Integrated stratigraphy and astrochronology of the Messinian GSSP at Oued Akrech (Atlantic Morocco)

A much improved high-resolution integrated stratigraphy (calcareous plankton biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, cyclostratigraphy) is presented for the classic section of Oued Akrech (Atlantic Morocco) straddling the Tortonian^Messinian boundary. Magnetobiostratigraphic correlations with time-equivalent and astronomically dated sections in the Mediterranean indicate that cyclic alternations of indurated light beige coloured marls and softer, more clayey and reddish coloured marls are dominantly precession-controlled. Characteristic sedimentary cycle patterns, in particular those reflecting precession^obliquity interference, allow for one possible tuning, thus providing accurate astronomical ages for cycles, calcareous plankton events and magnetic reversals. The tuning further indicates that the reddish layers are the equivalent of sapropels in the Mediterranean. The Messinian Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) has recently been formally defined at the base of the reddish layer of cycle No. 15 in section Oued Akrech. This level coincides closely with the first regular occurrence of the Globorotalia miotumida group and is astronomically dated at 7.251 Ma. The global correlation potential is guaranteed by the straightforward calibration of the Oued Akrech magnetostratigraphy to the geomagnetic polarity time scale, locating the GSSP within C3Br.1r. In the marine realm the calcareous nannofossil genus Amaurolithus provides a series of extremely useful events to delimit the boundary on a global scale. The astronomical tuning guarantees a direct first-order calibration of the Messinian GSSP to the standard geological time scale once, as anticipated, the late Miocene part of the astronomical time scale has been incorporated

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase plays a crucial role in the protection from redox-stress induced apoptosis.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deleted embryonic stem (ES) cells (G6pdD) proliferate in vitro without special requirements, but when challenged with oxidants fail to sustain glutathione disulphide reconversion to reduced glutathione (GSH), entering a condition of oxidative stress. Here, we investigate the signalling events downstream of GSH oxidation in G6pdD and wild-type (wt) ES cells. We found that G6pdD ES cells are very sensitive to oxidants, activating an apoptotic pathway at oxidant concentrations otherwise sublethal for wt ES cells. We show that the apoptotic pathway activated by low oxidant concentrations is accompanied by mitochondria dysfunction, and it is therefore blocked by the overexpression of Bcl-XL. Bcl-XL does not inhibit the decrease in cellular GSH and reactive oxygen species formation following oxidant treatment. We also found that oxidant treatment in ES cells is followed by the activation of the MEK/ extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Interest¬ingly, ERK activation has opposite outcomes in G6pdD ES cells compared to wt, which has a proapoptotic function in the first and a prosurvival function in the latter. We show that this phenomenon can be regulated by the cellular GSH level

Heart rate variability and target organ damage in hypertensive patients

Background: We evaluated the association between linear standard Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measures and vascular, renal and cardiac target organ damage (TOD). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed including 200 patients registered in the Regione Campania network (aged 62.4 ± 12, male 64%). HRV analysis was performed by 24-h holter ECG. Renal damage was assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), vascular damage by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and cardiac damage by left ventricular mass index. Results: Significantly lower values of the ratio of low to high frequency power (LF/HF) were found in the patients with moderate or severe eGFR (p-value < 0.001). Similarly, depressed values of indexes of the overall autonomic modulation on heart were found in patients with plaque compared to those with a normal IMT (p-value <0.05). These associations remained significant after adjustment for other factors known to contribute to the development of target organ damage, such as age. Moreover, depressed LF/HF was found also in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy but this association was not significant after adjustment for other factors. Conclusions: Depressed HRV appeared to be associated with vascular and renal TOD, suggesting the involvement of autonomic imbalance in the TOD. However, as the mechanisms by which abnormal autonomic balance may lead to TOD, and, particularly, to renal organ damage are not clearly known, further prospective studies with longitudinal design are needed to determine the association between HRV and the development of TOD

ESC core curriculum for the general cardiologist (2013)

[No abstract available

A Geological Itinerary Through the Southern Apennine Thrust-Belt (Basilicata—Southern Italy)

Open access via Springer Compact AgreementPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Polarization of TH2 response is decreased during pregnancy in systemic lupus erythematosus

This study evaluated some cytokines involved in the Th1-Th2 shift during pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy women. Twenty-seven consecutive successful pregnancies in 26 SLE patients and 28 pregnancies in 28 matched healthy subjects, as controls, were enrolled and prospectively studied. Sera obtained at first and third trimesters of pregnancy were tested for IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, INF-γ, and TNF-α with a highly sensitive, multiplexed sandwich ELISA (SearchLight Human Inflammatory Cytokine Array). Statistics were performed by SPSS package. IL-8 serum levels were higher in the first (P<0.0001) and third (P=0.003) trimesters of pregnancy in SLE patients compared with controls, INF-γ serum levels in the third trimester (P=0.009), and IL-10 serum levels in the first and third trimesters (P=0.055 and P<0.0001, respectively). IL-2 (r=0.524 P=0.010), IL-12 (r=0.549 P=0.007), IFN-γ (r=0.492 P=0.017), and IL-6 (r=0.515 P=0.020) serum levels correlated with disease activity in SLE patients in the first trimester of pregnancy. Cytokine profile was similar in patients with and without lupus nephritis both in the first and in the third trimesters of pregnancy. IL-8 serum levels were lower in patients with a previous diagnosis of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome compared with those without, both in the first and in the third trimesters of pregnancy. In SLE patients, a lower than expected decrease in Th1 cytokine serum levels was observed in the third trimester of gestation which could contribute to a lower Th2 cytokine polarization during pregnancy

Application of advanced brain positron emission tomography-based molecular imaging for a biological framework in neurodegenerative proteinopathies

IntroductionA rapid transition from a clinical‐based classification to a pathology‐based classification of neurodegenerative conditions, largely promoted by the increasing availability of imaging biomarkers, is emerging. The Framework for Innovative Multi‐tracer molecular Brain Imaging, funded by the EU Joint Program ‐ Neurodegenerative Disease Research 2016 “Working Groups for Harmonisation and Alignment in Brain Imaging Methods for Neurodegeneration,” aimed at providing a roadmap for the applications of established and new molecular imaging techniques in dementia.MethodsWe consider current and future implications of adopting a pathology‐based framework for the use and development of positron emission tomography techniques.ResultsThis approach will enhance efforts to understand the multifactorial etiology of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.DiscussionThe availability of pathology biomarkers will soon transform clinical and research practice. Crucially, a comprehensive understanding of strengths and caveats of these techniques will promote an informed use to take full advantage of these tools.</p

Eigenvector perturbation methodology for uncertainty quantification of turbulence models

Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models are the primary numerical recourse to investigate complex engineering turbulent flows in industrial applications. However, to establish RANS models as reliable design tools, it is essential to provide estimates for the uncertainty in their predictions. In the recent past, an uncertainty estimation framework relying on eigenvalue and eigenvector perturbations to the modeled Reynolds stress tensor has been widely applied with satisfactory results. However, the methodology for the eigenvector perturbations is not well established. Evaluations using only eigenvalue perturbations do not provide comprehensive estimates of model form uncertainty, especially in flows with streamline curvature, recirculation, or flow separation. In this article, we outline a methodology for the eigenvector perturbations using a predictor-corrector approach, which uses the incipient eigenvalue perturbations along with the Reynolds stress transport equations to determine the eigenvector perturbations. This approach was applied to benchmark cases of complex turbulent flows. The uncertainty intervals estimated using the proposed framework exhibited substantial improvement over eigenvalue-only perturbations and are able to account for a significant proportion of the discrepancy between RANS predictions and high-fidelity data