Transcribed ultraconserved noncoding RNAs (T-UCR) are involved in Barrett's esophagus carcinogenesis.

Barretts esophagus (BE) involves a metaplastic replacement of native esophageal squamous epithelium (Sq) by columnar-intestinalized mucosa, and it is the main risk factor for Barrett-related adenocarcinoma (BAc). Ultra-conserved regions (UCRs) are a class non-coding sequences that are conserved in humans, mice and rats. More than 90% of UCRs are transcribed (T-UCRs) in normal tissues, and are altered at transcriptional level in tumorigenesis. To identify the T-UCR profiles that are dysregulated in Barretts mucosa transformation, microarray analysis was performed on a discovery set of 51 macro-dissected samples obtained from 14 long-segment BE patients. Results were validated in an independent series of esophageal biopsy/surgery specimens and in two murine models of Barretts esophagus (i.e. esophagogastric-duodenal anastomosis). Progression from normal to BE to adenocarcinoma was each associated with specific and mutually exclusive T-UCR signatures that included up-regulation of uc.58-, uc.202-, uc.207-, and uc.223- and down-regulation of uc.214+. A 9 T-UCR signature characterized BE versus Sq (with the down-regulation of uc.161-, uc.165-, and uc.327-, and the up-regulation of uc.153-, uc.158-, uc.206-, uc.274-, uc.472-, and uc.473-). Analogous BE-specific T-UCR profiles were shared by human and murine lesions. This study is the first demonstration of a role for T-UCRs in the transformation of Barretts mucosa

Asymmetric Fluid Criticality I: Scaling with Pressure Mixing

The thermodynamic behavior of a fluid near a vapor-liquid and, hence, asymmetric critical point is discussed within a general ``complete'' scaling theory incorporating pressure mixing in the nonlinear scaling fields as well as corrections to scaling. This theory allows for a Yang-Yang anomaly in which \mu_{\sigma}^{\prime\prime}(T), the second temperature derivative of the chemical potential along the phase boundary, diverges like the specific heat when T\to T_{\scriptsize c}; it also generates a leading singular term, |t|^{2\beta}, in the coexistence curve diameter, where t\equiv (T-T_{\scriptsize c}) /T_{\scriptsize c}. The behavior of various special loci, such as the critical isochore, the critical isotherm, the k-inflection loci, on which \chi^{(k)}\equiv \chi(\rho,T)/\rho^{k} (with \chi = \rho^{2} k_{\scriptsize B}TK_{T}) and C_{V}^{(k)}\equiv C_{V}(\rho,T)/\rho^{k} are maximal at fixed T, is carefully elucidated. These results are useful for analyzing simulations and experiments, since particular, nonuniversal values of k specify loci that approach the critical density most rapidly and reflect the pressure-mixing coefficient. Concrete illustrations are presented for the hard-core square-well fluid and for the restricted primitive model electrolyte. For comparison, a discussion of the classical (or Landau) theory is presented briefly and various interesting loci are determined explicitly and illustrated quantitatively for a van der Waals fluid.Comment: 21 pages in two-column format including 8 figure

Comportamento sazonal na ingestão de alimentos e ganho de peso em tilápias do Nilo Oreochromis niloticus sob o efeito de dois fotoperíodos.

Avaliacao do comportamento sazonal na nutricao da tilapia do Nilo, sob dois fotoperiodos

Changes in clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to inpatient cardiac rehabilitation

Aims: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) have proven to be effective and beneficial in middle-aged and older patients. However, solid data in large cohorts of elderly individuals are yet to be explored. This retrospective study investigated the general characteristics, outcomes, and the level of re-sponse of patients referred to CR over 13 consecutive years. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients admitted to Villa Pineta Rehabilitation Hospital for exercise-based CR from 2006 to 2018. Patients’ baseline characteristics and changes following CR in upper limb weight-lifting test (ULW), 30-second sit-to-stand test (30STS), and the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) with associated Borg-related dyspnea (D) and fatigue (F) were collected. We also calculated the number of individuals reaching the minimal clinically relevant change (MCRC) following CR for each outcome. Results: 1551 patients (70.2 ± 9.7 years, 66% men) with complete data set were in-cluded in the analysis. Coronary artery bypass graft and cardiac valve replacement surgery were the most frequent surgical procedures leading to CR referral (41.1% and 35.8%, respectively). The patients’ age (p = 0.03), number of total comorbidities (p < 0.0001), and post-surgical complica-tions (p = 0.02) significantly increased over time. In contrast, the average absolute changes in ULW, 30STS and 6MWT with associated D and F, and the proportion of patients reaching the re-spective MCRC, remained constant over the same period. Conclusion: Patients admitted to exer-cise-based CR were older and had more comorbidities and complications over time. Outcomes, however, were not influenced in terms of absolute change nor clinically meaningful response

Avaliação da conformidade na implementação das normas técnicas da produção integrada de morango.

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar duas áreas produtoras de morangos quanto à sua adequação à proposta de Normas Técnicas Específicas da Produção Integrada de Morango (NTE-PIMo), a fim de nortear a finalização da elaboração das NTE-PIMo e da lista de verificação, bem como e avaliar o efeito de treinamentos técnicos realizados com os produtores de Atibaia e Jarinu, SP, no ano de 2007. As propriedades foram auditadas em agosto de 2007 com base na proposta das NTE-PIMo (versão julho/2007), onde o grau de conformidade do manejo adotado foi avaliado. Dentre as 15 áreas temáticas avaliadas, 07 não foram atendidas integralmente pelos dois produtores, originando assim 19 não-conformidades. Destas não-conformidades, as de maior impacto no processo de produção e, conseqüentemente, na obtenção do selo de conformidade foram: irrigação; proteção integrada da planta; processos de empacotadoras, sistema de rastreabilidade e cadernos de campo e pós-colheita. A partir destes resultados observou-se a necessidade da definição de parâmetros para o monitoramento de pragas e doenças, além de treinamentos para capacitar os produtores quanto ao uso adequado do sistema de irrigação, ao monitoramento de pragas e doenças e à escolha e uso adequado de agrotóxicos

A cross-sectional study of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among healthcare workers and residents of long-term facilities in Italy, January 2021

Long‐term care facilities (LTCFs) are high‐risk settings for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. This study aimed to describe SARS‐CoV‐2 seropositivity among residents of LTCFs and health‐care workers (HCWs). Subjects were recruited in January 2021 among unvaccinated HCWs of LTCFs and hospitals and residents of LTCFs in Northern Italy. Information concerning previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infections and a sample of peripheral blood were collected. Anti‐S SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG antibodies were measured using the EUROIMMUN Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 QuantiVac ELISA kit (EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG). For subjects with previous COVID‐19 infection, gender, age, type of subject (HCW or resident), and time between last positive swab and blood draw were considered as possible determinants of two outcomes: the probability to obtain a positive serological result and antibody titer. Six hundred and fifty‐eight subjects were enrolled. 56.1% of all subjects and 65% of residents presented positive results (overall median antibody titer: 31.0 RU/ml). Multivariable models identified a statistically significant 4% decrease in the estimated antibody level for each 30‐day increase from the last positive swab. HCWs were associated with significant odds for seroreversion over time (OR: 0.926 for every 30 days, 95% CI: 0.860–0.998), contrary to residents (OR: 1.059, 95% CI: 0.919–1.22). Age and gender were not factors predicting seropositivity over time. Residents could have a higher probability of maintaining a seropositive status over time compared to HCWs

The role of agency in the emergence and development of social innovations in rural areas. Analysis of two cases of social farming in Italy and the Netherlands

Social innovation is considered a relevant concept to tackle societal challenges and needs in rural areas and to promote smart, inclusive and sustainable growth. The characterising sector of rural areas is agriculture; therefore, the focus of this paper is on social innovation in the field of social farming. Among the many factors leading to the emergence and development of social innovation, agency has been considered relevant in the literature on transformability and transformative social innovation as it is the ability to turn contextual difficulties into opportunities for social innovation and for inclusive growth. This paper proposes an evaluation framework to assess the different dimensions of agency by triangulating quantitative with qualitative data and by using indicators. This paper adopts a case study approach, analysing two cases of social farming in Italy and the Netherlands. The results show that the social innovation idea and the resilience of the agency are among the most relevant dimensions for the emergence and development of social innovations. Finally, this paper discusses the three most relevant factors for agency to lead to social innovation: idea and embeddedness of the agency, transformability of the context through agencys resilience, and agency as catalyst for empowerment