Spatial and Temporal Dust Source Variability in Northern China Identified Using Advanced Remote Sensing Analysis

The aim of this research is to provide a detailed characterization of spatial patterns and temporal trends in the regional and local dust source areas within the desert of the Alashan Prefecture (Inner Mongolia, China). This problem was approached through multi-scale remote sensing analysis of vegetation changes. The primary requirements for this regional analysis are high spatial and spectral resolution data, accurate spectral calibration and good temporal resolution with a suitable temporal baseline. Landsat analysis and field validation along with the low spatial resolution classifications from MODIS and AVHRR are combined to provide a reliable characterization of the different potential dust-producing sources. The representation of intra-annual and inter-annual Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) trend to assess land cover discrimination for mapping potential dust source using MODIS and AVHRR at larger scale is enhanced by Landsat Spectral Mixing Analysis (SMA). The combined methodology is to determine the extent to which Landsat can distinguish important soils types in order to better understand how soil reflectance behaves at seasonal and inter-annual timescales. As a final result mapping soil surface properties using SMA is representative of responses of different land and soil cover previously identified by NDVI trend. The results could be used in dust emission models even if they are not reflecting aggregate formation, soil stability or particle coatings showing to be critical for accurately represent dust source over different regional and local emitting areas

A Model Chain Application to Estimate Mixing Layer Height Related to PM10 Dispersion Processes

The mixing layer height (MLH) is a crucial parameter in order to investigate the near surface concentrations of air pollutants. The MLH can be estimated by measurements of some atmospheric variables, by indirect estimates based on trace gases concentration or aerosol, or by numerical models. Here, a modelling approach is proposed. The developed modelling system is based on the models WRF-ARW and CALMET. This system is applied on Firenze-Prato-Pistoia area (Central Italy), during 2010, and it is compared with in situ measurements. The aim of this work is to evaluate the use of MLH model estimates to characterize the critical episodes for PM10 in a limited area. In order to find out the meteorological conditions predisposing accumulation of PM10 in the atmosphere’s lower level, some indicators are used: daily mean wind speed, cumulated rainfall, and mean MLH estimates from CALMET model. This indicator is linked to orography, which has important consequences on local weather dynamics. However, during critical events the local emission sources are crucial to the determination of threshold exceeding of PM10. Results show that the modelled MLH, together with cumulative rainfall and wind speed, can identify the meteorological conditions predisposing accumulation of air pollutant at ground level

Ultrastructural Features of Cyclosporine -Induced Gingival Hyperplasia

THE PRESENT WORK COLLECTED DATA on the ultrastructural features of the attached gingiva in kidney transplant patients who showed gingival hyperplasia following cyclosporin A (Cy A) treatment. Ultrastructural examination was carried out on biopsies of attached gingiva obtained from 8 male patients (30 to 60 years old) undergoing treatment at the Dental Clinic of the University of Ferrara. The data showed that, although many fibroblasts are present in Cy A-induced hyperplasia, there is a particular abundance of amorphous substance compared to fibrous, as well as marked plasma cell infiltration. On the basis of the data collected, we hypothesize that the morphological features of the dimensional increase in gingival tissue associated with CY A treatment in kidney transplant patients may be considered local manifestations of a systemic phenomenon

Diphenylhydantoin plays a role in gene expression related to cytoskeleton and protein adhesion in human normal palate fibroblasts.

AIMS: Morphogenetic processes during palate development are related to extracellular matrix composition. The cell-extracellular matrix relation plays a role in cell activity and in gene expression. We studied the effect of diphenylhydantoin, a teratogen known to induce cleft palate in human newborns, on extracellular matrix production. We investigated whether diphenylhydantoin treatment caused any differences in glycosaminoglycans, collagen synthesis and gene expression in human normal palate fibroblasts. METHODS: Human palate fibroblasts were maintained for 24 hours in serum-free 199 medium containing 5 microg/mL (3)H-glucosamine or (3)H proline hydrochloride. Collagen and glycosaminoglycan classes were then measured using biochemical methods, gene expression with microarray analysis and cytoskeleton components with immunofluorescent antibodies and computer analysis. RESULTS: In normal fibroblasts diphenylhydantoin reduced collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis with a marked effect on sulphated glycosaminoglycans. There were also substantial decreases in tubulin, vimentin and alpha-actin staining and an increase of vinculin compared to controls. Diphenylhydantoin acted on several genes related to the synthesis of cytoskeleton and adhesion membrane proteins. It inhibited caderin, caveolin, RTK and alpha-actin, and increased nectin, cytoplasmatic FRG vinculin, ITGA, ITGB extracellular matrix ligand and EDG2 gene expression. DNA binding gene expression, which plays a role in cell growth and senescence, was activated. CONCLUSIONS: Since cell activity is dependent on the cell morphology and extracellular matrix composition, these findings indicate that in human normal palate fibroblasts diphenylhydantoin can modify cytoskeletal components and extracellular matrix-cell adhesion, with consequent effects on gene expression. These changes might be related to anomalous palate development

Impatto delle polveri sahariane in Toscana: quantificazione del contributo al PM10 e al PM2.5 tramite lo studio della composizione elementale

Le polveri eoliche di origine terrigena costituiscono una componente maggioritaria del particolato atmosferico su scala globale e svolgono un ruolo determinante nel bilancio radiativo terrestre e nei cicli biogeochimici. Queste polveri, che hanno origine prevalentemente nelle zone aride e semiaride del pianeta, possono raggiungere altezze elevate ed essere trasportate su lunghe distanze. La contiguit\ue0 con il Sahara, la principale sorgente di polveri desertiche del pianeta, rende l\u2019area del Mediterraneo particolarmente soggetta a fenomeni di trasporto di polveri desertiche [1]. Quantificare il contributo di queste polveri alla concentrazione del PM10 (e del PM2.5), distinguendolo da quello dovuto alle altre sorgenti, risulta particolarmente importante sia per il diverso impatto sulla salute sia per l\u2019evidente impossibilit\ue0 di una sua riduzione tramite strategie di intervento locali. La normativa europea prevede infatti la possibilit\ue0 di deroga dai valori limite qualora si dimostri che il superamento \ue8 causato da eventi naturali, fra cui il \u201ctrasporto di materiale particolato da zone aride\u201d (DM60, 2002). La rivelazione con elevata sensibilit\ue0 di tutti gli elementi caratteristici della componente terrigena (Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Sr, Zr) rende la tecnica PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) particolarmente efficace nell\u2019identificazione e quantificazione dell\u2019impatto delle intrusioni di polvere sahariana [2]. L\u2019incremento simultaneo nella concentrazione di questi elementi costituisce gi\ue0 una prima indicazione; lo studio dei cambiamenti nei rapporti elementali permette di distinguere fra polveri locali e polveri sahariane; il contributo assoluto di questi elementi permette di dare una stima quantitativa dell\u2019impatto di questi episodi. L\u2019utilizzo sia di modelli diffusionali che di tecniche di remote sensing \ue8 indubbiamente di grande utilit\ue0 nel tracciare i fenomeni di trasporto delle polveri desertiche, tuttavia, in generale, non permette di determinarne il contributo al suolo (il passaggio di masse d\u2019aria contenenti polveri desertiche non \ue8 condizione sufficiente per avere aumenti significativi del PM locale al suolo). In questa comunicazione saranno mostrati i risultati ottenuti da uno studio di lunghe serie temporali di dati PIXE, effettuato con lo scopo di: (1) identificare l\u2019occorrenza di episodi di trasporto di polveri Sahariane in Toscana su lungo periodo, (2) caratterizzarne la composizione elementale e, soprattutto, (3) valutarne l\u2019impatto sul PM, anche in termini di superamenti dei limiti posti dalla normativa. I dati presi in esame si riferiscono a campioni di PM10 e PM2.5 raccolti in diversi siti di campionamento in Toscana, nell\u2019ambito di alcune campagne di studio. Questi dati di composizione elementale sono stati integrati dal calcolo delle retro-traiettorie delle masse d\u2019aria, effettuato, per tutti i giorni di campionamento, tramite il modello HYSPLIT (NOAA Air Resource Laboratory). [1] Querol, X; Pey, J; Pandolfi, M; Alastuey, A; Cusack, M; P\ue9rez, N; Moreno, N; Viana, M; Mihalopoulos, N; Kallos, G; Kleanthous, S. African dust contributions to mean ambient PM10 mass-levels across the Mediterranean Basin. Atmospheric Environment, 2009, vol. 43, 4266-4277. [2] Borb\ue9ly-Kiss, I; Kiss, A. Z; Koltay, E.; Szab\uf3, Gy; Boz\uf3, L. Saharan dust episodes in Hungarian aerosol: elemental signatures and transport trajectories. J. Aerosol Science, 2004, vol. 35, 1205- 122

Diphenylhydantoin plays a role in gene expression related to cytoskeleton and protein adhesion in human normal palate fibroblasts.

AIMS: Morphogenetic processes during palate development are related to extracellular matrix composition. The cell-extracellular matrix relation plays a role in cell activity and in gene expression. We studied the effect of diphenylhydantoin, a teratogen known to induce cleft palate in human newborns, on extracellular matrix production. We investigated whether diphenylhydantoin treatment caused any differences in glycosaminoglycans, collagen synthesis and gene expression in human normal palate fibroblasts. METHODS: Human palate fibroblasts were maintained for 24 hours in serum-free 199 medium containing 5 microg/mL (3)H-glucosamine or (3)H proline hydrochloride. Collagen and glycosaminoglycan classes were then measured using biochemical methods, gene expression with microarray analysis and cytoskeleton components with immunofluorescent antibodies and computer analysis. RESULTS: In normal fibroblasts diphenylhydantoin reduced collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis with a marked effect on sulphated glycosaminoglycans. There were also substantial decreases in tubulin, vimentin and alpha-actin staining and an increase of vinculin compared to controls. Diphenylhydantoin acted on several genes related to the synthesis of cytoskeleton and adhesion membrane proteins. It inhibited caderin, caveolin, RTK and alpha-actin, and increased nectin, cytoplasmatic FRG vinculin, ITGA, ITGB extracellular matrix ligand and EDG2 gene expression. DNA binding gene expression, which plays a role in cell growth and senescence, was activated. CONCLUSIONS: Since cell activity is dependent on the cell morphology and extracellular matrix composition, these findings indicate that in human normal palate fibroblasts diphenylhydantoin can modify cytoskeletal components and extracellular matrix-cell adhesion, with consequent effects on gene expression. These changes might be related to anomalous palate development

Downregulated gene expression in human palate fibroblasts after cyclosporin A treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporin A is a powerful immunosuppressive drug with considerable impact on transplants and is able to modify extracellular matrix (ECM) composition. It has recently been demonstrated that cyclosporin A stimulates the production of the cytokine family. Cytokines such as interleukin, transforming growth factor beta(1), and bone morphogenetic protein induce the deposition of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), proteoglycans, and collagen fibers in the connective ECM. ECM composition is very important for normal tissue development and function. In this work, we examine the effects caused by cyclosporin A on cultures of normal human palate fibroblasts in order to evaluate interleukin, transforming growth factor beta II, and bone morphogenetic protein II membrane receptor induction and extracellular GAG changes such as hyaluronic acid, heparin sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate. METHODS: Palate fibroblasts were maintained for 24 h in serum-free 199 medium containing 5 microg/mL (3)H glucosamine hydrochloride. After this time, TGF II and BMP II receptors were determined by microarray analysis and GAG classes by the biochemical method. RESULTS: The results show that TGFbeta(1) II and BMP II membrane receptors are significantly inhibited in cyclosporin A-treated cultures as compared to controls, whereas IL-1R2 membrane receptors are stimulated. The behavior of total intra- and extracellular GAGs is significantly increased in cyclosporin A-treated cultures, whereas the ratio between non-sulfated/sulfated GAGs decreases (p <or=0.01) vis-à-vis controls. CONCLUSIONS: Because they form a highly complicated macromolecular network in the ECM, which provides an indication of cell function and gene expression and modulates growth factor activities, GAG changes are related to modification of ECM functions. Our data show that cyclosporin A causes biochemical changes to ECM through alterations in cytokines and respective membrane receptor linkages