Erratum: “Seed layer technique for high quality epitaxial manganite films” [AIP Advances 6, 085109 (2016)]

No abstract available

miRNAs Expression Analysis in Paired Fresh/Frozen and Dissected Formalin Fixed and Paraffin Embedded Glioblastoma Using Real-Time PCR

miRNAs are small molecules involved in gene regulation. Each tissue shows a characteristic miRNAs epression profile that could be altered during neoplastic transformation. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumour of the adult with a high rate of mortality. Recognizing a specific pattern of miRNAs for GBM could provide further boost for target therapy. The availability of fresh tissue for brain specimens is often limited and for this reason the possibility of starting from formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE) could very helpful even in miRNAs expression analysis. We analysed a panel of 19 miRNAs in 30 paired samples starting both from FFPE and Fresh/Frozen material. Our data revealed that there is a good correlation in results obtained from FFPE in comparison with those obtained analysing miRNAs extracted from Fresh/Frozen specimen. In the few cases with a not good correlation value we noticed that the discrepancy could be due to dissection performed in FFPE samples. To the best of our knowledge this is the first paper demonstrating that the results obtained in miRNAs analysis using Real-Time PCR starting from FFPE specimens of glioblastoma are comparable with those obtained in Fresh/Frozen samples

Pattern of care and effectiveness of treatment for glioblastoma patients in the real world: Results from a prospective population-based registry. Could survival differ in a high-volume center?

BACKGROUND: As yet, no population-based prospective studies have been conducted to investigate the incidence and clinical outcome of glioblastoma (GBM) or the diffusion and impact of the current standard therapeutic approach in newly diagnosed patients younger than aged 70 years. METHODS: Data on all new cases of primary brain tumors observed from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2010, in adults residing within the Emilia-Romagna region were recorded in a prospective registry in the Project of Emilia Romagna on Neuro-Oncology (PERNO). Based on the data from this registry, a prospective evaluation was made of the treatment efficacy and outcome in GBM patients. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-seven GBM patients (median age, 64 y; range, 29-84 y) were enrolled. The median overall survival (OS) was 10.7 months (95% CI, 9.2-12.4). The 139 patients 64aged 70 years who were given standard temozolomide treatment concomitant with and adjuvant to radiotherapy had a median OS of 16.4 months (95% CI, 14.0-18.5). With multivariate analysis, OS correlated significantly with KPS (HR = 0.458; 95% CI, 0.248-0.847; P = .0127), MGMT methylation status (HR = 0.612; 95% CI, 0.388-0.966; P = .0350), and treatment received in a high versus low-volume center (HR = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.328-0.986; P = .0446). CONCLUSIONS: The median OS following standard temozolomide treatment concurrent with and adjuvant to radiotherapy given to (72.8% of) patients aged 6470 years is consistent with findings reported from randomized phase III trials. The volume and expertise of the treatment center should be further investigated as a prognostic factor

DEFORMED SPACE-TIME OF THE PIEZONUCLEAR EMISSIONS

In this paper, an experimental verification of the relationship between the deformed Minkowsky space-time and the piezonuclear emission has been obtained by testing several cylindrical steel bars cyclically loaded in a mechanical fatigue machine. During the compression cycles, α-particles have been both detected by a ZnS(Ag) scintillator and a Geiger counter. Taking into account the theory of the deformed special relativity, we report that the emission only occurs after a specific value of energy is overcome. This value is strictly related to the weak and strong nuclear interactions, which in turn define the regions of Minkowsky and non-Minkowsky space-time

Statistics of piezonuclear emissions: early results

Measurements of ionizing and nonionizing particles are performed during the rupture tests of steel rods having different diameter. A ZnS(Ag) alpha detector, a Geiger counter and a 3He proportional counter for neutrons are used. From the distributions of the recorded intensity maxima, different particles emissions are suggested to occur in broken and nonbroken samples. A hint for the emission of neutrons at rupture is also obtained. Such neutron emissions are predicted in the framework of the piezonuclear theory

Possible Evidence of Piezonuclear Alpha Emission

Compression cycles at different loading speeds, each followed by a rapid stress release, were applied to cylindrical AISI 304 steel bars with 500 g mass, 2 cm diameter and 20 cm height. Three ZnS scintillators and a Geiger counter were placed around the samples. The emission of ionizing particles was both recorded by the Geiger and by the alpha particles counters during the compression and decompression phases. The recorded counts-rates as a function of the load are here shown and commented

Piezonuclear reactions and DST-reactions

Over the past two decades a great deal of evidence has been gathered about the existence and the possible energetic exploitation of a new type of reactions predicted by the Deformed Special Relativity, which is an extension of Special Relativity. According to that theory, the energy of every physical phenomenon determines, by deforming it, the space-time in which the same phenomenon evolves. The practical consequences of this theoretical prediction are that mechanical machines, such as ultrasound generators or other compressing equipments, can also induce nuclear reactions on systems consisting of stable atoms such as iron, if they are able to trigger some particular physical effects able to concentrate an adequate amount of energy in an adequate space-time region. The experimental research aims at converting those predictions into experimental results and, in perspective, into industrial prototypes for a following commercial use. The evidence of nuclear transmutation of elements is among the most interesting possible results. Neutron and alpha particles emission are also reported