361 research outputs found
Erratum to: Proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients (Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, (2013), 25, S1, (85-87), 10.1007/s40520-013-0078-x)
No full textIn the original publication of the article, the name of the third author was incorrectly published as C. Capra. However, the correct name should read as P. Capra
A first glance on the epigenome of Capra hircus
No full textDNA methylation and microRNAs (miRNA) are two important forms of epigenetic modifications that play an important role in gene regulation in animals. Methylation at the carbon 5 position of cytosine residues is a fundamental layer of cellular differentiation through the control of transcriptional potential. MiRNA are small noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. Complete DNA methylomes for several organisms are now available; at the present, methylome of the domestic goat is unexplored. There is also still limited knowledge about miRNAs expression profiles in small ruminant species. Therefore, to contribute information on epigenetic modification in Capra hircus, we analysed the methylome and the miRNA population of three tissues (hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary) from 3 adult Saanen goats. We used Methylated DNA binding domain sequencing with enrichment of methylated DNA fragments and next generation sequencing. We produced least 23 million reads per sample, which were aligned to the goat reference genome. Further analyses were performed to identify peaks corresponding to hyper-methylated regions. We sequenced miRNAs expressed in the three tissues with Illumina high-throughput sequencing. Reads were mapped on the Capra hircus reference genome and both known and novel miRNAs, and miRNA target sites were identified using information collected in miRBase and using specific bioinformatic tools. This study produced a comprehensive miRNA profile related to the biology of goat. Furthermore, this is the first work dealing with methylome in Capra hircus: our preliminary results could provide new information for a deeper comprehension of epigenetic mechanisms of this species
Unperturbed Electric Field and Operator Current Towards Ground in HV Substations: a linear relationship between two measurements
No full textAs a part of the monitoring of the electric field (E-field) generated in HV substations, a proportionality was observed between the unperturbed E-field and the electric current flowing towards ground from the body of an operator equipped with insulating footwear, measured by an ammeter, in different substation locations. This proportionality cannot be assumed a priori, as the human body capacitive coupling with the HV and surround conductors in the complex substation layout can strongly vary, depending on the measurement point. In the paper, the validity of the proposed indirect approach is validated and quantified, considering an operator moving inside an HV substation. The rationale is discussed by a specific FEM analysis including an anthropomorphic body and confirmed through experimental validation measurement. The linear dependence between the unperturbed E-field and the current flowing from the operator to ground can help speed up and simplify the human exposure assessment to the E-field through indirect, but still sufficiently accurate measurements
DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF BREAST ARTERIAL CALCIFICATION AS A BIOMARKER OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN WOMEN
No full textCardiovascular risk is underestimated in women: traditional risk scores do not consider sex-specific risk factors. As a matter of fact, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the female population, and women are often undertreated and present worse cardiovascular outcomes than men. In a recently published call to action, the American Heart Association urges a cross-disciplinary approach to reduce the gender gap in cardiovascular health. In this context, breast arterial calcifications (BAC), an expression of Monckeberg’s sclerosis involving the tunica media of medium-caliber breast arteries, present as a promising sex-specific cardiovascular risk biomarker. BAC are observed in around 13% of mammograms and are associated with hypertension and increasing age. Interestingly, BAC have not shown any association with other notable cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking, underlying their distinct pathogenesis from atherosclerotic plaques. Nevertheless, women with BAC have an increased risk of cardiovascular adverse events, such as acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, CVD death and a moderate-severe BAC burden is associated with coronary artery disease, indicating how the role of BAC in this setting may complement to that of traditional risk factors. Still, at present the clinical application of BAC assessment is hampered by the lack of a standardised, robust, fast, and reliable quantification method, an issue that could potentially be solved by artificial intelligence-based methods. As such, more widespread assessment of BAC could help improve cardiovascular risk stratification in women supporting the decision-making toward appropriate lifestyle changes and other personalised preventive strategies, leveraging mammographic screening practice. This thesis will thus provide an overview of the current attitude of European breast radiologists towards BAC assessment in mammography, present a score for BAC quantification that is quick to use and reproducible, and implement a deep learning-based tool for BAC detection and quantification
Austen(s) on the Screen: An intertextual reading of Becoming Jane, Miss Austen Regrets, and her Biographies
No full textThe cult of Jane Austen has extended well beyond literary manifestations and criticism, into the realm of the cinema. Besides all the filmic adaptations of Austen's novels and the whole series of Austen-themed adaptations, the famous English writer has become the protagonist of two recent biographical films: Becoming Jane (2007) and Miss Austen Regrets (2010). These two cinematic attempts at portraying Austen's life for the screen investigate two different periods of her life and appear to be very different in their approach. Beside making use of published material about the author such as biographical accounts, letters and memoirs, both try to reinvent the writer's life, as well as re-imagine and give voice to some of the most crucial and formative periods of her life. Austenian critics and enthusiasts recognize the fact that Austen is a notoriously problematic figure, whose biography brims with gaps and hazy details. In order to contribute to the ongoing debate on the biographical information on Jane Austen's life, this essay aims to outline the ways in which the cinematic medium has helped re-imagine the life of the author, and to assess whether such representations have opened up new perspectives or have merely recovered and recycled older, and already familiar, materials
Exposure of Live-Line Workers to Magnetic Fields: A Dosimetric Analysis
No full textIn this paper the authors present the results of a dosimetric analysis related to the exposure of live-line workers to the magnetic fields generated by high voltage overhead lines and substations. The study extends the work published by Dawson et al. in 2002, considering more evolved anatomical models nowadays available, the new reference limits given by the 2013/35/EU Directive, and a new methodology, based on the intercomparison of two alternative solvers and the use of data filtering. Moreover, additional exposure scenarios are here considered with respect to the studies already available in literature. The results show that for the exposure scenario of high voltage live line works with bare hand method, in any analyzed position, the exposure limits for the tissues of the central nervous system, as well as for all other tissues, are never exceeded, despite in some cases the action levels are exceeded. For the exposure of workers in substations near 220 kV and 380 kV line trap coils exposure is compliant with the regulatory limits if the current flowing through the line trap does not exceed the value of 1000 A. Finally, for the exposure of workers in substations near cable connections, electric field values induced in the body are always lower than regulatory limits with a phase current value equal to 1600 A r.m.s
Intensification of Horticulture in Low-Income Countries through Innovative Low-Cost Bioponic Technology
No full textOne of the most significant challenges currently facing the planet is, undoubtedly, population growth, coupled with the necessity of developing an appropriate agri-food system capable of sustaining this growth. A promising unexpressed contribution to meeting the global population's need for food security through a sustainable approach is soilless agriculture. This approach has the potential to enhance production while conserving resources, particularly water and soil. One of the most used versions of these farming practices is the hydroponic system, which uses a mineral-based nutrient solution to grow vegetables. A more affordable and therefore more suitable alternative for Low-Income Countries (LICs), as well as an environmentally sustainable one, which, for this reason, should also be promoted in High-Income Countries (HICs), is the bioponic system, which employs organic waste that is mineralized by a bacterial filter to produce the nutrient solution.
The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of a hydroponic system with that of a bioponic system based on the use of plant waste and poultry manure as organic sources for the cultivation of basil (Ocimum basilicum L., var. Italiano Classico), catalogna (Cichorium intybus L., var. foliosum), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., var. secalina). To evaluate the two production systems, the fresh and dry weight yields were assessed, as well as the macronutrient (N, P, K) content.
In terms of yields, the bioponic system was statistically inferior, while differences in macronutrients contents were less pronounced. Consequently, future studies should focus on improving system functionality and assessing the growth potential of different plants in the bioponic system. Nonetheless, the potential of the bioponic method in LICs remains evident. With proper structural organization, animal manure and agricultural residues could be easily collected and stored at low cost, unlike the minerals used in hydroponic solutions, which are either expensive or even unavailable
“Alfonso de Ulloa protoispanista: la Introdutione che mostra il signor Alfonso di Uglioa a proferire la lingua castigliana”
No full textnumero monografico: “Le ragioni delle seconde lingue: un approccio grammaticografico” a cura di Félix San VicenteThe main purpose of the present paper is to discuss subsequent editions of Ulloa’s treatise on the pronunciation of the Spanish language. Inclusion of information about the author and his work in Venice will enable us to address the publication of the book in the wider context of the Venetian printing activities of the time. The treatise is intended for Italian readers and represents one of the first works in contrastive linguistics for the Spanish-Italian language pair. First published in 1553, the treatise went through four subsequent editions, each coming with modifications. While this paper concentrates on the very first edition – the only one written in both Spanish and Italian – later additions are also discussed. As will be seen, subsequent editions give evidence of Ulloa’s interest in providing better versions of the original publication through more precise wording and inclusion of useful information. Importantly, his ultimate goal was not only to assist the user, but also to prove his own proficiency
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