Stability of Wake-Sleep Cycles Requires Robust Degradation of the PERIOD Protein

D’Alessandro, Matthew,Beesley, Stephen,Kim, Jae Kyoung,Jones, Zachary,Chen, Rongmin,Wi, Julie,Kyle, Kathleen,Vera, Daniel,Pagano, Michele,Nowakowski, Richard,Lee, Choogon Elsevier 2017 Current biology Vol.27 No.22

<P><B>Summary</B></P> <P>Robustness in biology is the stability of phenotype under diverse genetic and/or environmental perturbations. The circadian clock has remarkable stability of period and phase that—unlike other biological oscillators—is maintained over a wide range of conditions. Here, we show that the high fidelity of the circadian system stems from robust degradation of the clock protein PERIOD. We show that PERIOD degradation is regulated by a balance between ubiquitination and deubiquitination, and that disruption of this balance can destabilize the clock. In mice with a loss-of-function mutation of the E3 ligase gene <I>β-Trcp2</I>, the balance of PERIOD degradation is perturbed and the clock becomes dramatically unstable, presenting a unique behavioral phenotype unlike other circadian mutant animal models. We believe that our data provide a molecular explanation for how circadian phases, such as wake-sleep onset times, can become unstable in humans, and we present a unique mouse model to study human circadian disorders with unstable circadian rhythm phases.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Nonlinear degradation of PER is required for the robustness of circadian rhythms </LI> <LI> PER degradation is regulated by a balance between ubiquitination and deubiquitination </LI> <LI> Disrupting this balance causes irregular wake-sleep cycles in mice </LI> </UL> </P>

Modelling of aluminium foam sandwich panels

Vincenzo D’Alessandro,Giuseppe Petrone,Sergio De Rosa,Francesco Franco 국제구조공학회 2014 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.13 No.4

applications thanks to the excellent combination of mechanical properties, high strength and stiffness, with functional ones, thermo-acoustic isolation and vibration damping. These properties strongly depend on the density of the foam, the morphology of the pores, the type (open or closed cells) and the size of the gas bubbles enclosed in the solid material. In this paper, the vibrational performances of two classes of sandwich panels with an Alulight R foam core are studied. Experimental tests, in terms of frequency response function and modal analysis, are performed in order to investigate the effect of different percentage of porosity in the foam, as well as the effect of the random distribution of the gas bubbles. Experimental results are used as a reference for developing numerical models using finite element approach. Firstly, a sensitivity analysis is performed in order to obtain a limit-but-bounded dynamic response, modelling the foam core as a homogeneous one. The experimental-numerical correlation is evaluated in terms of natural frequencies and mode shapes. Afterwards, an update of the previous numerical model is presented, in which the core is not longer modelled as homogeneous. Mass and stiffness are randomly distributed in the core volume, exploring the space of the eigenvectors.

Production of [FORMULA OMISSION] and [FORMULA OMISSION] in p–Pb collisions at [FORMULA OMISSION] TeV

Adamová,, D.,Aggarwal, M. M.,Aglieri Rinella, G.,Agnello, M.,Agrawal, N.,Ahammed, Z.,Ahmad, S.,Ahn, S. U.,Aiola, S.,Akindinov, A.,Alam, S. N.,Albuquerque, D. S. D.,Aleksandrov, D.,Alessandro, B. Springer 2017 European Physical Journal C Vol.77 No.6

<P>The transverse momentum distributions of the strange and double-strange hyperon resonances ([FORMULA OMISSION], [FORMULA OMISSION]) produced in p–Pb collisions at [FORMULA OMISSION] TeV were measured in the rapidity range [FORMULA OMISSION] for event classes corresponding to different charged-particle multiplicity densities, [FORMULA OMISSION]d[FORMULA OMISSION]/d[FORMULA OMISSION]. The mean transverse momentum values are presented as a function of [FORMULA OMISSION]d[FORMULA OMISSION]/d[FORMULA OMISSION], as well as a function of the particle masses and compared with previous results on hyperon production. The integrated yield ratios of excited to ground-state hyperons are constant as a function of [FORMULA OMISSION]d[FORMULA OMISSION]/d[FORMULA OMISSION]. The equivalent ratios to pions exhibit an increase with [FORMULA OMISSION]d[FORMULA OMISSION]/d[FORMULA OMISSION], depending on their strangeness content.</P>

J/<i>ψ</i> production as a function of charged-particle pseudorapidity density in p–Pb collisions at _{s NN} = 5.02 TeV

Adamová,, D.,Aggarwal, M.M.,Aglieri Rinella, G.,Agnello, M.,Agrawal, N.,Ahammed, Z.,Ahmad, N.,Ahn, S.U.,Aiola, S.,Akindinov, A.,Alam, S.N.,Albuquerque, D.S.D.,Aleksandrov, D.,Alessandro, B.,Alex North-Holland Pub. Co 2018 Physics letters. Section B Vol.776 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>We report measurements of the inclusive J/<I>ψ</I> yield and average transverse momentum as a function of charged-particle pseudorapidity density d <SUB> N ch </SUB> / d η in p–Pb collisions at <SUB> s NN </SUB> = 5.02 TeV with ALICE at the LHC. The observables are normalised to their corresponding averages in non-single diffractive events. An increase of the normalised J/<I>ψ</I> yield with normalised d <SUB> N ch </SUB> / d η , measured at mid-rapidity, is observed at mid-rapidity and backward rapidity. At forward rapidity, a saturation of the relative yield is observed for high charged-particle multiplicities. The normalised average transverse momentum at forward and backward rapidities increases with multiplicity at low multiplicities and saturates beyond moderate multiplicities. In addition, the forward-to-backward nuclear modification factor ratio is also reported, showing an increasing suppression of J/<I>ψ</I> production at forward rapidity with respect to backward rapidity for increasing charged-particle multiplicity.</P>

STATE OF THE ART IN USING BEST ESTIMATE CALCULATION TOOLS IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

D'AURIA FRANCESCO,ANIS BOUSBIA-SALAH,PETRUZZI ALESSANDRO,NEVO ALESSANDRO DEL Korean Nuclear Society 2006 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.38 No.1

System thermal-hydraulic codes have been used in the past decades in the areas of design, operation, licensing and safety of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). The development and validation of these codes have reached a high degree of maturity, through the consideration of huge experiments and advanced numerical models. Nowadays, the analyses are based upon realistic approaches rather than the conservative evaluation models. However the applications of these computational tools require preliminary qualification issues. Although huge amounts of financial and human resources have been invested for the development and improvement of codes, the calculation results are still affected by errors. In the sophisticated nuclear technology, design and safety of NPP, these errors must be quantified. An overview of the state of the art of the current thermal-hydraulic system code is developed and the need of uncertainty analysis in code calculations is emphasized. Several sources of uncertainty have been classified and commented, and typical applications of such methods are shown.

Modelling of aluminium foam sandwich panels

D'Alessandro, Vincenzo,Petrone, Giuseppe,De Rosa, Sergio,Franco, Francesco Techno-Press 2014 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.13 No.4

Aluminium Foam Sandwich (AFS) panels are becoming always more attractive in transportation applications thanks to the excellent combination of mechanical properties, high strength and stiffness, with functional ones, thermo-acoustic isolation and vibration damping. These properties strongly depend on the density of the foam, the morphology of the pores, the type (open or closed cells) and the size of the gas bubbles enclosed in the solid material. In this paper, the vibrational performances of two classes of sandwich panels with an Alulight(R) foam core are studied. Experimental tests, in terms of frequency response function and modal analysis, are performed in order to investigate the effect of different percentage of porosity in the foam, as well as the effect of the random distribution of the gas bubbles. Experimental results are used as a reference for developing numerical models using finite element approach. Firstly, a sensitivity analysis is performed in order to obtain a limit-but-bounded dynamic response, modelling the foam core as a homogeneous one. The experimental-numerical correlation is evaluated in terms of natural frequencies and mode shapes. Afterwards, an update of the previous numerical model is presented, in which the core is not longer modelled as homogeneous. Mass and stiffness are randomly distributed in the core volume, exploring the space of the eigenvectors.

<i>ϕ</i>-Meson production at forward rapidity in p–Pb collisions at _{s NN} = 5.02 TeV and in pp collisions at s = 2.76 TeV

Adam, J.,Adamová,, D.,Aggarwal, M.M.,Aglieri Rinella, G.,Agnello, M.,Agrawal, N.,Ahammed, Z.,Ahn, S.U.,Aimo, I.,Aiola, S.,Ajaz, M.,Akindinov, A.,Alam, S.N.,Aleksandrov, D.,Alessandro, B.,Alexand North-Holland Pub. Co 2017 Physics letters. Section B Vol.768 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The first study of <I>ϕ</I>-meson production in p–Pb collisions at forward and backward rapidity, at a nucleon–nucleon centre-of-mass energy <SUB> s NN </SUB> = 5.02 TeV , has been performed with the ALICE apparatus at the LHC. The <I>ϕ</I>-mesons have been identified in the dimuon decay channel in the transverse momentum ( <SUB> p T </SUB> ) range 1 < <SUB> p T </SUB> < 7 GeV / c , both in the p-going ( 2.03 < y < 3.53 ) and the Pb-going ( − 4.46 < y < − 2.96 ) directions — where <I>y</I> stands for the rapidity in the nucleon–nucleon centre-of-mass — the integrated luminosity amounting to 5.01 ± 0.19 <SUP> nb − 1 </SUP> and 5.81 ± 0.20 <SUP> nb − 1 </SUP> , respectively, for the two data samples. Differential cross sections as a function of transverse momentum and rapidity are presented. The forward–backward ratio for <I>ϕ</I>-meson production is measured for 2.96 < | y | < 3.53 , resulting in a ratio ∼0.5 with no significant <SUB> p T </SUB> dependence within the uncertainties. The <SUB> p T </SUB> dependence of the <I>ϕ</I> nuclear modification factor <SUB> R pPb </SUB> exhibits an enhancement up to a factor 1.6 at <SUB> p T </SUB> = 3 – 4 GeV / c in the Pb-going direction. The <SUB> p T </SUB> dependence of the <I>ϕ</I>-meson cross section in pp collisions at s = 2.76 TeV , which is used to determine a reference for the p–Pb results, is also presented here for 1 < <SUB> p T </SUB> < 5 GeV / c and 2.5 < y < 4 , for a 78 ± 3 <SUP> nb − 1 </SUP> integrated luminosity sample.</P>

Climate Change and Air Pollution: Effects on Respiratory Allergy

Gennaro D’Amato,Ruby Pawankar,Carolina Vitale,Maurizia Lanza,Antonio Molino,Anna Stanziola,Alessandro Sanduzzi,Alessandro Vatrella,Maria D’Amato 대한천식알레르기학회 2016 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.8 No.5

A body of evidence suggests that major changes involving the atmosphere and the climate, including global warming induced by anthropogenic factors, have impact on the biosphere and human environment. Studies on the effects of climate change on respiratory allergy are still lacking and current knowledge is provided by epidemiological and experimental studies on the relationship between allergic respiratory diseases, asthma and environmental factors, such as meteorological variables, airborne allergens, and air pollution. Urbanization with its high levels of vehicle emissions, and a westernized lifestyle are linked to the rising frequency of respiratory allergic diseases and bronchial asthma observed over recent decades in most industrialized countries. However, it is not easy to evaluate the impact of climate changes and air pollution on the prevalence of asthma in the general population and on the timing of asthma exacerbations, although the global rise in asthma prevalence and severity could also be an effect of air pollution and climate change. Since airborne allergens and air pollutants are frequently increased contemporaneously in the atmosphere, an enhanced IgE-mediated response to aeroallergens and enhanced airway inflammation could account for the increasing frequency of respiratory allergy and asthma in atopic subjects in the last 5 decades. Pollen allergy is frequently used to study the relationship between air pollution and respiratory allergic diseases, such as rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that urbanization, high levels of vehicle emissions, and westernized lifestyle are correlated with an increased frequency of respiratory allergy prevalently in people who live in urban areas in comparison with people living in rural areas. Climatic factors (temperature, wind speed, humidity, thunderstorms, etc.) can affect both components (biological and chemical) of this interaction.

STATE OF THE ART IN USING BEST ESTIMATECALCULATION TOOLS IN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

FRANCESCO D'AURIA, ANIS BOUSBIA-SALAH, ALESSANDRO PETRUZZI, ALESSANDRO DEL NEVO 한국원자력학회 2006 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.38 No.1

EFFECTS OF RATE-SHAPED AND MULTIPLE INJECTION STRATEGIES ON POLLUTANT EMISSIONS, COMBUSTION NOISE AND FUEL CONSUMPTION IN A LOW COMPRESSION RATIO DIESEL ENGINE

Stefano d’Ambrosio,Alessandro Ferrari,Alessandro Mancarella,Antonio Mittica 한국자동차공학회 2020 International journal of automotive technology Vol.21 No.1

An experimental investigation has been carried out to highlight the effects of different injection strategies on the performance and emissions of a low compression ratio Euro 5 diesel engine operated with high EGR rates. Rate-shaped main injections, achieved with piezoelectric and solenoid injectors by means of boot and injection fusion, respectively, as well as optimized multiple injection patterns have been compared. The results of the comparisons, performed with reference to a state-of-the-art double pilot-Main (pM) strategy, are presented in terms of engine-out exhaust emissions, combustion noise (CN) and fuel consumption. Rate-shaped main injections, when included in delayed multiple injection patterns, have shown a minor influence on reducing NOx, while a slight deterioration in soot has been found. Both a double pilot and a boot injection schedule have been able to reduce CN at low loads. A higher reduction in CN has been obtained with an injection fusion event. Finally, DoE optimized triple and quadruple injection strategies have led to improved soot-NOx trade-offs, with respect to the pM calibration. In fact, splitting the injection helps to entrain air inside the fuel plumes, thus creating locally leaner mixture (less prone to forming soot) and allowing increasing the EGR rates (reducing NOx formation).