University of Udine
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Grendel, Guthlac, and the Gulping Hell-Mouth Again
No full texthe zoomorphic mouth of hell is a syncretistic creation which has predominantly been traced to pre-Conquest England. This paper will argue that a distinctively English element that contributed to the emergence and evolution of this imagery can be pinpointed in the processes of metaphorical substitution and hybridization typical of both the literary languages of pre-Conquest England, Anglo-Latin and Old English, as well as of early English visual art. By reassessing the relevant evidence – both textual and figurative –, it will be shown that the very premises of the monstrous hell-mouth can be traced to two of the earliest literary attestations of both Old English and Anglo-Latin, Beowulf and the Vita S. Guthlaci, as well as to one of the earliest artifacts of English visual culture, the Repton Stone
Scoring italian cinema. Patterns of Collaboration
No full textIl volume prende in esame le diverse forme di collaborazione che si creano durante le fasi di allestimento della colonna sonora di un film. Fa riferimento a quelle che si sono instaurate fra alcuni dei protagonisti del cinema italiano del secondo dopoguerra e i loro compositori
Resting-state BOLD temporal variability of the default mode network predicts spontaneous mind wandering, which is negatively associated with mindfulness skills
Get PDFMind wandering (MW) encompasses both a deliberate and a spontaneous disengagement of attention from the immediate external environment to unrelated internal thoughts. Importantly, MW has been suggested to have an inverse relationship with mindfulness, a state of nonjudgmental awareness of present-moment experience. Although they are, respectively, associated with increased and decreased activity in the default mode network (DMN), the specific contributions of deliberate and spontaneous MW, and their relationships with mindfulness abilities and resting-state macro networks remain to be elucidated. Therefore, resting-state MRI scans from 76 participants were analyzed with group independent component analysis to decompose brain networks into independent macro-networks and to see which of them predicted specific aspects of spontaneous and deliberate MW or mindfulness traits. Our results show that temporal variability of the resting-state DMN predicts spontaneous MW, which in turn is negatively associated with the acting with awareness facet of mindfulness. This finding shows that the DMN is not directly associated with overall mindfulness, but rather demonstrates that there exists a close relationship between DMN and MW, and furthermore, that the involvement of mindfulness abilities in this dynamic may be secondary. In sum, our study contributes to a better understanding of the neural bases of spontaneous MW and its relationship with mindfulness. These results open up the possibility of intervening on specific aspects of our cognitive abilities: for example, our data suggest that training the mindfulness facet acting with awareness would allow lessening our tendency for MW at inopportune times
Early hypoglycemia is not an independent risk factor for 2-year neurodevelopmental impairment in appropriate-for-gestational age preterm infants < 32 weeks
No full textObjective: To evaluate whether hypoglycemia within the first 6 h of life (HOL) is an independent risk factor for 2-year neurodevelopmental impairment in appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) preterm infants with a gestational age (GA) <32+0/7 weeks/days. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 598 AGA preterm infants (GA: 24+0/7–31+6/7 weeks/days). Infants with at least one episode of hypoglycemia within the first 6 HOL (blood glucose concentration below 40 mg/dL; Glyc<40[Birth-6HOL]) were compared with infants without any hypoglycemia (Glyc≥40[Birth-6HOL]). Propensity score matching analysis was conducted for comparisons. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of Glyc<40[Birth-6HOL] with 2-year cognitive (COG) and motor (MOT) impairments defined as a Bayley-III score < 85. Results: Of the 598 AGA preterm infants, 129 (21.6 %) were classified as Glyc<40[Birth-6HOL], and 469 (78.4 %) as Glyc≥40[Birth-6HOL]. Time from birth to intravenous glucose infusion did not significantly differ between Glyc<40[Birth-6HOL] and Glyc≥40[Birth-6HOL]. After multiple adjustments, Glyc<40[Birth-6HOL] infants did not have a significantly higher risk of both 2-year COG (ExpB: 1.150, p = 0.656) and MOT (ExpB: 0.982, p = 0.834) impairment compared to Glyc≥40[Birth-6HOL]. No differences in 2-year neurodevelopmental scores were found between the 79 matched infant pairs. Conclusion: In a clinical setting with strict glycemic monitoring and standardized glucose management, early hypoglycemia (≤6 HOL) was not identified as an independent risk factor for 2-year COG and MOT impairment in AGA preterm infants with a GA between 24+0/7 and 31+6/7 weeks/days
Oncocytic Tumors in the Kidney: A Tri-Focal Review - Integrated Pathological, Cytopathological, and Molecular Perspectives, Part 2
No full textBackground: This second of two parts review is devoted to the practical aspects of fine needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of renal oncocytoma and the interesting biology underlying the morphologic transformation of oncocytes. Summary: In the first section, we describe themost useful cytologic variables for the recognition of oncocytoma since its first cytologic description 44 years ago. The usefulness of the recently introduced cytologic diagnostic category of "low-risk oncocytic neoplasm"is discussed, as well as the known problems of differential diagnosis. The second section deals with the molecular aspects of oncocytes, with special emphasis on correlating it with the peculiar morphology of oncocytic tumors and their less aggressive behavior. First, why does this accumulation of abnormal mitochondria occur, and second, what are the consequences? Regarding oxidative phosphorylation, oncocytes show a dysfunctional respiratory complex that makes them unable to respond adequately to the hypoxia so typical of the neoplastic environment. Key Messages: The low-risk oncocytic neoplasm category is so relevant that they may limit the possibility of an accurate diagnosis in small specimens, such as FNA and core biopsies. However, this must be compatible with the possibility of making a useful diagnosis for the therapeutic management of the patient. Further, we discuss the genes and molecules responsible for mitochondrial dysfunction, and, finally, the molecular differences between sporadic oncocytomas and those associated with a hereditary context
CDK13-Related Disorder: Novel Insights From A Series of 27 Cases and Recommendations for Clinical Management
Get PDFIn 2016, Sifrim and colleagues described the first group of patients carrying heterozygous pathogenic variants in CDK13 and sharing major clinical features mainly consisting of congenital heart defects, intellectual disability and peculiar facial features (Congenital Heart Defects, Dysmorphic Facial Features, and Intellectual Developmental Disorder; CHDFIDD, OMIM # 617360). This condition is generally referred to as CDK13-related disorder, and since then other reports have provided further clinical and molecular information. Here we describe a group of 27 previously unreported patients to more accurately profile the clinical spectrum associated with CDK13 variants, disclosing novel associated findings, such as complex craniosynostosis and variable skeletal features (e.g., cranio-cervical anomalies). We also focused on the ocular phenotype that appears to include bilateral congenital glaucoma, posterior embriotoxon, buphthalmos and Duane anomaly. Finally, we observed two cases of mother-to-daughter transmission. Our work clarifies some novel features of CHDFIDD, defines the differential diagnosis of this disorder, and provides recommendations for its clinical management
Sodium content of plant-based meat and cheese analogues: comparison with benchmarks proposed by the World Health Organization
No full textAlthough plant-based analogues of animal products have become increasingly common, their sodium content has not been adequately investigated. The main aims of this study were to: (i) compare sodium content of cheese analogues, meat analogues, and tofu and tempeh sold in Italy with the relative WHO benchmarks (720, 250 and 280 mg/100 g, respectively); and (ii) evaluate the effectiveness of Nutri-Score in identifying products exceeding these benchmarks. Food labels from 430 meat analogues, 49 cheese analogues and 42 tofu and tempeh products were collected and analysed. Meat analogues (93%) and tofu and tempeh (57%) had the highest percentage of products exceeding the benchmark while cheese analogues had the lowest (20%). All subcategories in the meat analogues category showed a higher median sodium content than the benchmark, with cured meats having the highest level. Among cheese analogues, the grated cheese subcategory showed the highest median sodium content with all products exceeding the benchmark, while tofu and tempeh had the lowest median sodium content. The Nutri-Score algorithm did not consistently identify products with sodium levels exceeding the established benchmarks. This study highlights the need to reduce sodium content of such products and emphasises the importance of improving consumers’ nutritional awareness
New Methodologies as Opportunities in the Study of Bacterial Biofilms, Including Food-Related Applications
Get PDFTraditional food technologies, while essential, often face limitations in sensitivity, real-time detection, and adaptability to complex biological systems such as microbial biofilms. These constraints have created a growing demand for more advanced, precise, and non-invasive tools to ensure food safety and quality. In response to these challenges, cross-disciplinary technological integration has opened new opportunities for the food industry and public health, leveraging methods originally developed in other scientific fields. Although their industrial-scale implementation is still evolving, their application in research and pilot settings has already significantly improved our ability to detect and control biofilms, thereby strengthening food safety protocols. Advanced analytical techniques, the identification of pathogenic species and their virulence markers, and the screening of “natural” antimicrobial compounds can now be conceptualized as interconnected elements within a virtual framework centered on “food” and “biofilm”. In this short review, starting from the basic concepts of biofilm and associated microorganisms, we highlight a selection of emerging analytical approaches—from optical methods, microfluidics, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and biospeckle techniques to molecular strategies like CRISPR, qPCR, and NGS, and the use of organoids. Initially conceived for biomedical and biotechnological applications, these tools have recently demonstrated their value in food science by enhancing our understanding of biofilm behavior and supporting the discovery of novel anti-biofilm strategies
Simulation of loading and unloading through ramps of different configuration: effects on the ease of handling and physiological response of pigs of two slaughter weights
No full textBehaviour, heart rate (HR), and blood lactate concentration of 144 pigs, equally distributed into lighter (L, 122 kg on average) and heavier (H, 153 kg on average) groups, were assessed to study the effects of slaughter weight on pigs’ response to a simulated loading and unloading procedure using four ramp configurations, i.e., 0° (level ramp), 15° slope and 1.66 m length, 15° slope and 2.71 m length (15°LO), and 25° slope and 1.66 m. No interaction was found between ramp configuration and slaughter weight (P > 0.10). The frequencies of pigs’ slips or falls (P = 0.01) increased on sloped ramps compared to the floor level (Padj < 0.05), and pigs jumped-off more from the 25° than the 15°LO ramp (Padj = 0.05). Pigs negotiating the 25° slope ramp presented a higher concentration of blood lactate than those walking at the floor level (P = 0.02). When compared to L pigs, H pigs were more reluctant to move (P = 0.05), and presented higher increments of HR (∆HR) during handling (P = 0.03). In conclusion, heavier pigs were more difficult to handle, regardless of the ramp steepness, which alone reduced ease of handling and affected the physiological condition of pigs