An incremental clustering scheme for data de-duplication

We propose an incremental technique for discovering duplicates in large databases of textual sequences, i.e., syntactically different tuples, that refer to the same real-world entity. The problem is approached from a clustering perspective: given a set of tuples, the objective is to partition them into groups of duplicate tuples. Each newly arrived tuple is assigned to an appropriate cluster via nearest-neighbor classification. This is achieved by means of a suitable hash-based index, that maps any tuple to a set of indexing keys and assigns tuples with high syntactic similarity to the same buckets. Hence, the neighbors of a query tuple can be efficiently identified by simply retrieving those tuples that appear in the same buckets associated to the query tuple itself, without completely scanning the original database. Two alternative schemes for computing indexing keys are discussed and compared. An extensive experimental evaluation on both synthetic and real data shows the effectiveness of our approach.     

Simulation of dense granular flows: Comparison with experiments

A comparison of the predictions of a rheological model that we recently developed with experimental results of stress and flow profiles in a pilot scale silo is presented in this work. Experiments were performed to collect information on the flow field by means of a tracer method and on wall normal stresses at several different positions along the vessel. The silo (2.5 m high, 0.5 m wide) had the possibility of inserting internal devices; the model was first validated on data without internals and then used to predict the profiles for the case with them. Both stress and flow profiles with and without internals agree with the experimental results within the experimental error that locally could be rather significant due to the difficulty of large scale experiments with granular materials.     

Numerical study on the behavior of funnel flow silos with and without inserts through a continuum hydrodynamic approach

In this paper the results from simulations performed using a hydrodynamic model proposed by Artoni et al. [Chem. Eng. Sci. 64 (2009a) 4040–4050] have been compared with published data of an extensive experimental investigation carried out at the Tel-Tek Research Institute in Porsgrunn, Norway. The experiments collected several data and observations on the wall stresses and the flow patterns observed during discharge of a full-scale funnel flow silo with and without inserts. The comparison between simulation and experiments showed the ability of the model to capture quantitatively the main features of both the flow and of the wall stress profiles when flow corrective inserts are put in the hopper of the silo in order to convert the discharge regime to a mass flow regime. Moreover information such as the stresses on the internals, which are difficult or impossible to get experimentally, have been collected from the simulations and discussed.     

Advanced Knowledge of Three Important Classes of Grape Phenolics: Anthocyanins,Stilbenes and Flavonols

Grape is qualitatively and quantitatively very rich in polyphenols. In particular, anthocyanins, flavonols and stilbene derivatives play very important roles in plant metabolism, thanks to their peculiar characteristics. Anthocyanins are responsible for the color of red grapes and wines and confer organoleptic characteristics on the wine. They are used for chemotaxonomic studies and to evaluate the polyphenolic ripening stage of grape. They are natural colorants, have antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic activity, exert protective effects on the human cardiovascular system, and are used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Stilbenes are vine phytoalexins present in grape berries and associated with the beneficial effects of drinking wine. The principal stilbene, resveratrol, is characterized by anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective activity. Resveratrol dimers and oligomers also occur in grape, and are synthetized by the vine as active defenses against exogenous attack, or produced by extracellular enzymes released from pathogens in an attempt to eliminate undesirable toxic compounds. Flavonols are a ubiquitous class of flavonoids with photo-protection and copigmentation (together with anthocyanins) functions. The lack of expression of the enzyme flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase in white grapes restricts the presence of these compounds to quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin derivatives, whereas red grapes usually also contain myricetin, laricitrin and syringetin derivatives. In the last ten years, the technological development of analytical instrumentation, particularly mass spectrometry, has led to great improvements and further knowledge of the chemistry of these compounds. In this review, the biosynthesis and biological role of these grape polyphenols are briefly introduced, together with the latest knowledge of their chemistry.     

Expression of PD-1 Molecule on Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Patients with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoreactive T cells that destroy pancreatic beta cells. Animal models suggested that a CD4⁺CD25⁺ population has a regulatory function capable of preventing activation and effector functions of autoreactive T cells. However, the role of CD4⁺CD25^high T cells in autoimmunity and their molecular mechanisms remain the subject of investigation. We therefore evaluated T regulatory cell frequencies and their PD-1 expression in the peripheral blood of long-standing diabetics under basal conditions and after CD3/CD28 stimulation. Under basal conditions, the percentages of T regulatory cells were significantly higher while that of T effector cells were significantly lower in patients than in controls. The ratio of regulatory to effector T cells was higher in patients than that in controls, suggesting that T regulatory cells were functional in patients. Percentages of total PD-1⁺, PD-1^low and PD-1^high expressing T regulatory cells did not change in patients and in controls. After stimulation, a defect in T regulatory cell proliferation was observed in diabetics and the percentages of total PD-1⁺, PD-1^low and PD-1^high expressing cells were lower in patients. Our data suggest a defective activation of T regulatory cells in long-standing diabetics due to a lower expression of PD-1 on their surface.     

Enterprise modeling and Data Warehousing in Telecom Italia

We present a methodology for Data Warehouse design and its application within the Telecom Italia information system. The methodology is based on a conceptual representation of the Enterprise, which is exploited both in the integration phase of the Warehouse information sources and during the knowledge discovery activity on the information stored in the Warehouse. The application of the methodology in the Telecom Italia framework has been supported by prototype software tools both for conceptual modeling and for data integration and reconciliation.     

A modified look-up table for implicit disambiguation of Marching Cubes

A new triangulation scheme for the Marching Cubes algorithm is proposed. The scheme allows the extraction of continuous isosurfaces from volumetric data without the need to use disamgiguation techniques.     

Learning mobility grants and skill (mis)matching in the labour market: The case of the ‘Master and Back’ Programme

This paper looks at the geographical mobility of graduate students and their skill matching in the labour market. The paper assesses the impact of a learning mobility grant scheme funded by the European Social Fund in Sardinia (ex‐Objective 1 region in the Italian Mezzogiorno). The scheme aims to foster regional human capital and increase the employability of local graduates by covering the cost of post‐graduate studies in other regions or countries. The econometric analysis is based on a unique dataset that combines administrative data on beneficiaries with information from a dedicated survey. The results suggest that learning mobility grants can reinforce skill matching only if the problem of self‐selection of the beneficiaries is properly addressed.