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Anselm of Aosta: The challenge of knowledge and education throughout intellect
Get PDFIn this contribution, we aim to analyse the figure of Anselm of Aosta through a critical historical approach to
bring to light how the concept of intellectus, which Anselm investigates, plays a key role from an educational
point of view also. To this end, we will explore not only the theme of intellectus as an essential tool for self-
discovery and openness to the transcendent but also its repercussions and its connection with the theme of rec-
titudo. We will show how these elements that characterize Anselm’s speculative thought are linked with his an-
thropological and educational conception and constitute an essential element for understanding the uniqueness
and innovativeness of his thought
The effect of corporate governance on SDG performance of Italian listed companies
No full textAdopting agency and stakeholders’ theories, this study examines the relationship between
corporate governance and sustainability performance, focusing on Italian listed compa
nies. Specifically, this study investigates which corporate governance attributes, such as
board size, the presence of independent members and the institution of social committees,
influence the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on a quan
titative approach, this study has employed an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression
model, and data have been collected from a sample of 234 companies extracted from the
ATOKA-CERVED database. Findings suggest that the presence of independent mem
bers, and a sustainability committee, positively contributes to the achievement of SDGs.
Regarding theoretical implications, our study supports the valid agency and stakeholder
theories, suggesting that the greater heterogeneity of the Board (independent directors)
and the establishment of sustainability committees seem to reduce agency problems and
promote sustainability. Concerning the practical implication, this study offers relevant in
formation to entrepreneurs and managers. Specifically, it recommends diversifying the
Board of Directors with independent directors and establishing dedicated committees to
address sustainability themes
Spine sequelae after latissimus dorsi harvest for breast reconstruction—A retrospective cohort study
No full text: The effects of mastectomy and breast reconstruction on spinal alignment are controversial, with conflicting evidence. The effect of latissimus dorsi (LD) flap harvest is still uncertain, as it has been hypothesized to have deleterious effects on posture. Our aim was to measure the possible effect of post-oncologic breast reconstruction (BR) following mastectomy on spinal alignment, with a special focus on the potential effects of LD harvesting. A retrospective cohort study was performed to assess postoperative spinal changes in patients who underwent mastectomy without reconstruction and those who received BR using an LD flap, a single-stage direct-to-implant (DTI) or a 2-stage reconstruction with expander/implant (EXP/IMP), using chest radiographs to calculate a Cobb angle (CA). Patients were stratified based on spinal divergence (CA ≥ 3°) and scoliosis (CA ≥ 10°). Multiple logistic regression was used to reveal significant predictors for divergence and scoliosis. The study featured 326 patients (440 breasts), among them 43 patients (48 breasts) underwent mastectomy alone while 283 (393 breasts) underwent BR, including LD flap (147 patients, 209 breasts), DTI (73 patients, 98 breasts), and EXP/IMP (63 patients, 86 breasts). Breast reconstruction proved to be protective against spinal divergence (p = 0.043), while chemotherapy and postoperative spinal curvature patterns significantly increased its risk. Scoliosis was associated with higher mastectomy weight (p = 0.005). Logistic regression models showed good accuracy for spinal divergence (AUC = 0.772) and moderate accuracy for scoliosis (AUC = 0.632). These results highlight the impact of reconstructive choices, adjuvant treatments, and spinal curvature on postmastectomy spinal outcomes
The Effect of Exercise-Based Interventions on Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients with Hematological Malignancies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Get PDFBackground/Objectives: Hematological cancers encompass a collection of heterogeneous conditions. The need for repeated treatments and prolonged hospitalization leads to a decrease in health-related quality of life. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the effect of exercise interventions on functioning scales, global health status, and symptoms in patients with hematological cancers. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were systematically screened, and randomized controlled trials were included. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life assessed through the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model and 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 14 trials involving 837 patients with mixed cancer types were included. Most studies evaluated exercise interventions during hospitalization, with aerobic and resistance training at moderate intensity being the most common modalities and adherence rates ranging from 28% to 100%. Exercise programs significantly improved physical (SMD 0.23; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.40; p = 0.008), emotional (SMD 0.19; 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.36; p = 0.020) and cognitive functioning (SMD 0.20; 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.37; p = 0.026), and global health status (SMD 0.24; 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.46; p = 0.027). Significant reductions were observed in fatigue (SMD -0.33; 95% CI: -0.52 to -0.14; p = 0.001), pain (SMD -0.34; 95% CI: -0.53 to -0.15; p = 0.000), and insomnia (SMD -0.22; 95% CI: -0.41 to -0.03; p = 0.024). Heterogeneity was minimal across most domains, suggesting consistent findings. Conclusions: Exercise interventions are effective in enhancing functioning scales and global health status and reducing symptom burden in patients receiving intensive treatments. Future research is required to explore the long-term effects of exercise and develop tailored programs for specific hematologic malignancies and treatment settings
The Black Archives of Automation. Labor, Technology and Space aboard an Atlantic Slave Vessel
No full textLich: Enhancing IoT Supply Chain Security Through Automated Firmware Analysis
No full textThe Internet of Things (IoT) is growing at an unprecedented speed, with over 16.6 billion connected devices in 2023 and projections of around 40 billion by 2030. However, this exponential growth is accompanied by serious security issues within an IoT device supply chain. By analysing case studies, the research identifies how individual vulnerabilities in supply chain can compromise the overall security of devices. Since firmware development is an integral part of an IoT supply chain, any weakness at this stage has large-scale security and reliability repercussions. This research focuses on security vulnerabilities arising from weaknesses in IoT firmware development, examining key challenges. The paper also introduces the energy robustness concept, which consists of encouraging developers to consider the amount of joules consumed by a firmware in a specific time frame for the purpose of determining the empiric degree of device robusteness to its inherent vulnerabilities and to external attacks. As a practical solution, we present Lich, a firmware analysis tool that executes a sequence of security and energy consumption tools with the objective of discovering vulnerabilities at an early stage of development and before a firmware deployment. The research aims to demonstrate, on a theoretical level, that the implementation of continuous controls can improve the reliability and security of the IoT supply chain
- Donne che corrono
No full textIl contributo ripercorre il percorso dell'artista Ettore Travaglini (Fano 1924- Pesaro 1988) indagando la presenza della figura femminile che accompagna la sua intera produzione pittorica, evocata come divinità, madre, compagne e musa fino ad essere trasfigurata in angelo
3D Printed Organ-on-a-Chip Model to Study Cerebral Blood Flow Alterations and Their Effect on Vascular Endothelial Functions
Get PDFCerebrovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality and disability globally [1].
Variations in cerebral circulation are found in many neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s
disease, Alzheimer’s and dementia. Abnormal flow patterns (e.g., shear stress) play an important role in jeopardizing vascular endothelium morphology and function, triggering neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration [2]. Yet, the mechanisms involved in the vascular-neuronal relationship are poorly understood, primarily due to the scarcity of adequate models that replicate the brain physiology in health and disease [3]. To bridge the gap in knowledge, it is essential to have a model that allows the study of cell-cell interactions within the NVU, and
potentially provides insights into disease mechanisms. Here we propose a human-relevant
microfluidic platform known as Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) to investigate how brain flow alteration
affects vascular interaction and alters calcium activity. The OoC we developed is a 3D printed
platform made of polypropylene, composed of three pieces: (1) cell culture chamber, with a channel to replicate the vasculature; (2) the porous membrane in PET; and (3) the PDMS sealing cap, to create a close channel. The model we present allows a more accurate simulation of the impact of blood flow alterations on vasculature and provides an exceptional opportunity to investigate cell-cell interactions. Overall, this project represents a comprehensive approach to unveiling the complexities of neuro-vascular interaction and their impact on neurological function, providing valuable insights into disease mechanisms and identifying potential avenues for therapeutic intervention.
1.Yu, Y., & Chen, D. Y.-T. (2023). Machine learning for cerebrovascular disorders. In O. Colliot (Ed.),
Machine Learning for Brain Disorders, Vol. 197, pp. 921–961. Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-
0716-3195-9_29
2. Lendahl, U., Nilsson, P., & Betsholtz, C. (2019). Emerging links between cerebrovascular and
neurodegenerative diseases-A special role for pericytes. EMBO Reports, 20(11), e48070.
https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201948070.
3. Bai, T., Yu, S., & Feng, J. (2022). Advances in the role of endothelial cells in cerebral small vessel disease.
Frontiers in Neurology, 13, 861714. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.86171
CURCUMA CAESIA: A POTENTIAL DRUG CANDIDATE AGAINST NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD)
No full textNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a critical global health challenge characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, leading to steatosis, inflammation and potential progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), if left untreated, may progress to severe conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite extensive research into its pathogenesis, effective therapeutic interventions remain limited. This study investigates the hepatoprotective potential of Curcuma caesia Roxb. rhizome extract in the management and mitigation of NAFLD progression and development using an in-vitro HepG2 cell model. The C. caesia extract was found to be rich in nutraceutical compounds including flavonoids and phenolic acid, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. NAFLD like conditions were induced using two types of fatty acid mixtures, S1 (oleic acid and palmitic acid) to model moderate steatosis, and S2 (oleic acid, elaidic acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid) to trigger advanced steatosis with apoptosis. It was analysed that the post treatment of C. caesia significantly improved cell viability, reduced lipid accumulation with enhanced cell cycle proliferation, particularly in S1-induced steatosis. Adding to this, ultrastructural analyses via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) confirmed the restorative effects of the extract on cellular morphology and integrity. Furthermore, immunofluorescence studies demonstrated activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway, while qRT-PCR and ELISA assays showed downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), indicating attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammation. These findings suggest that C. caesia Roxb. rhizome extract exhibits therapeutic potential in early and moderate stages of NAFLD by promoting hepatocyte regeneration and mitigating inflammatory responses. Further in-vivo studies are warranted to validate these findings.Englis