We show in this paper that the roots $x_1$ and $x_2$ of a scalar quadratic polynomial $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ with real or complex coefficients $a, b, c$ can be computed in an element-wise mixed stable manner, measured in a relative sense. We also show that this is a stronger property than norm-wise backward stability but weaker than element-wise backward stability. We finally show that there does not exist any method that can compute the roots in an element-wise backward stable sense, which is also illustrated by some numerical experiments.

The equality constrained indefinite least squares problem involves the minimization of an indefinite quadratic form subject to a linear equality constraint. In this paper, we study this problem and present a numerical method that is proved to be backward stable in a strict sense, i.e., that the computed solution satisfies a slightly perturbed equality constrained indefinite least squares problem. We also perform a sensitivity analysis of this problem and derive bounds for the accuracy of the computed solution. We give several numerical experiments to illustrate these results.

In non-parametric regression analysis the advantage of frames with respect to classical orthonormal bases is that they can furnish an efficient representation of a more broad class of functions. For example, fast oscillating functions as audio, speech, sonar, radar, EEG and stock market are much more well represented by a frame, with similar oscillating characteristic, than by a classical orthonormal basis. In this respect, a new frame based shrinkage estimator is derived as the Empirical Regularized version of the optimal Shrinkage estimator generalized to the frame operator.

Nel febbraio del 2010 nei pressi dell'abitato di Maierato, in provincia di Vibo Valentia, si è verificata una frana profonda, evoluta in colata veloce, che ha determinato una condizione di grave emergenza. Le attività di studio e indagine condotte nell'ambito dell'Ordinanza della Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri n. 3862/2010 ed i successivi approfondimenti, hanno evidenziato la presenza di un'antica frana nella parte sud dell'abitato, in località Vonace.

Gene therapy is a promising approach for treating a wide range of human pathologies such as genetic disorders as well as diseases acquired over time. Viral and non-viral vectors are used to convey sequences of genes that can be expressed for therapeutic purposes. Plasmid DNA is receiving considerable attention for intramuscular gene transfer due to its safety, simplicity and low cost of production. Nevertheless, strategies to improve DNA uptake into the nucleus of cells for its expression are required. Cytoskeleton plays an important role in the intracellular trafficking.

A new partial differential model for monitoring and detecting copper corrosion products (mainly brochantite and cuprite) is proposed to provide predictive tools suitable for describing the evolution of damage induced on bronze specimens by sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution. This model is characterized by the movement of a double free boundary. Numerical simulations show a nice agreement with experimental result. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Various molecular pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) models have been proposed in the last decades to represent and predict drug effects in anticancer chemotherapies. Most of these models are cell population based since clearly measurable effects of drugs can be seen much more easily on populations of cells, healthy and tumour, than in individual cells. The actual targets of drugs are, however, cells themselves.

The intracellular signalling network of the p53 protein plays important roles in genome protection and the control of cell cycle phase transitions. Recently observed oscillatory behaviour in single cells under stress conditions has inspired several research groups to simulate and study the dynamics of the protein with the aim of gaining a proper understanding of the physiological meanings of the oscillations.