A new coupling solution for G3-PLC employment in MV smart grids

This paper proposes a new coupling solution for transmitting narrowband multicarrier power line communication (PLC) signals over medium voltage (MV) power lines. The proposed system is based on an innovative PLC coupling principle, patented by the authors, which exploits the capacitive divider embedded in voltage detecting systems (VDS) already installed inside the MV switchboard. Thus, no dedicated couplers have to be installed and no switchboard modifications or energy interruptions are needed. This allows a significant cost reduction of MV PLC implementation. A first prototype of the proposed coupling system was presented in previous papers: it had a 15 kHz bandwidth useful to couple single carrier PSK modulated PLC signals with a center frequency from 50–200 kHz. In this paper, a new prototype is developed with a larger bandwidth, up to 164 kHz, thus allowing to couple multicarrier G3-PLC signals using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) digital modulation. This modulation ensures a more robust communication even in harsh power line channels. In the paper, the new coupling system design is described in detail. A new procedure is presented for tuning the coupling system parameters at first installation in a generic MV switchboard. Finally, laboratory and in-field experimental test results are reported and discussed. The coupling performances are evaluated measuring the throughput and success rate in the case of both 18 and 36 subcarriers, in one of the different tone masks standardized for the FCC-above CENELEC band (that is, from 154.6875–487.5 kHz). The experimental results show an efficient behavior of the proposed coupler allowing a two-way communication of G3-PLC OFDM signals on MV networks

Evidences for strong directional resonances in intensely deformed zones of the Pernicana fault, Mount Etna, Italy

In this paper we investigate ground motion properties in the western part of the Pernicana fault. This is the major fault of Mount Etna and drives the dynamic evolution of the area. In a previous work, Rigano et al. (2008) showed that a significant horizontal polarization characterizes ground motion in fault zones of Mount Etna, both during earthquakes and ambient vibrations. We have performed denser microtremor measurements in the NE rift segment and in intensely deformed zones of the Pernicana fault at Piano Pernicana. This study includes mapping of azimuth-dependent horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios along and across the fault, frequency–wave number techniques applied to array data to investigate the nature of ambient vibrations, and polarization analysis through the conventional covariance matrix method. Our results indicate that microtremors are likely composed of volcanic tremor. Spectral ratios show strong directional resonances of horizontal components around 1 Hz when measurements enter the most damaged part of the fault zone. Their polarization directions show an abrupt change, by 20° to 40°, at close measurements between the northern and southern part of the fault zone. Recordings of local earthquakes at one site in the fault zone confirm the occurrence of polarization with the same angle found using volcanic tremor. We have also found that the directional effect is not time-dependent, at least at a seasonal scale. This observation and the similar behavior of volcanic tremors and earthquake-induced ground motions suggest that horizontal polarization is the effect of local fault properties. However, the 1-Hz resonant frequency cannot be reproduced using the 1-D vertically varying model inferred from the array data analysis, suggesting a role of lateral variations of the fault zone. Although the actual cause of polarization is unknown, a role of stress-induced anisotropy and microfracture orientation in the near-surface lavas of the Pernicana fault can be hypothesized consistently with the sharp rotation of the polarization angle within the damaged fault zone

Synchronous versus asynchronous modeling of gene regulatory networks

Motivation: In silico modeling of gene regulatory networks has gained some momentum recently due to increased interest in analyzing the dynamics of biological systems. This has been further facilitated by the increasing availability of experimental data on gene–gene, protein–protein and gene–protein interactions. The two dynamical properties that are often experimentally testable are perturbations and stable steady states. Although a lot of work has been done on the identification of steady states, not much work has been reported on in silico modeling of cellular differentiation processes

PromoterPlot: a graphical display of promoter similarities by pattern recognition

PromoterPlot (http://promoterplot.fmi.ch) is a web-based tool for simplifying the display and processing of transcription factor searches using either the commercial or free TransFac distributions. The input sequence is a TransFac search (public version) or FASTA/Affymetrix IDs (local install). It uses an intuitive pattern recognition algorithm for finding similarities between groups of promoters by dividing transcription factor predictions into conserved triplet models. To minimize the number of false-positive models, it can optionally exclude factors that are known to be unexpressed or inactive in the cells being studied based on microarray or proteomic expression data. The program will also estimate the likelihood of finding a pattern by chance based on the frequency observed in a control set of mammalian promoters we obtained from Genomatix. The results are stored as an interactive SVG web page on our serve

PromoterPlot: a graphical display of promoter similarities by pattern recognition

PromoterPlot () is a web-based tool for simplifying the display and processing of transcription factor searches using either the commercial or free TransFac distributions. The input sequence is a TransFac search (public version) or FASTA/Affymetrix IDs (local install). It uses an intuitive pattern recognition algorithm for finding similarities between groups of promoters by dividing transcription factor predictions into conserved triplet models. To minimize the number of false-positive models, it can optionally exclude factors that are known to be unexpressed or inactive in the cells being studied based on microarray or proteomic expression data. The program will also estimate the likelihood of finding a pattern by chance based on the frequency observed in a control set of mammalian promoters we obtained from Genomatix. The results are stored as an interactive SVG web page on our server

Extracellular vesicles shed by melanoma cells contain a modified form of H1.0 linker histone and H1.0 mRNA-binding proteins

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are now recognized as a fundamental way for cell-to-cell horizontal transfer of properties, in both physiological and pathological conditions. Most of EV-mediated cross-talk among cells depend on the exchange of proteins, and nucleic acids, among which mRNAs, and non-coding RNAs such as different species of miRNAs. Cancer cells, in particular, use EVs to discard molecules which could be dangerous to them (for example differentiation-inducing proteins such as histone H1.0, or antitumor drugs), to transfer molecules which, after entering the surrounding cells, are able to transform their phenotype, and even to secrete factors, which allow escaping from immune surveillance. Herein we report that melanoma cells not only secrete EVs which contain a modified form of H1.0 histone, but also transport the corresponding mRNA. Given the already known role in tumorigenesis of some RNA binding proteins (RBPs), we also searched for proteins of this class in EVs. This study revealed the presence in A375 melanoma cells of at least three RBPs, with apparent MW of about 65, 45 and 38 kDa, which are able to bind H1.0 mRNA. Moreover, we purified one of these proteins, which by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was identified as the already known transcription factor MYEF2

Seismic response and wavefield characterization using a very dense 2D seismic array on an active landslide (Cavola, Italy)

A dense 2D array (95 broad-band stations) was installed in a grid-like configuration over a 130x56 m area on the active landslide of Cavola in northern Apennines. Outcropping rocks consist of Monte Piano (fractured flysch and clayey melanges) and Ranzano (muddy and sandstone turbidite) formations of Eocene-Oligocene age. These units are covered by a 4-km long landslide with maximum thickness more than 60 m. In historical times there are three instances of activity triggered by meteorological events, in 1938, 1940, and 1960. The latter event was the most damaging, involving an area of 1.3 km2 and partial destruction of the Cavola village. Recent SAR interferometric analyses coupled to inclinometer data for the supposedly dormant period 1995-2001 show movements between 10-15 mm/yr affecting mainly areas close to the landslide side-scarps and to a new industrial district with active sliding surface at a depth of 10-15 m. The landslide structure beneath the array was reconstructed by means of active and passive seismic surveys, in-situ velocity measurements and geoelectrical tomography obtaining clay thickness ranging from 0 to 45 m and with average shear-velocity of 350 m/s. The inferred model is used for numerical 2D simulation of earthquake ground motion for different incidence angle and type of waves. The data from 11 of more than 100 local earthquakes recorded at the array have been used for the comparison with model results. The long data records (3 months of continuous recording) allow investigation of properties of ambient noise in terms of temporal stability and wavefield composition. We find that local industrial sources affect the H/V spectral ratios and their interpretation in terms of resonant frequencies. Analysis of noise polarization is also performed, revealing different patterns depending on the nature of the noise source

The mental health and well-being profile of young adults using social media

The relationship between mental health and social media has received significant research and policy attention. However, there is little population-representative data about who social media users are which limits understanding of confounding factors between mental health and social media. Here we profile users of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children population cohort (N = 4083). We provide estimates of demographics and mental health and well-being outcomes by platform. We find that users of different platforms and frequencies are not homogeneous. User groups differ primarily by sex and YouTube users are the most likely to have poorer mental health outcomes. Instagram and Snapchat users tend to have higher well-being than the other social media sites considered. Relationships between use-frequency and well-being differ depending on the specific well-being construct measured. The reproducibility of future research may be improved by stratifying by sex and being specific about the well-being constructs used

Proteomic profiling of 13 paired ductal infiltrating breast carcinomas and non-tumoral adjacent counterparts.

According to recent statistics, breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women in Western countries. Breast cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease, presently classified into several subtypes according to their cellular origin. Among breast cancer histotypes, infiltrating ductal carcinoma represents the most common and potentially aggressive form. Despite the current progress achieved in early cancer detection and treatment, including the new generation of molecular therapies, there is still need for identification of multiparametric biomarkers capable of discriminating between cancer subtypes and predicting cancer progression for personalized therapies. One established step in this direction is the proteomic strategy, expected to provide enough information on breast cancer profiling. To this aim, in the present study we analyzed 13 breast cancer tissues and their matched non-tumoral tissues by 2-DE. Collectively, we identified 51 protein spots, corresponding to 34 differentially expressed proteins, which may represent promising candidate biomarkers for molecular-based diagnosis of breast cancer and for pattern discovery. The relevance of these proteins as factors contributing to breast carcinogenesis is discussed

FORTI EFFETTI DI AMPLIFICAZIONE DEL MOTO IN ZONA DI FAGLIA DURANTE LA SEQUENZA SISMICA DEL 2009 IN ABRUZZO

Negli anni 1997-1998, durante la sequenza dell’Umbria-Marche, la stazione accelerometrica di Nocera Umbra superò ripetutamente, per terremoti di magnitudo > 5, il picco di accelerazione di 0.5 g. Tali valori furono i maggiori mai registrati in Italia, e apparvero subito inusuali per terremoti di faglia normale a magnitudo moderate. Una serie di studi del sito della stazione permise di attribuire l’ampiezza anomala a un forte effetto di amplificazione locale prodotto dalle variazioni verticali della velocità delle onde di taglio nella roccia danneggiata di una faglia sub-verticale in prossimità della stazione. Anche durante i terremoti della sequenza Aquilana si sono trovate evidenze di effetti analoghi. La stazione a banda larga FAGN, in prossimità della faglia di San Demetrio, ha mostrato una accentuata variabilità dell’ampiezza delle sue registrazioni, con valori che superano fino ad un fattore 10 le ampiezze delle stazioni vicine. Mediante un’analisi su 350 terremoti si è trovato che le massime amplificazioni avvengono per terremoti localizzati a sud-ovest della stazione, in posizione favorevole alla propagazione nella zona di faglia dalla sorgente al ricevitore. Utilizzando metodi sia analitici che numerici è stato possibile attribuire gli effetti osservati alle eterogeneità di una zona di faglia larga 300-400 m e profonda 3 km, approssimativamente, con una riduzione di velocità di circa il 30% rispetto alla roccia non deformata. Anche il forte impulso di spostamento di 40 cm picco-picco registrato durante la scossa principale a Castello d’Ocre da una stazione GPS (CADO) con campionamento a 10 Hz non trova giustificazione plausibile se non modellando un effetto di risonanza in prossimità dello strumento. In questo caso è possibile generare modelli che riproducano l’osservazione usando valori della larghezza della zona di faglia di qualche centinaio di metri con forti riduzioni della velocità delle onde di taglio rispetto ai blocchi rigidi adiacenti. Queste osservazioni confermano la potenziale pericolosità del territorio in prossimità delle zone di faglia, nonostante non siano emerse durante il terremoto dell’Aquila chiare evidenze di anomalie del danno persistenti lungo le faglie. Recenti studi in California sembrano mettere in luce l’estrema variabilità delle onde intrappolate nelle zone di faglia, per cui l’effetto appare sporadicamente sia per quanto riguarda le stazioni di registrazione lungo la faglia che per quanto riguarda le zone-sorgenti nella faglia capaci di generare onde intrappolate.PublishedPrato3.1. Fisica dei terremotiope