EPIM Policy Update April 2018. Elections in Hungary & Italy - A German-Franco alliance? - Progress on CEAS

This EPIM policy update covers the elections in Italy and Hungary, which both highlighted the continued significance of immigration for European electorates. Attempts at forming a new government in Italy and Viktor Orbán’s plans for his new term in Hungary will be closely watched in the weeks and months ahead. In the closer look section, the Migration Policy Group presents a new Europe-wide campaign on migration with the objective of engaging the public and influencing EU migration policy. The policy update’s special focus deals with the coalition agreement in Germany and the proposal for a new immigration bill in France. It also considers to what extent a German-Franco alliance on immigration policies could emerge at EU level and how this would impact on a number of ongoing discussions on EU migration policy reforms. This issue also examines the findings of the Court of Justice in the ‘A and S’ and ‘Pisciotti’ cases. Further sections report on progress made on the drafts of the UN Global Compacts and reflect on the second anniversary of the EU-Turkey Statement. This EPIM policy update looks at the latest developments in the negotiations of the legislative reforms of the Eurodac Regulation, the Dublin Regulation, the Reception Conditions Directive and the Asylum Procedures Directive. Finally, this policy update also includes a list of funding opportunities and calls

Physical Fitness Differences Between Prepubescent Boys and Girls

The purpose of this study was to analyze in which physical capabilities boys and girls are closer or distant. An additional objective was to find which of the body fat, physical activity, and somatotype factors have a greater effect on prepubescent children's physical fitness. This was a cross-sectional study involving 312 children (10.8 ± 0.4 years). The physical fitness assessment employed sets of aerobic fitness, strength, flexibility, speed, agility, and balance. The boys presented higher values in all selected tests, except tests of balance and flexibility, in which girls scored better. Gender differences in the physical fitness were greatest in the explosive strength of upper (p ≤ 0.01, η(p)(2) = 0.09) and lower limbs (p ≤ 0.01, η(p)(2) = 0.08), although with a medium-size effect of gender, and smaller in the abdominal (p > 0.05, η(p)(2) = 0.007) and upper limbs (p > 0.05, η(p)(2) = 0.003) muscular endurance, and trunk extensor strength and flexibility (p > 0.05, η(p)(2) = 0.001). The endomorphic (p ≤ 0.01, η(p)(2) = 0.26) in the girls, and the ectomorphic (p ≤ 0.01, η(p)(2) = 0.31) and mesomorphic (p ≤ 0.01, η(p)(2) = 0.26) in the boys, had the high-sized effect on the physical fitness. The physical activity in the girls, and the endomorphic and body fat in the boys, did not have a significant effect. These findings can help in the planning of activities that take into account the success and motivation of both boys and girls and thus increase levels of physical activity and physical fitness at school. However, in prepubescent children, one cannot neglect the influence of genetic determinism, observed from the morphoconstitutional point of view.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Propolis components accountable for bactericidal accomplishment and antibiofilm activity

This study aimed at evaluating antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of phenolic compounds present in propolis ethanol extracts (PEE). Seventy per cent ethanol extracts from seven types of propolis, one Green, two Red and four Brown collected in four Brazilian States were prepared and total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanins were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and inhibitor effect on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and capacity to disrupt established biofilms were assessed towards eight S. aureus isolates from milk of small ruminants with mastitis, one methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and S. aureus ATCC 25923. To evaluate different propolis components accountability for bactericidal accomplishment and antibiofilm activity, the results were analysed by the non-parametric Spearman coefficient. Results of phenolic compounds were 216,21 to 312,08 gallic acid milligram equivalent per extract gram (mg EGA/g) of total phenolics, 55,08 to 140,6 quercetin milligram equivalent per extract gram (mg EQ/g) of flavonoids, 118,51 to 3766,16 catechin milligram equivalent per extract gram (mg EC/g) of tannins and 1,03 to 8,39 milligram per extract gram (mg/g) of anthocyanins. Red1 and Red2 showed higher tannin contents, while Red2 exhibited superior amount of anthocyanins and total phenolics. Brown3 presented higher flavonoid quantity. Green, Red1 and Red2 PEE showed the lowest levels of flavonoids, but the higher antimicrobial activity. Most PEE exhibit bactericidal activity at a concentration of 1.6 mg/mL. Brown4 PEE showed the worst capacity to inhibit S. aureus. Green PEE showed to be the most efficient in both preventing and disrupting biofilm. All PEE studied exhibited a better inhibitory activity prior-to than post-biofilm formation. According to non-parametric Spearman correlation analysis, there seems to be a significant negative correlation between the ability to disrupt biofilm and both tannins and anthocyanins contents

Effects of Concurrent Training on Explosive Strength and VO2max in Prepubescent Children

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an 8-weeks training period of resistance training alone (GR), combined resistance and endurance training (GCON) and a control group (GC) on explosive strength and V(O2max) in a large sample of prepubescent boys and girls. 125 healthy children (58 boys, 67 girls), aged 10-11 years old (10.8±0.4 years) were assigned into 2 training groups to train twice a week for 8 weeks: GR (19 boys, 22 girls), GCON (21 boys, 24 girls) and a control group (GC: 18 boys, 21 girls; no training program). A significant but medium-sized increase from pre- to the post-training in the vertical jump (Effect size=0.22, F=34.44, p<0.01) and V(O2max) (Effect size=0.19, F=32.89, p<0.01) was observed. A significant large increase in the 1 kg (Effect size=0.53, F=202.17, p<0.01) and 3 kg (Effect size=0.48, F=132.1, p<0.01) ball throwing, standing long jump (Effect size=0.53, F=72.93, p<0.01) and running speed (Effect size=0.45, F=122.21, p<0.01) was also observed. The training group (GR and GCON) and sex factors did not significantly influence the evolution of strength variables from pre- to the post-training. The V(O2max) increased significantly only in GCON. Concurrent training is equally effective on training-induced explosive strength, and more efficient than resistance training only for V(O2max), in prepubescent boys and girls. This should be taken into consideration in order to optimize strength training school-based programs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

First recovery of bird acanthocephalan Sphaerirostris lanceoides in an Eurasian badger (Meles meles) in Italy

Esemplari di cistacanti parzialmente e completamente evertiti dell'acantocefalo Sphaerirostris lanceoides sono stati rilevati nell'intestino di 1 tra 5 tassi (Meles meles) raccolti in Italia e già deceduti al momento del loro ritrovamento. Questa è la prima segnalazione di S. lanceoides nel tasso

Neuromyelitis optica MOG-IgG causes reversible lesions in mouse brain.

INTRODUCTION: Antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) are present in some neuromyelitis optica patients who lack antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG). The effects of neuromyelitis optica MOG-IgG in the central nervous system have not been investigated in vivo. We microinjected MOG-IgG, obtained from patients with neuromyelitis optica, into mouse brains and compared the results with AQP4-IgG. RESULTS: MOG-IgG caused myelin changes and altered the expression of axonal proteins that are essential for action potential firing, but did not produce inflammation, axonal loss, neuronal or astrocyte death. These changes were independent of complement and recovered within two weeks. By contrast, AQP4-IgG produced complement-mediated myelin loss, neuronal and astrocyte death with limited recovery at two weeks. CONCLUSIONS: These differences mirror the better outcomes for MOG-IgG compared with AQP4-IgG patients and raise the possibility that MOG-IgG contributes to pathology in some neuromyelitis optica patients

Neuromyelitis optica MOG-IgG causes reversible lesions in mouse brain.

INTRODUCTION: Antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) are present in some neuromyelitis optica patients who lack antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG). The effects of neuromyelitis optica MOG-IgG in the central nervous system have not been investigated in vivo. We microinjected MOG-IgG, obtained from patients with neuromyelitis optica, into mouse brains and compared the results with AQP4-IgG. RESULTS: MOG-IgG caused myelin changes and altered the expression of axonal proteins that are essential for action potential firing, but did not produce inflammation, axonal loss, neuronal or astrocyte death. These changes were independent of complement and recovered within two weeks. By contrast, AQP4-IgG produced complement-mediated myelin loss, neuronal and astrocyte death with limited recovery at two weeks. CONCLUSIONS: These differences mirror the better outcomes for MOG-IgG compared with AQP4-IgG patients and raise the possibility that MOG-IgG contributes to pathology in some neuromyelitis optica patients

Hsp70 and Hsp40 inhibit an inter-domain interaction necessary for transcriptional activity in the androgen receptor.

Molecular chaperones such as Hsp40 and Hsp70 hold the androgen receptor (AR) in an inactive conformation. They are released in the presence of androgens, enabling transactivation and causing the receptor to become aggregation-prone. Here we show that these molecular chaperones recognize a region of the AR N-terminal domain (NTD), including a FQNLF motif, that interacts with the AR ligand-binding domain (LBD) upon activation. This suggests that competition between molecular chaperones and the LBD for the FQNLF motif regulates AR activation. We also show that, while the free NTD oligomerizes, binding to Hsp70 increases its solubility. Stabilizing the NTD-Hsp70 interaction with small molecules reduces AR aggregation and promotes its degradation in cellular and mouse models of the neuromuscular disorder spinal bulbar muscular atrophy. These results help resolve the mechanisms by which molecular chaperones regulate the balance between AR aggregation, activation and quality control

A Health Sector Online Toolkit for Implementing Learning into Practice from Violence Against Women Trainings (TILPVAWT)

Violence against women (VAW) is a major public health and human rights concern. Intimate partner violence and sexual violence are among the most pervasive forms of violence against women. Training health professionals in VAW is essential to raise awareness and improve the care for victims with a comprehensive approach. One of the objectives of this project was the development of a set of 28 tools to facilitate VAW training of health professionals, using certain common content, and the transfer of this knowledge into their clinical practice. This toolkit has been presented on the website http://www.toolner.com/en/. This website has been designed in an easy to use and friendly way, and is oriented to trainers, organisations and individuals interested in improving their teaching skills in VAW, but with the potential to be adapted and used independently by different organisations. The toolkit is divided into five phases of training: preparation, development, implementation, post-training, and assessment; each containing different tools and examples. Training in VAW is the first step to change attitudes but it is necessary to motivate professionals, adapt content, methodology and assess the impact of the training. This website is a tool by which to achieve this

Mitochondrial fission and cristae disruption increase the response of cell models of Huntington's disease to apoptotic stimuli

Huntington's disease (HD), a genetic neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the Huntingtin (Htt) protein, is accompanied by multiple mitochondrial alterations. Here, we show that mitochondrial fragmentation and cristae alterations characterize cellular models of HD and participate in their increased susceptibility to apoptosis. In HD cells, the increased basal activity of the phosphatase calcineurin dephosphorylates the pro-fission dynamin related protein 1 (Drp1), increasing its mitochondrial translocation and activation, and ultimately leading to fragmentation of the organelle. The fragmented HD mitochondria are characterized by cristae alterations that are aggravated by apoptotic stimulation. A genetic analysis indicates that correction of mitochondrial elongation is not sufficient to rescue the increased cytochrome c release and cell death observed in HD cells. Conversely, the increased apoptosis can be corrected by manoeuvres that prevent fission and cristae remodelling. In conclusion, the cristae remodelling of the fragmented HD mitochondria contributes to their hypersensitivity to apoptosis