BRAFV600E MUTATION, TISSUE INHIBITOR OF METALLOPROTEINASE-1 UPREGULATION AND NF-KB ACTIVATION: CLOSING THE LOOP ON THE PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER TRILOGY

BRAFV600E is the most common mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) and Nuclear Factor (NF)-kB have been shown to play an important role in thyroid cancer. Our aim was to evaluate whether an interplay among these three factors exerts a functional role in PTCs. 56 PTC specimens were analyzed for BRAFV600E mutation, TIMP-1 expression and NF-kB activation by real-time allele-specific amplification, realtime quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and electroforetic mobility shift assay (EMSA), respectively. We show that BRAFV600E mutation occurs selectively in PTC nodules and determines up-regulation of TIMP-1 and hyperactivation of NF-kB. In addition we describe that CD63, a member of the tetraspanin family, which has been indicated as the TIMP-1 receptor, was selectively up-regulated in PTC nodules harboring BRAFV600E mutation. The proof of the principle was assayed in vitro using BCPAP cell line harboring BRAFV600E mutation. When we silenced BRAF gene in BCPAP cell line using a specific small interfering RNA for the mutated form (MU-A), we found a marked decrease in TIMP-1 expression and NF-kB binding activity. Furthermore, using invasion assay we found that MU-A treated cells decreased significantly their ability to invade. We demonstrate that BRAFV600E causes up-regulation of TIMP- 1 via NF-kB activation. TIMP-1 binds its surface receptor CD63, leading to Akt activation, and thus conferring an anti-apoptotic behavior which eventually promotes cell invasion. We individuated a functional trilogy which might explain how BRAFV600E determines cancer initiation, progression and invasiveness in PTC

Investigating Social Interactions Using Multi-Modal Nonverbal Features

Every day, humans are involved in social situations and interplays, with the goal of sharing emotions and thoughts, establishing relationships with or acting on other human beings. These interactions are possible thanks to what is called social intelligence, which is the ability to express and recognize social signals produced during the interactions. These signals aid the information exchange and are expressed through verbal and non-verbal behavioral cues, such as facial expressions, gestures, body pose or prosody. Recently, many works have demonstrated that social signals can be captured and analyzed by automatic systems, giving birth to a relatively new research area called social signal processing, which aims at replicating human social intelligence with machines. In this thesis, we explore the use of behavioral cues and computational methods for modeling and understanding social interactions. Concretely, we focus on several behavioral cues in three specic contexts: rst, we analyze the relationship between gaze and leadership in small group interactions. Second, we expand our analysis to face and head gestures in the context of deception detection in dyadic interactions. Finally, we analyze the whole body for group detection in mingling scenarios

Three units in secondary-school French

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

Short pulse laser sources for optical time domain multiplexing

Peer Reviewe

STAT3, a hub protein of cellular signaling pathways, is triggered by β-hexaclorocyclohexane

Background: Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are widely distributed in the environment and their toxicity is mostly associated with the molecular mechanisms of endocrine disruption. Among OCPs, particular attention was focused on the effects of β-hexaclorocyclohexane (β-HCH), a widely common pollutant. A detailed epidemiological study carried out on exposed population in the “Valle del Sacco” found correlations between the incidence of a wide range of diseases and the occurrence of β-HCH contamination. Taking into account the pleiotropic role of the protein signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), its function as a hub protein in cellular signaling pathways triggered by β-HCH was investigated in different cell lines corresponding to tissues that are especially vulnerable to damage by environmental pollutants. Materials and Methods: Human prostate cancer (LNCaP), human breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB 468), and human hepatoma (HepG2) cell lines were treated with 10 µM β-HCH in the presence or absence of specific inhibitors for different receptors. All samples were subjected to analysis by immunoblotting and RT-qPCR. Results and Conclusions: The preliminary results allow us to hypothesize the involvement of STAT3, through both its canonical and non-canonical pathways, in response to β-HCH. Moreover, we ascertained the role of STAT3 as a master regulator of energy metabolism via the altered expression and localization of HIF-1α and PKM2, respectively, resulting in a Warburg-like effect

Comunicação comparada: um estudo sobre a enchente Rio de Janeiro (2010) com base na análise das revistas Veja, Época e IstoÉ

O artigo é um estudo exploratório comparativo de natureza qualitativa e quantitativo e tem como análise a capa e a sua respectiva matéria sobre a tragédia enchentes ocorrida no Rio de Janeiro em abril de 2010, sendo seu corpus extraído dos veículos de comunicação impressos nas revistas VEJA, ÉPOCA e ISTOÉ, considerando sua circulação nacional, sob determinado recorte temporal, uma semana após a tragédia. O território de conflitos e tensões descrito pelo jornalista sobre o acontecimento enchentes configura sob o aspecto da mídia um papel “quase-mediado”, ao disseminar informações que podem, a partir desse momento, fazer parte da sua esfera pública. A análise permitiu a detecção de inferências in[possíveis] no que diz respeito aos discursos das mídias, o que permite verificar uma disputa de sentidos mediada pela impressa na relação com cidadão, autoridades, e especialistas

P-punti nella compattificazione di Stone-Čech di ω

Nell'elaborato studiamo un approccio topologico a un problema di indipendenza di ZFC. Introduciamo quindi oltre agli strumenti preliminari, un'idea di come funzioni il forcing, una tecnica per mostrare consistenza e indipendenza di enunciati da una teoria, in particolare per quanto riguarda l'ipotesi del continuo, che ci servirà nel resto dell'elaborato. Approcciamo poi più concretamente lo studio degli ultrafiltri sull'insieme dei numeri naturali ω e le loro proprietà, per poi studiare caratteristiche e condizioni sufficienti all'esistenza di particolari ultrafiltri, detti p-punti. Osserviamo allora che l'insieme degli ultrafiltri, se dotato di una particolare topologia è un caso particolare di una compattificazione, detta compattificazione di Stone-Čech, che ha una proprietà universale di massimalità in termini di diagrammi commutativi, e che costruiamo in due differenti modi per coglierne meglio le proprietà e la struttura. Sotto quest'ottica andiamo infine a studiare le proprietà topologiche dei p-punti nella compattificazione di Stone-Čech di ω

Desenvolvimento e aplicação de filmes biodegradáveis a partir de amido de mandioca e microalga verde

As embalagens têm grande importância na indústria de alimentos, pois tem como função principal proteger os alimentos contra contaminações externas. Porém, grande parte das embalagens tradicionais são produzidas a partir de fontes não renováveis e não biodegradáveis, causando sérios problemas ambientais. Por isso, os filmes e coberturas biodegradáveis vêm despertando atenção e interesse dos pesquisadores e indústrias. Neste trabalho, verificou-se a capacidade de desenvolver filmes biodegradáveis com propriedades antioxidantes, utilizando amido de mandioca, como matriz polimérica, e a adição de diferentes concentrações de biomassa seca e extrato de biomassa das microalgas Heterochlorella luteoviridis e Dunaliella tertiolecta. Os filmes foram caracterizados quanto a suas propriedades físico-químicas, mecânicas, de barreira, óticas e antioxidantes. Dentre os filmes desenvolvidos, o que apresentou melhores características foi selecionado para a aplicação em embalagem de salmão e avaliação da proteção contra a oxidação. Em geral, a aplicação da biomassa das microalgas ocasionou um aumento na solubilidade, biodegradabilidade e opacidade dos filmes. Já os filmes com aplicação de extrato obtiveram os menores valores para esses parâmetros A biomassa provocou aumento na elongação na ruptura e redução na resistência a tração e módulo de Young dos filmes; a adição de extrato resultou em características mecânicas inversas a dos filmes adicionados de biomassa. Todos os filmes com a adição das microalgas obtiveram resultados positivos na atividade antioxidante avaliada pelo índice de peróxidos. O filme contendo 2,0 % de extrato de H. luteoviridis foi o que apresentou a menor permeabilidade ao vapor de água e boas características mecânicas. Portanto, foi escolhido para aplicação em salmão. Na análise de TBARS, a oxidação lipídica foi retardada, porém ocasionou a diminuição da umidade do peixe. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho comprovam que a aplicação de biomassa de microalga H. luteoviridis e D. tertiolecta resultam em filmes biodegradáveis, com elevada atividade antioxidante, porém, com alta solubilidade, o que dificulta a aplicação em alimentos úmidos. Os filmes contendo extrato das microalgas possuem aptidão para serem aplicados em alimentos com maior teor de água.Packaging has great importance in food industry, mainly protecting food against external contamination. However, most of the traditional packaging are produced from non-renewable and non-biodegradable sources, causing serious environmental problems. Therefore, biodegradable films and coatings have been attracting attention and interest from researchers and industries. This work studied the development of biodegradable films with antioxidant properties, using cassava starch as polymer matrix, and the addition of different concentrations of dry biomass and biomass extract of the microalgae Heterochlorella luteoviridis and Dunaliella tertiolecta. The films were characterized for their physicochemical, mechanical, barrier, optical and antioxidant properties. The film that presented the best characteristics was selected for application in salmon packaging aiming protection against lipid oxidation. In general, the addition of microalgae biomass caused an increase in the solubility, biodegradability and opacity of the films. The films with microalgae extract showed the lowest values of these parameters The addition of microalgae biomass caused an increase on elongation and rupture and a reduction on the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the films. However, the addition of microalgae extract caused an inverse effect on the mechanical characteristics of the films. All films with microalgae biomass or extract showed higher antioxidant activity evaluated by peroxide index. The film containing 2.0 % extract of H. luteoviridis was the one that presented a lowest permeability to water vapor and good mechanical characteristics. Therefore, it was chosen for application in salmon. In the analysis of TBARS, the lipid oxidation was delayed, but caused the decrease of the moisture of the fish. The results showed that the application of H. luteoviridis and D. tertiolecta microalgae biomass results in biodegradable films, with high antioxidant activity, as high solubility, which makes it difficult to apply nor moist foods. The films containing microalgae extracts suitable for use in foods with higher water content

Reconstruction of schemes via the tensor triangulated category of perfect complexes

This elaborate consists of a detailed presentation of the construction introduced for the first time by Paul Balmer and aimed to define a locally ringed space associated to a given tensor triangulated category, the so called spectrum of the category. The focus of this thesis is the case of the tensor triangulated category of perfect complexes on a noetherian scheme X, the full triangulated subcategory of the derived category of sheaves of modules consisting of complexes of sheaves locally quasi-isomorphic to complexes of locally free sheaves. This category inherits the structure of derived tensor product of complexes of sheaves of modules, becoming a tensor triangulated category. Its spectrum is a scheme isomorphic to X, providing a powerful reconstruction result