Galectin-3. One molecule for an alphabet of diseases, from A to Z

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) regulates basic cellular functions such as cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, growth, proliferation, differentiation, and inflammation. It is not surprising, therefore, that this protein is involved in the pathogenesis of many relevant human diseases, including cancer, fibrosis, chronic inflammation and scarring affecting many different tissues. The papers published in the literature have progressively increased in number during the last decades, testifying the great interest given to this protein by numerous researchers involved in many different clinical contexts. Considering the crucial role exerted by Gal-3 in many different clinical conditions, Gal-3 is emerging as a new diagnostic, prognostic biomarker and as a new promising therapeutic target. The current review aims to extensively examine the studies published so far on the role of Gal-3 in all the clinical conditions and diseases, listed in alphabetical order, where it was analyzed

Nucleon decay and atmospheric neutrinos in the Mont Blanc experiment

In the NUSEX experiment, during 2.8 years of operation, 31 fully contained events have been collected; 3 among them are nucleon decay candidates, while the others have been attributed to upsilon interactions. Limits on nucleon lifetime and determinations of upsilon interaction rates are presented

Influence of dietary starch contents on milk composition of Friesian cows in early lactation

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of the modification of diet starch content on milk composition and onits nitrogen and mineral fractions. Ten Italian Friesian primiparous cows were randomly assigned to two groups and feda basal total mixed ration, (BSD, basal starch diet, 24.9% starch/DM) until 42 days in milking (DIM). At 43 DIM, 5 animals(control group, CTR) continued to receive the same ration and the remaining 5 cows (experimental group, EXP)were fed a low starch diet (LSD, 21.0% starch/DM) until 65 DIM, followed by a high starch diet (HSD, 28.3% starch/DM)66 to 85 DIM. From 86 DIM until 94 DIM, cows of the EXP group returned to the BSD. Milk samples were collected at 37,50, 60, 70, 80, 94 DIM. Starch intake was lower for EXP at DIM 50, 60 and higher at 70 and 80 DIM (P < 0.01). Milkyield and fat corrected milk (FCM) did not vary between groups and times of sampling, but HSD caused a significant (P< 0.05) reduction of milk fat in the EXP animals. NPN and MUN contents were affected by dietary treatments at 80 DIM(P < 0.05), being higher in CTR and lower in EXP group in comparison to their basal values (37 DIM). The αs1-caseinpercentages at 80 and 94 DIM increased in the EXP but not in the CTR group, and a marked decrease of αs2-casein percentagefor the EXP group at 94 DIM was observed (P < 0.05). Milk sodium content decreased at 80 and 94 DIM and thesodium to potassium ratio was reduced after the return to the basal diet in the EXP group (94 DIM), indicating that dietarystarch variations can be involved in the control of epithelium integrity of mammary gland in early lactation

Diagramming social practice theory:An interdisciplinary experiment exploring practices as networks

Achieving a transition to a low-carbon energy system is now widely recognised as a key challenge facing humanity. To date, the vast majority of research addressing this challenge has been conducted within the disciplines of science, engineering and economics utilising quantitative and modelling techniques. However, there is growing awareness that meeting energy challenges requires fundamentally socio-technical solutions and that the social sciences have an important role to play. This is an interdisciplinary challenge but, to date, there remain very few explorations of, or reflections on, interdisciplinary energy research in practice. This paper seeks to change that by reporting on an interdisciplinary experiment to build new models of energy demand on the basis of cutting-edge social science understandings. The process encouraged the social scientists to communicate their ideas more simply, whilst allowing engineers to think critically about the embedded assumptions in their models in relation to society and social change. To do this, the paper uses a particular set of theoretical approaches to energy use behaviour known collectively as social practice theory (SPT) - and explores the potential of more quantitative forms of network analysis to provide a formal framework by means of which to diagram and visualize practices. The aim of this is to gain insight into the relationships between the elements of a practice, so increasing the ultimate understanding of how practices operate. Graphs of practice networks are populated based on new empirical data drawn from a survey of different types (or variants) of laundry practice. The resulting practice networks are analysed to reveal characteristics of elements and variants of practice, such as which elements could be considered core to the practice, or how elements between variants overlap, or can be shared. This promises insights into energy intensity, flexibility and the rootedness of practices (i.e. how entrenched/ established they are) and so opens up new questions and possibilities for intervention. The novelty of this approach is that it allows practice data to be represented graphically using a quantitative format without being overly reductive. Its usefulness is that it is readily applied to large datasets, provides the capacity to interpret social practices in new ways, and serves to open up potential links with energy modeling. More broadly, a significant dimension of novelty has been the interdisciplinary approach, radically different to that normally seen in energy research. This paper is relevant to a broad audience of social scientists and engineers interested in integrating social practices with energy engineering

Avaliação de híbridos interespecíficos de mandioca para resistência a artrópodes-praga em condições semi-áridas.

Este trabalho foi conduzido utilizando-se híbridos interespecíficos de mandioca obtidos de cruzamentos entre espécies silvestres selecionadas e variedades elites de Manihot esculenta, com o objetivo de identificar genes exóticos relacionados à resistência às principais pragas que ocorrem na região semi-árida do Brasil.Edição dos resumos do XII Congresso Brasileiro de Mandioca na Revista Raízes e Amidos Tropicais, v. 3, out. 2007

Evolution of Integrated Crop-Livestock Production Systems

Many factors contribute to changes in the crop-livestock systems, but no logical end-point in the evolution process exists. While benefits of integrated crop-livestock systems over specialised crop and livestock systems are well documented, there has been a move to specialised crop and livestock production. Sustainability issues (manure nutrient concentration, soil quality maintenance, salinity, herbicide resistance, economic instability) have created a renewed interest in integrated crop-livestock systems. Farmer adaptability is as an important link in the evolution between ‘states of integration’

Evolution of Integrated Crop-Livestock Production Systems

Key points 1. Many factors contribute to changes in the crop-livestock systems, but no logical end-point in the evolution process exists. 2. While benefits of integrated crop-livestock systems over specialised crop and livestock systems are well documented, there has been a move to specialised crop and livestock production. 3. Sustainability issues (manure nutrient concentration, soil quality maintenance, salinity, herbicide resistance, economic instability) have created a renewed interest in integrated crop-livestock systems. 4. Farmer adaptability is as an important link in the evolution between ‘states of integration’

Easy on that trigger dad: a study of long term family photo retrieval

We examine the effects of new technologies for digital photography on people's longer term storage and access to collections of personal photos. We report an empirical study of parents' ability to retrieve photos related to salient family events from more than a year ago. Performance was relatively poor with people failing to find almost 40% of pictures. We analyze participants' organizational and access strategies to identify reasons for this poor performance. Possible reasons for retrieval failure include: storing too many pictures, rudimentary organization, use of multiple storage systems, failure to maintain collections and participants' false beliefs about their ability to access photos. We conclude by exploring the technical and theoretical implications of these findings