Federico Caffè: the man, the teaching and the intellectual path

The paper sketches some features of Caffè’s contribution to the construction, diffusion and applications of economic policy as a discipline, in addition to his personal traits and his qualities as a teacher. Not only was he one of the main proponents in Italy of the study of welfare economics as the ‘logic’ of economic policy as well as of the ‘theory’ of economic policy and compounded them into a consistent set of propositions for guiding public action. He also gave important contributions on the proper functioning of international institutions and suggested an idea of economic policy in strategic terms, as the interaction of different social subjects (the Government together with big firms and trade unions). This idea of economic policy as the outcome of such an interaction was later to become the ordinary way of dealing with policy action. More recently, it has been developed to become the core of the new theory of economic policy, exempt from Lucas critiques

The Intersection of Central Dopamine System and Stroke: Potential Avenues Aiming at Enhancement of Motor Recovery

Dopamine, a major neurotransmitter, plays a role in a wide range of brain sensorimotor functions. Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia are two major human neuropsychiatric disorders typically associated with dysfunctional dopamine activity levels, which can be alleviated through the druggability of the dopaminergic systems. Meanwhile, several studies suggest that optimal brain dopamine activity levels are also significantly impacted in other serious neurological conditions, notably stroke, but this has yet to be fully appreciated at both basic and clinical research levels. This is of utmost importance as there is a need for better treatments to improve recovery from stroke. Here, we discuss the state of knowledge regarding the modulation of dopaminergic systems following stroke, and the use of dopamine boosting therapies in animal stroke models to improve stroke recovery. Indeed, studies in animals and humans show stroke leads to changes in dopamine functioning. Moreover, evidence from animal stroke models suggests stimulation of dopamine receptors may be a promising therapeutic approach for enhancing motor recovery from stroke. With respect to the latter, we discuss the evidence for several possible receptor-linked mechanisms by which improved motor recovery may be mediated. One avenue of particular promise is the subtype-selective stimulation of dopamine receptors in conjunction with physical therapy. However, results from clinical trials so far have been more mixed due to a number of potential reasons including, targeting of the wrong patient populations and use of drugs which modulate a wide array of receptors. Notwithstanding these issues, it is hoped that future research endeavors will assist in the development of more refined dopaminergic therapeutic approaches to enhance stroke recovery

Synchronization Patterns in Networks of Kuramoto Oscillators: A Geometric Approach for Analysis and Control

Synchronization is crucial for the correct functionality of many natural and man-made complex systems. In this work we characterize the formation of synchronization patterns in networks of Kuramoto oscillators. Specifically, we reveal conditions on the network weights and structure and on the oscillators' natural frequencies that allow the phases of a group of oscillators to evolve cohesively, yet independently from the phases of oscillators in different clusters. Our conditions are applicable to general directed and weighted networks of heterogeneous oscillators. Surprisingly, although the oscillators exhibit nonlinear dynamics, our approach relies entirely on tools from linear algebra and graph theory. Further, we develop a control mechanism to determine the smallest (as measured by the Frobenius norm) network perturbation to ensure the formation of a desired synchronization pattern. Our procedure allows us to constrain the set of edges that can be modified, thus enforcing the sparsity structure of the network perturbation. The results are validated through a set of numerical examples

Algunas consideraciones sobre la crisis económica internacional

La actual crisis económica internacional hizo que muchos observadores volvieran a revisar la Gran Depresión de 1929 como antecedente histórico relevante. Por una parte, el autor explora algunos aspectos de la gran depresión, tales como la secuencia de los hechos tanto sectoriales como geográficos, algunas interpretaciones que se hicieron de los mismos; y las respuestas que tuvo la política y la economía, con especial énfasis en el New Deal del presidente Roosevelt de los Estados Unidos. Por otra, se analiza el contraste con la presente crisis: la diferente evolución de los hechos, muchas interpretaciones y muy inmediatas, y un enfoque de solución intervensionista en los sistemas económicos nacionales e internacionales. En consecuencia, y a partir de las lecciones de la historia, el autor concluye que en el caso actual de los intervencionistas han brindado respuestas más rápidas y significativas que para enfrentar la Gran Depresión

Synchronization Patterns in Networks of Kuramoto Oscillators: A Geometric Approach for Analysis and Control

Synchronization is crucial for the correct functionality of many natural and man-made complex systems. In this work we characterize the formation of synchronization patterns in networks of Kuramoto oscillators. Specifically, we reveal conditions on the network weights and structure and on the oscillators’ natural frequencies that allow the phases of a group of oscillators to evolve cohesively, yet independently from the phases of oscillators in different clusters. Our conditions are applicable to general directed and weighted networks of heterogeneous oscillators. Surprisingly, although the oscillators exhibit nonlinear dynamics, our approach relies entirely on tools from linear algebra and graph theory. Further, we develop a control mechanism to determine the smallest (as measured by the Frobenius norm) network perturbation to ensure the formation of a desired synchronization pattern. Our procedure allows us to constrain the set of edges that can be modified, thus enforcing the sparsity structure of the network perturbation. The results are validated through a set of numerical example

Regulation of Xenopus oocyte meiosis arrest by G protein βγ subunits

AbstractBackground: Progesterone induces the resumption of meiosis (maturation) in Xenopus oocytes through a nongenomic mechanism involving inhibition of an oocyte adenylyl cyclase and reduction of intracellular cAMP. However, progesterone action in Xenopus oocytes is not blocked by pertussis toxin, and this finding indicates that the inhibition of the oocyte adenylyl cyclase is not mediated by the α subunits of classical Gi-type G proteins.Results: To investigate the possibility that G protein βγ subunits, rather than α subunits, play a key role in regulating oocyte maturation, we have employed two structurally distinct G protein βγ scavengers (Gtα and βARK-CCAAX) to sequester free Gβγ dimers. We demonstrated that the injection of mRNA encoding either of these Gβγ scavengers induced oocyte maturation. The Gβγ scavengers bound an endogenous, membrane-associated Gβ subunit, indistinguishable from Xenopus Gβ1 derived from mRNA injection. The injection of Xenopus Gβ1 mRNA, together with bovine Gγ2 mRNA, elevated oocyte cAMP levels and inhibited progesterone-induced oocyte maturation.Conclusion: An endogenous G protein βγ dimer, likely including Xenopus Gβ1, is responsible for maintaining oocyte meiosis arrest. Resumption of meiosis is induced by Gβγ scavengers in vitro or, naturally, by progesterone via a mechanism that suppresses the release of Gβγ

HCO3−/Cl− Exchange Inactivation and Reactivation during Mouse Oocyte Meiosis Correlates with MEK/MAPK-Regulated Ae2 Plasma Membrane Localization

Background: Germinal Vesicle (GV) stage mouse oocytes in first meiotic prophase exhibit highly active HCO3−/Cl− exchange—a class of transport nearly ubiquitously involved in regulation of intracellular pH and cell volume. During meiosis, however, oocyte HCO3−/Cl− exchange becomes inactivated during first metaphase (MI), remains inactive in second metaphase (MII), and is reactivated only after egg activation. Previous work using pharmacological manipulations had indicated that activity of the MEK/MAPK signaling pathway was negatively correlated with HCO3−/Cl− exchange activity during meiosis. However, the mechanism by which the exchanger is inactivated during meiotic progression had not been determined, nor had the role of MEK/MAPK been directly established. Methodology/Principal Findings: Expression of a constitutively active form of MEK (MAP kinase kinase), which prevented the normal downregulation of MAPK after egg activation, also prevented reactivation of HCO3−/Cl− exchange. Conversely, suppression of endogenous MAPK activity with dominant negative MEK activated the normally quiescent HCO3−/Cl− exchange in mature MII eggs. A GFP-tagged form of the HCO3−/Cl− exchanger isoform Ae2 (Slc4a2) was strongly expressed at the GV oocyte plasma membrane, but membrane localization decreased markedly during meiotic progression. A similar pattern for endogenous Ae2 was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. The loss of membrane-localized Ae2 appeared selective, since membrane localization of a GFP-tagged human dopamine D1 receptor did not change during meiotic maturation. Conclusions: Direct manipulation of MAPK activity indicated that GFP-tagged Ae2 localization depended upon MAPK activity. Inactivation of HCO3−/Cl− exchange during the meiotic cell cycle may therefore reflect the loss of Ae2 from the oocyte plasma membrane, downstream of MEK/MAPK signaling. This identifies a novel role for MEK/MAPK-mediated cytostatic factor (CSF) activity during meiosis in membrane protein trafficking in mouse oocytes, and shows for the first time that selective retrieval of membrane proteins is a feature of meiosis in mammalian oocytes

Human TrkAR649W mutation impairs nociception, sweating and cognitive abilities: a mouse model of HSAN IV

A functional nerve growth factor (NGF)-TrkA system is an essential requisite for the generation and maintenance of long-lasting thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in adult mammals. Indeed, mutations in the gene encoding for TrkA are responsible for a rare condition, named Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy type IV (HSAN IV), characterized by the loss of response to noxious stimuli, anhidrosis and cognitive impairment. However, to date, there is no available mouse model to properly understand how the NGF-TrkA system can lead to pathological phenotypes that are distinctive of HSAN IV. Here, we report the generation of a knock-in mouse line carrying the HSAN IV TrkAR649W mutation. First, by in vitro biochemical and biophysical analyses, we show that the pathological R649W mutation leads to kinase-inactive TrkA also affecting its membrane dynamics and trafficking. In agreement with the HSAN IV human phenotype, TrkAR649W/m mice display a lower response to thermal and chemical noxious stimuli, correlating with reduced skin innervation, in addition to decreased sweating in comparison to TrkAh/m controls. Moreover, the R649W mutation decreases anxiety-like behavior and compromises cognitive abilities, by impairing spatial-working and social memory. Our results further uncover unexplored roles of TrkA in thermoregulation and sociability. In addition to accurately recapitulating the clinical manifestations of HSAN IV patients, our findings contribute to clarify the involvement of the NGF-TrkA system in pain sensation

Development and validation of serum bilirubin nomogram to predict the absence of risk for severe hyperbilirubinaemia before discharge: a prospective, multicenter study

Early discharge of healthy late preterm and full term newborn infants has become common practice because of the current social and economic necessities. Severe jaundice, and even kernicterus, has developed in some term infants discharged early. This study was designed to elaborate a percentile-based hour specific total serum bilirubin (TSB) nomogram and to assess its ability to predict the absence of risk for subsequent non physiologic severe hyperbilirubinaemia before discharge

Breast lesion detection through MammoWave device: microwave images’ parameters

MammoWave is a microwave imaging device for breast lesions detection, which operates using two (azimuthally rotating) antennas without any matching liquid. Images, subsequently obtained by resorting to Huygens Principle, are intensity maps, representing the homogeneity of tissues’ dielectric properties. In the paper: “Breast lesion detection through MammoWave device: empirical detection capability assessment of microwave images’ parameters”, we propose to generate, for each breast, a set of conductivity weighted microwave images by using different values of conductivity in the Huygens Principle imaging algorithm. Next, microwave images’ parameters, i.e. features, are introduced to quantify the non-homogenous behaviour of the image. This data set contains such features. We empirically verify on 103 breasts that a selection of these features may allow distinction between breasts with no radiological finding (NF ) and breasts with radiological findings (WF), i.e. with lesions which may be benign or malign. Statistical significance was set at p <0.05. We obtained single features Area Under the receiver operating characteristic Curves (AUCs) spanning from 0.65 to 0.69. In addition, an empirical rule-of-thumb allowing breast assessment is introduced using a binary score S operating on an appropriate combination of features. Performances of such rule-of-thumb are evaluated empirically, obtaining a sensitivity of 74%, which increases to 84% when considering dense breasts only