Parthenope University of Naples
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Resolving SPARC–HSA binding kinetics with an ultrasensitive photonic sensor based on bound states in the continuum
No full textSecreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is critical in cell–matrix interactions and tissue remodeling. It influences tumor progression through its affinity for human serum albumin (HSA) - the most abundant plasma protein, which also plays a crucial role in drug delivery. Strong molecular binding leads to a dissociation constant KD in the nanomolar range. Thus, determining KD requires detecting sub-nanomolar concentrations with ultrasensitive methods. This may be crucial for elucidating the nature of SPARC–HSA binding, as their interaction remains a subject of debate. Capturing these interactions accurately requires a platform capable of resolving rapid binding kinetics at extremely low analyte concentrations. In this work, we report on a microfluidics-integrated photonic nanostructure that supports bound states in the continuum (BICs) and is optimized for studying the fast kinetics of high-affinity protein–protein interactions. The unprecedented capability of detecting sub-nanomolar concentrations allows quantifying KD between SPARC and HSA beyond the state of the art. We leverage an all-dielectric photonic crystal slab (PhCS) sustaining two BIC branches arising from gapped Dirac cone dispersion. HSA is covalently immobilized on the PhCS bonded to a PDMS microfluidic chamber. SPARC dissociation is carried out using PBS buffer (pH 7.4), ensuring complete protein release through precise control of the flow rate and continuous spectral monitoring of the BICs. The measured KD=8.2±0.8 nM confirms the strong affinity of SPARC for HSA. This study highlights the potential of BIC-based sensing as a versatile tool for investigating protein interactions. These results also have implications for the optimization of drug delivery systems and cancer treatment strategies
Alcune riflessioni sulla riforma dei requisiti statutari degli enti sportivi dilettantistici e la conseguente applicazione dei regimi fiscali di favore
No full textUniversity in downtown. Developing a new scale to assess the impact of university activities on the community
No full textIn for a penny: An empirical study of earthquake experience and non-pharmaceutical intervention effectiveness in the Marche region
No full text
Toward Sustainable Heavy-Duty Transport: Evaluating Charge Dilution and Advanced Corona Ignition System Effects on SI Natural Gas Engine Efficiency and Combustion Characteristics
No full textReducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector is a significant challenge. A multi-technology approach is the most practical and sustainable solution for minimizing the environmental impact of road transport. Alternative gaseous fuels derivable from bio sources have the potential to significantly cut equivalent carbon dioxide (CO2eq) emissions from a Well-to-Wheel (WtW) perspective, and the development of technologies that allow to improve the efficiency of natural gas-powered Heavy Duty (HD) Spark Ignition (SI) engines is of strategic importance. In such applications, charge dilution strategies might have the potential to increase engine efficiency at a relatively low implementation cost. Diluting the in-cylinder charge can reduce fuel consumption by decreasing wall and pumping losses, and increasing the Heat Capacity Ratio (γ). The coupling with innovative technologies aimed at enhancing ignition energy, influencing combustion development, could be a promising scientific path for achieving more significant results. This work presents an experimental study conducted on a modern natural gas HD SI Single Cylinder Engine (SCE) to analyze the efficiency and emission benefits achievable through charge dilution. Additionally, a characterization of the prototypal 2nd generation Advanced Corona Ignition System (ACIS gen2) was conducted for a preliminary assessment of its potential in gaseous fuel context, and to investigate the effects of its higher ignition energy on combustion features under both diluted and non-diluted charge conditions. The steady-state tests have been carried out across the low/medium load and speed range of the engine map, replicating the most common operating conditions for on-road use cases. The results highlight that charge dilution positively impacts the thermodynamic efficiency of gas HD SI engines within specific limits, lowering the Indicated Specific Fuel Consumption (ISFC) by up to 10%. The ACIS gen2 reduced the combustion duration, particularly impacting the early stages, producing an additional improvement in the ISFC of 1% to 2% in stoichiometric conditions; and suggested further potential that could be obtained by optimizing the entire system. Both technologies show that their use could be beneficial in hydrogen applications
A Spectral-Preserving Zero-Shot Technique for Hyperspectral Pansharpening
No full textHyperspectral pansharpening is a key fusion process aimed to enhance the spatial resolution of a hyperspectral image benefiting of a simultaneously acquired higher resolution panchromatic band. Promising approaches, which leverage on deep learning models, are optimized in unsupervised manners using full-resolution real datasets with no reference. The lack of ground-truths imposes the use of a two-fold composite loss to ensure both spectral and spatial quality according to some trade-off criterion. The common solution, however, is agnostic with respect to the spectral-spatial balance, giving the same relevance to both properties. Indeed, the spectral information is the most distinctive feature to preserve in any application based on hyperspectral data. Motivated by this last observation, in this work we propose a spectral-preserving fusion approach that puts the spectral quality ahead thanks to a suitably defined unsupervised loss. Our experiments show very promising results with really low spectral distortions, on average and uniformly along the spectral axis, ensuring good sharpening levels too
“Scelte” dei soci e divergenza dalle regole statutarie: tra legittimità e limiti.
No full textLa Corte Federale di Giustizia (Bundesgerichtshof- BGH) con la sentenza del 16 luglio 2024 (causa II ZR 71/23, Martin Kind/Hannover 96) interviene nuovamente sul trattamento delle delibere dei soci in deroga alle disposizioni statutarie. Pur riproponendo la tradizionale di-stinzione tra la «deroga puntuale» (c.d. punktuelle Satzungsdurchbrechung) e la «deroga con effetto costitutivo» (c.d. zustandsbegründende Satzungsdurchbrechung) fornisce per la prima volta alcuni criteri di riferimento per distinguere le due “tipologie” di deroghe statutarie. Viene affermata (per la s.r.l.) la validità della deroga, che regola un singolo caso “puntuale”, anche senza il rispetto dei requisiti formali richiesti per le modifiche statutarie, e per la s.p.a. sembra potersi desumere che non sussista l’obbligo di iscrivere nel registro la delibera in deroga. L’esperienza tedesca rappresenta l’occasione per prospettare alcune riflessioni sulla validità di una «deroga occasionale» anche nel nostro ordinamento.The Bundesgerichtshof (BGH), in its judgment of 16 July 2024 (case II ZR 71/23, Martin Kind/Hannover 96), once again addressed the issue of shareholders’ resolutions adopted in derogation of the articles of association. The Court reaffirmed the traditional distinction be-tween the “ad hoc derogation” (punktuelle Satzungsdurchbrechung) and the “constitutive derogation” (zustandsbegründende Satzungsdurchbrechung), and, for the first time, provided criteria for distinguishing between these two types of statutory derogations. Regarding the limited liability company (GmbH), the Court held that an ad hoc derogation is valid even if it does not comply with the formal requirements prescribed for amendments to the articles of association. As for the joint-stock company (AG), it can be inferred that there is no obligation to register a derogating resolution with the commercial register. The German experience thus offers an opportunity to reflect on the validity of an “occasional derogation” in the Ital-ian legal system as well.
KEYWORDS: derogation of the articles of association; occasional derogation; permanent derogatio
Green Transition, Skills Heterogeneity, and Inequality
No full textThis study investigates the labor market dynamics and distributional consequences of the transition to a net-zero economy, with a particular focus on heterogeneity across worker types differentiated by skill level and sectoral employment. We employ a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model with search-and-matching (SAM) frictions in the labor market, incorporating three dimensions of heterogeneity: (i) differentiation between low-skilled and high-skilled workers; (ii) distinctions among employed, unemployed, and inactive individuals; and (iii) employment distributions across green and dirty sectors. Our main findings are threefold. First, in the short term, the adjustment to higher carbon taxes leads to a reduction in employment and a decline in skill wage premiums. Second, the green transition intensifies inequality in the long run by favoring high-skilled workers, assuming the share of low-skilled labor in the green sector remains persistently limited. Third, we assess the effectiveness of different carbon revenue recycling schemes, including progressive and uniform labor tax cuts and unemployment benefits. We find that aggregate welfare gains are higher when revenues are used to cut labor income taxes for low-skilled workers, and that unemployment benefits generate greater welfare gains than a uniform labor tax cut in the medium to long run