Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi di Pavia
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Basic valency orientation in Gothic
No full textThe article addresses the basic valency orientation of Gothic. The data is analyzed mainly qualitatively, but, differently from previous similar studies, an insight is given into a quantitative model further supporting the findings of the former approach. Whereas the only transitivizing strategy found is causativization through Go. -ja- (< PIE *-éi̯e/o-), three detransitivizing strategies are employed: voice alternation, reflexivization, and na-derivation. The last-mentioned strategy pairs with ja-derivation to make up one of the two non-oriented means of encoding the anticausative alternation, the other being suppletion. A summary of the key findings is: The passive voice appears to play a role, albeit marginal, as the noncausal element
of the anticausative alternation. Out of the other two detransitivizing strategies, na-verbs are productive in East and North Germanic. Based on the Gothic evidence, na-verbs with specialized nonagentive meaning are formed primarily on roots whose semantics preferably selects for inanimate S/O’s. Following the extension to verbal roots of opposite alignment, the formation becomes a competitor to the reflexive construction. As a result of rise in productivity, na-verbs are selected to encode the noncausal end of the anticausative alternation, eventually ousting the reflexive construction
as a competitor to the middle
Seed ecology and conservation status of Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) species
No full textSri Lanka is home to five wild rice (Oryza) species, namely Oryza eichengeri Peter, O. rufipogon Griff, O. nivara Sharma et Shastry, O. granulata Nees et Arn. ex Watt and O. rhizomatis Vaughan. Among them, O. rhizomatis is an endemic species. The populations of these species are steadily decreasing due to natural and anthropogenic activities, primarily habitat loss posing the most significant threat. This PhD project aims to address 1) distribution of Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) species and identify the high-priority species and sites for ex situ and in situ conservation; 2) conservation status of O. rhizomatis; 3) dormancy class, level and dormancy breaking treatments of Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) species; and 4) the effect of dry storage and flooding in dormancy breaking of O. nivara and O. rhizomatis. I addressed these questions by: 1) mapping the distribution of Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) species and perform a gap analysis to determine the high-priority areas and species for ex situ and in situ conservation; 2) red list category based on the IUCN criteria for O. rhizomatis; 3) performing natural and artificial dormancy breaking treatments and categorized the type and level of dormancy; and 4) evaluating the effect of dry storage and flooding condition on seed dormancy of O. nivara and O. rhizomatis.
Only 29% of O. rhizomatis populations were found within protected areas. A limited expansion of the existing network of protected areas by 1 km will permit the incorporation of around 22% of the wild rice (Oryza) populations into the protected area. Our analysis also revealed that 62% of Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) populations were not represented at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Continuing decline of O. rhizomatis was observed in Extent of Occurrence (EOO), Area of Occupancy (AOO), quality of habitat, and number of mature individuals. The germination percentage increased with increasing dry storage time for all species. Heat treatment 50 °C for 14 days was effective to break dormancy in O. rhizomatis. All the species respond differently to dormancy breaking treatments. Scarification near the embryo significantly boosted the germination percentage to 92% for O. rhizomatis. Moreover, chemical treatments were not effective in breaking the dormancy of O. rhizomatis and O. nivara seeds. Dormancy in O. rhizomatis was released when seeds were exposed to flooding after dry storage, with shorter flooding treatment leading to higher germination. However, prolong flooding treatment (4 week) induced secondary dormancy. This behaviour is absent in O. nivara, but extended dry storage induces secondary dormancy in this species.
The distribution map and gap analysis revealed that O. rhizomatis, O. eichengeri, and O. rufipogon are the high-priority species for in situ conservation while O. granulata and O. rhizomatis are high priority species for ex situ conservation. Enlargement of existing protected areas or the institution of new small-sized protected areas will be an effective method in in situ conservation of high-priority species. Based on the IUCN criterion A2c, O. rhizomatis was categorized as Vulnerable (VU). The species exhibited varying responses to dormancy-breaking treatments. The germination percentage increased with longer dry storage times. Scarification near the embryo significantly enhanced the germination percentage, reaching up to 92% for O. rhizomatis. Additionally, heat treatment at 50°C for 14 days proved effective, particularly for hulled seeds and specifically for O. rhizomatis. Among the Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) species O. rhizomatis, O. nivara and O. rufipogon seeds have intermediate physiological dormancy while O. eichengeri has non deep physiological dormancy. In O. nivara only the storage time significantly affected the final germination but, in O. rhizomatis, storage time, flooding time and their interaction significantly affected the final germination.Sri Lanka is home to five wild rice (Oryza) species, namely Oryza eichengeri Peter, O. rufipogon Griff, O. nivara Sharma et Shastry, O. granulata Nees et Arn. ex Watt and O. rhizomatis Vaughan. Among them, O. rhizomatis is an endemic species. The populations of these species are steadily decreasing due to natural and anthropogenic activities, primarily habitat loss posing the most significant threat. This PhD project aims to address 1) distribution of Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) species and identify the high-priority species and sites for ex situ and in situ conservation; 2) conservation status of O. rhizomatis; 3) dormancy class, level and dormancy breaking treatments of Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) species; and 4) the effect of dry storage and flooding in dormancy breaking of O. nivara and O. rhizomatis. I addressed these questions by: 1) mapping the distribution of Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) species and perform a gap analysis to determine the high-priority areas and species for ex situ and in situ conservation; 2) red list category based on the IUCN criteria for O. rhizomatis; 3) performing natural and artificial dormancy breaking treatments and categorized the type and level of dormancy; and 4) evaluating the effect of dry storage and flooding condition on seed dormancy of O. nivara and O. rhizomatis.
Only 29% of O. rhizomatis populations were found within protected areas. A limited expansion of the existing network of protected areas by 1 km will permit the incorporation of around 22% of the wild rice (Oryza) populations into the protected area. Our analysis also revealed that 62% of Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) populations were not represented at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Continuing decline of O. rhizomatis was observed in Extent of Occurrence (EOO), Area of Occupancy (AOO), quality of habitat, and number of mature individuals. The germination percentage increased with increasing dry storage time for all species. Heat treatment 50 °C for 14 days was effective to break dormancy in O. rhizomatis. All the species respond differently to dormancy breaking treatments. Scarification near the embryo significantly boosted the germination percentage to 92% for O. rhizomatis. Moreover, chemical treatments were not effective in breaking the dormancy of O. rhizomatis and O. nivara seeds. Dormancy in O. rhizomatis was released when seeds were exposed to flooding after dry storage, with shorter flooding treatment leading to higher germination. However, prolong flooding treatment (4 week) induced secondary dormancy. This behaviour is absent in O. nivara, but extended dry storage induces secondary dormancy in this species.
The distribution map and gap analysis revealed that O. rhizomatis, O. eichengeri, and O. rufipogon are the high-priority species for in situ conservation while O. granulata and O. rhizomatis are high priority species for ex situ conservation. Enlargement of existing protected areas or the institution of new small-sized protected areas will be an effective method in in situ conservation of high-priority species. Based on the IUCN criterion A2c, O. rhizomatis was categorized as Vulnerable (VU). The species exhibited varying responses to dormancy-breaking treatments. The germination percentage increased with longer dry storage times. Scarification near the embryo significantly enhanced the germination percentage, reaching up to 92% for O. rhizomatis. Additionally, heat treatment at 50°C for 14 days proved effective, particularly for hulled seeds and specifically for O. rhizomatis. Among the Sri Lankan wild rice (Oryza) species O. rhizomatis, O. nivara and O. rufipogon seeds have intermediate physiological dormancy while O. eichengeri has non deep physiological dormancy. In O. nivara only the storage time significantly affected the final germination but, in O. rhizomatis, storage time, flooding time and their interaction significantly affected the final germination
Relationship of long-term air pollution exposure with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an Italian multicentre observational study
No full textBackground Recent evidence showed that 50% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be attributable to air pollution. We aimed to investigate the association between long-term air pollution exposure and COPD symptoms/diagnosis in an Italian epidemiological study. Methods A total of 14 420 adults living in Ancona, Pavia, Pisa, Sassari, Turin and Verona were investigated in 2005-2011. Data on risk factors and health outcomes were collected by questionnaires; mean annual concentrations of particulate matters (PM) like PM 10 and PM 2.5 as well as NO 2 and mean summer concentrations of O 3 (μg/m 3) at residential level with a 1 km resolution (period 2013-2015) were obtained by machine learning techniques. The relationship of pollutant exposure and COPD prevalence was assessed by logistic regression models (single pollutant) and principal component logistic regression models (multipollutant) adjusting for sex, age, education level, smoking habits, season of interview, and city-specific climatic index and including a random intercept for cohorts. Results A 10 μg/m 3 increase of PM 10, PM 2.5 and NO 2 exposure was related to COPD diagnosis and symptoms (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.65 for PM 2.5; OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.54 for PM 10 and OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.15 for NO 2) using a multipollutant approach. Similar results emerged for dyspnoea (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.47 for PM 2.5; OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.39 for PM 10 and OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.11 for NO 2). Associations between COPD symptoms and summer O 3 were less clear. By multipollutant models, OR estimates were lower than those by single pollutant models. Conclusions Further evidence about the relationship between air pollution and respiratory effects in Italian adults was provided indicating PM as the main driver
Painfully Sensitive: How Sensory Processing Sensitivity Affects Healthy Adolescents’ Perception of Pain
No full textObjective: Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) describes a common trait characterized by lower sensory threshold, depth of processing, and ease of overstimulation. Low sensory threshold is also potentially important in the context of pain. To date, the relationship between SPS and pain perception has not been investigated, particularly in adolescents. This randomized experimental study aimed to explore whether SPS was associated with pain threshold and tolerance in healthy adolescents. Further, we examined differences in pain perception following positive, negative, or neutral mood induction. Methods: A total of 100 healthy adolescents aged 16 to 19 years were recruited through schools and online advertisement. Participants completed psychosocial questionnaires and underwent a randomized mood induction (positive, negative, or neutral). Pain levels (in °C) and self-reported pain tolerance and threshold were assessed by an experimental heat pain paradigm. Regression models were applied to determine effects of mood induction on pain perception, while multiple analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were computed to compare sensitivity across groups. Results: The mood induction significantly influenced self-reported pain ratings, demonstrating a positive interaction coefficient for the positive mood condition (b = 1.140, p < 0.01). ANOVAs revealed significant differences between sensitivity groups for baseline scores of pain threshold (F(2,97) = 5.009, p < 0.01) and tolerance (F(2,97) = 3.193, p < 0.05) (F(2,97) = 7.431, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings reveal that highly sensitive adolescents had the lowest ratings of measured pain tolerance and threshold measures at baseline, suggesting heightened sensitivity to pain. This highlights the importance of considering sensory processing sensitivity in pain research, particularly in adolescent populations
Predictability of viral load dynamics in the early phases of SARS-CoV-2 through a model-based approach
No full textA pipeline to evaluate the evolution of viral dynamics based on a new model-driven approach
has been developed in the present study. The proposed methods exploit real data and the multiscale
structure of the infection dynamics to provide robust predictions of the epidemic dynamics. We focused
on viral load kinetics whose dynamical features are typically available in the symptomatic stage of the
infection. Hence, the epidemiological evolution was obtained by relying on a compartmental approach
characterized by a varying infection rate to estimate early-stage viral load dynamics, of which few
data are available. We tested the proposed approach with real data of SARS-CoV-2 viral load kinetics
collected from patients living in an Italian province. The considered database refers to early-phase
infections, whose viral load kinetics have not been affected by the mass vaccination policies in Italy
Expected income mobility: demand for redistribution and antisocial behavior
Get PDFThis dissertationuses a laboratory experimentto examinethe role ofmobility, self-confidence, and entitlement on the demand for redistribution, discussed in Chapter 1, and on antisocial behavior, discussed in Chapter 2. When people make economic decisions, they generally consider not only how their decisions will affect their current situation, but also how these decisions will affect them in the future. Thus, income mobility seems to play a key role in determining decisions in non-static contexts. This dissertation focuses on two factors that influence subjects’ preferences for redistribution and antisocial behavior when mobility is possible: self-confidence in one’s relative effort and entitlement. When income mobility is possible and individuals can influence mobility through effort, they form their expectations about future mobility through expectations about their own effort relative to others. The measure of self-confidence is then crucial, as overconfident individuals exaggerate the probability of moving up the income distribution, which may alter their support for redistribution and antisocial behavior. On the other hand, entitlement refers to the behavior of individuals when their efforts influence the mobility process or not. If mobility is possible, the role that subjects play in determining their future income may change the way they feel entitled to that income, affecting their support for redistribution and antisocial behavior.
The experiments for the two chapters of this dissertation were conducted as part of the same experiment and according to the same experimental design. Subjects chose redistribution rates according to the Melzer and Richards (1981) model, i.e. that can only be applied to their own income, and made decisions about reducing the income of others with no private benefit but at a cost. These decisions were made in the absence or presence of future mobility. The mobility process was modified by subjects’ performance on a test or by luck, depending on the treatment. When decisions were made in the presence of mobility, subjects could at first estimate the mobility process based on their expectations regarding the results of the effort test or lottery, i.e. the mobility process was subjective. Secondly, they knew the objective mobility process resulting from the results of the effort test or the lottery. This design allows for the investigation of the effects of mobility, self-confidence, and entitlement on preferences for redistribution and antisocial behavior. This dissertation provide new insights into the psychological factors that influence attitudes towards redistribution and antisocial behavior and highlight the importance of subjective beliefs and perceptions of fairness for economic mobility.This dissertationuses a laboratory experimentto examinethe role ofmobility, self-confidence, and entitlement on the demand for redistribution, discussed in Chapter 1, and on antisocial behavior, discussed in Chapter 2. When people make economic decisions, they generally consider not only how their decisions will affect their current situation, but also how these decisions will affect them in the future. Thus, income mobility seems to play a key role in determining decisions in non-static contexts. This dissertation focuses on two factors that influence subjects’ preferences for redistribution and antisocial behavior when mobility is possible: self-confidence in one’s relative effort and entitlement. When income mobility is possible and individuals can influence mobility through effort, they form their expectations about future mobility through expectations about their own effort relative to others. The measure of self-confidence is then crucial, as overconfident individuals exaggerate the probability of moving up the income distribution, which may alter their support for redistribution and antisocial behavior. On the other hand, entitlement refers to the behavior of individuals when their efforts influence the mobility process or not. If mobility is possible, the role that subjects play in determining their future income may change the way they feel entitled to that income, affecting their support for redistribution and antisocial behavior.
The experiments for the two chapters of this dissertation were conducted as part of the same experiment and according to the same experimental design. Subjects chose redistribution rates according to the Melzer and Richards (1981) model, i.e. that can only be applied to their own income, and made decisions about reducing the income of others with no private benefit but at a cost. These decisions were made in the absence or presence of future mobility. The mobility process was modified by subjects’ performance on a test or by luck, depending on the treatment. When decisions were made in the presence of mobility, subjects could at first estimate the mobility process based on their expectations regarding the results of the effort test or lottery, i.e. the mobility process was subjective. Secondly, they knew the objective mobility process resulting from the results of the effort test or the lottery. This design allows for the investigation of the effects of mobility, self-confidence, and entitlement on preferences for redistribution and antisocial behavior. This dissertation provide new insights into the psychological factors that influence attitudes towards redistribution and antisocial behavior and highlight the importance of subjective beliefs and perceptions of fairness for economic mobility
The in vitro effects of Voghera sweet pepper on thyroid cancer cells: modulation of oxidative stress and pro-tumorigenic genes
No full textBackground: Voghera pepper (VP) extracts were demonstrated to have anti-oxidant ability in several cell types. Purpose: This study aimed to assess whether VP-extracts could lower oxidative stress and modulate thyroid cancer (TC) cells behavior in vitro. Methods: Extracts were analyzed using the LC-DAD-MS system. Thyroid cell lines, both normal (NHT) and cancerous (TPC-1 and 8505C) were treated with increasing concentrations of Yellow (YVP) and Green (GVP) VP-extracts over time. Viability and proliferation were assessed in all cell types. Changes in Reactive-oxygen-species (ROS) production by TPC-1 and 8505C were assessed by flow-cytometry. The mRNA expression of anti-oxidant mediators (NFE2L2, HMOX1, SOD2 and CAT), epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers (POU5F1, SNAI1, TWIST1, SNAI2 and VIM) and thyroid-differentiation-related genes (NKX2-1 and PAX8) were evaluated by RT-PCR. Results: Treatment with GVP or YVP reduced the viability of TPC-1 and 8505C but not those of NHT, without effects on cells proliferation. GVP and YVP reduced basal and H2O2-induced ROS production in TC cells. GVP and YVP up-regulated mRNA levels of several anti-oxidant genes. GVP and YVP reduced mRNA of POU5F1 in TPC-1 and 8505C. Finally, the mRNA of PAX-8 was reduced by GVP and YVP extracts in TPC-1 and 8505C, while NKX2-1 was reduced by both GVP and YVP in TPC-1 and only by GVP exposure in 8505C. Conclusion: This is the first demonstration of the potential beneficial effects of VP extracts in TC in terms of reduction of oxidative stress, increase of antioxidant markers, and modulation of markers of metastasis and de-differentiation in TC cells
