Progression of inflammatory osteolytic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis, is characterized by increased production of proinflammatory mediators and matrix-degrading enzymes ...by macrophages and increased osteoclastic activity. Phenotypic changes in macrophages are central to the healing process in virtually all tissues. Using a murine model of periodontitis, we assessed the timing of macrophage phenotypic changes and the impact of proresolving activation during inflammatory osteolysis and healing. Proinflammatory macrophage activation and TNF-α overproduction within 3 wk after induction of periodontitis was associated with progressing bone loss. Proresolving activation within 1 wk of stimulus removal and markers of resolving macrophages (IL-10, TGF-β, and CD206) correlated strongly with bone levels. In vivo macrophage depletion with clodronate liposomes prevented bone resorption but impaired regeneration. Induction of resolving macrophages with rosiglitazone, a PPAR-γ agonist, led to reduced bone resorption during inflammatory stimulation and increased bone formation during healing. In vitro assessment of primary bone marrow–derived macrophages activated with either IFN-γ and LPS (proinflammatory activation) or IL-4 (proresolving activation) showed that IL-4-activated cells have enhanced resolving functions (production of anti-inflammatory cytokines; migration and phagocytosis of aged neutrophils) and exert direct anabolic actions on bone cells. Cystatin C secreted by resolving but not inflammatory macrophages explained, in part, the macrophage actions on osteoblasts and osteoclasts. This study supports the concept that therapeutic induction of proresolving functions in macrophages can recouple bone resorption and formation in inflammatory osteolytic diseases.
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CMK, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The well-known Crab Nebula is at the center of the SN1054 supernova remnant. It consists of a rotationally powered pulsar interacting with a surrounding nebula through a relativistic particle wind. ...The emissions originating from the pulsar and nebula have been considered to be essentially stable. Here, we report the detection of strong gamma-ray (100 mega-electron volts to 10 giga-electron volts) flares observed by the AGILE satellite in September 2010 and October 2007. In both cases, the total gamma-ray flux increased by a factor of three compared with the non-flaring flux. The flare luminosity and short time scale favor an origin near the pulsar, and we discuss Chandra Observatory x-ray and Hubble Space Telescope optical follow-up observations of the nebula. Our observations challenge standard models of nebular emission and require power-law acceleration by shock-driven plasma wave turbulence within an approximately 1-day time scale.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
► A prestressed unbounded reinforcement (PUR) system was developed. ► The performance of cracked beams strengthened by the PUR system was examined. ► A theoretical method was developed to estimate ...the crack arrest prestressing level.
Bonded fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) reinforcement systems have traditionally been found to be an efficient method for improving the lifespan of fatigued metallic structures and have attracted much research attention. Nevertheless, the performance of a bonded FRP reinforcement system under fatigue loading is basically dependent on the FRP-to-metal bond behavior. In this paper, a prestressed unbonded reinforcement (PUR) system was developed. The proposed PUR system can be used as an alternative to bonded FRP reinforcement, particularly when there is concern about the effects of high ambient temperatures, moisture, water and fatigue loading on the FRP-to-metal bond behavior. The performance of cracked beams strengthened by the PUR system was compared with that of cracked beams strengthened by the prestressed bonded reinforcement (PBR) system. A theoretical method was developed to estimate the level of prestressing sufficient to arrest fatigue crack growth (FCG). Furthermore, the method was used to examine different passive, semi-active and active crack modes with a loaded, strengthened beam. The mechanism by which a prestressed FRP plate forms a compressive stress field at the vicinity of the crack tip was also examined. Finite element (FE) modeling was conducted and the results were compared with experimental results.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
We propose a probabilistic model to determine landslide hazard at the basin scale. The model predicts where landslides will occur, how frequently they will occur, and how large they will be. We test ...the model in the Staffora River basin, in the northern Apennines, Italy. For the study area, we prepare a multi-temporal inventory map through the interpretation of multiple sets of aerial photographs taken between 1955 and 1999. We partition the basin into 2243 geo-morpho-hydrological units, and obtain the probability of spatial occurrence of landslides by discriminant analysis of thematic variables, including morphological, lithological, structural and land use. For each mapping unit, we obtain the landslide recurrence by dividing the total number of landslide events inventoried in the unit by the time span of the investigated period. Assuming that landslide recurrence will remain the same in the future, and adopting a Poisson probability model, we determine the exceedance probability of having one or more landslides in each mapping unit, for different periods. We obtain the probability of landslide size by analysing the frequency–area statistics of landslides, obtained from the multi-temporal inventory map. Assuming independence, we obtain a quantitative estimate of landslide hazard for each mapping unit as the joint probability of landslide size, of landslide temporal occurrence and of landslide spatial occurrence.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
5.
The antiphospholipid triangle GALLI, M.
Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis,
February 2010, Volume:
8, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
See also Pengo V, Ruffatti A, Legnani C, Gresele P, Barcellona D, Erba N, Testa S, Marongiu F, Bison E, Denas G, Banzato A, Padayattil Jose S, Iliceto S. Clinical course of high‐risk patients ...diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome. This issue, pp 237–42.
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FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
One of the conclusions of the subcommittee meeting on Lupus Anticoagulant/Phospholipid dependent antibodies, held in Geneva on 2007, was the need to update the guidelines on Lupus Anticoagulant (LA) ...detection. Particular emphasis was given to several aspects discussed in this official communication. A new paragraph is dedicated to the patient selection, and aims to minimize inappropriate requests for LA testing. Modalities for blood collection and processing are fully delineated and the choice of tests is limited to dRVVT and a sensitive aPTT. Calculation of cut‐off values for each diagnostic step are clearly stated. A final paragraph reports the interpretation of the results in general and in particular situations.
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FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract
We present the results of a systematic search and analysis of GRBs detected by the Astrorivelatore Gamma ad Immagini LEggero (AGILE) MiniCALorimeter (MCAL; 0.4–100 MeV) over a time frame of ...13 yr, from 2007 to 2020 November. The MCAL GRB sample consists of 503 bursts triggered by MCAL, 394 of which were fully detected onboard with high time resolution. The sample consists of about 44% short GRBs and 56% long GRBs. In addition, 109 bursts triggered partial MCAL onboard data acquisitions, providing further detections that can be used for joint analyses or triangulations. More than 90% of these GRBs were also detected by the AGILE Scientific RateMeters (RMs), providing simultaneous observations between 20 keV and 100 MeV. We performed spectral analysis of these events in the 0.4–50 MeV energy range. We could fit the time-integrated spectrum of 258 GRBs with a single power-law model, resulting in a mean photon index 〈
β
〉of−2.3. Among them, 43 bursts could also be fitted with a Band model, with peak energy above 400 keV, resulting in a mean low-energy photon index 〈
α
〉 = −0.6, a mean high-energy photon index 〈
β
〉 = −2.5, and a mean peak energy 〈
E
p
〉 = 640 keV. The AGILE MCAL GRB sample mostly consists of hard-spectrum GRBs, with a large fraction of short-duration events. We discuss properties and features of the MCAL bursts, whose detections can be used to perform joint broad-band analysis with other missions, and to provide insights on the high-energy component of the prompt emission in the tens of mega electron volt energy range.
Paraffin waxes are widely recognized as emerging marine pollutants, even their classification by the recent monitoring programs and the knowledge of their occurrence, and sources of contamination in ...marine ecosystems are poorly defined and reported. Wax presence and distribution have been evaluated in different environmental compartments in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Mediterranean Sea) floating on the sea surface and stranded on beaches, focussing on their characterization, accumulation areas and pollution inputs. More than 2500 yellow paraffin residues were detected and analysed in the study area showing a prevailing dimension smaller than 5 mm. The Genoa Canyon and the waters facing Gorgona Island resulted in the more polluted areas representing two distinct hotspots of wax accumulation potentially related to the high density of tanker vessels sailing to and from the harbour of Genova and Livorno. Higher concentrations of beached particles were found along the Tuscan coast (11 items/100 m) and on Pianosa Island (110 items/m2). This study gives valuable insights into paraffin wax pollution in the Pelagos Sanctuary, emphasizing the need for harmonized monitoring and detection methods to elucidate the potential impacts on marine organisms. Moreover, mitigating actions are crucial to prevent and curb the waxes pollution of marine ecosystems.
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•Urgently needs to standardise wax classification and assess its ecological implications.•Paraffin waxes have been detected floating on the sea surface and stranded on beaches.•ATR-FTIR used for chemical identification reveals the PE composition of waxes.•Paraffin wax distribution seems to be related to tanker navigation routes in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea.•Management strategies are essential to address and reduce the impacts of waxes.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Though the mechanisms by which cytosolic/intracellular proteins are regulated by the post-translational addition of palmitate adducts is well understood, little is known about how this lipid ...modification affects secreted ligands, such as Wnts. Here we use mutational analysis to show that differential modification of the two known palmit(e)oylated residues of Wnt1, C93 and S224, has both overlapping and distinct consequences. Though the relative roles of each residue are similar with respect to stability and secretion, two distinct biological assays in L cells show that modification of C93 primarily modulates signaling via a ß-catenin independent pathway while S224 is crucial for ß-catenin dependent signaling. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of Porcupine (Porcn), an upstream regulator of Wnt, by IWP1, specifically inhibited ß-catenin dependent signaling. Consistent with these observations, mapping of amino acids in peptide domains containing C93 and S224 demonstrate that acylation of C93 is likely to be Porcn-independent while that of S224 is Porcn-dependent. Cumulatively, our data strongly suggest that C93 and S224 are modified by distinct enzymes and that the differential modification of these sites has the potential to influence Wnt signaling pathway choice.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Management of hydropower plants strongly influences streamflow dynamics and hence the interaction between surface water and groundwater. As dam operations cause variations in river stages, these can ...result in changes in the groundwater level at multiple temporal scales. In this work, we study the case of an Alpine aquifer, where weekly fluctuations are particularly pronounced. We consider an area with four river reaches differently impacted by reservoir operations and investigate the influence of these rivers on the common aquifer. Using continuous wavelet transform and wavelet coherence analysis, we show that weekly fluctuations in the groundwater table are particularly pronounced in dry years, in particular in the winter season, although the area of the aquifer impacted by dam operations remains almost unchanged. We thus observe that in Alpine catchments, surface water‐groundwater interaction is sensitive to the conditions determined by a specific hydrological year. We also investigate the influences of the river‐aquifer water fluxes and show that under dry conditions hydropeaking mainly affects their temporal dynamics. Our observations have significant consequences for predicting nutrient and temperature dynamics/regimes in river‐aquifer systems impacted by hydropower plant management.
Plain Language Summary
The operation of hydropower plants affects the water level in the downstream part of the river, which in turn can alter the groundwater level. In this work, we study an Alpine aquifer crossed by rivers differently impacted by hydropower production. We use statistical tools to analyze the interaction between the rivers and the groundwater, and observe that this interaction is sensitive to the conditions of the hydrological year, such as dry periods.
Key Points
Wavelet power spectrum and coherence analysis is used to study river‐aquifer interactions under dam operations in an Alpine catchment
The impact of reservoir operations on the aquifer is strongest under low flow conditions but the area impacted shows little variation
Under low flow conditions, dam operations considerably influence the frequency of the water exchange between rivers and aquifer
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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