Leptin and UCP1 genes are reciprocally regulated in brown adipose tissue

In a previous work we showed that only unilocular brown adipocytes express leptin. In order to investigate the relationship between leptin gene expression, brown adipocyte activity (UCP1) and morphology, we studied brown adipose tissues of mice (C57BL, female, 7 weeks old) acclimated at different temperatures (19 degrees C and 28 degrees C). Northern blot analysis revealed higher leptin and lower UCP1 mRNA levels in mice exposed to 28 degrees C than in the group acclimated at 19 degrees C. Also protein expression (immunohistochemistry) differed in the two groups: at 28 degrees C brown adipocytes were positive for leptin and only weakly positive for UCP1, while at 19 degrees C they were leptin-negative and UCP1-positive. In the former group the morphology was mainly unilocular. Our data suggest that in brown adipocytes of warm-acclimated mice leptin expression is closely related to their hypoactive functional stage, as evidenced by their low level of UCP1 synthesis and the morphological rearrangement of the lipid content (unilocularity).     

Anti-CD3 antibody induces long-term remission of overt autoimmunity in nonobese diabetic mice

We examined the axotomy-induced expression of the immediate-early gene (proto-oncogene) c-jun in the Ola mouse mutant (which exhibits a dramatic delay in Wallerian degeneration) using immunocytochemistry to c-JUN (the protein product of the protooncogene c-jun). c-JUN-like protein immunoreactivity was present in a similar proportion (ca. 60%) of L4 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuronal cell bodies from normal (C57/6J/BL) and Ola mice at 1 week following a sciatic nerve crush (axotomy). In normal mice, the intensity and extent of staining declined at 3 weeks, correlating with regeneration. In contrast, Ola mice exhibited a marked reduction (by 77%) in the extent of staining at 2 weeks. At 3 weeks (coinciding to the onset of extensive axonal degeneration in this mutant), staining levels were increased to 1 week levels. Taken together, these findings suggest that multiple signals (both independent and dependent on axonal degeneration) regulate c-jun expression in DRG neuronal cell bodies.     

A Vision-Based Guidance System for UAV Navigation and Safe Landing using Natural Landmarks

In this paper a vision-based approach for guidance and safe landing of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is proposed. The UAV is required to navigate from an initial to a final position in a partially known environment. The guidance system allows a remote user to define target areas from a high resolution aerial or satellite image to determine either the waypoints of the navigation trajectory or the landing area. A feature-based image-matching algorithm finds the natural landmarks and gives feedbacks to an onboard, hierarchical, behaviour-based control system for autonomous navigation and landing. Two algorithms for safe landing area detection are also proposed, based on a feature optical flow analysis. The main novelty is in the vision-based architecture, extensively tested on a helicopter, which, in particular, does not require any artificial landmark (e.g., helipad). Results show the appropriateness of the vision-based approach, which is robust to occlusions and light variations.     

A Visual Global Positioning System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Used in Photogrammetric Applications

The combination of photogrammetric aerial and terrestrial recording methods can provide new opportunities for photogrammetric applications. A UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), in our case a helicopter system, can cover both the aerial and quasi-terrestrial image acquisition methods. A UAV can be equipped with an on-board high resolution camera and a priori knowledge of the operating area where to perform photogrammetric tasks. In this general scenario our paper proposes vision-based techniques for localizing a UAV. Only natural landmarks provided by a feature tracking algorithm will be considered, without the help of visual beacons or landmarks with known positions. The novel idea is to perform global localization, position tracking and localization failure recovery (kidnapping) based only on visual matching between current view and available georeferenced satellite images. The matching is based on SIFT features and the system estimates the position of the UAV and its altitude on the base of the reference image. The vision system replaces the GPS signal combining position information from visual odometry and georeferenced imagery. Georeferenced satellite or aerial images must be available on-board beforehand or downloaded during the flight. The growing availability of high resolution satellite images (e.g., provided by Google Earth or other local information sources) makes this topic very interesting and timely. Experiments with both synthetic (i.e., taken from satellites or datasets and pre elaborated) and real world images have been performed to test the accuracy and the robustness of our method. Results show sufficient performance if compared with common GPS systems and give a good performance also in the altitude estimation, even if in this last case there are only preliminary results.     

Influence of SiO2 Addition on the Properties of Al2O3‐CaO‐CaF2 Slag

The Al₂O₃‐CaO‐CaF₂ slag system is used in making special quality steels by the electro‐slag re‐melting process (ESR). The purpose of our investigation was to analyse ESR slag that contained SiO₂. The slag samples with different SiO₂ fractions (0 ‐ 20 mass %) were examined by chemical analysis, differential thermal analysis, simultaneous thermal analysis, X‐ray diffraction, electron microscopy and wetting angle measurement. With addition of SiO₂ the polymerization of slags was increased due to the formation of new silicate complex compounds that influenced their melting points and wetting angles.     

Effects of compressed carbon dioxide treatment on the specificity of oxidase enzymatic complexes from mate tea leaves

This work evaluates the enzymatic activity of peroxidase (POD) and polyphenoloxidase (PPO) present in the crude extract of mate tea leaves (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hill) submitted to compressed CO₂. The effects of temperature, exposure time, solvent reduced density, pressure, and depressurization rate on the activity of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase were evaluated through a fractionated factorial experimental planning. Results show that temperature of 30 °C, pressure of 70.5 bar, exposure time of 1 h, depressurization rate of 10 kg m⁻³ min⁻¹ and carbon dioxide reduced density of 0.60 led to an enhancement of around 25% in the peroxidase activity and a polyphenoloxidase activity loss of 50%. Using this experimental condition, thermal stability at low temperature (−4 °C) and the influence of successive pressurization/depressurization cycles were determined. Results suggest that it is possible to increase the specificity of the enzymatic extract towards enhancing POD or PPO activity depending on the experimental condition employed, and that the processing of enzymatic complexes with compressed CO₂ may be a promising route to increase the specificity of enzymatic extracts.     

3D Patterning within Hydrogels for the Recreation of Functional Biological Environments

Biological structures are inherently complex in nature. Structural hierarchy, chemical anisotropy, and compositional heterogeneity are ubiquitous in biological systems and play a key role in the functionality of living systems. For decades, methods such as soft lithography have enabled recreation of such arrangements through precise spatial control of molecular patterns in 2D. With technological advances and increasing understanding of molecular and structural biology, there has been an increasing interest in recreating such spatial organizations in 3D. In this review, a comprehensive summary of the latest technologies being used to create 3D patterns of functional molecules within hydrogels for tissue engineering applications is presented. The review is divided into five groups of technologies defined according to the main driving force used to fabricate the patterns including light, precise chemical design, microfluidics, 3D printing, and non-contact forces (i.e. electric, magnetic, or acoustic fields and self-assembly).     

High strength steel tension splices with one or two bolts

The paper presents experimental research of 38 tension splices with bolts in double shear. Steel grade S690 was used. The objective of the research was to determine ductility and resistance of such connections. The experimental resistance is compared to Eurocode provisions and a new bearing resistance formula is developed. The reliability assessment is given according to EN 1990, Annex D.     

Available N in the root area for citrus orchards fertilized with sulphur-coated-urea and ammonium nitro-sulphate

The leaching of N fertilizers in citrus causes important N losses, thus exerting a direct influence on the economy of citrus production, and may have negative consequences on the environment. The use of controlled-release N fertilizers may reduce leaching and be a solution to this problem.The amounts of available N, expressed as g of N in a soil cylinder corresponding to the drip area of the tree and of 0–60 cm depth, were compared at different vegetative periods, in an orange orchard, for four treatments; two doses of a standard fertilizer (ammonium nitrate sulphate, ANS), applied in the quantities of 11.55 kg N/ha (ANS-350) and 49.50 kg N/ha (ANS-2×750) and two doses of a slow-release fertilizer (sulphur-coated urea, SCU), applied in the quantities of 11.55 kg N/ha (SCU-350) and 24.25 kg N/ha (SCU-750), in nine consecutive years. A treatment without N (no N) was included. Available total N throughout the whole of the vegetative cycle, and in partial critical periods, has been determined as another comparison term. In the same way, non-available N has been measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment.SCU treatment applied in low doses and only in spring maintained high levels of available N in soil during the vegetative cycle, reducing N losses, compared with ANS treatments. In the whole annual cycle, the amounts of N with SCU-750 were 32% greater than those of ANS-(2×750) though the quantity of N applied with this treatment was double. SCU-350 provided 5% less N than ANS-(2×750), though the dose of N applied with this treatment was 4.3 times greater. In all critical periods, SCU-750 maintained quantities of N higher than those with ANS-(2×750). For SCU-350, the amounts of N were similar to those of ANS-(2×750), except in summer as a consequence of the second fertilization with ANS-(2×750). Non-available N increased during the experiment in all treatments providing N except in ANS-350. A good crop and quality of fruits were obtained with SCU treatments, which in conjuntion with the reduction in dosage and rates justified its application.