Statistical Analysis of Gene Expression in Innate Immune Responses: Dynamic Interactions between MicroRNA and Signaling Molecules

Piras, Vincent,Selvarajoo, Kumar,Fujikawa, Naoki,Choi, Sang-Dun,Tomita, Masaru,Giuliani, Alessandro,Tsuchiya, Masa Korea Genome Organization 2007 Genomics & informatics Vol.5 No.3

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to negatively control protein-coding genes by binding to messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cytoplasm. In innate immunity, the role of miRNA gene silencing is largely unknown. In this study, we performed microarray-based experiments using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages derived from wild-type, MyD88 knockout (KO), TRIF KO, and MyD88/TRIF double KO mice. We employed a statistical approach to determine the importance of the commonality and specificity of miRNA binding sites among groups of temporally co-regulated genes. We demonstrate that both commonality and specificity are irrelevant to define a priori groups of co-down regulated genes. In addition, analyzing the various experimental conditions, we suggest that miRNA regulation may not only be a late-phase process (after transcription) but can also occur even early (1h) after stimulation in knockout conditions. This further indicates the existence of dynamic interactions between miRNA and signaling molecules/transcription factor regulation; this is another proof for the need of shifting from a 'hard-wired' paradigm of gene regulation to a dynamical one in which the gene co-regulation is established on a case-by-case basis.

Facile Method to Obtain Low DS β-ketoesters and Esters of Microfibrillated Cellulose

Carmen C. Piras,Scott A. Jamieson,Emiliano Fratini,Susana Fernández-Prieto,Johan Smets,Wim M. De Borggraeve 한국섬유공학회 2020 Fibers and polymers Vol.21 No.10

Herein we report a facile approach to prepare low DS microfibrillated cellulose acetoacetates and esters. All thereactions were performed directly in cellulose slurries without the need of solvent evaporation, which can cause hornification,and without damaging the fibres. The products obtained display the inserted functionalities while retaining the main featuresand morphology of the unmodified cellulose fibres. In comparison to previously reported synthetic routes, this method iscost-effective, more environmentally friendly through omission of extra solvents and the possibility of reusing the dispersingagents, which can be recovered by distillation.

The Burden of Agoraphobia in Worsening Quality of Life in a Community Survey in Italy

Antonio Preti,Martina Piras,Giulia Cossu,Elisa Pintus,Mirra Pintus,Goce Kalcev,Federico Cabras,Maria Francesca Moro,Ferdinando Romano,Matteo Balestrieri,Filippo Caraci,Liliana Dell’Osso,Guido Di Scias 대한신경정신의학회 2021 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.18 No.4

Objective Current nosology redefined agoraphobia as an autonomous diagnosis distinct from panic disorder. We investigated the life-time prevalence of agoraphobia, its association with other mental disorders, and its impact on the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). Methods Community survey in 2,338 randomly selected adult subjects. Participants were interviewed with the Advanced Neuropsy-chiatric Tools and Assessment Schedule (ANTAS), administered by clinicians. The diagnoses were based on the ICD-10 criteria. The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) was used to quantify HR-QoL. Results In the sample, 35 subjects met the criteria for agoraphobia (1.5%), with greater prevalence among women (2.0%) than men (0.9%): odds ratio (OR) 2.23; 95% CI: 1.0-5–2. Agoraphobia was more often seen among those with (n=26; 1.1%) than without (n=9; 0.4%) panic disorder: OR=8.3; 2.9–24.4. Co-morbidity with other mental disorders was substantial. The mean score of SF-12 in people with agoraphobia was 35.2±7.8, with similar levels of HR-QoL in people with (35.3±7.9) or without (34.8±7.3) panic disorder: ANOVA: F(1;33)=0.0; p=1.00. Conclusion One out of seventy people may suffer from agoraphobia in their lifetime. The attributable burden in terms of HR-QoL is substantial and comparable to the one observed for chronic mental disorders such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatry Investig 2021;18(4):277-283

An optimization framework to tackle challenging cargo accommodation tasks in space engineering

Fasano, Giorgio,Gastaldi, Cristina,Piras, Annamaria,Saia, Dario Techno-Press 2014 Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science Vol.1 No.2

Quite a demanding task frequently arises in space engineering, when dealing with the cargo accommodation of modules and vehicles. The objective of this effort usually aims at maximizing the loaded cargo, or, at least, at meeting the logistic requirements posed by the space agencies. Complex accommodation rules are supposed to be taken into account, in compliance with strict balancing conditions and very tight operational restrictions. The context of the International Space Station (ISS) has paved the way for a relevant research and development activity, providing the company with a remarkable expertise in the field. CAST (Cargo Accommodation Support Tool) is a dedicated in-house software package (funded by the European Space Agency, ESA, and achieved by Thales Alenia Space), to carry out the whole loading of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). An ad hoc version, tailored to the Columbus (ISS attached laboratory) on-board stowage issue, has been further implemented and is to be used from now on. This article surveys the overall approach followed, highlighting the advantages of the methodology put forward, both in terms of solution quality and time saving, through an overview of the outcomes obtained to date. Insights on possible extensions to further space applications, especially in the perspective of the paramount challenges of the near future, are, in addition, presented.

Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy for the detection of cow’s milk in buffalo milk

Anna Antonella Spina,Carlotta Ceniti,Cristian Piras,Bruno Tilocca,Domenico Britti,Valeria Maria Morittu 한국축산학회 2022 한국축산학회지 Vol.64 No.3

In Italy, buffalo mozzarella is a largely sold and consumed dairy product. The fraudulent adulteration of buffalo milk with cheaper and more available milk of other species is very frequent. In the present study, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), in combination with multivariate analysis by partial least square (PLS) regression, was applied to quantitatively detect the adulteration of buffalo milk with cow milk by using a fully automatic equipment dedicated to the routine analysis of the milk composition. To enhance the heterogeneity, cow and buffalo bulk milk was collected for a period of over three years from different dairy farms. A total of 119 samples were used for the analysis to generate 17 different concentrations of buffalo- cow milk mixtures. This procedure was used to enhance variability and to properly randomize the trials. The obtained calibration model showed an R2 ≥ 0.99 (R2cal. = 0.99861; root mean square error of cross-validation [RMSEC] = 2.04; R2val. = 0.99803; root mean square error of prediction [RMSEP] = 2.84; root mean square error of cross-validation [RMSECV] = 2.44) suggesting that this method could be successfully applied in the routine analysis of buffalo milk composition, providing rapid screening for possible adulteration with cow’s milk at no additional cost.

Increased survival of muscle stem cells lacking the MyoD gene after transplantation into regenerating skeletal muscle

Asakura, A.,Hirai, H.,Kablar, B.,Morita, S.,Ishibashi, J.,Piras, B. A.,Christ, A. J.,Verma, M.,Vineretsky, K. A.,Rudnicki, M. A. National Academy of Sciences 2007 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF Vol.104 No.42

Literature Circle in an L2 Writing Classroom and Students' Writing Development

Pirae Kim 한국외국어교육학회 2015 Foreign languages education Vol.22 No.4

This study investigated the effect of implementing the literature circle activities which integrated journal writing practices on college L2 learners’ writing development and their perceptions on integrating literature circle activity in an academic writing classroom. Students’ writing development was measured focusing on complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) through the paired t-test and writing proficiency test In both computer-based analysis and manual analysis, the results showed that there were statistically significant improvements in the participants’ lexical diversity and variation, in such measures as the number of diverse words, type/token ratio, and lexical variation. In the syntactic complexity, in the use of complex nominal phrases per T-unit, complex nominal clauses per clause, coordinate phrases per T-unit and clause per T-unit, statistically significant results were found. All three measures of accuracy showed statistically significant improvement. The participants’ fluency were also found to be improved with statistically significant results. Regarding participants’ perceptions on the journal writing practices and discussion for literature circle activity, over 75% of students positively responded in a questionnaire survey. The results suggest that integration of literature reading and writing can positively influence on L2 learners’ writing development.

Teaching Multimodal Literacy in an EFL College Children’s Literature Classroom

Pirae Kim 한국영미문학교육학회 2017 영미문학교육 Vol.21 No.3

Current study was an attempt to demonstrate how a multimodal approach to literacy teaching and learning can be implemented in an EFL college children’s classroom by providing multimodal literacy lesson units. The pedagogical activities for multimodal literacy were designed with the aim to develop students’ “interpretive repertoires” for how to read and write multimodal texts. In doing so, four resources model of reading postulated by Freebody and Luke was employed to scaffold students’ critical awareness on the multimodal texts. A variety of multimodal children’s literature genres, including postmodern picturebooks, postmodern fairy tales, animation and advertisements were also used as the reading resources. In addition, the study also investigated what students’ perceptions on the incorporating multimodal literacy activities were through the course evaluation survey. The analysis of students’ comments revealed that reading and writing multimodal texts promoted their reading and writing ability development and fostered creativity and critical literacy as well. With the positive students’ feedback, suggestions for further research on multimodal literacy education in the EFL contexts were provided.

A Study on EFL College Students’ Reading and Integrated Writing Ability and Their Reading Strategy Use

Pirae Kim 한국영어어문교육학회 2014 영어어문교육 Vol.20 No.3

This research is an investigation of the relationship between reading ability and integrated writing ability of EFL Korean university students and the differences in the use of reading strategies between upper level readers and lower level readers. The research was conducted in college academic writing classes where participants (n= 50) had to write an argumentative essay based on the reading material. One standardized test, one cloze reading comprehension test developed by the researcher, a perceived reading strategy use questionnaire, and an integrated essay were used as the instruments of measurement. A strong correlation between reading and writing ability was shown in the result of the analysis (r (df) = .709, p < .01). In regard to the reading strategy uses between upper and lower level participants through the survey questionnaire, the independent samples t-test results indicated that participants showed statistically significant difference in mining strategy use (p = .042, p < .05), while in other categories of reading strategies, no statistically significant differences between two groups were found. The study results show different features of reading strategy use involved in the reading-to-write task and provide us with some pedagogical implications in EFL writing instructions.

Implementing Digital Storytelling and Students’ Writing Ability Development in an EFL College Classroom

( Pirae Kim ) 한국멀티미디어언어교육학회 2018 Multimedia Assisted Language Learning Vol.21 No.1

This study explored the effect of implementing digital storytelling on the L2 college pre-service teachers' writing ability development. In addition, students' perceptions of experiencing digital storytelling in the children's literature classroom at a university, in particular, in association to their writing ability development were also examined. In carrying out this research, the teacher-researcher employed a quasi-experimental, mixed methods research design, relying on both quantitative and qualitative data sources, including pre- and post- writing tests, and survey data from the students' course evaluation. The results indicated that students' engagement in the digital storytelling activities improved their writing skill at a statistically meaningful level in the analytic scoring (p<.05). In the examination of the language features in their writing focusing on the syntactic complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF), participants’ accuracy was found to be improved at a statistically meaningful level (p<.05). In the fluency, only the number of words showed statistically significant increase. The findings in syntactic complexity demonstrated that statistically meaningful enhancement was identified only in some measures. The survey results on the participants’ perceptions revealed that the process of producing digital storytelling projects allowed them to promote their writing ability development. Pedagogical implications on integrating multilieracies tasks, including digital storytelling were offered at the end.