Fringe counter for interferometers Patent

Digital sensor for counting fringes produced by interferometers with improved sensitivity and one photomultiplier tube to eliminate alignment proble

Gene expression in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence: implications for the onset of schizophrenia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many critical maturational processes take place in the human brain during postnatal development. In particular, the prefrontal cortex does not reach maturation until late adolescence and this stage is associated with substantial white matter volume increases. Patients with schizophrenia and other major psychiatric disorders tend to first present with overt symptoms during late adolescence/early adulthood and it has been proposed that this developmental stage represents a "window of vulnerability".</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study we used whole genome microarrays to measure gene expression in post mortem prefrontal cortex tissue from human individuals ranging in age from 0 to 49 years. To identify genes specifically altered in the late adolescent period, we applied a template matching procedure. Genes were identified which showed a significant correlation to a template showing a peak of expression between ages 15 and 25.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Approximately 2000 genes displayed an expression pattern that was significantly correlated (positively or negatively) with the template. In the majority of cases, these genes in fact reached a plateau during adolescence with only subtle changes thereafter. These include a number of genes previously associated with schizophrenia including the susceptibility gene neuregulin 1 (NRG1). Functional profiling revealed peak expression in late adolescence for genes associated with energy metabolism and protein and lipid synthesis, together with decreases for genes involved in glutamate and neuropeptide signalling and neuronal development/plasticity. Strikingly, eight myelin-related genes previously found decreased in schizophrenia brain tissue showed a peak in their expression levels in late adolescence, while the single myelin gene reported increased in patients with schizophrenia was decreased in late adolescence.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The observed changes imply that molecular mechanisms critical for adolescent brain development are disturbed in schizophrenia patients.</p

Plasma BDNF Levels Vary in Relation to Body Weight in Females

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression as well as neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies show a role of BDNF in energy metabolism and body weight regulation. We examined BDNF levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from age matched elderly depressed and control subjects. Also, the association of BDNF levels with age, gender, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and cognitive performance was evaluated. We did not find any significant differences in plasma and CSF BDNF levels between depressed and control subjects. Plasma BDNF levels were negatively correlated with age (but not with BMI and body weight), when analyses were performed including both depressed and control subjects. A significant reduction in plasma BDNF levels was observed in females as compared to male subjects, and the change in BDNF levels were significantly and positively related to body weight in females. Furthermore, significant increases in Total Recall and Delayed Recall values were found in females as compared to males. In conclusion, the lower BDNF levels observed in females suggest that changes in peripheral BDNF levels are likely secondary to an altered energy balance. However, further studies using larger sample size are warranted

Role of the AlGaN Cap Layer on the Trapping Behaviour of N-Polar GaN MISHEMTs

We investigate the static and dynamic (trapping) performance of N-polar Gallium Nitride MIS-HEMT devices as a function of the aluminum concentration in the top cap layer (22%, 34% and 46%). The analysis is based on combined dc characterization, double pulse measurements, and threshold voltage transient investigation. The de results demonstrate that the use of high aluminum concentrations in the cap layer results in a lower gate leakage current (around 9 \u3bcA/mm for % Al=46, compared to 70 \u3bcA/mm for %Al=22, measured at VGs=-7 V and VDS=15 V). In addition, pulsed and transient investigation showed that the use of high Al concentration in the cap layer can substantially suppress the current collapse (slump ratio = 15 % for %Al=46, compared to 26 % for %AI=22). Trapping is ascribed to the presence of a defect state located at EC-0.5 eV, which is responsible for a threshold voltage shift. The results point out the key role of the AlGaN cap layer on the performance of AlGaN-based HEMTs, and give indication on how to optimize the performance of the devices

Family reunification: the case of the Muslim migrant children in Europe

Adopting a child is not a legal concept recognized in Islamic law, who however giving a great importance to orphans and children's rights, has introduced the legal institute of the "Kafala". This institute can be defined as a commitment by the "kafil" to ensure maintenance, education and protection of a minor "makfoul" until his legal majority, in the same way as would a father to his son, but without creating any family relationship. For these reasons the “Kafala” can not be compared to an international adoption, which, contrariwise, entails the creation of a parent-child relationship. If, in one side the Kafala is a legal concept recognized by International Law, in particular by the United Nations Convention of 20 November 1989 on the Rights of the Child, which recognizes the Muslim institute of the Kafala in the article 20 as a means of protection of the children. On the other hand, the Kafala is excluded by the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption. The aim of this paper is to understand how, in a society increasingly multicultural, the Kafala could be reconciled in Europe, in particular analyzing the EU 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family reunification, that ignored this Muslim institute. In the second part, the paper will analyze the most important judgments in the Italian, French and English legal systems in order to highlight how in these three European countries the solutions adopted in relation to the Kafala have been completely different