First evidence of protein modulation by polystyrene microplastics in a freshwater biological model

Microplastics (MPs)are now one of the major environmental problems due to the large amount released in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as their diffuse sources and potential impacts on organisms and human health. Still the molecular and cellular targets of microplastics\u2019 toxicity have not yet been identified and their mechanism of actions in aquatic organisms are largely unknown. In order to partially fill this gap, we used a mass spectrometry based functional proteomics to evaluate the modulation of protein profiling in zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), one of the most useful freshwater biological model. Mussels were exposed for 6 days in static conditions to two different microplastic mixtures, composed by two types of virgin polystyrene microbeads (size = 1 and 10 \u3bcm)each one. The mixture at the lowest concentration contained 5 7 105 MP/L of 1 \u3bcm and 5 7 105 MP/L of 10 \u3bcm, while the higher one was arranged with 2 7 106 MP/L of 1 \u3bcm and 2 7 106 MP/L of 10 \u3bcm. Proteomics\u2019 analyses of gills showed the complete lack of proteins\u2019 modulation after the exposure to the low-concentrated mixture, while even 78 proteins were differentially modulated after the exposure to the high-concentrated one, suggesting the presence of an effect-threshold. The modulated proteins belong to 5 different classes mainly involved in the structure and function of ribosomes, energy metabolism, cellular trafficking, RNA-binding and cytoskeleton, all related to the response against the oxidative stress

Corporate food donations: altruism, strategy or cost saving?

Purpose This paper is aimed at enhancing our understanding of motives behind corporate giving and finding out whether and when operational efficiency plays a major role in the case of surplus food donations by food supply chain companies. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study methodology has been applied considering a sample of 16 food sector companies operating in Italy. Three cases have been analysed in depth to highlight the contextual factors that make cost savings possible and donations sizeable and regular. Findings The results show that the willingness of companies to reduce operational costs plays a relevant role in managerial decisions concerning the recovery and donation of unsold food, although to different degrees across the supply chain stages. Originality/value The paper shows that not only strategic and moral motives, but also economic efficiency concern plays an important role in the managerial decision making process pertaining to surplus food donations

Imatinib in combination with everolimus in patients with progressive advanced chordoma: results form an Italian phase 2 clinical trial

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STUDY OF "BLOWN PACK" SPOILAGE OF CHILLED VACUUM PACKED BEEF

Blown pack spoilage of vacuum packed chilled beef was characterised by chemical (GCMS) analysis, microscope evaluation and microbiological analysis. Large amounts of butyric acid were found; the alteration was probably caused by psychrotrophic clostridia

Analysis of new control applications

This document reports the results of the activities performed during the first year of the CRUTIAL project, within the Work Package 1 "Identification and description of Control System Scenarios". It represents the outcome of the analysis of new control applications in the Power System and the identification of critical control system scenarios to be explored by the CRUTIAL project

Diagnostic Value of the Acid-Labile Subunit in Acromegaly: Evaluation in Comparison with Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) I, and IGF-Binding Protein-1, -2, and -3

ABSTRACT In normal subjects the main form of circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is the 150-kDa complex. This complex is formed by the IGF peptide, the acid-stable IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and the acid-labile subunit (ALS). Experimental and clinical data have demonstrated that ALS is primarily under the control ofGHand plays a critical role in maintaining constant levels of circulating IGF-I. In this study we evaluated ALS, IGF-I, and IGFBP-1, -2, and -3 in 45 acromegalic patients in basal conditions and, in 37 of these, twice after surgical therapy compared with 100 age- and sex-matched control subjects to estimate their value as parameter of GH secretory state. The results demonstrated that in acromegaly before treatment all parameters (ALS, 523 6 26; IGF-I, 129 6 6; IGFBP-1, 0.7 6 0.1; IGFBP-3, 234 6 21; nmol/L; mean 6 SEM) but IGFBP-2 were significantly different (P , 0.0001) from those in healthy subjects (ALS, 281 6 4; IGF-I, 22 6 1; IGFBP-1, 1.6 6 0.1; IGFBP-3, 91 6 3). IGF-I was more sensitive (100%) than ALS (89%), and both were more predictive of disease status than IGFBP-3, in that 27% of the patients had IGFBP-3 levels within the normal range. Considering the ALS/ IGFBP-3 molar ratio, almost 55% of ALS circulated in a free form in active acromegaly. Before treatment, the IGF-I/IGFBPs (21122 1 23) molar ratio, which can be regarded as free, biologically active, IGF-I, was greatly increased (0.77 6 0.06; P , 0.0001) compared with that in control subjects (0.23 6 0.01). After surgery, all 10 patients with controlled disease showed normalization of ALS (100% sensitivity), whereas 9 of them had normal IGFBP-3; reevaluation after varying lengths of time showed all these parameters within the normal range. In the 27 patients with active disease, IGF-I and ALS were more predictive of disease status (91% and 83% negative predictive values, respectively) than IGFBP-3 (53%).The basal ALS concentration correlated only with IGFBP-3 (r 5 0.70; P , 0.001). In postsurgery samples (first control) a statistically significant (P , 0.001) correlation was found between mean GH values as well as minimum GH after oral glucose tolerance test and ALS (r 5 0.72 and 0.83, respectively), IGF-I (r 5 0.69 and 0.77), IGFBP-3 (r 5 0.50 and 0.72), and IGFBP-2 (r 5 20.36 and 20.63). Similarly, IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and ALS were positively correlated among themselves and negatively correlated with IGFBP-2 (P , 0.001). In conclusion, in the diagnosis of acromegaly, the measurement of total IGF-I appears to be the most sensitive parameter among the subunits of the 150K complex, and IGFBP-3 the least sensitive. For ALS, this subunit is quite sensitive and appears to be a useful parameter in reassessment after surgical treatment

Methodologies synthesis

This deliverable deals with the modelling and analysis of interdependencies between critical infrastructures, focussing attention on two interdependent infrastructures studied in the context of CRUTIAL: the electric power infrastructure and the information infrastructures supporting management, control and maintenance functionality. The main objectives are: 1) investigate the main challenges to be addressed for the analysis and modelling of interdependencies, 2) review the modelling methodologies and tools that can be used to address these challenges and support the evaluation of the impact of interdependencies on the dependability and resilience of the service delivered to the users, and 3) present the preliminary directions investigated so far by the CRUTIAL consortium for describing and modelling interdependencies

191pd_pr9 weeks versus 1 year adjuvant trastuzumab for her2 early breast cancer subgroup analysis of the shorther trial allows to identify patients for whom a shorter trastuzumab administration may have a favourable risk benefit ratio

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