Leak Detection in a Branched System by Inverse Transient Analysis with the Admittance Matrix Method

The diagnosis of water distribution systems by means of the inverse transient analysis requires efficient and reliable numerical models. In the network admittance matrix method (NAMM) the 1-D waterhammer governing equations are integrated in the frequency domain and organized in a laplacian matrix form. The NAMM is particularly suitable for complex systems because of this structure and can be used for the system diagnosis, including leak sizing and location. In this paper a damaged branched system is considered and the diagnosis is performed by means of the NAMM using experimental data from laboratory transient tests. Two different boundary conditions are used in the implementation of the NAMM and the leak is located and sized with a reasonable approximation. An extended numerical investigation is also presented and allows confirmation of the results for different leak locations. The use of the NAMM for the leak detection and the validation using experimental data on a branched system are the main original contributions of this work. The successful diagnosis indicates promising results for applications in more complex systems.     

Probiotics Function in Preventing Atopic Dermatitis in Children

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by relapsing eczematous injuries and severe pruritus. In the last few years, the AD prevalence has been increasing, reaching 20% in children and 10% in adults in high-income countries. Recently, the potential role of probiotics in AD prevention has generated considerable interest. As many clinical studies show, the gut microbiota is able to modulate systemic inflammatory and immune responses influencing the development of sensitization and allergy. Probiotics are used increasingly against AD. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the probiotics mediated anti-allergic effect remain unclear and there is controversy about their efficacy. In this narrative review, we examine the actual evidence on the effect of probiotic supplementation for AD prevention in the pediatric population, discussing also the potential biological mechanisms of action in this regard.     

Design and Synthesis of Novel Raman Reporters for Bioorthogonal SERS Nanoprobes Engineering

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) exploiting Raman reporter-labeled nanoparticles (RR@NPs) represents a powerful tool for the improvement of optical bio-assays due to RRs’ narrow peaks, SERS high sensitivity, and potential for multiplexing. In the present work, starting from low-cost and highly available raw materials such as cysteamine and substituted benzoic acids, novel bioorthogonal RRs, characterized by strong signal (10³ counts with FWHM < 15 cm⁻¹) in the biological Raman-silent region (>2000 cm⁻¹), RRs are synthesized by implementing a versatile, modular, and straightforward method with high yields and requiring three steps lasting 18 h, thus overcoming the limitations of current reported procedures. The resulting RRs’ chemical structure has SH-pendant groups exploited for covalent conjugation to high anisotropic gold-NPs. RR@NPs constructs work as SERS nanoprobes demonstrating high colloidal stability while retaining NPs’ physical and vibrational properties, with a limit of detection down to 60 pM. RR@NPs constructs expose carboxylic moieties for further self-assembling of biomolecules (such as antibodies), conferring tagging capabilities to the SERS nanoprobes even in heterogeneous samples, as demonstrated with in vitro experiments by transmembrane proteins tagging in cell cultures. Finally, thanks to their non-overlapping spectra, we envision and preliminary prove the possibility of exploiting RR@NPs constructs simultaneously, aiming at improving current SERS-based multiplexing bioassays.     

Resolution of Inflammation in Retinal Disorders: Briefly the State

The most frequent retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and posterior uveitis, are underlined by oxidative stress or aging-induced retinal inflammation, which contributes to vision impairing or loss. Resolution of inflammation is emerging as a critical phase able to counteract the inflammatory process leading to the progression of retinal damage. Particularly, pro-resolving mediators (PMs) play a key role in the modulation of inflammatory exudates and could be considered a new target to be investigated in different inflammatory-autoimmune pathologies. Here, we highlight the most recent studies concerning the role of the main PMs (lipoxins, resolvins, prtectins, maresins and annexins) in retinal inflammation, in order to collect the best evidence in the field of inflammatory retinal damage resolution and to propose novel pharmacological approaches in the management of the most common retinal diseases.     

Crosstalk between β2- and α2-Adrenergic Receptors in the Regulation of B16F10 Melanoma Cell Proliferation

Adrenergic receptors (AR) belong to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily and regulate migration and proliferation in various cell types. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether β-AR stimulation affects the antiproliferative action of α2-AR agonists on B16F10 cells and, if so, to determine the relative contribution of β-AR subtypes. Using pharmacological approaches, evaluation of Ki-67 expression by flow cytometry and luciferase-based cAMP assay, we found that treatment with isoproterenol, a β-AR agonist, increased cAMP levels in B16F10 melanoma cells without affecting cell proliferation. Propranolol inhibited the cAMP response to isoproterenol. In addition, stimulation of α2-ARs with agonists such as clonidine, a well-known antihypertensive drug, decreased cancer cell proliferation. This effect on cell proliferation was suppressed by treatment with isoproterenol. In turn, the suppressive effects of isoproterenol were abolished by the treatment with either ICI 118,551, a β2-AR antagonist, or propranolol, suggesting that isoproterenol effects are mainly mediated by the β2-AR stimulation. We conclude that the crosstalk between the β2-AR and α2-AR signaling pathways regulates the proliferative activity of B16F10 cells and may therefore represent a therapeutic target for melanoma therapy.     

Estimating data-driven coronavirus disease 2019 mitigation strategies for safe university reopening

After one pandemic year of remote or hybrid instructional modes, universities struggled with plans for an in-person autumn (fall) semester in 2021. To help inform university reopening policies, we collected survey data on social contact patterns and developed an agent-based model to simulate the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in university settings. Considering a reproduction number of R₀ = 3 and 70% immunization effectiveness, we estimated that at least 80% of the university population immunized through natural infection or vaccination is needed for safe university reopening with relaxed non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). By contrast, at least 60% of the university population immunized through natural infection or vaccination is needed for safe university reopening when NPIs are adopted. Nevertheless, attention needs to be paid to large-gathering events that could lead to infection size spikes. At an immunization coverage of 70%, continuing NPIs, such as wearing masks, could lead to a 78.39% reduction in the maximum cumulative infections and a 67.59% reduction in the median cumulative infections. However, even though this reduction is very beneficial, there is still a possibility of non-negligible size outbreaks because the maximum cumulative infection size is equal to 1.61% of the population, which is substantial.     

Overexpression of miR-375 and L-type Amino Acid Transporter 1 in Pheochromocytoma and Their Molecular and Functional Implications

Pheochromocytoma (Pheo) is a tumor derived from chromaffin cells. It can be studied using 18F-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)—positron emission tomography (PET) due to its overexpression of L-type amino acid transporters (LAT1 and LAT2). The oncogenic pathways involved are still poorly understood. This study examined the relationship between ¹⁸F-DOPA-PET uptake and LAT1 expression, and we explored the role of miR-375 and putative target genes. A consecutive series of 58 Pheo patients were retrospectively analyzed, performing ¹⁸F-DOPA-PET in 32/58 patients. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to assess the expression of LAT1, LAT2, phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), miR-375, and the major components of the Hippo and Wingless/Integrated pathways. Principal germline mutations associated with hereditary Pheo were also studied. Pheo tissues had significantly higher LAT1, LAT2, and PNMT mRNA levels than normal adrenal tissues. MiR-375 was strongly overexpressed. Yes-associated protein 1 and tankyrase 1 were upregulated, while beta-catenin, axin2, monocarboxylate transporter 8, and Frizzled 8 were downregulated. A positive relationship was found between ¹⁸F-DOPA-PET SUV mean and LAT1 gene expression and for 24 h-urinary norepinephrine and LAT1. This is the first experimental evidence of ¹⁸F-DOPA uptake correlating with LAT1 overexpression. We also demonstrated miR-375 overexpression and downregulated (Wnt) signaling and identified the Hippo pathway as a new potentially oncogenic feature of Pheo.     

Carbon xerogels as electrodes for supercapacitors. The influence of the catalyst concentration on the microstructure and on the electrochemical properties

Carbon xerogels, synthesized through the resorcinol–formaldehyde polycondensation and subsequently dried under subcritical condition, have been studied as electrodes for supercapacitors. In particular, the influence of the catalyst concentration has been investigated by systematically changing the amount of catalyst (Na₂CO₃) utilized to synthesize the xerogels. To clarify the effect of such variable, both the surface properties and the electrochemical behavior of xerogel-based supercapacitors have been examined. From the xerogels characterization, it can be inferred that the amount of catalyst used has a strong influence on the properties of the material. Contrary to what happens with carbon aerogels, the best properties are obtained with the xerogels synthesized with the least amount of catalyst: in this case the highest measured specific capacitance of the supercapacitor cells, which is assembled coupling two symmetric electrodes in series, is 25 F/g, value that corresponds to a single-electrode specific capacitance of 100 F/g. The maximum energy storage capacity in an aqueous electrolyte is 3.1 Wh/kg. Using more concentrated catalyst solutions, the gel microstructure becomes finer, composed of smaller particles and pores, which in turns leads to an increase of the capillary drying stresses and to the collapse of the organic structure. Consequently, the shrinkage of the gels is high and the final carbon xerogels do not posses sufficient surface area and porosity to store a significative amount of energy.     

Proximity to chipboard industries increases the risk of respiratory and irritation symptoms in children: The Viadana study

Emissions related to wood production processes are a recognized health hazard for professionally exposed subjects. The health effects of living close to wood industries are not known, particularly in the pediatric population. We aimed at investigating if living close to chipboard industries is a health hazard for the children in the Viadana district (Northern Italy).In December 2006, all the children (3-14 years) living in the Viadana district, where two big chipboard industries are located, were surveyed through a parental questionnaire (n = 3854). The children were geocoded, and the distance of their houses/schools from the closest wood plant was computed.Independently of sex, age, nationality, residential area, traffic, parents' education, passive/parental smoking, questionnaire compiler and his/her environmental concern, the children living at < 2 km from chipboard industries had a greater prevalence of respiratory (OR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.11, 1.60), cough/phlegm (OR = 1.43, 95%CI: 1.08, 1.88), nose/throat/mouth (OR = 1.47, 95%CI: 1.23, 1.75), eye (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.48) symptoms, school-days lost (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.48), and emergency (OR = 2.14, 95%CI: 1.47, 3.11) and hospital (OR = 2.21, 95%CI: 1.17, 4.18) admissions. There was an inverse dose-response relationship between the adverse health outcomes considered and the distance from the plants. The attributable fractions for the children living close to the chipboard industries were substantial, ranging from 13% (eye symptoms) to 27% (cough/phlegm).The present findings suggest that emissions from chipboard industries might have a serious impact on children's health status and should therefore be reduced and closely monitored.     

Densified aligned carbon nanotube films via vapor phase infiltration of carbon

We report a simple way to produce fully densified aligned carbon nanotube (ACNT) films. The simultaneous growth of nanotubes and densification of the ACNT films by carbon infiltration in the interstitial spaces between nanotubes are accomplished in a single step by the combination of the chemical vapor deposition and chemical vapor infiltration processes. Scanning electron microscope analysis and microbalance measurements showed that after infiltration, the diameters of nanotubes and bulk density of the ACNT films are increased by an order of magnitude (and hence the porosity of the ACNT films is decreased). Transmission electron microscope and Raman scattering analysis showed that after densification, the nanotubes are conformally coated by partially graphitized pyrolytic carbon. The compressive modulus of the densified ACNT films could be increased by three orders of magnitude compared to the pristine ACNT films. Electrical properties are also measured for the densified films showing marked differences with the ACNT films. The property enhanced densified ACNT films constitute a new form of carbon-carbon nanocomposites and could find applications as multifunctional nanocomposites.