Search

The release of CeO 2 -bearing residues during the weathering of an acrylic stain enriched with CeO 2 nanomaterial designed for wood protection (Nanobyk brand additive) was studied under two different scenarios: (i) a standard 12-weeks weathering protocol in climate chamber, that combined condensation, water spraying and UV–visible irradiation and (ii) an alternative accelerated 2-weeks leaching batch assay relying on the same weathering factors (water and UV), but with a higher intensity of radiation and immersion phases. Similar Ce released amounts were evidenced for both scenarios following two phases: one related to the removal of loosely bound material with a relatively limited release, and the other resulting from the degradation of the stain, where major release occurred. A non-linear evolution of the release with the UV dose was evidenced for the second phase. No stabilization of Ce emissions was reached at the end of the experiments. The two weathering tests led to different estimates of long-term Ce releases, and different degradations of the stain. Finally, the photo-degradations of the nanocomposite, the pure acrylic stains and the Nanobyk additive were compared. The incorporation of Nanobyk into the acrylic matrix significantly modified the response of the acrylic stain to weathering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial "retrograde" signaling may stimulate organelle biogenesis as a compensatory adaptation to aberrant activity of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. To maintain energy-consuming processes in OXPHOS deficient cells, alternative metabolic pathways are functionally coupled to the degradation, recycling and redistribution of biomolecules across distinct intracellular compartments. While transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial network expansion has been the focus of many studies, the molecular mechanisms promoting mitochondrial maintenance in energy-deprived cells remain poorly investigated. We performed transcriptomics, quantitative proteomics and lifespan assays to identify pathways that are mechanistically linked to mitochondrial network expansion and homeostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans lacking the mitochondrial calcium uptake protein 1 (MICU-1/MICU1). To support our findings, we carried out biochemical and image analyses in mammalian cells and mouse-derived tissues. We report that micu-1(null) mutations impair the OXPHOS system and promote C. elegans longevity through a transcriptional program that is independent of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter MCU-1/MCU and the essential MCU regulator EMRE-1/EMRE. We identify sphingosine phosphate lyase SPL-1/SGPL1 and the ATFS-1-target HOPS complex subunit VPS-39/VPS39 as critical lifespan modulators of micu-1(null) mutant animals. Cross-species investigation indicates that SGPL1 upregulation stimulates VPS39 recruitment to the mitochondria, thereby enhancing mitochondria-lysosome contacts. Consistently, VPS39 downregulation compromises mitochondrial network maintenance and basal autophagic flux in MICU1 deficient cells. In mouse-derived muscles, we show that VPS39 recruitment to the mitochondria may represent a common signature associated with altered OXPHOS system. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized SGPL1/VPS39 axis that stimulates intracellular organelle interactions and sustains autophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis in OXPHOS deficient cells. [Display omitted] • micu-1(null) nematodes are long-lived mitochondrial mutants. • MICU-1/MICU1 deficiency stimulates VPS-39/VPS39 and SPL-1/SGPL1 upregulation. • VPS-39 sustains mitochondrial network expansion in micu-1(null) nematodes. • VPS39 and SGPL1 expression influences mitochondria-lysosome contact sites in MICU1 deficient cells. • VPS39/SGPL1 signaling may be a common signature of mitochondrial deficient cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Only a small proportion of subjects referring to hospitals for hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity receives antiviral therapy. Aim: To evaluate the rate of antiviral treatment and the causes for no treatment in HCV-RNA positive subjects seen in hospital settings. Patients and methods: A prospective study enrolling over a 6-month period (February–July 2009) all consecutive anti-HCV positive subjects initially referred (naïve patients) to 12 liver units in Southern Italy for HCV treatment. Results: Out of 608 subjects evaluated, 74 (12.2%) had no detectable HCV-RNA in the serum and thus were excluded. Of the remaining 534 HCV-RNA positive subjects, 357 (66.9%) were not treated for the following reasons: 49.9% were older than 65 years of age (75% of them >70 years), 14.3% had normal liver enzymes, 13.2% had compensated/decompensated cirrhosis, 10.4% refused treatment, 9.8% had ongoing substance or alcohol abuse. Multivariate analysis showed that females (O.R. 2.27; C.I. 95% 1.05–4.90) and subjects with low educational level (O.R. 4.38; C.I. 95% 1.27–15.11) were more likely to decline therapy. Conclusions: The majority of patients with HCV infection does not receive antiviral treatment. The effectiveness of the current standard therapy for HCV infection is low despite its good efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: On 25–28 November 2008 the second European Communication Conference took place in Barcelona, bringing together media and communication researchers from across the continent. Hosted by the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the event is co-organised by the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA). Among the thematic sections of the Association, Radio Research, and Communication and Democracy’s panels discussed a wide range of recent research in the area of community media. The findings emerging from the presentations did highlight the contributions of community radio stations operating in Europe and Africa to the plurality of voices available at the local level and their empowering potential for social groups often underserved by mainstream media. Moreover, the discussed case studies in the areas of alternative and radical media did help to map out emerging practices of both progressive and conservative social movements, including television and internet-based platforms across Europe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the last three decades the emergence and development of community media across Europe has been mainly characterised by the political and social contexts at the national levels and, consequently, the sector is shaped by a range of opportunities and challenges that depend on the status of current policy, legislation and funding regimes in each country. Where at the pan-European level, since the 1970s, the Council of Europe has been supporting community media as a means for pluralism and diversity in the media, as well as a tool to promote social cohesion, in the European Union audiovisual and media policies, community media have been largely overlooked. In 2008 the Culture and Education Committee of the European Parliament promoted a report to support community media in the Union, signalling a new development pursuing to influence media policy discussion in the member states. This article aims to trace the contours of community media’s route across European media policies to assess how its practice has been shaped so far and discuss the emerging issues that are likely to influence its near future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The new generation of media technologies and the success of the so-called ‘Web 2.0’ platforms has put at the centre of academic and industry discussions the participatory potential of internet-based media. ‘Old’ participatory platforms, alternative and community using traditional broadcasting or print outlets, though, have a long history of close involvement of their audiences in practices that have put communities’ communicative needs at the centre of their everyday work and fought for the democratization of media systems. Despite their financial and organisational weaknesses as individual stations or projects, community media are being increasingly recognised as the third and distinct sector of broadcasting by recent policy and regulatory developments in Europe and across the globe. The contributions present in this issue present the opportunities and challenges that are characterising the sector at this time, as the switchover to digital broadcasting platforms, and the need of constant presence at the European Union and Council of Europe levels to make sure that community media are considered with equal dignity among other broadcasters in media policy debates. Practice-based accounts also show the contribution of community media to intercultural dialogue, an impressive range of interactions with civil society organisations present in their communities, and the potential of giving voice to local and diasporic communities through innovative combinations of FM and web-based broadcasting. Finally, this special issue also shows evidence of the important role that civil society plays in the production of situated knowledge along, and in collaboration with, ongoing academic research in this area of study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Professional, long-term physical training is often associated with morphological and metabolic changes in the heart. This study was undertaken to assess the left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) morphology and function and the LV high-energy phosphates of athletes trained to a sustained power or aerobic exercise. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the LV and RV and phosphorous 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the LV were performed by means of a 1.5-T clinical scanner in 23 elite track sprinters (sustained power or anaerobic power sprint training, 100-400 m) or marathon runners (sustained aerobic endurance training) and in 10 sedentary, young, lean men. Results: Athletes had LV hypertrophy and unaffected chamber size, systolic and diastolic functions, and high-energy phosphates metabolism. Also, the RV of the athletes was hypertrophied in comparison with that of the nonathletic controls, and the systolic and diastolic functions were unaffected; the chamber volume was higher in the sprinters (end-diastolic volume 190 ± 15 mL) in comparison with that of the marathon runners (174 ± 19 mL, P < .05) and controls (168 ± 19 mL, P < .01) even if this difference, when adjusted for body surface area, was maintained only when compared with that of controls (P < .02). Conclusions: Left ventricular and RV hypertrophy in athletes is associated with normal systolic and diastolic functions and resting cardiac energy metabolism, supporting its benign nature. A more pronounced RV dilatation was found in the anaerobic power athletes and further investigation is warranted to establish the clinical significance of this training effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]