From obesity resistance to obesity prediction and prevention?

Comment on: Regulation of hypothalamic neuropeptides gene expression in diet induced obesity resistant rats: possible targets for obesity prediction? [Front Neurosci. 2015

Masonry cross vaults: an overview of the historical developments

The cross vault represents one of the most diffused and fascinating structural typologies of the European architectural heritage. Its history began almost two thousand years ago and reached a widespread use during the Middle Ages with the outstanding gothic cathedrals. Without any proper scientific support but only using trial-and-error methods, considering each building as a scaled specimen of a new one to be built, the ancient workmanship achieved a proper competence represented by the so-called rules of thumb. However, despite this long-lasting history, it is only from the eighteenth centuries that scholars have tried to tackle the problem of analytically describing its structural behaviour. In this regard, the first part of the present study is devoted to the evolution of cross vaults from the geometrical and constructive standpoint, whereas the second one describes the historical advancements of its structural behaviour, until the development of modern limit analysis

BRACHIOPODS FROM THE TYPE-SECTION OF THE BITHYNIAN SUBSTAGE (ANISIAN, MIDDLE TRIASSIC, NORTHWESTERN TURKEY)

The Bithynian substage of the Anisian stage (Middle Triassic) was established by Assereto in the Gebze area (Kocaeli peninsula, northwestern Turkey), within the middle member of Nodular Limestone formation, now included in the Tepeköy Formation. The rich fauna, represented by conodonts, foraminifera and ammonoids, was described since a long time. The brachiopod fauna occurring in the Bithynian type-section is here revised. It consists of four species: Austriellula kavakensis (Arthaber, 1914), Holchorhynchella edhemi (Toula, 1896), Ptychomentzelia propontica (Toula, 1896), and Angustothyris angustaeformis (Böckh, 1872). The fauna is mostly endemic, with high number of specimens for the first three quoted species. Rare specimens of P. propontica occur also in the lower member of the Nodular Limestone, who delivered the conodont Neogondolella regalis, suggesting an Aegean age. The brachiopod fauna of the Bithynian substage continues upward with rare specimens in the lowermost part of the overlying Pelsonian succession. In the Illyrian, very rare “Rhynchonella” tscharkensis Arthaber, 1914, and Koeveskallina koeveskalyensis (Stur, 1865) were found. The Bithynian brachiopod fauna from Gebze has no counterpart in the Europe and in the surrounding regions, like Northern Caucasus and Aghdarband in Iran, even if some of the ammonoids found in Gebze are also present in the these areas

Stator-Rotor Interaction in Axial Turbine: Flow Physics and Design Perspective

The stator-rotor interaction is an important issue in turbomachinery design when the highest performances are targeted. Different characters mark the interaction process in high-pressure or low-pressure turbines depending both on the blade height and on the Reynolds number. For small blade heights, being the stator secondary flows more important, a more complex interaction is found with respect to the high blades, where the stator blade wake dominates. In low-pressure turbines, the stator wake promotes the transition to turbulent boundary layer, allowing for an efficient application of ultra-high lift blades. First, a detailed discussion of the flow physics is proposed for high- and low-pressure turbines. Some off-design conditions are also commented. Then, a design perspective is given by discussing the effect of the axial gap between the stator and the rotor and by commenting the effects of three-dimensional design on the interaction

Mirna signature to identify lung asbestos-related malignancies

L'associazione tra esposizione all'amianto e neoplasie polmonari è ben consolidata. Tuttavia, precisi dati istopatologici sono scarsamente considerati quando si studia il legame tra cancro e amianto in un approccio compensatorio. L'espressione dei miRNA è precocemente alterata dall'esposizione ad agenti cancerogeni professionali /ambientali, quindi utile per identificare un nuovo profilo correlato all'amianto in grado di distinguere una neoplasia indotta da asbesto rispetto a quella con diversa eziologia. Abbiamo condotto uno studio multifasico per identificare i miRNA associati alle neoplasie indotte dall'amianto. Sono stati inclusi quattro gruppi: pazienti con carcinoma polmonare non a piccole cellule asbesto-correlato e non (NSCLC-Asb e NSCLC), mesotelioma maligno (MM) e soggetti di controllo (CTRL). Successivamente, i miRNA selezionati sono stati valutati in una popolazione esposta all'amianto ed è stato realizzato un modello "in vitro" per identificare il meccanismo di regolazione dei miRNA indotto da asbesto. Quattro miRNA sierici costituiti dal miR-126, miR-205, miR-222 e miR-520g sono risultati coinvolti nelle neoplasie asbesto-correlate. In particolare, l'aumento dell'espressione del miR-126 e del miR-222 è stato trovato in soggetti attualmente esposti all’asbesto ed entrambi i miRNA sono coinvolti nelle principali pathway collegate allo sviluppo tumorale. Un'aumentata espressione dell’EGFR è stata trovata nelle cellule pre-cancerose indotte da asbesto, causando l'attivazione di effettori a valle (AKT e MAPK p38). L'attivazione asbesto-mediata della via EGFR-AKT ha portato alla sovra-espressione del miR-222 e alla sotto-espressione del miR-520g, che sono stati invertiti inibendo l'EGFR, suggerendo il suo coinvolgimento nella regolazione dei miRNA indotta da asbesto. Questo studio evidenzia miRNA che sono potenzialmente coinvolti in neoplasie legate all'amianto e i meccanismi di espressione in cui possono essere coinvolti nella patogenesi indotta da asbesto.The association between asbestos exposure and lung malignancies is well established. Nevertheless, precise histopathological data are poorly considered when investigating the asbestos-cancer link in compensatory approach. MiRNA expression is early altered by exposure to occupational/environmental carcinogens, thus, useful to identify a novel asbestos-related profile able to distinguish asbestos-induced cancer from cancer with different etiology. We performed consequential study phases to identify miRNAs associated with the asbestos-induced malignancies. Four groups have been included: patients with asbestos-related and non-asbestos-related non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC-Asb and NSCLC), malignant mesothelioma (MM), and disease-free subjects (CTRL). Next, the selected miRNAs were evaluated in an asbestos-exposed population and an ‘in vitro’ model was performed to identify the mechanism of asbestos-induced miRNA regulation. Four serum miRNAs consisting of miR-126, miR-205, miR-222 and miR-520g were found to be involved in asbestos-related malignant diseases. Notably, increased expression of miR-126 and miR-222 were found in currently exposed subjects, and both miRNAs were involved in major pathways linked to cancer development. Increased expression of EGFR was found in the asbestos-induced pre-cancerous cells, causing activation of the down-stream effector AKT and p38 MAPK signalling. Asbestos-mediated activation of EGFR-AKT pathway resulted in miR-222 upregulation and miR-520g downregulation, which were reversed by inhibiting EGFR, suggesting its involvement in asbestos-induced miRNA regulation. This study uncovers miRNAs that are potentially involved in asbestos-related malignancies and their expression outline mechanisms whereby miRNAs may be involved in asbestos-induced pathogenesis

From autism to eating disorders and more: the role of oxytocin in neuropsychiatric disorders

Oxytocin (oxy) is a pituitary neuropeptide hormone synthesized from the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei within the hypothalamus. Like other neuropeptides, oxy can modulate a wide range of neurotransmitter and neuromodulator activities. Additionally, through the neurohypophysis, oxy is secreted into the systemic circulation to act as a hormone, thereby influencing several body functions. Oxy plays a pivotal role in parturition, milk let-down and maternal behavior and has been demonstrated to be important in the formation of pair bonding between mother and infants as well as in mating pairs. Furthermore, oxy has been proven to play a key role in the regulation of several behaviors associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, including social interactions, social memory response to social stimuli, decision-making in the context of social interactions, feeding behavior, emotional reactivity, etc. An increasing body of evidence suggests that deregulations of the oxytocinergic system might be involved in the pathophysiology of certain neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism, eating disorders, schizophrenia, mood, and anxiety disorders. The potential use of oxy in these mental health disorders is attracting growing interest since numerous beneficial properties are ascribed to this neuropeptide. The present manuscript will review the existing findings on the role played by oxy in a variety of distinct physiological and behavioral functions (Figure 1) and on its role and impact in different psychiatric disorders. The aim of this review is to highlight the need of further investigations on this target that might contribute to the development of novel more efficacious therapies. Figure 1Oxytocin regulatory control of different and complex processes

Central mechanisms mediating the hypophagic effects of oleoylethanolamide and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines: different lipid signals?

The spread of "obesity epidemic" and the poor efficacy of many anti-obesity therapies in the long-term highlight the need to develop novel efficacious therapy. This necessity stimulates a large research effort to find novel mechanisms controlling feeding and energy balance. Among these mechanisms a great deal of attention has been attracted by a family of phospholipid-derived signaling molecules that play an important role in the regulation of food-intake. They include N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs). NAPEs have been considered for a long time simply as phospholipid precursors of the lipid mediator NAEs, but increasing body of evidence suggest a role in many physiological processes including the regulation of feeding behavior. Several observations demonstrated that among NAEs, oleoylethanolamide (OEA) acts as a satiety signal, which is generated in the intestine, upon the ingestion of fat, and signals to the central nervous system. At this level different neuronal pathways, including oxytocinergic, noradrenergic, and histaminergic neurons, seem to mediate its hypophagic action. Similarly to NAEs, NAPE (with particular reference to the N16:0 species) levels were shown to be regulated by the fed state and this finding was initially interpreted as fluctuations of NAE precursors. However, the observation that exogenously administered NAPEs are able to inhibit food intake, not only in normal rats and mice but also in mice lacking the enzyme that converts NAPEs into NAEs, supported the hypothesis of a role of NAPE in the regulation of feeding behavior. Indirect observations suggest that the hypophagic action of NAPEs might involve central mechanisms, although the molecular target remains unknown. The present paper reviews the role that OEA and NAPEs play in the mechanisms that control food intake, further supporting this group of phospholipids as optimal candidate for the development of novel anti-obesity treatments

Petrology and major element geochemistry of basaltic glasses from the Blanco Trough, northeast Pacific

The original electron microprobe analyses of suite of basaltic glasses recovered in 1968 by W.G. Melson and co-workers from the Blanco Trough have extremely unusual characteristics. Their compositions plot in a region of the normative Ol-Di-Pl-SiO2 tetrahedron which suggests that they represent liquids in equilibrium with an upper mantle assemblage of olivine + orthopyroxene at 10-15 kb. Given the present state of controversy surrounding the composition and depth of origin of primary MORB, natural examples of such liquids would be very important. The major element variations observed in the suite imply that the dominant phases are olivine and an iron-aluminum rich spinel. The crystal/melt partitioning data are consistent with an unusually large Fe2O3 component in the melt, which could help to explain the variation in liquidus phases, and thus the suite\u27s position in Ol-Di-Pl-SiO2 space. New analyses of the original samples, performed on the microprobe at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, have failed to reproduce the original anomalies. The R.P.I. data does show that the glasses are slightly enriched in FeO* giving them unusually low Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratios for otherwise primitive looking mid-ocean ridge tholeiites. The new analyses plot near the Ol-Di join when projected from PI onto the Ol-Di-SiO2 plane, a region not uncommon for primitive MORB. The disagreement between the two data sets appears to be the result of a transposition of the FeO* and CaO abundances in the Smithsonian analyses prior to their publication by Melson et al. (1977), in addition to minor differences in calibration between the two laboratories. All of the Blanco Trough glasses that were studied in thin section contain olivine, while 61.5% are saturated in chromian spinel. Some of the olivines display deformation bands and possible fluid inclusions, indicating that they are probably cumulate xenocrysts. In contrast with most other MORB suites, plagioclase is a major phenocryst phase in only one sample and is absent completely from 38.5% of the thin sections. Based on petrography, the first phase to appear is olivine, followed by assemblages of olivine + chromian spinel, olivine + chromian spinel + plagioclase and olivine + plagioclase. Although the appearance and disappearance of phenocryst phases agrees very well with the phase equilibria in the system An-Fo-Di, no simple relationship exists between the Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratio of the liquid and the phenocryst assemblage. Least-squares mixing models show that the primitive and evolved ends of the suite cannot be related simply by the fractional crystallization of an assemblage of olivine + chromian spinel + plagioclase. The best fit is obtained if clinopyroxene is added to the crystallizing assemblage, although it is not found as a phenocryst phase in any of the samples. The problem of needing to crystallize significant amounts of clinopyroxene to explain a suite of MORB which does not contain clinopyroxene is not unique to this study, but has been recognized by other workers for a number of years. The petrogenesis of the suite appears to involve several stages, in addition to fractional crystallization of olivine, chromian spinel and plagioclase in a shallow level magma chamber. Polybaric crystallization of several batches of parental magma, followed by homogenization during episodes of magma-mixing seems likely

Hot Streak Evolution in an Axial HP Turbine Stage

The paper presents the results of an experimental study on the evolution of hot streaks generated by gas turbine burners in an un-cooled high-pressure turbine stage. The prescribed hot streaks were streamwise directed and characterized by a 20% over-temperature with respect to the main flow at the stage inlet. The hot streak was injected in four different circumferential positions with respect to the stator blade. Detailed temperature and aerodynamic measurements upstream and downstream of the stage, as well as in-between the blade rows were performed. Measurements showed a severe temperature attenuation of the hot streaks within the stator cascade; some influence on the aerodynamic field was found, especially on the vorticity field, while the temperature pattern resulted severely altered depending on the injection position. Downstream of the rotor, the jet resulted spread over the pitch above midspan and more concentrated at hub. Rotor secondary flows were also enhanced by hot streaks

Light scattering from a rough metal surface: theory and experiment

There is still great interest in the determination of microtopographic properties of rough metallic surfaces from light scattering measurements. According to Beckmann–Kirchhoff theory a clear relationship is established between the in-plane angular scattered light intensity and the statistical properties of the surface. We discuss one way to invert this relationship, and we introduce a new iterative procedure to retrieve the height autocorrelation function even for a very rough metallic surface (rms surface roughness of the same order of the optical wavelength). The procedure is eventually applied to the experimental data of a known metallic surface for validation