Amyloid precursor protein, lipofuscin accumulation and expression of autophagy markers in aged bovine brain.

BACKGROUND: Autophagy is a highly regulated process involving the bulk degradation of cytoplasmic macromolecules and organelles in mammalian cells via the lysosomal system. Dysregulation of autophagy is implicated in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases and integrity of the autophagosomal - lysosomal network appears to be critical in the progression of aging. Our aim was to survey the expression of autophagy markers and Amyloid precursor protein (APP) in aged bovine brains. For our study, we collected samples from the brain of old (aged 11-20 years) and young (aged 1-5 years) Podolic dairy cows. Formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded sections were stained with routine and special staining techniques. Primary antibodies for APP and autophagy markers such as Beclin-1 and LC3 were used to perform immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Histologically, the most consistent morphological finding was the age-related accumulation of intraneuronal lipofuscin. Furthermore, in aged bovine brains, immunofluorescence detected a strongly positive immunoreaction to APP and LC3. Beclin-1 immunoreaction was weak or absent. In young controls, the immunoreaction for Beclin-1 and LC3 was mild while the immunoreaction for APP was absent. Western blot analysis confirmed an increased APP expression and LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and a decreased expression of Beclin-1 in aged cows. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that, in aged bovine, autophagy is significantly impaired if compared to young animals and they confirm that intraneuronal APP deposition increases with age.

Age-Related Changes in Skeletal Muscle of Cattle.

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, is a multifactorial condition that represents a major healthcare concern for the elderly population. Although its morphologic features have been extensively studied in humans, animal models, and domestic and wild animals, only a few reports about spontaneous sarcopenia exist in other long-lived animals. In this work, muscle samples from 60 healthy Podolica-breed old cows (aged 15-23 years) were examined and compared with muscle samples from 10 young cows (3-6 years old). Frozen sections were studied through standard histologic and histoenzymatic procedures, as well as by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis. The most prominent age-related myopathic features seen in the studied material included angular fiber atrophy (90% of cases), mitochondrial alterations (ragged red fibers, 70%; COX-negative fibers, 60%), presence of vacuolated fibers (75%), lymphocytic (predominantly CD8+) inflammation (40%), and type II selective fiber atrophy (40%). Immunohistochemistry revealed increased expression of major histocompatibility complex I in 36 cases (60%) and sarcoplasmic accumulations of ß-amyloid precursor protein-positive material in 18 cases (30%). In aged cows, muscle atrophy was associated with accumulation of myostatin. Western blot analysis indicated increased amount of both proteins-myostatin and ß-amyloid precursor protein-in muscles of aged animals compared with controls. These findings confirm the presence of age-related morphologic changes in cows similar to human sarcopenia and underline the possible role of amyloid deposition and subsequent inflammation in muscle senescence.

Assessment of the possible reuse of MSW coming from landfill mining of old open dumpsites.

The present study addresses the theme of recycling potential of old open dumpsites by using landfill mining. Attention is focused on the possible reuse of the residual finer fraction (<4 mm), which constitutes more than 60% of the total mined material, sampled in the old open dumpsite of Lavello (Southern Italy). We propose a protocol of analysis of the landfill material that links chemical analyses and environmental bioassays. This protocol is used to evaluate the compatibility of the residual matrix for the disposal in temporary storages and the formation of "bio-soils" to be used in geo-environmental applications, such as the construction of barrier layers of landfills, or in environmental remediation activities. Attention is mainly focused on the presence of heavy metals and on the possible interaction with test organisms. Chemical analyses of the residual matrix and leaching tests showed that the concentration of heavy metals is always below the legislation limits. Biological acute tests (with Lepidum sativum, Vicia faba and Lactuca sativa) do not emphasize adverse effects to the growth of the plant species, except the bioassay with V. faba, which showed a dose-response effect. The new developed chronic bioassay test with Spartium junceum showed a good adaptation to stress conditions induced by the presence of the mined landfill material. In conclusion, the conducted experimental activities demonstrated the suitability of the material to be used for different purposes.

The relation between glycemic control and HDL-C in type 2 diabetes: a preliminary step forward?

Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are associated with cardiovascular (CV) disease in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Unfortunately available drugs to increase HDL-C have failed to demonstrate a reduction in CV risk. We assessed the effect of improving glycemic control on HDL-C levels. A 6-month intervention resulted in significant improvement in HbA1c but not in HDL-C levels. However, when considering the subgroup of subjects with low levels of HDL-C at baseline, we found a significant and inverse relation between improvement in HbA1c and HDL-C levels.

Pyrolysis of polyethylene mixed with paper and wood: Interaction effects on tar, char and gas yields.

In the present study the interactions between the main constituents of the refuse derived fuel (plastics, paper, and wood) during pyrolysis were studied. Binary mixtures of polyethylene-paper and polyethylene/sawdust have been transformed into pellets and pyrolyzed. Various mixtures with different composition were analyzed and pyrolysis products (tar, gas, and char) were collected. The mixtures of wood/PE and paper/PE have a different behavior. The wood/PE mixtures showed a much reduced interaction of the various compounds because the yields of pyrolysis products of the mixture can be predicted as linear combination of those of the pure components. On the contrary, a strong char yield increase was found at a low heating rate for paper/PE mixtures. In order to explain the results, the ability of wood and paper char to adsorb and convert the products of PE pyrolysis into was studied. Adsorption and desorption tests were performed on the char obtained by paper and wood by using n-hexadecane as a model compound for the heavy products of PE pyrolysis.

Influence of flue gas cleaning system on the energetic efficiency and on the economic performance of a WTE plant.

Gas cleaning systems of MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) incinerators are characterised by the process employed to remove acid gases. The commonly used technologies for acid gas removal are: (1) dry treatment with Ca(OH)(2) or (2) with NaHCO(3), (3) semi-dry process with Ca(OH)(2) and (4) wet scrubbing. In some recent plants beside a wet cleaning system, a dry neutralization with Ca(OH)(2) is used. The goal is to reduce the amount of acid to be removed in the wet treatment and the liquid effluents produced. The influence of these different technologies on the electrical efficiency was investigated by a detailed simulation of a WTE (Waste To Energy) plant with a capacity of about 100,000 t/y of MSW. The effects of the different gas cleaning systems on electrical efficiency were significant. The difference of efficiency between the most advantageous technology, which is dry treatment with NaHCO(3), and the least advantageous technology which is semi-dry treatment, is about 0.8%. A simple economic analysis showed that the few advantages of dry technologies can often be lost if the costs of chemicals and the disposal of products are considered.

The effects of migration on the establishment of networks: caste disintegration and reformation among the Indians of Fiji.

"This article focuses on how migration auspices affect the formation of migrant networks and ethnic communities. Using ethnographic data and migration histories to focus on caste ¿reformation' in the subcommunities of the Indians of Fiji, the ability to reestablish and maintain subcaste group ¿extensions' in Fiji is shown as directly related to the migration auspices that originally established the community. By determining the characteristics of migrants, the reason for migrating, and the magnitude and duration of migration streams, migration auspices define a migration type. This migration type affects the strength and density of social ties present in migration streams. It also affects the strength and density of network ties that members of a migrant community can establish in a receiving society."

PIP: This study examined the effects of type of migration on reformation of caste groups among the Indians of Fiji during 1880-1930. The Indians of Fiji had 5 distinct subcommunities and 3 types of migration context. Data were obtained from interviews among 50 people from suburban, rural, and urban areas of Vitu Levu island during 1989-90; participant observations during several short-term visits; and historic, ethnographic archival research. This article begins with a review of the caste system and migration context, followed by theorizing. It then describes the histories of the Fiji Indian groups with specific examples of how migrant's reasons prevented or enabled them to establish subcaste groups in Fiji. The focus is on caste-free descendants of indentured workers that arrived in Fiji during 1879-1916, and caste-based descendants of non-labor migrants from Gujarat during 1900-30. It is concluded that the migration histories of indentured workers were very different from the free Gujarati immigrant experiences. The Gujarati community was able to form and maintain family and caste-based migration chains within their migration streams in Fiji. Indentured workers were prevented from reformation of caste groups overseas. The ability to establish and maintain migration chains determines the level of caste-related behavior overseas. The Punjabi community on Fiji was different from the previous 2 subcommunities because of their recruitment as labor from different districts and social groups, which resulted in greater assimilation in the host society. Migration context directly affects the level of cultural reformation in the host society.

Triumphant transitions: socioeconomic achievements of the second generation in Canada.

"Articulated within the last decade, the revisionary perspective on second generation integration argues that the model of equal or above average success of the second generation in North America is historically specific, based on the postwar entry of a white second generation in boom economic times. One implication is that the past patterns of second generation success may not hold now and in the future for immigrant offspring. Using data from the 1994 Canadian General Social Survey for women and men, age 25-64, this article assesses the proposition of triumphant transitions in which the second generation experiences high levels of educational and labor market achievements. Multivariate analyses confirm second generation success with respect to educational levels and occupational status, thus contradicting verdicts of a new chapter to be written for the second generation in Canada."

Feelings and perceptions of parents of runaways.

The author reports on a study of the points of view of parents of runaways, who are often the neglected dimension of the runaway problem, and draws practice implications from the results of the study.

Characteristics of a helpful relationship: a study of empathic understanding and positive regard between runaways and their parents.

Runaways were randomly matched to a group of adolescent nonrunaways for age, sex, ethnicity and family structure. Empathy and positive regard were measured between adolescents and their parents. Runaways and their parents reported far less empathy and positive regard from each other as compared to the nonrunaways and their parents.

[Production of vitamin B 12 by a blue-green alga]. / Production de vitamine B12 par une algue bleue.

In this study, we have been able to demonstrate the production and liberation of vitamin B12 (up to 16.5 pg/ml after 31 days of growth) by a blue green alga. Anabaena flos-aquae, in non-axenic and axenic cultures. This finding has a relevant ecological significance since it shows that, like bacteria, blue green algae may play a role as producers of vitamin B12.