Experience with a vectorized general circulation weather model on Star-100

A version of an atmospheric general circulation model was vectorized to run on a CDC STAR 100. The numerical model was coded and run in two different vector languages, CDC and LRLTRAN. A factor of 10 speed improvement over an IBM 360/95 was realized. Efficient use of the STAR machine required some redesigning of algorithms and logic. This precludes the application of vectorizing compilers on the original scalar code to achieve the same results. Vector languages permit a more natural and efficient formulation for such numerical codes

gViz, a novel tool for the visualization of co-expression networks

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The quantity of microarray data available on the Internet has grown dramatically over the past years and now represents millions of Euros worth of underused information. One way to use this data is through co-expression analysis. To avoid a certain amount of bias, such data must often be analyzed at the genome scale, for example by network representation. The identification of co-expression networks is an important means to unravel gene to gene interactions and the underlying functional relationship between them. However, it is very difficult to explore and analyze a network of such dimensions. Several programs (Cytoscape, yEd) have already been developed for network analysis; however, to our knowledge, there are no available GraphML compatible programs.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We designed and developed gViz, a GraphML network visualization and exploration tool. gViz is built on clustering coefficient-based algorithms and is a novel tool to visualize and manipulate networks of co-expression interactions among a selection of probesets (each representing a single gene or transcript), based on a set of microarray co-expression data stored as an adjacency matrix.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We present here gViz, a software tool designed to visualize and explore large GraphML networks, combining network theory, biological annotation data, microarray data analysis and advanced graphical features.</p

Social context and sex moderate the association between type D personality and cardiovascular reactivity

peer-reviewedType D personality has been consistently associated with adverse cardiovascular health with atypical cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress one plausible underlying mechanism. However, whether this varies by sex and social context has received little attention. This study examined the interaction between Type D personality, sex and social context on cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress. A sample of 76 healthy undergraduate students (47 female) completed the DS14 Type D measure, before undergoing a traditional cardiovascular reactivity protocol. The social context of the laboratory environment was manipulated to create a social and non-social context using a between-subjects design. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were monitored throughout. No associations were evident for blood pressure. However, a significant personality × sex × social context interaction on HR reactivity was found; here Type D was associated with a higher HR response to the social task amongst males but not females, while Type D females typically exhibited blunted reactions. While these atypical reactions indicate a possible psychophysiological pathway leading to adverse cardiovascular events amongst Type Ds, it appears that Type D males are particularly vulnerable to socially based stressors, exhibiting exaggerated cardiovascular reactions.peer-reviewe

Comprehensive Pan-Genomic Characterization of Adrenocortical Carcinoma

SummaryWe describe a comprehensive genomic characterization of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Using this dataset, we expand the catalogue of known ACC driver genes to include PRKAR1A, RPL22, TERF2, CCNE1, and NF1. Genome wide DNA copy-number analysis revealed frequent occurrence of massive DNA loss followed by whole-genome doubling (WGD), which was associated with aggressive clinical course, suggesting WGD is a hallmark of disease progression. Corroborating this hypothesis were increased TERT expression, decreased telomere length, and activation of cell-cycle programs. Integrated subtype analysis identified three ACC subtypes with distinct clinical outcome and molecular alterations which could be captured by a 68-CpG probe DNA-methylation signature, proposing a strategy for clinical stratification of patients based on molecular markers

Exploitation of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) technique for the synthesis of inorganic nanostructured thin films

Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), belonging to Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) techniques, is an attractive process for the manufacturing of nanostructured thin films, with thickness down to a fraction of a monolayer. It is a powerful and unique technique that has achieved a lot of interest: it allows the deposition of high quality thin films with atomic level control and high conformal coverage even on complex shaped surfaces [1]. The advantages of ALD method include low impurity content, pinhole-free deposition, and low processing temperature (LT-ALD), so permitting the employment of temperature-sensitive substrates [2]. The basics of the technique and an overview of its potentiality are here presented

T.A.R.A.N.T.O. project: supported TiO2 MOCVD thin films and doped TiO2 powders for photocatalytic water remediation

T.A.R.A.N.TO research project (PON, ARS01_00637) aims to develop technologies suitable to generate renewable energy and the remediation of the polluted environmental compartments, thus favouring circular economy and decarbonisation practices. The proposed technologies intend to promote the transformation of wastes in renewable energy sources. ICMATE role is focused on the fabrication of supported photocatalysts based on TiO2, both as thin films (anatase, MOCVD coatings [2]) on stainless steel micrometric nets and over-grafted modified TiO2 nano-micro-powder (in anatase-rutile form [2]), Fig.1. This approach makes the whole support photo-active, thanks to the net MOCVD functionalisation and takes advantage from to the synergic action of the grafted powder, joined to a simplified catalyst management (easiness in placement-recovering)

Bioactivity property of TiO2 MOCVD coatings on Ti substrates with different pristine morphology

Titanium and its alloys have been widely used for dental implants due to their excellent combination of strength-to-weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance and biocompatibility [1]. A surface feature of Ti is the capability to spontaneously form a thin (4-6 nm) stable amorphous TiO2 film. Despite the excellent biocompatibility of the native oxide film, this oxide is known to seldom bond chemically to bone tissue [2 and ref. therein]. Various techniques have been developed in order to grow up TiO2 layers with improved characteristics with respect to the native layer: deposited rutile and anatase layers compared to native TiO2 show enhanced bone-like precipitation at the surface in simulated body fluids. MOCVD technique has been applied to the growth of TiO2 coatings, which successfully underwent several biological tests [2 and ref. therein]. However, the influence of the TiO2 MOCVD coating on the bioactivity of Ti substrate with peculiar pristine morphology has been weakly explored. In this regard, besides to the chemical surface composition, the roughness and the topography of the Ti surface are significant parameters that affect the rate and quality of osseointegration. In this work, three types of Ti substrates (machined, sandblasted, and sandblasted/acid etched) with different morphology were coated with 200 nm titanium oxide films by using MOCVD, operating at 350\ub0C and 100 Pa. The influence of the pristine substrate morphology on TiO2 crystalline structure, morphology, surface wettability and bioactivity is here presented. It is shown that the specific morphology of the substrate influences both the crystalline phase of the TiO2 and the crystallite size. SEM analysis shows an optimal conformal coverage of the coating for all substrates, with specific grain size as a function of the substrate morphology. Even the wettability depends on the Ti substrate features, demonstrating a superhydrophilic behaviour for the sandblasted/acid etched samples after MOCVD deposition. Finally, bioactivity experiments were carried out in order to evaluate the influence of substrate morphology on the bioactivity of the TiO2/Ti samples in simulated body fluid (SBF)

Evaluation of self-cleaning photocatalytic paints: Are they effective under actual indoor lighting systems?

The aim of the paper is to assess the photocatalytic performance of self-cleaning paints - available in the market - designed for applications in indoor environment. Three self-cleaning photocatalytic paints were deeply characterised by means of complementary analytical techniques (X-Ray Diffraction, Thermogravimetry, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in reflection mode and Absorption UV-Vis Spectroscopy). In addition, the photocatalytic properties of the paints were tested accordingly to ISO 10678 and ISO 2197-1 standards and in ad-hoc planned tests to evaluate their ability in methyl red and methylene blue bleaching under UVC, Xenon (with and without UV-400 filter), fluorescent and LED lamps exposure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper dealing with the photocatalytic activity tests of indoor commercial self-cleaning paints under actual indoor light. Although restricted to the three investigated paints, the outcomes suggest that all samples are scarcely active under visible light and the pollutant probes are selectively bleached thanks to their sensitising effect. Consequently, the pollutants ability in injecting electrons in the TiO2 conduction band deeply affects their removal. The paper highlights the requirement for an improved photocatalytic paint formulation with visible light active photocatalysts as well as the need of adequate ISO standards for visible light driven activity tests