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Distinctive HLA-II association with primary biliary cholangitis on the Island of Sardinia
No full textBackground: The HLA DRB1*08 allele associated with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) among Caucasians is of low frequency in the Sardinian population.
Objective: The aim of our study was to type a cohort of PBC patients from the island of Sardinia for HLA class II antigens.
Methods: Twenty Sardinian patients affected by PBC, 14 with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and 89 healthy controls (HCs) were typed for HLA class II alleles by dot-blot analysis.
Results: The PBC-associated HLA DRB1*08 allele was detected in none of the studied individuals. The DRB1*0301–DQB1*0201 was the prevalent HLA haplotype, detected in 19 (47.5%) out of 40 PBC haplotypes (OR = 3.0; 95% CI 1.5–6.2) and in 11 (39.3%) out of 28 AIH haplotypes (OR = 2.2; 95% CI 0.94–5.0), but in only 41 (23%) out of 178 HC haplotypes. Moreover, PBC patients showed an increased frequency of homozygosity for the DQB1*0201 allele (35% compared with 6.7% of the HCs; OR = 7.5; 95% CI 2.2–25.7). The frequency of the DRB1*11 allele in the PBC group was about half of that seen in the Sardinian HCs (7.5% vs 15.7%) (p = ns).
Conclusions: Our study confirmed the low frequency of the HLA DRB1*08 allele among Sardinians, either in the general population or PBC patients. The high prevalence of the HLA DRB1*0301–DQB1*0201 haplotype is a distinctive genetic feature of PBC among Sardinians. Our study strengthens the hypothesis that still unknown genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors must be involved in the pathogenesis of different HLA-associated liver diseases, and it represents a pathfinder that warrants exploration in a future extensive study
Il Nuraghe Ola e i sistemi di organizzazione socio-territoriale nel Nuorese
Get PDFThe aim of the research is to investigate the archaeological complex of Nuraghe Ola, located in central Sardinia. The work focused first and foremost on the large collection of ceramic materials found inside the nuraghe chamber and in the structures pertaining to the village. The analyzed pottery represents the typical repertory of the Nuragic production from the end of the Middle Bronze Age to the Late Bronze Age. The typological study of the material, was accompanied by a macroscopic analysis of the technological characteristics typical of each class, which led to the definition of the various phases of the production process and the identification of the functionality of the artifacts.72 representative individuals were selected for archaeometric analysis. The samples include cooking pots and table wares. The pottery sherds were selected from different contexts and phases and divided into major groups according to their macroscopic characteristics (macro-fabric, forming technique, shape). All the samples were studied through optical microscopy by thin section petrography (OM), X-ray florescence (XRF), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The aim of archeometrical study is to clarify the relatioship between the natural resourses and Bronze Age pottery production in orden to obtain information on the selection and treatment of raw material and, as well, of they manifacturing technology
The Modification of rural vineyards landscapes: agroclimatic and phenological analysis in relation to possible climate change
Get PDFThe purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the effectiveness of the thermal time descriptor Normal Heat Hours (NHH), in a climate change context, applied to the description of the viticultural systems based on the close relationship between thermal resources and plant phenology. In particular the research studies the way in which NHH has changed over time and the potential future changes due to climate of the vine in Sardinia over the next thirty years regarding cultivation and consequently concerning modification of the rural landscape. Recent studies show that models using NHH perform better than Degree-Day models, for all statistical indices tested and the dependent variables. Experimenting with different application methods of analysis, testing different thresholds, the thesis conducts a specific case study in region Nurra in order to generate maps of the region by applying an appropriate geo-statistical methodology and local phenological datas for many cultivars. The maps of meteorological data (i.e. temperatures, rainfalls), agro-meteorological
indices (Huglin, Fregoni) and Normal Heat Hours with different thresholds permit to understand how indices varied across the territory. Moreover the thesis simulates what may happen in 2050 for the wine sector in Sardinia appling a range of climate change scenarios developed by Goddard Institute for Space Studies, GISS and the 'Hadley Center of the UK Meteorological Office
PE_PGRS3: a new player in <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> pathogenesis
Get PDFThe M. tuberculosis (Mtb) genome contains around 60 pe_pgrs genes, whose role and function remain elusive. In this study, two PE_PGRS proteins with high sequence homology were selected and investigated (PE_PGRS3 and PE_PGRS4), with PE_PGRS3 characterized by the presence of a C-terminal domain rich in arginine. Interestingly, full-length PE_PGRS3 protein is expressed by Mtb strains but not by other MTBC subspecies causing disease in animals. A gene reporter system was developed to investigate in M. smegmatis (Msm) the expression pattern of these genes. Fluorescence microscopy, FACS and transcriptional analysis indicated that the two genes are differentially regulated, with pe_pgrs3 but not pe_pgrs4 being expressed only when mycobacteria are cultivated in low inorganic phosphate (iPhos). Expression of pe_pgrs3 in low iPhos correlated with the upregulation of relA in Msm recombinant strains and Mtb, suggesting that pe_pgrs3 is involved in the stringent response. Overexpression of the PE_PGRS3, and of its functional deletion mutant (PE_PGRS3ΔCt), in Msm were obtained by expressing these genes under control of hbhA promoter. Interestingly, Msm strains overexpressing PE_PGRS3 showed enhanced ability to entry in macrophages and epithelial cells compared to Msm expressing PE_PGRS3ΔCt or Msm parental strain. No differences in the ability of these strains to survive intracellularly were measured. These results provide new insights on the role of PE_PGRS3 in TB pathogenesis
Dissecting Balearic populations at the molecular level from the bronze age to the current era
No full textObjectives
To determine ancient population influences on ancient and current Balearic populations and to reconstruct their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene pool evolution.
Methods
We analyzed 239 individuals belonging to five archaeological populations from Majorca and Minorca, four dating to the transition between the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, and one Late Roman Majorcan population. Six additional individuals from Santa Teresa di Gallura from the Nuragic period were characterized and added to the existing samples from that culture to make comparisons with Talaiotic populations.
Results
We characterized the haplogroups of 138 individuals and obtained 69 sequences from mtDNA hypervariable region I. In the intra-island study, the apparent differences in social and funerary rites between two contiguous Majorcan necropolises were correlated with genetic characteristics. Also, the likely occurrence of consanguinity in a population with a very particular burial pattern was supported by genetic data. Despite the uniqueness of each necropolis, the global comparison of the five necropolises revealed no significant differences between them, or between ancient and modern populations from the islands. Ancient Balearics showed a similar mtDNA gene pool to Ancient Catalans, had a Near Eastern component, and showed continuity with European populations since at least the Bronze Age.
Conclusion
We characterized five Balearic necropolises in the context of their geographic and cultural characteristics. The similarity between ancient Balearic and ancient Catalan gene pools reinforces their known historic interactions, while the lack of a consistent genetic continuity with Ancient Sardinians suggests that Talaiotic and Nuragic cultures arose in differentiated populations
Bosa, Planargia e Montiferru: storia e istituzioni, geografia e toponomastica
No full textThe research project on economy, culture and institutions of the Planargia territory and Montiferru in medieval context is seen as the last phase of work on completion of the research, cataloging and comments on the documents found, particularly those in the archives under investigation.
If the work of the previous years was held with cataloging the documents with a critical reading taking in consideration the recent historical research about the island's medieval studies and have analyzed the documents found previously, supplemented by the results of researches made in in person, over the last year it has started the work of writing the thesis through a trial program that sees the conduct of the text divided into argumentative topics. In previous years it has begun the critical writing as documentarily and literarily identified, preceded by a reference framework in the Territory, Settlements and Toponymy. In the subchapter relating to the territory it is specify the settlement framework (with a survey of the countries included in the historical region of Planargia: Bosa, Montresta, Modolo, Suni, Sindia, Sagama, Tinnura, Flussio, Magomadas, and Tresnuraghes) and the catchment area of the river Temo, that from the slopes of Monte Pedra Ettori comes in Bosa flowing into the sea. The settlements section briefly resumed the origin of the small villages, so close to each others to seem a whole, like 170 years ago Vittorio Angius wrote (in the Casalis Dictionary): "In a small space are placed against one another Villages So What Paion Wards A common only. "Another issue addressed in the geographical part of the research project concerns the topography of the area in questione.7 Another phase of the research focuses on That What about the fundamental issue, that is, history. The events here are treaties of general character of the Territory, from the Byzantine period to the Birth of giudicali kingdoms, of which specifying Organization and General characters. It was completed the archival research work started in the first year of taking direct vision Registrar of the actual section cancillería Information relating to the reign of Alfonso the Benign and Peter the Ceremonious (1336-1387), characterized by the Numbers 1006-1051 Code. Along with these Registers there were downloaded, via web, ten volumes of the process against the Judges of Arborea, in which emerges clearly The Role That they covered the territories of Planargia and Montiferru during years of war against the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica. The process composes of acts instructors started to get to a Final Judgment by hausia Against the Three Sovereigns of the Kingdom of Arborea the Second Half of the fourteenth century: Mariano IV, Hugh III and Eleonora, accused Dai King Peter I of Sardinia and Corsica, He said the Ceremonious, John I (called the Hunter) and Martin the Old Having broken the covenant of vassalage that time bound them. The acts of the Ten Volumes of Process cover a time span ranging from 1353 to 1393 and are an important and valuable source of information for In Which We find interrogations, Memorials, letters, sentences and treatises of peace That allow to Reconstruct The last Judicial period of Sardinian history. In the second year of the research were read and analyzed the registers listed above, finding unpublished documents of great importance. In the third year was completed cataloging of the documents unearthed in previous years which made necessary a thorough research, to be carried out in the following year.
In the last year it was carried out the drafting of the final PhD thesis using the documents regarding the period of time Less known of the history of the Treaty territory, the XV century. Precisely there were trussed and cataloged 101 unpublished documents, which cover a period extending from 1416 to 1479. The topics covered in these documents, found during a thorough archival research carried out in the Archives of Cagliari State, are vast. Thus emerges the Catalan-Aragonese domination AFTER Battle of Sanluri, the Administrative Organisation of Land, Offices Present, FURTHER place names, events or unusual events, but above all the territory's economy, up to now still little known. Indeed, the customs office More Important Territory in the fifteenth century.
The case "Montiferru".
The case (or perhaps I should call it "problem") linked to the Montiferru territory essentially concerns the shortage of archives and medieval documents. For more information consistent with the Judicial Period, stately (Malaspina) and early Arborense Domain. Subsequently, Especially During the fifteenth century, the Documentation of the historical region and almost nonexistent. It nevertheless found, and at the Archive of the Crown of Aragon A Royal Charter Of Some Importance on the Planargia and Montiferru to Report That the Administration Management Costs of the Two former curatorie. The Study of Montiferru thus leads to include the two districts At the same chapter of historical reconstruction, Also, and Especially In considering That the historical Character information Che to the territories because I Information about a period in which The Same were administered jointly
Studio sulla sostanza e sulla relazione nella teologia trinitaria di Sant'Agostino
No full textThe thesis is concerned with use of the philosophical categories of substance and relation in the trinitary theology of St. Augustine of Hippo. The starting point is two passages: Conf. 4,16; De Trin. 5,2,3.
In Conf. 4,16, St. Augustine explains that God is not included in the category of substance as God is simple and unchangeable. In De Trin. 5,2,3 on the other hand, St. Augustine states that God is with- out doubt substance or essence, ousia. Because God is not included in the category of substance; yet God certainly is substance. How can the two statements be reconciled? Is there an aporia here? We will attempt to clear up this somewhat paradoxical circumstance.
In Chap. 1 we see how it relates to the possibility of talking about God, as God has to be ineffable at the same time. We identify a number of rules St. Augustine applied to theological discourse. An affirmative theology emerges which is nonetheless capable of ensuring that God cannot be mentioned and cannot be understood.
Chap. 2 is dedicated to the theme of essence (substance). We note two definitions: 1) quod est; 2) qua est. We see that both coincide in God, because ʻGod is that which He hasʼ (quod habet hoc est). In Chap. 3 we reflect on the fact that God is a Trinity. This circumstances significantly complicates the theological picture.
In Chap. 4 we attempt a final reflection and discuss ʻaporiaʼ in St. Augustine
La Musealizzazione dello studio d'artista: il caso dello scultore Gavino Tilocca (1911-1999)
Get PDFHistorical houses and artist's studios represent an immense cultural heritage and are considered universally real theatres of historical memory thanks to their ability to provide valuable information about life and works of those inhabited them.
Considering this panorama of studies, this paper aims to reconstruct the artistic career of the sculptor Gavino Tilocca (Sassari, 1911-1999) - a significant presence of Sardinian art scene after World War II, and a prominent figure of Italian ceramics between the Fifties and the Sixties - starting from its studio in Sassari to trace then a musealization project of his place of work.
To better understand the dynamics that lie behind the conversion from private spaces in public ones, four case studies will be considered: the reconstruction of Constantin Brancusi’s studio in Paris and the relocation of the Francis Bacon’s studio in Dublin as well as the redevelopment of Giorgio Marandi's house in Bologna and Carlo Zauli’s laboratory in Faenza.
These experiences form the basis of the reflections will lead to the realization of the transformation project of the Gavino Tilocca's studio in a museum, whose goal is to create a public centre of study and research, education and entertainment and at the same time to give rise to a place of affection for the regional community
Structural elucidation, EPR and photoluminescent property of a Ce(III) two dimensional coordination polymer with 4,4′-bipyridine and 2-sulfoterephthalate
No full textA new Ce(III) coordination polymer, {[Ce(stp)(bipy)(H2O)]·H2O}n (1) is afforded via the reaction of trivalent cerium nitrate [Ce(NO3)3·6H2O], 2-sulfoterephthalic acid monosodium salt Na(H2stp), and 4,4′-bipyridine (bipy). Based upon the versatile coordination modes of the stp ligand as linker and bipy as connector, the aforementioned compound is arranged in a 2-D network, as evidenced by single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. In 1, the central Ce atom possesses on a distorted tricapped trigonal-prismatic coordination environment. The EPR measurement reveals that there exhibits a weak antiferromagnetic coupling between paramagnetic Ce3+ ions. The encapsulation of the Ce(III) CP disposes a moderate luminescent activity. Thermal analysis is also carried out to check the water loss of the molecule which is in accordance with the structural evidence
Sistemi di assistenza in condizioni di emergenza
No full textThe aim of this project is to make a preliminary analysis and to formulate proposals about the rescue in emergency of persons with disabilities. Rescue teams, both emergency workers in the workplace and Firefighters, often underestimate the complexity and difficulties encountered in the management of emergencies in which there are people with special needs.
The project method starts by analyzing briefly some real cases: the exodus in the World Trade Center during the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, and the critical issues arisen during the Katrina hurricane, 2005. Afterwards, by using an observational method, critical issues that occurs in a special caseate studied; management and emergency planning in an Italian healthcare facility, specifically a retirement home in residential regime are observed. More precisely, the study carries out an analysis of simulated emergency in a department of the nursing home where guests with disabilities live. The emergency is analyzed conducting two simulations. The first one takes place in the current condition, the second one after the introduction of some corrective measures.
The results relate to: development of a model to determine the maximum evacuation time from a department of a nursing home or hospital where there are people with walking impairment; determination of measures, not present in specialist literature, such as speed and time of preparation and deposition of people not self sufficient who use assistive devices; a proposal to modification of the Italian regulation that provides mandatory information on emergency management in work places where there are people with disabilities. The suggestion is based on the factors that led to improvements in the planning and execution of the exodus in the simulations.
The conclusions recommend the importance of planning the emergency exodus when there are people with disabilities and suggest some points to consider in emergencies that require the evacuation of vulnerable people