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The purpose of this paper is the comparison between the original and restored carbonate material of the bell tower of the Church Matrix in the Longobucco village (Calabria, Italy), built in Romanic style during the XII or XIII century. The characterization of the original and restored material was performed through micromorphological, petrographic and geochemical approaches utilizing optical and electron microscopy (SEM) observations, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), mercury porosimetry, and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Both materials are composed of low-magnesium calcite with siliciclastic inclusions, more abundant in calcarenites. The main differences are linked to the texture of the two rocks. The very porous continental calcareous tufa is made up of microbialitic boundstones with stromatolitic and thrombolytic-like microfacies. The marine calcarenite is composed of bioclastic grain stones and has a low porosity. The study shows the importance of the micromorphological and geochemical approach for the characterization of the physical-chemical properties of carbonate materials utilized in restoration and suggest that, for any restoration, the monument and territory history, but also the deeply knowledge of the material is deemed necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been implicated in transmitting signals across the extra- and intra-cellular compartments, thus allowing environmental stimuli to elicit critical biological responses. As GPCRs can be activated by an extensive range of factors including hormones, neurotransmitters, phospholipids and other stimuli, their involvement in a plethora of physiological functions is not surprising. Aberrant GPCR signaling has been regarded as a major contributor to diverse pathologic conditions, such as inflammatory, cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases. In this regard, solid tumors have been demonstrated to activate an angiogenic program that relies on GPCR action to support cancer growth and metastatic dissemination. Therefore, the manipulation of aberrant GPCR signaling could represent a promising target in anticancer therapy. Here, we highlight the GPCR-mediated angiogenic function focusing on the molecular mechanisms and transduction effectors driving the patho-physiological vasculogenesis. Specifically, we describe evidence for the role of heptahelic receptors and associated G proteins in promoting angiogenic responses in pathologic conditions, especially tumor angiogenesis and progression. Likewise, we discuss opportunities to manipulate aberrant GPCR-mediated angiogenic signaling for therapeutic benefit using innovative GPCR-targeted and patient-tailored pharmacological strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The archaeological excavation of ‘Piazza Bovio’ at Naples has yielded a large deposit, characterized by exceptional findings relating to the production of a glass workshop dated to the sixth to seventh centuries ad. The workshop features, coupled with the presence of broken glass for recycling and abundant glass scrap, leads us to identify the area as part of a secondary workshop. Selected finished objects and glass scraps were characterized by SEM/EDS and LA–ICP–MS and compared with major compositional groups of glass recognized in the western Mediterranean during the first millennium ad. The aim is to verify the hypothesis of a secondary production in Naples, using raw glass from the Levant area. Three different natron groups were identified on the basis of the colour and the chemical composition. The naturally coloured (blue–green) group is consistent with Levantine I glass. The yellow–green group is associated with HIMT glass, while the colourless glass was produced with different raw materials and probably in another specialized workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Notch signaling pathway acts in both physiological and pathological conditions, including embryonic development and tumorigenesis. In cancer progression, diverse mechanisms are involved in Notch-mediated biological responses, including angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT). During EMT, the activation of cellular programs facilitated by transcriptional repressors results in epithelial cells losing their differentiated features, like cell–cell adhesion and apical–basal polarity, whereas they gain motility. As it concerns cancer epithelial cells, EMT may be consequent to the evolution of genetic/epigenetic instability, or triggered by factors that can act within the tumor microenvironment. Following a description of the Notch signaling pathway and its major regulatory nodes, we focus on studies that have given insights into the functional interaction between Notch signaling and either hypoxia or estrogen in breast cancer cells, with a particular focus on EMT. Furthermore, we describe the role of hypoxia signaling in breast cancer cells and discuss recent evidence regarding a functional interaction between HIF-1α and GPER in both breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). On the basis of these studies, we propose that a functional network between HIF-1α, GPER and Notch may integrate tumor microenvironmental cues to induce robust EMT in cancer cells. Further investigations are required in order to better understand how hypoxia and estrogen signaling may converge on Notch-mediated EMT within the context of the stroma and tumor cells interaction. However, the data discussed here may anticipate the potential benefits of further pharmacological strategies targeting breast cancer progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]