Amniotic fluid-derived stems isolation, characterization and differentiation

Amniotic fluid-derived stems (AFS) are widely accepted as a new powerful tool for basic research as well for the establishment of new stem-cell-based therapy concepts. Here we induced AFS cells to differentiate into cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells through the administration of mixture of hyaluronan with butyric and retinoic acids (HA+BU+RA). First the cells, isolated from amniotic fluid, have been immusnoselected using an anti-c-kit antibody, expanded in vitro and characterized by flow cytometry. The data obtained show that the antigenic profile of AFS cells is analogous to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). AFS cells were trated with HA+BU+RA to induce cardiac differentiation. The molecule demonstrated to be able to induce the cardiomyogenic process in these cells activating the expression pattern typical of the cardiac lineage commitment (GATA4, Nkx2.5 and prodynorphin genes). Moreover AFS cells (under the HA+BU+RA induction) are able to form fully differentiated cardiomyocytes. In fact immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis show the expression of α-sarcomeric actinin and MYH (intracellular cardiospecific marker proteins). Interestingly, exposure to HA+BU+RA induces the expression of von Willebrand factor (vWF) a gene tightly involved in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis and led to the development of vWF-expressing endothelial cells

Chapter Studiare la Resistenza con le fonti orali

Practise in oral interview for recording experiences nurtured during Resistance was early as it was carried on firstly by Silvio Micheli. However, neither Micheli or the Historical Institutes for Resistance studies have been privileged military topics over the other ones. Resistance indeed did not resolve itself only on a military basis. Afterwards, historical research dealt with partisans' daily lives: it showed the human dimension of Resistance as well as difficulties met by partisans, who were politically immature as they were grown during Fascism. Among this new kind of research, the contribute will deal with historical witnesses such as Calegari and Bermani. The pair indeed was characterised by two different way of behaviour

La Resistenza a Firenze tra celebrazione e attualizzazione politica

La Resistenza è stata fondamentale nelle vicende politiche e culturali dell’Italia repubblicana. Per questo la sua memoria pubblica è stata più volte utilizzata come esempio, positivo o negativo, da parte dei partiti. In essa alcuni leggevano la prima epifania di un programma democratico e socialmente avanzato, altri al contrario vi trovavano le premesse di un rischio totalitario. Anche la memoria pubblica del giorno della liberazione di Firenze (11 agosto ’44), intrecciata con quella della data della Liberazione d’Italia (25 aprile ’45), ha conosciuto un destino di questo tipo. Il saggio ripercorre quindi la memoria pubblica fiorentina e le manifestazioni (o l’assenza di manifestazioni, o le provocazioni neofasciste) in occasione delle due celebrazioni. E mette in evidenza come, assai presto, la vicenda reale dei giorni della Liberazione si sfocasse, e sempre più nettamente invadessero il campo considerazioni e paralleli con la situazione del presente

EU Wide Monitoring Survey of Polar Persistent Pollutants in European River Waters

This study provides the first EU-wide reconnaissance of the occurrence of polar organic persistent pollutants in European river waters. 122 individual water samples from over 100 European rivers, streams or similar water bodies from 27 European Countries were analysed for 35 selected compounds, comprising pharmaceuticals (e.g. carbamazepine, diclofenac), antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole), pesticides (e.g. 2,4-D, mecoprop, bentazone, terbutylazine), perfluorinated compounds PFCs (PFOS, PFOA), benzotriazoles (corrosion inhibitors), hormones (estrone, estradiol), and alkylphenolics (bisphenol A, nonylphenol). Only the dissolved (liquid) water phase, and not the suspend material was investigated. Around 40 laboratories actively participated in this sampling and monitoring exercise organised by the Joint Research Centre¿s Institute for Environment and Sustainability (JRC-IES) of the European Commission (EC) in autumn 2007. The selection of sampling sites was done by the participating EU Member States. The most frequently and at the highest concentration levels detected compounds were benzotriazole, caffeine, carbamazepine, tolyltriazole, and nonylphenoxy acetic acid (NPE1C). Other important substances identified were naproxen, bezafibrate, ibuprofen, gemfibrozil, PFOS, PFOA, sulfamethoxazole, isoproturon, diuron, and nonylphenol. The highest median concentrations of all samples were measured for benzotriazole (226 ng/L), caffeine (72 ng/L), carbamazepine (75 ng/L), tolyltriazole (140 ng/L), and NPE1C (233 ng/L). Relatively high perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) levels were detected in the Rivers Danube, Scheldt, Rhone, and Wyre, and ¿elevated¿ perfluorooctansulfonate (PFOS) concentrations in the Rivers Scheldt, Seine, Krka, Severn, Rhine, and Llobregat. A higher median concentration for all river samples was found for PFOS (6 ng/L), compared to PFOA (3 ng/L). Only about 10 % of the river water samples analysed could be classified as ¿very clean¿ in terms of chemical pollution, since they contained only a few compounds in very low concentrations. The most pristine water samples came from Estonia, Lithuania, and Sweden. For the target compounds chosen, we are proposing limit values in surface waters which are not based on eco-toxicological considerations; these warning levels are (for most compounds) close to the 90th percentile of all water samples analysed. A first EU-wide data set has been created on the occurrence of polar persistent pollutants in river surface waters to be used for continental scale risk assessment and related decision support.JRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

Extended narrow-line region in Seyfert galaxies

We present our recent results about the extended narrow-line region (ENLR) of two nearby Seyfert 2 galaxies (IC 5063 and NGC 7212) obtained by modelling the observed line profiles and spectra with composite models (photoionization+shocks) in the different regions surrounding the AGN. Then, we compare the Seyfert 2 ENLRs with the very extended one recently discovered in the narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxy Mrk 783. We have found several evidences of interaction between the ISM of the galaxies and their radio jets, such as a) the contribution of shocks in ionizing the high velocity gas, b) the complex kinematics showed by the profile of the emission lines, c) the high fragmentation of matter, etc. The results suggest that the ENLR of IC 5063 have a hollow bi-conical shape, with one edge aligned to the galaxy disk, which may cause some kind of dependence on velocity of the ionization parameter. Regarding the Mrk 783 properties, it is found that the extension of the optical emission is almost twice the size of the radio one and it seems due to the AGN activity, although there is contamination by star formation around 12 arcsec from the nucleus. Diagnostic diagrams excluded the contribution of star formation in IC 5063 and NGC 7212, while the shock contribution was used to explain the spectra emitted by their high velocity gas.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, proceeding of the conference "Quasars at all cosmic epochs", accepted for publication in Front. Astron. Space Sci. - Milky Way and Galaxie

Probe-hosted silicon photomultipliers for time-domain functional near-infrared spectrscopy: phantom and in vivo tests

We report the development of a compact probe for time-domain (TD) functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) based on a fast silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) that can be put directly in contact with the sample without the need of optical fibers for light collection. We directly integrated an avalanche signal amplification stage close to the SiPM, thus reducing the size of the detection channel and optimizing the signal immunity to electromagnetic interferences. The whole detection electronics was placed in a plastic screw holder compatible with the electroencephalography standard cap for measurement on brain or with custom probe holders. The SiPM is inserted into a transparent and insulating resin to avoid the direct contact of the scalp with the 100-V bias voltage. The probe was integrated in an instrument for TD fNIRS spectroscopy. The system was characterized on tissue phantoms in terms of temporal resolution, responsivity, linearity, and capability to detect deep absorption changes. Preliminary in vivo tests on adult volunteers were performed to monitor hemodynamic changes in the arm during a cuff occlusion and in the brain cortex during a motor tas

Monitoraggio ambientale mediante l'impiego di suoli e di muschi per le discariche di Rio Riazzone, Rio Vigne e Poiatica di Reggio Emilia

The purposes of this environmental monitoring was to estimate the concentrations of the elements (Al, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti, V, Zn, Pt and Rh) during two years in 15 stations in three landfills located in the hills of Reggio Emilia and to value the flows of element depositions (gram element/hectare area/year). In addition the origin of the element depositions was identified, discriminating between anthropogenic origin and soil-substrate origins. For more complete information, soils and mosses were also collected to know the level of concentration in a wide are around the landfills. The results obtained for the elements investigated using mosses and superficial soils did not amphasise any specific anomalies.JRC.H.6-Spatial data infrastructure

Transforming European ECEC services and primary schools into professional learning communities : drivers, barriers and ways forward

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