The KLOE-2 High Energy Tagger Detector

In order to fully reconstruct to the reaction e+e- to e+e- gamma-gamma in the energy region of the phi meson production, new detectors along the DAFNE beam line have to be installed in order to detect the scattered e+e-. The High Energy Tagger (HET) detector measures the deviation of leptons from their main orbit by determining their position and timing so to tag gamma-gamma physics events and disentangle them from background. The HET detectors are placed at the exit of the DAFNE dipole magnets, 11 m away from the IP, both on positron and electron lines. The HET sensitive area is made up of a set of 28 plastic scintillators. A dedicated DAQ electronics board based on a Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA have been developed for this detector. It provides a MultiHit TDC with a time resolution of the order of 500 ps and the possibility to acquire data any 2.5 ns, thus allowing to clearly identify the correct bunch crossing. First results of the commissioning run are presented.Comment: Submitted to proceedings of the 12th Pisa Meeting on Advanced Detectors 2012, La Biodola, Isola d'Elba, Ital

Process study of the formation of biodegradable polymer microspheres for tissue engineering

A series of polymer microspheres was prepared via solvent evaporation by dispersing dichloromethane solutions of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) in water. The dimensions of the final dry particles were measured by laser diffraction and correlated to the main fluid-dynamic parameters of the dispersion process, namely viscosity ratio, volume fraction of dispersed phase, intensity of stirring, and Weber number (We). Data analysis indicated that the system under study can be quantitatively well described by empirical models present in the literature and concerning the dispersion of liquid-liquid immiscible systems. The PLGA microspheres obtained in this way may be employed for fabrication of biodegradable scaffolds for tissue engineering

Small RNA sequencing of cryopreserved semen from single bull revealed altered miRNAs and piRNAs expression between High- and Low-motile sperm populations

Putative piRNA clusters that were assigned by proTRAC to the High Motile (HM) and Low Motile (LM) sperm fractions. (XLSX 21 kb

An innovative speech-based user interface for smarthomes and IoT solutions to help people with speech and motor disabilities

A better use of the increasing functional capabilities of home automation systems and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to support the needs of users with disability, is the subject of a research project currently conducted by Area Ausili (Assistive Technology Area), a department of Polo Tecnologico Regionale Corte Roncati of the Local Health Trust of Bologna (Italy), in collaboration with AIAS Ausilioteca Assistive Technology (AT) Team. The main aim of the project is to develop experimental low cost systems for environmental control through simplified and accessible user interfaces. Many of the activities are focused on automatic speech recognition and are developed in the framework of the CloudCAST project. In this paper we report on the first technical achievements of the project and discuss future possible developments and applications within and outside CloudCAST

Teleological Essentialism

Placeholder essentialism is the view that there is a causal essence that holds category members together, though we may not know what the essence is. Sometimes the placeholder can be filled in by scientific essences, such as when we acquire scientific knowledge that the atomic weight of gold is 79. We challenge the view that placeholders are elaborated by scientific essences. On our view, if placeholders are elaborated, they are elaborated Aristotelian essences, a telos. Utilizing the same kinds of experiments used by traditional essentialists—involving superficial change (study 1), transformation of insides (study 2), acquired traits (study 3) and inferences about offspring (study 4)—we find support for the view that essences are elaborated by a telos. And we find evidence (study 5) that teleological essences may generate category judgments

Sinonasal mucosal melanoma: Molecular profile and therapeutic implications from a series of 32 cases

BACKGROUND: Primary sinonasal mucosal melanomas are aggressive tumors with a poor clinical control by current treatments, raising the urgent need of novel strategies. METHODS: By fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), direct sequencing, and immunohistochemistry, we investigate the spectrum of molecular abnormalities in a cohort of 32 cases of primary sinonasal mucosal melanomas. RESULTS: We found that all primary sinonasal mucosal melanomas lack BRAF V600E mutation; in addition, they are characterized by somatic mutations of NRAS (22%) and KIT (12.5%), together with amplification of RREB1 (100%) and loss of MYB (76%). The large majority of cases showed KIT protein expression (96.9%). Among tumor suppressor genes, primary sinonasal mucosal melanomas showed loss of PTEN (48.1%) and p16/INK4a (55.2%). All tested cases showed expression of pAkt and pErk, suggesting a combined activation of PI3K/Akt and RAS-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. CONCLUSIONS: This molecular fingerprint strongly argues against the clinical efficacy of BRAF-inhibitors, but could candidate primary sinonasal mucosal melanomas to therapeutic strategies targeting RAS and KIT mutations or inhibiting PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway

A 3-dimensional transnasal endoscopic journey through the paranasal sinuses and adjacent skull base: a practical and surgery-oriented perspective

An endoscopic approach through the transnasal corridor is currently the treatment of choice in the management of benign sinonasal tumors, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and pituitary lesions. Moreover, this approach can be considered a valid option in the management of selected sinonasal malignancies extending to the skull base, midline meningiomas, parasellar lesions such as craniopharyngioma and Rathke cleft cyst, and clival lesions such as chordoma and ecchordosis. Over the past decade, strict cooperation between otorhinolaryngologists and neurosurgeons and acquired surgical skills, together with high-definition cameras, dedicated instrumentation, and navigation systems, have made it possible to broaden the indications of endoscopic surgery. Despite these improvements, depth perception, as provided by the use of a microscope, was still lacking with this technology. The aim of the present project is to reveal new perspectives in the endoscopic perception of the sinonasal complex and skull base thanks to 3-dimensional endoscopes, which are well suited to access and explore the endonasal corridor. In the anatomic dissection herein, this innovative device came across with sophisticated and long-established fresh cadaver preparation provided by one of the most prestigious universities of Europe. The final product is a 3-dimensional journey starting from the nasal cavity, reaching the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae, passing through the ethmoidal complex, paranasal sinuses, and skull base. Anatomic landmarks, critical areas, and tips and tricks to safely dissect delicate anatomic structures are addressed through audio comments, figures, and their captions