Paper Session I-C - Spacehab A Commercial Approach to Space

The Spacehab industrial team has in-depth experience and a proven record with past manned systems (Spacelab and Space Shuttles), as well as, key roles in the systems design and development of Space Station Freedom and its European contribution, Columbus. Alenia Spazio was responsible for the primary structure and thermal control of Spacelab and is Element Prime Contractor for the Columbus Pressurized Modules

Commercial plant-probiotic microorganisms for sustainable organic tomato production systems

Selected plant-probiotic microorganisms, produced by the company CCS Aosta at a commercial scale, are being tested in the Italian Padana plain in open field conditions for their ability to provide adequate crop nutrition and to ensure durable soil fertility for organic tomato production. In this three-years-long project the QLIF-WP333 research team will investigate the potential of soil probiotics management as a tool to improve the quality of tomato fruits and the sustainability of organic tomato production systems

Racism and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in a Community Sample

Objective: Racism has been identified as a psychosocial stressor that may contribute to disparities in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. The goal of the present article was to investigate the relationship of perceived racism to ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) in a sample of American-born Blacks and Latinos. Methods: Participants included English-speaking Black or Latino(a) adults between the ages of 24 and 65. They completed daily mood diaries and measures of perceived racism, socioeconomic status, and hostility. Participants were outfitted with ABP monitors; 357 provided data on waking hours only, and 245 provided data on both waking and nocturnal ABP. Results: Perceived racism was positively associated with nocturnal ABP even when controlling for personality factors and socioeconomic status. Conclusions: The results suggest that racism may influence cardiovascular disease risk through its effects on nocturnal BP recovery

Experimental and numerical investigations of geomechanical controls on petrophysical changes of carbonates during fluid flow

In flooding experiments, porosity and permeability of carbonate rocks is enhanced through the dissolution of the rock matrix, which further increase the permeability as well as the inter-connection of the pre-existing porosity. Authors often refer to this process as wormholing or channelling, which define preferential pathways for any fluid circulating through the rock’s matrix (Hoefner and Fogler, 1988; Fredd and Fogler, 1998; Golfier et al., 2002). A wormhole’s shape and size ranges from face dissolution at very low fluid flow rates (where the reactive fluid is rapidly consumed after the injection point), to uniform dissolution (where the acid is brought to far-ends within the rock matrix, which allows the creation of a large network of connected pores). Authors have studied the factors influencing the relationship between dissolution fronts, injection rate, rock nature, and acidity of the circulating fluid (Frick et al., 1994a; Bazin et al., 1995; Fredd et al., 1996; Fredd and Fogler, 1998; Golfier et al., 2002; Egermann et al., 2006; Luquot and Gouze, 2009; Menke et al., 2015; Ott and Oedai, 2015; Barri et al., 2016; Luquot et al., 2016; Teles et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2016). The current status of knowledge present strong connections between the reaction rate and the diffusion rate (referred to as the Damköhler number – Da Bekri et al. (1995); Egermann et al. (2010)), as well as the study between the fluid velocity and the ability for a medium to diffuse into a solvent (referred to as the Péclet number – Pe Golfier et al. (2002); Menke et al. (2015)). The Da number measures the relative importance of the reaction rate constant versus advection over some length scale, while the Pe number gives the ratio of advective to dispersive flux for a given length scale (Zhang and Kang, 2004; Steefel and Lasaga, 1990). Large Da correspond to rapid chemical reaction in comparison to all other processes. On the other hand, smaller Da testify of very slow chemical reactions in comparison to all other processes taking place during fluid flow (Zhang and Kang, 2004). A low Péclet number suggests that transport is governed by diffusion and not by convection, and inversely at high Pe number (De Boever et al., 2012). Along with these dynamically controlled numbers, studies have tried to unpick the relationship between rock-fluid interaction for a variety of injection fluid, as well as rock-stress interaction. These studies have been done through the analysis of key variables (resistivity, porosity, permeability, etc.), using acidic and non-acidic fluids (Hoefner and Fogler, 1988; Frick et al., 1994b; Bazin et al., 1995; Fredd et al., 1996; Fredd and Fogler, 1998; Golfier et al., 2002; Egermann et al., 2006; Luquot and Gouze, 2009; Menke et al., 2015; Ott and Oedai, 2015; Barri et al., 2016; Luquot et al., 2016; Teles et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2016). The experimental rationales of these studies usually implies large changes in the variables representing the reservoirs conditions, such as the temperature, confining pressure, and the effective stress. A large gap has been found between the actual state of knowledge and the absolute impact of effective stress on reservoir rock alteration, at steady reservoir condition of pressure and temperature. In this study, we have created an experimental matrix where the variable representing the reservoir conditions are kept constant during an experimental flooding, while varied between experiments. By doing so, we can isolate and cross-compare the effect of each variable on the rock alteration. We have flooded a total of twelve 38 mm large diameter carbonate cores of different nature (Indiana limestones, Saturnia travertines, and pre-salt shrubs) under constant geo-reservoir condition of P-T: Pc = 50 MPa, and T= 60 ◦C. The effective stress and pore volume rate was varied between experiments while kept constant during each experimental flooding. We used porosity, permeability, Ca-Mg analysis, and μCT scanning as proxies for stress state related rock matrix alteration. While it is agreed that injection rate plays a major role in carbonate dissolution, through a higher dissolution rate corresponding to a high injection rate, and our work confirms this, we also demonstrate that for a constant given confining pressure, the effective stress can have a stimulant role in rock matrix alteration and wormhole development (Indiana limestone). Inversely, effective stress has a reverse role in less consolidated, more heterogeneous rocks (travertines). The pre-salt rock samples have shown interesting and mixed results, whose behaviour falls in between the Indiana limestone’s ones and the travertines’ ones: the chemical response behaved like an Indiana limestone while the physical response can be compared to a travertine. We think that our results highlight the importance of the stress state in a reservoir, and while the confining pressure cannot be varied during injection or depletion of a reservoir, the pore pressure can be affected. The processes involved behind this are not yet clarified by the experimental work, but we believe that they are time and chemistry related, with further study by the authors indicating that our results are energy-dependent. Therefore, in a carbonate sample, the expected wormhole shape and spread can be predicted thanks to the reservoir conditions, the experimental conditions, and the rock’s petromorphology. Finally, our numerical work further demonstrates that the heterogeneities within the porosity arrangement and geometry drive the fluid flow and could represent the main driving variable for the creation of pore space and carbonate dissolution

Comprehensive multi-omics analysis uncovers a group of TGF-β-regulated genes among lncRNA EPR direct transcriptional targets

Abstract Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can affect multiple layers of gene expression to control crucial cellular functions. We have previously demonstrated that the lncRNA EPR, by controlling gene expression at different levels, affects cell proliferation and migration in cultured mammary gland cells and impairs breast tumor formation in an orthotopic transplant model in mice. Here, we used ChIRP-Seq to identify EPR binding sites on chromatin of NMuMG mammary gland cells overexpressing EPR and identified its trans binding sites in the genome. Then, with the purpose of relating EPR/chromatin interactions to the reshaping of the epitranscriptome landscape, we profiled histone activation marks at promoter/enhancer regions by ChIP-Seq. Finally, we integrated data derived from ChIRP-Seq, ChIP-Seq as well as RNA-Seq in a comprehensive analysis and we selected a group of bona fide direct transcriptional targets of EPR. Among them, we identified a subset of EPR targets whose expression is controlled by TGF-β with one of them—Arrdc3—being able to modulate Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition. This experimental framework allowed us to correlate lncRNA/chromatin interactions with the real outcome of gene expression and to start defining the gene network regulated by EPR as a component of the TGF-β pathway

Place of birth effects on self-reported discrimination: Variations by type of discrimination

Researchers have suggested that perceptions of discrimination may vary depending on place of birth and the length of time spent living in the U.S., variables related to acculturation. However, the existing literature provides a mixed picture, with data suggesting that the effects of acculturation on perceptions of discrimination vary by race and other sociodemographic factors. This study evaluated the role of place of birth (POB: defined as U.S.-born vs. foreign-born), age at immigration, and length of residence in the U.S. on self-reported discrimination in a sample of urban-dwelling Asian and Black adults (n = 1454). Analyses examined POB effects on different types of discrimination including race-related stigmatization, exclusion, threat, and workplace discrimination. Sociodemographic variables (including age, gender, employment status and education level) were tested as potential moderators of the relationship between POB and discrimination. The results revealed a significant main effect of POB on discrimination, with U.S.-born individuals reporting significantly more discrimination than foreign-born individuals, although the effect was reduced when sociodemographic variables were controlled. Across the sample, POB effects were seen only for race-related stigmatization and exclusion, not for threat and workplace discrimination. With the exception of limited effects for gender, sociodemographic variables did not moderate these effects. Younger age at immigration and greater years of residence in the U.S. were also positively associated with higher levels of perceived discrimination. These findings suggest increasing acculturation may shape the experience and perception of racial and ethnic discrimination

Heme oxygenase 1 in the nervous system: Does it favor neuronal cell survival or induce neurodegeneration?

Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) up-regulation is recognized as a pivotal mechanism of cell adaptation to stress. Under control of different transcription factors but with a prominent role played by Nrf2, HO-1 induction is crucial also in nervous system response to damage. However, several lines of evidence have highlighted that HO-1 expression is associated to neuronal damage and neurodegeneration especially in Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s diseases. In this review, we summarize the current literature regarding the role of HO-1 in nervous system pointing out different molecular mechanisms possibly responsible for HO-1 up-regulation in nervous system homeostasis and neurodegeneration

Differentiation impairs Bach1 dependent HO-1 activation and increases sensitivity to oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

Neuronal adaptation to oxidative stress is crucially important in order to prevent degenerative diseases. The role played by the Nrf2/HO-1 system in favoring cell survival of neuroblastoma (NB) cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been investigated using undifferentiated or all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. While undifferentiated cells were basically resistant to the oxidative stimulus, ATRA treatment progressively decreased cell viability in response to H2O2. HO-1 silencing decreased undifferentiated cell viability when exposed to H2O2, proving the role of HO-1 in cell survival. Conversely, ATRA differentiated cells exposed to H2O2 showed a significantly lower induction of HO-1, and only the supplementation with low doses of bilirubin (0,5-1 \uce\ubcM) restored viability. Moreover, the nuclear level of Bach1, repressor of HO-1 transcription, strongly decreased in undifferentiated cells exposed to oxidative stress, while did not change in ATRA differentiated cells. Furthermore, Bach1 was displaced from HO-1 promoter in undifferentiated cells exposed to H2O2, enabling the binding of Nrf2. On the contrary, in ATRA differentiated cells treated with H2O2, Bach1 displacement was impaired, preventing Nrf2 binding and limiting HO-1 transcription. In conclusion, our findings highlight the central role of Bach1 in HO-1-dependent neuronal response to oxidative stress

Expression and characterization of two new alkane-inducible cytochrome P450s from Trichoderma harzianum

Abstract The inducibility CYPs by various carbon sources, including some n-alkanes and fatty acids, has been studied in Trichoderma harzianum. It was observed that n-dodecane and a mixture of fatty acids were good inducers of total CYP content and ω-hydroxylase of lauric acid, a marker for ω-hydroxylation of n-alkanes. By RACE it was isolated a cDNA containing an open reading frame of 1520 bp which encoded a CYP52 protein of 520 amino acids. Further, another n-alkane inducible CYP was identified in a library of T. harzianum by LC-MS/Ms analysis of a microsomal protein band induced by n-dodecane exposure. Thus, the filamentous fungus T. harzianum is expected to have a CYP dependent conversion of alkanes to fatty acids and their incorporation into cellular lipids