116 research outputs found
Adiponectin levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients : possible influence on neuroinflammation?
BACKGROUND:
Adiponectin (APN) is a key player in energy homeostasis strictly associated with cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Since APN also belongs to anti-inflammatory-acting adipokines and may influence both neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative processes, we decided to study the APN levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases.
METHODS:
We assessed APN levels by ELISA immunoassay in both the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of a cohort of familial and sporadic ALS patients, characterized by normal body mass index and absence of dysautonomic symptoms. The screening of serum APN levels was also performed in patients affected by other neurological disorders, including fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) patients. Means were compared using the non-parametric Wilcoxon test, and Pearson's or Spearman's rho was used to assess correlations between variables.
RESULTS:
In the whole ALS group, serum APN levels were not different when compared to the age- and sex-matched control group (CTR), but a gender-specific analysis enlightened a significant opposite APN trend between ALS males, characterized by lower values (ALS 9.8\u2009\ub1\u20095.2 vs. CTR 15\u2009\ub1\u20099.7 \u3bcg/ml), and ALS females, showing higher amounts (ALS 26.5\u2009\ub1\u200911.6 vs. CTR 14.6\u2009\ub1\u20095.2 \u3bcg/ml). This sex-linked difference was significantly enhanced in familial ALS cases (p\u2009 64\u20090.01). The APN levels in ALS cerebrospinal fluids were unrelated to serum values and not linked to sex and/or familiarity of the disease. Finally, the screening of serum APN levels in patients affected by other neurological disorders revealed the highest serum values in FTD patients.
CONCLUSIONS:
Opposite serum APN levels are gender-related in ALS and altered in several neurological disorders, with the highest values in FTD, which shares with ALS several overlapping and neuropathological features. Further investigations are needed to clarify the possible involvement of APN in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Possible involvement of APN in neuroinflammatory neurodegenerative diseases
nanoparticle deposition during cu water nanofluid pool boiling
The present research activity aims to rigorously investigate nanofluid pool boiling in order to definitively assess this as a technique for controlled nanoparticle coating of surfaces, which can enhance the nucleate boiling performance. This paper presents preliminary nanoparticle deposition results obtained during Cu-water (0.13 wt%) nanofluid pool boiling on a smooth copper surface. The tests were run in an experimental setup designed expressly to study water and nanofluid pool boiling. The square test sample block (27.2 mm Ă— 27.2 mm) is equipped with a rake of four calibrated T-type thermocouples each located in a 13.6-mm deep holes drilled every 5 mm from 1 mm below the top surface. The imposed heat flux and wall superheat can be estimated from measurement of the temperature gradient along the four thermocouples. The samples are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyse the morphological characteristics of the obtained thin, Cu nanoparticle coating
The contact angle of nanofluids as thermophysical property
Droplet volume and temperature affect contact angle significantly. Phase change heat transfer processes of nanofluids – suspensions containing nanometre-sized particles – can only be modelled properly by understanding these effects. The approach proposed here considers the limiting contact angle of a droplet asymptotically approaching zero-volume as a thermophysical property to characterise nanofluids positioned on a certain substrate under a certain atmosphere.
Graphene oxide, alumina, and gold nanoparticles are suspended in deionised water. Within the framework of a round robin test carried out by nine independent European institutes the contact angle of these suspensions on a stainless steel solid substrate is measured with high accuracy. No dependence of nanofluids contact angle of sessile droplets on the measurement device is found. However, the measurements reveal clear differences of the contact angle of nanofluids compared to the pure base fluid.
Physically founded correlations of the contact angle in dependency of droplet temperature and volume are obtained from the data. Extrapolating these functions to zero droplet volume delivers the searched limiting contact angle depending only on the temperature. It is for the first time, that this specific parameter, is understood as a characteristic material property of nanofluid droplets placed on a certain substrate under a certain atmosphere. Together with the surface tension it provides the foundation of proper modelling phase change heat transfer processes of nanofluids
Genetics and human rights: Two histories: restoring genetic identity after forced disappearance and identity suppression in Argentina and after compulsory isolation for leprosy in Brazil
Flow Patterns During Condensation of Pure Refrigerants on Enhanced Tubes Under High Vapour Velocity
The Combined Effect of Vapour Velocity and Condensate Inundation During Condensation on Integral-Fin Tubes: A Theoretical Analysis
Avvio al concetto di equazione con i problemi del RMT
Sulla base delle indicazioni che emergono da numerosi studi in didattica dell'algebra sulla costruzione del concetto di equazione, si può ipotizzre un lungo percorso le cui origini risalgono alla fine della scuola primaria. In questo percorso, l'attività di "problem- solving" svolge un ruolo fondamentale. Nell'articolo in oggetto si è in particolare cercato di rispondere alle seguenti domande:
1. Tra i problemi del RMT, quali possono essere utilizzati per un'introduzione del concetto di equazione o per mostrare i vantaggi del metodo algebrico rispetto ad altre possibili strategie?
2. In quali condizioni didattiche l'uso in classe di questi problemi permette un'esplorazione esplicita del concetto di equazione e degli strumenti necessari alla sua risoluziione? In che modo
Riflettere insieme agli insegnanti sul lavoro in classe su problemi del RMT: resoconto di un'esperienza
Viene qui presentata un’attività effettuata nella sezione di Siena con docenti di classi partecipanti al 13° RMT. Tale esperienza aveva due obiettivi principali: stimolare nella pratica didattica il lavoro con i problemi e la metodologia del RMT, favorire l’interazione e il confronto sia tra insegnanti che tra insegnanti e ricercatori. Si voleva, in particolare, far riflettere i docenti sull’importanza di un’attenta analisi a priori dei problemi riferita ai propri allievi, e sull’influenza che questa può avere sull’analisi a posteriori e sulle conseguenti scelte didattiche. L’attività , che di fatto si è ripetuta quattro volte nel corso dell’anno, si è sviluppata secondo linee guida comuni (indicate in una apposita scheda di lavoro) in cui si chiedeva agli insegnanti di: - sviluppare l’analisi a priori di un problema di una passata edizione del RMT (scelto tra due da noi proposti), pensando in particolare agli allievi della propria classe; - proporre in classe il problema facendo lavorare gli allievi a coppie; - monitorare una o più coppie durante tutte le fasi di risoluzione e registrare le osservazioni; - analizzare le risposte degli allievi anche alla luce dell’analisi a priori fatta e discuterle in classe; - individuare eventuali interventi nelle classi suggeriti da quanto emerso da tutta l’attività ; - condividere e discutere le proprie osservazioni e conclusioni con colleghi e ricercatori in incontri appositamente organizzati. I docenti che hanno partecipato a questa esperienza (ventidue in tutto), hanno apprezzato l’organizzazione e la sistematicità del lavoro proposto riconoscendo ad esso, soprattutto se continuato nel tempo, una ricaduta nella pratica didattica sia come aiuto per gestire in maniera più efficace e produttiva la discussione in classe, sia per individuare interventi mirati di rinforzo o di sviluppo per gli allievi
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