of this work. Potential fields in which the open honeycomb could find application include sandwich panel manufacturing, morphing, and deployable structures.