The Elephant Quantum Walk

We explore the impact of long-range memory on the properties of a family of quantum walks in a one-dimensional lattice and discrete time, which can be understood as the quantum version of the classical "Elephant Random Walk" non-Markovian process. This Elephant Quantum Walk is robustly superballistic with the standard deviation showing a constant exponent, $\sigma \propto t^{3/ 2}$ , whatever the quantum coin operator, on which the diffusion coefficient is dependent. On the one hand, this result indicates that contrarily to the classical case, the degree of superdiffusivity in quantum non- Markovian processes of this kind is mainly ruled by the extension of memory rather than other microscopic parameters that explicitly define the process. On the other hand, these parameters reflect on the diffusion coefficient.Comment: 4 figures, any comments is welcome. Accepted in PR

Mediterranean Diet and Healthy Ageing: A Sicilian Perspective

Traditional Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is a common dietary pattern characterizing a lifestyle and culture proven to contribute to better health and quality of life in Mediterranean countries. By analyzing the diet of centenarians from the Sicani Mountains and eating habits of inhabitants of Palermo, it is reported that a close adherence to MedDiet is observed in the countryside, whereas in big towns this adherence is not so close. This has an effect on the rates of mortality at old age (and reciprocally longevity) that are lower in the countryside than in big towns. Concerning the health effects of the diet, the low content of animal protein and the low glycaemic index of the Sicilian MedDiet might directly modulate the insulin/IGF-1 and the mTOR pathways, known to be involved in ageing and longevity. In particular, the reduction of animal protein intake may significantly reduce serum IGF-1 concentrations and inhibit mTOR activity with a down-regulation of the signal that leads to the activation of FOXO3A and, consequently, to the transcription of homeostatic genes that favour longevity. The down-regulation of both IGF-1 and mTORC1 also induces an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition to the effects on sensing pathways, many single components of MedDiet are known to have positive effects on health, reducing inflammation, optimizing cholesterol and other important risk factors of age-related diseases. However, a key role is played by polyphenols represented in high amount in the Sicilian MedDiet (in particular in extra virgin olive oil) that can work as hormetins that provide an environmental chemical signature regulating stress resistance pathways such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2

Silica nanoparticles induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human primary immune cells

RESUMEN: In recent years, the potential use of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) among different biomedical fields has grown. A deep understanding of the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) and their regulation of specific biological responses is crucial for the successful application of NPs. Exposure to NP physicochemical properties (size, shape, porosity, etc.) could result in deleterious effects on cellular functions, including a pro-inflammatory response mediated via activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential in vitro immunomodulatory effect of 12-nm and 200-nm SiNPs on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NLRP3 inflammasome components in human primary neutrophils and PBMCs. This study demonstrates that regardless of the size of the nanoparticles, SiNPs induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. Induced IL-1β production after exposure to SiNPs suggests the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome components participation in this process. In conclusion, SiNPs induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, our data suggest that the production and release of IL-1β possibly occurs through the formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome

Morning Blood Pressure Surge, Dipping, and Risk of Coronary Events in Elderly Treated Hypertensive Patients

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Ceramiche di Roccacolonnalta. Indagini preliminari

Inventario e analisi dei reperti ceramici (XIII-XVI secc.) emersi nel corso degli scavi archeologici condotti da P.F. Pistilli nel castello di Roccacolonnalta, presso il comune di Sanginesio (Macerata). Gli scavi del sito fortificato, appartenuto in origine alla locale casata dei Brunforte, sono stati effettuati nelle campagne estive 2007, 2008 e 2009 con l'ausilio degli studenti della Scuola di Specializzazione in beni storico-artistici dell'Università di Roma La Sapienza

A two-component mantle source feeding Mt. Etna magmatism; insights from the geochemistry of primitive magmas.

The major elements, trace elements and Sr and Nd isotopes of selected Etnean primitive rocks (b15 ky BP) were studied in order to characterize their mantle source. The noble-gas geochemistry of fluid inclusions in minerals fromthe same lavaswas also investigated. Themajor element compositions ofwhole rocks and minerals showed that these products are among the most primitive atMt. Etna, comprising 6.3–17.5 wt.% MgO. The variable LREE (Light Rare Earth Elements) enrichment relative to MORB (Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt) (Lan/Ybn = 11–26), togetherwith the patterns of certain trace-element ratios (i.e., Ce/Yb versus Zr/Nb and Th/Y versus La/Yb), can be attributed to varying degrees of melting of a common mantle source. Numerical simulations performed with the MELTS program allowed the melting percentages associated with each product to be estimated. This led us to recalculate the hypothetical parental trace-element content of the Etneanmantle source, whichwas common to all of the investigated rocks. The characteristics of the Sr, Nd and He isotopes confirmed the primitive nature of the rocks,with themost-depleted and primitive lava being that ofMt. Spagnolo (SPA; 143Nd/144Nd = 0.512908 87Sr/ 86Sr = 0.703317–0.703325 and 3He/4He = 7.6 Ra), and highlighted the similarity of the mantle sources feeding the volcanic activity of Mt. Etna and the Hyblean Plateau (a region to the south of Mt. Etna and characterized by oldermagmatismthan Mt. Etna). The coupling of noble gases and trace elements suggests an origin for the investigated Etnean lavas from melting of a Hyblean-like mantle, consisting of a two-component source where a peridotitic matrix is veined by 10% pyroxenite. A variable degree of mantle contamination by crustal-like fluids, probably related to subduction, is proposed to explain the higher Sr-isotope and lowerNd-isotope values in some rocks (143Nd/144Nd up to 0.512865 and 87Sr/86Sr up to 0.703707). This process probably occurred in the source prior tomagma generation, refertilizing some portions of themantle. Accordingly, the estimated degree of melting responsible for each magma appears to be related to its 87Sr/86Sr enrichment. In contrast, the decoupling between 3He/4He and 87Sr/86Sr ratios requires the occurrence in the crustal reservoirs of further processes capable of shifting the He isotope ratio towards slightly more radiogenic values, such as magma aging or a contribution of shallow fluid. Therefore, different residence times in the Etnean reservoir and/or various rates of magma ascent could be key parameters for preserving the original He isotope marker of the Etnean mantle source. © 2013 Published by Elsevier

Osteoporosis and ageing affects the migration of stem cells and this is ameliorated by transfection with CXCR4

OBJECTIVES: Cellular movement and relocalisation are important for many physiologic properties. Local mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from injured tissues and circulating MSCs aid in fracture healing. Cytokines and chemokines such as Stromal cell-derived factor 1(SDF-1) and its receptor chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) play important roles in maintaining mobilisation, trafficking and homing of stem cells from bone marrow to the site of injury. We investigated the differences in migration of MSCs from the femurs of young, adult and ovariectomised (OVX) rats and the effect of CXCR4 over-expression on their migration. METHODS: MSCs from young, adult and OVX rats were put in a Boyden chamber to establish their migration towards SDF-1. This was compared with MSCs transfected with CXCR4, as well as MSCs differentiated to osteoblasts. RESULTS: MSCs from OVX rats migrate significantly (p < 0.05) less towards SDF-1 (9%, sd 5%) compared with MSCs from adult (15%, sd 3%) and young rats (25%, sd 4%). Cells transfected with CXCR4 migrated significantly more towards SDF-1 compared with non-transfected cells, irrespective of whether these cells were from OVX (26.5%, sd 4%), young (47%, sd 17%) or adult (21%, sd 4%) rats. Transfected MSCs differentiated to osteoblasts express CXCR4 but do not migrate towards SDF-1. CONCLUSIONS: MSC migration is impaired by age and osteoporosis in rats, and this may be associated with a significant reduction in bone formation in osteoporotic patients. The migration of stem cells can be ameliorated by upregulating CXCR4 levels which could possibly enhance fracture healing in osteoporotic patients

Investigating Ka-band science data transfer for BepiColombo mission by using radiometeorological numerical models

Deep space (DS) exploration is aimed at acquiring information about the solar system and its composition, a purpose that can be achieved only if a significant communication capacity can be provided to spacecrafts at very large distances [1]. The Ka-band (at 32-34 GHz) and higher frequency band channels can provide this capacity if compared to the current X-band (around 8.4 GHz) [2]-[4]. Ka-band can offer a striking performance advantage over X-band because of the square-frequency law increase of directivity of the downlink beam for the same physical antenna size. This opens up a possible and useful trade space for Ka-band missions with the same antenna size (and spacecraft constraints) and radio frequency power, since a Ka-band mission can return four times more data than a comparable X–band mission. For the European Space Agency (ESA), the next step in this direction will be the utilisation of Ka-band downlinks both to generate radiometric observables (in combination with X-band uplink) as well as to increase science data transfer [5]. The first satellite mission adopting such frequency operationally will be BepiColombo (BC), the ESA cornerstone mission to Mercury (expected launch in 2015) including the Mercury Orbiter Radio Experiment (MORE) at X-Ka band [6]. The optimal allocation of channel resources above Ku band is limited by the significant impact of radio- meteorological factors which can irremediably degrade the quality of service for fairly high percentage of time [7]. At Ka band, for instance, attenuation due to cloudy and rainy troposphere can be even one order of magnitude larger than at X-band. The major cause of outages at Ka band and above is due to rainfall, as well as non-precipitating clouds. For small carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR), the impact of atmospheric noise temperature can become non-negligible [4]. In order to achieve the optimum data return at Ka-band, a different approach with respect to the link budget computation at lower frequencies (e.g., S or X band) is necessary [2]. Such link analysis is based on the maximization of the expected data return in a probabilistic framework rather than on a specified link statistical availability. Recent methods uses monthly statistics collected at the receiving site with the aim of defining average values of expected received data volume [5] and the exploitation of numerical weather forecasting is also foreseen [3]. This paper introduces the preliminary concept of the RadioMetOP (RadioMeteorological Operations Planner) technique and describes its main modelling components and objectives, limiting the analysis to rainfall effects. Numerical results in terms of received frame data for unconstrained and constrained system scenarios are also described together with a discussion about the possible impact of RadioMetOP methods on BC operations