Neutrino mass bound in the standard scenario for supernova electronic antineutrino emission

Based on recent improvements of the supernova electron antineutrino emission model, we update the limit on neutrino mass from the SN1987A data collected by Kamiokande-II, IMB and Baksan. We derive the limit of 5.8 eV at 95 % CL, that we show to be remarkably insensitive to the astrophysical uncertainties. Also we evaluate the ultimate mass sensitivity of this method for a detector like Super-Kamiokande. We find that the bound lies in the sub-eV region, 0.8 eV at 95 % CL being a typical outcome, competitive with the values that are presently probed in laboratory. However, this bound is subject to strong statistical fluctuations, correlated to the characteristics of the first few events detected. We briefly comment on the prospects offered by future detectors.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

Cellular and molecular mediators of bone metastatic lesions

Bone is the preferential site of metastasis for breast and prostate tumor. Cancer cells establish a tight relationship with the host tissue, secreting factors that stimulate or inhibit bone cells, receiving signals generated from the bone remodeling activity, and displaying some features of bone cells. This interplay between tumor and bone cells alters the physiological bone remodeling, leading to the generation of a vicious cycle that promotes bone metastasis growth. To prevent the skeletal-related events (SRE) associated with bone metastasis, approaches to inhibit osteoclast bone resorption are reported. The bisphosphonates and Denosumab are currently used in the treatment of patients affected by bone lesions. They act to prevent or counteract the SRE, including pathologic fractures, spinal cord compression, and pain associated with bone metastasis. However, their primary effects on tumor cells still remain controversial. In this review, a description of the mechanisms leading to the onset of bone metastasis and clinical approaches to treat them are described

The role of extracellular vesicles in bone metastasis

Multiple types of cancer have the specific ability to home to the bone microenvironment and cause metastatic lesions. Despite being the focus of intense investigation, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the metastasis of disseminated tumor cells still remain largely unknown. Bone metastases severely impact quality of life since they are associated with pain, fractures, and bone marrow aplasia. In this review, we will summarize the recent discoveries on the role of extracellular vesicles (EV) in the regulation of bone remodeling activity and bone metastasis occurrence. Indeed, it was shown that extracellular vesicles, including exosomes and microvesicles, released from tumor cells can modify the bone microenvironment, allowing the formation of osteolytic, osteosclerotic, and mixed mestastases. In turn, bone-derived EV can stimulate the proliferation of tumor cells. The inhibition of EV-mediated crosstalk between cancer and bone cells could represent a new therapeutic target for bone metastasis

The dissolution of the Order of the Temple and the creation of the Order of Christ in Portugal

The present research takes as a point of departure the foundation bull of the Order of Christ, given by Pope John XXII in March 1319. A study of the Trial of the Templars in Portugal follows. Finally, the article focuses on the circumstances of the creation of the new order, in the light of the relationship between the Portuguese monarchy and the Apostolic See and of the context of civil war between Dinis of Portugal and his son and heir, the Infant Afonso. The institution of the Order of Christ has traditionally been seen by historians as a very linear process, in which the king’s will was imposed on the pope and a well-defined and successful project was carried out. In reality, the archival sources suggest otherwise, in the form of a very complex string of actions, which implicated not only the pope and the king but also the infant, the bishop of Lisbon, the former Templars themselves, and many other actors, often in conflict among each other. The strategies employed by the king were much less successful as they might have appeared, as initial attempts to ascribe the Templar patrimony to the Portuguese Crown did not yield results. In fact, after having carried out an inquiry, in 1314, to prove the supremacy of the Crown over the Templars and their heritage in Portugal, the king finally changed strategy. After long negotiations, an agreement was reached with the pope permitting the creation of a local military order, the Order of Christ, conceived of in Portugal as the result of a “reform” of the Order of the Temple. The former Templar castles, cities and other possessions were passed on to the new order and King Dinis had to content himself with the revenues generated by that patrimony

Grating-Coupled Surface Plasmon Resonance (GC-SPR) Optimization for Phase-Interrogation Biosensing in a Microfluidic Chamber.

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)-based sensors have the advantage of being label-free, enzyme-free and real-time. However, their spreading in multidisciplinary research is still mostly limited to prism-coupled devices. Plasmonic gratings, combined with a simple and cost-effective instrumentation, have been poorly developed compared to prism-coupled system mainly due to their lower sensitivity. Here we describe the optimization and signal enhancement of a sensing platform based on phase-interrogation method, which entails the exploitation of a nanostructured sensor. This technique is particularly suitable for integration of the plasmonic sensor in a lab-on-a-chip platform and can be used in a microfluidic chamber to ease the sensing procedures and limit the injected volume. The careful optimization of most suitable experimental parameters by numerical simulations leads to a 30–50% enhancement of SPR response, opening new possibilities for applications in the biomedical research field while maintaining the ease and versatility of the configuration

The contribution of psychology in connecting the civic and environmental dimensions of sustainability

This paper examines the role of social sciences, and in particular that of psychology, in analyzing and defining the concept of sustainability and understanding ways of promoting sustainable human attitudes and behaviors. It is argued that there is a crucial interdependence between the civic and environmental dimensions of sustainable communities and that in this respect we need to explore how psychological bridging mechanisms between citizens, their communities and their environments can help build new pathways to individual and planetary wellbeing

Wine tasting: a neurophysiological measure of taste and olfaction interaction in the experience

In the last years have been provided evidences of sensory–sensory connectivity and influences of one modality over primary sensory cortex of another, a phenomena called crossmodality. Typically, for the wine tasting, sommeliers in addition to the use of the gustation, by the introduction of the wine into the mouth, employ the stimulation of the olfactory system both through a direct olfactory stimulation (by the nose) and a retro-nasal pathway (inhaling air while swirling the wine around in the mouth). Aim of the present study was to investigate the reaction to the wine gustation with and without the direct olfactory contribution, through an electroencephalographic index of approach or withdrawal (AW) motivation, and an autonomic index (Emotional Index – EI), deriving from the matching of heart rate and galvanic skin response activity and considered an indicator of emotional involvement. Results showed a statistically significant increase of the EI values in correspondence of wine tasting with the olfactory component (p<0.01) in comparison to the tasting without the direct olfactory contribution, and a trend of greater approach attitude was reported for the same condition. Data suggest an interaction of the two sensory modalities influencing the emotional and the cognitive aspects of wine tasting experience in a non-expert sampl