New insights about the putative role of myokines in the context of cardiac rehabilitation and secondary cardiovascular prevention.

Exercise training prevents the onset and the development of many chronic diseases, acting as an effective tool both for primary and for secondary prevention. Various mechanisms that may be the effectors of these beneficial effects have been proposed during the past decades: some of these are well recognized, others less. Muscular myokines, released during and after muscular contraction, have been proposed as key mediators of the systemic effects of the exercise. Nevertheless the availability of an impressive amount of evidence regarding the systemic effects of muscle-derived factors, few studies have examined key issues: (I) if skeletal muscle cells themselves are the main source of cytokine during exercise; (II) if the release of myokines into the systemic circulation reach an adequate concentration to provide significant effects in tissues far from skeletal muscle; (III) what may be the role carried out by muscular cytokine regarding the well-known benefits induced by regular exercise, first of all the anti-inflammatory effect of exercise. Furthermore, a greater part of our knowledge regarding myokines derives from the muscle of healthy subjects. This knowledge may not necessarily be transferred per se to subjects with chronic diseases implicating a direct or indirect muscular dysfunction and/or a chronic state of inflammation with persistent immune-inflammatory activation (and therefore increased circulating levels of some cytokines): cachexia, sarcopenia due to multiple factors, disability caused by neurological damage, chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) or coronary artery disease (CAD). A key point of future studies is to ascertain how is modified the muscular release of myokines in different categories of unhealthy subjects, both at baseline and after rehabilitation. The purpose of this review is to discuss the main findings on the role of myokines as putative mediators of the therapeutic benefits obtained through regular exercise in the context of secondary cardiovascular prevention

Influence of the laser ablation surface pre-treatment over the ageing resistance of metallic adhesively bonded joints

In order to prevent the generation of a potential weakness at the substrate/adhesive interface of adhesively bonded joints, many methods were developed during the decades to pre-treat the substrates surfaces before the deposition of the adhesive. Experimental tests were carried out to simulate the real environmental conditions in which the joints have to work characterizing the mechanical properties of the joints caused by the exposition to high temperature, moisture, presence of chemical agents. The industrial need towards long-scale problem lead to the development of specific accelerated ageing methods able to induce in few weeks the same damage mechanisms within the joints which arise in years during their working life. In this work, different surface laser pre-treatments were studied with a focus on the influence that pre-treatments produce over the variation of the tensile failure load of Single Lap Joints (SLJ), previously subjected to different accelerated ageing cycles. Simple degreasing and grit blasting were also considered as reference treatments. The materials chosen for the manufacturing of the substrates were an aluminium alloy (AA 6082-T6) and a stainless steel (AISI 304). Three different accelerated ageing techniques were tested and compared to each other: (i) a cycle involving the simultaneous presence of high temperature gradient and moisture (method A), (ii) the immersion into an alkaline foam-forming cleanser (method B), and (iii) the immersion into an acid foam-forming cleanser (method C). The results showed that, while the method A did not significantly modify the mechanical strength of the joints, the method B and C resulted detrimental for the mechanical performance of the joints, even if their sensitivity to the tested pre-treatments was different. In particular, for both aluminum and stainless steel joints, it was noticed that the laser pre-treatment was able to reduce the loss of strength produced by the ageing process in comparison with the two reference pre-treatments. However, this result was also dependent of the specific value of energy density used for the laser ablation during the joints pre-treatment

Sovraccarico informativo e information literacy: un'indagine fra gli utenti delle biblioteche pubbliche veneziane

The article aims to describe the features of the relationship between the contemporary era readers and the mass of communicative stimuli characterizing a documentary landscape in a continuous and exponential growth: the concept of information overload has recently been introduced, to show the complexity of the current information environment and the orientation difficulties within a documentary over-production condition. After a theoretical review about the libraries’ contribution in facilitating the bibliographic paths of users, and in providing a set of cultural tools intended to an effective and autonomous interpretation of a boundless documentary landscape, in the final section of the study, conducted in 2016 at the Venice Libraries Network (RBV), the fundamental traits of information overload experience are investigated from a multidimensional perspective, along with an in-depth analysis of the potential of the services offered by public libraries in alleviating the undesirable effects of the phenomenon.L’articolo si propone di approfondire le peculiarità della relazione tra i lettori dell’era contemporanea e la massa di stimoli comunicativi caratterizzante un panorama documentario in continua ed esponenziale crescita: proprio per descrivere la complessità dell’attuale ambiente informativo e le sempre maggiori difficoltà di orientamento all’interno di una condizione di iperproduzione documentaria, è stato recentemente introdotto il concetto di sovraccarico informativo. Dopo aver analizzato da un punto di vista teorico il possibile contributo delle biblioteche nel facilitare i percorsi di ricerca bibliografica dell’utenza e nel fornire un insieme di strumenti culturali necessari a un’interpretazione efficace e autonoma di un docuverso sconfinato ed eterogeneo, nella sezione finale dello studio, condotto nel corso del 2016 presso il sistema Rete biblioteche Venezia (RBV), vengono indagati i tratti fondamentali dell’esperienza di sovraccarico informativo in base a una prospettiva pluridimensionale, accanto a un approfondimento circa le potenzialità dei servizi offerti dalle biblioteche di pubblica lettura nel mitigare gli effetti indesiderati del fenomeno

numerical and experimental validation of a non standard specimen for uniaxial tensile test

Abstract Material testing is a fundamental activity for the characterization of materials mechanical properties and for the certification of product quality. With concepts such as Smart Factories and Industry 4.0 coming to the fore, testing and measurement is moving away from laboratories and closer to the production floor: MaCh 3D is a miniaturized tensile testing machine developed for products and materials certification directly on the production site. The heart of the technology is the specimen with non-conventional geometry for tensile tests developed so as to be easily installed on the machine. The objective of this work is to illustrate the process of determining the geometry of specimen and fixtures by numerical analysis and their experimental validation, comparing the results with those obtained from specimens according to ASTM D638 standard, ASTM International, (1999)

Creación del departamento comercial en el establecimiento caprino La Griselda

La creación de un departamento comercial y mejora de la cadena de distribución propia, en el establecimiento caprino “La Griselda”, provincia de Mendoza, con una trayectoria de más de 10 años en la producción y comercialización de quesos de cabra, a través de la marca CABRAS DEL PLATA, todos ellos con denominación de origen. La misma, cuenta con 100 hectáreas reconvertidas para siembra, 2.440 m2 de cabrerizas, 1.000 animales en ordeñe permanente y sostenido durante todo el año, ubicado en el distrito El Retiro, Departamento de Lavalle. La evolución reciente de la actividad quesera caprina en Argentina, pone en evidencia que se trata de un sector no consolidado, con fuertes fluctuaciones en la oferta y en los precios de la materia prima y finales, con escaso desarrollo institucional y débiles estrategias de comercialización –tanto en relación con el mercado local como con el mercado externo–, así como con fuertes problemas vinculados a estándares de calidad y homogeneidad de producto. Existen sistemas tecnificados y de tipo tradicional; Mendoza sólo consume el 8,20% del total/país producido, la principal causa del bajo consumo reside en la falta de una cultura de consumo (preferentemente se consumen productos vacunos). En la provincia, se destaca a “La Griselda” como única productora de quesos caprinos. El proyecto, busca incrementar las ventas, colocando en el mercado parte del volumen acumulado en las cámaras frigoríficas, a través de acciones comerciales, con una relativa baja inversión e indicadores económicos-financieros positivos. Todo ello denota una favorable factibilidad técnica, económica y organizacional.Fil: Fernández Musiari, Leil

Corrin Ring Modifications Reveal the Chemical and Spatial Requirements for the B1_12_2 btuBbtuB Riboswitch Interaction

The btuB riboswitch is a regulatory RNA sequence controlling gene expression of the outer membrane B$_{12}$ transport protein BtuB by specifically binding coenzyme B$_{12}$ (AdoCbl) as its natural ligand. The B$_{12}$ sensing riboswitch class is known to accept various B$_{12}$ derivatives, leading to a division into two riboswitch subclasses, dependent on the size of the apical ligand. Here we focus on the role of side chains b and e on affinity and proper recognition, i. e. correct structural switch of the btuB RNA, which belongs to the AdoCbl‐binding class I. Chemical modification of these side chains disturbs crucial hydrogen bonds and/or electrostatic interactions with the RNA, its effect on both affinity and switching being monitored by in‐line probing. Chemical modifications at sidechain b of vitamin B$_{12}$ show larger effects indicating crucial B$_{12}$‐RNA interactions. When introducing the same modification to AdoCbl the influence of any side‐chain modification tested is reduced. This renders the impact of the adenosyl‐ligand for B$_{12}$‐btuB riboswitch recognition clearly beyond the known role in affinity

Role of regular physical activity in neuroprotection against acute ischemia

One of the major obstacles that prevents an effective therapeutic intervention against ischemic stroke is the lack of neuroprotective agents able to reduce neuronal damage; this results in frequent evolution towards a long-term disability with limited alternatives available to aid in recovery. Nevertheless, various treatment options have shown clinical efficacy. Neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), widely produced throughout the brain, but also in distant tissues such as the muscle, have demonstrated regenerative properties with the potential to restore damaged neural tissue. Neurotrophins play a significant role in both protection and recovery of function following neurological diseases such as ischemic stroke or traumatic brain injury. Unfortunately, the efficacy of exogenous administration of these neurotrophins is limited by rapid degradation with subsequent poor half-life and a lack of blood–brain-barrier permeability. Regular exercise seems to be a therapeutic approach able to induce the activation of several pathways related to the neurotrophins release. Exercise, furthermore, reduces the infarct volume in the ischemic brain and ameliorates motor function in animal models increasing astrocyte proliferation, inducing angiogenesis and reducing neuronal apoptosis and oxidative stress. One of the most critical issues is to identify the relationship between neurotrophins and myokines, newly discovered skeletal muscle-derived factors released during and after exercise able to exert several biological functions. Various myokines (e.g., Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1, Irisin) have recently shown their ability to protects against neuronal injury in cerebral ischemia models, suggesting that these substances may influence the degree of neuronal damage in part via inhibiting inflammatory signaling pathways. The aim of this narrative review is to examine the main experimental data available to date on the neuroprotective and anti-ischemic role of regular exercise, analyzing also the possible role played by neurotrophins and myokines

New Insights in Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality in many countries in Europe although considerable efforts have been made in recent decades to address this disease in an even more “comprehensive” approac

Fracture toughness of structural adhesives for the automotive industry

Adhesive bonding is currently employed by automotive manufacturers to complement (or replace) welding in joining dissimilar materials. In order to reduce the impact on the existing manufacturing infrastructures, structural adhesives are deployed in the body shop but hardening is accomplished in the paint cure oven. Various adhesive formulations have been specifically developed for the implementation in the automotive manufacturing chain. However, it is very important to assess the mechanical behaviour of the joints which results from the peculiar curing strategy. In the present work, automotive grade single component epoxy and two component epoxy modified acrylic adhesives were evaluated. T-joints were fabricated using a cold rolled galvanized steel (FeP04) employed in the production of car body parts. The fracture toughness of the joints was determined using the test protocol proposed by the European Structural Integrity Society (ESIS). Optical microscopy was employed to ascertain the mechanisms of failure. The results indicated that both adhesives were able to provide a fairly good mechanical response with minimum preparation of the mating substrates. Moreover, the obtained values of fracture toughness were shown to be essentially independent of the adhesive layer thickness