Disturbance removal in passive radar via sliding extensive cancellation algorithm (ECA-S)

In this paper an advanced version of the Extensive Cancellation Algorithm (ECA) is proposed for robust disturbance cancellation and target detection in passive radar. Firstly some specific limitations of previous ECA versions are identified when dealing with a highly time-varying disturbance scenario in the presence of slowly moving targets. Specifically, the need to rapidly adapt the filter coefficients is shown to yield undesired effects on low Doppler target echoes, along with the expected partial cancellation. Therefore a sliding version of the ECA is presented which operates on partially overlapped signals batches. The proposed modification to the original ECA is shown to appropriately counteract the limitations above by taking advantage of a smooth estimate of the filter coefficients. The benefits of the proposed approach are demonstrated against experimental data sets accounting for quite different passive radar applications

1 H-detected solid-state NMR of proteins entrapped in bioinspired silica: A new tool for biomaterials characterization

Proton-detection in solid-state NMR, enabled by high magnetic fields (>18 T) and fast magic angle spinning (>50 kHz), allows for the acquisition of traditional (1)H-(15)N experiments on systems that are too big to be observed in solution. Among those, proteins entrapped in a bioinspired silica matrix are an attractive target that is receiving a large share of attention. We demonstrate that (1)H-detected SSNMR provides a novel approach to the rapid assessment of structural integrity in proteins entrapped in bioinspired silica

Exploiting orthologue diversity for systematic detection of gain-of-function phenotypes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Systematic search for genes whose gain-of-function by exogenous expression confers an advantage in cell-based selective screenings is a powerful method for unbiased functional exploration of the genome, and has the potential to disclose new targets for cancer therapy. A major limit of this approach resides in the labor-intensive cloning of resistant cells, identification of the integrated genes and validation of their ability to confer a selective advantage. Moreover, the selection has to be drastic and genes conferring a limited advantage are typically missed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed a new functional screening strategy based on transduction of mammalian cells of a given species with an expression library from another species, followed by one-shot quantitative tracing with DNA microarrays of all library-derived transcripts before and after selection. In this way, exogenous transcripts enriched after selection, and therefore likely to confer resistance, are readily detected. We transduced a retroviral cDNA expression library from mouse testis into human and canine cells, and optimized the use of commercial murine gene expression arrays for species-specific detection of library-derived transcripts. We then conducted a functional screening by growing library-transduced canine MDCK cells in suspension, to enrich for cDNAs conferring anchorage independence. Notably, these cells show partial resistance to loss of anchorage, and the selection can be of limited stringency, compromising approaches based on clonal selection or anyway requiring high stringency. Microarray analysis revealed reproducible enrichment after three weeks of growth on polyhema for seven genes, among which the Hras proto-oncogene and Sox5. When individually transduced into MDCK cells, Sox5 specifically promoted anchorage-independent growth, thereby confirming the validity and specificity of the approach.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The procedure described here brings substantial advantages to the field of expression cloning, being faster, more systematic and more sensitive. Indeed, this strategy allowed identification and validation of genes promoting anchorage-independent growth of epithelial cells under selection conditions not amenable to conventional expression cloning.</p

Metodi di controllo delle popolazioni di colombo (Columba livia) in ambiente urbano

RIASSUNTO L’ambiente cittadino è divenuto un habitat ottimale per un considerevole numero di specie animali, variamente distribuite lungo la scala zoologica. Tra le specie sinantrope il colombo (Columba livia) è una di quelle che ha conosciuto in questi ultimi anni un vero e proprio boom demografico, raggiungendo in alcune aree del nostro paese, la densità media di 3000 individui/km2, con un numero di colombi che supera le 100.000 unità nelle grandi città. Scopo del presente articolo è stato quello di analizzare in modo critico i differenti metodi di contenimento numerico delle popolazioni di colombo urbano, ponendo particolare attenzione alla tutela del benessere degli animali. Allo stato attuale non esiste ancora un trattamento ottimale che sia efficace nel ridurre la fertilità del colombo per un tempo sufficientemente lungo (4-6 mesi) in modo da permetterne una somministrazione saltuaria, che sia innocuo o scarsamente tossico e privo di effetti collaterali sia nel colombo che in altre specie (uomo compreso) che potrebbero accidentalmente venirne a contatto, che rispetti il benessere dell’animale, non solo non arrecando sofferenze fisiche all’animale, ma non alterandone il repertorio comportamentale, soprattutto nell’ambito riproduttivo e sociale ed infine che abbia un costo contenuto e di facile somministrazione. La nicarbazina (4,4 dinitrocarbanilide, 2 idrossi-4,6 dimetilpirimidina) è un coccidiostatico impiegato nei polli in cui interferisce profondamente con l’attività riproduttiva. Alla dose di 400-800 ppm non provoca effetti indesiderati né risulta tossica, esercitando un’attività negativa sulla maturazione dell’uovo, conseguente all’aumento di temperatura interna corporea, causato dall’incremento del metabolismo dell’organismo. Un recente studio condotto nelle provincie di Parma, Modena e Forlì ha evidenziato un calo medio del 48,26% del numero degli animali dopo otto mesi di trattamento quotidiano con nicarbazina. La riduzione della popolazione di colombi si è realizzata soprattutto a carico dei “novelli”, attestando un forte impatto sulla capacità riproduttiva degli animali. Per quanto riguarda la mortalità, essa si è mantenuta su valori normali e non ha manifestato cambiamenti nelle rispettive condizioni ambientali. In base a questi dati si può affermare che allo stato attuale la nicarbazina costituisce l’unico trattamento farmacologicamente valido ed applicabile per il controllo delle popolazioni di colombo in ambiente urbano, anche se la necessità di ricorrere a somministrazioni giornaliere richiede un impegno economico notevole da parte delle amministrazioni pubbliche. SUMMARY Urban environment has become an excellent habitat for a wide range of animal species. In Italy the pigeon (Columbia livia) in the last years showed a demographic explosion reaching, in some places, a density of 3000 animals/Km2. Aim of this review is to verify the different methods of demographic control of pigeon populations, with a particular attention on the animal welfare. At the present, chemical agents reducing pigeons fertility for a long period (4-6 months) are not yet found. In fact these drugs should be innocuous, very low toxic avoiding any side effects in other animal species including humans. Moreover these substances should not alter the pigeon behaviour profile, especially in reproductive and social patterns. Finally these drugs must not be expensive with an easy administrating protocol. The 4.4 dinitrocarbanilide, 2 idrossi-4.6 dimetilpirimidina (nicarbazine) is a cocciodiostatic used in chicken breeding. This substance, at the dose of 400-800 ppm, does not cause side effects interfering with the reproductive activity by inhibiting the maturation of eggs triggered by the increase of body temperature raised by an enanching of the animal metabolism. A recent research made in the districts of Modena, Parma and Forlì has showed a reduction of pigeons population of approximately of 48% after 8 months of a daily administration. The population reduction interested mainly young animal, confirming a strong impact on the reproductive capacity of this drug. Togheter these data are confirming that nicarbazina is the only available pharmacological treatment capable to control to pigeons populations in urban environment altough daily administration is necessary