1,721,274 research outputs found
Fabbri (Marco) - Trotta (Angelo). Une scuola-collegio di età augustea. L'insula II di Velia
No full textBaratte François. Fabbri (Marco) - Trotta (Angelo). Une scuola-collegio di età augustea. L'insula II di Velia. In: Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire, tome 70, fasc. 1, 1992. Antiquité — Oudheid. pp. 276-278
Accrescere il Capitale Sociale in presenza di Norme Sociali Inefficienti: una Politica a Costo Zero
No full textLo scopo del presente lavoro è quello di dimostrare come in una situazione di interazione ripetuta in presenza di un bene pubblico è possibile, attraverso l’attuazione di una politica di incentivazione opportunamente specificata, incrementare e sostenere, a zero costi netti per il sistema, un livello più alto di contribuzione rispetto all' equilibrio ottenuto tramite sola sanzione. Questo risultato può essere importante dal momento che mostra come per un’autorità centrale sia possibile correggere alcuni fallimenti di mercato tramite l’applicazione di politiche “comportamentali” (o “espressive”) non-convenzionali, senza incrementare la spesa pubblica, in particolare in situazioni dove norme sociali inefficienti siano in essere. Mostreremo come in una situazione caratterizzata da probabilità estremamente basse di vincere un premio sostanzialmente alto, una porzione consistente delle decisioni dei partecipanti al gioco non saranno quelle di un giocatore “razionale”. In particolare verrà proposta un distaccamento dall’ipotesi dell’utilità attesa riferendomi all’anomalia comportamentale, formalmente teorizzata dalla . Saranno prese in considerazione le ben note evidenze sperimentali che mostrano come in generale individui tendano a sopravvalutare la probabilità di realizzazione di un evento altamente improbabile se associato alla vincita di un cospicuo premio. Nel mio lavoro in particolare implementerò il meccanismo di una lotteria alla quale i singoli individui potranno partecipare attraverso la collezione di "biglietti" acquisibili tramite la contribuzione al bene pubblico. Presenterò di seguito un modello che dimostri come sia possibile aumentare il livello di contribuzione a un bene pubblico a costo zero sfruttando questa anomalia individuale nei processi decisionali
Are Arithmetic Networks Interdependent In Number-Matching Task?
No full textAddition and multiplication facts are retrieved from
a network-like structure, as shown by data from numbermatching
tasks. Even if several evidences (e.g., crossoperation
confusion effect) suggest that these networks are
interrelated, the interdependency between addition and multiplication
networks could be influenced by the type of task
used (e.g., verification task). The present study aimed to investigate
whether the addition and multiplication networks
were interdependent or separate using a number-matching
task. Eighty participants were divided in four groups. The
Groups A (x, x, x) and B (+, +, +) performed the task in which
only one arithmetic interference effect was implemented
through three sessions (pure condition). The Groups C (x, x,
+) and D (+, +, x) performed the same task in which the same
arithmetic interference effect appeared in the first and second
sessions, while a different arithmetic problem was presented
in the last session (mixed condition). In the last session, the
interference effect in the mixed condition was higher than that
in the pure condition. The results argued more for an independency
of addition and multiplication networks than for their
interdependency
Finger counting habits and spatial-numerical association in horizontal and vertical orientations
No full textThe SNARC effect reflects an association between space and number representations, suggesting a mental number line. Horizontally, the number line is oriented from left-to-right while vertically, the number line is oriented from bottom-to-top. The horizontal SNARC effect seems to be related to finger counting habits, especially in left-hand starters. The present study aimed to investigate how finger counting habits affected the horizontal and vertical SNARC effect in parity and magnitude comparing tasks carried out by Italian adults. After a finger counting questionnaire, left- and right-starters were selected. Participants performed parity and magnitude comparing tasks with horizontal and vertical response key assignments. In both tasks, the SNARC effect was found for both spatial orientations. However, right-starters exhibited significant regression slopes compared to left-starters in all conditions. The results are discussed taking into account the relationship between finger counting habits and SNARC effect in horizontal and vertical orientations
Bisecting number lines:spatial biases in horizontal and vertical orientations
No full textThe numerical representation is spatially coded into a mental number line (MNL). According to SNARC effect, the MNL is oriented from left-to-right horizontally and from bottom-to-top vertically. The present chapter aimed to investigate how number induced spatial biases in both horizontal and vertical dimension. In the physical line and digit-string bisection tasks (Experiment 1), more rightward bias as magnitude increased was found in horizontal condition, while more upward bias as magnitude decreased was showed in vertical condition. Pseudoneglect was also found for physical lines horizontally and vertically.
In a digit flanked line bisection task (Experiment 2), the magnitude processing affected the task performance. Specifically, the congruent condition (i.e. 1-7) determined spatial biases compared to incongruent condition (i.e. 7-1) significantly in vertical and in horizontal orientation. Only in vertical condition, small number (i.e. 1-1) determined an underestimation while large number (i.e. 7-7) determined an overestimation of line length. On the whole the results seem to confirm that the spatial-numerical association along horizontal dimension is stable while its representation depends on task requirement along vertical dimension
Evaluation of microarray technology and cell line models in modern toxicology
Full text linkModern toxicology puts together existing knowledge of classical biology with new technologies to study effects of perturbations and to predict adverse outcomes resulting from those perturbations.
Modern toxicology employs high throughput technology as microarray and cell lines as in vitro models to investigate the effect of potential toxic compounds.
In my thesis I evaluate the usefulness and reproducibility of microarray technology and cell line models. I have been mainly interested in the study of the effects on the regulation of gene transcription in cell lines. I used HepG2 cell line as a model for liver to study cadmium-induced cytotoxicity, Caco-2 as model for intestinal epithelial to study nanoparticles and HeLa cells from cervical cancer to evaluate genomic instability.
Cadmium is currently classified as carcinogen for human. In my first study, gene expression is used to explain the possible toxic mechanism of cadmium carcinogenity, using HepG2 cell line. A suggested mechanism of cadmium-induced carcinogenicity involves defects in the cell response to DNA damage and in the resistance to apoptosis. In this regard, I focused on the tumour suppressor protein P53, since its inactivation is a common feature found in human cancers and it is a crucial component of the cellular response to DNA damage. The results presented in this thesis demonstrate that in HepG2 cells exposed to cadmium, P53 was correctly moved and accumulated into the nucleus to accomplish its function as a transcription factor. However, in spite of this correct nuclear localization, the signals for the cell cycle arrest were not activated. In this context, the important mediator of cell cycle arrest P21, a P53 downstream protein, was upregulated at the gene level but not at the protein level. These results could be explained by the involvement of a post-transcriptional activity mediated by miRNA, as demonstrated by the upregulation of mir-372 in cadmium-treated HepG2 cells, which was able to affect p21 expression and to promote cell proliferation.
Recent advances in materials science have resulted in the creation of particles in the nano-scale range and their use is spreading. This creates the need to evaluate their possible toxic effect on human health. In the second study, gene expression is applied to evaluate nanoparticle effect on Caco-2 cells as in vitro model of intestinal epithelial cells. The main focus was to compare the effect of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) of two sizes (30 nm and 5 nm), using microarray technology. Smaller AuNPs (5 nm) inhibit Caco-2 cell growth. Gene expression analysis shows a broad range of responses induced by small size AuNPs. A bioinformatics reconstruction of the possible pathways regulated by smaller AuNPs indicates that Caco-2 cells activate defence responses even if it was not enough to prevent the observed toxic effect. The response at the transcriptome level upon exposure to larger AuNPs (30 nm) is very weak. This effect can be due to the low uptake of these larger AuNPs. The third study focuses on the issue concerning cell line variability using different batches of HeLa cells obtained from different laboratories. The microarray expression analysis was performed on different batches of HeLa cells exposed to hypoxic conditions. In response to a hypoxic stimulus, each cell line batch activated different pathways, although the regulation of genes related to hypoxia is conserved. A genetic analysis show the high level of extensive chromosome instability in HeLa clones obtained from different laboratories. Each clone accumulates genomic variability in a time-dependent manner. The large differences in gene expression profiles suggest that the use of uncharacterized clones may lead to faulty conclusions and to irreproducible results in studies of gene function and pathway analysis.
In the three papers presented in this thesis I have not only shown the reproducibility of microarray by comparison to real time PCR, the gold standard technique for mRNA quantification, but also the potential to create possible model for the mechanistic effects on biological pathways.
In my thesis I have used different cell lines as in vitro models. They have shown that they have many advantages and that can give strong support for modern toxicology and be used to study biological mechanism. However, a possible drawback, which should be taken into account, is highlighted in the third study showing a high variability in the responses of different batches of the same cell line
Mindfulness, Subjective Cognitive Functioning, Sleep Timing and Time Expansion during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Longitudinal Study in Italy
Full text linkDuring the COVID-19 lockdown, a distortion of time passage has been widely reported in
association with a change in daily rhythm. However, several variables related to these changes have
not been considered. The purpose of the present study was to assess the changes in dispositional
mindfulness, time experience, sleep timing and subjective memory functioning. A longitudinal study
was conducted on 39 Italian adults (53.85% males; 35.03 14.02 years) assessing mindfulness, ad hoc
questions of sleep habits during workdays and free days, chronotypes, subjective time experience,
and memory functioning before (December 2019–March 2020) and during (April 2020–May 2020) the
first Italian COVID-19 lockdown. Participants reported delayed sleep timing, a slowdown in the
perception of the present time, a decrease of time pressure, and an increase in the feeling of time
expansion/boredom. In addition to correlations between mindfulness, memory functioning, and
subjective sleep duration during workdays, a mediation model showed that changes in the dispositional
mindfulness determined a delay of bedtime during workdays through the mediation effect of
increased feeling of time expansion/boredom. This finding highlighted the role of mindfulness in
reducing the feeling of time expansion/boredom for regulating the sleep timing. The theoretical and
practical implications of the findings are discussed
Il tono dell'umore in cronopsicologia. Una rassegna.
No full textRiassunto. La rassegna si propone di illustrare recenti risultati di ricerca cronopsicologica sulle variazioni del tono dell'umore, suddivise in base alla periodicità: ultradiana, circadiana, circasettana, circamensile e circaannuale. Infine vengono discussi alcuni problemi di natura metodologica, e indicate prospettive di ulteriore ricerca. Summary. The aim of the present review is to present the more recent research results in chronopsychology of mood. The chronopsychological results on mood fluctuation are grouped on periodicity: ultradian, circadian, circaseptan, circamensis, circaannual. Methodological problems and perspectives for research are considered on the conclusion
Finger counting habit and spatial-numerical association in children and adults
No full textSensory-motor experiences are known to build up concrete and abstract concepts during the lifespan. The present study aimed to test how finger counting habits (right-hand vs. left-hand starters) could influence the spatial-numerical representation in number-to-position (explicit) and digit-string bisection (implicit) tasks. The subjects were Italian primary school children (N= 184, from the first to the fifth year) and adults (N= 42). No general preference for right- or left-starting in the finger counting was found. In the explicit task, right- or left-starting did not affect performance. In the implicit task, the right-hand starters shifted from the left to the right space when bisecting small and large numbers respectively, while the left-hand starters shifted from the right to the left space with higher leftward bias for large numbers. The finger configuration in Italian children and adults influences the spatial-numerical representation, but only when implicit number processing is required by the task
Spatial congruency between stimulus presentation and response key arrangements in arithmetic fact retrieval
No full textIt is known that number and space representations are connected to one another in numerical
and arithmetic abilities. Numbers are represented using the metaphor of a mental number
line, oriented along horizontal and vertical space. This number line also seems to be linked
to mental arithmetic, which is based partly on arithmetic fact retrieval. It seems that number
representation and mental arithmetic are linked together. The present study tested the effect of
spatial contextual congruency between stimulus presentation and response key arrangements
in arithmetic fact retrieval, using number-matching and addition verification tasks. For both
tasks in Experiment 1, a contextual congruency effect was present horizontally (i.e., horizontal
presentation of stimuli and horizontal response key alignments) but not vertically (i.e., vertical
presentation of stimuli but horizontal response key alignments). In Experiment 2, both tasks
showed a contextual congruency effect for both spatial conditions. Experiment 1 showed that
the interference and distance effects were found in the horizontal condition, probably because
of the spatial congruency between stimulus presentation and response key arrangements. This
spatial congruency could be related to the activation of the horizontal number line. Experiment 2
showed similar interference and distance effects for both spatial conditions, suggesting that the
congruency between stimulus presentation and response alignment could facilitate the retrieval
of arithmetic facts. This facilitation could be related to the activation of both horizontal and
vertical number lines. The results are discussed in light of the possible role of a mental number
line in arithmetic fact retrieval
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