Multiphysics Modelling of the LHC Individually Powered Quadrupole Superconducting Circuits

In the LHC there are 131 different types of circuits connecting main bending magnets, magnets for beam focusing, dipole field correctors, or higher-order correctors. A total of 78 Individually Powered Quadrupole (IPQ) circuits are present in the LHC matching sections, operating either in 1.9 K superfluid helium or in boiling helium at 4.5 K. The superconducting circuits are composed of different elements, at different temperatures, in different materials, connected to each other in a multi-scale and multi-physics domain. The reason to generate and validate these models is driven by the necessity to realize an efficient and reliable multi-physics library of all the LHC superconducting circuits to simulate transients during normal operation of the machine, failure cases, and unexpected events. To simulate this complex scenario, the STEAM (Simulation of Transient Effects in Accelerator Magnets) framework was developed in the Machine Protection and Electrical Integrity Group (MPE) at CERN. The goal of STEAM is subdivided these complex phenomena into sub-problem and solve them with validated tools. For this reason, it contains in-house developed programs used to model transients in superconducting circuits. Once the electrical circuit and the finite element models are generated (thanks to the software packages for the semi-automatic generation) the hierarchical co-simulation framework, provide a common interface to run cooperative simulations of the validated models. These cooperative simulations allow the exchanging of information between several models, ensuring the consistency of the results due to the co-simulation algorithm. During this thesis the main programs used are: PSpice (a commercial tool used to generate the electrical circuit model), STEAM-LEDET (a STEAM in-house tool, used to generate the electro-thermal magnet model), and STEAM-COSIM (used to combine both models, PSpiceand STEAM-LEDET, in a cooperative simulation)

Mega-parsec scale magnetic fields in low density regions in the SKA era: filaments connecting galaxy clusters and groups

The presence of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters has been well established in recent years, and their importance for the understanding of the physical processes at work in the Intra Cluster Medium has been recognized. Halo and relic sources have been detected in several tens clusters. A strong correlation is present between the halo and relic radio power and the X-ray luminosity. Since cluster X-Ray luminosity and mass are related, the correlation between the radio power and X-ray luminosity could derive from a physical dependence of the radio power on the cluster mass, therefore the cluster mass could be a crucial parameter in the formation of these sources. The goal of this project is to investigate the existence of non-thermal structures beyond the Mpc scale, and associated with lower density regions with respect to clusters of galaxies: galaxy filaments connecting rich clusters. We present a piece of evidence of diffuse radio emission in intergalactic filaments. Moreover, we present and discuss the detection of radio emission in galaxy groups and in faint X-Ray clusters, to analyze non-thermal properties in low density regions with physical conditions similar to galaxy filaments. We discuss how SKA1 observations will allow the investigation of this topic and the study of the presence of diffuse radio sources in low density regions. This will be a fundamental step to understand the origin and properties of cosmological magnetic fields.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures - to appear as part of 'Cosmic Magnetism' in Proceedings 'Advancing Astrophysics with the SKA (AASKA14)', PoS(AASKA14)10

Comparisons of Cosmological MHD Galaxy Cluster Simulations to Radio Observations

Radio observations of galaxy clusters show that there are $\mu$G magnetic fields permeating the intra-cluster medium (ICM), but it is hard to accurately constrain the strength and structure of the magnetic fields without the help of advanced computer simulations. We present qualitative comparisons of synthetic VLA observations of simulated galaxy clusters to radio observations of Faraday Rotation Measure (RM) and radio halos. The cluster formation is modeled using adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations with the assumption that the initial magnetic fields are injected into the ICM by active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at high redshift. In addition to simulated clusters in Xu et al. (2010, 2011), we present a new simulation with magnetic field injections from multiple AGNs. We find that the cluster with multiple injection sources is magnetized to a similar level as in previous simulations with a single AGN. The RM profiles from simulated clusters, both $|RM|$ and the dispersion of RM ($\sigma_{RM}$), are consistent at a first-order with the radial distribution from observations. The correlations between the $\sigma_{RM}$ and X-ray surface brightness from simulations are in a broad agreement with the observations, although there is an indication that the simulated clusters could be slightly over-dense and less magnetized with respect to those in the observed sample. In addition, the simulated radio halos agree with the observed correlations between the radio power versus the cluster X-ray luminosity and between the radio power versus the radio halo size. These studies show that the cluster wide magnetic fields that originate from AGNs and are then amplified by the ICM turbulence (Xu et al. 2010) match observations of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Uno scavo per tutti: esperienze e buone pratiche di accessibilità e inclusione nel cantiere archeologico dell’Università di Trieste ad Aquileia

In recent years, museums, research institutions, cultural institutes, professionals and associations have promoted projects dedicated to adapting and expanding the community’s access to cultural heritage. The University of Trieste, engaged since 2005 in the excavation of the insula between the Forum and the fluvial port, retraces the participatory archaeology activities carried out in the nearly twenty years of presence in Aquileia. Among the main interventions carried out are listed workshops and assisted paths on the construction site, conferences, teaching aids and exhibitions, which show how the excavation-school has opened up to the community

Effects of Physical Rehabilitation Integrated with Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation on Spatio-Temporal and Kinematic Parameters of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Movement rehabilitation by means of physical therapy represents an essential tool in the management of gait disturbances induced by Parkinson's disease (PD). In this context, the use of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) has been proven useful in improving several spatio-temporal parameters, but concerning its effect on gait patterns, scarce information is available from a kinematic viewpoint. In this study, we used three-dimensional gait analysis based on optoelectronic stereophotogrammetry to investigate the effects of 5\u2009weeks of supervised rehabilitation, which included gait training integrated with RAS on 26 individuals affected by PD (age 70.4\u2009\ub1\u200911.1, Hoehn and Yahr 1-3). Gait kinematics was assessed before and at the end of the rehabilitation period and after a 3-month follow-up, using concise measures (Gait Profile Score and Gait Variable Score, GPS and GVS, respectively), which are able to describe the deviation from a physiologic gait pattern. The results confirm the effectiveness of gait training assisted by RAS in increasing speed and stride length, in regularizing cadence and correctly reweighting swing/stance phase duration. Moreover, an overall improvement of gait quality was observed, as demonstrated by the significant reduction of the GPS value, which was created mainly through significant decreases in the GVS score associated with the hip flexion-extension movement. Future research should focus on investigating kinematic details to better understand the mechanisms underlying gait disturbances in people with PD and the effects of RAS, with the aim of finding new or improving current rehabilitative treatments

Omics approaches to understanding the efficacy and safety of disease-modifying treatments in multiple sclerosis

From the perspective of precision medicine, the challenge for the future is to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of therapeutic responses through the identification of biomarkers. In this framework, the omics sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) and their combined use represent innovative approaches for the exploration of the complexity and heterogeneity of multiple sclerosis (MS). This review examines the evidence currently available on the application of omics sciences to MS, analyses the methods, their limitations, the samples used, and their characteristics, with a particular focus on biomarkers associated with the disease state, exposure to disease-modifying treatments (DMTs), and drug efficacies and safety profiles

Relativistic plasma and ICM/radio source interaction

The first detection of a diffuse radio source in a cluster of galaxies, dates back to the 1959 (Coma Cluster, Large et al. 1959). Since then, synchrotron radiating radio sources have been found in several clusters, and represent an important cluster component which is linked to the thermal gas. Such sources indicate the existence of large scale magnetic fields and of a population of relativistic electrons in the cluster volume. The observational results provide evidence that these phenomena are related to turbulence and shock-structures in the intergalactic medium, thus playing a major role in the evolution of the large scale structure in the Universe. The interaction between radio sources and cluster gas is well established in particular at the center of cooling core clusters, where feedback from AGN is a necessary ingredient to adequately describe the formation and evolution of galaxies and host clusters.Comment: 8 pages, Review talk at the 274 IAU Symposium "Advances in Plasma Astrophysics", 6-10 Sept 2010, Giardini Naxos, Italy, A. Bonanno, E. de Gouveia Dal Pino and A. Kosovichev, ed

Metabolomic Investigation of β-Thalassemia in Chorionic Villi Samples

Beta-thalassemias are blood disorders characterized by poorly understood clinical phenotypes ranging from asymptomatic to severe anemia. Metabolic composition of the human placenta could be affected by the presence of pathological states such as β-thalassemia. The aim of our study was to describe metabolic changes in chorionic villi samples of fetuses affected by β-thalassemia compared to a control group by applying a metabolomics approach

Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) and motor rehabilitation in Parkinson\u2019s disease: New frontiers in assessment and intervention protocols

Previous studies have demonstrated that physical therapy accompanied by Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) can improve the motor skills of patients with Parkinson\u2019s disease and, in particular, their gait disturbances. In the present work we describe the neurological bases and perceptual-motor deficits generally associated with Parkinson\u2019s disease, with a specific focus on gait disturbances. Within this framework, we review the role of auditory cueing in the modulation of patients\u2019 gait, addressing this issue from the cognitive, neurological and biomechanical perspectives. In particular, we focus on the new frontiers of both assessment and intervention. With regards to the assessment, we describe the advantages of the three-dimensional quantitative multifactorial gait analysis. As concerns the intervention, we illustrate the potential impact of the administration of ecological footstep sounds as rhythmic cues

Metabolic Alteration in Plasma and Biopsies From Patients With IBD

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, with periods of latency alternating with phases of exacerbation, and include 2 forms: Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Although the etiology of IBD is still unclear, the identification and understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying IBD could reveal newly targeted intestinal alterations and determine therapeutic approaches.METHODS: In this study, by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we characterized plasma and biopsies from the metabolomics profiles of patients with IBD compared with those of a control group.RESULTS: The results showed a different metabolomics profile between patients with CD (n = 50) and patients with UC (n = 82) compared with the control group (n = 51). Multivariate statistical analysis of the identified metabolites in CD and UC showed changes in energetic metabolism, and lactic acid and ornithine in particular were altered in both plasma and colon biopsies. Moreover, metabolic changes were evidenced between the normal ileum and colon tissues. These differences disappeared when we compared the inflamed ileum and colon tissues, suggesting a common metabolism.CONCLUSIONS: This study showed how the metabolomics profile could be a potential tool to identify intestinal alterations associated with IBD and may have application in precision medicine and for better defining the pathogenesis of the disease