Social network data analysis to highlight privacy threats in sharing data

AbstractSocial networks are a vast source of information, and they have been increasing impact on people's daily lives. They permit us to share emotions, passions, and interactions with other people around the world. While enabling people to exhibit their lives, social networks guarantee their privacy. The definitions of privacy requirements and default policies for safeguarding people's data are the most difficult challenges that social networks have to deal with. In this work, we have collected data concerning people who have different social network profiles, aiming to analyse privacy requirements offered by social networks. In particular, we have built a tool exploiting image-recognition techniques to recognise a user from his/her picture, aiming to collect his/her personal data accessible through social networks where s/he has a profile. We have composed a dataset of 5000 users by combining data available from several social networks; we compared social network data mandatory in the registration phases, publicly accessible and those retrieved by our analysis. We aim to analyse the amount of extrapolated data for evaluating privacy threats when users share information on different social networks to help them be aware of these aspects. This work shows how users data on social networks can be retrieved easily by representing a clear privacy violation. Our research aims to improve the user's awareness concerning the spreading and managing of social networks data. To this end, we highlighted all the statistical evaluations made over the gathered data for putting in evidence the privacy issues

Methamphetamine persistently increases alpha-synuclein and suppresses gene promoter methylation within striatal neurons

Abstract Methamphetamine (Meth) produces a variety of epigenetic effects in the brain, which are seminal to establish long-lasting alterations in neuronal activity. However, most epigenetic changes were described by measuring the rough amount of either histone acetylation and methylation or direct DNA methylation, without focusing on a specific DNA sequence. This point is key to comprehend Meth-induced phenotypic changes, brain plasticity, addiction and neurodegeneration. In this research paper we analyze the persistence of Meth-induced striatal synucleinopathy at a prolonged time interval of Meth withdrawal. At the same time, Meth-induced alterations, specifically within alpha-synuclein gene (SNCA) or its promoter, were evaluated. We found that exposure to high and/or prolonged doses of Meth, apart from producing nigro-striatal toxicity, determines a long-lasting increase in striatal alpha-synuclein levels. This is consistent along immune-blotting, immune-histochemistry, and electron microscopy. This was neither associated with an increase of SNCA copy number nor with alterations within SNCA sequence. However, we documented persistently demethylation within SNCA promoter, which matches the increase in alpha-synuclein protein. The amount of the native protein, which was measured stoichiometrically within striatal neurons, surpasses the increase reported following SNCA multiplications. Demethylation was remarkable (ten-fold of controls) and steady, even at prolonged time intervals being tested so far (up to 21 days of Meth withdrawal). Similarly alpha-synuclein protein assayed stoichiometrically steadily increased roughly ten-fold of controls. Meth-induced increase of alpha-synuclein was also described within limbic areas. These findings are discussed in the light of Meth-induced epigenetic changes, Meth-induced phenotype alterations, and Meth-induced neurodegeneration

Recupero della classificazione decimale Dewey da altre basi di dati: un progetto di bonifica del catalogo

The increasing availability of online catalogs and bibliographical databases allows not only for copy cataloging, but also for the retrieval of atomic information useful within the catalog. To this end, Dewey decimal numbers were imported from national and international sources by means of the unique identifier ISBN.Technical specifications have been developed to locate the records to be retrieved, to query external databases, to extract the Dewey decimal classification numbers and add them to the catalog.The exceptionally large amount of Dewey numbers added to the catalog has improved the semantic usability of the OPAC.The procedure established has also facilitated the collection of information on the use of the Dewey Decimal System in the various databases used and allowed to make certain comparisons between them.The tools employed can be used analogously for data-retrieval operations in the catalog, as an aid in the cataloging process, or to improve the OPAC in either a static or dynamic manner.Taking into account its virtually exclusive practical purpose, this work is characterized by practical rather than theoretical choices. However, the experience acquired opens up areas even in the field of academic research.La crescente disponibilità di cataloghi online e banche dati bibliografiche permette oltre alla catalogazione derivata, anche il reperimento all'interno del catalogo di informazioni "atomiche" utili. A tal fine, i numeri decimali Dewey sono stati importati nelle fonti nazionali e internazionali mediante l'identificatore univoco ISBN. Sono state sviluppate specifiche tecniche per individuare i record da recuperare, per interrogare i database esterni e per estrarre i numeri di classificazione Dewey e aggiungerli al catalogo. La grande quantità di numeri Dewey aggiunti al catalogo ha migliorato l'usabilità semantica degli OPAC. La procedura stabilita ha anche facilitato la raccolta delle informazioni sull'uso del Sistema di Classificazione Decimale Dewey nelle varie basi di dati utilizzate ed autorizzate a fare taluni confronti tra loro. Gli strumenti impiegati possono essere usati analogamente per le operazioni di recupero dei dati nel catalogo, sia come supporto nel processo di catalogazione sia per arricchire gli OPAC in modo statico e dinamico. Tenendo conto del suo esclusivo scopo pratico, questo lavoro è caratterizzato da scelte concrete, piuttosto che teoriche. Tuttavia, l'esperienza acquisita apre spazi anche nel campo della ricerca accademica

Bilateral benign multinodular goiter: what is the adequate surgical therapy? A review of literature

Benign multinodular goiter (BMNG) is the most common endocrine disease requiring surgery. During the last few years a more aggressive approach has become the trend for bilateral BMNG treatment

Fabrication and characterization of biomimetic hydroxyapatite thin films for bone implants by direct ablation of a biogenic source

Biomimetic bone apatite coatings were realized for the first time by the novel Ionized Jet Deposition technique. Bone coatings were deposited on titanium alloy substrates by pulsed electron ablation of deproteinized bovine bone shafts in order to resemble bone apatite as closely as possible. The composition, morphology and mechanical properties of the coatings were characterized by GI-XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDS, AFM, contact angle measurements, micro-scratch and screw-insertion tests. Different post-treatment annealing conditions (from 350 °C to 425 °C) were investigated. Bone apatite coatings exhibited a nanostructured surface morphology and a composition closely resembling that of the deposition target (i.e. natural bone apatite), also regarding the presence of magnesium and sodium ions. Crystallinity and composition of the coatings were strongly influenced by annealing temperature and duration; in particular, upon annealing at 400 °C and above, a crystallinity similar to that of bone was achieved. Finally, adhesion to the titanium substrate and hydrophilicity were significantly enhanced upon annealing, all characteristics being known to have a strong positive impact on promoting host cells attachment, proliferation and differentiation

Osteogenic Differentiation of hDPSCs on Biogenic Bone Apatite Thin Films

A previous study reported the structural characterization of biogenic apatite (BAp) thin films realized by a pulsed electron deposition system by ablation of deproteinized bovine bone. Thin films annealed at 400 degrees C exhibited composition and crystallinity degree very close to those of biogenic apatite; this affinity is crucial for obtaining faster osseointegration compared to conventional, thick hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings, for both orthopedics and dentistry. Here, we investigated the adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPCS) on as-deposited and heat-treated BAp and stoichiometric HA. First, we showed that heat-treated BAp films can significantly promote hDPSC adhesion and proliferation. Moreover, hDPSCs, while initially maintaining the typical fibroblast-like morphology and stemness surface markers, later started expressing osteogenic markers such as Runx-2 and OSX. Noteworthy, when cultured in an osteogenic medium on annealed BAp films, hDPSCs were also able to reach a more mature and terminal commitment, with respect to HA and as-deposited films. Our findings suggest that annealed BAp films not only preserve the typical biological properties of stemness of, hDPSCs but also improve their ability of osteogenic commitment

Current trends in the real-life use of dalbavancin: report of a study panel.

Dalbavancin is a novel lipoglycopeptide antibiotic with a chemical structure similar to teicoplanin. Dalbavancin has been approved and marketed since 2014 in the USA and 2015 in the European Union for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections (ABSSSIs) caused by Gram-positive cocci. ABSSSIs include infectious syndromes such as erysipelas, cellulitis, major cutaneous abscesses that require incision and drainage, and both surgical and traumatic wound infections. In current clinical practice, dalbavancin is also used for cardiac implantable electronic device-related soft tissue infection and other prosthetic infections, and therefore when the presence of biofilm is a concern. In this review, we aimed to highlight our experience with the use of dalbavancin for some of the most hard-to-treat Gram-positive infections, as well as a promising strategy in terms of pharmacoeconomic effectiveness. We describe our current real-life clinical practice with the use of dalbavancin, depicting a few representative clinical cases in order to share our own practice in the hospital setting

Integrating GRK2 and NFkappaB in the Pathophysiology of Cardiac Hypertrophy

G protein coupled receptor kinase type 2 (GRK2) plays an important role in the development and maintenance of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure even if its exact role is still unknown. In this study, we assessed the effect of GRK2 on the regulation of cardiac hypertrophy. In H9C2 cells, GRK2 overexpression increased atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) activity and enhanced phenylephrine-induced ANF response, and this is associated with an increase of NFκB transcriptional activity. The kinase dead mutant and a synthetic inhibitor of GRK2 activity exerted the opposite effect, suggesting that GRK2 regulates hypertrophy through upregulation of NFκB activity in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. In two different in vivo models of left ventricle hypertrophy (LVH), the selective inhibition of GRK2 activity prevented hypertrophy and reduced NFκB transcription activity. Our results suggest a previously undisclosed role for GRK2 in the regulation of hypertrophic responses and propose GRK2 as potential therapeutic target for limiting LVH

Additive Manufactured Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering: Physical Characterization of Thermoplastic Composites with Functional Fillers

Thermoplastic polymer–filler composites are excellent materials for bone tissue engineering (TE) scaffolds, combining the functionality of fillers with suitable load-bearing ability, biodegradability, and additive manufacturing (AM) compatibility of the polymer. Two key determinants of their utility are their rheological behavior in the molten state, determining AM processability and their mechanical load-bearing properties. We report here the characterization of both these physical properties for four bone TE relevant composite formulations with poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate (PEOT/PBT) as a base polymer, which is often used to fabricate TE scaffolds. The fillers used were reduced graphene oxide (rGO), hydroxyapatite (HA), gentamicin intercalated in zirconium phosphate (ZrP-GTM) and ciprofloxacin intercalated in MgAl layered double hydroxide (MgAl-CFX). The rheological assessment showed that generally the viscous behavior dominated the elastic behavior (G″ > G′) for the studied composites, at empirically determined extrusion temperatures. Coupled rheological–thermal characterization of ZrP-GTM and HA composites showed that the fillers increased the solidification temperatures of the polymer melts during cooling. Both these findings have implications for the required extrusion temperatures and bonding between layers. Mechanical tests showed that the fillers generally not only made the polymer stiffer but more brittle in proportion to the filler fractions. Furthermore, the elastic moduli of scaffolds did not directly correlate with the corresponding bulk material properties, implying composite-specific AM processing effects on the mechanical properties. Finally, we show computational models to predict multimaterial scaffold elastic moduli using measured single material scaffold and bulk moduli. The reported characterizations are essential for assessing the AM processability and ultimately the suitability of the manufactured scaffolds for the envisioned bone regeneration application.The work was supported by a Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme grant from the European Union, called the FAST project (grant no. 685825, project website: http:// project-fast.eu). The authors acknowledge the support of the FAST project consortium for the various aspects of this wor

Loss of Neuron Navigator 2 Impairs Brain and Cerebellar Development

Acknowledgements We thank the study family for their enthusiastic participationPeer reviewedPublisher PD