Assessment of an in vitro physiological relevant model to check therapeutic strategies for glaucoma

Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive and heterogeneous optic neuropathy which affects in the early stage the peripheral vision and then the central vision, leading to irreversible blindness. As known, in glaucoma the trabecular meshwork represent the main tissue which is impaired by chronic oxidative stress, aging and increase of intraocular pressure. Today, the lack of human-based models, with characteristics of high repeatability and reproducibility as well, called for an high-quality in vitro model with a good degree of resemblance for the tissue or organ of interest as a basis for new drug testing. Our team has been committed to this purpose by assessment of an in vitro 3D TM human-based model, closer to in vivo, using millifluidic technology, to better identify the key events underlying the pathogenesis of glaucoma and to evaluate new therapies targeted at disease treatment and prevention

Holey fibre mode-selective couplers

Mode-selective coupling in an asymmetric holey fibre coupler is demonstrated both numerically and experimentally for the first time. The coupler's performance is shown to be ultrabroadband, with significant potential existing for the use of such couplers in high bandwidth few-mode fibre networks

Políticas educacionais e o ensino de Ciências no Brasil: o caso do IDEB

O Índice de Desenvolvimento da Educação Básica (IDEB) monitora a qualidade do Ensino Fundamental, focando as disciplinas de Português e Matemática (PM). Esse foco exclusivo nessas disciplinas leva os estudantes a valorizá-las em detrimento de Ciências. Neste estudo investigou-se a percepção dos jovens, na região do grande ABC (São Paulo), quanto à importância das disciplinas estudadas cotidianamente. Os resultados mostraram que os alunos atribuem grande relevância às disciplinas de PM, induzidos pelas ações dos professores, da escola e das redes de ensino, que buscam melhores posições no ranking do IDEB. Esses dados são importantes para promover discussões entre escolas e secretarias de educação sobre políticas educacionais brasileiras.Palavras-chave: Educação Básica. Políticas Públicas. Ensino de Ciências

Relativistic generalizations of gravity-induced localization models

Nonunitary versions of Newtonian gravity leading to wavefunction localization admit natural special-relativistic generalizations. They include the first consistent relativistic localization models. At variance with the unified model of localization and gravity, the purely localizing version requires negative energy fields, which however are less harmful than usual and can be used to build ultraviolet-finite theories.Comment: RevTex, 10 page

2D- and 3D-cultures of human trabecular meshwork cells: A preliminary assessment of an in vitro model for glaucoma study

A physiologically relevant in vitro human-based model could be the \u2018gold standard\u2019 to clarify the pathological steps involved in glaucoma onset. In this regard, human 3D cultures may represent an excellent starting point to achieve this goal. Indeed, the 3D matrix allows to re-create the in vivo-like tissue architecture, maintaining its functionality and cellular behaviour, compared to the 2D model. Thus, we propose a comparison between the 2D and 3D in vitro models of human trabecular meshwork cells in terms of cellular responses after chronic stress exposure. Our results showed that 3D-cells are more sensitive to intracellular reactive oxidative specie production induced by hydrogen peroxide treatment, compared to 2D cultures. Additionally, in 3D cultures a more accurate regulation of the apoptosis trigger and cell adaptation mechanisms was detected than in 2D models. In line with these findings, the 3D-HTMC model shows the ability to better mimic the in vivo cell behaviour in adaptive responses to chronic oxidative stress than 2D

Genome sequence of Azospirillum brasilense REC3, isolated from strawberry plants

The genome sequence of a plant growth-promoting bacterium and biocontrol agent, Azospirillum brasilense REC3, isolated from strawberry roots, is reported here. The A. brasilense REC3 total genome contains 7,229,924 bp and has a G C content of 68.7 mol%.EEA FamailláFil: Fontana, Cecilia Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Salazar, Sergio Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Bassi, Daniela. Università Cattolica del Saco Cuore. Istituto di Microbiologia; ItaliaFil: Puglisi, Edoardo. Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Centro Ricerche Biotecnologiche. Istituto di Microbiologia; ItaliaFil: Lovaisa, Nadia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Toffoli, Lucia Mercedes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Pedraza, Raúl Osvaldo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Cocconcelli, Pier Sandro. Università Cattolica del Saco Cuore. Istituto di Microbiologia; Itali

Internet of Things Strategic Research Roadmap

Internet of Things (IoT) is an integrated part of Future Internet including existing and evolving Internet and network developments and could be conceptually defined as a dynamic global network infrastructure with self configuring capabilities based on standard and interoperable communication protocols where physical and virtual “things” have identities, physical attributes, and virtual personalities, use intelligent interfaces, and are seamlessly integrated into the information network

A infraestrutura das escolas de ensino fundamental da Região do Grande ABC paulista

No Brasil, o sistema de avaliação educacional procura investigar e compreender os fatores que influenciam o desempenho dos alunos em testes de larga escala para, com tal entendimento, lançar políticas para melhorar da educação brasileira. Um desses fatores é a infraestrutura das escolas que no cenário brasileiro influencia a aprendizagem dos alunos. Este estudo investiga, explorando, identificando e descrevendo, a infraestrutura das escolas de ensino fundamental da Região do Grande ABC Paulista, coletando informações a partir do Censo escolar de 2013 e analisando-as sob a perspectiva quantitativa. Foram identificadas e analisadas 17 categorias (Água filtrada, Sanitário, Esgoto, Cozinha, Energia Elétrica, Laboratório de informática, Laboratório de Ciências, Biblioteca, TV, DVD, Acesso à Internet, Computadores, Sala de Diretoria, Sala de professores, Impressora, Copiadora e Quadra esportiva) e realizadas comparações com o cenário brasileiro. Os resultados mostraram que a infraestrutura escolar da Região está bem consolidada, superando de longe a dura realidade brasileira. Em uma escala desenvolvida por pesquisadores brasileiros para medir a infraestrutura das escolas, a Região está situada no nível avançado (74%). A compreensão de tal realidade pode favorecer a reflexão sobre possíveis alternativas para a organização ou reformas do sistema educacional ou das escolas

Corrigendum to An advanced in vitro model to assess glaucoma onset.

In this manuscript, which appeared in ALTEX 37, 265-274 (doi: 10.14573/altex.1909262), the affiliation of Stefania Vernazza should read: Stefania Vernazza 5# 5 IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Rome, Italy and the address for correspondence should read: Stefania Vernazza, PhD, IRCCS, Fondazione Bietti via Livenza 3, 00198 Rome, Italy ([email protected])