Ceramide-induced BOK promotes mitochondrial fission in preeclampsia

Mitochondria are in a constant balance of fusing and dividing in response to cellular cues. Fusion creates healthy mitochondria, whereas fission results in removal of non-functional organelles. Changes in mitochondrial dynamics typify several human diseases. However, the contribution of mitochondrial dynamics to preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized by placental cell autophagy and death, remains unknown. Herein, we show that the mitochondrial dynamic balance in preeclamptic placentae is tilted toward fission (increased DRP1 expression/activation and decreased OPA1 expression). Increased phosphorylation of DRP1 (p-DRP1) in mitochondrial isolates from preeclamptic placentae and transmission electron microscopy corroborated augmented mitochondrial fragmentation in cytotrophoblast cells of PE placentae. Increased fission was accompanied by build-up of ceramides (CERs) in mitochondria from preeclamptic placentae relative to controls. Treatment of human choriocarcinoma JEG3 cells and primary isolated cytrophoblast cells with CER 16:0 enhanced mitochondrial fission. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments showed that Bcl-2 member BOK, whose expression is increased by CER, positively regulated p-DRP1/DRP1 and MFN2 expression, and localized mitochondrial fission events to the ER/MAM compartments. We also identified that the BH3 and transmembrane domains of BOK were vital for BOK regulation of fission. Moreover, we found that full-length PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin, were elevated in mitochondria from PE placentae, implicating mitophagy as the process that degrades excess mitochondria fragments produced from CER/BOK-induced fission in preeclampsia. In summary, our study uncovered a novel CER/BOK-induced regulation of mitochondrial fission and its functional consequence for heightened trophoblast cell autophagy in preeclampsia

Mechanical properties of epoxy/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composites

In this paper, two types of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were dispersed into two different epoxy resins b high - shear mixing. Dispersion and homogenisation of nanofillers was analysed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Microhardness of epoxy/MWCNTs nanocomposites, as well as of neat epoxy resins, is measure by Vickers method. The evolution of nanocomposites microhardness values were studied in function of curing time takin in account the influence of two different epoxy matrix and MWCNTs. Asymptotic values were analysed and compare with those of pure epoxy resin

Essential oil composition from hop cultivated at Southern Brazil.

Edition of Abstracts of the 48th International Symposium on Essential Oils, Pécs, Hungary, 2017. Abstracts. Babedio, 2017. ISEO 2017, 10 a 13 set. 2017. P-05

Effets de l'ozone sur la forêt et la végétation dans les Alpes franco-italiennes.

Depuis le début des années 80, dans le sud des Alpes (frontière franco-italienne), plusieurs essences ont présenté des endommagements de leur feuillage avec un déficit foliaire bien marqué. Des premières études ont montré que la pollution par l'ozone influait sur le mauvais état de santé général des peuplements concernés. A partir de 1999, il importait d'évaluer (programme européen Interreg II) l'impact spécifique de la pollution par l'ozone sur les dommages observés. Les premiers résultats ont révélé des concentrations en ozone élevées. Parallèlement, l'endommagement foliaire a été estimé sur des placettes forestières. Ont été recherchés également des symptômes spécifiques de l'ozone sur quelques essences arborées, mais aussi sur toute la végétation de proximité. Des essais de corrélation ont été réalisés entre les niveaux d'ozone et les dégâts foliaires observés et des analyses microscopiques ont permis de confirmer la spécificité des dégâts observés

Effect of the ingestion in the WRF model of different Sentinel-derived and GNSS-derived products: analysis of the forecasts of a high impact weather event

This paper presents the first experimental results of a study on the ingestion in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, of Sentinel satellites and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) derived products. The experiments concern a flash-floodevent occurred in Tuscany (Central Italy) in September 2017. The rationale is that numerical weather prediction (NWP) models are presently able to produce forecasts with a km scale  spatial resolution, but the poor knowledge of the initial state of the atmosphere may imply an inaccurate simulation of the weather phenomena. Hence, to fully exploit the advances in numerical weather modelling, it is necessary to feed them with high spatiotemporal resolution information over the surface boundary and the atmospheric column. In this context, the Copernicus Sentinel satellites represent an important source of data, because they can provide a set of high-resolution observations of physical variables (e.g. soil moisture, land/sea surface temperature, wind speed) used in NWP models runs. The possible availability of a spatially dense network of GNSS stations is also exploited to assimilate water vapour content. Results show that the assimilation of Sentinel-1 derived wind field and GNSS-derivedwater vapour data produce the most positive effects on the performance of the forecast

Modular plastic chip for one-shot human papillomavirus diagnostic analysis.

In this article, we report the design and development of a plastic modular chip suitable for one-shot human papillomavirus (HPV) diagnostics, namely detection of the viral presence and relative genotyping, by two sequential steps performed directly on the same device. The device is composed of two modular and disposable plastic units that can be assembled or used separately. The first module is represented by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microreactor that is exploited for real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and, thus, is suitable for detecting the presence of virus. The second unit is a PDMS microwell array that allows virus genotyping by a colorimetric assay, based on DNA hybridization technology developed on plastic, requiring simple inspection by the naked eye. The two modules can be easily coupled to reusable hardware, enabling the heating/cooling processes and the real-time detection of HPV. By coupling real-time assay and colorimetric genotyping on the same chip, the assembled device may provide a low-cost tool for HPV diagnostics, thereby favoring the prediction of cancer risk in patients

Convective Heat Transfer Enhancement for Electronic Device Applications using Patterned MWCNTs Structures

This article reports on the heat transfer characteristics of columnar Vertically Aligned Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (VA-MWCNTs) grown on a patterned Si surface. In the first part, we describe the procedure for patterning the silicon (Si) surface and the growth of MWCNTS on these patterned surfaces. The diameter of MWCNTs grown by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technique was in the range of 30-80 nm. In the second part structures mimicking macroscopic finned heat sinks are used for enhancing forced convective heat transfer on a silicon substrate. Convective heat transfer coefficient has been experimentally measured for silicon substrates with and without MWCNT-based fins on it. The configuration with MWCNTs based fins shows an enhancement in convective heat transfer of 40% and 20%, as maximum and average value respectively, compared to the bare silicon. Experiments have been carried out in a wind tunnel with air as coolant in fully turbulent regime. These encouraging results and the possibility of growing structures directly on silicon can be regarded as a first step

Methods for Caries Prevention in Children Reported by Dentists from a Brazilian Community

Objective: To describe the dental practice patterns related to caries prevention in children aged 6-18 years and associated factors. Material and Methods: Dentists (n=162) from Araraquara, Brazil, completed two paper questionnaires: (1) one about characteristics of their practice and their patient population; and (2) a translated version of the “Assessment of Caries Diagnosis and Caries Treatment” Questionnaire from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. Regression analyses were used for data analysis (p<0.05). Results: Dentists reported using in-office fluoride (IOF) and dental sealants (DS) in 74.2% and 45.1% of their pediatric patients, respectively. Regression analysis showed that female dentists (p=0.035 for DS; p=0.044 for IOF; p=0.011 for non-prescription fluoride rinse), those with advanced degrees (p=0.032 for prescription of fluoride), those who graduated from a private dental school (p=0.018 for chlorhexidine rinse), those who provided caries prevention regimens (p<0.001 for DS; p=0.004 for IOF; p=0.013 for non-prescription fluoride rinse), those with a greater percentage of patients interested in a caries prevention regimen (p=0.007 for non-prescription fluoride rinse), those working in a private practice model (p=0.047 for prescription of fluoride) were more likely to recommend some type of preventive methods to their pediatric patients. Conclusion: Dentists reported recommending IOF to most of their pediatric patients. Certain dentists’, practices’, and patients’ characteristics were associated to some caries prevention regimens recommended by dentists

A Synergistic Use of a High-Resolution Numerical Weather Prediction Model and High-Resolution Earth Observation Products to Improve Precipitation Forecast

open20siThe Mediterranean region is frequently struck by severe rainfall events causing numerous casualties and several million euros of damages every year. Thus, improving the forecast accuracy is a fundamental goal to limit social and economic damages. Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models are currently able to produce forecasts at the km scale grid spacing but unreliable surface information and a poor knowledge of the initial state of the atmosphere may produce inaccurate simulations of weather phenomena. The STEAM (SaTellite Earth observation for Atmospheric Modelling) project aims to investigate whether Sentinel satellites constellation weather observation data, in combination with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations, can be used to better understand and predict with a higher spatio-temporal resolution the atmospheric phenomena resulting in severe weather events. Two heavy rainfall events that occurred in Italy in the autumn of 2017 are studied—a localized and short-lived event and a long-lived one. By assimilating a wide range of Sentinel and GNSS observations in a state-of-the-art NWP model, it is found that the forecasts benefit the most when the model is provided with information on the wind field and/or the water vapor content.openLagasio, Martina; Parodi, Antonio; Pulvirenti, Luca; Meroni, Agostino N.; Boni, Giorgio; Pierdicca, Nazzareno; Marzano, Frank S.; Luini, Lorenzo; Venuti, Giovanna; Realini, Eugenio; Gatti, Andrea; Tagliaferro, Giulio; Barindelli, Stefano; Monti Guarnieri, Andrea; Goga, Klodiana; Terzo, Olivier; Rucci, Alessio; Passera, Emanuele; Kranzlmueller, Dieter; Rommen, BjornLagasio, Martina; Parodi, Antonio; Pulvirenti, Luca; Meroni, Agostino N.; Boni, Giorgio; Pierdicca, Nazzareno; Marzano, Frank S.; Luini, Lorenzo; Venuti, Giovanna; Realini, Eugenio; Gatti, Andrea; Tagliaferro, Giulio; Barindelli, Stefano; Monti Guarnieri, Andrea; Goga, Klodiana; Terzo, Olivier; Rucci, Alessio; Passera, Emanuele; Kranzlmueller, Dieter; Rommen, Bjor