Exceptional singularities of codimension one holomorphic foliations

We study some numerical properties of singularities of codimension one holomorphic foliations which can be analytically collapsed to one point. Some local and global dynamical consequences are deduced

A precompliance EMC test-set based on a sampling oscilloscope

In this paper, a precompliance test-set for the measurement of conducted emissions based on a medium-level sampling oscilloscope and on a fast filtering algorithm (DFT) is presented. This system has been designed as a low-cost alternative to the typical precompliance test-sets that are based on spectrum analyzers equipped with EMC filters and peak detectors. Experimental examples of the results obtained using a sampling oscilloscope with 8 Kbytes of memory are given

Refinement for Transition Systems with Responses

Motivated by the response pattern for property specifications and applications within flexible workflow management systems, we report upon an initial study of modal and mixed transition systems in which the must transitions are interpreted as must eventually, and in which implementations can contain may behaviors that are resolved at run-time. We propose Transition Systems with Responses (TSRs) as a suitable model for this study. We prove that TSRs correspond to a restricted class of mixed transition systems, which we refer to as the action-deterministic mixed transition systems. We show that TSRs allow for a natural definition of deadlocked and accepting states. We then transfer the standard definition of refinement for mixed transition systems to TSRs and prove that refinement does not preserve deadlock freedom. This leads to the proposal of safe refinements, which are those that preserve deadlock freedom. We exemplify the use of TSRs and (safe) refinements on a small medication workflow.Comment: In Proceedings FIT 2012, arXiv:1207.348

One special question to start with: can HIF/NFkB be a target in inflammation?

Hypoxia and Inflammation are strictly interconnected with important consequences at clinical and therapeutic level. While cell and tissue damage due to acute hypoxia mostly leads to cell necrosis, in chronic hypoxia, cells that are located closer to vessels are able to survive adapting their phenotype through the expression of a number of genes, including proinflammatory receptors for alarmins. These receptors are activated by alarmins released by necrotic cells and generate signals for master transcription factors such as NFkB, AP1, etc. which control hundreds of genes for innate immunity and damage repair. Clinical consequences of chronic inflammatory reparative response activation include cell and tissue remodeling, damage in the primary site and, the systemic involvement of distant organs and tissues. Thus every time a tissue environment becomes stably hypoxic, inflammation can be activated followed by chronic damage and cell death or repair with vessel proliferation and fibrosis. This pathway can occur in cancer, myocardial infarction and stroke, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic and autoimmune diseases and age-related diseases. Interestingly, proinflammatory gene expression can be observed earlier in hypoxic tissue cells and, in addition, in activated resident or recruited leukocytes. Herewith, the reciprocal relationships between hypoxia and inflammation will be shortly reviewed to underline the possible therapeutic targets to control hypoxia-related inflammation in a number of epidemiologically important human diseases and conditions

The Fortress of Ripafratta, Tuscany. A research project for its conservation and enhancement

[EN] The fortress of San Paolino in Ripafratta (San Giuliano Terme, Tuscany, Italy), represents the main structure of the ancient Pisan Republic defensive system towards Lucca. The fortress is the product of several stratifications dating back to the tenth century. It was built in the years between 1162-1164; later on, starting from 1504, significant interventions of modernization were realized by the Florentine Government, probably following a project by Giuliano da San Gallo. Since the early seventeenth century, the fortress lost its military function and passed to private property. Nowadays, the fortress is in a deep state of degradation, even if since 2008 several initiatives has followed for its recovery, unfortunately without success. The paper aims to show the results of an interdisciplinary project for the enhancement of the fortress and its territory. Based on a careful territorial analysis and in-depth historical study, a mix of compatible functions was identified in order to maximize the use of the fortress in all the seasons. A feasibility study was also developed for verifying the economic sustainability of the whole project and identifying possible intervention phases.Bevilacqua, M.; Karwaca, E.; Mininno, V.; Perrone, M.; Santini, L. (2020). The Fortress of Ripafratta, Tuscany. A research project for its conservation and enhancement. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 835-842. https://doi.org/10.4995/FORTMED2020.2020.11494OCS83584

Development of a Flexible Lead-Free Piezoelectric Transducer for Health Monitoring in the Space Environment

In this work we report on the fabrication process for the development of a flexible piezopolymeric transducer for health monitoring applications, based on lead-free, piezoelectric zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films. All the selected materials are compatible with the space environment and were deposited by the RF magnetron sputtering technique at room temperature, in view of preserving the total flexibility of the structures, which is an important requirement to guarantee coupling with cylindrical fuel tanks whose integrity we want to monitor. The overall transducer architecture was made of a c-axis-oriented ZnO thin film coupled to a pair of flexible Polyimide foils coated with gold (Au) electrodes. The fabrication process started with the deposition of the bottom electrode on Polyimide foils. The ZnO thin film and the top electrode were then deposited onto the Au/Polyimide substrates. Both the electrodes and ZnO layer were properly patterned by wet-chemical etching and optical lithography. The assembly of the final structure was then obtained by gluing the upper and lower Polyimide foils with an epoxy resin capable of guaranteeing low outgassing levels, as well as adequate thermal and electrical insulation of the transducers. The piezoelectric behavior of the prototypes was confirmed and evaluated by measuring the mechanical displacement induced from the application of an external voltage

Targeting of RET oncogene by naphthalene diimide-mediated gene promoter G-quadruplex stabilization exerts anti-tumor activity in oncogene-addicted human medullary thyroid cancer

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) relies on the aberrant activation of RET proto-oncogene. Though targeted approaches (i.e., tyrosine kinase inhibitors) are available, the absence of complete responses and the onset of resistance mechanisms indicate the need for novel therapeutic interventions. Due to their role in regulation of gene expression, G-quadruplexes (G4) represent attractive targets amenable to be recognized or stabilized by small molecules. Here, we report that exposure of MTC cells to a tri-substituted naphthalene diimide (NDI) resulted in a significant antiproliferative activity paralleled by inhibition of RET expression. Biophysical analysis and gene reporter assays showed that impairment of RET expression was consequent to the NDI-mediated stabilization of the G4 forming within the gene promoter. We also showed for the first time that systemic administration of the NDI in mice xenotransplanted with MTC cells resulted in a remarkable inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. Overall, our findings indicate that NDI-dependent RET G4 stabilization represents a suitable approach to control RET transcription and delineate the rationale for the development of G4 stabilizing-based treatments for MTC as well as for other tumors in which RET may have functional and therapeutic implications

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in Italy: first data from wild populations and captive collections

Italy hosts one of the most diverse amphibian fauna of the entire Mediterranean, and several endemic salamander species are found in the Alps, along the Apennines and in Sardinia. Therefore, the introduction of the highly pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) could threaten Italian amphibian diversity and cause the loss of many unique evolutionary lineages of salamanders. To counteract and prevent the spread of this pathogen in Italy, a preliminary molecular screening was performed on wild salamanders from different parts of the country and also from four live collections owned by private keepers. Salamanders\u2019 skin swabs were obtained following a standard protocol and samples were analysed for the presence of both Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Bsal DNA, using a duplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Overall 189 skin swabs were analysed: 136 from seven wild native species, and 53 from seven Asian, two North-American and one European salamanders bred in captivity. All samples were negative for Bsal (prevalence 0%, confidence interval 0 \u2013 2%), while 4 out of 136 wild salamanders were positive for Bd (prevalence 3%, confidence interval 1 \u2013 7%), with low individual Bd loads (68 64 genome equivalents). Although our findings are not sufficient to infer with confidence about the presence or absence of this pathogen in Italy, they may possibly contribute to increase awareness of professional herpetologists and also among amphibian private keepers