2,685 research outputs found
Myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) immunomodulation by c-FLIP
No full textDuring tumor progression, cancer cells secrete many different tumor-derived factors (TDFs), like cytokines, chemokines, and metabolites, which promote the development of a flexible microenvironment inducing bot the generation of new vessels and the modification of the immune responses (Balkwill, Charles et al. 2005). Probably the most pervasive and efficient strategy of “tumor escape” relies on the tumor’s ability to create a tolerant microenvironment by modification of the normal hematopoiesis. Indeed, cancers can induce the proliferation and differentiation of myeloid precursors into myeloid cells with immunosuppressive functions. These cells, named myeloid-derive suppressor cells (MDSCs), are a heterogeneous population of myeloid cells emcompassing various stages of differentiation. MDSCs prevent the activation and functionality of T lymphocytes, limiting the success of immunotherapy strategies aimed at eradicating cancer development. In this study, we demonstrated that low dose of chemotherapeutics with different molecular targets and cytotoxic action, widely used in conventional anti-cancer therapy, were able to selectively deplete monocytic-MDSCs (M-MDSCs), restoring the T cell proliferation. We also proved that these drugs exert their action through the activation of the apoptotic death pathway and with the specific modulation of cellular FLICE (FADD-like IL-1β-converting enzyme)-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), a well-known anti-apoptotic and drug resistance factor. In particular, recent study in mice demonstrated that the heterogeneity between the two main subsets of MDSCs, the M-MDSCs and the polymorphonuclear/granulocytic (PMN)-MDSCs, occurs from a diverse activation of the apoptotic pathways: PMN-MDSCs require the anti-apoptotic molecule MCL-1 for their development; in contrast, M-MDSC generation and survival constitutively requires the presence of c-FLIP (Haverkamp, Smith et al. 2014). Therefore, in this study we verified and demonstrated the hypothesis that c-FLIP can have also a role in driving and controlling MDSC immunosuppressive properties
Optimum Design of Planar Steel Trusses by a Differential Evolutionary Approach
No full textThis paper focuses on the weight minimization of planar steel trusses, with particular reference to square hollow sections. The design optimization refers to size, shape and topology. The design variables are represented by some geometrical parameters regarding the dimension of the cross sections of the different elements of the truss and the outer shape. The topology is also included in the optimization search in an indirect way, that is the designer at different runs of the algorithm can change the number of bays keeping constant the total length of the truss, to successively choose the best optimal solution. Minimum weight optimum design is posed as a single-objective optimization problem, subject to constraints coherent with the current Eurocode 3. The optimal solution is obtained by a Differential Evolutionary (DE) algorithm, by suitably combining mutation and crossover operators
Multi-objective Optimization of Fluid Viscous Dampers in Wall-frame Systems
No full textThis study concerns the optimum design of a passive seismic control strategy, based on the use of a Fluid Viscous Damper as dissipative connection in a wall-frame structural system. The two substructures, the wall and the frame, are modelled by single degree of freedom systems, and are subjected to a seismic motion represented by a filtered nonstationary stochastic process. The optimum design of the dissipative connection is developed using a "global protection strategy" which aims at reducing earthquake effects on both the substructures
[Recensione a:] M. Caratozzolo, Tommaso Fiore e la Russia. Il riscatto degli oppressi tra meridionalismo e socialismo, Bari, Stilo Editrice, 2019, pp. 168.
No full textVolume review of Marco Caratozzolo's, Tommaso Fiore e la Russia, Bari, Stilo, 201
Commentary: Cortical Plasticity and Olfactory Function in Early Blindness
No full textCommentary: Cortical plasticity and olfactory function in early blindnes
Influence of Structural Damping Uncertainty on Damping Reduction Factor
No full textIn practice, elastic response spectra are generally obtained by utilizing the 5% value for the damping ratio. The Damping Reduction Factor (DRF) allows to account for higher damping values. As proved by many literature studies, the DRF mainly depends on the structural damping ratio, until now essentially treated in a deterministic way. In this framework, the main aim of the present study is to explore a new definition of DRF including the effects of probabilistic uncertainties. Uncertainty is incorporated in both the random process, adopted to model the dynamic input, and the damping coefficient, introduced in the analysis as an uncertain variable
POD-based representation of the alongwind equivalent static force for long-span bridges
No full textThis paper develops and discusses a method by which it is possible to evaluate the Equivalent
Static Force (ESF) of wind in the case of long-span bridges. Attention is focused on the alongwind
direction. The study herein carried out deals with the classical problems of determining the maximum
effects due to the alongwind action and the corresponding ESFs. The mean value of the maximum
alongwind displacement of the deck is firstly obtained both by the spectral analysis and the Gust
Response Factor (GRF) technique. Successively, in order to derive the other wind-induced effects acting
on the deck, the Gust Effect Factor (GEF) technique is extended to long-span bridges. By adopting the
GRF technique, it is possible to define the ESF that applied on the structure produces the maximum
alongwind displacement. Nevertheless the application of the ESF so obtained does not furnish the correct
maximum values of other wind-induced effects acting on the deck such as bending moments or shears.
Based on this observation, a new technique is proposed which allows to define an ESF able to
simultaneously reproduce the maximum alongwind effects of the bridge deck. The proposed technique is
based on the GEF and the POD techniques and represents a valid instrument of research for the
understanding of the wind excitation mechanism
Influence of Structural Damping Uncertainty on Damping Reduction Factor
No full textIn practice, elastic response spectra are generally obtained by utilizing the 5% value for the damping ratio. The Damping Reduction Factor (DRF) allows to account for higher damping values. As proved by many literature studies, the DRF mainly depends on the structural damping ratio, until now essentially treated in a deterministic way. In this framework, the main aim of the present study is to explore a new definition of DRF including the effects of probabilistic uncertainties. Uncertainty is incorporated in both the random process, adopted to model the dynamic input, and the damping coefficient, introduced in the analysis as an uncertain variable
Earthquake-Induced lateral-torsional pounding between three adjacent structures
No full textPounding between adjacent buildings, often characterized by different material properties, can be cause of significant or even severe structural damage. This paper presents an analytical study on the earthquake induced lateral-torsional pounding between three multi-storey adjacent buildings with substantially different dynamic properties. Both a non-linear viscoelastic model to simulate impact and a non-linear behaviour of the storey shear forces and torques are considered in the model, differently from many commercial softwares which admit just one non-linearity. In order to solve the dynamic equation of motion, a numerical algorithm is suitably programmed by using MATLAB software
Da cosa nasce cosa. L'arte contemporanea come terreno di una progettualità condivisa
No full textQuesto volume raccoglie i contributi di alcuni membri dell'Associazione Ko.Ji.Ku, associazione che, negli anni, ha dato vita a diverse mostre collettive e personali in varie sedi istituzionali e non profit della Liguria. I saggi contenuti nel volume delineano e analizzano le diverse tematiche relative all'arte contemporanea illustrando, inoltre, con schede tecniche e immagini, i singoli eventi espositivi ideati nell'ambito di questo laboratorio culturale di attività concreta
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