1,789 research outputs found
A novel CMB polarization likelihood package for large angular scales built from combined WMAP and Planck LFI legacy maps
We present a CMB large-scale polarization dataset obtained by combining WMAP
Ka, Q and V with Planck 70 GHz maps. We employ the legacy frequency maps
released by the WMAP and Planck collaborations and perform our own Galactic
foreground mitigation technique, which relies on Planck 353 GHz for polarized
dust and on Planck 30 GHz and WMAP K for polarized synchrotron. We derive a
single, optimally-noise-weighted, low-residual-foreground map and the
accompanying noise covariance matrix. These are shown, through
analysis, to be robust over an ample collection of Galactic masks. We use this
dataset, along with the Planck legacy Commander temperature solution, to build
a pixel-based low-resolution CMB likelihood package, whose robustness we test
extensively with the aid of simulations, finding excellent consistency. Using
this likelihood package alone, we constrain the optical depth to reionazation
at C.L., on 54\% of the sky. Adding the
Planck high- temperature and polarization legacy likelihood, the Planck
lensing likelihood and BAO observations we find
in a full CDM exploration. The
latter bounds are slightly less constraining than those obtained employing
\Planck\ HFI CMB data for large angle polarization, that only include EE
correlations. Our bounds are based on a largely independent dataset that does
include also TE correlations. They are generally well compatible with Planck
HFI preferring slightly higher values of . We make the low-resolution
Planck and WMAP joint dataset publicly available along with the accompanying
likelihood code.Comment: The WMAP+LFI likelihood module is available on
\http://www.fe.infn.it/u/pagano/low_ell_datasets/wmap_lfi_legacy
Macrophage Fusion into Multinucleated Giant Cells In Vitro
Multinucleated giant cells (MGC) have been observed in a variety of granulomatous conditions, including microbial infections (e.g., tuberculosis), foreign body reactions to implants (e.g., medical devices), foreign body reactions to inhaled particles (e.g., engineered nanomaterials), and disorders of unknown etiology (e.g., sarcoidosis). Generally, MGC are morphologically classified based on the number and arrangement of nuclei. The two major types of MGC are foreign body giant cells and Langhans giant cells. These MGC are formed by the fusion of macrophages, often in response to persistent, foreign microorganisms or materials. Although MGC are known to be associated with granulomas, their involvement in the development of these conditions has not been well described. This is in part due to a lack of well-characterized models of MGC populations. The objective of this study is to develop an in vitro model of macrophage fusion in order to study MGC function. Previous reports have shown that MGC formation is induced by interleukin-4 (IL-4). Therefore, we investigated a model of IL-4-induced fusion in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMdM). As expected, IL-4 treatment resulted in increased percent fusion of BMdM. The formation of MGC was optimized by modification of culture conditions, including alteration of the growth surface and treatment with either macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Ongoing studies involve identification of molecules that regulate MGC formation. An increased understanding of this mechanism will provide additional targets to control fusion. Further development of this controlled in vitro model will facilitate future investigation of MGC inflammatory activity and contribution to pathogenesis of granulomas
L’ambiente marino costiero: aspetti e tutela. Progetto formativo di Alternanza Scuola Lavoro 2016‐2019 Liceo Scienze Applicate
Il percorso formativo consente di acquisire nozioni teoriche e pratiche sulle moderne tecniche (strumentali e metodologiche) di investigazione del “datum” geologico finalizzate allo studio multidisciplinare dell’ambiente marino‐costiero, con particolare riguardo alle ricerche sperimentali che l’Istituto IAMC ha condotto e conduce nel Golfo di Napoli.
Vengono trattate anche tematiche di gestione del sistema sicurezza e qualità con particolare riguardo alle attività lavorative di ricerca (acquisizione, elaborazione e restituzione del dato),nonché indicazioni di procedure gestionali di progetto finalizzate al corretto utilizzo della risorsa umana e strumentale
Physical activity and hypocaloric diet recovers osteoblasts homeostasis in women affected by abdominal obesity.
Obesity is a multifactorial disease linked to metabolic chronic disorders such as diabetes, and hypertension. Also, it has recently been associated with skeletal alterations and low bone mineral density. We previously demonstrated that exposure of osteoblasts to sera of sedentary subjects affected by obesity alters cell homeostasis in vitro, leading to disruption of intracellular differentiation pathways and cellular activity. Thus, the purpose of the present study has been to evaluate whether sera of sedentary obese women, subjected to physical activity and hypocaloric diet, could recover osteoblast homeostasis in vitro as compared to the sera of same patients before intervention protocol. To this aim, obese women were evaluated at time 0 and after 4, 6, and 12 months of individualized prescribed physical activity and hypocaloric diet. Dual-energy-X-ray absorptiometry measurements were performed at each time point, as well as blood was collected at the same points. Cells were incubated with sera of subjects before and after physical activity as described: obese at baseline and after for 4, 6, and 12 months of physical activity and nutritional protocol intervention. Osteoblasts exposed to sera of patients, who displayed increased lean and decreased fat mass (from 55.5 ± 6.5 to 57.1 ± 5.6% p ≤ 0.05; from 44.5 ± 1.1 to 40.9 ± 2.6% p ≤ 0.01 respectively), showed a time-dependent increase of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, versus cells exposed to sera of obese patients before intervention protocol, suggesting recovery of osteoblast homeostasis upon improvement of body composition. An increase in β-catenin nuclear accumulation and nuclear translocation was also observed, accompanied by an increase in Adiponectin receptor 1 protein expression, suggesting positive effect on cell differentiation program. Furthermore, a decrease in sclerostin amount and an increase of type 1 procollagen amino-terminal-propeptide were depicted as compared to baseline, proportionally to the time of physical activity, suggesting a recovery of bone remodeling modulation and an increase of osteoblast activity induced by improvement of body composition. In conclusion, our results show for the first time that sera of obese sedentary women who increased lean mass and decreased fat mass, by physical activity and hypocaloric diet, rescue osteoblasts differentiation and activity likely due to a reactivation of Wnt/β-catenin-pathway, suggesting that a correct life style can improve skeletal metabolic alteration induced by obesity
Fetal-Perinatal Exposure to Bisphenol-A Affects Quality of Spermatozoa in Adulthood Mouse
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is considered an endocrine disruptor with estrogenic activity. It is described as an environment-polluting industrial chemical whose adverse effects on the male reproductive system depend on the period of exposure (i.e., fetal, prepubertal, or adult life). We exposed male mice to BPA during the fetal-perinatal period (from 10 days post coitum to 31 days post partum) and investigated the impact of this early-life exposure on gamete health in adulthood animals at 78 days of age. Both in control and BPA-exposed mice, viability and motility of spermatozoa, as well as sperm motility acquisition and chromatin condensation of spermatozoa, have been evaluated. Results reveal harmful effect of BPA on viability and motility of sperm cells as well as on chromatin condensation status during epididymal maturation of spermatozoa. In particular, BPA exposure interferes with biochemical mechanism useful to stabilize sperm chromatin condensation, as it interferes with oxidation of thiol groups associated to chromatin
BIOELECTRICAL PHASE ANGLE ON HOSPITAL ADMISSION AS PREDICTOR OF SHORT- AND MIDDLE-TERM MORTALITY IN ELDERLY MEDICAL PATIENTS.
Cosmological constraints on the magnification bias on sub-millimetre galaxies after large-scale bias corrections
Context. The study of the magnification bias produced on high-redshift sub-millimetre galaxies by foreground galaxies through the
analysis of the cross-correlation function was recently demonstrated as an interesting independent alternative to the weak-lensing
shear as a cosmological probe.
Aims. In the case of the proposed observable, most of the cosmological constraints mainly depend on the largest angular separation
measurements. Therefore, we aim to study and correct the main large-scale biases that aect foreground and background galaxy
samples to produce a robust estimation of the cross-correlation function. Then we analyse the corrected signal to derive updated
cosmological constraints.
Methods. We measured the large-scale, bias-corrected cross-correlation functions using a background sample of H-ATLAS galaxies
with photometric redshifts >1.2 and two dierent foreground samples (GAMA galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts or SDSS galaxies
with photometric ones, both in the range 0.2 < z < 0.8). These measurements are modelled using the traditional halo model description
that depends on both halo occupation distribution and cosmological parameters. We then estimated these parameters by performing a
Markov chain Monte Carlo under multiple scenarios to study the performance of this observable and how to improve its results.
Results. After the large-scale bias corrections, we obtain only minor improvements with respect to the previous magnification bias
results, mainly confirming their conclusions: a lower bound on
m > 0:22 at 95% CL and an upper bound 8 < 0:97 at 95% CL
(results from the zspec sample). Neither the much higher surface density of the foreground photometric sample nor the assumption of
Gaussian priors for the remaining unconstrained parameters significantly improve the derived constraints. However, by combining
both foreground samples into a simplified tomographic analysis, we were able to obtain interesting constraints on the
m8 plane
as follows:
m = 0:50+0:14
0:20 and 8 = 0:75+0:07
0:10 at 68% C
INDIRECT CALORIMETRY DEMONSTRATES THAT RESTING ENERGY EXPENDITURE IS INCREASED IN PATIENTS WITH POORLY CONTROLLED DIABETES AND IS NORMALIZED BY INSULIN BOLUS
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