The Recognition of Hypothalamo-Neurohypophysial Functions by Developing T Cells

Neuropeptide signals and specific neuropeptide receptors have been described in the thymus supporting the concept of a close dialogue between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems at the level of early T-cell differentiation. In this paper, we review recent data about neurohypophysial (NHP)-related peptides detected in the thymus from different species. We suggest that we are dealing in fact with other member(s) of the NHP hormone family, which seems to exert its activity locally through a novel model of cell-to-cell signaling, that of cryptocrine communication. This model involves exchange of signals between thymic epithelial cells and developing thymocytes. The NHP-related peptides have been shown to trigger thymocyte proliferation and could induce immune tolerance of this highly conserved neuroendocrine family

A framework for the integration of green and lean six sigma for superior sustainability performance

Evidence suggests that Lean, Six Sigma and Green approaches make a positive contribution to the economic, social and environmental (i.e. sustainability) performance of organizations. However, evidence also suggests that organizations have found their integration and implementation challenging. The purpose of this research is therefore to present a framework that methodically guides companies through a five stages and sixteen steps process to effectively integrate and implement the Green, Lean and Six Sigma approaches to improve their sustainability performance. To achieve this, a critical review of the existing literature in the subject area was conducted to build a research gap, and subsequently develop the methodological framework proposed. The paper presents the results from the application of the proposed framework in four organizations with different sizes and operating in a diverse range of industries. The results showed that the integration of Lean Six Sigma and Green helped the organizations to averagely reduce their resources consumption from 20% to 40% and minimize the cost of energy and mass streams by 7-12%. The application of the framework should be gradual, the companies should assess their weaknesses and strengths, set priorities, and identify goals for successful implementation. This paper is one of the very first researches that presents a framework to integrate Green and Lean Six Sigma at a factory level, and hence offers the potential to be expanded to multiple factories or even supply chains

A high-throughput screening of a chemical compound library in ovarian cancer stem cells

This work was performed under the frame of COST Action collaboration (COST Action CM1106). The generous contribution of AIRC (The Italian Association for Cancer Research) IG14536 to G.D. is gratefully acknowledged. A.H. acknowledges support from the János Bolyai fellowship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis, mostly due to its late diagnosis and to the development of drug resistance after a first platinum-based regimen. The presence of a specific population of “cancer stem cells” could be responsible of the relapse of the tumor, and of the development of resistance to therapy. For this reason, it would be important to specifically target this subpopulation of tumor cells in order to increase the response to therapy. Method: We screened a chemical compound library assembled during the COST CM1106 action to search for compound classes active in targeting ovarian stem cells. We here report the results of the high-throughput screening assay in two ovarian cancer stem cells and the differentiated cells derived from them. Results and conclusion: Interestingly there were compounds active only on stem cells, only on differentiated cells and compounds active on both cell populations. Even if these data need to be validated in ad hoc dose response cytotoxic experiments, the ongoing analysis of the compound structures will open up to mechanistic drug studies to select compounds able to improve the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients.PostprintPeer reviewe

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

The use of experiment charts for the fabrication of porous silicon

International audienc

The integration of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma and sustainability: A literature review and future research directions for developing a specific model

The purpose of this paper is to present a review and an analysis of the literature concerning a possible model for integrating three management systems: lean manufacturing, Six Sigma and sustainability. In particular, we analyzed current proposals and identified at the same time gaps in the existing literature from which we suggested future research directions for developing a specific integrated model, suggesting new opportunities and challenges that should be addressed by future studies. Both academicians and practitioners will find our review useful because it outlines the major lines of research in the field and their limitations

Exploring Critical Success Factors for Implementing Green Lean Six Sigma. In: (a cura di): Brennan L; Vecchi A , International Manufacturing Strategy in a Time of Great Flux

Research has shown that implementation of Green and Lean Six Sigma make a positive impact on economic, environmental and social performance. Many organizations have already started to integrate the two approaches. However, evidence suggests that these organizations find their implementation challenging, and in many cases they are unsuccessful. The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of research on Green Lean Six Sigma focusing on success factors in its implementation through a systematic literature review combined with the lesson learned from authors\u2019 experiences and verified by a survey of organizations. The findings have led to the identification of five success factors and their ranking according to the organizations that had implemented this initiative. The findings also have led to development of framework for implementing Green Lean Six Sigma. Both academicians and professionals will find this paper useful, as it explore critical success factors for successful Green Lean Six Sigma implementation and provides a concise description of each success factors that will be very helpful for organizations to understand and implement Green Lean Six Sigma

An accurate SPICE-compatible circuit model for power FLYMOSFETs

In this paper, a new SPICE-compatible circuit model for low voltage, low on-resistance power FLYMOSFETs is presented for the first time. In this new structure, the improvement of the on-resistance has been obtained by inserting floating islands in the lowly doped layer. Our modelling is based on device physics, analytical study and on experimental characterization. The inter-electrode capacitances are modelled accurately as nonlinear functions, and good agreement between simulation and measurements is found

First characterization of Jbel Aklim in Moroccan Anti-Atlas as a potential site for the E-ELT

Context. In the framework of the European Extremely Large Telescope project (E-ELT), a survey of prospective sites was launched by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) to select a site to host the next generation of optical telescopes of 42 m diameter, i.e., the E-ELT. The Moroccan Anti-Atlas (Jbel Aklim) was selected as one of these sites. Aims. We present an analysis of meteorological parameters and seeing measurements at Aklim, the Moroccan prospective site of the E-ELT project. Methods. We initiated a preliminary campaign to measure the astronomical seeing at Jbel Aklim using a differential image motion monitor (DIMM) instrument. We installed a weather station 2 m above the ground level to measure meteorological parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, pressure, wind speed, and wind direction. Results. We present data obtained by the DIMM monitor during 105 nights. The median and mean values of the seeing for the entire period of observation are 0.72′′ and 0.79′′, respectively, with a standard deviation of 0.31′′. The best value of the seeing obtained during this period is 0.30′′. A seasonal analysis of meteorological parameters are presented. We also used data from the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis database (NCEP/NCAR) to derive more information about the long-term evolution of atmospheric parameters at Aklim site. Conclusions. Our preliminary results indicate that Aklim has indeed good conditions for conducting astronomical observations and could be a site to host a future astronomical observatory, even of E-ELT dimensions

Porous silicon layers used as humidity sensor

International audienc