A new test cell for the evaluation of thermo-physical performance of facades building components

How do the new building façade components work under real climatic conditions? The question is especially related to the dynamic behaviour of new and complex components such as the ventilated walls, the Phase Change Material, or others that use nano-technologies and aerogels. One of the objectives of the undergoing research activity, named Abitare Mediterraneo, is the evaluation of their thermal behaviour through the use of an outdoor test cell, in order to reproduce under the real external conditions the performance of these components, and consequently define the main thermal parameters such as the attenuation factor and the thermal inertia, characterising the component; moreover, the results will be used to write new algorithms for dynamic simulation tools allowing an appropriate evaluation of the complex behaviour of the whole building at a real scale condition. The new test cell is realised in Florence, Italy. The design starts from the study of the experience of the existing PASSYS test cells, overtaking the main weakness of the building structure and of the heat-flux sensors.     

Evaluating vector data type usage in OpenCL kernels

Open Computing Language (OpenCL) is an open, functionally portable programming model for a large range of highly parallel processors. To provide users with access to the underlying platforms, OpenCL has explicit support for features such as local memory and vector data types (VDTs). However, these are often low‐level, hardware‐specific features, which can be detrimental to performance on different platforms. In this paper, we focus on VDTs and investigate their usage in a systematic way. First, we propose two different approaches (inter‐vdt and intra‐vdt) to use VDTs in OpenCL kernels, and show how to translate scalar OpenCL kernels to vectorized ones. After obtaining vectorized code, we evaluate the performance effects of using VDTs with two types of benchmarks: micro‐benchmarks and macro‐benchmarks. With micro‐benchmarks, we study the execution model of VDTs and the role of the compiler‐aided vectorizer on five devices. With macro‐benchmarks, we explore the changes of memory access patterns before and after using VDTs, and the resulting performance impact. Not only our evaluation provides insights into how OpenCL's VDTs are mapped on different processors, but it also indicates that using such data types introduces changes in both computation and memory accesses. Based on the lessons learned, we discuss how to deal with performance portability in the presence of VDTs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Neural approach for temperature‐dependent modeling of GaN HEMTs

Gallium nitride high electron‐mobility transistors have gained much interest for high‐power and high‐temperature applications at high frequencies. Therefore, there is a need to have the dependence on the temperature included in their models. To meet this challenge, the present study presents a neural approach for extracting a multi‐bias model of a gallium nitride high electron‐mobility transistors including the dependence on the ambient temperature. Accuracy of the developed model is verified by comparing modeling results with measurements. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

trans Fatty Acids in Colostrum,Mature Milk and Diet of Lactating Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to investigate the trans fatty acids (TFA) content and distribution in colostrum, mature milk, and diet of adolescent mothers, after TFA declaration in food labels became mandatory in Brazil. Participants were healthy adolescents (n 54, 15–19 years, 1–90 days postpartum) practicing exclusive breastfeeding. Milk samples were collected 3 days after delivery (colostrum) and in the third month postpartum (mature milk) by hand expression. The fatty acid composition of the milk samples was determined by gas chromatography. TFA intake corresponded to 1.23 % of total energy value. Total 18:2 TFA accounted for less than 0.5 % of the energy intake. The amount of total 18:1 TFA (mean ± SEM) was 1.9 % ± 0.14 in colostrum and 1.5 % ± 0.2 in mature milk. The total content of n‐3 PUFA was inversely correlated with the total content of 18:1 TFA in colostrum. Both in colostrum and in mature milk, vaccenic acid (11t‐18:1) was found to be the most abundant 18:1 trans isomer, followed by elaidic acid (9t‐18:1), whereas rumenic acid (9c,11t‐18:2 CLA) was the predominant 18:2 trans isomer. In conclusion, the levels of TFA of industrial sources found in the mother's diet and breast milk (colostrum and mature milk) showed a decrease in relation to those observed in studies conducted prior to the TFA labeling resolution in Brazil. However, the current low intake levels of n‐3 LCPUFA and DHA content in the milk of lactating adolescents may be insufficient for supporting adequate neurological development of the infants.     

The morphological properties of PP coextruded tape fabrics

In the field of self‐reinforced composites many researchers have focused their attention on the coextruded tapes composed of polypropylene core and PP/PE copolymer skin. Two similar commercial fabrics (P and T) have been compared in respect of their peel resistance. For both materials, peel resistance has a periodic trend that regularly follows fabric weave style. T has demonstrated an average peel resistance and a well‐bonded area slightly greater than P. Skin/core interfacial properties have been investigated and a crosscheck between differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Raman spectroscopy has been adopted to understand the influence of skin structure on consolidated laminate. DSC curves exhibit three melting peaks during first heating for both fabrics, corresponding to copolymer, skin/core interface, and core melting. After consolidation at 140°C stretching‐induced superstructure and PP crystallinity degree are preserved. The presence of PP/PE copolymer + PE blend only in fabric P has been pointed out and PE content has been calculated. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:727–734, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The Casein Kinase 2‐Dependent Phosphorylation of NS5A Domain 3 from Hepatitis C Virus Followed by Time‐Resolved NMR Spectroscopy

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically affects millions of individuals worldwide. The HCV nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) plays a critical role in the viral assembly pathway. Domain 3 (D3) of NS5A is an unstructured polypeptide responsible for the interaction with the core particle assembly structure. Casein kinase 2 (CK2) phosphorylates NS5A‐D3 at multiple sites that have mostly been predicted and only observed indirectly. In order to identify the CK2‐dependent phosphorylation sites, we monitored the reaction between NS5A‐D3 and CK2 in vitro by time‐resolved NMR. We unambiguously identified four serine residues as substrates of CK2. The apparent rate constant for each site was determined from the reaction curves. Ser408 was quickly phosphorylated, whereas the three other serine residues reacted more slowly. These results provide a starting point from which to elucidate the role of phosphorylation in the mechanisms of viral assembly—and in the modulation of the viral activity—at the molecular level.     

Stage-Related Defense Response Induction in Tomato Plants by Nesidiocoris tenuis

The beneficial effects of direct predation by zoophytophagous biological control agents (BCAs), such as the mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenuis, are well-known. However, the benefits of zoophytophagous BCAs’ relation with host plants, via induction of plant defensive responses, have not been investigated until recently. To date, only the females of certain zoophytophagous BCAs have been demonstrated to induce defensive plant responses in tomato plants. The aim of this work was to determine whether nymphs, adult females, and adult males of N. tenuis are able to induce defense responses in tomato plants. Compared to undamaged tomato plants (i.e., not exposed to the mirid), plants on which young or mature nymphs, or adult males or females of N. tenuis fed and developed were less attractive to the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, but were more attractive to the parasitoid Encarsia formosa. Female-exposed plants were more repellent to B. tabaci and more attractive to E. formosa than were male-exposed plants. When comparing young- and mature-nymph-exposed plants, the same level of repellence was obtained for B. tabaci, but mature-nymph-exposed plants were more attractive to E. formosa. The repellent effect is attributed to the signaling pathway of abscisic acid, which is upregulated in N. tenuis-exposed plants, whereas the parasitoid attraction was attributed to the activation of the jasmonic acid signaling pathway. Our results demonstrate that all motile stages of N. tenuis can trigger defensive responses in tomato plants, although these responses may be slightly different depending on the stage considered.     

Co-Expression and Co-Localization of Cartilage Glycoproteins CHI3L1 and Lubricin in Osteoarthritic Cartilage: Morphological,Immunohistochemical and Gene Expression Profiles

Osteoarthritis is the most common human arthritis characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage. Several studies reported that levels of human cartilage glycoprotein chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) are known as a potential marker for the activation of chondrocytes and the progression of Osteoarthritis (OA), whereas lubricin appears to be chondroprotective. The aim of this study was to investigate the co-expression and co-localization of CHI3L1 and lubricin in normal and osteoarthritic rat articular cartilage to correlate their modified expression to a specific grade of OA. Samples of normal and osteoarthritic rat articular cartilage were analyzed by the Kellgren–Lawrence OA severity scores, the Kraus’ modified Mankin score and the Histopathology Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) system for histomorphometric evaluations, and through CHI3L1 and lubricin gene expression, immunohistochemistry and double immuno-staining analysis. The immunoexpression and the mRNA levels of lubricin increased in normal cartilage and decreased in OA cartilage (normal vs. OA, p < 0.01). By contrast, the immunoexpression and the mRNA levels of CHI3L1 increased in OA cartilage and decreased in normal cartilage (normal vs. OA, p < 0.01). Our findings are consistent with reports suggesting that these two glycoproteins are functionally associated with the development of OA and in particular with grade 2/3 of OA, suggesting that in the future they could be helpful to stage the severity and progression of the disease.     

Relevance of AIF/CypA Lethal Pathway in SH-SY5Y Cells Treated with Staurosporine

The AIF/CypA complex exerts a lethal activity in several rodent models of acute brain injury. Upon formation, it translocates into the nucleus of cells receiving apoptotic stimuli, inducing chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and cell death by a caspase-independent mechanism. Inhibition of this complex in a model of glutamate-induced cell death in HT-22 neuronal cells by an AIF peptide (AIF(370-394)) mimicking the binding site on CypA, restores cell survival and prevents brain injury in neonatal mice undergoing hypoxia-ischemia without apparent toxicity. Here, we explore the effects of the peptide on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells stimulated with staurosporine (STS), a cellular model widely used to study Parkinson’s disease (PD). This will pave the way to understanding the role of the complex and the potential therapeutic efficacy of inhibitors in PD. We find that AIF(370-394) confers resistance to STS-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells similar to that observed with CypA silencing and that the peptide works on the AIF/CypA translocation pathway and not on caspases activation. These findings suggest that the AIF/CypA complex is a promising target for developing novel therapeutic strategies against PD.     

Novel Therapeutic Opportunities in Neoadjuvant Setting in Urothelial Cancers: A New Horizon Opened by Molecular Classification and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a widespread malignancy with a worse prognosis often related to a late diagnosis. For early-stage MIBC pts, a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory to evaluate the timing of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and surgery. The current standard therapy is platinum-based NAC (MVAC-methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin or Platinum–Gemcitabine regimens) followed by radical cystectomy (RC) with lymphadenectomy. However, preliminary data from Vesper trial highlighted that dose-dense NAC MVAC is endowed with a good pathological response but shows low tolerability. In the last few years, translational-based research approaches have identified several candidate biomarkers of NAC esponsiveness, such as ERCC2, ERBB2, or DNA damage response (DDR) gene alterations. Moreover, the recent consensus MIBC molecular classification identified six molecular subtypes, characterized by different sensitivity to chemo- or targeted or immunotherapy, that could open a novel procedure for patient selection and also for neoadjuvant therapies. The Italian PURE-01 phase II Trial extended data on efficacy and resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) in this setting. In this review, we summarize the most relevant literature data supporting NAC use in MIBC, focusing on novel therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapy, considering the better patient stratification and selection emerging from novel molecular classification.