Leishmania amazonensis downregulates macrophage iNOS expression via Histone Deacetylase 1 (HDAC1): a novel parasite evasion mechanism.

The induced expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) controls the intracellular growth of Leishmania in infected macrophages. Histones deacetylases (HDACs) negatively regulate gene expression through the formation of complexes containing transcription factors such as NF-κB p50/50. Herein, we demonstrated the occupancy of p50/p50_HDAC1 to iNOS promoter associated with reduced levels of H3K9Ac. Remarkably, we found increased levels of HDAC1 in L. amazonensis-infected macrophages. HDAC1 upregulation was not found in L. major-infected macrophages. The parasite intracellular load was reduced in HDAC1 knocked-down macrophages, which presented increased nitric oxide levels. HDAC1 silencing led to the occupancy of CBP/p300 to iNOS promoter and the rise of H3K9Ac modification. Importantly, the immunostaining of skin samples from hiporeactive cutaneous leishmaniasis patients infected with L. amazonensis, revealed high levels of HDAC1. In brief, L. amazonensis induces HDAC1 in infected macrophages, which contribute to parasite survival and is associated to hiporeactive stage found in L. amazonensis infected patients

Environmental assessment schemes for non-domestic building refurbishment in the Malaysian context

The increase in global warming, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions has gained attention in various regions. In Malaysia, the government announced a voluntary commitment to reduce 40% of CO 2 emissions by 2020 and to refurbish 100 government buildings. Existing buildings make a large contribution to energy consumption and CO 2 emissions, therefore refurbishing existing buildings is an essential strategy to achieve the commitment. There is no single assessment scheme for building refurbishment in Malaysia and hence, this study aims to develop a comprehensive list of assessment themes and sub-themes for building refurbishment purposes. It examines and compares 10 assessment schemes from various countries: BREEAM, LEED, CASBEE, BEAM Plus, GBLS, Green Star, HQE, Green Mark, GBI and MyCrest. The findings revealed fourteen themes that were considered for assessment: management, sustainable site, transport, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), water, waste, material, energy, pollution, innovation, economic, social, culture and quality of services. Energy and IEQ are dominant themes in all assessment schemes. Most of the schemes are considered relatively weak in evaluating economic and social aspects, in comparison to environmental aspects. The assessment of quality of services is overlooked in most of the schemes, including GBI and MyCrest in Malaysia. Outcomes from this paper will form the baseline for a new environmental assessment scheme that aimed at non-domestic building refurbishments in Malaysia. A new model is proposed for the development of an environmental assessment scheme in the further stage

J-PLUS: The Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey

The Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) is an ongoing 12-band photometric optical survey, observing thousands of square degrees of the Northern Hemisphere from the dedicated JAST/T80 telescope at the Observatorio Astrofisico de Javalambre (OAJ). The T80Cam is a camera with a field of view of 2 deg(2) mounted on a telescope with a diameter of 83 cm, and is equipped with a unique system of filters spanning the entire optical range (3500-10 000 angstrom). This filter system is a combination of broad-, medium-, and narrow-band filters, optimally designed to extract the rest-frame spectral features (the 3700-4000 angstrom Balmer break region, H delta, Ca H+K, the G band, and the Mg b and Ca triplets) that are key to characterizing stellar types and delivering a low-resolution photospectrum for each pixel of the observed sky. With a typical depth of AB similar to 21.25 mag per band, this filter set thus allows for an unbiased and accurate characterization of the stellar population in our Galaxy, it provides an unprecedented 2D photospectral information for all resolved galaxies in the local Universe, as well as accurate photo-z estimates (at the delta z/(1 + z) similar to 0.005-0.03 precision level) for moderately bright (up to r similar to 20 mag) extragalactic sources. While some narrow-band filters are designed for the study of particular emission features ([O II]/lambda 3727, H alpha/lambda 6563) up to z < 0.017, they also provide well-defined windows for the analysis of other emission lines at higher redshifts. As a result, J-PLUS has the potential to contribute to a wide range of fields in Astrophysics, both in the nearby Universe (Milky Way structure, globular clusters, 2D IFU-like studies, stellar populations of nearby and moderate-redshift galaxies, clusters of galaxies) and at high redshifts (emission-line galaxies at z approximate to 0.77, 2.2, and 4.4, quasi-stellar objects, etc.). With this paper, we release the first similar to 1000 deg(2) of J-PLUS data, containing about 4.3 million stars and 3.0 million galaxies at r < 21 mag. With a goal of 8500 deg(2) for the total J-PLUS footprint, these numbers are expected to rise to about 35 million stars and 24 million galaxies by the end of the survey

Patterns for open-air museum knowledge. Woody plant records outline daily life at the Bronze Age of Ebla (N.E) and the coheval lake-side settlement of Ledro (N-Italy)

Cedar looks to be extensively used in the Kingly Palaces of the ancient city in BA.IV A. A wealthy kingdom with a great Royal Palace that has yielded an archive with thousands of mud-brick tablets. These have revealed a wealthy of information about the political organisation, economy, history and religion of the city, which was an important commercial centre, exporting valuable furnishings, woollen cloths to surrounding countries. Wooden furniture often carved look to be inlaid with mother-of-pearl or stone and even gold/silver plated. Charcoal of valuable wood, cedar, belongs to the Early Bronze Age city. This timber is best used for furniture and carpentry. After the destruction of the settlement a variety of timber look to be employed in the rebuilding the new city mostly Pinus pinea group, Quercus sp.decid. gr., Acer sp. Olea sp., Populus sp., Cornus sp. These taxa suggesting presence of stands of mediterranean maquis not in the distance and the will to rebuilt quickly using wood within reach. Chronologically referable to Middle Bronze is the Temple D. The findings of olive-branches suggest its growing in the nearby. Olive wood is long lasting and much used for carving in the Near East especially for tools and turnery works. Besides cedar tree the only other wood mentioned in the account of the Book of the King is olive wood [Meiggs,1982]. In the Minoan Palaces of Festòs 2000B.C. a likely dowel into a yearly beam in the carpentry happens to be of this timber [Coccolini & Corona,1982]. In Northern Italy at the lovely lake-shore Bronze Age settlement of Ledro many objects for everyday life were timber-made showing an extraordinary use of wood [Coccolini, 2006]. Dogwood timber can be polished or sculptured as it has a compact texture and a fine grain. Fruit-stones of Cornelian Cherry have also been recovered from the layers of lake-shore site. Nowadays in Northern Italy and in France a wine is made with Cornelian Cherry fruits