Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi di Parma
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Changes in neurotransmitter-related functional connectivity along the Alzheimer’s disease continuum
No full textAlzheimer’s disease may be associated with early dopamine dysfunction. However, its effects on neurofunctional alterations in the neurotransmission pathways remain elusive. In this study, positron emission tomography atlases and functional MRI data for 86 older adults with mild cognitive impairment Alzheimer's disease (MCI), 58 with mild Alzheimer's disease-dementia and 76 cognitively unimpaired were combined to investigate connectivity alterations associated with the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems. A cross-sectional design was used to compare neurotransmitter-related functional connectivity across groups and associations between functional connectivity and cognitive performance. The findings show that the Alzheimer's disease dementia group showed a decline in mesocorticolimbic dopamine-related connectivity in the precuneus but heightened connectivity in the thalamus, whereas the Alzheimer's disease-MCI group showed a decline in nigrostriatal connectivity in the left temporal areas. Acetylcholine-related connectivity decline was observed in both Alzheimer's disease-MCI and Alzheimer's disease-dementia primarily in the temporo-parietal areas. Episodic memory scores correlated positively with acetylcholine- and dopamine-related connectivity in the temporo-parietal cortex and negatively with dopamine-related functional connectivity in the fronto-thalamic areas. This study shows that connectivity alterations in acetylcholine and dopamine functional pathways parallel cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and might be a clinically relevant marker in early Alzheimer's disease
Confisca e reati societari: la Consulta riafferma l’esigenza di proporzionalità della pretesa ablativa
No full textTriazolinedione Modification of Prenylated Peptides, Proteins, and DNA: Toward a Single-Site Multilabeling Approach for Biomolecules
No full textIn efforts to shed light on the complexity of biological processes, attaching several or different payloads onto a biomolecular target of interest has become an interesting tool within the field of bioconjugation. Herein, we report on the exploitation of prenylated (bio)molecules in a 1,2,4-triazole-3,5(4H)-dione-based labeling strategy to develop a two-step single-site multiple labeling methodology that allows the introduction of up to three identical or different property-enhancing moieties. The methodology was first demonstrated on the small molecule targets farnesol and S-geranyl-2-thiouridine to be then applied to multi(functional) labeling of amino acids and peptides. We further demonstrate the usefulness of this approach to achieve branched lipidation of peptides, a strategy recently receiving more attention for enhanced cellular membrane localization and vaccine development. In addition, proof-of-concept experiments were performed involving single-site multiple labeling of large biomolecules such as farnesylated proteins and geranylated DNA
Anticorpo monoclonale per diagnosi e trattamento di tumori canini
No full textLa presente invenzione ha per oggetto un anticorpo capace di riconoscere e legare in modo specifico almeno un epitopo della proteina oligomerica della matrice cartilaginea (COMP – Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein) di origine canina. L’invenzione riguarda inoltre un metodo diagnostico e predittivo di decorso clinico di un cane da compagnia 5 affetto da tumore mediante analisi immunoistochimiche in situ e da analisi d’immagine a corpo intero non-invasiva e la terapia di cani domestici affetti da neoplasie
sarcomatose
Modeling and Analysis of MS Accelerators Embedding SRAM and RRAM Compute Cells
No full textThis paper describes the modeling and performance analysis of MS accelerators integrating SRAM and F-2T2R compute cells, carried out with a Matlab analytical framework. The accelerator models include the fundamental circuit non-idealities for accurate analysis. The framework allows exploration of the design space and optimization of MS accelerators for the best system-level performance. The comparison made in a 22-nm technology shows that SRAM-based accelerators can obtain significantly higher computational efficiency, while the high density of the RRAM devices allows for better area efficiency in accelerators embedding the F-2T2R cells
Psychometric Evaluation of the Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist
No full textBackground Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a severe and disabling condition. The Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist (BPDCL) was designed to specifically assess the subjective burden of a patient due to BPD symptoms. Various translations have been developed, but an assessment of the psychometric properties of these translations is needed. The aim was to examine the psychometric qualities of the BPDCL across different languages (i.e., Italian, Dutch, German, Spanish, English, and Greek).Methods Secondary data was used by reaching out to various researchers, who administered the BPDCL in previous studies. Five studies (N = 3199) conducted in Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, England, and Greece, were included in the current data set. The BPDCL was administered to BPD patients (N = 1131), Axis I disorder patients (N = 57), patients with other personality disorders (N = 225), and healthy controls (N = 1786). Item analyses and analyses assessing the known-groups and convergent validity were performed to investigate the psychometric properties of the checklist.Results Each version of the BPDCL, differing in language, demonstrated high-reliability coefficients (Cronbach's Alpha ranged from 0.93 to 0.96 and was 0.96 for the entire sample). The correlations between the BPDCL and other instruments, used in the studies, were weak to strong. Correlations greater than 0.55 were observed between the BPDCL and the scales BPDSI, SCL-90 and the BSI. In addition, the BPDCL seems to differentiate well between diagnostic groups. BPD patients scored the highest, followed by patients with other personality disorders, who in turn scored higher than Axis I disorder patients and healthy controls.Conclusions In general, the BPDCL possesses good psychometric properties and seems to be an adequate self-report instrument to measure the subjective burden of BPD patients
Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Fountains with Negative Buoyancy
No full textThis paper investigates the flow dynamics of a turbulent fountain with negative buoyancy using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model, developed using OpenFOAM (R) and calibrated against laboratory experiments. The simulations effectively replicate the geometry and buoyancy fluxes of the fountain, showing a fairly good agreement between the numerical and experimental velocity fields. These simulations are then used to investigate momentum and buoyancy fluxes for various source fluid densities. We find a dominant out-upward momentum transfer in the body of the fountain, while it is mainly out-downward below the inlet section. Furthermore, the vertical flux is almost twice the radial flux, while the tangential components are negligible on the inner side of the fountain. For small density differences between the fountain and the surrounding environment, we find a greater diffusion of the source fluid, while both the vertical and radial salt fluxes increase with increasing density of the fountain. The data generated serve as a significant resource for the development of future CFD models
Psychopathological Implications of Behavioral Patterns in Obsessive–Compulsive Rituals: A Hierarchical Analysis
No full textBackground/Objectives: Compulsive rituals in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are characterized by a specific motor structure, built upon the fragmentation of action flow, obtained through act repetitions and the intrusion of non-functional acts. No study to date has adopted a hierarchical analysis to subtype OCD according to specific behavioral patterns, nor has a possible association between motor profiles and psychopathology been investigated. Methods: This study involved 31 OCD patients (11 female, 35%) and 31 healthy controls (11 female, 35%). The participants were asked to provide videotapes of their behaviors (OCD compulsions for patients and corresponding normal behaviors for healthy controls). BORIS software version 2.84.1 was adopted to analyze the recorded videos. Psychopathology was assessed through the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire, and the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale. Results: Hierarchical analysis revealed three behavioral clusters based on motor profile: Cluster 1 included OCD compulsions structurally characterized by act repetitions ("iterative" rituals); Cluster 2 was represented by OCD compulsions mainly built upon non-functional acts ("idiosyncratic" rituals); and Cluster 3 comprised routinized and normative behaviors, without behavioral ritualization (no act repetitions and few non-functional acts). No significant differences were found in age, age at onset, and OCD severity between "iterative" and "idiosyncratic" rituals. However, patients with "iterative" rituals showed both more severe pre-psychotic symptoms and childhood trauma experiences than patients with "idiosyncratic" rituals. Conclusions: These findings may have significant clinical implications as they hint at a relationship between specific behavioral patterns of OCD compulsions and different underlying psychopathologies and/or vulnerabilities
Parental Involvement and the Psycho-Emotional Development of Children in Crisis Conditions: Findings from the Third Wave of Multilevel Monitoring
No full textIntroduction: This article presents the findings of the third wave of monitoring conducted within
the framework of the project "Improving Access to Early Childhood Education Services in
Emergency Situations." The study explores the impact of parenting practices on the
development of emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and stress resilience in children aged 3 to
6 under crisis conditions.
Purpose: To examine the impact of parenting practices on the development of emotional
intelligence, self-esteem, and stress resilience in children under crisis conditions; to identify
factors contributing to emotional safety and areas of vulnerability; and to develop approaches
for supporting mental health.
Methodology: The third wave of monitoring the development of children aged 3 to 6 in crisis
conditions employed a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) to analyse the
influence of parenting practices on emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and stress resilience.
The study covered 70 indicators across five developmental domains. A total of 3,820 parents
from eight regions participated in the survey (April 2025), accompanied by five months of
observations, activity analysis, and expert evaluations. Data were processed using Google
Sheets, and a development index was calculated on a 0–1 scale. The ontogenetic approach
ensured the validity of assessments. Ethical standards were upheld throughout the study.
Results: The results of the study showed that parental emotional involvement is a key factor in
the formation of emotional intelligence and support for children's mental health. Both positive
trends (empathetic upbringing, support for self-esteem, development of emotional
understanding) and areas of vulnerability (low level of use of bodily, play, verbal practices;
difficulties in communicating about fears; emotional burnout of parents) were identified.
Conclusion: The study emphasizes the importance of assessing the psycho-emotional
development of preschool children under crisis conditions and demonstrates the pivotal role of
parental emotional involvement. A positive dynamic in children’s self-regulation, self-esteem,
and stress resilience was confirmed in the presence of stable adult support. At the same time,
the limited use of play-based and body-oriented practices (reported by fewer than 30% of
families) points to a risk area. The monitoring confirmed the effectiveness of the “2 by 2” model
and highlighted the need to strengthen parental education initiatives focused on fostering
children's emotional intelligence through everyday interactions