87,365 research outputs found
Experimental investigation of GFRP plates under LVI phenomena with different impact energy levels
No full textThis paper deals with an experimental tests campaign addressed to investigate the structural behaviour of short Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) plates (PA66 GF30) under Low Velocity Impact (LVI) phenomena, characterized by different impact energy levels, according to the ASTM D7136 requirement. The scope of this research activity must be found in a wider scenario, in which the experimental characterization can be the key-step to develop an established numerical model for the simulation of the experimental tests. Under a Certification by Analysis (CbA) purpose, an established numerical model can be used, rather than to virtually characterize the behaviour of specimens (reducing the costs related to the experimental tests), to simulate LVI on large structural component difficult to test in a laboratory
Assembling disease networks from causal interaction resources
No full textThe development of high-throughput high-content technologies and the increased ease in their application in clinical settings has raised the expectation of an important impact of these technologies on diagnosis and personalized therapy. Patient genomic and expression profiles yield lists of genes that are mutated or whose expression is modulated in specific disease conditions. The challenge remains of extracting from these lists functional information that may help to shed light on the mechanisms that are perturbed in the disease, thus setting a rational framework that may help clinical decisions. Network approaches are playing an increasing role in the organization and interpretation of patients' data. Biological networks are generated by connecting genes or gene products according to experimental evidence that demonstrates their interactions. Till recently most approaches have relied on networks based on physical interactions between proteins. Such networks miss an important piece of information as they lack details on the functional consequences of the interactions. Over the past few years, a number of resources have started collecting causal information of the type protein A activates/inactivates protein B, in a structured format. This information may be represented as signed directed graphs where physiological and pathological signaling can be conveniently inspected. In this review we will (i) present and compare these resources and discuss the different scope in comparison with pathway resources; (ii) compare resources that explicitly capture causality in terms of data content and proteome coverage (iii) review how causal-graphs can be used to extract disease-specific Boolean networks
Anxiety and depression among AL amyloidosis patients: The role of cardiac symptoms
No full textLight-chain (AL) amyloidosis has the worst prognosis out of the different forms of cardiac amyloidosis, However, data are not available about the incidence of the disease-related psychological impact of AL amyloidosis in this population. In particular, no data are available about the impact of diagnosis communication or about the impact of cardiac symptom onset and severity on anxiety and depression levels among AL patients. Aim: To evaluate the role of time that has passed since the diagnosis was communicated, time that has passed since the onset of cardiac symptoms, and actual cardiac symptom severity have on level of anxiety, depression and psychological stress among cardiology patients with AL. Thirty-two AL patients with cardiac-related symptoms were administered General Health Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Centre for Epidemiological Study–Depression Scale. Clinical variables such as months gone by since diagnosis, months gone by since the onset of cardiac symptoms, and cardiac symptom severity (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class) were measured. Troponin, NT-pro BNP levels, Mayo Stage and echocardiographic characteristics were also collected. Results: According to questionnaire normative values, AL patients presented severe psychological distress, severe anxiety and clinical depression. Moreover, anxiety levels were determined by psychological distress (p < 0.001) and months gone by since the onset of cardiac symptoms (p < 0.01) while depression levels were influenced by NYHA class (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that there is a need to plan psychological support for these patients with consideration for the onset of cardiac symptoms and symptom severity. Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis has the worst prognosis out of the different forms of cardiac amyloidosis, However, data are not available about the incidence of the disease-related psychological impact of AL amyloidosis in this population. In
particular, no data are available about the impact of diagnosis communication or about the impact of cardiac symptom onset and severity on anxiety and depression levels among AL patients. Aim: To evaluate the role of time that has passed since the diagnosis was communicated, time that has passed since the onset of cardiac symptoms, and actual cardiac symptom severity have on level of anxiety, depression and psychological stress among cardiology patients with AL. Thirty-two AL patients with cardiac-related symptoms were administered General Health Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Centre for Epidemiological Study–Depression Scale. Clinical variables such as months gone by since diagnosis, months gone by since the onset of cardiac symptoms, and cardiac symptom severity (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class) were measured. Troponin, NT-pro BNP levels, Mayo Stage and echocardiographic characteristics were also collected. Results: According to questionnaire normative values, AL patients presented severe psychological distress, severe anxiety and clinical depression. Moreover, anxiety levels were determined by psychological distress (p < 0.001) and months gone by since the onset of cardiac symptoms (p < 0.01) while depression levels were influenced by NYHA class (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that there is a need to plan psychological support for these patients with consideration for the onset of
cardiac symptoms and symptom severity
The data processor of the EUSO-SPB2 telescopes
No full textIn this paper we present the Data Processor (DP) of EUSO-SPB2 (Extreme Universe Space Observatory on a Super Pressure Balloon, mission two) telescopes. The EUSO-SPB2 is the continuation of the JEM-EUSO science program on ultra-long duration balloons, started with the EUSO-SPB1 mission. The EUSO-SPB2 will host on-board two telescopes. One is a fluorescence telescope designed to detect high energy cosmic rays via the UV fluorescence emission of the showers in the atmosphere; the other one measures direct Cherenkov light emission from lower energy cosmic rays and other optical backgrounds for cosmogenic tau neutrino detection. The DP is the component of the electronics system which performs data management and instrument control for each of the two telescopes. The DP controls front-end electronics, tags events with arrival time and payload position through a GPS system, provides signals for time synchronization of the event and measures live and dead time of the telescope. Furthermore it manages mass memory for data storage and performs housekeeping monitor and controls the power on and power off sequences. Since a super pressure balloon may remain airborne up to 100 days, the requirements on the electronics and data handling are quite severe. The DP operates at high altitude in unpressurised environment which represents a technological challenge for heat dissipation. In this paper we describe the main components of the system and the design developed for the new mission
Combining phosphoproteomics datasets and literature information to reveal the functional connections in a cell phosphorylation network
No full textProtein phosphorylation modulates many biological processes. However, the characterization of the complex regulatory circuits underlying cell response to external and internal stimuli is still limited by our inability to describe the phosphorylation network on a global scale. Modern MS-based phosphoproteomics allows monitoring tens of thousands of phosphorylation sites in multiple conditions, making the approach ideal to explore signaling pathways mediated by phosphorylation. Here, we review recent advances in phosphoproteomics and discuss some of the computational approaches developed to facilitate extraction of signaling information from these datasets. Finally, this review focuses on approaches that integrate prior literature information with unbiased phosphoproteomics experiments
Anxiety and depression among amyloid light-chain cardiac amyloidosis patients: The role of life satisfaction
No full textBackground: The present study aimed to provide a contribution to the study of a rare disease, amyloid light-chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis, which is the most common type of systemic amyloidosis. In AL amyloidosis prognosis is determined by cardiac involvement. Although the association between psychological distress (e.g. anxiety and depression) and AL cardiac amyloidosis is documented, very little is known about the psychosocial variables that may mediate the association.Aims: The aim of the study is therefore to examine the potential mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between cardiac symptom severity (independent variable) and anxious and depressive symptoms (dependent variables) in AL patients.Method: Forty-three AL amyloidosis patients (57.1% males) with cardiac amyloidosis were administered the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Centre for Epidemiological Study–Depression Scale. Clinical variables such as months since cardiac symptom onset and cardiac symptom severity were collected.Results: Findings showed significant relationships between symptom severity and psychological disorders (e.g. anxiety and depression) and these were mediated by life satisfaction.Conclusion: Overall, findings highlight the importance of subjective well-being (e.g. life satisfaction) to reduce anxious and depressive symptoms and to improve general health in AL patients
A GENERALIZED MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR ROTATING ELECTRICAL MACHINES
No full textThe aim of the paper is to present a mathematical model useful to analyze the different operating conditions of the different structures of rotating electrical machines. For this purpose it is first shown that the same mathematical expression describes the air gap m. m. f. generated by each kind of machine winding, if reference is made to a proper mathematical definition of the current distributions. The final mathematical model is expressed in a very general form and it enables us to simulate all different machine kinds only by introduction of proper assumption
Depression and cardiac symptoms among AL amyloidosis patients: The mediating role of coping strategies
No full textBackground: Amyloidosis is a rare disease group. AL amyloidosis represents the
most common type of systemic amyloidosis and cardiac involvement determines
prognosis. Although some studies have revealed that amyloidosis patients present
high levels of depression, few data are available about depression-contributing factors.
No investigations have been conducted about the coping strategies that AL
amyloidosis patients use to face the disease and there is little research on patients
with cardiac symptoms that are strongly related to the prognosis. Objectives: to
examine coping strategies (avoidance, social support seeking and problem-solving)
as potential mediator in the relationship between cardiac symptom severity (independent
variable) and depressive symptoms (dependent variable) in AL cardiologic
patients. Method: Thirty-four AL patients with cardiac-related symptoms were
administered the Coping Strategy Indicator and the Centre for Epidemiological
Study–Depression Scale. Clinical variables such as months since cardiac symptom
onset and cardiac symptom severity were collected. Results: According to questionnaire
normative values, all patients presented clinical depression. Moreover, out of
the coping strategies, avoidance and social support seeking mediated the link
between cardiac symptom severity and depressive symptoms. No mediational effect
was found for problem-solving. Discussion: As cardiac symptoms have low severity,
AL patients can avoid the disease. However, as cardiac symptoms proceed and interfere
with daily activities, they can no longer ignore their signs thus perceiving the
severity of their medical condition. This status makes individuals prone to seek less
social support and thus to prefer social isolation. Results suggest the need for early
psychological support on coping strategies for AL cardiologic patients.
Background: Amyloidosis is a rare disease group. AL amyloidosis represents the
most common type of systemic amyloidosis and cardiac involvement determines
prognosis. Although some studies have revealed that amyloidosis patients present
high levels of depression, few data are available about depression-contributing factors.
No investigations have been conducted about the coping strategies that AL
amyloidosis patients use to face the disease and there is little research on patients
with cardiac symptoms that are strongly related to the prognosis. Objectives: to
examine coping strategies (avoidance, social support seeking and problem-solving)
as potential mediator in the relationship between cardiac symptom severity (independent
variable) and depressive symptoms (dependent variable) in AL cardiologic
patients. Method: Thirty-four AL patients with cardiac-related symptoms were
administered the Coping Strategy Indicator and the Centre for Epidemiological
Study–Depression Scale. Clinical variables such as months since cardiac symptom
onset and cardiac symptom severity were collected. Results: According to questionnaire
normative values, all patients presented clinical depression. Moreover, out of
the coping strategies, avoidance and social support seeking mediated the link
between cardiac symptom severity and depressive symptoms. No mediational effect
was found for problem-solving. Discussion: As cardiac symptoms have low severity,
AL patients can avoid the disease. However, as cardiac symptoms proceed and interfere
with daily activities, they can no longer ignore their signs thus perceiving the
severity of their medical condition. This status makes individuals prone to seek less
social support and thus to prefer social isolation. Results suggest the need for early
psychological support on coping strategies for AL cardiologic patients
SignalingProfiler 2.0 a network-based approach to bridge multi-omics data to phenotypic hallmarks
No full textUnraveling how cellular signaling is remodeled upon perturbation is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms and identifying potential drug targets. In this pursuit, computational tools generating mechanistic hypotheses from multi-omics data have invaluable potential. Here, we present a newly implemented version (2.0) of SignalingProfiler, a multi-step pipeline to draw mechanistic hypotheses on the signaling events impacting cellular phenotypes. SignalingProfiler 2.0 derives context-specific signaling networks by integrating proteogenomic data with the prior knowledge-causal network. This is a freely accessible and flexible tool that incorporates statistical, footprint-based, and graph algorithms to accelerate the integration and interpretation of multi-omics data. Through a benchmarking process on three proof-of-concept studies, we demonstrate the tool's ability to generate hierarchical mechanistic networks recapitulating novel and known perturbed signaling and phenotypic outcomes, in both human and mice contexts. In summary, SignalingProfiler 2.0 addresses the emergent need to derive biologically relevant information from complex multi-omics data by extracting interpretable networks
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