University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
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Is selenate a diabetogenic form of selenium? Evidence from a natural experiment in Northern Italy
No full textBackground: Consistent evidence from randomized controlled trials has shown that overexposure to selenium induces type 2 diabetes. However, uncertainties remain about the specific species and doses of selenium that trigger such diabetogenic effect. Methods: We investigated the long-term effects of selenium exposure on diabetes risk using data from a natural experiment in Northern Italy. During 1974-1985, a small cohort of residents had been consuming drinking water with an unusually high content of inorganic hexavalent selenium, selenate (8-10 μg/L), close to the standard of the European Union and other countries of 10 μg/L. Using data from a population-based registry, we compared the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in 2013 in selenate-exposed (n = 1310) and unexposed residents (n = 56,251). Results: In December 2013, the prevalence of diabetes in exposed and unexposed cohorts was 9.85 % and 10.29 %, respectively, with a multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratio of 0.95 (95 % confidence interval 0.81-1.12). Results were similar after stratifying by sex, age, and country of birth. Conclusions: Overall, these results do not support the hypothesis that consumption of water with inorganic hexavalent selenium levels close to the European limit increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. Null results could be due to non-differential outcome misclassification, other sources of bias, or the fact that selenate is a non-diabetogenic selenium species or that the dose of exposure was too low to elicit an adverse effect
Hierarchical clustering uncovered disease patterns and further untangled complexities in immune complex-mediated idiopathic MPGN and C3 glomerulopathy
No full textIntroduction: Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is currently stratified into complement C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and immune complex-mediated MPGN (IC-MPGN). However, classification is subject to continued debate. Methods: Here, we applied hierarchical clustering to a much larger cohort of patients with C3G/ICMPGN (295 individuals), extensively characterized for genetic and autoimmune complement abnormalities, with the goal of unraveling specific disease patterns. We also designed a user-friendly web application that with input of data at diagnosis could make cluster classification clinically applicable. Results: Five clusters with unique phenotypic and complement profiles were identified. Cluster 1 and 2 patients showed systemic complement activation until C5. Consistently, C5 nephritic factor and anti-factor B antibodies were prevalent in these clusters. Cluster 2 was distinguished from cluster 1 for classical pathway activation markers in biopsy. Cluster 3 showed C3-restricted systemic complement activation associated with the prevalence of C3 nephritic factor. Cluster 4 and 5 patients shared a normal complement profile and intense glomerular C3 staining, consistent with solid-phase complement activation, but cluster 5 distinguished for the higher prevalence of genetic abnormalities. Cluster 4 patients had the highest incidence of kidney failure during follow-up, while cluster 1 had the best kidney prognosis. However, clusters 1 and 2 showed a high risk of post-transplant recurrence. Through our web application, we could visually compare the predicted profile of new patients with those of patients included in clustering analysis and assign these patients to different clusters. The cluster-based classification allows etiologic diagnosis of C3G/IC-MPGN and had better prognostic value than current approaches. Conclusion: Our proposed strategy may possibly guide anti-complement treatment
Clinical, dermoscopic and confocal microscopy features of multiple primary melanomas according to pathogenic germline variant status: a retrospective, hospital-based study
No full textBackground Familial melanoma comprises approximately 10% of cutaneous melanomas. Individuals with pathogenic germline variants have a higher risk of developing multiple primary melanomas (MPMs) than individuals who lack these variants. However, differences in clinical, dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) features between variant carriers and noncarriers are not well established. Objectives To compare the clinical, dermoscopic and RCM characteristics of patients with MPMs with or without the pathogenic germline variants associated with familial melanoma. Methods This retrospective study included 45 patients with MPMs who underwent Sanger sequencing and/or custom next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels between 2020 and 2023. Clinical, dermoscopic and RCM images were reviewed and compared between pathogenic germline variant-positive and pathogenic germline variant-negative groups. Results Pathogenic germline variants in moderate-risk to high-risk melanoma genes were found in 15 patients. Carriers were diagnosed at a younger age than noncarriers [mean (SD) 41.8 years (10.1) vs. 53.5 (10.4); P < 0.001], more frequently had a family history of melanoma (P = 0.02), had more melanomas arising from pre-existing naevi (P < 0.001) and less actinic damage (P = 0.05). CDKN2A carriers were younger [38.9 years (11.4) vs. 45.3 (7.8)] and had fewer melanomas [2.7 (1.3) vs. 4.1 (1.2); P = 0.05] than MITF or POT1 carriers. CDKN2A carriers had low (n = 5), medium (n = 1) or high (n = 2) naevus counts, while MITF carriers had medium (n = 1) to high (n = 4) counts. Dermoscopically, pathogenic germline variant carriers showed fewer regression structures (8.3% vs. 39.8%; P = 0.01). RCM findings indicated a nonsignificant trend toward more dendritic cell-type melanomas in noncarriers (33.9% vs. 19.4%). Conclusions Patients with MPMs who carry pathogenic germline variants demonstrate distinct clinical and imaging profiles compared with patients who do not carry these variants. These findings support personalized surveillance of individuals at high risk of developing MPMs and the integration of genetic testing into melanoma management. Further studies with larger cohorts are needed to refine genotype-phenotype associations
Hydrodynamic Limit for Some Gradient and Attractive Spin Models
No full textWe study the hydrodynamic limit for three gradient spin models: generalized Kipnis-Marchioro-Presutti (KMP), its discrete version and a family of harmonic models, under symmetric and nearest-neighbor interactions. These three models share some universal properties: occupation variables are unbounded, all these processes are of gradient type, their invariant measures are product with spatially homogeneous weights, and, notably, they are all attractive, meaning that the process preserves the partial order of measures along the dynamics. In view of hydrodynamics of large-scale interacting systems, dealing with processes taking values in unbounded configuration spaces is known to be a technically intricate problem. In the present paper, we show the hydrodynamic limit for all three models listed above in a comprehensive way, and show as a main result, that, under the diffusive time scaling, the hydrodynamic equation is given by the heat equation with model-dependent diffusion coefficient. Our novelty is showing the attractiveness for each model, which is crucial for the proof of hydrodynamics
A Comprehensive Benchmark of Vehicle Dynamics Models for Autonomous Racing: a Deep Dive into MPC
No full textThis work benchmarks vehicle dynamics models commonly
used in autonomous racing, presenting their structures, key parameters,
and simplifying assumptions. We analyze their applicable ranges by com
paring solutions proposed in the literature and highlighting limitations
through simulations, including both standard and real on-track maneu
vers, where differences in accuracy and predictive capability are evalu
ated. A validated methodology for parameter identification is also pre
sented, alongside a discussion of numerical stability and model lineariza
tion, which are critical for real-time optimal control applications. In the
f
irst part of this work, through open-loop simulations, simplified mod
els are evaluated against a high-fidelity multi-body model, focusing on
vehicle dynamics accuracy and integrator stability. In the second part,
the models are integrated into a Model Predictive Controller (MPC)
to assess their effectiveness in closed-loop path-tracking within an au
tonomous racing context. Real-time simulations are employed, with the
multi-body model serving as physical representation. Experiments with a
Dallara EAV24 Super Formula at the Yas Marina circuit validate the ap
proach, demonstrating its practical applicability and further supporting
the findings
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: analysis of predisposing variants in patients with familial forms.
No full textBackground: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) causes progressive and irreversible changes in the lung parenchyma leading to respiratory failure. The pathogenesis involves several damage/repair mechanisms leading to fibrosis, whilst alterations of genes implicated in these processes contribute to the development of the disease. At present, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analyses investigate single nucleotide or small indel variants, and no evaluation of genomic rearrangements has been so far reported.
Methods: In order to identify predisposing variants, we analyzed both by NGS and by comparative genomic hybridization - single nucleotide polymorphism (CGH-SNP array) array, 37 patients with a diagnosis of familial pulmonary fibrosis.
Results: 17 patients (46%) harbored copy number variations (CNVs), 10 (27%) did non harbor any CNVs , 5 (13.5%) showed a mosaic deletion of Y chromosome, and 5 (13.5%) a run of homozygosity (ROH). NGS identified causative variants (included a novel one) in 5 patients (5/37, 13.5%) and confirmed the high prevalence of MUC5B promoter polymorphism rs35705950, including the detection of a previously unreported in IPF SNP (indicated as “novel” in the main text), rs141420125 (23/37; 62%). Conclusions: CGH-SNP array identified CNVs containing genes involved in mechanisms (i.e. oxidative stress, mitophagy, NF-Kb pathway) that have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of IPF. Therefore, the application of CGH-SNP array or other quantitative tests should be considered in the diagnostic set-up of these patients
Observation of perfect absorption in hyperfine levels of molecular spins with hermitian subspaces
No full textWe investigate Perfect Absorption (PA) of radiation, in which incoming energy is entirely dissipated, in a system consisting of molecular spin centers coherently coupled to a planar microwave resonator operated at milliKelvin temperature and in the single photon regime. This platform allows us to fine tune the spin-photon coupling and to control the effective dissipation of the two subsystems towards the environment, thus giving us the opportunity to span over a wide space of parameters. Our system can be effectively described by a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian exhibiting distinct Hermitian subspaces. We experimentally show that these subspaces, linked to the presence of PA, can be engineered through the resonator-spin detuning, which controls the composition of the polaritons in terms of photon and spin content. In such a way, the required balance between the feeding and the loss rates is effectively recovered even in the absence of PT-symmetry. We show that Hermitian subspaces influence the overall aspect of coherent spectra of cavity QED systems and enlarge the possibility to explore non-Hermitian effects in open quantum systems. We finally discuss how our results can be potentially exploited for applications, in particular as single-photon switches and modulators
Coffee and tea consumption and risk of dementia: a dose-response meta-analysis of cohort and cohort-nested case-control studies
No full textIntroduction: Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease in which environmental and lifestyle factors, including dietary habits, appear to play an important etiologic role. In particular, the effects of tea and coffee consumption are still under debate, having shown both protective and risk effects. This review aimed to assess the dose-response relation between coffee and tea consumption and risk of dementia. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search to identify relevant studies using the electronic databases PubMed and EMBASE until December 9, 2025. Inclusion criteria were: population free of chronic diseases and without previous diagnosis of dementia, assessment of tea or coffee intake and of the risk of developing dementia, and cohort or cohort-nested case-control design. We assessed the quality of the studies with the ROBINS-E tool. We performed nonlinear dose-response modeling of dementia for increasing tea and coffee consumption. Results: Ten studies were included in the analysis, with more than 450,000 participants at baseline and mean follow-up duration of 11.5 years. We found a progressive and linear decrease in all-cause dementia risk with increasing tea consumption, with comparable results for all tea types and for green tea only. Coffee demonstrated a U-shaped relation with the lowest risk between 2-3 cups/day (about 300/450 mL/day). The relation with Alzheimer's dementia showed no difference in risk until 3 cups of coffee per day when risk started to increase. Conclusions: This study shows that moderate coffee consumption does not seem to affect dementia risk, while high coffee consumption (≥3 cups/day) could increase risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's dementia. Conversely, tea consumption appears to linearly decrease all-cause dementia risk, while for Alzheimer's dementia there seems to be no further decrease in risk with consumption above one cup/day
Transformative and Emancipative Pedagogy: Intercultural Education and Global Civic Education for the Promotion of the Common Good
No full textThis essay explores the role of intercultural education in promoting the common good, emphasising its importance in fostering pluralistic, equitable and democratic societies. The essay posits that, alongside education for peace and global citizenship, intercultural education nurtures democratic values by encouraging dialogue, critical reflection, and ethical awareness. Drawing on the work of thinkers such as Dewey and Freire, it also emphasises education’s transformative power in combatting hate speech, racism and discrimination. Schools are presented as pivotal institutions in cultivating respect, tolerance, and solidarity, particularly in contexts of diversity and conflict. Through a case study on Global Civic Education, the essay lastly demonstrates how reflective educational practices can empower individuals to recognise and value cultural differences, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable society based on mutual understanding and shared responsibility