A Spinning Mirror for Fast Angular Scans of EBW Emission for Magnetic Pitch Profile Measurement

A tilted spinning mirror rapidly steers the line of sight of the electron Bernstein wave (EBW) emission radiometer at the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST). In order to resist high mechanical stresses at rotation speeds of up to 12,000 rpm and to avoid eddy current induced magnetic braking, the mirror consists of a glass-reinforced nylon substrate of a special self-balanced design, coated with a reflecting layer. By completing an angular scan every 2.5-10ms, it allows one to characterize with good time resolution the Bernstein-extraordinary-ordinary mode-conversion efficiency as a function of the view angles. Angular maps of conversion efficiency are directly related to the magnetic pitch angle at the cutoff layer for the ordinary mode. Hence, measurements at various frequencies provide the safety factor profile at the plasma edge. Initial measurements and indications of the feasibility of the diagnostic are presented. Moreover, angular scans indicate the best launch conditions for EBW heating.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures. Presented at High Temperature Plasma Diagnostics (HTPD) Conference. Accepted on June 15, 2010 for publication on Rev.Sci.Instru

NOVE RIFLESSIONI SULLA RIFORMA COSTITUZIONALE

Nove interventi sui profili positivi e negativi, quanto alla funzionalit\ue0 dell'organizzazione statuale,della riforma costituzionale assoggettata a referendum nell'anno 201

A ‘Once-and-Done’ Approach to the Lifelong Reduction of Elevated Cholesterol

Key points CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-related technologies are emerging therapeutic strategies to induce DNA modifications in humans. In this regard, gene editing of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) might represent a promising approach for the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). The present study1 investigates the impact of a single-nucleotide PCSK9 loss-of-function mutation by CRISPR adenine base editors (ABE) on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in non-human primates. To introduce a precise single-nucleotide PCSK9 loss-of-function mutation, a CRISPR ABE was delivered in macaques using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Adenine base editors of PCSK9 was confirmed in primary human hepatocytes, primary monkey hepatocytes, and mice. In vivo CRISPR ABE delivery led to a near-complete knockdown of PCSK9 in the liver after a single infusion of LNPs, with concomitant reductions in blood levels of PCSK9 and LDL-C of ∼90% and 60%, respectively. These changes were sustained for at least 8 months after a single-dose treatment. No relevant side effects were observed in the animals treated with a CRISPR editor-based strategy. Off-target gene editing was found at only one site in macaque liver, whereas no off-target editing was found in human hepatocytes

Exploring RNA biomarkers in patients with acute myocarditis

No abstract availabl

Calsequestrins in skeletal and cardiac muscle from adult Danio rerio

Calsequestrin (Casq) is a high capacity, low affinity Ca2+-binding protein, critical for Ca2+-buffering in cardiac and skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. All vertebrates have multiple genes encoding for different Casq isoforms. Increasing interest has been focused on mammalian and human Casq genes since mutations of both cardiac (Casq2) and skeletal muscle (Casq1) isoforms cause different, and sometime severe, human pathologies. Danio rerio (zebrafish) is a powerful model for studying function and mutations of human proteins. In this work, expression, biochemical properties cellular and sub-cellular localization of D. rerio native Casq isoforms are investigated. By quantitative PCR, three mRNAs were detected in skeletal muscle and heart with different abundances. Three zebrafish Casqs: Casq1a, Casq1b and Casq2 were identified by mass spectrometry (Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD002455). Skeletal and cardiac zebrafish calsequestrins share properties with mammalian Casq1 and Casq2. Skeletal Casqs were found primarily, but not exclusively, at the sarcomere Z-line level where terminal cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum are located

Evaluation of Net Energy Obtainable from Combustion of Stabilised Olive Mill By-Products

This work is aimed at calculating the energy content of the residues from olive oil production. Olive pulp, olive husk and sludge (a mixture of olive pulp and husk) have been analyzed separately. Olive Mill Effluents (OME) are normally a problem for olive mill farms, yet they may be used as feedstock for biomass-fuelled power plants. Nonetheless, OMEs are characterized by a relatively high humidity content and are produced only during the olive season. Thus, OME need a stabilization process to be employed as a solid biofuel throughout the year. The analyses conducted attempt an evaluation of the energy consumption of a three-stage stabilization process: drying, milling and pelletising. The net electrical energy available from OME is then calculated as a difference between gross energy available and energy consumed for stabilization. The gross available electrical energy was calculated based on direct energy conversion of the stabilized feedstock on a small scale direct combustion and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) turbine. Results show that OME are suitable for energy production. Approximately 4500 kJ/kg of net electrical energy may be obtained out of olive sludge or olive pulp, while olive husk shows a potential gross energy of 3400 kJ/kg

Nifedipine inhibits superoxide production induced by pulsatile stretch in human aortic endothelial cells

Dihydropiridine calcium channel blocker nifedipine restores nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in human hypertension. The mechanims involved have not been fully characterized but may relate to endothelial protection. Mechanical forces such as pulsatile stretch are involved in superoxide anion production. To clarify the effect of nifedipine on the balance between nitric oxide and superoxide anion, human cultured aortic endothelial cells were exposed to pulsatile stretch in the presence and in the absence of this compound. Rhytmic stretching was given for 1 hour by a computerized Flexercell strain unit (10% average elongation, 50 cycles per minute). Superoxide anion production was measured as the superoxide dismutase-inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c. Stretch-induced production of superoxide anion was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by nifedipine [6.2±0.9 vs 2.1±0.6* and 4.8±0.4*, 2.4±0.5* nmol/60 min/105 cells for stretch vs control and stetch plus nifedipine (10−7 and 10−6 M), respectively; n=6; *P<0.05 vs stretch]. This antioxidant activity of nifedipine may exert vascular protective effects in human endothelial cells. Thus, nifedipine may affect mechanical forces which, as determinants of the balance between nitric oxide and superoxide anion, are likely to play a key role in the pathophysiology of hypertensive vascular diseas

I \u2018costi\u2019 del mantenimento del sistema dualistico

Lo studio si propone di esaminare, in chiave critica, l'attualit\ue0 del sistema dualistico, quanto alla tutela giurisdizionale contro le amministrazioni pubbliche, evidenziando i costi di sistema e di effettivit\ue0 che esso comporta

IL PAT SI REGGE SU UN SISTEMA CHIUSO

processo amministrativo telematico, software, sistema chius