Targeting interleukin-1β protects from aortic aneurysms induced by disrupted transforming growth factor β signaling

Aortic aneurysms are life-threatening conditions with effective treatments mainly limited to emergency surgery or trans-arterial endovascular stent grafts, thus calling for the identification of specific molecular targets. Genetic studies have highlighted controversial roles of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling in aneurysm development. Here, we report on aneurysms developing in adult mice after smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific inactivation of Smad4, an intracellular transducer of TGF-β. The results revealed that Smad4 inhibition activated interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in SMCs. This danger signal later recruited innate immunity in the adventitia through chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and modified the mechanical properties of the aortic wall, thus favoring vessel dilation. SMC-specific Smad4 deletion in Il1r1- or Ccr2-null mice resulted in milder aortic pathology. A chronic treatment with anti-IL-1β antibody effectively hampered aneurysm development. These findings identify a mechanistic target for controlling the progression of aneurysms with compromised TGF-β signaling, such as those driven by SMAD4 mutations

Pyroprocess Experiments at ENEA Laboratories

A new facility, known as Pyrel III, has been installed at ENEA laboratories for pyrochemical process studies under inactive conditions. It is a pilot plant which allows electrorening and electroreduction experiments to be conducted on simulated fuel. The main component of the plant is a zirconia crucible. The crucible is heated by a furnace which is supported in an externally water-cooled well under the oor of a steel glove-box, where an argon atmosphere is maintained by a continual purge of about 10 L·min-1. The vessel is loaded with LiCl-KCl eutectic salt (59-41 mol%) and is currently operated at 460 °C. Several improvements on Pyrel II (the previous operating plant) have been introduced into Pyrel III. They are described in detail, together with the results from the rst experimental campaign which used lanthanum metal.Moreover, studies about the treatment of chloride salt wastes from pyroprocesses have been conducted in parallel. They follow two main routes: on one hand, a matrix termed sodalite, a naturally occurring mineral containing chlorine, has been synthesized from a mix of nepheline, simulated exhausted salts and glass frit; on the other hand, a novel method proposed by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) is under assessment. The nal waste forms have been fully characterized with the support of the Politechnique of Milan, by means of density measurements, thermal analysis, and stereomicroscopy observations, FTIR, XRD, and RAMAN spectra, as well as leach tests under static condition

Perspectives of Long-Haul WDM Transmission Systems Based on Phase-Insensitive Fiber-Optic Parametric Amplifiers

International audienceThe deployment of phase-insensitive fiber-optic parametric amplifiers (PI-FOPAs) as inline amplifiers in long-haul WDM transmission systems is discussed, and it is outlined how to design PI-FOPAs to be a valuable upgrade option for this application

Microkinetic analysis of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene reactions over MgO-SiO 2 catalysts based on characterization of experimental fluctuations

Microkinetic analysis of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene reactions over MgO-SiO2 catalysts was performed based on the detailed characterization of experimental fluctuations, taking into account the influence of the reaction temperature and catalyst properties on ethanol conversion and product selectivities. The obtained results show that both reaction temperature and catalysts properties affected experimental fluctuations significantly. The local microkinetic information contained in the covariance matrix of experimental fluctuations indicated the change of the rate-limiting step as reaction temperature increased: from 300 to 400 °C, the rate-limiting step was identified as the acetaldehyde condensation, while at 450 °C, ethanol dehydrogenation step limits the 1,3-butadiene production

Collimated dual species oven source and its characterisation via spatially resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

We describe the design, construction and characterisation of a collimated, dual-species oven source for generating intense beams of lithium and caesium in UHV environments. Our design produces full beam overlap for the two species. Using an aligned microtube array the FWHM of the output beam is restricted to ~ 75 milliradians, with an estimated axial brightness of 3.6x10[superscript]14 atoms s[superscript]-1 sr[superscript]-1 for Li and 7.4x10[superscript]15 atoms s[superscript]-1 sr[superscript]-1 for Cs. We measure the properties of the output beam using a spatially-resolved fluorescence technique, which allows for the extraction of additional information not accessible without spatial resolution

An atlas of chromatoid body components

The genome of male germ cells is actively transcribed during spermatogenesis to produce phase-specific protein-coding mRNAs and a considerable amount of different noncoding RNAs. Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granule-mediated RNA regulation provides a powerful means to secure the quality and correct expression of the requisite transcripts. Haploid spermatids are characterized by a unique, unusually large cytoplasmic granule, the chromatoid body (CB), which emerges during the switch between the meiotic and post-meiotic phases of spermatogenesis. To better understand the role of the CB in male germ cell differentiation, we isolated CBs from mouse testes and revealed its full RNA and protein composition. We showed that the CB is mainly composed of RNA-binding proteins and other proteins involved RNA regulation. The CB was loaded with RNA, including pachytene piRNAs, a diverse set of mRNAs, and a number of uncharacterized long noncoding transcripts. The CB was demonstrated to accumulate nascent RNA during all the steps of round spermatid differentiation. Our results revealed the CB as a large germ cell-specific RNP platform that is involved in the control of the highly complex transcriptome of haploid male germ cells

Freios e contrapesos: o conceito e suas implicações para a corrupção

It is often assumed that checks and balances are effective in curbing corruption, in part because checks and balances are so often assumed to be synonymous with the separation of powers. We argue that checks and balances are only one of several potential manifestations of the separation of powers. We suggest that the apparent correlation between checks and balances and control of corruption is driven by a variety of conditions antecedent to both. Using examples from Western democracies, we demonstrate that the concept of checks and balances is by itself an empty vessel, made effective only by “hard” factors such as the balance of political forces and “soft” factors such as the adherence of elites to particular behavioral norms. This does not mean that checks and balances cannot be useful, but rather that our assumptions about their precise utility may be misinformed: the relationship between checks and balances and curbing corruption is at best indirect.Frequentemente, presume-se que o sistema de freios e contrapesos é efetivo para conter a corrupção, em parte porque ele   tipicamente entendido como sinônimo de separação de poderes. Argumentamos que o sistema de freios e contrapesos é apenas uma das várias possíveis manifestações da separação de poderes. Sugerimos que a aparente correlação entre freios e contrapesos e o controle da corrupção decorre de condições antecedentes a ambos. Utilizando exemplos de democracias ocidentais, demonstramos que o conceito de freios e contrapesos é em si mesmo vazio, e somente é efetivado por fatores “duros”, como o equilíbrio das forças políticas, e por fatores “brandos”, como a aderência de elites a normas de comportamento. Isso não significa que ele não possa ser um instrumento útil, mas que nossos pressupostos a respeito de sua utilidade talvez estejam mal informados: a relação com o controle da corrupção é, no melhor dos casos, indireta

Engineering molecular chains in carbon nanotubes

A range of mono- and bis-functionalised fullerenes have been synthesised and inserted into single-walled carbon nanotubes. The effect of the size and shape of the functional groups of the fullerenes on the resultant 1D arrays formed within the nanotubes was investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The addition of non-planar, sterically bulky chains to the fullerene cage results in highly ordered 1D structures in which the fullerenes are evenly spaced along the internal nanotube cavity. Theoretical calculations reveal that the functional groups interact with neighbouring fullerene cages to space the fullerenes evenly within the confines of the nanotube. The addition of two functional groups to opposite sides of the fullerene cages results in a further increase in the separation of the fullerene cages within the nanotubes at the cost of lower nanotube filling rates.This work was financially supported by FWF project I83-N20 (ESF IMPrESS), the Royal Society, the European Research Council (ERC), "Fundacao para a Ciencia ea Tecnologia" through the program Ciencia 2008, the project SeARCH (Services and Advanced Research Computing with HTC/HPC clusters) and Nottingham Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Centre (NNNC)