An advanced OBP-based payload operating in an asynchronous network for future data relay satellites utilising CCSDS-standard data structures

A possible Data Relay Satellite System (DRSS) topology and network architecture is introduced. An asynchronous network concept, whereby each link (Inter-orbit, Inter-satellite, Feeder) is allowed to operate on its own clock, without causing loss of information, in conjunction with packet data structures, such as those specified by the CCSDS for advanced orbiting systems is discussed. A matching OBP payload architecture is described, highlighting the advantages provided by the OBP-based concept and then giving some indications on the OBP mass/power requirements

Hypoxia and inflammation as a consequence of β-fibril accumulation. A perspective view for new potential therapeutic targets

Amyloidoses are heterogeneous diseases that result from the deposition of toxic insoluble β-sheet fibrillar protein aggregates in different tissues. The cascade of molecular events leading to amyloidoses and to the related clinical manifestations is not completely understood. Nevertheless, it is known that tissue damage associated to this disease involves alteration of tissue architecture, interaction with cell surface receptors, inflammation elicited by the amyloid protein deposition, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. However, another important aspect to consider is that systemic protein massive deposition not only subverts tissue architecture but also determines a progressive cellular hypertrophy and dilation of the extracellular space enlarging the volume of the organ. Such an alteration increases the distance between cells and vessels with a drop in pO2 that, in turn, causes both necrotic cell death and activation of the hypoxia transcription factor HIF-1α. Herewith, we propose the hypothesis that both cell death and hypoxia represent two important events for the pathogenesis of damage and progression of amyloidoses. In fact, molecules released by necrotic cells activate inflammatory cells from one side while binding to HIF-1α-dependent membrane receptors expressed on hypoxic parenchymal cells on the other side. This latter event generates a signaling cascade triggering NFκB activation and chronic inflammation. Finally, we also suggest that this scenario, once proved and detailed, might suggest important targets for new therapeutic interventions

Nahoum index in brachyfacial patients: a pilot study

Objective: Our aim is to test the Nahoum Index as a support in the cephalometric study of vertical dimension and therapeutic orientation in adult patients suffering from Class II malocclusion, deep bite, or short face syndrome. Methods: Twenty-three patients with molar Class II and an overbite >4 mm were stratified into two groups: orthodontic (G2) and surgical orthodontic (G1). The ANB angle and Nahoum Index were calculated for cephalometric tracing pre- and post-treatment. The difference between the ANB and Nahoum Index values were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Results: In G1, the Nahoum Index decreased from 0.954 to 0.797, and the ANB angle decreased from 5.2° to 3.2°. In G2, the Nahoum Index decreased from 0.825 to 0.817, and the ANB angle decreased from 4.4° to 4°. Conclusion: In G1, the difference between before and after treatment was significant for the Nahoum Index only. The difference between before and after values was not significant in the G2 group. It is possible to indicate the Nahoum Index of 0.934 as the limit value in case of which a patient may be treated with orthodontics only. This limit is the opposite of the limit proposed by Nahoum for vertical excess cases and respect the same interval. Therefore, we can consider the range 0.81-0.934 to indicate borderline patients, and >0.934 to indicate surgical patients. If the ratio is close to the normal value as 0.81, the treatment will be orthodontic; if it is further increased, the treatment will be surgical

Regulação emocional e memória de trabalho no desempenho acadêmico

The objective of this work was to analyze the relationship between emotional regulation strategies, cognitive reappraisal applied to home school tasks (CR-HST) and emotional management applied to home school tasks (EM-HST) on academic performance (AP) controlling working memory difficulties (WM-diff) in children who finished Primary Education. A self-report questionnaire to assess CR-HST and EM-HST was administered to 119 fourth, fifth and sixth grade children (9 to 11 years old) and two questionnaires to their teachers to assess their AP and WM difficulties. The results showed that EM-HST was associated with the success, academic productivity, mathematics and reading dimensions of AP, even when WM-diff was controlled. There were no significant associations between CR-HST and AP, or any of the strategies on impulse control in academic situations. The results are expected to deepen the understanding of the role of emotional regulation in AP and thus contribute to the content of programs for promoting emotional regulation designed for school contexts.El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la relación de las estrategias de regulación emocional reevaluación cognitiva aplicada a tareas escolares para el hogar (RC-TEH) y manejo emocional aplicado a tareas escolares para el hogar (ME-TEH) sobre el desempeño académico (DA) controlando dificultades de memoria de trabajo (dif-MT) en niños que finalizaban la Educación Primaria. Se administró un cuestionario de autoinforme para evaluar la RC-TEH y el ME-TEH a 119 de niños de cuarto, quinto y sexto grado (9 a 11 años de edad) y dos cuestionarios a sus maestros para evaluar su DA y dificultades de MT. Los resultados mostraron que el ME-TEH se asoció con las dimensiones éxito, productividad académica, matemáticas y lectura del DA, incluso cuando se controlaron dif-MT. No se observaron asociaciones significativas de la RC-TEH con el DA, ni de ninguna de las estrategias sobre el control del impulso en situaciones académicas. Se espera que los resultados profundicen en el conocimiento del rol de la regulación emocional en el DA y contribuyan así al contenido de programas de promoción de la regulación emocional diseñados para contextos escolares.O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a relação entre as estratégias de regulação emocional de reavaliação cognitiva aplicada ao dever de casa (RC-DDC) e a gestão emocional aplicada ao dever de casa (GE-DDE) sobre o desempenho acadêmico (DA) controlando as dificuldades de memória de trabalho (dif-MT) em crianças que terminam o Ensino Fundamental. Foi administrado um questionário de auto-relato para avaliar RC-DDC e GE-DDE a 119 crianças de quarto, quinto e sexto grau (9-11 anos), e dois questionários foram administrados a seus professores para avaliar suas dificuldades de DA e MT. Os resultados mostraram que a RC-DDC estava associada ao sucesso, produtividade acadêmica, matemática e leitura da DA, mesmo quando se controla a dif-MT. Não foram observadas associações significativas para RC-DDC com DA, nem para nenhuma das estratégias de controle de impulsos em situações acadêmicas. Espera-se que os resultados aprofundem a compreensão do papel da regulação emocional na DA e assim contribuam para o conteúdo de programas que promovam a regulação emocional projetada para ambientes escolares

Applicability of different onboard routing and processing techniques to mobile satellite systems

The paper summarizes a study contract recently undertaken for ESA. The study compared the effectiveness of several processing architectures applied to multiple beam, geostationary global and European regional missions. The paper discusses architectures based on transparent SS-FDMA analog, transparent DSP and regenerative processing. Quantitative comparisons are presented and general conclusions are given with respect to suitability of the architectures to different mission requirements

SIRT1-NOX4 Signaling Axis Regulates Cancer Cachexia

Approximately one third of cancer patients die due to complexities related to cachexia. However, the mechanisms of cachexia and the potential therapeutic interventions remain poorly studied. We observed a significant positive correlation between SIRT1 expression and muscle fiber cross-sectional area in pancreatic cancer patients. Rescuing Sirt1 expression by exogenous expression or pharmacological agents reverted cancer cell-induced myotube wasting in culture conditions and mouse models. RNA-seq and follow-up analyses showed cancer cell-mediated SIRT1 loss induced NF-κB signaling in cachectic muscles that enhanced the expression of FOXO transcription factors and NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4), a key regulator of reactive oxygen species production. Additionally, we observed a negative correlation between NOX4 expression and skeletal muscle fiber cross-sectional area in pancreatic cancer patients. Knocking out Nox4 in skeletal muscles or pharmacological blockade of Nox4 activity abrogated tumor-induced cachexia in mice. Thus, we conclude that targeting the Sirt1-Nox4 axis in muscles is an effective therapeutic intervention for mitigating pancreatic cancer-induced cachexia

Sirtuins' control of autophagy and mitophagy in cancer

Mammalian cells use a specialized and complex machinery for the removal of altered proteins or dysfunctional organelles. Such machinery is part of a mechanism called autophagy. Moreover, when autophagy is specifically employed for the removal of dysfunctional mitochondria, it is called mitophagy. Autophagy and mitophagy have important physiological implications and roles associated with cellular differentiation, resistance to stresses such as starvation, metabolic control and adaptation to the changing microenvironment. Unfortunately, transformed cancer cells often exploit autophagy and mitophagy for sustaining their metabolic reprogramming and growth to a point that autophagy and mitophagy are recognized as promising targets for ongoing and future antitumoral therapies. Sirtuins are NAD+ dependent deacylases with a fundamental role in sensing and modulating cellular response to external stresses such as nutrients availability and therefore involved in aging, oxidative stress control, inflammation, differentiation and cancer. It is clear, therefore, that autophagy, mitophagy and sirtuins share many common aspects to a point that, recently, sirtuins have been linked to the control of autophagy and mitophagy. In the context of cancer, such a control is obtained by modulating transcription of autophagy and mitophagy genes, by post translational modification of proteins belonging to the autophagy and mitophagy machinery, by controlling ROS production or major metabolic pathways such as Krebs cycle or glutamine metabolism. The present review details current knowledge on the role of sirtuins, autophagy and mitophagy in cancer to then proceed to discuss how sirtuins can control autophagy and mitophagy in cancer cells. Finally, we discuss sirtuins role in the context of tumor progression and metastasis indicating glutamine metabolism as an example of how a concerted activation and/or inhibition of sirtuins in cancer cells can control autophagy and mitophagy by impinging on the metabolism of this fundamental amino acid