FROM EPIGENETICS TO ANTI-DOPING APPLICATION: A NEW TOOL OF DETECTION

Eukaryotic genomes transcribe up to 90% of the genomic DNA but only 1\u20132% of these transcripts encode for proteins, whereas the vast majority are transcribed as non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). They are divided into short ncRNA, particularly microRNA (miRNA) and small interference RNA (siRNA), and long ncRNAs. Noteworthy, they are unexpectedly stable since they are protected from degradation through different mechanisms: package in exosomes/microvesicles structures, in apoptotic bodies, in HDL lipoprotein, or by RNA binding proteins. For several years already, biomarkers have been used to detect biological disease; in the last years, a requirement appeared to find some of them to unearth the signs of doping. The potential of ncRNAs as a biological candidate is strongly debated and it seems to have become the right tool in the anti-doping hands. In the recent years, the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology was used by the World Anti-Doping Agency to draft the athlete biological passport (ABP), measuring the circulating miRNAs and applying these new biomarkers in anti-doping. NGS technology does not require any prior knowledge of ncRNAs, but the limit to employ this biomarker to detect performance-enhancing drug use must consider the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that might affect measurements. Key words: pbiomarkers, doping, HDL, ncRNA, exosom

Breaking Down Traditional Classroom Walls and Studying Spacesuits Abroad

The spacesuit curriculum under development by the Spacesuit Utilization of Innovative Technology Laboratory (S.U.I.T. Lab) in the Spaceflight Operations program of the Applied Aviation Sciences Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has the unique challenge of educating non-engineering students about extremely technical space systems, highlighted by spacesuits. CSO 399: “Spacesuits and Human Spaceflight Operations” course, taught in Greece each summer, introduces students to human spaceflight topics. This unique offering takes advantage of the clear water visibility in the Aegean Sea with practical underwater demonstrations of space operations. Students live in confined quarters on a sailboat for two weeks to simulate operations in a close-quarter space station, emulating astronaut living experiences. Hiking Mount Astráka in the Zagori region of Greece created an immersed environment to learn about spacewalk preparations for extravehicular activities. This course is innovative by taking students outside of the classroom to do hands-on, or gloveson, learning. Students taking this course have a drive to obtain a career in the spaceflight industry. By taking this course, students developed an understanding of the design process of human-rated spacecraft and spacesuits required to aid humans in exploring the cosmos. Nontraditional learning was reinforced by the uniqueness of the program teaching “anywhere but a classroom and included locales such as an amphitheater on the beach, catacombs, monasteries, a church courtyard, and as micro-lessons along the way, on sailboats, buses, hotels, and underwater. By changing the locations and having students constantly adapt to new learning environments they were able to grasp a feel for the constant changing pace of the space industry and the thrill of exploration

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND WELL-BEING

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that affects central nervous system (CNS) \u2013 coexists in brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. It can process in three different courses: remitting, progressive and progressive-relapsing. Although there is still no cure for MS, effective strategies are available to modify the disease course, reduce number of relapses, rate of progressions and development of new lesions. Nowadays, moderate physical performance is strongly recommended: besides having positive effects on the body, it can have a positive effect on the psychophysical wellbeing. Essentially there are 3 types of training protocols: aerobic (endurance training), strength training (resistance training) and combined training. The majority of the studies suggests that regular physical activity can improve fatigue, depression and quality of life in people with MS, however most of the researchers worked without any guidelines for physical activity adapted to the MS, which are still under review by the scientific communit

Hyper-Local Weather Predictions with the Enhanced General Urban Area Microclimate Predictions Tool

This paper presents enhancements to, and the demonstration of, the General Urban area Microclimate Predictions tool (GUMP), which is designed to provide hyper-local weather predictions by combining machine-learning (ML) models and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. For the further development and demonstration of GUMP, the Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) campus was used as a test environment. Local weather sensors provided data to train ML models, and CFD models of urban- and suburban-like areas of ERAU’s campus were created and iterated through with a wide assortment of inlet wind speed and direction combinations. ML weather sensor predictions were combined with best-fit CFD models from a database of CFD flow fields, providing flight operational areas with a fully expressed wind flow field. This field defined a risk map for uncrewed aircraft operators based on flight plans and individual flight performance metrics. The potential applications of GUMP are significant due to the immediate availability of weather predictions and its ability to easily extend to arbitrary urban and suburban locations

From Academia Armena Sancti Lazari to the Establishment of Armenian Studies at Ca’ Foscari

The Armenian Studies have a very long tradition in Italy. However, the establishment of the official teaching of Armenian at Ca’ Foscari is particularly significant. It is a direct continuation of many Armenian traces present in the lagoon city for centuries, such as the birth of the first Casa Armena in Europe in 1245, the prosperous diplomatic relations between the Republic of Serenissima and the Kingdom of Armenia, the printing of the first Armenian book in 1512, the arrival of Armenian merchants from Julfa, who highly contributed to the economy of Venice, and finally the institution of the Mekhitarist Congregation of the Armenian monks on the island of San Lazzaro, recognised by Napoleon as Academia Armena Sancti Lazari. After an historical excursus, the paper will go on to detail some significant periods of Armenian Studies at Ca’ Foscari

Personal Reflections of a Military Wife in a Civilian World [SAM]

It affected me on several levels; as a military wife, a military vet, as part of the military community, as a friend to those affected whether military or civilian, and as a mom. I think, for me, there was a period of time everything felt surreal...almost like I wasn\u27t living in this crazy world but experiencing it. It was a very strange feeling. I also felt very protective of what we hold dear: family, freedom, rights, religion, basically our way of life, choice... I was angry, I was sad, I was reflective...I dug my heels in even more as a patriot and wanting to protect this great country I live in. As a military wife, I worried if my husband would go to war and what would that war look like? As a mom, I worried for my daughter\u27s future above all. If this can happen here to this magnitude, what else is out there? What is her future? Of course, this translates to anyone with children but I am focused on mine for this piece. Years later my daughter would commission in the U.S. Army and serve in both Iraq and Afghanistan. She and her husband both serve to this day. I also remember, when all flights were canceled, looking up between some clouds and seeing an F-15 flying overhead. When I saw that I felt a bit peaceful knowing that our men and women in uniform were working to keep us safe. And, that surreal feeling flooded over me again. When there were no other flights in America, our military was crossing the skies protecting those below. I think as a result, I will never take our freedom for granted. I realize that, in the blink of an eye, all we know and love can change in an instant. I also believe that regardless of our background, religious beliefs, cultural upbringing, or political leanings, we will always walk a fine line trying to balance freedom and trust because of 9/11

2020 PIEoneer Award Winner

Winner: Real life learning awardEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University, US - Study Abroad Program: Kosovo & ERAU Unmanned Aircraft Systems PartnershipEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida specializes in aviation and aerospace and has been at the forefront of ground-breaking aeronautical milestones since the early days of flight. Using aviation and aerospace technology for some surprising purposes, students from Kosovo and the US worked together to use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) carrying cameras to document cultural heritage locations for preservation

A Methodology for the Design of MOS Current-Mode Logic Circuits

In this paper, a design methodology for the minimization of various performance metrics of MOS Current-Mode Logic (MCML) circuits is described. In particular, it allows to minimize the delay under a given power consumption, the power consumption under a given delay and the power-delay product. Design solutions can be evaluated graphically or by simple and effective automatic procedures implemented within the MATLAB environment. The methodology exploits the novel concepts of crossing-point current and crossing-point capacitance. A useful feature of it is that it provides the designer with useful insights into the dependence of the performance metrics on design variables and fan-out capacitance. The methodology was validated by designing several MCML circuits in an IBM 130 nm CMOS process