Growth Hormone Veneto Region Registry for surveillance and therapy monitoring since 2013

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TrkB (tropomyosin-related kinase B) controls the assembly and maintenance of GABAergic synapses in the cerebellar cortex

Inhibitory interneurons play a critical role in coordinating the activity of neural circuits. To explore the mechanisms that direct the organization of inhibitory circuits, we analyzed the involvement of tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) in the assembly and maintenance of GABAergic inhibitory synapses between Golgi and granule cells in the mouse cerebellar cortex. We show that TrkB acts directly within each cell-type to regulate synaptic differentiation. TrkB is required not only for assembly, but also maintenance of these synapses and acts, primarily, by regulating the localization of synaptic constituents. Postsynaptically, TrkB controls the localization of a scaffolding protein, gephyrin, but acts at a step subsequent to the localization of a cell adhesion molecule, Neuroligin-2. Importantly, TrkB is required for the localization of an Ig superfamily cell adhesion molecule, Contactin-1, in Golgi and granule cells and the absence of Contactin-1 also results in deficits in inhibitory synaptic development. Thus, our findings demonstrate that TrkB controls the assembly and maintenance of GABAergic synapses and suggest that TrkB functions, in part, through promoting synaptic adhesion

The Sex, Age, and Me Study: Recruitment and sampling for a large mixed-methods study of sexual health and relationships in an older Australian population

Older people are often excluded from large studies of sexual health, as it is assumed that they are not having sex or are reluctant to talk about sensitive topics, and are therefore difficult to recruit. We outline the sampling and recruitment strategies from a recent study on sexual health and relationships among older people. Sex, Age and Me was a nationwide Australian study that examined sexual health, relationship patterns, safer-sex practices, and STI knowledge of Australians aged 60 years and over. The study used a mixed-methods approach to establish baseline levels of knowledge and to develop deeper insights into older adult’s understandings and practices relating to sexual health. Data collection took place in 2015, with 2,137 participants completing a quantitative survey and 53 participating in one-on-one semi-structured interviews. As the feasibility of this type of study has been largely untested until now, we provide detailed information on the study’s recruitment strategies and methods. We also compare key characteristics of our sample with national estimates to assess its degree of representativeness. This study provides evidence to challenge the assumptions that older people will not take part in sexual health-related research and details a novel and successful way to recruit participants in this area

La Rete sismica Mobile in telemetria satellitare (Re.Mo.Tel.)

Oggi la nuova Rete Sismica Mobile in telemetria satellitare” (Re.Mo.Tel.) è composta da nove stazioni la cui trasmissione, tramite ponte UHF (Ultra High Frequency), è equamente ripartita verso tre centri di acquisizione intermedi, detti “sottonodi”). Tali sottonodi, a loro volta tramite connessione Wi-Fi, ridirezionano il flusso dati verso un “centro stella” (detto “nodo”) dal quale, con il sistema di trasmissione satellitare Libra VSAT Nanometrics, i dati sono inviati al centro acquisizione dati della Sala Sorveglianza Sismica della sede INGV di Roma e ridondati al centro “disaster recovery” approntato presso l’Osservatorio di Grottaminarda (Sede Irpinia in provincia di Avellino). La struttura della Re.Mo.Tel. è stata ideata ed ingegnerizzata in modo da ridurre al minimo i tempi d’installazione. Il sistema è stato infatti realizzato interamente “plug and play” e di conseguenza nessuna attività di configurazione è richiesta all’operatore all’atto dell’istallazione. La Re.Mo.Tel. si basa su di un articolato sistema di trasmissione (UHF, Wi-Fi e satellitare), mediante l’impiego di diversi apparati

Choice in the context of informal care-giving

Extending choice and control for social care service users is a central feature of current English policies. However, these have comparatively little to say about choice in relation to the informal carers of relatives, friends or older people who are disabled or sick. To explore the realities of choice as experienced by carers, the present paper reviews research published in English since 1985 about three situations in which carers are likely to face choices: receiving social services; the entry of an older person to long-term care; and combining paid work and care. Thirteen electronic databases were searched, covering both the health and social care fields. Databases included: ASSIA; IBSS; Social Care Online; ISI Web of Knowledge; Medline; HMIC Sociological Abstracts; INGENTA; ZETOC; and the National Research Register. The search strategy combined terms that: (1) identified individuals with care-giving responsibilities; (2) identified people receiving help and support; and (3) described the process of interest (e.g. choice, decision-making and self-determination). The search identified comparatively few relevant studies, and so was supplemented by the findings from another recent review of empirical research on carers' choices about combining work and care. The research evidence suggests that carers' choices are shaped by two sets of factors: one relates to the nature of the care-giving relationship; and the second consists of wider organisational factors. A number of reasons may explain the invisibility of choice for carers in current policy proposals for increasing choice. In particular, it is suggested that underpinning conceptual models of the relationship between carers and formal service providers shape the extent to which carers can be offered choice and control on similar terms to service users. In particular, the exercise of choice by carers is likely to be highly problematic if it involves relinquishing some unpaid care-giving activities

Rete di Pronto Intervento satellitare

Nell’ambito dell’attività di ricerca e monitoraggio dell’INGV, riveste notevole importanza la Rete Sismica Nazionale RSN, quale struttura di sorveglianza sismica del territorio italiano. La rete, che ad oggi conta più di 240 stazioni uniformemente distribuite su tutto il territorio italiano, si avvale di una rete di pronto intervento (RPI) che ha l’obiettivo primario di incrementare, in zona epicentrale, il numero di stazioni, per una migliore localizzazione della sequenza sismica in corso. Per giungere a quest’obiettivo, l’intera struttura utilizza dei sistemi di trasmissione dati dedicati, che permettono di trasmettere i dati in tempo reale presso il centro di acquisizione di Roma, affinché possano essere utilizzati ai fini del processo di localizzazione.PublishedTrieste, Italy1.1. TTC - Monitoraggio sismico del territorio nazionaleope