EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NATURAL ALTERNATIVE COPPER PRODUCTS AND LOW RATE COPPER FORMULATIONS AGAINST GRAPE DOWNY MILDEW IN ORGANIC VITICULTURE

The control of pathogenic fungi, especially downy mildew, represents the main problem in organic viticulture as only few fungicides, above all copper salts, can be used. As the copper causes problems of environmental impact, the Regulation EC n. 473/2002 fixed a ceiling on the use of copper compounds. Two years field trials were carried out in organic vineyeards to test the effectiveness, against Plasmopara viticola (Berk. et Curt.) Berl. et De Toni, of alternative copper products and low rate copper formulations, able to take place or to reduce copper quantities used. Amoung the alternative substances, in the first year of activity we examinated phito-stimulant and cuprics, while in the second year we examinated natural extracts, both vegetables and animals, and natural compound associates to the copper. The achieved results have underlined that, using the low rate copper formulations examinated, the total copper quantities were always less than 6 Kg copper per hectare, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation EC. The alternative products investigated have not guaranteed, instead, an adequate protection with high pressure od downy mildew. The trials confirm that the copper is indispensable for plant protection in organic farming, as it is not possible to replace it. We can only reduce the copper quantities used, at this point of time, but further studies are necessary to find appropriate alternative solutions able to control pathogenic agents in organic farming

A Novel Reporter Mouse Uncovers Endogenous Brn3b Expression.

Brn3b (Pou4f2) is a class-4 POU domain transcription factor known to play central roles in the development of different neuronal populations of the Central Nervous System, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the neurons that connect the retina with the visual centers of the brain. Here, we have used CRISPR-based genetic engineering to generate a Brn3b-mCherry reporter mouse without altering the endogenous expression of Brn3b. In our mouse line, mCherry faithfully recapitulates normal Brn3b expression in the retina, the optic tracts, the midbrain tectum, and the trigeminal ganglia. The high sensitivity of mCherry also revealed novel expression of Brn3b in the neuroectodermal cells of the optic stalk during early stages of eye development. Importantly, the fluorescent intensity of Brn3b-mCherry in our reporter mice allows for noninvasive live imaging of RGCs using Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (SLO), providing a novel tool for longitudinal monitoring of RGCs

Una battaglia di Florence Nightingale pressoché ignorata: l'opposizione alla creazione dell'albo professionale statale delle infermiere

Questo contributo intende porre all'attenzione alcuni fatti poco noti della storia dell'assistenza infermieristica che riguardano Florence Nightingale, di cui si celebrano i 200 anni dalla nascita. Si tratta della sua battaglia contro l'istituzione del registro delle infermiere diplomate (quello che oggi è l'Ordine degli infermieri). Le sue ragioni erano ben argomentate e andavano dall'ancora insufficiente istruzione, alla forte ingerenza medica nella Campagna a favore del registro, al rischio che l'ancora poco definita solidití  scientifica e sociale della professione l'avrebbe resa ancillare alla medicina, fino alla concreta impraticabilití  di tenere un albo sempre aggiornato per escludere eventuali soggetti non più idonei. Oltre ad informazioni sulla patrocinatrice della Campagna per la registrazione delle infermiere Ethel Bedford Gordon Fenwick, fra le fondatrici del Consiglio internazionale delle infermiere (ICN), emergono gli intrecci con le associazioni femminili dei primi del Novecento del secolo scorso e l'attuale Consociazione nazionale delle Associazioni infermieri (CNAI). Si riportano, inoltre, informazioni poco note sulle origini della regolamentazione professionale degli infermieri, in particolare nel Regno Unito e in Italia. Nella parte conclusiva si pongono diverse domande che stimolano riflessioni sulla realtí  professionale italiana e, in particolare, sugli elementi fondamentali dell'assistenza infermieristica, sulla formazione necessaria per l'abilitazione professionale, specialistica e avanzata, e il conseguente sviluppo di carriera. Parole Chiave:"ˆInfermieri, ordine professionale, associazioni infermieristiche, storia dell'assistenza infermieristicaRIASSUNTOThis contribution intends to draw attention to some little-known facts in the history of nursing regarding Florence Nightingale, whose 200th anniversary is celebrated. This is her battle against the establishment of the register of qualified nurses (what is now the Order of Nurses). Her reasons were well argued and ranged from the still insufficient education, to the strong medical interference in the Campaign in favour of the register, to the risk that the still poorly defined scientific and social solidity of the profession would have made it ancillary to medicine, up to the concrete impracticability of keeping a register always updated to exclude any subjects who were no longer suitable. In addition to information on the patroness of the Campaign for the registration of nurses Ethel Bedford Gordon Fenwick, one of the founders of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the links with women's associations of the early twentieth century and the current Italian National Association of Nurses (Consociazione nazionale delle Associazioni infermieri, CNAI) emerge. Furthermore, little known information on the origins of professional regulation of nurses, particularly in the United Kingdom and Italy is reported. In the concluding part, several questions are asked that stimulate reflections on the Italian professional situation and, in particular, on the fundamentals of nursing care, on nursing education and training necessary for professional, specialist and advanced qualification, and the consequent career development.                Keywords:"ˆnurses, regulation, nursing association, nursing histor

L'assistenza infermieristica nell'esercito sardo-piemontese durante la Guerra di Crimea

ontemporary history considers the Crimean War one of the most important European military campaign between the Napoleonic Wars and World War I. For the history of nursing  this is an historical landmark, where, thanks to Florence Nightingale, the professional nursing was born. At the moment, the organization of health care and nursing of the Sardinian Piedmontese Army has not been the subject of extensive study. This report is meant to start the analysis of their commitment.Through analysis of primary historical sources, we would like to highlight the role of healthcare and nursing in the Sardinian-Piedmontese Army starting from 1855, during the Crimean War.We have analyzed the records stored in the archive of the Ispettorato Generale (part of the Ministry of War) in Turin and the reports by Army chief physician Dr. Comissetti, as well as the surveys in the archive of the Sisters of Charity at the convent of San Salvato in Turin, the letters of Florence Nightingale and the French doctors' testimonies. So we were able to shed light on the people involved in assistance and healthcare in the Sardinian -Piedmontese Army.A new, unprecedented historical research has shown the dedication and the daily work of male military personnel and religious during the Crimean War, a new aspect during this war that of what would later become the basis of the profession  nursingKey words: Nursing History, Crimean War, Sardian-Piedmontese Army.L'assistenza infermieristica nell'esercito sardo-piemontese durante la Guerra di CrimeaLa guerra di Crimea è considerata dagli storici moderni una tra le maggiori campagne militari europee tra le due guerre napoleoniche e la prima guerra mondiale. Per la storia dell'assistenza infermieristica è una pietra miliare, in cui, grazie a Florence Nightingale, la professione nacque. L'organizzazione sanitaria e l'assistenza infermieristica dell'esercito Sardo Piemontese, ad ora non è stata oggetto di studio approfondito. Con questo lavoro si intende avviare l'analisi dell'argomento.Attraverso l'analisi delle fonti storiche primarie vorremmo sottolineare il ruolo dell'assistenza sanitaria e infermieristica nell'esercito sardo-piemontese, che è stato coinvolto nella guerra di Crimea nel 1855.Attraverso un'attenta analisi dei record conservati nell'archivio dell'Ispettorato di Torino e le relazioni del capo medico dell'esercito Dr. Comissetti, nonché delle indagini nell'archivio delle Suore della Carití  presso il convento di San Salvato a Torino, delle lettere di Florence Nightingale e delle testimonianze dei medici francesi, siamo stati in grado di far luce sulle persone coinvolte nell'assistenza, sulla  salute e sulla mortalití   dell'esercito Sardo Piemontese nella Guerra di Crimea.Una nuova visione all'interno di questo evento bellico dimostra la dedizione e il lavoro quotidiano assistenziale del personale maschile militare e delle religiose durante la guerra di Crimea, un aspetto poco conosciuto durante un evento bellico che diventerí  una delle basi della professione infermieristica.Parole Chiave: Storia dell'assistenza infermieristica, Guerra di Crimea, Esercito sardo piemontese

Pórticos metálicos sometidos a acciones dinámicas debidas a explosiones

El presente estudio pretende aplicar los principios generales del cálculo dinámico de estructuras al caso concreto de edificios constituidos por pórticos típicos de estructura metálica sometidos a una acción de explosión externa. Inicialmente se definen las características de las cargas debidas a explosión sobre una estructura del tipo anteriormente mencionado. Se comentan con detalle los procedimientos de cálculo de las presiones pico y las duraciones de las cargas de explosión a partir del peso y tipo de explosivo y de la distancia entre detonación y estructura. El procedimiento utilizado para tal fin se ha extraído de normativa americana específica (Ref. [5]), y se basa en una serie de tablas y gráficos provenientes de la experimentación. Se completa la explicación con un ejemplo práctico. Posteriormente, se lleva a cabo el cálculo de la respuesta dinámica no-lineal de una estructura metálica de tipo aporticada. Por un lado, dicho cálculo se realiza mediante un método simplificado que consiste en asimilar la estructura a un sistema de un único grado de libertad (SDOF). Esto supone transformar el pórtico en un sistema constituido por una masa concentrada equivalente unida a un resorte de rigidez equivalente, sobre la que se aplica una carga dinámica concentrada. La rigidez equivalente de dicho sistema se obtiene en base al análisis Push-over. Este análisis consiste en aplicar estáticamente una carga horizontal creciente sobre el pórtico estudiado y extraer la función resistencia-desplazamiento del mismo. Este procedimiento permite asegurar la resistencia de la estructura en las distintas fases de carga hasta llegar al colapso y su ductilidad. Por otro lado, se obtiene la respuesta del pórtico mediante un cálculo dinámico no-lineal con ayuda del programa de elementos finitos CASTEM (véase www-cast3m.cea.fr). Para la integración temporal del sistema de ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias derivado de la discretización de la ecuación de la dinámica se utiliza el método de Newmark (Ref. [1] y [2]). Se pretende con todo ello comparar los resultados de respuesta obtenidos mediante el método simplificado por un lado y CASTEM por el otro. Se concluye que el esquema estructural estudiado no puede asimilarse de forma adecuada a un sistema SDOF. Esto es debido a que el método simplificado únicamente permite aplicar sobre la estructura una carga en la misma dirección que el grado de libertad supuesto. No obstante, en el presente caso, el efecto de la carga dinámica vertical sobre la cubierta del edificio no es despreciable

Dazzle Effect Artbook para un videojuego 2D

Este proyecto tiene como finalidad el desarrollo de un libro de arte en el cual presentar el concept art elaborado explícitamente para formar parte del videojuego de creación propia Dazzle Effect, el cual se ambienta, tanto en estética como en narrativa, en el circo. Con esto queda implícito el diseño de sus personajes y otros elementos esenciales que formen parte del imaginario de este mundo ficticio. Bajo la premisa de aportar un valor añadido, se pretende plasmar y transmitir visualmente una narrativa con un mensaje de crítica social y profundidad psicológica. El producto se dirige, por tanto, no solo a desarrolladores de videojuegos, sino también a jugadores jóvenes y adultos dispuestos a experimentar una aventura elocuente y emocionante, así como a todas aquellas personas con una afición por el arte. En la memoria se recoge todo el proceso, desde la recopilación de información y documentación previa que se ha realizado hasta la obtención de diseños contextualizados y coherentes a la temática circense. Los resultados de esta investigación y desarrollo quedan expresados en formato de artbook, conteniendo este el recopilatorio final del trabajo conceptual generado

Factors influencing response to ingenol mebutate therapy for actinic keratosis of face and scalp

AIM To determine factors independently influencing response to ingenol mebutate therapy and assess efficacy on clinical setting of non-hypertrophic non-hyperkeratotic actinic keratosis (AK). METHODS Consecutive patients affected by non-hypertrophic non-hyperkeratotic AKs of the face or scalp were enrolled to receive ingenol mebutate 0.015% gel on a selected skin area of 25 cm2 for 3 consecutive days. Local skin reactions were calculated at each follow up visit using a validated composite score. Efficacy was evaluated by the comparison of clinical and dermoscopic pictures before the treatment and at day 57, and classified as complete, partial and poor response. RESULTS A number of 130 patients were enrolled, of which 101 (77.7%) were treated on the face, while 29 (22.3%) on the scalp. The great majority of our study population (n = 119, 91.5%) reached at least a 75% clearance of AKs and, in particular, 58 patients (44.6%) achieved a complete response while 61 (46.9%) a partial one. Logistic backward multivariate analysis showed that facial localization, level of local skin reaction (LSR) at day 2, the highest LSR values and level of crusts at day 8 were factors independently associated with the achievement of a complete response. CONCLUSION Ingenol mebutate 0.015% gel, when properly applied, is more effective on the face than on the scalp and efficacy is directly associated to LSR score

Effects of Adult Müller Cells and Their Conditioned Media on the Survival of Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Ganglion Cells

Retinal neurons, particularly retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), are susceptible to the degenerative damage caused by different inherited conditions and environmental insults, leading to irreversible vision loss and, ultimately, blindness. Numerous strategies are being tested in different models of degeneration to restore vision and, in recent years, stem cell technologies have offered novel avenues to obtain donor cells for replacement therapies. To date, stem cell–based transplantation in the retina has been attempted as treatment for photoreceptor degeneration, but the same tools could potentially be applied to other retinal cell types, including RGCs. However, RGC-like cells are not an abundant cell type in stem cell–derived cultures and, often, these cells degenerate over time in vitro. To overcome this limitation, we have taken advantage of the neuroprotective properties of Müller glia (one of the main glial cell types in the retina) and we have examined whether Müller glia and the factors they secrete could promote RGC-like cell survival in organoid cultures. Accordingly, stem cell-derived RGC-like cells were co-cultured with adult Müller cells or Müller cell-conditioned media was added to the cultures. Remarkably, RGC-like cell survival was substantially enhanced in both culture conditions, and we also observed a significant increase in their neurite length. Interestingly, Atoh7, a transcription factor required for RGC development, was up-regulated in stem cell-derived organoids exposed to conditioned media, suggesting that Müller cells may also enhance the survival of retinal progenitors and/or postmitotic precursor cells. In conclusion, Müller cells and the factors they release promote organoid-derived RGC-like cell survival, neuritogenesis, and possibly neuronal maturation.This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant R01EY026942 to A.L.T., and by the National Institutes of Health T32 Vision Science Training grant 4T32EY015387 to A.M.M. We also benefit from the National Eye Institute Core Facilities grant P30 EY012576. ELKARTEK KK-2019/00086 to E.V., Research groups of the UPV/EHU (GIU 2018/50) to E.V., Movilidad de personal de investigación UPV/EHU to X.P. and Programa de perfeccionamiento de personal Investigador Doctor, Gobierno Vasco (POS_2019_1_0027) to X.P

Synthesis of oligonucleotides carrying anchoring groups and their use in the preparation of oligonucleotide-gold conjugates

Oligodeoxynucleotide conjugates 1-15 carrying anchoring groups such as amino, thiol, pyrrole, and carboxy groups were prepared. A post-synthetic modification protocol was developed. In this method 2′-deoxy-O4-(p-nitrophenyl)uridine-3-phosphoramidite was prepared and incorporated in oligonucleotides. After assembly, the modified nucleoside was made to react with different amines carrying the anchoring groups. At the same time, protecting groups were removed to yield the desired oligonucleotide conjugates. In a second approach, amino, thiol, and carboxylic groups were introduced into the 3′-end of the oligonucleotides by preparing solid supports loaded with the appropriate amino acids. Oligonucleotide-gold conjugates were prepared and their binding properties were examined.Peer reviewe

A weakly correlated Fermi liquid state with a small Fermi surface in lightly doped Sr3_3Ir2_2O7_7

We characterize the electron doping evolution of (Sr$_{1-x}$La$_x$)$_3$Ir$_2$O$_7$ by means of angle-resolved photoemission. Concomitant with the metal insulator transition around $x\approx0.05$ we find the emergence of coherent quasiparticle states forming a closed small Fermi surface of volume $3x/2$, where $x$ is the independently measured La concentration. The quasiparticle weight $Z$ remains large along the entire Fermi surface, consistent with the moderate renormalization of the low-energy dispersion. This indicates a conventional, weakly correlated Fermi liquid state with a momentum independent residue $Z\approx0.5$ in lightly doped Sr$_3$Ir$_2$O$_7&.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure