934 research outputs found
Breaking the core-envelope symmetry in p-mode pulsating stars
It has been shown that there is a potential ambiguity in the asteroseismic
determination of the location of internal structures in a pulsating star. We
show how, in the case of high-order non-radial acoustic modes, it is possible
to remove this ambiguity by considering modes of different degree. To support
our conclusions we have investigated the seismic signatures of sharp density
variations in the structure of quasi-homogeneous models.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
Laboratory and on-site tests for rapid runway repair
The attention to rapid pavement repair has grown fast in recent decades: this topic is strategic for the airport management process for civil purposes and peacekeeping missions. This work presents the results of laboratory and on-site tests for rapid runway repair, in order to analyse and compare technical and mechanical performances of 12 different materials currently used in airport. The study focuses on site repairs, a technique adopted most frequently than repairs with modular elements. After describing mechanical and physical properties of the examined materials (2 bituminous emulsions, 5 cement mortars, 4 cold bituminous mixtures and 1 expanding resin), the study presents the results of carried out mechanical tests. The results demonstrate that the best performing material is a one-component fast setting and hardening cement mortar with graded aggregates. This material allows the runway reopening 6 h after the work. A cold bituminous mixture (bicomponent premixed cold asphalt with water as catalyst) and the ordinary cement concrete allow the reopening to traffic after 18 h, but both ensure a lower service life (1000 coverages) than the cement mortar (10,000 coverages). The obtained results include important information both laboratory level and field, and they could be used by airport management bodies and road agencies when scheduling and evaluating pavement repairs
Leptin activates the anandamide hydrolase promoter in human T lymphocytes through STAT3
Physiological concentrations of leptin stimulate the activity of the endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme anandamide hydrolase (fatty acid amide hydrolase, FAAH) in human T lymphocytes up to approximately 300% over the untreated controls. Stimulation of FAAH occurred through up-regulation of gene expression at transcriptional and translational levels and involved binding of leptin to its receptor with an apparent dissociation constant (K(d)) of 1.95 +/- 0.14 nm and maximum binding (B(max)) of 392 +/- 8 fmol x mg protein(-1). Leptin binding to the receptor triggered activation of STAT3 but not STAT1 or STAT5 or the mitogen-activated protein kinases p38, p42, and p44. Peripheral lymphocytes of leptin knock-out (ob/ob) mice showed decreased FAAH activity and expression (approximately 25% of the wild-type littermates), which were reversed to control levels by exogenous leptin. Analysis of the FAAH promoter showed a cAMP-response element-like site, which is a transcriptional target of STAT3. Consistently, mutation of this site prevented FAAH activation by leptin in transient expression assays. Electrophoretic mobility shift and supershift assays further corroborated the promoter activity data. Taken together, these results suggest that leptin, by up-regulating the FAAH promoter through STAT3, enhances FAAH expression, thus tuning the immunomodulatory effects of anandamide. These findings might also have critical implications for human fertility
Progesterone activates fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) promoter in human T lymphocytes through the transcription factor Ikaros. Evidence for a synergistic effect of leptin.
Physiological concentrations of progesterone stimulate the activity of the endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in human T lymphocytes, up to a ∼270% over the untreated controls. Stimulation of FAAH occurred through up-regulation of gene expression at transcriptional and translational level and was specific. Indeed, neither the activity of the anandamide-synthesizing N-acyltransferase and phospholipase D, nor the activity of the anandamide transporter, nor the binding to cannabinoid receptors were affected by progesterone under the same experimental conditions. The activation of FAAH by progesterone was paralleled by a decrease (down to 60%) of the cellular levels of anandamide and involved increased nuclear levels of the transcription factor Ikaros. Analysis of the FAAH promoter showed an Ikaros binding site, and mutation of this site prevented FAAH activation by progesterone in transient expression assays. Electrophoretic mobility shift and supershift assays further corroborated the promoter activity data. Furthermore, the effect of progesterone on FAAH promoter was additive to that of physiological amounts of leptin, which binds to a cAMP response element-like site in the promoter region. Taken together, these results suggest that progesterone and leptin, by up-regulating the FAAH promoter at different sites, enhance FAAH expression, thus tuning the immunomodulatory effects of anandamide. These findings might also have critical implications for human fertility
The impact of financial crisis on savings decisions: evidences from Italian pension funds
This paper provides an empirical analysis of the impact of the financial crisis on households’ saving decisions in private pension schemes. We base our study on an original dataset made up of three sample surveys collected in 2008, in 2012 and in 2015 by Mefop. Each survey has been conducted interviewing by phone more than 10000 people in order to construct a representative sample of roughly 1000 individual for each survey, which includes both members and not members of Italian pension funds. Each wave allows us to map saving decisions and personal characteristics (income, type of occupation, political orientation, financial literacy, etc.) in two distinct moment: before the crisis and after the crisis. Therefore we can identify the impact of the financial turmoil simply introducing a dummy variable. Results shows that the probability to invest in a private pension scheme has been barely touched and in some cases it is also possible to register an increase
The impact of financial crisis on savings decisions: evidences from Italian pension funds
This paper provides an empirical analysis of the impact of the financial crisis on households’ saving decisions in private pension schemes. We base our study on an original dataset made up of three sample surveys collected in 2008, in 2012 and in 2015 by Mefop. Each survey has been conducted interviewing by phone more than 10000 people in order to construct a representative sample of roughly 1000 individual for each survey, which includes both members and not members of Italian pension funds. Each wave allows us to map saving decisions and personal characteristics (income, type of occupation, political orientation, financial literacy, etc.) in two distinct moment: before the crisis and after the crisis. Therefore we can identify the impact of the financial turmoil simply introducing a dummy variable. Results shows that the probability to invest in a private pension scheme has been barely touched and in some cases it is also possible to register an increase
Ziprasidone as Adjunctive Therapy in Severe Bipolar Patients Treated with Clozapine
Aim. To confirm the efficacy and tolerability of ziprasidone as adjunctive therapy in bipolar patients partially responding to clozapine or with persisting negative symptoms, overweight, or with metabolic syndrome. Methods. Eight patients with psychotic bipolar disorder were tested with the BPRS, the HAM-D, and the CGI at T0 and retested after 2 weeks (T1). Plasma clozapine and norclozapine levels and BMI were tested at T0 and T1. Results. Ziprasidone was well tolerated by all the patients. BPRS and HAM-D scores were reduced in all patients. BMI was reduced in patients with a BMI at T0 higher than 25. Plasma levels of clozapine and norclozapine showed an irregular course
Cascade Superfluorescence in Er:YLF
We report the analysis of paired photon pulses arising from two cascading
transitions in continuously pumped Erbium-doped YLiF 1% and 0.01% crystals
at 1.6 K. The dependence of the pulse peak intensity on the squared number of
involved Erbium ions, between 10 and 10, definitely identifies
the cooperative nature of the two pulsed emissions, that are generated by the
subsequent, spontaneous formation of coherent states. The observed fluctuations
of the time interval between the paired pulses and, most importantly, its
correlation with the second pulse duration, demonstrate that the Erbium ions
coherence is indeed seeded by vacuum fluctuations
CYP2D6 genotypes in revolving door patients with bipolar disorders: A case series
RATIONALE: In psychiatric disorders, interindividual differences in cytochrome P450 (CYP)2D6 (CYP2D6) enzymatic activity could be responsible of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and therapeutic failures (TFs) for CYP2D6-metabolized drugs, contributing to the periodical hospital readmissions of the revolving door (RD) condition.PATIENT CONCERNS: We investigated CYP2D6 genotypes in a controlled series of 5 consecutive RD patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD).DIAGNOSES: Psychiatric patients affected by Bipolar Disorder.INTERVENTIONS: We defined TFs as a difference at the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score \u394BPRS\u200a<\u200a25% at each 1-week of stable treatment, and ADRs as the onset of extrapyramidal symptoms and/or metabolic impairment with weight gain.OUTCOMES: At 3 months, a mean number of 2.75\u200a\ub1\u200a1.26 ADR and a mean \u394BPRS score of 16.07\u200a\ub1\u200a0.05% were observed. At 6 months of follow-up, compared to the only patient without BD (\u394BPRS\u200a<\u200a32.10%), BD patients (n\u200a=\u200a4) showed TFs (\u394BPRS\u200a<\u200a25%). CYP2D6 genotyping revealed intermediate metabolizer phenotypes for BD patients and an extensive metabolizer phenotype for the patient without BD. In BD patients, the ratio of drugs maintained/discontinued for TFs or ADRs was 1.75 for non-CYP2D6 versus 0.33 for CYP2D6 interacting drugs, while the proportion of ADR:TF was 0:4 versus 6:3.LESSONS: Our findings may suggest that CYP2D6 clinically relevant genotypes may be involved in the unwanted outcomes observed in RD patients with BD
Digital Pixel Test Structures implemented in a 65 nm CMOS process
The ALICE ITS3 (Inner Tracking System 3) upgrade project and the CERN EP R&D
on monolithic pixel sensors are investigating the feasibility of the Tower
Partners Semiconductor Co. 65 nm process for use in the next generation of
vertex detectors. The ITS3 aims to employ wafer-scale Monolithic Active Pixel
Sensors thinned down to 20 to 40 um and bent to form truly cylindrical half
barrels. Among the first critical steps towards the realisation of this
detector is to validate the sensor technology through extensive
characterisation both in the laboratory and with in-beam measurements. The
Digital Pixel Test Structure (DPTS) is one of the prototypes produced in the
first sensor submission in this technology and has undergone a systematic
measurement campaign whose details are presented in this article.
The results confirm the goals of detection efficiency and non-ionising and
ionising radiation hardness up to the expected levels for ALICE ITS3 and also
demonstrate operation at +20 C and a detection efficiency of 99% for a DPTS
irradiated with a dose of 1 MeV ncm.
Furthermore, spatial, timing and energy resolutions were measured at various
settings and irradiation levels.Comment: Updated threshold calibration method. Implemented colorblind friendly
color palette in all figures. Updated reference
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