VGF changes during the estrous cycle: a novel endocrine role for TLQP peptides?

Although the VGF derived peptide TLQP-21 stimulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin secretion, available data on VGF peptides and reproduction are limited. We used antibodies specific for the two ends of the VGF precursor, and for two VGF derived peptides namely TLQP and PGH, to be used in immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay complemented with gel chromatography. In cycling female rats, VGF C-/N-terminus and PGH peptide antibodies selectively labelled neurones containing either GnRH, or kisspeptin (VGF N-terminus only), pituitary gonadotrophs and lactotrophs, or oocytes (PGH peptides only). Conversely, TLQP peptides were restricted to somatostatin neurones, gonadotrophs, and ovarian granulosa, interstitial and theca cells. TLQP levels were highest, especially in plasma and ovary, with several molecular forms shown in chromatography including one compatible with TLQP-21. Among the cycle phases, TLQP levels were higher during metestrus-diestrus in median eminence and pituitary, while increased in the ovary and decreased in plasma during proestrus. VGF N- and C-terminus peptides also showed modulations over the estrous cycle, in median eminence, pituitary and plasma, while PGH peptides did not. In ovariectomised rats, plasmatic TLQP peptide levels showed distinct reduction suggestive of a major origin from the ovary, while the estrogen-progesterone treatment modulated VGF C-terminus and TLQP peptides in the hypothalamus-pituitary complex. In in vitro hypothalamus, TLQP-21 stimulated release of growth hormone releasing hormone but not of somatostatin. In conclusion, various VGF peptides may regulate the hypothalamus-pituitary complex via specific neuroendocrine mechanisms while TLQP peptides may act at further, multiple levels via endocrine mechanisms involving the ovary

Field laser applications in industry and research

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Holocene slip rate variability along the Pernicana fault system (Mt. Etna, Italy): Evidence from offset lava flows

The eastern flank of the Mount Etna stratovolcano is affected by extension and is slowly sliding eastward into the Ionian Sea. The Pernicana fault system forms the border of the northern part of this sliding area. It consists of three E-W−oriented fault sectors that are seismically active and characterized by earthquakes up to 4.7 in magnitude (M) capable of producing ground rupture and damage located mainly along the western and central sectors, and by continuous creep on the eastern sector. A new topographic study of the central sector of the Pernicana fault system shows an overall bell-shaped profile, with maximum scarp height of 35 m in the center of the sector, and two local minima that are probably due to the complex morphological relation between fault scarp and lava flows. We determined the ages of lava flows cut by the Pernicana fault system at 12 sites using cosmogenic 3He and 40Ar/39Ar techniques in order to determine the recent slip history of the fault. From the displacement-age relations, we estimate an average throw rate of ∼2.5 mm/yr over the last 15 k.y. The slip rate appears to have accelerated during the last 3.5 k.y., with displacement rates of up to ∼15 mm/yr, whereas between 3.5 and 15 ka, the throw rate averaged ∼1 mm/yr. This increase in slip rate resulted in significant changes in seismicity rates, for instance, decreasing the mean recurrence time of M ≥ 4.7 earthquakes from ∼200 to ∼20 yr. Based on empirical relationships, we attribute the variation in seismic activity on the Pernicana fault system to factors intrinsic to the system that are likely related to changes in the volcanic system. These internal factors could be fault interdependencies (such as those across the Taupo Rift, New Zealand) or they could represent interactions among magmatic, tectonic, and gravitational processes (e.g., Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii). Given their effect on earthquake recurrence intervals, these interactions need to be fully assessed in seismic hazard evaluations

Injecting Background Knowledge into Embedding Models for Predictive Tasks on Knowledge Graphs

Embedding models have been successfully exploited for Knowledge Graph refinement. In these models, the data graph is projected into a low-dimensional space, in which graph structural information are preserved as much as possible, enabling an efficient computation of solutions. We propose a solution for injecting available background knowledge (schema axioms) to further improve the quality of the embeddings. The method has been applied to enhance existing models to produce embeddings that can encode knowledge that is not merely observed but rather derived by reasoning on the available axioms. An experimental evaluation on link prediction and triple classification tasks proves the improvement yielded implementing the proposed method over the original ones

Deep-Learning-Based Onset Time Precision in Acoustic Emission Non-Destructive Testing

To investigate the actual health status and mechanical properties of structural materials, both direct and/or indirect investigation procedures can be used. The acoustic emission (AE) method is a non-destructive indirect structural health monitoring method based on the analysis of the elastic wave propagation inside the material under study induced during cracks and micro-cracks coalescence, opening, and formation process. To capture reliable ultrasonic elastic waveform data, piezoelectric sensors are typically employed which are directly and firmly fixed and attached to the specimen under study. For identifying the region of crack formation, thus the position of structural damage in its early stage, at least four sensors must be employed simultaneously. Furthermore, the identification of the onset time is crucial to accomplishing this task. In this study, the authors proposed a deep-learning-based solution based on a U-net architecture for identifying onset time with a method attempting to overcome the existing limitations of traditional threshold-based methods. The onset time precision obtained with this artificial intelligence-based (AI) paradigm is discussed on an acknowledged dataset available in the literature based on Pencil Lead Break (PLB) data, commonly used as a benchmark in the AE field. Finally, the method is tested on some real AE signals acquired during laboratory testing of reinforced concrete specimens. The results demonstrated the actual potential of the proposed AI-based method in future real-time monitoring real- world applications

Large-scale seismic vulnerability and risk of masonry churches in seismic-prone areas: Two territorial case studies

In this paper, seismic vulnerability and risk assessment of two samples of churches, located in Teramo and Ischia island (Naples gulf), both affected by the most recent earthquakes that occurred in Italy, are presented. To this aim, we applied a simplified method particularly suitable for seismic evaluations at a territorial scale, providing a global resulting score to be compared among the cases analyzed. The data obtained allowed us to provide vulnerability maps and a seismic risk index for all the considered churches. In addition, the calculated indexes permit a preliminary health state evaluation of the inspected churches, for ranking the priorities and planning additional in-depth evaluations

Perspectives of application for nanoparticles prepared by CO2 laser pyrolysis: from ceramic nanocomposites to nanofluids

Nanoparticles are one of the main ingredients for the realization of a wide range of nanostructured materials and devices with potential applications in several research areas and industrial sectors, hence their synthesis is a critical step in the development of nanotechnologies. Here we report on the preparation of several types of nanoparticles by laser pyrolysis of gas phase or vapour phase precursors, a very flexible and scalable synthesis route. A critical insight is given into the perspectives of practical applications of these nanoparticles in a number of fields ranging from the fabrication of ceramic nanocomposites to wear resistant coatings, from fluorophores for bio-imaging to nanofluids for efficient thermal management, from nanocoatings for cultural heritage preservation to the realization of a new class of inks for ink-jet printing applications

Linking forest ecosystem services to corporate sustainability disclosure: A conceptual analysis

Despite the increasing awareness of corporate dependencies and impacts on ecosystems, and related business risks and opportunities, scientific and corporate-based information on these issues is lacking. In our paper we (1) summarise results of a literature review of the impacts and dependencies of plantation-based forestry on ecosystem services; (2) identify the existing and missing links between the corporate sustainability indicators and the ecosystem services framework; and (3) propose a set of possible ecosystem services indicators for corporate sustainability reporting. We particularly focus on the catalytic role of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators framework for integrating the ecosystem services approach into corporate sustainability reporting. Finally, we discuss how an ecosystem services approach could benefit future sustainability reporting practices in the context of the forest sector, especially in relation to existing gaps and challenges.Peer reviewe

Effect of formoterol/budesonide combination on arterial blood gases in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD

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