Characterization of the Neuroligin gene family expression and evolution in zebrafish

Neuroligins constitute a family of transmembrane proteins localized at the postsynaptic side of both excitatory and inhibitory synapses of the central nervous system. They are involved in synaptic function and maturation and recent studies have linked mutations in specific human Neuroligins to mental retardation and autism. We isolated the human Neuroligin homologs in Danio rerio. Next, we studied their gene structures and we reconstructed the evolution of the Neuroligin genes across vertebrate phyla. Using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed the expression and alternative splicing pattern of each gene during zebrafish embryonic development and in different adult organs. By in situ hybridization, we analyzed the temporal and spatial expression pattern during embryonic development and larval stages and we found that zebrafish Neuroligins are expressed throughout the nervous system. Globally, our results indicate that, during evolution, specific subfunctionalization events occurred within paralogous members of this gene family in zebrafish

The Large-Scale Polarization Explorer (LSPE)

The LSPE is a balloon-borne mission aimed at measuring the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) at large angular scales, and in particular to constrain the curl component of CMB polarization (B-modes) produced by tensor perturbations generated during cosmic inflation, in the very early universe. Its primary target is to improve the limit on the ratio of tensor to scalar perturbations amplitudes down to r = 0.03, at 99.7% confidence. A second target is to produce wide maps of foreground polarization generated in our Galaxy by synchrotron emission and interstellar dust emission. These will be important to map Galactic magnetic fields and to study the properties of ionized gas and of diffuse interstellar dust in our Galaxy. The mission is optimized for large angular scales, with coarse angular resolution (around 1.5 degrees FWHM), and wide sky coverage (25% of the sky). The payload will fly in a circumpolar long duration balloon mission during the polar night. Using the Earth as a giant solar shield, the instrument will spin in azimuth, observing a large fraction of the northern sky. The payload will host two instruments. An array of coherent polarimeters using cryogenic HEMT amplifiers will survey the sky at 43 and 90 GHz. An array of bolometric polarimeters, using large throughput multi-mode bolometers and rotating Half Wave Plates (HWP), will survey the same sky region in three bands at 95, 145 and 245 GHz. The wide frequency coverage will allow optimal control of the polarized foregrounds, with comparable angular resolution at all frequencies.Comment: In press. Copyright 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibite

Endometrial carcinoma during tamoxifen therapy. A case report [Adenocarcinoma dell'endometrio insorto durante terapia con tamoxifene: Descrizione di un caso clinico.]

Tamoxifen is a non-steroid estrogenic antagonist, used in post-surgical therapy of breast cancer. It interferes with endocrinous promotion of breast cancer. Tamoxifen could determine endometrial, even carcinomatous, alterations. The case of a postmenopausal patient surgically treated for breast cancer and successively treated with tamoxifen (20 mg/die), is reported. She underwent ultrasonographic and hysterosonographic endometrial evaluation and finally a hysterectomy with bilateral annessiectomy. This case seems to confirm tamoxifen possible carcinogenical effects on the endometrium

SMAW, MCAW, FCAW and SAW high strength ferritic deposits: the challenge is tensile property

The objective of this work was to analyze the influence of chemical composition and welding parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of medium and high strength steel all weld metals of both C-Mn-Ni-Mo and C-Mn-Ni-Mo-Cr ferritic types produced with coated electrodes, flux cored arc welding electrodes and wire/flux combinations for submerged arc welding and compare these results with AWS requirements. Chemical composition of the deposits was varied and welding parameters were changed in the production of all weld metal samples according to the relevant AWS standards of the consumables employed. Tensile properties, hardness and Charpy-V impact toughness of the all-weld-metal specimens were assessed and metallographic studies were conducted with light microscopy in order to correlate mechanical properties with resulting microstructures. From the analysis of the results it was concluded that achieving the toughness required by the standards was not a problem. On the contrary, consistently satisfying the minimum requirements for tensile strength turned out to be much more difficult, demanding a rigorous approach to welding parameters selection in order to obtain repeatable results.  On the other hand, for a given type of weld deposit the requirements to be met differ according to the welding process employed thus adding another variable to the difficulties to satisfy the tensile requirements of the different standards.Fil: Surian, Bye E. S.. No especifíca;Fil: Ramini de Rissone, N. M.. No especifíca;Fil: Svoboda, Hernán Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rep, R.. No especifíca;Fil: Vedia, L. A.. No especifíca

SMAW, MCAW, FCAW and SAW high strength ferritic deposits: the challenge is tensile property

The objective of this work was to analyze the influence of chemical composition and welding parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of medium and high strength steel all weld metals of both C-Mn-Ni-Mo and C-Mn-Ni-Mo-Cr ferritic types produced with coated electrodes, flux cored arc welding electrodes and wire/flux combinations for submerged arc welding and compare these results with AWS requirements. Chemical composition of the deposits was varied and welding parameters were changed in the production of all weld metal samples according to the relevant AWS standards of the consumables employed. Tensile properties, hardness and Charpy-V impact toughness of the all-weld-metal specimens were assessed and metallographic studies were conducted with light microscopy in order to correlate mechanical properties with resulting microstructures. From the analysis of the results it was concluded that achieving the toughness required by the standards was not a problem. On the contrary, consistently satisfying the minimum requirements for tensile strength turned out to be much more difficult, demanding a rigorous approach to welding parameters selection in order to obtain repeatable results.  On the other hand, for a given type of weld deposit the requirements to be met differ according to the welding process employed thus adding another variable to the difficulties to satisfy the tensile requirements of the different standards.Fil: Surian, Bye E. S.. No especifíca;Fil: Ramini de Rissone, N. M.. No especifíca;Fil: Svoboda, Hernán Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rep, R.. No especifíca;Fil: Vedia, L. A.. No especifíca