Spatial memory and plasticity: molecular mechanisms in the hippocampus and the ventral striatum

Formation of long-term memories (LTM) is accomplished through structural changes of neurons leading to a rearrangement of the neural networks requiring gene expression and protein synthesis. Evidence for local mRNAs and translational machineries at dendrites has suggested that post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms at this level might also be crucial in the stabilization of LTM. In particular microRNAs (miRs), small noncoding molecules, have been demonstrated a role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. The hippocampus and the ventral striatum (VS) are considered as key structures in the stabilization of spatial memories. In order to shade light on molecular processes underlying such stabilization during my PhD we performed a large scale screening of miR and mRNAs expression in these two brain regions after spatial learning. CD1 mice were trained with a massed procedure in the spatial version of the water maze. 1 hour after training, the hippocampus and the VS were dissected and RNA extracted. To study the spatial learning component, we compared miR expression profiles of mice submitted to the spatial procedure with those of mice exposed to the same context but without require the application of a spatial strategy. The results of microarray analysis showed modification in miR and mRNA expression levels, both up and down-regulation, in both brain structures after learning. To verify a possible causal relationship between miRs and experience dependent plasticity we overexpressed, learning downregulated miR, before training in water maze. Mimic but not scramble injected mice showed impaired ability to locate the correct quadrant on the probe test. Our results demonstrate for the first time in vivo, the importance of miRs regulation in long-term memory processes. Interestingly, spatial learning induced profile of both miR and mRNA expression varied between the two structures. Thus suggesting that different molecular mechanisms might underlie learning induced plasticity in different brain areas

Spatial memory and plasticity: molecular mechanisms in the hippocampus and the ventral striatum

Formation of long-term memories (LTM) is accomplished through structural changes of neurons leading to a rearrangement of the neural networks requiring gene expression and protein synthesis. Evidence for local mRNAs and translational machineries at dendrites has suggested that post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms at this level might also be crucial in the stabilization of LTM. In particular microRNAs (miRs), small noncoding molecules, have been demonstrated a role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. The hippocampus and the ventral striatum (VS) are considered as key structures in the stabilization of spatial memories. In order to shade light on molecular processes underlying such stabilization during my PhD we performed a large scale screening of miR and mRNAs expression in these two brain regions after spatial learning. CD1 mice were trained with a massed procedure in the spatial version of the water maze. 1 hour after training, the hippocampus and the VS were dissected and RNA extracted. To study the spatial learning component, we compared miR expression profiles of mice submitted to the spatial procedure with those of mice exposed to the same context but without require the application of a spatial strategy. The results of microarray analysis showed modification in miR and mRNA expression levels, both up and down-regulation, in both brain structures after learning. To verify a possible causal relationship between miRs and experience dependent plasticity we overexpressed, learning downregulated miR, before training in water maze. Mimic but not scramble injected mice showed impaired ability to locate the correct quadrant on the probe test. Our results demonstrate for the first time in vivo, the importance of miRs regulation in long-term memory processes. Interestingly, spatial learning induced profile of both miR and mRNA expression varied between the two structures. Thus suggesting that different molecular mechanisms might underlie learning induced plasticity in different brain areas

Milicia, fueros y acción del poder real sobre Aragón entre 1562-1642

Entre els anys 1562 i 1642 les relacions mantingudes entre la Corona i el regne d’Aragó, així com la dialèctica política i jurisdiccional que en va derivar, es van veure condicionades per la pretensió per part de la Monarquia de configurar un aparell de guerra capaç de respondre a les exigències derivades dels objectius polítics que perseguia en l’àmbit internacional. En arribar a les Corts de Saragossa de 1645-1646 les condicions del «servei d’armes aragonès» no havien canviat gaire, si més no en allò relatiu als seus aspectes estructurals i de mobilització. Però l’accès a aquest servei perseguit per la Corona en l’exercici del seu poder, per mitjà d’un procés de transformació social i d’adaptació dels furs del regne a tal fi, era una realitat.Between the years 1562 and 1642 the relations maintained between the Spanish crown and the kingdom of Aragon, as well as the political and jurisdictional dialectics that they created, were conditioned by the desire on behalf of the Spanish monarchy to consolidate a war appartus capable of responding to the demands derived from the political objectives that it was pursuing in the international sphere. By the time of the Cortes of Saragossa which began in 1645, the conditions of the Aragonese military subsidies had hardly changed from earlier periods, at least with regard to its structural aspects and ways of mobilization. But the crown’s ability to intervene into it, through a process of social transformation and of adaptation of the fueros (laws and privileges) of the kingdom to such effect was a reality

Sensor networks and distributed CSP: communication, computation and complexity

We introduce SensorDCSP, a naturally distributed benchmark based on a real-world application that arises in the context of networked distributed systems. In order to study the performance of Distributed CSP (DisCSP) algorithms in a truly distributed setting, we use a discrete-event network simulator, which allows us to model the impact of different network traffic conditions on the performance of the algorithms. We consider two complete DisCSP algorithms: asynchronous backtracking (ABT) and asynchronous weak commitment search (AWC), and perform performance comparison for these algorithms on both satisfiable and unsatisfiable instances of SensorDCSP. We found that random delays (due to network traffic or in some cases actively introduced by the agents) combined with a dynamic decentralized restart strategy can improve the performance of DisCSP algorithms. In addition, we introduce GSensorDCSP, a plain-embedded version of SensorDCSP that is closely related to various real-life dynamic tracking systems. We perform both analytical and empirical study of this benchmark domain. In particular, this benchmark allows us to study the attractiveness of solution repairing for solving a sequence of DisCSPs that represent the dynamic tracking of a set of moving objects.This work was supported in part by AFOSR (F49620-01-1-0076, Intelligent Information Systems Institute and MURI F49620-01-1-0361), CICYT (TIC2001-1577-C03-03 and TIC2003-00950), DARPA (F30602-00-2- 0530), an NSF CAREER award (IIS-9734128), and an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the US Government

Registrazione della notizia di reato e tempi dell’indagine

Fra i molti modi attraverso i quali la riforma Cartabia ha cercato di ridurre i tempi del processo penale c’è anche un incisivo intervento sulla disciplina della registrazione delle notizie di reato: un intervento che contempla regole sull’iscrizione e strumenti di controllo sulla sua tempestività. Gli architravi del nuovo edificio sono robusti e hanno un’importante ricaduta sistematica, perché spostano gli equilibri della fase preliminare, togliendo poteri al pubblico ministero e trasferendoli al giudice. Tuttavia alcuni dettagli, specialmente nella disciplina della retrodatazione a istanza, indeboliscono l’intera costruzione