Loosening the notions of compliance and sub-behaviour in client/server systems

In the context of "session behaviors" for client/server systems, we propose a weakening of the compliance and sub-behaviour relations where the bias toward the client (whose "requests" must be satisfied) is pushed further with respect to the usual definitions, by admitting that "not needed" output actions from the server side can be "skipped" by the client. Both compliance and sub-behaviour relations resulting from this weakening remain decidable, though the proof of the duals-as-minima property for servers, on which the decidability of the sub-behaviour relation relies, requires a tighter analysis of client/server interactions.Comment: In Proceedings ICE 2014, arXiv:1410.701

Synergistic toxicity of some sulfonamide mixtures on Daphnia magna

In livestock farming, sulfonamides (SAs) are used prophylactically and simultaneously in large numbers of animals. Therefore, traces of these compounds, alone or in combination, have been repeatedly detected in the environment. Synergistic interactions among chemicals in such mixtures represent an area of concern for the regulatory authorities. In this study, the acute toxic effects of binary and ternary mixtures of SAs were evaluated in Daphnia magna, in order to verify whether, based on their individual toxicity, they jointly exert a larger effect than would be predicted by individual actions alone. First, following the Concentration Addition (CA) principle, some preliminary observations were made by testing a number of drug combinations with an expected 50% effect. Then, mixtures more recognised for their synergistic effect (four binary and two ternary) were assayed in a range of reducing concentrations. The data acquired were processed using CompuSyn software, which integrates the different shape of the curves obtained in calculating the Combination Index (CI) for the evaluation of synergistic effects. For binary mixtures, synergy was also evaluated using the curvilinear isobologram method for heterodynamic drugs. Results indicate that most of the selected mixtures exhibit a synergistic effect using the CI methodology. For binary mixtures, these findings were also confirmed by isobologram analysis. Detected synergies indicate that the CA is not always precautionary as a reference model for the evaluation of the aquatic toxicity of SAs mixtures

Non-monotonic Pre-fixed Points and Learning

Comment: In Proceedings FICS 2013, arXiv:1308.589

Blend Structure and n-Type Thermoelectric Performance of PA6/SAN and PA6/PMMA Blends Filled with Singlewalled Carbon Nanotubes

The present study investigates how the formation of melt-mixed immiscible blends based on PA6/SAN and PA6/PMMA filled with single walled nanotubes (SWCNTs) affects the thermoelectric (TE) properties. In addition to the detailed investigation of the blend morphology with compositions between 100/0 wt.% and 50/50 wt.%, the thermoelectric properties are investigated on blends with different SWCNT concentrations (0.25–3.0 wt.%). Both PA6 and the blend composites with the used type of SWCNTs showed negative Seebeck coefficients. It was shown that the PA6 matrix polymer, in which the SWCNTs are localized, mainly influenced the thermoelectric properties of blends with high SWCNT contents. By varying the blend composition, an increase in the absolute Seebeck coefficient, power factor (PF), and figure of merit (ZT) was achieved compared to the PA6 composite which is mainly related to the selective localization and enrichment of SWCNTs in the PA6 matrix at constant SWCNT loading. The maximum PFs achieved were 0.22 µW/m·K2 for PA6/SAN/SWCNT 70/30/3 wt.% and 0.13 µW/m·K2 for PA6/PMMA/SWCNT 60/40/3 wt.% compared to 0.09 µW/m·K2 for PA6/3 wt.% SWCNT which represent increases to 244% and 144%, respectively. At higher PMMA or SAN concentration, the change from matrix-droplet to a co-continuous morphology started, which, despite higher SWCNT enrichment in the PA6 matrix, disturbed the electrical conductivity, resulting in reduced PFs with still increasing Seebeck coefficients. At SWCNT contents between 0.5 and 3 wt.% the increase in the absolute Seebeck coefficient was compensated by lower electrical conductivity resulting in lower PF and ZT as compared to the PA6 composites

Effetti dei derivati piastrinici sulla motilità delle cellule staminali mesenchimali. Ruolo delle Acquaporine

Studio degli effetti del platelet rich plasma su MSC e ruolo delle acquaporin

A20 is a negative regulator of BCL10- and CARMA3-mediated activation of NF-κB

The molecular complex containing CARMA proteins, BCL10 and TRAF6 has been identified recently as a key component in the signal transduction pathways that regulate activation of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transcription factor. Here, we report that the inducible protein A20 negatively regulates these signaling cascades by means of its deubiquitylation activity. We show that A20 perturbs assembly of the complex containing CARMA3, BCL10 and IKKγ/NEMO, thereby suppressing activation of NF-κB. Together, our results further define the molecular mechanisms that control activation of NF-κB and reveal a function for A20 in the regulation of CARMA and BCL10 activity in lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells

Application of a score system to evaluate the risk of malnutrition in a multiple hospital setting

Background: An increased but unpredictable risk of malnutrition is associated with hospitalization, especially in children with chronic diseases. We investigated the applicability of Screening Tool for Risk of Impaired Nutritional Status and Growth (STRONGkids), an instrument proposed to estimate the risk of malnutrition in hospitalized children. We also evaluated the role of age and co-morbidities as risk for malnutrition. Methods. The STRONGkids consists of 4 items providing a score that classifies a patient in low, moderate, high risk for malnutrition. A prospective observational multi-centre study was performed in 12 Italian hospitals. Children 1-18 years consecutively admitted and otherwise unselected were enrolled. Their STRONGkids score was obtained and compared with the actual nutritional status expressed as BMI and Height for Age SD-score. Results: Of 144 children (75 males, mean age 6.5 \ub1 4.5 years), 52 (36%) had an underlying chronic disease. According to STRONGkids, 46 (32%) children were at low risk, 76 (53%) at moderate risk and 22 (15%) at high risk for malnutrition. The latter had significantly lower Height for Age values (mean SD value -1.07 \ub1 2.08; p = 0.008) and BMI values (mean SD-values -0.79 \ub1 2.09; p = 0.0021) in comparison to other groups. However, only 29 children were actually malnourished. Conclusions: The STRONGkids is easy to administer. It is highly sensitive but not specific. It may be used as a very preliminary screening tool to be integrated with other clinical data in order to reliably predict the risk of malnutrition. \ua9 2013 Spagnuolo et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd