1,221 research outputs found
Variable exponent Sobolev spaces associated with Jacobi expansions
In this paper we define variable exponent Sobolev spaces associated with
Jacobi expansions. We prove that our generalized Sobolev spaces can be
characterized as variable exponent potential spaces and as variable exponent
Triebel-Lizorkin type spaces.Comment: 30 pages, small typos corrected in the introductio
The n-acetyl phenylalanine glucosamine derivative attenuates the inflammatory/catabolic environment in a chondrocyte-synoviocyte co-culture system
Osteoarthritis (OA), the most prevalent degenerative joint disease, still lacks a true disease-modifying therapy. The involvement of the NF-κB pathway and its upstream activating kinases in OA pathogenesis has been recognized for many years. The ability of the N-acetyl phenylalanine glucosamine derivative (NAPA) to increase anabolism and reduce catabolism via inhibition of IKKα kinase has been previously observed in vitro and in vivo. The present study aims to confirm the chondroprotective effects of NAPA in an in vitro model of joint OA established with primary cells, respecting both the crosstalk between chondrocytes and synoviocytes and their phenotypes. This model satisfactorily reproduces some features of the previously investigated DMM model, such as the prominent induction of ADAMTS-5 upon inflammatory stimulation. Both gene and protein expression analysis indicated the ability of NAPA to counteract key cartilage catabolic enzymes (ADAMTS-5) and effectors (MCP-1). Molecular analysis showed the ability of NAPA to reduce IKKα nuclear translocation and H3Ser10 phosphorylation, thus inhibiting IKKα transactivation of NF-κB signalling, a pivotal step in the NF-κB-dependent gene expression of some of its targets. In conclusion, our data confirm that NAPA could truly act as a disease-modifying drug in OA
Nanostructured tic layer is highly suitable surface for adhesion, proliferation and spreading of cells
Cell culture is usually performed in 2D polymer surfaces; however, several studies are conducted with the aim to screen functional coating molecules to find substrates more suitable for cell adhesion and proliferation. The aim of this manuscript is to compare the cell adhesion and cytoskeleton organization of different cell types on different surfaces. Human primary fibroblasts, chondrocytes and osteoblasts isolated from patients undergoing surgery were seeded on polystyrene, poly-d-lysine-coated glass and titanium carbide slides and left to grow for several days. Then their cytoskeleton was analyzed, both by staining cells with phalloidin, which highlights actin fibers, and using Atomic Force Microscopy. We also monitored the production of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2, Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 and Osteocalcin, using ELISA, and we highlighted production of Collagen type I in fibroblasts and osteoblasts and Collagen type II in chondrocytes by immunofluorescences. Fibroblasts, chondrocytes and osteoblasts showed both an improved proliferative activity and a good adhesion ability when cultured on titanium carbide slides, compared to polystyrene and poly-d-lysine-coated glass. In conclusion, we propose titanium carbide as a suitable surface to cultivate cells such as fibroblasts, chondrocytes and osteoblasts, allowing the preservation of their differentiated state and good adhesion properties
Recommended from our members
Peto's paradox and human cancers
Peto's paradox is the lack of the expected trend in cancer incidence as a function of body size and lifespan across species. The leading hypothesis to explain this pattern is natural selection for differential cancer prevention in larger, longer lived species. We evaluate whether a similar effect exists within species, specifically humans. We begin by reanalysing a recently published dataset to separate the effects of stem cell number and replication rate, and show that each has an independent effect on cancer risk. When considering the lifetime number of stem cell divisions in an extended dataset, and removing cases associated with other diseases or carcinogens, we find that lifetime cancer risk per tissue saturates at approximately 0.3-1.3% for the types considered. We further demonstrate that grouping by anatomical site explains most of the remaining variation. Our results indicate that cancer risk depends not only on the number of stem cell divisions but varies enormously (approx. 10 000 times) depending on anatomical site. We conclude that variation in risk of human cancer types is analogous to the paradoxical lack of variation in cancer incidence among animal species and may likewise be understood as a result of evolution by natural selection
Pain-related increase in serotonin transporter gene methylation associates with emotional regulation in 4.5-year-old preterm-born children.
The main goal of this study was to assess the association between pain-related increase in serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) methylation and emotional dysregulation in 4.5-year-old preterm children compared with full-term matched counterparts. METHODS: Preterm (n = 29) and full-term (n = 26) children recruited from two Italian hospitals were followed-up from October 2011 to December 2017. SLC6A4 methylation was assessed from cord blood at birth from both groups and peripheral blood at discharge for preterm ones. At 4.5 years, emotional regulation (ie, anger, fear and sadness) was assessed through an observational standardised procedure. RESULTS: Preterm children (18 females; mean age = 4.5, range = 4.3-4.8) showed greater anger display compared with full-term controls (14 females; mean age = 4.5, range = 4.4-4.9) in response to emotional stress. Controlling for adverse life events occurrence from discharge to 4.5 years and SLC6A4 methylation at birth, CpG-specific SLC6A4 methylation in the neonatal period was predictive of greater anger display in preterm children but not in full-term ones. CONCLUSION: These findings contribute to highlight how epigenetic regulation of serotonin transporter gene in response to NICU pain exposure contributes to long-lasting programming of anger regulation in preterm children
The new ionospheric station of Tucumán: first results
An Advanced Ionospheric Sounder, built at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome, Italy, was
installed at Tucumán, Argentina, particularly interesting for its location, near the southern peak of the ionospheric
equatorial anomaly. The aim of this installation is to collect a large number of continuous data useful both to
study the dynamics of the equatorial ionospheric plasma and to develop reliable regional ionospheric prediction
models. Moreover this ionosonde will contribute to the ionospheric database and real time knowledge of Southern
Hemisphere ionospheric conditions for space weather applications. The ionosonde is completely programmable
and two PCs support the data acquisition, control, storage and on-line processing. In this work the first
results, in terms of ionograms and autoscaled characteristics, are presented and briefly discussed
Extreme value and cluster analysis of European daily temperature series
Time series of daily mean temperature obtained from the European Climate Assessment data set is analyzed
with respect to their extremal properties. A time-series clustering approach which combines Bayesian
methodology, extreme value theory and classification techniques is adopted for the analysis of the regional
variability of temperature extremes. The daily mean temperature records are clustered on the basis of their
corresponding predictive distributions for 25-, 50- and 100-year return values. The results of the cluster
analysis showa clear distinction between the highest altitude stations, for which the return values are lowest,
and the remaining stations. Furthermore, a clear distinction is also found between the northernmost stations
in Scandinavia and the stations in central and southern Europe. This spatial structure of the return period
distributions for 25-, 50- and 100-years seems to be consistent with projected changes in the variability
of temperature extremes over Europe pointing to a different behavior in central Europe than in northern
Europe and the Mediterranean area, possibly related to the effect of soil moisture and land-atmosphere
coupling.‘Acções Integradas Luso-Espanholas’ under the grants E-83/09 and HP2008- 008
Quantum properties of transverse pattern formation in second-harmonic generation
We investigate the spatial quantum noise properties of the one dimensional
transverse pattern formation instability in intra-cavity second-harmonic
generation. The Q representation of a quasi-probability distribution is
implemented in terms of nonlinear stochastic Langevin equations. We study these
equations through extensive numerical simulations and analytically in the
linearized limit. Our study, made below and above the threshold of pattern
formation, is guided by a microscopic scheme of photon interaction underlying
pattern formation in second-harmonic generation. Close to the threshold for
pattern formation, beams with opposite direction of the off-axis critical wave
numbers are shown to be highly correlated. This is observed for the fundamental
field, for the second harmonic field and also for the cross-correlation between
the two fields. Nonlinear correlations involving the homogeneous transverse
wave number, which are not identified in a linearized analysis, are also
described. The intensity differences between opposite points of the far fields
are shown to exhibit sub-Poissonian statistics, revealing the quantum nature of
the correlations. We observe twin beam correlations in both the fundamental and
second-harmonic fields, and also nonclassical correlations between them.Comment: 18 pages, 17 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
- …