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Abstract: Within a parton cascade we investigate the dependence of anisotropies in momentum space, namely the elliptic flow and the , on both the finite shear viscosity and the freeze-out (f.o.) dynamics at the RHIC energy of 200 GeV. In particular the impact of the f.o. dynamics is discussed looking at two different procedures: switching-off the collisions when the energy density goes below a fixed value or reducing the cross section according to the increase in from a QGP phase to a hadronic one. We address the relation between the scaling of with the eccentricity and with the integrated elliptic flow. We show that the breaking of the scaling is not coming mainly from the finite but from the f.o. dynamics and that the is weakly dependent on the f.o. scheme. On the other hand the is found to be much more sensitive to both the and the f.o. dynamics and hence is indicated to put better constraints on the properties of the QGP. A first semi-quantitative analysis shows that both and (with the smooth f.o.) consistently indicate a plasma with . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Policosanol is a mixture of fatty alcohols well known for its nutraceutical effects on consumers' health. In the present paper, the potential ability of this food-grade additive to organogel vegetable oils has been investigated by preparing samples based on virgin olive oil at different policosanol concentrations. The onset of crystallisation temperature (Tco ) and the gelation temperature (Tg ) were evaluated by carrying out dynamic temperature ramp tests, whereas the rheological characteristics of samples at temperatures lower than the crystallisation onset were studied with frequency sweep tests at 25°C. Experimental data have shown that crystallisation occurs for policosanol concentration larger than 0.1% w/w whereas gelation (i.e. the formation of a structured 3D network) can be observed only for concentrations larger than a critical value ranging between 0.3% and 0.5% w/w. The onset of crystallisation temperature increases nonlinearly with organogelator amount even if an asymptotic trend seems to be present for concentrations larger than 50% w/w. A fractal model was used to fit experimental storage modulus data, G′, as a function of policosanol amount, and a fractal dimension equal to 2.75, in agreement with literature values, was found. Finally, a phenomenological equation based on a modified fractal model, was proposed to fit, with a good agreement, the experimental Tco values as a function of the policosanol fraction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: ADAHELI (ADvanced Astronomy for HELIophysics) is a small-class (500kg) low-budget (50 MEuro) satellite mission for the study of the solar photosphere and the chromosphere and for monitoring solar flare emission. ADAHELI’s design has completed its Phase-A feasibility study in December 2008, in the framework of ASI’s (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) 2007 “Small Missions” Program (calling for two missions at 50 MEeuros each, plus the launch budget). ADAHELI’s main purpose is to explore Sun’s lower atmosphere in the near-infrared, a region so far unexplored by solar observations from space. ADAHELI will carry out observations of the solar photosphere and of the chromosphere at high-temporal rate and high spatial and spectral resolutions. ADAHELI will contribute to the understanding of Space Weather through the study of particle acceleration during flares. A radiometer operating in the millimeter radio band will continuously monitor the solar disk, throughout the spacecraft’s life time. ADAHELI’s baseline instruments are a 50-cm high-resolution telescope operating in the visible and the near-infrared, and a lightweight full-disk radiometer operating at millimeter wavelengths (90GHz). The core of the telescope’s focal plane suite is the spectral imager based on two Fabry-Perot interferometers, flying for the first time on a solar mission. The instrument will return fast-cadence, full bi-dimensional spectral images at high-resolution, thus improving on current slit-scan, mono-dimensional architectures. Moreover, the possibility of working in polarized light will enable full 3D magnetic field reconstruction on the photosphere and the chromosphere. An optional instrumental package is also being proposed to further extend ADAHELI’s scope: a full-disk telescope for helioseismology based on a double Magneto-Optical Filter, a Neutral Particle Analyzer for magnetospheric research, an Extreme Ultraviolet imaging and spectro-radiometry instrument. These options fall outside the prescribed budget. ADAHELI, flying a Sun-Synchronous orbit at 800km, will perform continuous, long-duration (4-h), daily acquisitions, with the possibility of extending them up to 24h. ADAHELI’s operating life is two years, plus one extension year. Launch would be nominally planned for 2014. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Heavy Ion Collisions (HIC) represent a unique tool to probe the in-medium nuclear interaction in regions away from saturation. In this report, we present a selection of new reaction observables in dissipative collisions particularly sensitive to the symmetry term of the nuclear Equation of State (Iso-EoS). We will first discuss the Isospin Equilibration Dynamics. At low energies, this manifests via the recently observed Dynamical Dipole Radiation, due to a collective neutron-proton oscillation, with the symmetry term acting as a restoring force. At higher beam energies, Iso-EoS effects will be seen in Imbalance Ratio Measurements, in particular from the correlations with the total kinetic energy loss. For fragmentation reactions in central events, we suggest to look at the coupling between isospin distillation and radial flow. In Neck Fragmentation reactions, important Iso-EoS information can be obtained from the correlation between isospin content and alignment. The high density symmetry term can be probed from isospin effects on heavy ion reactions at relativistic energies (few GeV range). Rather, isospin sensitive observables are proposed from nucleon/cluster emissions, collective flows and meson production. The possibility to shed light on the controversial neutron/proton effective mass splitting in asymmetric matter is also suggested. A large symmetry repulsion at high baryon density will also lead to an “earlier” hadron-deconfinement transition in -rich matter. A suitable treatment of the isovector interaction in the partonic EoS appears very relevant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The nuclear symmetry energy as a function of density is rather poorly constrained theoretically and experimentally both below saturation density, but particularly at high density, where very few relevant experimental data exist. We discuss observables which could yield information on this question, in particular, proton–neutron flow differences, and the production of pions and kaons in relativistic heavy ion collisions. For the meson production we investigate particularly ratios of the corresponding isospin partners and , where we find that the kaons are an interesting probe to the symmetry energy. In this case we also discuss the influence of various choices for the kaon potentials or in-medium effective masses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The human sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) gene encodes a putative mitochondrial NAD-dependent deacetylase (SIRT3) which belongs to the evolutionary conserved family of sirtuin 2 proteins. Studies in model organisms have demonstrated that SIR2 genes control lifespan, while no data are available regarding a possible role of SIRT3 in human longevity. By analysing the genotype-specific survival function relevant to the G477T marker of SIRT3, we found that in males the TT genotype increases (p=0.0272), while the GT genotype decreases (p=0.0391) survival in the elderly. Since SIRT3 lies in a chromosomal region (11p15.5) where four genes potentially associated with longevity are located (HRAS1, Insulin-like Growth Factor 2, Proinsulin, and Tyrosine Hydroxylase) we tested for linkage-disequilibrium between G477T alleles and alleles of the above genes. The disequilibrium was not significant in any case, thus suggesting that SIRT3 itself, or a gene strictly linked to SIRT3, may have a role in human longevity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]