1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol inhibits the cochemotactic activity of Gc (vitamin D binding protein)

The identification of Gc (vitamin D binding protein) with the anionic polypeptide cochemotaxin has recently been reported. In this paper we investigate its dose dependent cochemotactic activity and report the inhibition of Gc enhanced chemotaxis by vitamin D3. These results further support the role of immunomodulating hormone played by vitamin D

Effects of local geology on ground motion in the city of Palermo, Italy, as inferred from aftershocks of the September 6th, 2002, Mw 5.9 earthquake

On 6 September 2002 a Mw 5.9 earthquake occurred in the southern Tyrrhenian sea, 40 km off the coast of Palermo (Italy). In the days after the mainshock, eight temporary stations were installed in the city to record aftershocks on different geological formations. Seismograms of about 30 earthquakes with magnitude ≥2.8 are analyzed. The data analysis confirms the role of near-surface geology in causing locally significant variations of the ground-shaking level as already inferred by Guidoboni et al. (2003) from historical damage scenario studies. The largest spectral variations estimated through aftershock recordings result in a factor of 10 difference between stiff and soft sites, in frequency bands varying from 1 to 3.5 Hz. The geological structure of the study area is reconstructed by using data from more than 2000 boreholes organized in a Geographic Information System specifically dedicated to the assessment of natural hazards in urban areas. Vertically varying velocity models are used for a comparison with the observed data. In general, 1D transfer functions fit the largest amplification frequency but underestimate amplitudes of observations probably because of 2D and 3D complexity. Because the seismic stations were not installed in free field but at ground or underground level inside buildings, a possible influence of the structure was also investigated. Simultaneous ambient noise measurements were performed on the top, at the base, and outside the buildings where stations were installed. For all but one site, this analysis shows that the estimated ground-motion amplifications do not reflect the building vibration modes and therefore, in these cases, soil–structure interaction does not bias the free-field response of the study sites. Finally, speculations on the effect of the local geology in terms of response spectra of the Mw 5.9 mainshock are discussed in the framework of the Eurocode 8 prescriptions

Automated long-term dynamic monitoring using hierarchical clustering and adaptive modal tracking: validation and applications

Historical buildings demand constant surveying because anthropogenic (e.g., use, pollution or traffic vibration) and natural or environmental hazards (e.g., environmental changes or earthquakes) can endanger their existence and safety. Particularly, in the Andean region of South America, earthen historical constructions require special attention and investigation due to the high seismic hazard of the area next to the Pacific coast. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) can provide useful, real-time information on the condition of these buildings. In SHM, the implementation of automatic tools for feature extraction of modal parameters is a crucial step. This paper proposes a methodology for the automatic identification of the structural modal parameters. An innovative and multi-stage approach for the automatic dynamic monitoring is presented. This approach uses the Data-Driven Stochastic Subspace Identification method complemented by hierarchical clustering for automatic detection of the modal parameters, as well as an adaptive modal tracking procedure for providing a clear visualization of long-term monitoring results. The proposed methodology is first validated in data acquired in an emblematic sixteenth century historical building: the monastery of Jeronimos in Portugal. After proving its efficiency, the algorithm is used to process almost 5000 events containing data acquired in the church of Andahuaylillas, a sixteenth century adobe building located in Cusco, Peru. The results in these cases demonstrate that accurate estimation of predominant modal parameters is possible in those complex structures even if relatively few sensors are installed.The present work was developed thanks to the funding provided by the program Cienciactiva from CONCYTEC in the framework of the Contract no. 222-2015. Complementary funding was also received from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru PUCP and its funding office DGI-PUCP (project 349-2016). The first author gratefully acknowledges ELARCH program for the scholarship in support of his PhD studies (Project Reference number: 552129-EM-1-2014-1-IT-ERA MUNDUS-394 EMA21)

Differential Effects of Dopamine Receptor D1-Type and D2-Type Antagonists and Phase of the Estrous Cycle on Social Learning of Food Preferences, Feeding, and Social Interactions in Mice

The neurobiological bases of social learning, by which an animal can ‘exploit the expertise of others' and avoid the disadvantages of individual learning, are only partially understood. We examined the involvement of the dopaminergic system in social learning by administering a dopamine D1-type receptor antagonist, SCH23390 (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/kg), or a D2-type receptor antagonist, raclopride (0.1, 0.3, and 0.6 mg/kg), to adult female mice prior to socially learning a food preference. We found that while SCH23390 dose-dependently inhibited social learning without affecting feeding behavior or the ability of mice to discriminate between differently flavored diets, raclopride had the opposite effects, inhibiting feeding but leaving social learning unaffected. We showed that food odor, alone or in a social context, was insufficient to induce a food preference, proving the specifically social nature of this paradigm. The estrous cycle also affected social learning, with mice in proestrus expressing the socially acquired food preference longer than estrous and diestrous mice. This suggests gonadal hormone involvement, which is consistent with known estrogenic regulation of female social behavior and estrogen receptor involvement in social learning. Furthermore, a detailed ethological analysis of the social interactions during which social learning occurs showed raclopride- and estrous phase-induced changes in agonistic behavior, which were not directly related to effects on social learning. Overall, these results suggest a differential involvement of the D1-type and D2-type receptors in the regulation of social learning, feeding, and agonistic behaviors that are likely mediated by different underlying states