Cosmological evolution of thermal relic particles in f(R)f(R) gravity

By considering $f(R)$ gravity models, the cosmic evolution is modified with respect to the standard $\Lambda$CDM scenario. In particular, the thermal history of particles results modified. In this paper, we derive the evolution of relics particles (WIMPs) assuming a reliable $f(R)$ cosmological solution and taking into account observational constraints. The connection to the PAMELA experiment is also discussed. Results are consistent with constraints coming from BICEP2 and PLANCK experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Glutathione increase by the n-butanoyl glutathione derivative (GSH-C4) inhibits viral replication and induces a predominant Th1 immune profile in old mice infected with influenza virus

During aging, glutathione (GSH) content declines and the immune system undergoes a deficiency in the induction of Th1 response. Reduced secretion of Th1 cytokines, which is associated with GSH depletion, could weaken the host defenses against viral infections. We first evaluated the concentration of GSH and cysteine in organs of old mice; then, the effect of the administration of the N-butanoyl GSH derivative (GSH-C4) on the response of aged mice infected with influenza A PR8/H1N1 virus was studied through the determination of GSH concentration in organs, lung viral titer, IgA and IgG1/IgG2a production and Th1/Th2 cytokine profile. Old mice had lower GSH than young mice in organs. Also the gene expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers involved in GSH metabolism and folding of proteins, i.e. Nrf2 and PDI, was reduced. Following infection, GSH content remained low and neither infection nor GSH-C4 treatment affected Nrf2 expression. In contrast, PDI expression was upregulated during infection and appeared counterbalanced by GSH-C4. Moreover, the treatment with GSH-C4 increased GSH content in organs, reduced viral replication and induced a predominant Th1 response. In conclusion, GSH-C4 treatment could be used in the elderly to contrast influenza virus infection by inducing immune response, in particular the Th1 profile

The Tiered Radio Extragalactic Continuum Simulation (T-RECS)

We present the Tiered Radio Extragalactic Continuum Simulation (T-RECS): a new simulation of the radio sky in continuum, over the 150 MHz-20 GHz range. T-RECS models two main populations of radio galaxies: Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) and Star-Forming Galaxies (SFGs), and corresponding sub-populations. Our model also includes polarized emission over the full frequency range, which has been characterised statistically for each population using the available information. We model the clustering properties in terms of probability distributions of hosting halo masses, and use lightcones extracted from a high-resolution cosmological simulation to determine the positions of haloes. This limits the sky area for the simulations including clustering to a 25deg2 field of view. We compare luminosity functions, number counts in total intensity and polarization, and clustering properties of our outputs to up-to-date compilations of data and find a very good agreement. We deliver a set of simulated catalogues, as well as the code to produce them, which can be used for simulating observations and predicting results from deep radio surveys with existing and forthcoming radio facilities, such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, accepted by MNRA

Dating long thrust systems on Mercury: new clues on the thermal evolution of the planet

The global tectonics of Mercury is dominated by contractional features mainly represented by lobate scarps, high relief ridges, and wrinkle ridges. These structures are the expression of thrust faults and are linear or arcuate features widely distributed on Mercury. Locally, these structures are arranged in long systems characterized by a preferential orientation and non-random spatial distribution. In this work we identified five thrust systems, generally longer than 1000 km. They were named after the main structure or crater encompassed by the system as: Thakur, Victoria, Villa Lobos, Al-Hamadhani, and Enterprise. In order to gain clues about their formation, we dated them using the buffered crater counting technique, which can be applied to derive the ages of linear landforms such as faults, ridges and channels. To estimate the absolute age for the end of the thrust system's activity, we applied both Le Feuvre and Wieczorek Production Function and Neukum Production Functions. Moreover, to further confirm the results obtained with the buffered crater counting method, the classic stratigraphic approach has been adopted, in which a faulted and an unfaulted craters were dated for each system. The results gave consistent ages and suggested that the most movements along major structures all over Mercury most likely ended at about 3.6–3.8 Ga. This gives new clues to better understand the tectonics of the planet and, therefore, its thermal evolution. Indeed, the early occurrence of tectonic activity in the planet's history, well before than predicted by the thermophysical models, coupled with the orientation and spatial distribution of the thrust systems, suggests that other processes beside global contraction, like mantle downwelling or tidal despinning, could have contributed to the first stage of the planet's history. Keywords: Mercury, Thrust systems, Crater counting, Thermal evolution, Planetary geology, Structural geolog

An automated fluorescence videomicroscopy assay for the detection of mitotic catastrophe

Mitotic catastrophe can be defined as a cell death mode that occurs during or shortly after a prolonged/aberrant mitosis, and can show apoptotic or necrotic features. However, conventional procedures for the detection of apoptosis or necrosis, including biochemical bulk assays and cytofluorometric techniques, cannot discriminate among pre-mitotic, mitotic and post-mitotic death, and hence are inappropriate to monitor mitotic catastrophe. To address this issue, we generated isogenic human colon carcinoma cell lines that differ in ploidy and p53 status, yet express similar amounts of fluorescent biosensors that allow for the visualization of chromatin (histone H2B coupled to green fluorescent protein (GFP)) and centrosomes (centrin coupled to the Discosoma striata red fluorescent protein (DsRed)). By combining high-resolution fluorescence videomicroscopy and automated image analysis, we established protocols and settings for the simultaneous assessment of ploidy, mitosis, centrosome number and cell death (which in our model system occurs mainly by apoptosis). Time-lapse videomicroscopy showed that this approach can be used for the high-throughput detection of mitotic catastrophe induced by three mechanistically distinct anti-mitotic agents (dimethylenastron (DIMEN), nocodazole (NDZ) and paclitaxel (PTX)), and – in this context – revealed an important role of p53 in the control of centrosome number

Trial Watch: experimental TLR7/TLR8 agonists for oncological indications

Resiquimod (R848) and motolimod (VTX-2337) are second-generation experimental derivatives of imiquimod, an imidazoquinoline with immunostimulatory properties originally approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the topical treatment of actinic keratosis and genital warts more than 20 years ago. Both resiquimod and motolimod operate as agonists of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and/or TLR8, in thus far delivering adjuvant-like signals to antigen-presenting cells (APCs). In line with such an activity, these compounds are currently investigated as immunostimulatory agents for the treatment of various malignancies, especially in combination with peptide-based, dendritic cell-based, cancer cell lysate-based, or DNA-based vaccines. Here, we summarize preclinical and clinical evidence recently collected to support the development of resiquimod and motolimod and other TLR7/TLR8 agonists as anticancer agents