Young Children’s cliques : a study on processes of peer acceptance and cliques aggregation

A considerable amount of research has examined the link between children’s peer acceptance, which refers to the degree of likability within the peer group, social functioning and emotional wellbeing, at a same age and in a long term perspective, pointing out to the contribution of peer acceptance for mental wellbeing. Our study proposes a sociometric methodology that, differently from many studies focused on individual classifications of social status, moves to the analysis of affiliative social networks within the class group. This study describes how individual factors such as socio-emotional competence, temperament, and linguistic skills are related to positive reciprocated nominations (=RNs) and examines the cliques generated by reciprocal nominations according to similarities (socio-emotional competence, temperament and linguistic skills) among cliques’ members. Eighty-four preschool children (M age = 62.5 months) were recruited. The Sociometric Interview to assess RNs and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test - Revised (PPVT-R; Dunn & Dunn, 1981) to assess receptive language were administered; the Social Competence and Behaviour Evaluation Short Form questionnaire (SCBE-30; LaFreniere & Dumas, 1996) and the Quit Temperament Scale (Axia, 2002) were filled in by the teachers. Results showed that children with higher RNs presented higher scores in social orientation, positive emotionality, motor activity, linguistic skills and social competence (trend), and exhibited lower anxietywithdrawal. The analysis of cliques revealed that children preferred playmates with similar features: social competence, anger-aggression (trend), social orientation, positive emotionality, inhibition to novelty, attention, motor activity (trend) and linguistic skills. These findings provide insights about processes of peer affiliation, highlighting the role of socio-emotional functioning and linguistic skills.peer-reviewe

Peer and group relationships in preschoolers: the role of social and linguistic skills

Being able to positively interact and build relationships with playmates in preschool years is crucial to achieve positive adjustment. An update review and two studies on such topics were provided. Study 1 is observational; it investigates the type of social experience in groups (N = 443) of children (N = 120) at preschool age in child-led vs. teacher-led contexts. The results revealed that in child-led contexts children were more likely to be alone, in dyads, and in small peer groups; groups were mostly characterized by same-gender playmates who engaged in joint interactions, with few social interactions with teachers. In teacher-led contexts, on the other hand, children were more likely to be involved in small, medium and large groups; groups were mostly characterized by other-gender playmates, involved in parallel interactions, with teachers playing a more active role. The purpose of Study 2 was to describe the development of socio-emotional competence, temperamental traits and linguistic skill. It examined the role of children’s reciprocated nominations (=RNs) with peers, assessed via sociometric interview, in relation to socio-emotional competence, temperamental traits and linguistic skill. Finally, the similarity-homophily tendency was investigated. Socio-emotional competence and temperamental traits were assessed via teacher ratings, linguistic skill via test administration. Eighty-four preschool children (M age = 62.53) were recruited within 4 preschool settings. Those children were quite representative of preschool population. The results revealed that children with higher RNs showed higher social competence (tendency), social orientation, positive emotionality, motor activity and linguistic skill. They exhibited lower anxiety-withdrawal. The results also showed that children prefer playmates with similar features: social competence, anger-aggression (tendency), social orientation, positive emotionality, inhibition to innovation, attention, motor activity (tendency) and linguistic skill. Implications for future research were suggested

Empirical flash flood vulnerability functions for residential buildings

The estimation of flood losses is crucial for the quantitative estimation of risk and the cost–benefit analysis of risk mitigation and prevention measures. Flood losses are usually estimated by means of vulnerability functions, which are often developed in a synthetic way by experts, since loss datasets collected after events are sparse or lacking and mostly refer to slow riverine inundations. Simple univariable empirical vulnerability functions are recognized as a more valuable tool with respect to synthetic curves developed for different contexts. The aim of this work is to derive empirical vulnerability functions for a flash flood event which occurred in Livorno (Italy) in September 2017, based on the hydrologic–hydraulic reconstruction of the flood and observed losses to residential properties. The hydrologic processes are reproduced with a distributed hydrologic model, and the flood propagation is simulated with a full 2D model. Many open GIS data are used and combined with virtual on-site inspection in the study area to analyze building exposure. Different regression curves are tested to fit the data and obtain damage curves. The results show (i) a poor correlation between relative or absolute losses and flow velocity, (ii) a low correlation between relative losses and water depth, thus confirming the existing literature. More significant correlation is found between absolute losses and water depths. The curves here derived provide a first attempt to develop damage functions for flash flood in Italy, which could be applied in similar urban and morphologic contexts

Advanced-Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer EGFR-mutated in Italy: patient management costs and potential productivity losses:

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are established therapies for previously untreated advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) EGFR-mutated patients. Osimertinib, a third-generation TKI, has recently received the same first-line indication. This study aims at investigating management costs and potential productivity losses in Italy in this patient setting, given all the available therapeutic options. Two analyses were performed. The first evaluates first-line yearly management costs and potential productivity losses per patient, for each first-line treatment. The second, performed nationally and regionally, models all lines of treatments and costs over a five-year period, through different market-share scenarios – considering osimertinib adoption as new therapy in 60% of patients as the most probable one – and line-switch/mortality probabilities. Using this model, patients' total months of treatment and development/progression of brain metastases were also analyzed. The first analysis shows that first-line management costs and potential productivity losses are minimized by osimertinib (first-line yearly expenditure of €25.942, 8%-12% less than TKIs). The second analysis, based on a five-year horizon and on all therapy lines, shows that total management costs and potential productivity losses decrease by increasing the adoption of osimertinib as a first-line therapy (€7.4m cumulative lower cost with osimertinib at 60% compared to 0%). Considering the average month of therapy, where results are not affected by the length of the therapy, with osimertinib at 60% on naïve patients, monthly management costs and productivity losses are 10% lower than in the non-osimertinib scenario. In advanced, metastatic EGFR-mutated NSCLC, the use of osimertinib as the first-line treatment could reduce patient management costs and potential productivity losses

Whole-exome analysis in osteosarcoma to identify a personalized therapy

Osteosarcoma is the most common pediatric primary non-hematopoietic bone tumor. Survival of these young patients is related to the response to chemotherapy and development of metastases. Despite many advances in cancer research, chemotherapy regimens for osteosarcoma are still based on non-selective cytotoxic drugs. It is essential to investigate new specific molecular therapies for osteosarcoma to increase the survival rate of these patients. We performed exomic sequence analyses of 8 diagnostic biopsies of patients with conventional high grade osteosarcoma to advance our understanding of their genetic underpinnings and to correlate the genetic alteration with the clinical and pathological features of each patient to identify a personalized therapy. We identified 18,275 somatic variations in 8,247 genes and we found three mutated genes in 7/8 (87%) samples (KIF1B, NEB and KMT2C). KMT2C showed the highest number of variations; it is an important component of a histone H3 lysine 4 methyltransferase complex and it is one of the histone modifiers previously implicated in carcinogenesis, never studied in osteosarcoma. Moreover, we found a group of 15 genes that showed variations only in patients that did not respond to therapy and developed metastasis and some of these genes are involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression in other tumors. These data could offer the opportunity to get a key molecular target to identify possible new strategies for early diagnosis and new therapeutic approaches for osteosarcoma and to provide a tailored treatment for each patient based on their genetic profile

Molecular changes underlying decay of sensory responses and enhanced seizure propensity in peritumoral neurons

Background: Glioblastoma growth impacts on the structure and physiology of peritumoral neuronal networks, altering the activity of pyramidal neurons which drives further tumor progression. It is therefore of paramount importance to identify glioma-induced changes in pyramidal neurons, since they represent a key therapeutic target. Methods: We longitudinal monitored visual evoked potentials after the orthotopic implant of murine glioma cells into the mouse occipital cortex. With laser microdissection we analysed layer II-III pyramidal neurons molecular profile and with Local Field Potentials (LFP) recordings we evaluated the propensity to seizures in glioma-bearing animals with respect to control mice. Results: We determine the time course of neuronal dysfunction of glioma-bearing mice and we identify a symptomatic stage, based on the decay of visual response. At that time point, we microdissect layer II-III pyramidal neurons and evaluate the expression of a panel of genes involved in synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability. Compared to the control group, peritumoral neurons show a decrease in the expression of the SNARE complex gene SNAP-25 and the alpha1 subunit of the GABA-A receptor. No significant changes are detected in glutamatergic (i.e., AMPA or NMDA receptor subunit) markers. Further reduction of GABA-A signalling by delivery of a benzodiazepine inverse agonist, DMCM (methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate) precipitates seizures in two mouse models of tumor-bearing mice. Conclusions: These studies reveal novel molecular changes that occur in the principal cells of the tumor-adjacent zone. These modifications may be therapeutically targeted to ameliorate patients' quality of life

Defining the role of mesenchymal stromal cells on the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases in skeletal muscle cells

AbstractRecent studies indicate that mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation improves healing of injured and diseased skeletal muscle, although the mechanisms of benefit are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated whether MSCs and/or their trophic factors were able to regulate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and activity in different cells of the muscle tissue. MSCs in co-culture with C2C12 cells or their conditioned medium (MSC-CM) up-regulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and function in the myoblastic cells; these effects were concomitant with the down-regulation of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and -2 and with increased cell motility. In the single muscle fiber experiments, MSC-CM administration increased MMP-2/9 expression in Pax-7+ satellite cells and stimulated their mobilization, differentiation and fusion. The anti-fibrotic properties of MSC-CM involved also the regulation of MMPs by skeletal fibroblasts and the inhibition of their differentiation into myofibroblasts. The treatment with SB-3CT, a potent MMP inhibitor, prevented in these cells, the decrease of α-smooth actin and type-I collagen expression induced by MSC-CM, suggesting that MSC-CM could attenuate the fibrogenic response through mechanisms mediated by MMPs. Our results indicate that growth factors and cytokines released by these cells may modulate the fibrotic response and improve the endogenous mechanisms of muscle repair/regeneration

Using numerical modeling tools for managed aquifer recharge at induced riverbank filtration schemes

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR),  Lucca, Italy,  FREEWAT platform, modelling

Análisis de una cohorte argentina afectada con distrofia muscular mediante secuenciación de exoma completo

Las distrofias musculares son patologías hereditarias que ocasionan debilidad y degeneración progresiva del músculo esquelético. Dentro de ellas se destaca un subgrupo por su alta frecuencia, las Distrofinopatías, causadas por alteraciones en el gen DMD. Dado que los síntomas clínicos de estas patologías se superponen, dificultando el diagnóstico diferencial, es de suma importancia realizar estudios moleculares para poder diferenciar el tipo de distrofia muscular y así establecer el estándar de cuidado adecuado. Además, como gran parte de los protocolos terapéuticos que se están comenzando a implementar son mutación-dependientes, se debe conocer la alteración molecular del paciente. A su vez, es de gran importancia académico-científica el estudiar y caracterizar las variantes de secuencia halladas hasta el momento en el gen DMD con el fin decontribuir con el entendimiento de las bases genético-moleculares de estas patologías. Por un lado, se analizó una cohorte de 154 pacientes con distrofia muscular confirmándose el diagnóstico de Distrofinopatía en el 77% de ellos y de otras distrofias musculares en el 11% de los mismos, alcanzando una tasa de detección del 88%. Por otro lado, se analizaron unas 3.060 variantes de secuencia provenientes de la base de datos LOVD no detectándose hotspots (zona del gen propensa a sufrir alteraciones) del gen, y también se realizó un estudio de desequilibrio de ligamiento (estudio de alta complejidad para detectar la naturaleza hereditaria de una enfermedad, linkage en inglés) detectando 4 haplotipos co-segregantes en nuestra población. Finalmente, nuestro trabajo contribuye con la caracterización de la población argentina afectada con Distrofinopatías y conduce a una mayor comprensión de las alteraciones pequeñas que tienen lugar en el gen DMD.Muscular Dystrophies (MD) are a group of inherited diseases that cause weakness and progressive degeneration of muscle tissue. Among them, Dystrophinopathies are the most prevalent type of MD and are caused by mutations in the DMD gene. However, the clinical symptoms of these pathologies overlap, hindering differential diagnosis, which is of paramount importance to establish the standard of care. Therefore, it is essential to carry out molecular studies to be able to differentiate between each type of MD. As mutation-dependent protocols are being implemented, the patient’s molecular alteration must be characterized. Moreover, it is of great academic-scientific importance to study and characterize sequence variants found in the DMD gene in order to contribute to the understanding of the genetic/molecular basis of these pathologies. On one hand, a cohort of 154 patients with MD were analyzed, corroborating Dystrophinopathy diagnosis in 77% of them and other MDs in 11%, reaching a detection rate of 88%. On the other hand, 3.060 sequence variants from the LOVD database were analyzed, not detecting hotspots in the DMD gene. Also, a linkage disequilibrium study was carried out, detecting 4 cosegregating haplotypes in our cohort. Finally, our work contributes to the characterization of a Dystrophinopathy argentine population and leads to a better understanding of the small alterations that take place in the DMD gene.Fil: Carcione, María Micaela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Luce, Leonela Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Mazzanti, Chiara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Giliberto, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentin