Soluble plasma thrombomodulin levels in patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorder.

The plasma levels of soluble thrombomodulin (TM) were measured in 44 patients with chronic myeloprolif erative disorder, 15 with polycythemia vera (PV), 29 with es sential thrombocythemia (ET), and a group of 62 matched healthy controls. The younger patients had significantly lower TM levels (mean: 15.6 ± 4.8 ng/mL) than the older patients (mean: 28.6 ± 8.2 ng/mL, p < .001). Moreover, a significant negative correlation between platelet counts and plasma TM levels in healthy persons was noted (r = 0.317, p < .05). The only significant difference we found in plasma TM levels be tween patients and controls or among patients was between the young patients with ET (mean: 29.0 ± 19.2 ng/mL) and young healthy controls (mean: 15.6 ± 4.8 ng/mL). It is possible that younger ET patients with more active platelets are more sus ceptible to earlier vascular damage. The lack of any significant difference compared with the older patient population supports this hypothesis. Key Words: Thrombomodulin—Essential thrombocythemia—Polycythemia vera

LIPSS Applied to Wide Bandgap Semiconductors and Dielectrics: Assessment and Future Perspectives

With the aim of presenting the processes governing the Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS), its main theoretical models have been reported. More emphasis is given to those suitable for clarifying the experimental structures observed on the surface of wide bandgap semiconductors (WBS) and dielectric materials. The role played by radiation surface electromagnetic waves as well as Surface Plasmon Polaritons in determining both Low and High Spatial Frequency LIPSS is briefly discussed, together with some experimental evidence. Non-conventional techniques for LIPSS formation are concisely introduced to point out the high technical possibility of enhancing the homogeneity of surface structures as well as tuning the electronic properties driven by point defects induced in WBS. Among these, double- or multiple-fs-pulse irradiations are shown to be suitable for providing further insight into the LIPSS process together with fine control on the formed surface structures. Modifications occurring by LIPSS on surfaces of WBS and dielectrics display high potentialities for their cross-cutting technological features and wide applications in which the main surface and electronic properties can be engineered. By these assessments, the employment of such nanostructured materials in innovative devices could be envisaged

Quantum discord determines the interferometric power of quantum states

Quantum metrology exploits quantum mechanical laws to improve the precision in estimating technologically relevant parameters such as phase, frequency, or magnetic fields. Probe states are usually tailored to the particular dynamics whose parameters are being estimated. Here we consider a novel framework where quantum estimation is performed in an interferometric configuration, using bipartite probe states prepared when only the spectrum of the generating Hamiltonian is known. We introduce a figure of merit for the scheme, given by the worst-case precision over all suitable Hamiltonians, and prove that it amounts exactly to a computable measure of discord-type quantum correlations for the input probe. We complement our theoretical results with a metrology experiment, realized in a highly controllable room-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance setup, which provides a proof-of-concept demonstration for the usefulness of discord in sensing applications. Discordant probes are shown to guarantee a nonzero phase sensitivity for all the chosen generating Hamiltonians, while classically correlated probes are unable to accomplish the estimation in a worst-case setting. This work establishes a rigorous and direct operational interpretation for general quantum correlations, shedding light on their potential for quantum technology

bioNMF: a versatile tool for non-negative matrix factorization in biology

BACKGROUND: In the Bioinformatics field, a great deal of interest has been given to Non-negative matrix factorization technique (NMF), due to its capability of providing new insights and relevant information about the complex latent relationships in experimental data sets. This method, and some of its variants, has been successfully applied to gene expression, sequence analysis, functional characterization of genes and text mining. Even if the interest on this technique by the bioinformatics community has been increased during the last few years, there are not many available simple standalone tools to specifically perform these types of data analysis in an integrated environment. RESULTS: In this work we propose a versatile and user-friendly tool that implements the NMF methodology in different analysis contexts to support some of the most important reported applications of this new methodology. This includes clustering and biclustering gene expression data, protein sequence analysis, text mining of biomedical literature and sample classification using gene expression. The tool, which is named bioNMF, also contains a user-friendly graphical interface to explore results in an interactive manner and facilitate in this way the exploratory data analysis process. CONCLUSION: bioNMF is a standalone versatile application which does not require any special installation or libraries. It can be used for most of the multiple applications proposed in the bioinformatics field or to support new research using this method. This tool is publicly available at

Ascoli 1808-1940. Luoghi della produzione e architetture per il lavoro / Ascoli between 1808 and 1940. Production areas and architectures for work

Nel quadro economico-produttivo dell’Italia tra Ottocento e Novecento, Ascoli rappresenta un caso forse di minor interesse in ambito nazionale o internazionale, ma un caso non certamente anomalo. Sul binomio arretratezza/sviluppo, come altre realtà urbane anche il capoluogo piceno inizia il suo lento processo di modernizzazione economico-produttiva, con effettivi riscontri sull’aspetto fisico della città. La conoscenza storica della struttura produttiva di Ascoli ha messo in luce il carattere più o meno innovativo delle produzioni e dei processi lavorativi, nonché una realtà fisica di natura particolare, con la presenza di una rete di unità produttive diffuse nel tessuto urbano e con un alto grado di integrazione con la città, contribuendo a delinearne la storia e la forma stessa. Riflettendo su un possibile futuro del passato urbano di Ascoli, va evidenziato che storia della città, storia dell’industria e storia dei luoghi della produzione s’intrecciano senza soluzione di continuità. Within the Italian production context between the 19th and 20th century, Ascoli may have been a less interesting case both on a national and international level but it certainly hasn’t been an anomalous one. As for backwardness and development, like other urban realities, Ascoli also begins a slow process of economic modernization, which has a significant impact on the town’s physical features. Studies on the evolution of Ascoli’s production network, have highlighted the somewhat innovative character of the products and working process, as well as a particular appearance characterized by several manufacturing plants rising throughout the town area, which perfectly integrate with the town itself and contribute to build its history and shape. Thinking about the possible reuse of Ascoli’s old buildings, it’s important to point out that town history and history of the industry and production areas weave together with no interruption

Tecnologie Internet per la gestione e il governo di un ente complesso

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7 Rome / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal