Il-15/il-15rα signalling and synaptic transmission: a crosstalk between the immune and the nervous system?

Immune and nervous system have been traditionally considered separately, but from ‘90s many studies had unraveled the deep interconnection and interdependence between these two systems, enough to coin the term “neuroimmune system” to define this relationship. While it was well known that central nervous system (CNS) actively communicates with the immune system to control immune responses both centrally and peripherally, the opposite action was just recently discovered. Related to the role of immune system in defending and react, the interactions between immune system and CNS have been classically studied in contexts of neuroinflammation such as trauma, injury and disease [1] [2]. Recent evidences about the neuroinflammatory process in non-pathological conditions and the discovery of the important involvement of adaptive immune system in healthy brain development and activity [3], have opened many questions about physiological neuroimmune cross-talk. In this view, the cytokine network, well known to operate in a bidirectional way affecting both immune and nervous system, has a pivotal role in neuroimmune cross-talk [4]. Traditionally seen as immunomodulators, in the last years has been evident that cytokines are also potent neuromodulators [5]. In the complex cytokine system, interleukin 15 (IL-15) is considered a bridge between adaptive and innate immune system and it is one of the first upregulated cytokines in neuroinflammation [6]. It has many bioregulatory roles which range from those of modulator of selected adaptive immune responses [7] [8] and central player in the development and homeostasis of several immunocyte populations [9] to those of a potent, general inhibitor of apoptosis in multiple systems [9]. Interestingly, has been shown that IL-15 and IL-15Rα deletions affect memory and neurotransmitters concentration suggesting a major role of this signalling in cerebral functions which cannot be compensated during the development [10] [11] [12]. IL-15Rα KO mice, in particular, show decreased retention of spatial memory and contextual fear, both related to hippocampus-dependent memory, and alteration in GABA concentration. Their hippocampal ultrastructure is, however, well preserved, suggesting that the modulatory changes may involve neural plasticity even if the exact role of IL15 in modulating neurotransmission has not been investigated so far. The understandings about the mechanism by which IL-15/IL-15Rα system affect the synaptic transmission may be useful to get insight into the mechanisms of cross talk between the immune and the nervous system and eventually to develop strategies to treat pathologies whose symptoms are memory impairments and neuroinflammation

Mal de amor: A dependência e obsessão das mulheres que amam demais

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Comunicação e Expressão. Jornalismo.Este Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso em forma de grande reportagem impressa traz histórias de mulheres que participam do grupo de apoio MADA (Mulheres que Amam Demais Anônimas) e mostra de que forma se dá a atuação dele na vida dessas mulheres. Como fonte, as frequentadoras, profissionais especializados em saúde mental e pesquisadores das patologias relacionadas aos problemas que elas desenvolvem. Embora ocorram mais de 45 encontros semanais do MADA em todo o país, durante a apuração, a reportagem acompanhou reuniões nas cidades de Curitiba e Porto Alegre

Retrofit of Massive Buildings in Different Mediterranean Climates. Inter-actions Between Mass, Additional Insulations and Solar Control Strategies.

In temperate climates, such as in most parts of Italy, it is necessary to limit both winter heat losses of buildings and their overheating in other periods. Moreover, in warmer Mediterranean climates the convenience of insulation against the building’s thermal inertia must also be evaluated. Therefore, when the energy renovation of an old building with heavy masonry is performed the problem is to optimize the position and the thickness of the additional insulation. In presence of extended glazed surfaces, the most appropriate solar control strategy should be defined too. Both issues are present in many old Italian public buildings. This paper deals with a computerized methodology for optimizing these choices by taking into account the interactions between thermal mass, additional insulation as well as internal and solar gains. The case study consists in a typical school building from the early 1900s. Building’s thermal behavior was simulated in different Italian climates: Bologna, Roma and Palermo. The effects of various solutions on energy demand and comfort were compared. The possible effects of different types of masonry, different building’s orientations and various intended uses were also explored. Simulation results show that the optimal intervention strategy, for the considered type of building, depends not only on the climate but also on the building’s intended use, which determines the internal gains and the time profile of use

Buildings with large glazed surfaces: optimization of solar control strategies in relation to the building's thermal inertia

Many temperate climates, like most of the Italians, are characterized by considerable daily temperature ranges. In these cases, the thermal inertia of the building structure has a significant influence on the management of solar and internal heat gains, then on energy demand for HVAC, especially during the cooling period. Winter and summer requirements regarding the thermal inertia may conflict with each other, particularly when the use of the building is discontinuous, as in the case of offices. A lower thermal inertia may allow a more rapid heating in the morning and lower nocturnal losses during the winter days, whereas a higher inertia may allow a better exploitation of night free cooling in the cooling period. In this study, a typical office room has been studied by means of computer simulations. The only external wall of the room faces south and is entirely glazed; therefore it requires some device for solar control to avoid glare phenomena and excessive solar gains, resulting in overeating and high cooling loads. Relatively to this room, the combined effects of some different solar control strategies and three different constructive technologies have been explored. They were used weather data of Gorizia, in the North East of Ital

Retrofit of Italian School Buildings : the Influence of Thermal Inertia and Solar Gains on Energy : Demand and Comfort

Most of the Italian school buildings were built before the 1973 energy crisis, so they need a retrofit to reduce their primary energy demand and improve indoor environment quality. Moreover, regardless of age, these buildings are equipped with large windows; therefore, it is generally necessary to improve the solar control strategy by means of more recent devices and technologies, in order to ensure the conditions of thermal and visual comfort while reducing the energy demand. Furthermore, the older buildings have heavy masonry, in these cases the problem is where it is more convenient to place an additional layer of insulation: inside or outside the buildings opaque envelope elements. This work is aimed to explore, only by means of computer simulations, the effects of various retrofit strategies on energy demand and general comfort conditions. A specific homemade software has been used. The examined strategies are characterized by different positions of the additional insulation and various solar control devices. At present, the case studies consist in two school buildings in the city of Bologna in Northern Italy. In order to assess the influence of internal gains and time profile of use, other possible uses for the same buildings, such as offices or dwellings, have been considered. Simulations results show that the external insulation is always the most performing, but the differences with the internal one are not relevant in the case of the classrooms. The differences increase with the reduction of internal gains and the extension of the daily time of use, therefore with the use as an office and even more with that as a dwelling. The use of slats inserted between glasses to control solar radiation can be proposed in any case and is useful for improving the luminous comfort, without significantly changing the energy demand for lighting, and consequently for cooling. Compared to this type of device, external slats provide less luminous comfort but better thermal comfort in the cooling period, however they reduce incoming luminous flux and involve a remarkable increase in energy demand, furthermore they cannot be proposed in a historical urban context

The Power of Experts in EU Environmental Policy Formulation: The EU Emission Trading Review and Auctioning of Emission Permits from an Epistemic Communities Approach

The aim of this study is to examine the role of knowledge societies, so called epistemic communities, in the problem-defining and initial decision-making stages of the EU policymaking process leading to a Proposal for amendment of Directive 2003/87/EC establishing the European Emission Trading System (EU ETS). Specifically in the decision to drastically increase the amount of allowances auctioned for the third phase of the EU ETS. It also includes a discussion on the implications of the findings for the notion of the EU suffering from a democratic deficit. The study attempts to uncover the possible influence an epistemic community on the 3rd meeting during the EU ETS Review in the spring/summer of 2007, argued to have laid the foundation for The Commission's proposal. Findings imply that influence was exerted by an epistemic community on The Commission by framing the issue and providing viable solutions in an atmosphere of uncertainty, and that the influence of epistemic communities can be seen as detrimental for the EU as a democratic organization from what is labelled as traditional democratic values. However, several problems with the theory are identified and cast a doubt on the findings, including epistemic communities? ability of coordinated action

Retrofit of Italian School Buildings. :The Influence of Thermal Inertia and Solar Gains on Energy Demand and Comfort

Most of the Italian school buildings were built before the 1973 energy crisis, so they need a retrofit to reduce their primary energy demand and improve the indoor environment quality. Moreover, regardless of age, these buildings have large windows; therefore, it is generally necessary to improve the solar control strategy. The older buildings have heavy masonry; in these cases, the problem is where it is more convenient to place an additional layer of insulation: inside or outside the buildings opaque envelope elements. This work explores, only by means of computer simulations, the effects of various retrofit strategies on energy demand and comfort conditions. The examined strategies are characterized by different positions of the additional insulation and various solar control strategies. The case studies consist of two school buildings of the city of Bologna, in Northern Italy. In order to assess the influence of internal gains and time profile of use, other possible uses for the same buildings, such as offices or dwellings, have been considered. Simulations results show that the external insulation is always the most performing, but the differences with the internal one are not relevant in the case of the classrooms. Differences increase with the reduction of the internal gains and with the extension of the daily use time. Small packable slats inserted between the glasses improve luminous comfort, and reduce energy demand. Larger external slats provide less luminous comfort but better thermal comfort in the cooling period; however, they increase the energy demand

Retrofit of massive buildings in different Mediterranean climates : Interactions between mass, additional insulations and solar control strategies

In temperate climates, such as most Italian ones, the need to limit both winter heat losses of buildings and their overheating in other periods is present. Moreover, in warmer Mediterranean climates the convenience of insulation against the thermal inertia of the building must also be evaluated. Therefore, when the energy renovation of an old building with heavy masonry is performed it is a question of optimizing the position and the thickness of the additional insulation. In presence of extended glazed surfaces, another problem is the choice of the solar control strategy. Both problems are present in many old Italian public buildings. In this paper is presented a computerized methodology for optimizing these choices taking into account the interactions between mass, additional insulation, internal and solar gains. The case study consists in a typical school building from the early 1900s. The thermal behavior of the building was simulated in different Italian climates: Bologna, Roma and Palermo. The effects on energy demand and comfort of various solutions were compared. The possible effects of different types of masonry, different building’s orientations and various intended uses were also explored. Simulation results provide some indications as function of climate and building’s intended use. They show that the ideal strategy of intervention, for the type of building considered, depends not only on the climate but also on the building’s intended use, which determines the internal gains and the time profile of use

A Survey of Musical Expectations in the Marine Forces Reserve Band stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana

This research document examines the musical expectations of United States Marines serving in the Marine Forces Reserve Band from 2017 to 2021. Chapter One of this study provides a detailed foundation of the musical and non-musical responsibilities of a United States Marine musician. Training regime, rehearsal schedule, and logistical area responsibilities will be described to help convey the full scope of duty. The source material for Chapter One includes dissertations, journal articles, published books, online sources, and interviews. Chapter Two provides results of a survey that was conducted with members of the band. The questions were designed to record the Marines’ musical backgrounds and determine whether those backgrounds had an effect on their expectations of the musical aspects of being a US Marine musician. This chapter also contains interviews with Marines who led chamber groups within the unit. The interview questions gauge the Marines’ level of prior training to lead an ensemble and it surfaces any potential for conflicts of interest between being a Marine and being a musician. The final chapter of this study analyzes the results of the surveys and interviews to determine how their musical expectations have been influenced by prior training. Through analysis of the surveys and interviews, this document establishes musical expectations for one of the ten United States Marine Corps Fleet Bands. It displays a unique perspective through the voice of United States Marine Corps musicians and their viewpoints can serve as a valuable addition to future research in the field of military music