Stability and disassembly properties of human naïve Hsp60 and bacterial GroEL chaperonins.

Human Hsp60 chaperonin and its bacterial homolog GroEL, in association with the corresponding co-chaperonins Hsp10 and GroES, constitute important chaperone systems promoting the proper folding of several mitochondrial proteins. Hsp60 is also currently described as a ubiquitous molecule with multiple roles both in health conditions and in several diseases. Naïve Hsp60 bearing the mitochondrial import signal has been recently demonstrated to present different oligomeric organizations with respect to GroEL, suggesting new possible physiological functions. Here we present a combined investigation with circular dichroism and small-angle X-ray scattering of structure, self-organization, and sta…

Leach-Proof Sol–Gel Microcapsules as Curing Agents for One-Pot Thermosetting Resins

The sol-gel microencapsulation of free-radical initiator benzoyl peroxide in sol-gel methyl-modified silica microcapsules of core/shell geometry allows curing of acrylate-based polyurethane and polyester resin formulations sprayed from a pressurized can without the need to compartmentalize reactants from the initiator to cross-link. These results open the route to widespread application of sol-gel microcapsules to efficiently cure polymer and composite mixtures that are widely used as functional coatings, molding compounds, adhesives, and sealants.

Behavior-modifying and insecticidal effects of plant extracts on adults of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera Tephritidae)

The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata is a major pest of fruit orchards worldwide. In order to develop control methods based on natural products, particularly required in organic farming, a laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the response of adults to leaf extracts from four plant species: Ruta graveolens, Eriobotrya japonica, Rubus ulmifolius, and Ficus carica. Air-dried leaf powders were subjected to an ethanolic cold extraction. Chemical composition was assessed by GC/MS analysis. Extracts were tested in laboratory bioassays to assess the electroantennographic (EAG) response, attraction/repellence toward ovipositing females, and induced mortality toward adults. Among th…

Properzio e Cornelio Gallo: il modello 'cogente', il modello 'sfuggente'

Se la scoperta del papiro di Qaṣr Ibrîm ha ampliato le nostre conoscenze sulla produzione di Cornelio Gallo, la fisionomia di questi distici ha consentito di retrodatare l’apparizione del servitium amoris e delle lamentele sulla nequitia puellae restituendo a Gallo la paternità di entrambi e alla sua poesia un ruolo paradigmatico. Viceversa, per quel che concerne il fr. 4, il complesso legame che intercorre fra le Muse, Licoride e l’autore non permette di ipotizzare diretti influssi sulla creazione della figura della puella carminum iudex compiuta da Properzio soprattutto nel secondo libro delle Elegie. Un modello soggetto a continui riadattamenti appare viceversa il fr. 3, dedicato alla ma…

Molecular genetics of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa: A multicentric study

EVpedia: a community web portal for extracellular vesicles research

Abstract Motivation: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are spherical bilayered proteolipids, harboring various bioactive molecules. Due to the complexity of the vesicular nomenclatures and components, online searches for EV-related publications and vesicular components are currently challenging. Results: We present an improved version of EVpedia, a public database for EVs research. This community web portal contains a database of publications and vesicular components, identification of orthologous vesicular components, bioinformatic tools and a personalized function. EVpedia includes 6879 publications, 172 080 vesicular components from 263 high-throughput datasets, and has been accessed more tha…

Renal function is impaired in normotensive chronic HCV patients: role of insulin resistance.

Renal dysfunction is an independent predictor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We investigated whether chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the related insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia influence renal function in comparison with a group of healthy subjects and with another group with metabolic syndrome. We enrolled 130 newly diagnosed HCV outpatients matched for age and gender with 130 patients with metabolic syndrome and 130 healthy subjects. Renal function was evaluated by calculation of glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR, mL/min/1.73 m2) using the CKD-EPI equation. The following laboratory parameters were measured: fasting plasma glucose and insulin, total, LDL- and…

Ultrapotassic volcanism from the waning stage of the Neotethyan subduction: a key study from the Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan suture belt, central northern Turkey

Upper Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary successions in the Central Pontides of Turkey, related to the closure of the Tethys Ocean, include a variety of alkaline ultrapotassic igneous rocks that have been classified as leucititic, lamprophyric and trachytic based on their mineral paragenesis. Although the ultrapotassic rocks display a range of K 2 O contents (0·9–8·4 wt %) that may partly reflect alteration processes, they display subduction-related trace element signatures characterized by significant enrichment of large ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements relative to high field strength elements and heavy rare earth elements and depletion of Nb and Ta. However, their initial…

Monitoring of Eyjafjallajökull volcanic aerosol by the new European Skynet Radiometers (ESR) network

Abstract The passage of a volcanic plume produced by the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano in April 2010 was measured by the sun–sky radiometers of the new European SkyRad (ESR) network. This network consists of several European sites located in the U.K., Poland, Spain and Italy, and therefore was particularly suitable for monitoring the transport of volcanic ash generated by this particular volcano. The atmospheric aerosol characteristics at each site affected by the passage of the volcanic cloud, during and after the eruption, have been reconstructed. For the U.K. ESR sites three events were identified by the sun–sky radiometers: the first, from April 15 to April 16 2010, related to th…

Electroweak measurements in electron-positron collisions at W-boson-pair energies at LEP

The ALEPH, DELPHI, L3, OPAL collaborations and LEP Electroweak Working Group.-- arXiv:1302.3415

Family reunification: the case of the Muslim migrant children in Europe

Adopting a child is not a legal concept recognized in Islamic law, who however giving a great importance to orphans and children's rights, has introduced the legal institute of the "Kafala". This institute can be defined as a commitment by the "kafil" to ensure maintenance, education and protection of a minor "makfoul" until his legal majority, in the same way as would a father to his son, but without creating any family relationship. For these reasons the “Kafala” can not be compared to an international adoption, which, contrariwise, entails the creation of a parent-child relationship. If, in one side the Kafala is a legal concept recognized by International Law, in particular by the Unite…

International Law, War and Human Rights: The Humanitarian Response

One of the most important issues in the international political and legal system comprises the interaction between human rights and humanitarian law. In particular, the separate treatment of such areas of law allows to delineate different contents and application procedures, while the joint consideration is not simple, in view of the reasons for which each of the two has been created. Humanitarian law is a set of rules of conduct limited to a political and legal situation pathological, and presumably temporary. Against this regulatory system, the international law of human rights is the establishment of a political and legal concept of man as endowed with certain inalienable rights that con…