Submandibular glands, nerve growth factor and neuroinflammatory responses in rodents

Structural, biochemical, and pharmacological studies have provided numerous insights into the role of rodent submandibular glands in a variety of physiopathological functions. In this review we briefly highlight past and present findings published by our group and others regarding the role of rodent submandibular glands and nerve growth factor in inflammatory events. Accordingly, the role of mouse salivary glands and nerve growth factor in neuroinflammatory responses, body temperature and parasitic infection are discussed, and potential future lines of studies aimed at elucidating their physiopathological roles are suggested.Biomedical Reviews 1998; 9: 93-99

On the photon Green functions in curved space-time

Quantization of electrodynamics in curved space-time in the Lorenz gauge and with arbitrary gauge parameter makes it necessary to study Green functions of non-minimal operators with variable coefficients. Starting from the integral representation of photon Green functions, we link them to the evaluation of integrals involving Gamma functions. Eventually, the full asymptotic expansion of the Feynman photon Green function at small values of the world function, as well as its explicit dependence on the gauge parameter, are obtained without adding by hand a mass term to the Faddeev--Popov Lagrangian. Coincidence limits of second covariant derivatives of the associated Hadamard function are also evaluated, as a first step towards the energy-momentum tensor in the non-minimal case.Comment: 22 pages, plain Tex. All sections and appendices have been improve

Speckle Interferometry Analysis of Full-bending Behavior of GFRP Pultruded Material

The use of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer materials (GFRP) has increased in the last years even among civil structural engineering due to their high specific strength, lightweight and excellent corrosion resistance. With application of the pultrusion method, the manufacture of large-scale profiles with various cross-section forms became potentially possible with relatively low costs. Usually two different technological approaches are available to realize the element: in the first one a mat-roving-mat sequence is adopted, in the second one only roving is present. Continuous filament mat (CFM, fibers distributed randomly in all directions) is often used to build up laminate thickness quickly, as well as to enhance transversal strength and stiffness. Besides, the intrinsic particular features of GFRP materials require the application of new techniques of mechanical analysis to define a correct material model. Many papers study the mechanical behavior of GFRP structural elements at a macroscopic scale even in particular environmental conditions. From the other hand full-field contactless techniques (e.g. digital image correlation, thermal stress analysis, speckle interferometry) are effective tools to correctly model complex mechanical behavior and to define the consequent parameters. Among these techniques, Electronic Speckle-Pattern Interferometry (ESPI) has been asserted as very effective due to the technological improvements of the laser sources. One of the significant advantages of ESPI is to produce real-time fringe patterns on objects with optically rough surfaces, with a displacement sensitivity of the order of the light wavelength. Aim of the paper is to apply ESPI handled by phase-stepping technique to the experimental study of GFRP materials in the case of mat-roving-mat sequence

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor: a new adipokine

Since leptin discovery in 1994, an extensive body of work has been demonstrating that adipose tissue (mainly its white phenotype) expresses not only metabolic, but also endocrine and paracrine phenotypes, particularly in adipobiology of disease. This new biology is achieved predominantly through secretion of adipokines, which include more than hundred highly active signaling proteins. However, studies on adipobiology of neurotrophins have recently emerged, nerve growth factor being one example of adipose-derived neurotrophins. Here we present data showing that brain-derived neurotrophic factor is also expressed in both white and brown adipose tissue.Biomedical Reviews 2007; 18: 85-88

Homo diabesus: involvement of metabotrophic factors

Diabesity is a new term which refers to type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity found in one individual, hence Homo diabesus. Previously we presented our hypothesis of metabotrophic factors (MTF), also termed metabotrophins. Onward we described Homo obesus (man obese) as a metabotrophin-deficient species. Now - as a phenotypic variety of this species - we introduce H. diabesus. Endogenous MTF are in general signaling proteins able to improve cardiovascular and metabolic homeostasis including that of lipids, glucose, energy, inflammation, angiogenesis, and cognition. Hence pharmacological manipulations of the secretion and/or signaling of MTF might bring a therapeutic benefit for H. diabesus. Here we Dance Round the hypothesis that deficit and/or dysfunction of MTF may lead to diabesity. Arguably, an updated list of MTF including nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, adiponectin, humanin, irisin and other adipose- and nonadipose-derived bioactive molecules is presented. Overall this may cultivate a novel pathogenic and therapeutic thinking for cardiometabolic disease.Adipobiology 2012; 5: 45-49

A hot cocoon in the ultralong GRB 130925A: hints of a PopIII-like progenitor in a low density wind environment

GRB 130925A is a peculiar event characterized by an extremely long gamma-ray duration ($\approx$7 ks), as well as dramatic flaring in the X-rays for $\approx$20 ks. After this period, its X-ray afterglow shows an atypical soft spectrum with photon index $\Gamma$$\sim$4, as observed by Swift and Chandra, until $\approx 10^7$ s, when XMM-Newton observations uncover a harder spectral shape with $\Gamma$$\sim$2.5, commonly observed in GRB afterglows. We find that two distinct emission components are needed to explain the X-ray observations: a thermal component, which dominates the X-ray emission for several weeks, and a non-thermal component, consistent with a typical afterglow. A forward shock model well describes the broadband (from radio to X-rays) afterglow spectrum at various epochs. It requires an ambient medium with a very low density wind profile, consistent with that expected from a low-metallicity blue supergiant (BSG). The thermal component has a remarkably constant size and a total energy consistent with those expected by a hot cocoon surrounding the relativistic jet. We argue that the features observed in this GRB (its ultralong duration, the thermal cocoon, and the low density wind environment) are associated with a low metallicity BSG progenitor and, thus, should characterize the class of ultralong GRBs.Comment: 6 pgs, 3 figs, fig1 revised, ApJL in pres

Signals and Power Distribution in the CMS Inner Tracker

\begin{abstract} This Note describes how the interconnection between the 3540 modules of the CMS Inner Tracker has been approached, focusing on the signal, high voltage and low voltage line distribution. The construction and tests of roughly a thousand interconnects called ``Mother Cables" is described. \end{abstract

Towards weighing the condensation energy to ascertain the Archimedes force of vacuum

The force exerted by the gravitational field on a Casimir cavity in terms of Archimedes force of vacuum is discussed, the force that can be tested against observation is identified, and it is shown that the present technology makes it possible to perform the first experimental tests. The use of suitable high-Tc superconductors as modulators of Archimedes force is motivated. The possibility is analyzed of using gravitational wave interferometers as detectors of the force, transported through an optical spring from the Archimedes vacuum force apparatus to the gravitational interferometer test masses to maintain the two systems well separated. The use of balances to actuate and detect the force is also analyzed, the different solutions are compared, and the most important experimental issues are discussed.Comment: Revtex, 33 pages, 8 figures. In the final version, the title has been changed, and all sections have been improved, while 2 appendices have been adde