A Census of the Extended Neutral Hydrogen around 18 MHONGOOSE Galaxies

We present the analysis of the diffuse, low column density H I environment of 18 MHONGOOSE galaxies. We obtained deep observations with the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope and reached down to a 3σ column density detection limit of NHI = 6.3 × 1017 cm-2 over a 20 km s-1 line width. We analyze the environment around these galaxies, with a focus on H I gas that reaches column densities below NHI = 1019 cm-2. We calculate the total amount of H I gas in and around the galaxies, revealing that nearly all of these galaxies contained excess H I outside of their disks. We quantify the amount of diffuse gas in the maps of each galaxy, defined by H I gas with column densities below 1019 cm-2, and find a large spread in percentages of diffuse gas. However, by binning the percentage of diffuse H I into quarters, we find that the bin with the largest number of galaxies is the lowest quartile (0%-25% diffuse H I). We identified several galaxies that may be undergoing gas accretion onto the galaxy disk using multiple methods of analysis, including azimuthally averaging column densities beyond the disk, and identifying structure within our integrated intensity (moment 0) maps. We measured H I mass outside the disks of most of our galaxies, with rising cumulative flux even at large radii. We also find a strong correlation between the fraction of diffuse gas in a galaxy and its baryonic mass, and we test this correlation using both Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients. We see evidence of a dark matter halo mass threshold of Mhalo ∼ 1011.1 M⊙ in which galaxies with high fractions of diffuse H I all reside below. It is in this regime that cold-mode accretion should dominate. Finally, we suggest a rotation velocity of vrot ∼ 80 km s-1 as an upper threshold to find diffuse-gas-dominated galaxies

Mitochondria-mediated apoptosis of hcc cells triggered by knockdown of glutamate dehydrogenase 1: Perspective for its inhibition through quercetin and permethylated anigopreissin a

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer cells required to ensure high energy needs and the maintenance of redox balance. A relevant metabolic change of cancer cell bioenergetics is the increase in glutamine metabolism. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most lethal cancer and which requires the continuous development of new therapeutic strategies, shows an up-regulation of human glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (hGDH1). GDH1 function may be relevant in cancer cells (or HCC) to drive the glutamine catabolism from L-glutamate towards the synthesis of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG), thus supplying key tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) metabolites. Here, the effects of hGLUD1 gene silencing (siGLUD1) and GDH1 inhibition were evaluated. Our results demonstrate that siGLUD1 in HepG2 cells induces a significant reduction in cell proliferation (58.8% ± 10.63%), a decrease in BCL2 expression levels, mitochondrial mass (75% ± 5.89%), mitochondrial membrane potential (30% ± 7.06%), and a significant increase in mitochondrial superoxide anion (25% ± 6.55%) compared to control/untreated cells. The inhibition strategy leads us to identify two possible inhibitors of hGDH1: quercetin and Permethylated Anigopreissin A (PAA). These findings suggest that hGDH1 could be a potential candidate target to impair the metabolic reprogramming of HCC cells

X-ray Properties of NGC 253's Starburst-Driven Outflow

We analyze image and spectral data from $\approx$365~ks of observations from the {\it Chandra} X-ray Observatory of the nearby, edge-on starburst galaxy NGC~253 to constrain properties of the hot phase of the outflow. We focus our analysis on the $-$1.1 to $+$0.63 kpc region of the outflow and define several regions for spectral extraction where we determine best-fit temperatures and metal abundances. We find that the temperatures and electron densities peak in the central $\sim$250 pc region of the outflow and decrease with distance. These temperature and density profiles are in disagreement with an adiabatic spherically expanding starburst wind model and suggest the presence of additional physics such as mass loading and non-spherical outflow geometry. Our derived temperatures and densities yield few-Myr cooling times in the nuclear region, which may imply that the hot gas can undergo bulk radiative cooling as it escapes along the minor axis. Our metal abundances of O, Ne, Mg, Si, S, and Fe all peak in the central region and decrease with distance along the outflow, with the exception of Ne which maintains a flat distribution. The metal abundances indicate significant dilution outside of the starburst region. We also find estimates on the mass outflow rates which are $2.8\:M_{\odot}/\rm{yr}$ in the northern outflow and $3.2\:M_{\odot}/\rm{yr}$ in the southern outflow. Additionally, we detect emission from charge exchange and find it has a significant contribution ($20-42$\%) to the total broad-band ($0.5-7$~keV) X-ray emission in the central and southern regions of the outflow.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Preliminary trajectories in dietary behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A public health call to action to face obesity

The world is currently struggling to face the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), and many countries have imposed lockdowns and recommended quarantine to limit both the spread of the virus and overwhelming demands for medical care. Direct implications include the disruption of work routines, boredom, depression, increased calorie consumption, and other similar harmful effects. The present narrative review article briefly analyzes the preliminary effects of the quarantine lifestyle from the standpoint of dietary habits. In six different databases, we searched for original articles up to 10 August 2020, assessing eating habits among populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recorded any change in the intake of major food categories, as well as changes in body weight. The research strategy yielded 364 articles, from which we selected 12 articles that fitted our goal. Our preliminary findings revealed a sharp rise of carbohydrates sources consumption, especially those with a high glycemic index (i.e., homemade pizza, bread, cake, and pastries), as well as more frequent snacks. A high consumption of fruits and vegetables, and protein sources, particularly pulses, was also recorded, although there was no clear peak of increase in the latter. Data concerning the consumption of junk foods lacked consistency, while there was a decreased alcohol intake and fresh fish/seafood consumption. As a possible connection, people gained body weight. Therefore, in the realistic perspective of a continuing global health emergency situation, timely preventive measures are needed to counteract obesity-related behaviors in the long-term, so as to prevent further health complications

Osteoblasts Display Different Responsiveness to TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis During Their Differentiation Process

Apoptosis can occur throughout the life span of osteoblasts (OBs), beginning from the early stages of differentiation and continuing throughout all stages of their working life. Here, we investigated the effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) on normal human OBs showing for the first time that the expression of TRAIL receptors is modulated during OB differentiation. In particular, the TRAIL receptor ratio was in favor of the deaths because of the low expression of DcR2 in undifferentiated OBs, differently it was shifted toward the decoys in differentiated ones. Undifferentiated OBs treated with TRAIL showed reduced cell viability, whereas differentiated OBs displayed TRAIL resistance. The OB sensitiveness to TRAIL was due to the up-regulation of DR5 and the down-regulation of DcR2. The main death receptor involved in TRAIL-reduced OB viability was DR5 as demonstrated by the rescue of cell viability observed in the presence of anti-DR5 neutralizing antibody. Besides the ratio of TRAIL receptors, the sensitivity of undifferentiated OBs to TRAIL-cytotoxic effect was also associated with low mRNA levels of intracellular anti-apoptotic proteins, such as cFLIP, the activation of caspase-8 and -3, as well as the DNA fragmentation. This study suggests that apoptotic effect exerted by TRAIL/TRAIL-receptor system on normal human OB is strictly dependent upon cell differentiation status

Higher Muscle Mass Implies Increased Free-Thyroxine to Free-Triiodothyronine Ratio in Subjects With Overweight and Obesity

Thyroid hormones control both metabolic pathways and body composition, whereas little knowledge is available about the possible influence of skeletal muscle mass (MM) on thyroid hormone metabolism and circulating levels. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Population Health Unit of the National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “S. de Bellis” (Italy) and investigating the extent to which skeletal MM affects thyroid function in obesity. Two hundred twenty-seven consecutive healthy volunteers (155 women and 72 men) with overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and taking no medication or supplement were assessed for hormone, metabolic and routine laboratory parameters. Body composition parameters were collected by using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). MM was directly related to the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), insulin, triglycerides, uric acid and free-triiodothyronine (FT3) serum levels, FT3 to the free-thyroxine (FT4) ratio, and insulin-resistance (HOMA-IR), and inversely related to age, total, and HDL-cholesterol serum levels. Multiple regression models confirmed the relationship between MM and the FT3 to FT4 ratio, independently of age, BMI, TSH, triglycerides, and insulin serum levels. The same analyses run by gender showed that this relationship maintained significance only in men. Increased skeletal MM in obesity results in improved thyroid activity mediated by increased T4 conversion to T3, and higher FT3 circulating levels, particularly in men. In conclusion, preserving a greater skeletal MM in obesity helps to enhance thyroid activity. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04327375

First magnetic measurements of fast-ramping dipole DHPTB102 of BTF upgraded beam-lines

In the framework of the BTF upgrade, aimed at realizing two beam-lines serving two distinct experimental areas, the splitting of the beam coming from the Linac is realized by a dipole, labelled DPTB102, with a bending angle of 15° and a fast ramping (<100 ms) in order to optimize the duty-cycle. This note reports on the first dimensional checks and magnetic measurements, performed in DC, intended for verifying the basic parameters of the magnet, like the excitation curve, the maximum field, and field quality

Traditional old dietary pattern of castellana grotte (Apulia) is associated with healthy outcomes

Background: There is still room for further studies aimed at investigating the most widespread diets in the Mediterranean area. The objective of the study is to analyze the relation of food group intake to clinical chemical indicators of health, and also to compare the food group intake with healthy well-known diet indices. Methods: Lifestyle, dietary, and clinical data collected in 2005/2006 and 2012/2018 from Castellana Grotte, located in the rural area of Apulia, were analyzed. The study populations included newly recruited subjects at each time period (n = 1870) as well as subjects examined twice and compared over time regarding health indicators (n = 734). Diet was assessed through a validated food frequency questionnaire. Three healthy diet indices were calculated and related to 29 food groups. We also performed prospective regression of food group consumption with health indicators. Results: The diet over the time period of observation was very stable and consisted of a high proportion of vegetables, fruit and grains. No major changes in body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure were observed. Consumption of low-fat dairy, juices, olive oil, and water were related to reductions in weight gain, systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and cholesterol (total and HDL) levels, in that order. Over the time periods we observed only a slight decrease of adherence to the Meddietscore. The correlations of the healthy diet indices with food groups revealed some differences among the indices, mostly regarding the intake of fruit and vegetables. Conclusions: The dietary pattern of Apulia is in line with many principles of a healthy diet and the cohort population seems to be less liable to undergo a transition to a westernized diet