Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) coat protein (CP) replacement vectors have been used previously to silence transgenes (e.g., the green fluorescent protein gene) but have not been effective for ...silencing endogenous plant genes. New TBSV vectors which retained the CP gene were developed by engineering an XhoI restriction site in three positions (3f, CEB, and CEA) of the pTBSV-100 infectious clone. Magnesium chelatase (ChlH) and phytoene desaturase (PDS) were chosen as targets for endogenous gene silencing. Initial experiments using CP replacement vectors with a 230-bp sense or antisense ChlH insert gave a silencing phenotype prominent only in the first new leaves above those inoculated. No silencing phenotype was apparent beyond these leaves whereas, for PDS, no silencing phenotype was observed. When plants were inoculated with the XhoI insert vectors containing ChlH and PDS sequences, plants showed a silencing phenotype extensively throughout the challenged plant, indicating an improved ability for virus movement and silencing in Nicotiana benthamiana host plants. Silencing efficiencies were quantified using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, indicating specific silencing effects of each individual silencing vector. Only one recombinant vector (pPD-3f5), where the XhoI insert was at the 3' end of the CP gene, failed to give effective silencing. Here, we show that our new CP-retaining TBSV vectors (CEA-CEB) form typical TBSV virions, retain silencing inserts of variable lengths (110 to 260 nucleotides), and can systemically silence endogenous genes in N. benthamiana.
•ZERO-PLUS offers a three-step approach to design and construct NZE settlements.•NZE settlement implementation includes multiple benefits and equally many barriers.•Barriers to NZE settlements ...implementation deal with the stakeholders’ interactions.•A stakeholders’ analysis reveals the need for holistic and inclusive collaboration.
The transition of the Net Zero Energy (NZE) concept from building to settlement scale has been theoretically approached in a number of studies. This paper examines the benefits and barriers associated with the implementation of the NZE concept at a settlement scale, by adopting a comprehensive approach for the design, construction, and monitoring of NZE settlements that was developed in the EU Horizon 2020 ZERO-PLUS project and implemented in four case studies. First, the ZERO-PLUS approach is presented, followed by an analysis of associated benefits and encountered barriers. Next, the roles of different stakeholders involved in the process are identified through stakeholder analysis. Finally, new dynamics that emerge and are critical to the successful implementation of NZE settlements are discussed. The ZERO-PLUS approach leads to achieving NZE settlements with an initial cost that is on average 16% lower than the cost of a typical NZEB, while achieving a net regulated energy consumption of less than 20 kWh/m2/year and renewable energy production of more than 50 kWh/m2/year. The implementation of NZE settlements revealed two main issues: 1) the external barriers that were raised by the planning policies and regulations; and 2) the challenge of managing and integrating the needs and requirements of project stakeholders. To overcome these barriers while reaping the benefits of the approach, the management of such projects needs to focus from the outset on the establishment of a project management structure that will ensure the coordination and integration of various stakeholders. The use of a standardized collaboration protocol from the preliminary design stage is recommended to facilitate future projects. Simultaneously, regulations need to be updated towards facilitating NZE settlement implementation.
•Indoor winter temperature in low income Cypriot households is continuously measured.•Surveys on energy/environmental/social/health data are submitted to the residents.•Cluster analysis on the indoor ...temperature is performed in January–February 2014.•Average indoor temperatures are found lower than the accepted comfort zone limits.•Thermal comfort and health conditions are found acceptable-good for each cluster.
The recent global financial and economic crisis is responsible for the significant decrease of heating energy consumption, especially in low income population that mostly live in non-thermally-performing houses. The decrease of the residents’ income results in lower internal temperatures, hence lower thermal levels and lower indoor environmental quality, which are responsible for health problems and inadequate quality of life for the residents.
This paper deals with the problem of energy poverty. The aim is to investigate whether the economic crisis, which affects the heating energy consumption and the indoor thermal quality, has consequences on the social and health problems in low income families of the Republic of Cyprus, during the winter season. To this aim, an extensive continuous monitoring study in terms of indoor air temperatures was carried out, for one year since December 2013 in 38 low income households in Limassol and Paphos, two of the main districts of the island after the capital of Nicosia. Additionally, questionnaires regarding energy, environmental, social, and health data were designed and collected from each household. Consequently, a cluster analysis, based on the monitoring data related to the first two months of 2014 and the survey’s responses, was performed.
Poor households of Cyprus were found to live in low indoor thermal quality, i.e. their average indoor air temperatures (ranging from 16 to 19°C) are lower than the accepted limits of the comfort zone for the island (18–21°C in winter). However, the thermal comfort and health conditions were found between the “acceptable” and “good” levels for each cluster. Additionally, a strong correlation is detected between the average internal temperature of the dwellings and the average income of the selected families. Finally, the heating energy consumption was found to be lower than the country’s average for the clusters characterized by high and partial deprivation.
This review examines the symptomatological characteristics of Plum pox, European stone fruit yellow and Peach latent mosaic, the most economically important diseases of peach orchards in Italy. ...Symptomatology is underlined on flowers, fruits and branches, as well as detection methods, while particular attention is given to transmission aspects and protection measures to control these syndromes
Vengono prese in considerazione le principali caratteristiche sintomatologiche della vaiolatura delle drupacee, del giallume europeo delle drupacee e del mosaico latente del pesco in piante della drupacea. Viene inoltre dedicata particolare attenzione alle modalità di trasmissione e di lotta contro queste malattie
Abstract The present study deals with the preparation of albumin nanocapsules containing fenretinide and their evaluation in experimental models of human non-small cell lung cancer. These ...nanocapsules showed enhanced antitumor activity with respect to free fenretinide due to the solubilization effect of albumin on the hydrophobic drug, known to improve bioavailability. The high expression of caveolin-1 on the A549 cell surface further enhanced the antitumor activity of the nanoencapsulated fenretinide. Caveolin-1 favored albumin uptake and improved the efficacy of the fenretinide-loaded albumin nanocapsules, especially in 3-D cultures where the densely packed 3-D structures impaired drug diffusibility and severely reduced the activity of the free drug. The efficacy of the fenretinide albumin nanocapsules was further confirmed in tumor xenograft models of A549 by the significant delay in tumor progression observed with respect to control after intravenous administration of the novel formulation. From the Clinical Editor This study describes the preparation of fenretinide containing albumin nanocapsules and their evaluation in experimental models of non-small cell lung cancer, showing enhanced antitumor activity compared to free fenretinide.
Background: Human glioblastoma (hGBM) is the most common and feared primary malignant brain tumor. Preventive measures, such as lifestyle changes, are ineffective in averting this neoplastic disease. ...Early diagnosis and treatment do not improve outcomes, precluding the utility of screening for GBM. Virtually, all GBM patients relapse within 7-10 months of the end of first-line treatments. For these reasons, the choice of treatment should be personalized and new therapeutic approaches sought. Sigma receptors (SR1 and SR2) are members of a class of unique receptors integrated in plasma, mitochondrial and endoplasmatic reticulum membranes of mammalian cells. They have received much attention in the drug-discovery field other than their role in several neurological disorders, also for their probable involvement in cancer cell proliferation and aggressiveness. Therefore, inhibitors or modulators are of great interest as novel therapeutic anti-cancer drugs. In the present work, 3-D primary cultures of GBM endowed with sternness features, were used to evaluate the antitumor activity of a novel sigma receptor modulator RC-106. Materials and Methods: Primary cultures of hGBM have been isolated starting from surgical tumor samples and grown as monolayer or 3D-cell cultures. Growth and morphology of the 3D tumor colonies were monitored by open-source AnaSP and ReViSP software tools. The molecular analyses were performed by flow cytometry and qRT-PCR. Cell viability was measured using CellTiter-Glo® 3D Cell Viability and MTS Assays. The apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: We established a number of cell lines with different growth properties and different sternness gene expression profile. In particular, we evaluated the expression levels of the target genes S1R and S2R, and of tumor propagating cells surface markers as EphA2, CD44 and CD133 by flow cytometric and qRT-PCR analysis. Notwithstanding the inter-tumor heterogeneity observed, the treatment with RC-106 significantly inhibited cell viability and caused a strong apoptosis induction in alt cell cultures tested. Conversely, the exposure to different concentrations of temozolomide did not induce significant cytotoxic effet. In particular, RC-106 (25mM) induced an impairment of in vitro clonogenic ability of GBM cells, and such effect persist until 42 days, the longest time tested. Conclusions: The high level of expression of S1R and S2R gene detected in patient's tissues and in their derivative cell lines support the interest for these receptors as potentially druggable targets also in GBM. Notably, RC-106 compound showed to be able to induce a strong cytotoxic effect in all the cell lines tested both actively proliferating and in low proliferation rate in response to serum deprivation.
Pear decline (PD) infection in pear trees [Pyrus communis L.; phytoplasmas] Poggi Pollini, C. (Bologna Univ. (Italy). Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroambientali); Pignatta, D. (Bologna Univ. (Italy). Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroambientali); Giunchedi, L. (Bologna Univ. (Italy). Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroambientali)
Informatore fitopatologico,
(Jun 2005), Letnik:
55, Številka:
6
Magazine Article
Pear decline (PD) is one of the most dangerous diseases of pear trees. The causal agent is a phytoplasma belonging to the apple proliferation group (16SrX). This review examines the different ...syndromes caused by PD related to cultivar and rootstock susceptibility. Particular attention is also given to transmission aspects, especially the role of pear psyllids and the seasonal variations in detection and transmission of PD phytoplasma. All these aspects are discussed in terms of their implication for pear cultivation and propagation. As regards the defence measures, control of the over wintering adults of pear psyllids appears to be of fundamental importance for preventing the spread of the disease
La moria del pero (PD) rappresenta oggi uno dei principali problemi sanitari in tutte le aree di coltivazione di questa pomacea. L'agente causale è un fitoplasma appartenente al gruppo tassonomico degli scopazzi del melo (16SrX). Questo articolo esamina le diverse sintomatologie della PD in rapporto alla suscettibilità della cultivar e del portinnesto. Viene dedicata inoltre una particolare attenzione alle modalità di trasmissione, specialmente al ruolo delle psille del pero e alle variazioni stagionali relative alla diagnosi e alla trasmissione del fitoplasma della PD. Tutti questi aspetti vengono discussi in relazione alle loro implicazioni per la coltivazione e la moltiplicazione del pero. Riguardo alle modalità di lotta, il controllo degli adulti svernanti di psille del pero risulta di importanza fondamentale per prevenire la diffusione della malattia.
To describe the long term safety and efficacy of pegvisomant (PEGV), and the predictors of treatment response in patients with acromegaly in the real life setting.
We retrospectively reviewed the ...clinical, hormonal and radiological data of acromegalic patients treated with PEGV in 17 Argentine centers.
Seventy-five patients (age range 22-77, 51 females) with acromegaly have been treated with PEGV for up to 118 months (median 27 months). Before PEGV, 97.3% of patients had been treated with medical therapy, surgery and/or radiotherapy, two patients had no previous treatment. At that time, all patients had an IGF-1 above the upper normal limit (ULN) (mean 2.4 x ULN ± 0.98, range 1.25-7). At diagnosis of acromegaly 84% presented macroadenomas, prior to PEGV only 23,5% of patients remained with tumor remnant > 1 cm, the remaining showed normal or less than 1 cm images. Disease control (IGF-1 ≤ 1.2 x ULN) was achieved in 62.9% of patients with a mean dose of 11.8 mg/day. Thirty-four patients (45%) received PEGV monotherapy, while 41 (55%) received combined therapy with either somatostatin analogues and/or cabergoline. Adverse events related to PEGV were: local injection site reaction in 5.3%, elevated liver enzymes in 9.3%, and tumor size growth in 9.8%. Pre-PEGV IGF-I level was the only predictor of treatment response: 2.1 x ULN vs 2.8 x ULN in controlled and uncontrolled patients respectively (p < 0.001).
this long term experience indicates PEGV treatment was highly effective and safe in our series of Argentine patients with acromegaly refractory to standard therapies. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2019;63(4):320-7.
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