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Magnetic domain walls (DWs) in nanostructures are low-dimensional objects that separate regions with uniform magnetisation. Since they can have different shapes and widths, DWs are an exciting playground for fundamental research and became in the past years the subject of intense works, mainly focused on controlling, manipulating and moving their internal magnetic configuration. In nanostrips with in-plane magnetisation, two DWs have been identified: in thin and narrow strips, transverse walls are energetically favored, while in thicker and wider strips vortex walls have lower energy. The associated phase diagram is now well established and often used to predict the low-energy magnetic configuration in a given magnetic nanostructure. However, besides the transverse and vortex walls, we find numerically that another type of wall exists in permalloy nanostrips. This third type of DW is characterised by a three-dimensional, flux closure micromagnetic structure with an unusual length and three internal degrees of freedom. Magnetic imaging on lithographically-patterned permalloy nanostrips confirms these predictions and shows that these DWs can be moved with an external magnetic field of about 1 mT. An extended phase diagram describing the regions of stability of all known types of DWs in permalloy nanostrips is provided.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are relevant in the pathogenesis of primary myelofibrosis (PMF) but our understanding is limited to specific target genes and the overall systemic scenario islacking. By both knowledge-based and ab initio approaches for comparative analysis of CD34+ cells of PMF patients and healthy controls, we identified the deregulated pathways involving miRNAs and genes and new transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory circuits in PMF cells. These converge in a unique and integrated cellular process, in which the role of specific miRNAs is to wire, co-regulate and allow a fine crosstalk between the involved processes. The PMF pathway includes Akt signaling, linked to Rho GTPases, CDC42, PLD2, PTEN crosstalk with the hypoxia response and Calcium-linked cellular processes connected to cyclic AMP signaling. Nested on the depicted transcriptional scenario, predicted circuits are reported, opening new hypotheses. Links between miRNAs (miR-106a-5p, miR-20b-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-17-5p, miR-19b-3p and let-7d-5p) and key transcription factors (MYCN, ATF, CEBPA, REL, IRF and FOXJ2) and their common target genes tantalizingly suggest new path to approach the disease. The study provides a global overview of transcriptional and post-transcriptional deregulations in PMF, and, unifying consolidated and predicted data, could be helpful to identify new combinatorial therapeutic strategy. Interactive PMF network model: http://compgen.bio.unipd.it/pmf-net/ .

This study examines the sedimentary and microbial responses offshore the Marche Region (Italy) to the September 2022 flood, one of the most severe recent hydrological events, which delivered large amounts of sediment and anthropogenic contaminants to the Adriatic Sea. We employed a multidisciplinary approach integrating sedimentology, geochemistry, organic matter analysis, pollutant assessments (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs and Poly- and Perfluorinated alkyl substances, PFASs), and benthic microbial community structure. Sediments collected just five days after the event offshore river mouths reveal that flood deposits, ranging from fine sand to coarse silt, remained substantially confined to the nearshore zone, whereas finer clay particles were dispersed further offshore and down to the 15 m isobath. This distribution reflects intense riverine inputs and a brief windstorm-enhanced coastal circulation that generated patchy, temporary sediment accumulations mainly in the prodelta sector. Simultaneously, the flood forced a strong spatial heterogeneity in benthic bacterial communities, through the introduction of short-distance shifts in sediment texture and organic matter content. Freshwater taxa became prominent in prodelta deposits, highlighting riverine sedimentary imprints. Heavy metal concentrations remained below regulatory thresholds, whereas organic pollutants, heterogeneously distributed, reach peak concentrations offshore urban and industrial zones. PAH signatures indicate mixed pyrogenic and petrogenic sources, while next-generation PFASs (6:2 FTS) showed localized but severe contamination linked to upstream industrial activities. Despite the flood's magnitude onshore, its offshore sedimentary signatures resulted ephemeral and spatially limited. These findings underscore the ecological significance of episodic sediment and contaminant input, while highlighting the challenges in detecting such transient events in the marine stratigraphic record.

Abstract Background Access to quality Home Palliative Care (HPC) is a public health priority. This study analyzed HPC services in Piedmont, a large, diverse Italian region (4.3 million inhabitants), as a case study to understand organizational variations in complex settings and inform equity-focused policies. Methods A cross-sectional survey covered Piedmont's 12 Local Health Authorities (LHAs) and 35 districts. Pre-pandemic data for 2019 were collected in 2023 via in-person questionnaires and interviews with HPC managers/directors. Key structural, process, and outcome indicators were analyzed descriptively. 2022 data were collected for comparison. Results Substantial heterogeneity was found across LHAs in 2019. Formal Local Palliative Care Networks existed in only 8/12 LHAs. Dedicated HPC units were present in 11/12 LHAs, but with varying structures and staffing (physician Full-Time Equivalents, or FTEs, range 0.59-3.00 per 100,000 inhabitants; regional average 1.71, below standards). Nurse FTE data faced challenges. Care pathways showed fragmentation and coordination with emergency services were limited, but psychological support was guaranteed. Large disparities emerged in care intensity (ratio of actual assistance days to total care days range 0.09-0.64) and place of death for cancer patients (home deaths range 6.26%-44.03%). Fragmented data systems hindered monitoring. The 2019-2022 comparison showed improvements (hospital deaths decreased from 23.6% to 16.0%) but confirmed persistent heterogeneity. Conclusions Mapping revealed marked variability in Piedmont's HPC organization, resourcing, delivery, and outcomes. Key challenges identified include network gaps, resource disparities (esp. physicians), fragmented models/pathways, poor care continuity, and inadequate monitoring. Addressing these disparities requires understanding a complex, often poorly documented system lacking systematic data. This study offers a valuable methodology applicable in similar contexts. Key messages • Mapping regional Home Palliative Care reveals significant disparities in organization, resources, and outcomes, impacting equity of access and quality. • Detailed regional analysis provides an evidence base for targeted policies and standardized improvements towards equitable, high-quality HPC across Europe.

Today, the silicon feedstock for photovoltaic cells comes from processes which were originally developed for the microelectronic industry. It covers almost 90% of the photovoltaic market, with mass production volume at least one order of magnitude larger than those devoted to microelectronics. However, it is hard to imagine that this kind of feedstock (extremely pure but heavily penalized by its high energy cost) could remain the only source of silicon for a photovoltaic market which is in continuous expansion, and which has a cumulative growth rate in excess of 30% in the last few years. Even though reports suggest that the silicon share will slowly decrease in the next twenty years, finding a way to manufacture a specific solar grade feedstock in large quantities, at a low cost while maintaining the quality needed, still remains a crucial issue. Thin film and quantum confinement-based silicon cells might be a complementary solution. Advanced Silicon Materials for Photovoltaic Applications has been designed to describe the full potentialities of silicon as a multipurpose material and covers: * Physical, chemical and structural properties of silicon * Production routes including the promise of low cost feedstock for PV applications * Defect engineering and the role of impurities and defects * Characterization techniques, and advanced analytical techniques for metallic and non-metallic impurities * Thin film silicon and thin film solar cells * Innovative quantum effects, and 3rd generation solar cells With contributions from internationally recognized authorities, this book gives a comprehensive analysis of the state-of-the-art of process technologies and material properties, essential for anyone interested in the application and development of photovoltaics.

The domain wall dynamics driven by an out of plane magnetic field was measured for a series of magnetic trilayers with different strengths of the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). The features of the field-driven domain wall velocity curves strongly depend on the amplitude of the HD field stabilising chiral Néel walls. The measured Walker velocity, which in systems with large DMI is maintained after the Walker field giving rise to a velocity plateau up to the Slonczewski field HS, can be easily related to the DMI strength. Yet, when the DMI field HD and the domain wall demagnetising field HDW have comparable values, a careful analysis needs to be done in order to evaluate the impact of the DMI on the domain wall velocity. By means of a one-dimensional model and 2D simulations, we successfully extend this method to explain experimental results to cases where HD and HDW are comparable.