the building of european identity

The paper will investigate if the building of a European identity is already underway, noting that identity-building processes rest on a common set of processes, issuing in: symbol systems; collective rituals, ceremonies, public holidays, etc.; behavioural codes of conduct and values inspired by mythical societies of forefathers (as inspired by historical accounts), providing a template for a future society. European Union is merely an expanded economic bloc built on entrenched autonomies, or is a new collective identity emerging? With reference to common symbols, Europe boasts all the apparel of identity, namely it has a flag, anthem, motto and currency. At the same time there are signs indicating a strengthening of the common identity. As of 1985 Europe has also celebrated the May 9 anniversary, and other types of European events are starting to take hold from the bottom up. White Night art festivals, or Museum Nights for example. The latter events seek to establish a common identity by leveraging Europe's culture and heritage, its monuments and museums, and by seeking to inform the broader public of Europe's track record in the areas of arts, humanities and science. As previously noted, national identities draw on a historical past, on former models for society and on behavioural models underlying the latter. A research into leading European personalities both historical and contemporary, carried out in some European countries offers similar answers and image of ideal European society

Gcn5 histone acetyltransferase is present in the mitoplasts

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae the Lysine-acetyltransferase Gcn5 (KAT2) is part of the SAGA complex and is responsible for histone acetylation widely or at specific lysines. In this paper we report that GCN5 deletion differently affects the growth of two strains. The defective mitochondrial phenotype is related to a marked decrease in mtDNA content, which also involves the deletion of specific regions of the molecule. We also show that in wild-type mitochondria the Gcn5 protein is present in the mitoplasts, suggesting a new mitochondrial function independent from the SAGA complex and possibly a new function for this protein connecting epigenetics and metabolism

Nazionalismo etnico-culturale e nazionalismo religioso

The process of globalization has followed logics that have not take account of borders and national economic interests. The states appear in difficulty while under and above them are being defined relations and economic flows that transcend them, when they do not ignore them. In addition the massive migration due to wars, famines and hunger are transforming the nations in multi-ethnic and multi-cultural states. The advance of identity fragmentation and the loss of national power facilitates the hiring of an identity based on religion and gives people the advantage of becoming part of an organized community featuring common values. This explains the great attraction that fundamentalism, not only Muslim, but Hindu or Jewish or Christian, exercising on an ever-increasing mass of people. In front of the disorientation linked to the nation’s crisis, religion appears to be the most solid institution, the only one able to offer models of behavior and available alternative. Such as nationalism had been an answer in terms of social cohesion respect to class conflict, the religious nationalism may appear as a cohesive force in front of loss of traditional national identity, reassembling and redrawing boundaries and territories

In vitro probiotic properties and in vivo anti-ageing effects of Lactoplantibacillus plantarum PFA2018AU strain isolated from carrots on Caenorhabditis elegans

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) share and provide several beneficial effects on human health, such as the release of bioactive metabolites, pathogen competition, and immune stimulation. The two major reservoirs of probiotic microorganisms are the human gastro-intestinal tract and fermented dairy products. However, other sources, such as plant-based foods, represent important alternatives thanks to their large distribution and nutritive value. Here, the probiotic potential of autochthonous Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PFA2018AU, isolated from carrots harvested in Fucino highland, Abruzzo (Italy), was investigated through in vitro and in vivo approaches. The strain was sent to the biobank of Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia Romagna in Italy for the purpose of patent procedures under the Budapest Treaty. The isolate showed high survival capability under in vitro simulated gastro-intestinal conditions, antibiotic susceptibility, hydrophobicity, aggregation, and the ability to inhibit the in vitro growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus pathogens. Caenorhabditis elegans was used as the in vivo model in order to analyse prolongevity and anti-ageing effects. L. plantarum PFA2018AU significantly colonised the gut of the worms, extended their lifespan, and stimulated their innate immunity. Overall, these results showed that autochthonous LAB from vegetables, such as carrots, have functional features that can be considered novel probiotic candidates

Role of yUbp8 in Mitochondria and Hypoxia Entangles the Finding of Human Ortholog Usp22 in the Glioblastoma Pseudo-Palisade Microlayer

KAT Gcn5 and DUB Ubp8 are required for respiration and mitochondria functions in budding yeast, and in this study we show that loss of respiratory activity is acquired over time. Interestingly, we show that absence of Ubp8 allows cells to grow in hypoxic conditions with altered mitophagy. Comparatively, the aggressive glioblastoma (GBM) multiforme tumor shows survival mechanisms able to overcome hypoxia in the brain. Starting from yeast and our findings on the role of Ubp8 in hypoxia, we extended our analysis to the human ortholog and signature cancer gene Usp22 in glioblastoma tumor specimens. Here we demonstrate that Usp22 is localized and overexpressed in the pseudo-palisade tissue around the necrotic area of the tumor. In addition, Usp22 colocalizes with the mitophagy marker Parkin, indicating a link with mitochondria function in GBM. Collectively, this evidence suggests that altered expression of Usp22 might provide a way for tumor cells to survive in hypoxic conditions, allowing the escape of cells from the necrotic area toward vascularized tissues. Collectively, our experimental data suggest a model for a possible mechanism of uncontrolled proliferation and invasion in glioblastoma

A novel mutation in NDUFB11 unveils a new clinical phenotype associated with lactic acidosis and sideroblastic anemia

NDUFB11, a component of mitochondrial complex I, is a relatively small integral membrane protein, belonging to the 'supernumerary' group of subunits, but proved to be absolutely essential for the assembly of an active complex I. Mutations in in the X-linked nuclear encoded NDUFB11 gene have recently been discovered in association with two distinct phenotypes, i.e. microphthalmia with linear skin defects and histiocytoid cardiomyopathy. We report on a male with complex I deficiency, caused by a de novo mutation in NDUFB11 and displaying early onset sideroblastic anemia as the unique feature. This is the third report that describes a mutation in NDUFB11 but all are associated to a different phenotype. Our results further expand the molecular spectrum and associated clinical phenotype of NDUFB11 defects

Evaluation of the efficacy of carbon nanotubes for delivering peptides into mitochondria

Mitochondrial (mt) diseases are devastating neurodegenerative pathologies due tomutations in nuclear or mt genes. Among mtDNA pathogenic mutations, more than one half have been identified in transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. These are responsible for a wide range of pathologies including myopathies, encephalopathies, cardiomyopathies and deafness for which no effective treatment is available at present. Therefore, new strategies to suppress their damaging effects are required to envisage therapeutic approaches for these diseases. Here we report data for carbon nanotube (CNT) derivatives showing that the conjugates bearing a specific peptide sequence are able to target the mitochondria in yeast and human monocyte cells while the control derivative without the peptide diffuses into the cytoplasm. Moreover the compounds do not affect cellular viability and cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Toxicity of the constructs is also assessed on the simple pluricellular model Caenorhabditis elegans

The isolated carboxy-terminal domain of human mitochondrial leucyl-tRNA synthetase rescues the pathological phenotype of mitochondrial tRNA mutations in human cells.

Mitochondrial (mt) diseases are multisystem disorders due to mutations in nuclear or mtDNA genes. Among the latter, more than 50% are located in transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and are responsible for a wide range of syndromes, for which no effective treatment is available at present. We show that three human mt aminoacyl-tRNA syntethases, namely leucyl-, valyl-, and isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase are able to improve both viability and bioenergetic proficiency of human transmitochondrial cybrid cells carrying pathogenic mutations in the mt-tRNA(Ile) gene. Importantly, we further demonstrate that the carboxy-terminal domain of human mt leucyl-tRNA synthetase is both necessary and sufficient to improve the pathologic phenotype associated either with these "mild" mutations or with the "severe" m.3243A>G mutation in the mt-tRNA(L)(eu(UUR)) gene. Furthermore, we provide evidence that this small, non-catalytic domain is able to directly and specifically interact in vitro with human mt-tRNA(Leu(UUR)) with high affinity and stability and, with lower affinity, with mt-tRNA(Ile). Taken together, our results sustain the hypothesis that the carboxy-terminal domain of human mt leucyl-tRNA synthetase can be used to correct mt dysfunctions caused by mt-tRNA mutations

Neo-liberismo e neo-comunitarismo

La crisi economica e finanziaria di questi ultimi anni ha rimesso in discussione il paradigma capitalista che da unico protagonista della storia negli anni novanta oggi è decisamente sotto accusa. Al consumo vistoso e individualista va sostituito un sistema basato sulla cooperazione, sulla condivisione e sul dono, bisogna evitare di sperperare le risorse collettive. La mitologia che negli ultimi decenni si è costruita sul valore della libertà d’azione, della capacità individuale, del successo personale, specie in chiave economica, sta lasciando il passo a nuove teorizzazioni come quelle sul bene comune e sulla decrescita, che rivendicano la partecipazione diretta dei cittadini alle decisioni collettive, all’uso delle risorse, al modello economico da attuare.The economic and financial crisis of recent years has changed the capitalist paradigm.The individualistic model has been replaced by a system based on cooperation, sharing and on the gift. The mythology that in recent decades has been built on the value of freedom of action, individual ability, personal economical success is giving way to new theories such the common good and the "decroissance", claiming direct participation of citizens in collective decisions, common use of resources and new economic models