Hydrogen photo-production by mixotrophic cultivation of chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Interaction between organic carbon and nitrogen

Hydrogen photo-production by a wild type and two engineered strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was investigated. Growth rate values and hydrogen yields attained as the concentration of acetate and nitrogen vary were compared. In the analysis of microalgal growth, the interaction between organic carbon (acetate) and nitrogen (nitrate) was investigated by recourse to an experimental factorial design. This analysis evidenced the existence of a statistically significant interaction between organic carbon and nitrate. Hydrogen production was attained by cultivating microalgae previously grown in mixotrophic regime with sulphur deprived medium. The influence of varying the photobioreactor headspace on hydrogen production was investigated. This analysis revealed an increase in the hydrogen produced per unit volume of culture of about one order of magnitude when the headspace volume is modified from 100 to 350 mL. This result provides valuable indications on how to design and operate photobioreactors for hydrogen production optimization and was thoroughly discussed in terms of the metabolic pathways activated by sulphur depletion. ©2014, AIDIC Servizi S.r.l

A Stage-Based Approach to Therapy in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that features progressive, disabling motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, rigidity, and resting tremor. Nevertheless, some non-motor symptoms, including depression, REM sleep behavior disorder, and olfactive impairment, are even earlier features of PD. At later stages, apathy, impulse control disorder, neuropsychiatric disturbances, and cognitive impairment can present, and they often become a heavy burden for both patients and caregivers. Indeed, PD increasingly compromises activities of daily life, even though a high variability in clinical presentation can be observed among people affected. Nowadays, symptomatic drugs and non-pharmaceutical treatments represent the best therapeutic options to improve quality of life in PD patients. The aim of the present review is to provide a practical, stage-based guide to pharmacological management of both motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. Furthermore, warning about drug side effects, contraindications, as well as dosage and methods of administration, are highlighted here, to help the physician in yielding the best therapeutic strategies for each symptom and condition in patients with PD

An Audience-Centric Approach for Museums Sustainability

therefore, in order to become sustainable, museums should pay attention to audience and its internal diversity. In this way, a cultural site can plan tailored strategies to increase the number of visits and re-visits and to achieve community support. For this reason it is necessary to understand the cultural needs of visitors, acquiring appropriate monitoring tools, such as qualitative and quantitative ones. Generally, quantitative analyses are more reliable and complete, even if they require a considerable number of observations for the reliability of the results. Moreover, qualitative analysis provides more in depth information, even if their data do not allow us to make generalizations. The qualitative and quantitative methods for the detection of satisfaction are usually used separately, but their integration may bring significant added value in terms of the wealth of information. This study follows the analysis of the potential of the integration of qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques customized with respect to different types of targets. The results of the experimentation performed on ethnographic museums shows a consistency of the results obtained by the two different tools that increase the capacity information of survey instruments

Mir-34a-5p Mediates Cross-Talk between M2 Muscarinic Receptors and Notch-1/EGFR Pathways in U87MG Glioblastoma Cells: Implication in Cell Proliferation

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive human brain tumor. The high growth potential and decreased susceptibility to apoptosis of the glioma cells is mainly dependent on genetic amplifications or mutations of oncogenic or pro-apoptotic genes, respectively. We have previously shown that the activation of the M2 acetylcholine muscarinic receptors inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in two GBM cell lines and cancer stem cells. The aim of this study was to delve into the molecular mechanisms underlying the M2-mediated cell proliferation arrest. Exploiting U87MG and U251MG cell lines as model systems, we evaluated the ability of M2 receptors to interfere with Notch-1 and EGFR pathways, whose activation promotes GBM proliferation. We demonstrated that the activation of M2 receptors, by agonist treatment, counteracted Notch and EGFR signaling, through different regulatory cascades depending, at least in part, on p53 status. Only in U87MG cells, which mimic p53-wild type GBMs, did M2 activation trigger a molecular circuitry involving p53, Notch-1, and the tumor suppressor mir-34a-5p. This regulatory module negatively controls Notch-1, which affects cell proliferation mainly through the Notch-1/EGFR axis. Our data highlighted, for the first time, a molecular circuitry that is deregulated in the p53 wild type GBM, based on the cross-talk between M2 receptor and the Notch-1/EGFR pathways, mediated by mir-34a-5p

anamorphic projection analogical digital algorithms

The study presents the first results of a wider research project dealing with the theme of "anamorphosis", a specific technique of geometric projection of a shape on a surface. Here we investigate how new digital techniques make it possible to simplify the anamorphic applications even in cases of projections on complex surfaces. After a short excursus of the most famous historical and contemporary applications, we propose several possible approaches for managing the geometry of anamorphic curves both in the field of descriptive geometry (by using interactive tools such as Cabri and GeoGebra) and during the complex surfaces realization process, from concept design to manufacture, through CNC systems (by adopting generative procedural algorithms elaborated in Grasshopper)

The Relation between Collaborative Consumption and Subjective Well-Being: An Analysis of P2P Accommodation

The present paper investigates the relationships between Collaborative Consumption (CC) and well-being. Specifically, the study aims to understand the antecedents of subjective well-being (SWB) in peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation services. The research adopts a mixed-method approach by integrating qualitative (focus groups) and quantitative (survey) methods with sequential logic. A conceptual model was developed and validated through structural equation modelling (SEM). The model confirms that the SWB, which has three indirect antecedents (the social, environmental and economic dimensions), was positively influenced by the attitude towards P2P accommodation services, and the relation between this construct and SWB emphasizes the originality of the study. This research contributes to the current sharing economy debate, unveiling theoretical advances on the link between collaborative services and well-being

Prevalence, socio-economic predictors and health correlates of food insecurity among Italian children- findings from a cross-sectional study

AbstractConsidering food insecurity is a problem, even in developed countries, and the evidence gap regarding this issue in Italy, we aimed to assess the prevalence of food insecurity in a sample of Italian children and examine socio-economic and health correlates. This cross-sectional study was conducted in paediatric practices. Parents answered to the 18-items of the Household Food Security Module, 8 of which concern children. Paediatricians answered a questionnaire on children's health. Socio-economic and health correlates of food insecurity in children were assessed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Among 573 households with children, 15·4% were food insecure, while 9·1% of children were food insecure. Socio-economic factors associated to food insecurity were living in south Italy, households with three or more children, lower household yearly income, worse economic situation description and younger parents. Food insecure children were less likely to have a normal relational [ aOR 0.31 (CI 0.11-0.85)] and physical development [aOR 0.32(CI 0.15-0.65) and had more school difficulties [aOR 3.1(CI 1.33-7.24)] compared to their food secure peers. Food insecure children had higher odds of a deterioration in their health since birth and of a worse perceived health status, as reported by their parents. Considering the results in this sample and the lack of research regarding this issues in Italy and Europe more broadly, we call for consistent, national monitoring to determine the magnitude of the problem of food insecurity in households with children in Italy and to examine the socio-economic variables and health implications in different contexts

The Association of Four Natural Molecules-EGCG, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, and HA-To Counteract HPV Cervical Lesions: A Case Report

Precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix, due to HPV infections, are still today a great medical challenge. This clinical case highlighted the effectiveness of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), vitamin B12, folic acid, and hyaluronic acid (HA) in counteracting HPV lesions in a 39-year-old patient with a long history of viral persistence, cervical lesions of various degree, and several unsuccessful surgical approaches. After eight weeks of treatment, both the histological and cytological analyses revealed only a chronic cervicitis without any malignant lesions or cellular dysplasia, thus reducing the urgency of an invasive surgery, a total hysterectomy

Good Plastic : Strumenti per l’innovazione sostenibile e la comunicazione dei prodotti in materiali polimerici

Good Plastic è un progetto di ricerca nell’ambito dei prodotti in materiali polimerici. Il risultato finale è una piattaforma web utile alle aziende e agli studi che lavorano nel settore delle materie plastiche, per avere a disposizione una serie di strumenti utili ad approcciarsi all’economia circolare e alla comunicazione sostenibile. Le scelte aziendali potranno così essere più consapevoli e circolari, mentre la progettazione e la comunicazione potranno essere volte a sostenere il cambiamento e a favorire l’innovazione ambientale