1,721,068 research outputs found
REGULATORY MECHANISMS CONTROLLING FLAVONOID AND VACUOLAR ACIDIFICATION PATHWAYS IN GRAPEVINE
No full textIn numerose specie di piante, un complesso regolativo denominato MBW in quanto costituito da un fattore di trascrizione del tipo MYB, uno della famiglia bHLH, ed una proteina regolatrice WD40, è alla base della regolazione ed iniziazione di numerosi processi di differenziazione cellulare. Nonostante le proteine della famiglia MYB siano le maggiori responsabili nel determinare la specificità del complesso MBW, regolatori intermedi possono essere richiesti per l'attivazione di uno specifico set di geni. In Arabidopsis il fattore di trascrizione del tipo WRKY TTG2, agisce a valle di uno specifico complesso regolativo MBW guidato dalla proteina MYB5 nella regolazione dello sviluppo di tricomi e nella produzione ed accumulo di proantocianidine e mucillagini nei semi (Johnson et al., 2002;. Ishida et al., 2007). In Petunia, un altro regolatore appartenente alla famiglia WRKY, PH3, agisce a valle e n coordinato con il complesso MBW guidato dalla proteina MYB PH4 nel controllo dell' acidificazione vacuolare nell'epidermide dei petali (Verweij et al., 2016). Tra i fattori di trascrizione di tipo MYB e WRKY di vite, MYB5a e MYB5b sono gli ortologhi di AtMYB5 e PhPH4, e WRKY26 è stato identificato come l'omologo più vicino a AtTTG2 e PhPH3 (Deluc et al, 2008;.. Wang et al, 2014, Verweij et al ., 2016). Abbiamo quindi ipotizzato che WRKY26 possa agire a valle del complesso MBW di vite che coinvolge MYB5a e MYB5b.
In questo lavoro di tesi, abbiamo osservato un elevata correlazione tra i livelli di espressione di WRKY26 e MYB5a e mediante ibridazione in situ abbiamo dimostrato che questo due fattori co-localizzano in specifici tessuti cellulari di bacca. Abbiamo anche dimostrato che la regione promotrice di WRKY26 è altamente attivata dall'azione combinata di MYB5a e WRKY26, suggerendo che quest'ultimo possa non solo agire a valle di MYB5a, ma anche co-operare con il complesso MBW a cui MYB5a appartiene. Infine, testando la capacità del network MYB5a / MYB5b-WRKY26 proposto di attivare specifici geni, abbiamo dimostrato che WRKY26 potrebbe fornire maggiore variabilità ai processi controllati dall'emergente complesso regolativo. In particolar modo, i risultati ottenuti, suggeriscono che in vite MYB5a / MYB5b e WRKY26 possano agire in una rete di regolazione trascrizionale probabilmente conservata tra le specie vegetali e in grado di controllare sia l' acidificazione vacuolare che la via di biosintesi dei flavonoidi.
Acidità e contenuto in flavonoidi svolgono in vite ruoli importanti nel determinare la qualità delle bacche e del vino; ulteriori analisi mirate a comprendere nel dettaglio i comuni meccanismi di regolazione sottostanti a queste caratterisctiche, potrebbero rappresentare un importante arrichimento nella possibilità di controllare la qualità finale della bacca ai fini di una buona vinificazione.In a wide range of plants, a common regulatory complex composed by a MYB and a bHLH TF and a WD40 regulatory protein initiates multiple cellular differentiation pathways. Although the MYB proteins are the most responsible for complex specificity, other intermediate regulators could be required for the activation of a specific set of genes. In Arabidopsis the WRKY TF TTG2 is under the control of the regulatory complex driven by MYB5 in the regulation of trichome development and proanthocyanidin and mucilage production in seed coat (Johnson et al., 2002; Ishida et al., 2007). In Petunia, another regulator belonging to the WRKY family, PH3, acts down-stream and in concert with the MYB protein PH4-driven complex in the control of vacuolar acidification in petals epidermis (Verweij et al., 2016). Among grapevine MYB and WRKY TFs, MYB5a and MYB5b are both the orthologs to AtMYB5 and PhPH4, and WRKY26 has been identified as the closer homolog to AtTTG2 and PhPH3 (Deluc et al., 2008; Wang et al., 2014, Verweij et al., 2016). We therefore hypothesized that WRKY26 could be an intermediate regulator acting down-stream a regulatory complex involving MYB5a and MYB5b.
In this work of thesis, we observed high correlation between WRKY26 and MYB5a expression and by in situ hybridization we demonstrated that they even co-localized in specific cell types in berry tissues. We also demonstrated that WRKY26 promoter region is highly activated by the combined action of MYB5a and WRKY26, suggesting that WRKY26 could acts down-stream MYB5a, but also in concert with the regulatory complex it belongs. Ultimately, testing the ability of the proposed MYB5a/MYB5b-WRKY26 network to activate specific target genes, we demonstrated that WRKY26 could provide more variability to the processes regulated by the aforementioned network. Above all, our results strongly suggest that in grapevine MYB5a/MYB5b and WRKY26 may act in a transcriptional regulatory network likely conserved among plant species and controlling both flavonoid and vacuolar acidification pathways.
Flavonoids content and vacuolar acidity play important roles in grapevine in determining the quality of fruits and of wine and further investingation aimed to dissect common regulatory mechanisms controlling both these traits could represent an important advance in the possibility to control the final berry quality traits for winemaking
Personalized Oral and Dental Care
No full textRecent advances in genomics, data analytics technologies, and biotechnology have been unprecedented, ushering in a new era of healthcare in which interventions are increasingly tailored to individual patients [...
Dalla guerra giusta alla pace giusta. Etica e pratica del conflitto armato nel sistema internazionale contemporaneo
No full textI cambiamenti verificatisi nel sistema internazionale nel corso degli ultimi anni hanno avuto una profonda incidenza sul dibattito teorico circa l'uso della forza e i conflitti armati. In particolare, il cambiamento che si è avuto nel warfare ha portato a concentrare l'attenzione su due aspetti particolari della guerra, ovvero la sua giustificazione morale e la relazione tra uso della forza e diritto internazionale. Inoltre, rispetto al passato, la fase successiva ai conflitti assume una rilevanza sempre maggiore. Scopo di questo lavoro è, quindi, da un lato analizzare la teoria della guerra giusta in relazione al diritto internazionale e alle sfide poste dall'attuale sistema internazionale, evidenziandone gli elementi teorici più problematici e, dall'altro, delineare gli elementi normativi necessari per una teoria della pace giusta. Se, infatti, la tradizione teorica relativa a ius ad bellum e ius in bello è ben consolidata, i problemi teorici ed empirici che si pongono circa lo ius post bellum sono nuovi e ancora senza risposta. Il lavoro cerca quindi di formulare gli elementi normativi che dovrebbero regolare lo ius post bellum affinché vengano soddisfatti i requisiti di giustizia post-conflittuale Infine, alla luce degli elementi teorici emersi sono stati analizzati tre conflitti che ben si prestano a valutare empiricamente la teoria della guerra giusta, ovvero il primo conflitto in Iraq del 1991, l'intervento in Kosovo del 1999 e il secondo conflitto in Iraq del 2003.The changes occurred in the international system during the last decade had a deep influence on the theoretical debate about use of force and armed conflicts. In particular, changes in warfare focused attention on two different aspects of war its moral justifiability and the relation between the use of force and international law. Furthermore, the post-conflict phase is becoming more and more important. The aim of this work is twofold: on one hand, to analyse the relationship between Just War Theory and international law and the challenges raising from the new international system, underlining the most problematic aspects from a theoretical point of view. On the other hand, the aim is to sketch some normative elements of Just Peace Theory. If jus ad bellum and jus in bello theories are well-established, there are many theoretical and empirical problems related to jus post bellum Consequently, this work tries to advance some normative elements required to regulate jus post bellum in order to satisfy requirements of post-conflict justice. Finally, in the light of the elements arisen in the theoretical part of the work, three conflicts particularly relevant for Just War Theory are taken into account: the 1991 war in Iraq, the 1999 intervention in Kosovo e and the 2003 conflict in Iraq
Optimization Algorithms and Tools Applied in Agreements Negotiation
No full textIn this paper we introduce new mechanisms of dispute resolution as a helping tool in legal procedures for lawyers, mediators and judges with the objective to reach an agreement between the parties; in some situations. The primary objectives are the following: To apply algorithmic mechanisms to the solution of certain national and cross-border civil matters, including matrimonial regimes, successions and trusts, commercial law and consumer law, facilitating the agreement process among the parties; to demonstrate the efficacy of an algorithmic approach and apply it into the allocation of goods, or the resolution of issues, in disputes, leading the parties to a friendly solution before or during the trial comparison. We will focus on the algorithms used for resolving disputes that involve a division of goods between agents, e.g. inheritance, divorces and company law. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Design of a Cloud-Oriented Web Application for Legal Conflict Resolution Through Equitative Algorithms
No full textWith the terms “Cloud Computing” we mean a model in which computation, software and storage resources do not require knowledge of the physical location and configuration of the system that provides the service in question by the end user. Thanks to the widespread use of the Internet, applications can now be used as services on the network. Many interesting areas of application are enjoying of these benefits, such as legal domain: The use of systems for conflict resolution can help lawyers, mediators and judges with the objective to reach an agreement between the parties. In this paper we introduce the architecture of a cloud-oriented web application, developed within the European project CREA (Conflict Resolution with Equitative Algorithms, Figure). Its objective is the application of algorithms to solve civil matters, into the allocation of goods, leading the parties to a friendly solution before or during the trial comparison. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
COVID-19: The Patients' Perceived Impact on Dental Care
No full textObjectives The present study aims to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on people's mental and physical balance, oral hygiene habits, type of diet, perceived safety of returning to the dentist, and aesthetics with the use of masks. Materials and Methods An online questionnaire was submitted to the Italian population between December 2020 and January 2021. It was sent via online platforms and included 21 questions. Statistical Analysis Differences in rates were calculated by using the Chi-square test. The level of significance was set at p <0.05. Results A total of 1,008 individuals completed the questionnaire. About 72% of participants were not concerned about returning to the dentist. Approximately 45% of the individuals intensified their oral hygiene and preventive rules. About 38% of participants increased their carbohydrate intake, while 28% increased their fat consumption. Furthermore, 75% of the participants felt that the mask did not diminish the beauty of their smile. Conclusions Most participants felt comfortable returning to the dentist but only for more urgent treatment. However, most people reported that they had not stepped up their home oral hygiene measures. The biggest changes in the population's eating habits involved increased carbohydrate and fat consumption. Finally, most participants responded that mask use did not compromise their aesthetics
Tempo-controlled resistance training of the hip abductors and ankle dorsiflexors with light loads does not improve postural sway in older adults
No full textThe force steadiness capabilities of the hip abductors and ankle dorsiflexors can explain a significant amount of the variance in postural sway during four types of standing balance tests. Control over balance, as well as force steadiness, generally worsens with aging, although the latter can be improved with unique training interventions. The purpose of our study was to assess how tempo-controlled, light-load resistance training of the hip abductors and ankle dorsiflexors influences performance in clinical movement tests, postural sway, muscle strength, and force steadiness in older adults. Participants (n = 28, 70 +/- 7 years, 8 men) completed nine training sessions for either the hip abductors or ankle dorsiflexors in the nondominant leg. Training involved lifting a load equal to 15% of the maximal force achieved during an isometric contraction. Linear mixed-effects models revealed no changes (p > 0.05) in Sit-To-Stand test, Timed Up-and-Go test, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque, or postural sway from before to after either training intervention. Only the dorsiflexor group significantly improved nondominant leg dorsiflexion force steadiness, but this did not translate to any other tasks. However, absolute and relative measures of MVC torque and force steadiness of the hip abductors and ankle dorsiflexors in the dominant and nondominant legs could predict sway-area rate in each of the four standing balance conditions. The responsiveness of leg muscles to light-load steadiness training in older adults appears to depend on the type of exercises performed during the intervention
SuperJump training in eumenorrheic women and gut peptides: a randomized controlled study about the mechanism of action on bone and glucose homeostasis
No full textThe role played by physical activity in promoting bone health is now widely recognized. Physical activity limits and slows down the physiological demineralization that occurs over the years and plays an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis. SuperJump, a high-impact training activity performed on a mini-trampoline characterized by alternating between aerobic and anaerobic exercises, has been shown to be able to generate a substantial osteogenic response and increase bone balance and strength in eumenorrheic women. In this study it was analyzed whether gastrointestinal peptides play a role in the regulation of bone metabolism and their impact on glucose homeostasis. Methods Using a randomized controlled study design, participants were assigned either to the intervention group performing SuperJump activity for 20 weeks or to the control group, that did not undertake any intervention. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at the end of the study and compared within and between the groups for markers of bone metabolism (CTX, osteocalcin, PTH, Vitamin D, albumin adjusted calcium) gut peptides (GLP-1, GIP, GLP-2, PYY, ghrelin) markers of glucose metabolism (glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, β-cell function, insulin sensitivity). Results After 20 weeks of SuperJump activity, CTX and PTH was reduced, GLP-1 and GIP levels were significantly increased while levels of GLP-2, PYY and ghrelin did not change. Moreover, SuperJump activity significantly reduced fasting insulin, glucose, insulin resistance and increased insulin sensitivity but did not affect beta cell function.ConclusionThe results of the study show that 20 weeks of SuperJump was highly effective in improving bone and glucose homeostasis in eumenorrheic women and suggests that GLP-1, and GIP are involved in the mechanism of action
A novel modified obturation technique using biosealers: An ex vivo study
No full textBackground: The root canal anatomy is a complex space, and using a single-cone obturation technique does not guarantee a complete filling. Aim: This research aimed to evaluate the actual temperature of the biosealer during the obturation phase inside the root canal using a new hot technique. In addition, this study evaluated the penetration depth of the biosealer inside dentinal tubules. Setting and Design: The current study was concluded on two ex vivo experiments; the former tested the temperature evaluation. The latter examined the penetration depth of the biosealer. Materials and Methods: In this study, 42 sec mandibular premolars were used, and two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, two premolars were utilized, and two thermocouples of K-type for each tooth were used. During the second experiment, the penetration depth of the biosealer was examined, 40 teeth were selected. Root canals were prepared then divided into two obturation groups: A, gutta-percha, and biosealer with single-cone technique and B, gutta-percha, and biosealer with a newly proposed obturation method. Confocal laser scanning was used to assess the penetration of the sealer. Statistical Analysis Used: In the first experiment, the Bonferroni method was performed to compare the temperature data. The tests used in the second experiment were Shapiro-Wilk's test, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: The first experiment results showed that the heat does not reach the apical third using the new obturation method. In the second experiment, the results showed in Group B significantly higher biosealer penetration into the dentinal tubules as compared to Group A (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The highest level of penetration of the biosealer in the dentinal tubules was observed in the group of the new obturation method, and the last apical 3 mm remained at 37° using this novel hot modified technique providing no risk of chemical alteration of the biosealer
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