We investigate several questions related to the notion of recognizable morphism. The main result is a new proof of Mossé’s theorem and actually of a generalization to a more general class of morphisms due to Berthé et al [Recognizability for sequences of morphisms. Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys. 39(11) (2019), 2896–2931]. We actually prove the result of Berthé et al for the most general class of morphisms, including ones with erasable letters. Our result is derived from a result concerning elementary morphisms for which we also provide a new proof. We also prove some new results which allow us to formulate the property of recognizability in terms of finite automata. We use this characterization to show that for an injective morphism, the property of being recognizable on the full shift for aperiodic points is decidable.

We studied a series of 43 autopsied cases of tetralogy of Fallot, assessing the mode of insertion of the outlet septum relative to the limbs of the septomarginal trabeculation, and compared the findings in retrospective fashion with our previous observations of a group of hearts with the so-called Eisenmenger malformation. In the majority of hearts with tetralogy of Fallot, the outlet septum inserted frontally relative to the septomarginal trabeculation, but in a minority of cases the outlet septum inserted in lateral fashion, as had been observed in all our hearts studied with the Eisenmenger malformation. The different modes of insertion were found to correlate, first, with the axis of anatomical aortic rightward rotation, coincident with the commissure between the right coronary and the left coronary leaflets of the aortic valve. The different modes of insertion of the outlet septum also correlated with the level of attachment of the arterial valvar leaflets on its subpulmonary and subaortic surfaces; concomitantly, correlation was found between the length of the subpulmonary infundibulum and the length of the muscular outlet septum itself. In the majority of hearts showing tetralogy of Fallot, the elongated infundibulum was also uniformly narrow, but in a minority the infundibulum was well expanded, obstructed only at its mouth, but widening at the valvar level. In all the hearts with the Eisenmenger malformation, in contrast, the unobstructed infundibulum was well expanded. The morphological findings of the present study show unequivocally that tetralogy of Fallot and Eisenmenger malformation are two phenotypically different congenital cardiac anomalies.

We studied 11 autopsied cases of the Eisenmenger malformation, comparing the findings with 11 hearts with intact ventricular septal structures, and nine hearts having perimembranous ventricular septal defects in the absence of aortic overriding. We found variable lengths for the subpulmonary infundibulum in the hearts with Eisenmenger defects. It was well developed in three hearts, of intermediate length in seven, and very short in one of the specimens. The muscular outlet septum was also of variable length compared with the free-standing subpulmonary infundibular sleeve. Except for one, all hearts had fibrous continuity between the aortic and tricuspid valvar leaflets, such that the ventricular septal defect was then perimembranous. In the remaining case, there was a completely subaortic muscular infundibulum, with the ventricular septal defect showing only muscular borders. The medial papillary muscle was absent in the majority of cases, but was well formed in three hearts, all with relatively short muscular outlet septums. We identified mild, intermediate, and severe degrees of rightward rotation of the aortic valve, and these findings correlated with the extent of aortic valvar overriding. In nine of the 11 hearts, the ventriculo-arterial connections were concordant, but there was double-outlet from the right ventricle in the other two specimens. Based on our anatomic and morphometric observations, we conclude that the hearts we have defined as having Eisenmenger defects show marked individual variation in their specific phenotypic anatomy.

An innovative approach, combining field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, is presented to investigate the degradation mechanisms affecting tannin-dyed wool. In fact, tannin-dyed textiles are more sensitive to degradation then those dyed with other dyestuffs, even in the same conservation conditions.

FESEM-EDX was first used to study a set of 48 wool specimens (artificially aged) dyed with several raw materials and mordants, and prepared according to historical dyeing recipes. EDX analysis was performed on the surface of wool threads and on their cross-sections. In addition, in order to validate the model formulated by the analysis of reference materials, several samples collected from historical and archaeological textiles were subjected to FESEM-EDX analysis.

FESEM-EDX investigations enabled us to reveal the correlation between elemental composition and morphological changes. In addition, aging processes were clarified by studying changes in the elemental composition of wool from the protective cuticle to the fiber core in cross-sections. Morphological and elemental analysis of wool specimens and of archaeological and historical textiles showed that the presence of tannins increases wool damage, primarily by causing a sulfur decrease and fiber oxidation.

The product w = u ⊗ v of two sequences u and v is a naturally defined sequence on the alphabet of pairs of symbols. Here, we study when the product w of two balanced sequences u,v is balanced too. In the case u and v are binary sequences, we prove, as a main result, that, if such a product w is balanced and deg(w) = 4, then w is an ultimately periodic sequence of a very special form. The case of arbitrary alphabets is approached in the last section. The partial results obtained and the problems proposed show the interest of the notion of product in the study of balanced sequences.

Minimizing a deterministic finite automata (DFA) is a very important problem in theory of automata and formal languages. Hopcroft's algorithm represents the fastest known solution to the such a problem. In this paper we analyze the behavior of this algorithm on a family binary automata, called tree-like automata, associated to binary labeled trees constructed by words. We prove that all the executions of the algorithm on tree-like automata associated to trees, constructed by standard words, have running time with the same asymptotic growth rate. In particular, we provide a lower and upper bound for the running time of the algorithm expressed in terms of combinatorial properties of the trees. We consider also tree-like automata associated to trees constructed by de Brujin words, and we prove that a queue implementation of the waiting set gives a Θ(n log n) execution while a stack implementation produces a linear execution. Such a result confirms the conjecture given in [A. Paun, M. Paun and A. Rodríguez-Patón. Theoret. Comput. Sci.410 (2009) 2424–2430.] formulated for a family of unary automata and, in addition, gives a positive answer also for the binary case.

The use of skinfold thickness measurements to evaluate the distribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue and to predict body fat has recognised advantages. However, the different types of skinfold calliper available present limitations that make them unattractive and perhaps less used in daily practice. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy and functionality of a new digital skinfold system, the Liposoft 2008+Adipsmeter V0 (LA), for measuring skinfold thickness and determining body fat proportion (%BF). Skinfold thickness measurements made by the LA were compared with those obtained with a Harpenden (H) calliper from two samples of adults (n 45) and older adults (n 56) in a university-based cross-sectional study. A comparison was also conducted between estimated %BF from skinfolds and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Bland and Altman plots show that skinfolds measured by the LA and H calliper are in high agreement, with a mean difference of 0·3 (95 % CI − 3·1, 3·4) mm. In regard to the %BF estimated from LA and H skinfolds measurement, the LA produced a similar approximation to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry %BF, with a mean difference of 0·2 (95 % CI − 0·8, 1·2) %, compared with %BF obtained with the H calliper. The LA system is an accurate instrumentation and represents an innovation in the evaluation of skinfold thickness and body composition based on anthropometric measurement.

We investigate the intersection of two finitely generated submonoids of the free monoid on a finite alphabet. To this purpose, we consider automata that recognize such submonoids and we study the product automata recognizing their intersection. By using automata methods we obtain a new proof of a result of Karhumäki on the characterization of the intersection of two submonoids of rank two, in the case of prefix (or suffix) generators. In a more general setting, for an arbitrary number of generators, we prove that if H and K are two finitely generated submonoids generated by prefix sets such that the product automaton associated to $H \cap K$ has a given special property then $\widetilde{rk}(H \cap K) \leq \widetilde{rk}(H) \widetilde{rk}(K)$ where $\widetilde{rk}(L)=\max(0,rk(L)-1)$ for any submonoid L.

We consider the family UREC of unambiguous recognizable two-dimensional languages. We prove that there are recognizable languages that are inherently ambiguous, that is UREC family is a proper subclass of REC family. The result is obtained by showing a necessary condition for unambiguous recognizable languages. Further UREC family coincides with the class of picture languages defined by unambiguous 2OTA and it strictly contains its deterministic counterpart. Some closure and non-closure properties of UREC are presented. Finally we show that it is undecidable whether a given tiling system is unambiguous.

In this paper methods and results related to the notion of minimal forbidden words are applied to the fragment assembly problem. The fragment assembly problem can be formulated, in its simplest form, as follows: reconstruct a word w from a given set I of substrings (fragments) of a word w. We introduce an hypothesis involving the set of fragments I and the maximal length m(w) of the minimal forbidden factors of w. Such hypothesis allows us to reconstruct uniquely the word w from the set I in linear time. We prove also that, if w is a word randomly generated by a memoryless source with identical symbol probabilities, m(w) is logarithmic with respect to the size of w. This result shows that our reconstruction algorithm is suited to approach the above problem in several practical applications e.g. in the case of DNA sequences.

Hairy polyp of the nasopharynx is an unusual but well-recognized entity, generally presenting as a single mass at birth or in the first year of life. We describe the clinico-pathological features of a previously unreported bilateral hairy polyp in an adult and briefly discuss the pathogenesis of this condition.

The Authors report EEG alterations found in two brothers affected by pigmentary retinopathy, syndactilia and hypoacusia, and in their relatives. The EEG resulted to be altered aspecifically in the propositi, in their mother and their two clinically healthy sisters. The father was normal. Reports on EEG alterations in patients with pigmentary retinopathy are rather frequent, while such report is rare in healthy relatives.