The economic crisis as a trigger of convergence? : short-time work in Italy, Germany and Austria

In all European countries, emergency policy measures have been introduced in order to counteract the employment consequences of the economic crisis. In the context of variously composed anti-crisis packages, many European countries have used Short-Time Work (STW) schemes, that is measures to subsidize a temporary reduction in working time intended to maintain an employment relationship. This article focuses on the issue of whether the economic crisis has spurred any convergence in the use of STW in three social-insurance countries \u2013 Austria, Germany and Italy \u2013 or whether policy change has rather occurred in a path-dependent fashion. In order to do so, the article also adopts a systemic approach, focusing on relationships of complementarity or functional substitution and equivalence among the various schemes comprising income maintenance systems to tackle the risks of partial or total unemployment

NGF steers microglia toward a neuroprotective phenotype

Microglia are the sentinels of the brain but a clear understanding of the factors that modulate their activation in physiological and pathological conditions is still lacking. Here we demonstrate that Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) acts on microglia by steering them toward a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory phenotype. We show that microglial cells express functional NGF receptors in vitro and ex vivo. Our transcriptomic analysis reveals how, in primary microglia, NGF treatment leads to a modulation of motility, phagocytosis and degradation pathways. At the functional level, NGF induces an increase in membrane dynamics and macropinocytosis and, in vivo, it activates an outward rectifying current that appears to modulate glutamatergic neurotransmission in nearby neurons. Since microglia are supposed to be a major player in Aβ peptide clearance in the brain, we tested the effects of NGF on its phagocytosis. NGF was shown to promote TrkA-mediated engulfment of Aβ by microglia, and to enhance its degradation. Additionally, the proinflammatory activation induced by Aβ treatment is counteracted by the concomitant administration of NGF. Moreover, by acting specifically on microglia, NGF protects neurons from the Aβ-induced loss of dendritic spines and inhibition of long term potentiation. Finally, in an ex-vivo setup of acute brain slices, we observed a similar increase in Aβ engulfment by microglial cells under the influence of NGF. Our work substantiates a role for NGF in the regulation of microglial homeostatic activities and points toward this neurotrophin as a neuroprotective agent in Aβ accumulation pathologies, via its anti-inflammatory activity on microglia

Brain Proteome and Behavioural Analysis in Wild Type, BDNF+/− and BDNF−/− Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Exposed to Two Different Temperatures

Experimental evidence suggests that environmental stress conditions can alter the expression of BDNF and that the expression of this neurotrophin influences behavioural responses in mammalian models. It has been recently demonstrated that exposure to 34 degrees C for 21 days alters the brain proteome and behaviour in zebrafish. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of BDNF in the nervous system of adult zebrafish under control and heat treatment conditions. For this purpose, zebrafish from three different genotypes (wild type, heterozygous BDNF+/- and knock out BDNF-/-) were kept for 21 days at 26 degrees C or 34 degrees C and then euthanized for brain molecular analyses or subjected to behavioural tests (Y-maze test, novel tank test, light and dark test, social preference test, mirror biting test) for assessing behavioural aspects such as boldness, anxiety, social preference, aggressive behaviour, interest for the novel environment and exploration. qRT-PCR analysis showed the reduction of gene expression of BDNF and its receptors after heat treatment in wild type zebrafish. Moreover, proteomic analysis and behavioural tests showed genotype- and temperature-dependent effects on brain proteome and behavioural responding. Overall, the absent expression of BDNF in KO alters (1) the brain proteome by reducing the expression of proteins involved in synapse functioning and neurotransmitter-mediated transduction; (2) the behaviour, which can be interpreted as bolder and less anxious and (3) the cellular and behavioural response to thermal treatment

Primer development for detection of Phaseolus vulgaris and Olathe transgenic bean.

Several strategies have been employed for genetically engineering resistance to viruses in transgenic plants. The bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) is responsible for causing the gold mosaic of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and causes severe yield losses due to yellow-green mosaic of leaves, stunted growth and distorted pods. Olathe transgenic bean (Olathe 5.1) was successfully produced by EMBRAPA using the RNA interference (RNAi) concept to silence the rep viral gene in common bean to generate transgenic lines with strong resistance to BGMV. In this work, real time PCR (RT-PCR) method with SYBR Green was developed to detect this newly genetically modified (GM) plant

BIFIDOBACTÉRIAS: ISOLAMENTO, IDENTIFICAÇÃO E APLICAÇÃO EM ALIMENTOS PROBIÓTICOS

This review aimed to describe the main culture media that have been developed for the isolation and enumeration of bifidobacteria and the molecular methods used for identification of this genus and its species. The criteria for probiotic bifidobacteria selection for their technological application were also demons trated (as tolerance to low pH, presence of oxygen and presence of ingredients and additives). Various studies carried out using a bifidobacteria in the development of probiotic foods were cited. It can be concluded that the constant consumer’s search for balance of health tends to increase the market for probiotic foods, stimulating research in the discovery of new strains with this activity and diversification of products.Esta revisão de literatura teve por objetivo descrever os principais meios de cultura já desenvolvidos para o isolamento e enumeração de bifidobactérias, e os métodos moleculares utilizados para a identificação desse gênero e de suas espécies. Os critérios de seleção das bifidobactérias probióticas visando à aplicação tecnológica também foram abordados (como tolerância a pH baixo, presença de oxigênio e presença de ingredientes e aditivos). Diversas pesquisas realizadas com bifidobactérias para o desenvolvimento de alimentos probióticos foram citadas. A importância do isolamento e identificação das bifidobactérias envolve a aplicação desses microrganismos como agentes probióticos em alimentos. Pode-se concluir que a constante busca pela saúde tende a aumentar o consumo de alimentos probióticos, estimulando a diversificação de produtos e a descoberta de novas cepas com essa função

TIMP3 interplays with apelin to regulate cardiovascular metabolism in hypercholesterolemic mice

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) bound protein, which has been shown to be downregulated in human subjects and experimental models with cardiometabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TIMP3 on cardiac energy homeostasis during increased metabolic stress conditions

Assessment of antibody library diversity through next generation sequencing and technical error compensation

Antibody libraries are important resources to derive antibodies to be used for a wide range of applications, from structural and functional studies to intracellular protein interference studies to developing new diagnostics and therapeutics. Whatever the goal, the key parameter for an antibody library is its complexity (also known as diversity), i.e. the number of distinct elements in the collection, which directly reflects the probability of finding in the library an antibody against a given antigen, of sufficiently high affinity. Quantitative evaluation of antibody library complexity and quality has been for a long time inadequately addressed, due to the high similarity and length of the sequences of the library. Complexity was usually inferred by the transformation efficiency and tested either by fingerprinting and/or sequencing of a few hundred random library elements. Inferring complexity from such a small sampling is, however, very rudimental and gives limited information about the real diversity, because complexity does not scale linearly with sample size. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has opened new ways to tackle the antibody library complexity quality assessment. However, much remains to be done to fully exploit the potential of NGS for the quantitative analysis of antibody repertoires and to overcome current limitations. To obtain a more reliable antibody library complexity estimate here we show a new, PCR-free, NGS approach to sequence antibody libraries on Illumina platform, coupled to a new bioinformatic analysis and software (Diversity Estimator of Antibody Library, DEAL) that allows to reliably estimate the complexity, taking in consideration the sequencing error.Funded by European Union Seventh Framework Program [grant No. 604102 A.C.] (Human Brain Project). https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Synergism and phenolic bioaccessibility during in vitro co-digestion of cooked cowpea with orange juice.

Foods are susceptible to matrix interferences during the gastrointestinal transit that can affect bioactive molecules. We proposed in vitro co-digestion of cowpea beans and orange juice to assess polyphenols bioaccessibility and synergisms. We performed astrointestinal simulation combining beans and a fruit beverage, to mimic a common meal in a more realistic set-up than the usual single-food models

Increased CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, and IL-1β cytokine concentration in piriform cortex, hippocampus, and neocortex after pilocarpine-induced seizures

BACKGROUND: Cytokines and chemokines play an important role in the neuroinflammatory response to an initial precipitating injury such as status epilepticus (SE). These signaling molecules participate in recruitment of immune cells, including brain macrophages (microglia), as well as neuroplastic changes, deterioration of damaged tissue, and epileptogenesis. This study describes the temporal and brain region pattern expression of numerous cytokines, including chemokines, after pilocarpine-induced seizures and discusses them in the larger context of their potential involvement in the changes that precede the development of epilepsy. FINDINGS: Adult rats received pilocarpine to induce SE and 90 min after seizure onset were treated with diazepam to mitigate seizures. Rats were subsequently deeply anesthetized and brain regions (hippocampus, piriform cortex, neocortex, and cerebellum) were freshly dissected at 2, 6, and 24 h or 5 days after seizures. Using methodology identical to our previous studies, simultaneous assay of multiple cytokines (CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, interleukin IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was performed and compared to control rats. These proteins were selected based on existing evidence implicating them in the epileptogenic progression. A robust increase in CCL2 and CCL3 concentrations in the hippocampus, piriform cortex, and neocortex was observed at all time-points. The concentrations peaked with a ~200-fold increase 24 h after seizures and were two orders of magnitude greater than the significant increases observed for CCL5 and IL-1β in the same brain structures. TNF-α levels were altered in the piriform cortex and neocortex (24 h) and in the hippocampus (5 days) after SE. CONCLUSIONS: Pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus causes a rapid increase of multiple cytokines in limbic and neocortical regions. Understanding the precise spatial and temporal pattern of cytokines and chemokine changes could provide more viable therapeutic targets to reduce, reverse, or prevent the development of epilepsy following a precipitating injury

Waiting times for diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents referred to Italian ADHD centers must be reduced

BACKGROUND: To investigate timely access to and the time needed to complete the diagnostic path of children and adolescents with suspected attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the 18 Italian Lombardy Region ADHD reference centers. METHODS: Data of children and adolescents enrolled in the Regional ADHD disease-oriented Registry for suspected ADHD who requested their first visit in 2013-2017 were analyzed. RESULTS: The sample comprised 2262 children and adolescents aged 5-17\u2009years who accessed the ADHD centers for diagnostic classification and management. The median waiting time was of 177\u2009days (range 66-375) from the request for the initial appointment to the completion of the diagnostic path, with a three - fold difference between centers. In addition to the center, the strongest significant predictors of long waiting times were age comorbidities, the severity of the disorder, and having already completed some diagnostic procedures provided by the common standard path. CONCLUSIONS: To guarantee an equal standard of care in ADHD centers for all children and adolescents there is a pressing need to reduce the times to complete the diagnostic path. It is the task of both policymakers and each center to optimize the quality of the service and of the care delivered