MicroRNA-551b expression profile in low and high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression of microRNA (miR)-551b in patients with low and high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and to find an association with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection-related prognostic biomarkers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression level of miR-551b was determined in 50 paraffin-embedded cervical specimens (10 normal squamous epithelium, 18 condylomas, 8 CIN1, and 14 CIN2-3) using quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). χ2-test compared miR-551b expression in different diagnosis groups. An Ordered Logistic Regression and a Probit correlation were made to correlate miR-551b expression levels with the cervical tissue histological findings. The immunohistochemical distribution of p16 and Ki-67 according to histopathological findings was also assessed. RESULTS: The distribution of the miR-551b expression profile was significantly lower in CIN1-3 samples compared to other histological diagnosis groups (condyloma and negative). The expression levels were inversely correlated to the cervical pathological grade, from negative to CIN2-3. A 1% increase in miR-551b expression level produced an increase of 19% to the probability of a minor histological grade diagnosis in a range from negative to CIN2-3 and an increase of 13% to the probability of a negative histological grade diagnosis. Among the cases with miR-551b expression < 0.02 (considered as cut-off value) a significant statistical correlation was found between p16 and Ki-67 expression and the diagnosis of CIN2-3. CONCLUSIONS: O ur d ata s howed a s ignificant inverse correlation between miR-551b expression and the histological grading of the lesions, suggesting a tumor suppressive function in the different stages of cervical dysplasia

Calibration of the Prompt L0 Trigger of the Silicon Pixel Detector for the ALICE Experiment

The ALICE Silicon Pixel Detector (SPD) is the innermost detector of the ALICE experiment at LHC. It includes 1200 front-end chips, with a total of ~107 pixel channels. The pixel size is 50 x 425 μm2. Each front-end chip transmits a Fast-OR signal upon registration of at least one hit in its pixel matrix. The signals are extracted every 100 ns and processed by the Pixel Trigger (PIT) system, to generate trigger primitives. Results are then sent within a latency of 800 ns to the Central Trigger Processor (CTP) to be included in the first Level 0 trigger decision. This paper describes the commissioning of the PIT, the tuning procedure of the front-end chips Fast-OR circuit, and the results of operation with cosmic muons and in tests with LHC beam

Are control of extracellular acid-base balance and regulation of skeleton genes linked to resistance to ocean acidification in adult sea urchins?

• Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus were differently affected at low seawater pH exposure. • P. lividus skeleton integrity was not affected by low seawater pH. • Arbacia lixula exposed to low seawater pH near CO2 vent showed decreased skeletal integrity. • pH exposure leads to changes in biomineralization-related genes expression. • Acid-base regulation capacity is linked with a better tolerance to low seawater pH

The loss of energy and environmental efficiency of passenger mobility in the Big La Plata, between 1993 and 2013

La forma de crecimiento de las ciudades argentinas en los últimos años ha incrementado la demanda de movilidad de pasajeros y la ineficiencia energética y ambiental de cada viaje. En este trabajo se presenta una evaluación energética y ambiental del sistema de transporte de pasajeros de la ciudad de La Plata entre 1993 y 2013, a efectos de dimensionar la pérdida de eficiencia de dicho sistema. La información de transporte se basa en encuestas de movilidad y la construcción de indicadores a partir de los valores del modelo Leap adaptados por la fundación Bariloche al caso argentino. Los resultados permiten establecer niveles de criticidad a las variables involucradas siendo la primera el incremento de las tasas de generación de viajes en automóvil, incluyendo los particulares y los autos de alquiler, y la segunda es el incremento de la distancia media de viajes por modo, especialmente por los modos individuales. Las conclusiones sugieren puntos focales para la aplicación de medidas de eficiencia energética y ambiental en el binomio integrado del desarrollo urbano y la movilidad de pasajeros.The form of growth of the Argentine cities in recent years has increased the demand for passenger mobility and energy and environmental inefficiency of each trip. In this paper an energy and environmental assessment passenger transport system of the city of La Plata between 1993 and 2013, in order to gauge the loss of efficiency of the system we are presented. Transportation information is based on surveys of mobility and construction of indicators based on the values of LEAP model adapted by the Argentine Bariloche Foundation case. The results indicate levels of criticality to the variables involved being the first increased generation rates of car trips, including individuals and rental cars, and the second is the increase in the average distance of travel by mode, especially for the individual modes. The findings suggest focal points for the implementation of measures of energy and environmental efficiency binomial integrated urban development and mobility of passengers.Instituto de Investigaciones y Políticas del Ambiente Construid

Comparative analysis of biochip mosaic-based indirect immunofluorescence with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosing myasthenia gravis

Background: The detection of anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodies is useful in myasthenia gravis (MG) diagnosis and management. BIOCHIP mosaic-based indirect immunofluorescence is a novel analytical method, which employs the simultaneous detection of anti-AChR and anti-MuSK antibodies in a single miniature incubation field. In this study, we compare, for the first time, the BIOCHIP MG mosaic with conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the diagnosis of MG. Methods: A total of 71 patients with MG diagnosis were included in the study. Anti-AChR and anti-MuSK antibodies were measured separately by two different ELISA and simultaneously by BIOCHIP. The results were then compared. Results: The overall concordance between ELISA and BIOCHIP for anti-AChR reactivity was 74%. Cohen’s kappa was 0.51 (95% CI 0.32–0.71), which corresponds to 90% of the maximum possible kappa (0.57), given the observed marginal frequencies. The overall concordance for anti-MuSK reactivity was 84%. Cohen’s kappa was 0.11 (95% CI 0.00–0.36), which corresponds to 41% of the maximum possible kappa (0.27). Conclusion: The overall concordance among assays is not optimal

Access and metro network convergence for flexible end-to-end network design

This paper reports on the architectural, protocol, physical layer, and integrated testbed demonstrations carried out by the DISCUS FP7 consortium in the area of access - metro network convergence. Our architecture modeling results show the vast potential for cost and power savings that node consolidation can bring. The architecture, however, also recognizes the limits of long-reach transmission for low-latency 5G services and proposes ways to address such shortcomings in future projects. The testbed results, which have been conducted end-to-end, across access - metro and core, and have targeted all the layers of the network from the application down to the physical layer, show the practical feasibility of the concepts proposed in the project

How do Vaccinators Experience the Pandemic? Lifestyle Behaviors in a Sample of Italian Public Health Workers during the COVID-19 Era

Public health workers (PHWs) have experienced substantial workload changes because of their role in managing measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. The study’s aim was to assess lifestyle changes in Italian PHWs during the pandemic. PHWs attending an annual meeting completed an anonymous questionnaire assessing their sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and lifestyle changes during the pandemic. A total of 1000 questionnaires were completed. Most participants (63.5% women, mean age 40 ± 13.1 years) were of normal weight (61.5%), non-smokers (81.9%), had a total screen time of ≥5 h/day (83.1%), and slept at least 6 h/night (88.7%). Approximately one-third consumed sweet foods every day (30%) and did not engage in physical activity (34.6%). Current sweet food consumption, physical activity, and sleep were associated with changes in these behaviors in the last 2 years (Tau-b = 0.155; Tau-b = −0.175; Tau-b = −0.276, respectively, p &lt; 0.001). An increase in remote working was associated with worse sleep (odds ratio (OR) 2.065, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.482–2.877) and diet (OR 1.982, 95% CI 1.385–2.838), and increased tablet/PC use (OR 3.314, 95% CI 2.358–4.656). Health promotion measures are needed to support the adoption of healthy lifestyles in this population during the current pandemic

Age estimation and growth of striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba stranded along the coasts of south-western Italy

The knowledge of demographic traits such as longevity, growth rates and age at sexual maturity is crucial for understanding the structure of a population in its natural environment and implementing appropriate strategies for its management and conservation. Based on counts of growth layer groups in sections of decalcified teeth using the paraffin technique, we estimated the age and growth of 25 individuals of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) found dead stranded along the coast of Campania and Calabria (south Italy, central-western Mediterranean) from 2013 to 2018. Seven individuals, with TL of 100–110 cm, were calves under 1 year old. The oldest male and female individuals were 19 and 14 years old, respectively. Growth curve estimated using the Gompertz growth model (GGM) showed that in S. coeruleoalba male growth trajectories are partly in accordance with those reported in other studies on the same species from different Mediterranean areas. The high frequency (28%) of calves strongly suggests that females of this species use the marine area all around the south-western Italian coasts to give birth to their offspring. Furthermore, a comparison with the estimated age of striped dolphins from other Mediterranean marine areas shows that the longevity of the individuals examined in this study is much lower. Our study provides information toward understanding the demographic traits of S. coeruleoalba from Mediterranean Sea. The results reported here can be useful for future research aimed at understanding population structure, mortality patterns and the effects of anthropogenic activity on the survival of this species in this marine area

Age estimation and growth of striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba stranded along the coasts of south-western Italy

The knowledge of demographic traits such as longevity, growth rates and age at sexual maturity is crucial for understanding the structure of a population in its natural environment and implementing appropriate strategies for its management and conservation. Based on counts of growth layer groups in sections of decalcified teeth using the paraffin technique, we estimated the age and growth of 25 individuals of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) found dead stranded along the coast of Campania and Calabria (south Italy, central-western Mediterranean) from 2013 to 2018. Seven individuals, with TL of 100–110 cm, were calves under 1 year old. The oldest male and female individuals were 19 and 14 years old, respectively. Growth curve estimated using the Gompertz growth model (GGM) showed that in S. coeruleoalba male growth trajectories are partly in accordance with those reported in other studies on the same species from different Mediterranean areas. The high frequency (28%) of calves strongly suggests that females of this species use the marine area all around the south-western Italian coasts to give birth to their offspring. Furthermore, a comparison with the estimated age of striped dolphins from other Mediterranean marine areas shows that the longevity of the individuals examined in this study is much lower. Our study provides information toward understanding the demographic traits of S. coeruleoalba from Mediterranean Sea. The results reported here can be useful for future research aimed at understanding population structure, mortality patterns and the effects of anthropogenic activity on the survival of this species in this marine area