Glutathione participates in the modulation of starvation-induced autophagy in carcinoma cells

Glutathione (γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine, GSH) is the most abundant low molecular weight, thiol-containing compound within the cells and has a primary role in the antioxidant defense and intracellular signaling. Here we demonstrated that nutrient deprivation led to a significant decrease of intracellular GSH levels in three different carcinoma cell lines. This phenomenon was dependent on ABCC1-mediated GSH extrusion, along with GCL inhibition and, to a minor extent, the formation of GSH-protein mixed disulfides that synergistically contributed to the modulation of autophagy by shifting the intracellular redox state toward more oxidizing conditions. Modulation of intracellular GSH by inhibiting its de novo synthesis through incubation with buthionine sulfoximine, or by maintaining its levels through GSH ethyl ester, affected the oxidation of protein thiols, such as PRDXs and consequently the kinetics of autophagy activation. We also demonstrated that thiol-oxidizing or -alkylating agents, such as diamide and diethyl maleate activated autophagy, corroborating the evidence that changes in thiol redox state contributed to the occurrence of autophagy

Low temperature upcycling of vitreous byproduct of the MSW plasma processing into multifunctional porous glass-ceramics

Mixtures of glass residues, deriving from the plasma processing of municipal solid waste (\u2018Plasmastone\u2019), and recycled glasses have been already converted into highly porous glass-ceramics by application of an inorganic gel casting technique (foaming, by intensive mechanical stirring, of alkali activated slurries) followed by sintering at 1000\ub0C. The full potential of recycled glass, however, has not been disclosed yet. The present investigation, in fact, demonstrates that boro-alumino-silicate glass, from discarded pharmaceutical vials, may allow for sintering of cellular glass-ceramics at particularly low temperature, i.e. at 800\ub0C. The full stabilisation of heavy metals from Plasmastone (already assessed for treatments at 1000\ub0C) is not compromised, whereas the low processing temperatures favour the separation of magnetite, in turn imparting new functionalities (e.g. electromagnetic shielding) to waste-derived glass-ceramic foams

Progressive emergence of double porosity in a silt during compaction

The paper deals with an experimental investigation of water retention properties of a statically compacted unsaturated low plasticity silt. The objective is a deeper understanding of the evolution of an aggregate type fabric at different initial conditions in terms of void ratio and water content. A series of Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry tests (MIP) were performed to provide information about factors influencing fabric changes (effect of mechanical stress due to sample compaction) and fabric-properties relationships (water re-tention curve related to porosimetry). The arrangements of aggregation/particles are also investigated with Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM). The experimental data has been used to calibrate a multimodal water retention model for aggregate which is obtained by linear superposition of sub-curves of the van Genuchten type modified. By comparing the WRC obtained by MIP and under suction controlled conditions it has been found a good agreement between the two method for the drying path

Feasibility study and design of a low-energy residential unit in Sagarmatha park for environmental impact reduction of high altitude buildings

The project presented in this paper is geographically set within Sagarmatha National Park, a wide area located on the Nepalese mountainside of Everest and declared as World Heritage Site since 1979. In recent years the park was the focus of several studies and initiatives, aimed at improving the management of its many-sided ecosystem, significantly influenced by climate change and increase of human activities and tourism, which occurred from the end of the 1970s, as well as by practices that are harmful both to human health and to our environment (e.g. burn up kerosene or animal excrements in order to obtain heat). Research work has focused on designing a residential unit that meets population needs, in terms of simplicity of realization, replicability, use of local materials, environmental compatibility and exploitation of available renewable energies. For this purpose a thorough analysis was conducted to identify the housing standard characteristic of reference context and Sherpa people, concerning indoor thermal comfort conditions, construction techniques, availability and skills of local workforce. Data necessary for the design phase were obtained through a collaboration with researchers of Ev-K2-CNR center, active at 5,050 meters a.s.l. in Nepal at the base of Mount Everest with a laboratory/observatory (known as the "Pyramid") for highaltitude meteorological studies since 1989. Climate conditions were registered by specific monitoring stations at certain times (2002-2008); during preliminary stage, these values were considered representative of the local context chosen for the project, that is Namche Bazar, a village located within the park, in a central point both from the logistic and altimetric/weather points of view. For the residential unit under investigation, two different constructive approaches were selected and compared: earthbags and straw bales. Both techniques have several advantages, in particular availability of raw material (jute bags, soil, straw), simplicity (e.g. earthbag constructions are realized using the ancient technique of pisé, combined with flexible bags or tubes), durability, insulation performance, costeffectiveness. Through a specific software for calculation of winter/summer thermal loads, different combinations of selections of structure and insulation were examined for both solutions, in order to achieve the optimum for the case study. Furthermore on the base of data monitored on site, a specific assessment was carried out to evaluate the potential of solar and wind resources. Aiming at entirely covering the heat and electric energy needs by exploiting renewable energy sources, various plant configurations were finally assumed. Every single choice was made to reduce human influence on land resources, such as timber, and to improve internal and external environmental quality

Adequacy of hospitals in Rome to an unconventional event (CBRNe). TTX simulation and HTA

Background Rome hosts thousands of sensible targets. Healthcare reaction has been guaranteed by 6 advanced Emergency Departments (EDs) and 7 basic ones. Everyday Rome hosts 6 millions of people/die, ± 2 million in particular occasions. About National Stockpile Antidotes (SNA), Rome hosts 3 warehouses. In case of events, stockpiles are activated with a long-time call; then stockpiles are charged in delivering trucks. Methods Study analyzes PEIMAF (State of emergency plans for massive influx of injures) of advanced EDs in Rome and their adequacy in a possible CBRNe attack. Hypothesis of C/N attack on Saint Peter's Square during Angelus on Wednesday (at 12.00 AM) or E attack in Trastevere on Saturday (at 9.00 PM). Analysis of activation of SNA and travel times between SNA warehouse and EDs. Comparison with French EDs during Paris attacks. Results EDs are chronically undermanned in ordinary conditions already, and would have issues in hosting a very large number of critical patients all at once. Some hospitals do not inform their workers about PEIMAF or they do not consider CBRNe emergencies in their PEIMAF, and even if it has been considered, hardly any simulation/exercitation is ever performed. Moreover, news of the CBRNe attack may not reach immediately the healthcare personal already at work in EDs; this is extremely problematic since they could be at major risk of contamination in case of CBRNe attacks. Furthermore, without a standardize protocol active in the whole city, no cross-hospital organization can be performed. Conclusions All data point towards the weakness and fragmentation of actual organizative system. Time of activation and charging are crucials for first aid efficacy and efficiency; a smart call system can reduce the activation time of SNA. A better organization of SNA in major Rome hospitals can reduce delivering time and help save more lives

SOFC Micro-CHP integration in residential buildings

SOFC technology has reached many of the performance goals that where indicated by scientific society and is providing several application that permits market penetration. One of the main targets is related to Micro Cogeneration Heat and Power (μ-CHP) for residential application. The integration of this system with a residential house has to be deeply investigated to individuate market targets in terms of costs and efficiency. This study evaluates the Italian market condition and analyzes the integration possibility with both thermal and electrical systems. Different solutions are investigated evaluating thermal and electrical driven logic for μ-CHP SOFC based unit and the opportunity of integration with local electrical grid. Evaluation on heat and electricity storage was also considered as integration strategy. The study is based on electrical and thermal loads in typical residential users and the evaluation is based on Italian technical standards and guidelines. Several operating conditions were evaluated and compared to obtain an optimized size and integration of μHP SOFC based solution

Under the ROS…thiol network is the principal suspect for autophagy commitment.

Low molecular weight and protein sulphydryls undergo reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidation. However, in contrast to the irreversible damages that oxidative conditions yield on biomolecules, the oxidation of reactive cysteines frequently results in reversible modifications, which represent the prototype of the molecular mechanisms underlying redox signaling. Many proteins involved in a wide range of cellular processes have been classified as “redoxsensitive,” thereby modulating their function/activity dependent on the redox state of their critical thiols. Growing evidence from the past few years supports the idea that ROS production also correlates with the occurrence of autophagy. Nonetheless, the cysteine protease Atg4 remains the sole example of a protein whose redox regulation has been completely characterized and demonstrated to be necessary for the progression of autophagy. The principal aim of this commentary is to draw attention to the remarkable number of proteins that can fit the double role of: (i) being involved in autophagy, especially in autophagosome formation and (ii) sensing alterations of the cellular redox state by means of reactive cysteine residues. We will also attempt to provide a hypothetical model to explain the possible functional role of thiols in the occurrence of autophagy and outline a network of redox reactions likely concurring to allow the correct initiation and completion of autophagosomes

Life cycle assessment of synthetic natural gas production from different CO2 sources: A cradle⇂to-gate study

Fuel production from hydrogen and carbon dioxide is considered an attractive solution as long‐term storage of electric energy and as temporary storage of carbon dioxide. A large variety of CO2 sources are suitable for Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU), and the process energy intensity depends on the separation technology and, ultimately, on the CO2 concentration in the flue gas. Since the carbon capture process emits more CO2 than the expected demand for CO2 utilization, the most sustainable CO2 sources must be selected. This work aimed at modeling a Power‐to‐Gas (PtG) plant and assessing the most suitable carbon sources from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective. The PtG plant was supplied by electricity from a 2030 scenario for Italian electricity generation. The plant impacts were assessed using data from the ecoinvent database version 3.5, for different CO2 sources (e.g., air, cement, iron, and steel plants). A detailed discussion on how to handle multi‐functionality was also carried out. The results showed that capturing CO2 from hydrogen production plants and integrated pulp and paper mills led to the lowest impacts concerning all investigated indicators. The choice of how to handle multi‐functional activities had a crucial impact on the assessment

Multi-objective optimization of CCHP system with hybrid chiller under new electric load following operation strategy

The performance of combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) system is greatly affected by its operating strategy and design. In this paper, a new electric load following (NELF) strategy was developed. It is based on the alternation between absorption cooling and electric cooling according to the building energy requirements, for hybrid chiller based CCHP systems. A comparison of the new proposed strategy with the modified electric load following (MELF) and electric load following (ELF) strategies is performed. A multi-objective optimization approach based on genetic algorithm is carried out to predict the optimal capacity of CCHP systems. Performance criteria like primary energy consumption, annual total cost and carbon dioxide emission were considered as objective functions. The performances of these CCHP systems and operation strategies were examined and compared with the separated production (SP) system for a Mosque complex located in Algiers, Algeria. Results show that hybrid chiller CCHP based NELF strategy is the best choice, which can reduce the primary energy consumption by 34.45 GWh/year, annual total cost by 0.313 million €/year and carbon dioxide emission by 8.37 kton/year. Compared to the other configurations and strategies, the hybrid CCHP based NELF achieves better energetic, economic and environmental performance under the optimized conditions

Iron entry route in horse spleen apoferritin Involvement of the three-fold channels as probed by selective reaction of cysteine-126 with the spin label 4-maleimido-tempo

AbstractApoferritin has been selectively labeled with a maleimide nitroxide derivative at Cys-126, located in the hydrophilic 3-fold channels. Titration of this derivative with Fe(II), which gives rise to the initial Fe(III)-apoferritin complex, produces, at low metal-to-protein ratios, a decrease of the intensity of the label EPR signal due to the occurrence of a magnetic dipolar interaction. A label-metal distance ranging between 8–12 Å can be estimated from titrations performed with VO(IV), which is known to bind in the 3-fold channels, and likewise produces a decrease in the label EPR signal. The present findings indicate that iron binds in the hydrophilic channels in its higher oxidation slate and that these channels represent the metal entry route at least at low metal-to-protein ratios