Nitrogen Starvation Differentially Influences Transcriptional and Uptake Rate Profiles in Roots of Two Maize Inbred Lines with Different NUE

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of crops is estimated to be less than 50%, with a strong impact on environment and economy. Genotype-dependent ability to cope with N shortage has been only partially explored in maize and, in this context, the comparison of molecular responses of lines with different NUE is of particular interest in order to dissect the key elements underlying NUE. Changes in root transcriptome and NH4+/NO3- uptake rates during growth (after 1 and 4 days) without N were studied in high (Lo5) and low (T250) NUE maize inbred lines. Results suggests that only a small set of transcripts were commonly modulated in both lines in response to N starvation. However, in both lines, transcripts linked to anthocyanin biosynthesis and lateral root formation were positively affected. On the contrary, those involved in root elongation were downregulated. The main differences between the two lines reside in the ability to modulate the transcripts involved in the transport, distribution and assimilation of mineral nutrients. With regard to N mineral forms, only the Lo5 line responded to N starvation by increasing the NH4+ fluxes as supported by the upregulation of a transcript putatively involved in its transport

Barreras a la inclusión digital de las personas mayores: una reflexión intergeneracional sobre la necesidad de desarrollar competencias digitales para el colectivo con mayor nivel de exclusión digital

Over the past thirty years and with the rise of the digital society, the process of digital exclusion has become increasingly noticeable and represents a sub-type of social exclusion. Shaping digital competences in the era of the intensive development of the information society requires constant reflection on the effectiveness of such activities. This article looks at what kind of barriers are currently blocking the development of digital competences among older people. Using structured interviews, responses were obtained from 30 respondents in Poland, though the respondents themselves did not belong to the demographic of older people. The respondents identified eight main types of barriers to digital inclusion for older people: 1) Fear of new technologies, 2) No need to use ICT, 3) Self-marginalisation in the information society, 4) The characteristics of new media, 5) Attitude to Life-Long Learning, 6) Physical limitations, 7) Economic determinants, and 8) Infrastructural limitations. The results of the qualitative research provide a fresh look at the process of the formation of digital competence among vulnerable groups within the wider process of digital inclusion. This article is the result of an international project REMEDIS supported in Poland by the National Science Centre - NCN [021/03/Y/HS6/00275].En los últimos treinta años y con el auge de la sociedad digital, el proceso de exclusión digital se ha vuelto cada vez más notorio y representa un subtipo de exclusión social. Dar forma a las competencias digitales en la era del desarrollo intensivo de la sociedad de la información requiere una reflexión constante sobre la eficacia de tales actividades. Este artículo analiza qué tipo de barreras están bloqueando actualmente el desarrollo de competencias digitales entre las personas mayores. Mediante entrevistas estructuradas, se obtuvieron respuestas de 30 encuestados en Polonia, aunque los propios encuestados no pertenecían al grupo demográfico de personas mayores, sino desde la visión de los más jóvenes. Los encuestados identificaron ocho tipos principales de barreras para la inclusión digital de las personas mayores: 1) Miedo a las nuevas tecnologías, 2) No necesidad de utilizar las TIC, 3) Automarginación en la sociedad de la información, 4) Las características de los nuevos medios, 5) Actitud hacia el aprendizaje permanente, 6) Limitaciones físicas, 7) Determinantes económicos y 8) Limitaciones de infraestructura. Los resultados de la investigación cualitativa brindan una nueva mirada al proceso de formación de la competencia digital entre los grupos vulnerables dentro del proceso más amplio de inclusión digital. Este artículo es el resultado de un proyecto internacional REMEDIS apoyado en Polonia por el Centro Nacional de Ciencias - NCN [021/03/Y/HS6/00275]

Barriers to digital inclusion among older people : a intergenerational reflection on the need to develop digital competences for the group with the highest level of digital exclusion

Over the past thirty years and with the rise of the digital society, the process of digital exclusion has become increasingly noticeable and represents a sub-type of social exclusion. Shaping digital competences in the era of the intensive development of the information society requires constant reflection on the effectiveness of such activities. This article looks at what kind of barriers are currently blocking the development of digital competences among older people. Using structured interviews, responses were obtained from 30 respondents in Poland, though the respondents themselves did not belong to the demographic of older people. The respondents identified eight main types of barriers to digital inclusion for older people: 1) Fear of new technologies, 2) No need to use ICT, 3) Self-marginalisation in the information society, 4) The characteristics of new media, 5) Attitude to Life-Long Learning, 6) Physical limitations, 7) Economic determinants, and 8) Infrastructural limitations. The results of the qualitative research provide a fresh look at the process of the formation of digital competence among vulnerable groups within the wider process of digital inclusion. This article is the result of an international project REMEDIS supported in Poland by the National Science Centre - NCN [021/03/Y/HS6/00275].En los últimos treinta años y con el auge de la sociedad digital, el proceso de exclusión digital se ha vuelto cada vez más notorio y representa un subtipo de exclusión social. Dar forma a las competencias digitales en la era del desarrollo intensivo de la sociedad de la información requiere una reflexión constante sobre la eficacia de tales actividades. Este artículo analiza qué tipo de barreras están bloqueando actualmente el desarrollo de competencias digitales entre las personas mayores. Mediante entrevistas estructuradas, se obtuvieron respuestas de 30 encuestados en Polonia, aunque los propios encuestados no pertenecían al grupo demográfico de personas mayores, sino desde la visión de los más jóvenes. Los encuestados identificaron ocho tipos principales de barreras para la inclusión digital de las personas mayores: 1) Miedo a las nuevas tecnologías, 2) No necesidad de utilizar las TIC, 3) Automarginación en la sociedad de la información, 4) Las características de los nuevos medios, 5) Actitud hacia el aprendizaje permanente, 6) Limitaciones físicas, 7) Determinantes económicos y 8) Limitaciones de infraestructura. Los resultados de la investigación cualitativa brindan una nueva mirada al proceso de formación de la competencia digital entre los grupos vulnerables dentro del proceso más amplio de inclusión digital. Este artículo es el resultado de un proyecto internacional REMEDIS apoyado en Polonia por el Centro Nacional de Ciencias - NCN [021/03/Y/HS6/00275]

Clinical hints to diagnosis of attenuated forms of Mucopolysaccharidoses

The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are clinically similar but also heterogeneous in terms of major or minor involvement of different organs/systems, burden of disease, and rate of progression. The attenuated forms of MPS, due to their less severe presentations, are more difficult to diagnose and often receive a significantly delayed diagnosis. On the other hand, the diagnosis is very important since the attenuated forms may benefit from earlier treatments. The aim of this paper is to describe the natural history and the clinical signs useful to arise a suspicion of an attenuated form of MPS. MPS patients usually show a cluster of signs and symptoms, one of which may be the trigger for an evaluation by a specialist. Individuals with attenuated MPS are mostly cognitively normal, and dysmorphisms of the facies may be mild or absent. The most frequently involved organs/systems are the osteoarticular system, heart, and eyes. These patients may also have hepatosplenomegaly, hearing loss, and respiratory problems. When they are referred to a specialist (rheumatologist, cardiologist, ophthalmologist, surgeon, orthopedist, etc.) for their main complaint, the other signs and symptoms are likely to be missed in the medical history. To avoid missing data and to save time, we propose a semistructured medical history form to be filled in by the patients or their caregivers while waiting for evaluation by a specialist

Immunological diagnosis as an adjunctive tool for an early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis of an immune competent child in a low tuberculosis endemic country: A case report

Background: Pediatric tuberculous meningitis is a highly morbid, often fatal disease. Its prompt diagnosis and treat - ment saves lives, in fact delays in the initiation of therapy have been associated with high mortality rates. Case presentation: This is a case of an Italian child who was diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis after a history of a month of headache, fatigue and weight loss. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed a lymphocytic pleocytosis with predominance and decreased glucose concentration. Microscopy and conventional diagnostic tests to identify Myco - bacterium tuberculosis were negative, while a non classical method based on intracellular cytokine flow cytometry response of CD4 cells in cerebral spinal fluid helped us to address the diagnosis, that was subsequently confirmed by a nested polymerase chain reaction amplifying a 123 base pair fragment of the M. tuberculosis DNA. Conclusions: We diagnosed tuberculous meningitis at an early stage through an innovative immunological approach, supported by a nested polymerase chain reaction for detection of M. tuberculosis DNA. An early diagnosis is required in order to promptly initiate a therapy and to increase the patient’s surviva

Who Are the Victims of Cyberbullying? Preliminary Data Towards Validation of "Cyberbullying Victim Questionnaire”

In the literature there are more and more works dealing with cyberbullying and adolescents’ perception of this phenomenon. In particular, we are interested in cyberbullying and the effects of cyberbullying on adolescent life. What is more, in 2020 the impact of COVID-19 has increased the digital presence of cyberbullying behaviours. This phenomenon is extremely complex, since it is multicomponential and multifactorial, and many components act on it. Starting with an analysis of the literature, this work offers preliminary data towards the validation of a self-reporting questionnaire; it was administered to 650 adolescents, to evaluate their perceptions of the victims of cyberbullying. The questionnaire consisted of 33 items; Principal Component Analysis was applied, which identified the dimensions resuming the items’ variability. The findings confirmed the multidimensional nature of the issue covered by the questionnaire and highlighted three psychological dimensions: Internalisation, Counterbalance and Marginalisation. The resultssupport the structure of the questionnaire, useful to quickly collect information about adolescents’ perception of cybervictimisation. The assessment of this information might help teachers, educators, and tutors to formulate targeted interventions to combat the spread of cyberbullying aimed for example at improving emotional intelligence, starting from the construction of emotional contagion

Bifenili idrossilati di origine naturale come leganti per recettori di tipo GABA_A

L'unità bifenilica idrossilata è presente in un gran numero di composti naturali quali la vancomicina, la bifenomicina e la classe della ellagitannine che conta in Natura più di 500 derivati. Il nostro gruppo di ricerca ha pubblicato recentemente la sintesi, la risoluzione e l’attività biologica di nuove strutture bifeniliche idrossilate naturali-simili

Digital life, mathematical skills and cognitive processes

A consistent part of the literature shows the significant role of digital experience in digital natives’ cognitive processes. The main goal of the current study was to investigate the impact of digital learning on the improvement of mathematical skills and on some change in cognitive processes in 166 primary school children from schools located in different parts of Italy. Participants were divided in two group: one group experienced the study of math mainly through digital tools, the other spent more time on pencil-and-paper trainings. All our participants were assessed with a battery of tests measuring numerical and cognitive abilities. Our results suggest the positive effect of a different type of training for the empowerment of visuo-spatial and numerical abilities. Specifically, effects of a digital experience are particularly evident in some specific numerical areas, such us accuracy, speed, semantic and syntactic numerical knowledge. Also, participants with greater experience of digital trainings score higher on spatial orientation

Moral disengagement, empathy, and cybervictim’s representation as predictive factors of cyberbullying among italian adolescents

This study aimed to evaluate which aspects of moral disengagement (MD), empathy, and representations of the victim’s experience (VER) could be predictors of cyberbullying (CB). One hundred and eight-nine students (11–17 years old) completed 3 self-report questionnaires: An MD scale, an empathy scale, and a CB questionnaire. In relation to the personal experience of CB, four groups were identified: Victim, bully, bully/victim, and no experience with CB. The linear bivariate correlation analysis shows correlations between empathy and VER, between empathy and MD, and between MD and VER. A multinomial logistic regression identified which predictors could increase a subject’s probability of belonging to one of the four groups regarding the personal experience of CB (victim, bully, bully/victim, no experience). Findings highlighted that low cognitive empathy might increase the probability for a student to belong to the bullies’ group, rather than the victims’ group. Furthermore, low perception of the consequences of CB on the victim might increase the probability of belonging to the bully, bully/victim, and no experience groups. Then, a high score in the diffusion of responsibility was a significant predictor of belonging to the victim group rather than the no experience group. Results from this study confirm the need for preventive measures against CB, including the empowerment of cognitive empathy, decreasing the diffusion of responsibility, and increasing the awareness of the consequences of CB on the victim