Tau lepton decays into neutral kaons

Using $Z^{0} \rightarrow \tau^{+}\tau^{-}$ candidates collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP during 1991-1994, we have measured the inclusive branching ratio of the tau lepton to $K^{0}_{S}$. Also the exclusive branching ratios in the channels: $\tau^{-} \rightarrow K^{0}_{S}h^{-}\nu_{\tau}$ $\tau^{-} \rightarrow K^{0}_{S}h^{-}\nu_{\tau}\pi^{0}$ have been measured. Evidence is presented for the decay: $\tau^{-} \rightarrow K^{0}_{S}K^{0}_{L}h^{-}\nu_{\tau}$ which allows the first measurement of the branching ratio of the tau lepton into two neutral kaons

The Complement System at the Embryo Implantation Site: Friend or Foe?

An inflammatory-like process and vascular remodeling represent the main changes that occur in decidua in the early phase of pregnancy. These changes are partly induced by trophoblast cells that colonize the decidua and are also contributed by the complement system, which can easily be activated as a result of tissue remodeling. Local control by several complement regulators including surface-bound and soluble molecules is critical to prevent complement-mediated tissue damage in normal pregnancy. C7 expressed on the endothelial cells (ECs) surface has been recognized as a novel complement regulator involved in the control of the proinflammatory effect of the terminal complement complex. The protective role of placental complement regulators in pregnancy is underscored by the recent finding of an association of preeclampsia with mutations in the genes encoding for some of these proteins. Complement components produced at feto-maternal interface serve an important function in placental development. C1q synthesized by decidual ECs and expressed on the cell surface is particularly important in this regard because it acts as a molecular bridge between endovascular trophoblast and ECs. C1q is also produced by extravillous trophoblast and is used to favor trophoblast migration through the decidua. Defective expression of C1q by trophoblast is associated with impaired trophoblast invasion of decidua and may have important implications in pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia characterized by reduced vascular remodeling

The tripartite capsid gene of Salmonella phage Gifsy-2 yields a capsid assembly pathway engaging features from HK97 and λ

AbstractPhage Gifsy-2, a lambdoid phage infecting Salmonella, has an unusually large composite gene coding for its major capsid protein (mcp) at the C-terminal end, a ClpP-like protease at the N-terminus, and a ∼200 residue central domain of unknown function but which may have a scaffolding role. This combination of functions on a single coding region is more extensive than those observed in other phages such as HK97 (scaffold–capsid fusion) and λ (protease–scaffold fusion). To study the structural phenotype of the unique Gifsy-2 capsid gene, we have purified Gifsy-2 particles and visualized capsids and procapsids by cryoelectron microscopy, determining structures to resolutions up to 12Å. The capsids have lambdoid T=7 geometry and are well modeled with the atomic structures of HK97 mcp and phage λ gpD decoration protein. Thus, the unique Gifsy-2 capsid protein gene yields a capsid maturation pathway engaging features from both phages HK97 and λ

Substitution of antibodies and receptors with molecularly imprinted polymers in enzyme-linked and fluorescent assays

A new technique for coating microtitre plates with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP), specific for low-molecular weight analytes (epinephrine, atrazine) and proteins is presented. Oxidative polymerization was performed in the presence of template; monomers: 3-aminophenylboronic acid, 3- thiopheneboronic acid and aniline were polymerized in water and the polymers were grafted onto the polystyrene surface of the microplates. It was found that this process results in the creation of synthetic materials with antibody-like binding properties. It was shown that the MIP-coated microplates are particularly useful for assay development. The high stability of the polymers and good reproducibility of the measurements make MIP coating an attractive alternative to conventional antibodies or receptors used in ELISA

SI POSSONO CAMBIARE LE CARTE IN TAVOLA? RIFLESSIONI SUI PROFILI PROCESSUALI DELL'ISTANZA DI LIMITAZIONE DELLE RIVENDICAZIONI BREVETTUALI EX ART. 79 C.P.I.

With Legislative Decree no. 131 of 13 August 2010, the Italian Legislator has radically amended the third paragraph of Article 79 of the Italian Industrial Property Code, introducing the \uabjudicial limitation of patent claims\ubb. The aforementioned rule provides that, \uabin proceedings concerning nullity [of a patent], the patent holder has the right to submit to the Court, at any stage or instance of the proceedings, a reformulation of its claims that remains within the limits of contents of the patent application as initially filed and that does not extend the protection conferred by the granted patent\ubb. The amendment to the third paragraph of Article 79 of the Italian Industrial Property Code has led the interpreter to wonder about the compatibility of the institution of the \uabjudicial limitation of patent claims\ubb with the domestic civil procedure system and, in particular, with the legal provisions that require the definition of the thema decidendum and the thema probandum in limine litis, with limited possibility for the parties to allege new facts, to modify the claims as initially filed or to bring new ones during the proceedings. This work has therefore the aim to understand, first of all, whether or not the proposal of the limitation of patent claims during the proceedings causes the introduction of new facts and, in case of positive answer, how to coordinate it with the limitations generally provided for by our civil procedural system; secondly, whether or not the limitation of patent claims in any stage and instance of the nullity proceedings of patent is to be considered as a modification of the subject matter brought before the Court and, in the event of a positive answer, how such amendment could be considered in compliance with the limitations provided for by our procedural rules and principles on emendatio and mutatio libelli, certainly applicable to the intellectual property litigations

Debris flood hazard documentation and mitigation on the Tilcara alluvial fan (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy province, North-West Argentina)

For some decades, mass wasting processes such as landslides and debris floods have been threatening villages and transportation routes in the Rio Grande Valley, named Quebrada de Humauhuaca. One of the most significant examples is the urban area of Tilcara, built on a large alluvial fan. In recent years, debris flood phenomena have been triggered in the tributary valley of the Huasamayo Stream and reached the alluvial fan on a decadal basis. <br><br> In view of proper development of the area, hazard and risk assessment together with risk mitigation strategies are of paramount importance. The need is urgent also because the Quebrada de Humahuaca was recently included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Therefore, the growing tourism industry may lead to uncontrolled exploitation and urbanization of the valley, with a consequent increase of the vulnerability of the elements exposed to risk. In this context, structural and non structural mitigation measures not only have to be based on the understanding of natural processes, but also have to consider environmental and sociological factors that could hinder the effectiveness of the countermeasure works. <br><br> The hydrogeological processes are described with reference to present-day hazard and risk conditions. Considering the socio-economic context, some possible interventions are outlined, which encompass budget constraints and local practices. One viable solution would be to build a protecting dam upstream of the fan apex and an artificial channel, in order to divert the floodwaters in a gully that would then convey water and sediments into the Rio Grande, some kilometers downstream of Tilcara. The proposed remedial measures should employ easily available and relatively cheap technologies and local workers, incorporating low environmental and visual impacts issues, in order to ensure both the future conservation of the site and its safe exploitation for inhabitants and tourists

Debris flood hazard documentation and mitigation on the Tilcara alluvial fan (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy province, North-West Argentina)

Abstract. For some decades, mass wasting processes such as landslides and debris floods have been threatening villages and transportation routes in the Rio Grande Valley, named Quebrada de Humauhuaca. One of the most significant examples is the urban area of Tilcara, built on a large alluvial fan. In recent years, debris flood phenomena have been triggered in the tributary valley of the Huasamayo Stream and reached the alluvial fan on a decadal basis. In view of proper development of the area, hazard and risk assessment together with risk mitigation strategies are of paramount importance. The need is urgent also because the Quebrada de Humahuaca was recently included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Therefore, the growing tourism industry may lead to uncontrolled exploitation and urbanization of the valley, with a consequent increase of the vulnerability of the elements exposed to risk. In this context, structural and non structural mitigation measures not only have to be based on the understanding of natural processes, but also have to consider environmental and sociological factors that could hinder the effectiveness of the countermeasure works. The hydrogeological processes are described with reference to present-day hazard and risk conditions. Considering the socio-economic context, some possible interventions are outlined, which encompass budget constraints and local practices. One viable solution would be to build a protecting dam upstream of the fan apex and an artificial channel, in order to divert the floodwaters in a gully that would then convey water and sediments into the Rio Grande, some kilometers downstream of Tilcara. The proposed remedial measures should employ easily available and relatively cheap technologies and local workers, incorporating low environmental and visual impacts issues, in order to ensure both the future conservation of the site and its safe exploitation for inhabitants and tourists

Effects of semantic relationship and preactivation on memory updating.

Semantic relationship modulates working memory (WM) processes by promoting recall but impairing recognition. Updating is a core mechanism of WM responsible for its stability and flexibility; it allows maintenance of relevant information while removing no-longer relevant one. To our knowledge, no studies specifically investigated how WM updating may benefit from the processing of semantically related material. In the current study, two experiments were run with this aim. In Experiment 1, we found an advantage for semantically related words (vs. unrelated) regardless of their association type (i.e., taxonomic or thematic). A second experiment was run boosting semantic association through preactivation. Findings replicated those of Experiment 1 suggesting that preactivation was effective and improved semantic superiority. In sum, we demonstrated that long-term semantic associations benefitted the updating process, or more generally, overall WM function. In addition, pre-activating semantic nodes of a given word appears likely a process supporting WM and updating; thus, this may be the mechanism favoring word process and memorization in a semantically related text