371 research outputs found
Basi biologiche e genetiche dell'attività psichica
No full textBasi Biologiche e Genetiche dell’Attività Psichic
Relevance, benefits, and problems of software modelling and model driven techniques—A survey in the Italian industry
No full textContext Claimed benefits of software modelling and model driven techniques are improvements in productivity, portability, maintainability and interoperability. However, little effort has been devoted at collecting evidence to evaluate their actual relevance, benefits and usage complications. Goal The main goals of this paper are: (1) assess the diffusion and relevance of software modelling and MD techniques in the Italian industry, (2) understand the expected and achieved benefits, and (3) identify which problems limit/prevent their diffusion. Method We conducted an exploratory personal opinion survey with a sample of 155 Italian software professionals by means of a Web-based questionnaire on-line from February to April 2011. Results Software modelling and MD techniques are very relevant in the Italian industry. The adoption of simple modelling brings common benefits (better design support, documentation improvement, better maintenance, and higher software quality), while MD techniques make it easier to achieve: improved standardization, higher productivity, and platform independence. We identified problems, some hindering adoption (too much effort required and limited usefulness) others preventing it (lack of competencies and supporting tools). Conclusions The relevance represents an important objective motivation for researchers in this area. The relationship between techniques and attainable benefits represents an instrument for practitioners planning the adoption of such techniques. In addition the findings may provide hints for companies and universitie
Advantages and Challenges of Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Studies in Zebrafish Research
No full textSince its introduction, the zebrafish has provided an important reference system to model and study cardiovascular development as well as lymphangiogenesis in vertebrates. A scientific workshop, held at the 2018 European Zebrafish Principal Investigators Meeting in Trento (Italy) and chaired by Massimo Santoro, focused on the most recent methods and studies on cardiac, vascular and lymphatic development. Daniela Panakova and Natascia Tiso described new molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in cardiac differentiation and disease. Arndt Siekmann and Wiebke Herzog discussed novel roles for Wnt and VEGF signaling in brain angiogenesis. In addition, Brant Weinstein's lab presented data concerning the discovery of endothelium-derived macrophage-like perivascular cells in the zebrafish brain, while Monica Beltrame's studies refined the role of Sox transcription factors in vascular and lymphatic development. In this article, we will summarize the details of these recent discoveries in support of the overall value of the zebrafish model system not only to study normal development, but also associated disease states
Monitoring Wnt signaling in zebrafish using fluorescent biosensors
No full textIn this chapter, we are presenting methods to monitor and quantify in vivo canonical Wnt signaling activities at single-cell resolution in zebrafish. Our technology is based on artificial enhancers, obtained by polymerization of TCF binding elements, cloned upstream to ubiquitous or tissue-specific promoters. The different promoter/enhancer combinations are used to drive fl uorescent protein reporter constructs integrated in the zebrafish germline by microinjection of fertilized zebrafish eggs. Fish with a single integration site are selected by Mendelian analysis of fl uorescent carriers, and heterozygous offspring are used to monitor and quantify canonical Wnt activities. Open source public domain software such as ImageJ/Fiji is used to calculate the integrated densities in the region of interest and compare the effect of experimental conditions on control and treated animals
Jozef Tiso: The ideology of the Slovak People’s Party
No full textTitle: Ideológia slovenskej ľudovej strany (The ideology of the Slovak People’s Party) Originally published: Prague: Tiskový odbor Ústředního svazu československého studentstva, 1930 Language: Slovak The excerpts are from Rudolf Chmel, ed., Slovenská otázka v 20. storočí (Bratislava: Kalligram, 1997), pp. 82–97. About the author Jozef Tiso [1887, Bytča (Hun. Nagybiccse), near Žilina (Hun. Zsolna)–1947, Bratislava]: priest, politician, and president of the Slovak state during the Second World ..
Chiral phase transfer catalysts enable the synthesis of diverse chiral N-heterocycles through a combination of asymmetric cascade reactions
No full textThe effectiveness of a series of chiral phase transfer catalysts in cascade reactions of active methylene
compounds with 2-cyanobenzaldehyde leading to chiral 3-substituted isoindolinones and fused
benzoindolizidinones has been investigated. High yields and moderate enantiomeric excesses (e.e.s) were
achieved employing a chiral phase-transfer catalyst derived from bifunctional urea–quinine. Moreover, an
efficient process of heterochiral crystallization, performed on moderately enantioenriched compounds,
led to an impressive increase of the enantiopurity up to 93% e.e.s
A novel functional role of iduronate-2-sulfatase in zebrafish early development.
No full textSulfated glycosaminoglycan chains of extracellular matrix and cell membrane-tethered proteoglycans exert specific cellular functions by interacting with a broad spectrum of morphogens and growth factors. In humans, a congenital impaired catabolism of sulfated glycosaminoglycans is associated with severe metabolic disorders. Here, we report on the identification and characterization of a zebrafish iduronate sulfatase orthologue. By knocking down its function with antisense morpholino oligos, we demonstrate that iduronate sulfatase plays a critical role during early vertebrate development and its downregulation may be responsible for severe developmental defects, including a misshapen trunk and abnormal craniofacial cartilages. We show that the altered cartilage patterning is mediated by depauperation of sox10-expressing neural crest cell precursors. Through the application of a transactivation reporter assay, we also provide a molecular proof that increased TGF beta (Transforming Growth Factor) signalling is tightly associated with downregulation of iduronate sulfatase function. Our results provide an insight into the early biological impairments underlying the Hunter syndrome and suggest the use of zebralish as a novel tool to better understand lysosomal storage disorder pathogenesis
A search for female specimens of an undescribed spider species in the genus Tiso
No full textSubmitted in fulfillment of a 2018 Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative grant.
Hand and sweep net collecting and curation spiders from Ram Pasture and Squam Swamp occurred from July 29th to August 9th, 2019 to attempt to add female (and additional male) specimens of a yet-to-be described spider believed to be in the genus Tiso (Linyphiidae). The genus, first described by Simon (Simon,1884) currently has 7 described members (van Helsdingen, 2015). Intermittent sampling by prior arachnologists (Draney and McKenna-Foster pers. comm.), and by the author, yielded 5 males of this undescribed species on Nantucket Island (from Ram Pasture and Squam Swamp) from 2015-2017. Spiders of this genus are small (1.6 mm to 2.2 mm in length), males have slightly raised eye regions, and rather small eyes relative to other members of the Linyphiidae. Abdomen coloration is usually black to brownish-grey with yellow tinged legs. The genus is most commonly collected in Scandinavian countries, with two species, Tiso aestivus and Tiso vagans, being found in North America. Sampling of the above natural areas on Nantucket generated 0 new specimens that could be used for the description of the species this past season. All bi-catch spiders that were collected were identified, with voucher specimens of new “island list” species deposited in the Maria Mitchell collection, and other specimens housed at the UMASS Boston Field Station in their teaching collection
POD-DEIM model order reduction for strain softening viscoplasticity
No full textWe demonstrate a Model Order Reduction technique for a system of nonlinear equations arising from the Finite Element Method (FEM) discretization of the three-dimensional quasistatic equilibrium equation equipped with a Perzyna viscoplasticity constitutive model. The procedure employs the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition-Galerkin (POD-G) in conjunction with the Discrete Empirical Interpolation Method (DEIM). For this purpose, we collect samples from a standard full order FEM analysis in the offline phase and cluster them using a novel kk-means clustering algorithm. The POD and the DEIM algorithms are then employed to construct a corresponding reduced order model. In the online phase, a sample from the current state of the system is passed, at each time step, to a nearest neighbor classifier in which the cluster that best describes it is identified. The force vector and its derivative with respect to the displacement vector are approximated using DEIM, and the system of nonlinear equations is projected onto a lower dimensional subspace using the POD-G. The constructed reduced order model is applied to two typical solid mechanics problems showing strain-localization (a tensile bar and a wall under compression) and a three-dimensional square-footing problem
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