Comparison of relativity theories with observer-independent scales of both velocity and length/mass

We consider the two most studied proposals of relativity theories with observer-independent scales of both velocity and length/mass: the one discussed by Amelino-Camelia as illustrative example for the original proposal (gr-qc/0012051) of theories with two relativistic invariants, and an alternative more recently proposed by Magueijo and Smolin (hep-th/0112090). We show that these two relativistic theories are much more closely connected than it would appear on the basis of a naive analysis of their original formulations. In particular, in spite of adopting a rather different formal description of the deformed boost generators, they end up assigning the same dependence of momentum on rapidity, which can be described as the core feature of these relativistic theories. We show that this observation can be used to clarify the concepts of particle mass, particle velocity, and energy-momentum-conservation rules in these theories with two relativistic invariants.Comment: 21 pages, LaTex. v2: Andrea Procaccini (contributing some results from hia Laurea thesis) is added to the list of authors and the paper provides further elements of comparison between DSR1 and DSR2, including the observation that both lead to the same formula for the dependence of momentum on rapidit

High-Order Corrections to the Entropy and Area of Quantum Black Holes

The celebrated area-entropy formula for black holes has provided the most important clue in the search for the elusive theory of quantum gravity. We explore the possibility that the (linear) area-entropy relation acquires some smaller corrections. Using the Boltzmann-Einstein formula, we rule out the possibility for a power-law correction, and provide severe constraints on the coefficient of a possible log-area correction. We argue that a non-zero logarithmic correction to the area-entropy relation, would also imply a modification of the area-mass relation for quantum black holes.Comment: 3 page

Fast and Accurate Multivariate Gaussian Modeling of Protein Families: Predicting Residue Contacts and Protein-Interaction Partners

In the course of evolution, proteins show a remarkable conservation of their three-dimensional structure and their biological function, leading to strong evolutionary constraints on the sequence variability between homologous proteins. Our method aims at extracting such constraints from rapidly accumulating sequence data, and thereby at inferring protein structure and function from sequence information alone. Recently, global statistical inference methods (e.g. direct-coupling analysis, sparse inverse covariance estimation) have achieved a breakthrough towards this aim, and their predictions have been successfully implemented into tertiary and quaternary protein structure prediction methods. However, due to the discrete nature of the underlying variable (amino-acids), exact inference requires exponential time in the protein length, and efficient approximations are needed for practical applicability. Here we propose a very efficient multivariate Gaussian modeling approach as a variant of direct-coupling analysis: the discrete amino-acid variables are replaced by continuous Gaussian random variables. The resulting statistical inference problem is efficiently and exactly solvable. We show that the quality of inference is comparable or superior to the one achieved by mean-field approximations to inference with discrete variables, as done by direct-coupling analysis. This is true for (i) the prediction of residue-residue contacts in proteins, and (ii) the identification of protein-protein interaction partner in bacterial signal transduction. An implementation of our multivariate Gaussian approach is available at the website http://areeweb.polito.it/ricerca/cmp/cod

Enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase beta improves cardiac involvement in Fabry's disease.

Fabry's disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of alpha-galactosidase that results in an accumulation of neutral glycosphingolipids throughout the body, including the cardiovascular system. Fabry cardiomyopathy, characterized by progressive severe concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, is very frequent and is the most important cause of death in affected patients. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) allows a specific treatment for this disease, however, there are very few data on the effectiveness of therapy on cardiac involvement. Nine patients with Fabry cardiac disease were studied on basal condition and after 6 and 12 months of treatment with algasidase beta (Fabrazyme). A complete clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluation was performed in all patients. Interpretable Doppler recordings of transmitral flow and pulmonary flow velocity curves were also acquired. At baseline, the patients with Fabry's disease had increased LV septum and posterior wall thickness, normal LV fractional shortening, LV ejection fraction, normal Doppler parameters of mitral inflow but a duration of pulmonary vein flow velocity wave exceeding that of the mitral wave at atrial systole. ERT did not affect heart rate and arterial pressure. LV internal diameters did not change, there was a slight but not significant decrease in the LV posterior wall thickening and a progressive decrease in the interventricular septum thickening (p < 0.025) and in LV mass (p < 0.001) The difference in duration between pulmonary vein flow velocity wave and mitral wave at atrial systole significantly decreased (p < 0.001). These results suggest that ERT in patients with Fabry cardiomyopathy is able to reduce the LV mass and ameliorate the LV stiffness

Proceedings of the Mediterranean Seagrass Workshop 2006

The Mediterranean Seagrass Workshop 2006 was convened in response to the need to promote a periodic event that would host scientists interested in Mediter- ranean seagrasses, and international scientists who are involved in projects that are focused on the Mediterranean marine environment, to discuss current knowl- edge and present the findings of their latest research. The concept of holding an international meeting originated during the Inter- national Seagrass Biology Workshop (ISBW6) held in 2004 in Queensland, Aus- tralia. In particular, one of the goals of ISBW6 was to identify key ecological issues and environmental trends within a number of geographical regions. This stimulated the idea of taking such topic to a higher level; the Mediterranean scale. The Mediterranean Sea is a rare and vulnerable ecoregion, one of the planet’s biodiversity hot spots, where many of the species present are endemic (around 20%). The Mediterranean Sea also has a millenarian history of human use of its coasts. However, the current exponential increase of human pressure on the coastal zone for living space, transportation, recreation and food production is expected to have dramatic long-term impacts on the Mediterranean marine envi- ronment. Being located in shallow coastal areas close to human settlement, sea- grasses are bearing the brunt of disturbance from such anthropogenic activities, with the result that degradation and loss of seagrass habitats is widespread in the whole Mediterranean Sea. Thus, there is great concern that the functions which seagrasses have performed in the Mediterranean marine ecosystem will be weak- ened or, in some places, lost altogether.peer-reviewe

Wanted dead or alive : high diversity of macroinvertebrates associated with living and ’dead’ Posidonia oceanica matte

The Mediterranean endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica forms beds characterised by a dense leaf canopy and a thick root-rhizome ‘matte’. Death of P. oceanica shoots leads to exposure of the underlying matte, which can persist for many years, and is termed ‘dead’ matte. Traditionally, dead matte has been regarded as a degraded habitat. To test whether this assumption was true, the motile macroinvertebrates of adjacent living (with shoots) and dead (without shoots) matte of P. oceanica were sampled in four different plots located at the same depth (5–6 m) in Mellieha Bay, Malta (central Mediterranean). The total number of species and abundance were significantly higher (ANOVA; P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) in the dead matte than in living P. oceanica matte, despite the presence of the foliar canopy in the latter. Multivariate analysis (MDS) clearly showed two main groups of assemblages, corresponding to the two matte types. The amphipods Leptocheirus guttatus and Maera grossimana, and the polychaete Nereis rava contributed most to the dissimilarity between the two different matte types. Several unique properties of the dead matte contributing to the unexpected higher number of species and abundance of motile macroinvertebrates associated with this habitat are discussed. The findings have important implications for the conservation of bare P. oceanica matte, which has been generally viewed as a habitat of low ecological value.peer-reviewe

Depth-specific fluctuations of gene expression and protein abundance modulate the photophysiology in the seagrass <i>Posidonia oceanica</i>

Here we present the results of a multiple organizational level analysis conceived to identify acclimative/adaptive strategies exhibited by the seagrass Posidonia oceanica to the daily fluctuations in the light environment, at contrasting depths. We assessed changes in photophysiological parameters, leaf respiration, pigments, and protein and mRNA expression levels. The results show that the diel oscillations of P. oceanica photophysiological and respiratory responses were related to transcripts and proteins expression of the genes involved in those processes and that there was a response asynchrony between shallow and deep plants probably caused by the strong differences in the light environment. The photochemical pathway of energy use was more effective in shallow plants due to higher light availability, but these plants needed more investment in photoprotection and photorepair, requiring higher translation and protein synthesis than deep plants. The genetic differentiation between deep and shallow stands suggests the existence of locally adapted genotypes to contrasting light environments. The depth-specific diel rhythms of photosynthetic and respiratory processes, from molecular to physiological levels, must be considered in the management and conservation of these key coastal ecosystems

Assessment of circadian rhythm in pain and stiffness in rheumatic diseases according the EMA (Ecologic Momentary Assessment) method: patient compliance with an electronic diary

Background: Many researchers have used paper diaries in an attempt to capture patient experience. However, patient non-compliance with written diary protocols is a serious problem for researchers. Electronic patient experience diaries (eDiary) facilitate Ecologic Momentary Assessment (EMA) study designs by allowing the researcher to administer flexible, programmable assessments and mark each record with a time and date stamp. Objectives: The objectives of the current study were to evaluate methodological issues associated with real-time pain reports (EMA) using electronic patient experience diaries, to quantify compliance (percentage of the total number of diary reports scheduled that were actually completed), and to examine the circadian rhythm in pain and stiffness of patients with rheumatic diseases in an ecologically valid manner. Methods: In this cross-sectional study we examined 49 patients with rheumatic diseases (14 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 18 with fibromyalgia and 17 with osteoarthritis of the knee), attending the care facilities of the Department of Rheumatology of Universita Politecnica delle Marche. All patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. The assessment of pain and stiffness in all patients were repeated seven times a day (8 A.M., 10 A.M., 12 A.M., 2 P.M., 4 P.M., 6 P.M. and 8 P.M.) on seven consecutive days using an electronic diary (DataLoggerO - Pain Level Recorder). A datalogger is newly developed electronic instrument that records measurements of pain and stiffness over time. Dataloggers are small, battery-powered devices that are equipped with a microprocessor. Specific software is then used to select logging parameters (sampling intervals, start time, etc.) and view/analyse the collected data. Compliance is based on the time and date record that was automatically recorded by the devices. Results: Using the data from the electronic diary, we determined that the average verified compliance rate for pain and stiffness were 93.8 and 93.6%, respectively. The two highest compliance rates were observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (95.6 and 95.2%, respectively). There were no statistically significant difference in compliance between females and males or patients above or below 60 years old. Significant circadian rhytms in patients with RA and OA of the knee were detected in pain and stiffness. No rhythm in pain or stiffness was observed in subjects with fibromyalgia. Conclusions: We conclude that collection of subjective data using electronic diary in rheumatologic setting is a feasible method than can be adopted with high compliance rates across a range of patient demographic subgroups. The identification of diurnal cycles of self-reported pain and stiffness, using EMA method, has important implications for patients with respect to planning their daily activities and in developing individual therapeutic programs with respect to diurnal variability, which therefore may be more effective

Textile Membrane for Façade Retrofitting: Exploring Fabric Potentialities for the Development of Innovative Strategies

The European building stock demands urgent renovation due to the age of the buildings, their expected lifetime, and their excessive energy consumption, which accounts for more than a third of the EU’s total emissions. However, the complexities involved, such as time, costs, and structural modifications, often discourage clients, tenants, and occupants from undergoing a building renovation process. Textile membranes, despite their long history in various architectural applica- tions, have only been employed in façades in the last decades. Their intrinsic properties, such as lightness and flexibility, together with rapid assembly and low maintenance make these materials particularly suitable for façade retrofitting. Therefore, they are worth exploring as a way to promote the development of lightweight and easy-to-assemble façade products that could help overcome the current limitations of building retrofitting efforts. This paper aims to establish relationships between textile membranes and potential building retrofit applications. To this end, this study builds on the categorization of traditional façade retrofit strategies and proposes a new classification for textile façade retrofit products. The methodology includes a comprehensive literature review of textile properties and characteristics, along with a thorough assessment through case studies, of membrane use in façade applications. A sequential investigation leads to the main outcome of identifying three clear pathways for the development of new textile-based façade products for building retrofit