Immunohistochemical analysis of chromatin remodeler DAXX in high grade urothelial carcinoma

Background/Aims: The chromatin remodeler DAXX, a predominantly nuclear protein, regulates the status of chromatin organization. The aim of this exploratory immunohistochemical study was to evaluate DAXX protein expression in high grade invasive urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder as a biological regulator of aggressiveness. Methods: Quantitative analysis was made on DAXX immunostained nuclei in tissue sections from 5 cases of bladder normal urothelium (NU) and 5 cases of bladder pT1 UC. Carcinoma in situ (CIS) and high grade papillary carcinoma (HGPCa) were identified in 2 out of 5 UC cases. Results: The nuclei in UC show an open configuration of the chromatin composed of granules varying in size and distribution and a mean nuclear area 1.7 times greater than that in NU (UC: mean and SD 24.4 ± 11.4 square microns; NU: 14.8 6.5 square microns. The differences are statistically significant). 70% of the NU nuclei are immunostained, whereas 90% of UC nuclei are positive. The mean gray level value in UC, related to the intensity of nuclear immunostaining, is lower than in NU by a factor of 0.94 (UC: mean and SD 100 ± 15; NU: 106 ± 15. The differences are statistically significant). In particular, the value in the nuclei adjacent to the stroma in UC is slightly lower than in the intermediate cell layers by factor of 0.98, whereas in NU it is slightly greater by a factor 1.02 and 1.04 compared to the intermediate and superficial cell layers. The values in CIS and HGPCa are similar to those in UC. Conclusions: The quantitative immunohistochemical analysis shows an altered protein expression of chromatin remodeler DAXX in UC and in its preinvasive phases, when compared to NU. DAXX evaluation, if associated with markers related to global DNA methylation and histone acetylation, could be used in clinical practice as a marker of aggressiveness. Virtual slides: The virtual slides for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/139845729710237

A Discrete-Continuous Method for Predicting Thermochemical Phenomena in a Cement Kiln and Supporting Indirect Monitoring

Thermochemical phenomena involved in cement kilns are still not well understood because of their complexity, besides technical difficulties in achieving direct measurements of critical process variables. This article addresses the problem of their comprehensive numerical prediction. The presented numerical model exploits Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Difference Method approaches for solving the gas domain and the rotating wall, respectively. The description of the thermochemical conversion and movement of the powder particles is addressed with a Lagrangian approach. Coupling between gas, particles and the rotating wall includes momentum, heat and mass transfer. Three-dimensional numerical predictions for a full-size cement kiln are presented and they show agreement with experimental data and benchmark literature. The quality and detail of the results are believed to provide a new insight into the functioning of a cement kiln. Attention is paid to the computational burden of the model and a methodology is presented for reducing the time-to-solution and paving the way for its exploitation in quasi-real-time, indirect monitoring

Can We Predict Skeletal Lesion on Bone Scan Based on Quantitative PSMA PET/CT Features?

Objective: The increasing use of PSMA-PET/CT for restaging prostate cancer (PCa) leads to a patient shift from a non-metastatic situation based on conventional imaging (CI) to a metastatic situation. Since established therapeutic pathways have been designed according to CI, it is unclear how this should be translated to the PSMA-PET/CT results. This study aimed to investigate whether PSMA-PET/CT and clinical parameters could predict the visibility of PSMA-positive lesions on a bone scan (BS). Methods: In four different centers, all PCa patients with BS and PSMA-PET/CT within 6 months without any change in therapy or significant disease progression were retrospectively selected. Up to 10 non-confluent clear bone metastases were selected per PSMA-PET/CT and SUVmax, SUVmean, PSMAtot, PSMAvol, density, diameter on CT, and presence of cortical erosion were collected. Clinical variables (age, PSA, Gleason Score) were also considered. Two experienced double-board physicians decided whether a bone metastasis was visible on the BS, with a consensus readout for discordant findings. For predictive performance, a random forest was fit on all available predictors, and its accuracy was assessed using 10-fold cross-validation performed 10 times. Results: A total of 43 patients were identified with 222 bone lesions on PSMA-PET/CT. A total of 129 (58.1%) lesions were visible on the BS. In the univariate analysis, all PSMA-PET/CT parameters were significantly associated with the visibility on the BS (p < 0.001). The random forest reached a mean accuracy of 77.6% in a 10-fold cross-validation. Conclusions: These preliminary results indicate that there might be a way to predict the BS results based on PSMA-PET/CT, potentially improving the comparability between both examinations and supporting decisions for therapy selection

XDEM for Tuning Lumped Models of Thermochemical Processes Involving Materials in the Powder State

Processes involving materials in gaseous and powder states cannot be modelled without coupling interactions between the two states. XDEM (Extended Discrete Element Method) is a valid tool for tackling this issue, since it allows a coupled CFD- DEM simulation to be run. Such strength, however, mainly finds in long computational times its main drawback. This aspect is indeed critical in several applications, since a long computational time is in contrast with the increasing demand for predictive tools that can provide fast and accurate results in order to be used in new monitoring and control strategies. This paper focuses on the use of the XDEM framework as a tool for fine tuning a lumped representation of the non-isothermal decarbonation of a CaCO3 sample in powder state. The tuning of the lumped model is performed exploiting the multi-objective optimization capability of genetic algorithms. Results demonstrate that such approach makes it possible to estimate fast and accurate models to be used, for instance, in the fields of virtual sensing and predictive control

Extracellular serine empowers epidermal proliferation and psoriasis-like symptoms

The contribution of nutrient availability to control epidermal cell proliferation, inflammation, and hyperproliferative diseases remains unknown. Here, we studied extracellular serine and serine/glycine metabolism using human keratinocytes, human skin biopsies, and a mouse model of psoriasis-like disease. We focused on a metabolic enzyme, serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), that converts serine into glycine and tetrahydrofolate-bound one‑carbon units to support cell growth. We found that keratinocytes are both serine and glycine auxotrophs. Metabolomic profiling and hypoxanthine supplementation indicated that SHMT silencing/inhibition reduced cell growth through purine depletion, leading to nucleotide loss. In addition, topical application of an SHMT inhibitor suppressed both keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation in the imiquimod model and resulted in a decrease in psoriasis-associated gene expression. In conclusion, our study highlights SHMT2 activity and serine/glycine availability as an important metabolic hub controlling both keratinocyte proliferation and inflammatory cell expansion in psoriasis and holds promise for additional approaches to treat skin diseases

Switchable Selective Absorber Coatings for Overheating Protection of Solar Thermal Collectors

Overheating is a common problem both with the use of active and passive solar energy in solar thermal energy systems and in highly glazed buildings. In solar thermal collectors, the elevated temperatures occurring during stagnation result in reduced lifetime of the collector materials. Highly glazed building facades provide high solar gains in winter, but imply in most cases high energy needs for air conditioning in summer. The aim of this thesis is to propose ”smart” thermochromic coatings as a solution to such problems. A durable inorganic thermochromic material is vanadium dioxide. At 68°C, VO2 undergoes a reversible crystal structural phase transition accompanied by a strong change in optical properties. By doping the material with tungsten, it is possible to lower the transition temperature, making it suitable as a window coating. Controlled doping of VO2 based films was possible using a co-sputtering installation. This doping lowered the transition temperature from 67.9 ± 0.5°C to 49.5 ± 0.5°C. In order to simulate the optical behavior of multilayered solar coatings, precise knowledge of the optical properties of the material is required. In this study the complex dielectric functions of VO2 and VO2 : W were determined by spectroscopic UV-VIS-NIR-MIR ellipsometry above and below the transition temperature. For this purpose, a point-by-point analysis of the ellipsometric angles Ψ/∆ was performed. A validation of our results was obtained comparing the optical constants determined by point-by-point fitting with those determined by the Lorentz - Drude and the empirical Lorentz - Cauchy dispersion formula. The optical constants of VO2 show a considerable change in the near/middle infrared range. The maximum k (extinction coefficient) change of a factor 7.4 between the semiconducting state and the metallic state occurs at 13490 nm. Reflectance and absorptance were measured by spectrophotometry in the near infrared range up to 20 μm in order to be compared with the computer simulations based on the determined optical properties of the material. A solar absorptance of 0.96 below the transition temperature was reported for a VO2 based absorber. Structural and electrical analyses were performed as well. The thermal emittance of new nanocomposite materials based on VO2 was also investigated applying the Bruggeman effective medium approximation. A thermal emittance switch from 0.08 to 0.32 was simulated for a 350 nm thick VO2 : W film mixed with a 40% volume fraction of SiO2. The glycols used in solar thermal collectors start to degrade above 170°C, the use of this coating as solar absorber lowers the stagnation temperature below this critical point. As alternative solution to VO2, gas chromic MgyTi1−y switchable mirrors were studied by XRD and ellipsometry. In this thesis, the characterization of the optical properties of VO2 and VO2 : W is reported. This characterization shows that these coatings are efficient absorbers of thermochromic solar thermal panels

Filia sanctae Elisabectae: la committenza di Maria d'Ungheria nella chiesa clariana di Donnaregina a Napoli

ITALIANO: Maria d’Ungheria è la chiave privilegiata per comprendere sia il complessivo assetto planimetrico e formale della chiesa clarina di Santa Maria Donnaregina sia la sua decorazione a fresco. Il marcato tono germanico della fabbrica appare infatti il frutto della ricezione di un modulo edilizio di origine tedesca divulgatosi nel corso del XIII secolo in Ungheria e Boemia, sapientemente investito di un indiscutibile portato ideologico e retorico nella Napoli di primo Trecento. Un portato ribadito negli affreschi con le Storie di Santa Elisabetta d’Ungheria, nelle quali la celebrazione della santità della stirpe ungherese si combina con la sottolineatura di ruoli e valori devozionali propri del mondo femminile. In merito, proprio in un’ottica di genere, il ciclo si combina efficacemente con altri temi presenti nel programma decorativo, in primis quello mariano. / ENGLISH: Mary of Hungary is the key character to understand the architecture and the decoration of the Clarissan church of Santa Maria Donnaregina in Naples. Probably, the German gothic aspect of the building is the result of the reception of Northern architectural models, spread both in Hungary and Bohemia. In the same direction, the fresco cycle with the Life of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary is devoted to the celebration of the dynasty of the Queen Mary. From the point of view of the gender, the cycle combines effectively with other themes present in the decorative program, mainly the Marian one

The impact of building occupant behavior on energy efficiency and methods to influence it ::a review of the state of the art

Buildings consume a significant amount of energy, estimated at about one-third of total primary energy resources. Building energy efficiency has turned out to be a major issue in limiting the increasing energy demands of the sector. Literature shows that building user behavior can increase the efficiency of the energy used in the building and different strategies have been tested to address and support this issue. These strategies often combine the quantification of energy savings and qualitative interpretation of occupant behavior in order to foster energy efficiency. Strategies that influence building occupant behaviors include eco-feedback, social interaction, and gamification. This review paper presents a study conducted on the state of the art related to the impact of building user behavior on energy efficiency, in order to provide the research community with a better understanding and up-to-date knowledge of energy, comfort-related practices, and potential research opportunities. Achieving and maintaining energy-efficient behavior without decreasing the comfort of building occupants still represents a challenge, despite emerging technologies and strategies as well as general research progress made over the last decade. Conclusions highlight eco-feedback as an effective way to influence behavior, and gamification as a new opportunity to trigger behavioral change. The impact of user behavior is difficult to quantify for methodological reasons. Factors influencing human behavior are numerous and varied. Multi-disciplinary approaches are needed to provide new insights into the inner dynamic nature of occupant’s energy behavior

Coating for optical and electronic applications

Single- or multilayered coating, such as a selective solar absorber coating or a coating being part of an integrated electronic circuit, comprising one or more layers containing germanium (Ge) doped VO2+x, where -0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.1