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Myocarditis is an inflammatory process of the heart muscle and represents a potential complication of different infectious and non–infectious pathogens. Bacterial infections are more rarely counted than viral ones among the causes of myocarditis and, for example, few cases of myocarditis associated with Campilobacter J. infection are described in the literature. J. Piero, 28 years old, arrives in ED for oppressive chest pain. He does not report any CV risk factors, he had diarrhea in recent days after eating chicken meat. CRP rise and increase in myocardionecrosis enzymes are found in blood chemistry; ECG within limits; echocardiogram: mild left ventricular dysfunction due to hypokinesia of the basal middle segments of the lateral wall (EF 50%). Giulio is hospitalized in the UTIC for suspected myocarditis confirmed in the study with CMR after 1 week according to the Lake Louisse criteria: myocardial edema and early enhancement in the lower basal site of the LV. A few hours later, Piero‘s brother, Giulio, also went to the ED for atypical chest pain and diarrhea; immediately undergoes a cardiological examination with subsequent hospitalization in the cardiology department with a diagnosis of: suspected myocarditis. In fact, even Giulio in the blood chemistry tests shows: increase in PCR and myocardionecrosis enzymes, albeit with an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram within normal limits. The MRI performed after about one week shows myocardial edema in the lower lateral area of ​​the left side confirming the diagnosis of myocarditis. In both cases, a gastrointestinal film array was performed during hospitalization which highlighted the presence of Campilobacter J. as a pathogen present in the faeces and antibiotic therapy with azithromycin was started for both Piero and Giulio. The CMR of Piero and Giulio, performed in Follow up, shows: subepicardial post–inflammatory scar of the basal inferior lateral wall of the left ventricle withb persistence of a subtle late impregnation of modest entity. The presented clinical case involving two brothers with myocardial involvement after campylobacter J. enteritis supports a hypothesis of "genetic predisposition" at the basis of the myocarditis process. Subsequent clinical evidence and scientific studies are needed to evaluate the genetic background of myocarditis, which is still unknown today.

Objectives The use of the CLEARstent image functions allows you to highlight fine structures, for example the expansion of a stent. Composite images are created by averaging several frames of a scene and considering the alignment of the markers of a stent. If an ECG signal is available, the cardiac phase is also considered. Using the CLEARstent function allows you to create special reference images from any scene or natively acquired fluoroscopic scene. The goal of CLEARstent images is to optimize the procedural result of mechanical cardiac revascularization and to improve the outcomes of treated patients. Methods The use of the Siemens Artis VD11 angiograph requires specific technical and medical knowledge and skills regarding, at least, radiation protection, safety procedures and patient safety. The people who work with the system, who use it and who move it must have acquired this knowledge and skills in their working life The application training was provided to the medical–technical–nursing staff of the Hemodynamics Unit of the “San Luca” PO of Vallo della Lucania “by qualified Siemens personnel. The application training offered by Siemens is binding before any use of the system Results 701 coronary angiography procedures and 118 urgent revascularizations were performed at our Hemodynamics Unit in the period from 11/27–2020 to 12/21–2021, period of use of the aforementioned angiograph, 701 coronary angiography procedures and 118 revascularizations in an emergency pattern ( STEMI–NSTEMI at high risk). In all mechanical myocardial revascularization procedures, the opening and optimal positioning of the coronary stents were verified with the CLEARstent system. There was no periprocedural complication. Conclusions The CLEARstent system allows to highlight fine structures, for example hypo–expanded stents, creating special reference images from any negatively acquired fluoroscopic scene, consequently allowing optimal positioning and opening of a coronary stent. Therefore, it is inserted together with intracoronary imaging techniques (IVUS, OCT) as a further aid to guide percutaneous interventions in order to optimize the acute procedural outcome of PCI and to improve the clinical outcomes of treated patients.

Background Pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that arises from the adrenal gland and overproduces catecholamines; it is an infrequent cause of cardiogenic shock (CS). Several case reports have investigated pheochromocytoma–induced CS, but larger studies have not yet been carried out. Objectives Our work aims to describe a multicenter experience in the diagnosis and management of patients with pheochromocytoma–induced CS, and to raise awareness around this rare condition. Methods: We enrolled all patients with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma–induced CS admitted to the intensive care units of 8 European referral Hospitals. Results Among the 17 patients (47% males, mean age 49,5 years), we found that pulmonary congestion was the mostly represented clinical feature (82%). The most represented echocardiographic left ventricle (LV) pattern was the reverse Takotsubo (TTS) pattern with apical hyperkinesis associated with basal– to mid–ventricular hypokinesis (47%). Elevated systemic vascular resistances (SVR) were observed. Endomyocardial biopsy of the LV was performed in one patient showing contraction band necrosis, oedema and inflammatory reaction. 76% of patients were treated with dobutamine, 70% needed noradrenaline, 29% adrenaline, 23.5% were treated with levosimendan and 17% with milrinone. Mechanical circulatory support devices (MCS) were necessary for 65% of patients. All patients benefited from pheochromocytoma’s surgical excision, with 4 patients operated on while under ECLS. All patients recovered, excepted one (presenting a severe left ventricular dilatation at admission) who required cardiac transplantation. Conclusion Pheochromocytoma is an infrequent cause of CS, with most often a TTS–like presentation. It should be suspected in case of a CS with high initial SVR and rapid deterioration. MCS must be considered in the most severe cases. The main challenge is to stabilize the patient, mostly with MCS, since it remains a reversible cause of CS with a low mortality rate. Adrenalectomy can safely be performed even when the patient is under MCS.

SUMMARYThis study establishes the homeodomain only protein, HOPX, as a determinant controlling the molecular switch between cardiomyocyte progenitor and maturation gene programs. Time-course single-cell gene expression with genome-wide footprinting reveal that HOPX interacts with and controls core cardiac networks by regulating the activity of mutually exclusive developmental gene programs. Upstream hypertrophy and proliferation pathways compete to regulate HOPX transcription. Mitogenic signals override hypertrophic growth signals to suppress HOPX and maintain cardiomyocyte progenitor gene programs. Physiological studies show HOPX directly governs genetic control of cardiomyocyte cell stress responses, electro-mechanical coupling, proliferation, and contractility. We use human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to show that genetic variation in the HOPX-regulome is significantly associated with complex traits affecting cardiac structure and function. Collectively, this study provides a mechanistic link situating HOPX between competing upstream pathways where HOPX acts as a molecular switch controlling gene regulatory programs underpinning metabolic, signaling, and functional maturation of cardiomyocytes.

In the equestrian world, two different types of management can be distinguished: traditional management and natural boarding. The aim of this research was to compare hormonal, hematological and immunological parameters of 47 horses kept in these two different managements. Blood and horsehair of the horses were sampled to determine DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and cortisol concentration through RIA. Moreover, blood count was conducted, and flow cytometry was employed to phenotype lymphocyte subpopulations. Results showed that, in horsehair, DHEA concentration was significantly higher in natural horses, whereas cortisol concentration and cortisol/DEHA ratio significantly lower. These hormonal parameters are used to assess the stress condition and the welfare of animals. The most favorable endocrine framework found in horses kept in natural boarding suggests that this management conveys most with ethological and physiological needs of the species. The research underlines the need of a modification of horses' husbandry systems. For the first time, this study validates the assay of DHEA in horsehair.

The analysis of Direct Numerical Simulation data of the separating and reattaching flow over a blunt bluff body with sharp edges, reveals the presence of negative turbulence production mechanisms in the leading-edge shear layer. Contrary to what is commonly observed in fully developed turbulent flows, this phenomenon represents flow reversal of energy from the fluctuating field to the mean flow. The detailed study of the data reveals that at the origin of such mechanisms is a statistically positive relation between Reynolds shear stresses and vertical shear. We argue that such a positive relation is a result of large-scale interactions of the fluctuating field with the streamwise inhomogeneity. The analysis of time cospectra confirms this picture by highlighting the presence of a net separation of scales consisting in a range of small scales positively contributing to turbulence production in opposition to a range of large scales giving to a reversal of flow energy from the fluctuating to the mean field. By means of a reduced description of the interactions of the fluctuating field with the mean field given by a generalized mixing length hypothesis, we finally also provide conceptual arguments for the modelling of turbulence production in the transitional shear layer. A model for the mixing length is also proposed which is found to work nicely in shear flows. The simplicity of the formulation supports its use especially in experiments of wall-bounded turbulence.

The control of critical pollutant events has become one of the most relevant problems that the Local Authorities need to manage, in order to limit population exposure to high pollutant levels. The problem of the selection of suitable short terms plans allowing to maintain the pollutant concentrations under a certain threshold is particularly difficult due to the strong nonlinearity and due to the high number of parameters (sometimes not manageable, as in the case of meteorological conditions) that can affect the concentrations at a certain time. In order to help Local Authorities in taking these decision, suitable Integrated assessment Models (IAMs) have to be formalized and implemented. In this work, the formalization and implementation of an IAM for the selecting of short-term actions is presented. The system is based on a forecasting phase and on a receding horizon approach for the selection of suitable emission control actions. The system has been applied with encouraging results to the management of PM10 levels over a domain including the metropolitan area of the city of Brescia in Lombardy.

A detailed analysis of the structure of turbulence in a temporal planar turbulent jet is reported. Instantaneous snapshots of the flow and three-dimensional spatial correlation functions are considered. It is found that the flow is characterized by large-scale spanwise vortices whose motion is felt in the entire flow field. Superimposed to this large-scale motion, a hierarchy of turbulent structures is present. The most coherent ones take the form of quasi-streamwise vortices and high and low streamwise velocity streaks. The topology of these interacting structures is analyzed by quantitatively addressing their shape and size in the different flow regions. Such information is recognized to be relevant for a structural description of the otherwise disorganized motion in turbulent free-shear flows and can be used for the assessment of models based on coherent structure assumptions. Finally, the resulting scenario provides a phenomenological description of the elementary processes at the basis of turbulence in free-shear flows.

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The establishment of cardiac function in the developing embryo is essential to ensure blood flow and, therefore, growth and survival of the animal. The molecular mechanisms controlling normal cardiac rhythm remain to be fully elucidated. From a forward genetic screen, we identified a unique mutant, grime, that displayed a specific cardiac arrhythmia phenotype. We show that loss-of-function mutations in tmem161b are responsible for the phenotype, identifying Tmem161b as a regulator of cardiac rhythm in zebrafish. To examine the evolutionary conservation of this function, we generated knockout mice for Tmem161b. Tmem161b knockout mice are neonatal lethal and cardiomyocytes exhibit arrhythmic calcium oscillations. Mechanistically, we find that Tmem161b is expressed at the cell membrane of excitable cells and live imaging shows it is required for action potential repolarization in the developing heart. Electrophysiology on isolated cardiomyocytes demonstrates that Tmem161b is essential to inhibit Ca2+ and K+ currents in cardiomyocytes. Importantly, Tmem161b haploinsufficiency leads to cardiac rhythm phenotypes, implicating it as a candidate gene in heritable cardiac arrhythmia. Overall, these data describe Tmem161b as a highly conserved regulator of cardiac rhythm that functions to modulate ion channel activity in zebrafish and mice.

The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury will provide simultaneous measurements from two spacecraft, offering an unprecedented opportunity to investigate magnetospheric and exospheric particle dynamics at Mercury as well as their interactions with solar wind, solar radiation, and interplanetary dust. The particle instrument suite SERENA (Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances) is flying in space on-board the BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and is the only instrument for ion and neutral particle detection aboard the MPO. It comprises four independent sensors: ELENA for neutral particle flow detection, Strofio for neutral gas detection, PICAM for planetary ions observations, and MIPA, mostly for solar wind ion measurements. SERENA is managed by a System Control Unit located inside the ELENA box. In the present paper the scientific goals of this suite are described, and then the four units are detailed, as well as their major features and calibration results. Finally, the SERENA operational activities are shown during the orbital path around Mercury, with also some reference to the activities planned during the long cruise phase.

Background Despite the implementation in the use of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and in secondary preventive measures, the risk of recurrence of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients who underwent ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains high. The prognostic role of old and emerging cardiovascular risk factors for MI recurrence, such as Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels, in this very high-risk population is still not fully understood. Purpose To identify the baseline predictors of MI recurrence in a cohort of patients admitted for STEMI and treated with pPCI. Methods Single-center, observational, retrospective analysis of consecutive patients admitted for STEMI who underwent pPCI from February 2013 to April 2019 at our Insitution. Baseline demographic, clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory data were prospectively collected. Only patients with available Lp(a) values were included in the analysis. The study outcome was the recurrence of MI at three years follow-up. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the baseline variables correlated to the study outcome. Results The study population included 560 patients (mean age = 60.6±13.7 years; 79.5% males). Hypertension was observed in 351 patients (62.7%), diabetes in 134 (23.9%), dyslipidemia in 266 (47.5%), smoking status in 316 (56.4%), history of coronary artery disease (CAD) in 76 (13.6%), prior MI in 69 (12.3%), prior PCI in 62 (11.1%). Multivessel disease (MVD) was reported in 211 (37.7%) cases. The infarct-related artery was the left anterior descending in 310 patients (55.4%), the right coronary artery in 179 (32.0%), the left circumflex 60 (10.7%) and the left main in 11 (2.0%). Total cholesterol mean value was 187.7±48.8 mg/dl; LDL cholesterol was 112.2±41.3 mg/dl and Lp(a) was 26.5±27.2 mg/dl. At three-year follow-up, MI occurred in 58 (10.4%) patients. At multivariable analysis, Lp(a) (HR 1.015 95% CI: 1.008–1.022 p Conclusions Among patients with STEMI who underwent pPCI, high Lp(a) level and MVD predict the recurrence of MI at long-term follow-up. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Transport sector is responsible for 25% of European GHG emissions, furthermore it has high impacts on air pollution at various scales. electric mobility is growing fast and it could be effective in reducing road transport GHGs and pollutant emissions, but its potential depends on the energy mix used to produce electricity. In this paper an Integrated Assessment Model is proposed to analyze the energetic transition to an electric vehicle fleet at regional scale. Two scenarios are proposed to assess at the same time which are the impacts of the electric power sources and of the reduced road transport emissions. Results are presented in terms of CO2 emissions, air quality indexes, energy savings and health impacts.

Funding Acknowledgements none Aims. To evaluate the effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan (S/V) on clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic parameters and outcomes in a real-world population with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods and results. Prospective study enrolling consecutive patients with HFrEF treated with S/V.The primary outcome was HF rehospitalization;secondary outcomes were all-cause death, cardiac death and the composite of cardiac death and HF rehospitalization at 12 months follow up.The clinical outcome was compared with a retrospective cohort of 90 HFrEF patients treated with standard medical therapy by using propensity score weighting. At 6 months follow-up, changes in symptoms, echocardiographic parameters, eGFR and furosemide dose were also evaluated. The study population consisted of 90 patients (66.1 ± 11.7 years). At 6 months FU, a significant improvement in NYHA class, LVEF (from 31.0% to 34.0%; p = 0.001), LVESV (from 115.0 to 101.0 mL; p = 0.033) and sPAP (from 31.0 to 25.0 mmHg; p = 0.024) was observed. Moreover, S/V did not affect negatively eGFR and was associated with a significantly lower dose of furosemide prescribed. The propensity score weighting adjusted regression analysis showed a significantly lower risk for HF rehospitalization (HR, 0.131; 95% CI, 0.034-0.503; p = 0.003) and the composite outcome (HR, 0.162; 95% CI, 0.053-0.492; p = 0.001) among patients treated with S/V as compared to the standard therapy group. Conclusions In this real-world HFrEF population, S/V reduced HF rehospitalization and cardiac death at 1 year. Moreover, S/V improved significantly NYHA class, LVEF, LVESV and sPAP at 6 months, preserving renal function and reducing the need of furosemide. Table Study outcomes Unadjusted model HR 95% CI p-value HF rehospitalization 0.273 0.101-0.740 0.011 Cardiac death 0.443 0.137-1.440 0.176 Composite outcome 0.331 0.155-0.710 0.005 All-cause death 0.666 0.272-1.628 0.372 Adjusted model HR 95% CI p-value HF rehospitalization 0.131 0.034-0.503 0.003 Cardiac death 0.259 0.047-1.415 0.119 Composite outcome 0.162 0.053-0.492 0.001 All-cause death 0.713 0.201-2.529 0.601 Adjusted and unadjusted HR for the study outcomes. Abstract 412 Figure.

Secondary pollutants can heavily affect human health, specifically Particulate Matter affects population in terms of respiratory and cardiovascular related diseases. These impacts can be also economic evaluated considering the external costs due to morbidity and mortality. An Integrated Assessment approach consisting in the coupled use of two Air Quality Planning tools, SHERPA and RIAT+, is presented: the methodology allows decision-makers in the definition of optimal air quality policies solving a multi-objective problem where both a cost index and an air quality index are minimized. Furthermore an ex-post analysis is computed and health impacts are estimated. The aim of this work is the comparison of optimal air quality policies between the “Four Motors for Europe”, namely Auvergne-Rhone-Alps (F), Baden-Wurttemberg (D), Catalonia (E) and Lombardy (I).

In this work a source-apportionment approach is presented and applied in order to define priority on emission control strategies to limit PM10 concentrations in atmosphere. Emission control priority is defined starting from the results of the application of the source-apportionment module of the CAMx chemical transport model. The module, based on reactive tracers approach, allows to take into account the effect of the heavy non linearity affecting the formation and accumulation of PM10 in the atmosphere. The methodology has been applied on Northern Italy, a region often affected by high PM10 levels both in cold and warm season. The application results are presented in two different steps. In the first one, the validation of the overall CAMx model is presented, in terms of its capability to describe the phenomena involved in PM10 accumulation and formation. The second step concerns the application of the model to define priority on PM10 control actions. The validation results show high performances both in terms of mean values and other statistical indexes, with correlation around 1 and normalized errors close to 0 for almost all the considered validation stations. The source-apportionment methodology application highlights that control of emissions due to domestic heating, transport, agriculture and industrial processes is the main priority for a decision maker, accounting for the 70% of the PM10 levels.

The daily usage of cars to commute has negative impacts on population health. Mainly, a direct impact due to the increase of physical inactivity and an indirect impact due to the increase in atmospheric particulate concentration resulting from vehicular emissions. Active mobility can have instead multiple positive impacts. In this work a methodology to evaluate costs, direct and indirect impacts due to the application of active mobility strategies is presented. The methodology is based on the solution of a multi-objective problem identifying a set of optimal strategies, combined with an ex-post impact analysis. This technique has been applied to a case study in Northern Italy.

Direct numerical simulation data of the separating and reattaching flow around a blunt bluff body are used for the assessment of the combined role played by the numerical resolution and subgrid turbulence closure in large eddy simulation. The ability of the large-scale resolved field to capture the main flow features is first analyzed. The behavior of the intensity of the resolved fluctuations as a function of the filter lengths reveals a higher sensitivity of the resolved flow on a reduction of resolution in the streamwise direction rather than in the spanwise one. On the other hand, the analysis of the subgrid stresses shows the presence of two challenging phenomena, a reversal of flow of energy from the fluctuating to the mean field in the leading-edge shear layer and a backward energy transfer from small to large scale within the main recirculating bubble. These two phenomena challenge for subgrid closures that should be able to reproduce a flow of energy from the space of small unknown subgrid scales to drive the resolved mean and fluctuating motion. In particular, it is found that the formalism of subgrid viscosity models allows us to capture neither the negative turbulence production of the leading-edge shear layer nor the backward energy transfer within the main flow recirculation. On the other hand, the subgrid similarity models are able to capture both these two phenomena but, from a quantitative point of view, the intensity of the reproduced stresses is very weak. In conclusion, the need of subgrid closures based on a mixed modeling approach for the solution of the flow is envisaged.

The purpose of this paper is the design and the performance analysis of a control technique that allows simultaneous attitude control and angular momentum management for a Low Earth Orbit satellite equipped with a set of three magnetic actuators and three reaction wheels. A Proof of global asymptotic stability is derived for a control law driving a rigid spacecraft towards a prescribed, yet generic attitude fixed in the orbit frame. An analytical technique allowing for control gain selection is also proposed, which provides optimal convergence performance for the proposed controller, as demonstrated by means of Monte Carlo simulations. Robustness to external disturbances is finally evaluated within a realistic implementation scenario.

In this contribution an overview of the main food allergens was presented

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of congestive heart failure (CHF). In humans with CHF, increased production and high plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1, IL-8 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) have been associated with disease progression and a negative prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether differences in cytokine blood mRNA expression exist between clinically healthy dogs and dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD); to determine if the expression was related to the severity of MMVD, and to detect any correlations with echocardiographic parameters of cardiac remodelling. Twenty-three dogs with MMVD of varying severity and six clinically healthy dogs were included in the study. Whole blood samples were obtained for measurement of mRNA expression of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β1, TNF-α by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). There were statistically significant differences between clinically healthy dogs and dogs with MMVD for IL-8 and TGF-β1 gene expression. IL-8 expression increased with increasing MMVD severity and TGF-β1 expression was higher in asymptomatic dogs with echocardiographic signs of cardiac remodelling (American College Veterinary Internal Medicine class B2) than in all other groups. These results could suggest the involvement of these cytokines at different stages of the disease.

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence’s Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) as a method for analysis of spatial and temporal data gives us a new avenue for research of the processes inherent to planetary exospheres and their interaction with the planetary environment. Hereby, it will be presented a particular study on how in-situ observations of the elemental composition of Mercury’s exosphere may serve as an indication of the surface regolith mineral composition below, through predictions given by pre-trained DNNs. In this case the main driver, considered to generate the exosphere, is the micrometeoroid impact vaporization (MIV), which is seen as the dominant process in the night-side hemisphere of the planet. The training datasets will be constructed from randomly generated virtual surfaces, which will aim to generalize the training of the AI models to various types and compositions of the regolith. Different Neural Network models, which include fully-connected networks and Convolutional Neural Networks, will be compared both in giving supervised classification through multivariate regression predictions, and in reconstructing the regolith mineralogy maps. Furthermore, ways to expand the Deep Neural Networks to pattern recognition and knowledge discovery will be explored beyond the surface-exosphere interaction, as well as the possibilities for transfer learning and online learning with the acquisition of real planetary data. The development of such data analysis algorithms will be shown especially in view of the upcoming arrival of the ESA/JAXA’s BepiColombo mission to Mercury, the innermost planet, in 2025, with its variety of instruments able to capture the dynamics of the tenuous Hermean environment. Ultimately, would be targeted the implementation of such AI algorithms within the Ground Segment pipeline software architecture of the experiment BepiColombo/MPO/SERENA, composed by four ion and neutral particle detectors.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (nppa/anf) and brain natriuretic peptide (nppb/bnp) form a gene cluster with expression in the chambers of the developing heart. Despite restricted expression, a function in cardiac development has not been demonstrated by mutant analysis. This is attributed to functional redundancy; however, their genomic location in cis has impeded formal analysis. Using genome editing, we have generated mutants for nppa and nppb, and found that single mutants were indistinguishable from wild type, whereas nppa/nppb double mutants displayed heart morphogenesis defects and pericardial oedema. Analysis of atrioventricular canal (AVC) markers show expansion of bmp4, tbx2b, has2 and versican expression into the atrium of double mutants. This expanded expression correlates with increased extracellular matrix in the atrium. Using a biosensor for hyaluronic acid to measure the cardiac jelly (cardiac extracellular matrix), we confirmed cardiac jelly expansion in nppa/nppb double mutants. Finally, bmp4 knockdown rescued the expansion of has2 expression and cardiac jelly in double mutants. This definitively shows that nppa and nppb function redundantly during cardiac development to restrict gene expression to the AVC, preventing excessive cardiac jelly synthesis in the atrial chamber.

In the present contribution, the potential of LC-HR-MS coupled to software based data handling for fish authenticity and traceability will be presented. Salmon salar discrimination based on geographic origin was accomplished by untargeted LC-HR-MS analysis on hybrid quadrupole/OrbitrapTM-based mass spectrometer and by raw data mining with commercial software for small molecules identification. Salmon filets were extracted by methanol/chloroform mixtures and both the polar and non-polar fractions were analysed for a comprehensive compound characterization and differential analysis. In particular, conventional chromatographic separation was accomplished with a relatively short linear gradient with full scan HR-MS acquisitions performed in both positive and negative modes. The gathered spectra were processed via the commercial software Compound Discoverer v.2.0 (Thermo Fisher Scientific) in order to detect and group the unknown compounds with an accuracy

Direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flows at friction Reynolds numbers (Re) of 550, 1000 and 1500 are used to analyse the turbulent production, transfer and dissipation mechanisms in the compound space of scales and wall distances by means of the Kolmogorov equation generalized to inhomogeneous anisotropic flows. Two distinct peaks of scale-energy source are identified. The first, stronger one, belongs to the near-wall cycle. Its location in the space of scales and physical space is found to scale in viscous units, while its intensity grows slowly with $\mathit{Re}$, indicating a near-wall modulation. The second source peak is found further away from the wall in the putative overlap layer, and it is separated from the near-wall source by a layer of significant scale-energy sink. The dynamics of the second outer source appears to be strongly dependent on the Reynolds number. The detailed scale-by-scale analysis of this source highlights well-defined features that are used to make the properties of the outer turbulent source independent of Reynolds number and wall distance by rescaling the problem. Overall, the present results suggest a strong connection of the observed outer scale-energy source with the presence of an outer region of turbulence production whose mechanisms are well separated from the near-wall region and whose statistical features agree with the hypothesis of an overlap layer dominated by attached eddies. Inner–outer interactions between the near-wall and outer source region in terms of scale-energy fluxes are also analysed. It is conjectured that the near-wall modulation of the statistics at increasing Reynolds number can be related to a confinement of the near-wall turbulence production due to the presence of increasingly large production scales in the outer scale-energy source region.

The effect of a slit-like confinement on the relaxation dynamics of DNA is studied via a mesoscale model in which a bead and spring model for the polymer is coupled to a particle-based Navier–Stokes solver (multi-particle collision dynamics). The confinement is found to affect the equilibrium stretch of the chain when the bulk gyration radius is comparable to or smaller than the channel height and our data are in agreement with the ( R g,bulk / h ) 1/4 scaling of the polymer extension in the wall tangential direction. Relaxation simulation at different confinements indicates that, while the overall behaviour of the relaxation dynamics is similar for low and strong confinements, a small, but significant, slowing of the far-equilibrium relaxation is found as the confinement increases.

Mass spectrometry (MS) represents an essential tool in proteomics studies, in the last years also exploited for monitoring allergens contamination in food products. Milk and egg are renowned allergens often used as fining agents to promote clarification of wines, therefore any residual amount in the endproducts could represent a menace for allergic individuals. In view of this, it is of paramount importance to have at disposal sensitive analytical methods able to detect traces of milk and egg allergens in food. In this work we describe the upgrade and the optimization of an analytical workflow based on the use of a pre-enrichment column coupled with HPLC separation and MS/MS detection for the selective and sensitive detection of milk and egg allergens in white wine. Two different sample pre-treatments based on the use of mass cut-off filters or size exclusion cartridges were evaluated and compared, before tryptic digestion and LC-SRM-MS/MS analysis of the resulting peptides mixture. The devised UF based method coupled with peptide on-line pre-enrichment enabled to reach the lowest LODs down at 0.036 ug/mL and 0.05 ug/mL for egg and milk allergens respectively, proving to be the most sensitive strategy for monitoring allergens contamination in wine.

We present a method for automatically generating verification conditions for a class of imperative programs and safety properties. Our method is parametric with respect to the semantics of the imperative programming language, as it generates the verification conditions by specializing, using unfold/fold transformation rules, a Horn clause interpreter that encodes that semantics. We define a multi-step operational semantics for a fragment of the C language and compare the verification conditions obtained by using this semantics with those obtained by using a more traditional small-step semantics. The flexibility of the approach is further demonstrated by showing that it is possible to easily take into account alternative operational semantics definitions for modeling additional language features. We have proved that the verification condition generation takes a number of transformation steps that is linear with respect to the size of the imperative program to be verified. Also the size of the verification conditions is linear with respect to the size of the imperative program. Besides the theoretical computational complexity analysis, we also provide an experimental evaluation of the method by generating verification conditions using the multi-step and the small-step semantics for a few hundreds of programs taken from various publicly available benchmarks, and by checking the satisfiability of these verification conditions by using state-of-the-art Horn clause solvers. These experiments show that automated verification of programs from a formal definition of the operational semantics is indeed feasible in practice.

Ambient ionization techniques have been demonstrated challenging and straightforward strategies for food fingerprinting or food-authenticity assessment. Among them, direct analysis in real time (DART) is an ambient ionization technique that coupled with various MS analyzers demonstrated to be successful for both target and non target analysis of several complex foods [1, 2]. Fish is an important source of nutrients in the human diet and salmon, in particular, is considered a valuable source of "healthy" fatty acids thanks to the presence of long chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapenteanoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. However, factors such as the living conditions of the salmons whether farmed or caught or the non appropriate storage conditions applied during food circulation or dispatch to the local retailers might affect considerably the quality and the final composition of the lipid fraction, also compromising the availability of some beneficial compounds. In this presentation the coupling between DART and a mono-stage Orbitrap(TM) based High Resolution Mass Spectrometer has been for the first time exploited for rapid lipid profiling of Salmo salar stored for several days under refrigerated conditions. First DART and HRMS parameters were duly tuned in order to achieve a rapid and reliable analysis in the shortest time. Afterwards, samples were extracted according to a general protocol and further analysed by DART-HRMS in order to highlight significant changes in the lipid profile over time. Thanks to the high mass resolving power offered by the instrument in use, providing a mass accuracy better than 5 ppm, the composition of some lipids could be also inferred by entering the elemental composition predicted by the XCalibur(TM) software into the Lipid Maps database. The method DART-HRMS applied to the analysis of salmon under different storage conditions highlighted significant changes appearing along the lipid profile over the explored time. Results showed that prolonging storage of the product for a period longer than 3 days produced a remarked increase in the levels of specific fatty acids and a consequent decrease in the triacylglicerol levels. In perspective these findings open towards the possibility to employ such strategy to monitor salmon freshness through the analysis of the lipid profile. Acknowledgments: This work has been supported by the European project FOODINTEGRITY (FP7-KBBE-2013-single-stage, No 613688).

We present an operational semantics for time-aware business processes, that is, processes modeling the execution of business activities, whose durations are subject to linear constraints over the integers. We assume that some of the durations are controllable, that is, they can be determined by the organization that enacts the process, while others are uncontrollable, that is, they are determined by the external world. Then, we consider controllability properties, which guarantee the com- pletion of the enactment of the process, satisfying the given duration constraints, independently of the values of the uncontrollable durations. Controllability properties are encoded by quantified reachability formu- las, where the reachability predicate is recursively defined by a set of Constrained Horn Clauses (CHCs). These clauses are automatically de- rived from the operational semantics of the process. Finally, we present two algorithms for solving the so called weak and strong controllability problems. Our algorithms reduce these problems to the verification of a set of quantified integer constraints, which are simpler than the original quantified reachability formulas, and can effectively be handled by state-of-the-art CHC solvers.

This study reports on a detailed investigation into the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the construction process of multistory wooden buildings relative to the other life cycle stages: the material production and operation stages. The results showed that the construction stage accounts for 20–30% of the initial embodied emissions and 6–10% of the total emission of the included life cycle stages. Especially the transport process of building components seems to have higher potential to mitigate the emissions than the actual construction work. In addition, the emissions from different construction systems were studied based on the reference buildings. Although definitive conclusion would be difficult to be drawn from this study alone due to the small sample size and the assumptions made, prefabrication work seems to be a more efficient construction method compared to on-site work for wooden buildings.

The systemic and respiratory local immune response induced by the intradermal administration of a commercial inactivated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae whole-cell vaccine (Porcilis(®) MHYO ID ONCE - MSD AH) in comparison with two commercial vaccines administered via the intramuscular route and a negative control (adjuvant only) was investigated. Forty conventional M. hyopneumoniae-free pigs were randomly assigned to four groups (ten animals each): Group A=intradermal administration of the test vaccine by using the needle-less IDAL(®) vaccinator at a dose of 0.2 ml; Group B=intramuscular administration of a commercially available vaccine (vaccine B); Group C=intramuscular administration of the adjuvant only (2 ml of X-solve adjuvant); Group D=intramuscular administration of a commercially available vaccine (vaccine D). Pigs were vaccinated at 28 days of age. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples were collected at vaccination (blood only), 4 and 8 weeks post-vaccination. Serum and BAL fluid were tested for the presence of antibodies by ELISA test. Peripheral blood monomorphonuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated to quantify the number of IFN-γ secreting cells by ELISpot. Moreover, cytokine gene expression from the BAL fluid was performed. Total antibodies against M. hyopneumoniae and specific IgG were detected in serum of intradermally and intramuscularly (vaccine B only) vaccinated pigs at 4 and 8 weeks post-vaccination. M. hyopneumoniae specific IgA were detected in BAL fluid from vaccinated animals (Groups A and B) but not from controls and animals vaccinated with the bacterin D (p

This paper develops a quantitative analysis of the asymptotic behavior of a class of integrodifferential equations modelling the competition between tumor cells and immune cells in the medium of environmental cells. The analysis is referred to as a well-defined therapeutical action, namely the possibility of modifying the ability of neoplastic cells to inhibit the immune cells.

The detection of Energetic Neutral Particles (ENP) above 10 eV can unequivocally relate a surface-bound exosphere to surface features and can monitor instantaneously the effect of plasma precipitation onto the surface. In the framework of a mission to Jupiter's moons, 2D imaging of plasma precipitation will provide important information on the plasma circulation at the orbits of the moons. Furthermore, a joint measurement of precipitating ions will permit an estimation of the efficiency of the release process. Coupled measurements of ENP and gas composition will improve our knowledge of surface release mechanisms. Ganymede's and Europa's Neutral Imaging Experiment (GENIE) is a high-angular-resolution detector, based on the ToF (Time of Flight) technique, that can detect ENP (energy range >10 eV-few keV) in the Jupiter environment thanks to an innovative design and technology. Its objective is to map the sites of origin of the ENP of the icy moons' exospheres to investigate the interaction between the surface and the environment. Finally, coupling GENIE with an ion sensor and a mass spectrometer will be an outstanding opportunity to better understand the magnetosphere-moon coupling within the Jupiter system and compare the surface interaction with plasma in the diverse moons. In this paper, the scientific objectives and requirements of ENP detection are summarized and the description of the innovative design concept of GENIE is given, together with the signal and background noise simulation.

The paper describes the energy fluxes simultaneously occurring in the space of scales and in the physical space of wall-turbulent flows. The unexpected behaviour of the energy fluxes consists of spiral-like paths in the combined physical/scale space where the controversial reverse energy cascade plays a central role. Two dynamical processes are identified as driving mechanisms for the fluxes, one in the near-wall region and a second one further away from the wall. The former, stronger, one is related to the dynamics involved in the near-wall turbulence regeneration cycle. The second suggests an outer self-sustaining mechanism which is asymptotically expected to take place in the eventual log layer and could explain the debated mixed inner/outer scaling of the near-wall statistics. The observed behaviour may have strong repercussions on both theoretical and modelling approaches to wall turbulence, as anticipated by a simple equation which is shown able to capture most of the rich dynamics of the shear-dominated region of the flow.

A number of predisposing factors (obesity, nasal obstruction, adenoidal hypertrophy, macroglossia, etc) have been related to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In addition hypothyroidism and large goitres have been reported to be associated to OSAS, but this association has not been adequately studied. We describe an obese patient with euthyroid goitre associated with OSAS. The patient showed a body mass index (BMI) of 47 and a large neck with a circumference of 60 cm. The flow-volume curve demonstrated an expiratory plateau suggesting an intrathoracic upper airway obstruction. Arterial blood gas analysis results were: pH 7.39; PCO2 54.2 mmHg; P O2 47 mmHg. Nocturnal polisomnography showed an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) of 31 episodes/hour. Upper airway collapse was overcome by a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) of 14 cmH2O. Weight loss obtained by a hypocaloric diet was not accompanied by any OSAS improvement. After thyroidectomy, a nCPAP of 4 cmH2O was sufficient to prevent upper airway closure. Discontinuation of nCPAP treatment for 4 consecutive nights did not determine worsening of sleep apnea symptoms, nor a worsening of overnight oxymetry. A new polysomnography carried out after 4 nights off nCPAP showed an AHI of 33 episodes/hour. OSAS should be suspected in patients with large goitres. Decisions regarding discontinuation of nCPAP treatment after thyroidectomy should be based on polisomnographic results.

A DNS simulation of an interface between a decaying turbulent flow without mean shear and a quiescent non-turbulent region is presented here. The analysis of the instantaneous fields highlight a complex multi-scale behaviour at the turbulent/non-turbulent interface. According to previous results in the literature, by analysing the enstrophy budgets it is possible to observe that enstrophy propagate from the turbulent region mainly by inviscid process while viscous diffusion is relevant only at the interface.