263 research outputs found
Influenzare la numerosità percepita delle referenze a scaffale attraverso il principio di accentuazione delle direzioni spaziali della porzione di lineare espositivo
No full textFacendo leva sul principio, noto in psicologia della percezione, di accentuazione delle direzioni spaziali, attraverso tre esperimenti di laboratorio basati su stimoli realistici che ritraevano
insiemi di FMCG opportunamente delimitati con realistico materiale di visibilità a scaffale, mostriamo come sia possibile alterare la percezione della numerosità relativa di insiemi di
referenze a confronto. Nel primo esperimento, assumendo confronti tra insiemi di item da dodici facing, i soggetti partecipanti, in un gran numero di trial (84,83% su un totale di 600; p<0,001), percepivano gli insiemi di prodotti con materiale di visibilità disposto nella stessa direzione del lineare espositivo, come più numerosi di quelli con materiale di visibilità
collocato in senso perpendicolare. Risultati analoghi sono stati ottenuti in un secondo e terzo esperimento, rispettivamente, con insiemi di prodotti da otto facing (89,58% su 336 trial;
p<0,001) e da sette facing (88,57% su 280 trial; p<0,001). Il nostro lavoro presenta alcune implicazioni manageriali: i produttori e i retailer potrebbero valutare di impiegare materiale di visibilità a scaffale coerentemente con il principio di accentuazione per aumentare la visibilità di determinati insiemi di referenze, favorendone in tal modo le vendite
Super-Items Created by Mere Presence of Visual Material on Retail Displays
No full textThis study focuses on the perception of numerosity of item sets placed in retail displays. Previous studies have
demonstrated that the item sets’ perceived numerosity decreases as the number of polygonal shapes placed in a
panel behind a display increases. Such a result was explained by a non-spatial clustering phenomenon exerted by
the shapes. Our research reveals the perceptual mechanisms underlying the described effect. Using an
eye-tracking procedure, we highlight that upon augmenting the number of polygonal shapes in the
decision-making context: (a) there is a significant decrease in the number of total fixations per display; (b) there
is an underestimation of the perceived numerosity of item sets involved. The findings suggest that the mere
presence of visual shapes can alter perception generating complex objects or ―super-items‖, which tend to
perceptually replace entire item sets. We also propose managerial implications in terms of category management
and merchandising
Levels of solubile angiogenin in chronic myeloid malignancies: clinical implications
No full textAngiogenesis is critical for the clinical progression of haematopoietic malignancies and depends on angiogenic factors. Angiogenin is a powerful factor produced by neoplastic cells and host microenvironment. High levels of soluble angiogenin (sAng) correlate with a poor prognosis in patients affected by acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, but no data are available on sAng in chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMD). Therefore, in this study we investigated the clinical significance of the angiogenin in sera of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) (n = 14) or essential thrombocythaemia (ET) (n = 20), and correlated them with those of soluble transforming growth factor-beta(1) (sTGF beta(1)). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected (P < 0.05) higher levels of sAng in CMD compared with healthy subjects (1026.74 +/- 464.60 pg/mL and 196.00 +/- 39.90 pg/mL, respectively). The highest levels of sAng were detected in CML patients (1349.23 +/- 549.55 pg/mL). Interestingly, CML patients who achieved haematological remission after interferon therapy showed circulating levels of angiogenin significantly (P < 0.05) decreased when compared with those at diagnosis. In ET patients, levels of angiogenin (889.34 +/- 267.66 pg/mL) and sTGF beta(1) (76.69 +/-6.08 pg/mL) were higher (P < 0.05) compared with healthy controls (57.93 +/- 19.39 pg/mL). No correlation was found between levels of sAng and levels of sTGF beta(1) or platelet count among ET patients. Our results show for the first time that elevated blood levels of angiogenin feature chronic myeloid malignancies, suggesting a role of angiogenin in the pathogenesis of these diseases
The atypical chemokine receptor 2 promotes breast cancer lung metastatization through modulation of the metastatic niche
No full text.Introduction: The atypical chemokine receptor 2 (ACKR2) is a scavenger receptor for most inflammatory CC chemokines. It plays a protective role in chronic inflammation, autoimmunity and inflammation-related cancer. The aim of this project is to investigate the role of ACKR2 in primary tumor development and metastatization in different mouse model.
Materials and methods: NeuT mice (overexpressing the rat oncogene Her2) crossed with ACKR2-/- mice and orthotopic and intravenous injection of the breast carcinoma cell line 4T1 in Wild Type (WT) and ACKR2-/- Balb/c mice. Tumors and metastasis were studied with in vivo imaging systems, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR analysis; blood composition and metastatic organ infiltrate were studied with FACS analysis.
Results: Tumor arising in ACKR2-/- NeuT mice showed a more aggressive phenotype when compared to WT NeuT mice. On the contrary, ACKR2-/- NeuT mice were protected from spontaneous lung metastasis. Absence of ACKR2 was also protective against spontaneous lung metastasis using the 4T1 orthotopic model of breast cancer but not in the intravenous injected model. Cytofluorimetric analysis indicated an increased of Ly6G+ polymorphonuclear cells and Ly6Chigh monocytes in the blood of ACKR2-/- in and in the pre-metastatic lungs with a concomitant decrease of these cells in the bone marrow during tumor progression.
Conclusion: These results indicate that ACKR2 expression has a dual but opposite role in breast tumor, inhibiting primary tumor growth but promoting lung metastatization trough the regulation of leukocyte infiltration and activation in the premetastatic niche
Disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and Surfactant protein-B turnover in human acute lung injury and in control patients
No full textAbstract Background Patients with Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Acute Lung Injury (ALI) have low concentrations of disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein-B in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. No information is available on their turnover. Objectives To analyze disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein-B turnover in patients with ARDS/ALI and in human adults with normal lungs (controls). Methods 2H2O as precursor of disaturated-phosphatidylcholine-palmitate and 113C-Leucine as precursor of surfactant protein-B were administered intravenously to 12 patients with ARDS/ALI and to 8 controls. Disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein-B were isolated from serial tracheal aspirates, and their fractional synthetic rate was derived from the 2H and 13C enrichment curves, obtained by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Disaturated-phosphatidylcholine, surfactant protein-B, and protein concentrations in tracheal aspirates were also measured. Results 1) Surfactant protein-B turned over at faster rate than disaturated-phosphatidylcholine both in ARDS/ALI patients and in controls. 2) In patients with ARDS/ALI the fractional synthesis rate of disaturated-phosphatidylcholine was 3.1 times higher than in controls (p Conclusions 1) Disaturated-phosphatidylcholine and surfactant protein-B have a different turnover both in healthy and diseased lungs. 2) In ARDS/ALI the synthesis of these two surfactant components may be differently regulated.</p
Improving Retail Service Performance in Tough Times: A Focus on the Critical Success Factors in Italy
No full textThe pandemic and resulting digital pressures have put tremendous pressure on stores and their employees, leading to critical situations for retail managers. The objective of this study is to analyze the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that have enabled retail organizations to survive and thrive during the pandemic. The concept of CSFs was first introduced by Daniel (1961) and later refined and discussed in detail by Rockart (1979). However, to date, few studies have examined CFS in the context of retail (Iamratanakul, 2019). According to Rockart, CSFs are the key variables that must be managed appropriately for the organization to survive. As the pandemic has reshaped the retail context, it is useful to apply such a model to see which factors have contributed most to the successful survival and rebirth of retail organizations, as these factors are likely to form the basis for development in the years to come
Super-Items Created by Mere Presence of Visual Material on Retail Displays
No full textThis study focuses on the perception of numerosity of item sets placed in retail displays. Previous studies have demonstrated that the item sets’ perceived numerosity decreases as the number of polygonal shapes placed in a panel behind a display increases. Such a result was explained by a non-spatial clustering phenomenon exerted by the shapes. Our research reveals the perceptual mechanisms underlying the described effect. Using an eye-tracking procedure, we highlight that upon augmenting the number of polygonal shapes in the decision-making context: (a) there is a significant decrease in the number of total fixations per display; (b) there is an underestimation of the perceived numerosity of item sets involved. The findings suggest that the mere presence of visual shapes can alter perception generating complex objects or “super-items”, which tend to perceptually replace entire item sets. We also propose managerial implications in terms of category management and merchandising
LPR mice with Toll-IL-1 Receptor 8 deficiency are prone to develop B-cell lymphomas
No full textPURPOSE: The association among autoimmunity, chronic inflammation and malignancy has been described and confirmed by epidemiological studies. Notwithstanding these achievements, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association are still unknown. Several evidences suggest that patients suffering from different autoimmune diseases are prone to develop B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas. We investigated the role of Tir8 gene, already known to be associated with autoimmunity, in the development of lymphoma. Indeed, the ability to dampen signaling from IL-1R and TLR family members confers TIR8/SIGIRR the ability to act as regulator of inflammation, cancer-related inflammation and autoimmunity.
METHODS: B6lpr/lpr and B6lpr/lpr/Tir8−/− mice were followed up to 16 month of age and the mortality was reported. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis were performed on different tissues and organs of the mice. IgH gene rearrangement was investigate by Southern blot and PCR on gDNA from different organs of the mice. Transplantation in SCID mice of cells from B6lpr/lpr and B6lpr/lpr/Tir8−/− mice was performed.
RESULTS: Both strains developed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) during their late age, but in B6lpr/lpr/Tir8−/− mice DLBCL occurred earlier and were more aggressive, with significantly higher mortality. Histopathologic analysis of spleen and lymph nodes of B6lpr/lpr/Tir8−/− mice documented clear-cut DLBCL areas arising within a context of atypical lymphoproliferative disorder; these results were corroborated by both molecular analysis and transplantation experiments.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: These observations unveil a role of TIR8 in the occurrence and development of DLBCL, suggesting its potential role in targeted therapy. Moreover, the B6lpr/lpr/Tir8−/− mouse could be a model to establish and evaluate studies of novel therapeutic protocols in DLBCL.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Garlanda et al. 2004, PNAS
Lech et al. 2007, J Exp Med
Bertilaccio et al. 2011, Bloo
Tracing CLL-biased stereotyped immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in normal B cell subsets using a high-throughput immunogenetic approach
No full textBackground: B cell receptor Immunoglobulin (BcR IG) repertoire of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the expression of quasi-identical BcR IG. These are observed in approximately 30% of patients, defined as stereotyped receptors and subdivided into subsets based on specific VH CDR3 aa motifs and phylogenetically related IGHV genes. Although relevant to CLL ontogeny, the distribution of CLL-biased stereotyped immunoglobulin rearrangements (CBS-IG) in normal B cells has not been so far specifically addressed using modern sequencing technologies. Here, we have investigated the presence of CBS-IG in splenic B cell subpopulations (s-BCS) and in CD5+ and CD5- B cells from the spleen and peripheral blood (PB). Methods: Fractionation of splenic B cells into 9 different B cell subsets and that of spleen and PB into CD5+ and CD5- cells were carried out by FACS sorting. cDNA sequences of BcR IG gene rearrangements were obtained by NGS. Identification of amino acidic motifs typical of CLL stereotyped subsets was carried out on IGHV1-carrying gene sequences and statistical evaluation has been subsequently performed to assess stereotypes distribution. Results: CBS-IG represented the 0.26% average of IGHV1 genes expressing sequences, were detected in all of the BCS investigated. CBS-IG were more abundant in splenic and circulating CD5+ B (0.57%) cells compared to CD5- B cells (0.17%). In all instances, most CBS IG did not exhibit somatic hypermutation similar to CLL stereotyped receptors. However, compared to CLL, they exhibited a different CLL subset distribution and a broader utilization of the genes of the IGHV1 family. Conclusions: CBS-IG receptors appear to represent a part of the "public" BcR repertoire in normal B cells. This repertoire is observed in all BCS excluding the hypothesis that CLL stereotyped BcR accumulate in a specific B cell subset, potentially capable of originating a leukemic clone. The different relative representation of CBS-IG in normal B cell subgroups suggests the requirement for additional selective processes before a full transformation into CLL is achieved
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