341 research outputs found
Corrigendum to “An approach based on semantic stream reasoning to support decision processes in smart cities” [Telemat. Informat. 35 (1) (2018) 68–81](S0736585317304768)(10.1016/j.tele.2017.09.019)
No full textThe authors regret that, in the work “An approach based on semantic stream reasoning to support decision processes in smart cities”, Telematics and Informatics (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2017.09.019), the name of the fourth author Antonio Simonetti has not been reported in the string of authors but erroneously only in acknowledgements. Thus, the correct string of authors and their affiliations are shown above. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused
Predominant polarity and hippocampal subfield volumes in Bipolar disorders
No full textObjectives Predominant polarity (PP) is a proposed course specifier for bipolar disorders (BD) based on patient lifetime mood episodes. Hippocampal subfield volumetric changes have been proposed as a neurobiological marker for BD and could be influenced by mood episodes. Our study aimed to test the hypothesis that patients with BD differ in hippocampal subfield volumes according to their PP. Methods We assessed 172 outpatients, diagnosed with BD according to DSM-IV-TR criteria, and 150 healthy control (HC) participants. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging was performed on all subjects and volumes of all hippocampal subfields were measured using FreeSurfer. Results Patients with depressive PP (BD-DP) and with uncertain PP (BD-UP) but not with manic/hypomanic PP (BD-MP) showed a global reduction on all hippocampal subfield volumes with respect to HCs. When directly compared, BD-DP presented with smaller bilateral presubiculum/subiculum volumes than BD-MP. Conclusions Results support the potential utility of PP not only as a clinical but also as a neurobiological specifier of BD
Benchmarking on managerial practices: a tool for SMEs
No full textPurpose – Literature and practice highlight the need to stimulate processes of qualitative growth in SMEs. The aim of the research presented in this paper is to identify a type of benchmarking and a benchmarking tool which can support the qualitative growth of these companies.
Design/methodology/approach – During the study, literature review and empirical research had been carried out and further information was gathered by means of workshops and interviews to experts. Finally, the achieved results were tested on a sample of eight Italian SMEs.
Findings – Approaches to benchmarking were reviewed and classified; synthetic benchmarking based on managerial practices was chosen as the most appropriate approach to stimulate improvement and qualitative growth in SMEs; moreover a tool for synthetic benchmarking on managerial practices tool was developed.
Practical implications – The research has practical implication; it provides SMEs with adequate tool and methodology able to support the development of management system. The tool is able to allow SMEs to learn best managerial practices, assess itself with respect to these practices and at the same time understand what must be done to carry out improvement.
Originality/value – The developed tool has a general validity, it does not consider particular situation, but if some codified practices are not applicable to a specific company, it is possible to rule out these practices without compromising the effectives of the tool
Amygdala structure and function in paediatric bipolar disorder and high-risk youth: A systematic review of magnetic resonance imaging findings
No full textObjective: Converging evidence from structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies points to amygdala alteration as crucial in the development of paediatric bipolar disorder (pBP). The high number of recent studies prompted us to comprehensively evaluate findings. We aimed to systematically review structural and functional MRI studies investigating the amygdala in patients with pBP and in youth at high-risk (HR) for developing pBP. Methods: We searched PubMed from any time to 25 September 2020 using: ‘amygdala AND (MRI OR magnetic resonance imaging) AND bipolar AND (pediatr* OR child OR children OR childhood OR adolescent OR adolescents OR adolescence OR young OR familial OR at-risk OR sibling* OR offspring OR high risk)’. In this review, we adhered to the PRISMA statement. Results: Amygdala hyperactivity to emotional stimuli is the most commonly reported finding in youth with pBP and HR compared to healthy peers (HC), whereas findings from structural MRI studies are inconsistent. Conclusions: Hyperactivation of the amygdala might be an endophenotype of pBP
"You Dare to Compare Yourself to Shakespeare?" Philip Roth, American Bard
No full textPhilip Roth’s writing has been consistently inspired and influenced by Shakespeare’s theater on multiple levels. This essay aims to investigate Roth’s Shakespearean imagination by tracing the evolution of characters, themes, symbolism, and motifs derived from the Bard’s plays, focusing in particular on Operation Shylock and Sabbath’s Theater. Throughout his career, Roth’s negotiations with Shakespeare were often antagonistic and competitive, but, as time passed, allusions to the Bard in his novels became more accurate, while Roth’s writing took on a strong performative vein. In his most accomplished works, Roth ‘invented’ (or reinvented) the character of “the author” – the writer, the playwright, the artist – and set a pseudo-autobiographic alter-ego on the stage of contemporary America. For a writer who continually performed the character of “the author” in his texts as well as outside (in interviews, essays etc.), it is only natural to model his public persona on the English playwright, eventually impersonating the role of “American bard”
Type of cycle, temperament and childhood trauma are associated with lithium response in patients with bipolar disorders
No full textBackground: Lithium stands as the gold standard in treating bipolar disorders (BD). Despite numerous clinical factors being associated with a favorable response to lithium, comprehensive studies examining the collective influence of clinical variables alongside psychopathological dimensions are lacking. Our study aims to enhance comprehension of lithium response in individuals with BD by integrating clinical variables with psychopathological traits and early adverse events. Methods: We assessed 201 patients with BD for clinical characteristics, childhood trauma, temperament traits, impulsivity, and aggression. Lithium response was evaluated using the gold standard Alda scale, and predictors of lithium response were estimated through a multivariate model. Results: On the total sample, 61 (30.3%) patients were lithium responders according to the Alda scale. Comparatively, lithium responders, in contrast to non-responders, demonstrated a higher prevalence of the mania-depression-interval (MDI) cycle, a more frequent diagnosis of BD type I, and reported an earlier age of onset. They also exhibited less lifetime substance abuse, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, while scoring higher on hyperthymic and irritable temperament scales. In multivariate analyses, only the MDI cycle (OR,3.47; 95%CI,1.61–7.50) hyperthymic (OR,1.20; 95%CI,1.02–1.41) and irritable temperament (OR,1.28; 95%CI,1.08–1.52) persisted as significant predictors of a positive response to lithium treatment, while emotional (OR,0.87; 95%CI,0.76–0.98) and physical abuse (OR,0.83; 95%CI,0.70–0.98) were predictors of non-response. Conclusions: In evaluating lithium response in BD, our study highlights the importance of considering clinical variables alongside temperament and childhood adversities. The assessment of hyperthymic and irritable temperament, emotional and physical abuse together with the type of cycle is of particular importance. Furthermore, our findings underscore the significance of systematically assessing the type of cycle in patients with BD through the use of life charts
Plant products with antifungal activity. From field to biotechnology strategies
No full textIn this chapter, informations on the recent advances regarding antifungal activity of natural products obtained from plants collected directly from their natural habitat or from plant cell and organ, cultures have been reported. The biotechnological approaches could increase uniformity and predictability of the extracts and overcome problems associated with geographical, seasonal, and environmental variations. Human fungal pathogens are the cause of severe diseases associated with high morbidity and mortality. The major human fungal pathogens are Candida species, dermatophytes, Aspergillus species, and Cryptococcus neoformans. Side effects and resistance are frequently attributed to the current antifungal agents. Moreover, the treatments often require long-term therapy and are not resolving. Plants represent a source of antifungal agents, but up to date, the number of new phytochemicals reaching the market is very low. This review attempts to summarize the current status of botanical screening efforts, as well as in vitro and in vivo studies on antifungal activity of plant products. Despite the currently non-uniform regulatory framework in all the states, the plant-derived products are increasingly in demand for their effectiveness. The basic conclusion from these studies is that rigorous, well-designed clinical trials are needed to validate the effectiveness and safety of plant extracts for their use as antifungals
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