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Morpho-Functional Characterization and miRNA Profiling of the Retina in the 5xFAD Murine Model of Alzheimer's Disease
No full textPurpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) induces changes in retinal structure/function, making the retina a suitable platform to study the molecular mechanisms of the disease. Dysregulation of some microRNAs (miRNAs) has also been found in AD pathogenesis. Here, we used the 5xFAD mouse to expand our knowledge on structural, functional, and molecular retinal alterations and to elucidate the retinal miRNA profile in this model of AD. Methods: The 5xFAD mice at 3, 6, or 9 months of age, were used. Retinal function was evaluated with electroretinogram (ERG) and the Prusky water maze test. Retinal structure was investigated by optical coherence tomography. Molecular analyses included immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and ELISA. Retinal miRNAs were profiled and deregulated miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. Results: Starting from 6 months, the 5xFAD mice showed altered ERG and visual acuity. The inner plexiform layer became thicker whereas the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer became thinner. In the RGC layer, the accumulation of amyloid beta was concomitant with RGC apoptosis, whereas tau protein phosphorylation was increased. Inflammatory processes were also activated and microgliosis became apparent. Five deregulated miRNAs were identified, four of which were validated. Two of these miRNAs were related to AD and involved in gene expression relevant to retinal function. Conclusions: The present findings confirm and expand our knowledge of the retinal disease in 5xFAD mice, and highlight that neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and microgliosis participate in AD pathogenesis. The relationship between deregulated miRNAs and AD progression may open the field to miRNA-based strategies to slow down retinal dysfunction in AD
Stem education and ICT-enhanced tools for students with disabilities: a five-year review
No full textEducation is a universal right that must include anyone. However, students with disabilities often experience significant challenges, obstacles, and frustration when interacting with digital tools and systems, particularly when performing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education paths. This review investigates the current state of ICT-enhanced tools designed to support inclusive STEM education, focusing on the use of applications, systems, games, robots, and platforms aimed at supporting students with disabilities. While the literature reveals growing interest and numerous theoretical frameworks, there remains a lack of concrete, widely adopted applications and systems. Our results highlight the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, in enabling personalized, accessible, and engaging learning experiences conform to the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. However, the full potential of AI in inclusive education is still in its infancy and needs to be further discovered. Co-design with educators, stakeholders, and individuals with disabilities would be essential to accelerate this progress and ensure that future education technologies and systems are truly tailored and suitable for all students, regardless of their abilities and preferences. Digital tools must meet the needs of diverse populations with different disabilities to guarantee equal access to education, while engaging, motivating, and empowering students in science and technology
Blockchain-Enabled Quantum-Resistant Hybrid Isogeny-Based Signcryption Framework for Digital Twin-Assisted Healthcare System
No full textLegittimazione ad agire, titolarità del diritto o qualità soggettiva legittimante: rilievo “a sorpresa” e giusto processo
No full textLa nota analizza, prendendo le mosse dall’ordinanza della Corte di Cassazione n. 26612 del 2 ottobre 2025, la natura e il regime processuale della contestazione relativa alla legittimazione ad agire, alla titolarità del diritto controverso e alla qualità soggettiva legittimante la proposizione della domanda.
Il caso concerne un procedimento ex art. 28 Statuto dei lavoratori per condotta antisindacale, nel quale l’azienda, solo in sede di opposizione, eccepisce il difetto di qualità del sindacato ricorrente quale organizzazione “stipulante” del CCNL. La Cassazione qualifica la contestazione come mera difesa, rilevabile in ogni stato e grado del giudizio, anche d’ufficio.
L’autore distingue tre ipotesi: a) legittimazione ad agire e titolarità del diritto controverso; b) legittimazione e titolarità di un diritto pregiudiziale al diritto controverso; c) legittimazione e qualità soggettiva richiesta per l’esercizio dell’azione.
L'analisi concerne la natura (di rito o di merito) della difesa, la qualificazione come mera difesa o eccezione, l'onere della prova, il profilo dinamico, la stabilità e l'efficacia (vincolante o meno in un successivo processo) della decisione.
Particolare attenzione è dedicata alla qualificazione della qualità soggettiva del sindacato stipulante.
L’ultima parte affronta il problema del “rilievo a sorpresa” di tale difesa dopo il maturare delle preclusioni istruttorie. Richiamando anche la giurisprudenza della Corte europea dei diritti dell'uomo, l’autore critica la tesi del moyen nécessairement dans la cause e sostiene che il giusto processo impone non solo il rispetto formale del contraddittorio, ma anche la rimessione in termini della parte sorpresa, affinché possa esercitare pienamente il diritto di difesa, anche mediante nuove allegazioni e prove
A journey across selected outcrops in Alpine Corsica: a showcase of the oceanic and continental units of a collisional belt
No full textThis paper describes a four-day field trip across the Alpine Corsica, the southern branch of the Alpine collisional belt made up of oceanic and continental units derived from the closure of the Ligurian-Piedmont Oceanic Basin, and the subsequent collision between the continental margins of Adria and Europe plates. On the first day, the relationships between the main tectonic units, i.e., the Upper Units, the Schistes Lustrés Complex and the Lower Units, can be observed along an east-west transect from Bastia to Ile-Rousse. On the second day, the features of the Upper Units can be observed in the Balagne area, where an ophiolite sequence from the Middle to Late Jurassic period, along with its Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous sedimentary cover, is clearly visible. This sequence, belonging to the Balagne Nappe, is characterized by the repeated occurrence of coarse-grained deposits supplied from the Europe continental margin, which makes it unique in the Alpine-Apennine belt. On the third day, the oceanic units of the Schistes Lustrés Complex in the Golo Valley will be examined. This complex comprises several ophiolite sequences that were accreted to the Alpine wedge and deformed under conditions of pressure and temperature ranging from blueschist to eclogite facies. On the fourth day, the lower units in the Corte, Popolasca and Ponte Leccia areas are visited. These units represent slices of the thinned continental margin of the Europe plate that were involved in subduction prior to continental collision. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the stratigraphic, deformational, and metamorphic features of Corsica, which is one of the most significant fragments of the Alpine collisional belt in the western Mediterranean region
Exploring microbiological and biochemical changes in red lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) during spontaneous fermentation
No full textThe growing demand for fermented plant-based foods has intensified interest in exploring native lactic acid bacteria
(LAB) with enhanced technological and bioactive properties. This study investigate the spontaneous fermentation
of red lentils, focusing on microbial succession, biochemical shifts, and riboflavin-producing strains. Over 48 h, fat
content declined from 0.175±0.18 % to 0.107±0.14 %, and protein content from 3.61±0.01 % to 2.61±0.01 %.
At the same time, bioactive peptide formation increased markedly, while bitter-tasting amino acids—tyrosine (to
0.68 ± 0.01 mg/g), histidine (0.62 ± 0.02 mg/g), and isoleucine (0.88 ± 0.04 mg/g)—decreased. Molecular
analysis via PCR-DGGE revealed a shift from Leuconostoc lactis dominance at 24 h to Weissella confusa/cibaria and
Pediococcus pentosaceus at 48 h. Correspondingly, riboflavin levels rose from 6.33 ± 0.50 to 9.88 ± 0.15 μg/100 g.
MALDI-TOF MS results revealed that all riboflavin-producing isolates from the 48-h fermentation were identified as
Weissella cibaria. These data demonstrate that spontaneous red lentil fermentation not only enhances the nutritional
profile through peptide enrichment but also serves as a natural, cost-effective strategy for in situ vitamin B2 fortification.
This approach represents a promising strategy for the development of next-generation functional plantbased
foods, enriched with bioactive compounds and health-promoting potential
Calcium Isotopes Correlate With Baleen Whale Feeding Ecology
No full textBaleen whales are among the largest animals ever and engineer marine ecosystems by transporting nutrients both vertically through the water column and across vast oceanic distances. Hidden underwater, their feeding habits often remain unseen and hence must be studied indirectly based on stomach contents and stable isotopes. Here, we explore the potential of bone-bound calcium isotopes as a chemical proxy for extant baleen whale foraging ecology. Unlike bulk nitrogen and various trace elements (Mg, Sr, and Ba), calcium isotopes clearly distinguish gulp (n = 4 species) from skim feeders (n = 4 species) and provide a powerful tool to infer diet and feeding strategies. The difference in calcium isotope composition plausibly reflects incidental ingestion of seawater, which may be more pronounced in skim feeding whales than previously thought
Meeting physical activity guidelines in conjunction with higher protein intake: associations with appendicular lean soft tissue index in middle aged adults with cancer
No full textBackground: Loss of muscle mass is a common concern among patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to examine whether meeting the World Health Organization physical activity guidelines in combination with a higher vs. lower than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) protein intake is associated with greater appendicular lean soft tissue index (ALSTI) in adults aged 40-59 years with cancer from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: Participants were categorized by physical activity levels (moderate ≥ 150 min/week or vigorous ≥ 75 min/week) and protein intake (> 0.8 vs. ≤ 0.8 g/kg/day) assessed via two interviewer-administered 24-h dietary recalls. ALSTI was calculated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (kg/m2). Linear regression models estimated associations, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and dietary covariates. Results: Among 169 participants (mean age 51.0 ± 5.6 years; 69% women, mean ALSTI 7.74 ± 1.66 kg/m2), those meeting vigorous or moderate physical activity guidelines with higher protein intake did not show a significant association with ALSTI in the fully adjusted models (vigorous: β = 0.08, standard error (SE) 0.12, p = 0.53; moderate: β = -0.05, SE 0.15, p = 0.76). However, a significantly positive link was found in those meeting both vigorous and moderate physical activity (β = 0.40, b SE 0.02, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Meeting vigorous or moderate physical activity guidelines in combination with higher vs. lower protein intake was not associated with ALSTI in adults with cancer. However, meeting both was positively linked to ALSTI. Longitudinal and interventional studies using objective measures and longitudinal designs are needed to clarify the role of physical activity with adequate protein intake in preserving muscle health in this clinical population
