A DEEP STUDY ON THE CONCEPT OF DIGITAL ETHICS

From internet governance to teleworking, from digital exclusion to privacy and computer crimes, there are various issues that can be listed as a part of what Digital Ethics - the “ethics of computer era” - is and involves. Before analyzing some of these issues of great importance and relevance nowadays, we need to ask if there is a common factor, a “unifying principle”, for Digital Ethics

Motivational Strategies in a Digital Age: Phones and Facebook in a classroom

En este trabajo se exponen los resultados parciales de un proyecto de investigación, orientado a incorporar en la enseñanza de nivel medio nuevas estrategias didácticas. El principal objetivo es analizar si el uso de herramientas digitales aumenta la motivación de los alumnos durante el proceso de aprendizaje. En un principio se realizó un análisis del estado del arte en relación a los estilos motivacionales de los alumnos y su relación con el proceso de enseñanza. Luego, en las planificaciones áulicas, se incorporaron diversas herramientas digitales (MSN, Facebook, Teléfonos móviles) y se analizó los resultados de tales modificaciones. Los resultados obtenidos hasta el momento indican que el uso de tales herramientas resulta atractivo para los alumnos aumentando su motivación dentro del aula.This paper presents partial results of a research project aimed at incorporating the new mid-level education teaching strategies. The main objective is to analyzewwhether the use of digital tools increased student motivation during the learning process. At first it was made an analysis of the state of art in relation to students' motivational styles and their relationship to the teaching process. Then, in courtly schedules, various digital tools were incorporated (MSN, Facebook, Cell) and the results of such changes were analyzed . The results obtained so far indicate that the use of such tools is attractive for students to increase their motivation in the classroom

Low expression of G protein-coupled oestrogen receptor 1 (GPER) is associated with adverse survival of breast cancer patients

G protein-coupled oestrogen receptor 1 (GPER), also called G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), is attracting considerable attention for its potential role in breast cancer development and progression. Activation by oestrogen (17β-oestradiol; E2) initiates short term, non-genomic, signalling events both in vitro and in vivo. Published literature on the prognostic value of GPER protein expression in breast cancer indicates that further assessment is warranted. We show, using immunohistochemistry on a large cohort of primary invasive breast cancer patients (n=1245), that low protein expression of GPER is not only significantly associated with clinicopathological and molecular features of aggressive behaviour but also significantly associated with adverse survival of breast cancer patients. Furthermore, assessment of GPER mRNA levels in the METABRIC cohort (n=1980) demonstrates that low GPER mRNA expression is significantly associated with adverse survival of breast cancer patients. Using artificial neural networks, genes associated with GPER mRNA expression were identified; these included notch-4 and jagged-1. These results support the prognostic value for determination of GPER expression in breast cancer

Metformin inhibits androgen-induced IGF-IR up-regulation in prostate cancer cells by disrupting membrane-initiated androgen signaling.

We have previously demonstrated that, in prostate cancer cells, androgens up-regulate IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) by inducing cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) activation and CREB-dependent IGF-IR gene transcription through androgen receptor (AR)-dependent membrane-initiated effects. This IGF-IR up-regulation is not blocked by classical antiandrogens and sensitizes cells to IGF-I-induced biological effects. Metformin exerts complex antitumoral functions in various models and may inhibit CREB activation in hepatocytes. We, therefore, evaluated whether metformin may affect androgen-dependent IGF-IR up-regulation. In the AR(+) LNCaP prostate cancer cells, we found that metformin inhibits androgen-induced CRE activity and IGF-IR gene transcription. CRE activity requires the formation of a CREB-CREB binding protein-CREB regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CRTC2) complex, which follows Ser133-CREB phosphorylation. Metformin inhibited Ser133-CREB phosphorylation and induced nuclear exclusion of CREB cofactor CRTC2, thus dissociating the CREB-CREB binding protein-CRTC2 complex and blocking its transcriptional activity. Similarly to metformin action, CRTC2 silencing inhibited IGF-IR promoter activity. Moreover, metformin blocked membrane-initiated signals of AR to the mammalian target of rapamycin/p70S6Kinase pathway by inhibiting AR phosphorylation and its association with c-Src. AMPK signals were also involved to some extent. By inhibiting androgen-dependent IGF-IR up-regulation, metformin reduced IGF-I-mediated proliferation of LNCaP cells. These results indicate that, in prostate cancer cells, metformin inhibits IGF-I-mediated biological effects by disrupting membrane-initiated AR action responsible for IGF-IR up-regulation and suggest that metformin could represent a useful adjunct to the classical antiandrogen therapy

A Multi-Channel Low-Power System-on-Chip for in Vivo Recording and Wireless Transmission of Neural Spikes

This paper reports a multi-channel neural spike recording system-on-chip with digital data compression and wireless telemetry. The circuit consists of 16 amplifiers, an analog time-division multiplexer, a single 8 bit analog-to-digital converter, a digital signal compression unit and a wireless transmitter. Although only 16 amplifiers are integrated in our current die version, the whole system is designed to work with 64, demonstrating the feasibility of a digital processing and narrowband wireless transmission of 64 neural recording channels. Compression of the raw data is achieved by detecting the action potentials (APs) and storing 20 samples for each spike waveform. This compression method retains sufficiently high data quality to allow for single neuron identification (spike sorting). The 400 MHz transmitter employs a Manchester-Coded Frequency Shift Keying (MC-FSK) modulator with low modulation index. In this way, a 1.25 Mbit/s data rate is delivered within a limited band of about 3 MHz. The chip is realized in a 0.35 um AMS CMOS process featuring a 3 V power supply with an area of 3.1x 2.7 mm2. The achieved transmission range is over 10 m with an overall power consumption for 64 channels of 17.2 mW. This figure translates into a power budget of 269uW per channel, in line with published results but allowing a larger transmission distance and more efficient bandwidth occupation of the wireless link. The integrated circuit was mounted on a small and light board to be used during neuroscience experiments with freely-behaving rats. Powered by 2 AAA batteries, the system can continuously work for more than 100 hours allowing for long-lasting neural spike recordings

G protein-coupled receptors at the crossroad between physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis : old paradigms and emerging concepts

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been implicated in transmitting signals across the extra- and intra-cellular compartments, thus allowing environmental stimuli to elicit critical biological responses. As GPCRs can be activated by an extensive range of factors including hormones, neurotransmitters, phospholipids and other stimuli, their involvement in a plethora of physiological functions is not surprising. Aberrant GPCR signaling has been regarded as a major contributor to diverse pathologic conditions, such as inflammatory, cardiovascular and neoplastic diseases. In this regard, solid tumors have been demonstrated to activate an angiogenic program that relies on GPCR action to support cancer growth and metastatic dissemination. Therefore, the manipulation of aberrant GPCR signaling could represent a promising target in anticancer therapy. Here, we highlight the GPCR-mediated angiogenic function focusing on the molecular mechanisms and transduction effectors driving the patho-physiological vasculogenesis. Specifically, we describe evidence for the role of heptahelic receptors and associated G proteins in promoting angiogenic responses in pathologic conditions, especially tumor angiogenesis and progression. Likewise, we discuss opportunities to manipulate aberrant GPCR-mediated angiogenic signaling for therapeutic benefit using innovative GPCR-targeted and patient-tailored pharmacological strategies

Um aprofundamento para o conceito de ética digital

Thoughts about the definition of the digital ethics concept, or “computer-age ethics”, and the universe in which it is inserted. Reflexión sobre la definición del concepto de ética digital, o la “ética de la era de la informática”, y sobre el universo en que se inserte.Reflexão sobre a definição do conceito de ética digital, ou a “ética da era da informática”, e sobre o universo em que se insere

Model-based control of an asymmetric shock tube experimental facility

LAUREA MAGISTRALEIl Flexible Asymmetric Shock Tube, FAST, è un apparato sperimentale usato per condurre esperimenti di espansione di fluidi comprimibili non ideali. È composto da un generatore di vapore connesso ad un tubo di 9 m di lunghezza a cui si fa riferimento come charge tube, CT. Una volta che le condizioni termodinamiche desiderate vengono raggiunte nel charge tube, una valvola ad apertura rapida, posta all'estremità del CT, si apre e il fluido si espande in un recipiente a pressione inferiore creando un'onda d'urto. Sensori di pressione posti lungo il charge tube misurano la variazione di pressione che risale il CT. Durante la prima campagna di esperimenti il controllo dell'apparato ha presentato numerosi problemi che hanno reso difficile l'esecuzione di ulteriori esperimenti. Lo scopo di questa tesi è proporre uno schema di controllo migliore per il FAST, progettando il controllo su un modello dell'apparato sperimentale. I principali cambiamenti proposti sono un metodo diverso per la creazione del set point del generatore di vapore e un nuovo schema di controllo per il reference tube, RT. Il reference tube è un tubo di 0.5 m utilizzato come riferimento per il controllo del CT avendo al suo interno un sensore di temperatura che nel CT non è possibile avere per ragioni sperimentali. Precedentemente il controllo del RT usava, come variabile di processo, la differenza fra la temperatura interna, misurata nel RT, e la temperatura di saturazione del fluido, misurata nel generatore di vapore, per controllare il grado di surriscaldamento desiderato nel RT e CT. Lo schema di controllo proposto per il RT utilizza invece una combinazione della temperatura interna al RT filtrata con un filtro passa basso e la temperatura della parete esterna del RT filtrata con un filtro passa alto in modo che lo schema di controllo sia meno sensibile alle incertezze legate al comportamento del fluido di lavoro all'interno del reference tube. Simulazioni, fatte con il modello del FAST, confermano la validità della strategia di controllo proposta.The Flexible Asymmetric Shock Tube experimental facility, FAST, is used to conduct experiments on the expansion of non-ideal compressible fluid. It is composed of a vapour generator connected to a 9-m long pipe referred as charge tube, CT. Once the desired thermodynamic conditions are obtained in the charge tube a fast opening valve is opened and the fluid expands in a recipient at lower pressure creating a shock wave. Pressure transducers record the pressure differential moving along the charge tube. During the first experimental campaign, problems with the control design of the facility arose that made further experiments difficult. A model based control design approach is adopted to design a better control scheme for the FAST. The author of this thesis proposes a methodology for the creation of the set point curve of the vapour generator and a new control scheme for the reference tube, RT. The reference tube is a 0.5 m long tube, geometrically identical to the charge tube that is used as a reference for the control of the CT, having a temperature sensor immersed inside that in the CT it is not possible to have for experimental reasons. Previously the control of the RT used as process variable the difference between the temperature measurement of the fluid inside it and the saturation temperature of the fluid inside the vapour generator to control the desired superheating of the fluid inside the RT and CT. The control scheme that this thesis proposes make use of both the low-pass filtered measured temperature inside the RT and the high-pass filtered surface temperature of the RT so that the control is less sensible to the uncertainties of the fluid behaviour inside the RT. Simulations, using the FAST model, confirm the validity of the proposed control strategy

IGF-I induces upregulation of DDR1 collagen receptor in breast cancer cells by suppressing MIR-199a-5p through the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 (DDR1) is a collagen receptor tyrosine-kinase that contributes to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and enhances cancer progression. Our previous data indicate that, in breast cancer cells, DDR1 interacts with IGF-1R and positively modulates IGF-1R expression and biological responses, suggesting that the DDR1-IGF-IR cross-talk may play an important role in cancer.In this study, we set out to evaluate whether IGF-I stimulation may affect DDR1 expression. Indeed, in breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) IGF-I induced significant increase of DDR1 protein expression, in a time and dose dependent manner. However, we did not observe parallel changes in DDR1 mRNA. DDR1 upregulation required the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway while the ERK1/2, the p70/mTOR and the PKC pathways were not involved. Moreover, we observed that DDR1 protein upregulation was induced by translational mechanisms involving miR-199a-5p suppression through PI3K/AKT activation. This effect was confirmed by both IGF-II produced by cancer-associated fibroblasts from human breast cancer and by stable transfection of breast cancer cells with a human IGF-II expression construct. Transfection with a constitutively active form of AKT was sufficient to decrease miR-199a-5p and upregulate DDR1. Accordingly, IGF-I-induced DDR1 upregulation was inhibited by transfection with pre-miR-199a-5p, which also impaired AKT activation and cell migration and proliferation in response to IGF-I.These results demonstrate that, in breast cancer cells, a novel pathway involving AKT/miR-199a-5p/DDR1 plays a role in modulating IGFs biological responses. Therefore, this signaling pathway may represent an important target for breast cancers with over-activation of the IGF-IR axis

Inclusive action in an international setting: a universal value and individual commitment. The ‘Bridges in Amman’ Project

The dissemination of inclusive educational principles, practices, and methods on an international scale constitutes a vital academic and pedagogical discourse, highlighting a universal commitment to cultivating educational environments that are equitable, accessible, and responsive to all learners’ diverse needs. The “Bridges in Amman” project exemplifies the global movement towards inclusive education, focusing on the integration of Iraqi Christian asylum seekers in Jordan, notably in its capital, Amman. Spearheaded by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in collaboration with HAbibi VAltiberina Association and the Gemelli Medical Center, the initiative underscores the commitment to developing inclusive education, with particular attention to people in vulnerable situations. Inclusivity in education transcends the mere acknowledgment of diversity; it necessitates the adoption of practices, principles, and methods that ensure all individuals, irrespective of their backgrounds or circumstances, have access to quality education. This is crucial for groups like Iraqi Christians in Jordan, who face unique challenges due to displacement and the need for cultural and social integratio