7,954 research outputs found
Fractional De Giorgi classes and applications to nonlocal regularity theory
No full textWe present some recent results obtained by the author on the regularity of solutions to nonlocal variational problems. In particular, we review the notion of fractional De Giorgi class, explain its role in nonlocal regularity theory, and propose some open questions in the subject.</p
ACTIVITIES OF 3'/5' CYCLIC-NUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHODIESTERASES IN THE SUPERIOR CERVICAL-GANGLION OF RAT - CHARACTERIZATION, COMPARTMENTALIZATION AND OBSERVATIONS IN YOUNG AND OLD ANIMALS
No full textWe investigated the presence and features of ''low K-m'' 3'-5' cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in the homogenates and extracts of rat superior cervical ganglion. The DEAE chromatographic elution profile of a Triton X-100 extract showed two peaks of cAMP phosphodiesterase activity eluted at 280 and 600 mM sodium acetate and two peaks of cGMP phosphodiesterase activity eluted at 300 and at 500 mM sodium acetate. The activity was poorly stimulated by calcium-calmodulin and neither stimulated or inhibited by cGMP. Both cGMP PDE peaks were inhibited by zaprinast, with IC50's of 1.4 mu M and 0.28 mu M; their K-m values were 4.4 and 3.8 mu M, respectively. These features, together with cGMP binding activity, indicate that both enzymes belong to the phosphodiesterase V family. The K-m values of the first and second cAMP phosphodiesterase peaks were 1.7 and 3.8 mu M. Although both peaks displayed a cAMP specific hydrolysis, only the second peak was inhibited by RO 20-1724, with an IC50 of 8 mu M. Preganglionic denervation indicated that the bulk of phosphodiesterase activity is localized in ganglion cells. In order to investigate possible effects of aging on the ganglionic function, phosphodiesterase activity was assayed in the ganglia of young (3 months) and old (25 months) male Fisher rats. The chromatographic profiles and kinetic features revealed no significant differences between young and old rats
Epidemiological features and prognostic parameters of multiple primary melanomas in CDKN2A-mutations patients
No full textThe occurrence of multiple primary melanomas(MPM) is quite rare with an estimated incidence ranging from 0.2% to 8.6%(Buljan M et al.2010). However, the risk of developing a primary melanoma is increased in patients with a history of a previous melanoma compared with the general population (De Giorgi et al.,2012). Between 6 and 14% of MPM cases occur in individuals with a family history of disease (Ang CG et al.1998), suggesting a genetic component in the pathogenesis of MPM. Germline mutations in the CDKN2A gene have been widely reported as the most common cause of inherited susceptibility to melanoma (Palmieri G et al., 2009). In the literature,CDKN2A germline mutations have been identified in less than 2% of single primary melanoma cases, 8 to 12% of sporadic MPM cases and 47% of MPM patients with familial melanoma (De Giorgi V et al.,2014;Puig S et al.,2005). This article is protected by copyrigh
Modellizzazione dinamica del sistema famiglie-abitazioni: tentativi di apllicazione al caso italiano
No full textViabilità e uso del suolo tra età romana e altomedioevo nell’area dei Monti Sibillini e dei Monti della Laga
No full textViabilità e uso del suolo tra età romana e altomedioevo nell’area dei Monti Sibillini e dei Monti della Lag
Le domus di piazzale Matteotti a Pesaro
No full textSIntesi degli scavi archeologici nelle domus di piazzale Matteotti a Pesar
West-German – Chinese Trade Experiences in Historical Perspective
No full textNearly 30 years on from its first formulation, the contact zone paradigm is still being debated and refined as its first formulator, Mary Louise Pratt, dialogues with her most constructive critics. Though originally proposed as a research tool in the field of literacy and literary theories, it has proved versatile, thought-provoking and generally popular in many other walks of the humanities, and indeed wherever the notion of “culture” is amenable to problemanalysis (Hong 2001, 259–83; Giffard 2016, 29–41). Without any claim to exhaustiveness in what is potentially an infinite topic, my chapter sets out to assess the contact zone paradigm in a field where it has not yet been seriously applied: economic history in its broadest sense. I will attempt this by means of a case study that dates back to the post-colonial era, but which I will try to frame in a longer-term analysis: the negotiations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the People’s Republic of China in the years following 1949, their aim being to promote and regulate trade between the two countries, despite the geopolitical impediments and the unfavourable ideological climate caused by the Cold War
Transthoracic M-mode echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary vein-to-pulmonary artery ratio in healthy horses
No full textEquine cardiovascular structures and function are routinely assessed by transthoracic echocardiography. Recently, investigators have described the echocardiographic visualization of equine pulmonary vein ostia. In companion animals, the right pulmonary vein (RPV) to right pulmonary artery (RPA) ratio has been used as an index to estimate the severity of cardiac diseases resulting in left ventricular volume overload. We sought to assess the feasibility of measuring RPV and RPA dimensions, and sought to provide various previously examined RPV and RPA variables in clinically healthy horses that could be used to assess cardiopulmonary disease status. Echocardiographic examination was prospectively performed in 70 healthy horses. The RPV and RPA were visualized using a modified right parasternal longaxis view and maximum and minimum diameters of both vessels were measured from 2D guided M-mode traces. The aortic diameter (Ao) was measured from the right parasternal short-axis view in early diastole. These measurements were then used to produce various ratio indices. RPV and RPA were imaged in all 70 horses. Median of the minimum and maximum RPV/RPA was 0.51 and 0.60, respectively. Median fractional dimensional change of vessels was 33% for RPV and 22% for RPA. The medians of the minimum and maximum RPV/Ao and RPA/Ao were 0.18, 0.28, 0.35 and 0.46, respectively. No relationships between either bodyweight or heart rate and any of the vein or artery variables were identified (maximum r2 = 0.04). Inter- and intra-observer measurement variability was very good for all RPV and RPA measurements. Measuring of RPV and RPA diameters using M-mode transthoracic echocardiography is feasible in healthy horses. Further studies of these variables in horses with cardiac diseases are needed to determine the clinical applicability and utility
Asymptotic and bootstrap inference for the generalized Gini indices
No full textThe Gini index represents a special case of the generalized Gini indices, which allow to choose a level of inequality aversion and to stress the different proportions of the income distribution. In order to apply these indices to income sampledata, it is necessary to use reliable inferential procedures. In fact, even if often in income studies we have large samples for which the precision of estimates is not of primary interest, it has been noticed that standard errors are very high. Motivated by these reasons, in this paper inferential procedures for generalized Gini indices are studied, specifically for S- and E-Gini indices, defined by means of the asymptotic distribution of their estimators and using bootstrap technique. To do this, the level of coverage of confidence intervals of the indices has been validated using Monte Carlo simulations, assuming as a model for the size distribution of incomes the generalized beta of the second kind, which is very flexible, with the ability to take a wide variety of shapes depending on particular values of its parameters
Molecular mechanisms and consequences of mitochondrial permeability transition
No full textMitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) is a phenomenon that abruptly causes the flux of low molecular weight solutes (molecular weight up to 1,500) across the generally impermeable inner mitochondrial membrane. The mPT is mediated by the so-called mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), a supramolecular entity assembled at the interface of the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes. In contrast to mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, which mostly activates apoptosis, mPT can trigger different cellular responses, from the physiological regulation of mitophagy to the activation of apoptosis or necrosis. Although there are several molecular candidates for the mPTP, its molecular nature remains contentious. This lack of molecular data was a significant setback that prevented mechanistic insight into the mPTP, pharmacological targeting and the generation of informative animal models. In recent years, experimental evidence has highlighted mitochondrial F1Fo ATP synthase as a participant in mPTP formation, although a molecular model for its transition to the mPTP is still lacking. Recently, the resolution of the F1Fo ATP synthase structure by cryogenic electron microscopy led to a model for mPTP gating. The elusive molecular nature of the mPTP is now being clarified, marking a turning point for understanding mitochondrial biology and its pathophysiological ramifications. This Review provides an up-to-date reference for the understanding of the mammalian mPTP and its cellular functions. We review current insights into the molecular mechanisms of mPT and validated observations — from studies in vivo or in artificial membranes — on mPTP activity and functions. We end with a discussion of the contribution of the mPTP to human disease. Throughout the Review, we highlight the multiple unanswered questions and, when applicable, we also provide alternative interpretations of the recent discoveries
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