Lattice energy-momentum tensor with Symanzik improved actions

We define the energy-momentum tensor on lattice for the $\lambda \phi^4$ and for the nonlinear $\sigma$-model Symanzik tree-improved actions, using Ward identities or an explicit matching procedure. The resulting operators give the correct one loop scale anomaly, and in the case of the sigma model they can have applications in Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: Self extracting archive fil

Genotoxic stress modulates the release of exosomes from multiple myeloma cells capable of activating NK cell cytokine production: role of HSP70/TLR2/NF-kB axis

Exosomes are a class of nanovesicles formed and released through the late endosomal compartment and represent an important mode of intercellular communication. The ability of anticancer chemotherapy to enhance the immunogenic potential of malignant cells mainly relies on the establishment of the immunogenic cell death (ICD) and the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Here, we investigated whether genotoxic stress could promote the release of exosomes from multiple myeloma (MM) cells and studied the immunomodulatory properties they exert on NK cells, a major component of the antitumor immune response playing a key role in the immunosurveillance of MM. Our findings show that melphalan, a genotoxic agent used in MM therapy, significantly induces an increased exosome release from MM cells. MM cell-derived exosomes are capable of stimulating IFNg production, but not the cytotoxic activity of NK cells through a mechanism based on the activation of NF-kB pathway in a TLR2/ HSP70-dependent manner. Interestingly, HSP70 positive exosomes are primarily found in the bone marrow (BM) of MM patients suggesting that they might have a crucial immunomodulatory action in the tumor microenvironment. We also provide evidence that the CD56high NK cell subset is more responsive to exosome-induced IFNg production mediated by TLR2 engagement. All together, these findings suggest a novel mechanism of synergism between chemotherapy and antitumor innate immune responses based on the drug-promotion of nanovesicles exposing DAMPs for innate receptors

Antimicrobial resistance among Escherichia coli that cause childhood community-acquired urinary tract infections in Northern Italy

<p>Abstracts</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Resistance rate of <it>Escherichia coli </it>against antimicrobials that are commonly prescribed in pediatric urinary tract infections is currently a matter of concern.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of uropathogenic <it>Escherichia coli </it>strains to the common antibimcrobials ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, coamoxyclav, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, nitrofurantoin, and gentamycin were determined in 177 children aged from 2 to 36 months. They presented with their first symptomatic community acquired urinary tract infection at the Department of Pediatrics, San Leopoldo Mandic Hospital, Merate-Lecco.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>High rates of ampicillin (inpatients: 50%; outpatients: 52%) resistance were identified. The resistance for cotrimoxazole (inpatients: 22%; outpatients: 15%) and especially coamoxyclav (inpatients: 6%; outpatients: 10%) was less pronounced than that to ampicillin. No resistance or less than 1% of resistance was identified for ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, nitrofurantoin, and gentamycin both in inpatients and in outpatients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Italian children affected with a community acquired urinary tract infection are initially managed orally with coamoxyclav or parenterally with ceftriaxone. The results of the present retrospective analysis support this attitude. Parenteral ceftriaxone or an aminoglycoside should be considered for patients on antimicrobial prophylaxis or recently prescribed antimicrobials.</p

The possible role of sex as an important factor in development and administration of lipid nanomedicine-based COVID-19 vaccine

Nanomedicine has demonstrated a substantial role in vaccine development against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19). Although nanomedicine-based vaccines have now been validated in millions of individuals worldwide in phase 4 and tracking of sex-disaggregated data on COVID-19 is ongoing, immune responses that underlie COVID-19 disease outcomes have not been clarified yet. A full understanding of sex-role effects on the response to nanomedicine products is essential to building an effective and unbiased response to the pandemic. Here, we exposed model lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to whole blood of 18 healthy donors (10 females and 8 males) and used flow cytometry to measure cellular uptake by circulating leukocytes. Our results demonstrated significant differences in the uptake of LNP between male and female natural killer (NK) cells. The results of this proof-of-concept study show the importance of recipient sex as a critical factor which enables researchers to better consider sex in the development and administration of vaccines for safer and more-efficient sex-specific outcomes

A Multidisciplinary Study of the DPRK Nuclear Tests

The Democratic People Republic of Korea announced two underground nuclear tests carried out in their territory respectively on October 9th, 2006 and May 25th, 2009. The scarce information on the precise location and the size of those explosions has stimulated various kinds of studies, mostly based on seismological observations, by several national agencies concerned with the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty verification. We analysed the available seismological data collected through a global high-quality network for the two tests. After picking up the arrival times at the various stations, a standard location program has been applied to the observed data. If we use all the available data for each single event, due to the different magnitude and different number of available stations, the locations appear quite different. On the contrary, if we use only the common stations, they happen to be only few km apart from each other and within their respective error ellipses. A more accurate relative location has been carried out by the application of algorithms such as double difference joint hypocenter determination (DDJHD) and waveform alignment. The epicentral distance between the two events obtained by these methods is 2 km, with the 2006 event shifted to the ESE with respect to that of 2009. We then used a dataset of VHR TerraSAR-X satellite images to detect possible surface effects of the underground tests. This is the first ever case where these highly performing SAR data have been used to such aim. We applied InSAR processing technique to fully exploit the capabilities of SAR data to measure very short displacements over large areas. Two interferograms have been computed, one co-event and one post-event, to remove possible residual topographic signals. A clear displacement pattern has been highlighted over a mountainous area within the investigated region, measuring a maximum displacement of about 45 mm overall the relief. Hypothesizing that the 2009 nuclear test had been carried out close to the area where the displacement has been observed through the DInSAR technique, its relation with the epicenter location obtained through seismological processing has been discussed as a possible alternative hypothesis with respect to the preferred solutions reported by the nuclear explosion database (NEDB). The distance of about 10 km between the two places can be considered acceptable in light of the possible systematic location shifts commonly observed in the seismological practice over a global scale. The difference between the m b magnitudes of the two tests could reflect differences in geological conditions of the two test sites, even if the yield of the two explosions had been the same

A Swendsen-Wang update algorithm for the Symanzik improved sigma model

We study a generalization of Swendsen-Wang algorithm suited for Potts models with next-next-neighborhood interactions. Using the embedding technique proposed by Wolff we test it on the Symanzik improved bidimensional non-linear $\sigma$ model. For some long range observables we find a little slowing down exponent ($z \simeq 0.3$) that we interpret as an effect of the partial frustration of the induced spin model.Comment: Self extracting archive fil