TL1A/DR3 axis involvement in the inflammatory cytokine network during pulmonary sarcoidosis

BACKGROUND: TNF-like ligand 1A (TL1A), a recently recognized member of the TNF superfamily, and its death domain receptor 3 (DR3), firstly identified for their relevant role in T lymphocyte homeostasis, are now well-known mediators of several immune-inflammatory diseases, ranging from rheumatoid arthritis to inflammatory bowel diseases to psoriasis, whereas no data are available on their involvement in sarcoidosis, a multisystemic granulomatous disease where a deregulated T helper (Th)1/Th17 response takes place. METHODS: In this study, by flow cytometry, real-time PCR, confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry analyses, TL1A and DR3 were investigated in the pulmonary cells and the peripheral blood of 43 patients affected by sarcoidosis in different phases of the disease (29 patients with active sarcoidosis, 14 with the inactive form) and in 8 control subjects. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated a significant higher expression, both at protein and mRNA levels, of TL1A and DR3 in pulmonary T cells and alveolar macrophages of patients with active sarcoidosis as compared to patients with the inactive form of the disease and to controls. In patients with sarcoidosis TL1A was strongly more expressed in the lung than the blood, i.e., at the site of the involved organ. Additionally, zymography assays showed that TL1A is able to increase the production of matrix metalloproteinase 9 by sarcoid alveolar macrophages characterized, in patients with the active form of the disease, by reduced mRNA levels of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that TL1A/DR3 interactions are part of the extended and complex immune-inflammatory network that characterizes sarcoidosis during its active phase and may contribute to the pathogenesis and to the progression of the disease

A symmetry invariant integral on kappa-deformed spacetime

In this note we present an approach using both constructive and Hopf algebraic methods to contribute to the not yet fully satisfactory definition of an integral on kappa-deformed spacetime. The integral presented here is based on the inner product of differential forms and it is shown that this integral is explicitly invariant under the deformed symmetry structure.Comment: 16 page

About the parabolic relation existing between the skewness and the kurtosis in time series of experimental data

In this work we investigate the origin of the parabolic relation between skewness and kurtosis often encountered in the analysis of experimental time-series. We argue that the numerical values of the coefficients of the curve may provide informations about the specific physics of the system studied, whereas the analytical curve per se is a fairly general consequence of a few constraints expected to hold for most systems.Comment: To appear in Physica Script

The MGDO software library for data analysis in Ge neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments

The GERDA and Majorana experiments will search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of germanium-76 using isotopically enriched high-purity germanium detectors. Although the experiments differ in conceptual design, they share many aspects in common, and in particular will employ similar data analysis techniques. The collaborations are jointly developing a C++ software library, MGDO, which contains a set of data objects and interfaces to encapsulate, store and manage physical quantities of interest, such as waveforms and high-purity germanium detector geometries. These data objects define a common format for persistent data, whether it is generated by Monte Carlo simulations or an experimental apparatus, to reduce code duplication and to ease the exchange of information between detector systems. MGDO also includes general-purpose analysis tools that can be used for the processing of measured or simulated digital signals. The MGDO design is based on the Object-Oriented programming paradigm and is very flexible, allowing for easy extension and customization of the components. The tools provided by the MGDO libraries are used by both GERDA and Majorana.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, proceedings for TAUP201

Probing the mechanism of neutrinoless double-beta decay in multiple isotopes

A large experimental program is being mounted to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay over the next decade. Multiple experiments using different target isotopes are being prepared to explore the whole parameter space allowed for inverted-ordered light neutrinos, and have the potential to make discoveries in several other scenarios, including normal-ordered light neutrinos and other exotic mechanisms. We investigate to what extent long-range and exotic short-range contributions may be distinguished by combining measurements of the decay half-life across isotopes in the framework of a global Bayesian analysis. We demonstrate how measurements in two isotopes will constrain the parameter space up to a two-fold degeneracy, and how a further measurement in a third isotope removes such a degeneracy. We also discuss the impact of uncertainties and correlations in nuclear matrix element calculations. Our work motivates an experimental program measuring neutrinoless double-beta decay in more than one isotope, as this would break parameter degeneracies and advance our understanding of particle physics beyond the Standard Model

Carbon sequestration by perennial energy crops: is the jury still out?

Soil organic carbon (SOC) changes associated with land conversion to energy crops are central to the debate on bioenergy and their potential carbon neutrality. Here, the experimental evidence on SOC under perennial energy crops (PECs) is synthesised to parameterise a whole systems model and to identify uncertainties and knowledge gaps determining PECs being a sink or source of greenhouse gas (GHG). For Miscanthus and willow (Salix spp.) and their analogues (switchgrass, poplar), we examine carbon (C) allocation to above- and belowground residue inputs, turnover rates and retention in the soil. A meta-analysis showed that studies on dry matter partitioning and C inputs to soils are plentiful, whilst data on turnover are rare and rely on few isotopic C tracer studies. Comprehensive studies on SOC dynamics and GHG emissions under PECs are limited and subsoil processes and C losses through leaching remain unknown. Data showed dynamic changes of gross C inputs and SOC stocks depending on stand age. C inputs and turnover can now be specifically parameterised in whole PEC system models, whilst dependencies on soil texture, moisture and temperature remain empirical. In conclusion, the annual net SOC storage change exceeds the minimum mitigation requirement (0.25 Mg C ha(−1) year(−1)) under herbaceous and woody perennials by far (1.14 to 1.88 and 0.63 to 0.72 Mg C ha(−1) year(−1), respectively). However, long-term time series of field data are needed to verify sustainable SOC enrichment, as the physical and chemical stabilities of SOC pools remain uncertain, although they are essential in defining the sustainability of C sequestration (half-life >25 years)

Supercritical Extraction from Vinification Residues: Fatty Acids, α-Tocopherol, and Phenolic Compounds in the Oil Seeds from Different Varieties of Grape

Supercritical fluid extraction has been widely employed in the extraction of high purity substances. In this study, we used the technology to obtain oil from seeds from a variety of grapes, from vinification residues generated in the Southern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This work encompasses three varieties of Vitis vinifera (Moscato Giallo, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon) and two of Vitis labrusca (Bordô e Isabel), harvested in 2005 and 2006. We obtained the highest oil content from Bordô (15.40%) in 2005 and from Merlot (14.66%), 2006. The biggest concentration of palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acids was observed in Bordô, 2005, and in Bordô, Merlot, and Moscato Giallo, 2006. Bordô showed the highest concentration of oleic acid and α-tocopherol in both seasons too. For the equivalent of procyanidins, we did not notice significant difference among the varieties from the 2005 harvest. In 2006, both varieties Isabel and Cabernet Sauvignon showed a value slightly lower than the other varieties. The concentration of total phenolics was higher in Bordô and Cabernet Sauvignon. The presence of these substances is related to several important pharmacological properties and might be an alternative to conventional processes to obtain these bioactives

Head-shaking nystagmus in the early stage of unilateral meniere’s disease

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of head-shaking nystagmus (HSNy), evoked after the resolution of a vertigo spell, to predict an imminent crisis in the early stage of Meniere’s disease (MD). MATERIALS and METHODS: A total of 20 patients in the early stage of MD were included in the study. The head-shaking test (HST) was performed twice, during the first visit within 24 h of vertigo spell (T0) and 48 h later (T1). The onset of a new vertigo episode during the 2 weeks following the first visit was recorded in each patient’s medical record. The sensitivity and specificity of HSNy toward predicting a new vertigo episode were calculated. RESULTS: At T0, an evoked ipsilesional HSNy in 15 (75%) patients was observed; in four of them, the HSNy had a biphasic component. The HSNy was present and persistent at T1 in 8 (42.1%) patients; among these cases, 6 patients had ipsilesional HSNy, and 2 patients a contralesional HSNy. None of the patients presented with a biphasic HSNy at T1. Seven (36.8%) patients experienced the recurrence of a vertigo crisis. Among these, 6 patients had ipsilesional HSNy at T1. Only 8 patients with ipsilesional HSNy at T0 did not have recurrence. The sensitivity of the ipsilesional HSNy in predicting the recurrence of vertigo in patients with MD was 100% at T0 and 85.7% at T1. The specificity was 46.6% and 100% at T0 and T1, respectively. CONCLUSION: The HST can be a useful test in the early stages of MD to predict a new vertigo attack

Muscle Synergy Assessment during Single-Leg Stance

In the study of muscle synergies during the maintenance of single-leg stance there are several methodological issues that must be taken into account before muscle synergy extraction. In particular, it is important to distinguish between epochs of surface electromyography (sEMG) signals corresponding to "well-balanced" and "unbalanced" single-leg stance, since different motor control strategies could be used to maintain balance. The aim of this work is to present and define a robust procedure to distinguish between "well-balanced" and "unbalanced" single-leg stance to be chosen as input for the algorithm used to extract muscle synergies. Our results demonstrate that the proposed approach for the selection of sEMG epochs relative to "well-balanced" and "unbalanced" single-leg stance is robust with respect to the selection of the segmentation threshold, revealing a high consistency in the number of muscle synergies and high similarity among the weight vectors (correlation values range from 0.75 to 0.97). Moreover, differences in terms of average recruitment levels and balance control strategies were detected, suggesting a slightly different modular organization between "well-balanced" and "unbalanced" single-leg stance. In conclusion, this approach can be successfully used as a pre-processing step before muscle synergy extraction, allowing for a better assessment of motor control strategies during the single-leg stance task