The Steroidogenesis Inhibitor Finasteride Reduces the Response to Both Stressful and Rewarding Stimuli

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Finasteride (FIN) is the prototypical inhibitor of steroid 5α-reductase (5αR), the enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of the conversion of progesterone and testosterone into their main neuroactive metabolites. FIN is clinically approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and male baldness; while often well-tolerated, FIN has also been shown to cause or exacerbate psychological problems in vulnerable subjects. Evidence on the psychological effects of FIN, however, remains controversial, in view of inconsistent clinical reports. Here, we tested the effects of FIN in a battery of tests aimed at capturing complementary aspects of mood regulation and stress reactivity in rats. FIN reduced exploratory, incentive, prosocial, and risk-taking behavior; furthermore, it decreased stress coping, as revealed by increased immobility in the forced-swim test (FST). This last effect was also observed in female and orchiectomized male rats, suggesting that the mechanism of action of FIN does not primarily reflect changes in gonadal steroids. The effects of FIN on FST responses were associated with a dramatic decrease in corticotropin release hormone (CRH) mRNA and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. These results suggest that FIN impairs stress reactivity and reduces behavioral activation and impulsive behavior by altering the function of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis

Sviluppo del firmware per il controllo del detector ALPIDE ed implementazione su FPGA

I sensori a stato solido giocano un ruolo sempre più fondamentale nello sviluppo di detector per la fisica delle alte energie, questo grazie alla loro compattezza e bassa densità di potenza necessaria per il loro funzionamento. In questa tesi si è studiato il sensore ALPIDE (ALice PIxel DEtector) scelto dalla collaborazione ALICE per l'upgrade dell' ITS (Inner Tracking System). Tale sensore è un Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor (MAPS), ovverosia il detector e l'elettronica di front-end sono ottenuti da uno stesso blocco monolitico di silicio, questo per soddisfare i requisiti imposti da ALICE, primi fra tutti la bassa densità di potenza ed elevata risoluzione spaziale. Il lavoro di questa tesi è principalmente costituito dallo sviluppo di un firmware da implementare in un FPGA per il controllo di tale chip e fornire una semplice comunicazione con PC per l'acquisizione di dati. Sono valutate poi le performance del nuovo sistema di lettura e controllo

Design and implementation of Neural Network based conditions for the CMS Level-1 Global Trigger upgrade for the HL-LHC

The CMS detector will be upgraded to maintain, or even improve, the physics acceptance under the harsh data taking conditions foreseen during the High-Luminosity LHC operations. In particular, the trigger system (Level-1 and High Level Triggers) will be completely redesigned to utilize detailed information from sub-detectors at the bunch crossing rate: the upgraded Global Trigger will use high-precision trigger objects to provide the Level-1 decision. Besides cut-based algorithms, novel machine-learning-based algorithms will also be included in the Global Trigger to achieve a higher selection efficiency and detect unexpected signals. Implementation of these novel algorithms is presented, focusing on how the neural network models can be optimized to ensure a feasible hardware implementation. The performance and resource usage of the optimized neural network models are discussed in detail

The Level-1 Global Trigger for Phase-2 Algorithms, configuration and integration in the CMS offline framework

For the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) operation, the Compact Muon Solenoid will undergo a significant upgrade and redesign. An upgraded Level-1 Trigger system, based on multiple types of custom processing boards equipped with Xilinx Ultrascale+ Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), will exploit fine grained information from the detector subsystems (calorimeter, muon systems and the silicon-strip tracker). The final stage of the Level-1 Trigger, the Phase-2 Global Trigger (P2GT), will receive more than 20 different trigger object collections from upstream systems and will be able to evaluate about 1000 cut-based and machine learning algorithms distributed over up to twelve boards. The P2GT is designed as a modular system with an easily re-configurable firmware, designed to meet the demand of high flexibility required for adapting trigger strategies during operation of the HL-LHC. The algorithms are kept highly configurable and tools are provided to allow their study, verification, and emulation from within the CMS offline software framework (CMSSW) without the need for knowledge of the underlying firmware implementation. A tool has been developed that converts the Python-based configuration used by CMSSW into VHDL for use in the hardware trigger. A prototype firmware for a single Global Trigger board has been developed, which includes de-multiplexing logic, conversion to an internal common object format and distribution of the data over the FPGA. In this framework, 197 algorithms are implemented at a clock speed of 480 MHz. The prototype has been thoroughly tested and verified using the CMSSW emulator. The P2GT is presented with the novel integration within CMSSW and streamlined translation into VHDL code

Adaptability and efficiency of the CMS Level-1 Global Trigger firmware implementation for Phase-2

We present details on the new Level-1 Global Trigger at CMS for the upcoming high-luminosity operation of the LHC. Our focus is on the newly developed firmware, which employs a bottom-up generic approach to enhance menu adaptability and accommodate the increase in upstream data. We also highlight our efficient pipelining strategy that ensures excellent routability at 480 MHz. Furthermore, we discuss the firmware implementation for three prototypes targeting Serenity boards, together with their current and future testing and validation endeavours

Adaptability and efficiency of the CMS Level-1 Global Trigger firmware implementation for Phase-2

We present details on the new Level-1 Global Trigger at CMS for the upcoming high-luminosity operation of the LHC. Our focus is on the newly developed firmware, which employs a bottom-up generic approach to enhance menu adaptability and accommodate the increase in upstream data. We also highlight our efficient pipelining strategy that ensures excellent routability at 480 MHz. Furthermore, we discuss the firmware implementation for three prototypes targeting Serenity boards, together with their current and future testing and validation endeavours

Architecture and Prototype of the CMS Global Level-1 Trigger for Phase-2

We present the architecture and current state of prototype firmware of the CMS Level-1 Global Trigger, the final stage of the new Level-1 trigger for Phase-2 of the operation of the LHC. Based on high-precision inputs from the muon, calorimeter, track and particle flow triggers, the Global Trigger evaluates O(1000) cut-based and neural-net-based algorithms in a system of up to thirteen Xilinx Ultrascale Plus based ATCA processing boards interconnected by 25 Gb/s optical links. In order to optimize the usage of resource, the main algorithms, including the DSP-based calculation of invariant masses, are implemented at 480 MHz

The Steroidogenesis Inhibitor Finasteride Reduces the Response to Both Stressful and Rewarding Stimuli

Finasteride (FIN) is the prototypical inhibitor of steroid 5α-reductase (5αR), the enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of the conversion of progesterone and testosterone into their main neuroactive metabolites. FIN is clinically approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and male baldness; while often well-tolerated, FIN has also been shown to cause or exacerbate psychological problems in vulnerable subjects. Evidence on the psychological effects of FIN, however, remains controversial, in view of inconsistent clinical reports. Here, we tested the effects of FIN in a battery of tests aimed at capturing complementary aspects of mood regulation and stress reactivity in rats. FIN reduced exploratory, incentive, prosocial, and risk-taking behavior; furthermore, it decreased stress coping, as revealed by increased immobility in the forced-swim test (FST). This last effect was also observed in female and orchiectomized male rats, suggesting that the mechanism of action of FIN does not primarily reflect changes in gonadal steroids. The effects of FIN on FST responses were associated with a dramatic decrease in corticotropin release hormone (CRH) mRNA and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels. These results suggest that FIN impairs stress reactivity and reduces behavioral activation and impulsive behavior by altering the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

Riforma dell'ordinamento penitenziario: la proposta della Commissione Giostra

Le proposte elaborate dalla Commissione per la riforma dell'ordinamento penitenziario nel suo complesso istituita con D.M. 19 luglio 2017 e presieduta dal prof. Glauco Giostra. Il testo contiene le modifiche alla legge di ordinamento penitenziario, al regolamento esecutivo, al codice di procedura penale, al codice penale e a ulteriori fonti correlate, accompagnate dalle relazioni illustrative. Parte della proposta è stata recepita nello schema di decreto legislativo di attuazione della legge di delega 23 giugno 2017, n.203