Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi di Parma
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Radial Head Fractures: Is the Mason Classification Still Effective Today? A Large-Sample Validation of Intra- and Inter-Observer Reliability
No full textntroduction: Various classifications of radial head fractures have been reported in the literature, most of them are based solely on conventional radiographic criteria. The Mason-Johnston classification, currently the most widely used system worldwide, is affected by the limitations of conventional radiographs. The aim of our study is to confirm or refute the low reliability and reproducibility of the Mason-Johnston classification. Materials and Methods: The study collected elbow X-rays showing radial head fractures from 2011 to 2021. Images were evaluated by eight orthopedic surgeons and one radiologist consultant from different hospitals for classification. The first phase assessed inter-observer agreement, comparing classifications among participants. After four months, the same images were randomly reordered and then reclassified to evaluate intra-observer agreement. A total of 90 elbow X-rays from 50 women and 40 men were analyzed. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was assessed using Fleiss' kappa, Krippendorff alpha, and Cohen's kappa. Results: Overall inter-observer agreement by unweighted Fleiss' κ was moderate in both sessions (κ = 0.49 and κ = 0.50), with overall pairwise percent agreement 63% and prevalence- and bias-adjusted κ (PABAK, k = 4) ≈ 0.50. As an ordinal sensitivity analysis, Krippendorff's α (ordinal) was 0.726 and 0.744, indicating substantial agreement. Type-specific reliability was moderate for Types II-III and higher for Type IV. Unweighted Cohen's kappa coefficients were calculated to assess intra-observer agreement, demonstrating moderate to substantial levels of concordance. Conclusions: The Mason-Johnston classification shows moderate inter-observer reliability, especially for Types II-III, and moderate to substantial intra-observer agreement
Eating the Empire: the gloom of colonialism, racism, and sexism in food advertising in Italy, 1930s to 1970s
No full textBrain MRI signatures across sex and CSF Alzheimer's disease biomarkers
No full textThe relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and neurodegenerative effects is not fully understood. This study investigates neurodegeneration patterns across CSF Alzheimer's disease biomarker groups, the association of brain volumes with CSF amyloid and tau status and sex differences in these relationships in a clinical neurology sample. MRI and CSF Alzheimer's disease biomarkers data were analysed in 306 patients of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system aged 50+ (mean age = 68.4 ± 8.8 years; 43.1% female), who had lumbar punctures within 1 year of clinical MRI scans. We first analysed neurodegeneration patterns across four biomarker groups: 60 controls (A-T- amyloid negative, tau negative, cognitively unimpaired), 25 A+T- (amyloid positive, tau negative), 121 A+T+ (amyloid positive, tau positive) and 100 other dementia (A-T- amyloid negative, tau negative, cognitively impaired). Second, we examined volumetric associations with amyloid (amyloid positive, tau negative versus control) and tau in the presence of amyloid (amyloid positive, tau positive versus amyloid positive, tau negative) across 52 brain areas. Third, we examined sex differences in these relationships. Finally, we validated core analyses across three independent datasets - NACC (National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center), ADNI (Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative) and EPAD (European Prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia) - totalling 3137 participants, and performed meta-analyses to obtain more robust estimates. We observed distinct neurodegeneration patterns across biomarker groups, with disrupted connectivity (brain volume covariance networks) in amyloid positive and other dementia groups, while amyloid and tau negative, cognitively unimpaired controls exhibited the most connected network. Amyloid was associated with subcortical, cerebellar and brainstem atrophy, with consistent association observations in the thalamus and amygdala across all four datasets. Tau in the presence of amyloid demonstrated general brain shrinkage through enlargement of extracerebral CSF, alongside unexpected ventricle shrinkages. Sex-based analyses revealed that A+T+ (amyloid positive, tau positive) had lower sex differences in connectivity patterns compared with other groups. Sex differences were also noted in amyloid-related ventricular volume changes. This study reveals how amyloid and tau affect brain connectivity and volume across sex and CSF biomarker groups, emphasizing global brain changes and sex differences. By leveraging automated pipelines and advanced MRI and biomarker analyses, we extracted meaningful and replicable findings from heterogeneous clinical samples from real-world data. The meta-analyses across four datasets enhance the generalizability of our results
Viaggiare per noi stessi, viaggiare per l’architettura
No full textL’editoriale in forma di saggio esplora l’importanza del viaggio come strumento formativo per l’architetto sostenendo che l’esperienza diretta dell’architettura, attraverso la presenza fisica, rimane insostituibile anche nell’era digitale. Il viaggio genera un processo creativo dove “memoria” e “invenzione” si fondono: la memoria registra interpretazioni soggettive della realtà, che poi si trasformano in invenzione architettonica: esempi classici includono Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier e Louis Kahn, che modificarono la loro poetica dopo alcuni importanti viaggi. L’esperienza multisensoriale dell’architettura – percepire spazi, proporzioni, luce e suoni – non può essere virtualizzata. Da ultimo, il caso di Luigi Vietti illustra come il viaggio di formazione abbia portato alla convinzione che l’architettura moderna derivi da quella mediterranea, dimostrando come gli incontri fisici con luoghi e culture forniscano materia prima che l’architetto metabolizza creativamente nel proprio approccio progettuale.The editorial essay explores the importance of travel as a formative tool for architects, arguing that direct experience of architecture, through physical presence, remains irreplaceable even in the digital age. Travel triggers a creative process where “memory” and “invention” merge: memory records subjective interpretations of reality, which then generate architectural invention: classic examples include Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Louis Kahn, who modified their poetics after important journeys. The multisensory experience of architecture – perceiving spaces, proportions, light, and sounds – cannot be visualised. Finally, the case of Luigi Vietti illustrates how formative travel led to the conviction that modern architecture derives from Mediterranean architecture, demonstrating how physical encounters with places and cultures provide raw material that architects creatively metabolise in their design approach
Synthesis of Polymyxin-Inspired Peptidomimetics
No full textGiving the rising interest in peptidomimetics and peptides in different biomedical fields, a new optimized and fast protocol for the synthesis of such compounds is increasingly in demand. Thus, a seven-step protocol for the synthesis of a dimeric polymyxin-inspired peptidomimetics is reported here. The protocol consists of two solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) steps, both followed by an in-solution cyclization reaction. Then, a click reaction and Fmoc deprotection were performed before the final coupling and global deprotection. This protocol has been optimized for the synthesis of polymyxin-like peptidomimetics, but it can be applied also for the synthesis of several kinds of peptides and peptidomimetics
Campaign spending in elections with micro‐targeting and ideologically biased voters
No full textWe study interactions between campaign spending and ideology in an election where two parties compete over an electorate with ideologically biased voters. The parties target voters with costly persuasive effort, which, together with ideology, defines the party each voter votes for. In equilibrium, the joint distribution of party expenditures reaches a maximum for a specific value of the ideological bias, which identifies the focus of the campaign, that is, the group most heavily targeted by the campaign. This focus shifts from swing voters to the strongest partisans of the party with the smaller budget, as the gap between party budgets increases
Phytoremediation by rooted macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis, not biochar amendment, reduces eutrophication from nutrient release in organic-rich sediment of a polluted wetland
No full text: Wetlands sediments are often contaminated by macro and micropollutants. Combined traditional and biochar assisted phytoremediation techniques allow contrasting of both pollutants. However, the interacting effects of different techniques are seldom analysed, assuming that they are null or positive. We investigated phytoremediation by the macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis and biochar addition in polluted sediments. The aim was to assess if biochar affects the biogeochemical services provided by the macrophyte via radial oxygen loss and nutrient uptake. Sedimentary fluxes and properties, and microbial activity and diversity were analysed in four conditions: control sediments, sediments with V. spiralis, sediments with biochar and with both V. spiralis and biochar. Sediments with V. spiralis had higher redox and Fe3+ solid pools and had lower pore water concentrations of NH4+ and PO43- than control sediments. Sediment with macrophytes had lower denitrification, higher nitrification and similar nitrate ammonification potential than bare sediment. The screening of microbial diversity suggests distinct communities in surface and subsurface sediments, regardless of the presence of macrophytes or biochar. The presence of V. spiralis roots stimulated slow growing groups of microbes as nitrifiers, iron and sulphide oxidizers or promoted the switch to aerobic metabolism without affecting microbial diversity and abundance. Biochar addition, likely due to low reactivity and 30 days incubation time, did not affect pore water nutrients, microbial activity and diversity, suggesting limited remediation in the organic-polluted sediments considered. Biochar also did not affect the biogeochemical ecosystem services provided by V. spiralis, suggesting the absence of negative interactions between the two treatments
Alterations in Olfactory Cortex Volume in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia: A Study of Sex-Related Differences
No full textBackground/Objectives: Aging is one of the greatest risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As the disease progresses, neural loss in brain regions, such as the olfactory cortex (OC), i.e., a set of areas including the mediotemporal and orbitofrontal regions, may lead to dysfunction in the sense of smell and affect other brain regions that relate to the olfactory cortex by either afferent or efferent projections. Methods: The objective of this study was to assess sex-related differences in olfactory cortex volume using magnetic resonance imaging in individuals with mild cognitive impairment, probable dementia of the AD type and in healthy older adults, using the Mini-Mental Statement Examination score, years of education, and total intracranial volume as correction factors. Results: Atrophy of the olfactory cortex was observed in patients of both sexes with probable AD dementia. However, at the MCI stage, significant volumetric loss in the OC was detected in females only but not in males. Conclusions: This finding indicates greater pathological effects in this region in females at an earlier disease stage than in males. This study suggests that OC volume loss occurs differently between the sexes in older adults, with volumetric loss being greater in females
Exploiting SpyTag/SpyCatcher Technology to Design New Artificial Catalytic Copper Proteins
No full textDesigning artificial metal binding sites within a protein is challenging since amino acid residues need to be placed in desired positions in the final construct and the use of non-natural amino acids is difficult. The alternative approach of directing the insertion of artificial metal coordination systems presents the difficulty of grafting such site in a single desired position. Spy protein is composed of a protein component (SpyCatcher) which binds spontaneously an oligopeptide (SpyTag) with formation of an isopeptide bond. A SpyTag peptide equipped with an ATCUN (amino terminal copper and nickel) binding site is designed to bind copper(II) with high femtomolar affinity both in the absence of SpyCatcher and in the reconstituted Spy construct. The Cu2+ ATCUN site in the reconstituted Spy protein presents a catalytic activity in reactive oxygen species production, higher than that of the SpyTag peptide alone. This method offers a novel approach for constructing artificial metalloproteins by incorporating functional metal binding sites into a peptide, which can then be clicked onto its protein counterpart. The small size and modularity of this construct make it versatile for integration into other protein systems, eventually moving the complexity from a protein to a peptide and highlighting its potential for protein design