A New User‐Oriented Index,Based on a Fuzzy Inference System,for Quality Evaluation of Rural Roads

Users of road facilities generally express a judgment on road quality based on their psychophysical conditions, in relation to the environment they refer to. This judgment is made considering many aspects, for example, the presence of traffic lights, the frequency of interchanges, of lay‐bys and gas stations, route conformation, environmental conditions, quality of road signs, etc. In this article, we propose a new index called Global Satisfaction Index, which uses vehicular traffic quality and quality of road pavement, to summarize these aspects, and to express the users’ global judgment about the ride comfort on rural roads. Since in this kind of judgment a subjective perception process is involved, we have used fuzzy theory to handle uncertainty embedded in the process. The attributes of the aspects considered have been expressed through fuzzy numbers, and the global judgment has been obtained through a fuzzy inference system. In this way the proposed index overcomes the limits of other existing indices, since it incorporates uncertainties and/or imprecision inherent in the drivers’ perception of the ride comfort. Moreover, it can be used for evaluation and comparison of different types of road sections. Finally, a numerical example is presented to assist in understanding the practical aspects of the proposed index.     

Catalytic combustion for industrial gas turbines

This brief review provides a general account of work directed at the use of catalytic combustion in gas turbine engines. A major potential advantage of using catalytic combustion is that the fuel can be burnt efficiently at temperatures low enough (< 1500°C) to avoid significant oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen. This advantage was less important when catalytic combustion was demonstrated in the 1970s than it is today and received relatively little attention until the following decade. After discussion of the principles involved in the design of a combustor that must meet the mixing, size, performance and durability goals of a based gas turbine application, the review turns to accounts of experiments conducted on a laboratory scale with simple configurations. These established basic operating parameters for satisfactory combustion performance and led to larger scale work and to prototype design concepts for industrial gas turbines in the late 70s and early 80s. Test results were encouraging but were not pursued definitively in the U.S.A. Activity continued at several centres in Japan, with exploration of a number of different catalyst arrangements, geometries, and control systems, again with encouraging results. At the same time, there has been renewed interests in the U.S.A. and in Europe, spurred largely by the emphasis on reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The paper concludes with suggestions for further development of catalytically stabilized combustion systems for gas turbines. These systems must ensure adequate pre-catalyst temperature, with evenly premixed fuel and air, and sufficient temperature rise across the catalyst to ensure effective completion of reaction in a homogeneous reaction mode. The outstanding problems are largely concerned with questions of catalyst integrity and longevity in practical configurations and realistic engine operating conditions.     

Interrogating the Behaviour of a Styryl Dye Interacting with a Mesoscopic 2D-MOF and Its Luminescent Vapochromic Sensing

In this contribution, we report on the solid-state-photodynamical properties and further applications of a low dimensional composite material composed by the luminescent trans-4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM) dye interacting with a two-dimensional-metal organic framework (2D-MOF), Al-ITQ-HB. Three different samples with increasing concentration of DCM are synthesized and characterized. The broad UV-visible absorption spectra of the DCM/Al-ITQ-HB composites reflect the presence of different species of DCM molecules (monomers and aggregates). In contrast, the emission spectra are narrower and exhibit a bathochromic shift upon increasing the DCM concentration, in agreeance with the formation of adsorbed aggregates. Time-resolved picosecond (ps)-experiments reveal multi-exponential behaviors of the excited composites, further confirming the heterogeneous nature of the samples. Remarkably, DCM/Al-ITQ-HB fluorescence is sensitive to vapors of electron donor aromatic amine compounds like aniline, methylaniline, and benzylamine due to a H-bonding-induced electron transfer (ET) process from the analyte to the surface-adsorbed DCM. These findings bring new insights on the photobehavior of a well-known dye when interacting with a 2D-MOF and its possible application in sensing aniline derivatives.     

Pheomelanin Effect on UVB Radiation-Induced Oxidation/Nitration of l-Tyrosine

Pheomelanin is a natural yellow-reddish sulfur-containing pigment derived from tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of tyrosine in presence of cysteine. Generally, the formation of melanin pigments is a protective response against the damaging effects of UV radiation in skin. However, pheomelanin, like other photosensitizing substances, can trigger, following exposure to UV radiation, photochemical reactions capable of modifying and damaging cellular components. The photoproperties of this natural pigment have been studied by analyzing pheomelanin effect on oxidation/nitration of tyrosine induced by UVB radiation at different pH values and in presence of iron ions. Photoproperties of pheomelanin can be modulated by various experimental conditions, ranging from the photoprotection to the triggering of potentially damaging photochemical reactions. The study of the photomodification of l-Tyrosine in the presence of the natural pigment pheomelanin has a special relevance, since this tyrosine oxidation/nitration pathway can potentially occur in vivo in tissues exposed to sunlight and play a role in the mechanisms of tissue damage induced by UV radiation.     

Pre-adolescent children exhibit lower aerosol particle volume emissions than adults for breathing,speaking, singing and shouting

Speaking and singing are activities linked to increased aerosol particle emissions from the respiratory system, dependent on the utilized vocal intensity. As a result, these activities have experienced considerable restrictions in enclosed spaces since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the risk of infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, transmitted by virus-carrying aerosols. These constraints have affected public education and extracurricular activities for children as well, from in-person music instruction to children’s choirs. However, existing risk assessments for children have been based on emission measurements of adults. To address this, we measured the particle emission rates of 15 pre-adolescent children, all eight to ten years old, with a laser particle counter for the test conditions: breathing at rest, speaking, singing and shouting. Compared with values taken from 15 adults, emission rates for breathing, speaking and singing were significantly lower for children. Particle emission rates were reduced by a factor of 4.3 across all conditions, whereas emitted particle volume rates were reduced by a factor of 4.8. These data can supplement SARS-CoV-2 risk management scenarios for various school and extracurricular settings.     

Where Are We with RPE Replacement Therapy? A Translational Review from the Ophthalmologist Perspective

The retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) plays a pivotal role in retinal homeostasis. It is therefore an interesting target to fill the unmet medical need of different retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt disease. RPE replacement therapy may use different cellular sources: induced pluripotent stem cells or embryonic stem cells. Cells can be transferred as suspension on a patch with different surgical approaches. Results are promising although based on very limited samples. In this review, we summarize the current progress of RPE replacement and provide a comparative assessment of different published approaches which may become standard of care in the future.     

SOAT1: A Suitable Target for Therapy in High-Grade Astrocytic Glioma?

Targeting molecular alterations as an effective treatment for isocitrate dehydrogenase-wildtype glioblastoma (GBM) patients has not yet been established. Sterol-O-Acyl Transferase 1 (SOAT1), a key enzyme in the conversion of endoplasmic reticulum cholesterol to esters for storage in lipid droplets (LD), serves as a target for the orphan drug mitotane to treat adrenocortical carcinoma. Inhibition of SOAT1 also suppresses GBM growth. Here, we refined SOAT1-expression in GBM and IDH-mutant astrocytoma, CNS WHO grade 4 (HGA), and assessed the distribution of LD in these tumors. Twenty-seven GBM and three HGA specimens were evaluated by multiple GFAP, Iba1, IDH1 R132H, and SOAT1 immunofluorescence labeling as well as Oil Red O staining. To a small extent SOAT1 was expressed by tumor cells in both tumor entities. In contrast, strong expression was observed in glioma-associated macrophages. Triple immunofluorescence labeling revealed, for the first time, evidence for SOAT1 colocalization with Iba1 and IDH1 R132H, respectively. Furthermore, a notable difference in the amount of LD between GBM and HGA was observed. Therefore, SOAT1 suppression might be a therapeutic option to target GBM and HGA growth and invasiveness. In addition, the high expression in cells related to neuroinflammation could be beneficial for a concomitant suppression of protumoral microglia/macrophages.     

Physical Reasoning to Synchronize Electrical Signals and Related Diagnostics in Plasma Focus Devices

Plasma Focus (PF) devices as well as other similar pulsed discharge devices requires a variety of diagnostics for their proper control and optimization, including the voltage between electrodes, the time derivative of the discharge current, detection of X-rays and neutron emissions, and pulsed laser images (Shadow, Schlieren, interferograms). This article discusses the problem of the time reference of all these outputs and proposes specific techniques for synchronizing them based on sound physical grounds. The foundations of synchronization criterion are verified in several experiments on PF devices.     

Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Hypertension–Brain-Induced Complications: Focus on Molecular Mediators

There is growing evidence that hypertension is the most important vascular risk factor for the development and progression of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The brain is an early target of hypertension-induced organ damage and may manifest as stroke, subclinical cerebrovascular abnormalities and cognitive decline. The pathophysiological mechanisms of these harmful effects remain to be completely clarified. Hypertension is well known to alter the structure and function of cerebral blood vessels not only through its haemodynamics effects but also for its relationships with endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation. In the last several years, new possible mechanisms have been suggested to recognize the molecular basis of these pathological events. Accordingly, this review summarizes the factors involved in hypertension-induced brain complications, such as haemodynamic factors, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress, inflammation and intervention of innate immune system, with particular regard to the role of Toll-like receptors that have to be considered dominant components of the innate immune system. The complete definition of their prognostic role in the development and progression of hypertensive brain damage will be of great help in the identification of new markers of vascular damage and the implementation of innovative targeted therapeutic strategies.