Peaceful coexistence: agile developer perspectives on software architecture.

This study aims to explore the relationship between agility and architecture by surveying 72 software developers at IBM. Results suggest that software architecture and agility are not like oil and water. In particular, Agile developers perceived architectures as important and supportive (rather than in contrast or neutral) to agile values. This kind of positive perception of software architectural principles and practice bodes well for future efforts to integrate agile and architecture practices

Stem-like and highly invasive prostate cancer cells expressing CD44v8-10 marker originate from CD44-negative cells

In human prostate cancer (PCa), the neuroendocrine cells, expressing the prostate cancer stem cell (CSC) marker CD44, may be resistant to androgen ablation and promote tumor recurrence. During the study of heterogeneity of the highly aggressive neuroendocrine PCa cell lines PC3 and DU-145, we isolated and expanded in vitro a minor subpopulation of very small cells lacking CD44 (CD44neg). Unexpectedly, these sorted CD44neg cells rapidly and spontaneously converted to a stable CD44high phenotype specifically expressing the CD44v8-10 isoform which the sorted CD44high subpopulation failed to express. Surprisingly and potentially interesting, in these cells expression of CD44v8-10 was found to be induced in stem cell medium. CD44 variant isoforms are known to be more expressed in CSC and metastatic cells than CD44 standard isoform. In agreement, functional analysis of the two sorted and cultured subpopulations has shown that the CD44v8-10pos PC3 cells, resulting from the conversion of the CD44neg subpopulation, were more invasive in vitro and had a higher clonogenic potential than the sorted CD44high cells, in that they produced mainly holoclones, known to be enriched in stem-like cells. Of interest, the CD44v8-10 is more expressed in human PCa biopsies than in normal gland. The discovery of CD44v8-10pos cells with stem-like and invasive features, derived from a minoritarian CD44neg cell population in PCa, alerts on the high plasticity of stem-like markers and urges for prudency on the approaches to targeting the putative CSC

Processi intensificati in ambito farmaceutico: le applicazioni di potenza delle microonde

L’interesse per le applicazioni di potenza delle microonde, cioè per il riscaldamento attuato mediante campi elettromagnetici, nel settore farmaceutico è relativamente recente e poco diffuso. Un non consolidato knowhow rende prudenti gli investimenti industriali e, sotto un profi lo più tecnico, la necessità di avere una uniforme distribuzione del calore per scongiurare elevate temperature locali nei materiali e la possibilità di un aumento incontrollato di queste costituiscono i principali fattori limitanti. La conoscenza dei meccanismi e dell’intensità delle interazioni campi elettromagnetici-materiali di interesse farmaceutico è alla base del possibile sviluppo di apparecchiature e nuovi metodi di lavorazione

A Mathematical Tool for Optimising Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Sequestration Plants for e-MeOH Production

Carbon capture, utilisation, and sequestration is key for the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries, as it allows avoiding the direct release of CO2 to the atmosphere and generating carbon-based products. However, for these products to be truly carbon-neutral, intermittent renewable electricity must be deployed at scale, leading to the necessity of optimising flexible plants with potential for local buffer storages, geological sequestration, and conversion units. The scope of this work is to provide a mathematical framework for the economic optimisation of a carbon capture, utilisation, and sequestration system, to decarbonise a cement plant located in the Puglia region (Italy), via CO2 geological confinement and/or power and CO2-to-methanol conversion. The final aim is to determine the optimal sizing and cost of the process units of the plant, depending on economic conditions such as the methanol sale price and different perspective costs scenarios. The main outcome is an economic convenience of geological sequestration, as opposed to utilisation, while a long-term scenario would allow for a cost-effective production of methanol when the sale price is above 550 €/t

Clinicopathological features of extranodal lymphomas: Kuwait experience

A total of 935 patients with extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) diagnosed in the period between January 1985 and December 2000 in Kuwait Cancer Center, serving the whole population of Kuwait, were used to describe the clinicopathological and epidemiological features of extranodal lymphomas in Kuwait. Extranodal lymphomas accounted for 45% of all NHL observed during this time. All NHL cases from Kuwait Cancer registry were analyzed and pathologically reclassified using the latest WHO ( 2000) classification. The most common lymphoma observed was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (58.60%) followed by Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) (3.80%). In the pediatric group, BL comprises more than two thirds of all patients (77.20%). The most common extranodal sites were stomach (19.70%) and skin (17.80%) in the adult group, large intestine (29.80%) and small intestine (19.30%) in the pediatric age group. The majority (73.40%) of adult extranodal lymphomas was in stage IE - IIE and had a very good prognosis. On the contrary, the majority of pediatric extranodal lymphomas were found to be in stage III and IV. Variations in treatment policies ( single agent or combined chemotherapy, radiotherapy, combined modality treatment) adopted and changed during the time period of 16 years of this retrospective study were documented. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Genome wide transcriptional analysis of resting and IL2 activated human natural killer cells: gene expression signatures indicative of novel molecular signaling pathways

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human natural killer (NK) cells are the key contributors of innate immune response and the effector functions of these cells are enhanced by cytokines such as interleukine 2 (IL2). We utilized genome-wide transcriptional profiling to identify gene expression signatures and pathways in resting and IL2 activated NK cell isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Gene expression profiling of resting NK cells showed high expression of a number of cytotoxic factors, cytokines, chemokines and inhibitory and activating surface NK receptors. Resting NK cells expressed many genes associated with cellular quiescence and also appeared to have an active TGFβ (TGFB1) signaling pathway. IL2 stimulation induced rapid downregulation of quiescence associated genes and upregulation of genes associated with cell cycle progression and proliferation. Numerous genes that may enhance immune function and responsiveness including activating receptors (<it>DNAM1, KLRC1 </it>and <it>KLRC3</it>), death receptor ligand (<it>TNFSF6 (FASL</it>) and <it>TRAIL</it>), chemokine receptors (<it>CX3CR1, CCR5 </it>and <it>CCR7</it>), interleukin receptors (<it>IL2RG, IL18RAB </it>and <it>IL27RA</it>) and members of secretory pathways (<it>DEGS1, FKBP11, SSR3, SEC61G </it>and <it>SLC3A2</it>) were upregulated. The expression profile suggested PI3K/AKT activation and NF-κB activation through multiple pathways (TLR/IL1R, TNF receptor induced and TCR-like possibly involving BCL10). Activation of NFAT signaling was supported by increased expression of many pathway members and downstream target genes. The transcription factor <it>GATA3 </it>was expressed in resting cells while <it>T-BET </it>was upregulated on activation concurrent with the change in cytokine expression profile. The importance of NK cells in innate immune response was also reflected by late increased expression of inflammatory chemotactic factors and receptors and molecules involved in adhesion and lymphocyte trafficking or migration.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This analysis allowed us to identify genes implicated in cellular quiescence and the cytokines and cytotoxic factors ready for immediate immune response. It also allowed us to observe the sequential immunostimulatory effects of IL2 on NK cells improving our understanding of the biology and molecular mediators behind NK cell activation.</p

GeneMill: A 21st century platform for innovation

GeneMill officially launched on 4th February 2016 and is an open access academic facility located at The University of Liverpool that has been established for the high-throughput construction and testing of synthetic DNA constructs. GeneMill provides end-to-end design, construction and phenotypic characterization of small to large gene constructs or genetic circuits/pathways for academic and industrial applications. Thus, GeneMill is equipping the scientific community with easy access to the validated tools required to explore the possibilities of Synthetic Biology

Alert sign and symptoms for the early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis: analysis of patients followed by a tertiary pediatric hospital

Background Intercepting earlier suspected TB (Tuberculosis) cases clinically is necessary to reduce TB incidence, so we described signs and symptoms of retrospective cases of pulmonary TB and tried to evaluate which could be early warning signs. Methods We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of pulmonary TB cases in children in years 2005-2017; in years 2018-2020 we conducted a cohort prospective study enrolling patients &lt; 18 years accessed to Emergency Department (ED) with signs/symptoms suggestive of pulmonary TB. Results In the retrospective analysis, 226 patients with pulmonary TB were studied. The most frequently described items were contact history (53.5%) and having parents from countries at risk (60.2%). Cough was referred in 49.5% of patients at onset, fever in 46%; these symptoms were persistent (lasting &gt;= 10 days) in about 20%. Lymphadenopathy is described in 15.9%. The prospective study enrolled 85 patients of whom 14 (16.5%) were confirmed to be TB patients and 71 (83.5%) were non-TB cases. Lymphadenopathy and contact history were the most correlated variables. Fever and cough lasting &gt;= 10 days were less frequently described in TB cases compared to non-TB patients (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions In low TB endemic countries, pulmonary TB at onset is characterized by different symptoms, i.e. persistent fever and cough are less described, while more relevant are contact history and lymphadenopathy. It was not possible to create a score because signs/symptoms usually suggestive of pulmonary TB (considered in the questionnaire) were not significant risk factors in our reality, a low TB country

Infrared absorption from Charge Density Waves in magnetic manganites

The infrared absorption of charge density waves coupled to a magnetic background is first observed in two manganites La{1-x}Ca{x}MnO{3} with x = 0.5 and x = 0.67. In both cases a BCS-like gap 2 Delta (T), which for x=0.5 follows the hysteretic ferro-antiferromagnetic transition, fully opens at a finite T{0} < T{Neel}, with 2 Delta(T{0})/kT{c} close to 5. These results may also explain the unusual coexistence of charge ordering and ferromagnetism in La{0.5}Ca{0.5}MnO{3}.Comment: File revtex + 3 figs. in epsf. To appear on Phys. Rev. Let