The Prosecutor\u27s Role in Solving the Problems of Prenatal Drug Use and Substance Abused Children

In this Essay Mr. Logli discusses the prosecutor\u27s role in solving the problem of perinatal substance abuse. He notes at the outset that prosecutors cannot avoid involvement in this issue because of both the political pressure to respond and their legal duty to prevent child abuse. Given the mixed results of prosecutions to date, new legislation is required to increase prosecutors\u27 ability to protect children at risk from parental substance abuse. However, coercive state action can play a productive role in addressing this problem only if pursued in conjunction with more supportive government policies. Therefore, Mr. Logli advocates a multidisciplinary approach that protects children from substance abuse and establishes necessary treatment programs for women, especially those who are pregnant and addicted

Contro il vortice dell'estinzione: il caso della traslocazione di Symphytum tanaicense Steven (Boraginaceae) nel Parco Regionale di Migliarino-San Rossore-Massaciuccoli

Uno degli strumenti emergenti nelle ultime decadi della gestione biologica degli ecosistemi contro l’erosione di biodiversità in atto è la traslocazione di piante localmente scomparse o in pericolo critico di estinzione. La specie target delle attività di conservazione presentate è Symphytum tanaicense Steven (Boraginaceae), un'emicriptofita scaposa ponto-pannonica, la cui presenza in Italia si interpreta come relittuale quaternaria. La specie attualmente sopravvive in Italia solo per due stazioni: Coltano (Pisa) e Massaciuccoli (Lucca), entrambe ricadenti all’interno del Parco di Migliarino-San Rossore-Massaciuccoli. Le due popolazioni mostrano un numero esiguo di individui (nel 2015, n < 50 ramet) e un trend demografico in continuo declino. Dal punto di vista conservazionistico, la specie è inquadrata come CR (Critically Endangered) nei recenti assessment a livello nazionale, pur non comparendo in nessuna lista di attenzione con valenza normativa. In seguito all'attivazione di una convenzione tra il Dipartimento di Biologia e il Parco di MSRM, all'interno del progetto transfrontaliero Italia-Francia-Marittimo ZOUMATE, è stata pianificata un’azione di restauro ecologico di un sito designato ad hoc per l’impianto di una popolazione sperimentale della specie. Il materiale di propagazione utilizzato è stato ottenuto da un campione di diaspore e di frammenti di rizoma prelevati dalle popolazioni in natura. Questi sono stati destinati alle attività di propagazione e coltivazione ex situ, secondo due linee procedurali, di propagazione gamica (germinazione semi) e clonale (frazionamento di rizomi). Tale fase ha permesso la generazione di uno stock di piante adulte o sub-adulte, successivamente trasferite in situ, con la successiva attivazione di un monitoraggio finalizzato alla registrazione dei trend demografici del materiale traslocato. Sono pertanto riportate le premesse teoriche, l'intero approccio metodologico alla base di questa attività, nonché i risultati delle operazioni ex situ e i primi dati di sopravvivenza a breve termine derivanti dalle attività di monitoraggio in situ della popolazione generata

An investigation of the activation process of high temperature shift catalyst

The aim of this work is to address the activation process of a high temperature shift (HTS) catalyst, composed of Fe2O3/Cr2O3/CuO, by analyzing it before activation (HTS-V) and after activation (HTS-A) using complementary characterization techniques. The textural and morphological characterizations were done by transmission electron rnicroscopy (TEM) and nitrogen physisorption at 77 K; crystallographic structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD); electronic structure was analyzed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and the chemical composition of the catalyst`s surface was obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The investigation pointed out that the HTS-V catalyst presents good textural and morphological properties, which are not deeply affected by the activation process (sample HTS-A). The iron oxide phase in the HTS-V catalyst is hematite whereas in HTS-A catalyst is magnetite with Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio close to the expected value (0.5). For both samples, the Cr ions seem to be incorporated in the iron oxide lattice with higher concentration at particle surface. In the HTS-V catalyst, the Cu ions have oxidation number II and occupy in average distorted octahedral sites; after the activation, the Cu ions are partially reduced, suggesting that the reduction of the Cu species is complex. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Histamine mediates behavioral and metabolic effects of 3-iodothyroacetic acid (TA1), an endogenous end product of thyroid hormone metabolism

Background and purpose 3-iodothyroacetic acid (TA1) is among the end products of thyroid hormone metabolism. To now, it is unknown if TA1 is present in the brain of rodents and if it has any pharmacological effects. Exeprimental approach We measured TA1 levels in the brain of mice by HPLC coupled to mass spectrometry and then we investigated whether pharmacological administration of TA1 modified memory, pain and plasma glycemia. 15 min after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of TA1 (0.4, 1.32 and 4 μgkg-1) mice memory acquisition-retention, pain threshold to hot stimulus (51.5°C) and plasma glycemia were evaluated on the light-dark box, on the hot plate and by a glucorefractometer respectively. Parallel experiments were performed in mice pre-treated with subcutaneous injections of pyrilamine (10 mgkg-1) or zolantidine (5 mgkg-1), antagonists of histamine H1 and H2 receptors respectively. Furthermore, TA1 (1.32 and 4 μgkg-1) was i.c.v. injected in histidine decarboxylase null (HDC-/-) and their HDC+/+ littermate mice. Results TA1 was present in the brain of CD1 but not of HDC mice. Pharmacological activity of TA1 included amnesia (at the dose of 0.4 μgkg-1), stimulation of learning (at 1.32 and 4 μgkg-1), hyperalgesia (at 0.4, 1.32 and 4 μgkg-1 ) and hyperglycemia (at 1.32 and 4 μgkg-1). All these effects were modulated by pyrilamine and zolantidine. In HDC-/- mice, TA1 (1.32 and 4 μgkg-1, i.c.v. injected ) failed to increase plasma glycemia and to reduce pain threshold. Conclusions and implications TA1 behavioral and metabolic effects reveal an interplay between the thyroid and the histaminergic syste