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Local university supply and distance: a welfare analysis with centralized and decentralized tuition fees
No full textWe consider a two-city model in which two university systems may occur: a centralized system in which a social planner sets the tuition fee and a decentralized system in which universities are free to set their own fees. Within these two systems we also analyze two further scenarios, one with only one university and another with one university in each city. Individuals with heterogeneous innate ability decide whether to go to university according to the average ability (peer group effect henceforth), a tuition fee and mobility costs, if any. In the centralized system, the welfare is maximized by opening two free-of-fees universities, one in each city. This maximizes university participation and eliminates the impediment of mobility costs. In the decentralized system, whether a single-university or a two-university system is more welfare enhancing depends on the mobility costs. When mobility costs are sufficiently low, then having only one university is welfare maximizing. When, instead, mobility costs are high, two universities result to be welfare enhancing
Plasma PP13 and urinary GAGs/PGs as early markers of pre-eclampsia
No full textPurpose
To evaluate at 11–13 weeks’ gestation biochemical markers that may predict complications of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, proteinuria, and hypertension.
Methods
Analyses were performed on first-morning urine and plasma samples from first trimester pregnant women with increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia such as positive personal or family history of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. A total of 62 women were enrolled, 24 of them presented complications such as pre-eclampsia, proteinuria, and hypertension during pregnancy. The remaining 38 women had a physiological course of pregnancy and formed the reference group. Urine glycosaminoglycans/proteoglycans (GAGs/PGs) distribution was determined by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate strips. Urinary N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase was estimated kinetically. Plasma levels of placental protein 13 (PP13) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results
No significant differences in total GAG excretion and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG) concentration were observed between the two groups of pregnant women, whereas we detected increased relative content of total urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI plus low-sulfated chondroitin sulfate) (p = 0.001) and reduced excretion of heparan sulfate (p = 0.007) and chondroitin sulfate (p = 0.011) in women presenting with pregnancy complications respect to controls. Plasma levels of PP13 were significantly reduced in the group of women who went on to develop complications compared with controls (p = 0.022).
Conclusions
The reduced plasma levels of PP13 and the alteration of the relative content of urinary GAGs and PGs observed in our study could be a promising tool for the prediction of pre-eclampsia in an early stage of pregnancy
Complex formation between [(η<sup>6</sup>-<i>p</i>-cym)Ru(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>2+</sup> and oligopeptides containing three histidyl moieties
No full textIn order to model the metal ion binding capabilities of high molecular mass components of blood the interaction between [(η6-p-cym)Ru(H2O)3]2+ and terminally protected oligopeptides containing three histidyl moieties (Ac-HHH-NH2, Ac-HAHH-NH2, Ac-HAHAH-NH2 and Ac-H*AH*AH*-NH2, where A = L-alanyl, H = L-histidyl, H* = N3-methyl-L-histidyl) were studied by pH-potentiometric, ESI-TOF-MS, circular dichroism and NMR methods at an ionic strength of 0.20 M KCl or KNO3 as well as using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Protonation constants of the novel peptides are reported. Although for Ac-HHH-NH2 the immediate formation of precipitation with [(η6-p-cym)Ru(H2O)3]2+ hindered any further solution investigations results of the detailed NMR and MS studies revealed that the other three ligands coordinate to the metal ion in rather slow processes via the imidazole moieties forming [(η6-p-cym)RuL]2+ (L = oligopeptide) type species in the slightly acidic, neutral pH-range. At pH ∼7.5 identical binding mode of Ac-HAHH-NH2 and Ac-HAHAH-NH2 in the [(η6-p-cym)RuL]2+ via three imidazole nitrogens was found hindering completely the hydrolysis of the metal ion even at 1:1 metal ion to ligand ratio. At elevated pH MS evidences support the involvement of amide-N donor(s) in metal ion binding too beside partial hydrolysis. 0.20 M KCl medium was found to hinder effectively the hydrolytic processes of the metal ion in the basic pH-range without altering the coordination of the imidazole side chains. Both NMR and DFT results support the imidazole-N1 (“far” or “τ”) over the N3 (“near” or “π”) coordination of the histidyl side chains of all these oligopeptides to the organometallic ruthenium(II) cation
Island cruise tourism development: a resident's perspective in the context of Italy
No full textMost studies that examine tourism impacts and community attitudes have been carried out from the perspective of the tourism sector as a whole, with very few papers focusing on specific types of tourism and/or analysing tourists' preferences for specific types of tourism segment. This paper discusses some pertinent issues in relation to cruise tourism development and community attitudes in a port of call cruise destination located in the island of Sicily (Southern Italy). Specifically, this study was carried out using a quota random sample of 1500 responses, which is representative of the population of Messina at 1% level. Findings show that residents express an overall positive attitude towards cruise tourism development even if it is not the most preferred when compared to other types of tourism (cultural tourism, sport tourism, and sun and sea tourism). Further, they highlight that significant differences based on socio-economic and demographic characteristics (age, gender, reliance on cruise-related employment, level of education, geographical proximity to tourist areas and port, length of residency and frequency of interaction with tourists) exist in residents' perceptions and attitudes towards cruise tourism development. Implications for policy-makers are discussed and suggestions for further research are given
Epstein Barr Virus and <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> subsp. <i>paratuberculosis</i> peptides are recognized in sera and cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients
No full textMycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) epitopes elicit a consistent humoral response in serum of multiple sclerosis patients, but the cross reactivity against the homologous myelin basic protein (MBP) and human interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) has not been searched within the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF). We evaluated in sera and CSF of patients with MS and with other neurological diseases (OND) the humoral response against EBV/MAP peptides and the IRF5/MBP. Our data showed that EBV and MAP peptides are able to induce a specific humoral immune response in MS patients compared to OND controls both in serum and in CSF. An intrathecal specific synthesis of IgG against MBP and their EBV and MAP homologous as indicated by the antibody index was observed in MS patients. The humoral response against EBV, MAP, MBP and IRF5 was significantly higher in MS patients compared to OND both in serum and in CSF. The higher presence of antibodies against MBP and their MAP and EBV homologous in CSF during relapses suggests a possible role of the pathogens in enhancing inflammation
Tradeoffs between maize silage yield and nitrate leaching in a Mediterranean nitrate-vulnerable zone under current and projected climate scenarios
No full textFuture climatic changes may have profound impacts on cropping systems and affect the agronomic and environmental sustainability of current N management practices. The objectives of this work were to i) evaluate the ability of the SALUS crop model to reproduce experimental crop yield and soil nitrate dynamics results under different N fertilizer treatments in a farmer’s field, ii) use the SALUS model to estimate the impacts of different N fertilizer treatments on NO3- leaching under future climate scenarios generated by twenty nine different global circulation models, and iii) identify the management system that best minimizes NO3- leaching and maximizes yield under projected future climate conditions. A field experiment (maize-triticale rotation) was conducted in a nitrate vulnerable zone on the west coast of Sardinia, Italy to evaluate N management strategies that include urea fertilization (NMIN), conventional fertilization with dairy slurry and urea (CONV), and no fertilization (N0). An ensemble of 29 global circulation models (GCM) was used to simulate different climate scenarios for two Representative Circulation Pathways (RCP6.0 and RCP8.5) and evaluate potential nitrate leaching and biomass production in this region over the next 50 years. Data collected from two growing seasons showed that the SALUS model adequately simulated both nitrate leaching and crop yield, with a relative error that ranged between 0.4% and 13%. Nitrate losses under RCP8.5 were lower than under RCP6.0 only for NMIN. Accordingly, levels of plant N uptake, N use efficiency and biomass production were higher under RCP8.5 than RCP6.0. Simulations under both RCP scenarios indicated that the NMIN treatment demonstrated both the highest biomass production and NO3- losses. The newly proposed best management practice (BMP), developed from crop N uptake data, was identified as the optimal N fertilizer management practice since it minimized NO3- leaching and maximized biomass production over the long term
Combining HLA-DRB1-DQB1 and <i>Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratubercolosis</i> (MAP) antibodies in Sardinian multiple sclerosis patients: associated or independent risk factors?
No full textBackground: Amongst Sardinians the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1-DQB1 haplotypes *15:02-*06:01, *16:01-*05:02, *14:01-4-*05:03 are protective for multiple sclerosis (MS), while *13:03-*03:01, *04:05-*03:01, *03:01-*02:01, *15:01-*06:02 and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratubercolosis (MAP) are predisposing factors. We studied the correlation between MAP and HLA.
Methods: Five hundred thirty-one patients were searched for anti-MAP2694 antibodies, DRB1-DQB1 genotyping was performed. The haplotypes were classified as predisposing, neutral or protective.
Results: Anti-MAP2694 were found in 23 % of subjects carrying one protective HLA versus 32 % without (p = 0.04).
Conclusions: We showed a lower frequency of Abs in patients with protective HLA. These haplotypes could have a protective role for both MS and MAP
Una Città in cerca d'autore: la smart city
No full textLa visione della smart city è stata introdotta con vigore all'interno del panorama delle politiche urbane italiane. Le ragioni di tale popolarità sono essenzialmente da ricondurre alla combinazione di più spinte: la disponibilità di ingenti risorse finanziarie comunitarie per finanziare ecoristrutturazioni dei sistemi urbani, la propensione di grosse società private a investire capitali in progetti di digitalizzazione delle città, la costruzione di una potente retorica che sovrappone visioni lontane dalla crisi economica. La tesi sostenuta all'interno del presente progetto evidenzia come la smart city implichi inevitabilmente la costruzione di una nuova geometria di potere in grado di produrre conoscenza, razionalità, soggettività e moralità funzionali al governo del progetto stesso. Il dibattito sulla città come protagonista dello sviluppo umano e ambientale - e non più lo Stato o la società globale -, la costruzione di sistemi di misurazione delle performance delle città, la promozione di rinnovate partnership pubblico-private e la responsabilizzazione delle comunità locali e dei cittadini sono tutti aspetti di "tecnologie di governo a distanza" o "di smartmentalizzazione" (Vanolo, 2013)
Prevention, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment of dental caries
No full textAim: Study the news overtures to prevention, diagnosis and therapy of caries disease.
Methods: We conducted one randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT), one cross-sectional study and one systematic review with meta-analysis. The RCT evaluated the efficacy of the Carisolv and CeraBur. In the cross-sectional study we evaluated the efficacy of a new device to detect caries lesions: DIAGNOcam. The systematic review of the literature was conducted to evaluate efficacy of polyols in caries prevention.
Results: We found a significantly difference in terms of time taken between control group and Carisolv (p<0.001). We found no difference in increment cavity size and in anti-microbial effect between techniques.
In the cross-sectional study we found a higher sensibility of the DIAGNOcam device respect to x-rays to diagnose caries in enamel (k=0.24); no statistically significant difference was found in dentin caries (k=1).
In the meta-analysis we found that xylitol gum showed a good antimicrobial effect against the mutans streptococci than control group (p<0.01); low increment of ΔDMFS at 2 and 3 years follow-up (p<0.01), and low AUC pH than sorbitol gum (p<0.01).
Conclusion: The clinical efficacy of Carisolv and CeraBur seems as reliable as the rotary instruments. The study on DIAGNOcam showed that this new device might be a useful tool in early caries detection. The xylitol gums showed a role in caries prevention
Explizite Konnexion der Argumentation in den Wahlprogrammen deutscher und italienischer Parteien am Beispiel der kausalen Konnektoren weil und perché
No full textThe present PhD Dissertation deals with the linguistic study of the different ways in which the German and Italian connectives Weil and perché are used to express explicitly causal relations between sentences within argumentative political texts, more precisely within election programmes of different German and Italian parties. The descriptive analysis aims at individuating differences and similarities between both speech communities regarding the application of the mentioned connectives in political contexts which reflect cultural peculiarities of both nations. The first, theoretic part of the thesis pursues the objective to define political text and argumentation in a contemporary and for the analysis useful way. It presents an overview on the historical evolution and conceptualization of what we understand as a political text and its main characteristics from a rhetorical, terminology research and text linguistical point of view. Thereon the necessary theoretical assumptions will be compiled to define the concept of argumentation as well as the language tools that are involved in the expression of argumentation. The empiric part of the thesis finally deals with the contrastive analysis of the causal connectives in German and Italian election programmes investigating especially the following aspects: a) syntactical position, b) morphology of the connected expressions and c) argumentative strength