130,609 research outputs found
Historians in Slovakia on President Tiso: Responsible to What Nation?
No full textHistorians in Slovakia generally publish critical accounts of the country's President Jozef Tiso during World War II. An underlying factor in the limited arguments brought up by some in his favor is a difference between the characteristic Central European concept of a nation (narod, ethnic nation) and the concept of a political nation (citizenry) prevalent in American sources. Slovak opinion polls, in the meantime, continue to show negative ratings of President Jozef Tiso
Josef Tiso Postcard
No full textPostcard with black and white photograph of Josef Tito, an older man wearing black. Includes blank postcard lines on back.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Josef Tiso (1887-1947) was a Slovak politician and priest, head of the Nazi satellite Slovak state and involved in the deportation and massacre of Jews. He was convicted and hanged at war\u27s end.https://digital.kenyon.edu/bulmash/2060/thumbnail.jp
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
Folic acid versus 5- methyl tetrahydrofolate supplementation in pregnancy
No full textFolate (vitamin B9) is widely accepted to protect against fetal neural tube defects. The main sources of dietary folate are folic acid-fortified foods and folic acid-containing dietary supplements. However, folic acid is inactive in the human body and must be converted by the liver into the active molecule 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). 5-MTHF functions as a methyl donor in many metabolic reactions, including the conversion of homocysteine into methionine, the biosynthesis of glycine from serine, and the biosynthesis of DNA precursor molecules. Therefore, folate is fundamental for growth, especially in the embryonic and fetal stages. Prescription of folic acid to women in the preconception period and during pregnancy is a consolidated practice. However, it can pose health risks in certain conditions, such as megaloblastic anemia, where it will conceal megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency and in cases of reduced hepatic transformation of folic acid (e.g. due to genetic variants or during some pharmacotherapies). Some of these risks can be avoided by supplementation with 5-MTHF rather than folic acid. Because 5-MTHF does not require activation, it is immediately available to mother and fetus and does not accumulate in blood like folic acid does in cases of reduced hepatic transformation. This paper reviews the advantages and disadvantages of folate supplementation with folic acid versus 5-MTHF, with a focus on maternal and fetal health
Letter From Josef Tiso
No full textTan paper with Prezident Slovenskej Republiky (President of the Slovak Republic) letterhead. Includes typewritten message and signature in faint ink.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Josef Tiso (1887-1947) was a Slovak politician and priest, head of the Nazi satellite Slovak state and involved in the deportation and massacre of Jews. He was convicted and hanged at war\u27s end. This letter was written on Presidential letterhead to General Lieutenant Franz Barackhausen, German General of Artillery, in part ... Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your friendly new year\u27s wishes which I sincerely reciprocate... At the time of this letter, Franz Barackhausen was serving as head of the German military mission in Slovakia.https://digital.kenyon.edu/bulmash/2059/thumbnail.jp
Optimization of logistics in industrial districts through creation of a community of agents
No full texthe aim of this paper is to find an optimal solution for freight transportation in an industrial district taking into account the point of view both of agents and customers, and trying to reduce the environmental pollution. We propose a system architecture that drives agents to cooperate in minimizing costs, and environmental negative impacts. The idea is to achieve an optimization of logistics by setting up a community made of district enterprises. We address the situation in which a virtual coordinator helps the agents to reach an agreement among each other. The objectives are: maximizing customers satisfaction, and minimizing the number of trucks needed. A fuzzy clustering, a fuzzy/genetic system and a greedy algorithm are thus proposed to achieve these objectives, and eventually an algorithm to solve the Travelling Salesman Problem
Predicting ventricular arrhythmia inducibility in ajmaline-induced Brugada type I pattern: Validation of the dST-Tiso interval
No full textIntroduction: The dST-Tiso is a newly proposed electrocardiographic (ECG) marker during Brugada (BrS) type I pattern, that predicts the likelihood of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) inducibility in patients with ajmaline-induced pattern. The objective of this study was to validate the effectiveness of this criterion using an independent data set. Methods: Consecutive patients exhibiting a BrS type I ECG pattern following ajmaline administration underwent programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS). dST-Tiso interval was measured in all patients and tested as a predictor for positive VA inducibility. Results: Among 128 patients (median age 43 years, 59% male) with drug-induced BrS type I ECG pattern who underwent PVS, 32 (25.0%) had VA inducibility that required defibrillation. Compared to noninducible subjects, those with positive PVS were more commonly male (81% vs. 51%, p = 0.003), had longer PQ (165 vs. 160 ms, p = 0.016) and dST-Tiso (310 vs. 230 ms, p 300 ms yielded a sensitivity of 75%, a specificity of 86%, and positive and negative predictive values of 69% and 91%, respectively. Conclusion: The validation of the model based on the dST-Tiso interval >300 ms confirmed its high accuracy in predicting VA inducibility in drug-induced BrS type I pattern. This straightforward ECG marker might be linked to the extent of the electrical substrate of the disease
Maturity of Software Modelling and Model Driven Engineering: a Survey in the Italian Industry
No full textBackground: The main claimed advantage of Model-driven engineering is improvement in productivity. However, few information is available about its actual adoption during software development and maintenance in the industry. Objective: The main aim of this work is investigating the level of maturity in the adoption of software models and of Model-driven engineering in the Italian industry. The perspective is that of software engineering researchers. Method: First, we conducted an exploratory personal opinion survey with 155 Italian software professionals. The data were collected with the help of a web-based on-line questionnaire. Then, we conducted focused interviews with three software professionals to interpret doubtful results. Results: Software modelling is a very relevant phenomenon in the Italian industry. Model-Driven techniques are used in the industry, even if (i) only for a limited extent, (ii) despite a quite generalized dissatisfaction about available tools and (iii) despite a generally low experience of the IT personnel in such techniques. Limitations: Generalization of results is limited due to the sample size. Moreover, possible self-exclusion from participants not interested in modelling could have biased the results. Conclusion: Results reinforce existing evidence regarding the usage of software modelling and (partially of) Model-driven engineering in the industry but highlight several aspects of immaturity of the Italian industr
Knock-down of pank2 in zebrafish and overexpression of human PANK2 in zebrafish: insight for PKAN pathogenesis
No full textPKAN is an autosomal recessive disorder with mutations in the PANK2 gene, encoding an essen- tial enzyme for CoA biosynthesis. The molecular connection between defects in this enzyme and the neurodegenerative phenotype observed in PKAN patients is still poorly understood. More than 50 mutations have been identified in PKAN patients; the genotype/phenotype co-relation has been analyzed by studying the in vitro activity of recombinant mutant proteins. The zebrafish orthologue of human PANK2 lies on chromosome 13, is a maternal gene expressed in all devel- opment stages also it is highly abundant in CNS, dorsal aorta and caudal vein. The morpholino induced a clear phenotype with perturbed brain morphology and hydrocephalus; edema was present in the caudal plexus, where hemorrhages with reduction of blood circulation velocity were detected. We characterized the CNS phenotype by studying the expression pattern of wnt1 and neurog1 neural markers and by use of the transgenic line. The results evidenced that down- regulation of pank2 severely impairs neuronal development, particularly in the anterior part of CNS. WISH analysis of the endothelial markers cadherin-5 and fli1a, and use of transgenic line, confirmed the essential role of pank2 in the formation of the vascular system. The specificity of the morpholino-induced phenotype was proved by the restoration of a normal development in a high percentage of embryos co-injected with pank2 mRNA. We tried to extend this study by overexpressing in zebrafish embryos human PANK2 mRNAs carrying 4 different point mutations. Two point mutations (G219V and S471N) completely lack enzymatic activity whereas other two (T234A and T528M) do not show much changes. Microinjection of wild type PANK2 mRNA at 1 cell stage did not result in any morphological alteration, whereas the injection of mutant mRNAs led to the appearance of a graded phenotype, with frequent observation of curvy and thinner tail, hemorrhage in the tail and improper formation of the yolk. Tail hemorrhages were often observed in pank2 morphants. Surprisingly these alterations were milder in G219V and S471N mutants that lack enzymatic activity, while they were more significant in T234A and T528M. The alterations in vascular structure were also evident in transgenic fish overexpressing the same mutant proteins. It is known that mutations in PANK2 lead to deficient production of CoA, hence we tried to rescue the altered phenotype by providing CoA into the fish water. In preliminary experiments, we observed the significant recovery of tail and yolk structure, while hemorrhages were reduced but not completely absent, especially in T234A mutants. The zebrafish model indicates the relevance of pank2 activity and CoA homeostasis for normal neuronal development and functioning and provides evidence of an unsuspected role for this enzyme and its product in vascular development.
References
1. Zizioli D et al., 2015 Oct 18, ýNeurobiol. Dis, doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.10.010. 2. Khatri D et al., 2016 Nov 28, doi: 10.1038/srep3766
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