Cue versus independent food attributes: the effect of adding attributes in choice experiments

We examine the effects of adding an independent food attribute on consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) estimates for both cue and independent food attributes. In three separate choice experiments, a cue attribute present along the entire sequence of choices had independent food attributes enucleated and made explicit from the cue at later stages. Logit models were estimated using (i) a complete panel approach; (ii) error components and (iii) utility in WTP-space. Results suggest that the way a subject processes food attributes depends not only on the design dimensions but also on food attributes’ functional roles. When complexity of designs increases, models that account for different sources of heterogeneity have better fit to the data

Моделирование энергопотребления зданий: оценка статической и динамической моделей

The aim of the present paper is to show recent results obtained in modeling the building system, presenting a review on the common numerical models used to estimate the energy consumptions. In particular, both steady-state and dynamic models are investigated by analyzing their main assumptions, limitations and fields of usage. As a matter of fact, the most common models are based on steady state approaches, but new technologies and the need to implement innovative regulation criteria for heating and cooling systems by performing detailed coupled studies on the building and heating/cooling systems, push towards the use of dynamic tools with low computational costs. Therefore, the use of dynamic models is often suggested, especially when different building configurations are investigated (as e. g. in the design stage or for a renovation perspective). Starting from this point, sensitive analyses on the installation of a proper insulation in the building envelope is then presented.Цель данной работы — показать последние результаты, полученные при моделировании системы здания, с описанием общих численных моделей, используемых для оценки энергопотребления. В частности на статических и динамических моделях исследованы основные допущения, ограничения и область использования путем их анализа. Собственно говоря, наиболее распространенные модели основаны на установившихся подходах, но новые технологии и необходимость внедрения для систем отопления и холодоснабжения инновационных критериев регулирования с использованием подробного анализа здания и систем отопления/охлаждения, подталкивают к использованию динамических инструментов с низкими вычислительными затратами. Таким образом, часто целесообразно использование динамических моделей, особенно когда существуют разные конфигурации здания (как, например, в стадии проектирования или для перспективной реконструкции). В статье представлен анализ установки правильного утеплителя в ограждающих конструкциях

Engineering polymeric nanosystems against oral diseases

Nanotechnology and nanoparticles (NPs) are at the forefront of modern research, par-ticularly in the case of healthcare therapeutic applications. Polymeric NPs, specifically, hold high promise for these purposes, including towards oral diseases. Careful optimisation of the production of polymeric NPs, however, is required to generate a product which can be easily translated from a laboratory environment to the actual clinical usage. Indeed, considerations such as biocompati-bility, biodistribution, and biodegradability are paramount. Moreover, a pre-clinical assessment in adequate in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo model is also required. Last but not least, considerations for the scale-up are also important, together with an appropriate clinical testing pathway. This review aims to eviscerate the above topics, sourcing at examples from the recent literature to put in context the current most burdening oral diseases and the most promising polymeric NPs which would be suitable against them

Engineering Polymeric Nanosystems against Oral Diseases

Nanotechnology and nanoparticles (NPs) are at the forefront of modern research, particularly in the case of healthcare therapeutic applications. Polymeric NPs, specifically, hold high promise for these purposes, including towards oral diseases. Careful optimisation of the production of polymeric NPs, however, is required to generate a product which can be easily translated from a laboratory environment to the actual clinical usage. Indeed, considerations such as biocompatibility, biodistribution, and biodegradability are paramount. Moreover, a pre-clinical assessment in adequate in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo model is also required. Last but not least, considerations for the scale-up are also important, together with an appropriate clinical testing pathway. This review aims to eviscerate the above topics, sourcing at examples from the recent literature to put in context the current most burdening oral diseases and the most promising polymeric NPs which would be suitable against them

Low- and intermediate-beta, 352-MHz superconducting half-wave resonators for high power hadron acceleration

Two prototypes of superconducting, 352 MHz coaxial half-wave resonators with β=0.17 and β=0.31 have been designed, constructed, and tested at INFN-LNL, in the framework of the SPES and EURISOL DS projects. Main features of these double-wall, 2-gap structures are compactness, mechanical stability, and easy installation in different kinds of cryostats. Their acceleration capabilities are similar to the ones of Spoke resonators with similar β. These cavities are being developed for acceleration of high power hadron beams in the 5–100  MeV/u energy range

Involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in the pathogenesis of Dupuytren's contracture: a novel target for a possible future therapeutic strategy?

Dupuytren's contracture (DC) is a benign fibro-proliferative disease of the hand causing fibrotic nodules and fascial cords which determine debilitating contracture and deformities of fingers and hands. The present study was designed to characterize pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors involved in the pathogenesis, progression and recurrence of this disease, in order to find novel targets for alternative therapies and strategies in controlling DC. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and of growth factors was detected by immunohistochemistry in fibrotic nodules and normal palmar fascia resected respectively from patients affected by DC and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS; as negative controls). Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis and immunofluorescence were performed to quantify the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, interleukin (IL)-1β and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by primary cultures of myofibroblasts and fibroblasts isolated from Dupuytren's nodules. Histological analysis showed high cellularity and high proliferation rate in Dupuytren's tissue, together with the presence of myofibroblastic isotypes; immunohistochemical staining for macrophages was completely negative. In addition, a strong expression of TGF-β1, IL-1β and VEGF was evident in the extracellular matrix and in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in Dupuytren's nodular tissues, as compared with control tissues. These results were confirmed by RT-PCR and by immunofluorescence in pathological and normal primary cell cultures. These preliminary observations suggest that TGF-β1, IL-1β and VEGF may be considered potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of Dupuytren's disease (DD)

Sound absorption in Hilbert Fractal and Coiled Acoustic Metamaterials

We describe here a class of acoustic metamaterials with fractal Hilbert space-filling and coiled geometry with equal tortuosity for noise mitigation. Experiments are performed using a four-microphone impedance tube and benchmarked against non-viscous and viscothermal Finite Element models related to configurations spanning up to five fractal/geometry orders. We show that the acoustic absorption can be predicted by the resonance of the cavities associated to the tortuous paths. For a given fractal/geometry order, the acoustic absorption at specific frequencies is also enhanced by maximising the difference between the minimum and maximum fluid particle velocity of the air inside the patterns. These principles can be used to design high-performance acoustic metamaterials for sound absorption over broad frequency ranges.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Submitted to Applied Physics Letter

Tunable thermoresponsive TiO2/SiO2 Bragg stacks based on sol-gel fabrication methods

Thermoresponsive TiO2/SiO2 one-dimensional photonic crystals (Bragg stacks) fabricated via sol-gel processing methods represent a promising class of environmentally responsive nanostructures featuring optically encoded temperature and humidity detection. The thermo-optic response of the layer materials is amplified by their inherent porosity owing to adsorption/desorption of ambient humidity into the mesoporous multilayer structure. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the impact of layer thickness, refractive index and thermo-optic coefficient on the stop band position, and width of various Bragg stack architectures, design criteria for thermoresponsive Bragg stacks operating in the visible range of the optical spectrum are put forward. A large and well-defined thermo-optic signature is expected for material combinations featuring individually high thermo-optic coefficients with the same sign or allowing for large changes in the effective refractive indices due to water adsorption in the porous layers reinforcing the thermo-optic response, as observed in the TiO2/SiO2 couple. Important practical aspects of the performance of thermoresponsive Bragg stacks are addressed, including the hysteresis properties of TiO2/SiO2 Bragg stacks during multiple heating/cooling cycles, as well as response and recovery times (similar to 2-4 s) of the multilayer system during external changes in ambient humidity