Effect of growth factors and lactogenic hormones on expression of plasminogen activator-related genes and cell proliferation in a bovine mammary epithelial cell line

There is conflicting evidence in the literature as to whether up-regulation of urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) expression is related to bovine mammary epithelial cell growth. The role of u-PA receptor (u-PAR) and that of the plasminogen activator inhibitors type 1 and type 2 (PAI-1 and PAI-2) in bovine mammary epithelial cell proliferation is not known. The effect of growth factors and various hormones known to affect mammary function on expression of u-PA, u-PAR, PAI-1, PAI-2 and cell proliferation using the BME-UV1 bovine mammary epithelial cell line was examined. Cell proliferation was measured using the MTT assay and direct cell enumeration. Results showed that both IGF-1 and EGF increased cell proliferation but EGF was a more potent mitogen than IGF-1. Furthermore, IGF-1 increased by 2-fold expression of both u-PA and u-PAR while EGF increased by 3·8-fold the expression of only u-PAR. Both growth factors had no effect on expression of PAI-1 and PAI-2. In a manner consistent with changes in gene expression, EGF and to a lesser extent IGF-1 up-regulated total cell associated, membrane-bound and secreted u-PA activity. Thus, a strong correlation exists between u-PAR gene expression along with the activity of u-PA present on cell membranes and cell proliferation. Dexamethasone, prolactin and surprisingly insulin had no effect on cell proliferation. Dexamethasone alone and when combined with insulin or prolactin up-regulated gene expression of both PAI- and PAI-2 but not that of u-PA and u-PAR. Decreased total cell-associated, membrane-bound and secreted u-PA activity was detected in cells cultured in the presence of dexamethasone when combined with insulin or prolactin. However no such effect was observed in the presence of dexamethasone alone. Thus, dexamethasone acting synergistically with prolactin or insulin inhibits the activation of the plasmin-plasminogen system but this inhibition is not correlated with any changes in cell proliferation.     

Allergenicity of different apple cultivars assessed by means of skin prick test and sensitisation to recombinant allergens Mal d 1 and Mal d 3 in a group of Italian apple‐allergic patients

To evaluate differences in skin prick test response to apple cultivars in patients with apple allergy, 19 patients (10 adults and 9 children) underwent prick‐to‐prick skin prick test with eleven commercial and noncommercial apple cultivars, and evaluation of specific IgE to apple and recombinant apple allergens Mal d 1 and Mal d 3. The results show that different reactions might be evoked in a single patient by different apple cultivars and also separately for the peel and the pulp of a single cultivar. The cultivars were ranked according to their allergenicity level, being Jonathan, Jonagold, Golden Delicious and Fiesta the most allergenic when considering the pulp and Gala, Fiesta and Golden Delicious for the peel. Further investigations are needed to clarify if a single patient can be allergic only to well‐defined apple cultivars and which allergometric tests are necessary to ascertain this.     

Time-Driven Access and Forwarding for Industrial Wireless Multihop Networks

The deployment of wireless technologies in industrial networks is very promising mainly due to their inherent flexibility. However, current wireless solutions lack the capability to provide the deterministic, low delay service required by many industrial applications. Moreover, the high level of interference generated by industrial equipment limits the coverage that ensures acceptable performance. Multihop solutions, when combining frame forwarding with higher node density, have the potential to provide the needed coverage while keeping radio communication range short. However, in multihop solutions, the medium access time at each of the nodes traversed additively contributes to the end-to-end delay and the forwarding delay (i.e., the time required for packets to be processed, switched, and queued) at each node is to be added as well. This paper describes time-driven access and forwarding, a solution for guaranteeing deterministic delay, at both the access and forwarding level, in wireless multihop networks, analyzes its properties, and assesses its performance in industrial scenarios.     

Learning in linear neural networks: a survey

Networks of linear units are the simplest kind of networks, where the basic questions related to learning, generalization, and self-organization can sometimes be answered analytically. We survey most of the known results on linear networks, including: 1) backpropagation learning and the structure of the error function landscape, 2) the temporal evolution of generalization, and 3) unsupervised learning algorithms and their properties. The connections to classical statistical ideas, such as principal component analysis (PCA), are emphasized as well as several simple but challenging open questions. A few new results are also spread across the paper, including an analysis of the effect of noise on backpropagation networks and a unified view of all unsupervised algorithms.     

An optical hydrogen sensor based on a Pd-capped Mg thin film wedge

We report the proof of concept of a thin film device with a one-to-one relationship between the H₂ partial pressure and the lateral progression of a visible optical change along a thin film multilayer 70 mm long. The device basically consists of a sensing Mg layer with a thickness gradient. It exploits the thickness dependence of the hydrogenation thermodynamics of Pd-capped Mg thin films. The optical change of the Mg layer during the metal–hydride transition can be detected both in reflection and in transmission. This optical sensor allows a continuous measurement of hydrogen partial pressure in the range between 200 and 4000 Pa.     

Multi-model unfalsified adaptive switching supervisory control

The paper studies how on-line inferring stability of a potential control-loop consisting of an uncertain plant interconnected in feedback with a candidate controller using plant I/O pairs recorded while the plant is possibly driven by a different controller. In such a context, a convenient tool to work with is to resort to the conceptual entity of a virtual reference (VR). The adopted approach consists of embedding, in the so-called unfalsified adaptive switching control schemes based on VR, a family of nominal models pairwise associated with the given candidate controllers. The result is that the supervised switching mechanism can moderate the chance that destabilizing controllers be switched-on and, hence, reduce both the magnitude and time durations of “learning” transients after start-up, while, in contrast with pre-existing multi-model based methods, stability in-the-large is guaranteed under the minimal conceivable assumption that a stabilizing candidate controller exist.     

Nano-sized ceramic inks for drop-on-demand ink-jet printing in quadrichromy

Nano-sized ceramic inks suitable for ink-jet printing have been developed for the four-colours CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) process. Nano-inks of different pigment composition (Co(1-x)O, Au(0), Ti(1-x-y)Sb(x)Cr(y)O2, CoFe2O4) have been prepared with various solid loadings and their chemicophysical properties (particle size, viscosity, surface tension, zeta-potential) were tailored for the ink-jet application. The pigment particle size is in the 20-80 nm range. All these nano-suspensions are stable for long time (i.e., several months) due to either electrostatic (high zeta-potential values) or steric stabilization mechanisms. Both nanometric size and high stability avoid problems of nozzle clogging from particles agglomeration and settling. Nano-inks have a Newtonian behaviour with relatively low viscosities at room temperature. More concentrated inks fulfil the viscosity requirement of ink-jet applications (i.e., < 35 mPa x s) for printing temperatures in between 30 and 70 degrees C. Surface tension constraints for ink-jet printing are fulfilled by nano-inks, being in the 35-45 mN x m(-1) range. The nano-sized inks investigated behave satisfactorily in preliminary printing tests on several unfired industrial ceramic tiles, developing saturated colours in a wide range of firing temperatures (1000-1200 degrees C).     

Biocomposites based on poly(lactic acid) and superabsorbent sodium polyacrylate

In this research work, biocomposites based on crosslinked particles of sodium polyacrylate, commonly used as superabsorbent polymer, and poly(l ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) were developed to obtain superabsorbent thermoplastic products, and to elucidate the role of this type of filler (i.e., polymeric crosslinked particles) on their overall physical‐mechanical behavior. Samples prepared by melt‐blending components with different ratios showed a biphasic system with a uniform distribution of particles, with diameters up to about 50 μm, within the PLLA polymeric matrix. The polymeric biphasic system, coded PLASA, that is, superabsorbent PLLA, showed excellent swelling properties, demonstrating that crosslinked particles retain their superabsorbent ability even if distributed in a thermoplastic polymeric matrix. The thermal characteristics of the biocomposites evidenced enhanced thermal stability in comparison with neat PLLA and also mechanical properties are markedly modified by addition of crosslinked particles, revealing a regular stiffening effect. Furthermore, in aqueous environments the particles swell and are leached from PLLA matrix generating very high porosity. These new open‐pore foams coded PLASAW, that is, PLASA after water treatment, produced in absence of organic solvents and chemical foaming agents, with good physicomechanical properties appear very promising for several applications, for instance in tissue engineering for scaffold production. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45655.