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Radiofrequency Echographic Multi-Spectrometry for Early Bone Health: The REMS-Bone Study Protocol (Trial Acronym: REMS-Bone)
Get PDFBackground: Bone health begins with maternal health and nutrition, which influences skeletal mass and bone
mineral density (BMD) already in utero. Maximization of bone mass during skeletal growth has become the goal
of primary prevention of osteopenia and osteoporosis. The amount of bone gained during growth and its subsequent
rate of loss are closely linked to the final skeletal mass in adulthood. Radiofrequency Echographic Multi
Spectrometry (REMS) technology has proven to be useful in the assessment of BMD in pregnant women. However,
the feasibility of REMS for the assessment of bone status in newborns remains unknown. This multicenter
longitudinal study aims at using REMS to evaluate skeletal status in fetuses, newborns and children until 12
months of age.
Methods: Two hundred mother-newborn dyads, with infants born at term of gestation, will be consecutively
recruited during the prenatal period and followed up until 12 months of life. BMD will be assessed with REMS
technology in mothers, fetuses, newborns and infants at 1, 3 6 and 12 months of life. In all enrolled patients,
blood will be collected at specific time points and oxidative stress biomarkers, specific microRNAs, and several
bone metabolites will be measured in blood, whereas endocrine disruptors will be measured in urine.
Discussion: This study is designed to provide robust data on the best method to identify and evaluate bone status
starting from intrauterine life. The associations among BMD, maternal nutrition, early exposure to endocrine
disruptors, and other investigated molecules will also be investigated in relationship with subsequent body
composition and bone health.
Trial registration: The protocol was retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on December 3rd, 2024, with
the ID number NCT06750523
Prospezioni geofisiche e aerofotointerpretazione nelle valli del Foglia e del Metauro (Pitinum Pisaurense, Forum Sempronii, Pitinum Mergens)
No full textL’obiettivo di questo contributo è quello di fornire una sintesi preliminare
riguardo alcuni progetti di ricerca che l’Università degli Studi di Urbino ha intrapreso
negli ultimi anni nelle valli del Foglia e del Metauro (fig. 1) e i cui esiti,
seppur ancora parziali, sono una prova evidente dello straordinario contributo
che possono avere l’aerofotografia e le prospezioni geofisiche in campo archeologico,
sia per la localizzazione dei siti che come strumento di ricerca, oltre
che come supporto fondamentale negli scavi, indirizzando in modo preciso le
indagini e fornendo una panoramica generale sul contesto delle aree oggetto di
studio
LA PRODUZIONE SOCIALE DELLA DISINFORMAZIONE: ATTIVITÀ, IDEOLOGIA E PATRIOTTISMO NELLE TROLL FARMS IRANIANE
Get PDFThe present research explores the production culture and daily operations of Iranian troll farms through the lens of production studies, focusing on the working conditions of paid troll without making judgments. I employed qualitative methods to delve into the inner workings of Iranian troll farms. Between March 2022 to July 2024. I conducted semi-structured interviews with eight disinformation workers at both managerial and staff levels, as well as a Saudi journalist interested in the same topic. At the outset of this research, I approached disinformation work in Iran as a distinct form of digital labor, often viewed as a “black box” that is very difficult to access. However, as my research progressed; I came to realize that Iranian troll farms are very distinctive as they are not as opaque as initially thought. Moreover, working in these environments fosters a sense of pride and patriotism among employees, who see themselves as “digital soldiers” engaged in an information warfare. This research represents the first in-depth study of troll farms in Iran, and it contributes to a deeper understanding of disinformation practices beyond Western-centric analyses; it situates these activities within the broader digital media industry in Iran and offers a detailed examination of the unique features that set Iranian troll farms apart, offering a more comprehensive view of this growing phenomenon.
Keywords: Iranian troll farms, Arab troll farms, computational propaganda, disinformation, production studies, Iran, digital soldiers, information warfare, qualitative researchThe present research explores the production culture and daily operations of Iranian troll farms through the lens of production studies, focusing on the working conditions of paid troll without making judgments. I employed qualitative methods to delve into the inner workings of Iranian troll farms. Between March 2022 to July 2024. I conducted semi-structured interviews with eight disinformation workers at both managerial and staff levels, as well as a Saudi journalist interested in the same topic. At the outset of this research, I approached disinformation work in Iran as a distinct form of digital labor, often viewed as a “black box” that is very difficult to access. However, as my research progressed; I came to realize that Iranian troll farms are very distinctive as they are not as opaque as initially thought. Moreover, working in these environments fosters a sense of pride and patriotism among employees, who see themselves as “digital soldiers” engaged in an information warfare. This research represents the first in-depth study of troll farms in Iran, and it contributes to a deeper understanding of disinformation practices beyond Western-centric analyses; it situates these activities within the broader digital media industry in Iran and offers a detailed examination of the unique features that set Iranian troll farms apart, offering a more comprehensive view of this growing phenomenon.
Keywords: Iranian troll farms, Arab troll farms, computational propaganda, disinformation, production studies, Iran, digital soldiers, information warfare, qualitative researc
Red blood cells could protect miRNAs from degradation or loss thanks to Argonaute 2 binding
Get PDF: Red blood cells (RBCs) have emerged as reservoirs of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the circulatory system, challenging the traditional view of their nucleic acid absence. This study investigates the miRNA profiles and stability of both native and engineered RBCs. We demonstrate that RBCs are rich in miRNAs, which remain stable under physiological conditions, likely due to their association with Ago2, a key RNA-binding protein. The stability and retention of miRNAs persist even after hypotonic dialysis used for RBC engineering. These findings underline the potential of RBCs as miRNA carriers for therapeutic applications and as a foundation for RNA-based delivery systems. Such advancements could redefine their role in transfusion medicine and advanced RNA therapies
24 Hour monitoring and comparative analysis of cardiac activity peaks in pre-adolescents across sports, school, and leisure using advanced technologies: A comprehensive review of scientific literature
Get PDFBackground: Limited research exists on heart rate (HR) in children, particularly regarding its maximum values
(HRmax). This study aims to analyze and compare heart rate peaks in preadolescent children throughout the day
to track cardiac activity and identify potential abndormalities, that may be difficult to detect in brief medical
examinations. Additionally, this study considers the growing prevalence use of computer games, particulary
those with conflict-based and warlike themes, which warrant careful evaluation. Early findings suggest this
aspect requires further investigation (Izzo R. et al., JPES, Oct.22). Methods: The examination was conducted
with 12 subjects, whose average age was 10.3 ± 1.84 years, for a week. Data was collected using a state-of-the art wearable device, a T-shirt (K-Sport Universal, Montelabbate, PU, Italy), which had sensors in smart textile
capable of detecting heartbeats with medically certified accuracy. The device was also equipped with the K-AI
position detector, which integrated 4 satellite tracking systems and 3 inertial sensors. The study focused on
analyzing the impact of playing video games, watching TV shows, and engaging in sports, including football
matches, on heart rate. Results: The examination was conducted with 12 subjects, whose average age was 10.3 ±
1.84 years, for a week. Data was collected using a state-of-the-art wearable device, a T-shirt (K-Sport Universal,
Montelabbate, PU, Italy), which had sensors in smart textile capable of detecting heartbeats with medically
certified accuracy. The device was also equipped with the K-AI position detector, which integrated 4 satellite
tracking systems and 3 inertial sensors. Conclusions: The results suggest that heart rate performance of kids
during everyday activities may have been underestimated previously and, therefore, it would be useful to
conduct a deeper investigation of the values described above to determine the boundary between less regular
trends. This could help provide preventive and health-related information on the daily use of video games,
highlighting alert moments such as during school activitie
Gradara. Il senso del luogo.
No full textGradara, incantevole borgo medievale al confine tra Romagna e Marche, è celebre in tutto il mondo come custode della toccante storia di Paolo e Francesca, resa eterna da Dante nel V Canto dell’Inferno. Ma Gradara non è solo leggenda.
Questo volume invita il lettore a scoprire le tante sfumature di un luogo straordinario: dal fascino del revival medievale di inizio Novecento alla figura di Umberto Zanvettori, visionario benefattore e restauratore del castello, dalle strategie di tutela del patrimonio alle testimonianze di vita quotidiana racchiuse negli archivi. Un viaggio sorprendente tra arte e storia, mito e memoria, dove passato e presente si incontrano in un dialogo continuo e appassionante
Direct powder extrusion (DPE) 3D-printing of mini-tablets for preclinical studies in rodents
Get PDF3D printing (3DP) plays a crucial role in accelerating formulation processes and significantly reduces the time needed to transition from concept to prototype. This technology is particularly valuable as it allows researchers to quickly adjust the structure and composition of dosage forms and efficiently evaluate multiple formulations for safety and efficacy. The following research explores the feasibility of using the direct powder extrusion (DPE) technique to produce 3D-printed mini tablets for eventual in vivo preclinical trials in rodents. The DPE method streamlines the manufacturing process into a single step and addresses the limitations commonly associated with Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). It offers advantages such as customized small-batch production, optimized costs, and minimal waste. This allows pharmaceutical companies to quickly respond to market demands and improve overall product quality through detailed characterization. In this study cellulose-based polymers like Hydroxypropyl Cellulose (HPC-L) and Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC-15LV) were selected as the main matrix excipients, incorporating 10 % w/w of a model drug. The formulations were further optimized to achieve the best flowability and extrudability, as well as the most desirable printing resolution, to produce 3D-printed mini tablets resembling size 9 capsules. Based on the inner diameter of the cannula used for oral administration in rats, tablets measuring 8.6 × 1.8 × 1.8 mm were successfully printed. Thermal analysis (DSC and TGA) and solid-state characterization (FTIR, XRD) were employed to evaluate the physical properties of the powder blends and final 3D-printed products along with the assessment of desirable mechanical features. The successful production of small batches of model 3D-printed mini tablets that are suitable for in vivo testing and present comparable release profiles with conventional employed capsules demonstrated the possibility to implement DPE during preclinical development of novel formulations working independently from suppliers
Support + Belief = Decision Trust
No full textWe present SBTrust, a logical framework designed to formalize decision trust. Our logic integrates a doxastic modality with a novel non-monotonic conditional operator that establishes a positive support relation between statements and is closely related to a known dyadic deontic modality. For SBTrust, we provide semantics, proof theory and complexity results, as well as motivating examples. Compared to existing approaches, our framework seamlessly accommodates the integration of multiple factors in the emergence of trust
Longevity economy e invecchiamento nel contesto lavorativo
No full textL'articolo riproduce l'introduzione svolta dall'autore alla Sessione su “Longevity economy e invecchiamento nel contesto lavorativo” nell’ambito del Convegno “Luci sul lavoro. Salute e lavoro. Nozioni, profili prevenzionistici e tutele” (Montepulciano, 13 luglio 2024