Candidate molecular markers of hygienic behavior in honeybees (Apis mellifera): an expression study

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) evolved social immunity mechanisms based on coordinated behavioral mechanisms for reducing the disease risk in the hive. Among these, Hygienic Behavior (HB) leads to the uncapping and removal of dead, diseased or parasitized brood (Cremer, 2007). The characterization of expression markers of HB could greatly assist in-field selection still incomplete. This work was characterized by a transversal approach: from in-field phenotypic characterization, to expression profiling of selected honeybee brain non-coding (microRNAs) and coding (RNAm) genes to assess differential expression of selected gene targets between selected honeybee families with high and low HB, respectively. After a preliminary work performed in 2015, during spring 2016 honeybee nurses were sampled from 28 hives simultaneously with the evaluation of HB score through freeze-killed brood assay performed with the cooperation of professional honeybee breeders (E. Bonfanti, L. Sesso). The nurses from 16 families (8 with the highest and 8 with the lowest HB scores, respectively) underwent expression analysis of the following target genes potentially linked to HB and/or learning processes: ame-miR-219, ame-miR-276, let-7a (Behura, 2010) ame-miR-932 (Cristino, 2014), and Act5C, Mblk-1 (Takeuchi, 2001) and Obp4 (Chandrasekaran, 2011). The experimental workflow was as follows: 1) dissection and pooling of brains, 2) total RNA extraction, quantification and retrotranscription, 3) RT-quantitative Real Time PCR. The differential expression analysis of the candidate markers, performed after selection of the normalizing gene through geNorm and NormFinder algorithms, highlighted a correlation of OBP4 and ACT5C expression level with HB score

Impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease: decreased striatal dopamine transporter levels

Objective Impulse control disorders are commonly associated with dopaminergic therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD). PD patients with impulse control disorders demonstrate enhanced dopamine release to conditioned cues and a gambling task on [11C]raclopride positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and enhanced ventral striatal activity to reward on functional MRI. We compared PD patients with impulse control disorders and age-matched and gender-matched controls without impulse control disorders using [123I]FP-CIT (2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)tropane) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to assess striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) density. Methods The [123I]FP-CIT binding data in the striatum were compared between 15 PD patients with and 15 without impulse control disorders using independent t tests. Results Those with impulse control disorders showed significantly lower DAT binding in the right striatum with a trend in the left (right: F(1,24)=5.93, p=0.02; left: F(1,24)=3.75, p=0.07) compared to controls. Conclusions Our findings suggest that greater dopaminergic striatal activity in PD patients with impulse control disorders may be partly related to decreased uptake and clearance of dopamine from the synaptic cleft. Whether these findings are related to state or trait effects is not known. These findings dovetail with reports of lower DAT levels secondary to the effects of methamphetamine and alcohol. Although any regulation of DAT by antiparkinsonian medication appears to be modest, PD patients with impulse control disorders may be differentially sensitive to regulatory mechanisms of DAT expression by dopaminergic medications

Challenges in developing a solar powered stirling engine for domestic electricity generation

Paper presented at the 9th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Malta, 16-18 July, 2012.This paper investigates the challenges in developing a solar powered Stirling engine for domestic electricity generation. All the system components, the parabolic troughs, heat transfer fluid and the Stirling engine are individually analysed. The analysis includes a market survey and performance assessments of such components. A mathematical analysis for the Stirling engine is carried out in order to understand the affect of varies parameters with the work output per cycle and the engine efficiency. Such parameters are the phase angle between pistons, the diameter ratio of the power and displacer piston, and change in temperature.dc201

Phospho-HDAC6 Gathers Into Protein Aggregates in Parkinson’s Disease and Atypical Parkinsonisms

HDAC6 is a unique histone deacetylase that targets cytoplasmic non-histone proteins and has a specific ubiquitin-binding activity. Both of these activities are required for HDAC6-mediated formation of aggresomes, which contain misfolded proteins that will ultimately be degraded via autophagy. HDAC6 deacetylase activity is increased following phosphorylation on serine 22 (phospho-HDAC6). In human, HDAC6 localizes in neuronal Lewy bodies in Parkinson\u2019s disease (PD) and in oligodendrocytic Papp\u2013Lantos bodies in multiple system atrophy (MSA). However, the expression of phospho-HDAC6 in post-mortem human brains is currently unexplored. Here, we evaluate and compare the distribution of HDAC6 and its phosphorylated form in human brains obtained from patients affected by three forms of parkinsonism: two synucleinopathies (PD and MSA) and a tauopathy (progressive supranuclear palsy, PSP). We find that both HDAC6 and its phosphorylated form localize with pathological protein aggregates, including \u3b1-synuclein-positive Lewy bodies in PD and Papp\u2013Lantos bodies in MSA, and phospho-tau-positive neurofibrillary tangles in PSP. We further find a direct interaction of HDAC6 with \u3b1-synuclein with proximity ligation assay (PLA) in neuronal cell of PD patients. Taken together, our findings suggest that both HDAC6 and phospho-HDAC6 regulate the homeostasis of intra-neuronal proteins in parkinsonism

Development and Validation of Automated Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index 2.0 to Distinguish Progressive Supranuclear Palsy-Parkinsonism From Parkinson's Disease

Background: Differentiating progressive supranuclear palsy-parkinsonism (PSP-P) from Parkinson's disease (PD) is clinically challenging. Objective: This study aimed to develop an automated Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index 2.0 (MRPI 2.0) algorithm to distinguish PSP-P from PD and to validate its diagnostic performance in two large independent cohorts. Methods: We enrolled 676 participants: a training cohort (n = 346; 43 PSP-P, 194 PD, and 109 control subjects) from our center and an independent testing cohort (n = 330; 62 PSP-P, 171 PD, and 97 control subjects) from an international research group. We developed a new in-house algorithm for MRPI 2.0 calculation and assessed its performance in distinguishing PSP-P from PD and control subjects in both cohorts using receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: The automated MRPI 2.0 showed excellent performance in differentiating patients with PSP-P from patients with PD and control subjects both in the training cohort (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.93 [95% confidence interval, 0.89–0.98] and AUC = 0.97 [0.93–1.00], respectively) and in the international testing cohort (PSP-P versus PD, AUC = 0.92 [0.87–0.97]; PSP-P versus controls, AUC = 0.94 [0.90–0.98]), suggesting the generalizability of the results. The automated MRPI 2.0 also accurately distinguished between PSP-P and PD in the early stage of the diseases (AUC = 0.91 [0.84–0.97]). A strong correlation (r = 0.91, P < 0.001) was found between automated and manual MRPI 2.0 values. Conclusions: Our study provides an automated, validated, and generalizable magnetic resonance biomarker to distinguish PSP-P from PD. The use of the automated MRPI 2.0 algorithm rather than manual measurements could be important to standardize measures in patients with PSP-P across centers, with a positive impact on multicenter studies and clinical trials involving patients from different geographic regions. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

Reduction in Phencyclidine Induced Sensorimotor Gating Deficits in the Rat Following Increased System Xc − Activity in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex

Rationale: Aspects of schizophrenia, including deficits in sensorimotor gating, have been linked to glutamate dysfunction and/or oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex. System xc −, a cystine–glutamate antiporter, is a poorly understood mechanism that contributes to both cellular antioxidant capacity and glutamate homeostasis. Objectives: Our goal was to determine whether increased system xc − activity within the prefrontal cortex would normalize a rodent measure of sensorimotor gating. Methods: In situ hybridization was used to map messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of xCT, the active subunit of system xc −, in the prefrontal cortex. Prepulse inhibition was used to measure sensorimotor gating; deficits in prepulse inhibition were produced using phencyclidine (0.3–3 mg/kg, sc). N-Acetylcysteine (10–100 μM) and the system xc − inhibitor (S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine (CPG, 0.5 μM) were used to increase and decrease system xc − activity, respectively. The uptake of 14C-cystine into tissue punches obtained from the prefrontal cortex was used to assay system xc − activity. Results: The expression of xCT mRNA in the prefrontal cortex was most prominent in a lateral band spanning primarily the prelimbic cortex. Although phencyclidine did not alter the uptake of 14C-cystine in prefrontal cortical tissue punches, intraprefrontal cortical infusion of N-acetylcysteine (10–100 μM) significantly reduced phencyclidine- (1.5 mg/kg, sc) induced deficits in prepulse inhibition. N-Acetylcysteine was without effect when coinfused with CPG (0.5 μM), indicating an involvement of system xc −. Conclusions: These results indicate that phencyclidine disrupts sensorimotor gating through system xc − independent mechanisms, but that increasing cystine–glutamate exchange in the prefrontal cortex is sufficient to reduce behavioral deficits produced by phencyclidine

Compressive sampling for multispectral imaging in the vis-NIR-TIR: optical design of space telescopes

Micro-satellites equipped with multispectral payloads are now under development to acquire information on the radiation reflected and emitted from the earth in the vis-NIR-TIR bands. In this framework, we are studying different approaches based on the compressive sampling technique supported by innovative multispectral detectors, where the image sampling is performed on the telescope focal plane with a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD). We will describe in the paper the possibilities and the constraints given by the use of the DMD in the focal plane. The optical design of the telescope, relay system and detector in two different application cases will be provided

Correspondence Between Cognitive and Audiological Evaluations Among the Elderly: A Preliminary Report of an Audiological Screening Model of Subjects at Risk of Cognitive Decline With Slight to Moderate Hearing Loss

Epidemiological studies show increasing prevalence rates of cognitive decline and hearing loss with age, particularly after the age of 65 years. These conditions are reported to be associated, although conclusive evidence of causality and implications is lacking. Nevertheless, audiological and cognitive assessment among elderly people is a key target for comprehensive and multidisciplinary evaluation of the subject's frailty status. To evaluate the use of tools for identifying older adults at risk of hearing loss and cognitive decline and to compare skills and abilities in terms of hearing and cognitive performances between older adults and young subjects, we performed a prospective cross-sectional study using supraliminal auditory tests. The relationship between cognitive assessment results and audiometric results was investigated, and reference ranges for different ages or stages of disease were determined. Patients older than 65 years with different degrees of hearing function were enrolled. Each subject underwent an extensive audiological assessment, including tonal and speech audiometry, Italian Matrix Sentence Test, and speech audiometry with logatomes in quiet. Cognitive function was screened and then verified by experienced clinicians using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and further investigations in some. One hundred twenty-three subjects were finally enrolled during 2016-2019: 103 were >65 years of age and 20 were younger participants (as controls). Cognitive functions showed a correlation with the audiological results in post-lingual hearing-impaired patients, in particular in those affected by slight to moderate hearing loss and aged more than 70 years. Audiological testing can thus be useful in clinical assessment and identification of patients at risk of cognitive impairment. The study was limited by its sample size (CI 95%; CL 10%), strict dependence on language, and hearing threshold. Further investigations should be conducted to confirm the reported results and to verify similar screening models

Chest CT score in COVID-19 patients: correlation with disease severity and short-term prognosis

Objectives: To correlate a CT-based semi-quantitative score of pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 pneumonia with clinical staging of disease and laboratory findings. We also aimed to investigate whether CT findings may be predictive of patients’ outcome. Methods: From March 6 to March 22, 2020, 130 symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 patients were enrolled for this single-center analysis and chest CT examinations were retrospectively evaluated. A semi-quantitative CT score was calculated based on the extent of lobar involvement (0:0%; 1, < 5%; 2:5–25%; 3:26–50%; 4:51–75%; 5, > 75%; range 0–5; global score 0–25). Data were matched with clinical stages and laboratory findings. Survival curves and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the role of CT score as a predictor of patients’ outcome. Results: Ground glass opacities were predominant in early-phase (≤ 7 days since symptoms’ onset), while crazy-paving pattern, consolidation, and fibrosis characterized late-phase disease (> 7 days). CT score was significantly higher in critical and severe than in mild stage (p < 0.0001), and among late-phase than early-phase patients (p < 0.0001). CT score was significantly correlated with CRP (p < 0.0001, r = 0.6204) and D-dimer (p < 0.0001, r = 0.6625) levels. A CT score of ≥ 18 was associated with an increased mortality risk and was found to be predictive of death both in univariate (HR, 8.33; 95% CI, 3.19–21.73; p < 0.0001) and multivariate analysis (HR, 3.74; 95% CI, 1.10–12.77; p = 0.0348). Conclusions: Our preliminary data suggest the potential role of CT score for predicting the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 patients. CT score is highly correlated with laboratory findings and disease severity and might be beneficial to speed-up diagnostic workflow in symptomatic cases. Key Points: • CT score is positively correlated with age, inflammatory biomarkers, severity of clinical categories, and disease phases. • A CT score ≥ 18 has shown to be highly predictive of patient’s mortality in short-term follow-up. • Our multivariate analysis demonstrated that CT parenchymal assessment may more accurately reflect short-term outcome, providing a direct visualization of anatomic injury compared with non-specific inflammatory biomarkers

Challenges in developing a solar powered stirling engine for domestic electricity generation

This paper investigates the challenges in developing a solar powered Stirling engine for domestic electricity generation. All the system components, the parabolic troughs, heat transfer fluid and the Stirling engine are individually analysed. The analysis includes a market survey and performance assessments of such components. A mathematical analysis for the Stirling engine is carried out in order to understand the affect of varies parameters with the work output per cycle and the engine efficiency. Such parameters are the phase angle between pistons, the diameter ratio of the power and displacer piston, and change in temperature.peer-reviewe