Sustainable citizen decision-making:Impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the energy and circular economy transitions in urban Scotland

The present report is the outcome of a research project commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland and carried out by the Just Transition Hub (JTH), University of Dundee, with the objective of understanding the ways in which the cost-of-living crisis has affected the attitudes and behaviours of individuals and communities towards a transition to a low-carbon economy in Scotland. We define the transition as encompassing both energy transition and the transition to a circular economy, so in this report the word “transition(s)” means both the referred transitions. We define the scope of “justice” to cover three dimensions – distributive, recognition and procedural. Briefly, distributive justice concerns the ideal of a fair share of the benefits and costs of the transition among different communities and stakeholders. Recognition justice respects the proper acknowledgement of marginalised individuals and communities who may be living in deprived urban areas. Procedural justice respects inclusion and effective participation of all, including marginalised actors, in public debate and decision-making. The study involved a literature review in narrative form (chapter 2) and a smallscale exploratory study (chapters 3 and 4), using a multi-strategy approach that included seven individual semi-structured expert interviews, four semi-structured citizen/consumer focus groups and one semi-structured expert focus group. Both the literature review and the empirical research adopted a thematic analysis approach, with clear research objectives identified in a standardised analysis framework. The present research is part of a broader series of investigations commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland to understand circular economy perspectives and sustainable decision-making in times of crises to help inform Zero Waste Scotland’s communication, engagement and further research for a just transition. The present study is complemented by parallel research being conducted by the University of Highlands and Islands with a focus on rural communities

Mechanisms and role of microRNA deregulation in cancer onset and progression

MicroRNAs are key regulators of various fundamental biological processes and, although representing only a small portion of the genome, they regulate a much larger population of target genes. Mature microRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded RNA molecules of 20–23 nucleotide (nt) length that control gene expression in many cellular processes. These molecules typically reduce the stability of mRNAs, including those of genes that mediate processes in tumorigenesis, such as inflammation, cell cycle regulation, stress response, differentiation, apoptosis and invasion. MicroRNA targeting is mostly achieved through specific base-pairing interactions between the 5′ end (‘seed’ region) of the miRNA and sites within coding and untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs; target sites in the 3′ UTR diminish mRNA stability. Since miRNAs frequently target hundreds of mRNAs, miRNA regulatory pathways are complex. Calin and Croce were the first to demonstrate a connection between microRNAs and increased risk of developing cancer, and meanwhile the role of microRNAs in carcinogenesis has definitively been evidenced. It needs to be considered that the complex mechanism of gene regulation by microRNAs is profoundly influenced by variation in gene sequence (polymorphisms) of the target sites. Thus, individual variability could cause patients to present differential risks regarding several diseases. Aiming to provide a critical overview of miRNA dysregulation in cancer, this article reviews the growing number of studies that have shown the importance of these small molecules and how these microRNAs can affect or be affected by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms

Genetic polymorphism of GSTM1 in women with breast cancer and interact with reproductive history and several clinical pathologies

Due to the conflicting results regarding the association between breast cancerand the GSTM1 null mutation, our aim was to research this associationin a Brazilian population and correlations withsmoking, reproductive history and several clinical pathologies. A case-control study was performed on 105 women with breast cancer and 278 controls. Extraction of DNA was accomplished according to the protocol of the GFX® kit and polymorphism analysis by the PCR technique. The control and experimental groups were compared and statistical analysis assessed by X² or Fisher's exact test. The deletion in the GSTM1 gene in the breast cancer group had a prevalence of 32 (30.4%) individuals with the presence of null mutation. In the control group, the null mutation was present in 104 (37.4%) women. Upon comparison of the two groups, no statistically significant difference of the GSTM1 gene was observed, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.74, 95%, confidence interval (CI) 0.45 - 1.20, p = 0.277. The results conclusively show that singlegene GSTM1 polymorphisms do not confer a substantial risk of breastcancer to its carriers. Furthermore, in this study no correlation was found between GSTs andsmoking, reproductive history and several clinical pathologies with respect to cancer risk

Isoflavone regulates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression in urinary tract of castrated rats

Objective: the purpose of this Study was to investigate Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression (VEGF) gene regulation by isoflavone in urinary tract tissues of castrated adult rats.Design: Forty-five adult rats, 90 days old, weighting 200g were used, receiving a soy-free ration. the animals were castrated for drug administration for 30 days (125 mu g genisteine/g body weight/day) and sacrificed, divided into three groups: Group I-control: Group II-started isoflavone administration on the 5th day after castration; Group III-starred isoflavone administration on the 28th day after castration. RNA was isolated from each bladder and urethra. Determination of VEGF gene regulated by isoflavone was obtained using a semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry of total RNA isolated from bladder and urethra.Results: Our results demonstrate that isoflavone was able to upregulate mRNA level of the VEGF gene in the lower urinary tract of rats in Group II, where isoflavone administration was started at an early phase of estrogen deprivation, while in Group III, where isoflavone administration was started in the late phase of hypoestrogenism, did not show alteration of bladder and urethra VEGF gene expression, compared to placebo, maintaining the same level of the castrated rats without treatment.Conclusions: the data indicate that VEGF expression in rats is also regulated by isoflavone in early phase of hypoestrogenism. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Lab Mol Gynecol, Dept Gynecol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Lab Mol Gynecol, Dept Gynecol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc