Modellazione e identificazione di convertitori dc dc operanti in parallelo

Modellazione e identificazione del coportamento ,in regime di piccoli segnali, di piu convertitori DC DC controllati in PWM e connessi in parallelo.Applicazione sperimentale al cazo di due boost uguali operanti in parallelo

Endocannabinoid-related compounds in gastrointestinal diseases

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an endogenous signalling pathway involved in the control of several gastrointestinal (GI) functions at both peripheral and central levels. In recent years, it has become apparent that the ECS is pivotal in the regulation of GI motility, secretion and sensitivity, but endocannabinoids (ECs) are also involved in the regulation of intestinal inflammation and mucosal barrier permeability, suggesting their role in the pathophysiology of both functional and organic GI disorders. Genetic studies in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease have indeed shown significant associations with polymorphisms or mutation in genes encoding for cannabinoid receptor or enzyme responsible for their catabolism, respectively. Furthermore, ongoing clinical trials are testing EC agonists/antagonists in the achievement of symptomatic relief from a number of GI symptoms. Despite this evidence, there is a lack of supportive RCTs and relevant data in human beings, and hence, the possible therapeutic application of these compounds is raising ethical, political and economic concerns. More recently, the identification of several EC-like compounds able to modulate ECS function without the typical central side effects of cannabinomimetics has paved the way for emerging peripherally acting drugs. This review summarizes the possible mechanisms linking the ECS to GI disorders and describes the most recent advances in the manipulation of the ECS in the treatment of GI diseases

Transition to sustainability? Feasible scenarios towards a low-carbon economy

This paper analyses different policies that may promote the transition towards a low-carbon economy. We present a dynamic simulation model where three different strategies are identified: improvements in energy efficiency, the development of the renewable energy sector, and carbon capture and storage. Our aim is to evaluate the dynamics that the implementation of these strategies may produce in the economy, looking at different performance indicators, such as the GDP growth rate, unemployment, labour share, carbon emissions, and renewable energy production. Scenario analysis shows that a number of tradeoffs between social, economic and environmental indicators emerge. Such tradeoffs undermine an `objective' definition of sustainability

Transition to sustainability? Feasible scenarios towards a low-carbon economy

This paper analyses different policies that may promote the transition towards a low-carbon economy. We present a dynamic simulation model where three different strategies are identified: improvements in energy efficiency, the development of the renewable energy sector, and carbon capture and storage. Our aim is to evaluate the dynamics that the implementation of these strategies may produce in the economy, looking at different performance indicators, such as the GDP growth rate, unemployment, labour share, carbon emissions, and renewable energy production. Scenario analysis shows that a number of tradeoffs between social, economic and environmental indicators emerge. Such tradeoffs undermine an `objective' definition of sustainability

Transition to sustainability? Feasible scenarios towards a low-carbon economy

This paper analyses different policies that may promote the transition towards a low-carbon economy. We present a dynamic simulation model where three different strategies are identified: improvements in energy efficiency, the development of the renewable energy sector, and carbon capture and storage. Our aim is to evaluate the dynamics that the implementation of these strategies may produce in the economy, looking at different performance indicators, such as the GDP growth rate, unemployment, labour share, carbon emissions, and renewable energy production. Scenario analysis shows that a number of tradeoffs between social, economic and environmental indicators emerge. Such tradeoffs undermine an `objective' definition of sustainability

Fatty acid composition of light lamb meat from Leccese and Comisana dairy breeds as affected by slaughter age

Forty lambs of two Italian dairy breeds were used to study the effects of slaughter age and breed on meat fatty acid composition. Lambs were subdivided into four groups (n. 10) according to a factorial scheme of two breeds (Leccese and Comisana). ×. two slaughter ages (45 and 60 days). The lambs were fed maternal milk supplemented with hay and concentrate from the 30th day to the slaughter. Leccese lambs at 45 days exhibited a FA profile more compatible to nutritional requirements for human health. They displayed a lower SFA proportion, a higher UFA/SFA and MUFA/SFA ratios than Comisana. The delay of slaughtering age at 60 days improved FA composition in Comisana lambs which had lower SFA content, AI and TI indexes and higher UFA/SFA and MUFA/SFA ratios and n-3 PUFA content than in Leccese. In both the breeds, the slaughter age at 60 days improved the CLA content

Increased levels of DNA methyltransferases are associated with the tumorigenic capacity of prostate cancer cells

DNA methylation might be the earliest somatic genome changes in prostate cancer that also play an important role in the process of tumor invasion, growth and metastasis. In recent years, several inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTis) have been developed and evaluated in pre-clinical models and in clinical trials. While these compounds are effective in the treatment of hematological conditions, clinical trials in solid tumors and in prostate cancer have shown limited or no efficacy. This may be attributed to inappropriate dose regimens leading to toxicity-related adverse events. As with other anti-target compounds, one of the obstacles encountered with DNMTis in prostate cancer could be the inability to select patients for the clinical studies as well as the inability to monitor the efficacy of the drug if not the conclusion of the study. Primary cultures derived from human prostatic tissues harvested from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) as well as neoplastic and non-neoplastic prostate cell lines were tested for DNMT expression/activity and to monitor azacitidine molecular efficacy. We observed that in primary cultures the levels of DNMT activity as well as the protein levels of DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b were higher in cultures derived from PCa compared to BPH tissue samples and significantly higher in cultures derived from PCa with Gleason scores ≥7 compared to those observed in cultures derived from Gleason scores <7. In addition, DNMT activity as well as DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b levels were higher in PCa cell lines compared to their non-neoplastic counterparts. Although DNMT activity was higher in high tumorigenic/aggressive PCa cell lines compared to low tumorigenic/aggressive cell lines, only the levels of DNMT3a and DNMT3b were significantly higher in the first group of cells, suggesting that DNMT1 activity is related to the transition to non-neoplastic versus neoplastic phenotype whereas the de novo methylation enzymes were mainly related to progression. Nevertheless, the comparison in the more aggressive PC3 cell derivatives (PC3-LN4 cells) also possessed higher levels of DNMT1 compared to PC3 and PC3M from which these cells were derived. Collectively, our results confirm previous data on the increased methylation in more aggressive tumors supporting the use of DNMTis in advanced prostate cancer. In addition, since glutathione S-transferase-π (GSTP1) was re-expressed or its protein levels were increased after treatment with non-toxic azacitidine doses and since GSTP1 can easily be measured in patient sera, the monitoring of this protein may aide in the evaluation of therapy in future clinical trials

CORRELATES TO ABDOMINAL PAIN IN CONSTIPATION PREVALENT IBS PATIENTS

Background and aim: Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been associated to altered motility and sensation. In constipated prevalent-IBS patients, a clear association between bowel habit and abdominal pain remains to be established, and it is not known whether factors related to patients daily life may play a role in symptoms generation. Our aim was to evaluate the association between abdominal pain, bowel habit, demographic factors, alimentary/voluptuary habits and colonic transit in constipated-IBS patients. Material and methods: 68 patients complaining of chronic constipation were selected on the basis of the Rome 3 criteria for IBS. Colonic transit time (CTT) was studied and alimentary attitudes and smoking habit were recorded. Presence of mild or severe abdominal pain was scored, as well as the prevalent pain characteristics, defined as diffuse or localized, chronic or acute, with cramps or gradually distending. Data were analysed by univariate and stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was also used to verify the risk association between pain and all other variables. Results: 40 patients were classified as constipated and 28 had alternating evacuation. Constipated patients had a lower scholar degree, consumed more laxatives, had a longer transit time in the right colon and scored more chronic pain than alternating ones, but it was not confirmed by multivariate analysis. When severity of abdominal pain was used as discriminating factor, a significant number of subjects reporting severe pain were males (16/30 vs 4/38, p<0.01) and smokers (20/30 vs 4/38, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed that only smoking was an independent factor associated with severe abdominal pain (OR 14.3, CI 2–99, p= 0.007). Conclusions: Abdominal pain is similarly reported by constipated or alternating IBS patients and it is not associated with colonic transit time or demographics. Smoking is the only factor constantly and independently associated to severe abdominal pain. As smoking does not seem likely to affect colonic transit time we suggest that smoking may act on the visceral perception in IBS-constipated patients

A new microfluidic platform for the highly reproducible preparation of non-viral gene delivery complexes

Transfection describes the delivery of exogenous nucleic acids (NAs) to cells utilizing non-viral means. In the last few decades, scientists have been doing their utmost to design ever more effective transfection reagents. These are eventually mixed with NAs to give rise to gene delivery complexes, which must undergo characterization, testing, and further refinement through the sequential reiteration of these steps. Unfortunately, although microfluidics offers distinct advantages over the canonical approaches to preparing particles, the systems available do not address the most frequent and practical quest for the simultaneous generation of multiple polymer-to-NA ratios (N/Ps). Herein, we developed a user-friendly microfluidic cartridge to repeatably prepare non-viral gene delivery particles and screen across a range of seven N/Ps at once or significant volumes of polyplexes at a given N/P. The microchip is equipped with a chaotic serial dilution generator for the automatic linear dilution of the polymer to the downstream area, which encompasses the NA divider to dispense equal amounts of DNA to the mixing area, enabling the formation of particles at seven N/Ps eventually collected in individual built-in tanks. This is the first example of a stand-alone microfluidic cartridge for the fast and repeatable preparation of non-viral gene delivery complexes at different N/Ps and their storage