Characterization of uncooled RSOA for upstream transmission in WDM reflective PONs.

We investigate on the uncooled RSOA driving parameters in WDM reflective PONs, focusing on an upstream path at 1.25 Gbit/s using pure binary modulation. We show how the optimal values change using direct-detection or self-coherent receivers. In particular, for the latter, the driving point optimization allows a gain of more than 3 dB in terms of ODN loss compared to a standard On-Off Keying, generating a quasi-PSK modulation. We also address operating temperature and wavelength dependence issues.

[The pro-apoptotic factors Fas Ligand and Trail. Molecular mechanisms, physiopathological role and therapeutic potential]. / I fattori pro-apoptotici Fas Ligando e Trail. Meccanismi molecolari, ruolo fisiopatologico e potenzialità terapeutiche.

Programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis, is a normal physiologic process which occurs during embryonic development as well as in maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Increasing evidence suggests that alterations in cell death contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of human diseases, including cancer, viral infections, autoimmune diseases and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The extraordinary research activity of the past few years has resulted in the characterization of the principal proteins involved in the apoptosis machinery. An area of particular interest has been the induction of apoptosis by two death receptor/ligand pairs, Fas/Fas Ligand and DR4-DR5/TRAIL. The identification of these molecules with the recruited signaling pathways could clarify their physiopathological implications, having a significant impact upon potential therapeutic interventions in diseases associated with cell survival alterations.