Effect of Inflammation on miRNA Expression in Pancreatic Beta Cells and their Exosomes

Background and aims. Inflammation is a contributor to the dysfunction of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta-cells in Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Exosomes (EXOs) have emerged as important mediators in cell communication, which carry proteins and RNA species (miRNA, mRNA, tRNAs etc). EXOs have been found under normal physiologic and disease states. Their content can reflect biological events and disease progression. In the present study, we are defining the miRNA profiles of beta cells and EXOs, with and without exposure to inflammatory cytokines. By comparing our data to literary references, it will be possible to identify miRNAs that may reflect beta cell damage and/or death

A Robust 43-GHz VCO in CMOS for OC-768 SONET Applications

In this paper, we present a 43-GHz LC-VCO in 0.13-/spl mu/m CMOS for use in SONET OC-768 optical networks. A tuned output buffer is used to provide 1.3 V/sub p-p/ (single-ended) into a 90-fF capacitive load as is required when the VCO is used in typical clock and data recovery (CDR) circuits. Phase noise is -90 dBc/Hz at a 1-MHz offset from the carrier; this meets SONET jitter specifications. The design has a tune range of 4.2%. The VCO, including output buffers, consumes 14 mA from a 1-V supply and occupies 0.06 mm/sup 2/ of die area. Modern CMOS process characteristics and the high center frequency of this design mean that the tank loss is not dominated by the integrated inductor, but rather by the tank capacitance. An area-efficient inductor design that does not require any optimization is used

Epigenetics Modifications and Therapeutic Prospects in Human Thyroid Cancer

At present no successful treatment is available for advanced thyroid cancer, which comprises poorly differentiated, anaplastic, and metastatic or recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer not responding to radioiodine. In the last few years, biologically targeted therapies for advanced thyroid carcinomas have been proposed on the basis of the recognition of key oncogenic mutations. Although the results of several phase II trials look promising, none of the patients treated had a complete response, and only a minority of them had a partial response, suggesting that the treatment is, at best, effective in stabilizing patients with progressive disease. “Epigenetic” refers to the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without any alteration in the primary DNA sequence. The epigenetic processes establish and maintain the global and local chromatin states that determine gene expression. Epigenetic abnormalities are present in almost all cancers and, together with genetic changes, drive tumor progression. Various genes involved in the control of cell proliferation and invasion (p16INK4A, RASSF1A, PTEN, Rap1GAP, TIMP3, DAPK, RARβ2, E-cadherin, and CITED1) as well as genes specific of thyroid differentiation (Na+/I− symport, TSH receptor, pendrin, SL5A8, and TTF-1) present aberrant methylation in thyroid cancer. This review deals with the most frequent epigenetic alterations in thyroid cancer and focuses on epigenetic therapy, whose goal is to target the chromatin in rapidly dividing tumor cells and potentially restore normal cell functions. Experimental data and clinical trials, especially using deacetylase inhibitors and demethylating agents, are discussed

A CMOS AGC-less IF Strip for Bluetooth

This paper presents an IF chain suitable for Low-IF fully-integrated GFSK receivers. The circuit performs amplification and channel selection (including image rejection). A five-pole Gm-C polyphase filter forms the core of the IF strip. The filter is current driven and has transimpedance gain of ≃ 120 kΩ. The filter is architectured so that GFSK signals with dynamic range exceeding 50dB can be decoded without the need of any automatic gain control. This AGC-less IF strip was fabricated in standard 0.25 µm CMOS process. It draws 6.2 mA from a 2.5 V supply and has better than 4.8 nA rms input referred noise. Input signals (compliant with Bluetooth) were applied and the output signal was collected for software decoding . Generated BER plots meet Bluetooth specifications

Progettazione e sviluppo di un'applicazione mobile multipiattaforma per l'ottimizzazione dei processi di interrompibilita e certificazione in Terna Rete Italia

Uno degli obiettivi dell'azienda Terna, gestore e proprietario della Rete di Trasmissione Nazionale di energia elettrica ad Alta Tensione, è quello di ridurre, in tempo reale, gli assorbimenti dei clienti “interrompibili” allacciati in Alta Tensione al fine di mantenere la rete elettrica nazionale costantemente in equilibrio fra domanda e offerta di energia. Quando la domanda supera l'offerta, una delle modalità per riequilibrare il flusso di energia è far ricorso al servizio di interrompibilità elettrica. L’effettiva interruzione avviene a fronte della ricezione di un comando di distacco inviato da Terna tramite linee telefoniche dedicate e ridondanti. Per la ricezione dei segnali e, più generalmente, per la raccolta delle informazioni tecniche, lato interrompibile sono predisposti ed installati apparati opportunamente certificati. Lo scopo del lavoro di tesi è mettere in luce le attività critiche non ottimizzate e quelle non a valore aggiunto e, a valle di ciò, individuare una soluzione per il miglioramento dei principali processi di business coinvolti nell'ambito dell'interrompibilità. La soluzione individuata a seguito di un'attenta attività di analisi, è l'introduzione di un'applicazione mobile a supporto del lavoro dei certificatori che si occupano quotidianamente delle certificazioni degli apparati tecnici. L'applicazione mobile è stata progettata e, a seguito di ciò, sviluppata in HTML5+CSS3+Javascript, con il supporto del framework PhoneGap per orientamento al multipiattaforma. Lato back-end, mediante il linguaggio Java, è stato sviluppato un web service per recepire, mediante utilizzo di protocollo SOAP, ed elaborare le richieste del client, tipicamente in formato XML. Infine, mediante le librerie Apache FOP e Apache POI, è stato possibile realizzare dei report contenenti le informazioni utili sulla certificazione, inviate dal certificatore, per mezzo dell'applicazione mobile

Il potere sostitutivo dello Stato nell'adempimento degli obblighi comunitari delle Regioni

Gli obblighi degli Stati membri nei confronti dell'Unione Europea. Il potere sostitutivo nell'ordinamento italiano nella fase di attuazione degli obblighi comunitari nel sistema preriforma. Il potere sostitutivo nell'ordinamento italiano nella fase di attuazione degli obblighi comunitari a seguito della riforma costituzionale

The revision of the banking crisis management and deposit insurance framework in Europe: Why is it important to enhance flexibility?

The Crisis Management and Deposit Insurance Framework - which came into force about ten years ago - is under review by the European Commission. The need for its revision stems from the identification of certain shortcomings and inconsistencies that have emerged in its application in Europe and especially in Italy. The central topics of the debate focus on how resolution should be applied and on possible innovations regarding the tools that can be used to manage the crises of small and medium-sized banks, which until now have been managed on the basis of procedures and tools decided at the national level. The aim of this paper is to investigate the areas subject to reform, using as an evaluation parameter the objective of increasing the flexibility of the framework, as this is considered a fundamental requirement to ensure the full effectiveness of the overall banking crisis management system