Mythology in Art History: Course Curriculum

The course entitled Mythology in Art History contains a scaffolded curriculum that introduces students to mythology throughout art history by learning how to analyze fine artwork. With each unit, students will demonstrate an increased control of art criticism, analysis, and knowledge as they develop stronger understanding of content. Students will be able to distinguish the elements of art and principles of design through various 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional art pieces from various time periods and cultures. Upon completion of this year-long program, students will demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of art analysis, allegory, and storytelling throughout art history, showing knowledge of the design, composition, color and spatial concepts necessary to enter Art History courses at the collegiate level. Students will be given summative assessments throughout the course that will examine their knowledge of the provided material. The website created allows students and parents to access the information at any time

Ipercortisolismo funzionale e sue possibili conseguenze cliniche

SommarioL'ipercortisolismo funzionale rappresenta una condizione di attivazione cronica dell'asse ipotalamo-ipofisi-surrene che si verifica in condizioni cliniche eterogenee (depressione e altri disordini psichici, disturbi del comportamento alimentare, diabete mellito, obesità, alcolismo, sindrome dell'ovaio policistico, sindrome delle apnee ostruttive notturne, lavoro a turni). Solitamente è un ipercortisolismo di lieve entità e reversibile alla remissione della condizione sottostante. Deve essere distinto dalla Sindrome di Cushing con la quale, però, condivide manifestazioni cliniche, alterazioni biochimiche e problematiche di diagnostica differenziale. Si può ipotizzare che l'ipercortisolismo funzionale abbia comunque un'azione deleteria tessuto-specifica. In questa rassegna verranno illustrati sinteticamente meccanismi ed effetti nocivi dell'ipercortisolismo funzionale

Viticultura en terrazas del Valle de Cembra en Italia: hacia la inclusión de la gestión sostenible del paisaje en las acciones de desarrollo orientadas a la calidad

Terraces represent the most wide-spread solution for steep hillslope cultivation. The elevated number of positive ecosystem services produced by the derived terraced landscapes when-well maintained are threatened by ongoing land-abandonment and landscape-irrespective agricultural transformation processes. In this manuscript, we analyzed the current state of the terraced area of Val di Cembra (Trentino-Italy). We aimed to analyze the reason behind the high rate of active maintenance of the terraced viticulture, discuss the main risks related to the introduction of intensive land management practices and list possible solutions for ensuring a long-term sustainable development of the area. We identified the wine-quality oriented development of viticulture, the realization of important infrastructure to ensure mobility and irrigation, and the strong sense of belonging still present also among young generations, the main factors determining the high rate of active maintenance of the terraced landscape. Besides the risk of obsolescence that affects the most marginal terraced areas of the valley, other risks are associated with the possible diffusion of landscape-indifferent land-arrangement and to the adoption of not traditional training systems, which may affect negatively the landscape value. Future perspectives need to enlarge the quality-oriented process undertaken in wine production to the whole territory. Including landscape in land management planning will ensure long-lasting sustainability of viticulture, matching the increasing demand for environmental services from the community and the consumers. Ongoing action in the Valley, that involve both private stakeholders and local authorities, are indicating the intention of the community to move in this direction.Las terrazas representan la solución más extendida para el cultivo en pendientes escarpadas. El número elevado de servicios ecosistémicos positivos producidos por paisajes con terrazas cuando están bien mantenidos se ve amenazado por el abandono continuo de la tierra y la transformación agrícola que no tiene en cuenta el paisaje. En este artículo, hemos analizado el estado actual de la zona de terrazas de Val di Cembra (Trentino-Italia). Nuestro objetivo fue analizar las causas detrás de la alta tasa de mantenimiento activo de la viticultura en terrazas, examinar los principales riesgos relacionados con la introducción de la gestión intensiva de la tierra y proponer posibles soluciones para garantizar un desarrollo sostenible a largo plazo de la zona. Hemos identificado los principales factores que determinan la elevada tasa de mantenimiento activo del paisaje en terrazas: el desarrollo de la viticultura orientado a la calidad del vino, la realización de infraestructuras importantes para garantizar la movilidad y el riego, y el fuerte sentido de pertenencia todavía presente también entre las generaciones jóvenes. Además del riesgo de obsolescencia que afecta a las zonas de terrazas más marginales del Valle, otros riesgos están asociados con la posible difusión de la transformación del territorio indiferente al paisaje y a la adopción de sistemas de cultivo que no son tradicionales, que pueden afectar negativamente el valor del paisaje. Las perspectivas futuras deben ampliar el proceso orientado a la calidad en la producción de vino en todo el territorio. La inclusión del paisaje en la planificación del manejo de la tierra garantizará una sostenibilidad duradera de la viticultura, respondiendo a la creciente demanda de servicios medioambientales por parte de la comunidad y de los consumidores. Proyectos en curso en el Valle, en los que participan tanto actores privados como autoridades locales, están indicando la intención de la comunidad de avanzar en esta dirección

Transcriptional Repressors of Fetal Globin Genes as Novel Therapeutic Targets in Beta-Thalassemia

During development the human β-globin gene cluster undergoes two switching processes at the embryo-fetal and fetal-adult stages, respectively, involving changes in chromatin remodeling and in transcriptional regulatory networks. In particular, during the perinatal period, the switch from fetal-to-adult globin gene expression leads to fetal globin genes silencing and progressive decline of fetal hemoglobin (HbF). Impaired hemoglobin switching is associated with hereditary persistence of HbF (HPFH), a condition in which the fetal globin genes fail to be completely silenced in adult red blood cells. This condition, when co-inherited with hemoglobinopathies, has great therapeutic potential because elevated HbF levels can ameliorate β-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. Therefore, there is a growing interest about the complex network of factors that regulate fetal globin genes expression. Here we discuss the activity of transcriptional repressors of fetal globin genes and their potential role as novel therapeutic targets in β-thalassemia

Telomere length shortening is associated with treatment-free remission in chronic myeloid leukemia patients

We studied telomere length in 32 CML patients who discontinued imatinib after achieving complete molecular remission and 32 age-sex-matched controls. The relative telomere length (RTL) was determined by q-PCR as the telomere to single copy gene (36B4) ratio normalized to a reference sample (K-562 DNA). Age-corrected RTL (acRTL) was also obtained. The 36-month probability of treatment-free remission (TFR) was 59.4 %. TFR patients showed shorter acRTL compared to relapsed (mean ± SD = 0.01 ± 0.14 vs 0.20 ± 0.21; p = 0.01). TFR was significantly higher in CML patients with acRTL ≤0.09 (78.9 vs 30.8 %, p = 0.002). CML stem cells harboring longer telomeres possibly maintain a proliferative potential after treatment discontinuation

What’s the best assessment of preload after cardiac surgery?

Objective: The assessment of the role of transesophageal echocardiography and invasive tests with pulmonary modified catheter to monitor the preload indexes in patients in intensive- care-unit after cardiac coronary surgery. Materials and Methods: Between January and December 2004 24 patients (14 male, 10 female) with coronary artery disease were prospectively enrolled for preload assessment during off-pump myocardial revascularization. Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP), Left Ventricular End Diastolic Indexed Area (LVEDAI), Δ Aortic Velocity (ΔVAo), Right Ventricular End Diastolic Volume (RVEDVI) as preload indexes were evaluated. Transesophageal echocardiography and pulmonary modified catheter monitoring were performed during the preoperative period at T1 and after fluid infusion (T2). Patients were considered Responders (R) or No Responders (NR) if the Stroke Volume Index increase at T2 was >20% with respect to T1. Results: Mean T1 PCWP was similar in both groups (12.8±2.2 in R vs. 11.4±3 mmHg in NR; p=NS) and mean increase of PCWP at T2 was similar in both groups (1.5±0.3% in R vs. 1.2±3% in NR; p=NS). Mean T1 RVEDVI was similar in both groups (97.33±34 in R vs. 101±21 ml/m2 in NR; p=NS); T2 RVEDVI was similar in R and NR Groups (122.11±49 vs. 138.54±30 ml/m2; p=NS); mean T1 and T2 LVEDAI was similar in R and NR (11.2±3.5 vs. 10.2±2.3 at T1 and 14.04±3.35 vs. 14.67±2.1 cm2/m2 at T2 respectively; p=NS). Higher mean value of T1 ΔVAo (20±7% in R vs. 10±2% in NR; p=0.006) were recorded while similar mean value of T2 ΔVAo were observed (11±3% in R vs. 5±2% in NR; p=0.743). Correlation index between T1 and T2 ΔVAo (R=0.82) in R was significant (p=0.0002), while correlation index between T1 and T2 ΔVAo (R=0.11) in NR was not significant. Conclusions: Our study showed in patients soon after coronary cardiac surgery ΔVAo is the only predictor of “fluid responsiveness” and of ventricular compliance

Large symptomatic gastric diverticula: two case reports and a brief review of literature

Gastric diverticula are rare and uncommon conditions. Most gastric diverticula are asymptomatic. When symptoms arise, they are most commonly upper abdominal pain, nausea and emesis, while dyspepsia and vomiting are less common. Occasionally, patients with gastric diverticula can have dramatic presentations related to massive bleeding or perforation. The diagnosis may be difficult, as symptoms can be caused by more common gastrointestinal pathologies and only aggravated by diverticula. The appropriate management of diverticula depends mainly on the symptom pattern and as well as diverticulum size. There is no specific therapeutic strategy for an asymptomatic diverticulum. Although some authors support conservative therapy with antacids, this provides only temporary symptom relief since it is not able to resolve the underlying pathology. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment when the diverticulum is large, symptomatic or complicated by bleeding, perforation or malignancy, with over two-thirds of patients remaining symptom-free after surgery, while laparoscopic resection, combined with intraoperative endoscopy, is a safe and feasible approach with excellent outcomes. Here, we present two cases of uncommon large symptomatic gastric diverticula with a discussion of the cornerstones in management and report a minimally invasive solution, with a brief review of the literature. (C) 2013 Baishideng. All rights reserved

Molecular Characterization of Cancer Associated Fibroblasts in Prostate Cancer

Background: Stromal components surrounding epithelial cancer cells seem to play a pivotal role during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor invasion, and metastases. To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor–stroma interactions may yield novel therapeutic targets for prostate cancer. Methods: Gene expression profile of prostate-cancer associated fibroblast (PCAF) and prostate non-cancer associated fibroblast (PNAF) cells isolated from radical prostatectomy was performed by Illumina, analyzed, and further processed by Ingenuity®: IPA® software. qRT-PCR was performed on an independent set of 17 PCAF, 12 PNAF, and 12 fibroblast cell lines derived from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPHF). Results: Using microarray analysis, we found six upregulated genes and two downregulated genes in PCAFs compared to PNAFs. To validate microarray results, we performed qRT-PCR for the most significantly regulated genes involved in the modulation of proliferation and androgen resistance on an independent set of PNAF, PCAF, and BHPF samples. We confirmed the increased expression of SCARB1, MAPK3K1, and TGF-β as well as the decreased expression of S100A10 in PCAFs compared to PNAFs and BPHFs. Conclusions: These results provide strong evidence that the observed changes in the gene expression profile of PCAFs can contribute to functional alteration of adjacent prostate cancer cells

Molecular Characterization of Cancer Associated Fibroblasts in Prostate Cancer

Background: Stromal components surrounding epithelial cancer cells seem to play a pivotal role during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor invasion, and metastases. To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor-stroma interactions may yield novel therapeutic targets for prostate cancer. Methods: Gene expression profile of prostate-cancer associated fibroblast (PCAF) and prostate non-cancer associated fibroblast (PNAF) cells isolated from radical prostatectomy was performed by Illumina, analyzed, and further processed by Ingenuity (R) : IPA (R) software. qRT-PCR was performed on an independent set of 17 PCAF, 12 PNAF, and 12 fibroblast cell lines derived from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPHF). Results: Using microarray analysis, we found six upregulated genes and two downregulated genes in PCAFs compared to PNAFs. To validate microarray results, we performed qRT-PCR for the most significantly regulated genes involved in the modulation of proliferation and androgen resistance on an independent set of PNAF, PCAF, and BHPF samples. We confirmed the increased expression of SCARB1, MAPK3K1, and TGF-beta as well as the decreased expression of S100A10 in PCAFs compared to PNAFs and BPHFs. Conclusions: These results provide strong evidence that the observed changes in the gene expression profile of PCAFs can contribute to functional alteration of adjacent prostate cancer cells

Geosystemics View of Earthquakes

Earthquakes are the most energetic phenomena in the lithosphere: their study and comprehension are greatly worth doing because of the obvious importance for society. Geosystemics intends to study the Earth system as a whole, looking at the possible couplings among the different geo-layers, i.e., from the earth’s interior to the above atmosphere. It uses specific universal tools to integrate different methods that can be applied to multi-parameter data, often taken on different platforms (e.g., ground,marine or satellite observations). Itsmain objective is to understand the particular phenomenon of interest from a holistic point of view. Central is the use of entropy, together with other physical quantities that will be introduced case by case. In this paper, we will deal with earthquakes, as final part of a long-term chain of processes involving, not only the interaction between different components of the Earth’s interior but also the coupling of the solid earth with the above neutral or ionized atmosphere, and finally culminating with the main rupture along the fault of concern. Particular emphasis will be given to some Italian seismic sequences.Publishedid 4121A. Geomagnetismo e PaleomagnetismoJCR Journa