Картирование ВВП и ППС на субнациональном уровне на основе спутниковых снимков территории стран Восточной Европы и СНГ

Following the line of research, originated from the paper by Henderson et al. (2012), this article focuses on how "observations from the above", in the form of night-lights satellite data, might contribute in mapping at very fine geographical level (ideally, one square km), two core macroeconomic indicators used extensively in the Sustainable Development Goals monitoring and reporting framework: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs). Recent empirical economic studies have paid increasing attention on the association between night-lights observations and economic growth, in order to estimate a consistent and objective level of economic activities at subnational level. In the present paper, analyses are carried out on a panel of 17 Eastern Europe and CIS countries for the period 2000-2013 and use is made of indicators constructed from satellite images in the form of night lights, as processed by the US Department of Defense, and its Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's OperationalLinescan System. Estimations of GDP in current US dollars and PPP terms are carried out at both national and sub-national level, and results are compared with the official available information. Estimates of GDP and PPP were also compared, at national level, with those in the World Bank data-set, showing similar behaviours. Results are used to obtain gridded maps of GDPs and PPPs

Human proliferating cell nuclear antigen, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1, and p21waf1/cip1. A dynamic exchange of partners.

We addressed the analysis of the physical and functional association of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a protein involved in many DNA transactions, with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1), an enzyme that plays a crucial role in DNA repair and interacts with many DNA replication/repair factors. We demonstrated that PARP-1 and PCNA co-immunoprecipitated both from the soluble and the DNA-bound fraction isolated from S-phase-synchronized HeLa cells. Immunoprecipitation experiments with purified proteins further confirmed a physical association between PARP-1 and PCNA. To investigate the effect of this association on PARP-1 activity, an assay based on the incorporation of radioactive NAD was performed. Conversely, the effect of PARP-1 on PCNA-dependent DNA synthesis was assessed by a DNA polymerase delta assay. A marked inhibition of both reactions was found. Unexpectedly, PARP-1 activity also decreased in the presence of p21waf1/cip1. By pull-down experiments, we provided the first evidence for an association between PARP-1 and p21, which involves the C-terminal part of p21 protein. This association was further demonstrated to occur also in vivo in MNNG (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine)-treated human fibroblasts. These observations suggest that PARP-1 and p21 could cooperate in regulating the functions of PCNA during DNA replication/repair

Risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Insights from genetic analysis and cardiopulmonary exercise testing

The role of genetic testing over the clinical and functional variables, including data from the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), in the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) risk stratification remains unclear. A retrospective genotype–phenotype correlation was performed to analyze possible differences between patients with and without likely pathogenic/pathogenic (LP/P) variants. A total of 371 HCM patients were screened at least for the main sarcomeric genes MYBPC3 (myosin binding protein C), MYH7 (β-myosin heavy chain), TNNI3 (cardiac troponin I) and TNNT2 (cardiac troponin T): 203 patients had at least an LP/P variant, 23 patients had a unique variant of uncertain significance (VUS) and 145 did not show any LP/P variant or VUS. During a median 5.4 years follow-up, 51 and 14 patients developed heart failure (HF) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) or SCD-equivalents events, respectively. The LP/P variant was associated with a more aggressive HCM phenotype. However, left atrial diameter (LAd), circulatory power (peak oxygen uptake*peak systolic blood pressure, CP%) and ventilatory efficiency (C-index = 0.839) were the only independent predictors of HF whereas only LAd and CP% were predictors of the SCD end-point (C-index = 0.738). The present study reaffirms the pivotal role of the clinical variables and, particularly of those CPET-derived, in the HCM risk stratification.publishedVersio

Ultrastructural features of human sperm cells cryopreserved by different methods

Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa has been recognized as a key strategy for management of male fertility. Nevertheless, current protocols of sperm freezing are neither optimal nor standardized between different labs (1). In this study we compare the ultrastructural features of human normospermic sperm samples (according to WHO parameters 2010) from 5 different freezing techniques in order to identify the best methods of cryopreservation. After informed con- sent, 21 normospermic patients (from the Medically Assisted Procreation PMA Center of the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia) were recruited and both traditional and improved analysis of sperm quality were applied, in order to define critical steps of cryopreservation. Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa has been related to decreased motility associated with impaired velocity and viability of sperm pre-freeze and post-thaw. For all applied methods there was a significant reduction of progressive and total motility (P) as a result of freezing. To investigate ultrastructural details, 5 additional cryopreserved samples by the best two freezing methods were analyzed with elec- tron microscopy (TEM). Preliminary data showed the minimal differences between the protocols, with a large number of queues detached and large quantities of cyto- plasmic debris after of the first protocol. Spermatozoa appear to be better preserved in the second analyzed method, despite both procedures induced deteriorations at ultrastructural level (2). Other non-routine analysis will be performed to determine whether the cooling time to +4°C may affect the procedure; Comet Assay (to assess the degree of sperm DNA fragmentation) (3) and flow cytometry (to study light scat- ters patterns and membrane integrity) (4) will be applied

Stopping or Continuing to Follow Best Practices in Terms of ESG during the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Exploratory Study of European Listed Companies

This study aims to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance for European listed companies. The purpose of this study is to understand if and how the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak influenced the behavior of European companies in terms of best practices in ESG. In this paper, we consider the ESG score as a proxy of management practices. The ESG score was collected for all companies included in the STOXX 600 index (from the Refinitiv Eikon database) and analyzed using fixed and random effects. The sample is composed of 600 European listed companies and covers the period from 2018 to 2021. The results show that even in a health crisis with economic repercussions for the whole world, companies have continued to increase their commitment to ESG targets. The results are robust, also considering the different components of the ESG score (environment, social, governance) individually. This paper validates the significance for companies to improve their ESG performance even during unstable times. Our analysis has implications from several perspectives, adding supplementary information and considerations to the uncompleted debate examining the effects of external shocks on ESG performance

Stopping or Continuing to Follow Best Practices in Terms of ESG during the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Exploratory Study of European Listed Companies

This study aims to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance for European listed companies. The purpose of this study is to understand if and how the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak influenced the behavior of European companies in terms of best practices in ESG. In this paper, we consider the ESG score as a proxy of management practices. The ESG score was collected for all companies included in the STOXX 600 index (from the Refinitiv Eikon database) and analyzed using fixed and random effects. The sample is composed of 600 European listed companies and covers the period from 2018 to 2021. The results show that even in a health crisis with economic repercussions for the whole world, companies have continued to increase their commitment to ESG targets. The results are robust, also considering the different components of the ESG score (environment, social, governance) individually. This paper validates the significance for companies to improve their ESG performance even during unstable times. Our analysis has implications from several perspectives, adding supplementary information and considerations to the uncompleted debate examining the effects of external shocks on ESG performance

p21(waf1/cip1)-null human fibroblasts are deficient in nucleotide excision repair downstream the recruitment of PCNA to DNA repair sites

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(waf1/cip1) is known to impair DNA synthesis by binding to PCNA, the co-factor of DNA polymerases delta and epsilon. However, a positive role for p21 in nucleotide excision repair (NER) has been suggested. In this study, the sensitivity to DNA damage and DNA repair efficiency were investigated in p21-null human fibroblasts obtained by targeted homologous recombination. After UV-C irradiation, p21-/- cells showed a threefold reduction in clonogenic survival and an increased susceptibility to apoptosis, as compared with parental p21+/+ cells. Removal of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers was significantly reduced in p21-/- cells both in the whole genome, and at the level of the rDNA gene cluster, as determined by immunoassay and Southern blot, respectively. After DNA damage, the recruitment of PCNA as detergent-insoluble form associated to DNA repair sites in p21-/- fibroblasts, was comparable to that observed in parental p21+/+ cells. However, PCNA remained associated with DNA for a longer period in p21-/- than in p21+/+ cells. These results suggest that in human cells, p21 is required for NER at a step located downstream the recruitment of PCNA to DNA repair sites

A Novel Microfluidic Platform for Biomechano-Stimulations on a Chip

Mechanical stress has been proven to be an important factor interfering with many biological functions through mechano-sensitive elements within the cells. Despite the current interest in mechano-transduction, the development of suitable experimental tools is still characterized by the strife to design a compact device that allows high-magnification real-time imaging of the stretched cells, thus enabling to follow the dynamics of cellular response to mechanical stimulations. Here we present a microfluidic multi-layered chip that allows mechanical deformation of adherent cells maintaining a fixed focal plane, while allowing independent control of the soluble microenvironment. The device was optimized with the aid of FEM simulation and fully characterized in terms of mechanical deformation. Different cell lines were exposed to tunable mechanical strain, which results in continuous area deformation up to 20%. Thanks to the coupling of chemical glass etching, 2-dimensional deformation of a thin elastomeric membrane and microfluidic cell culture, the developed device allows a unique combination of cell mechanical stimulation, in line imaging and accurate control of cell culture microenvironment

Sonographic Evaluation of the Endotracheal Tube Position in the Neonatal Population: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis

BackgroundEndotracheal intubation in neonates is challenging and requires a high level of precision, due to narrow and short airways, especially in preterm newborns. The current gold standard for endotracheal tube (ETT) verification is chest X-ray (CXR); however, this method presents some limitations, such as ionizing radiation exposure and delayed in obtaining the radiographic images, that point of care ultrasound (POCUS) could overcome. Primary ObjectiveTo evaluate ultrasound efficacy in determining ETT placement adequacy in preterm and term newborns. Secondary ObjectiveTo compare the time required for ultrasound confirmation vs. time needed for other standard of care methods. Search MethodsA search in Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar and in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was performed. Our most recent search was conducted in September 2021 including the following keywords: "newborn", "infant", "neonate", "endotracheal intubation", "endotracheal tube", "ultrasonography", "ultrasound". Selection CriteriaWe considered randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, prospective, retrospective and cross-sectional studies published after 2012, involving neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients needing intubation/intubated infants and evaluating POCUS efficacy and/or accuracy in detecting ETT position vs. a defined gold-standard method. Three review authors independently assessed the studies' quality and extracted data. Main ResultsWe identified 14 eligible studies including a total of 602 ETT evaluations in NICU or in the delivery room. In about 80% of cases the gold standard for ETT position verification was CXR. Ultrasound was able to identify the presence of ETT in 96.8% of the evaluations, with a pooled POCUS sensitivity of 93.44% (95% CI: 90.4-95.75%) in detecting an appropriately positioned ETT as assessed by CXR. Bedside ultrasound confirmation was also found to be significantly faster compared to obtaining a CXR. ConclusionPOCUS appears to be a fast and effective technique to identify correct endotracheal intubation in newborns. This review could add value and importance to the use of this promising technique