Anisotropic fluctuations in turbulent sheared flows

An experimental analysis of small-scales anisotropic turbulent fluctuations has been performed in two different flows. We analyzed anisotropic properties of an homogeneous shear flows and of a turbulent boundary layer by means of two cross-wire probes to obtain multi-point multi-component measurements. Data are analyzed at changing inter-probe separation without the use of Taylor hypothesis. The results are consistent with the ``exponent-only'' scenario for universality, i.e. all experimental data can be fit by fixing the same set of anisotropic scaling exponents at changing only prefactors, for different shear intensities and boundary conditions.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Complexity on Acute Myeloid Leukemia mRNA Transcript Variant

This paper deals with the sequence analysis of acute myeloid leukemia mRNA. Six transcript variants of mlf1 mRNA, with more than 2000 bps, are analyzed by focusing on the autocorrelation of each distribution. Through the correlation matrix, some patches and similarities are singled out and commented, with respect to similar distributions. The comparison of Kolmogorov fractal dimension will be also given in order to classify the six variants. The existence of a fractal shape, patterns, and symmetries are discussed as well

Digital evaluation of occlusal forces: comparison between healthy subjects and TMD patients

ABSTRACT Aim: Continuous technological innovation has provided the clinicians to access to a computerized device that can analyse the different characteristics of occlusal contacts. The purpose of this research was to use this device to study the occlusal forces comparing healthy subjects and TMD patients. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted by following specific criteria to select participants, the sample was divided into two homogeneous groups: control group (CG) comprising healthy subjects, and dysfunctional group (DG) comprising TMD patients. The occlusal force analysis was performed using the computerized system T-Scan III V 5.20 T. The data were analysed with statistical methods. Results: The most significant differences emerged between the groups in the average occlusal load distribution and in the location of the centre of occlusal forces (COF). In particular, compared with the CG and the functional standard, reductions in the molar field forces on the second and first molars of 27% and 6.9%, respectively, were observed in the DG. The COF was located in the most forward position in TMD patients compared with healthy subjects. Conclusions: Although the differences in the distribution of the occlusal forces and the location of the occlusal centre of gravity were significant, the relationship between occlusal contacts and TMD remains to be fully clarified. Further research is needed to investigate whether studying occlusal force distributions in both healthy subjects and TMD patients

Entropy and Multifractality for the Myeloma Multiple TET 2 Gene

The nucleotide and amino-acid distributions are studied for two variants of mRNA of gene that codes for a protein which is involved in multiple myeloid. Some patches and symmetries are singled out, thus, showing some distinctions between the two variants. Fractal dimensions and entropy are discussed as well

Oxidative stress and epigenetic regulation in ageing and age-related diseases

Recent statistics indicate that the human population is ageing rapidly. Healthy, but also diseased, elderly people are increasing. This trend is particularly evident in Western countries, where healthier living conditions and better cures are available. To understand the process leading to age-associated alterations is, therefore, of the highest relevance for the development of new treatments for age-associated diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer and cardiovascular accidents. Mechanistically, it is well accepted that the accumulation of intracellular damage determined by reactive oxygen species (ROS) might orchestrate the progressive loss of control over biological homeostasis and the functional impairment typical of aged tissues. Here, we review how epigenetics takes part in the control of stress stimuli and the mechanisms of ageing physiology and physiopathology. Alteration of epigenetic enzyme activity, histone modifications and DNA-methylation is, in fact, typically associated with the ageing process. Specifically, ageing presents peculiar epigenetic markers that, taken altogether, form the still ill-defined “ageing epigenome”. The comprehension of mechanisms and pathways leading to epigenetic modifications associated with ageing may help the development of anti-ageing therapies

Vincenzo Gaglio. Un intellettuale nella Girgenti del Settecento tra giurisprudenza e archeologia

La presente tesi di laurea magistrale si propone di analizzare alcune opere del giureconsulto girgentano Vincenzo Gaglio, intellettuale che, vivendo in un periodo di grande fermento culturale qual è il secondo Settecento siciliano, e in particolare girgentano, allarga i suoi orizzonti di conoscenza anche verso l’antiquaria e l’archeologia. Nel I capitolo abbiamo provato a contestualizzare l’importante lavoro del Nostro tracciando in primo luogo il quadro storico e culturale della Sicilia nel Settecento. Nel II capitolo abbiamo concentrato la nostra attenzione sugli aspetti storico-culturali della Girgenti in cui visse Gaglio, segnalando anche le figure di alcuni intellettuali che ne segnarono profondamente la storia. Nel III capitolo abbiamo contestualizzato il saggio Problema storico, critico, politico se la Sicilia fu più felice sotto il governo della Repubblica romana o sotto i di lei imperadori, in cui il Gaglio, con grande puntualità, sviluppa la sua tesi, sostenendo che l’età romano-repubblicana fu per i siciliani il momento peggiore, in cui essi sopportarono continue usurpazioni e vessazioni, mentre, al contrario, il periodo degli imperatori rappresentò per l’isola un momento di grande prosperità. Nel IV capitolo, infine, abbiamo analizzato il saggio Dissertazione sopra un antico sarcofago di marmo, oggi battisterio del duomo di Girgenti, in cui il Gaglio propone per la prima volta un’esegesi, puntuale e coerente con le fonti letterarie da lui utilizzate, delle quattro scene raffigurate sul sarcofago di Fedra, oggi conservato ad Agrigento presso la chiesa di S. Nicola. La trattazione del giureconsulto è preceduta da un excursus cronologico di tutti quegli studiosi che, prima di lui, si sono occupati del sarcofago