Competing interactions in arrested states of colloidal clays

Using experiments, theory and simulations, we show that the arrested state observed in a colloidal clay at intermediate concentrations is stabilized by the screened Coulomb repulsion (Wigner glass). Dilution experiments allow us to distinguish this high-concentration disconnected state, which melts upon addition of water, from a low-concentration gel state, which does not melt. Theoretical modelling and simulations reproduce the measured Small Angle X-Ray Scattering static structure factors and confirm the long-range electrostatic nature of the arrested structure. These findings are attributed to the different timescales controlling the competing attractive and repulsive interactions.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Newborns' preference for face-relevant stimuli: effects of contrast polarity

There is currently no agreement as to how specific or general are the mechanisms underlying newborns' face preferences. We address this issue by manipulating the contrast polarity of schematic and naturalistic face-related images and assessing the preferences of newborns. We find that for both schematic and naturalistic face images, the contrast polarity is important. Newborns did not show a preference for an upright face-related image unless it was composed of darker areas around the eyes and mouth. This result is consistent with either sensitivity to the shadowed areas of a face with overhead (natural) illumination and/or to the detection of eye contact

Differences in visceral fat and fat bacterial colonization between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. An in vivo and in vitro study

Crohn's disease (CD) is notably characterized by the expansion of visceral fat with small adipocytes expressing a high proportion of anti-inflammatory genes. Conversely, visceral fat depots in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients have never been characterized. Our study aims were a) to compare adipocyte morphology and gene expression profile and bacterial translocation in omental (OM) and mesenteric (MES) adipose tissue of patients with UC and CD, and b) to investigate the effect of bacterial infection on adipocyte proliferation in vitro. Specimens of OM and MES were collected from 11 UC and 11 CD patients, processed and examined by light microscopy. Gene expression profiles were evaluated in adipocytes isolated from visceral adipose tissue using microarray and RTqPCR validations. Bacteria within adipose tissue were immuno-detected by confocal scanning laser microscopy. Adipocytes were incubated with Enterococcus faecalis and cells counted after 24 h. Morphology and molecular profile of OM and MES revealed that UC adipose tissue is less inflamed than CD adipose tissue. Genes linked to inflammation, bacterial response, chemotaxis and angiogenesis were down-regulated in adipocytes from UC compared to CD, whereas genes related to metallothioneins, apoptosis pathways and growth factor binding were up-regulated. A dense perinuclear positivity for Enterococcus faecalis was detected in visceral adipocytes from CD, whereas positivity was weak in UC. In vitro bacterial infection was associated with a five-fold increase in the proliferation rate of OM preadipocytes. Compared to UC, visceral adipose tissue from CD is more inflamed and more colonized by intestinal bacteria, which increase adipocyte proliferation. The influence of bacteria stored within adipocytes on the clinical course of IBD warrants further investigation

PRELIMINARY STUDY OF WATER INJECTION ON THE COMBUSTION AND EMISSIONS CHARACTERISTICS IN A HCCI ETHANOL ENGINE

Our dependence on fossil fuels coupled with concerns about harmful emissions have motivated researchers to look for renewable fuels that have clean combustion and for advanced combustion modes. In this context, homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is an emerging technology which offers an alternative to conventional spark ignition and compression ignition engines and can operate on renewable fuels. Low temperature combustion, which can result in low NOx emissions with high indicated efficiency, is the more important characteristic of this combustion mode. It’s main problem is the combustion timing control due to lack of direct ignition control, once HCCI flame initiation is based on charge thermal state. Thus, controlled auto-ignition (CAI) combustion mode has been proposed. Several methods were proposed for combustion phasing control, between them, the injection of water in the intake manifold. This work investigated the influence of water injection in the intake runner of an ethanol HCCI cylinder from a converted three-cylinder diesel generator set, in which two cylinders operated on conventional diesel combustion and one diesel cylinder provided recycled exhaust gas for the one cylinder running on ethanol HCCI combustion. The water injection was used to control the CA50 combustion parameter. The results show that water injection is an efficient strategy to control the combustion timing, since the reactivity of the mixture can be controlled. The results at 400 and 600 kPa of IMEP and 1800 rpm indicated a good combustion stability, high efficiency and low emissions characteristics. The highest indicated fuel conversion efficiency found was 36.9% for 600 kPa of IMEP and 8 CAD of CA50. However, for 200 kPa of IMEP the combustion was unstable, the indicated efficiency was deteriorated and indicted CO emissions was high

Male Infertility Diagnosis: Improvement of Genetic Analysis Performance by the Introduction of Pre-Diagnostic Genes in a Next-Generation Sequencing Custom-Made Panel

Background: Infertility affects about 7% of the general male population. The underlying cause of male infertility is undefined in about 50% of cases (idiopathic infertility). The number of genes involved in human spermatogenesis is over two thousand. Therefore, it is essential to analyze a large number of genes that may be involved in male infertility. This study aimed to test idiopathic male infertile patients negative for a validated panel of “diagnostic” genes, for a wide panel of genes that we have defined as “pre-diagnostic.” Methods: We developed a next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel including 65 pre-diagnostic genes that were used in 12 patients who were negative to a diagnostic genetic test for male infertility disorders, including primary spermatogenic failure and central hypogonadism, consisting of 110 genes. Results: After NGS sequencing, variants in pre-diagnostic genes were identified in 10/12 patients who were negative to a diagnostic test for primary spermatogenic failure (n = 9) or central hypogonadism (n = 1) due to mutations of single genes. Two pathogenic variants of DNAH5 and CFTR genes and three uncertain significance variants of DNAI1, DNAH11, and CCDC40 genes were found. Moreover, three variants with high impact were found in AMELY, CATSPER 2, and ADCY10 genes. Conclusion: This study suggests that searching for pre-diagnostic genes may be of relevance to find the cause of infertility in patients with apparently idiopathic primary spermatogenic failure due to mutations of single genes and central hypogonadism

Disease activity states, reasons for discontinuation and adverse events in 1038 Italian children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with etanercept

The advent of biologic medications has increased considerably the potential for treatment benefit in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), with clinical remission being now achievable in a substantial proportion of patients. However, there is a need of data from the real world of clinical practice to evaluate thoroughly the efficacy and safety profile of the biologic agents currently approved

An assessment of dedicated energy crops in Europe under the EU Energy Reference Scenario 2013. Application of the LUISA modelling platform - Updated Configuration 2014

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of dedicated energy crops (ENCR) performed with the LUISA (Land Use-based Integrated Sustainability Assessment) modelling platform across Europe between 2020 and 2050. LUISA is configured in compliance with the “EU Energy, Transport and GHG emissions trends until 2050” document in order to ensure that the EU meet its climate and energy targets up to 2050 (EU Reference Scenario 2013, updated LUISA configuration 2014). The spatial modelling of ENCR in LUISA requires determining a set of elements such as the land demand, availability and suitability of the land, and other land categories for the ENCR cultivation. Thus, the assessment is focused on the following steps: 1) Land accounts and dominant land use/cover flows for the expansion of energy crops at European scale, 2) A suitability analysis of the land dedicated to these crops based on suitability maps, 3) Recuperation of degraded and contaminated lands for energy purpose, 4) A detailed regional analysis per each Member State (factsheets) with a summary of the main important findings, and 5) Evaluation of energy crops’ impacts on a selection of environmental indicators (provision of ecosystem services). In LUISA, the displacement and cultivation of crops solely dedicated to energy production takes place on a specific land-use class named ‘energy crop’ (ENCR), which competes in particular with the demand for others land-uses, such as for food, feed and forest. The amount of ENCR reaches about 13,549 kha in 2050 that represents, on average, 3.6% of Europe’s total available land. This expansion occurs mainly at expenses of land for food and feed (90%). Forest and natural land (9% and 1%,) represent respectively the second and third land flows towards ENCR among total land-use changes (with these flows represented respectively 9 and 1% of all land use changes). As result of this land competition, there is an increasing shift of food and feed crops towards low quality land, due not only to the ENCR expansion but also to the growth of residential and economic-driven land uses. It should also be noted that intensive agriculture practices for ENCR production might have some negative impacts on soil, water, biodiversity, amongst others. Owing to this potential impacts, the analysis performed on the supply of a set of ecosystem services identifies some services more sensitive than others to ENCR growth. In particular, pollination potential, habitat quality for birds and also the Green-Infrastructure network are expected to decrease due to ENCR growth, while patterns for recreational opportunities and water retention services are less evident.JRC.H.8-Sustainability Assessmen