1,393 research outputs found
Performances analysis of a semi-displacement hull by numerical simulations
The flow field generated by the towing of a semi-displacement hull, free
to heave and pitch, is numerically investigated in the velocity range 18 34 Kn.
The numerical code adopted is the in-house developed Xnavis, which is a general purpose
unsteady RANS based solver; the solver is based on a Finite Volume approach together with a Chimera
technique for overlapping grids and a Level Set approach to handle the air/water interface. The
generated wave pattern shows many interesting features with an evident wave plunging near
the hull bow, while the stern remains completely dry for velocities over 30 Kn. The numerical
outcomes are discussed in terms of total resistance,
sinkage and trim
Green fluorescent Protein-based pH indicators for in vivo use: a review
Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its variants have been used as fluorescent reporters in a variety of applications for monitoring dynamic processes in cells and organisms, including gene expression, protein localization, and intracellular dynamics. GFP fluorescence is stable, species-independent, and can be monitored noninvasively in living cells by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, or macroscopic imaging techniques. Owing to the presence of a phenol group on the chromophore, most GFP variants display pH-sensitive absorption and fluorescence bands. Such behavior has been exploited to genetically engineer encodable pH indicators for studies of pH regulation within specific intracellular compartments that cannot be probed using conventional pH-sensitive dyes. These pH indicators contributed to shedding light on a number of cell functions for which intracellular pH is an important modulator. In this review we discuss the photophysical properties that make GFPs so special as pH indicators for in vivo use and we describe the probes that are utilized most by the scientific community.Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its variants have been used as fluorescent reporters in a variety of applications for monitoring dynamic processes in cells and organisms, including gene expression, protein localization, and intracellular dynamics. GFP fluorescence is stable, species-independent, and can be monitored noninvasively in living cells by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, or macroscopic imaging techniques. Owing to the presence of a phenol group on the chromophore, most GFP variants display pH-sensitive absorption and fluorescence bands. Such behavior has been exploited to genetically engineer encodable pH indicators for studies of pH regulation within specific intracellular compartments that cannot be probed using conventional pH-sensitive dyes. These pH indicators contributed to shedding light on a number of cell functions for which intracellular pH is an important modulator. In this review we discuss the photophysical properties that make GFPs so special as pH indicators for in vivo use and we describe the probes that are utilized most by the scientific community. © 2008 Springer-Verlag
Non-exponential kinetic behavior of confined water
We present the results of molecular dynamics simulations of SPC/E water
confined in a realistic model of a silica pore. The single-particle dynamics
have been studied at ambient temperature for different hydration levels. The
confinement near the hydrophilic surface makes the dynamic behaviour of the
liquid strongly dependent on the hydration level. Upon decrease of the number
of water molecules in the pore we observe the onset of a slow dynamics due to
the ``cage effect''. The conventional picture of a stochastic single-particle
diffusion process thus looses its validity
Applying dissipative dynamical systems to pseudorandom number generation: Equidistribution property and statistical independence of bits at distances up to logarithm of mesh size
The behavior of a family of dissipative dynamical systems representing
transformations of two-dimensional torus is studied on a discrete lattice and
compared with that of conservative hyperbolic automorphisms of the torus.
Applying dissipative dynamical systems to generation of pseudorandom numbers is
shown to be advantageous and equidistribution of probabilities for the
sequences of bits can be achieved. A new algorithm for generating uniform
pseudorandom numbers is proposed. The theory of the generator, which includes
proofs of periodic properties and of statistical independence of bits at
distances up to logarithm of mesh size, is presented. Extensive statistical
testing using available test packages demonstrates excellent results, while the
speed of the generator is comparable to other modern generators.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 3 table
The use of D-chiro-inositol in clinical practice
OBJECTIVE: D-chiro-Inositol has been widely used in clinical practice to induce ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Only recent evidence established that this molecule acts through two different mechanisms, with potentially different outcomes. On the one hand, under a metabolic perspective, D-chiro-Inositol improves insulin signaling, thus restoring physiological insulin levels in resistant subjects. On the other hand, at a cellular level, it downregulates the expression of steroidogenic enzyme aromatase, which is responsible for the conversion of androgens to estrogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed current literature in different databases, searching for D-chiro-Inositol in relation with one of the following keywords: myo-inositol, PCOS, infertility, insulin resistance, aromatase, androgen and inositol, testosterone, estrogen and inositol, estradiol, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, fat tissue, estrogens and cancer, anovulation, uterine myoma, endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia. RESULTS: D-Chiro-Inositol treatment may be helpful in restoring physiological hormonal levels in various clinical disorders. However, D-Chiro-Inositol intervention should be carefully designed to avoid possible undesired side effects stemming from its multiple mechanisms of action. CONCLUSIONS: We evaluated the optimal D Chiro-Inositol administration for different pathologies, defining dosages and timing. Even though further studies are required to validate our preliminary results, this paper is primarily intended to guide researchers through some of the pathways of D-Chiro-Inositol
Some comments on -annihilation branching ratios into -, - and -channels
We give some remarks on the -partial branching ratios in flight at
low momenta of antineutron, measured by OBELIX collaboration. The comparison is
made to the known branching ratios from the -atomic states. The
branching ratio for the reaction is found to be
suppressed in comparison to what follows from the -data. It is also
shown, that there is no so called dynamic I=0-amplitude suppression for the
process .Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, no figure
L19-IL2 immunocytokine in combination with the anti-syndecan-1 46F2SIP antibody format: A new targeted treatment approach in an ovarian carcinoma model
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the fifth most common cancer affecting the female population. At present, different targeted treatment approaches may improve currently employed therapies leading either to the delay of tumor recurrence or to disease stabilization. In this study we show that syndecan-1 (SDC1) and tumor angiogenic-associated B-fibronectin isoform (B-FN) are involved in EOC progression and we describe the prominent role of SDC1 in the vasculogenic mimicry (VM) process. We also investigate a possible employment of L19-IL2, an immunocytokine specific for B-FN, and anti-SDC1 46F2SIP (small immuno protein) antibody in combination therapy in a human ovarian carcinoma model. A tumor growth reduction of 78% was obtained in the 46F2SIP/L19-IL2-treated group compared to the control group. We observed that combined treatment was effective in modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, loss of stemness properties of tumor cells, and in alleviating hypoxia. These effects correlated with reduction of VM structures in tumors from treated mice. Interestingly, the improved pericyte coverage in vascular structures suggested that combined therapy could be efficacious in induction of vessel normalization. These data could pave the way for a possible use of L19-IL2 combined with 46F2SIP antibody as a novel therapeutic strategy in EOC
Abundances and Kinematics of Field Halo and Disk Stars I: Observational Data and Abundance Analysis
We describe observations and abundance analysis of a high-resolution,
high-S/N survey of 168 stars, most of which are metal-poor dwarfs. We follow a
self-consistent LTE analysis technique to determine the stellar parameters and
abundances, and estimate the effects of random and systematic uncertainties on
the resulting abundances. Element-to-iron ratios are derived for key alpha,
odd, Fe-peak, r- and s-process elements. Effects of Non-LTE on the analysis of
Fe I lines are shown to be very small on the average. Spectroscopically
determined surface gravities are derived that are generally close to those
obtained from Hipparcos parallaxes.Comment: 41 pages, 7 Postscript figures. Accepted for publication in the A
Neutron halos in heavy nuclei -- relativistic mean field approach
Assuming a~simple spherical relativistic mean field model of the nucleus, we
estimate the width of the antiproton--neutron annihilation () and the
width of antiproton--proton () annihilation, in an antiprotonic atom
system. This allows us to determine the halo factor , which is then
discussed in the context of experimental data obtained in measurements recently
done on LEAR utility at CERN. Another quantity which characterizes the
deviation of the average nuclear densities ratio from the corresponding ratio
of the homogeneous densities is introduced too. It was shown that it is also a
good indicator of the neutron halo. The results are compared to experimental
data as well as to the data of the simple liquid droplet model of the nuclear
densities. The single particle structure of the nuclear density tail is
discusssed also.Comment: revtex, 12 pages + 6 postscript figure
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