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B Cell Levels in Centenarians, Semi-Supercentenarians, and Supercentenarians: Descriptive Analysis by Age, Sex, Cytomegalovirus Status, and Interleukin-6
No full textThis study aims to characterise the B cell compartment in a cohort of Sicilian centenarians
by analysing absolute CD3−CD19+ lymphocyte counts, in association with age, sex,
cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus, related to immune ageing, and interleukin (IL)-6 levels,
representative of inflamm-ageing. It also investigates age-related changes in the
CD4+/CD19+ ratio as a marker of immune ageing, reflecting shifts in immune homeostasis.
B cell counts were assessed by flow cytometry on 53 Sicilians aged 19–110 years:
20 Adults, 15 Older adults, 11 long-living individuals, and 7 oldest centenarians. A multiple
negative binomial regression was applied to evaluate the effects of age, sex, CMV
serostatus, and Il-6 levels on values of B cells. The results showed a non-significant trend
toward age-related decline without sex-based differences. A significant reduction in B cell
count was observed in individuals with high anti_CMV titres, while IL-6 levels showed a
borderline inverse correlation. CD4+/CD19+ ratio values showed an age-related increase.
Our findings suggest that the age-related decline in B cell numbers may be mostly related
to CMV infection and IL-6 values, without sex contribution. The age-related increase in the
CD4+/CD19+ ratio, most pronounced in oldest centenarians, may represent a compensatory
adaptation promoting immune regulation and chronic inflammation control
Eigenstates of CQ*-Algebras
No full textMotivated by some recent results, we consider the notion of eigenstate (and eigenvalue) for an element X of a CQ*-algebras and the consequences on algebraic quantum dynamics and on its related derivations are investigated
Uncovering genomic traces of local adaptation and milk production traits in the Comisana Sheep, a Mediterranean dairy breed
No full textDomestic animals provide valuable models for exploring the genetic basis of long-term adaptation to diverse environments over relatively short evolutionary timescales. This study investigates genomic signatures of selection in the Comisana sheep breed (COM), known for its resilience in low-input systems and adaptation to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate. We analysed genotypes from 238 COM individuals, integrating them with data from the Sarda (SAR; N = 138) and Valle del Belice (VDB; N = 125) breeds. Using a combination of extended haplotype homozygosity (EHH)-based and population differentiation-based tests, we identified eight candidate genomic regions under selection in Comisana. Notably, a strong and consistent signal on ovine chromosome (OAR) 2, observed across all methods, encompassed the genes NFIB, FREM1, and ZDHHC21, which are involved in lung development, epithelial integrity, immune regulation, and thermoregulation, traits likely contributing to adaptation in harsh environments. On chromosome 3, three synonymous mutations were detected in the SLC6A15, LEMD3, and XPOT genes, all implicated in tissue repair and defence against pathogens, supporting their role in local adaptation. Other selected regions contained genes associated with milk production. A particularly strong signal on chromosome 6, characterised by a hard selective sweep, likely reflects recent artificial selection driven by structured breeding programmes. Overall, our findings suggest that selection in Comisana sheep targets pleiotropic genes involved in both environmental resilience and dairy performance, underscoring the combined influence of natural and artificial selection in shaping the genomic landscape of Mediterranean dairy breeds
Optimal Placement and Design of Multi-Unit Passive Vibration Control Systems: TMD, TLCD, and STLCD Strategies for MDOF Structures
No full textRegulation of mitochondrial dynamics imbalance as a potential therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
No full textI mitocondri formano una rete dinamica la cui architettura spaziale è regolata dall’equilibrio tra fusione e fissione, meccanismi noti come dinamiche mitocondriali. Questi due processi opposti sono essenziali per il turnover mitocondriale: la fusione, mediata dai regolatori MFN2 e OPA1, favorisce la biogenesi mitocondriale, mentre la fissione, guidata da DRP1, indirizza i mitocondri danneggiati verso la loro eliminazione selettiva. L’Atrofia Muscolare Spinale (SMA) è una malattia neuromuscolare in cui la carenza della proteina SMN (Survival Motor Neuron) provoca la degenerazione dei motoneuroni (MN). Poiché la proteina SMN è coinvolta nell’omeostasi mitocondriale, diversi modelli di studio della SMA hanno evidenziato disfunzioni mitocondriali, inclusi squilibri nelle dinamiche mitocondriali. In questo studio abbiamo inizialmente analizzato lo stato delle dinamiche mitocondriali nel soma e nei neuriti di motoneuroni in fase precoce, differenziati da iPSC derivate da pazienti SMA, e in motoneuroni primari del modello murino SMNΔ7. In entrambi i modelli, la massa mitocondriale risultava significativamente ridotta, in particolare nel compartimento neuritico. L’analisi dei regolatori di fusione e fissione ha rivelato un moderato sbilanciamento verso la fissione, rilevato esclusivamente nei neuriti tramite l’analisi in silico della rete mitocondriale (MiNA). Interessante notare che il trattamento con un attivatore di MFN2, in grado di promuovere la fusione nella rete, ha aumentato il contenuto mitocondriale e i livelli della proteina SMN nei motoneuroni umani SMA. Sebbene i motoneuroni siano le cellule più sensibili alla riduzione della proteina SMN, oggi la SMA è considerata una patologia multisistemica. Per questo motivo abbiamo indagato le dinamiche mitocondriali anche a livello periferico, utilizzando fibroblasti umani derivati da pazienti SMA. Come nei motoneuroni SMA, anche nei fibroblasti l’analisi dei regolatori di fusione e fissione ha mostrato uno shift verso la fissione; tuttavia, in questo caso lo squilibrio era associato a alterazioni funzionali più che a una riduzione del contenuto mitocondriale. Sorprendentemente, anche nei fibroblasti SMA il farmaco pro-fusione ha aumentato il contenuto mitocondriale e i livelli di SMN, insieme a un miglioramento del potenziale di membrana mitocondriale e dei livelli di ATP sintasi in maniera dose-dipendente. Sebbene la regolazione delle dinamiche mitocondriali sia un processo estremamente complesso, questi risultati evidenziano come l’aumento della fusione mitocondriale nella SMA possa modulare positivamente il turnover della rete mitocondriale, incrementando il contenuto e la funzione mitocondriale, e preservando l’espressione di SMN. Nel complesso, gli effetti positivi osservati in due distinti modelli di SMA supportano l'idea di utilizzare il potenziamento di MFN2 come strategia terapeutica promettente, soprattutto in combinazione con i trattamenti SMA già approvati.Mitochondria form a dynamic network whose spatial architecture is governed by the balance between fusion and fission, known as mitochondrial dynamics. These two opposing processes are essential for mitochondrial turnover: fusion, mediated by MFN2 and OPA1 regulators, promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, whereas fission, driven by DRP1, commits damaged mitochondria to their selective elimination. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder in which a deficiency in the SMN (Survival Motor Neuron) protein leads to motor neuron (MN) degeneration. Since the SMN protein is involved in mitochondrial homeostasis, several SMA models have shown mitochondrial dysfunction, including an imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics. This study first explored the state of mitochondrial dynamics in soma and neurites of early-stage MNs differentiated from SMA patient-derived iPSCs and primary MNs from the SMNΔ7 mouse model. In both models, the mitochondrial mass was significantly reduced, specifically in the neuritic compartment. Notably, the analysis of fusion and fission regulators exhibited a moderate imbalance toward fission, detected exclusively in neurites through the in silico mitochondrial network analysis (MiNA). Interestingly, the treatment with an MFN2 activator, promoting fusion within the network, was able to enhance mitochondrial content and increase SMN protein levels in SMA human MNs. Although MNs seem to be the most sensitive cells to suffer from the low level of SMN, nowadays SMA is considered a multisystemic disease. Therefore, we also investigated mitochondrial dynamics at the peripheral level using human fibroblasts derived from SMA patients. As in SMA MNs, the analysis of fusion and fission regulators revealed a shift toward fission; in fibroblasts, however, this imbalance was associated with functional rather than content-related mitochondrial alterations. Surprisingly, also in SMA human fibroblasts, the fusion-promoting compound increased mitochondrial content and SMN protein levels, together with improvements in mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP synthase levels in a dose-dependent manner. Although the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics is a highly sensitive process, these findings highlight how increasing mitochondrial fusion in SMA can positively modulate the organelle turnover, enhancing mitochondrial content and function, and preserving SMN expression. Collectively, the beneficial effects of this treatment across two distinct SMA models support MFN2 boosting as a promising therapeutic strategy, particularly in combination with already approved SMA treatments
I racconti inchiesta di Sciascia: spigolature linguistiche
No full textIn questo contributo si intende fornire una sintesi dei risultati di una ricerca di linguistica testuale condotta su un corpus di opere di Sciascia. A partire dalla mancanza – nella storia degli studi sciasciani – di un lavoro sistematico sulla lingua che potesse mostrare i meccanismi interni e strutturali della sua prosa al fine di cogliere il legame tra il linguaggio usato dall’autore e il suo impegno sociopolitico, si è sviluppato un progetto di ricerca nell’ambito di un dottorato in Studi umanistici presso l’Università di Palermo. Dopo circa quattro anni di lavoro – con la supervisione delle professoresse Marina Castiglione e Gigliola Sulis – si è pervenuti alla pubblicazione del volume Sciascia e la lingua dell’impegno. Analisi dei racconti inchiesta degli anni Settanta (Campanella 2025b), che offre un’analisi stilistica e linguistica di Atti relativi alla morte di Raymond Roussel (1971), La scomparsa di Majorana (1975), I pugnalatori (1976), L’affaire Moro (1978), Dalle parti degli infedeli (1979). Nella monografia, dopo aver ridefinito i confini del concetto di stile, assumendolo nella sua accezione più ampia, che comprende sia gli aspetti formali – linguistici, retorici – sia i risvolti correlati alle tematiche di fondo, ci si è posti il problema del genere letterario da attribuire alle inchieste sciasciane alla luce della critica e di quanto dichiarato dallo scrittore stesso
The Fuzzy Logic Gambit as a Paradigm of Lotfi’s Proposals
No full textTrying to contribute to the main question of the round table in a heretical way we shall not focus on specific aspects but on some (creative) internal tensions existing in the development of Fuzzy Logic
Environmental benefits and impacts forecasting for three-phase induction motors operations in marine applications: A multiple linear regression approach
No full textIn a world characterized by unsustainable production and consumption paths, it is crucial to conceptualize and implement eco-friendly strategies to achieve the set decarbonization goals. Maritime transport, mainly characterised by fossil fuels-based powertrains, is responsible for 2.89 % of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, for 15 % of global NOx emissions and 13 % of SOx, resulting a critical sector in which to promote sustainable strategies. Despite the direct environmental impacts are negligible during the operative phase in a full electric vessel, the impacts related to the electricity production are not negligible, so more efficient propulsion system management is still important. A better management can be achieved using control algorithms capable of reducing energy consumption under specific motor operating conditions. However, the real induced environmental benefits must be calculated along the entire energy supply chain. Through a life cycle assessment, this work aims at a dual objective. First, it aims to evaluate the environmental benefits obtainable by applying a power loss minimization algorithm to a three-phase induction motor compared to traditional field-oriented control algorithms under different working conditions. The optimized algorithm reduces all environmental impacts by approximately 15 %. A scenario analysis, based on different electricity production processes, highlights that the sustainability of electric powertrains increases by improving the share of renewable electricity in the production mix. Secondly, to simplify life cycle assessment computational burdens, an early design model based on multiple linear regression methods is proposed as a simple and reliable alternative (R2 similar or equal to 98 %) to support the decision-maker in the preliminary planning phase
Time-dependent effects in consecutive cycles of prone positioning for acute respiratory failure: insights from the PROVENT-C19 Registry
No full textBackground: Prone positioning is recommended for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome not only to improve oxygenation, but also to reduce lung stress, and lower mortality. The association between improved oxygenation during prone position and reduced mortality is still controversial. In previous studies, oxygenation improvement during the first prone positioning cycle was linked to lower intensive care unit (ICU) mortality, especially with prolonged duration. However, physiological data during subsequent cycles were lacking. This study aims to explore the association between ICU mortality and physiological responses to prone positioning-such as arterial oxygenation, dead space, and respiratory mechanics-and to assess how the cumulative time spent in prone or supine positions across all studied cycles influences outcomes. Methods: International registry including adult patients who underwent prone positioning for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19. We measured the difference for arterial partial pressure of oxygen to inspired fraction of oxygen ratio (PaO2/FiO2) and ventilatory ratio between baseline supine position and at either the end of cycle of prone position (Delta-PP) or re-supination (Delta-PostPP), focusing on the cycles following the first one. Results: We included 1523 patients from 53 centers. Both Delta-PP and Delta-PostPP for PaO2/FiO2 were significantly higher in ICU survivors than in ICU non-survivors for all the analyzed prone positioning cycles (p ≤ 0.001 for all comparisons). Delta-PP and Delta-PostPP for ventilatory ratio were significantly lower in ICU survivors than in ICU non-survivors for all the analyzed prone positioning cycles (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). No difference in the overall time spent in prone position was found between ICU survivors and non-survivors [61 (38, 84) h vs 58 (32, 85) h, respectively, p = 0.175]. The cumulative length of prone position was associated with ICU mortality only for the second prone positioning cycle [OR (95% CI) 0.986 (0.978, 0.994)]. No significant association was observed between the time spent in supine position and ICU mortality for all the analyzed prone positioning cycles. Conclusions: ICU survivors consistently demonstrated better oxygenation and more stable ventilatory ratio across studied prone positioning cycles, whereas non-survivors showed worsening oxygenation when returning supine and increased ventilatory ratio. Additionally, extending the duration of prone position beyond the second cycle may not significantly impact mortality
Process-level impact assessment of wood waste pre-treatments: Isolating environmental trade-offs through a gate-to-gate life cycle approach
No full textPre-treatment of wood waste represents a technically necessary but often methodologically underexplored stage in the life cycle of wood–plastic composites (WPCs). This study applies an attributional, gate-to-gate life cycle assessment to quantify the environmental implications of five representative laboratory-scale conditioning routes, including three chemical compatibilization pathways (SA1–SA3), thermo-mechanical pelletization (SB) and thermo-physical thermal modification (SC). Life cycle inventories were reconstructed from experimentally reported parameter ranges documented in laboratory-scale studies, and the resulting scenarios were modelled in SimaPro. Impact assessment was performed using three complementary methods, ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H), EF 3.0, and Cumulative Energy Demand, to capture climate, resources, and toxicity-related burdens. Main results indicate that chemically intensive scenarios generally exhibit higher impacts than energy-driven treatments, with SA1 showing the highest values across climate, toxicity, and resource-related categories (e.g., 0.91 kg CO2-eq, 4.09 CTUe, 2.76 Pt). SB and SC, which rely primarily on electricity and moderate heat inputs, display comparatively lower burdens, although SC shows a more intermediate profile due to its exclusive dependence on electricity. To explore whether alternative reagent choices may offer environmental advantages, a set of substitution scenarios was developed based on options documented in experimental literature. The outcomes showed divergent effects: while the replacement of acetic anhydride with maleic anhydride in SA1 lead to modest reductions in several categories, other substitutions, such as those involving citric acid, exhibited mixed effects. Results suggested that the environmental performance of “lower-severity” or bio-based reagents strongly depends on their upstream production profiles and should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Overall, the study highlights the relevance of conditioning steps within early-stage environmental assessment of WPC systems and emphasizes the importance of transparent boundary definition and scenario analysis when evaluating alternative pre-treatment strategie