MeCP2/H3meK9 are involved in IL-6 gene silencing in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines

The aim of the present study was to analyse the molecular mechanisms involved in the Interleukin-6 (IL-6) silencing in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines. Our results demonstrate that TNF-α, a major IL-6 inducer, is able to induce IL-6 only in three out of six cell lines examined. 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (DAC), but not trichostatin A (TSA), activates the expression of IL-6 in all cell lines, indicating that DNA methylation, but not histone deacetylation, plays an essential role in IL-6 silencing. Indeed, the IL-6 upstream region shows a methylation status that correlates with IL-6 expression and binds MeCP2 and H3meK9 only in the non-expressing cell lines. Our results suggest that critical methylations located from positions –666 to –426 relative to the transcription start site of IL-6 may act as binding sites for MeCP2

Lidar in Space Technology Experiment correlative measurements by lidar in Potenza, southern Italy.

An intensive lidar measurement campaign was carried out in Potenza (40°36′N-15°44′E, 820 m above sea level (asl)) in conjunction with the Lidar in Space Technology Experiment (LITE) mission and primarily aimed at the validation of LITE stratospheric aerosol measurements. Potenza lidar measurements in coincidence with all five nighttime overpasses near southern Italy (September 11, 12, 17, and 18, 1994) are compared with simultaneous LITE data. Potenza lidar data appear to be highly correlated with LITE data both at 355 and 532 nm. Potenza lidar versus LITE measurements of the aerosol-scattering ratio show a correlation coefficient of 0.72–0.81 at 355 nm and 0.88–0.93 at 532 nm, with an average calibration coefficient of 0.92 ± 0.19 at 355 nm and 1.02 ± 0.07 at 532 nm. Comparisons are also made in terms of the average Angstrom coefficient, whose values are consistent with submicrometer aerosol particles. Finally, Potenza lidar measurements of the aerosol layer base and top heights, the peak aerosol-scattering ratio and peak height, as well as of the aerosol scattering ratio at the cloud base appear to be consistent with measurements performed by other ground lidar stations in Europe during the LITE campaign as well as with the LITE data

A next generation, pilot-scale continuous sterilization system for fermentation media

A new continuous sterilization system was designed, constructed, started up, and qualified for media sterilization for secondary metabolite cultivations, bioconversions, and enzyme production. An existing Honeywell Total Distributed Control 3000-based control system was extended using redundant High performance Process Manager controllers for 98 I/O (input/output) points. This new equipment was retrofitted into an industrial research fermentation pilot plant, designed and constructed in the early 1980s. Design strategies of this new continuous sterilizer system and the expanded control system are described and compared with the literature (including dairy and bio-waste inactivation applications) and the weaknesses of the prior installation for expected effectiveness. In addition, the reasoning behind selection of some of these improved features has been incorporated. Examples of enhancements adopted include sanitary heat exchanger (HEX) design, incorporation of a “flash” cooling HEX, on-line calculation of F(o) and R(o), and use of field I/O modules located near the vessel to permit low-cost addition of new instrumentation. Sterilizer performance also was characterized over the expected range of operating conditions. Differences between design and observed temperature, pressure, and other profiles were quantified and investigated

Overview on energy and environment in the Caribbean area

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