Towards a Realistic Model for Failure Propagation in Interdependent Networks

Modern networks are becoming increasingly interdependent. As a prominent example, the smart grid is an electrical grid controlled through a communications network, which in turn is powered by the electrical grid. Such interdependencies create new vulnerabilities and make these networks more susceptible to failures. In particular, failures can easily spread across these networks due to their interdependencies, possibly causing cascade effects with a devastating impact on their functionalities. In this paper we focus on the interdependence between the power grid and the communications network, and propose a novel realistic model, HINT (Heterogeneous Interdependent NeTworks), to study the evolution of cascading failures. Our model takes into account the heterogeneity of such networks as well as their complex interdependencies. We compare HINT with previously proposed models both on synthetic and real network topologies. Experimental results show that existing models oversimplify the failure evolution and network functionality requirements, resulting in severe underestimations of the cascading failures.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, to be published in conference proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Computing, Networking and Communications (ICNC 2016), Kauai, US

Design of a digital FIR filter with minimum delay for BCI applications

The present thesis-work focuses on the BCI system implemented at the San Camillo Hospital (Venice) as a rehabilitative treatment. It is an alternative rehabilitative strategy, that applies an operant conditioning based on neuroplasticity to operate external devices. The aim of this thesis work is designing a digital FIR filter for this BCI application. Herein, the approach and criterion used are explained in detail, finally are exposed the outcomes and possible future strategies and approachesope

New target for the development of antimigraine drugs: in vitro and in vivo study

Migraine is a recurrent headache disorder typified by painful attacks lasting 4 to 72 hours, which affects 12% of the Caucasian population and has a major impact on the well-being and quality of life of patients and their families. Migraine can be treated by different classes of drugs, belonging to two macro-categories: symptomatic and preventive therapy, but most of these therapies are poorly tolerated or ineffective, and a large number of patients are dissatisfied with their treatment, while others develop it following the abuse of symptomatic drugs. Hence the need to identify new therapeutic targets for the development of new anti-migraine drugs. The general aim of this research work has been the in vitro or the in vivo pharmacological investigation of new and standard compounds acting on different receptors involved in migraine disease. The aims of the study were: 1) the in vitro set-up and pharmacological validation of a battery of assays for the pharmacological characterization of kappa opioid receptor ligands; 2) the design, synthesis, and pharmacological characterization of mixed NOP/opioid peptide agonists; 3) the design, synthesis, and pharmacological characterization of new TRPA1 antagonists, analogs of the standard antagonist DHC200; 4) the evaluation of cannabidiol (CBD) in vivo, in a mouse model of migraine induced by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) systemic administration; 5) the evaluation of the role played by the NOP receptor in migraine by studying the phenotype of mice knockout for the NOP receptor (NOP(-/-)) in two experimental migraine models (nitroglycerin (GTN)-induced migraine and CGRP-induced migraine). The main results can be resumed as follow: 1) a platform of in vitro assays to characterize ligands for the kappa opioid receptors have been successfully set up and pharmacologically validated using a panel of standard kappa ligands. In the frame of this study, two new dynorphins A derivatives have been characterized: PWT2-Dyn A and Dyn A-palmitic. These compounds behaved as potent full kappa agonists; 2) 31 new compounds with the general sequence [Tyr/Dmt1Xaa5]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 have been synthesized and investigated through the calcium mobilization and the DMR assays, using cells stably expressing the NOP, mu, delta, and kappa receptors. [Dmt1,5]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 was identified as the most potent mixed NOP/mu peptide agonist so far described. This is a promising peptide to test in in vivo in pre-clinical migraine models; 3) DHC236 and DHC277 were identified as pure and potent TRPA1 antagonists, three times more potent than the starting compound DHC200. These are promising ligands to test in in vivo in pre-clinical migraine models; 4) a single administration of CGRP induced facial hypersensitivity in both female and male mice, while repeated CGRP treatment produced progressively decreased levels in basal pain thresholds only in female mice, suggesting the progression to a chronic migraine phase. In the acute protocol, the CBD administration protected both female and male mice from periorbital allodynia induced by a single CGRP injection, and in the chronic one prevented increased levels of basal allodynia induced by repeated CGRP treatment in female mice. Moreover, CBD injected after CGRP, reversed CGRP-evoked allodynia, and also reduced spontaneous pain traits induced by CGRP administration in female mice. Finally, CBD blocked CGRP-induced anxiety in male mice but failed in protecting CGRP-induced photophobia in female mice; 5) female and male NOP(-/-) mice were more sensitive to the effects of both GTN and CGRP compared to wild-type mice, suggesting that the NOP receptor plays a role in migraine onset. In conclusion, this work brings to the scientific community new methodologies, compounds, and evidence useful to speed up the identification and development of new anti-migraine drugs.L'emicrania è caratterizzata da attacchi dolorosi della durata di 4-72 ore, che colpisce il 12% della popolazione con un impatto importante sul benessere e la qualità della vita. La fisiopatologia dell'emicrania è molto complessa. L'emicrania può essere trattata da diverse classi di farmaci, appartenenti a due macro-categorie: terapia sintomatica e preventiva, ma la maggior parte di queste terapie sono mal tollerate o inefficaci, ed un elevato numero di pazienti sono insoddisfatti del loro trattamento, mentre altri la sviluppano in seguito ad abuso di farmaci sintomatici. Da qui la necessità di individuare nuovi obiettivi terapeutici per lo sviluppo di nuovi farmaci. L'obiettivo generale di questo lavoro di ricerca è stato lo studio farmacologico in vitro o in vivo di composti nuovi e standard che agiscono su diversi recettori coinvolti nella malattia dell'emicrania, nello specifico: 1) la messa a punto in vitro e la validazione di una serie di saggi per la caratterizzazione farmacologica di ligandi del recettore kappa; 2) sintesi e caratterizzazione farmacologica di ligandi peptidici, agonisti misti, per i recettori NOP/oppioidi; 3) progettazione, sintesi e caratterizzazione farmacologica di nuovi antagonisti TRPA1, analoghi di DHC200; 4) la valutazione del cannabidiolo (CBD) in vivo, in un modello murino di emicrania indotta dalla somministrazione sistemica del peptide correlato al gene calcitonina (CGRP); 5) la valutazione del ruolo svolto dal recettore per la nocicettina/orfanina FQ (NOP) nell’ emicrania tramite lo studio del fenotipo di topi knockout per il recettore NOP (NOP(-/-)) in due modelli sperimentali di emicrania. I risultati ottenuti sono: 1) messa a punto con successo e convalidazione farmacologica di una serie di test in vitro per caratterizzare i ligandi per il recettore kappa. Due nuovi derivati di dinorfina A sono stati caratterizzati: PWT2-Dyn A e Dyn A-palmitico. Questi composti si sono comportati come potenti agonisti per il recettore kappa; 2) 31 nuovi composti con sequenza generale [Tyr/Dmt1Xaa5]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 sono stati sintetizzati e studiati attraverso il saggio della mobilizzazione del calcio intracellulare e tramite analisi DMR, utilizzando cellule che esprimono stabilmente i recettori oppioidi. [Dmt1,5]N/OFQ(1-13)-NH2 è stato identificato come l'agonista peptidico misto NOP/mu più potente finora descritto. Questo è un peptide promettente da testare in vivo nei modelli di emicrania preclinica; iii) DHC236 e DHC277 sono stati identificati come antagonisti TRPA1 puri e potenti, tre volte più potenti del composto di partenza DHC200. Si tratta di ligandi promettenti da testare in vivo in modelli di emicrania preclinica; iv) una singola somministrazione acuta di CGRP induce segni di ipersensibilità facciale sia nei topi femmine che in maschi, mentre il trattamento ripetuto di CGRP ha prodotto una progressiva diminuzione dell’allodinia periorbitale in topi femmine, mimando la progressione ad una fase cronica dell'emicrania. La somministrazione di CBD ha protetto sia le femmine che i maschi dall'insorgenza di allodinia periorbitale indotta da una singola iniezione di CGRP, mentre CBD cronico ha impedito lo sviluppo di allodina basale nelle femmine. Inoltre, il CBD iniettato dopo CGRP, ha revertito l'allodina evocata da CGRP ed ha anche ridotto i segni di dolore spontaneo indotti dalla somministrazione di CGRP nelle femmine. CBD ha bloccato l'ansia indotta da CGRP nei maschi, ma non è riuscito a revertire la fotofobia indotta da CGRP nelle femmine; v) Topi CD-1 sia maschi che femmine knock-out per il recettore NOP si sono dimostrati più sensibili sia agli effetti di NTG che di CGRP quando confrontati con CD-1 sia maschi che femmine wild-type, suggerendo che il ruolo nell’insorgenza dell’emicrania del recettore NOP. Concludendo, questo lavoro ha permesso lo sviluppo di nuove tecniche e composti per accelerare l'identificazione e lo sviluppo di nuovi farmaci anti-emicrania

Highland Summer Pastures Play a Fundamental Role for Dairy Systems in an Italian Alpine Region

In the Alps, summer farms are temporary units where the livestock herds are moved during summer to graze on highland pastures. This study aimed to analyze the role of summer farms in the dairy farming systems of the Trento province, in the eastern Italian Alps. Data on the structures and management of the 395 active summer farms were collected from the veterinarian services of the province: 345 summer farms keep dairy cattle (83 only replacement, and 262 also lactating cows). Almost all the replacement cattle and more than one third (8,775 vs 24,934 heads) of the dairy cows reared in the permanent farms of the province are still moved to highland pastures during summer. Cows on milk of local and dual purpose breeds are moved to highland pastures more frequently than those of specialized breeds. On 610 permanent farms, we analyzed the differences between the units moving/not moving the lactating cows to summer farms. The traditional farms, with tie stalls, local breeds, small-medium herd size and low productivity used more frequently summer pastures than the “intensive” farms. Transhumance still plays a fundamental role for the dairy sector in this Alpine area, because it allows access to public contribution and is complementary to the management of traditional farms. To better assess its sustainability, these functions should be further investigated in relation with the role of summer farms in the conservation of biodiversity, cultural landscape, and touristic attractiveness

Factors affecting growth performance in beef production: an on farm survey

This study aimed to investigate sources of variation of average daily gain in beef cattle, with an on farm approach, in the Veneto region. Data of 38707 animals fattened in 29 farms and belonging to 5 genotypes (Charolais, Charolais Female, French Crossbred, Limousin and Polish Friesian) were analysed considering type of farm, farm nested within type, genotype, housing system, arrival live weight, percentage of dead and injured animals, season of sale and diet. Genotype, farm, percentage of unhealthy animals and season of sale significantly affected average daily gain. Charolais and French Crossbred showed the highest values of average daily gain, Charolais Female the lowest. The effect of farm suggests that management is very important for growth performance in beef cattle. Moreover, batches of animals with high percentage of dead and injured presented lower values of average daily gain. In spring-summer 2003 an extremely hot climate was unfavourable for growth performance

Highland Summer Pastures Play a Fundamental Role for Dairy Systems in an Italian Alpine Region

In the Alps, summer farms are temporary units where the livestock herds are moved during summer to graze on highland pastures. This study aimed to analyze the role of summer farms in the dairy farming systems of the Trento province, in the eastern Italian Alps. Data on the structures and management of the 395 active summer farms were collected from the veterinarian services of the province: 345 summer farms keep dairy cattle (83 only replacement, and 262 also lactating cows). Almost all the replacement cattle and more than one third (8,775 vs 24,934 heads) of the dairy cows reared in the permanent farms of the province are still moved to highland pastures during summer. Cows on milk of local and dual purpose breeds are moved to highland pastures more frequently than those of specialized breeds. On 610 permanent farms, we analyzed the differences between the units moving/not moving the lactating cows to summer farms. The traditional farms, with tie stalls, local breeds, small-medium herd size and low productivity used more frequently summer pastures than the “intensive” farms. Transhumance still plays a fundamental role for the dairy sector in this Alpine area, because it allows access to public contribution and is complementary to the management of traditional farms. To better assess its sustainability, these functions should be further investigated in relation with the role of summer farms in the conservation of biodiversity, cultural landscape, and touristic attractiveness

Wild red deer [Cervus elaphus L.) grazing may seriously reduce forage production in mountain meadows

This study aimed at estimating the impact of red deer grazing on the productivity of meadows located in Pian Cansiglio, north-eastern Italian Pre-Alps. These meadows (383 ha; average elevation 1000 m asl are managed for hay/silage production (1-2 cuts per season) and are included in a protected area that hosts a high density of deer (around 30 heads/100 ha). In 2008 and 2010, dry matter (DM) production and loss due to deer grazing were estimated with exclusion cages (1 m2; 48 exclusion cages in 2008 and 52 in 2010). Night counts with spotlights were conducted to index deer use of meadows plots. DM production inside the cages was fairly good for the area (first and second cut: 5079 - 2193 Kg DM/ha in 2008, and 4200 - 2615 Kg DM/ha in 2010). DM production outside the cages was significantly lower (first and second cut in 2008: 4314-1389 Kg DM/ha, and in 2010: 3376-2052 Kg DM/ha). Therefore, the magnitude of losses was of 15-20% in the first and 25-40% in the second cut. DM losses in the different meadow plots were positively correlated with index of deer use, which in some plots was as high as 7-8 heads/ha. Deer grazing reduced also crude protein (CP) content of forage (15.6±4.4% DM inside exclusion cages and 13.8±3.5% DM outside), with losses being greater where CP content was higher. This study demonstrates that high densities of grazing deer may seriously impact on forage production and quality