New technology based on clamping for high gradient radio frequency photogun

High gradient rf photoguns have been a key development to enable several applications of high quality electron beams. They allow the generation of beams with very high peak current and low transverse emittance, satisfying the tight demands for free-electron lasers, energy recovery linacs, Compton/Thomson sources and high-energy linear colliders. In the present paper we present the design of a new rf photogun recently developed in the framework of the SPARC_LAB photoinjector activities at the laboratories of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics in Frascati (LNF-INFN, Italy). This design implements several new features from the electromagnetic point of view and, more important, a novel technology for its realization that does not involve any brazing process. From the electromagnetic point of view the gun presents high mode separation, low peak surface electric field at the iris and minimized pulsed heating on the coupler. For the realization, we have implemented a novel fabrication design that, avoiding brazing, strongly reduces the cost, the realization time and the risk of failure. Details on the electromagnetic design, low power rf measurements and high power radiofrequency and beam tests performed at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) are discussed in the paper

Synthesis of Tailored Perfluoro Unsaturated Monomers for Potential Applications in Proton Exchange Membrane Preparation

The aim of the present work is the synthesis and characterization of new perfluorinated monomers bearing, similarly to Nafion®, acidic groups for proton transport for potential and future applications in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. To this end, we focused our attention on the synthesis of various molecules with (i) sufficient volatility to be used in vacuum polymerization techniques (e.g., PECVD)), (ii) sulfonic, phosphonic, or carboxylic acid functionalities for proton transport capacity of the resulting membrane, (iii) both aliphatic and aromatic perfluorinated tags to diversify the membrane polarity with respect to Nafion®, and (iv) a double bond to facilitate the polymerization under vacuum giving a preferential way for the chain growth of the polymer. A retrosynthetic approach persuaded us to attempt three main synthetic strategies: (a) organometallic Heck-type cross-coupling, (b) nucleophilic displacement, and (c) Wittig–Horner reaction (carbanion approach). Preliminary results on the plasma deposition of a polymeric film are also presented. The variation of plasma conditions allowed us to point out that the film prepared in the mildest settings (20 W) shows the maximum monomer retention in its structure. In this condition, plasma polymerization likely occurs mainly by rupture of the bond in the monomer molecule

Internalization of the constitutively active arginine 1152-->glutamine insulin receptor occurs independently of insulin at an accelerated rate.

Signals controlling the insulin receptor endocytotic pathway have been investigated using the R1152Q insulin receptor mutant (M). This mutant receptor exhibits high levels of insulin-independent kinase activity, impaired autophosphorylation, and lack of an insulin stimulatory effect on both auto- and substrate phosphorylation. NIH-3T3 fibroblasts expressing M receptors displayed a 2.5-fold higher 125I-insulin internalization rate than wild type (WT) but lacked insulin-induced receptor internalization and down-regulation. Cell surface recycling of internalized receptors also occurred at a higher rate in M cells and was unaffected by insulin. Cell preincubation with 35 mM Tris, which inhibits the insulin receptor degradative route, elicited no effect on M receptor recycling but inhibited that of WT by 40%. In contrast, the energy depleter 2,4-dinitrophenol, which inhibits normal insulin receptor retroendocytosis, impaired M receptor recycling 4-fold more effectively than that of WT. The release of internalized intact 125I-insulin was 6-fold greater in M than in WT fibroblasts and was almost completely inhibited by dinitrophenol, whereas insulin degradation by M cells was 4-fold decreased as compared with WT. Thus, internalization and recycling of the constitutively active Gln1152 receptor kinase occur in the absence of autophosphorylation. However, tyrosine phosphorylation appears to be required for proper sorting of endocytosed insulin receptors

Comparison of the Transdermal and Intravenous Administration of Buprenorphine in the Management of Intra- and Postoperative Pain in Dogs Undergoing a Unilateral Mastectomy

The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transdermal patches of buprenorphine as an alternative route for the management of perioperative pain in dogs undergoing a unilateral mastectomy. Our hypothesis was that the transdermal route would allow the obtainment of an analgesic plan comparable to that of the injectable administration. Twelve dogs were divided in two groups. In the BupreP group (six dogs), buprenorphine patches were applied 40 h before the start of the surgery, guaranteeing a dosage of 5-6 μg/kg/h. In the BupreI group (six dogs), 20 μg/kg of buprenorphine was administered intravenously 30 min before the induction of anesthesia, and this was repeated every 6 h for 24 h. The main physiological parameters, sedation scores (0 = no sedation; 11 = deep sedation), and pain scores were monitored from 30 min before the surgery to 24 h after the end of anesthesia. All p values < 0.05 were defined as statistically significant. Thirty minutes before the surgery, the sedation scores were higher in BupreI (score = 10) compared to the BupreP group (score = 1). Moreover, during the mastectomy, the mean arterial pressure significantly increased in both groups even if nobody required additional analgesia. In the postoperative period, the pain scores did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups, maintaining values below the pain threshold at all times of the study. In conclusion, the transdermal administration of buprenorphine could guarantee an analgesic quality equal to that of the injectable route

A t(4;13)(q21;q14) translocation in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia causing concomitant homozygous DLEU2/miR15a/miR16-1 and heterozygous ARHGAP24 deletions

13q14 deletion is the most recurrent chromosomal aberration reported in B-CLL, having a favorable prognostic significance when occurring as the sole cytogenetic alteration. However, its clinical outcome is also related to the deletion size and number of cells with the del(13)(q14) deletion. In 10% of cases, 13q14 deletion arises following a translocation event with multiple partner chromosomes, whose oncogenic impact has not been investigated so far due to the assumption of a possible role as a passenger mutation. Here, we describe a t(4;13)(q21;q14) translocation occurring in a B-CLL case from the diagnosis to spontaneous regression. FISH and SNP-array analyses revealed a heterozygous deletion at 4q21, leading to the loss of the Rho GTPase Activating Protein 24 (ARHGAP24) tumor suppressor gene, down-regulated in the patient RNA, in addition to the homozygous deletion at 13q14 involving DLEU2/miR15a/miR16–1 genes. Interestingly, targeted Next Generation Sequencing analysis of 54 genes related to B-CLL indicated no additional somatic mutation in the patient, underlining the relevance of this t(4;13)(q21;q14) aberration in the leukemogenic process. In all tested RNA samples, RT-qPCR experiments assessed the downregulation of the PCNA, MKI67, and TOP2A proliferation factor genes, and the BCL2 anti-apoptotic gene as well as the up-regulation of TP53 and CDKN1A tumor suppressors, indicating a low proliferation potential of the cells harboring the aberration. In addition, RNA-seq analyses identified four chimeric transcripts (ATG4B::PTMA, OAZ1::PTMA, ZFP36::PTMA, and PIM3::BRD1), two of which (ATG4B::PTMA and ZFP36::PTMA) failed to be detected at the remission, suggesting a possible transcriptional remodeling during the disease course. Overall, our results indicate a favorable prognostic impact of the described chromosomal aberration, as it arises a permissive molecular landscape to the spontaneous B-CLL regression in the patient, highlighting ARHGAP24 as a potentially relevant concurrent alteration to the 13q14 deletion in delineating B-CLL disease evolution

Genomic inversions and GOLGA core duplicons underlie disease instability at the 15q25 locus.

Human chromosome 15q25 is involved in several disease-associated structural rearrangements, including microdeletions and chromosomal markers with inverted duplications. Using comparative fluorescence in situ hybridization, strand-sequencing, single-molecule, real-time sequencing and Bionano optical mapping analyses, we investigated the organization of the 15q25 region in human and nonhuman primates. We found that two independent inversions occurred in this region after the fission event that gave rise to phylogenetic chromosomes XIV and XV in humans and great apes. One of these inversions is still polymorphic in the human population today and may confer differential susceptibility to 15q25 microdeletions and inverted duplications. The inversion breakpoints map within segmental duplications containing core duplicons of the GOLGA gene family and correspond to the site of an ancestral centromere, which became inactivated about 25 million years ago. The inactivation of this centromere likely released segmental duplications from recombination repression typical of centromeric regions. We hypothesize that this increased the frequency of ectopic recombination creating a hotspot of hominid inversions where dispersed GOLGA core elements now predispose this region to recurrent genomic rearrangements associated with disease

Plasma activated water and airborne ultrasound treatments for enhanced germination and growth of soybean

The effect of two novel technologies, also in combination, on germination and growth of soybeans has been investigated. On one side, ultrasound treatment of the seeds increased water uptake without altering the morphology and the wettability of the seed coat, but also induced slight chemical modifications of the outer part of the seed. Plasma-activated water (PAW), obtained from treating water with non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma in air, increased the rate of germination and subsequent plant growth. Different combinations of these two technologies were tested in order to study their interaction and to identify an optimum treatment process. Industrial relevance A great urgency in crop management is to enhance sustainability. The aim is to achieve a cheap and eco-friendly production process reducing the wide current use of energy, irrigation water, chemicals and pesticides. Soybeans is a legume whose worldwide production is increasing in the last years therefore a higher efficiency and sustainability in its cultivation is obviously very appealing. Cold plasma and Ultrasound technologies are well-known in the industrial scenario and their applications in crop production are recently drawing attention; the potential of combining these two powerful techniques is clearly very promising

The current spectrum and prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in Campania (region of southern Italy) and their relationship with migration from endemic countries

Background: In Italy, the current clinical–epidemiological features of intestinal parasitosis and the impact of recent massive migration flows from endemic areas on their distribution are not very well known. Methods: An analysis was carried out involving 1766 patients (720 natives and 1046 immigrants) observed during the period 2009–2010 (the 'current group') and 771 native patients observed during the period 1996–1997 (the 'historical group'), a time at which immigration in the area was minimal. Patients were analyzed for intestinal parasitosis at four healthcare centres in Campania. Results: A wide variety of intestinal parasites was detected in the study subjects. Immigrants had a significantly higher prevalence of parasitosis and multiple simultaneous infections than natives in both groups. In both study groups of natives, the detection of at least one parasite was significantly associated with a history of travel to endemic areas. Among immigrants, we found an inverse correlation between the frequency of parasite detection and the amount of time spent in Italy. No circulation of parasites was found among contacts of parasitized patients. Conclusions: Intestinal parasites are still a cause of intestinal infection in Campania. Although immigrants have a significantly higher prevalence of parasitosis than natives, this does not increase the risk of infection for that population. This is likely due to the lack of suitable biological conditions in our area

Tubulin nitration in human gliomas

Immunohistochem. and biochem. investigations showed that significant protein nitration occurs in human gliomas, esp. in grade IV glioblastomas at the level of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes and neurons. Enhanced alpha-tubulin immunoreactivity was co-present in the same elements in the glioblastomas. Proteomic methodologies were employed to identify a nitrated protein band at 55 kDa as alpha-tubulin. Peptide mass fingerprinting procedures demonstrated that tubulin is nitrated at Tyr224 in grade IV tumor samples but is unmodified in grade I samples and in non-cancerous brain tissue. These results provide the first characterization of endogenously nitrated tubulin from human tumor samples