The Evolution of Italian Melodrama: from Donizetti to Verdi

"This study presents the evolution of the Italian melodrama of the nineteenth century, having as a major composer exponents such as Gaetano Donizetti and Giuseppe Verdi. The rich culture of the Italian Romantic space, as well as the socio-political events of the 19th century, influenced the mentality and style of opera composers. Thus, titles such as “La donna del lago” (1819), “Wilhelm Tell” (1829) – G. Rossini, “I Capuleti e i Montecchi” (1830) – V. Bellini, foreshadow the new directions of Italian romantic opera. The maturation process of Italian romantic opera is crowned by Gaetano Donizetti and Giuseppe Verdi, who, through melodrama, achieve important stylistic synthesis. Keywords: Italian, melodrama, evolution, Donizetti, Verdi"

Interpreting chemistry and technology of lime binders and implementing it in the conservation field _ Interpretação da química e da tecnologia de ligantes à base de cal e sua implementação no campo da conservação

The objective of the paper is the compilation, review and dissemination of updated scientific knowledge on lime theory and technology in the field of heritage conservation.The strong evidence of the last decade’s research on the positive effect of the-not demonstrable by a chemical equation-‘key’ missing link of the maturation process is highlighted. It is demonstrated that the exceptional performance characteristics of durable lime based mortars predominately rely on the capacity for rapid, efficient and extensive carbona-tion of the air-hardening phase of limes, in particular when matured (nanoparticle wet slaked) lime putties are used; and on the chemical and mechanical stability of the strength components (principally CSHs) of the hydraulic phase of limes, which is higher in their more crystalline forms of historical lime-pozzolan mixtures than in their amorphous forms of modern cements. Hence, physicochemical adhesion and cohesion bonds both at the lime matrix and at the binder/aggregate interfaces are ensured imparting minimization of cracks and durability to lime based mortars and historic masonries.The comprehensive documentation of the former leads to optimal materials and procedures to preserve our cultural heritage. Resumo O objectivo do presente artigo é a compilação, revisão e disseminação do actual conhecimento científico sobre teoria e tecnologia da cal no campo da conservação do património. Com base na investigação da última década, são destacados os fortes indícios do efeito positivo-não demonstrável por equação química-do elo perdido ‘chave’, o processo de maturação. É demonstrado que as excepcionais características de desempenho das argamassas à base de cal mais duráveis dependem predominantemente das suas capacidades para uma rápida, eficiente e extensa carbonatação da fase de presa aérea da cal, em particular quando é usada cal em pasta com maior tempo de maturação (extinção húmida ao nível das nanopartículas); e da estabilidade química e mecânica dos com-ponentes de resistência (principalmente silicatos de cálcio hidratados (CSHs)) da fase hidráulica da cal, que é mais elevada nas for-mas mais cristalinas das misturas históricas de cal e pozolana do que nas formas amorfas dos cimentos modernos. Deste modo são asseguradas as ligações fisico-químicas por adesão e por coesão, quer na matriz de cal, quer nas interfaces ligante/agregado, conferindo minimização de fissuras e durabilidade a argamassas à base de cal e alvenarias históricas. Uma abrangente documentação destes proces-sos permitirá a obtenção de materiais e procedimentos progressivamente mais adequados à preservação do nosso património cultural. Palavras-chave Maturação; Cal em pasta; Argamassa de cal; Componentes de resistência; Estabilidade estrutural.

Mechanical Capsid Maturation Facilitates the Resolution of Conflicting Requirements for Herpesvirus Assembly

Most viruses undergo a maturation process from a weakly self-assembled, noninfectious particle to a stable, infectious virion. For herpesviruses, this maturation process resolves several conflicting requirements: i) assembly must be driven by weak, reversible interactions between viral particle subunits to reduce errors and minimize energy of self-assembly; ii) the viral particle must be stable enough to withstand tens of atmospheres of DNA pressure resulting from its strong confinement in the capsid. With herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) as a prototype of human herpesviruses, we demonstrate that this mechanical capsid maturation is mainly facilitated through capsid-binding auxiliary protein UL25, orthologs of which are present in all herpesviruses. Through genetic manipulation of UL25 mutants of HSV-1 combined with interrogation of capsid mechanics with atomic force microscopy nano-indentation, we suggest the mechanism of stepwise binding of distinct UL25 domains correlated with capsid maturation and DNA packaging. These findings demonstrate another paradigm of viruses as elegantly programmed nano-machines, where an intimate relationship between mechanical and genetic information is preserved in UL25 architecture. IMPORTANCE Minor capsid protein UL25 plays a critical role in mechanical maturation of HSV-1 capsid during virus assembly, required for stable DNA packaging. We modulate UL25-capsid interactions by genetically deleting different UL25 regions and quantify the effect on mechanical capsid stability using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) nano-indentation approach. This approach reveals how UL25 regions reinforce the herpesvirus capsid in order to stably package and retain pressurized DNA. Our data suggests a mechanism of stepwise binding of two main UL25 domains timed with DNA packaging.

Phagosome maturation and modulation of macrophage effector function by intracellular pathogens: target for therapeutics

Macrophages are important cells that regulate various innate functions. Macrophages after engulfment of pathogens proceed for phagosome maturation and finally fuse with lysosomes to kill pathogens. Although pathogen degradation is one of the important functions of phagosomes, various immune-effector functions of macrophages are also dependent on the phagosome maturation process. This review discusses signaling processes regulating phagosome maturation as well as various effector functions of macrophages such as apoptosis, antigen presentation, autophagy and inflammasome that are dependent on the phagosome maturation process. It also discusses strategies adopted by various intracellular pathogens to counteract these functions to evade intracellular destruction mechanisms. These studies may give direction for the development of new therapeutics to control various intracellular infections.

Influence of the Season and Region Factor on Phosphoproteome of Stallion Epididymal Sperm

Epididymal maturation can be defined as a scope of changes occurring during epididymal transit that prepare spermatozoa to undergo capacitation. One of the most common post-translational modifications involved in the sperm maturation process and their ability to fertilise an oocyte is the phosphorylation of sperm proteins. The aim of this study was to compare tyrosine, serine, and threonine phosphorylation patterns of sperm proteins isolated from three subsequent segments of the stallion epididymis, during and out of the breeding season. Intensities of phosphorylation signals and phosphoproteins profiles varied in consecutive regions of the epididymis. However, significant differences in the phosphorylation status were demonstrated in case of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone BiP (75 and 32 kDa), protein disulfide-isomerase A3 (50 kDa), nesprin-1 (23 kDa), peroxiredoxin-5 (17 kDa), and protein bicaudal D homolog (15 kDa) for season x type of phosphorylated residues variables. Significant differences in the phosphorylation status were also demonstrated in case of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone BiP and albumin (61 kDa), protein disulfide-isomerase A3 (50 kDa), and protein bicaudal D homolog (15 kDa) for region x type of phosphorylated residues variables.

Refinement of Active and Passive Membrane Properties of Layer V Pyramidal Neurons in Rat Primary Motor Cortex During Postnatal Development

Achieving the distinctive complex behaviors of adult mammals requires the development of a great variety of specialized neural circuits. Although the development of these circuits begins during the embryonic stage, they remain immature at birth, requiring a postnatal maturation process to achieve these complex tasks. Understanding how the neuronal membrane properties and circuits change during development is the first step to understand their transition into efficient ones. Thus, using whole cell patch clamp recordings, we have studied the changes in the electrophysiological properties of layer V pyramidal neurons of the rat primary motor cortex during postnatal development. Among all the parameters studied, only the voltage threshold was established at birth and, although some of the changes occurred mainly during the second postnatal week, other properties such as membrane potential, capacitance, duration of the post-hyperpolarization phase or the maximum firing rate were not defined until the beginning of adulthood. Those modifications lead to a decrease in neuronal excitability and to an increase in the working range in young adult neurons, allowing more sensitive and accurate responses. This maturation process, that involves an increase in neuronal size and changes in ionic conductances, seems to be influenced by the neuronal type and by the task that neurons perform as inferred from the comparison with other pyramidal and motor neuron populations.

Inhibition of O-GlcNAc Transferase Alters the Differentiation and Maturation Process of Human Monocyte Derived Dendritic Cells

The O-GlcNAcylation is a posttranslational modification of proteins regulated by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase. These enzymes regulate the development, proliferation and function of cells, including the immune cells. Herein, we focused on the role of O-GlcNAcylation in human monocyte derived dendritic cells (moDCs). Our study suggests that inhibition of OGT modulates AKT and MEK/ERK pathways in moDCs. Changes were also observed in the expression levels of relevant surface markers, where reduced expression of CD80 and DC-SIGN, and increased expression of CD14, CD86 and HLA-DR occurred. We also noticed decreased IL-10 and increased IL-6 production, along with diminished endocytotic capacity of the cells, indicating that inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation hampers the transition of monocytes into immature DCs. Furthermore, the inhibition of OGT altered the maturation process of immature moDCs, since a CD14medDC-SIGNlowHLA-DRmedCD80lowCD86high profile was noticed when OGT inhibitor, OSMI-1, was present. To evaluate DCs ability to influence T cell differentiation and polarization, we co-cultured these cells. Surprisingly, the observed phenotypic changes of mature moDCs generated in the presence of OSMI-1 led to an increased proliferation of allogeneic T cells, while their polarization was not affected. Taken together, we confirm that shifting the O-GlcNAcylation status due to OGT inhibition alters the differentiation and function of moDCs in in vitro conditions.

Pemaknaan Diksa dalam Tahapan Menjadi Pandita pada Ajaran Agama Hindu

<em><span lang="IN">Being a holy person in the teachings of Hinduism is a noble task as a guide for the people. This is because being a holy person, especially a Hindu priest, goes through various stages that must be passed as a process of maturation (learning) and purification (diksa). In the maturation process, which is filled with learning the Vedas and religious knowledge, it is used as a foundation later when after becoming a priest in guiding and providing enlightenment to people who need service. While the purification process is an aspect of legality in the ritual dimension which is believed to be able to physically purify someone who enters the spiritual dimension.</span></em>