Optmized stability of a modulated driver in a plasma wakefield accelerator

We analyze the transverse stability for a configuration of multiple gaussian bunches subject to the self-generated plasma wakefield. Through a semi-analytical approach we first study the equilibrium configuration for the modulated beam and then we investigate the evolution of the equilibrium configuration due to the emittance-driven expansion of the beam front that results in a rigid backward shift. The rear-directed shift brings the modulated beam out of the equilibrium, with the possibility for some of the bunch particles to be lost with a consequent deterioration of the driver. We look therefore for the proper position of the single bunches that maximize the stability without severely affecting the accelerating field behind the driver. We then compare the results with 3D PIC simulations

Larval trematodes infecting the South-American intertidal mud snail Heleobia australis (Rissooidea: Cochliopidae)

Larval trematodes infecting the snail Heleobia australis (Cochliopidae) from the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina were surveyed for two years. A total of 7,504 snail specimens was dissected and the larval stages of 15 different trematodes were recovered and examined morphologically. These larvae included four species that had previously been reported from H. australis in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina: the heterophyid Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa and the microphallids, Maritrema bonaerense, Maritrema orensense, and Microphallus simillimus. Three other species, the echinostomatid Stephanoprora uruguayensis, the microphallid Levinseniella cruzi, and the psilostomid Psilochasmus oxyurus are reported here for the first time as parasites of H. australis. Eight other trematodes found in H. australis are described and placed in the appropriate superfamilies, families or genera (Cryptogonimidae, Apocreadiidae, Aporocotylidae, Notocotylidae, Haploporidae, Renicolidae, Himasthla, and Renicola). The prevalence of the trematode taxa infecting H. australis in the Bahía Blanca estuary was low (20%). Microphallidae were the richest and the most prevalent family, probably because of the high abundance of crabs — the second-intermediate hosts of certain microphallid species — and the considerable diversity of gulls. Here we compare the parasite assemblage found in the H. australis from Bahía Blanca estuary with other parasite assemblages infecting Heleobia spp. and other rissooids from the rest of the world.Fil: Alda, Maria del Pilar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Martorelli, Sergio Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentin

Centro de Investigación en Metrología y Calidad (CEMECA)

Exposición realizada en el marco del  Encuentro del Ministerio de la Producción, Ciencia y Tecnología de la Provincia de Buenos Aires con autoridades y centros de la Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Exposiciones de los directores de los Centros de Investigación propios, asociados y vinculados

BARF1 AS A NEW THERAPEUTIC TARGET FOR EBV-ASSOCIATED MALIGNANCIES.

While Epstein-Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (EBV-CTLs) have been used successfully for the prophylaxis and treatment of the highly immunogenic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, the clinical experience for other EBV-associated malignancies, such as Hodgkin's lymphoma and undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), is limited and the results obtained so far indicate that EBV-CTLs are less effective in these settings. Decreased CTL efficacy most likely reflects immune evasion strategies by tumor cells, including down-regulation of immunodominant EBV proteins and the weak immunogenicity of the viral proteins expressed. One of the possible approaches to overcome these limitations is the identification of additional immunogenic viral proteins expressed by tumor cells that may serve as tumor-associated antigens to be targeted by improved CTL induction and expansion protocols. We have recently demonstrated that NPC patients show strong spontaneous CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses specific for the EBV-encoded oncogenic protein BARF1. We also showed that BARF1 provides immunogenic HLA-A*0201-restricted epitopes, suggesting that exploitation of the immunogenic features of this viral antigen may help improve the current immunotherapeutic strategies for EBV-associated malignancies. On these grounds, we characterized more extensively the immunogenic properties of BARF1 with the final goal to develop improved protocols of adoptive immunotherapy based on the use of EBV-CTLs enriched in BARF1-specific effectors. In particular, we identified and validated additional BARF1 CTL epitopes presented in the context of common HLA class I alleles. These results strictly correlate to those deriving from a high-resolution HLA genotyping of a large series of NPC, giving a precise estimate of the immunogenicity of BARF1 in relation to the HLA class I profile of Italian NPC patients. To fully exploit the immunologic properties of BARF1, we are also developing and characterizing BARF1-specific monoclonal antibodies that may be of both diagnostic and therapeutic usefulness in these clinical settings. In future perspective, the proposed research may provide a strong rationale for the clinical application of improved adoptive immunotherapy protocols for the treatment of EBV-associated malignancies, particularly the less immunogenic forms, such as NPC and, possibly, Hodgkin’s lymphoma

I Santi Quattro Coronati e la Sardegna: una storia particolare

Un censimento delle testimonianze relative alla venerazione di martiri e santi in Sardegna in epoca tardoantica e medievale ha restituito un panorama molto ricco. Alcuni culti hanno maggiore circolazione, mentre altri risultano meno conosciuti. Ad esempio la devozione per i cd. Santi Quattro Coronati in Sardegna ha un iter particolare. Ripercorrendo le origini del loro culto, attraverso le fonti scritte e i monumenti, il contributo si prefigge di comprendere le dinamiche geografiche e cronologiche secondo le quali il culto per i suddetti martiri giunse nell’isola.A research conducted on the literary and archaeological evidence about worship for martyrs and saints in Sardinia during Late Antiquity and Early Middle Age produced important results. Some of the martyrs/saints are more famous and the devotion for them widely circulated; on the opposite some others have been believed less important in the island. An interesting example of this situation is the worship for the so called SS Quattro Coronati. Starting from the origin of their veneration in Late Antiquity, the aim of this work is trying to found information about the diffusion and the meaning of this worship in this island

Development of an Ex Vivo Organ Culture Technique to Evaluate Probiotic Utilization in IBD

The consistent technical and conceptual progress in the study of the microbiota has led novel impulse to the research for therapeutical application of probiotic bacteria in human pathologies, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Considering the heterogenous results of probiotics in clinical studies, the model of translational medicine may lead to a more specific and efficacious utilization of probiotic bacteria in IBD. In this regard, the selection and utilization of appropriate experimental models may drive the transition from pure in vitro systems to practical clinical application. We developed a simple and reproducible ex vivo organ culture method with potential utilization for the evaluation of probiotic bacteria efficacy in IBD patients

Integration of reverse engineering and ultrasonic non-contact testing procedures for quality assessment of CFRP aeronautical components

Abstract Nowadays, the quality assurance of aeronautical components is a very crucial issue. Diverse defects can be generated during composite material components manufacturing such as voids, delamination, cracks, etc. The identification of these defects requires the use of different types of inspection methods. In this paper, two diverse non-contact inspection techniques, i.e. a laser-based reverse engineering method and an ultrasonic testing procedure, are integrated to provide a complete quality assessment of carbon fibre reinforced polymer components for applications in the aeronautical field. A custom made software code was developed in order to create a user interface allowing for the visualization and analysis of the reverse engineering and ultrasonic information for the detection of geometrical and internal flaws of the component under inspection

Evaluation of Gamebird Use and Thermal Characteristics of Alfalfa and Perennial Grasses in Eastern South Dakota

The northern Great Plains provide critical breeding habitat for waterfowl and gamebirds in the United States. Peak commodity prices in the late 2000s resulted in increased agricultural production and large-scale conversions of grassland habitat to monoculture row crops. However, recent declines in commodity prices have created a renewed interest for private landowners to diversify crops and enroll in government subsidized conservation programs that convert idle grassland and unproductive cropland to wildlife friendly perennial grassland plantings. Exploring alternative grassland restoration techniques can improve the efficiency of management practices to benefit future wildlife habitat and productivity on both public and private lands. We evaluated gamebird nest production in Roundup Ready© alfalfa (Medicao sative, hereafter alfalfa) used to prepare seedbeds for perennial grassland conversion. Nest productivity in alfalfa is often reduced when haying occurs during the peak nesting period. Therefore, we investigated the influence of delaying the first harvest date (July 10) on nest production by systematically nest dragging alfalfa and other typical grassland plantings found on game production areas in eastern South Dakota during the summers of 2015-2016. Additionally, the structural and thermal qualities of grassland nesting habitat that can influence nest site selection and success are poorly understood. Thus, we explored the thermal ecology of upland nesting ducks (Anatinae) using black-bulb temperature (Tbb) probes. We measured vegetation and thermal characteristics at varying relevant scales to evaluate the relative influence of habitat on nest-site selection and survival. Additionally, we compared rates of nest density and nest initiation dates to further evaluate patterns of use among different cover types. We found levels of vegetation in alfalfa to be consistently lower than in other grassland types, however, rates of nest density and nest survival in alfalfa were comparable or higher than other grassland types. Nests were consistently initiated in alfalfa fields later than other grassland types. Only 9% (n = 3) of nests in alfalfa fields were destroyed during haying and suggested that the 10 July delayed harvest date effectively minimized nest losses. Collectively, these results suggested that alfalfa provided important nesting cover for late-nesting and re-nesting grassland nesting ducks and gamebirds. Results of temperature data revealed considerable inter-field heterogeneity, as Tbb ranged as much as 35°C, when air temperatures exceeded 30°C. Ducks selected for thermally buffered nest sites with nests being as much as 3°C cooler than non-nest sites. We found that vegetation density (β = - 0.05, P ≤ 0.001), height (β = -0.04, P ≤ 0.001), and litter depth (β = -0.01, P ≤ 0.001) influenced Tbb. However, only litter depth varied between nest and non-nest sample types (F1,209 = 9.15, P = 0.003) and failed and successful nests (F1,98 = 5.7, P = 0.019), which suggested that this component played an important role in the moderation of temperatures at the nest. Additionally, we found that nest survival was positively associated with increased exposure to cold temperatures (β = 3.25, SE = 0.21). Overall, these results illustrate the importance of managing for heterogeneous grasslands and will provide land managers with information to maximize quality and available avian nesting habitat in the northern prairie