DJ-1 as a deglycating enzyme: A unique function to explain a multifaceted protein?

The recently reported deglycating activity of DJ-1 reconciles several features previously described for the protein. The deglycating activity reported for DJ-1 may explain its different subcellular localizations, indeed the protein has been found in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and mitochondria. Moreover, this proposed activity could help to understand the involvement of the protein in Parkinson's disease (PD), tumor growth and diabetes

Experimental High-Frequency Parameter Identification of AC Electrical Motors

In order to predict conducted electromagnetic interference in inverter-motor drive systems, high-frequency (HF) motor models are requested and the involved parameters have to be available. In previous studies, the authors have presented an accurate HF model for induction motors and they have defined the procedures to identify the model parameters. In this paper, these results are extended to several types and sizes of industrial ac motors such as induction, synchronous reluctance (without interior permanent magnets), and brushless motors. The model parameter-identification procedure has been improved, and it is based on a least-squares data fitting applied to the measured magnitude and phase-frequency-response curves of the phase-to-ground and the phase-to-neutral impedances. The aim of this paper is to provide quick indications to select the suitable values of the HF model parameters, with reference to the size and type of the ac motor, to evaluate the HF voltage and current components in inverted-fed ac motor system

Energy-efficient motors

The use of a copper-squirrel cage in induction motors has been analyzed testing a prototype rated 1.1 kW and comparing the performances with a twin machine with an aluminum cage. The comparison has been made using torque, efficiency, starting torque, and starting current. For the considered machine size, the obtained results show that the simple substitution of the aluminum with copper can improve the efficiency of no more than 1.5% at rated load. Taking into account the copper market cost trend, the use of copper cage increases the break-even time due to the higher cost of copper rotor respect to the aluminum one. For this reason, the discussion about the use of copper cage can be still considered ope

Cooperazione universitaria e solidarietà: un'esperienza di social work tra Tandil e Trieste

La ricerca empirica dimostra che contatti e interazioni fra gruppi diversi sono il modo migliore per modificare, in senso positivo, gli eventuali pregiudizi negativi e favorire il dialogo e la cooperazione. Ciò è particolarmente produttivo nel caso in cui i gruppi implicati possano avere un uguale status sia fuori che dentro la situazione di contatto, uno scopo comune, essere in un contesto contemporaneamente interdipendente e cooperativo e agire in presenza di sanzioni sociali positive. Principi che l'Autore individua anche in un'esperienza di cooperazione universitaria che ha coinvolto l'Italia e l'Argentina in un momento di particolare criticità per la popolazione latinoamericana.La investigación empírica muestra que los contactos e interacciones entre los diferentes grupos son la mejor manera de cambiar, en un sentido positivo, los prejuicios negativos y fomentar el diálogo y la cooperación. Esto es especialmente productivo cuando los grupos involucrados se encuentran en condición de igualdad, sea dentro sea fuera de la situación de contacto, con un propósito común, en un contexto simultáneamente interdependientes y de cooperación y actúan en presencia de sanciones sociales positivas. Principios que el Autor también identifica en una experiencia de cooperación universitaria que ha involucrado a Italia y Argentina en un momento particularmente crítico para la población latinoamericana.The empirical research shows that the contact and interaction between different groups are the best way to change, in a positive way, any negative prejudices and foster dialogue and cooperation. This is particularly productive when the groups involved have an equal status both inside and outside the contact situation, when they have a common purpose, they are in a simultaneously interdependent and cooperative context, and they act in the presence of positive social sanctions. The Author identifies these Principles in an experience of university cooperation involving Italy and Argentina in a particularly critical time for the Latin American population

Lingua e cultura: fattori di dinamismo sociale e di sviluppo

Le sponde dell’Adriatico da secoli registrano un andirivieni di genti e di culture e, tra queste, sono tanti e sono diversi i popoli che parlano italiano. Genti che non sempre sono riuscite a tessere scambi all’insegna della pace o almeno della tolleranza. Sospinti dalla storia molti di loro hanno dovuto attraversare i mari e abitare nuovi continenti. Eppure, la pluralità di differenze e gli arcipelaghi di esperienze, fonte spesso di conflitti e di stermini, possono altresì proporsi come fonte di confronti, di comprensioni e di cooperazioni in un processo di reciproca crescita. È questa la sfida che attende chi abita queste terre sul confine; fare del confine il filo rosso che tesse, meticcia e integra e non la lama che divide. Ove appunto lingua e cultura possono farsi strumenti attivi di promozione e di convivenza

Geometric and chemical non-uniformity may induce the stability of more than one wetting state in the same hydrophobic surface

It is established that roughness and chemistry play a crucial role in the wetting properties of a substrate. Yet, few studies have analyzed systematically the effect of the non-uniformity in the distribution of texture and surface tension of substrates on its wetting properties. In this work we investigate this issue theoretically and numerically. We propose a continuous model that takes into account the total energy required to create interfaces of a droplet in two possible wetting states: Cassie-Baxter(CB) with air pockets trapped underneath the droplet; and the other characterized by the homogeneous wetting of the surface, the Wenzel(W) state. To introduce geometrical non-regularity we suppose that pillar heights and pillar distances are Gaussian distributed instead of having a constant value. Similarly, we suppose a heterogeneous distribution of Young's angle on the surface to take into account the chemical non-uniformity. This allows to vary the "amount" of disorder by changing the variance of the distribution. We first solve this model analytically and then we also propose a numerical version of it, which can be applied to study any type of disorder. In both versions, we employ the same physical idea: the energies of both states are minimized to predict the thermodynamic wetting state of the droplet for a given volume and surface texture. We find that the main effect of disorder is to induce the stability of both wetting states on the same substrate. In terms of the influence of the disorder on the contact angle of the droplet, we find that it is negligible for the chemical disorder and for pillar-distance disorder. However, in the case of pillar-height disorder, it is observed that the average contact angle of the droplet increases with the amount of disorder. We end the paper investigating how the region of stability of both wetting states behaves when the droplet volume changes

Fluvial dynamics and watermills location in Basilicata (Southern Italy)

Watermills (grain mills, waulk mills, olive mills, sawmills and threshing machines) operated in the Basilicata Region from the Roman Period until the early decades of the twentieth century, representing an important feature of waterways that is today almost totally forgotten. Using documentary sources, ancient maps and field survey it is possible to catalogue and identify the location of these ancient hydraulic structures. Watermills were usually placed far enough away from the river to avoid inundation during floods, and near natural knickpoints or artificial steps in the river long profile that were created by mill engineers. Mill construction often had significant impacts on a rivers morphology, because it was necessary to divert the river discharge towards the mill wheel, to drive the grain-grinding mechanism. Watermill typological variations have been examined in relation to variations in river pattern to assess the ways in which the hydrographic and hydrological settings of the Basilicata Region have affected mill siting and operation. Most Basilicata watermills were built with a horizontal water-wheel and a tower. The characteristics of the tower and the associated hydraulic structures varied according to the environmental setting. Finally, mill positions define also the locations on the river system that have already been used to exploit hydraulic power and thus could be useful for future use in the micro-hydroelectric secto

Circadian Rhythm Abnormalities in Parkinson's Disease from Humans to Flies and Back

Clinical and research studies have suggested a link between Parkinson\u2019s disease (PD) and alterations in the circadian clock. Drosophila melanogaster may represent a useful model to study the relationship between the circadian clock and PD. Apart from the conservation of many genes, cellular mechanisms, signaling pathways, and neuronal processes, Drosophila shows an organized central nervous system and well-characterized complex behavioral phenotypes. In fact, Drosophila has been successfully used in the dissection of the circadian system and as a model for neurodegenerative disorders, including PD. Here, we describe the fly circadian and dopaminergic systems and report recent studies which indicate the presence of circadian abnormalities in some fly PD genetic models. We discuss the use of Drosophila to investigate whether, in adults, the disruption of the circadian system might be causative of brain neurodegeneration. We also consider approaches using Drosophila, which might provide new information on the link between PD and the circadian clock. As a corollary, since PD develops its symptomatology over a large part of the organism\u2019s lifespan and given the relatively short lifespan of fruit flies, we suggest that genetic models of PD could be used to perform lifelong screens for drug-modulators of general and/or circadian-related PD traits