ATCA/AXIe compatible board for fast control and data acquisition in nuclear fusion experiments

An in-house development of an Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) board for fast control and data acquisition, with Input/Output (IO) processing capability, is presented. The architecture, compatible with the ATCA (PICMG 3.4) and ATCA eXtensions for Instrumentation (AXIe) specifications, comprises a passive Rear Transition Module (RTM) for IO connectivity to ease hot-swap maintenance and simultaneously to increase cabling life cycle.The board complies with ITER Fast Plant System Controller (FPSC) guidelines for rear IO connectivity and redundancy, in order to provide high levels of reliability and availability to the control and data acquisition systems of nuclear fusion devices with long duration plasma discharges.Simultaneously digitized data from all Analog to Digital Converters (ADC) of the board can be filtered/decimated in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), decreasing data throughput, increasing resolution, and sent through Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express to multi-core processors in the ATCA shelf hub slots. Concurrently the multi-core processors can update the board Digital to Analog Converters (DAC) in real-time. Full-duplex point-to-point communication links between all FPGAs, of peer boards inside the shelf, allow the implementation of distributed algorithms and Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) systems. Support for several timing and synchronization solutions is also provided.Some key features are onboard ADC or DAC modules with galvanic isolation, Xilinx Virtex 6 FPGA, standard Dual Data Rate (DDR) 3 SODIMM memory, standard CompactFLASH memory card, Intelligent Platform Management Controller (IPMC), two PCI Express x4 (generation 2) ATCA Fabric channels (dual-star topology), eleven Xilinx Aurora x1 (or other ATCA compatible communications protocol) ATCA fabric channels (full-mesh topology) and two Fast Ethernet (Precision Time Protocol – PTP IEEE1588-V2 and Lan eXtensions for Instrumentation – LXI compatible) ATCA base channels (dual-star topology).     

Tolerogenic Dendritic Cell-Based Approaches in Autoimmunity

Dendritic cells (DCs) dictate the outcomes of tissue-specific immune responses. In the context of autoimmune diseases, DCs instruct T cells to respond to antigens (Ags), including self-Ags, leading to organ damage, or to becoming regulatory T cells (Tregs) promoting and perpetuating immune tolerance. DCs can acquire tolerogenic properties in vitro and in vivo in response to several stimuli, a feature that opens the possibility to generate or to target DCs to restore tolerance in autoimmune settings. We present an overview of the different subsets of human DCs and of the regulatory mechanisms associated with tolerogenic (tol)DC functions. We review the role of DCs in the induction of tissue-specific autoimmunity and the current approaches exploiting tolDC-based therapies or targeting DCs in vivo for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Finally, we discuss limitations and propose future investigations for improving the knowledge on tolDCs for future clinical assessment to revert and prevent autoimmunity. The continuous expansion of tolDC research areas will lead to improving the understanding of the role that DCs play in the development and treatment of autoimmunity.     

Silicon dioxide deposited by ECR-PECVD for low-temperature Si devices processing

Silicon dioxide films have been deposited at temperatures less than 270 °C in an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma reactor from a gas phase combination of O₂, SiH₄ and He. The physical characterization of the material was carried out through pinhole density analysis as a function of substrate temperature for different μ-wave power (E_w). Higher E_w at room deposition temperature (RT) shows low defects densities (<7 pinhole/mm²) ensuring low-temperatures process integration on large area. From FTIR analysis and Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy we also evaluated very low hydrogen content if compared to conventional rf-PECVD SiO₂ deposited at 350 °C. Electrical properties have been measured in MOS devices, depositing SiO₂ at RT. No significant charge injection up to fields 6–7 MV/cm and average breakdown electric field >10 MV/cm are observed from ramps I–V. Moreover, from high frequency and quasi-static C–V characteristics we studied interface quality as function of annealing time and annealing temperature in N₂. We found that even for low annealing temperature (200 °C) is possible to reduce considerably the interface state density down to 5 × 10¹¹ cm⁻² eV⁻¹. These results show that a complete low-temperatures process can be achieved for the integration of SiO₂ as gate insulator in polysilicon TFTs on plastic substrates.     

Functional Validation of Glutamine synthetase and Glutamate synthase Genes in Durum Wheat near Isogenic Lines with QTL for High GPC

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum) is a minor crop grown on about 17 million hectares of land worldwide. Several grain characteristics determine semolina’s high end-use quality, such as grain protein content (GPC) which is directly related to the final products’ nutritional and technological values. GPC improvement could be pursued by considering a candidate gene approach. The glutamine synthetase (GS)/glutamate synthase (GOGAT) cycle represents a bottleneck in the first step of nitrogen assimilation. QTL for GPC have been located on all chromosomes, and several major ones have been reported on 2A and 2B chromosomes, where GS2 and Fd-GOGAT genes have been mapped. A useful and efficient method to validate a putative QTL is the constitution of near-isogenic lines (NILs) by using the marker found to be associated to that QTL. Here, we present the development of two distinct sets of heterogeneous inbred family (HIF)- based NILs segregating for GS2 and Fd-GOGAT genes obtained from heterozygous lines at those loci, as well as their genotypic and phenotypic characterizations. The results allow the validation of the previously identified GPC QTL on 2A and 2B chromosomes, along with the role of these key genes in GPC control.     

Galectin-3 in Cardiovascular Diseases

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a β-galactoside-binding protein belonging to the lectin family with pleiotropic regulatory activities and several physiological cellular functions, such as cellular growth, proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, cellular adhesion, and tissue repair. Inflammation, tissue fibrosis and angiogenesis are the main processes in which Gal-3 is involved. It is implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including organ fibrosis, chronic inflammation, cancer, atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This review aims to explore the connections of Gal-3 with cardiovascular diseases since they represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We herein discuss the evidence on the pro-inflammatory role of Gal-3 in the atherogenic process as well as the association with plaque features linked to lesion stability. We report the biological role and molecular mechanisms of Gal-3 in other CVDs, highlighting its involvement in the development of cardiac fibrosis and impaired myocardium remodelling, resulting in heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The role of Gal-3 as a prognostic marker of heart failure is described together with possible diagnostic applications to other CVDs. Finally, we report the tentative use of Gal-3 inhibition as a therapeutic approach to prevent cardiac inflammation and fibrosis.     

Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate vs. transurethral resection. Results of a multicentric, randomized clinical study on 150 patients

The present study was designed to evaluate tissue contrast characteristics obtained with the spin-lock (SL) technique by comparing the results with those generated with a magnetization transfer(MT)-weighted gradient echo [GRE, echo-time (TE)=40 ms] sequence. Twenty-eight patients with hepatic hemangiomas (n=14), or metastatic liver lesions (n=14) were imaged at 0.1 T by using identical imaging parameters. Gradient echo, single-slice off-resonance MT, and multiple-slice SL sequences were obtained. SL and MT-effects were measured from the focal liver lesions and from normal liver parenchyma. In addition, tissue contrast values for the liver lesions were determined. Statistically significant difference between the SL-effects of the hemangiomas and metastases, and also between the MT-effects of the lesions was observed (p < 0.02). Tissue contrast values for the lesions proved to be quite similar between the SL and MT techniques. Our results indicate that at 0.1 T multiple-slice SL imaging provides MT based tissue contrast characteristics in tissues rich in protein with good imaging efficiency and wide anatomical coverage, and with reduced motion and susceptibility artifacts.     

Case Study: Promoting the Stability of the óbidos Lagoon Inlet

The stabilization of tidal inlets by jetties interrupts the littoral drift and has negative visual impacts. This paper proposes an innovative solution to improve the stability of a tidal inlet (the óbidos Lagoon, Portugal) and minimize maintenance dredging, while avoiding the disadvantages of the traditional solution. The new solution has two key features. First, transverse channels are dredged over the tidal flats to promote ebb dominance, thereby improving the ability of the lagoon to flush out incoming sediments. Second, a partially submerged guiding wall near the southern shoreline, together with the existing guiding wall in the northern shore, prevents the movement of the inlet channel and concentrates the ebb flow in the channel. Analyses with empirical, numerical, and analytical models indicate that the solution improves the stability of the tidal inlet and reduces the accretion in the system.     

p53 and RPA are sequestered in viral replication centers in the nuclei of cells infected with human cytomegalovirus

Previously, we reported that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of fibroblasts markedly affects p53 and other regulatory proteins and inhibits transit through the cell cycle (F. M. Jault, J.-M. Jault, F. Ruchti, E. A. Fortunato, C. Clark, J. Corbeil, D. D. Richman, and D. H. Spector, J. Virol. 69:6697-6704, 1995). Although the p53 steady-state levels are elevated throughout the infection, evidence suggests that the ability of p53 to transactivate some of its downstream targets is compromised. To elucidate the mechanisms governing the accumulation of p53, we examined the synthesis, stability, and localization of the protein in HCMV-infected fibroblasts. Synthesis of p53 was not increased in the infected cells during the first 24 h postinfection. In fact, pulse-chase experiments revealed that synthesis of p53 in infected fibroblasts was lower than in mock-infected cells. However, after an initial decay, the p53 was stabilized. In addition, beginning at approximately 30 h postinfection, p53 was localized to discrete foci within the nuclei of infected cells. The morphology of these foci suggested that they were replication centers. We confirmed that these are sites of DNA replication by demonstrating both incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine and localization of UL44 (the viral polymerase processivity factor) into these centers. The single-stranded DNA binding protein RPA was also sequestered. In contrast, Rb and HCMV IE1 72 remained distributed throughout the infected cell nuclei, indicating specific targeting of certain proteins. Taken together, our results provide two alternative mechanisms to account for the increased steady-state levels of p53 observed in HCMV-infected fibroblasts.     

Analysis of electrical characteristics of gate overlapped lightly doped drain (GOLDD) polysilicon thin-film transistors with different LDD doping concentration

Different drain field architectures have been recently investigated to reduce field-enhanced effects in conventional self-aligned polysilicon thin-film transistor (TFT) architecture, induced by the intense electric fields at the drain junction. Among these, gate overlapped lightly doped drain (GOLDD) architecture has been shown to be effective in reducing the drain field in both on and off states of the TFT, without introducing appreciable series resistance effects. In this paper, we investigate the electrical characteristics, both in the on- and in the off-regime, of GOLDD polysilicon TFTs, made with different LDD doses, by combining experimental data with two-dimensional (2-D) numerical analysis. We also demonstrate that both the on-state and off-state features of the GOLDD structure can be readily understood in terms of a simple, new model, based upon two TFTs series. This is consistent both with the experimental data and the results of full 2-D simulations. This paper not only clarifies the dependence of kink effect, leakage current, and series resistance upon the LDD-doping, but also provides the guidelines to optimize physical parameters of GOLDD TFTs.