Non coding RNA and brain

Small non coding RNAs are a group of very different RNA molecules, present in virtually all cells, with a wide spectrum of regulatory functions which include RNA modification and regulation of protein synthesis. They have been isolated and characterized in all organisms and tissues, from Archaeobacteria to mammals. In mammalian brain there are a number of these small molecules, which are involved in neuronal differentiation as well as, possibly, in learning and memory. In this manuscript, we analyze the present knowledge about the function of the most important groups of small non-coding RNA present in brain: small nucleolar RNAs, small cytoplasmic RNAs, and microRNAs. The last ones, in particular, appear to be critical for dictating neuronal cell identity during development and to play an important role in neurite growth, synaptic development and neuronal plasticity

Cyberdrugs: a cross-sectional study of online pharmacies characteristics

As e-commerce and online pharmacies (OPs) arose, the potential impact of the Internet on the world of health shifted from merely the spread of information to a real opportunity to acquire health services directly. Aim of the study was to investigate the offer of prescription drugs in OPs, analysing their characteristics, using the content analysis method. The research performed using the Google search engine led to an analysis of 118 online pharmacies. Only 51 (43.2%) of them stated their precise location. Ninety-six (81.4%) online pharmacies did not require a medical prescription from the customer's physician. Online pharmacies rise complex issues in terms of patient-doctor relationship, consumer empowerment, drug quality, regulation and public health implication

Мотивационная политика предприятия как основа новой философии управления

В современной концепции управления ключевое место отводится человеку. Именно люди, характеризующиеся не только специальным образованием и профессиональными навыками, но и яркой индивидуальностью, способны генерировать новые идеи и решать непростые задачи в высококонкурентной и динамичной бизнес-среде. Такова закономерность в развитии экономических отношений и совершенствовании менеджмента организаций. Акценты в управлении компанией смещаются к идеологическим (культурным, духовным) ценностям предприятия, носителем которых является его персонал, конкретные сотрудники, способные в этих условиях обеспечивать эффективную работу в высококонкурентной среде

predictive factors of intraocular pressure level evolution over time and glaucoma severity in fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis

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Automated Heuristic Optimization of Prostate VMAT Treatment Planning

Purpose: To investigate a genetic algorithm approach to automatic treatment planning. Methods: A Python script based on genetic algorithm (GA) was implemented for VMAT treatment planning of prostate tumor. The script was implemented in RayStation treatment planning system using Python code. Two different clinical prescriptions were considered: 78 Gy prescribed to planning target volume in 39 fractions (GROUP 1) and simultaneous integrated boost (70.2 Gy to prostate bed and 61.1 Gy to seminal vesicles) in 26 fractions (GROUP 2). The script automatically optimizes doses to PTV and OARs according to GA. A comparison with corresponding plans created with Monaco TPS (M) and Auto-Planning module of Pinnacle3 (AP) was carried out. The plans were evaluated with a total score (TS) of PlanIQ software in terms of target coverage and sparing of OARs as well as clinical score (CS) performed by a Radiation Oncologist. Results: In GROUP 1, mean value of TS were 150.6 ± 30.7, 146.3 ± 36.1 and 137.4 ± 35.7 for AP, GA and M respectively. For GROUP 2, mean value for TS were 163.5 ± 16.8, 163.4 ± 24.7 and 162.9 ± 16.6 for AP, GA and M respectively with no significance differences. In terms of CS, the highest value has been attributed to GA in four patients out of five for both GROUP 1 and 2. Conclusions: Genetic approach is practicable for prostate VMAT plan generation and studies are underway in other anatomical sites such as Head and Neck and Rectum

Smoking Habit Prevention in Schools: Report of a Pediatric Educational Intervention Held in Pisa

Introduction: Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the world and the detrimental effects of tobacco on health have been described across the full life span. There is no safe level of tobacco exposure and childhood is the more vulnerable period of life. Current estimates show that 10% of children aged 13-15 years are active smokers and most of them started smoking at ≥11 years of age, due to peer and/or family influence. Moreover, recently, e-cigarette use has spread, particularly among youth. Many school-based smoking prevention interventions have been carried out around the world, the efficacy of which has yet to be established. Materials and methods: In February 2018 we planned an educational program on smoking habit within the Italian Society of Pediatric Respiratory Diseases (SIMRI) (“Dai un calcio al fumo” program). In May 2018 we held 8 interventions at the Fibonacci School (Pisa, Italy), meeting 365 children aged 9 to 13 years and involving a pediatrician and a pediatric resident in a 2-hour lesson focusing on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and smoking habit effects. The children were invited to ask questions and talk about their experiences, with a subsequent 30-minutes collegial discussion. The most frequent questions were collected, as well as students’, physicians’ and teachers’ opinions on each meeting. Results: During our educational interventions the most frequently asked questions were about the discrepancy related to the fact that a dangerous product is legally sold and the potential harmful effects of e-cigarettes. All the children stated that they knew that combustible cigarette smoking was dangerous. Most of them admitted that they feel that smoking habits start from emulating friends and relatives. Almost 70% of the children reported to have at least one smoker relative. Teachers, physicians and students proposed to replicate the meetings the following year. Conclusions: The considerable interest shown by the students, together with the low cost and potential effectiveness of school-based educational measures, suggest that in our country a national educational program should be introduced in schools. Too many children are still exposed to tobacco smoke in the household environment

TRIBUNAL DO JÚRI E SUA CAIXA DE PANDORA: MUDARAM O INQUISIDOR, MAS A FOGUEIRA CONTINUA ACESA

A Constituição da República traça um projeto democrático que inegavelmente condiciona toda construção dogmática e legislativa do Processo Penal brasileiro, que deve ser um instrumento a serviço desse desenho de Estado e sociedade, enquanto mecanismo civilizatório de apuração de responsabilidade. Dessa forma, é imperioso que se entenda o Direito Processual Penal não apenas como um instrumento de aplicação do direito penal, mas, sobretudo, como um instrumental de proteção do débil, que tem por finalidade a máxima eficácia dos direitos fundamentais. Em assim sendo, mister se faz uma releitura crítica da gestão da prova pelo Conselho de Sentença do Tribunal do Júri

The Contribution of Halos with Different Mass Ratios to the Overall Growth of Cluster-Sized Halos

We provide a new observational test for a key prediction of the \Lambda CDM cosmological model: the contributions of mergers with different halo-to-main-cluster mass ratios to cluster-sized halo growth. We perform this test by dynamically analyzing seven galaxy clusters, spanning the redshift range $0.13 < z_c < 0.45$ and caustic mass range $0.4-1.5$ $10^{15} h_{0.73}^{-1}$ M$_{\odot}$, with an average of 293 spectroscopically-confirmed bound galaxies to each cluster. The large radial coverage (a few virial radii), which covers the whole infall region, with a high number of spectroscopically identified galaxies enables this new study. For each cluster, we identify bound galaxies. Out of these galaxies, we identify infalling and accreted halos and estimate their masses and their dynamical states. Using the estimated masses, we derive the contribution of different mass ratios to cluster-sized halo growth. For mass ratios between ~0.2 and ~0.7, we find a ~1 $\sigma$ agreement with \Lambda CDM expectations based on the Millennium simulations I and II. At low mass ratios, $\lesssim 0.2$, our derived contribution is underestimated since the detection efficiency decreases at low masses, $\sim 2 \times 10^{14}$ $h_{0.73}^{-1}$ M$_{\odot}$. At large mass ratios, $\gtrsim 0.7$, we do not detect halos probably because our sample, which was chosen to be quite X-ray relaxed, is biased against large mass ratios. Therefore, at large mass ratios, the derived contribution is also underestimated.Comment: 25 pages, 16 figures, 6 tables, 2 machine readable tables, accepted for publication in ApJ, updated acknowledgements and data table format modifications mad

CLASH: Mass Distribution in and around MACS J1206.2-0847 from a Full Cluster Lensing Analysis

We derive an accurate mass distribution of the galaxy cluster MACS J1206.2-0847 (z=0.439) from a combined weak-lensing distortion, magnification, and strong-lensing analysis of wide-field Subaru BVRIz' imaging and our recent 16-band Hubble Space Telescope observations taken as part of the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH) program. We find good agreement in the regions of overlap between several weak and strong lensing mass reconstructions using a wide variety of modeling methods, ensuring consistency. The Subaru data reveal the presence of a surrounding large scale structure with the major axis running approximately north-west south-east (NW-SE), aligned with the cluster and its brightest galaxy shapes, showing elongation with a \sim 2:1 axis ratio in the plane of the sky. Our full-lensing mass profile exhibits a shallow profile slope dln\Sigma/dlnR\sim -1 at cluster outskirts (R>1Mpc/h), whereas the mass distribution excluding the NW-SE excess regions steepens further out, well described by the Navarro-Frenk-White form. Assuming a spherical halo, we obtain a virial mass M_{vir}=(1.1\pm 0.2\pm 0.1)\times 10^{15} M_{sun}/h and a halo concentration c_{vir} = 6.9\pm 1.0\pm 1.2 (\sim 5.7 when the central 50kpc/h is excluded), which falls in the range 4 <7 of average c(M,z) predictions for relaxed clusters from recent Lambda cold dark matter simulations. Our full lensing results are found to be in agreement with X-ray mass measurements where the data overlap, and when combined with Chandra gas mass measurements, yield a cumulative gas mass fraction of 13.7^{+4.5}_{-3.0}% at 0.7Mpc/h (\approx 1.7r_{2500}), a typical value observed for high mass clusters.Comment: Accepted by ApJ (30 pages, 17 figures), one new figure (Figure 10) added, minor text changes; a version with high resolution figures available at http://www.asiaa.sinica.edu.tw/~keiichi/upfiles/MACS1206/ms_highreso.pd