Dolutegravir-based regimen maintains virological success in a patient with archived mutations to integrase inhibitors

no abstract availabl

Recupero dell'offset di frequenza su canali con fading selettivo nel tempo

In questo lavoro di tesi si è sviluppato un pacchetto software per la simulazione del livello fisico di un sistema single carrier su canale selettivo nel tempo ed in particolare è stato implementato un nuovo algoritmo per il recupero del sincronismo di frequenza. Il simulatore permette di valutare le prestazioni del sistema in termini di Mean Square Estimation Error (MSEE) e di Bias del sincronizzatore di frequenza. Nel capitolo 1 sono descritti la struttura generale del sistema ed in particolare i vari blocchi che lo compongono, la struttura del burst ed il modello del canale multipath considerato. Nel capitolo 2 si analizza l’algoritmo fornendo anche una sintetica descrizione di un altro approccio a cui verrà in seguito fatto riferimento come pietra di paragone per valutare la bontà dei risultati conseguiti. Nel capitolo 3 si illustra il funzionamento del simulatore soffermandosi in dettaglio sulle varie subroutines utilizzate, infine vengono esposti i risultati grafici relativi alle simulazioni con canale rispettivamente awgn e tempo-selettivo

Nasal manifestations in granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a case report and review of the literature

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is an anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides of medium and small arteries, characterized by necrotizing granulomatous inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract with coexist- ing glomerulonephritis. We report a case of GPA in a patient presenting with a six-month history of spontaneous epistaxis, nasal obstruction and frontal headache. Nasal endoscopy showed a large nasal septum perforation and an anterior translucid mass in the right nasal fossa. Findings were confirmed by computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast. The patient underwent func- tional transnasal endoscopic removal of the mass; histological examination showed tissue features suggestive of GPA; dosage of c-ANCA e p-ANCA antibodies confirmed GPA diagnosis. Nasal septum perforation has long been recognized as a feature of GPA, in which granulomatous destruction of nasal cartilage can result in perforation and saddle-nose deformity. Prompt diagno- sis of GPA is important to initiate therapy which may be life-saving and organ sparing

Indole-3-butyric acid induces ectopic formation of metaxylem in the hypocotyl of Arabidopsis thaliana without conversion into indole-3-acetic acid and with a positive interaction with ethylene

The role of the auxins indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and of the auxin-interacting phytohormone ethylene, on the ectopic formation of primary xylem (xylogenesis in planta) is still little known. In particular, auxin/ethylene-target tissue(s), modality of the xylary process (trans-differentiation vs. de novo formation), and the kind of ectopic elements formed (metaxylem vs. protoxylem) are currently unknown. It is also unclear whether IBA may act on the process independently of conversion into IAA. To investigate these topics, histological analyses were carried out in the hypocotyls of Arabidopsis wild type seedlings and ech2ibr10 and ein3eil1 mutants, which are blocked in IBA-to-IAA conversion and ethylene signalling, respectively. The seedlings were grown under darkness with either IAA or IBA, combined or not with the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid. Adventitious root formation was also investigated because this process may compete with xylogenesis. Our results show that ectopic formation of protoxylem and metaxylem occurred as an indirect process starting from the pericycle periclinal derivatives of the hypocotyl basal part. IAA favoured protoxylem formation, whereas IBA induced ectopic metaxylem with ethylene cooperation through the EIN3EIL1 network. Ectopic metaxylem differentiation occurred independently of IBA-to-IAA conversion as mediated by ECH2 and IBR10, and in the place of IBA-induced adventitious root formation

Backbone switch to abacavir/lamivudine fixed-dose combination: implications for antiretroviral therapy optimization

Current guidelines recommend treatment optimization in virologically suppressed patients through switching/ simplification strategies to minimize long-term toxicities and improve adherence. The assessment of inflammation/ coagulation profiles may support therapeutic decisions. We undertook a prospective, non-randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of switching to ABC/3TC from ZDV/3TC or TDF/FTC backbones, in 40 HIV-1 infected patients with HIV-RNA levels 24 months). Main endpoints were viral load levels, CD4+ T cells and toxicities after 48 weeks. Serum inflammation/coagulation markers (ESR, CRP, D-dimer and fibrinogen) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, adiponectin, resistin) were evaluated. Baseline characteristics were similar in the two arms, with significantly lower values of e-GFR in patients on TDF/FTC. Markers of inflammation/ coagulation and cytokine profile were also similar, except for higher values of resistin in patients on TDF/ FTC. During follow up, CD4+ T cells increased and viral load remained undetectable in both groups. Patient from ZDV/3TC had significantly greater changes in total cholesterol and serum creatinine. Markers of inflammation/ coagulation remained unchanged. Adiponectin significantly increased in patients from ZDV/3TC. Switching to ABC/3TC was effective and safe. Inflammatory markers remained low in both groups. Some changes in metabolic, kidney and cytokine profiles were apparently specific for baseline cART treatment

Cooperative control of 3D mobile agents with limited sensing capabilities

Lo studio dei sistemi cooperanti richiede l'uso di tecniche derivate da diverse branche dell'ingegneria, delle scienze informatiche e della matematica. Questo lavoro propone una formulazione matematica da usare per la definizione e l'analisi di una particolare classe di gruppi di veicoli. Si prendono in considerazione flotte di agenti nello spazio 3d; vengono analizzate le possiblità di cooperazione quando la comunicazione è limitata all'acquisizione attraverso sensori, con campo visivo limitato, della posizione di altri veicoli. Allo scopo di studiare gli effetti dei limiti di comunicazione viene formulato il problema del rendezvous, per il quale è fornita una soluzione. I risultati ottenuti sono in linea con quelli tradizionalmente ottenuti nell'ambito del controllo cooperativo. The field of cooperative control for groups of vehicles lies within several different engineering, computer sciences and mathematical branches. This work proposes a mathematical framework to be used in defining and analysing a particular class of vehicles' groups. Fleets of agents moving in the 3d space are considered; their ability to cooperate when no communication but position sensing-using a limited field of view-is possible, is analysed. The statement of a slightly modified version of the rendezvous problem for the considered system and an algorithm to solve it are used as a mean to explore the effects of the communication limits. The obtained results are on the same level with traditional results of cooperative control

Nitric oxide alleviates cadmium- but not arsenic-induced damages in rice roots

Nitric oxide (NO) has signalling roles in plant stress responses. Cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) soil pollutants alter plant development, mainly the root-system, by increasing NO-content, triggering reactive oxygen species (ROS), and forming peroxynitrite by NO-reaction with the superoxide anion. Interactions of NO with ROS and peroxynitrite seem important for plant tolerance to heavy metal(oid)s, but the mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Our goal was to investigate NO-involvement in rice (Oryza sativa L.) root-system after exposure to Cd or As, to highlight possible differences in NO-behaviour between the two pollutants. To the aim, morpho-histological, chemical and epifluorescence analyses were carried out on roots of different origin in the root-system, under exposure to Cd or As, combined or not with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO-donor compound. Results show that increased intracellular NO levels alleviate the root-system alterations induced by Cd, i.e., inhibition of adventitious root elongation and lateral root formation, increment in lignin deposition in the sclerenchyma/endodermis cell-walls, but, even if reducing As-induced endodermis lignification, do not recover the majority of the As-damages, i.e., enhancement of AR-elongation, reduction of LR-formation, anomalous tissue-proliferation. However, NO decreases both Cd and As uptake, without affecting the pollutants translocation-capability from roots to shoots. Moreover, NO reduces the Cd-induced, but not the As-induced, ROS levels by triggering peroxynitrite production. Altogether, results highlight a different behaviour of NO in modulating rice root-system response to the toxicity of the heavy metal Cd and the metalloid As, which depends by the NO-interaction with the specific pollutant

Class II Phosphoinositide 3-Kinases Contribute to Endothelial Cells Morphogenesis

PMCID: PMC3539993This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Influence of input climatic data on simulations of annual energy needs of a building: energyplus and WRF modeling for a case study in Rome (Italy)

The simulation of the energy consumptions in an hourly regime is necessary in order to perform calculations on residential buildings of particular relevance for volume or for architectural features. In such cases, the simplified methodology provided by the regulations may be inadequate, and the use of software like EnergyPlus is needed. To obtain reliable results, usually, significant time is spent on the meticulous insertion of the geometrical inputs of the building, together with the properties of the envelope materials and systems. Less attention is paid to the climate database. The databases available on the EnergyPlus website refer to airports located in rural areas near major cities. If the building to be simulated is located in a metropolitan area, it may be affected by the local heat island, and the database used as input to the software should take this phenomenon into account. To this end, it is useful to use a meteorological model such as the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to construct an appropriate input climate file. A case study based on a building located in the city center of Rome (Italy) shows that, if the climatic forcing linked to the heat island is not considered, the estimated consumption due to the cooling is underestimated by 35–50%. In particular, the analysis and the seasonal comparison between the energy needs of the building simulated by EnergyPlus, with the climatic inputs related to two airports in the rural area of Rome and with the inputs provided by the WRF model related to the center of Rome, show discrepancies of about (i) WRF vs. Fiumicino (FCO): Δ = −3.48% for heating, Δ = 49.25% for cooling; (ii) WRF vs. Ciampino (CIA): Δ = −7.38% for heating, Δ = +35.52% for cooling