Prescription-induced jump distributions in multiplicative Poisson processes

Generalized Langevin equations (GLE) with multiplicative white Poisson noise pose the usual prescription dilemma leading to different evolution equations (master equations) for the probability distribution. Contrary to the case of multiplicative gaussian white noise, the Stratonovich prescription does not correspond to the well known mid-point (or any other intermediate) prescription. By introducing an inertial term in the GLE we show that the Ito and Stratonovich prescriptions naturally arise depending on two time scales, the one induced by the inertial term and the other determined by the jump event. We also show that when the multiplicative noise is linear in the random variable one prescription can be made equivalent to the other by a suitable transformation in the jump probability distribution. We apply these results to a recently proposed stochastic model describing the dynamics of primary soil salinization, in which the salt mass balance within the soil root zone requires the analysis of different prescriptions arising from the resulting stochastic differential equation forced by multiplicative white Poisson noise whose features are tailored to the characters of the daily precipitation. A method is finally suggested to infer the most appropriate prescription from the data

Repurposing Face Masks after Use: From Wastes to Anode Materials for Na-Ion Batteries

Nowadays, face masks play an essential role in limiting coronavirus diffusion. However, their disposable nature represents a relevant environmental issue. In this work, we propose the utilization of two types of disposed (waste) face masks to prepare hard carbons (biochar) by pyrolytic conversion in mild conditions. Moreover, we evaluated the application of the produced hard carbons as anode materials in Na-ion batteries. Pristine face masks were firstly analyzed through infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The pyrolysis of both mask types resulted in highly disordered carbons, as revealed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, with a very low specific surface area. Anodes prepared with these carbons were tested in laboratory-scale Na-metal cells through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling, displaying an acceptable specific capacity along a wide range of current regimes, with a good coulombic efficiency (>98% over at least 750 cycles). As a proof of concept, the anodes were also used to assemble a Na-ion cell in combination with a Na3V2(PO4)(2)F-3 (NVPF) cathode and tested towards galvanostatic cycling, with an initial capacity of almost 120 mAhg(-1) (decreasing at about 47 mAhg(-1) after 50 cycles). Even though further optimization is required for a real application, the achieved electrochemical performances represent a preliminary confirmation of the possibility of repurposing disposable face masks into higher-value materials for Na-ion batteries

Annual Meeting of the International Society of Cancer Metabolism (ISCaM): Metabolic Adaptations and Targets in Cancer

The metabolism of cancer cells differs from that of their normal counterparts in a spectrum of attributes, including imbalances in diverse metabolic arms and pathways, metabolic plasticity and extent of adaptive responses, levels, and activities of metabolic enzymes and their upstream regulators and abnormal fluxes of metabolic intermediates and products. These attributes endow cancer cells with the ability to survive stressors of the tumor microenvironment and enable them to landscape and exploit the host terrain, thereby facilitating cancer progression and therapy resistance. Understanding the molecular and physiological principles of cancer metabolism is one of the key prerequisites for the development of better anticancer treatments. Therefore, various aspects of cancer metabolism were addressed at the 5th annual meeting of the International Society of Cancer Metabolism (ISCaM) in Bratislava, Slovakia, on October 17\u201320, 2018. The meeting presentations and discussions were traditionally focused on mechanistic, translational, and clinical characteristics of metabolism and pH control in cancer, at the level of molecular pathways, cells, tissues, and organisms. In order to reflect major healthcare challenges of the current era, ISCaM has extended its scope to metabolic disorders contributing to cancer, as well as to opportunities for their prevention, intervention, and therapeutic targeting

Ocular Biometric Risk Factors for Progression of Primary Angle Closure Disease: The Zhongshan Angle Closure Prevention Trial

PURPOSE: To assess baseline ocular biometric risk factors for progression from primary angle closure suspect (PACS) to primary angle closure (PAC) or acute angle closure (AAC). DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PARTICIPANTS: 643 mainland Chinese aged 50 to 70 years with untreated PACS. METHODS: Participants received baseline clinical examinations including gonioscopy, anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT) imaging (Visante OCT, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA), and A-scan ultrasound biometry as part of the Zhongshan Angle Closure Prevention (ZAP) Trial. PACS was defined as inability to visualize pigmented trabecular meshwork in two or more quadrants based on static gonioscopy. PAC was defined as development of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) > 24 mmHg or peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS). Progression was defined as development of PAC or an acute angle closure (AAC) attack. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to assess biometric risk factors for progression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Progression from PACS to PAC or AAC over 6 years. RESULTS: 643 untreated eyes (609 non-progressors, 34 progressors) of 643 ZAP participants were included in the primary analysis. In a multivariable model with continuous parameters, narrower horizontal angle opening distance 500 μm from the scleral spur (AOD500; OR=1.10 per 0.01 mm decrease, p=0.03), flatter horizontal iris curvature (IC; OR=1.96 per 0.1 mm decrease, p=0.01), and older age (OR=1.11 per year increase, p=0.01) at baseline were significantly associated with progression (AUC=0.73). Smaller cumulative gonioscopy score was not associated with progression (OR=1.03 per 1 modified Shaffer grade decrease; p=0.85) when replacing horizontal AOD500 in the multivariable model. In a separate multivariable model with categorical parameters, participants in the lowest quartile of horizontal AOD500 (OR=3.10, p=0.002) and IC (OR=2.48, p=0.014) measurements and aged 59 years and older (OR=2.68, p=0.01) at baseline had higher odds of progression (AUC=0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular biometric measurements can help risk stratify patients with early angle closure for more severe disease. AS-OCT measurements of biometric parameters describing the angle and iris are predictive of progression from PACS to PAC or AAC, whereas gonioscopy grades are not

Trawling disturbance effects on the trophic ecology of two co-generic Astropectinid species

Physical disturbance by trawling can have both negative and positive effects on populations of scavenging benthic organisms. In the present study the impact of fishing activity on feeding behaviour of the two Astropectinids, Astropecten bispinosus and A. irregularis, was assessed based on stomach contents analysis. The study was carried out along trawled seabed highlighting the positive response of the two facultative scavengers to carrion generated by trawl disturbance. Furthermore, there was greater food specialization in areas that were more heavily exploited by trawling. This specialisation could be linked to the availability of certain prey that results from the passage of fishing gears across the seabed. Interestingly, differences between the two species analysed have been highlighted in term of population dynamic, feeding rate, diet composition and diet diversity, testifying their capacity to coexist in the same fishing grounds

Treatment with class a CpG oligodeoxynucleotides in cats with naturally occurring feline parvovirus infection: A prospective study

Feline parvovirus (FPV) causes severe gastroenteritis and leukopenia in cats; the outcome is poor. Information regarding specific treatments is lacking. Class A CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-A) are short single-stranded DNAs, stimulating type I interferon production. In cats, CpG-A induced an antiviral response in vivo and inhibited FPV replication in vitro. The aim was to prospectively investigate the effects of CpG-A on survival, clinical score, hematological findings, antiviral response (cytokines), viremia, and fecal shedding (real-time qPCR) in cats naturally infected with FPV. Forty-two FPV-infected cats were randomized to receive 100 g/kg of CpG-A (n = 22) or placebo (n = 20) subcutaneously, on admission and after 48 h. Blood and fecal samples were collected on admission, after 1, 3, and 7 days. All 22 cats showed short duration pain during CpG-A injections. The survival rate, clinical score, leukocyte and erythrocyte counts, viremia, and fecal shedding at any time-point did not differ between cats treated with CpG-A (50%) and placebo (40%). Antiviral myxovirus resistance (Mx) gene transcription increased in both groups from day 1 to 3 (p = 0.005). Antibodies against FPV on admission were associated with survival in cats (p = 0.002). In conclusion, CpG-A treatment did not improve the outcome in cats with FPV infection. FPV infection produced an antiviral response

ACYLATED AND UNACYLATED GHRELIN IMPAIR SKELETAL MUSCLE ATROPHY IN MICE.

Cachexia is a wasting syndrome associated with cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis, and several other disease states. It is characterized by weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite and skeletal muscle atrophy and is associated with poor patient prognosis, making it an important treatment target. Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth hormone (GH) release and positive energy balance through binding to the receptor GHSR-1a. Only acylated ghrelin (AG), but not the unacylated form (UnAG), can bind GHSR-1a; however, UnAG and AG share several GHSR-1aindependent biological activities. Here we investigated whether UnAG and AG could protect against skeletal muscle atrophy in a GHSR-1a-independent manner. We found that both AG and UnAG inhibited dexamethasone-induced skeletal muscle atrophy and atrogene expression through PI3K\u3b2-, mTORC2-, and p38-mediated pathways in myotubes. Up-regulation of circulating UnAG in mice impaired skeletal muscle atrophy induced by either fasting or denervation without stimulating muscle hypertrophy and GHSR-1a-mediated activation of the GH/IGF-1 axis. In Ghsrdeficient mice, both AG and UnAG induced phosphorylation of Akt in skeletal muscle and impaired fasting-induced atrophy. These results demonstrate that AG and UnAG act on a common, unidentified receptor to block skeletal muscle atrophy in a GH-independent manner

The diacylglycerol kinase α/Atypical PKC/β1 integrin pathway in SDF-1α mammary carcinoma invasiveness

Diacylglycerol kinase α (DGKα), by phosphorylating diacylglycerol into phosphatidic acid, provides a key signal driving cell migration and matrix invasion. We previously demonstrated that in epithelial cells activation of DGKα activity promotes cytoskeletal remodeling and matrix invasion by recruiting atypical PKC at ruffling sites and by promoting RCP-mediated recycling of α5β1 integrin to the tip of pseudopods. In here we investigate the signaling pathway by which DGKα mediates SDF-1α-induced matrix invasion of MDA-MB-231 invasive breast carcinoma cells. Indeed we showed that, following SDF-1α stimulation, DGKα is activated and localized at cell protrusion, thus promoting their elongation and mediating SDF-1α induced MMP-9 metalloproteinase secretion and matrix invasion. Phosphatidic acid generated by DGKα promotes localization at cell protrusions of atypical PKCs which play an essential role downstream of DGKα by promoting Rac-mediated protrusion elongation and localized recruitment of β1 integrin and MMP-9. We finally demonstrate that activation of DGKα, atypical PKCs signaling and β1 integrin are all essential for MDA-MB-231 invasiveness. These data indicates the existence of a SDF-1α induced DGKα - atypical PKC - β1 integrin signaling pathway, which is essential for matrix invasion of carcinoma cells

Gut microbiota-derived propionate reduces cancer cell proliferation in the liver

Peer reviewedPublisher PD