Relationship between respiration and Electron Transfer System (ETS) in zooplankton

[EN]Respiration of zooplanktonic organisms is an significant fraction of the global carbon cycle. However, it estimation in order to obtain the data required in oceanography is still a problem. In this work, we studied respiration rates in laboratory and field experiments. Laboratory experiments using Daphnia spp. showed a significant decrease of respiration rates during starvation. In addition, we measured the gut fluorescence and enzymatic activity (electron transfer system, ETS). The former did not show the expected decrease probably due to the volume of the incubators. The relationship between respiration and ETS presented the classical variability ranging between 0.5 and 1 as observed in previous works. Copepod respiration rates were measured during RAPROCAN 1504 cruise around the Canary Islands.

La memoria risorgimentale in Giustizia e Libertà (1929-1940)

The dissertation regards The memory on the Italian Risorgimento in “Justice and Freedom”(1929-1940) a theoretical core point in the history of the Movement, which so far has not been granted due attention. The work herewith presented is therefore aimed at filling a storiographical gap, analysing the historical events which continue to operate as traditions, raising feelings and passions and hence operating in politics, although as secondary factors. The point made is that the Justice and Freedom Movement, an antifascist political movement born in Paris in October 1929, bases its strength on the heroic choice of the antifascism movement to fight a Second Risorgimento, connecting the fight against the regime to the battles previously fought for the justice and the freedom, an entirely isolated event in the political opposition’s panorama. The dissertation, thus, attempts to explain how and why Justice and Freedom is so tightly interconnected in its political action to the Risorgimento tradition. The first chapter sets the cultural background of the foundation of the Justice and Freedom Movement. The centre of such foundation was Florence, where Gaetano Salvemini, along with a group of young people, would later on carry out some cultural experiences that ideally prepare the ground for the movement’s birth. In the second chapter are found the sites of the memory where the passage of the Risorgimento tradition between the generations takes place. The work therefore shifts from a public to a private level, concentrating on biographical paths. The choice made was for Nello Rosselli, a man very close to the Justice and Freedom Movement but who, as opposed to his comrades-in-arms, did not chose the political way to express his ethical choice, but rather the theoretical one, becoming a Risorgimento historian. The third chapter concentrates on the birth of the Justice and Freedom Movement in France, trying to reconstruct the cultural ties and the confrontation places and sites where the members of the Movement could interact with the French intellectual milieu, bringing back to light the propagandistic usage of the Risorgimento myth carried out by the Movement. Lastly, the fourth chapter focuses on the cultural debate on the Risorgimento, which took place on the press organs of the Movement, pointing out and periodizing the theoretical passages and the propagandistic uses of the myth as related to the stages of the Movement and the political needs.

Ricerca clinico-epidemiologica sullo stato di salute del cavo orale nei pazienti tossicodipendenti

Obiettivo: Lo scopo della ricerca è stato quello di mettere in evidenza la presenza di patologie del cavo orale in soggetti tossicodipendenti Materiali e Metodi: Sono stati reclutati 71 pazienti in terapia di recupero presso la Comunità Incontro di Amelia. I soggetti sono stati sottoposti a visite clinico-anamnestiche adottando una cartella clinica da noi stessi costruita. Risultati: Dei 71 soggetti tossicodipendenti, 42 facevano uso di eroina e 39 assumevano droghe per via parenterale, ma solo 25 risultavano avere malattie infettive. Per quanto riguarda la patologia cariosa, abbiamo riscontrato una media di carie complessive di 4,40 di cui solo lo 0,52 era al colletto (non è stata evidenziata significativa differenza tra soggetti con o senza patologie infettive). Dal punto di vista parodontale solo 13 presentavano parodontite e 25 lesioni del cavo orale non di carattere maligno. Conclusioni: I dati ottenuti nella nostra ricerca preliminare ci hanno portato a dire che non esiste una netta correlazione tra tipologia di droga e patologia orale ma sembrerebbe piuttosto che le lesioni cariose e parodontali riscontrate siano da associarsi allo stile di vita di questi soggetti.

Coil-ring-coil block copolymers as building blocks of supramolecular hollow cylindrical brushes

This work describes the synthesis of a new class of rod-coil block copolymers, oligosubstituted shape persistent macrocycles, (coil-ring-coil block copolymers), and their behavior in solution and in the solid state.The coil-ring-coil block copolymers are formed by nanometer sized shape persistent macrocycles based on the phenyl-ethynyl backbone as rigid block and oligomers of polystyrene or polydimethylsiloxane as flexible blocks. The strategy that has been followed is to synthesize the macrocycles with an alcoholic functionality and the polymer carboxylic acids independently, and then bind them together by esterification. The ester bond is stable and relatively easy to form.The synthesis of the shape persistent macrocycles is based on two separate steps. In the first step the building blocks of the macrocycles are connected by Hagiara-Sogonaschira coupling to form an 'half-ring' as precursor, that contains two free acetylenes. In the second step the half-ring is cyclized by forming two sp-sp bonds via a copper-catalyzed Glaser coupling under pseudo-high-dilution conditions. The polystyrene carboxylic acid was prepared directly by siphoning the living anionic polymer chain into a THF solution, saturated with CO2, while the polydimethylsiloxane carboxylic acid was obtained by hydrosilylating an unsaturated benzylester with an Si-H terminated polydimethylsiloxane, and cleavage of the ester. The carbodiimide coupling was found to be the best way to connect macrocycles and polymers in high yield and high purity.The polystyrene-ring-polystyrene block copolymers are, depending on the molecular weight of the polystyrene, lyotropic liquid crystals in cyclohexane. The aggregation behavior of the copolymers in solution was investigated in more detail using several technique. As a result it can be concluded that the polystyrene-ring-polystyrene block copolymers can aggregate into hollow cylinder-like objects with an average length of 700 nm by a combination of shape complementary and demixing of rigid and flexible polymer parts. The resulting structure can be described as supramolecular hollow cylindrical brush.If the lyotropic solution of the polystyrene-ring-polystyrene block copolymers are dried, they remain birefringent indicating that the solid state has an ordered structure. The polydimethylsiloxane-ring-polydimethylsiloxane block copolymers are more or less fluid at room temperature, and are all birefringent (termotropic liquid crystals) as well. This is a prove that the copolymers are ordered in the fluid state. By a careful investigation using electron diffraction and wide-angle X-ray scattering, it has been possible to derive a model for the 3D-order of the copolymers. The data indicate a lamella structure for both type of copolymers. The macrocycles are arranged in a layer of columns. These crystalline layers are separated by amorphous layers which contain the polymers substituents.

Media activism on and off line by Italian adolescents and young adults

From several researchers it appears that Italian adolescents and young people are grown up with commercial television which is accused to contain too much violence, sex, reality shows, advertising, cartoons which are watched from 1 to 4 hours daily. Adolescents are also great users of mobile phones and spend a lot of time to use it. Their academic results are below the average of Ocse States. However the widespread use of communication technology and social networks display also another side of adolescents who engage in media activism and political movement such as Ammazzateci tutti!, Indymedia, Movimento 5 Stelle, Movimento No Tav. In which way does the world economic crisis -with the specific problems of Italy as the cutting founds for school, academic research and welfare, the corruption of political class, mafia and camorra organisation induce a reaction in our adolescents and young people? Several researches inform us about their use of internet in terms of spending time but, more important, how internet, and the web 2.0, could be an instrument for their reaction? What do they do online? How they do it? Which is the meaning of their presence online? And, has their online activity a continuity offline? The research aims are: 1. Trough a participant observation of Social Network profiles opened by 10 young active citizens, I would seek to understand which kind of social or political activities they engage in online as individuals and which is the meaning of their presence online. 2. To observe and understand if adolescents and young people have a continuity of their socio-political engagement online in offline activities and which kind of experiences it is. 3. Try to comprehend which was (or which were) the significant, learning experiences that convinced them about the potential of the web as tool for their activism.

Medroxyprogesterone abrogates the inhibitory effects of estradiol on vascular smooth muscle cells by preventing estradiol metabolism

Sequential conversion of estradiol (E) to 2/4-hydroxyestradiols and 2-/4-methoxyestradiols (MEs) by CYP450s and catechol-O-methyltransferase, respectively, contributes to the inhibitory effects of E on smooth muscle cells (SMCs) via estrogen receptor-independent mechanisms. Because medroxyprogesterone (MPA) is a substrate for CYP450s, we hypothesized that MPA may abrogate the inhibitory effects of E by competing for CYP450s and inhibiting the formation of 2/4-hydroxyestradiols and MEs. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of E on SMC number, DNA and collagen synthesis, and migration in the presence and absence of MPA. The inhibitory effects of E on cell number, DNA synthesis, collagen synthesis, and SMC migration were significantly abrogated by MPA. For example, E (0.1micromol/L) reduced cell number to 51+/-3.6% of control, and this inhibitory effect was attenuated to 87.5+/-2.9% by MPA (10 nmol/L). Treatment with MPA alone did not alter any SMC parameters, and the abrogatory effects of MPA were not blocked by RU486 (progesterone-receptor antagonist), nor did treatment of SMCs with MPA influence the expression of estrogen receptor-alpha or estrogen receptor-beta. In SMCs and microsomal preparations, MPA inhibited the sequential conversion of E to 2-2/4-hydroxyestradiol and 2-ME. Moreover, as compared with microsomes treated with E alone, 2-ME formation was inhibited when SMCs were incubated with microsomal extracts incubated with E plus MPA. Our findings suggest that the inhibitory actions of MPA on the metabolism of E to 2/4-hydroxyestradiols and MEs may negate the cardiovascular protective actions of estradiol in postmenopausal women receiving estradiol therapy combined with administration of MPA.

The need for transparency and good practices in the qPCR literature

Two surveys of over 1,700 publications whose authors use quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) reveal a lack of transparent and comprehensive reporting of essential technical information. Reporting standards are significantly improved in publications that cite the Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments (MIQE) guidelines, although such publications are still vastly outnumbered by those that do not.

Increased nuclear suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 in asthmatic bronchial epithelium suppresses rhinovirus induction of innate interferons.

BACKGROUND Rhinovirus infections are the dominant cause of asthma exacerbations, and deficient virus induction of IFN-α/β/λ in asthmatic patients is important in asthma exacerbation pathogenesis. Mechanisms causing this interferon deficiency in asthmatic patients are unknown. OBJECTIVE We sought to investigate the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 in tissues from asthmatic patients and its possible role in impaired virus-induced interferon induction in these patients. METHODS We assessed SOCS1 mRNA and protein levels in vitro, bronchial biopsy specimens, and mice. The role of SOCS1 was inferred by proof-of-concept studies using overexpression with reporter genes and SOCS1-deficient mice. A nuclear role of SOCS1 was shown by using bronchial biopsy staining, overexpression of mutant SOCS1 constructs, and confocal microscopy. SOCS1 levels were also correlated with asthma-related clinical outcomes. RESULTS We report induction of SOCS1 in bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) by asthma exacerbation-related cytokines and by rhinovirus infection in vitro. We found that SOCS1 was increased in vivo in bronchial epithelium and related to asthma severity. SOCS1 expression was also increased in primary BECs from asthmatic patients ex vivo and was related to interferon deficiency and increased viral replication. In primary human epithelium, mouse lung macrophages, and SOCS1-deficient mice, SOCS1 suppressed rhinovirus induction of interferons. Suppression of virus-induced interferon levels was dependent on SOCS1 nuclear translocation but independent of proteasomal degradation of transcription factors. Nuclear SOCS1 levels were also increased in BECs from asthmatic patients. CONCLUSION We describe a novel mechanism explaining interferon deficiency in asthmatic patients through a novel nuclear function of SOCS1 and identify SOCS1 as an important therapeutic target for asthma exacerbations.

I primi tempi

raccontati da Elisa Rosselli Benaim. Con ill. di Emanuel Rosselli

Has implementation of integrated mental health services in primary care programs positively impacted health outcomes among the mentally ill in developing countries?

Objective. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 450 million people suffer from a mental disorder in the world. Developing countries do not have the health system structure in place to support the demand of mental health services. This study will conduct a review of mental health integration in primary care research that is carried out in low-income countries identified as such from the World Bank economic analysis. The research follows the standard of care that WHO has labeled appropriate in treatment of mental health populations. Methods. This study will use the WHO 10 principles of mental health integration into primary care as the global health standard of care for mental health. Low-income countries that used these principles in their national programs will be analyzed for effectiveness of mental health integration in primary care. Results. This study showed that mental health service integration in primary care did have an effect on health outcomes of low-income countries. However, information did not lead to significant quantitative results that determined how positive the effect was. Conclusion. More ethnographic research is needed in low-income countries to truly assess how effective the program is in integrating with the health system currently in place.^ ^

Análisis de las condiciones generales de vida de las familias tabacaleras con personas discapacitadas del municipio de San Vicente, Provincia de Misiones: representaciones sociales sobre agrotóxicos, discapacidad-enfermedad y modos de atención de las necesidades socio sanitarias de sus integrantes. 16H271

Actividades desarrolladas durante el período: conformación del Equipo de investigadores; búsqueda, identificación y análisis de bibliografía vinculada con las temáticas cultivos con uso de agrotóxicos, economía familiar y atención de la población de estas unidades socioproductivas en lo referente a procesos de salud - enfermedad – atención, y discapacidad; formulación de un marco teórico conceptual para el proyecto; organización y realización de reuniones con autoridades locales involucradas con la temática de la discapacidad; articulación con el INTA, y el Ministerio de Salud Pública de la Provincia de Misiones y otras entidades públicas y privadas (Fundación del Bco. Macro., Fundación para la Investigación y Ext. de las Cs. Económicas, etc) Articulación con el INTA, y el Ministerio de Salud Pública de la Provincia de Misiones y otras entidades públicas y privadas (Fundación del Bco. Macro., Fundación para la Investigación y Ext. de las Cs. Económicas, etc); recolección de datos de fuentes secundarias; análisis de información proveniente de fuentes secundarias y producción de datos estadísticos; revisión de objetivos específicos, dimensiones y variables Diseño del relevamiento de entrevistas a profesionales médicos, trabajadores sociales, docentes, autoridades religiosas; diseño del relevamiento de entrevistas a profesionales médicos, trabajadores sociales, docentes, autoridades religiosas; selección de muestra para entrevistas abiertas; realización de las entrevistas abiertas.

Ciencia Política y Administración Pública

El objetivo de esta revista es la difusión de los conocimientos de la Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Para ello, se realiza el mayor esfuerzo para que la publicación sea expresión del desarrollo de saberes de docentes,. investigadores, alumnos y graduados, contribuya al intercambio de conocimientos desde las diferentes perspectivas teóricas disciplinarias y, a su vez, tener espacios de reflexión y debate para generar un diálogo enriquecedor que sea desafío de crecimiento para todos los que integran la mencionada institución académica

Consensos y disensos en torno a la implementación de la ley 8051

La ley 8051 de Ordenamiento Territorial representa una profunda innovación institucional en la provincia de Mendoza. Actualmente esta ley se encuentra en la etapa de su implementación, que está demorada. El objetivo de la investigación es demostrar mediante una metodología cualitativa y hermenéutica cuales serían los obstáculos e inconvenientes que subyacen a esta etapa actual de la ley, ya que hemos encontrado insuficientes respuestas al problema. Mediante la contextualización geopolítica mundial y nacional en la cual se encuentra la estructura productiva mendocina podemos problematizar la implementación de la ley desde una teoría política que directamente aborda la cuestión del conflicto político dentro del Estado de Derecho. Finalmente, los resultados de nuestra investigación indican que la ley 8051 no es una simple ley de orden técnico sin implicancias político-económicas sino más bien lo contrario, la ley 8051 sería para nosotros una práctica contrahegemónica de la comunidad científico-técnica provincial contra la emergencia de la reelaboración en ciernes del neoliberalismo a manos de la elite económica local.