Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) as precursors of a distinct family of PUFA

One of the possibilities for distinct actions of c9,t11- and the t10,c12-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers may be at the level of metabolism since the conjugated diene structure gives to CLA isomers and their metabolites a distinct pattern of incorporation into the lipid fraction and metabolism. In fact, CLA appears to undergo similar transformations as linoleic acid but with subtle isomer differences, which may account for their activity in lowering linoleic acid metabolites in those tissues rich in neutral lipids where CLA is preferentially incorporated. Furthermore, c9,t11 and t10,c12 isomers are metabolized at a different rate in the peroxisomes, where the shortened metabolite from t10,c12 is formed at a much higher proportion than the metabolite from c9,t11. This may account for the lower accumulation of t10,c12 isomer into cell lipids. CLA isomers may therefore be viewed as a “new” family of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) producing a distinct range of metabolites using the same enzymatic system as the other (i.e., n−3, n−6 and n−9) PUFA families. It is likely that perturbation of PUFA metabolism by CLA will have an impact on eicosanoid formation and metabolism, closely linked to the biological activities attributed to CLA.     

The influence of company identity on the perception of vehicle sounds

In order to determine how the interior of a car should sound, automotive manufacturers often rely on obtaining data from individual evaluations of vehicle sounds. Company identity could play a role in these appraisals, particularly when individuals are comparing cars from opposite ends of the performance spectrum. This research addressed the question: does company identity influence the evaluation of automotive sounds belonging to cars of a similar performance level and from the same market segment? Participants listened to car sounds from two competing manufacturers, together with control sounds. Before listening to each sound, participants were presented with the correct company identity for that sound, the incorrect identity or were given no information about the identity of the sound. The results showed that company identity did not influence appraisals of high performance cars belonging to different manufacturers. These results have positive implications for methodologies employed to capture the perceptions of individuals. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: A challenge in automotive design is to set appropriate targets for vehicle sounds, relying on understanding subjective reactions of individuals to such sounds. This paper assesses the role of company identity in influencing these subjective reactions and will guide sound evaluation studies, in which the manufacturer is often apparent.     

Geomechanical design of a room and rib pillar granite mine

The geomechanical and stability design of an underground granite mine located in Canal San Bovo （Trento district, Northeastern Italy） was described. The exploitation of the granite, which is used in the ceramic industry, was carried out by the rooms and rib pillars method. The rooms are 12 m wide while the pillars are 11 m wide and they cross the main discontinuity set of the rock mass in the perpendicular direction. To verify the stability condition of an underground mine, it is necessary to carry out the calcula- tions that are able to check both the local and global stability of the rock mass. In the studied example, this approach has been applied with the development of analytical and numerical parametric analyses and it has permitted to get the best orientation and to design the size of rooms and pillars.     

Reactive navigation through multiscroll systems: from theory to real-time implementation

In this paper a new reactive layer for multi-sensory integration applied to robot navigation is proposed. The new robot navigation technique exploits the use of a chaotic system able to be controlled in real-time towards less complex orbits, like periodic orbits or equilibrium points, considered as perceptive orbits. These are subject to real-time modifications on the basis of environment changes acquired through a distributed sensory system. The strategy is inspired to the olfactory bulb neural activity observed in rabbits subject to external stimuli. The mathematical details of the approach are given including simulation results in a virtual environment. Furthermore the proposed strategy has been tested on an experimental environment consisting of an FPGA-based hardware driving an autonomous roving robot. The obtained results demonstrate the capability to perform a real-time navigation control.     

Cognitive control therapy with children: Rationale and technique.

Cognitive Control Therapy (CCT) is designed to treat children whose cognitive dysfunctions are a source of school failure and serious adjustment problems and who lack cognitive structures necessary to learn within verbally oriented psychotherapy. CCT techniques address three goals: a) restructuring hierarchically ordered cognitive functions so that information from external and internal environments is produced efficiently; b) restructuring the pathological cognitive orientation so that external information is balanced and integrated with fantasies and feelings (metaphors); and c) connecting thought and action so that a balanced integration of perceptions and metaphors results in adaptive actions which are assimilated to influence the original cognition. To restructure cognitive functions, the child is asked to work on a series of tasks graded developmentally in terms of complexity, emotionality, and delay, and requiring nonverbal and, later, verbal cognitive activity. To promote integrating internal and external information, and assimilating the results of actions into cognitive schema, one of five technical models is followed, depending upon the pathological cognitive orientation maintained. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Soil and rock reinforcements in tunnelling

Soil and rock improvement and reinforcement techniques are used to permit safe tunnel excavations in difficult geological conditions. The main methods are ground reinforcement, grouting, jet grouting, drainage, freezing, and mechanical precutting. The improvement methods are divided into two basic groups—improving interventions and preserving interventions. A critical analysis is of these methods given and a technical comparison between the main improvement techniques adopted in tunnelling is shown. Several ground reinforcement schemes are discussed. Examples from Italy of the various types of ground improvement and reinforcement techniques are given.