Quercetin Administration Suppresses the Cytokine Storm in Myeloid and Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) can be divided by lineage into myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). They both are present in mucosal tissues and regulate the immune response by secreting chemokines and cytokines. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are characterized by a leaky intestinal barrier and the consequent translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the basolateral side. This results in DCs activation, but the response of pDCs is still poorly characterized. In the present study, we compared mDCs and pDCs responses to LPS administration. We present a broad panel of DCs secreted factors, including cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. Our recent studies demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of quercetin administration, but to date, there is no evidence about quercetin’s effects on pDCs. The results of the present study demonstrate that pDCs can respond to LPS and that quercetin exposure modulates soluble factors release through the same molecular pathway used by mDCs (Slpi, Hmox1, and AP-1).     

A theoretically-based novel protocol for the analytic treatment of the glass failure stresses associated with coaxial double ring test method

With the aim of validating a new standardized Coaxial Double Ring testing procedure, without overpressure and with fixed geometry, an ad hoc theoretical approach has been proposed here to rearrange the laboratory outcomes accounting for the effects of the geometric non-linearities associated with such a testing configuration. By borrowing this idea, once the experimental values of the failure load have been determined, it has been possible to obtain an expression in closed form (fully defined by only two coefficients) of the maximum tensile stress (σ_max) in the core of the specimen. Following this, in order to make the laboratory outcomes comparable and homogeneous, the σ_max-values have been then re-scaled to a common reference condition (equibiaxial stress on a reference area, σ_eqbx), by means of the use of a correction coefficient (K) able to determine, under a condition of equal probability of failure, the effective area (A_eff) of the tested specimens. After being corrected to account for the effects of the stress corrosion cracking (static fatigue effect), all re-scaled data have been finally interpreted using a Weibull-type statistical distribution to determine the main fractile values of the glass strength. Doing so, despite some unavoidable approximations, this procedure furnished a highly effective means of determining the bending strength of float glass. Unlike the pure numerical approach proposed in codes and literature, which requires to correct the experimental data via FEM simulation, the rationale behind the proposed approach is in fact to elaborate the experimental data through an analytic treatment of the problem, which would greatly facilitate the interpretation of the data as well as the standardization of the testing procedure.     

Rawseeds ground truth collection systems for indoor self-localization and mapping

A trustable and accurate ground truth is a key requirement for benchmarking self-localization and mapping algorithms; on the other hand, collection of ground truth is a complex and daunting task, and its validation is a challenging issue. In this paper we propose two techniques for indoor ground truth collection, developed in the framework of the European project Rawseeds, which are mutually independent and also independent on the sensors onboard the robot. These techniques are based, respectively, on a network of fixed cameras, and on a network of fixed laser scanners. We show how these systems are implemented and deployed, and, most importantly, we evaluate their performance; moreover, we investigate the possible fusion of their outputs.     

Computational support to record and re-experience visits

Information technology research has mainly focussed on supporting visitors with guides, whilst a lot of opportunities for the development of technology for collecting, manipulating and re-travelling through material from the visits remain unexplored. On the basis of observations from a specific setting, we have developed prototype technology to combine multimedia content with position information. In particular, we developed mobile support to record and organise multimedia using the walked path in order to preserve more of the experience of the visit. We created tools to edit and store multimedia paths. Additional components make it possible to configure a mixed-media environment to navigate a multimedia path, using such physical interfaces as gesturing, and link the recorded media to other artefacts. When discussing field observations of current practices and prototype trials, we investigate what kind of functionality is needed to support the whole activity of collecting, manipulating and playing multimedia content in combination with position information.     

Solid–Liquid Equilibria for the CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> + R23 and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O + R23 Systems

A recently built experimental setup was employed for the estimation of the solid–liquid equilibria of alternative refrigerant systems. In this paper two binaries, i.e., carbon dioxide + trifluoromethane (CO₂ + R23) and nitrous oxide + trifluoromethane (N₂O + R23), were studied down to temperatures of 117 K. In order to check the reliability of the apparatus, the triple points of the pure fluids contained in the mixture were measured, revealing good consistency with the literature. The results obtained for the mixtures were interpreted by means of the Schröder equation.     

Parametric macromodeling based on amplitude and frequency scaled systems with guaranteed passivity

We propose a novel parametric macromodeling method for systems described by scattering parameters, which depend on multiple design variables such as geometrical layout or substrate features. It is able to build accurate multivariate macromodels that are stable and passive over the entire design space. Poles and residues are parameterized indirectly. The proposed method is based on an efficient and reliable combination of rational identification, a procedure to find amplitude and frequency scaling system coefficients and positive interpolation schemes. Pertinent numerical examples validate the proposed parametric macromodeling technique. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.