Non-Coding RNAs in Muscle Dystrophies

ncRNAs are the most recently identified class of regulatory RNAs with vital functions in gene expression regulation and cell development. Among the variety of roles they play, their involvement in human diseases has opened new avenues of research towards the discovery and development of novel therapeutic approaches. Important data come from the field of hereditary muscle dystrophies, like Duchenne muscle dystrophy and Myotonic dystrophies, rare diseases affecting 1 in 7000–15,000 newborns and is characterized by severe to mild muscle weakness associated with cardiac involvement. Novel therapeutic approaches are now ongoing for these diseases, also based on splicing modulation. In this review we provide an overview about ncRNAs and their behavior in muscular dystrophy and explore their links with diagnosis, prognosis and treatments, highlighting the role of regulatory RNAs in these pathologies.     

Effects of training in dream recall and dream interpretation skills on dream recall, attitudes, and dream interpretation outcome.

Forty-two volunteer clients with below-average dream recall and attitudes toward dreams participated in training sessions focusing on either improving dream recall and attitudes toward dreams, building dream interpretation skills, or educating about counseling. After training, individual dream interpretation sessions were conducted. No significant differences were found among the 3 conditions in regard to dream recall, attitudes toward dreams, or client- or therapist-reported session outcome, but effect sizes suggested that participants in the skills condition gained more from sessions than did participants in the dream recall–attitudes condition. Session outcome for all volunteer clients was equivalent to those in previous studies of volunteer clients with no training, suggesting that training was not necessary and that these participants were able to benefit from single-session dream interpretation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identification of Host Attractants for the Ethiopian Fruit Fly, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dacus ciliatus</Emphasis> Loew

The Ethiopian fruit fly, Dacus ciliatus, is an oligophagous pest of cucurbit crops, particularly melons, cucumbers, and marrows (summer squash). The present study aimed to identify host attractants for D. ciliatus and was guided by a behavioral bioassay and an electrophysiological assay. We tested volatile compounds from the fruits of a host plant, ripe and unripe Galia melon, Cucumis melo var. reticulates. Both sexes were attracted to melon volatiles. Those of ripe melon were preferred. Gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection analysis of the behaviorally active ripe melon volatiles consistently showed that 14 compounds elicited similar antennal responses from both sexes. Twelve compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using GC-MS libraries, retention indices (RI), and authentic standards. The electrophysiological activities of the compounds that were present at sufficient levels for identification, benzyl acetate, hexanyl acetate, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, (Z)-3-octenyl acetate, octanyl acetate, (Z)-3-decenyl acetate, and (E)-β-farnesene, were evaluated at six different dosage levels by using electroantennography (EAG). Benzyl and hexanyl acetates elicited dose responses only in males, while other tested compounds elicited dose responses in both sexes. The strongest responses were observed for doses between 100 ng and 10 μg. The dose response, in terms of attractiveness to synthetic compounds within the active range (as determined by EAG), also was evaluated in the behavioral bioassay. Synthetic acetates were attractive to both sexes when tested individually. Significant attraction was observed when individual compounds were applied in the bioassay arena at doses of 0.5–1 μg/dispenser. Blends of compounds in equal proportions also were attractive to the insects. The most attractive blend was a mixture of four or five identified acetates. The addition of an equal proportion of (E)-β-farnesene to this mixture had a deterrent effect.     

A conceptual approach for development of educational Web-based e-testing system

The paper describes a conceptual approach for development of educational Web-based e-testing system. The system aims to improve the effectiveness of the learning process by providing features for flexible adjusting of the testing process. The tutors and learners can interact with the e-testing system by choosing different options for testing – easy questions, advanced questions, sequential or shuffle order, random generated questions within given range. The e-testing system can be used by students for self-testing or by tutors for official examination. When used for official examination the test results information is sent to the examiner by e-mail. The system files are stored on the server-side and are accessible through Web-browser. A prototype of e-testing system illustrating the proposed approach is developed by means of HTML and JavaScript languages. It was used for “C Programming Language” course students self-testing and official examination. The experimental results demonstrated that the implementation of the proposed approach is quite helpful to facilitate the understanding and implementation of teachers’ attitudes toward Web-based e-testing tools application.     

About Piero Matematico (CD)

Daniela Gentilin and Ennio Bettanello reflect on the realization of their project for the CD Piero Matematico.     

A Look at the IBM Application Development Facility (ADF-II)

The IBM ADF-II is a promising and powerful tool for online application development Using ADF-II, programmers code logical transactions, not programs—this results in long-term benefits that include the smooth transition to DBMS capabilities and new types of computers that will upgrade the entire set of applications.     

Cancer Stem Cells: Biological Functions and Therapeutically Targeting

Almost all tumors are composed of a heterogeneous cell population, making them difficult to treat. A small cancer stem cell population with a low proliferation rate and a high tumorigenic potential is thought to be responsible for cancer development, metastasis and resistance to therapy. Stem cells were reported to be involved in both normal development and carcinogenesis, some molecular mechanisms being common in both processes. No less controversial, stem cells are considered to be important in treatment of malignant diseases both as targets and drug carriers. The efforts to understand the role of different signalling in cancer stem cells requires in depth knowledge about the mechanisms that control their self-renewal, differentiation and malignant potential. The aim of this paper is to discuss insights into cancer stem cells historical background and to provide a brief review of the new therapeutic strategies for targeting cancer stem cells.