First Union Formation in Italy: The Role of Micro- and Macro-Level Economic Conditions.

In this paper, we use data from the 'Families and Social Subjects' survey conducted by the Italian National Institute of Statistics in 2016 to study the impact of micro- and macro-level economic conditions on first co-residential union formation. We aim to determine if and to what extent the probability of forming the first union is explained by individual labour market positions (e.g.

Adding up risks: Sexual debut and substance use among Italian university students.

Adolescence and youth are periods of great changes in an individual's life, during which experiencing first events of the transition to adulthood and, sometimes, violating social norms. Literature has identified an association of risk behaviours with timing of first sexual intercourse, but scant information is available about their relationship with the use of protection or the choice of a casual partner. This study focuses on the relation between initiation of risk behaviours (get drunk and drug use) and initiation of intercourse.

A Contactless and Biocompatible Approach for 3D Active Microrobotic Targeted Drug Delivery.

As robotic tools are becoming a fundamental part of present day surgical interventions, microrobotic surgery is steadily approaching clinically-relevant scenarios. In particular, minimally invasive microrobotic targeted drug deliveries are reaching the grasp of the current state-of-the-art technology. However, clinically-relevant issues, such as lack of biocompatibility and dexterity, complicate the clinical application of the results obtained in controlled environments.

Steering and control of miniaturized untethered soft magnetic grippers with haptic assistance.

Untethered miniature robotics have recently shown promising results in several scenarios at the microscale, such as targeted drug delivery, microassembly, and biopsy procedures. However, the vast majority of these small-scale robots have very limited manipulation capabilities, and none of the steering systems currently available enable humans to intuitively and effectively control dexterous miniaturized robots in a remote environment. In this paper, we present an innovative micro teleoperation system with haptic assistance for the intuitive steering and control of miniaturized self-folding soft magnetic grippers in 2-D space.

Design, characterization and control of thermally-responsive and magnetically-actuated micro-grippers at the air-water interface.

The design and control of untethered microrobotic agents has drawn a lot of attention in recent years. This technology truly possesses the potential to revolutionize the field of minimally invasive surgery and microassembly. However, miniaturization and reliable actuation of micro-fabricated grippers are still challenging at sub-millimeter scale.

Autonomous planning and control of soft untethered grippers in unstructured environments.

The use of small, maneuverable, untethered and reconfigurable robots could provide numerous advantages in various micromanipulation tasks. Examples include microassembly, pick-and-place of fragile micro-objects for lab-on-a-chip applications, assisted hatching for fertilization and minimally invasive surgery. This study assesses the potential of soft untethered magnetic grippers as alternatives or complements to conventional tethered or rigid micromanipulators.

Stimuli-Responsive Soft Untethered Grippers for Drug Delivery and Robotic Surgery.

Untethered microtools that can be precisely navigated into deep locations are important for clinical procedures pertinent to minimally invasive surgery and targeted drug delivery. In this mini-review, untethered soft grippers are discussed, with an emphasis on a class of autonomous stimuli-responsive gripping soft tools that can be used to excise tissues and release drugs in a controlled manner. The grippers are composed of polymers and hydrogels and are thus compliant to soft tissues.

Control of Untethered Soft Grippers for Pick-and-Place Tasks.

In order to handle complex tasks in hard-to-reach environments, small-scale robots have to possess suitable dexterous and untethered control capabilities. The fabrication and manipulation of soft, small-scale grippers complying to these requirements is now made possible by advances in material science and robotics. In this paper, we use soft, small-scale grippers to demonstrate pick-and-place tasks.

Off-label use of hormones as an antiaging strategy: a review.

Given demographic evolution of the population in modern societies, one of the most important health care needs is successful aging with less frailty and dependency. During the last 20 years, a multitude of anti-aging practices have appeared worldwide, aiming at retarding or even stopping and reversing the effects of aging on the human body. One of the cornerstones of anti-aging is hormone replacement.

Melatonin and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI): the Treviso Longeva (Trelong) study.

Introduction: It has been reported that elderly subjects have a compromised ability to produce melatonin nightly, and that reduced melatonin levels may be a risk factor for cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between melatonin levels and chronic diseases in a cohort of elderly subjects using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI).

Design: We performed a secondary data analysis of a longitudinal study of a representative, age-stratified, sample population.

Modulation of human longevity by SIRT3 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the prospective study "Treviso Longeva (TRELONG)".

Human sirtuins are seven proteins with deacetylase activity that are emerging as key modulators of basic physiological functions. Some evidence links SIRT3 to longevity in mammals. This study aimed to investigate whether variants within SIRT3 gene were associated to human longevity.

Body mass index, lifestyles, physical performance and cognitive decline: the "Treviso Longeva (TRELONG)" study.

Objectives: The relative contributions of risk factors, as body mass index (BMI), depression, chronic diseases, smoking, and lifestyles (as physical and performance activity, social contacts and reading habit) to cognitive decline in the elderly are unclear. We explored these variables in relation to 7-year cognitive decline in long-lived Italian elderly.

Design: Secondary data analysis of a longitudinal study of a representative, age-stratified, population sample.

The Treviso Dementia (TREDEM) Study: A Biomedical, Neuroradiological, Neuropsychological and Social Investigation of Dementia in North-Eastern Italy.

Background: The incidence of dementia increases exponentially with age but knowledge of real disease-modifying interventions is still limited.

Objectives: To describe the study design and methods of a large prospective cohort study aimed at exploring the complex underlying relationships existing among cognition, frailty, and health-related events in older persons with cognitive impairment.

Design: Prospective cohort study of a representative population of outpatients attending the Treviso Cognitive Impairment Center between 2000 and 2010.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor polymorphism rs2229765 and circulating interleukin-6 level affect male longevity in a population-based prospective study (Treviso Longeva--TRELONG).

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling modulation has been associated with increased lifespan in model organisms, while high levels of circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) are a marker of disability and mortality. In the prospective, population-based "Treviso Longeva"--TRELONG Study from Italy (n = 668, age range 70-105.5 years at baseline, followed for seven years) we investigated the effects of survival on the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) gene polymorphism rs2229765, the IL-6 gene promoter polymorphism rs1800795, and plasma concentrations of IGF-1 and IL-6, alone or in combination.

Body mass index, cognition, disability, APOE genotype, and mortality: the "Treviso Longeva" Study.

Objectives: The concurrent contributions of dynamic, interrelated late-life parameters, such as body mass index (BMI), cognition, and physical functioning on mortality in the elderly are unclear, as is the influence of APOE genotype. We explored these measures in relation to 7-year mortality in long-lived Italian elderly.

Design: A representative, age-stratified, population sample.

Factors related to disability: evidence from the "Treviso Longeva (TRELONG) study".

Prolongation of life is an important public health goal as long as there is an emphasis on the quality of life (QoL) and independent living. Diminishing abilities to ambulate and participate in activities of daily living point to a serious decline in functional health, increasing the risk of institutionalization and death. In our work we found a pattern of factors associated with disability, especially cognitive impairment, as well as stroke, physical activity and performance, reading, and the nutritional biomarkers, blood albumin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).

Physical activity, socialization and reading in the elderly over the age of seventy: what is the relation with cognitive decline? Evidence from "The Treviso Longeva (TRELONG) study".

Evidence in the literature suggests that physical activity, social contacts and cognitively stimulating activity, such as reading, often considered individually, may improve cognitive performance. Our work examines their interactions and confirms their positive effects on cognitive functions. The correlations between physical activity, socialization, reading and improved cognitive performance remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors, such as comorbidity and hearing function.

Frailty, disability and survival in the elderly over the age of seventy: Evidence from "The Treviso Longeva (TRELONG) Study".

Frailty is a biological syndrome of decreased reserves and lower resistance to stressors, deriving from cumulative declines across multiple physiological systems and causing adverse outcomes. Physical frailty is easy to assess, strongly correlated to disability and to survival, considering the comorbidities, too. This working definition of frailty is inexpensive to apply, and provides a basis for standardized screening for risk of disability in older adults.

Associations of the plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels with disability and mortality in the elderly in the Treviso Longeva (Trelong) study.

IL-6 expression is regulated by the interplay of several transcriptional and hormonal factors, including sex steroids and glucocorticoids. In late life IL-6 expression increases as a result from loss of the normally inhibiting sex steroids. IL-6 is one of several proinflammatory cytokines.

The Treviso Longeva (Trelong) study: a biomedical, demographic, economic and social investigation on people 70 years and over in a typical town of North-East of Italy.

Longevity is a complex process resulting from genetic and environmental factors, as well as their interaction. These factors are poorly understood, and the comparison among health status, socio-economics, demographic and other characteristics of the elderly people can help in understanding these complex interactions. Such an interdisciplinary approach is necessary to allow an appropriate evaluation of longevity.

What is liquid breathing and ventilation?

Liquid ventilation is a rapidly growing ventilation technique. In spite of the large number of scientific and technical papers on the argument, the general concepts, particularly useful for the non-specialist physician, are not easy to acquire. The scope of this simple review is to explain the present general aspects and uses of liquid ventilation, analysing their chronological development.

Induction of erythroid differentiation of human K562 cells by cisplatin analogs.

Human leukemic K562 cells can be induced in vitro to erythroid differentiation by a variety of chemical compounds, including hemin, butyric acid, 5-azacytidine, and cytosine arabinoside. Differentiation of K562 cells is associated with an increase in the expression of embryo-fetal globin genes, such as the zeta-, epsilon-, and gamma-globin genes. Therefore, the K562 cell line has been proposed as a very useful in vitro model system for determining the therapeutic potential of new differentiating compounds as well as for studying the molecular mechanism(s) regulating changes in the expression of embryonic and fetal human globin genes.