Extracts from microalga chlorella sorokiniana exert an anti-proliferative effect and modulate cytokines in sheep peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of the unsaponified fraction (UP), the acetylated unsaponified fraction (AUP), and the total lipid fraction (TL) extracted and purified from Chlorella sorokiniana (CS) on the proliferation and cytokine profile of sheep peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Cells were cultured with 0.4 mg/mL and 0.8 mg/mL concentrations of each extract (UP, AUP, and TL fractions) and activated with 5 μg/mL concanavalin A (ConA) and 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 37 °C for 24 h. PBMCs cultured with ConA and LPS represented the stimulated cells (SC), and PBMCs without ConA and LPS represented the unstimulated cells (USC). Cell-free supernatants were collected to determine IL-10, IL-1β, and IL-6 secretions; on cells, measurement of proliferation was performed. All the extracts tested significantly decreased the cell proliferation; in particular, the UP fraction at 0.4 mg/mL showed the lowest proliferative response. Furthermore, at 0.8 mg/mL, the UP fraction enhanced IL-10 secretion. On the contrary, the TL fraction at 0.4 mg/mL induced an increase in IL-10, IL-6, and, to a lesser extent, IL-1β secretions by cells. The AUP fraction did not change cytokine secretion. The results demonstrated that CS extracts could be useful ingredients in animal feed in order to minimize the use of antibiotics by modulating cell proliferation and cytokine response

Anderson Localization in Euclidean Random Matrices

We study spectra and localization properties of Euclidean random matrices. The problem is approximately mapped onto that of a matrix defined on a random graph. We introduce a powerful method to find the density of states and the localization threshold. We solve numerically an exact equation for the probability distribution function of the diagonal element of the the resolvent matrix, with a population dynamics algorithm, and we show how this can be used to find the localization threshold. An application of the method in the context of the Instantaneous Normal Modes of a liquid system is given.Comment: 4 page

Study of MicroPattern Gaseous detectors with novel nanodiamond based photocathodes for single photon detection in EIC RICH

Identification of high momentum hadrons at the future EIC is crucial, gaseous RICH detectors are therefore viable option. Compact collider setups impose to construct RICHes with small radiator length, hence significantly limiting the number of detected photons. More photons can be detected in the far UV region, using a windowless RICH approach. QE of CsI degrades under strong irradiation and air contamination. Nanodiamond based photocathodes (PCs) are being developed as an alternative to CsI. Recent development of layers of hydrogenated nanodiamond powders as an alternative photosensitive material and their performance, when coupled to the THick Gaseous Electron Multipliers (THGEM)-based detectors, are the objects of an ongoing R\&D. We report about the initial phase of our studies.Comment: 3 pages, 5 figures, RICH2018 conference proceedin

Defects-related early childhood caries as hints of possible maternal–fetal health issues: Evidence from medieval northern Italy

Developmental defects of enamel (DDE) are important markers of stress as they arise from the disruption of ameloblastic activity during enamel matrix secretion and mineralization. Defects on the crowns of the deciduous dentition provide insights into maternal–fetal health because they can emerge during intrauterine development as a result of gestational issues. The presence of previous defective enamel represents one of the most predisposing causes of caries development. Thus, circular caries on the deciduous dentition are considered an indicator of stress because of their ascertained relation with dental enamel defects. In bioarchaeological analysis, these lesions allow us to deepen the question of maternal–fetal health issues in the ancient period. Here, we present evidence of defects-related early childhood caries in three infants from a medieval cemetery in northern Italy. The findings in the dentitions of the three subjects were investigated with a multi-analytical approach, including macroscopic examination, microscopic observation, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and histological sections. In the specimens analyzed, the lesions observed in the dentitions appeared to have arisen during the fetal period and then protracted in the postnatal life, suggesting the implication of in utero environment and maternal health in the etiology of defects

Discretized Diffusion Processes

We study the properties of the ``Rigid Laplacian'' operator, that is we consider solutions of the Laplacian equation in the presence of fixed truncation errors. The dynamics of convergence to the correct analytical solution displays the presence of a metastable set of numerical solutions, whose presence can be related to granularity. We provide some scaling analysis in order to determine the value of the exponents characterizing the process. We believe that this prototype model is also suitable to provide an explanation of the widespread presence of power-law in social and economic system where information and decision diffuse, with errors and delay from agent to agent.Comment: 4 pages 5 figure, to be published in PR

Covid-19 pandemic and equal access to vaccines

The COVID-19 pandemic has evidenced the chronic inequality that exists between populations and communities as regards global healthcare. Vaccination, an appropriate tool for the prevention of infection, should be guaranteed by means of proportionate interventions to defeat such inequality in populations and communities affected by a higher risk of infection. Equitable criteria of justice should be identified and applied with respect to access to vaccination and to the order in which it should be administered. This article analyzes, as regards the worldwide distribution of anti-COVID-19 vaccines, the various ways the principle of equity has been construed and applied or even overlooked. The main obstacle to equal access to vaccines is vaccine nationalism. The perception of equity varies with the differing reference values adopted. Adequate response to needs appears to be the principal rule for achieving the criterion of equity in line with distributive justice. Priorities must be set equitably based on rational parameters in accordance with current needs. The entire process must be governed by transparency, from parameter identification to implementation. The issue of equal access to vaccination affects the entire world population, necessitating specific protective interventions. In light of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has devised the COVAX plan to ensure that even the poorest nations of the world receive the vaccine; certain initiatives are also supported by the European Union (EU). This pandemic has brought to the fore the need to build a culture of equitable relationships both in each country's own domain and with the rest of the world