Role of mast cells in atherosclerosis: a classical inflammatory disease.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease and hyperlipidaemia is one of the main risk factors for aging, hypertension and diabetes. Variance in plasma LDL cholesterol concentration may be associated with differences in cardiovascular disease risk and high levels of lipids are associated with increased risk of developing atherosclerosis. Macrophages, which generate pro-inflammatory cytokines, mainly interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-alpha), are deeply involved in atherosclerosis, as well as mast cells which generate several cytokines, including IL-6 and IFN-gamma, and chemokines such as eotaxin, MCP-1 and RANTES involved in monocyte recruitment and differentiation in the arterial wall. In addition, mast cells participate in lipid retention and vascular cell remodeling, and are mediators of innate and adaptive immunity during atherosclerosis. Mast cells which accumulate in the human arterial intima and adventitia during atherosclerotic plaque progression, release vasoactive and angiogenic compounds, and pro-inflammatory mediators, such as arachidonic acid metabolites, histamine, cytokines/chemokines, platelet activating factor (PAF) and proteolytic enzymes. Mast cells can be activated by pro-inflammatory stimuli, including cytokines, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia, and trigger the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules such as P-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and chemokines which mediate the recruitment and adhesion of leukocytes. The participation of mast cells in atherosclerosis is still an enigma and it may be of therapeutic interest to clarify this process

New Materials and Technologies for Durability and Conservation of Building Heritage

The increase in concrete structures’ durability is a milestone to improve the sustainability of buildings and infrastructures. In order to ensure a prolonged service life, it is necessary to detect the deterioration of materials by means of monitoring systems aimed at evaluating not only the penetration of aggressive substances into concrete but also the corrosion of carbon-steel reinforcement. Therefore, proper data collection makes it possible to plan suitable restoration works which can be carried out with traditional or innovative techniques and materials. This work focuses on building heritage and it highlights the most recent findings for the conservation and restoration of reinforced concrete structures and masonry buildings

The evolution of primate short-term memory

Short-term memory is implicated in a range of cognitive abilities and is critical for understanding primate cognitive evolution. To investigate the effects of phylogeny, ecology and sociality on short-term memory, we tested the largest and most diverse primate sample to date (421 non-human primates across 41 species) in an experimental delayed-response task. Our results confirm previous findings that longer delays decrease memory performance across species and taxa. Our analyses demonstrate a considerable contribution of phylogeny over ecological and social factors on the distribution of short-term memory performance in primates; closely related species had more similar short-term memory abilities. Overall, individuals in the branch of Hominoidea performed better compared to Cercopithecoidea, who in turn performed above Platyrrhini and Strepsirrhini. Interdependencies between phylogeny and socioecology of a given species presented an obstacle to disentangling the effects of each of these factors on the evolution of shortterm memory capacity. However, this study offers an important step forward in understanding the interspecies and individual variation in short-term memory ability by providing the first phylogenetic reconstruction of this trait’s evolutionary history. The dataset constitutes a unique resource for studying the evolution of primate cognition and the role of short-term memory in other cognitive abilities

FTIR spectroscopy structural analysis of the interaction between Lactobacillus kefir S-layers and metal ions

FTIR spectroscopy was used to structurally characterize the interaction of S-layer proteins extracted from two strains of Lactobacillus kefir (the aggregating CIDCA 8348 and the non-aggregating JCM 5818) with metal ions (Cd+2, Zn+2, Pb+2 and Ni+2). The infrared spectra indicate that the metal/protein interaction occurs mainly through the carboxylate groups of the side chains of Asp and Glut residues, with some contribution of the NH groups belonging to the peptide backbone. The frequency separation between the νCOO− anti-symmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations in the spectra of the S-layers in presence of the metal ions was found to be ca. 190 cm−1 for S-layer CIDCA 8348 and ca. 170 cm−1 for JCM 5818, denoting an unidentate coordination in both cases. Changes in the secondary structures of the S-layers induced by the interaction with the metal ions were also noticed: a general trend to increase the amount of β-sheet structures and to reduce the amount of α-helices was observed. These changes allow the proteins to adjust their structure to the presence of the metal ions at minimum energy expense, and accordingly, these adjustments were found to be more important for the bigger ions

Electrical resistivity and electrical impedance measurement in mortar and concrete elements: A systematic review

This paper aims at analyzing the state-of-the-art techniques to measure electrical impedance (and, consequently, electrical resistivity) of mortar/concrete elements. Despite the validity of the concept being widely proven in the literature, a clear standard for this measurement is still missing. Different methods are described and discussed, highlighting pros and cons with respect to their performance, reliability, and degree of maturity. Both monitoring and inspection approaches are possible by using electrical resistivity measurements; since electrical resistivity is an important indicator of the health status of mortar/concrete, as it changes whenever phenomena modifying the conductivity of mortar/concrete (e.g., degradation or attacks by external agents) occur, this review aims to serve as a guide for those interested in this type of measurements

Calcium sulfoaluminate cement and fly ash-based geopolymer as sustainable binders for mortars

This work investigates the hydration behaviour and the physico-mechanical properties of mortars based on calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cements and fly ash-based geopolymers (GEO) as alternatives to ordinary Portland cement. According to the EN 1504-3, mortars were prepared in order to reach three compressive strength classes, namely R1, R2 and R3 (R1 with Rc ≥ 10 MPa, R2 with Rc ≥ 15 MPa and R3 with Rc ≥ 25 MPa). CSA mortars were prepared by using sulfoaluminate cement alone (R3) or in mixture with a limestone filler (R1 and R2); GEO mortars were manufactured by alkali-activation of coal fly ash and calcium aluminate cement with a sodium silicate and potassium hydroxide water solution. The hydration behaviour was evaluated on pastes submitted to differential thermal-thermogravimetric and X-ray diffraction analyses. Mortars was analysed through mercury intrusion porosimetry; their mechanical properties were evaluated in terms of compressive strength and dynamic modulus of elasticity. Furthermore, capillary water absorption and drying shrinkage tests were carried out in order to evaluate their durability. Due to the rapid ettringite formation, CSA-based mixtures reached their maximum compressive strength values faster than the corresponding GEO mortars. Results showed that the lower modulus of elasticity of GEO mortars causes the higher drying shrinkage. Moreover, the lower porosity exhibited by GEO mortars was responsible for the lower water capillary absorption