1,664 research outputs found
Distributed bounded-error state estimation for partitioned systems based on practical robust positive invariance
We propose a partition-based state estimator for linear discrete-time systems
composed by coupled subsystems affected by bounded disturbances. The
architecture is distributed in the sense that each subsystem is equipped with a
local state estimator that exploits suitable pieces of information from parent
subsystems. Moreover, differently from methods based on moving horizon
estimation, our approach does not require the on-line solution to optimization
problems. Our state-estimation scheme, that is based on the notion of practical
robust positive invariance developed in Rakovic 2011, also guarantees
satisfaction of constraints on local estimation errors and it can be updated
with a limited computational effort when subsystems are added or removed
STAT3, a hub protein of cellular signaling pathways, is triggered by β-hexaclorocyclohexane
Background: Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are widely distributed in the environment and their toxicity is mostly associated with the molecular mechanisms of endocrine disruption. Among OCPs, particular attention was focused on the effects of β-hexaclorocyclohexane (β-HCH), a widely common pollutant. A detailed epidemiological study carried out on exposed population in the “Valle del Sacco” found correlations between the incidence of a wide range of diseases and the occurrence of β-HCH contamination. Taking into account the pleiotropic role of the protein signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), its function as a hub protein in cellular signaling pathways triggered by β-HCH was investigated in different cell lines corresponding to tissues that are especially vulnerable to damage by environmental pollutants. Materials and Methods: Human prostate cancer (LNCaP), human breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB 468), and human hepatoma (HepG2) cell lines were treated with 10 µM β-HCH in the presence or absence of specific inhibitors for different receptors. All samples were subjected to analysis by immunoblotting and RT-qPCR. Results and Conclusions: The preliminary results allow us to hypothesize the involvement of STAT3, through both its canonical and non-canonical pathways, in response to β-HCH. Moreover, we ascertained the role of STAT3 as a master regulator of energy metabolism via the altered expression and localization of HIF-1α and PKM2, respectively, resulting in a Warburg-like effect
Resonant Transport in Nb/GaAs/AlGaAs/GaAs Microstructures
Resonant transport in a hybrid semiconductor-superconductor microstructure
grown by MBE on GaAs is presented. This structure experimentally realizes the
prototype system originally proposed by de Gennes and Saint-James in 1963 in
\emph{all}-metal structures. A low temperature single peak superimposed to the
characteristic Andreev-dominated subgap conductance represents the mark of such
resonant behavior. Random matrix theory of quantum transport was employed in
order to analyze the observed magnetotransport properties and ballistic effects
were included by directly solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations.Comment: 7 pages REVTeX, 4 figures, to be published by World Scientific in
Proceedings of International Symposium on Mesoscopic Superconductivity and
Spintronics (NTT R&D Center Atsugi, Japan, March 2002
Men’s reactions to gender inequality in the workplace: From relative deprivation on behalf of women to collective action
: Over recent years, the role of men as women's allies in the struggle for gender equality has become increasingly important. Previous research has shown that often men do not fight gender inequalities as they fail to recognize the severity of discrimination against women (e.g., in hiring). In this study (N = 427), we examined whether men who experienced relative deprivation on behalf of women-a form of relative deprivation that stems from the awareness that women hold a less privileged position in society-were more motivated to engage in collective action to support gender equality in the workplace. The findings showed that men's feelings of deprivation on behalf of women were associated with a greater willingness to engage in collective action for gender equality. This relationship was sequentially mediated by two emotional reactions related to deprivation-increased guilt about gender inequalities and decreased fear of a potential backlash-and the moral conviction of acting for gender equality. These results suggest that men's awareness of gender inequality at work is an important antecedent to their acting in solidarity with women and that emotions and moral conviction are two psychological processes that turn cognition into behavior. Action to reduce gender inequalities should make men more sensitive to seeing that they hold a privileged position in society and to recognizing the pervasive and harmful nature of women's deprivation
The Mn site in Mn-doped Ga-As nanowires: an EXAFS study
We present an EXAFS study of the Mn atomic environment in Mn-doped GaAs
nanowires. Mn doping has been obtained either via the diffusion of the Mn used
as seed for the nanowire growth or by providing Mn during the growth of
Au-induced wires. As a general finding, we observe that Mn forms chemical bonds
with As but is not incorporated in a substitutional site. In Mn-induced GaAs
wires, Mn is mostly found bonded to As in a rather disordered environment and
with a stretched bond length, reminiscent of that exhibited by MnAs phases. In
Au-seeded nanowires, along with stretched Mn-As coordination we have found the
presence of Mn in a Mn-Au intermetallic compound.Comment: This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article
accepted for publication in Semiconductor Science and Technology. IOP
Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version
of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The definitive
publisher-authenticated version is available online at
doi:10.1088/0268-1242/27/8/08500
Meeting in school: Cultural diversity approaches of teachers and intergroup contact among ethnic minority and majority adolescents
This study investigated the associations between cultural diversity approaches endorsed by teachers and adolescents' positive and negative intergroup contact in schools. Participants were 984 adolescents (Mage = 14.66; 62.7% female; 24.8% ethnic minority) involved in a three-wave longitudinal study between 2019 and 2020. Results highlighted that perceived equal treatment by teachers was related to higher positive and lower negative contact over time. However, perceived support for contact and cooperation and interest of teachers in children's cultural background were not related to either positive or negative contact over time. Importantly, the results were replicated across ethnic minority and majority adolescents. This study provides novel insights into the key role that teachers can play in promoting cultural diversity approaches to facilitate harmonious intergroup interactions in schools
Promoting beliefs in the inalienability of human rights by attributing uniquely human emotions through multiple categorization
The combination of multiple categorization (i.e., the use of multiple criteria to define others) and human identity-the superordinate group of human beings-has recently been highlighted as a method to reduce implicit (i.e., attribution of secondary emotions) and explicit (i.e., attribution of human rights) dehumanization towards Blacks. In two studies aimed to replicate such evidence the mediating role of secondary emotions in explaining the impact of multiple and human categorization in reducing dehumanization was assessed. The role of implicit cognition such as attribution of secondary emotions in leading people to attribute human rights to minorities is discussed
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