The results of accurate compressible Navier-Stokes simulations of aerodynamic heating of the Vega launcher are presented. Three selected steady conditions of the Vega mission profile are considered: the first corresponding to the altitude of 18 km, the second to 25 km and the last to 33 km. The numerical code is based on the mathematical model described by the Favre-Average-Navier-Stokes equations; the turbulent model chosen for closure is the one-equation model by Spalart-Allmaras.

The role of protein Z (PZ) in the etiology of human disorders is unclear. A number of PZ gene variants, sporadic or polymorphic and found exclusively in the serine protease domain, have been observed. Crystal structures of PZ in complex with the PZ-dependent inhibitor (PZI) have been recently obtained. The aim of this study was a structural investigation of the serine protease PZ domain, aiming at finding common traits across disease-linked mutations. We performed 10-20 ns molecular dynamics for each of the observed PZ mutants to investigate their structure in aqueous solution.

tProtected areas are experiencing increased levels of human pressure. To enable appropriate conserva-tion action, it is critical to map and monitor changes in the type and extent of land cover/use and habitatclasses, which can be related to human pressures over time. Satellite Earth observation (EO) data andtechniques offer the opportunity to detect such changes.

The first carved ambers appear in the Adriatic area at the end of the eighth century BC with the beginning of the Orientalizing period. Among the most active centers, the Etruscan Verucchio is one of the main poles for the sorting of amber. At the beginning of the sixth century, a fundamental role is exercised from Piceno and the Etruscan Felsina, whose intercept part of the tra!cs previously directed on the Adriatic road.

One of the most formidable challenges in modern biology is to get a unified view of the various mechanisms governing the behavior and of the causal relationships among different parts of a living system. It is coming clearer nowadays that to get such comprehensive picture computational models embracing different observation levels in space and time have to be formulated to explain the enormous amount of data deriving from -omic high throughput measurements methods.