Clemente Capasso

Dietary sodium intake in a sample of adult male population in southern Italy: results of the Olivetti Heart Study.

Background/Objectives:To assess dietary habitual sodium intake and the association between daily sodium intake and anthropometric indices, food habits and hypertension in the sample of adult male population participating in the Olivetti Heart Study.Subjects/Methods:The study population was composed of 940 men participating in the 2002–2004 follow-up examination of the Olivetti Heart Study. Blood pressure, anthropometric indices, biochemical parameters and sodium excretion in a 24-h urine collection were measured. The frequency of consumption of selected foods was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) capturing the previous year data. In a subgroup of the study population (n=138), the fractional excretion of sodium was estimated by endogenous lithium clearance.Results:Dietary sodium intake estimated by 24u2009h urinary excretion was 203±70u2009mmol/day. Sodium excretion was significantly lower in treated hypertensive patients and higher in overweight/obese participants when compared with normotensive and normal-weight individuals, respectively. In addition, the inverse correlation detected in normal-weight individuals (r=−0.321; P<0.05) between fractional proximal tubular sodium reabsorption and dietary sodium intake was disrupted in overweight/obese individuals (r=0.058; P=NS). The independent determinants of 24u2009h urinary sodium excretion were body mass index (BMI), the occurrence of antihypertensive treatment, and frequency of consumption of pasta and cold cuts.Conclusions:Habitual salt intake in this sample of male adult population in southern Italy was well above the recommended amounts. A higher salt intake and an altered renal sodium handling were observed in overweight and obese participants. Sodium intake was only slightly reduced in hypertensive participants on pharmacological therapy.

Charging infrastructures for EV: Overview of technologies and issues

This paper presents an overview of issues and technologies related to the proper design of charging infrastructures for road electric vehicles. The analysis is carried out taking into account that the recharging stations of electric vehicles might be integrated in smart grids, which interconnect the main grid with distributed power plants, different kinds of renewable energy sources, stationary electrical storage systems and electric loads. The study is introduced by an analysis of the main characteristics concerning different kinds of storage systems to be used for stationary and on-board applications. Then, different charging devices, modes and architectures are presented and described showing their characteristics and potentialities. DC and AC configurations of charging stations are compared in terms of the issues related to their impact on the main grid and the design of their main components. Specific attention was devoted also to the ultra-fast DC architecture, which appears a possible solution to positively affect a wide spread of plug-in hybrid and full electric road vehicles.

Gene expression profiling of phytoplasma-infected Madagascar periwinkle leaves using differential display.

Phytoplasmas are small (0.2–0.8xa0μm), wall-less, pleiomorphic prokaryotes responsible of numerous economically important plant diseases. They are characterized by a very small genome and are obligate parasites of phloem tissues and some insects that act as vectors of infection. To investigate molecular mechanisms involved in pathogenesis, the differential display technique was here applied to identify plant genes whose transcription was significantly altered in leaves of Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don) infected by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’. We detected, reamplified, cloned, and sequenced 16 putative differentially expressed cDNA fragments. Northern blot analysis revealed that seven of the 16 genes identified were up-regulated following phytoplasma infection, while three genes were down-regulated. The remaining six genes did not show significant changes in the level of expression. Identified genes are mainly involved in plant defence/stress responses, protein metabolism and transport, transcriptional regulation, vesicle trafficking, and carbohydrate metabolism. The possible role played by these genes in the phytoplasma infection is discussed.

Acetazolamide Protects Steatotic Liver Grafts against Cold Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a primary concern in liver transplantation, especially when steatosis is present. Acetazolamide (AZ), a specific carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor, has been suggested to protect against hypoxia. Here, we hypothesized that AZ administration could be efficient to protect fatty livers against cold IRI. Obese Zucker rat livers were preserved in Institut Georges Lopez-1 storage solution for 24 hours at 4°C and ex vivo perfused for 2 hours at 37°C. Alternatively, rats were also treated with intravenous injection of AZ (30 mg/kg) before liver recovery. Liver injury, hepatic function, and vascular resistance were determined. CA II protein levels and CA hydratase activity were assessed as well as other parameters involved in IRI (endothelial nitric oxide synthase, mitogen activated protein kinase family, hypoxic inducible factor 1 alpha, and erythropoietin). We demonstrated that AZ administration efficiently protects the steatotic liver against cold IRI. AZ protection was associated with better function, decreased vascular resistance, and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. This was consistent with an effective mitogen activated protein kinase inactivation. Finally, no effect on the hypoxic inductible factor 1 alpha/erythropoietin pathway was observed. The present study demonstrated that AZ administration is a suitable pharmacological strategy for preserving fatty liver grafts against cold IRI.

ZEBRA battery based propulsion system for urban bus applications: Preliminary laboratory tests

In this paper some preliminary experimental results on a Zebra battery based propulsion system for urban bus applications are presented. The tests were carried out using a laboratory 1:1 scale test bench, composed by a 65 kW electric drive, specifically designed for urban bus applications, supplied by two 20 kWh Zebra batteries connected in parallel. The electric power train was tested on a laboratory bench, connected through a fixed ratio gear box to a 100 kW regenerative electric brake provided with speed and torque controls, in order to evaluate the propulsion system performance in steady state operative conditions. The obtained preliminary experimental results were utilized to implement a Matlab-Simulink model of urban bus, which might be powered by the same electric propulsion system studied. Thanks to this model it was possible to evaluate the dynamic behavior of the urban bus, working on standard driving cycles, taking into account the resistant forces represented by proper vehicle/road/aerodynamic parameters. An evaluation of the expected real vehicle driving range was also estimated in different road conditions.

Carbonic Anhydrase Protects Fatty Liver Grafts against Ischemic Reperfusion Damage

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are ubiquitous metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and a proton. CAs are involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes, including acid-base homeostasis, electrolyte balance, oxygen delivery to tissues and nitric oxide generation. Given that these processes are found to be dysregulated during ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), and taking into account the high vulnerability of steatotic livers to preservation injury, we hypothesized a new role for CA as a pharmacological agent able to protect against ischemic damage. Two different aspects of the role of CA II in fatty liver grafts preservation were evaluated: 1) the effect of its addition to Institut Georges Lopez (IGL-1) storage solution after cold ischemia; 2) and after 24h of cold storage followed by two hours of normothermic ex-vivo perfusion. In all cases, liver injury, CA II protein concentration, CA II mRNA levels and CA II activity were determined. In case of the ex-vivo perfusion, we further assessed liver function (bile production, bromosulfophthalein clearance) and Western blot analysis of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), mitogen activated protein kinases family (MAPKs) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) parameters (GRP78, PERK, IRE, eIF2α and ATF6). We found that CA II was downregulated after cold ischemia. The addition of bovine CA II to IGL-1 preservation solution efficiently protected steatotic liver against cold IRI. In the case of reperfusion, CA II protection was associated with better function, AMPK activation and the prevention of ERS and MAPKs activation. Interestingly, CA II supplementation was not associated with enhanced CO2 hydration. The results suggest that CA II modulation may be a promising target for fatty liver graft preservation.

RFLP Approach in the Designing of Power-Trains for Road Electric Vehicles

This paper is focused on the designing process of propulsion systems for road electric vehicles, by means of the RFLP approach for System Engineering. The process starts from the analysis of the main requirements for the vehicle considered, in relation to its specific mission. The vehicle behavior is then simulated on standard driving cycles, evaluating the performance figures of different power-train configurations, under different operative conditions. The presented designing procedure reaches the 3D CAD model of the identified propulsion system, coupled with a specific laboratory test bench, based on an eddy current brake and flywheel for the simulation of the vehicle inertia. The obtained simulation results show the good performance of the power-train in terms of vehicle speed following its reference on driving cycle and vehicle autonomy.

Experimental performance assessment of Pb, Li[NiCoMn]O 2 and LiFePO 4 batteries for road vehicles

In this paper the performance figures of lead acid and lithium ion batteries with two different cathode materials (Li[NiCoMn]O2 and LiFePO4) were compared from the point of view of their application on road vehicles. The experimental tests were performed in stationary and dynamic conditions using a cycle tester, based on an AC/DC converter, and supplying an electric power train. The experiments on the power train were carried out on a laboratory test bench provided with an electric brake, in order to simulate the real vehicle behavior and road characteristics on predefined driving cycles. The obtained results evidenced the advantages of using lithium batteries, especially when the load conditions require high values of battery currents, with different behavior between the two cathode materials.

Systems engineering approach for eco-comparison among power-train configurations of hybrid bus

This paper aims to realize an eco-comparison among power-train configurations of hybrid busses in terms of performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emission. The present study has been carried out in the context of the international research program PLACIS (PLAteforme Collaborative dIngénierie Systèmes). In this work, experimental data of a pure electric power-train, evaluated in a dedicated laboratory of Istituto Motori — the National Research Council of Italy, have been used to carry out a pre-design phase of the modelling procedure. From that point on, in order to optimize the powertrain performance, a series hybrid vehicles configuration and a parallel one have been modeled and simulated on DYMOLA-MODELICA environment. The vehicle that has been taken into account, as reference for the comparison, is a RENAULT-Master minibus. Power-trains have been modeled with a backward-forward configuration in order to have a physical approach to the problem, respecting the required performances. The study has been developed with System Engineering approach that aims to manage the complexity of systems with a multidisciplinary proposal.

Main issues with the design of batteries to power full electric water busses

This paper presents an analysis of the main issues related to the design of battery pack supplying full electric vessels, such as water busses. After an assessment of the energy storage systems technologies available to power marine applications, battery design aspects are investigated. Hence, a probabilistic battery design method is discussed, taking properly into account the battery lifetime and the inherent economical evaluation. The method is based upon accelerated life tests and allows to face with the randomness of the power load in a suitable way. The optimal size of the battery is determined by tailoring an optimization procedure which ensures the desired robustness against the stochastic load parameters. In the last part of the paper, this probabilistic methodology is applied to a case study represented by a water bus for the public transportation service in the canals of the Venetian lagoon. The numerical results allow to confirm the feasibility and the goodness of the probabilistic approach.